Sudden Resignation Stuns University of Alabama Basketball

The University of Alabama's head men's basketball coach, Mark Gottfried, has resigned effective immediately. This is the word from UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore. The Crimson Tide assistant men's basketball coach Philip Pearson will take over as interim coach until further notice.
"My number one priority is to do what is best for the University of Alabama, this basketball program, and these young men," Gottfried said. "Mal and I sat down today and we talked. At that point, I notified him of my intention to resign as head coach of the men's basketball program. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity and the privilege to lead our men's basketball program at Alabama for the past 10 and a half seasons. It has been a wonderful decade for me and my family, and I love the University of Alabama, but I feel that it is in the best interests of everyone involved. I want to thank our players, their families, our coaching staff and their families, and our great fans for all of their support over these last 11 seasons."
"I accepted Coach Gottfried's resignation," Moore said. "I respect Mark's decision and will begin immediately working on a permanent replacement. I agreed with him that it is in the best interests of the men's basketball program for us to move in a different direction. I want to extend my sincerest best wishes to Mark and his family, along with my personal thanks to Mark for his many years of dedicated service to our men's basketball program. "Out of respect for our players, I will make no further comment on Coach Gottfried's decision. I want to extend my complete support to our players and our coaching staff, which will be headed by interim head coach Philip Pearson. We fully expect them to compete hard the rest of this season and I ask our loyal fans to rally in support of these coaches and players over the coming weeks of SEC play. "Our process towards finding a new head coach will begin immediately. Out of respect for our players and coaches, I will not comment on the progress of our search until it has concluded."
Gottfried was named head coach at Alabama on March 25, 1998, and compiled a record of 210-131 (.616 winning percentage) with the Crimson Tide, including a mark of 83-82 in Southeastern Conference (SEC) games, winning one SEC regular season championship and leading the team to five NCAA Tournament appearances. He joined the Crimson Tide after three seasons as head coach at Murray State (Ky.) where he compiled a record of 68-24 while leading the Racers to three Ohio Valley Conference championships (1995, 1996, and 1997) and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Gottfried's career record stands at 278-155 for a winning percentage of .642 in 14 seasons as a college head coach.
Gottfried, a 1987 Alabama graduate, played guard for the Crimson Tide for three seasons (1984-85, 1985-86, and 1986-87) while starting 98 consecutive games for then-head coach Wimp Sanderson after starting his college career at Oral Roberts University (1982-83 season).
No word yet on the reason for this sudden departure. Stay tuned for more facts on this developing story.

Happy New Year! It's The Year Of The Ox

Today, January 26, 2009 is a very special day in the Chinese lunar calendar - it is Chinese New Year! This tradition, celebrated for thousands of years, is marked by 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals, celebrated in a 12 year cycle. As legend has it, they respond to an invitation from the Buddha to meet him on the new year.This year it is the Year of The Ox.
According to Chinese lore, the Ox represents a solid, hardworking and steadfast individual. So if you were born in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, or 2009, you are said to carry these traits.
Some interesting facts about Chinese New Year:It is also know as Spring Festival, it is the lunar new year and falls on the first day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar.The festival is 15 days long and requires certain visits to family members on certain days.It is a major holiday in China and people make changes ahead of the new year to welcome it, including cleaning house and cutting their hair. Certain foods such as Mandarin oranges, uncut noodles and melon seeds are eaten to bring wealth, health, happiness and good luck to the family.Festivities include dragon dances, during which loud drums and cymbals are said to ward off evil spirits.For good luck, people open windows and doors, turn on night lights, wear new slippers, clean house and eat sweets.To avoid bad luck, they do not say certain words that in Chinese sound like bad things such as death and loss.
The Chinese Zodiac Symbols, their traits and recent years are:
Rat: quick-witted, clever, charming

1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Ox: steadfast, solid, hard-working

1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Tiger: authoritative, self-possessed, charming

1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998

Rabbit: popular, compassionate, sincere

1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999

Dragon: energetic, warm-hearted, charismatic

1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000

Snake: seductive, gregarious, generous

1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001

Horse: energetic, self-reliant, money-wise

1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002

Goat: creative, wandering, unorganized

1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003

Monkey: upbeat, good at listening, lacking self-control

1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004

Rooster: practical, resourceful, observant

1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005

Dog: faithful, honest, distrustful

1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006

Pig: extremely nice, good-mannered and tasteful

1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Happy New Year! If you were born in the year of the Ox, you're probably hard at work!