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For those of you who were unable to make it to Saturday's game, it was a pretty special day. Some of you had said things about the commemorative program being sold out, so I scanned the cover. If you haven't read the articles on the history of the players from the 86-87 team, head on over to Hawkcentral http://hawkcentral.com/2012/01/28/iowas-run-to-no-1-where-are-players-on-the-1986-87-team-now/ and Dochterman's page http://thegazette.com/category/blogs/docs-office/ and check them out. It's really great stuff, and some of the Hawkcentral stuff was included in the program.

One of my earliest (and fondest) childhood memories was of a family vacation when I was about 5 years old. My parents, brother, and I went to Iowa City. Dad wanted to take us to Carver, but, being it was the summer, it was locked. A custodian let us in and allowed us to go all the way down onto the floor. Even at that age, I knew it was someplace special. Similarly to what ICHawk had to say in his Fanpost, Iowa Basketball needs to be there for the 5-year old boys (and girls) out there too.

The 86-87 team was the first team I remember watching on TV with my Dad. I was five when they played. My Dad had never been to a game at Carver. It was a spur of the moment trip (we bought tickets on Stubhub on Friday morning), and we decided to make the six hour drive to Iowa City. Seeing my childhood heroes was going to be totally worth it.

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OOOOOOHHHHH YEEEEAAAAHHHH. There's a new Mayor up in here. Somebody to help get these posts up more regularly and to keep all you loyal BHGPers entertained. And that somebody is... not me. It's Mexican't. Technically, we'll be sharing the duties (and the next Ham'dam you see will probably be authored by him), but the truth is I'm simply not cool enough to be Mayor, I'm more of a Comptroller. But just like in a real city, you'll be needing both of us to run this place.

Mexican't is your cool-as-a-cucumber, says-the-right-things Tommy Carcetti type. I'm a less presentable, back-room guy they keep away from the masses, basically I'm Norman Wilson. I guess that would make Ross the retiring Bunny Colvin, which is a pretty cool guy to be. I'm now jealous. So anyway, if you liked Ross's Hamsterdam posts (and you should, because Ross rawks), you'll love Mexican't's posts that will generally be more of the same: current and interesting internet memes, youtube videos, and Archer references to kick off your conversations. But I am not very internet-savvy and not very current on cultural norms, so I suspect I'll be doing some quick interesting thoughts on whatever books I'm currently reading (Basque history & St. Patrick), whatever music currently moves me (James Brown), or whatever months-old internet meme I just found out about (Shit Girls Say). I hope to accomplish a miniature version of a poor man's "10 reasons why Iowa will lose to..." that Stoops pulls off so eloquently.

Here's the overall plan: Mexican't and myself will be putting up new Hamsterdam posts roughly every other day and bumping the most recent one to the top every night for all of you denizens to go crazy. We hope that more regularity also helps to clean up the streets of BHGP with a quick "Take it to Hamsterdam" when things get a little off-topic. Yes, we're just as guilty of this as you are. But the Mayor and the Comptroller of Hamsterdam want this place to thrive.

So to recap:

1) More Hamsterdam posts, more regularly

2) This is RossWB:

3) This is The Mexican't:

4) This is therealCatnuts:

5) We would greatly appreciate your help finding for us this lovely young lady:

(photos credit to wikipedia)

There it is friends, from the University of Iowa official Twitter account:

Did you know this was the #1 song on the charts twenty years ago?

Seriously.

Here's your Hamsterdam open thread for the evening and beyond. The usual rules of open threading apply: no links to illegal online streams, no porn, no religion, no politics, no slurs, no douchebaggery.

I was 10 years old, and it was important.

During the 1986-87 basketball season, I hugged my radio when Jim Zabel told me to, and I kissed it when he told me to. See, I recorded the radio broadcast of the games on cassette. I would re-listen to the close games, and on nights when I had to go to bed right after the game, I would let the recording keep going and listen to the post-game interviews the next day.

I ran around the house whooping and hollering when Kevin Gamble’s shot went in against Oklahoma. When Iowa went up big in the first half against UNLV, I couldn’t contain myself. Neither could Zabel (when could he ever?). At halftime I was jumping up and down saying “We’re going to the Final Four! We’re going to the Final Four!” I was devastated when it didn’t happen.

I hadn’t really forgotten about any of those emotions I had, but they really came flooding back on Saturday afternoon. Seeing all of those guys reminded me of how important it had been to me back then. The ovation the team and especially Dr. Tom received was outstanding, and it had me holding back some tears.

I was struck by some of these notions on Saturday, and thinking about them since, and I really felt the need to share them here. The past few years, it hasn’t been important. And I find that incredibly sad. Not for a lot of the reasons that we all know are problematic, like loss of revenue. But for the 10 year old boys out there. This sounds incredibly schmaltzy and cheesy and whatever other word you want to describe it. But those guys that were in Carver on Saturday were heroes for so many kids in Iowa 25 years ago.

I was so happy to see the current team take in the history right before their very eyes. I so badly want Iowa Basketball to be relevant again, important again, and I think it’s invaluable to make that impression on the players we have now. I believe Fran McCaffery is the guy to turn this around, and we’re starting to see it. People can bicker over the student section, and where to put the band. But part of the success of the program is having kids look at these players and see them as heroes, and they need to know that. I think they got a taste of it Saturday afternoon.

I’m 35 years old, and it is important.

In which provided me one of the greatest sports memories of my life. I was 11 then but I still have memories of that team and specifically that NCAA tournament run. I won't talk about UNLV but that entire game is on the Internet somewhere.

Kevin Gamble hits the game winner and gets Iowa to the 1987 Elite 8 (via 1987Hawkeyes)

[A-bump. Bump. Bumpity bump. A-bump bump bumpity bump. -- PTV]

Chapter Four: The Corpse in the Copse

I awoke the following morning with such a sense of foreboding as I had not experienced since I was on campaign in the Kush. The events of the previous night had well robbed me of a peaceful sleep and my own nerves, which had served as faithful faculty on many previous Holmesian adventures, were in outright, tremulous rebellion. The day was calm and moist. The early spring air seeped into my bones and only exacerbated the shaking first caused by my neurotic affliction. I found Holmes in the common room; he was staring rather intently at a set of chess that was placed on the desk near a great window.

"What do you think of these pieces, Watson?" Holmes called out without turning away from the object of his question. "Peculiar, are they not?"

Eager for reprieve from my own depressed thoughts, I walked to where Holmes was standing and attempted a feat of observation for which my companion was well known and I, myself, had gained some skill.

"I see nothing peculiar. They are of the Staunton design and appear perfectly regular examples of Jacques' fine craftsmanship." I said in a rather defeated tone.

"Quite right, Watson. To a man suffering infirmity of the eye or to a simple child these pieces would be exactly as you have said."

"Holmes! Really, I must protest!"

"However, to a trained eye, one familiar with the equine nostril flare specific to over one hundred and twenty different master chess designers, this set is an obvious, ill-executed forgery."

My companion rattled on regarding the intricacies of the St. George carving style, but I had ceased to listen. It was clear that Holmes was exhibiting the same diversionary train of thought that had oft times served to relieve his mind during a stressful case. That we did not have his chemical apparatuses available to occupy him and smother me in fumes was something for which I was exceedingly grateful.

"Shall we proceed to breakfast Holmes? I am sure that our guests will be waiting for us."

"Yes, of course Watson."

We entered the HotelVetro's dining room and met Mssrs. Podolak and Dolphin and Ms. Conners. The mood of the gentlemen appeared much improved from the previous night, as they both, following our greeting, embarked on a surprisingly jovial, salutatory circuit of the hotel's other patrons.

"It seems that the pillow has worked its somnial wonder yet again. Our friends seem refreshed anew." Said Holmes.

"Alas, that is only partly true, Mr. Holmes. They are brave men and in the light of day they may act as they once were, but their own brightness does not last. This malignancy hangs about us like a dense fog and it is inescapable. It is a villainous hand that blinds and wounds, but has, itself, no form to behold and no heart to strike." Replied Ms. Conners with a sad desperation in her eyes.

"There is no denying the truth of what you have said; nevertheless, I hold that even in the deep of earth the spring knows there is light and seeks its warmth and so must you my dear." Said Holmes, displaying a depth of compassion starkly absent from his usual calculative process.

This kindness was short-lived, as a clamor near the hotel's lobby drew our attention. In my haste to investigate the commotion I walked squarely into detective Brewster, who was in a state of intense agitation.

"Mr. Holmes, where is he? I must speak with him."

"What is it my good man? What could have you in such a fluster?"

"Mr. Holmes? I must speak with him, Mr. Watson. It is of the utmost importance."

"I am here Mr. Brewster. What is the matter, dear man? You have disrupted our breakfast"

"Mr. Holmes, there has been a development." Said Detective Brewster. By this time, Mssrs. Podolak and Dolphin had returned to the table to learn more of what had caused such tumult in the dining room. "A body has been found and I believe it is connected to our case."

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It's not Flash Dance! It's straight flash mobbin'!

Iowa Basketball Flash Mob (via hawkeyesportstv)

Cyclone fan here. We just lost a RB, Duck Hollis. Rhoads booted him this morning for some undisclosed fuck up. I guess he failed his third piss test, but its just a guess. Between this, and you guys swiping Barkley Hill, perhaps he's (AIRBHG) found a new target to satisfy his unqeunchable blood lust.

Rejoice, Hawkeye friends. Perhaps being an Iowa RB is no longer a more hazardous occupation than bashing the skins for Spinal Tap.

EEEEEEEEEE

I think we're going to try the same approach that we did last week: we'll just use this thread for Hamsterdam throughout the week and keep bumping it every evening. That seemed to work pretty well. If y'all are chattier this week we'll make more threads.

The standard rules of open threading apply: no links to illegal online streams, no porn, no religion, no politics, no slurs, no douchebaggery.