Like It Is

Talking tickets, UA basketball and Super Bowl

Sold out.

That is what the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame banquet is as of this week.

It is one of the earliest sellouts in recent history, and much of the credit goes to marketing director Kathy Vining Delone, who came on in December and immediately went to work. Nancy Williams, a board member and secretary on the executive committee, has been instrumental in getting all the details worked out and fine-tuned.

It will be Feb. 27 at the Statehouse Convention Center, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the program starting at 6 p.m.

It will be a night to remember because it is a great class, all very worthy of induction. The inductees' interviews and comments have all been taped to keep the dinner at a reasonable time. My personal guarantee is that we will be finished in two hours or less. At least, that's what I'm praying for.

Steve Sullivan of KATV, Channel 7, will be the master of ceremonies and Chuck Monan, known during football season as the Pigskin Preacher on KABZ-FM, 103.7, The Buzz, will do the invocation.

The only hope for a table or tickets now is to get on the waiting list, and to do that call Zach Vint at (501) 663-4328.

This will be my final event as president of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Sen. Keith Ingram of West Memphis will become president at midnight after the banquet, when hopefully the former president will be sound asleep in one of the beautifully remodeled rooms at the Marriott.

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This is the final two days to get free tickets to the UALR men's and women's basketball doubleheader against Louisiana-Monroe on Feb. 5.

All you have to do is eat in a restaurant in North Little Rock, spend at least $5, then take the receipt to the North Little Rock Visitors Center in Burns Park. Every $5 spent is good for one free ticket to both games.

This great idea came from Bob Major, who heads up the NLR Visitors Bureau.

The UALR men's team has been competitive this season but has lost 10 games by five points or less. The women's team leads the Sun Belt by one-half game over Arkansas State after Thursday night's 70-69 loss at ASU.

It's not often a deal like this comes along, free entertainment for eating out, and it can be anything from fast food to fine dining.

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At this point last season, it was like a light went off for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

They stormed through a mostly soft nonconference schedule and entered SEC play, where they promptly lost six of their first eight conference games, although they had beaten Kentucky 87-85 in overtime and lost 84-82 to Florida in overtime.

Then they won two, including a game at Vanderbilt, lost by one to Missouri on the road but won six in a row.

After one victory in the NIT, they finished the season 22-12 overall and 10-8 in SEC play, good for fifth place.

Currently they are 16-4 overall and tied for second in the SEC at 5-2.

The Razorbacks have 11 conference games remaining, six of them on the road, but if they continue to find a way to win like they have so far this season instead of lose, like last season, the Hogs should easily make the NCAA Tournament.

In fact, so many close games indicates they haven't peaked yet.

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Much has been written and said about Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch this week, some of it about his playing ability.

Just for fun, a look at how the Seahawks have fared over the past three years when Lynch carries at least 20 times showed they were 22-4 when he gets that many carries and 18-5 when he doesn't. Seattle is 27-4 over the past three seasons when Lynch scores at least one touchdown.

It should be a great game.

Sports on 01/30/2015

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