It’s been a slow news week for sports and a somber one for music. Let’s get into it with your mailbag questions.
Remember: If your question wasn’t answered or you’ve been living under a rock and are just hearing about this, you can submit your questions here or on Twitter (@ADimeBack).
Husky Army (and others) ask: What is the latest on Hamidou Diallo?
A quick primer: Hamidou Diallo is a big time 2017 recruit who plays at Putnam Science Academy in northeast Connecticut. His game and his reputation have both skyrocketed over the past year and 247’s composite ranking now features him as the eighth best prospect in the country.
The sudden uptick in intrigue stems from Diallo receiving scholarship offers from both Kentucky and Duke this week (UConn offered 15 months ago).
From what we’re hearing, the UConn coaching staff isn’t too worried about the new offers. Coach Kevin Ollie and staff have been in Diallo’s ear for over a year. UConn’s staff also has a great relationship with Diallo’s prep school coach Tom Espinosa. Mamdou Diarra, Diallo’s PSA teammate, is also a UConn commit. Diallo himself attended a handful of games with Diarra this season.
While the two new offers came this week, Kentucky has been watching Diallo for a long time. John Calipari and Ollie should have carpooled to Putnam to save on gas. Kentucky is likely UConn’s primary competition. Reports indicate that Diallo won’t be making an announcement any time soon. If “Calipari to the NBA” rumors heat up again this summer, Ollie could capitalize on a rare rumor-free offseason of his own to close the deal.
Steve asks: More likely, UConn football wins East division or Men’s basketball wins conference tourney.
Both can certainly happen, but I’m going to give the edge to men’s basketball winning the conference tourney, simply because it’s much easier to win a three-game tournament than it is to win a regular season title. Football should be much improved next year, but would still need to beat out Cincinnati, who it has not defeated since 2010, and reigning division winner Temple, who cleaned the Huskies’ clock this year. It can happen, but give me Cash Adams and Slick Rick Purv on their home court.
Taylor asks (via email): Now that we’ve lost the Great Purple One, rank the best Prince songs.
- Purple Rain. GOAT Super Bowl halftime show featured Prince playing Purple Rain in the actual rain and it was everything.
- Kiss. Give me all of the falsetto. “I just want your extra time, and your kiss.” Swoon.
- When Doves Cry. I have rocked out to this song in my car more times than I should probably admit.
- 1999. So that is the year I graduated from high school (yes, old) and it got played at every dance from the time we started having school dances in middle school. Definitely better than most of the garbage music played at school dances in the 90s.
- Let’s Go Crazy. Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to marvel at Prince’s ridiculous catalogue. (Bonus video: Here’s the cast of Hamilton rocking the funk out to Let’s Go Crazy last night at the end of their show.
- I Would Die 4 U. More awesomeness from the Purple Rain album. If you do not already own it, stop what you are doing IMMEDIATELY and download it. Seriously. Right now.
- Cream. Sexy. As. Fuck. (That video is probably NSFW)
- Raspberry Beret. Just try not to sing along to this song. Seriously. Try.
- Little Red Corvette. 80s Prince was the best Prince
- U Got the Look. Oh, hey, Sheena Easton.
Bonus! Partyman from the Batman soundtrack (which is nuts and awesome and perfect and so 80s and you should check it out).
Honorable Mention: Prince penned (and first recorded) Nothing Compares 2 U, made famous by Sinead O’Connor and her bald headed music video.
