Seth Fowler graduated from Texas in 1998. Since 2004, he has been helping home buyers and sellers in the DFW Metroplex. Whether new construction, existing homes, investment property or land, he is your Real Estate Sherpa - guiding you through the process, making it an enjoyable experience. Based in Tarrant County, however, he will help connect you with a quality Realtor anywhere in Texas, the United States, or in the world. When looking to purchase or sell real estate in this new market, call Seth at 817.980.6636.
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Jonathan Tjarks was a writer for The Ringer and perviously for Mavs Money Ball who deeply influenced my basketball writing career. I remember listening to his podcasts about the NBA Draft, college basketball, and the NBA, always appreciating both his attention to detail and his depth of knowledge. While I've always been a fan of The Ringer, I was a fan of Tjarks' first, as he covered the Mavericks, which was the team I covered before I got my job here at Orangebloods.
Tjarks passed away on Saturday from cancer, leaving behind his wife, Melissa, and his son, Jackson. I haven't in my life been so affected by the death of a person I've never met before. I felt like I knew Jonathan from the amount of his content that I consumed, and the fact he lived in Dallas, covering my hometown team for a while. His passing is a sign of the frailty of life but also the beauty of it, as he continued to work deep into his illness, posting his last piece on June 9th. You could feel his humility and his appreciation for life through his works.
The industry – the world, really – lost a good man this past weekend.
RIP Jonathan Tjarks. You will be sorely missed.
***
Top Five Impact Freshmen in the Big 12 in 2022-23
This conference, man. Every article I talk about how good it is. So how does a conference become this loaded? Part of it is the transfer portal, but most of it is high school recruiting. Nearly every coach in conference is a good recruiter, and they proved it this year, bringing in blue chip after blue chip. So here are the top five (well, six) freshmen in conference that will make the biggest impact.
HM: Elijah Fisher, SG, Texas Tech
Elijah Fisher was a re-classification from the 2023 class who is a high-rated four star in the final Rivals update on the class of 2022. Fisher is a big-time athlete who will play off-guard and wing for the Red Raiders this coming season, and will start alongside Oregon transfer De'Vion Harmon. Fisher was at one point a five-star in the 2023 class, but had inconsistent shooting splits, and finished as a high-four-star player in that class and remains there in this one. Fisher brings physicality and athleticism to the wing spot for Texas Tech this year, and his frame will work perfectly with the kind of switchable defense that Mark Adams runs. His toughness will also be a culture fit in Lubbock. Watch for Fisher to be a major part of the Red Raiders' success this season.
5. MJ Rice, SF, Kansas
While the back court for KU this year is a bit questionable, the forward group is undeniably talented. Ignoring Jalen Wilson, who has made it on some preseason lists for all-conference and even third-team all-America, the Jayhawks brought in two five-star forwards who will have an immediate impact. A three-level scorer, Rice, though undersized for his position from a height standpoint, is built, meaning when he drives, he can finish through contact. At 225, he has a grown man's body at 18 years old. He has NBA aspirations and a build that can keep him there. He's also a solid rebounder and defender. Rice will be an important part of Kansas' rotation this season.
4. Arterio Morris, PG/SG, Texas
Morris may be the most talented player in the Big 12 that might not start this year. Ranked 15th overall in his class and second at his position, Arterio Morris will get plenty of playing time even if he isn't a starting guard at Texas this year. A highly athletic, big combo guard with decent shooting splits, people often say he reminds them of Victor Oladipo of Indiana fame. Morris will be an NBA player eventually, and may leave after one year to go pro – he has the talent to do so. How Chris Beard will use Morris' talents remains to be seen, but the important thing for Texas is that these talents exist.
3. Gradey Dick, SF, Kansas
Gradey Dick is a SHOOTER - all caps for a reason. The guy can shoot from anywhere on the floor. He can shoot off screens, he can shoot off the dribble, he can spot up. He's arguably the best at this skill in the class along with Keyonte George, who we will get to in a minute. His 6'7 frame allows him to shoot over shorter defenders, making him an NBA prospect similar to a guy like Duncan Robinson (though Robinson is a bit taller at 6'9). Adding Dick to the set of forwards that Kansas has really gives them an impressive front court, with a mix of skillsets, from Rice's physicality to Dick's sniping. Kansas once again reloads with talent, and no one should be surprised to see them at the top of the conference once again.
2. Dillon Mitchell, SF, Texas
One of the highest-flying, most fun prospects in this class is Texas Longhorns freshman Dillon Mitchell from Montverde Academy, a small forward who will be a lottery pick, even in the stacked 2023 draft grouping. Arguably the best athlete in his high school class, which is saying something, Mitchell has an impressive vertical leap, but can do a lot more than just jump out the gym. He's an extremely skilled cutter, meaning he's a menace coming off of screens because of his foot speed. He moves like a gazelle, and this lends itself to an innate ability to run the floor in transition. With so many impressive athletes, Texas should be a more exciting team to watch than they have been in a long time.
1. Keyonte George, SG, Baylor
My number one impact freshman in the conference is Baylor shooting guard Keyonte George, a walking bucket in every sense of the word. He's physical, has an impressive vertical, and can shoot the lights out. A problem for any opposing defense, George can pull up from anywhere and score, and will be one of the best shooters in the conference on a team that boasts two of the best shooters already in LJ Cryer (46.8% on 5.8 attempts per game) and Adam Flagler (38.7% on 6.1 attempts). He adds to what already was probably the best guard group in the conference. His addition makes them arguably the best in the nation. Overall, George will be a top-10 pick, and probably closer to the front end of that. Baylor has had elite guard play for years now, and things will be no different this year in Waco.
***
Album Review: Townes Van Zandt: Townes Van Zandt (1969)
It doesn't get much more Texan than legendary artist Townes Van Zandt, responsible for folk tunes like Lungs and Pancho and Lefty. Steve Earle once said, "Townes is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." Though the statement embarrasses Earle in retrospect, its effect remains. Generations of songwriters adore Van Zandt's music and lyrics, and he is one of the most influential artists not just in this great state, but in the entire country. His music talks often about the struggles of poverty, addiction, and mental health issues, as he suffered from bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse throughout his life. Van Zandt passed away from a heart attack in 1997 at age 52, but his music lives on. Here's a review of self-titled first album, released in 1969.
1. The opening track, For the Sake of the Song, sets the tone for the album, and really, his entire catalogue. This melancholy track discusses his handling of an emotional woman's dumping of her problems on him, and how he is detached from the situation, unable to help her with her issues because of his own. It's brutally honest and displays the self-awareness for which his lyrics are so famous.
2. The next song, Columbine, is simply an ode to nature, discussing the petals of a flower, how they dance in the wind, and other representations of the natural world. It's a beautiful tribute to simplicity, an appreciation for these things. It's a rare uplifting track in a catalogue full of all-too-real songs about the pains of life.
3. Waiting Around to Die is a more typical Townes song. "I guess I'll keep on gambling / lots of booze and lots of rambling / it's easier than just waiting around to die," he croons over an acoustic guitar. The hedonistic nature of the song is an indication of the heavy mindset he trudged around with in life, that the only real pleasures are physical, and that the rest is difficulty and struggle. The song is several vignettes of different situations in his life that led to his eventual new addiction, codeine: "he's the nicest thing I've seen," he sings near the end of the last refrain.
4. Don't Take it Too Bad is a song about trying to deal with the good and the bad that comes in life through a conversation he's having with a woman. It's partially a love song, but, like many of his works, it has multiple meanings, and there are many ways to interpret how he feels. His relationship with this woman seems to be the only saving grace at this point, and he expresses that to her through this track.
5. The next song is Colorado Girl, which is about seeking a girl in the Sunshine State, using lots of nature metaphors to discuss his feelings for her. It's another song about his seeking something outside of himself, something to quell the pain. His love for this woman illuminates his life, a motif throughout this record: a woman can change how a man feels about life.
6. Lungs, my favorite of Townes' songs and one of my favorite songs ever written, is a partially metaphorical, partially literal description of his fight with pneumonia, his inability to breathe. "Won't you lend your lungs to me? Mine are collapsing" is the first line of the song. This is the more literal part of the song before he goes into a more abstract, ethereal description of his feelings. The themes bleed into each other so that it's hard to know exactly what he means throughout the track.
7. The next song on the album is I'll Be Here in the Morning. "Close your eyes, I'll be here in the morning / close your eyes, I'll be here for a while," he sings in the refrain, reassuring his partner that he won't leave in the middle of the night. It's a representation of what his relationship is like, that he's flighty, that he's unpredictable, but that, at least for the night, he will stay.
8. Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel is a song about being used, a song about a woman that burns through boyfriends until she's tired of them and dumps them off, hence the term "carousel." He's intoxicated on her love, but he realizes he's a "clown," and that the relationship is ending, thus, the "laughter has all died down." Again, his piercing self-awareness makes the song what it is.
9. The penultimate song on Van Zandt's self-titled album is Maria, also known as Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria, is a love song full of natural imagery, like many songs on the record. He describes infatuation with this woman throughout the song. He'll "chase after shadows," doing anything to get close to her.
10. None but the Rain, the final track on this album, is about breaking up, as well as moving on in life. "But summer's gone now / our walkin's done," he sings, representing what could be the end of a relationship with a woman. It's a fitting end to an album whose two main focuses are the pains of life and how a woman can change these feelings of hopelessness. The ultimate hopelessness comes when a breakup happens and a person sees beyond the red-tinted glasses through which he's been viewing life.
***
Jonathan Tjarks was a writer for The Ringer and perviously for Mavs Money Ball who deeply influenced my basketball writing career. I remember listening to his podcasts about the NBA Draft, college basketball, and the NBA, always appreciating both his attention to detail and his depth of knowledge. While I've always been a fan of The Ringer, I was a fan of Tjarks' first, as he covered the Mavericks, which was the team I covered before I got my job here at Orangebloods.
Tjarks passed away on Saturday from cancer, leaving behind his wife, Melissa, and his son, Jackson. I haven't in my life been so affected by the death of a person I've never met before. I felt like I knew Jonathan from the amount of his content that I consumed, and the fact he lived in Dallas, covering my hometown team for a while. His passing is a sign of the frailty of life but also the beauty of it, as he continued to work deep into his illness, posting his last piece on June 9th. You could feel his humility and his appreciation for life through his works.
The industry – the world, really – lost a good man this past weekend.
RIP Jonathan Tjarks. You will be sorely missed.
***
Top Five Impact Freshmen in the Big 12 in 2022-23
This conference, man. Every article I talk about how good it is. So how does a conference become this loaded? Part of it is the transfer portal, but most of it is high school recruiting. Nearly every coach in conference is a good recruiter, and they proved it this year, bringing in blue chip after blue chip. So here are the top five (well, six) freshmen in conference that will make the biggest impact.
HM: Elijah Fisher, SG, Texas Tech
Elijah Fisher was a re-classification from the 2023 class who is a high-rated four star in the final Rivals update on the class of 2022. Fisher is a big-time athlete who will play off-guard and wing for the Red Raiders this coming season, and will start alongside Oregon transfer De'Vion Harmon. Fisher was at one point a five-star in the 2023 class, but had inconsistent shooting splits, and finished as a high-four-star player in that class and remains there in this one. Fisher brings physicality and athleticism to the wing spot for Texas Tech this year, and his frame will work perfectly with the kind of switchable defense that Mark Adams runs. His toughness will also be a culture fit in Lubbock. Watch for Fisher to be a major part of the Red Raiders' success this season.
5. MJ Rice, SF, Kansas
While the back court for KU this year is a bit questionable, the forward group is undeniably talented. Ignoring Jalen Wilson, who has made it on some preseason lists for all-conference and even third-team all-America, the Jayhawks brought in two five-star forwards who will have an immediate impact. A three-level scorer, Rice, though undersized for his position from a height standpoint, is built, meaning when he drives, he can finish through contact. At 225, he has a grown man's body at 18 years old. He has NBA aspirations and a build that can keep him there. He's also a solid rebounder and defender. Rice will be an important part of Kansas' rotation this season.
4. Arterio Morris, PG/SG, Texas
Morris may be the most talented player in the Big 12 that might not start this year. Ranked 15th overall in his class and second at his position, Arterio Morris will get plenty of playing time even if he isn't a starting guard at Texas this year. A highly athletic, big combo guard with decent shooting splits, people often say he reminds them of Victor Oladipo of Indiana fame. Morris will be an NBA player eventually, and may leave after one year to go pro – he has the talent to do so. How Chris Beard will use Morris' talents remains to be seen, but the important thing for Texas is that these talents exist.
3. Gradey Dick, SF, Kansas
Gradey Dick is a SHOOTER - all caps for a reason. The guy can shoot from anywhere on the floor. He can shoot off screens, he can shoot off the dribble, he can spot up. He's arguably the best at this skill in the class along with Keyonte George, who we will get to in a minute. His 6'7 frame allows him to shoot over shorter defenders, making him an NBA prospect similar to a guy like Duncan Robinson (though Robinson is a bit taller at 6'9). Adding Dick to the set of forwards that Kansas has really gives them an impressive front court, with a mix of skillsets, from Rice's physicality to Dick's sniping. Kansas once again reloads with talent, and no one should be surprised to see them at the top of the conference once again.
2. Dillon Mitchell, SF, Texas
One of the highest-flying, most fun prospects in this class is Texas Longhorns freshman Dillon Mitchell from Montverde Academy, a small forward who will be a lottery pick, even in the stacked 2023 draft grouping. Arguably the best athlete in his high school class, which is saying something, Mitchell has an impressive vertical leap, but can do a lot more than just jump out the gym. He's an extremely skilled cutter, meaning he's a menace coming off of screens because of his foot speed. He moves like a gazelle, and this lends itself to an innate ability to run the floor in transition. With so many impressive athletes, Texas should be a more exciting team to watch than they have been in a long time.
1. Keyonte George, SG, Baylor
My number one impact freshman in the conference is Baylor shooting guard Keyonte George, a walking bucket in every sense of the word. He's physical, has an impressive vertical, and can shoot the lights out. A problem for any opposing defense, George can pull up from anywhere and score, and will be one of the best shooters in the conference on a team that boasts two of the best shooters already in LJ Cryer (46.8% on 5.8 attempts per game) and Adam Flagler (38.7% on 6.1 attempts). He adds to what already was probably the best guard group in the conference. His addition makes them arguably the best in the nation. Overall, George will be a top-10 pick, and probably closer to the front end of that. Baylor has had elite guard play for years now, and things will be no different this year in Waco.
***
Album Review: Townes Van Zandt: Townes Van Zandt (1969)
It doesn't get much more Texan than legendary artist Townes Van Zandt, responsible for folk tunes like Lungs and Pancho and Lefty. Steve Earle once said, "Townes is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." Though the statement embarrasses Earle in retrospect, its effect remains. Generations of songwriters adore Van Zandt's music and lyrics, and he is one of the most influential artists not just in this great state, but in the entire country. His music talks often about the struggles of poverty, addiction, and mental health issues, as he suffered from bipolar disorder and alcohol abuse throughout his life. Van Zandt passed away from a heart attack in 1997 at age 52, but his music lives on. Here's a review of self-titled first album, released in 1969.
1. The opening track, For the Sake of the Song, sets the tone for the album, and really, his entire catalogue. This melancholy track discusses his handling of an emotional woman's dumping of her problems on him, and how he is detached from the situation, unable to help her with her issues because of his own. It's brutally honest and displays the self-awareness for which his lyrics are so famous.
2. The next song, Columbine, is simply an ode to nature, discussing the petals of a flower, how they dance in the wind, and other representations of the natural world. It's a beautiful tribute to simplicity, an appreciation for these things. It's a rare uplifting track in a catalogue full of all-too-real songs about the pains of life.
3. Waiting Around to Die is a more typical Townes song. "I guess I'll keep on gambling / lots of booze and lots of rambling / it's easier than just waiting around to die," he croons over an acoustic guitar. The hedonistic nature of the song is an indication of the heavy mindset he trudged around with in life, that the only real pleasures are physical, and that the rest is difficulty and struggle. The song is several vignettes of different situations in his life that led to his eventual new addiction, codeine: "he's the nicest thing I've seen," he sings near the end of the last refrain.
4. Don't Take it Too Bad is a song about trying to deal with the good and the bad that comes in life through a conversation he's having with a woman. It's partially a love song, but, like many of his works, it has multiple meanings, and there are many ways to interpret how he feels. His relationship with this woman seems to be the only saving grace at this point, and he expresses that to her through this track.
5. The next song is Colorado Girl, which is about seeking a girl in the Sunshine State, using lots of nature metaphors to discuss his feelings for her. It's another song about his seeking something outside of himself, something to quell the pain. His love for this woman illuminates his life, a motif throughout this record: a woman can change how a man feels about life.
6. Lungs, my favorite of Townes' songs and one of my favorite songs ever written, is a partially metaphorical, partially literal description of his fight with pneumonia, his inability to breathe. "Won't you lend your lungs to me? Mine are collapsing" is the first line of the song. This is the more literal part of the song before he goes into a more abstract, ethereal description of his feelings. The themes bleed into each other so that it's hard to know exactly what he means throughout the track.
7. The next song on the album is I'll Be Here in the Morning. "Close your eyes, I'll be here in the morning / close your eyes, I'll be here for a while," he sings in the refrain, reassuring his partner that he won't leave in the middle of the night. It's a representation of what his relationship is like, that he's flighty, that he's unpredictable, but that, at least for the night, he will stay.
8. Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel is a song about being used, a song about a woman that burns through boyfriends until she's tired of them and dumps them off, hence the term "carousel." He's intoxicated on her love, but he realizes he's a "clown," and that the relationship is ending, thus, the "laughter has all died down." Again, his piercing self-awareness makes the song what it is.
9. The penultimate song on Van Zandt's self-titled album is Maria, also known as Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria, is a love song full of natural imagery, like many songs on the record. He describes infatuation with this woman throughout the song. He'll "chase after shadows," doing anything to get close to her.
10. None but the Rain, the final track on this album, is about breaking up, as well as moving on in life. "But summer's gone now / our walkin's done," he sings, representing what could be the end of a relationship with a woman. It's a fitting end to an album whose two main focuses are the pains of life and how a woman can change these feelings of hopelessness. The ultimate hopelessness comes when a breakup happens and a person sees beyond the red-tinted glasses through which he's been viewing life.
