THE LATEST LINE: SEMO HOOPS HAS GIVEN US PLENTY TO TALK, WRITE ABOUT

As a member of the news media who is always looking for an interesting and unusual story, what Southeast Missouri State University's basketball program has given us over the past year or so is hard to beat.

First, we had the Ron Shumate saga, the tale of a longtime successful Division II coach who runs into plenty of problems once his school makes the move up to Division I.

Shumate -- who I liked personally and respected professionally as a great basketball mind -- had some tremendous Division II teams that ranked among the best in the country.

He had trouble winning in Division I, which was to be expected, considering the restrictions placed upon the program during its first five years at the highest level. But then Shumate ran into trouble with the NCAA...

Which started a wild ride, not only for newspaper people who write about local happenings but also for sports fans who enjoy talking about what's going on.

First, Shumate and his entire coaching staff are let go in May of 1997 amid an NCAA investigation. That prompts plenty of accusations from Shumate, who basically says that SEMO administrators have been out to get him for some time and he has run the cleanest basketball program in America.

Then the next month, Gary Garner is selected out of an impressive group of finalists to take over the Indians' basketball program.

Garner leads the Indians to a 14-13 record, their first winning season in five years, then a short time after the season concludes -- in April of this year -- SEMO's basketball program is hit with a three-year NCAA probation for alleged violations committed during Shumate's regime.

Shumate continues to say that he basically did nothing wrong, although the NCAA says different.

Then another short while after the probation is announced, one of Shumate's former assistant coaches, Randy Curl, is charged with felony stealing in a case that relates to the alleged NCAA violations. The trial is held last month and Curl is found innocent.

And then just this past week, we learn that Garner has had some serious talks with the Chicago Bulls about joining the organization of the six-time NBA champions as an assistant coach.

Fortunately, at least for anybody who follows SEMO hoops and has come to respect, admire and genuinely like the man -- like I have -- Garner ends talks with the Bulls and decides to remain in Cape Girardeau. He receives a decent pay raise and a five-year contract extension.

Garner is, in my opinion, a great coach and an equally fine person who is going to lead the Indians to some exciting and highly successful times in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Anyway, all I can say is... Whew! What a whirlwind of activity.

Following all of these interesting stories is challenging and fun, but they do tend to take it out of you.

I'm just about ready for some basic, simple sports action -- where all the excitement happens inside the lines instead of outside them.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian