JOHNNY CASH ON STEROIDS By Dave Magarity Jan. 24, 2005

I have one word for all my friends in coaching -- beware. Now that I am no longer active in the coaching profession I am not obligated to hold anything back. In the past I may have sugar coated a little (well, not that much), but it’s an entirely different story now. So Donny Harnum (Mr. MAAC Daddy), Jeff Ruland (Johnny Cash on Steroids) and Seth Greenberg (Mr. Clean) and others will feel the wrath. Angela Lento’s Runway to the Fashionable Four has truly become a favorite among coaches. It gives all coaches an opportunity to have fun with something, during the rigors of the season. It’s a welcome distraction. And many fans and media types enjoy it as well. It was a hot topic in my recent 5-on-5 features with ESPN personalities Jay Bilas and Rece Davis (DaveMagarity.com). But while both Jay and Rece fall under the heading “stylish” there are a lot of guys that need to be classified as “a walking mess.” Angela always keeps things positive, never putting together a list of the worst dressed, but I am not nearly as kind as Ms. Lento. At present, I am working on my list of those with bad attire. If Rice coach Willis Wilson and TCU coach Neil Dougherty are proverbial “clothes horses” than there is a need for a list of “clothes burrows,” which Harnum and Ruland would headline. Of course I cannot forget my friend, Southwest Missouri State coach, Barry Hinson who is actually a pretty sharp dresser. But given his height and stature, “clothes horse” would not apply. A more apt term would be “Shetland Pony.” We still have over two months until the 2005 Runway begins so there is plenty of time for me to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Needless to say the MAAC Daddy, Johnny Cash and Mr. Clean have only gotten a small taste of what is to come. Until next time, don’t forget that as far as big men go you are simply not going to find a better dressed and better looking member of the Portly and Stout club than me!