This is a sad chapter in Kansas Jayhawks history

Shift your mind to the contrary, with Michael Vick the Carolina Panthers can tap into a much under utilzed weapon in Steve Smith. With no quarterback of the future to step in for the aging Jake Delhomme; its hard to see them having much sucess in the upcoming years when you have to protect the quarterback from himself in every game.Michael Vick is a playmaker and would be a great fit in the Panthers scheme. With runningbacks as good as Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. He doesn't have to be the focal point of the offense like he was in Atlanta. Michael Vick at the helm would give this team a versatility that would put them into superbowl contention. Don't be too soon to forget that this team was 12-4 last year, but it was inspite of their quarterback play. If you watched any of the games last year you would be quick to agree.Most likely Carolina could get Vick for a 4th or 5th round pick Which could pay major dividends. It has been over stated that he's payed his due to society but that statement reigns true.

If the Panthers don't move switfly their window of opportunity will close and people in Carolina will be watching losing football for a long time. . Medical Device Veteran David Bruce Joins as President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer TEMECULA, Calif., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Patient Safety Technologies(OTC Bulletin Board: PSTX) today announced that David Bruce has joined thecompany as its President and Chief Executive Officer and will also join itsBoard of Directors. Bill Adams, the company's former Chief Executive Officerwill remain involved with the company as a consultant.David brings a breadth of experience successfully managing the growth ofmedical device businesses.Most recently, David was the Chief ExecutiveOfficer of EP MedSystems, Inc., a developer of electrophysiology devices,which was recently acquired by St. Jude Medical.Prior to EP MedSystems, hewas the General Manager of the intracardiac echo group of Siemens Medical Regarding joining the company, Mr. Bruce stated, "The Safety-Sponge(TM) Systemaddresses a persistent problem that costs U.S. hospitals a conservativelyestimated $700 million annually - retained surgical sponges.With keyadopters continuing to show outstanding results, this proven system is wellpositioned to achieve widespread adoption and allow our customers to not onlyoffer a higher standard of patient care but enable them to save money in theprocess." About Patient Safety TechnologiesPatient Safety Technologies, Inc.

The system is comprised of surgical spongesand towels affixed with an inseparable two-dimensional data matrix bar codeand a SurgiCounter scanner to record each sponge before and after anoperation. The SurgiCount Safety-Sponge(TM) System is also the only retainedsponge prevention system to offer complete sponge inventory tracking,reporting features and integration with a medical facility's IT system. Formore information, contact SurgiCount at (951) 587-6201, or visit Safety TechnologiesSurgiCount, 1-951-587-6201. The reason behind the Monday meeting between the entire Kansas Jayhawks football team and athletic director Lew Perkins has been finally revealed. The day before the Colorado game on Oct.

17 (yes, over a month ago) Kansas football coach Mark Mangino allegedly poked senior linebacker Arist Wright in the chest during practice, invoking Perkins to begin a full departmental review of Mark Mangino's treatment of student-athletes. Rumors are also circulating that Lew Perkins, much like an investigator for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, is soliciting concerns and complaints from former players' parents about Mark Mangino.With a game against Texas looming on Saturday and after five straight defeats, beginning with Colorado, the Kansas football program appears dangerously near the precipice. As much as a losing streak can put strains on a football team, it cannot be understated how much a semi-public athletic department investigation (filled with media leaks) into a coach's conduct can cut the legs out from under a coaching staff. We can only imagine the damage this is doing to Mark Mangino and Kansas's reputation on the all-important recruiting trail.Meanwhile, since the news broke a litany of the usual suspects in the area have been calling for Mangino's head. In today's Kansas City Star ,Jason Whitlock, who devotes a high percentage of his columns to advocating the firing of this or that local sports figure, argues that Mangino is simply to fat and mean to continue as Kansas's coach. Whitlock, who apparently is gifted with the ability of psychiatric diagnosis from afar, writes that Mangino is a deeply unhappy person because of his weight and that "every problem" Mangino has had at Kansas can be "blamed on his weight." Interestingly, Whitlock believes that all overly obese people are similarly pathologically unhappy and consequently mean to the people in their lives. I, for one, would like to see Whitlock explain his views to Oprah.This is a sad chapter in Kansas Jayhawks history. I have a hard time understanding the need for this investigation now, other than that it is intended topublicly humiliate Mangino and give Perkins' cause to fire him. Oh yes, have you heard, under Mangino's contract, which runs to 2012, if Mangino is fired with cause, the school will not have to buy him out. If I was legal counsel for the university though, I would advise Perkins to proceed cautiously. The complaints against Mangino, that he poked a player in the chest, that he is mean and that two years ago he was fined by the Big 12 for complaining about calls, could very well be viewed by a jury as not substantial enough to let KU off the hook. Especially considering the state of college football today, with all sorts of confrontational coaching styles being celebrated across the land. Including at KU, prior to this season.When asked why he thought his behavior was being investigated, Mangino responded that he he did not think anyone would be complaining if the Jayhawks were 5-1 in the Big 12 instead of 1-5. He is exactly right. Not to mention the basic fact that no matter the coach, there will always be fans, players, and parents who are rubbed the wrong way and become alienated from coaches and schools. I am sure you could even find former players who hate such lovable personalities as Lou Holtz if you looked hard enough. Different players respond to different coaches in different ways. Someone who may thrive under a Pete Carroll may struggle under a Mark Mangino, Bobby Knight or Bill Parcells, and vice-versa. College football and the education of young men will be better off if a diversity of coaching styles, including confrontational ones, is allowed to continue to exist.Lew Perkins should think twice before he fires Mark Mangino. Before this week Mangino, the 2007 Coach of the Year, had brought a degree of success and stability to one of the Big 12's traditional football cellar dwellers. It takes a real optimist and possibly someone who is delusional, to believe that a new coach could replicate Mangino's success. 2009 has been a tough year for the Jayhawks, but they are not the only team in the Big 12 to fail to live up to expectations. You don't see Oklahoma's athletic director investigating Bob Stoop's personality. And frankly, Mangino has done as much for KU as Stoops has for OU. Winning the Orange Bowl for Kansas is comparable to winning the National Championship for Oklahoma. Lew Perkins should be careful what he wishes for. . Automotive Manufacturers Continue to Focus Heavily on New Models and ProductsThrough Sustained Investment in New TechnologiesHybrid systems and electric & battery technology getting the greatestinvestment DETROIT, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ In the next five years automotivemanufacturers are expected to be intently focused on investing heavily in newmodels/products and new technologies to satisfy consumer demand in purchasingfuel efficient, affordable cars, according to an annual global survey by KPMGLLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.In the KPMG survey, based on interviews with 200 senior executives at vehiclemanufacturers and suppliers worldwide, 96 percent felt that fuel efficiencywill be the top factor driving consumer purchase decisions, but also ratealternative fuel, at 85 percent, and affordability, at 83 percent, high.To meet demand, the auto execs for the second successive year state thatmanufacturers are intent on keeping high levels of investment in new modelsand/or products.In fact, 91 percent, versus 94 percent a year ago, said thatinvestment will increase in new technologies in the next two years, and 92percent of those surveyed said they expect OEMs to increase investment in newtechnologies, slightly down from 93 percent.