Friday, December 28, 2007

quick heads up

I will be out of town starting tonight and going through the holiday.
Sorry for no new blogs until next Friday. I have a few vacation days that I will be using plus I should still be celebrating the Blackout at the Sugar Bowl

Happy New Year Everybody!

SHOULD you go undefeated in college basketball?

UNC won again last night and "The Body" Paul Mac should be excited about that. (though he was probably like me, watching Texas cover for Mack Brown's step-son as he touched a live ball in play) UNC is now 13-0 and #1 in the country, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Memphis is great, and Kansas is good. UCLA is talented. But UNC is on an entirely different level. They just are. They are undefeated, but can it last? Should it?

Every few years a team is undefeated going into its conference tournament and in the cases of St Joseph's and Stanford about 4 years ago, each lost early. But was that a bad thing? They got to rest going into the Big Dance, though neither won the tourney that year.

The last team to streak through completely undefeated was UNLV, who lost to Duke in the Final Four (1991, I am pretty sure). Indiana was able to run the clean undefeated sweep, but they played far fewer games then than they do now, so that record is a bit tarnished.

The real question is, SHOULD UNC, if they are undefeated entering the tourney, go for the unblemished mark? I saw yes, but I don't think they will make it unscathed.
Duke is young, but you play them in Cameron and those Crazies will get on you quick. I know UNC is the more talented and experienced team, but the home court neutralizes that.
NC State treats you like their Super Bowl every time you play, so watch out there. They have SOME skilled players.
UVA has a great point guard in Sean Singletary who can take over games late, plus their front court can throw waves at Psycho-T all night long.
Maryland has Gary Williams, a championship coach. The team may not be the strongest, but as one analyst once said, "he takes players with chips on their shoulders and paints them blue." He is a great coach.
Clemson has been known to upset a top ranked team before, but they haven't won in 43 tries EVER at the Dean Dome. Just watch out for Littlejohn Coliseum.
VaTech shouldn't be feared AT ALL and Miami, well they are undefeated now, but let's see when they play UNC.
Boston College lost some quality players, but always seem to show up with Al Skinner.
FSU and Georgia Tech...they both have talent, but are on the bottom tier of the conference.
Lastly Wake Forest, if you catch them on the wrong day, maybe they pull one out for Skip...(But they DID lose to UGA, so you have to immediately discount this team)

If UNC is undefeated going into the Conference tourney, WHY NOT try and win it all before running off 6 straight come March. If this team, with these players goes undefeated, it HAS to be looked at, in this age of players and schedules and teams as one of the best, IF NOT THEY BEST ever.

Great coach (maybe #3 all time behind Wooden and Smith, ahead of Knight and Coach K-sorry Rat-face)
REALLY fast Point Guard-Ty Lawson
Smooth shooter Wayne Ellington
Dominant Post Player Psycho T(yler Hansbrough)
great role player Marcus Ginyard

These guys are ready. I think this crew could beat the 2005 team, and had they played the Florida Gators last year, we are talking about THIS team repeating, not that team repeating. But they blew a late lead against Georgetown. That is something that shaped this team, Motivated this team and will be the reason they win it ALL this year.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

A Little too "Marissa" for her own good

I saw that Mischa Barton has been stopped by the real police and not just officer Stutts from The OC Chrismukkah: Episode 1.

Marissa er, Mischa, now 21 was arrested early Thursday morning in West Hollywood and according to yahoo "reportedly booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, possessing an illegal narcotic and driving with an invalid license." [I wonder if when she was pulled over, she "acted" confused. Give me "Drunk and Confused."]

According to hollyscoop.com, which first reported the incident, Barton was "tooling along in her white Range Rover when she was pulled over at the corner of La Cienega and Santa Monica boulevards."

The arrest report stated that she was pulled over at 2:46 a.m., booked at 3:10 a.m. at the nearby Sheriff's Department station and was still in custody as of 11 am. She's being held on $10,000 bail.

I guess she was trying to relive the glory days that were The OC. Good career move there, leaving the series early for a great career doing BeBe ads......but I guess she would have just done the same thing a few months later. Though, if Marissa was still on the show, maybe it doesn't get cancelled because Ryan becomes a cage fighter. But then we'd never have gotten to see the breakout performance of Taylor Townsend.......

But come on. Who DIDN'T see this coming? I wonder if, when pulled over she delivered her classic, signature line, "Hey!?"

2007-music's year of the woman!

Last week I detailed my (layman's) thoughts of the musical year that was 2007. But I left out many artists that in my opinion made a huge difference....why, because they all deserved separate recognition as they truly impacted 2007. Women were HUGE this year (musically speaking of course, unless you were talking about that one chick on American Idol. sorry, that was low)
Women singers were all over the place this year from Alicia Keys to Amy Winehouse to Feist to Colbie Caillat to Rihanna.

But let's start with Fergie. The former Black Eyed Peas star is now on her own (unless she goes back with the band, but from the looks of Will I Am's new "career" and her success, it doesn't look like she will have much interest) and she is kicking butt. She played her sexy card early and then dropped a serious number of "Big Girls Don't Cry" on us which gave her SOME credibility. Fergilicious was fantastic and earned her all the press on her workout routine. (Not quite Roger Clemens-esque, but then we now know he used steroids too in addition to punching rice.) She is hot, she sings catchy songs (that no one will remember in 5 years) but she is doing her thing, getting her name out there. Do I think eventually she will wind up doing bad movies before moving on to pose in Playboy before spiraling down to Cinemax porn? Yes I do, but what a fun ride it will be along the way.

Colbie Caillat, rhymes with Ballet. She only has the one song Bubbly out right now, but it is catchy. And she plays a little guitar too. I think I like her better than the chick out right now on that Rhapsody Music on your TV commercial girl who plays the piano. A fun little song that may start her on a Jewel-like rise. If she has HALF the career of Jewel, she will have been pretty successful.

Brandy Carlyle. I hope that's how you spell her name. I love the song where she sing-screams the end. The Story, I belive was what it was called. Dave FM played it a little too much, but what a great song

Feist. Speaking of commercials. The 1-2-3-4 song for the new I-pod was REALLY annoying to the point that I called it the earwig song. But after a while, whenever it came on you were pissed, but you were humming it for the rest of the afternoon, and JUST when you had forgotten it, it came on again. And you KNEW it was the i-pod song too. So the commercial worked. I went to you-tube and watched the entire video and it Certainly got stupid in a hurry, but the party they show you on the commercial is the only "good" part of the song, but it was in your ear, and if you don't do the little dance, I don't believe you have a soul.

Rihanna. Boy did she come on strong this year. Forget her SOS stuff. I am talking about Umbrella with Jay-Z. Then she was on several magazine ads and covers. She is famous now and even though she was obvie lip synching on So You Think You Can Dance, she is hot and her songs have a good beat. She is a bone-a-fied star right now.

Alicia Keys. She can FLAT OUT SING. Her newest song No One is great, though sure to be repeated ad nausem on American Idol this year. She is this generation's Whitney Houston, only without the cocaine, because I am sure that, if she DID do it, she could afford the real stuff. Keys can straight up sing and she is trying her darnedest to get away from the MTV spotlight and do real music. But that spotlight is so hard to escape from. I hope she can get out of it and just sing. She could go down as one of the greats that maybe 30 years from now, Simon Cowell Jr is talking about on American Idol:Season 37.

Pink, Nora Jones & Gwen not a huge year from any of these, but they still deserve mentioning as at least Nora can musically do it. Gwen I think had a baby or something and Pink's music is crap, but Nora is good. When is she coming out with new stuff?

The Spice Girls got back together. YES. Life is SOOO much better when the Spice Girls are together. Their new song...I love it. Well not really, but it IS fun that the Spice Girls are back and Sporty Spice isn't homeless anymore.

Finally....the REAL story of the year Amy Winehouse. Wow. She is SOOOOO talented. Her voice reminds me a a 1920 jazz singer at a speak easy. Plus she plays music has that jazzy feel to it. It is a VERY big-deep voice for such a little nymph that she is. As for her problems with drinking and what-not, I don't care. Drugs made the Beatles better. Drinking made Bob Dylan better. Maybe her problems will make her a better artist. It could happen. But she has a great voice, she makes GREAT music, let's just hope she can keep her demons under control so we can get a few more great albums from her.
(Note: I am NOT saying Drinking and Drugging is a GOOD thing, but I am saying that if it works for her......As for a sportsbyfletch PSA: Drugs are bad.)

So for 2008, I want more Amy Winehouse and more Timbaland beats. Let's put those two hands together.....

Newport Harbor-Thanksgiving Episode

As the episode began, apparently Chrissy is pretty popular with her sor-whore crew at UCSB....or maybe these girls just want to be on TV. Honestly, does she think she is THAT popular, or IS it the TV cameras following her around? She has people wanting to come home with her for Thanksgiving...I mean MY parents would understand that instead of visiting with family I am so shallow I want to be on TV for 8 seconds as Fletcher "Chrissy's Friend". Yeah. That would fly over REALLY well with the FAM.

Then we see that Grant and Clay are discussing a party where Grant says Clay needs to get out there with two or three or more girls. Grant though looked a little rough though with the scruffy beard and the tips....he MAY want to shave at some point. Neckbeard was beginning. That isn't cool.

One final Billy/Chrissy encounter takes place before the two leave for Holiday and Billy suggests that if Chrissy "can get away, come on up to San Jose." Let's see...that's only a 5 hour trip. Yeah, Chrissy, if you have a spare 5 hours to just "get away" maybe you could hop on a plane and go for a visit. Can some one tell Billy that the max distance to "get away" is 45 minutes tops. That is IT. 5 hours?

Next we see Taylor and some girl "friend" getting makeup put on them while they are talking and Taylor is chewing gum. If I was the makeup apply-person I would have told her #1 spit the gum out #2 can you not wait 50 seconds to have this conversation? I bet it is hard to apply eyeliner and other forms of makeup while you are CHEWING GUM AND TALKING

As dinner approached apparently ALL of UCSB came to Chrissy's house to eat Thanksgiving dinner and as the girls go around the table to say what they are thankful for, Sasha doesn't give thanks for her Boob job. Interesting.

So Grant and Clay are BBQ-ing and later hanging in the hot tub when Taylor and friend come over. Like a Persian King, Grant claps his hands, demands that Tay and friend change into swimsuits, AND IT HAPPENS! If I tried this with any of my friends, I'd get the finger. Grant, I am sorry I told you to shave. Whatever you are doing is working. Keep it up.

Allie and her fat friend she only keeps around to boost her self esteem are talking on camera for 20 seconds, with Allie talking for 15 seconds (approximate) and she drops 18 "like"s. That is more than 1 per second! She had 7 in one sentence. Wait, if you use 7 "like"s in one sentence, is it still a sentence?

As the climax party scene is on its way, we see Grant(in a nice scarf according to the bride to be) and Clay talking about girls from all sorts of schools going to be there. Clay doesn't really seem interested in any of them, until Chrissy shows up, in which case he is ALL over them. And Chrissy gets pissed because she obvie still likes him. Sasha has to remind her that SHE was the one that broke up with HIM. (but it was really no one's fault)

ALso in this episode was a stupid story line about how Chase really likes Chrissy's sor-whore sister and he travels to the Whale's Vagina (San Diego) to meet her parents. Note to Chase: when Dad asks you want you want to do with your life...DON'T SAY, "I HAVE NO IDEA." Maybe get a plan together. Or JUST PLAIN LIE. TELL HIM SOMETHING! And I guess they finally break up? Maybe? were they together? Like I said, STUPID STORY LINE.

So Chrissy realizes that she still likes Clay, probably only because Billy (whom Grant called a douche-why did I EVER doubt Grant?) isn't there. He is waiting for Chrissy to drop in from 5 hours away.

In next week's episode it looks like Chrissy will try and get Clay back? I guess she hasn't seen Billy and his Justin-Bobby hood in a while, so she like Clay. I was hoping that maybe Clay and Taylor or Allie would get together so we can just watch them on a date sit in silence ala Jason and LC on the Hills.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Mid-week entertainment report

Happy Boxing Day everybody! If you didn't get what you wanted yesterday for Christmas, just Box it up, take it back, get store credit and get what you DO what.
Now then....ON to the entertainment report. I won't be as mean since it is STILL the holiday season.

BOY MEETS WORLD, GIRL MEANS JAIL CELL
I saw where Danielle Fishel aka Topanga from Boy Meets World was arrested late last week on a drunken driving warrant from Los Angeles County. Apparently Fishel was arrested last Thursday morning 5 a.m. after officers stopped a car she was in, this according to Newport Beach Sgt. James Rocker. She was released from jail shortly after her arrest. The real question is, what was she doing driving around semi-DUI at 5 am? Was she on the way home on a "drive of shame?" Or is it a case of "Beer: It's not just for breakfast anymore?"
Fishel spent more than seven years playing Topanga, at first Corey's weird girl classmate, then his girlfriend after she sprouted tah-tahs. Seriously she used to be a freak-o. You CAN'T tell me that the writers saw the story arc of the freak TOTALLY stop being a freak only to turn out MORE normal that Corey? And what happened to Meekus?
I didn't realize until I saw IMDB that the show lasted that long. It really should have been Boy Met World, Turned into a wussy Man and only THEN Did we Stop the Show. The Show was a little long and it was a stretch to bring back Mr. Feeney to teach at college. Interesting, the guy's teaching degree was good from 5th grade, through high school, through college? Interesting.
Lastly, Matt Lawrence as Shawn Hunter's HALF brother? And the ever-so-popular apperances by Big Van Vader REALLY made the show worth watching. Ben Savage, you sir, are NO Fred Savage!

ARE THEY GOING TO CHANGE THE NAME?
So the LOST cast gets off the island this season? That is if the writers' strike ends, right? Kind of defeats the purpose of the show doesn't it? I guess I will now use the joke everyone uses to shootdown my show PrisonBreak, I guess they aren’t LOST anymore! How can they be lost back home? And FMI.........if a plane goes down, doesn't whatever airline send out another plane to look for it? I just don't get it.

JAY-Z RETIRES, AGAIN
So Jay-Z is stepping down from his post at Def Jams. To be honest, I didn't know he ever had a position there. And I thought he retired from "the rap game?" I love his stuff, so I hope he doesn't (the Black Album was great) but this guy has retired more times than Tu-Pac has died.

Tomorrow we'll have up the Newport Harbor blog and of course Part 2 of the Music year in review. Happy Boxing Day Everybody

Friday, December 21, 2007

All I want for Sports Christmas

So this is not exactly my grown-up Christmas list, this is more my Sports Christmas list. Here we go…….. (PS, if this looks exactly like my post on www.790thezone.com, then opps my bad.)

A time machine for the Atlanta Hawks. I figure Billy Knight would gladly jump in and go back to the 2005 Draft and hand the commissioner the card reading Chris Paul’s name instead of Marvin Williams’ name. Paul is a guy that won Rookie of the Year, is widely considered to be one of the best point guards in the game now, and he will probably RUN the league in 4 years. Meanwhile Marvin Williams doesn’t play defense. With this time machine does Knight still pass on a guy that won an ACC rookie of the year title and was Player of the Year in a few polls for a guy that wasn’t even a starter on his college team? Or maybe the Hawks don’t allow Knight access to the time machine, they go back and hire a different GM.

A bag of unmarked bills in the 160 Million range for whoever is in charge at the Atlanta Braves Organization. Give it to Frank Wren, John Schuerholz or whichever guy writes the checks and tell him to simply HAND the bag to Mark Teixeira. This way Big Tex will man First Base for the next eight years and anchor the lineup for that time too. The Bravos let Andruw go so they COULD sign this guy. Let’s go ahead and do it. Plus, I just want SOME ONE else to be the highest paid player on the team besides Mike Hampton.

A copy of the “Best of the SEC 2007” DVD to be given to the Atlanta Falcons. They can see how good Darren McFadden is and therefore select him this year in the draft. The DVD works two-fold because they will have seen how good Tim Tebow, Matthew Stafford and John Parker Wilson will be for next year’s draft, when clearly they will STILL have a top five pick. They can take McFadden now and Stafford next year and have quite a little team instead of Brian Brohm now and then another QB in 4 years.

A state football title for Cobb County. North Cobb was the state’s No. 1 AAAAA going into the playoffs before being upset in the first round. Walton then had to knock out Harrison in order to advance to the quarterfinals. Then Walton fell this past weekend in the semi-finals at the Georgia Dome. It has been 40 years since Marietta won Cobb a state title. It will be at least one more before Cobb can end its drought.

A roommate for Michael Vick in jail named Barry Bonds. These two guys are looking at hard time for various infractions. Maybe they can talk about how they messed up Hall of Fame careers by doing something stupid. Maybe they can bunk together so neither gets shived by a jealous cellmate

My final Sports Christmas wish is some R-E-S-P-E-C-T for June Jones and Hawaii. That way maybe he will shut up about how much Hawaii doesn’t get any. Look June, your team made the BCS by beating Northern Colorado, Charleston Southern and winning the Power conference that is the WAC. The Warriors were selected over the Missouri Tigers, only ranked No. 1 entering the final week of the season and who is STILL ranked above you in the BCS polls. So please, enough about a lack of respect. Beat Georgia and maybe the country will give you some respect.

Last year I got all of my sports wishes granted: a BCS bowl for UGA, playoff hockey for Atlanta, and more commercial opportunities for Peyton Manning.
Merry Christmas everybody!

Bowl time baby!

Bowl Time baby!
The most wonderful time of the year, and no, there will be NO scary ghost stories....unless we are discussing Colt Brennan's sexual assault. HA!

with no further ado, and no more gilding of the lily....

Last night was the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia where Utah beat Navy. Sweet, I had Utah in that one. Fantastic, I am off to a great start. Enjoy and see you after Christmas!

R+L Carriers New Orleans BowlMemphis vs. Florida Atlantic This FAU's first bowl ever. weren't they 0-11 last year? Ummmmm go with FAU

Papajohns.com BowlSouthern Miss vs. Cincinnati I would rather have the MellowMushroom Bowl. Or the Domino's Deep Dish. Or the CiCi's Bowl! Or the Little Caesar's Crazy Bread Bowl Or the Pizza Hut thin crust Bowl. All of those before Papa Johns.......Take The Fighting Larrys. Cincinnata

New MexicoNevada vs. New Mexico I am guessing New Mexico ALWAYS plays in the New Mexico bowl? As Jack Kelly would say, go with Santa Fe!

Pioneer Las VegasUCLA vs. BYU UCLA is sans coach, IN VEGAS. Ummmm go with the Mormons. They are going to close off EVERYTHING and create a bubble for their players in Sin City. No distractions AT ALL. Cougars.

Sheraton HawaiiBoise State vs. East Carolina Ian Johnson should have waited for HAWAII to propose to his cheerleader girlfriend-now wife. And they are playing ECU? Gotta go with Boise State, though they MAY be distracted by NOT playing on blue turf.

Motor CityPurdue vs. Central Michigan Nothing says Day after Christmas quite like the Motor City Bowl. Ps, these teams already played this year. There may be too many bowl games if you are getting REMATCHs of games where one team was PAID to come in and get stomped. Though they say "it is so hard to beat the same team twice in one year," Go with Purdue AGAIN

Pacific Life HolidayArizona State vs. Texas Prolly the best PRE-New Years Day game. ASU is gearing up for UGA next year. I hope they don't look ahead, because Colt will thrash them. In fact, I think Texas wins anyways. But I want ASU to win so they will be top 10 next year when UGA goes THERE and tags them.

Champs SportsBoston College vs. Michigan State Hey BC, you won the Atlantic Division of the ACC (or was it the coastal?) then you lost to VaTech and you end up in the Champs Sports Bowl? sucks for you guys. I have a feeling they will be the stereotypical "it sucks we are here team" which ALWAYS loses. Go with Sparty

Texas TCU vs. Houston Steers and queers, and I don't see any horns as CT would say..............Wait, Horned Frogs. They win.

EmeraldMaryland vs. Oregon State Ahh the Emerald Nuts Bowl in San Francisco...I remember when GT was happy to go here a few years back to extend their "amazing" streak of consecutive bowls played. Give me a break. This bowl sucks, but GT would LOVE to be there right now instead of Boise. HA! Umm Take Maryland over the Randy Beavers.

Meineke Car CareUConn vs. Wake Forest UCONN was in contention for a BCS bowl a few weeks ago. Wake is the defending ACC champ. HA! This is how GREAT Big East and ACC football is. Take Wake Forest because UCONN's coach is dumb. He Foglered it (reference to my www.790thezone.com article for this week) by staying at UCONN instead of going to GT. Actually he didn't want to go and lose to Mark Richt next season with Taylor Bennett as his QB. Maybe he is smarter than I thought. Wake wins.

AutoZone Liberty UCF vs. Mississippi State Not only did Sly Croom make a bowl game (and steal Coach of the Year honors from Mark Richt) but he made a better bowl than the Independence. WOW. But I don't think they can stop the UCF running back who leads the nation, though he did seem insulted that the ESPN reporter alluded to the fact that with 168 yards he will break Barry Sanders' single season rushing record, but he would do it in 14 games and Sanders did it in 11. That was comedy.

Valero AlamoPenn State vs. Texas A&M JoePa doesn't need to REMEMBER the Alamo, he was there. Seriously, I think JoePa was around for the first Alamo Bowl when Santa Anna won over Sam Bowie on a late fake punt. ba-da cheeeee Thank you, thank you. TAMU wins with better talent. RETIRE ALREADY JOEPA!

PetroSun IndependenceAlabama vs. Colorado Lose this game and you just paid $4M THIS SEASON to have a losing record. You could have paid Mike Shula MUCH less for a similar result. HA. But to Bama's credit, 2000-Saban will end with a victory.

Bell Helicopter Armed ForcesCalifornia vs. Air Force Cal was at one time ranked 2 in the country, and would have been 1, if their stupid QB hadn't run out of time by running up the middle with no timeouts. I thought smart people went to Berkley? Maybe not. Cal is another one of those "this game sucks" teams and they MIGHT lose to AFA. But I doubt it. Cal wins a close one

Roady's HumanitarianGeorgia Tech vs. Fresno State I hear downtown Boise is lovely on New Year's Eve. HA! TAKE FREZNO! JUST DO IT! Tenuta is OUT THE DOOR. HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THIS GAME! And Taylor Bennett is STILL on the roster. HA!

Brut SunSouth Florida vs. Oregon A few weeks ago both teams were in the top 5 and people thought they would play in a BCS bowl. Instead they are playing in a bowl game sponsored by Jack Palance. Is he still alive? Take SoFla and Matt Grothe.

Gaylord Hotels Music CityKentucky vs. Florida State FSU has to suspend 25 players because of an on-line test they took for a class. I want NO more jokes about UGA's basketball coaching class. At least players had to GO somewhere to take that test, instead of just rolling over and taking it on-line. Andre Woodson and the UK Cats eat up a FSU team that won't care about the GAYLORD HOTELS MUSIC CITY BOWL

Insight Indiana vs. Oklahoma State "The greatest Offense on earth" plays "Play 13" I think Indiana's goal was just to make a bowl. Okie State on the other hand is a bunch of MEN. Plus their coach is 40! He's a MAN! Go with the MAN!

Chick-fil-AClemson vs. Auburn Let's see, Tommy Bowden just got a contract extension, so that means he is OFF the hot seat....which means he won't win this one. And By the way, I don't want to hear ANY Klimpsen fans b*&^h about TB for at least 3 years. You guys ALWAYS want him gone, but as soon as he was flirting with Arkie, you went apesh*t and demanded a contract extension and rasie so he would stay. Therefore you are stuck with him and you clearly WANT HIM. You could have gotten rid of him when he was going to Arkie, but YOU BROUGHT HIM BACK. Therefore, STOP SCREAMING FOR A NEW COACH! Auburn wins this one too. and i laugh.

OutbackWisconsin vs. Tennessee They should remain this the Wisconsin Bowl, since they play in it EVERY YEAR. And PS, you can't spell oUTback without UT! HA! See, I Spurriered it! Wisco wins this one because Fulmer sucks without David Cutcliffe and DC is ALREADY thinking about Duke. I will be rooting for UT, but they will lose. PS, they were only the Eastern Division CO-Champs, along with UGA. They won the tiebreaker. To all of the folks that didn't realize this or were ignoring it because they didn't want UGA in the title game. Co-Champs. Look it up.

AT&T CottonMissouri vs. Arkansas Mizzou SHOULD be the team that hates this game, heck they were 1 entering the last week of the season and now they are in the Cotton Bowl. They crush an Arkansas team that underwent a Vesectomy (neutered. No more Nutt. Get it?). Chase Daniel starts the 2008 Heisman Campaign with a win here. Then Run DMC runs off the the Falcons.

Konica Minolta Gator Texas Tech vs. Virginia UVA in a New Year's Day Bowl Game. Groh must STAY. And Daddio JUST bashed his head into a wall. Chris Long and Co are talented, but Texas Tech's O is too strong. Mike Leach wins and then exits for UCLA.

Capital OneMichigan vs. Florida Tim Tebow is a heisman winner. How did the heisman winner do last year in the bowl game? Well all I know is, the Boogeyman checks under his bed for Tebow at night. Tim Tebow doesn't go to Florida, Florida goes to tim tebow. Lloyd Carr's team couldn't beat tOSU for him, why would they beat Florida for him? Florida is MUCH faster than App State, a team that ALSO beat Michigan. Hey Rich, you sure you want to get into this?

Rose Bowl presented by CitiIllinois vs. USC This will be a spanking, all because the old foggies wanted tradition over UGA/USC or OU/USC or OU/UGA. Stupid tradition. do i REALLY need to say USC will make Zook want to move to Mexico?

Tostitos FiestaOklahoma vs. West Virginia Maybe the best bowl game of the year. Until RR left to go to Michigan. Oh well. OU now certainly wins to avenge their 2007 Fiesta Bowl appearance.

FedEx OrangeVirginia Tech vs. Kansas Really? The Orange Bowl wanted KU over Mizzou? Mizzou crushed KU recently, but they took Mangino, why? He's thinking Arby's. VaTech wins and we have to hear about how great Beamer Ball is. YOU ARE PLAYING KU!

InternationalRutgers vs. Ball State Greg Shiano turned down the Michigan job a year after turning down the Miami gig. All to stay in New Jersey, the ARMPIT OF AMERICA. What job is he waiting for? Paul Mack says the Penn State Job. I say, take the Michigan job. Shoot take ANY job to get out of New Jersey. Are you kidding me? I am going to root HARD for Ball State, but Rutgers will win. I want Shiano to Fogler himself. www.790thezone.com if you don't get that reference

GMACBowling Green vs. Tulsa I think it is so cute when crap bowls put themselves right smack dab in the middle of the BCS schedule so we will notice them. And by "cute" I mean shi&ty. WHO CARES? ummm Tulsa wins

Allstate BCS Championship GameLSU vs. Ohio State I think it will be closer than last year's game even though LSU is far more talented than Florida was last year and tOSU doesn't have the Offensive playmakers they had last year. Why? well Tressell loves this type of slow-down-grind-it-out offense that relies on a smart QB that doesn't make mistakes and a power running game with a tough-as-nails D which he has this year, but not last year. Also LSU is coached by Les Miles, and he is a HORRIBLE coach. I think he pulls a Roy Williams and goes to Michigan in 4 years when RR gets fired after he loses 4 straight to tOSU. LSU wins DESPITE Les Miles and the SEC gets props AGAIN for being a strong conference.

Allstate SugarHawaii vs. Georgia Per tradition I am not predicting a winner, but I will drop the keys to the game. UGA's Defense needs to flex its muscles against this team that has a great Offense, but come on, they have been playing Northern Colorado, Charleston State and the powerful WAC conference. Of course they have huge numbers. And FYI, if Matt Stafford threw the ball 60 times a game, he'd throw 500 ypg up there too.
Also, if Knowshon and TB keep running and running, then UGA's O wil be on the field and Hawaii's O will be on the sideline. KEEP COLT THERE!
Finally, treat Colt like you did Tebow. hit him hard and on EVERY PLAY. make him scared to stand in there. after a few hits from UGA's angry D-line, he MAY think he is back in prison for sexual assault.
Happy Bowling!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Newport Harbor-It's no one's fault-EXPECT YOURS!

Several problems with last night's Newport Harbor.
#1 When Chrissy has the audicity to blame Clay for his showing up and ruining her makeout session with Billy. As I said last week, Clay is much better looking, but I think all his head is is a pretty face and a hat rack. Billy may not be as attractive, but if he has a personality, then THAT is why Chrissy is picking him. But anywhoooooooo Chrissy says, "I wish you would have called first. Things would have been different." Do you mean you wouldn't have been sucking some other dude's face? And she tries to put it off on Clay. Then after they break up she says "Well, it's nobody's fault." Ummmm YOU Were the one making out with someone else, thus breaking his heart. Pretty sure it is YOUR fault.

#2 when Clay sees Chrissy making out, he leaves and makes Grant leave too. They leave and go sleep in Clay's car (a Vibe btw...come on. you drive a Vibe?) at the beach. Clay, because his maybegirlfriend was making out with someone else, he had to ruin GRANT's Night. As I said last week, Grant has entered Nicky Fisk status, so you KNOW he could have been elbow deep in women at that party, but Clay had to be a little tool. Oh well.

#3 Grant make move past Nicky Fisk level into an entirely new level before long. Grant tells Clay he would bounce then delete the number on the way home. He is looking out for his boy, EVEN after his boy ruined his night. He says being single is the way to be...remember this was the guy that delivered Clay a boatful of women after Chrissy left for school. He then calls Clay pathetic for taking Chrissy's call. Grant is becoming pantheon material here. Dare I say he and RW:S Isaac are going neck and neck for Reality Star of the year? I. THINK. SO.

#4 Did you see the UCSB campus. I love Athens and everything, but that was RIGHT on the water. How cool would it be to study for an Econ exam while on the beach? And those dorm rooms were a LOT nicer than Creswell's. It looks like they were maybe an old hotel, converted into dorms. That is sweet.

#5 Previews for next week look awesome when Chrissy's Uppance COMES. SHE broke up with Clay for Billy Boy and it looks like Clay is about to get with Taylor and Chrissy will have to watch. NICE. You go guy-with-no-personality. As Roomie stated last week, it looks like, IF Taylor and Clay get together, that could POTENTIALLY be the hottest reality couple EVER. I tend to agree. But Grant with ANYONE would be the coolest ever. JUST SO WE ALL KNOW.

Year in music part 1

w2007 was quite a year for the music industry, or at least the Fletcher music industry. Now as you all know, I don't claim to be a music guy. I like listening to music, but I also like to tune my car radio to either XM or sports radio. So remember that with my year in review. This will also be a two parter, with today being about how was up (in my opinion) and who was down (also in my opinion). Next Thursday, I will talk about how 2007 was the Year of the Woman in music. So there we go, and HERE we go........

Timbaland is BACK baby! Not only did he write all of the songs and/or beats for EVERYBODY, but he released his own album. The Way I Are has a great beat to it (it makes me want to do the robot) and Apologize not to mention Give it to me with JT and NF was pretty sweet. This dude is talented.

Justin Timberlake....enh. Dude, you started off hot, but maybe that was 2006's finish. Your Summer Love, I didn't like it. Lovestoned, again, didn't like it. JT, I know you are the man and you actually have musical talent unlike the rest of N*sync, but come on bro. Pick your singles better. But maybe 26 year old guys ISN'T the target audience. maybe. But I know you'll be back dude. Don't worry. Plus You are tagging Jessie Biel. That counts.

Finger 11. I certainly didn't like One Thing, but your song Paralyzer MORE than made up for it. That song is sweet, but my Bride-to-be won't let me steal that song from her (although she stole Loco's The Gobbler from me, so I think I am allowed.....) I also thought it was cool when they remixed that song for the Victoria's Secret Fashion show. Which I was TOTALLY watching for the music...................

Kanye West. So a good year for you (beating 50 Cent in album sales, coming out with Stronger, settling your lawsuit with Evil Keneval-spelling?) turned bad when you lost your mom. But this blog is about music. So I will say that you finally followed Golddigger with a great song. (I know you had Touch the Sky, but I didn't like that one that much.) I finally feel like I am allowed to listen to Kanye West again. That's how long I've been on ya!

Soulja Boy-Crank That. OK, so the only reason this song is on here is because UGA plays it after the 4th quarter song and I think it is cool seeing Knowshon and TB dance to it on the sidelines. Plus I kinda like the beat to it. Superman that Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I love that this year's American Idol Jordin Sparks (PS, I didn't mispell that, her parents did) isn't doing all that well and Daughtry is. I mean, he was featured on several AI ads plus his song was on the intro of CFB games on the CW. That counts for something. And even though she now uses Josh's line about Daughtry=Nickleback, I know Roomie still loved Daughtry's version of Walk the Line. I know she does.

Sean Kingston. This kid is 17 right? He already has two hit songs, an appearance on The Hills and finally America can stop calling Sean Jean the most famous Jamacian "Sean" Life is good.

Wyclef Jean? Why are you still doing this? You were good with the Fugees, but Carnaval2, Life of an immigrant? How many years ago was that? You have been in America how long now? Why are you STILL AT IT? That would be like Leo CeCap in Gangs of New York 60 years later still calling himself an Irishman. YOU ARE AMERICAN NOW WYCLEF! Plus, your MTV promos are stupid.

matchbox twenty. I like that Rob Thomas tried to do a solo act and when it DIDN'T work, he went back to the band...and the band took him back. They knew what they were and they knew they needed each other for success. They are a pretty good band. Now that we have our "solo career" out of the way, we can go back to making good music. Which they have done. PS, Whent CT likes you as a band, that is a seal of approval.

Linkin Park I haven't heard all of their "new" album, but everyone says it was great. I love these guys as a group and I do like their new "shadow" song too. I DID buy the Fort Minor album...I was a little disappointed. But Remember the Name made the CD worth the purchase. I just wanted a little more, but THAT'S OK. That means I thought enough of LP that I thought the spinoff would be better. Can't top the original I guess.

Maroon 5, It is like Adam Levine (is that his name?) was pissed that the American Idol producers suggested that Blake Lewis that Levine's place with the band, so they went out and put together a great CD. Wake Up, Makes me Wonder, all good songs. I used to call these guys Moron 5, but She Will be Loved, and Sunday Morning have won me over. Harder to Breathe is a good song too. I like that the band seemed kind of pissed though at AI. Funny.

Miley Cyrus and High School Musical1,2,3,12..... Just because they are targeted for kids DOESN'T mean parents need to mindlessly buy them. These albums are probably going to be the highest sellers this year. And PS, since when did being Billy Ray's daughter mean Miley could start selling out shows as Hannah Montana? I want to slap all of those parents suing HM, INC because they couldn't buy tickets and are now being forced to go eBay for $600. If my kid ever wants me to pay $600 apiece for tickets to a concert, I will shake the kid, British Nanny style until he/she comes to his/her senses. Gimmie a break.

Plain White T's. OK, so I liked Hey There Delilah (which is my song of the year) until I heard it for the one Millionth time on Dave FM in ONE DAY. Dave FM (which wins the award for Fletcher's WORST Radio station of the year, featuring Mara Davis-winner of the WORST DJ of the year, barely over Sully and Denzel) killed the song in about one week, after it lost its exclusive contract with Star 94. I really did like that song. It was all over XM, but then Dave got it about 7 months later (a trend with them. And then Mara Davis calls it a "new" song. Give me a flipping break.) and overburned it.

Finally. ....major kudos to John Mayer for Continuum. I know this CD came out last year, but I bought it in January, so I am allowed to talk about it. It is like he went to the record company and said, "I am sick of singing about Bubblegum tongues and No Such Thing. I am going to make REAL music now." His ENTIRE CD is great. Vultures, Stop this train, Gravity, Slow Dancing in a burning room, In repair. Another You.... all great songs. The only thing is, the last song on the album, I'm gonna find another you needed a more powerful ending. He needed to belt it out, blues-style but he kind of just mellowed it to a close, but that's ok, because I belt it out for him. Love this CD, I hope he continues to make REAL music opposed to playing chess with salt and pepper shakers.

SO there we go. Next Thursday I look back at 2007:The year of the woman. The detail will include thoughts on Fergie, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Rihanna, Colbie Caillat and Feist.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Fletcher's Mid-week entertainment report

Only a few things on my mid-week entertainment report.
For the record...
a Monday Morning a sports blog(or two),
a Tinseltown Tuesday: Hollywood/Movie blog,
a Wednesday/Mid-week Entertainment report + Sports blog
a Music Thursday-blog on music/industry
a Forecast Friday-usually previewing the weekend of entertainment AND Sports
Weekends-sorry, even I need a break.
(Note, all of this is subject to change, because I can do what I want)

Now for the mid-week entertainment report
AND ONE SHOT GLASS REMAINED................
So Tila Tequila picked Bobby last night in somewhat of an upset over Dani. I have followed this MTV bisexual dating show since its inception, and at first it had the makings of taking down Love Cruise as TOP REALITY SERIES EVER, but it kind of fizzled out down the stretch. Oh well.
Bobby and Dani got to "live like rock stars" for a day when they went to see Tila "work." (At first when they said they were going to see her work, I asked the Bride-to-be when they started letting cameras into strip clubs. She hit me) So they get to the "studio" and meet with Tila's producer, who is "so talented. He has worked with some of the biggest names in music. Um Jessica Simpson, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, ummm ME! HA!" (Tila was certainly being loose with the term "biggest names in music" if I say so.) So she had Dani and Bobby write a rap intro for her some "I love you, gimmie what I need." Bobby's was terrible and even though Dani's was decent, she SCREAMED it the entire time, and it was a little vulgar and strange to say the least.
Then on to the photo shoot where Tila CLEARLY had more chemistry with Bobby while shooting. It just looked weird when she posed with Dani. And PS, where are THESE pictures going to be found? On her myspace account?

Then the folks came over for dinner and Bobby's mom got DRUNK. Then the and Dani's mom got into a (what is the term here. if it were guys it would be "biggest dick contest" biggest boobs?) something where they were each saying that her offspring was the better choice for this bisexual that went on MTV to find love.....right

After a final date with each Bobby and Dani, and some "sexy kissing" with Bobby, Tila had to make her choice. The producers made it seem like Dani was the shoe-in which meant only ONE THING: Tila chose Bobby. Yep, how did we NOT see that coming. The reality show formula with the editing and the endgame switcharoo. I fell victim AGAIN!

Then as Bobby and Tila are making out, Dani storms off the pool top glass and Tila chases after her and though Dani hugs her, she pitches a fit outside. What to be the better man-er person Dani.

Bobby then goes on to end the show hugging and kissing Tila on "the greatest night of [his] life." and interestingly enough he is on the exact same spot kissing Tila where he was when all of the lezbinens came out the first time. Interesting Bobby was standing on water. I guess he was Jesus, just walking on water.

Maybe THAT's why Tila chose him. Hmmmm

All I have to say is............bring on That's Amore with Domenico!

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY...................
It was annouced through a magazine that 16 year old Jamie Lynn Spears, sister of Brit is preggers. Yep. The "star" of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 is going to have a baby. The interesting thing HERE is NOT that Brit's little sis got knocked up, come on, we KNEW it was only a matter of time. They are trailer trash, folks. Not the interesting thing is that Nickelodeon is still on the air. I didn't realize that.

But seriously, she met the father of the baby, Casey Aldridge, at church. Wow, that's nice. She said she wants to raise the baby in Louisiana so it can have a normal life. If by normal, you mean its picture taken everytime you go out to the store or whatever and it will be rich because its aunt is a weirdo-celeb. Yes. That will be normal.

She originally wanted to keep it a secret, but she decided to tell a national magazine instead and her quote in the article was, "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected. I was in complete and total shock, and so was he{Aldridge]." REALLY? You were REALLY surprised? Unless you are on the pill or he is wearing a condom or doing the ole pull-out, THAT'S HOW BABIES ARE MADE? Or have you not reached that part of sex-ed yet, SINCE YOU ARE 16? I guess Zoey 101, a show about a high school girl, never had the teen preggers' special or even an episode where they pretended to be in sex-ed class. You were in TOTAL shock? REALLY?

PINK AND SILVER...THE COWGIRLS.
So everyone is saying that Tony Romo wasn't focused this past weekend against the Eagles because Jessica Simpson was in attendance wearing a pick cowboys jersey. I listened a little to the Two Live Stews yesterday with 3-D and Hometeam filling in (http://www.790thezone.com/), and they were BOTH killing Romo for having Simpson there, saying he was unfocused. Ummmm guys, he had a bad game. NOT BECAUSE he was thinking of Simpson, but because a tough, blitzing Defense got after him in a futile attempt to make the playoffs. And Hometeam, you are a cool dude, but if you EVER complain about too many shots of an attractive woman being shown during a football game again, I will start calling you "playingfortheotherteam" Get over yourselves HT and 3D. Hot chick...why not show here? They do when Tennis stars are playing. Get it a rest. Who watches football? Mostly men. Would I rather see Jessica Simpson clapping or DeMarcus Ware receiving oxygen? Ummm, EASY!

Parcells to the Falcons? Does that mean a new Coors ad?

According to team sources, the Atlanta Falcons have offered former Dallas, New York Jets, New England, and New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells the official title of Vice President of Football Operations. He would be put in charge of finding the team its next head coach (himself, perhaps?). Parcells is a bit of a hard-ass but he would command the respect of the team and his Super Bowl appearances and rings gives him the clout that Petrino didn't have.

For Falcons fans (Paul Mack being the biggest Falcons fan EVER!) hopefully he hires some one cut from his mold that will keep DeAngelo Hall in line, some one that can smack Roddy White back in his place. If either of those guys had tried what they did with the Vick stuff and Parcells had been the coach.....I shudder even thinking about it. They would have been buried under the Georgia Dome turf ala Jimmy Hoffa.

One interesting thing about this potential hire though: Rich McKay. What happens to him? Well according to the ajc, he'd be stripped of his player-decision making power and would potentially stay on the team to run the business side of the organization. But for a guy holding a President/GM title to have NONE of those powers, he would be gone.

And I say GOODBYE! His moves have brought in the likes of Joe Horn, Ed Hartwell, Ovie Mughelli, Jason Webster, Ike Reese. All of these were his BIG FREE AGENT moves. His drafting of Michael Jenkins and Roddy White in the first round, BACK to BACK years is questionable. Then letting Patrick Kerney go (he is leading the league in sacks this year BTW) and taking Jamal Anderson who is still looking for his first sack.....they took him OVER Amobe Okoye (or however you spell it) . Rich, sorry to say it bud, but YOU really messed up the Jim Mora hiring AND the Bobby Petrino hiring and now you don't get to hire the next guy. Why? Because you'd probably screw it up AGAIN!

So if Parcells takes the job, maybe the Falcons will get back on the right track. But I certainly hope for Paul's sake, I hope Arthur isn't just turning into Dan Snyder-lite, because it seems like he's just throwing money at problems. Get a plan, a 4 year plan if you need to and get this team better. Fans WILL wait it out if they know progress is being made. Shoot, with UGA doing so well now and in the near future, there will be plenty of distraction. So Falcons, get this one right, otherwise move the team to Vegas and just get it over with.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Maybe his problem is his choices.....

So I read on yahoo where a guy is suing several NYC and LA night clubs such as Lotus and China Club because he feels that "Ladies Night" is discriminatory. Really? You have a problem with this?

Do you have a problem with a club trying to do ANYTHING it can to attract women there so men like yourself will WANT to go there?

Now then, if your lawsuit was against these clubs charging money to enter, I would support it.

That is something I just don't get. Why would you PAY to get into a bar/club, only to turn around and have to OVERpay for drinks? Let me preface this by saying that my idea of going out to a club/bar is Taco Mac or Locos or Taco Stand. But if any of those places charged me JUST TO GET IN, I would go someplace else.

Or if I paid to get in and then my stuff was free, I'd do that then. But it is my understanding that these people pay for the right to pay $8 for a Bud Light. That is messed up.

Now if he has to pay a cover to hear a band, that is fine. I understand that. But paying to dance to a DJ? Gimmie a break.

Maybe I am not "Hollywood" enough, but that just seems crazy to me.

So to this guy filing the lawsuit, I say go to a club that you DON'T have to pay to get in.

And PS, thank goodness Pamela Anderson and her husband of 10 weeks are getting back together 2 days after she filed for divorce. I mean, I don't think Rick Salomon has had time to make a sex video of these two yet. Instead of One Night In Paris, One afternoon mounting the Alps?

Monday, December 17, 2007

In Georgia, High School football is a way of life...

So I attended the Class AA Football State Final this past Saturday at Buford High School in Buford, GA, between the Buford Wolves and the Lovett Lions. Score Atlanta asked me to cover this event as I have been following the Class AA playoffs for them the past few weeks, and this column will be found in the next issue of Score Atlanta which will come out Wednesday. You can also visit www.scoreatl.com this Wednesday to read it, along with my other articles (North Cobb, Kennesaw Mountain, McEachern notebooks, Catching up with the Vision, and the Girls basketball Top 10). Or you can pick up a copy at one of 1300 locations across the state. I was also interviewed by the TV station covering the game. I had to give a break down of the Lovett School for their crew. That will air Monday and Wednesday when they show the game on CSS. I'm not going to lie, I'm going global here. As Ron Burgundy would say, "I'm kind of a big deal." (Well, not really, but I can dream can't I?)

Now, on to the real reason I am posting this. There is some debate on whether the first few lines of the piece will be run. Troublemaker. Yep, that's what I am, a troublemaker!

Two Very Different Schools of Thought

One looking to describe the atmosphere of the Class AA State Championship game held last Saturday in Buford need only look at the official haircut of the University of Florida: very mullet-esque. It was very business in the front (of the line where Buford fans were) and party in the back (of the parking lot where the Lovett fans were tailgating). Many Buford supporters arrived as early as 1 pm for the 6 pm game and waited in line, in the cold, harsh weather truly meant only for football. The Buford faithful were also circulating a story from one of the local newspapers that a Lovett defensive player had “talked smack!” A sense of entitlement also was in the air as several parents and school officials seemed insulted that it had been so long since the championship game was held at Buford. When asked if he thought Buford could win, one man simply howled and proclaimed, “Buford wins by 50!”
The feeling was less business-like on the visitors’ side of the parking lot. While the line to enter Buford’s side of the stadium was already snaking around the bus loop, Lovett’s crowd was sitting and enjoying tailgating under tents, while avoiding the weather. Many fans felt the occasion was reason for a party, since no one thought they’d make it this far. While the Buford side of the stadium was jam-packed by 4:50, the Lovett faithful FINALLY left their tailgates around 5:45 and got in just before kickoff. On the way in though, realism was starting to hit. Several boosters were predicting a blowout in Buford’s favor, and parents just wanted the Lions to keep it close.
During the game, as the sky poured down rain and the Wolves poured on points, both teams’ fans were strong with their voices, but Buford ultimately won out 50-0. While the Lovett fans quickly bolted back to their cars to escape the rain, Buford fans stayed and cheered their team. One brave Buford booster even boasted after the game, “We’d take down Lowndes too!” Yes the feeling of entitlement was justified and the swagger is back at Buford.

You Can't Go Home Again, Especially Now!

So Rich Rodriguez has accepted the Michigan football job. He has officially left his alma mater in West Virginia and gone on to the winningest program in college football history. His bank account will be a little fatter now, but you have to wonder, did he make the right call or will we now verbize his name in terms of future coaching changes. “Oh, he Rodriguez-ed himself there!”

Rich Rodriguez grew up wanting to go to West Virginia and it seemed his entire coaching career was leading up to attaining the West Virginia head coaching job. Even last year when Alabama came calling with 3M+ per year, yet Rodriguez turned that plush job down, deciding to stay at his school. He was a West Virginia man and the school worked a 4M buyout into his contract to make certain. Funny though how winning his fourth conference title in the last five years changes things.

Now as his team gears up to take on Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, in what many folks are calling the best bowl game of the year, he now heads to Ann Arbor to get a jump on recruiting. No doubt this guy can recruit. He landed Steve Slaton when seemingly only Maryland had this guy on their radar, and Maryland eventually revoked its scholarship offer. Rodriguez also got Pat White to come and run his offense at QB, and had he not been injured, he might be looking at a BCS national title game appearance. Yes Rodriguez can recruit and he can coach. In the last 3 years, West Virginia was 32-5 with two BCS appearances. Rodriguez started off rocky in Morgantown, but he eventually ran his record to 60-26. And now he leaves.

Now I am going to go ahead and say that Rich certainly Rodriguez-ed this one. Rodriguez-ed, the opposite of “Fogler-ed it.” Of course “Fogler-ed it,” is in reference to Eddie Fogler, the former South Carolina coach who was offered the UNC Tar Heel job in 2000, only to turn it down to stay the Gamecock head coach. He was fired a year later and then got into a little hot water while at CBS for some actions he took when he thought the game was at a commercial break. Jim Grobe Fogler-ed it when he turned down Alabama AND Arkansas to stay at Wake Forest. Fogler turned down UNC, his alma mater to stay at SOUTH CAROLINA? Are you kidding me?

Roy Williams initially turned down UNC to stay at Kansas, a program he took to great heights, but then he finally returned home and won a national title. He left one power to coach another power, but Rich Rodriguez shouldn’t use this situation as an analogy to what he is doing because Roy WENT home while Rich is LEAVING home. Plus when Rodriguez took over West Virginia was not quite the national player they are now. Had Rich stayed, they would have been a top 5 pick preseason pick next season with Pat White and Steve Slaton both returning for their senior years. And even after they left, West Virginia is now in the same situation Florida State was from 1993-2001: a conference title favorite EVERY YEAR. That is an automatic BCS bid EVERY YEAR!

Rich Rodriguez gets mentioned as one of the greats had he stayed at West Virginia for his career, cashing in on a weak Big East. But he decided to go take his chances against Jim Tressel at Ohio State, Bret Bielema at Wisconsin, Kirk Ferentz at Iowa, Ron Zook at Illinois, and Mark Dantonio at MSU. I guess only time will tell and we will see if he made the right move. However, if in a few years he can’t beat Ohio State and he is kicked out of the Big House, we can officially say he Rodriguez-ed it.
(ps, this is also featured on www.790thezone.com If it is not featured on the front page, go to either the "articles & columns" link or click "people" and find "Zone Contributor".)

Friday, December 14, 2007

Pretty Sure I called that one...

I saw this on yahoo.....And I am pretty sure I called it about Dom.

Casting notices have circulated online for a second season of "A Shot at Love" and "That's Amore!" -- a new dating show starring goofy "Shot at Love" castoff Domenico Nessi. MTV won't confirm that either is in the works, but Tequila says the network did approach her about taking another "Shot at Love."
"They're talking about it," Tequila says. "I don't want to think about it so fast. I just got settled in. If it doesn't work out, then maybe there could be another season. Right now, I'm just happy where I am."


By the way, his show would TOTALLY work. He was the New York of Shot at Love. You could tell the entire time he was angling for his own show. He started out crazy, then showed his tender/innocent side. The producers most likely got into Tila's ear and said, "we know he won't win, but keep him around for a spinoff." You KNOW that happened. Yep. Called it. Thank you!

Horford Suspended for NOTHING!

Having interviewed Al Horford while writing a story on Score Atlanta, I realized that, despite the fact he went to Florida, he was a pretty decent young man.

That is why I am SHOCKED he was suspended for one game by the NBA for fouling TJ Ford this past week when the Hawks played the Toronto Raptors. I have watched the replay several times on ESPN.com and I actually watched most of that game, but turned it off near the end, apparently RIGHT before it happened.

As it went down, TJ Ford stole the ball and was fast breaking for a layup when Horford hustled down(not giving up on the play. I wish Dennis Felton would teach that to his UGA basketball team) and went for the block, instead inadvertantly hitting Ford's forehead. Ford landed hard, why, because he is 5'10 and Horford is 6'10. Ford was taken out on a stretcher. Please.

I know Ford injured his spinal cord a few years back, but THAT is why Horford is suspended. A fully healthy Ford wouldn't have been taken out on a stretcher and therefore NO suspension for Horford, the NBA's reigning rookie of the month. (Hey maybe Billy Knight DIDN'T mess that one up)

But this will soil Horford's image, unfairly, but still. I hope he is NOT seen as a dirty player. He was playing hard, going for the block, and a shaken up Ford was taken away because of his spinal history. Horford shouldn't be punished. I hope he appeals and the Commish looks at the tape and Ford's history and maybe just fines Horford and gives him one of those points or whatever the system is these days.

I can't believe I am defending a Florida Gator player. I guess THAT is what Dennis Felton has done to me as a Georgia Basketball fan and college basketball fan in general. Great, now I have a nosebleed!

Those Things You Did after That Thing You Do

So as I was watching television last night, I saw that Tom Everett Scott is appearing in the new show Cashmere Mafia. I thought, "Wow, Guy Patterson. What a stud to have gotten Charlize Theron AND Liv Tyler in that movie!" And that got me thinking....what a great cast that movie had for pretty much a B rating. So I decided to look into what the band members did AFTER the movie. (I won't count the Academy Award winner Charlize Theron or Tom Hanks or Liv Tyler, since they obvie had much better careers than the other guys.) So here is how I think the band's career went down AFTER the movie ended..................

Steve Zahn. The crazy guitarist from THAT THING YOU DO. After this movie he did a bunch of kids movies. Really? This guy? Stuart Little 1 &2. Daddy Daycare. Chicken Little. But he also jumped into Bad Comedy (Daddy Daycare, National Security, Employee of the Month, Saving Silverman). Then he was CLEARLY overshadowed by Lili Sobieski in Joy Ride (and her manly voice "Are you ready for an adventure or what?" reminds me of Pam Ward) But his appearance in Rescue Dawn, though I haven't seen it is probably good. Hey, it has Christian Bale in it. It HAS to be good. I give this guy's career a C- since TTYD

Ethan Embry. The original Bass player for the ONEders. RIGHT after this movie he was hot. And by hot I mean he scored Rusty Griswald aka Nic Pappageorgio in Vegas Vacation, (but to be honest, there will always be ONLY ONE Russ, Johnny Galecki from Christmas) and Preston aka Pres-STONE! from Can't Hardly Wait. But looking back now, how in the world did Preston end up with Jennifer Love Hewitt? I just don't know. After 1998 work became scarce forEthan Embry, the short-lived remake of Dragnet, a few animated series voice-overs...a few bit parts in random movies. Plus there was the rumor that this guy committed suicide. Never good for your career. Unless you are TuPac. Since TTYD: D overall (B+ in 1997 and 1998)

Johnathon Schaech. The lead singer for the O'neders. Now this is where it got tight. I HAD this guy over Tom Everett Scott until I found out some importanta information. THIS GUY FILED FOR DIVORCE FROM CHRISTINA APPLEGATE. Not the other way around. She didn't from him. He did from her! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? JS, your career after TTYD has been an appearance in Sweetest Thing, you know, your WIFE'S movie. 8MM2. Road House 2. Two sequels to movies that really didn't need sequels, OR THE ORIGINALS. Hush. Yeah, remember that movie? No. neither does Hollywood. What else? Finding Graceland. Despite all of those failures, I was still going to give you a B just for snagging Applegate, but YOU filed for divorce. YOU IDIOT! Since TTYD: F-!

Tom Everett Scott. If I were the folks in Cashmere Mafia, I would start looking for new jobs. Guy Patterson here (the drummer that comes in and puts the band on the map) is a series killah! Look at the series he has appeared on Saved, Stacked, Will & Grace (the final year), ER (and that series is now dead, despite its continuing) Do Over, Philly, The $treet, Top of the Food Chain, and Grace Under Fire. All series NOW LONGER ON THE AIR. But he did star in American Werewolf in Paris, which was a success-wink. He also threw down with Zack Morris(a black-haired Zack) in Dead Man On Campus, Van Wilder and Boiler Room. I have to give him props for that one. So for his movie work I give him a B, for TV I give him a D. Since TTYD: C+ (he has gotten work.)

Finally, our winner..... Giovanni Ribisi. He WAS the drummer that hurt his wrist and was replace by Guy Patterson and THAT's when the band took off. But maybe Giovanni's injury was an injury in disguise. Maybe, just maybe, he avoided the curse of the bandmates who were destined to a career of animated voice-overs. Her credits post-TTYD include Saving Private Ryan, The Other Sister, The Mod Squad, The Virgin Suicides, Boiler Room, Gone in 60 Seconds, Basic, Lost in Translation, Cold Mountain, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. And just for fun he appeared as Phoebe's brother in Friends, and they like him SO much, they brought him back for the triplets story line. This kid is SO talented, he has stuck with movies, instead of TV. Nice. He was do drama, comedy, pretty much anything. I've got to tip my cap to him. True most of his stuff is in a supporting role, but just ask Morgan Freeman if that isn't a bad gig. He adds to every movie he is in, and doesn't take away. Since TTYD: A (like a 97. Not quite A+, but rightthere.)

Otherwise Charlize Theron, I'd give an A+. She won an Oscar and she is the sexiest woman on the planet according to whichever magazine does that. Liv Tyler starred in Armaggedon and the Lord of the Rings movies. I'd give her an A. Tom Hanks REALLY needs Angels and Demons to be a hit because his rep took a hit from Di Vinci Code. But come on, he was Forrest Gump-A.

I do enjoy watching that movie, That Thing You Do. Very entertaining. The bunch really came together for an enjoyable movie. Plus I like movies where, as the credits are rolling, they tell you what happened to the characters so I don't have to ONEDER.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Sports thoughts from December 13

The Mitchell Report came out today and several big names were on the list of past steroid users. But the bad thing is.....the general public doesn't care about this. Seriously. This is a story that the major media cares about but average sports fan reading the articles and listening to the radio shows and watching tv, THEY DON'T CARE. THEY REALLY DON'T. Baseball is dead. Sorry baseball, but you AREN'T the national past-time anymore. Football is. Shoot I think I'd rather watch arena league football than a Tampa Bay Rays/Kansas City Royals game. Gimme a break. Unless you live in Boston or New York you just don't care about it. And why does Boston really care? The answer: they don't. They have the Patriots now. The only reason the Yankees fans care and the Mets fans care is because, well come on....are you going to root for the Jets? No. The Giants and Eli Manning? No. Boston just won the 2007 World Series and it was hardly a blip. They won in 2004 and that was big. Not so much this year. Baseball is donezo. On to Football!

Speaking of football..........I am a HUGE UGA fan (since I went there) and I I love that they are in the Sugar Bowl. But no one is breaking down the sUGAr bowl. So I will. But let me start by saying the national media knows the only game that matters is the BCS championship game. Despite what Sporting News says, there will NOT be a split championship this year. There would ONLY have been one if UGA had played USC in the Rose Bowl and LSU had won by a> FG in OT or something. Or if UGA had played Oklahoma, or OU had played USC. But alas, they know the only bowl worth talking about is LSU/tOSU. Now a quick break down of the Sugar Bowl "Can Colt Brennan put up those numbers against an SEC D?" And can Hawaii get the Georgia running game off the field long enough to put Colt back into the game?" I say no. I like the little story that is Hawaii, but come on. Let's get real here. Boise State last year and West VA the year before takes Hawaii's cover away. Georgia will be ready, in the black unis, and Colt will wish he was still in jail opposed to under Geno Atkins and Dannell Ellerbe and Rennie Curran.

Newport Harbor is BACK, Baby!

OK, so I know you were waiting for it. Newport Harbor is back with 4 episodes entitled "Back for the Holidays" As I have said before, I am a HUGE pop culture fan and MTV helps quench my thirst. I loved the first season of Laguna Beach:The Real Orange County and I was extremely disappointed with season 2 and season 3 NEVER happened, kind of like Godfather Part 3. I also love The Hills, but Newport Harbor:The Real Orange County is totally fantastic. Better than Laguna Beach 2 and probably better than LB:1. So, with last night's debut of Season 2 or Season 1-continuation. I thought I'd give my thoughts......

(The Bride-to-be and I were trying to figure out just WHICH holiday they were back for. She said maybe Labor Day and that would make sense since she told her dad she had JUST had her first sorostitute party.)

But anyways, in the opening, Chrissy said that as a senior Grant was ruling the school. Ummmm YEAH! Well duh. Who is his competition? The wordsmith that is Clay?

So Chrissy is in Sigma Lamda Upsilon Tau apparently at UCSB. She is hooking up with Billy who is trailing Clay in the looks department, but if he can string together a paragraph's worth of thought, he has clay beat hands down. Chrissy meanwhile can't wait to see Sasha and have her party.

Meanwhile apparently Allie and the fat chick are back from the state of Italy, and they are in school "just far enough away from home that you know [they] are away, but close enough to be near home." Huh? They both discuss how much they miss home, and the fat chick says she misses her favorite restaurants apparently. Though they both love college. The fat chick loves the dinning hall the most.

Meanwhile back to Clay and Chrissy, Clay "heard that she is coming home." So I guess the long distance thing isn't really working....why, because maybe you need to TALK to each other in order for it to work.

So they have dinner together and it is obvie that neither wants to stay in the relationship and Chrissy is too much of a puss to tell Clay she is hooking up with some one not NEARLY as good looking, but he does possess the ability to speak.

Then Chrissy has a party and he sorwhore sisters show up and they have a surprise, Billy doing his best Justin Bobby impression. (What is with the thin hood that makes you look like you are homeless? I didn't realize the dere-lict campaign was REALLY happening in LA?) Billy, you KNOW you are going to meet the father of the chick you are banging, maybe you try and NOT look homeless? Maybe?

Well Grant is there and he is awesome, clearly making fun of this Billy character right in front of him, clearly solidifying his status as Nicky Fisk-level cool in my book. (Nicky Fisk of Beautiful People fame)
Well we see Chrissy is clearly over Clay and next week it looks like the Grant-and-Clay-Roadshow will head up to Santa Barbara for a pop-in. Clay is going to see Chrissy, Grant is clearly going to bang women. NICE.

So my overall impression..................
Chrissy is a typical Sor-Whore, but with a soft spot for homeless guys that can finish their thoughts.
Clay is still a brain-dead good looking guy, but his head, just a fancy hatrack.
Allie-still hanging out with the fat chick to boost her self-esteem, so Daddy issues there.
Chase-hooking up with Chrissy's siss-ah and still trying to nail that now-junior chick. that makes him 18 or 19 and her 16 or 17? yeouch. Pedophile party of Chase.
Grant....still awesome. he has reached Nicky Fisk status.

Sports by Fletch, and so much more

So I finally broke down and decided to open up a blog site. I know, it being free and all, what took me so long. Well it took me quite a while to get started on myspace too, but I finally did and now I've finally gotten a blog. Just so you know, this won't just be a sports site. While sports are my first love (you know, other than my wonderful bride-to-be and my family), I do love me some Pop Culture as well. I like to think I am a bit of a pop culture buff, so this blog will feature not just a daily sports hit, but also a daily pop-culture hit as well.

So check back and offer feedback if you want to. Every now and then I am going to have guest writers appear to offer insight to music, other areas of sports, movies, whatever. So I hope you guys enjoy that.

Finally, I am not exactly THE most computer savvy guy, so the blog may just be kind of plain until I can figure out how to improve the look of this thing. But hey, this will be an adventure.
PS, tune in this Saturday morning to Sports Radio 790 the Zone (www.790thezone.com) to hear the final edition of High School High 5 for the season. And pick up a copy of Score Atlanta since I have about 6 articles in that one(www.scoreatl.com).
Thanks for reading.
Fletcher Proctor
ps fletcherdoessports was already taken so I went with sportsbyfletch to avoid confusion.