Last week, the local Associated Press bureau asked me to represent New Mexico in this season's AP Top 25 men's basketball poll.
OK. I have done it every time I've been asked. This year was no different.
But let me make one thing clear to all Lobo fans: I will not vote for the University of New Mexico in the preseason Top 25.
In fact, I won't vote for the Lobos no matter how well they start the season.
If they go 10-0? Nope.
How about 15-0? No chance.
Come to think of it, I don't care if UNM finishes the season undefeated and wins its third straight Mountain West Conference title. I ain't voting for no Lobos this year.
Now before Rudy C., the Burrito, and the dude with all the initials and titles after his name and all those other oh-so-knowledgeable Lobo experts start peppering Sports Speak Up! with more "kill Mark Smith" drivel, let's make something clear.
The Land of Enchantment is the Land of Disenchantment as far as AP is concerned.
The state doesn't get a vote this season in men's hoops. The local bureau, when it asked me to represent New Mexico, didn't realize the state does not get a vote this season.
"This is nothing new," said a rather huffy-sounding AP sports editor Terry Taylor. "... It's not new. We cut the number of voters from 72 to 65 and we went to a rotation."
Not new? This is the first I've heard of it. Of course, I didn't have the state's vote last year. It rotates around each year.
So how long has this been the practice?
"We did it last season," Taylor says.
Ahh - an ancient practice, indeed. Excuse me for my lack of knowledge.
Taylor said the voter count was reduced because "we just wanted to make the number more manageable. It was taking a long time to get all the votes in here and it was delaying getting the poll out. The college football poll has 60 voters, and we cut this to 65. We had 72 (prior to last season in men's basketball)."
Taylor said seven states will alternate being left out each year. And it could be one or two states each time. She said Hawaii, Minnesota, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska and West Virginia join New Mexico in the rotation.
This year was our turn to get the shaft.
I asked why a state like California couldn't have its number of voters reduced so that every state could be represented each year, but Taylor said the voters are determined "based on a formula that takes into account the number of schools they have" in each state.
She said New Mexico will get its vote back either next year or the year after.
I guess it's another sign of the economy.
MWC VOTING: Speaking of votes, the Mountain West Conference men's preseason basketball poll will be released today in Denver during the annual media day.
Last season, the MWC sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament for the first time - New Mexico, BYU, San Diego State and UNLV - and all four will likely be in the top four this preseason.
Expect BYU and its senior guard Jimmer Fredette to be the favorites to win the league and player of the year honors, respectively.
UNM senior guard Dairese Gary should also be on the first team, as well as at least two players from San Diego State - which will likely be the No. 2 team in the poll.
My vote: 1. BYU, 2. SDSU, 3. UNM, 4. Colorado State, 5. UNLV, 6. Wyoming, 7. TCU, 8. Utah 9. Air Force
I chose Fredette as player of the year and had Gary on my first team. There are no second- or third-team votes.
I listed New Mexico's Drew Gordon as newcomer of the year and the Lobos' Kendall Williams as freshman of the year.
KNIGHT TIME: Coaching legend Bob Knight will speak at the Lobos' preseason banquet on Nov. 1 at the Embassy Suites. The benefit for the UNM library fund begins at 6:30 p.m.
Lobo coach Steve Alford says he hopes to make it an annual event, and will try to bring in a different guest speaker each year.
"It will be a like a tip-off thing," Alford said. "They did this in Indiana, and raised more than $2 million for the library fund. Having coach Knight is a natural fit for us."
The controversial Knight was Alford's college coach. The two teamed to win the 1987 NCAA championship.
Cost for the banquet is $800 per 10-person table.
I hope it sells out.
It's for a good cause - and a sellout ensures all chairs are fixed solidly to the ground.
For further information, visit golobos.com or call 505-925-5626 or 505-925-5750.
FUNNY STUFF: The best line I've heard so far this week, came from Journal sports writer James Yodice. He asked me if I'd seen next week's Lobo football point spread.
"The Lobos are only a 3-and-a-half point underdog," he said, "Against Bye Week."
GRILLIN' AGGIE: New Mexico State basketball coach Marvin Menzies scored some points with Aggie fans prior to Saturday's football fiasco in Las Cruces. Menzies was grilling and serving burgers for the fans during the pregame tailgate. Very cool. Word is, he didn't drop a single burger.
Which might make him the only guy at the stadium who didn't fumble that evening.
NFL QB CONTROVERSIES: Michael Vick has nothing to worry about when he gets healthy in Philly. He's the starter. The Bengals' Carson Palmer is in big-time trouble. But how strange is it that his brother, Jordan, is the guy gunning for his spot? In San Fran, Alex Smith and Mike Singletary are the NFL's version of Mike Locksley and Paul Krebs - seemingly hitched to each other's wagon, no matter how many wheels have fallen off.
