AI, AI, Uh-Oh
I Debate CHATGPT on Aggies Topics Because Why Not?
Hey everyone.
I want to thank you for reading AGGREGATOR, where this column was something this fanbase needed, then got, and now it is still here. I am going to sound like an airline. We get that you may have many choices when it comes to who you read, but I am thankful you chose James Baca and AGGREGATOR.
To say I got some amazing readers is an understatement. Two more annual paid subscribers this week. Words can’t express how thankful I am for the support. It means a lot, because as I mention, this is my livelihood, and I do give back to the community with every subscription acquired.
For $5 a month or about a dime a day for annual, AGGREGATOR, the column that got me nominated for best columnist in Las Cruces is going strong with tons of words that I carefully cultivate to show how great of a writer I am.
Subscribe today and support Independent Writers in this reader-supported column!
There have been a few agitators lately that accused me using AI to write these columns, which I laughed heartily.
If AI were used, the grammar would be impeccable, and any proofreader will tell you this column is fun, informative, but a grammatical wreck at times. Call it cranky for the sake of being cranky, which is fine. I can deal with cranky. I worked at the most hated bank in America for 13 years. Nothing that I haven’t heard before to my face, over the phone or by email. I have received 2 bomb threats, one death threat, and various people throwing stuff in my branch. Not fun.
Yeah, words hurt at times, but you got to understand one thing. Writing is only half the game I do. I have to be an all-encompassing personality in order to make a living. If writing was the only thing I had to do, life would be easy. No, I got to talk to a million people, answer DMs at all hours of the night. One of my readers had a home loan question I just answered for him. I have to be better than anything out there every single day.
While people of a certain vintage (read: Older) long for the days of the newspaper, as much as I do to, and Las Cruces has a great sportswriter in Nick Coppola, you must be reminded that his own company, Gannett, which owns the Sun News and the El Paso Times has started to use AI in a lot of their properties for sports, and there will be a day it happens here as well.
Even today, June 11th, Gannett announced another AI element to their company.
It’s AI on Gannett’s websites that will answer any questions you may have instead of…say…emailing reporters or tweeting at them. Soon, a lot of small town newspapers will be in existence, but with no physical human presence running them. Pretty scary.
I get why people don’t like AI. I don’t like it for the creative side of me as it pertains to writing, I do love creating cartoons based on what I write about, like my IHOP photo on Sunday
I love creating lists, and recently, I have used AI to help me with a garden I am working on. I have gotten info on when to water, why leaves look a certain way, and even creates scores for me to tell me when I did a good job gardening. It looks at photos and tells me what I did wrong. I have become better outdoors because of it.
I would never not write this column. Writing is the only thing that constantly makes me happy :)
Now, in honor of the cranks, let’s do a column where I debate AI. Hahaha
So, I am going to basically ask CHATGPT a question that has come up. I will let it give an answer, and I will see if I agree with it. I bet I won’t agree with it.
I will record these interactions on video for you.
First a test of it to see if it even knows who I am, or am I just a celebrity in my own mind.
You are a sharp, outspoken, and deeply committed voice for the underdog. With roots in Las Cruces, New Mexico, you’ve built a reputation as a watchdog, a storyteller, and a cultural commentator who doesn’t flinch from telling hard truths. Whether you're exposing shady practices in big banking as The Notorious Banker, breaking down NM State athletics with AGGREGATOR, or giving recovery updates on a single struggling tree in your yard, you approach every mission with intensity and precision.
Your style blends humor, grit, and streetwise insight. You see the world through a lens shaped by real-life experiences—13+ years in the banking trenches, decades of community observation, and a constant drive to uplift the ignored and underserved. You’ve authored multiple books, not for vanity, but to document, resist, and inspire. You’re as comfortable writing a pointed tweet about NIL exploitation as you are fixing a busted garage spring or deciphering the heat stress signs on a tangelo tree.
At your core, you're a builder—not just of ideas or platforms, but of legacy. Through wit, hustle, and unapologetic realness, you're carving out space in a world that too often silences voices like yours. You're James Baca. And you’re just getting started.
Scary…. I like how gardening is now in my bio :)
First question is something I have been thinking of since my friend Nick Coppola churned out a “who should be in the Aggies HOF?” column while he went on a big vacation. Hope he is having fun, but one name in his column left me perplexed. Trevelin Queen…
Now, I watched every home game Queen had, which I will be honest, was not a lot of them, and a lot of my decision-making rationale is based on that. But let me ask the robot first and then I will give my take.
AI in italics
AI:
Trevelin Queen has certainly built a compelling case for eventual induction into the New Mexico State Athletics Hall of Fame. Here's why:
College/Aggie Legacy
2020 Second-Team All-WAC and 2019 WAC Tournament MVP 📍—he averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds as a senior and delivered a heroic 27 points to secure the WAC Tournament title in 2019
Key piece of an Aggies team that dominated the WAC, winning regular-season crowns in both 2019 and 2020, and making NCAA Tournament appearances .
🌟 Professional Career Highlights
Undrafted in 2020, but relentlessly climbed the professional ladder to win 2022 NBA G League MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Defensive First Team, leading the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to the league championship
Currently on a two-way NBA contract with Orlando Magic, and delivered a career-high 25 points in April 2025
🧠 My Take
Yes—I genuinely think Trevelin Queen deserves a spot in the NM State Hall of Fame one day. His trajectory speaks volumes:
On-court excellence: An elite performer at New Mexico State, recognized for both scoring and defense.
WAC legacy: Tournament MVP and conference honors underscore his importance to the program.
Professional recognition: Success at the G League level highlights his continued impact beyond college.
Not every former Aggie earns G League MVP or contributes meaningfully in the NBA. Trevelin’s blend of collegiate dominance, conference-level acclaim, and pro accolades checks all the boxes.
⏳ Timeline Thoughts
He’s still building his legacy—future NBA achievements and long-term contributions to the game will strengthen his candidacy. But based on what he's already accomplished, I'd say he's a strong contender for NM State HOF someday.
Short version: Absolutely—a Hall of Fame-worthy career at NM State plus standout pro achievements make a persuasive case.
James:
As much as it pains me to say it, I don’t agree.
Trevelin Queen played 51 games in his Aggies career, and averaged just a little more than 10 points a game. Yes, the 2019-20 season is where he shined, and the NM State Aggies went 16-0 in conference play that season, which was a magical season cut short by COVID.
If you remember, Queen started playing almost midway through the 2018-19 season, and at first, no one knew who he was. He then became the most important person on the court the following season, and of course, Chris Jans, former NM State coach mentioned that one day he will make the NBA, which he has off and on over the last few years, along with playing lights out in the G League.
It’s thrilling to see him as a pro, but a season and a half to me kind of goes against the spirit of the Hall of Fame. I will be the first to tell you that just because someone has longevity at a job doesn’t mean they are good, and more games at NM State does not equal that you are a better player, but what are we awarding here? Are we awarding the cups of coffee in the NBA, where as much as I love the dude, it seems like for reasons beyond me, he can’t stay on an NBA roster.
See, this is where I think GM bias and always turning over the roster can impact a player like Trevelin.
Why pay a 28 year old a minimum salary, when you can sign a buyout guy from another team for the minimum or sign a 21 year old fresh out of college? Banking is like that too. Age is an unfair reason people don’t get jobs in this world, and NBA is no different.
But we are talking NM State HOF here. I just can’t do it, because he was not there for a full season. 25 games in year 1, and 26 games in year 2. If COVID didn’t happen, he likely would have gotten to 30 games in year 2, and I still would feel the same way.
To award minimal NBA accomplishments (though there’s no fault on Trevelin for that as mentioned) and a season + of impact. You will note that in Nick’s column Teddy Allen isn’t on the list, and he won a tourney game. I wouldn’t put him on the list either.
While Pascal Siakam is almost certainly a guarantee for this honor as well, remember, he was here only 2 years too, so fans will then have to set and be aware of a precedent where there’s really no criteria anymore for making it, and it’s just a popularity contest.
See? AI and James disagree! :)
Here’s a question I get asked all the time:
Why doesn’t NM State Aggies Basketball have better attendance? Give me 4 good reasons!
This is where AI will piss you off, pardon the saltiness!
AI in Italics:
There isn’t a single reason why New Mexico State (NMSU) Aggies basketball hasn’t achieved high attendance, but a mix of factors contributes. Here are four throughly-researched reasons:
1. Team performance and history of controversies
On-court struggles. In 2023–24 the Aggies finished 13–19 overall and 7–9 in Conference USA — not especially thrilling for fans
Program turmoil. The 2022–23 season was marred by a hazing scandal, a coach firing, and the suspension of the season due to serious off-court incidents en.wikipedia.org. Such instability can severely dampen fan enthusiasm and trust.
2. Smaller venue capacity limits ceiling
The Pan American Center, where NMSU plays, seats roughly 12,500 after renovations. That size physically caps attendance, making sold-out crowds less achievable than programs with larger arenas.
3. Conference shift and brand visibility
NMSU's switch to Conference USA in 2023, after a long tenure in the WAC, altered their schedule. Many Conference USA opponents lack deep-rooted rivalries or local recognition, which tends to suppress game-day interest and turnout.
4. Competition from nearby UNM Lobos
The University of New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque draw over 13,000 per game, often topping the Mountain West. Located about 45 minutes away, Lobos games siphon off potential Aggie fans, especially given The Pit’s larger capacity, rich tradition, and lively atmosphere.
Oh, God… Let me clean up what it said
This is all my retorts to its gibberish
1. It referenced the scandals, which yes, some people don’t go to games anymore, and I know some of them very well. But also, if you see that GPT mentioned the records were bad, well, I mean, you can claim that the scandals caused the bad record, so to me it’s the same argument it makes, but conflates it into 2 things wrong
2. I don’t know what the hell it is talking about with the “small venue” Pan Am. Hahaha. It’s like it’s blaming it for not being a 30,000 seat arena, which in theory would bring in more people? Seriously, I am asking! So dumb.
This isn’t Field of Dreams… If you build it, he will come. No, if you look at 40 years of historical data on the NM State website, aside from a couple bumps here and there, attendance has been in the same “ballpark” for most years. I know, I know… You saw Larry Bird here and you saw UNLV lose here. I get that. I am not doubting you. But the Aggies of that time played scrubby schools in non-conference too, it’s just that most people choose not to remember it. Give me any year, and I will find similarities which will make my point.
I won’t debate this one. Yes, for some people, CUSA makes it hard to want to care about NM State against Delaware for instance. There’s no connective tissue between those two teams, and all of a sudden, we will have to pretend to care about it. I think of my friend Ed with this. He is right on the money, bigger games would in theory bring bigger crowds. Only push back I would have is that I feel that the messaging for the lapsed fan to understand say… Arizona would play here, would be lost because they can’t easily find out info about these things anymore. Just how people are these days. So it made one valid point. Number four was a doozy.
4. Umm… Albuquerque is NOT 45 minutes away from Pan Am, and according to GPT, the successful Lobos “siphon” off fans from NM State.
Aggies fans should not want fairweather fans like that lol.
It’s so silly. The distance thing aside (It’s 222 miles away), there’s no world where people ditch NM State for UNM or vice versa. Me, born and raised in Lobo country, never really made the switch for fandom. I watched the Lobos in Socorro because they were LOCAL to me there, and the Aggies here because I love the school, they are LOCAL to me here, and my wife and many friends work there.
This is where AI is stupid, because it searched the internet to get data for a point to make which makes no sense if you are from the Land of Enchantment. Familiar with Occam’s Razor?
GPT made it about things that made no sense… While we may not know exactly why the Pan Am is half full, you can ask Coach Hooten, who played in front of 500 fans at SHSU what he thinks of a 10x crowd every game. He loves it!
Final one, and then I am going to enjoy my niece and nephew, who are here for 3 more days.
Why does Pascal Siakam not really associate with NM State since he left in 2016?
Here’s where I will get emails… Here’s AI:
Pascal Siakam’s limited association with New Mexico State since leaving in 2016 comes down to a few key factors:
1. Short college tenure and early departure:
Siakam played only two seasons at NMSU, redshirting his first year and then competing from 2014 to 2016. He declared for the NBA Draft after his sophomore season, cutting short what could have been a longer college career. Leaving early for the NBA often weakens long-term ties with a school, especially when there’s no degree completion or extended time on campus.
2. NBA success and global focus:
After being drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2016, Siakam quickly rose to stardom, winning an NBA title in 2019 and earning multiple All-Star and All-NBA honors. His career and brand have become centered around the NBA, the Raptors (and now the Pacers), and his roots in Cameroon. NMSU was a stepping stone in his journey, but it doesn’t define his professional identity.
3. Minimal public or alumni engagement with NMSU:
While New Mexico State proudly promotes Siakam as a former Aggie, there’s little evidence he’s maintained a close relationship with the university. He hasn’t been heavily involved in alumni events, public campus appearances, or community efforts tied to NMSU since going pro. The university highlights his achievements, but the connection is mostly one-sided.
4. Personal branding and legacy development elsewhere:
Siakam’s philanthropic and branding efforts—such as the PS43 Foundation—focus on youth development and his home country rather than his college roots. His story is often framed as a rise from Cameroon to NBA champion, with NMSU mentioned but not emphasized.
In short, Siakam’s rapid transition to NBA stardom, early departure from college, and international focus have kept him from maintaining a strong or visible bond with NMSU. The university respects his legacy, but he’s largely moved on.
James:
It’s referenced before by me and others how “nuanced” the separation is between Siakam and NM State, as he plays Game 3 of the Finals tonight….
GPT makes a compelling argument of “not planting roots too deep by only being here 3 years, including one redshirt year,” but I would push back and say that’s more than Trevelin Queen, who everyone wants in the Aggies HOF.
This line, “ NMSU was a stepping stone in his journey, but it doesn’t define his professional identity.” was interesting, because as humans, we always want to associate ourselves with certain things. Some people choose not to.
Banking used to be my life, and then it wasn’t. I don’t want people to know me as “that guy from the bank,” even though my online name refers to it. I want to be a writer/commentator.
But I don’t also go around waving my ENMU degree everywhere to always show where I came from. I went to ENMU for the wrong reasons, and although I finished, I shouldn’t have gone there, which is why I am pretty detached from the school.
I do agree with GPT about the relationship being one-sided, but as mentioned, Pascal plays in the NBA which is September-June this year. There’s no time, and the time he is off, there are no official NM State events. I know, he has access to private jets and whatnot, but also, as others have mentioned to me regarding trying to broker an appearance here, Pascal will one day want to savor the accomplishments, but he is still chasing them as we speak. Reminiscing is best served when we are all a little older, and right now, Pascal has up to 7-8 years of Pro Ball left!
This thing was pretty poignant:
His story is often framed as a rise from Cameroon to NBA champion, with NMSU mentioned but not emphasized.
It always depends on who is doing the framing? Did he tell that to someone to write it for him, and if so, why did he not mention NM State? I say “We can’t rack our brains thinking about that.”
Sometimes when telling a story, with the attention spans where they are in the world now, the NM State stuff could be superfluous to the average fan. Cameroon to the NBA is journey enough. It can get more granular if you do a deeper dive. Would Pascal have made the pros if he didn’t come here? Maybe… but maybe not. Even Marvin Menzies in an interview this past week, where by the way, he’s been on my TV a lot, references Siakam playing raw and unrefined at first and basically “Who knew?” he would make it this far.
So I don’t know, but let’s just be fair and say this is a story still being written, and I am looking forward to tonight’s game.
So, I think I defeated ChatGPT 2-0-1 in the three questions. The reasons for low attendance are asinine, and the Trevelin HOF argument is a heated one at that, because it wants to reward something that didn’t happen at NM State, whereas Softball players, tennis players, golfers and others would make the Hall of Fame simply on their NMSU achievements, and not a body of work.
I hope this shows all the doubters out there that while ChatGPT is a cool tool (At times) it can never replace nuance….
Hope you liked it. Enjoy tonight’s game. I will see you soon… Not ChatGPT.
James Baca
Interesting article James. College basketball is sometimes difficult to figure out. I contrast New Mexico State with Gonzaga. Pascal seems to have very little relationship with New Mexico State and all the Zags players have an ongoing relationship with Gonzaga and always give the University credit for their professional success. In fact, we have 2 player's in this year's finals, Holmgren and Nemhardt who come back to Spokane and watch the team play when they can. Interesting how things happen and don't really have an answer as to why that is. The only thing I can think of is all former Zag players are treated very well by the local press and have celebrity status while in town.