Huh?
well, guess what, it is a holiday weekend, so the usual Saturday games have been spread out over a few days. Thus I need to make picks RIGHT NOW!
LET'S DO THIS THANG!
TexasA&M @ #2 Texas. I didn't realize that TAMU has beaten UT the last two seasons. WOW. And THAT gets DFranc fired? Hmmmm. I bet Chan Gailey is thinking, "Oh OK, even if I had beaten UGA, I'd have still been fired. OK. Whew. Now I can go back to hanging out with Reggie Ball, you know, since I hitched my wagon to his star!" I miss Reggie Ball, especially on this weekend every year. That guy used to just make me SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, no way Texas loses this one. But if they miss out on the tiebreaker and don't play for the Big12 title, but somehow go to the BCSCG, I WILL burn something down. Seriously. I will. Mark May's house perhaps...
West Va @ #25 Pitt. Pat White v McCoy. The dunce v The Stache. Could the backyard brawl not matter ANYMORE? I don't think so. Take Pitt at home. I don't trust the dunce more than my distrust for the stache.
Miss State @ Ole Miss. Of COURSE Houston Nutt wins this game. He is the best coach in the SEC without a national title. (I will let that sit in with all of the CMR fans. Yep I said it.) But don't worry Sly Croom. You won't be fired. Because Miss State doesn't want to be seen as racist. Dude, seriously, you are a bad coach, but then I don't think anyone else wants that job. Maybe if they did, you should worry Sly. But no one wants to live in Starkville.
LSU @ Arkie. Dare I say that Arkie will pull the upset? I just might, considering Jefferson is going to start for LSU. Arkie, behind a strong running game makes LSU fans wish 4-loss Les had given them the BCS title then gone to Michigan.
Colorado @ Nebraska. Nebraska could get 9 wins this season. Whoopie! It won't happen though. I am taking Colorado, why? Because this ain't intramurals BROTHA!
Da Cuse @ Cincy. Cincy wins and clinches the BCS berth, but the question is...does Brian Kelly coach the team or does he bolt straight for Tennessee after this game?
SoCar @ Klimpsen. James Davis and Cullen Harper's final game at Death Valley. My guess is that it is called Death Valley because it is deathly quiet for this game. Oh, if Dabo Sweeney isn't rehired, CJ SPiller will go too, from his statements. Oh big loss! SoCar wins to make the Outback bowl. Big Whup!
UVa @ VaTech. I hear the atmosphere at Lane Stadium is "just electric!" Enh. GT will be rooting ro UVa to win, but Al Groh just cannot beat Frank Beamer. Sorry Cav fans. Hokies win the Commonwealth cup once again.
Kansas @ #11 Mizzou. Two Texas QBs not good enough for The Horns do battle. Mangino doesn't really care though because he just had Thanksgiving. And I am guess there were ZERO leftovers. My prediction: he falls asleep during the two half and Mizzou takes it.
Auburn @ #1 Bama. Normally I'd say watch for a trap game here, but Auburn is so bad that Saban's crew will ROLL to a win.
#4 Florida @ #20 FSU. I would love NOTHING more for the Noles to knock off the Gators. I'd like for ANYONE to beat the Gators since UGA can't do it. CRAP! COME ON NOLES! But Florida wins. (They'll lose next week!)
#3OU @ #12 Okie State How is Okie State ranked ahead of UGA? This is a team that UGA skooled last season and will again in 2009. Can they please drop below Georgia? Oh, they will after this game. Cool! Sooners Boom to a win.
Pro-totype
Atlanta @ San Diego. It is like my honeymoon. From ATL to SD. And much like me, the Falcons will come home HAPPY.
Lock of the week
Notre Dame @ #5USC. Oh COURSE the fupas will lose. USC has a winning record. And ND couldn't beat Da Cuse, so you think the Men of Troy are worried?
Local rooting interest
#22 GT @ #13 UGA. No one from GT called me up last Sunday when I challenged them to tell me that they REALLY thought GT had a shot. NO ONE. I wanted to play the REALLY game. Do you really think they'll win? Really? Really? REALLY? No way the Dawgs lose in MoMass, Ellerbe, KM24 and Stafford's final home game. Let's win this one for Tripp Chandler!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Midweek Entertainment report 11/26/08
A Speidi wedding, a "star" dances well, Paris cuts two and HEY tomorrow is TURKEY DAY!
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's the mid-week entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP
Did they or didn't they. Did Spencer and Heidi get hitched in Mexico? They eloped? What? That DOESN'T sound like something the couple would do. You would think that they would SELL the entire process to the highest bidder. But if they DID decide to exchange vows south of the border, then cool. As for all of the hullabaloo over whether or not it is legal, I say, "WHO CARES?" They stood in front of a minister and exchanged vows. Spiritually, that's REALLY all you need. Technically Wifey and I were married when we went to the Fulton County regristrar's office and got a license and Terri signed it. But we wanted a ceremony. Do you think Speidi REALLY cares about the technical aspects of the marriage? No. Since neither really works, it isn't like they have to worry about joint health insurance or anything.
But I am guessing they have an "American" wedding too so they can make more money from photos or MTV.
Brooke Burke won Dancing with the Stars last night. Can someone please tell me who this "Star" is? If I don't know the person, I can't call them a "star." I am pretty uptospeed on my pop culture, and I didn't know this Brooke Burke woman. Sorry. NOT A STAR.
Paris Hilton cut two potential BFFs last night in Shelley and Corrie. Obvie, those two were gone. The Virgin and the beauty queen were given the boot, leaving Britney and Vanessa to battle it out.
It was interesting, last night the show had them going to Ryan Seacrest's radio show where he interviewed them. Vanessa came off as missing the point of the show. I think she thinks it is WHO WANTS TO BE WITH PARIS HILTON, not just be her best friend. Vanessa was creepy in the photo shoot, saying Paris is sexy and hot and smiling like a fool the entire time. It creeps me out big time and it creeped out the photog and Seacrest too.
And can we also please get OFF Britney for openly saying that she wants to be a singer? Oh, she has goals for herself. HOW DARE SHE! I think this actually works for her. She will move to LA to be a singer and might ACTUALLY be friends with Paris. Vanessa on the otherhand is a teacher from Alaska. Really? Are you planning a move to Hollywood? Or do you expect your BFF to come and visit your school in Alaska? Rrrrrrrrrrright. I think anyone trying to penalize Britney for trying to be an equal with Paris is stoopid. Vanessa is just a superfan, not a friend. That would get old fast and they wouldn't stay friends. Bank on it. GO BRITNEY.
Finally, tomorrow is Turkey Day and I have this Friday off too. Sorry, that means no Blogs until Monday. The in-laws are coming into town, so that might put a damper onto my plans of "no pants until Monday," but we shall see. Have a great holiday everybody and in 30 hours from RIGHT NOW, it will be OK to begin listening to Christmas music.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's the mid-week entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP
Did they or didn't they. Did Spencer and Heidi get hitched in Mexico? They eloped? What? That DOESN'T sound like something the couple would do. You would think that they would SELL the entire process to the highest bidder. But if they DID decide to exchange vows south of the border, then cool. As for all of the hullabaloo over whether or not it is legal, I say, "WHO CARES?" They stood in front of a minister and exchanged vows. Spiritually, that's REALLY all you need. Technically Wifey and I were married when we went to the Fulton County regristrar's office and got a license and Terri signed it. But we wanted a ceremony. Do you think Speidi REALLY cares about the technical aspects of the marriage? No. Since neither really works, it isn't like they have to worry about joint health insurance or anything.
But I am guessing they have an "American" wedding too so they can make more money from photos or MTV.
Brooke Burke won Dancing with the Stars last night. Can someone please tell me who this "Star" is? If I don't know the person, I can't call them a "star." I am pretty uptospeed on my pop culture, and I didn't know this Brooke Burke woman. Sorry. NOT A STAR.
Paris Hilton cut two potential BFFs last night in Shelley and Corrie. Obvie, those two were gone. The Virgin and the beauty queen were given the boot, leaving Britney and Vanessa to battle it out.
It was interesting, last night the show had them going to Ryan Seacrest's radio show where he interviewed them. Vanessa came off as missing the point of the show. I think she thinks it is WHO WANTS TO BE WITH PARIS HILTON, not just be her best friend. Vanessa was creepy in the photo shoot, saying Paris is sexy and hot and smiling like a fool the entire time. It creeps me out big time and it creeped out the photog and Seacrest too.
And can we also please get OFF Britney for openly saying that she wants to be a singer? Oh, she has goals for herself. HOW DARE SHE! I think this actually works for her. She will move to LA to be a singer and might ACTUALLY be friends with Paris. Vanessa on the otherhand is a teacher from Alaska. Really? Are you planning a move to Hollywood? Or do you expect your BFF to come and visit your school in Alaska? Rrrrrrrrrrright. I think anyone trying to penalize Britney for trying to be an equal with Paris is stoopid. Vanessa is just a superfan, not a friend. That would get old fast and they wouldn't stay friends. Bank on it. GO BRITNEY.
Finally, tomorrow is Turkey Day and I have this Friday off too. Sorry, that means no Blogs until Monday. The in-laws are coming into town, so that might put a damper onto my plans of "no pants until Monday," but we shall see. Have a great holiday everybody and in 30 hours from RIGHT NOW, it will be OK to begin listening to Christmas music.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
a FREAKING PENNY!
I have never understood the expression "A penny saved is a penny earned."
Never understood it. I just don't get it. I realize it is an expression to encourage you to save money, but it doesn't make sense. If I save a penny in my savings account, it doesn't mean I earn a penny in interest. Shoot, you need to save $600 to earn a penny's interest it seems.
Maybe I am looking at the expression too deeply or something. Or maybe not deep enough. But if I choose NOT spend it, does some one GIVE me a penny? NO. It just means that the penny I would have spent on NOTHING(which is what a penny buys these days) stays my penny. Do I put it in a "Magic" pocket and it becomes two pennies? Don't think so. Nope. Doesn't happen. It is the SAME PENNY, no less no more.
In fact, now that a penny is pretty much useless, why NOT spend it and get something valuable, instead of just having a piece of money collecting lint in my car's floorboard?
Bottom line: a penny saved is the same penny as you had before. No more, and no less. And that expression needs to be struck from the English language.
Never understood it. I just don't get it. I realize it is an expression to encourage you to save money, but it doesn't make sense. If I save a penny in my savings account, it doesn't mean I earn a penny in interest. Shoot, you need to save $600 to earn a penny's interest it seems.
Maybe I am looking at the expression too deeply or something. Or maybe not deep enough. But if I choose NOT spend it, does some one GIVE me a penny? NO. It just means that the penny I would have spent on NOTHING(which is what a penny buys these days) stays my penny. Do I put it in a "Magic" pocket and it becomes two pennies? Don't think so. Nope. Doesn't happen. It is the SAME PENNY, no less no more.
In fact, now that a penny is pretty much useless, why NOT spend it and get something valuable, instead of just having a piece of money collecting lint in my car's floorboard?
Bottom line: a penny saved is the same penny as you had before. No more, and no less. And that expression needs to be struck from the English language.
Just how dumb can you get?
A few months back I did the top 20 dumbest chicks on reality TV.
Throw out the list. Audrina from The Hills IS the list. In last night's episode we hear that there was a rumor going around that LC and Justin Bobby hooked up. Only the source of the rumor was some dude named Dino and he told Audrina.
And Audrina bought it. I did love in the last 4 minutes when LC finally said what everyone was yelling at his/her TV that she would rather bob for apples in a port-a-potty than hook up with JB. Rather spread honey on my rectum then crawl backwards into a bear cave.... you get the idea.
How could Audrina think that LC would hook up with Justin Bobby? Did Audrina think that ALL of those times when LC was trying to talk her into breaking up with the winner, it was so SHE could hook up with him? (In her defense though, JB has looked a LOT better this season than ever before. He got a haircut and seems to have grown up a tad since the last time we saw him. Also he thinks Audrina was acting childish to believe the rumors. Hmmmmmm when both parties deny a rumor told to you by a guy named "Dino" and you put common sense into the equation....AHHHHHHHHHHHHH BRAIN OVERLOAD FOR AUDRINA!)
At least Jessica Simpson was acting. She was. She saw that Mandy Moore was an average singer who played it straight and couldn't amount to much. JSimp was a worse singer who decided to play it dumb is is dumbing it ALL the way to the bank. She is smarter than all of us.
I think my favorite part of the episode was when Audrina said that LC was doing to her what she did to Heidi. Ummm Audrina, no. LC was a hypocrite to Heidi. To you she was just the victim of your craziness/stoopidity. I bet LC wanted to scream the question of whether she was currently on crazy pills. Audrina, YES you should apologize. You were a moron. And sadly, you should BEG Justin Bobby to take you back after you were mean to him. Plus, I bet now that the Aussie kid has seen this episode, he's glad you aren't coming down undah for the Holidays.
On a sidebar, Heidi, you look terrible these days. You ARE allowed to clean up a bit before going to work. Just saying. And what's with the PERM? Oh, and Spencer was PROBABLY telling the truth when you asked if anyone stopped by that day for her. Your sister had stopped by several days prior. Holly said she stopped by a few days prior. Just so ya now how the time/space continuum works.
And good for Spencer and Heidi getting married, but it puts a damper on my theory of The Hills Series Finale with LC pulling a Dustin Hoffman/Graduate moment at Speidi's wedding. Oh well.
If I am ranking the top 10 dumbest people of the past week.....
10)The Fox River crew that believed Michael Rappaport. NEVER DO THAT!
9)Cam Newton (UFla QB that threw stolen laptop out the window)
8)GM Execs (they told Tiger Woods to take a hike. HUH?)
7)You if you watched the AMAs
6)Frank Wren (Braves GM. TRADE FOR PEAVY ALREADY!)
5)Randy from Survivor(way to play that fake Idol)
4)Mike Stoops (U of Arizona football coach)
3)Michael Vick (pleaded guilty again. guy left HOW MUCH on the table?)
2)Andy Reid (Eagles head coach)
1)Audrina (The Hills, thought LC and JB hooked up. Wha?)
Throw out the list. Audrina from The Hills IS the list. In last night's episode we hear that there was a rumor going around that LC and Justin Bobby hooked up. Only the source of the rumor was some dude named Dino and he told Audrina.
And Audrina bought it. I did love in the last 4 minutes when LC finally said what everyone was yelling at his/her TV that she would rather bob for apples in a port-a-potty than hook up with JB. Rather spread honey on my rectum then crawl backwards into a bear cave.... you get the idea.
How could Audrina think that LC would hook up with Justin Bobby? Did Audrina think that ALL of those times when LC was trying to talk her into breaking up with the winner, it was so SHE could hook up with him? (In her defense though, JB has looked a LOT better this season than ever before. He got a haircut and seems to have grown up a tad since the last time we saw him. Also he thinks Audrina was acting childish to believe the rumors. Hmmmmmm when both parties deny a rumor told to you by a guy named "Dino" and you put common sense into the equation....AHHHHHHHHHHHHH BRAIN OVERLOAD FOR AUDRINA!)
At least Jessica Simpson was acting. She was. She saw that Mandy Moore was an average singer who played it straight and couldn't amount to much. JSimp was a worse singer who decided to play it dumb is is dumbing it ALL the way to the bank. She is smarter than all of us.
I think my favorite part of the episode was when Audrina said that LC was doing to her what she did to Heidi. Ummm Audrina, no. LC was a hypocrite to Heidi. To you she was just the victim of your craziness/stoopidity. I bet LC wanted to scream the question of whether she was currently on crazy pills. Audrina, YES you should apologize. You were a moron. And sadly, you should BEG Justin Bobby to take you back after you were mean to him. Plus, I bet now that the Aussie kid has seen this episode, he's glad you aren't coming down undah for the Holidays.
On a sidebar, Heidi, you look terrible these days. You ARE allowed to clean up a bit before going to work. Just saying. And what's with the PERM? Oh, and Spencer was PROBABLY telling the truth when you asked if anyone stopped by that day for her. Your sister had stopped by several days prior. Holly said she stopped by a few days prior. Just so ya now how the time/space continuum works.
And good for Spencer and Heidi getting married, but it puts a damper on my theory of The Hills Series Finale with LC pulling a Dustin Hoffman/Graduate moment at Speidi's wedding. Oh well.
If I am ranking the top 10 dumbest people of the past week.....
10)The Fox River crew that believed Michael Rappaport. NEVER DO THAT!
9)Cam Newton (UFla QB that threw stolen laptop out the window)
8)GM Execs (they told Tiger Woods to take a hike. HUH?)
7)You if you watched the AMAs
6)Frank Wren (Braves GM. TRADE FOR PEAVY ALREADY!)
5)Randy from Survivor(way to play that fake Idol)
4)Mike Stoops (U of Arizona football coach)
3)Michael Vick (pleaded guilty again. guy left HOW MUCH on the table?)
2)Andy Reid (Eagles head coach)
1)Audrina (The Hills, thought LC and JB hooked up. Wha?)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Hate to say I told ya so PHILLY
But I told you so.....You got rid of the wrong QB after the 2006-07 postseason. After McNabb went down with YET ANOTHER season-ending injury, you had Jeff Garcia step up and ONLY LEAD THE TEAM to the playoffs, including a win in the first round. BUT your coach Andy Reid decided, "Donovan is my boy! I gotta stick with him!" even though he had left the PAST TWO SEASONS WITH INJURIES!
So you let Garcia go to Tampa, where he took the Bucs to a division title and the playoffs in his first year there, and they will be there AGAIN this season. Hey, how did the Iggles do last year? What about thus far this season? Oops, sorry.
Then yesterday, as Garcia is once again passing the Bucs to a victory, despite losing Earnest Graham to an injury, Donovan is being benched for Kevin Kolb (what?) to provide a spark. You want a SPARK? His name is Jeff Garcia.
And you guys missed it. Oh well Sorry guys. You wanted McNabb, a guy that throws up in the huddle of the potential game-winning drive of a Super Bowl. A guy that doesn't know how Overtime works. A guy with THAT HAIR? And that isn't even his real mom on those chunky soup commercials. Oh well. And hey, Jeff Garcia DOES allow his coach to call a QB sneak. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Now Garcia will get another spot in the playoffs and McNabb will probably be cut and Reid fired after this season. Too bad you guys backed the wrong horse there. I told you guys so. You just need to listen to me a little more often.....
(I know the smart-butt Philly fan will come back with, But McNabb took us to 4 straight NFC CGs and a SuperBowl. Yeah, you guys were one step below the Buffalo Bills. Hey, you were kinda like the Braves. Yippee! And McNabb drove away the ONLY good receiver he has ever had because all of a sudden McNabb wasn't the entire show. Would DMcNabb have to share the spotlight? Oh NO! Everyone called TO the cancer of that team, I think the REAL cancer was McNabb getting the BEST PLAYER ON THE TEAM booted. Yes Westbrook and Kearse were both good, but TO made the team TICK. He MADE McNabb great. To call McNabb great before or even after is just silly. He is a pretty good QB, but I would MUCH rather have Jeff Garcia. A winner. 3X Pro Bowler and a guy that fit that Andy Reid system to a T and clearly fits Chucky's system.
With Garcia at the helm, the Eagles make the playoffs last year and would too this year. But with McNabb at the helm (wait, is he starting again? he is? Good call Andy Reid....wait!) the team is going NOWHERE and FAST! Maybe Philly tries to get Garcia back this offseason. Correct a past wrong. They should certainly try!
So you let Garcia go to Tampa, where he took the Bucs to a division title and the playoffs in his first year there, and they will be there AGAIN this season. Hey, how did the Iggles do last year? What about thus far this season? Oops, sorry.
Then yesterday, as Garcia is once again passing the Bucs to a victory, despite losing Earnest Graham to an injury, Donovan is being benched for Kevin Kolb (what?) to provide a spark. You want a SPARK? His name is Jeff Garcia.
And you guys missed it. Oh well Sorry guys. You wanted McNabb, a guy that throws up in the huddle of the potential game-winning drive of a Super Bowl. A guy that doesn't know how Overtime works. A guy with THAT HAIR? And that isn't even his real mom on those chunky soup commercials. Oh well. And hey, Jeff Garcia DOES allow his coach to call a QB sneak. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Now Garcia will get another spot in the playoffs and McNabb will probably be cut and Reid fired after this season. Too bad you guys backed the wrong horse there. I told you guys so. You just need to listen to me a little more often.....
(I know the smart-butt Philly fan will come back with, But McNabb took us to 4 straight NFC CGs and a SuperBowl. Yeah, you guys were one step below the Buffalo Bills. Hey, you were kinda like the Braves. Yippee! And McNabb drove away the ONLY good receiver he has ever had because all of a sudden McNabb wasn't the entire show. Would DMcNabb have to share the spotlight? Oh NO! Everyone called TO the cancer of that team, I think the REAL cancer was McNabb getting the BEST PLAYER ON THE TEAM booted. Yes Westbrook and Kearse were both good, but TO made the team TICK. He MADE McNabb great. To call McNabb great before or even after is just silly. He is a pretty good QB, but I would MUCH rather have Jeff Garcia. A winner. 3X Pro Bowler and a guy that fit that Andy Reid system to a T and clearly fits Chucky's system.
With Garcia at the helm, the Eagles make the playoffs last year and would too this year. But with McNabb at the helm (wait, is he starting again? he is? Good call Andy Reid....wait!) the team is going NOWHERE and FAST! Maybe Philly tries to get Garcia back this offseason. Correct a past wrong. They should certainly try!
It must be really fun to be a Falcons fan right now
Yeah, it is raining outside in Atlanta right now, but for all of the Falcons fans out there, it is just liquid sunshine. For the first time in seemingly forever, it must be REALLY fun to be a Falcons fan right now.
Think about it.....after the QB that supposed to change the game was convicted of dogfighting and sent to prison (after letting down his fanbase for quite some time. Overrated much?), the franchise is then kicked in the gut by the snake that was Bobby Petrino as he bounced out of town early for another job (shocker. I have to put some of the blame on the Falcons though for hiring the guy in the first place. The brass knew what it was getting into the bed with on that one).
THEN everyone was blasting the Falcons for taking Matt Ryan with the 3rd overall pick when Glen Dorsey would have "solidified the defense for years" (OK, fine I said that. Big whoop) And the team gave HOW much to a backup running back? And you only got a 2nd rounder and a 7th for DHall? Come on.....
But TD hired the right coach and got the QB into camp early where he has become the best rookie QB since Dan Marino. (Yep, better than Big Ben. Look at the numbers, not the record. PLUS look what Ben was working with.)
Now I don't think the Falcons are going to make the playoffs. I think they go 9-7 or 10-6, but the future is bright, certainly for the Falcons.
I think a run in the playoffs next season is the START of a window for the team. The 2010 season will be the first of a 4 year window where the Falcons SHOULD win a superbowl.
Then the best part, if you are a Falcons fan is that you have Matt Ryan for the next 12-15 seasons. FINE I WAS WRONG. This kid apparently has "it" and "it" isn't going anywhere. Is he Tom Brady/Peyton Manning RIGHT NOW? No. But he is certainly next tier right now. Good for him and good for the Dirty Birds.
I asked Paul Mac, the biggest Falcons fan I know if he was happier RIGHT NOW than ANYTIME in the Michael Vick Era, and he thought about it....then said yes. You know what you have here. Matty Ice is going to be solid for the next 5 years, then become a Dan Marino-type (good QB with a good enough arm that will make the average better.) I assume that the team will be over the cap about 6 years down the line with giving out raises and whatnot, so at some point the team will have to cut some vets to make room, like Marino had to do at points in his career.
And with Vick, his style always left him one hit away from missing the season. And after the 2004 NFC Appearance, Vick stopped progressing. He did. The Eagles gave everyone the blueprint on how to stop him and he didn't seem to care to change it. He was happy with 9-7, 8-8, 7-9. He didn't care anymore. Apparently he was more interested in his dog-fighting ring. Too bad, because this guy could have been something special, except he kept stepping on his thing.
With Ryan, you get the feeling that if teams DO get a read on him, he will study on how to one-up them. Like Peyton. Like Brady.
The Falcons got a good one, and it must be pretty fun being a Falcons fan right now. It isn't much fun being a Georgia fan, and why would you want to be a Tech fan? HONESTLY. WHY? But If you are living in the ATL and you love football, you have to feel good about jumping on the Falcons bandwagon. DO it. You can feel good about EVERY part of the team for the next decade.
I personally am a Redskins fan. Do I feel good about the Skins with Zorn and Campbell? NO. I don't trust either. Mike Smith is a rookie head coach, but I'd feel good about him as a Falcons fan. He inspires more confidence than Marvin Lewis would in Cincy. Smith isn't going to lose the team like Lewis did. Poor Carson Palmer, he was done in by knuckleheads like Ocho Cinco and by Lewis. That won't happen with Ryan because Smith won't let it. Philip Rivers has been done in by Norv Turner. Leinart is an afterthought in Arizona. Jay Cutler (Denver) and Ryan are the next wave.
You've got to be excited about that and the Denver/Atlanta game from last week was a pretty good one. You might see that in a Super Bowl before you know it. 2012 perhaps?
If you are a Falcons fan though and I am talking about a Super Bowl in three years, that has to be great. I wish I was talking about the Redskins, but I'm not. The Falcons are going to be there. They deserve it after all these years of being poo-pooed on. Soak it up Falcons fans. Strap in and buy a #2 jersey. If you don't jump on now......you're going to get left behind.
Think about it.....after the QB that supposed to change the game was convicted of dogfighting and sent to prison (after letting down his fanbase for quite some time. Overrated much?), the franchise is then kicked in the gut by the snake that was Bobby Petrino as he bounced out of town early for another job (shocker. I have to put some of the blame on the Falcons though for hiring the guy in the first place. The brass knew what it was getting into the bed with on that one).
THEN everyone was blasting the Falcons for taking Matt Ryan with the 3rd overall pick when Glen Dorsey would have "solidified the defense for years" (OK, fine I said that. Big whoop) And the team gave HOW much to a backup running back? And you only got a 2nd rounder and a 7th for DHall? Come on.....
But TD hired the right coach and got the QB into camp early where he has become the best rookie QB since Dan Marino. (Yep, better than Big Ben. Look at the numbers, not the record. PLUS look what Ben was working with.)
Now I don't think the Falcons are going to make the playoffs. I think they go 9-7 or 10-6, but the future is bright, certainly for the Falcons.
I think a run in the playoffs next season is the START of a window for the team. The 2010 season will be the first of a 4 year window where the Falcons SHOULD win a superbowl.
Then the best part, if you are a Falcons fan is that you have Matt Ryan for the next 12-15 seasons. FINE I WAS WRONG. This kid apparently has "it" and "it" isn't going anywhere. Is he Tom Brady/Peyton Manning RIGHT NOW? No. But he is certainly next tier right now. Good for him and good for the Dirty Birds.
I asked Paul Mac, the biggest Falcons fan I know if he was happier RIGHT NOW than ANYTIME in the Michael Vick Era, and he thought about it....then said yes. You know what you have here. Matty Ice is going to be solid for the next 5 years, then become a Dan Marino-type (good QB with a good enough arm that will make the average better.) I assume that the team will be over the cap about 6 years down the line with giving out raises and whatnot, so at some point the team will have to cut some vets to make room, like Marino had to do at points in his career.
And with Vick, his style always left him one hit away from missing the season. And after the 2004 NFC Appearance, Vick stopped progressing. He did. The Eagles gave everyone the blueprint on how to stop him and he didn't seem to care to change it. He was happy with 9-7, 8-8, 7-9. He didn't care anymore. Apparently he was more interested in his dog-fighting ring. Too bad, because this guy could have been something special, except he kept stepping on his thing.
With Ryan, you get the feeling that if teams DO get a read on him, he will study on how to one-up them. Like Peyton. Like Brady.
The Falcons got a good one, and it must be pretty fun being a Falcons fan right now. It isn't much fun being a Georgia fan, and why would you want to be a Tech fan? HONESTLY. WHY? But If you are living in the ATL and you love football, you have to feel good about jumping on the Falcons bandwagon. DO it. You can feel good about EVERY part of the team for the next decade.
I personally am a Redskins fan. Do I feel good about the Skins with Zorn and Campbell? NO. I don't trust either. Mike Smith is a rookie head coach, but I'd feel good about him as a Falcons fan. He inspires more confidence than Marvin Lewis would in Cincy. Smith isn't going to lose the team like Lewis did. Poor Carson Palmer, he was done in by knuckleheads like Ocho Cinco and by Lewis. That won't happen with Ryan because Smith won't let it. Philip Rivers has been done in by Norv Turner. Leinart is an afterthought in Arizona. Jay Cutler (Denver) and Ryan are the next wave.
You've got to be excited about that and the Denver/Atlanta game from last week was a pretty good one. You might see that in a Super Bowl before you know it. 2012 perhaps?
If you are a Falcons fan though and I am talking about a Super Bowl in three years, that has to be great. I wish I was talking about the Redskins, but I'm not. The Falcons are going to be there. They deserve it after all these years of being poo-pooed on. Soak it up Falcons fans. Strap in and buy a #2 jersey. If you don't jump on now......you're going to get left behind.
Friday, November 21, 2008
A Thankful batch of picks
My friends and I celebrated Thanksgiving one week early last night and it got me TOTALLY hyped for my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving. I love the food (turkey, gravy, stuffing, rolls, pecan pie, and OF COURSE MASHED POTATOES!) and I love the football, and I love the day off afterwards to eat the leftovers. How can you NOT love Thanksgiving?
Last night we of course went around the table and said what we were thankful for and I thought I might share a few cosmetic things that I am thankful for...I am thankful for the Big Ten network, and thus I don't have to watch Illinois/Indiana "slug" out a 7-3 football game...I am thankful for House, Prisonbreak, Bones and The OC on DVD. Basically, FOX...I am thankful for Pam Ward and her dance parties....I am thankful for the falcons not sucking so much this year, so people are actually listening to my Sunday show...I am thankful for my new house, which means a new cable system in Charter(Comcast sucks)...I am thankful for chocolate milk...I am thankful for my dogs sleeping it their own beds, instead of jumping up and stealing my bed space...I am thankful for Mike Leach, head coach of MY Texas Tech Red Raiders...I am thankful that UGA is off this week, so I don't have to lose years off my life watching us suck...And finally, I am thankful that Dennis Felton is no longer the men's b-ball coach at UGA....wait, he is still the Coach? Then I am thankful for Tissues...
On to the picks!
Michigan @ #10 tOSU. If Duh Ohio State wins, it still has an outside shot at a BCS bowl game, maybe even the Rose Bowl. EVEN MORE REASON to root for Michigan. Except that RichRod is still the coach at Michigan. duh Ohio State wins, but I will be rooting for Big Blue. I wonder if Rich Rod throws his name into the ring for the Klimpsen job...
NCSU @ #22 UNC. This isn't even a BASKETBALL rivalry anymore, much less a football rivalry. I think it is kind of funny how NCState thinks that UNC cares about beating the Pack. Hellur, UNC cares about Duke, not you Wolf Pack. SORRY. UNC wins over its "rival"
West Va @ Louisville. Remember when this game meant something? Back when it was RichRod v Petrino. I wonder if they each got a do-over.....well no. They each banked some serious cash, but they are losing. Note to Cincy's Brian Kelly, please read the cautionary tale that both of these guys wrote before taking the UTenn job. Go with the Neers. Pat White is better than Hunter Cantwell.
Army @ Rutgers. Hey Greg Shiano, betcha wish you had taken Miami's money now, right? Oh, you ENJOY living in the armpit of America? Well good for you. And you'll win this game too, but come on Dawg....Rutgers HAS to suck like 360 days of the year, right?
Klimpsen @ UVA. So A senior safety is writing the Klimpsen AD a letter of recommendation for interim coach Dabo and CJ Spiller says he will come back to school if Dabo sticks? Hmmmm, that the senior safety can write is amazing (he goes to Klimpsen) and CJ SPiller, DABO is the reason you'd come back? Not that your stock has dropped like it is on the NASDAC? Hmmmmm. Spiller, who are you trying to kid, big man? Come on. UVA at home against team dysfunction? I'll take the Hoos! (PS, how sad is it that Bud Foster and Will Muschamp have already turned you down. You know Tuberville is stick in Auburn, and why would you want Fulmer? Maybe TBowden wasn't so bad....)
Indiana @ Purdue on ESPN2.....which means DANCE PARTY IN West Lafayette! Purdue wins a final home game for Coach Joe Tiller. Oh, and Indiana stinks. Not a fun time to be A hoosiers fan right now.
Tennessee @ Vandy. Tell me Fulmer is almost through with his misery. Do you think he is even still coaching? If I was a coach that was being forced out, I'd say "Oh go screw yourself. Find another coach to finish out the year. PEACE!" Why are Fulmer and TWill and Ron Price sticking around? I'd bounce. Vandy wins because Fulmer is probably watching Last Holiday instead of game film.
Citadel @ #4 Florida. Way to really impress the voters down the stretch URBAN. Way to go bud. I would think that if Oklahoma knocks off Texas Tech, they would leap over the Gators. Citadel? Really?
Syracuse @ Notre Dame. Here is another coach, Robinson who is sticking around, despite being fired already. I would leave. But whatever. Notre Dame should win this one though because Syracuse has a losing record and we KNOW that Charlie Weis dominates teams with losing records like he dominates a box of Krispy Kremes. GO FUPA
Arkie @ Missy State. You would think that Miss State should win against Arkansas, especially since Casey Dick's little brother is scheduled to start, but Arkansas has been starting to come on in the second half of the season. But what does Miss State really care about this game? Even if Sly Croom loses, they won't fire him, because that would be RACIST. Go with the Bulldogs at home.
Washington at Wazzou. The Apple Cup, or as I have seen it written, the Rotten Apple Cup. The sad thing is that with the OT format as it is now, there WILL be a winner. This game cannot end 0-0, like it should. If it were up to Donovan McNabb, the NFL would have the college OT format, or at least one where people don't end up tying. Hey McNabb, #1, your hair? Wuzzup wit dat? #2, the game has passed you by and you are STILL PLAYING. #3, sometimes FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM, how about you do something self-sacrificing? (Maybe shut your mouth about TO or run a QB sneak!) Oh, crap, I have to pick a winner. Ummmm Wazzou at home.
#15 Michigan State @ #8 Penn State. MSU is the UGA of the Big Ten. The only games they've played all season, they lost, badly. Ohio State blew them out at home and Cal beat them on the road. They haven't blown out the teams they should have and the big out-of-conference win v Notre Dame (or Arizona State) looks like crap now. So likely Michigan State will lose to Penn State. Much like if UGA were to play a team like that. MSU is a SOLID #3 in that conference, but certainly not #1(PSU) or #2 (tOSU). Sad. But they hang around the top 10 like UGA does. Wow. Scary.....
Stanford @ Cal. PAC10 FOOTBALL! WOW-WEEEE! Don't they just call this "The Game" or something like that? So dumb. One highlight that might get played more than the storming the florida endzone is this DUMB runback thru the band. A winner here? Cal at home.
Illinois @ Northwestern. What crap trophy are they playing for here? I think the reason the Big Ten has all of these trophies is to keep its own players interested in the games. Otherwise they'd all be watching the Big 12 and the SEC. Ummm Illinois in a "road upset"
BC @ Wake. So Wake Forest is hold two senior days because the school officials don't feel the seniors will get a proper send off next week in the final home game v Vandy. Ohhhhhhhhhh, so the Thanksgiving holiday is the reason there are no students at the games. RRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright. But go with Wake in this senior game PART1!
#9 Boise State @ Nevada. A bunch of experts are saying that Boise State is going to lose this one. I don't see it. Sorry. I think unfortunately Boise State wins and goes undefeated and they face Utah in the Fiesta Bowl or whatever. Put them in it so I don't have to listen BSU b!tch and moan about being snubbed into the Armed Forces Bowl or whatever and how "an undefeated Bronco team could have beaten OU or Texas..." Put them in there, let them lose, let NO ONE WATCH and let the BCS realize, "hmmmm maybe we should stop putting these crap teams in the big games because they really do suck against major competition."
Duke @ VaTech. Maybe in basketball this one is close, but on the football field? No. Plus, isn't this Macho Harris's last home game? I bet Macho goes balls out in this one. Wait, it is against DUKE. WHO CARES? Macho and the redneck hillbilly dogfighters win.
#14 BYU @ #7 Utah. Winner of this one immediately gets 6 wives given to them following the game. Is there honestly fair though? You have 26 year olds v 25 year olds. Stormin' Mormons against other Mormons. This is a little crazy. But again, give Utah the game so we can have them face Boise State in the "No one's watching Bowl" And could Fox please give the crew that worked the UGA game last year that one? To punish them for having a hard-on for Hawaii last year...
#20 Pitt @ #19 Cincy. BIG EAST FANS, DON'T WORRY! Basketball season is here. You guys matter again! An Brian Kelly, way to go out on top before heading down to Tennessee. PS, I am SO glad that David Pollack knew about you when NO ONE ELSE did. He was the ONLY ONE. Nope, no one else. Just him. Are you guys blood brothers?
FSU @ #25 Maryland. Just when FSU is ready to be back, they crap the bed. Against GT...against BC...and now they will against Maryland. Actually, the way the ACC has gone this season, Maryland should lose this one. Go with the Noles.
BLUE PLATE SPECIALS...
Lock of the week
#21 Oregon State @ Zona. Whenever a team plays Arizona with Arizona having a chance to better its bowl position, it always wins. Zona was talking big about the Rose Bowl v USC...and lost. Last season Zona was making a bowl push, and it lost....So now, even though the Cats are eligible, they will TOTALLY lose and be sent to the Emerald Nuts Bowl, probably against GT. Go with Oregon State To the ROSE BOWL.
Upset Special
Ole Miss @ #18 LSU. Troy couldn't finish the drill, but Ole Miss will be able to. Houston Nutt beat LSU last year and this year he has a GOOD QB, and won't have to use Run DMC back there. Look for Ole Miss to knock off the Bayou Bengals.
NFL-National Felon League.
Carolina @ Atlanta. Matty Ice got rocked the last time out v Carolina and Roddy White should have made the game winning catch v Denver last week. Oh well. DHall isn't here to mess this game up for the Falcons, and I think the Rook wins this one. Take the dirty birds.
Rooting interest games.....
#2 Texas Tech @ #5 OU. My new boys the Red Raiders of Texas Tech come out firing and get into a shootout with OU. Should be one of the more exciting games of the year. I think the injury to OU's LB will show up in this one and TTU just outguns them at the end. Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell lock up the joint heisman in this one. GO RED RAIDERS!
Last night we of course went around the table and said what we were thankful for and I thought I might share a few cosmetic things that I am thankful for...I am thankful for the Big Ten network, and thus I don't have to watch Illinois/Indiana "slug" out a 7-3 football game...I am thankful for House, Prisonbreak, Bones and The OC on DVD. Basically, FOX...I am thankful for Pam Ward and her dance parties....I am thankful for the falcons not sucking so much this year, so people are actually listening to my Sunday show...I am thankful for my new house, which means a new cable system in Charter(Comcast sucks)...I am thankful for chocolate milk...I am thankful for my dogs sleeping it their own beds, instead of jumping up and stealing my bed space...I am thankful for Mike Leach, head coach of MY Texas Tech Red Raiders...I am thankful that UGA is off this week, so I don't have to lose years off my life watching us suck...And finally, I am thankful that Dennis Felton is no longer the men's b-ball coach at UGA....wait, he is still the Coach? Then I am thankful for Tissues...
On to the picks!
Michigan @ #10 tOSU. If Duh Ohio State wins, it still has an outside shot at a BCS bowl game, maybe even the Rose Bowl. EVEN MORE REASON to root for Michigan. Except that RichRod is still the coach at Michigan. duh Ohio State wins, but I will be rooting for Big Blue. I wonder if Rich Rod throws his name into the ring for the Klimpsen job...
NCSU @ #22 UNC. This isn't even a BASKETBALL rivalry anymore, much less a football rivalry. I think it is kind of funny how NCState thinks that UNC cares about beating the Pack. Hellur, UNC cares about Duke, not you Wolf Pack. SORRY. UNC wins over its "rival"
West Va @ Louisville. Remember when this game meant something? Back when it was RichRod v Petrino. I wonder if they each got a do-over.....well no. They each banked some serious cash, but they are losing. Note to Cincy's Brian Kelly, please read the cautionary tale that both of these guys wrote before taking the UTenn job. Go with the Neers. Pat White is better than Hunter Cantwell.
Army @ Rutgers. Hey Greg Shiano, betcha wish you had taken Miami's money now, right? Oh, you ENJOY living in the armpit of America? Well good for you. And you'll win this game too, but come on Dawg....Rutgers HAS to suck like 360 days of the year, right?
Klimpsen @ UVA. So A senior safety is writing the Klimpsen AD a letter of recommendation for interim coach Dabo and CJ Spiller says he will come back to school if Dabo sticks? Hmmmm, that the senior safety can write is amazing (he goes to Klimpsen) and CJ SPiller, DABO is the reason you'd come back? Not that your stock has dropped like it is on the NASDAC? Hmmmmm. Spiller, who are you trying to kid, big man? Come on. UVA at home against team dysfunction? I'll take the Hoos! (PS, how sad is it that Bud Foster and Will Muschamp have already turned you down. You know Tuberville is stick in Auburn, and why would you want Fulmer? Maybe TBowden wasn't so bad....)
Indiana @ Purdue on ESPN2.....which means DANCE PARTY IN West Lafayette! Purdue wins a final home game for Coach Joe Tiller. Oh, and Indiana stinks. Not a fun time to be A hoosiers fan right now.
Tennessee @ Vandy. Tell me Fulmer is almost through with his misery. Do you think he is even still coaching? If I was a coach that was being forced out, I'd say "Oh go screw yourself. Find another coach to finish out the year. PEACE!" Why are Fulmer and TWill and Ron Price sticking around? I'd bounce. Vandy wins because Fulmer is probably watching Last Holiday instead of game film.
Citadel @ #4 Florida. Way to really impress the voters down the stretch URBAN. Way to go bud. I would think that if Oklahoma knocks off Texas Tech, they would leap over the Gators. Citadel? Really?
Syracuse @ Notre Dame. Here is another coach, Robinson who is sticking around, despite being fired already. I would leave. But whatever. Notre Dame should win this one though because Syracuse has a losing record and we KNOW that Charlie Weis dominates teams with losing records like he dominates a box of Krispy Kremes. GO FUPA
Arkie @ Missy State. You would think that Miss State should win against Arkansas, especially since Casey Dick's little brother is scheduled to start, but Arkansas has been starting to come on in the second half of the season. But what does Miss State really care about this game? Even if Sly Croom loses, they won't fire him, because that would be RACIST. Go with the Bulldogs at home.
Washington at Wazzou. The Apple Cup, or as I have seen it written, the Rotten Apple Cup. The sad thing is that with the OT format as it is now, there WILL be a winner. This game cannot end 0-0, like it should. If it were up to Donovan McNabb, the NFL would have the college OT format, or at least one where people don't end up tying. Hey McNabb, #1, your hair? Wuzzup wit dat? #2, the game has passed you by and you are STILL PLAYING. #3, sometimes FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM, how about you do something self-sacrificing? (Maybe shut your mouth about TO or run a QB sneak!) Oh, crap, I have to pick a winner. Ummmm Wazzou at home.
#15 Michigan State @ #8 Penn State. MSU is the UGA of the Big Ten. The only games they've played all season, they lost, badly. Ohio State blew them out at home and Cal beat them on the road. They haven't blown out the teams they should have and the big out-of-conference win v Notre Dame (or Arizona State) looks like crap now. So likely Michigan State will lose to Penn State. Much like if UGA were to play a team like that. MSU is a SOLID #3 in that conference, but certainly not #1(PSU) or #2 (tOSU). Sad. But they hang around the top 10 like UGA does. Wow. Scary.....
Stanford @ Cal. PAC10 FOOTBALL! WOW-WEEEE! Don't they just call this "The Game" or something like that? So dumb. One highlight that might get played more than the storming the florida endzone is this DUMB runback thru the band. A winner here? Cal at home.
Illinois @ Northwestern. What crap trophy are they playing for here? I think the reason the Big Ten has all of these trophies is to keep its own players interested in the games. Otherwise they'd all be watching the Big 12 and the SEC. Ummm Illinois in a "road upset"
BC @ Wake. So Wake Forest is hold two senior days because the school officials don't feel the seniors will get a proper send off next week in the final home game v Vandy. Ohhhhhhhhhh, so the Thanksgiving holiday is the reason there are no students at the games. RRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright. But go with Wake in this senior game PART1!
#9 Boise State @ Nevada. A bunch of experts are saying that Boise State is going to lose this one. I don't see it. Sorry. I think unfortunately Boise State wins and goes undefeated and they face Utah in the Fiesta Bowl or whatever. Put them in it so I don't have to listen BSU b!tch and moan about being snubbed into the Armed Forces Bowl or whatever and how "an undefeated Bronco team could have beaten OU or Texas..." Put them in there, let them lose, let NO ONE WATCH and let the BCS realize, "hmmmm maybe we should stop putting these crap teams in the big games because they really do suck against major competition."
Duke @ VaTech. Maybe in basketball this one is close, but on the football field? No. Plus, isn't this Macho Harris's last home game? I bet Macho goes balls out in this one. Wait, it is against DUKE. WHO CARES? Macho and the redneck hillbilly dogfighters win.
#14 BYU @ #7 Utah. Winner of this one immediately gets 6 wives given to them following the game. Is there honestly fair though? You have 26 year olds v 25 year olds. Stormin' Mormons against other Mormons. This is a little crazy. But again, give Utah the game so we can have them face Boise State in the "No one's watching Bowl" And could Fox please give the crew that worked the UGA game last year that one? To punish them for having a hard-on for Hawaii last year...
#20 Pitt @ #19 Cincy. BIG EAST FANS, DON'T WORRY! Basketball season is here. You guys matter again! An Brian Kelly, way to go out on top before heading down to Tennessee. PS, I am SO glad that David Pollack knew about you when NO ONE ELSE did. He was the ONLY ONE. Nope, no one else. Just him. Are you guys blood brothers?
FSU @ #25 Maryland. Just when FSU is ready to be back, they crap the bed. Against GT...against BC...and now they will against Maryland. Actually, the way the ACC has gone this season, Maryland should lose this one. Go with the Noles.
BLUE PLATE SPECIALS...
Lock of the week
#21 Oregon State @ Zona. Whenever a team plays Arizona with Arizona having a chance to better its bowl position, it always wins. Zona was talking big about the Rose Bowl v USC...and lost. Last season Zona was making a bowl push, and it lost....So now, even though the Cats are eligible, they will TOTALLY lose and be sent to the Emerald Nuts Bowl, probably against GT. Go with Oregon State To the ROSE BOWL.
Upset Special
Ole Miss @ #18 LSU. Troy couldn't finish the drill, but Ole Miss will be able to. Houston Nutt beat LSU last year and this year he has a GOOD QB, and won't have to use Run DMC back there. Look for Ole Miss to knock off the Bayou Bengals.
NFL-National Felon League.
Carolina @ Atlanta. Matty Ice got rocked the last time out v Carolina and Roddy White should have made the game winning catch v Denver last week. Oh well. DHall isn't here to mess this game up for the Falcons, and I think the Rook wins this one. Take the dirty birds.
Rooting interest games.....
#2 Texas Tech @ #5 OU. My new boys the Red Raiders of Texas Tech come out firing and get into a shootout with OU. Should be one of the more exciting games of the year. I think the injury to OU's LB will show up in this one and TTU just outguns them at the end. Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell lock up the joint heisman in this one. GO RED RAIDERS!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Welcome to the new age of Braves baseball!
Frank Wren went interactive Thursday and participated in a chat with Braves fans on the team's website. (I was there, but my questions were not answered, instead we got great questions such as, "Who was your favorite player growing up? THANKS WEBMASTER!) He touched on several topics, but of course could not talk about players currently on other teams’ rosters. He noted that the Jake Peavy trade is all but dead, saying that a discussion of giving Peavy a no-trade clause never came about because the talks never advanced that far.
Wren spoke highly of Tommy Hanson, the Braves pitching prospect that has been tearing up the Arizona Fall League. Wren said that Hanson will “show us” where he needs to pitch next season. It could be as early as late 2009 or the start of the 2010 when Hanson makes his debut. Suffice to say, Hanson will not start the upcoming year in the Braves rotation, but that the team has “a lot of ‘lines in the water,’” in regards to starting pitching.
As far as the lineup, Wren stated that the team has “an infield in place” and is still working on its outfield. He could not comment on certain trade targets, but did say that he would prefer a righthanded hitter opposed to a lefty because of the current lineup and the prospects in the minor league system all being lefties.
Finally Wren made it a point to say that the team is building for the very long haul, not just mortgaging the future for a run next season. If Smoltz and Glavine can come back, Wren says the team will adjust, but is going about its business right now like they won’t be back (from injury). He also thought the bullpen would be a strength of the 2009 Braves.
Wren spoke highly of Tommy Hanson, the Braves pitching prospect that has been tearing up the Arizona Fall League. Wren said that Hanson will “show us” where he needs to pitch next season. It could be as early as late 2009 or the start of the 2010 when Hanson makes his debut. Suffice to say, Hanson will not start the upcoming year in the Braves rotation, but that the team has “a lot of ‘lines in the water,’” in regards to starting pitching.
As far as the lineup, Wren stated that the team has “an infield in place” and is still working on its outfield. He could not comment on certain trade targets, but did say that he would prefer a righthanded hitter opposed to a lefty because of the current lineup and the prospects in the minor league system all being lefties.
Finally Wren made it a point to say that the team is building for the very long haul, not just mortgaging the future for a run next season. If Smoltz and Glavine can come back, Wren says the team will adjust, but is going about its business right now like they won’t be back (from injury). He also thought the bullpen would be a strength of the 2009 Braves.
Week two of GA HS STATE PLAYOFFS
Well week one certainly didn't go how I thought it might. (And UGA's basketball team certainly isn't as good as I thought it would be. That might have to do with Thompkins being out. But I think it has more to do with Dennis Felton as coach...Back to GA HS football!)
My Sunday cohost on ScoreAtlanta's Scoreboard Final IJ Rosenberg noted that the Woodstock upset of Walton wasn't that big of an upset, and I guess I have to agree. I didn't realize that Michael Boydston wouldn't play and without MB back there Ray Rayburn just wasn't able to make anything happen. Oh well. Now the Wolverines get the Norcross Blue Devils. Norcross eeked one out against Parkview and I think the talent should overwhelm Woodystock. That would set up the potential for a rematch in the quarterfinals against Camden.....If Camden can get past Northside-Warner Robins. WOW #2 v #3 in the second round? This game is two of the top 4 teams IN THE STATE against each other. WOW. I picked NWR to win it all, so I am sticking with them. I am not certain the Camden Co offense has seen the likes of Abry Jones and Eric Fields just yet. ANd Joe Scott does JUST enough to beat Camden.
Lassiter "upset" Etowah in not much of an upset IMO and will now face Michael Tamburo. Chip Lindsey's Trojans should be able to go up and down the field on the NGHS Bulldogs, but I think Tyler Jarry will be the difference in this game. Kudos to Michael Tamburo though for picking Boise State. We WILL be seeing this guy in a Fiesta Bowl against probably Oklahoma in 2012.
Newnan should have NO trouble with Tift Co, but Kudos to Tift Co for helping make my prediction of all Region2 schools going one-and-done.
Otherwise Ptree Ridge squares off against a Banged up Robbie Godhigh and Harrison (advantage:PT-R)
Finally Grayson faces EPHS and IF they can win that one, CONGRATS you get Lowndes.
ClassAAAA offered ZERO surprises except that Statesboro KEEPS winning. I thought the STBHS was done without its senior QB, but I was wrong. Maybe. I imagine it wins v North Clayton before falling to Sandy Creek. Sandy Creek though must survive Rome (which it probably will do, but imagine if Braxton Lane were playing...)
Elsewhere, just one more week until Tucker v Westside-Macon. How about this weekend though, Sequoyah @ Marist. Should be a really great game and is the GPB.org/football game of the week. I am not doing that game, but I really feel I should be. That's OK.
Class AAA, well let's go to GPB.org/football's AAA beat writer, FLETCHER PROCTOR
The powers of Class AAA football flexed their collective muscles the first weekend of the 2008 state playoffs. ScoreAtl/GPB’s No.1 Cairo trounced Troup 48-0 as the Syrupmakers held Troup to just one first down the entire game while rolling up over 400 offensive yards, including 347 on the ground. Ronnie Wooten ended any hope of a Troup miracle comeback in the third with a game-breaking touchdown. Cairo will face Burke County in the second round, after Burke annihilated Mary Persons. Defending AAA champ Carver-Columbus received two touchdown runs from Isaiah Crowell en route to a 28-0 blanking of Crisp County. Baldwin, meanwhile knocked off Region 4’s No.4 seeded Eagles Landing 28-3. In the night’s only real upset, Donovan Tate tallied three total touchdowns on 290 total yards of offense as Cartersville eeked past St. Pius X 34-31. Cole Moon rushed for 99 yards and two scores in the loss. The team that beat St. Pius last week continued its run. Dunwoody cruised past Central Carroll 24-7. The night’s most outstanding player had to be Flowery Branch’s Connor Shaw. The Falcons QB threw for five scores and 296 yards and also ran one in as Flowery Branch picked up a win at the Reservation over Stephens County.
as for this week.........
As round two of the Class AAA playoffs nears, the favorites must be focused on the game at hand and not look down the road. Baldwin and Corrico Hawkins will face a Shaw squad that, despite a losing record, is still dangerous. Shaw knocked off Peach County on the road and has been tested over the season against top notch competition. Meanwhile the Flowery Branch must get off the field against Ridgeland otherwise Connor Shaw and the Falcon offense might not get a chance to pour points onto the scoreboard. Another performance like the one it gave against Stephens County and the Region 7 #3 will be sent home. Dunwoody did enough to advance against Central-Carroll but now faces North Hall, who squeezed out a one point win against Hart County.
The marquee matchup of the week will be Cartersville at Gainesville. Donovan Tate’s three scores helped upset St. Pius X in the biggest upset of round one, but Gainesville’s QB is nothing at which to sneeze. The Red Elephants, behind its leader Blake Sims pulled away from Oconee County in the second half en route to a 49-21 win. The Sims/Tate battle could be the best of the entire postseason.
Thanks Fletcher.
Class AA, is going to be ALL BUFORD, once again while Dublin looks to advance to have the chance to face Buford next week. Let's hope it happens. Come on Rashard Smith! In Class A, ECI won and will win it all. I am going to save my breath.
Hey, as a bonus, here's a look at the remaining Gwinnett County Schools with Score Atlanta's Fletcher Proctor's indepth look.
In what could only be described as a wild first Friday night of playoffs, most of the Gwinnett County powers flexed their muscles and avoided the upset bug. North Gwinnett defeated Brookwood by a 34-10 whipping. The win, coupled with a Lassiter upset of Etowah means that the Bulldogs will host Lassiter in the second round. Bulldog QB Michael Tamburo threw for 194 yards and one score, while running for 98 more yards and four scores. Tyler Jarry will also be licking his chops at the chance to run at home against the visiting Lassiter Trojans.
Peachtree-Ridge shutout Dacula, but the 17-0 win spoke more about the Lions struggles on offense than the power of its defense. Kevin Minter will lay the wood on anyone, and the LSU-bound LB/Safety will look to target Harrison’s Robbie Godhigh in the second round. Lion QB Nick Lombardo must provide this offense with a spark if Peachtree-Ridge wants to make it to the Final Four of the 2008 state playoffs.
The little giant Ean Pemberton was back to his big ways last week as he carried 23 times for 139 yards and two scores in the Rams 31-7 win over Collins Hill. Coach Mickey Conn’s Rams have great balance with Tyler Horne able to run and throw out of the wing-T attack and Horne’s arm was on display with a 50-yard touchdown strike last week. East Paulding, who escaped in 3OTs against Milton, must be wary of the arm of Horne. Look for East Paulding to try and control the clock and keep the Rams offense on the sidelines with a heavy dose of Jahron Brown.
In Class AA, Buford and Lovett both cruised and have potentially set up yet another state final. Cody Getz continues to impress and his two scores Friday on just nine carries show that he is capable of taking one to the house whenever he touches the ball. Storm Johnson is a nice complement to Getz and the QB Michael May should not have trouble finding open receivers against North Oconee’s defense this week. In Class A, Wesleyan was led by Wesley Karenpelis’s 208 yards rushing and four scores and the back won’t slow down this week with Holy Innocents visitng.
In what must be the game of the week featuring a Gwinnett County school, Norcross will host Woodstock, after the Wolverines upset Region 6 champ Walton. The Blue Devils meanwhile pulled off a little upset magic of its own, trumping Parkview at the Jungle 20-17. Look for DJ Adams to continue to pound the ball and dare Woodstock to make Chales King throw the ball. King is capable of showing off his rocket arm and it could be on display this Friday at Norcross. Meanwhile the defense of Norcross, though young should be able to bottle up Wolverine rushers and Price Kent in the defensive secondary can run with any receiver in the state. Norcross can’t look past anyone, but Coach Maloof surely would love to get another shot at Camden in the quarters after losing earlier this season at the Powerade Kell Classic.
My Sunday cohost on ScoreAtlanta's Scoreboard Final IJ Rosenberg noted that the Woodstock upset of Walton wasn't that big of an upset, and I guess I have to agree. I didn't realize that Michael Boydston wouldn't play and without MB back there Ray Rayburn just wasn't able to make anything happen. Oh well. Now the Wolverines get the Norcross Blue Devils. Norcross eeked one out against Parkview and I think the talent should overwhelm Woodystock. That would set up the potential for a rematch in the quarterfinals against Camden.....If Camden can get past Northside-Warner Robins. WOW #2 v #3 in the second round? This game is two of the top 4 teams IN THE STATE against each other. WOW. I picked NWR to win it all, so I am sticking with them. I am not certain the Camden Co offense has seen the likes of Abry Jones and Eric Fields just yet. ANd Joe Scott does JUST enough to beat Camden.
Lassiter "upset" Etowah in not much of an upset IMO and will now face Michael Tamburo. Chip Lindsey's Trojans should be able to go up and down the field on the NGHS Bulldogs, but I think Tyler Jarry will be the difference in this game. Kudos to Michael Tamburo though for picking Boise State. We WILL be seeing this guy in a Fiesta Bowl against probably Oklahoma in 2012.
Newnan should have NO trouble with Tift Co, but Kudos to Tift Co for helping make my prediction of all Region2 schools going one-and-done.
Otherwise Ptree Ridge squares off against a Banged up Robbie Godhigh and Harrison (advantage:PT-R)
Finally Grayson faces EPHS and IF they can win that one, CONGRATS you get Lowndes.
ClassAAAA offered ZERO surprises except that Statesboro KEEPS winning. I thought the STBHS was done without its senior QB, but I was wrong. Maybe. I imagine it wins v North Clayton before falling to Sandy Creek. Sandy Creek though must survive Rome (which it probably will do, but imagine if Braxton Lane were playing...)
Elsewhere, just one more week until Tucker v Westside-Macon. How about this weekend though, Sequoyah @ Marist. Should be a really great game and is the GPB.org/football game of the week. I am not doing that game, but I really feel I should be. That's OK.
Class AAA, well let's go to GPB.org/football's AAA beat writer, FLETCHER PROCTOR
The powers of Class AAA football flexed their collective muscles the first weekend of the 2008 state playoffs. ScoreAtl/GPB’s No.1 Cairo trounced Troup 48-0 as the Syrupmakers held Troup to just one first down the entire game while rolling up over 400 offensive yards, including 347 on the ground. Ronnie Wooten ended any hope of a Troup miracle comeback in the third with a game-breaking touchdown. Cairo will face Burke County in the second round, after Burke annihilated Mary Persons. Defending AAA champ Carver-Columbus received two touchdown runs from Isaiah Crowell en route to a 28-0 blanking of Crisp County. Baldwin, meanwhile knocked off Region 4’s No.4 seeded Eagles Landing 28-3. In the night’s only real upset, Donovan Tate tallied three total touchdowns on 290 total yards of offense as Cartersville eeked past St. Pius X 34-31. Cole Moon rushed for 99 yards and two scores in the loss. The team that beat St. Pius last week continued its run. Dunwoody cruised past Central Carroll 24-7. The night’s most outstanding player had to be Flowery Branch’s Connor Shaw. The Falcons QB threw for five scores and 296 yards and also ran one in as Flowery Branch picked up a win at the Reservation over Stephens County.
as for this week.........
As round two of the Class AAA playoffs nears, the favorites must be focused on the game at hand and not look down the road. Baldwin and Corrico Hawkins will face a Shaw squad that, despite a losing record, is still dangerous. Shaw knocked off Peach County on the road and has been tested over the season against top notch competition. Meanwhile the Flowery Branch must get off the field against Ridgeland otherwise Connor Shaw and the Falcon offense might not get a chance to pour points onto the scoreboard. Another performance like the one it gave against Stephens County and the Region 7 #3 will be sent home. Dunwoody did enough to advance against Central-Carroll but now faces North Hall, who squeezed out a one point win against Hart County.
The marquee matchup of the week will be Cartersville at Gainesville. Donovan Tate’s three scores helped upset St. Pius X in the biggest upset of round one, but Gainesville’s QB is nothing at which to sneeze. The Red Elephants, behind its leader Blake Sims pulled away from Oconee County in the second half en route to a 49-21 win. The Sims/Tate battle could be the best of the entire postseason.
Thanks Fletcher.
Class AA, is going to be ALL BUFORD, once again while Dublin looks to advance to have the chance to face Buford next week. Let's hope it happens. Come on Rashard Smith! In Class A, ECI won and will win it all. I am going to save my breath.
Hey, as a bonus, here's a look at the remaining Gwinnett County Schools with Score Atlanta's Fletcher Proctor's indepth look.
In what could only be described as a wild first Friday night of playoffs, most of the Gwinnett County powers flexed their muscles and avoided the upset bug. North Gwinnett defeated Brookwood by a 34-10 whipping. The win, coupled with a Lassiter upset of Etowah means that the Bulldogs will host Lassiter in the second round. Bulldog QB Michael Tamburo threw for 194 yards and one score, while running for 98 more yards and four scores. Tyler Jarry will also be licking his chops at the chance to run at home against the visiting Lassiter Trojans.
Peachtree-Ridge shutout Dacula, but the 17-0 win spoke more about the Lions struggles on offense than the power of its defense. Kevin Minter will lay the wood on anyone, and the LSU-bound LB/Safety will look to target Harrison’s Robbie Godhigh in the second round. Lion QB Nick Lombardo must provide this offense with a spark if Peachtree-Ridge wants to make it to the Final Four of the 2008 state playoffs.
The little giant Ean Pemberton was back to his big ways last week as he carried 23 times for 139 yards and two scores in the Rams 31-7 win over Collins Hill. Coach Mickey Conn’s Rams have great balance with Tyler Horne able to run and throw out of the wing-T attack and Horne’s arm was on display with a 50-yard touchdown strike last week. East Paulding, who escaped in 3OTs against Milton, must be wary of the arm of Horne. Look for East Paulding to try and control the clock and keep the Rams offense on the sidelines with a heavy dose of Jahron Brown.
In Class AA, Buford and Lovett both cruised and have potentially set up yet another state final. Cody Getz continues to impress and his two scores Friday on just nine carries show that he is capable of taking one to the house whenever he touches the ball. Storm Johnson is a nice complement to Getz and the QB Michael May should not have trouble finding open receivers against North Oconee’s defense this week. In Class A, Wesleyan was led by Wesley Karenpelis’s 208 yards rushing and four scores and the back won’t slow down this week with Holy Innocents visitng.
In what must be the game of the week featuring a Gwinnett County school, Norcross will host Woodstock, after the Wolverines upset Region 6 champ Walton. The Blue Devils meanwhile pulled off a little upset magic of its own, trumping Parkview at the Jungle 20-17. Look for DJ Adams to continue to pound the ball and dare Woodstock to make Chales King throw the ball. King is capable of showing off his rocket arm and it could be on display this Friday at Norcross. Meanwhile the defense of Norcross, though young should be able to bottle up Wolverine rushers and Price Kent in the defensive secondary can run with any receiver in the state. Norcross can’t look past anyone, but Coach Maloof surely would love to get another shot at Camden in the quarters after losing earlier this season at the Powerade Kell Classic.
HodgePodge Thursday
Fret not High School Football Fans, your blog is coming. But I have read so many weird things this morning online that I just need to sort of do another Entertainment report type of thing, but again only sort of. More of a hodgepodge of my thoughts.
So let's get to it....
I saw where Michael Phelps has been named one of People's Sexiest Men of the year. REALLY? Seriously? With those teeth? And I hear the ladies DO find the lisp VERY SEXY. If that qualifies as sexy, then I guess I will NEVER be sexy: my teeth aren't f-ed up and I will never be confused with Cindy Brady. Oops. But I guess he IS rich and has a nice body. And THAT qualifies you to be SEXY according to People Magazine. How come Brad Pitt just doesn't win it year after year? Just wondering.
I love that Georgia Tech fans, after begging for a whiteout last season and finally getting one this season, have now decided they don't want to do it. I love that. You guys are trying to be trendy, but now you realize that it is going to be freaking COLD out there tonight, so you don't want to go out and buy a white sweatshirt or coat. Is this funny to ANYONE else? So the big whiteout on National TV, with the ENTIRE country watching, and you guys are going to look pretty darned stupid for not following through with the Whiteout. And don't think ESPN won't make fun of you for it. Because the announcers totally will. (And PS, this is a question for DE Michael Johnson, who is about to Jamaal Anderson some unsuspecting NFL team, ie steal money:What happened to your BOLD PREDICTION back in October of finishing the year 11-1? Wha happen? Oh, UVA and UNC, and soon to be Miami and UGA got in the way. OOPS.)
Finally, as I was driving to work, Aaron Neville's Everybody plays the fool came on XM 90s on 9, followed by Michael Bolton's Said I loved you But I lied. That got me thinking: If I could put together the ultimate 90s Barbershop quartet, who'd be in it? Aaron Neville and Bolton fo-sho, and I think I'd drop Seal in there. The fourth though....Edwin McCain or Sting or Bryan Adams. I can't decide. So I will leave it up to you guys. Vote to the right!
So let's get to it....
I saw where Michael Phelps has been named one of People's Sexiest Men of the year. REALLY? Seriously? With those teeth? And I hear the ladies DO find the lisp VERY SEXY. If that qualifies as sexy, then I guess I will NEVER be sexy: my teeth aren't f-ed up and I will never be confused with Cindy Brady. Oops. But I guess he IS rich and has a nice body. And THAT qualifies you to be SEXY according to People Magazine. How come Brad Pitt just doesn't win it year after year? Just wondering.
I love that Georgia Tech fans, after begging for a whiteout last season and finally getting one this season, have now decided they don't want to do it. I love that. You guys are trying to be trendy, but now you realize that it is going to be freaking COLD out there tonight, so you don't want to go out and buy a white sweatshirt or coat. Is this funny to ANYONE else? So the big whiteout on National TV, with the ENTIRE country watching, and you guys are going to look pretty darned stupid for not following through with the Whiteout. And don't think ESPN won't make fun of you for it. Because the announcers totally will. (And PS, this is a question for DE Michael Johnson, who is about to Jamaal Anderson some unsuspecting NFL team, ie steal money:What happened to your BOLD PREDICTION back in October of finishing the year 11-1? Wha happen? Oh, UVA and UNC, and soon to be Miami and UGA got in the way. OOPS.)
Finally, as I was driving to work, Aaron Neville's Everybody plays the fool came on XM 90s on 9, followed by Michael Bolton's Said I loved you But I lied. That got me thinking: If I could put together the ultimate 90s Barbershop quartet, who'd be in it? Aaron Neville and Bolton fo-sho, and I think I'd drop Seal in there. The fourth though....Edwin McCain or Sting or Bryan Adams. I can't decide. So I will leave it up to you guys. Vote to the right!
CBB Preview: A look at some Mid-Majors
Note: These 7 Mid-major previews were done for Score Atlanta. Be sure to check them out at www.scoreatl.com
BIG SOUTH
The Big South conference winner used to gain a very low seed into the NCAA tournament where it would promptly get beaten by a top seed. No more for the current members of the mid-major. This season, several teams have a shot at making a serious run to the Sweet 16 including VMI, Liberty and UNC-Asheville. The Keydets squad is led by its standout senior Travis Holmes who has already shown Kentucky what he can do. UNC-Asheville meanwhile will have sophomore John Williams and freshman JP Primm trying to advance the Bulldogs. Gardner Webb will run with Australian junior Auryn MacMillan. Lastly watch out for Seth Curry to make an impact at Liberty in his first season for the Flames.
A-10
Members of the A-10 conference probably don’t consider themselves a mid-major and the conference may not be. Sean Miller’s Xavier earned a No.3 seed last season and he has two seniors BJ Raymond and CJ Anderson back. Add in freshman Center Kenny Frease and Xavier could well improve its seeding. Temple senior Dionte Christmas is a local product and he might have the Owls back in the NCAAs. St. Joseph’s senior Ahmad Nivins can score and rebound and Phil Martelli always has his team ready to play. Watch out for UMass and its one-two punch of junior Ricky Harris and senior Tony Gaffney. The Minutemen could be a player this season.
SOUTHLAND
The Sam Houston State BearKats should take the Southland conference this season but could see some serious competition from the Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks. The BearKats feature a three-headed attack of Corey Allmond’s scoring, DeLuis Ramirez’s rebounding and Ashton Mitchell’s passing. But the Lumberjacks can come back with Girod Adams and junior Eric Bell. Good luck trying to steal a rebound from McNeese State with sophomore PJ Alawoya and John Pichon. One of the conference’s top scorers hails from Lamar senior guard Kenny Dawkins, while Jeremy Smith of Texas-Arlington might have the best court vision in the league. Kevyn Green of SE Louisiana might be up for POY honors before it is all said and done.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
When the discussion of the SoCon starts, it is hard to say more than two words without mentioning Stephen Curry of Davidson. The world fell in love with Curry during last season’s NCAA tourney and Curry bypassed NBA riches for another stab at the Madness. Curry will run the point this season, but look for his scoring to stay in the 30s. While the Wildcats are everyone’s pick, the Appalachian State Mountaineers might raise a few eyebrows this year. Sophomore Donald Sims will do the scoring while Josh Hunter and Isaac Butts gather in the rebounds. Ryan Abraham will take care of the assists. Other top scorers include Furman’s Jordan Miller and UNC-Greensboro’s sophomore Landon Clement.
Colonial Athletic Association.
The CAA has taken some coaching hits over the last two seasons mainly because of the conference members’ recent success. George Mason ran to the Final Four in 2006 and VCU knocked off Duke in 2007. While George Mason isn’t expected to be a player, VCU should make some noise with guard Eric Maynor. His 17.9 ppg last season should be good enough for Player of the Year Honors and look for his assists to jump back to 2007’s 6.1apg. If Anothony Grant’s Rams can make another run, Grant could cash in at a BCS school. Former Ole Miss head coach Rod Barnes will have the Panthers of Georgia State ready to play.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
While the MAC has a distinguished history as a football mid-major, this basketball season might be the jump-off point for basketball. Northern Illinois has a fantastic freshman in Mike DiNunno that should pace the Huskies to the top of the conference. Meanwhile Toledo wing Tyrone Kent’s senior season might be a memorable one for the Rockets if his scoring stays high. The Buffalo Bulls junior guard Rodney Pierce also could make a play for player of the year honors and a bid for the NBA. The Ohio Bobcats and Ball State Cardinals have been traditional powers and could be players yet again this season.
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference received just one bid to the Big Dance last season in Austin Peay, but several teams could make a push for inclusion this season. Austin Peay looks like the top team again with senior Drake Reed and Wes Channels returning. Add in Caleb Brown’s passing and Kyle Duncan doing the dirty work and the Governors look to take the crown. Tennessee-Martin has two players who should go for 20-25 ppg nightly in Lester Hudson (25.3ppg last season) and Marquis Weddle (17.8ppg). Don’t count out the Murray State Racers and Kevin Thomas though. Daniel Northern also will lead a feisty Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles squad.
BIG SOUTH
The Big South conference winner used to gain a very low seed into the NCAA tournament where it would promptly get beaten by a top seed. No more for the current members of the mid-major. This season, several teams have a shot at making a serious run to the Sweet 16 including VMI, Liberty and UNC-Asheville. The Keydets squad is led by its standout senior Travis Holmes who has already shown Kentucky what he can do. UNC-Asheville meanwhile will have sophomore John Williams and freshman JP Primm trying to advance the Bulldogs. Gardner Webb will run with Australian junior Auryn MacMillan. Lastly watch out for Seth Curry to make an impact at Liberty in his first season for the Flames.
A-10
Members of the A-10 conference probably don’t consider themselves a mid-major and the conference may not be. Sean Miller’s Xavier earned a No.3 seed last season and he has two seniors BJ Raymond and CJ Anderson back. Add in freshman Center Kenny Frease and Xavier could well improve its seeding. Temple senior Dionte Christmas is a local product and he might have the Owls back in the NCAAs. St. Joseph’s senior Ahmad Nivins can score and rebound and Phil Martelli always has his team ready to play. Watch out for UMass and its one-two punch of junior Ricky Harris and senior Tony Gaffney. The Minutemen could be a player this season.
SOUTHLAND
The Sam Houston State BearKats should take the Southland conference this season but could see some serious competition from the Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks. The BearKats feature a three-headed attack of Corey Allmond’s scoring, DeLuis Ramirez’s rebounding and Ashton Mitchell’s passing. But the Lumberjacks can come back with Girod Adams and junior Eric Bell. Good luck trying to steal a rebound from McNeese State with sophomore PJ Alawoya and John Pichon. One of the conference’s top scorers hails from Lamar senior guard Kenny Dawkins, while Jeremy Smith of Texas-Arlington might have the best court vision in the league. Kevyn Green of SE Louisiana might be up for POY honors before it is all said and done.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
When the discussion of the SoCon starts, it is hard to say more than two words without mentioning Stephen Curry of Davidson. The world fell in love with Curry during last season’s NCAA tourney and Curry bypassed NBA riches for another stab at the Madness. Curry will run the point this season, but look for his scoring to stay in the 30s. While the Wildcats are everyone’s pick, the Appalachian State Mountaineers might raise a few eyebrows this year. Sophomore Donald Sims will do the scoring while Josh Hunter and Isaac Butts gather in the rebounds. Ryan Abraham will take care of the assists. Other top scorers include Furman’s Jordan Miller and UNC-Greensboro’s sophomore Landon Clement.
Colonial Athletic Association.
The CAA has taken some coaching hits over the last two seasons mainly because of the conference members’ recent success. George Mason ran to the Final Four in 2006 and VCU knocked off Duke in 2007. While George Mason isn’t expected to be a player, VCU should make some noise with guard Eric Maynor. His 17.9 ppg last season should be good enough for Player of the Year Honors and look for his assists to jump back to 2007’s 6.1apg. If Anothony Grant’s Rams can make another run, Grant could cash in at a BCS school. Former Ole Miss head coach Rod Barnes will have the Panthers of Georgia State ready to play.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
While the MAC has a distinguished history as a football mid-major, this basketball season might be the jump-off point for basketball. Northern Illinois has a fantastic freshman in Mike DiNunno that should pace the Huskies to the top of the conference. Meanwhile Toledo wing Tyrone Kent’s senior season might be a memorable one for the Rockets if his scoring stays high. The Buffalo Bulls junior guard Rodney Pierce also could make a play for player of the year honors and a bid for the NBA. The Ohio Bobcats and Ball State Cardinals have been traditional powers and could be players yet again this season.
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference received just one bid to the Big Dance last season in Austin Peay, but several teams could make a push for inclusion this season. Austin Peay looks like the top team again with senior Drake Reed and Wes Channels returning. Add in Caleb Brown’s passing and Kyle Duncan doing the dirty work and the Governors look to take the crown. Tennessee-Martin has two players who should go for 20-25 ppg nightly in Lester Hudson (25.3ppg last season) and Marquis Weddle (17.8ppg). Don’t count out the Murray State Racers and Kevin Thomas though. Daniel Northern also will lead a feisty Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles squad.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
CBB Previews-Pac10
Note: This preview was done for Score Atlanta. Check it out!
The Pac 10 will once again run through LA as UCLA lost Kevin Love but picked up five new faces including Jrue Holiday. Lute Olson left the Arizona Wildcats and an old face returns to the conference in Mike Montgomery at Cal. Expect at least one Final Four team to come from the Pac-10 with a second a real possibility. Also a freshman could win national player of the year honors, but which Pac-10 Freshman will it be?
UCLA BRUINS Coach Ben Howland 2007-08 Record: 35-4
UCLA has been a regular participant at the Final Four recently, but coach Ben Howland’s teams have come up short of the ultimate prize every time. This crew could make it to yet another Final Four but will it win the big one? Senior guard Darren Collison will lead this team with his energy and vision. The guard averaged 14.5 ppg last season and will probably up that total this season. Joining him in the backcourt is Jrue Holiday, a freshman. Expectations are high for Holiday and he will have big shoes to fill as he replaces Russell Westbrook in the lineup.
STANFORD CARDINAL Coach Johnny Dawkins 2007-08 Record: 28-8
Stanford is under new leadership as long-time Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins takes over the reigns from Trent Johnson. Can Dawkins bring some of the Coach K magic across the country to the Cardinal? The upperclassman dominated backcourt hopes so. Senior point guard Mitch Johnson finally proved to be a steady hand last season, but fellow senior Anthony Goods took a step back last season, averaging only 10 ppg. Landry Fields is a third guard that Dawkins will try and move to the wing. With little size in the frontcourt, this may be a long season for a coach weaned on success at Duke
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS Coach Herb Sendek 2007-08 Record: 21-13
Arizona State may have finally taken the mantle of best program in the state with Arizona’s recent struggles. Coach Herb Sendek has brought his version of the Princeton offense to the Valley of the Sun and he has the roster to run it. Sophomore James Harden led the team last year with 17.8 points and his numbers should climb now that he can fully grasp the system. Senior forward Jeff Pendergraph chipped in 12.4 ppg last year and is a solid contributor in the front court. Look for frosh Johnny Coy to be the Sun Devils Julius Hodge-west.
ARIZONA WILDCATS Coach Russ Pennell 2007-08 Record: 19-15
Arizona must turn the page now that long-time coach Lute Olson has officially retired. The must now quickly regroup under new coach Russ Pennell, but the unexpected return of Chase Budinger will help. His 17.1 ppg were second on the team last season and he should team nicely with Jordan Hill in the frontcourt. The backcourt meanwhile will be led by Nic Wise now that Jerryd Bayless is in the NBA. The team will also have to rely on Jamelle Horne to pick up some of the scoring if the team wants to make the NCAA tournament for the 24th straight season.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS Coach Mike Montgomery 2007-08 Record:17-16
Cal coach Mike Montgomery didn’t exactly walk in to a fully-stocked pantry for his first season back in the Pac-10, but he does have some ingredients with which to make a run at postseason play. With Ryan Anderson’s bolting to the NBA, look for junior point guard Jerome Randle to pick up the scoring slack, along with Patrick Christopher, the top returning scorer at 15.2 ppg. DJ Seeley, a freshman could also play a big role off the bench. On the defensive side, expect the return of Theo Robertson to make a big impact.
USC TROJANS Coach Tim Floyd 2007-08 Record: 21-12
USC once again has a freshman star expected to lead the team deep into the NCAAs, but perhaps Demar DeRozan can take the Trojans farther than OJ Mayo did last season. DeRozan will score in bunches and will grab more rebounds than Mayo did and returning post Taj Gibson will probably welcome the help down low. Gibson averaged 10.8 ppg last year and he will once again be a soldier down low for coach Tim Floyd. Two juniors represent the starting backcourt in Daniel Hackett at the 1 and Dwight Lewis at the off-guard. The two combined for 19.4 ppg last season.
OREGON DUCKS Coach Ernie Kent 2007-08 Record: 18-14
Oregon coach Ernie Kent usually can squeeze talent out of players that some deemed too small, slow, whatever, and he must do it again this season. His best returning player Tajuan Porter stands only 5’6 and Kent would like for him to play the off-guard position while breaking in a point guard-by-committee approach. Kamyron Brown should win the job, but Brown is not a scorer. The Ducks will have to rely on two talented freshmen who ventured west from Chicago. Michael Dunigan at 6’9 will play Center while Matthew Humphrey will start at the wing.
OREGON STATE BEAVERS Coach Craig Robinson 2007-08 Record:6-24
Even if Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson can lift the Beavers out of the Pac-10 basement, he will not have had as good a year as his brother-in-law, President-elect Barack Obama. But for Robinson there is some “hope” in the form of Seth and Josh Tarver. The two juniors will likely lead the Beavers in scoring this season and senior guard Rickey Claitt is a real threat to record a triple-double every time out. Look for the Beavers to try and steal enough games to make a run at an NIT berth.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES Coach Lorenzo Romar 2007-08 Record: 16-17
Washington may finally be ready to ascend into the upper echelon of the Pac-10, led by senior Jon Brockman. As a junior, the 6,7 forward tallied 17.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest. If he can get some help from junior Quincy Pondexter(9.9ppg after 10.8 as a freshman) and senior Justin Dentmon, Brockman might put coach Lorenzo Romar’s team into the Sweet 16 come March. Three freshmen will be counted upon to add depth. A sophomore point guard and shaky outside shooting must be overcome for this team to take its place among the conference elite.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS Coach Tony Bennett 2007-08 Record: 26-9
Washington State now faces a huge rebuilding task after one of the most successful regular seasons in school history. Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver both departed following the season, but head coach Tony Bennett felt his heart was still in Pullman, so he stuck around to rebuild the team. The coach will count on senior center Aron Baynes to add to his 10.8 ppg last season. Getting the ball to Baynes will be another senior, point guard Taylor Rochestie (4.7 apg). If the three freshmen can catch on early, the Cougar lineup could find with three seniors starting along side two Pac-10 rookies.
The Pac 10 will once again run through LA as UCLA lost Kevin Love but picked up five new faces including Jrue Holiday. Lute Olson left the Arizona Wildcats and an old face returns to the conference in Mike Montgomery at Cal. Expect at least one Final Four team to come from the Pac-10 with a second a real possibility. Also a freshman could win national player of the year honors, but which Pac-10 Freshman will it be?
UCLA BRUINS Coach Ben Howland 2007-08 Record: 35-4
UCLA has been a regular participant at the Final Four recently, but coach Ben Howland’s teams have come up short of the ultimate prize every time. This crew could make it to yet another Final Four but will it win the big one? Senior guard Darren Collison will lead this team with his energy and vision. The guard averaged 14.5 ppg last season and will probably up that total this season. Joining him in the backcourt is Jrue Holiday, a freshman. Expectations are high for Holiday and he will have big shoes to fill as he replaces Russell Westbrook in the lineup.
STANFORD CARDINAL Coach Johnny Dawkins 2007-08 Record: 28-8
Stanford is under new leadership as long-time Duke assistant Johnny Dawkins takes over the reigns from Trent Johnson. Can Dawkins bring some of the Coach K magic across the country to the Cardinal? The upperclassman dominated backcourt hopes so. Senior point guard Mitch Johnson finally proved to be a steady hand last season, but fellow senior Anthony Goods took a step back last season, averaging only 10 ppg. Landry Fields is a third guard that Dawkins will try and move to the wing. With little size in the frontcourt, this may be a long season for a coach weaned on success at Duke
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS Coach Herb Sendek 2007-08 Record: 21-13
Arizona State may have finally taken the mantle of best program in the state with Arizona’s recent struggles. Coach Herb Sendek has brought his version of the Princeton offense to the Valley of the Sun and he has the roster to run it. Sophomore James Harden led the team last year with 17.8 points and his numbers should climb now that he can fully grasp the system. Senior forward Jeff Pendergraph chipped in 12.4 ppg last year and is a solid contributor in the front court. Look for frosh Johnny Coy to be the Sun Devils Julius Hodge-west.
ARIZONA WILDCATS Coach Russ Pennell 2007-08 Record: 19-15
Arizona must turn the page now that long-time coach Lute Olson has officially retired. The must now quickly regroup under new coach Russ Pennell, but the unexpected return of Chase Budinger will help. His 17.1 ppg were second on the team last season and he should team nicely with Jordan Hill in the frontcourt. The backcourt meanwhile will be led by Nic Wise now that Jerryd Bayless is in the NBA. The team will also have to rely on Jamelle Horne to pick up some of the scoring if the team wants to make the NCAA tournament for the 24th straight season.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS Coach Mike Montgomery 2007-08 Record:17-16
Cal coach Mike Montgomery didn’t exactly walk in to a fully-stocked pantry for his first season back in the Pac-10, but he does have some ingredients with which to make a run at postseason play. With Ryan Anderson’s bolting to the NBA, look for junior point guard Jerome Randle to pick up the scoring slack, along with Patrick Christopher, the top returning scorer at 15.2 ppg. DJ Seeley, a freshman could also play a big role off the bench. On the defensive side, expect the return of Theo Robertson to make a big impact.
USC TROJANS Coach Tim Floyd 2007-08 Record: 21-12
USC once again has a freshman star expected to lead the team deep into the NCAAs, but perhaps Demar DeRozan can take the Trojans farther than OJ Mayo did last season. DeRozan will score in bunches and will grab more rebounds than Mayo did and returning post Taj Gibson will probably welcome the help down low. Gibson averaged 10.8 ppg last year and he will once again be a soldier down low for coach Tim Floyd. Two juniors represent the starting backcourt in Daniel Hackett at the 1 and Dwight Lewis at the off-guard. The two combined for 19.4 ppg last season.
OREGON DUCKS Coach Ernie Kent 2007-08 Record: 18-14
Oregon coach Ernie Kent usually can squeeze talent out of players that some deemed too small, slow, whatever, and he must do it again this season. His best returning player Tajuan Porter stands only 5’6 and Kent would like for him to play the off-guard position while breaking in a point guard-by-committee approach. Kamyron Brown should win the job, but Brown is not a scorer. The Ducks will have to rely on two talented freshmen who ventured west from Chicago. Michael Dunigan at 6’9 will play Center while Matthew Humphrey will start at the wing.
OREGON STATE BEAVERS Coach Craig Robinson 2007-08 Record:6-24
Even if Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson can lift the Beavers out of the Pac-10 basement, he will not have had as good a year as his brother-in-law, President-elect Barack Obama. But for Robinson there is some “hope” in the form of Seth and Josh Tarver. The two juniors will likely lead the Beavers in scoring this season and senior guard Rickey Claitt is a real threat to record a triple-double every time out. Look for the Beavers to try and steal enough games to make a run at an NIT berth.
WASHINGTON HUSKIES Coach Lorenzo Romar 2007-08 Record: 16-17
Washington may finally be ready to ascend into the upper echelon of the Pac-10, led by senior Jon Brockman. As a junior, the 6,7 forward tallied 17.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest. If he can get some help from junior Quincy Pondexter(9.9ppg after 10.8 as a freshman) and senior Justin Dentmon, Brockman might put coach Lorenzo Romar’s team into the Sweet 16 come March. Three freshmen will be counted upon to add depth. A sophomore point guard and shaky outside shooting must be overcome for this team to take its place among the conference elite.
WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS Coach Tony Bennett 2007-08 Record: 26-9
Washington State now faces a huge rebuilding task after one of the most successful regular seasons in school history. Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver both departed following the season, but head coach Tony Bennett felt his heart was still in Pullman, so he stuck around to rebuild the team. The coach will count on senior center Aron Baynes to add to his 10.8 ppg last season. Getting the ball to Baynes will be another senior, point guard Taylor Rochestie (4.7 apg). If the three freshmen can catch on early, the Cougar lineup could find with three seniors starting along side two Pac-10 rookies.
CBB Previews Big Ten
Note: This Preview was done for Score Atl. Be sure to check it out!
The Big Ten this season is looking to regain some footing lost in previous years and get back to being one of the dominant conferences in the land. Several new coaches should help boost the conference back into the average college fan’s consciousness.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS Coach Tom Izzo 2007-08 Record: 27-9
Michigan State is clearly the class of the conference once again. Head coach Tom Izzo has a national championship on his resume, but he is without Drew Neitzel for the first time in four years. This season all of the pressure falls on Raymar Morgan a senior SF who is seeking consistency this season. He averaged 14.0 points per game last year. Sophomore PG Kalin Lucas netted 10.2 ppg last year and 3.8 apg and will look to set up freshman phenom Delvon Roe, who should be a force in the front court.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS Coach Matt Painter 2007-08 Record: 25-9
Purdue has a leg up on the rest of the conference entering the season as Big 10 preseason Player of the Year Robbie Hummel suits up for the Boilermakers. As a freshman last season, Hummel averaged 11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 2.5 apg. He can also fill up the rim from downtown as he averages 44% from 3pt range. His teammate Chris Kramer has been named a captain for the third straight year and his team-first attitude has rubbed off on E-Twuan Moore and Keaton Grant in the backcourt. Moore led the team with 12.9 ppg as a freshman.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES Coach Thad Matta 2007-08 Record: 24-13
Ohio State has seemed to embrace the one-and-dones recently with Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr and Kosta Koufos and incoming freshman center BJ Mullens might be the next. Mullens stands 7’0 and can run the floor to finish on a fastbreak. Juco transfer Nikola Kecman will join Mullens and offer a complementary outside presence. Head coach Thad Matta has proven when given talent, he can take his team to the promised land. He was on the doorstep two seasons ago and missed the NCAA tournament last season. Matta should be fired up to show he wasn’t a one-and-done.
WISCONSIN BADGERS Coach Bo Ryan 2007-08 Record: 31-5
Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan is not flashy and neither are his teams. They do however find a way to win and this season shouldn’t be any different. Trevon Hughes will man the point guard position and his 11.2 ppg should spark the team, but Hughes will also be called upon to get others, such as seniors Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft, involved in the offense. Jason Bohannon showed last season he could light it up off the bench; this season he will need to light it up from the tip as he moves into the starting lineup.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES Coach John Beilein 2007-08 Record: 10-22
Michigan’s glory days of the Fab Five are long gone, but second year coach John Beilein is hoping to build success that can sustain. If Manny Harris can improve his 3pt shooting, look for his 16.1 ppg average from last season to shoot into the 20s. Sophomore PG Kelvin Grady will look to feed DeShawn Sims in the front court to increase Sims’ 12.3 ppg average. The biggest loss that hurts Michigan the most might be Ekpe Udoh’s transfer as he will leave a big hole on the defensive end. This team will hope for an NIT bid.
INDIANA HOOSIERS Coach Tom Crean 2007-08 Record: 25-8
Indiana fans may finally have the coach to lead them back to the NCAA title. Following the turbulent reign of Mike Davis and the brief tenure of Kelvin Sampson, Tom Crean brings his intensity to a team that needs one after a huge player exodus. Sweet-shooting freshman Eric Gordon took his game to the NBA and DJ White is no longer on the squad, forcing Crean to give significant minutes to his talented recruiting class. SG Nick Williams, Matt Roth, PG Verdell Jones III, and Tom Pritchard will team with junior Devan Dumes to score the points for the Hoosiers this season.
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS Coach Tubby Smith 2007-08 Record: 20-14
Minnesota won 20 games last season in coach Tubby Smith’s first year on the bench and while the NIT might be nice, the goal is clearly the NCAA. Freshman Ralph Sampson, the son of the former NBA star with the same name, will look to contribute early and often and Smith will need more from junior guard Lawrence Westbrook, who averaged 8.5 ppg last season. With several other 2007-08 bench players moving into the starting lineup, including PG Al Nolen and Damien Johnson, Smith might need a little magic to pull off his second straight improvement in Minnesota.
IOWA HAWKEYES Coach Todd Lickliter 2007-08 Record: 13-18
Iowa head man Todd Lickliter wants to put his stamp on the Hawkeye program and his newest freshman class will look to play a huge part this season in a run to the NIT. Guard Matt Gatens will look to pass first but score if necessary and Anthony Tucker’s job will be to fill the basket. Senior Cyrus Tate must bring leadership for Lickliter’s team to have a shot at .500. A weak non-conference slate may allow the Hawkeyes to sneak into the NIT if it can steal a few conference wins against the other bottomfeeder in Indiana.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI Coach Bruce Weber 2007-08 Record: 16-19
Illinois has a tremendous recent history of outstanding point guards. Deron Williams and Dee Brown led the Illini to the brink of a national title with stellar play and Demetri McCamey looks to carry on that tradition. Coach Bruce Weber will need McCamey’s scoring to increase and the two senior starters (Calvin Brock and Trent Meacham) to shake last year’s struggles. Illinois fans will finally get Alex Legion in uniform as the former Kentucky-transfer will be eligible come December. Legion can score from anywhere and Weber’s offense might flow through him by tourney time.
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS Coach Bill Carmody 2007-08 Record: 8-22
Northwestern has grown up since last season and should get a full season out of uber-talented Kevin Coble, but can one year really make that much of a difference for a 1-17 Big Ten team? Head coach Bill Carmody hopes so. The Wildcats will look for sophomore point guard Michael Thompson to decrease his turnovers and increase his scoring and assists. Craig Moore dumped in 13.4 ppg last season and the senior will need to take a leap in his final season for the Cats to make a serious run at any postseason action.
PENN STATE NITANY LIONS Coach Ed DeChellis 2007-08 Record: 15-16
Penn State has traditionally been a football school, but coach Ed DeChellis is hoping to change that. Sophomore Talor Battle will once again run point and should increase his 3.2 apg and 10.3 ppg averages of a year ago. Battle will look to dish to a pair of seniors in guard Stanley Pringle and forward Jamelle Cornley. While most of the team is undersized, the team will get a bit of a boost from 6’8 freshman Billy Oliver. The rookie should be able to stretch the defenses out to the perimeter and allow Battle to charge the lane.
The Big Ten this season is looking to regain some footing lost in previous years and get back to being one of the dominant conferences in the land. Several new coaches should help boost the conference back into the average college fan’s consciousness.
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS Coach Tom Izzo 2007-08 Record: 27-9
Michigan State is clearly the class of the conference once again. Head coach Tom Izzo has a national championship on his resume, but he is without Drew Neitzel for the first time in four years. This season all of the pressure falls on Raymar Morgan a senior SF who is seeking consistency this season. He averaged 14.0 points per game last year. Sophomore PG Kalin Lucas netted 10.2 ppg last year and 3.8 apg and will look to set up freshman phenom Delvon Roe, who should be a force in the front court.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS Coach Matt Painter 2007-08 Record: 25-9
Purdue has a leg up on the rest of the conference entering the season as Big 10 preseason Player of the Year Robbie Hummel suits up for the Boilermakers. As a freshman last season, Hummel averaged 11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 2.5 apg. He can also fill up the rim from downtown as he averages 44% from 3pt range. His teammate Chris Kramer has been named a captain for the third straight year and his team-first attitude has rubbed off on E-Twuan Moore and Keaton Grant in the backcourt. Moore led the team with 12.9 ppg as a freshman.
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES Coach Thad Matta 2007-08 Record: 24-13
Ohio State has seemed to embrace the one-and-dones recently with Greg Oden, Mike Conley Jr and Kosta Koufos and incoming freshman center BJ Mullens might be the next. Mullens stands 7’0 and can run the floor to finish on a fastbreak. Juco transfer Nikola Kecman will join Mullens and offer a complementary outside presence. Head coach Thad Matta has proven when given talent, he can take his team to the promised land. He was on the doorstep two seasons ago and missed the NCAA tournament last season. Matta should be fired up to show he wasn’t a one-and-done.
WISCONSIN BADGERS Coach Bo Ryan 2007-08 Record: 31-5
Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan is not flashy and neither are his teams. They do however find a way to win and this season shouldn’t be any different. Trevon Hughes will man the point guard position and his 11.2 ppg should spark the team, but Hughes will also be called upon to get others, such as seniors Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft, involved in the offense. Jason Bohannon showed last season he could light it up off the bench; this season he will need to light it up from the tip as he moves into the starting lineup.
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES Coach John Beilein 2007-08 Record: 10-22
Michigan’s glory days of the Fab Five are long gone, but second year coach John Beilein is hoping to build success that can sustain. If Manny Harris can improve his 3pt shooting, look for his 16.1 ppg average from last season to shoot into the 20s. Sophomore PG Kelvin Grady will look to feed DeShawn Sims in the front court to increase Sims’ 12.3 ppg average. The biggest loss that hurts Michigan the most might be Ekpe Udoh’s transfer as he will leave a big hole on the defensive end. This team will hope for an NIT bid.
INDIANA HOOSIERS Coach Tom Crean 2007-08 Record: 25-8
Indiana fans may finally have the coach to lead them back to the NCAA title. Following the turbulent reign of Mike Davis and the brief tenure of Kelvin Sampson, Tom Crean brings his intensity to a team that needs one after a huge player exodus. Sweet-shooting freshman Eric Gordon took his game to the NBA and DJ White is no longer on the squad, forcing Crean to give significant minutes to his talented recruiting class. SG Nick Williams, Matt Roth, PG Verdell Jones III, and Tom Pritchard will team with junior Devan Dumes to score the points for the Hoosiers this season.
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS Coach Tubby Smith 2007-08 Record: 20-14
Minnesota won 20 games last season in coach Tubby Smith’s first year on the bench and while the NIT might be nice, the goal is clearly the NCAA. Freshman Ralph Sampson, the son of the former NBA star with the same name, will look to contribute early and often and Smith will need more from junior guard Lawrence Westbrook, who averaged 8.5 ppg last season. With several other 2007-08 bench players moving into the starting lineup, including PG Al Nolen and Damien Johnson, Smith might need a little magic to pull off his second straight improvement in Minnesota.
IOWA HAWKEYES Coach Todd Lickliter 2007-08 Record: 13-18
Iowa head man Todd Lickliter wants to put his stamp on the Hawkeye program and his newest freshman class will look to play a huge part this season in a run to the NIT. Guard Matt Gatens will look to pass first but score if necessary and Anthony Tucker’s job will be to fill the basket. Senior Cyrus Tate must bring leadership for Lickliter’s team to have a shot at .500. A weak non-conference slate may allow the Hawkeyes to sneak into the NIT if it can steal a few conference wins against the other bottomfeeder in Indiana.
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI Coach Bruce Weber 2007-08 Record: 16-19
Illinois has a tremendous recent history of outstanding point guards. Deron Williams and Dee Brown led the Illini to the brink of a national title with stellar play and Demetri McCamey looks to carry on that tradition. Coach Bruce Weber will need McCamey’s scoring to increase and the two senior starters (Calvin Brock and Trent Meacham) to shake last year’s struggles. Illinois fans will finally get Alex Legion in uniform as the former Kentucky-transfer will be eligible come December. Legion can score from anywhere and Weber’s offense might flow through him by tourney time.
NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS Coach Bill Carmody 2007-08 Record: 8-22
Northwestern has grown up since last season and should get a full season out of uber-talented Kevin Coble, but can one year really make that much of a difference for a 1-17 Big Ten team? Head coach Bill Carmody hopes so. The Wildcats will look for sophomore point guard Michael Thompson to decrease his turnovers and increase his scoring and assists. Craig Moore dumped in 13.4 ppg last season and the senior will need to take a leap in his final season for the Cats to make a serious run at any postseason action.
PENN STATE NITANY LIONS Coach Ed DeChellis 2007-08 Record: 15-16
Penn State has traditionally been a football school, but coach Ed DeChellis is hoping to change that. Sophomore Talor Battle will once again run point and should increase his 3.2 apg and 10.3 ppg averages of a year ago. Battle will look to dish to a pair of seniors in guard Stanley Pringle and forward Jamelle Cornley. While most of the team is undersized, the team will get a bit of a boost from 6’8 freshman Billy Oliver. The rookie should be able to stretch the defenses out to the perimeter and allow Battle to charge the lane.
Midweek Entertainment report 11/19/08
The New Bond movie Kills(but it has a license), Paris's BFFs get "made over", TRL is donezo, and my dirty little secrets.
Ladies and gentlemen, It's the MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT REPORT!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!
So the new Bond movie made over 70M in the opening weekend. Not bad. Not Dark Knight, but not bad in today's economy. I think a bunch of people went to see if you could tell that the Bond girl had six fingers on her left hand. You know, like Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman used to have. Apparently she had the extra appendage removed as a child and the scars were CGIed out. Also, shouldn't there be a Bond boy now? Just wondering.......
So TRL is donezo. Wow. that was really news to me. I figured it was done a LONG time ago, but apparently the last episode of it was the other day. Hmmmm. I missed out on that one. When was it on recently? It used to be daily around 3-4 or something, right? Back when I was in high school it was a big deal. (Well sort of, it was always a BSB or N*sync song at the top) Are music videos still being made? The only place I would think to look is MTV, but unless the music video is a reality show, I don't think it airs anytime that I would watch.
Last night Paris Hilton's BFF2B were given a "makeover" by one of the previously voted out girls. All of the rejects of course gave the girls horrible makeovers, putting crap all over their faces and in their hair and whatnot. Except for Shelley. She was made over by Natasha and the rocker made the virgin look like a duranduran album cover. Everyone else looked like garbage while SHelley looked like an 80s Asian girl. Whatever. I thought it was funny when Mike Onch said that Lauren had a bad attitude while he/she was making her over. Umm, if you were waxing crap onto my face and putting shite in my hair, I wouldn't be thrilled.
Then Paris asked, "Why would Onch say that you had a bad attitude?" Lauren claimed that Onch was lying, but why didn't she just say, "You know Onch. You've sent him home. you don't think maybe he was a tad jealous so THAT'S why he said that and did that?" Plus Paris had to know the voted out b!tches would do that stuff. They were trying to be your best friend, so they MUST be shallow and superficial. Plus they know YOU are that way too, so attack the outside. Duh. When Lauren got sent packing, I was a little disappointed. Vanessa cries at the drop of a hat. She needed to go. I still say that Brit wins....
Finally, my All-American Rejects moment. Some dirty little secrets. Musically and television-wise. Come on, I'm not giving away the farm here.
-Katy Perry's Hot N Cold. I am hooked. I thought it was a horrible followup to I Kissed a Girl, but now I find myself listening to it and searching for it on my XM/Sirius (which PS, I was PISSED when that Merger happened. XM picked up and changed a bunch of its stations to Sirius stations. Such crap.)
-Pink's So What. I am humming that badadadadadadadadadadahdah. Wifey can't stand that. But I am. My bad.
Leonna Lewis's Better In Time. I wasn't a huge fan of Bleeding Heart, but Better in Time. I like it. I need to see if this chick is hot or not.
-John Mayer's Come When I call. Whenever I sing this, Wifey thinks I am talking to her and she ususally responds, "Because I'm not a dog. Go call Chimer!"
-Finally on Hidden Potential of HGTV, I ONLY watch Barry's episodes. Why? Because the preggers woman annoys me. #1, she puts a solarium in EVERY house. Hey, I don't NEED a solarium. What is this CLUE? Also, PLEASE HAVE THE BABY ALREADY! Come on! She's been preggers longer than Joe's wife on Family Guy. Anyways, Barry kicks her butt. His designs rock and I don't have to wonder if he is going to go into labor WHILE designing the house.
That's it. Football stuff tomorrow. Have a great rest of the week Everybody!
Ladies and gentlemen, It's the MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT REPORT!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!
So the new Bond movie made over 70M in the opening weekend. Not bad. Not Dark Knight, but not bad in today's economy. I think a bunch of people went to see if you could tell that the Bond girl had six fingers on her left hand. You know, like Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman used to have. Apparently she had the extra appendage removed as a child and the scars were CGIed out. Also, shouldn't there be a Bond boy now? Just wondering.......
So TRL is donezo. Wow. that was really news to me. I figured it was done a LONG time ago, but apparently the last episode of it was the other day. Hmmmm. I missed out on that one. When was it on recently? It used to be daily around 3-4 or something, right? Back when I was in high school it was a big deal. (Well sort of, it was always a BSB or N*sync song at the top) Are music videos still being made? The only place I would think to look is MTV, but unless the music video is a reality show, I don't think it airs anytime that I would watch.
Last night Paris Hilton's BFF2B were given a "makeover" by one of the previously voted out girls. All of the rejects of course gave the girls horrible makeovers, putting crap all over their faces and in their hair and whatnot. Except for Shelley. She was made over by Natasha and the rocker made the virgin look like a duranduran album cover. Everyone else looked like garbage while SHelley looked like an 80s Asian girl. Whatever. I thought it was funny when Mike Onch said that Lauren had a bad attitude while he/she was making her over. Umm, if you were waxing crap onto my face and putting shite in my hair, I wouldn't be thrilled.
Then Paris asked, "Why would Onch say that you had a bad attitude?" Lauren claimed that Onch was lying, but why didn't she just say, "You know Onch. You've sent him home. you don't think maybe he was a tad jealous so THAT'S why he said that and did that?" Plus Paris had to know the voted out b!tches would do that stuff. They were trying to be your best friend, so they MUST be shallow and superficial. Plus they know YOU are that way too, so attack the outside. Duh. When Lauren got sent packing, I was a little disappointed. Vanessa cries at the drop of a hat. She needed to go. I still say that Brit wins....
Finally, my All-American Rejects moment. Some dirty little secrets. Musically and television-wise. Come on, I'm not giving away the farm here.
-Katy Perry's Hot N Cold. I am hooked. I thought it was a horrible followup to I Kissed a Girl, but now I find myself listening to it and searching for it on my XM/Sirius (which PS, I was PISSED when that Merger happened. XM picked up and changed a bunch of its stations to Sirius stations. Such crap.)
-Pink's So What. I am humming that badadadadadadadadadadahdah. Wifey can't stand that. But I am. My bad.
Leonna Lewis's Better In Time. I wasn't a huge fan of Bleeding Heart, but Better in Time. I like it. I need to see if this chick is hot or not.
-John Mayer's Come When I call. Whenever I sing this, Wifey thinks I am talking to her and she ususally responds, "Because I'm not a dog. Go call Chimer!"
-Finally on Hidden Potential of HGTV, I ONLY watch Barry's episodes. Why? Because the preggers woman annoys me. #1, she puts a solarium in EVERY house. Hey, I don't NEED a solarium. What is this CLUE? Also, PLEASE HAVE THE BABY ALREADY! Come on! She's been preggers longer than Joe's wife on Family Guy. Anyways, Barry kicks her butt. His designs rock and I don't have to wonder if he is going to go into labor WHILE designing the house.
That's it. Football stuff tomorrow. Have a great rest of the week Everybody!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Alanis v No Doubt
A few weeks back, Wifey and I began a debate on which music entity was bigger in her/its prime: Alanis Morissette or the band No Doubt. I think the debate started when No Doubt appeared on an episode of Dawson's Creek, the same night as Alanis was performing in Atlanta.
Anywhoooo Wifey was arguing that No Doubt was bigger while I was hopping on the girl power bandwagon and saying that no doubt ALANIS was a bigger deal when she was in her prime. Then Wifey tried to back out of the argument to say that Gwen was bigger than Alanis, but the original argument was No Doubt v Alanis.
I will now state my case.......
Alanis has won 7 Grammys and has sold over 55 Million albums. Her Album Jagged Little Pill was and still is the best selling debut album by a female artist in US history (yeppers, Gwen's debut about lambs or whatever didn't pass it) and JLP is also the highest selling debut album worldwide in music history with 30M.
No Doubt has two Grammys and those took the band "reinventing" itself and getting help from some reggae artists to get those! I will give you that Tragic Kingdom was #1 for 16 straight weeks, went Diamond and 8X platinum, but it is NO Jagged Little Pill. Just saying.
No Doubt's secondary songs: Simple Kind of Life, Hella Good, Hey Baby, Underneath it all, Just a Girl and Spiderwebs
Alanis's secondary songs: Thank U, Uninvited, So Pure, Hands Clean, You Learn, Head Over Feet, Hand in my Pocket, All I Really Want. Advantage: Alanis.
Main Song that put group on the map: Alanis's Ironic v No Doubt's Don't Speak. While Don't Speak is a pretty cool song, especially since it is about the bassist guy (guitarist?) breaking up with Gwen then Gwen makes it the band's signature song. WOW, take that. Revenge served COLD. (Although if we REALLY want revenge-worthy songs, You Oughta Know, which probably put Alanis on the map with Ironic putting her over the top, is even more scathing. She completely changed the way I look at Uncle Joey Gladstone.) The thing about Ironic though is that probably EVERYBODY references it every single Saturday from March until June. Shoot, I sang it last April 19. "It's like rain, on your wedding day...." Ironic was a thinking person's song really. It wasn't really about ironic stuff, more bad luck stuff, but it got you thinking, moreso than ANY No Doubt song ever did. Also No Doubt has no answer for You Oughta Know. Just saying.....
And the final point of my argument is the cultural significance that each brought. No Doubt was a ska band. Part of the third wave of Ska bands (the first was VERY unsuccessful, the second was led by MightyMighty Bostones...No Doubt was the third). Meanwhile Alanis was one of the finest Canadian imports America has ever seen. She gave rise to an entire generation of girl power music: Meredith Brooks, Avril Lavigne, Pink. She also starred in You Can't Do That on Television AND was GOD in Dogma. Think about that. She was GOD. No Doubt was in Dawson's Creek, while Alanis was playing God. (and something for another day, but it REALLY seems that at the end of Dogma when Ben Afflick doublecrosses Matt Damon by killing him before he can be forgiven of his sins, LIFE has played the Karma card and "killed" Afflick's career while giving Damon's new found life. Daredevil v Jason Bourne. Advantage: MATT DAMON. Ocean's 11, 12, 13 v ....what has Afflick been in recently? Take that BEN!)
Bottom line Gwen may have scored Gavin due to No Doubt, but Alanis made a bigger impact and was larger in her prime than No Doubt could have ever dreamt of being.
Anywhoooo Wifey was arguing that No Doubt was bigger while I was hopping on the girl power bandwagon and saying that no doubt ALANIS was a bigger deal when she was in her prime. Then Wifey tried to back out of the argument to say that Gwen was bigger than Alanis, but the original argument was No Doubt v Alanis.
I will now state my case.......
Alanis has won 7 Grammys and has sold over 55 Million albums. Her Album Jagged Little Pill was and still is the best selling debut album by a female artist in US history (yeppers, Gwen's debut about lambs or whatever didn't pass it) and JLP is also the highest selling debut album worldwide in music history with 30M.
No Doubt has two Grammys and those took the band "reinventing" itself and getting help from some reggae artists to get those! I will give you that Tragic Kingdom was #1 for 16 straight weeks, went Diamond and 8X platinum, but it is NO Jagged Little Pill. Just saying.
No Doubt's secondary songs: Simple Kind of Life, Hella Good, Hey Baby, Underneath it all, Just a Girl and Spiderwebs
Alanis's secondary songs: Thank U, Uninvited, So Pure, Hands Clean, You Learn, Head Over Feet, Hand in my Pocket, All I Really Want. Advantage: Alanis.
Main Song that put group on the map: Alanis's Ironic v No Doubt's Don't Speak. While Don't Speak is a pretty cool song, especially since it is about the bassist guy (guitarist?) breaking up with Gwen then Gwen makes it the band's signature song. WOW, take that. Revenge served COLD. (Although if we REALLY want revenge-worthy songs, You Oughta Know, which probably put Alanis on the map with Ironic putting her over the top, is even more scathing. She completely changed the way I look at Uncle Joey Gladstone.) The thing about Ironic though is that probably EVERYBODY references it every single Saturday from March until June. Shoot, I sang it last April 19. "It's like rain, on your wedding day...." Ironic was a thinking person's song really. It wasn't really about ironic stuff, more bad luck stuff, but it got you thinking, moreso than ANY No Doubt song ever did. Also No Doubt has no answer for You Oughta Know. Just saying.....
And the final point of my argument is the cultural significance that each brought. No Doubt was a ska band. Part of the third wave of Ska bands (the first was VERY unsuccessful, the second was led by MightyMighty Bostones...No Doubt was the third). Meanwhile Alanis was one of the finest Canadian imports America has ever seen. She gave rise to an entire generation of girl power music: Meredith Brooks, Avril Lavigne, Pink. She also starred in You Can't Do That on Television AND was GOD in Dogma. Think about that. She was GOD. No Doubt was in Dawson's Creek, while Alanis was playing God. (and something for another day, but it REALLY seems that at the end of Dogma when Ben Afflick doublecrosses Matt Damon by killing him before he can be forgiven of his sins, LIFE has played the Karma card and "killed" Afflick's career while giving Damon's new found life. Daredevil v Jason Bourne. Advantage: MATT DAMON. Ocean's 11, 12, 13 v ....what has Afflick been in recently? Take that BEN!)
Bottom line Gwen may have scored Gavin due to No Doubt, but Alanis made a bigger impact and was larger in her prime than No Doubt could have ever dreamt of being.
Monday, November 17, 2008
A REAL murder mystery
I attended a Murder mystery dinner theatre event over the weekend. While it was entertaining, I was a tad disappointed. No disrespect to Agatha's but I thought it would be a little more mystery to it.
It was a lot of fun and all, but I was hoping that we'd be guessing, "Is it the butler, the maid, the nextdoor neighbor....."
I am not certain why I thought it would be like a game of Clue, but I did. Speaking of Clue, THAT was a REAL murder mystery. I used to love that game and my stepdad Daddio absolutely DOMINATES that game. I used to always be Col. Mustard and would be PISSED when people would say that Col. Mustard was the killer. If he ever ended up being the killer, I'd start over. I didn't want to think that he would do it. I am not certain why I'd be Mustard, maybe it was because yellow used to be my favorite color (before I switched to RED & BLACK, BABY!)
I was SUPER-Excited when somebody decided to make Clue The Movie. Martin Mull was MY MAN Col. Mustard. It made me kind of angry when it turned out in the third ending that everyone INCLUDING Mustard had killed someone...all except for Mr. Green. That made me angry, why? Because my friend ALWAYS used to be Mr. Green. And whenever he would beat me, it would be like Green was beating Yellow. I didn't like for yellow to be beaten. (I was a weird kid. still am)
The fun part of that movie though was that we had to try and figure out whodunit. I thought that is more of what Agatha's would be. multiple characters to try and guess which one did it. Oh well. I still had fun and would recommend it to anyone else. But for a REAL murder mystery dinner, Netflix Clue and heat up a microwavable dinner from Smart Ones.
Mr. Green, with the wrench, in the ballroom.
(And btw, a lead pipe? A wrench? candlestick? Can we get some REAL weapons? Not some domestic disturbance tools? Come on. Can someone REALLY die from a bonk on the head from a candlestick? Just wondering.)
It was a lot of fun and all, but I was hoping that we'd be guessing, "Is it the butler, the maid, the nextdoor neighbor....."
I am not certain why I thought it would be like a game of Clue, but I did. Speaking of Clue, THAT was a REAL murder mystery. I used to love that game and my stepdad Daddio absolutely DOMINATES that game. I used to always be Col. Mustard and would be PISSED when people would say that Col. Mustard was the killer. If he ever ended up being the killer, I'd start over. I didn't want to think that he would do it. I am not certain why I'd be Mustard, maybe it was because yellow used to be my favorite color (before I switched to RED & BLACK, BABY!)
I was SUPER-Excited when somebody decided to make Clue The Movie. Martin Mull was MY MAN Col. Mustard. It made me kind of angry when it turned out in the third ending that everyone INCLUDING Mustard had killed someone...all except for Mr. Green. That made me angry, why? Because my friend ALWAYS used to be Mr. Green. And whenever he would beat me, it would be like Green was beating Yellow. I didn't like for yellow to be beaten. (I was a weird kid. still am)
The fun part of that movie though was that we had to try and figure out whodunit. I thought that is more of what Agatha's would be. multiple characters to try and guess which one did it. Oh well. I still had fun and would recommend it to anyone else. But for a REAL murder mystery dinner, Netflix Clue and heat up a microwavable dinner from Smart Ones.
Mr. Green, with the wrench, in the ballroom.
(And btw, a lead pipe? A wrench? candlestick? Can we get some REAL weapons? Not some domestic disturbance tools? Come on. Can someone REALLY die from a bonk on the head from a candlestick? Just wondering.)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Let the picks be your umbrella-ella-ella-a-a-a
Just because it is wet and rainy outside, that doesn't mean you should be down in the dumps. Christmas music is playing (too early, since we haven't reached Thanksgiving yet...)it is Friday(meaning the weekend is nearly here) and you get to read a LONG picks blog. GET. EXCITED!
(PS, make sure you log on to gpb.org/football or scoreatl.com to catch the East Paulding @ Milton game, featuring YOURS TRULY with coverage.)
#11 Duh Ohio State University @ Illinois. Remember last season when this game was a big deal? Illinois knocked off dOSU and out of the National Title picture (well, maybe not the latter, but we THOUGHT AT THE TIME!) Now this is basically Juice v Pryor. Ohio State wins and they STILL have a shot to go to the Rose Bowl. Yippy. Or if they lose, they are pretty much locked into facing UGA in the Capital One Bowl (Unless Florida loses to Bama and has to go to the Credit Card bowl and UGA gets sent to the Cotton. I am REALLY hoping this happens.) Duh Ohio State wins this one though.
Indiana @ #8 Penn State. Could PSU drop ANOTHER ONE TO ANOTHER CRAPPY TEAM? Not Indiana. My Indiana guy says that the Hoosiers are REALLY bad. Thanks Mark, but I could have gathered that myself. PSU rebounds and JoePa gets the win. Will someone wake him up after the game and let him know that he won?
Northwestern @ Michigan on ESPN2....which means....DANCE PARTY IN ANN ARBOR! Pam Ward Style! Go with the Kitties in this one, why? Because RichRod will be too tired to coach after hanging with Pam Ward all night, scouting out chicks. And because Threet is out. That too. (I do provide SOME football insight!)
Duke @ Klimpsen. Can you imagine how nuts Klimpsen fans will go when their team loses to Duke? Prolly as nuts as 2003. And 2004. And as Nuts as GT fans did in 2004. Actually Cutcliffe is a pretty decent coach and GOOD for him for not immediately going back to Tennessee. Wait for everyone to turn the job down first....THEN go at a higher rate! Good Thinkin' Lincoln! Duke wins here. Because THIS death valley is just dead right now. Good work Cullen
Notre Dame @ Navy. Sooooo Navy and UGA have been on CBS the exact number of times thus far this season? Wait, no. Just kidding. But honestly, UGA is on the WB, former home of Dawson's Creek and Navy gets to play a crappy team on national TV. Oh, the crappy team is Notre Dame? Don't they have their own network? Or did Notre Dame get cancelled just like Christian Slater's show? BA-ZING! Navy OF COURSE wins.
#3 Texas @ KU. Reesing v McCoy, Advantage: Texas; Mangino v Brown, Advantage: Kansas. Wait, this ISN'T an eating contest? Oh, then Texas wins. Hmmm Arby's WOULD be good right now though. Mangino, can you grab me 5 of those beef and cheddars. I figure I might see two of them by the time you bring me the bag. Honestly, I wonder if Arby's is RETHINKING getting that guy as its spokesman. Does he sweat Arby's Sauce?
#25 SoCar @ #4 Florida. Hey, Spurrier, thanks for NOT being ranked when UGA won. I would pick this as my upset pick, but SoCar ONLY plays hard against UGA. I guess in this game you just ask for the money to be put on the table? SoCar is like Jennifer Garner in Catch me if you can. But then, I guess I swoon over Tim Tebow too...Florida sticks it to (in) So Car.
#16 UNC @ Maryland. I guess people just HAVE to put an ACC team in the top 20. I guess. Why? Not sure. But UNC is probably the most attractive. Lovely Campus. Firery coach. Cool alt jerseys. And in this game, a winner. Unless Maryland decides to play. Then it could get dicey. But let's go with UNC, just so another mid-major doesn't get a spot in the BCS. GO HEELS!
#17 BYU @ Air Force. and BYU is ranked...............why? The Cougars beat AFA, but can we please not rank them? I really don't care about the little teams. I just don't. I don't in March Madness. I don't in bowl season. I just don't.
#24 Wake @ NCSU. I tell ya, going on the road in the ACC......tough to do. Watch out. Wait. That's right. The road is NOTHING in the ACC. At Klimpsen, they SIT during the entire game. At Duke, you have to wind around folks camping out for BBall tickets just to get into the game. At GT you get 18 pizzas just for buying a ticket. VaTech, you have a bunch of hillbillies dogfighting outside the stadium. Wake wins easily.
Cal @ Oregon State, Wazzou @ Arizona State, Arizona @ Oregon. PAC 10 FOOTBALL! Get swept up in it! Oregon state, ASU, Oregon. Who cares?
Minny @ Wisco. So, let's see. No ranking by Wisco's name, so Minny will WIN. Seriously, they could go to the Rose Bowl WITHOUT beating a single ranked team. They would need PSU and OSU to lose, but it could happen. And the winner of this game gets an ax, I think. Yeah, just what drunk college kids need. A frigging AX to wield at parties. Minnysota wins, eh.
Nebraska @ K-State. So Bo Pelini picks THIS week to bust out the blackshirts. Against KSU, a team who recently fired its (black) coach? that is turrbull. Hey Bo, of COURSE the boys are going to bow up. The other team FIRED ITS COACH. They aren't any good. YES you are going to win. But you should have busted them out against a real opponent. But if you want to reward mediocrity, BE MY GUEST. HEY YOU GUYS are going to the Petro Sun Bowl. KUDOS!
#9 Boise State @ Idaho. So BSU is going to a BCS bowl perhaps? So we can MAYBE see some more tricks plays in an upset of a clearly bored OU team again? Snore.....wake me up for a new episode of Prisonbreak the following week. (That is ANOTHER reason I am rooting for ESPN to get the BCS contract back. #1 so Fox doesn't continue to ruin my love of the bowls AND so Fox programming won't be hiatused for these crappy matchups. I'd rather have a rerun of House than Utah/UNC. Sorry. But I would tune into this game, had the Idaho cheerleaders NOT gotten rid of the "sexy" unis. Oh well
#12 Mizzou @ Iowa State. Now i just feel sorry for Chase Daniel. He reminds me of John Kerry. Everyone was all on his jock, then he lost. Now, who knows WHAT he is doing? Oh, yeah Mizzou is still #12 in the country and Kerry is still a senator ( I guess) but really, what are they? CD won't make it in the pros and Kerry can't run for Prez again. I mean, he couldn't beat Bush when ALL the Dems wanted someone to. So they both are donezo, just playing out the string. Kind of sad. Give the Tigers a win here.
Miss State @ #1 Bama. Did I read that correctly? Sly Croom has beaten two straight Bama teams? Well just know this Croom, when you look across the sideline and see Saban over there, MAYBE you can take over the job when he bolts in 3 seasons. (I am thinking to the Cowboys, perhaps?) But then Bama might actually FIRE you if you stink up Tascaloosa like you are currently doing to Starkville. But you can't be fired. That must be nice. You are like Wayne Fontes of Detroit. (PS, if Saban DOES run the table and win the BCS Title, you don't think Jerry Jones won't give him a call about the struggling Cowboys? HA! Gone after two seasons.) Bama rolls
#7 Utah @ San Diego State. Actually put Utah and Notre Dame in the fiesta bowl. THEN I will root for a midmajor. ONLY THEN. (And if Notre Dame wins one more game, the BCS crazies will probably push for ND's inclusion!)
BC @ #19 FSU. I read where FSU is going to blackout the Doak. Guys, look what happened to UGA when we tried it. Just play the game. Who cares? JUST PLAY THE GAME! (but they beat BC)
Troy @ #20 LSU. Way to schedule Troy for the homecoming game. What was Citadel booked? (That was a shot at Florida.) go with LSU, clearly. And hey, why don't you PLAY SOMEONE REAL so homecoming MEANS something?
Vandy @ UK. 8pm ESPN2. Ummm ESPN, you went with THIS GAME over UGA/Auburn? Good call. Yeah, really. Good call. But I guess this is where Vandy gets bowl eligible. NOT. UK in the upset. Randall Cobb is awesome! (Wait, that is just a statement to be made when he plays the crap known as the UGA defense) UK wins, barely and Bobby Johnson has diarrhea in his pants. Don't worry Booby J, you'll get eligible v Tennessee
Pro Style Offense.
Denver @ Atlanta. Jay Cutler v Matt Ryan in the race to see who the second best young QB in the league is. I say Matty Ice and his Falcons take care of Cut and win the title of #2. #1? Matt Stafford of course!
Dallas @ Washington. The debut of DHall as a Skin! Holla! But no Portis worries me. Unless it is all a ploy, which it just might be. And should Shaun Alexander, former MVP, have at least ONE more game in him? I think Portis still goes and The Skins take down Tony Romo's little pinkie and the rest of the Cowgirls.
Plot twists
Lock of the week
#6 USC @ Stanford. USC only loses one crap game a year and it did already-to oregon state (what a wacky conference this pac 10 is!). And Pete Carroll will have last season in his mind. It will be WORSE than what Urban did to Georgia, but I am guessing Carroll has a bit more class than Urban did and WON'T call timeouts with less than a minute to play. But Whatever you do, don't ever out-Urban one Urban Meyer. It will stick in his craw, and he will NEVER forget. That Elephant!
Upset Special.
#13 Okie State @ Colorado. I don't think I've EVER seen a team get so much props for LOSING two games. Just saying. Okie state loses to Texas and suddenly, "WOW, what fight!" Then the Pokes lose to Texas Tech, and "but they are still plucky!" I can't wait to see what happens when the Cowboys lose to Colorado, then Oklahoma then UGA to kick off 2009. Let's put them at #1! The first 0-11 team to be ranked #1! Colorado in the upset.
Local rooting interest.
GT @ Bye week. The Techies get to let the last loss fester with them for a few more days. Wonderful. I bet they come out ALL FIRED UP AND READY FOR THE WHITEOUT v Miami. Really? A whiteout? What about a D&D out? Come dressed as your favorite Live Action Role Player! Dressed as your favorite LOTR character! I call Mr. Sam. Wait, why haven't we seen Rudy for a while? Huh? he is STILL up Elijah Woods' butt? Oh. yeouch.
#10 UGA @ Awbarn.
Everything is setting up for an Auburn upset, except that I saw that Trey Blackmon may not return to the Tigers next season as he is seeking a part-time job so he can care for his three kids. Wow, the folks in LaGrange MUST be proud. The former #1 player in GA high school is now going to leave the team, after playing MAYBE 7 games total to care for his three kids? Is he even 21? Hey BRO, WEAR A CONDOM! They cost 50 cents! .75 in a gas station bathroom. JUST BUY ONE! NOT HARD. You'd have thought he'd learn his lesson after the first kid. Certainly by the second kid. I guess the third one was the charm. Karma kicks Auburn while it is down. UGA wins. But I certainly hope Auburn is still angry about the Blackout. Hey Auburn, you are doing your OWN BLACKOUT! Tray Blackmon-out! HA! I crack myself up. Sorry, but you guys will be saying war DAMMIT! eagle, after Matty Stafford throws YET ANOTHER TD on ya! Also, a note to Kodi, don't be like Brandon Cox. Try and throw to your OWN TEAMMATES!
Big day predicted for CJ Byrd.
(PS, make sure you log on to gpb.org/football or scoreatl.com to catch the East Paulding @ Milton game, featuring YOURS TRULY with coverage.)
#11 Duh Ohio State University @ Illinois. Remember last season when this game was a big deal? Illinois knocked off dOSU and out of the National Title picture (well, maybe not the latter, but we THOUGHT AT THE TIME!) Now this is basically Juice v Pryor. Ohio State wins and they STILL have a shot to go to the Rose Bowl. Yippy. Or if they lose, they are pretty much locked into facing UGA in the Capital One Bowl (Unless Florida loses to Bama and has to go to the Credit Card bowl and UGA gets sent to the Cotton. I am REALLY hoping this happens.) Duh Ohio State wins this one though.
Indiana @ #8 Penn State. Could PSU drop ANOTHER ONE TO ANOTHER CRAPPY TEAM? Not Indiana. My Indiana guy says that the Hoosiers are REALLY bad. Thanks Mark, but I could have gathered that myself. PSU rebounds and JoePa gets the win. Will someone wake him up after the game and let him know that he won?
Northwestern @ Michigan on ESPN2....which means....DANCE PARTY IN ANN ARBOR! Pam Ward Style! Go with the Kitties in this one, why? Because RichRod will be too tired to coach after hanging with Pam Ward all night, scouting out chicks. And because Threet is out. That too. (I do provide SOME football insight!)
Duke @ Klimpsen. Can you imagine how nuts Klimpsen fans will go when their team loses to Duke? Prolly as nuts as 2003. And 2004. And as Nuts as GT fans did in 2004. Actually Cutcliffe is a pretty decent coach and GOOD for him for not immediately going back to Tennessee. Wait for everyone to turn the job down first....THEN go at a higher rate! Good Thinkin' Lincoln! Duke wins here. Because THIS death valley is just dead right now. Good work Cullen
Notre Dame @ Navy. Sooooo Navy and UGA have been on CBS the exact number of times thus far this season? Wait, no. Just kidding. But honestly, UGA is on the WB, former home of Dawson's Creek and Navy gets to play a crappy team on national TV. Oh, the crappy team is Notre Dame? Don't they have their own network? Or did Notre Dame get cancelled just like Christian Slater's show? BA-ZING! Navy OF COURSE wins.
#3 Texas @ KU. Reesing v McCoy, Advantage: Texas; Mangino v Brown, Advantage: Kansas. Wait, this ISN'T an eating contest? Oh, then Texas wins. Hmmm Arby's WOULD be good right now though. Mangino, can you grab me 5 of those beef and cheddars. I figure I might see two of them by the time you bring me the bag. Honestly, I wonder if Arby's is RETHINKING getting that guy as its spokesman. Does he sweat Arby's Sauce?
#25 SoCar @ #4 Florida. Hey, Spurrier, thanks for NOT being ranked when UGA won. I would pick this as my upset pick, but SoCar ONLY plays hard against UGA. I guess in this game you just ask for the money to be put on the table? SoCar is like Jennifer Garner in Catch me if you can. But then, I guess I swoon over Tim Tebow too...Florida sticks it to (in) So Car.
#16 UNC @ Maryland. I guess people just HAVE to put an ACC team in the top 20. I guess. Why? Not sure. But UNC is probably the most attractive. Lovely Campus. Firery coach. Cool alt jerseys. And in this game, a winner. Unless Maryland decides to play. Then it could get dicey. But let's go with UNC, just so another mid-major doesn't get a spot in the BCS. GO HEELS!
#17 BYU @ Air Force. and BYU is ranked...............why? The Cougars beat AFA, but can we please not rank them? I really don't care about the little teams. I just don't. I don't in March Madness. I don't in bowl season. I just don't.
#24 Wake @ NCSU. I tell ya, going on the road in the ACC......tough to do. Watch out. Wait. That's right. The road is NOTHING in the ACC. At Klimpsen, they SIT during the entire game. At Duke, you have to wind around folks camping out for BBall tickets just to get into the game. At GT you get 18 pizzas just for buying a ticket. VaTech, you have a bunch of hillbillies dogfighting outside the stadium. Wake wins easily.
Cal @ Oregon State, Wazzou @ Arizona State, Arizona @ Oregon. PAC 10 FOOTBALL! Get swept up in it! Oregon state, ASU, Oregon. Who cares?
Minny @ Wisco. So, let's see. No ranking by Wisco's name, so Minny will WIN. Seriously, they could go to the Rose Bowl WITHOUT beating a single ranked team. They would need PSU and OSU to lose, but it could happen. And the winner of this game gets an ax, I think. Yeah, just what drunk college kids need. A frigging AX to wield at parties. Minnysota wins, eh.
Nebraska @ K-State. So Bo Pelini picks THIS week to bust out the blackshirts. Against KSU, a team who recently fired its (black) coach? that is turrbull. Hey Bo, of COURSE the boys are going to bow up. The other team FIRED ITS COACH. They aren't any good. YES you are going to win. But you should have busted them out against a real opponent. But if you want to reward mediocrity, BE MY GUEST. HEY YOU GUYS are going to the Petro Sun Bowl. KUDOS!
#9 Boise State @ Idaho. So BSU is going to a BCS bowl perhaps? So we can MAYBE see some more tricks plays in an upset of a clearly bored OU team again? Snore.....wake me up for a new episode of Prisonbreak the following week. (That is ANOTHER reason I am rooting for ESPN to get the BCS contract back. #1 so Fox doesn't continue to ruin my love of the bowls AND so Fox programming won't be hiatused for these crappy matchups. I'd rather have a rerun of House than Utah/UNC. Sorry. But I would tune into this game, had the Idaho cheerleaders NOT gotten rid of the "sexy" unis. Oh well
#12 Mizzou @ Iowa State. Now i just feel sorry for Chase Daniel. He reminds me of John Kerry. Everyone was all on his jock, then he lost. Now, who knows WHAT he is doing? Oh, yeah Mizzou is still #12 in the country and Kerry is still a senator ( I guess) but really, what are they? CD won't make it in the pros and Kerry can't run for Prez again. I mean, he couldn't beat Bush when ALL the Dems wanted someone to. So they both are donezo, just playing out the string. Kind of sad. Give the Tigers a win here.
Miss State @ #1 Bama. Did I read that correctly? Sly Croom has beaten two straight Bama teams? Well just know this Croom, when you look across the sideline and see Saban over there, MAYBE you can take over the job when he bolts in 3 seasons. (I am thinking to the Cowboys, perhaps?) But then Bama might actually FIRE you if you stink up Tascaloosa like you are currently doing to Starkville. But you can't be fired. That must be nice. You are like Wayne Fontes of Detroit. (PS, if Saban DOES run the table and win the BCS Title, you don't think Jerry Jones won't give him a call about the struggling Cowboys? HA! Gone after two seasons.) Bama rolls
#7 Utah @ San Diego State. Actually put Utah and Notre Dame in the fiesta bowl. THEN I will root for a midmajor. ONLY THEN. (And if Notre Dame wins one more game, the BCS crazies will probably push for ND's inclusion!)
BC @ #19 FSU. I read where FSU is going to blackout the Doak. Guys, look what happened to UGA when we tried it. Just play the game. Who cares? JUST PLAY THE GAME! (but they beat BC)
Troy @ #20 LSU. Way to schedule Troy for the homecoming game. What was Citadel booked? (That was a shot at Florida.) go with LSU, clearly. And hey, why don't you PLAY SOMEONE REAL so homecoming MEANS something?
Vandy @ UK. 8pm ESPN2. Ummm ESPN, you went with THIS GAME over UGA/Auburn? Good call. Yeah, really. Good call. But I guess this is where Vandy gets bowl eligible. NOT. UK in the upset. Randall Cobb is awesome! (Wait, that is just a statement to be made when he plays the crap known as the UGA defense) UK wins, barely and Bobby Johnson has diarrhea in his pants. Don't worry Booby J, you'll get eligible v Tennessee
Pro Style Offense.
Denver @ Atlanta. Jay Cutler v Matt Ryan in the race to see who the second best young QB in the league is. I say Matty Ice and his Falcons take care of Cut and win the title of #2. #1? Matt Stafford of course!
Dallas @ Washington. The debut of DHall as a Skin! Holla! But no Portis worries me. Unless it is all a ploy, which it just might be. And should Shaun Alexander, former MVP, have at least ONE more game in him? I think Portis still goes and The Skins take down Tony Romo's little pinkie and the rest of the Cowgirls.
Plot twists
Lock of the week
#6 USC @ Stanford. USC only loses one crap game a year and it did already-to oregon state (what a wacky conference this pac 10 is!). And Pete Carroll will have last season in his mind. It will be WORSE than what Urban did to Georgia, but I am guessing Carroll has a bit more class than Urban did and WON'T call timeouts with less than a minute to play. But Whatever you do, don't ever out-Urban one Urban Meyer. It will stick in his craw, and he will NEVER forget. That Elephant!
Upset Special.
#13 Okie State @ Colorado. I don't think I've EVER seen a team get so much props for LOSING two games. Just saying. Okie state loses to Texas and suddenly, "WOW, what fight!" Then the Pokes lose to Texas Tech, and "but they are still plucky!" I can't wait to see what happens when the Cowboys lose to Colorado, then Oklahoma then UGA to kick off 2009. Let's put them at #1! The first 0-11 team to be ranked #1! Colorado in the upset.
Local rooting interest.
GT @ Bye week. The Techies get to let the last loss fester with them for a few more days. Wonderful. I bet they come out ALL FIRED UP AND READY FOR THE WHITEOUT v Miami. Really? A whiteout? What about a D&D out? Come dressed as your favorite Live Action Role Player! Dressed as your favorite LOTR character! I call Mr. Sam. Wait, why haven't we seen Rudy for a while? Huh? he is STILL up Elijah Woods' butt? Oh. yeouch.
#10 UGA @ Awbarn.
Everything is setting up for an Auburn upset, except that I saw that Trey Blackmon may not return to the Tigers next season as he is seeking a part-time job so he can care for his three kids. Wow, the folks in LaGrange MUST be proud. The former #1 player in GA high school is now going to leave the team, after playing MAYBE 7 games total to care for his three kids? Is he even 21? Hey BRO, WEAR A CONDOM! They cost 50 cents! .75 in a gas station bathroom. JUST BUY ONE! NOT HARD. You'd have thought he'd learn his lesson after the first kid. Certainly by the second kid. I guess the third one was the charm. Karma kicks Auburn while it is down. UGA wins. But I certainly hope Auburn is still angry about the Blackout. Hey Auburn, you are doing your OWN BLACKOUT! Tray Blackmon-out! HA! I crack myself up. Sorry, but you guys will be saying war DAMMIT! eagle, after Matty Stafford throws YET ANOTHER TD on ya! Also, a note to Kodi, don't be like Brandon Cox. Try and throw to your OWN TEAMMATES!
Big day predicted for CJ Byrd.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Final preview of Class AA and A combined-Part4
Let's be real here. We all know that Buford will win class AA and ECI will win class A
But let's break it down....
AA
I think Jefferson or Lovett (Whomever wins the round two game between those two) comes out of that northwest bracket.
Buford will dominate the Northeast bracket, but the game with Rashard Smith and Dublin in the quarters will AT LEAST make Buford earn it. Smith might be the best singular talent in this classification (maybe Buford's Cody Getz) and he wins games by himself. this team will ONLY go as far as he can carry them. Which should be the quarters.
In the Southeast, I like Henry County and Drew Little and his talented receivers (both D-1 prospects.) But Henry county draws the Grayson path of Charlton Co (or Fitzgerald, but likely Charlton) in the second round with Pepperell waiting in the quarters. Oh, then you get Buford. Thanks. But I think if ANY team can beat Buford, it will be Henry Co in the F4, if they have enough juice left in the tank.
Over in the southwest bracket, no team really sticks out to me. Another weak bracket. Appling lost late, didn't it? Maybe Westminster? Nah, go with Appling.
Final four: Appling Co, Lovett, Buford, Henry Co
Champ; SHOCKER! Buford.
Class A-the running back class
Obviously I have ECI winning it all, but we will get to see a few RBs run for days in this playoff slate. Wesleyan's sophomore sensation Kyle Karempelis will lead his team to the Final four with no real competition coming from Warren, Bowdon or Savannah Christian.
In the Northeast, Bremen will need traction with wins over Landmark Christian and Athens Academy before facing ECI. (Athens Academy takes down Washington Wilkes with a power running game. they have it with...Calloway, I believe)
ECI meanwhile should only play Wayshaun Ealy in the first half SO HE CAN TAKE THE SECOND HALF TO STUDY AND GET ELIGIBLE FOR UGA NEXT SEASON! Clinch might offer SOME resistance in the second round. But not much.
In the southeast, you've got Brookstone as my favorite in that grouping. I looked up Brookstone for the Game o the week v Schley and they have it going on. The McClusky bros are unstoppable, at least on this level.
In the final bracket, Wilcox Co should make its way to the final four behind Antonio Marshall's big legs. He can put up similar numbers to Wayshaun Ealy, only it takes him all game to do what W.E. does in the first half. Regardless, he has numbers.
Final four: Wesleyan (this is why the school dropped to Class A, was for football!) Wilcox Co, ECI adn Brookstone
Champ: ECI. comeon.
Talk to you next week, and be sure to log on to gpb.org/football or scoreatl.com for more of THIS GUY this Friday! (Shameless self-promotion)
But let's break it down....
AA
I think Jefferson or Lovett (Whomever wins the round two game between those two) comes out of that northwest bracket.
Buford will dominate the Northeast bracket, but the game with Rashard Smith and Dublin in the quarters will AT LEAST make Buford earn it. Smith might be the best singular talent in this classification (maybe Buford's Cody Getz) and he wins games by himself. this team will ONLY go as far as he can carry them. Which should be the quarters.
In the Southeast, I like Henry County and Drew Little and his talented receivers (both D-1 prospects.) But Henry county draws the Grayson path of Charlton Co (or Fitzgerald, but likely Charlton) in the second round with Pepperell waiting in the quarters. Oh, then you get Buford. Thanks. But I think if ANY team can beat Buford, it will be Henry Co in the F4, if they have enough juice left in the tank.
Over in the southwest bracket, no team really sticks out to me. Another weak bracket. Appling lost late, didn't it? Maybe Westminster? Nah, go with Appling.
Final four: Appling Co, Lovett, Buford, Henry Co
Champ; SHOCKER! Buford.
Class A-the running back class
Obviously I have ECI winning it all, but we will get to see a few RBs run for days in this playoff slate. Wesleyan's sophomore sensation Kyle Karempelis will lead his team to the Final four with no real competition coming from Warren, Bowdon or Savannah Christian.
In the Northeast, Bremen will need traction with wins over Landmark Christian and Athens Academy before facing ECI. (Athens Academy takes down Washington Wilkes with a power running game. they have it with...Calloway, I believe)
ECI meanwhile should only play Wayshaun Ealy in the first half SO HE CAN TAKE THE SECOND HALF TO STUDY AND GET ELIGIBLE FOR UGA NEXT SEASON! Clinch might offer SOME resistance in the second round. But not much.
In the southeast, you've got Brookstone as my favorite in that grouping. I looked up Brookstone for the Game o the week v Schley and they have it going on. The McClusky bros are unstoppable, at least on this level.
In the final bracket, Wilcox Co should make its way to the final four behind Antonio Marshall's big legs. He can put up similar numbers to Wayshaun Ealy, only it takes him all game to do what W.E. does in the first half. Regardless, he has numbers.
Final four: Wesleyan (this is why the school dropped to Class A, was for football!) Wilcox Co, ECI adn Brookstone
Champ: ECI. comeon.
Talk to you next week, and be sure to log on to gpb.org/football or scoreatl.com for more of THIS GUY this Friday! (Shameless self-promotion)
Everything is gonna be alright..the playoffs are here!
Part three is RIGHT in my wheelhouse. Classification AAA. I have followed this Class for GPB all season, so I know a bit about these teams. Let's get RIGHT TO IT.
My initial thoughts say that Paul Mac's Baldwin Braves might have the best team entering the playoffs, sorry Cairo and Carver-Columbus (the defending champs that Baldwin already beat once this year). My darkhorse to win it all: Dunwoody. I've been on these guys all season and I just hope the injuries they suffered against St. PiusX don't come back to haunt them...........
Let's roll on to the brackets.
Northwest. Cairo is the #1 team from the preseason and they won all 9 of the games it played in. (one was hurricaned out.) Angelo Pease and Reggie Bryant and Ronnie Wooten can score against anyone, and Troup isn't an easy first round opponent. But Cairo didn't come this far to lose this early.
As far as Burke Co and Mary Persons, my sophomore roommate at UGA was from Mary Persons, but I can't go with the Fighting Adams just because of that. Burke is my pick here.
Eastside and Creekview shouldn't be entertaining as Eastside is a boring #1. It will win, but boring.
Carrollton and Washington might be fun, but Carrollton is too talented to lose this early.
The Northeast bracket finds Carver-Atlanta and its talented defense will go down to Ridgeland's offense. The #1 though will go down the following week as Flowery Branch is a #3 seed, despite being the second best team in Region7. The Reservation is normally a tough place in which to play, but not this year. Connor Shaw and the rest of the Falcons pull the upset in round one and "shock" Ridgeland in round 2. Shaw's boys are good up in Flowery Branch.
Too bad FloBranch is also in Baldwin's bracket. Yep. The BRaves will ROLL over Eagles' Landing before stomping Peach Co AGAIN. They already won once this year against Peach, and they will do so yet again. The scores may make you think it isn't a blowout, but just watch the games. They dominate. Corrico Hawkins leads the best defense in the Classification. As for Shaw and Peach Co, Shaw has lost 73 games this season and they will lose #74.
The Southeast bracket has Dunwoody, my darkhorse winning over Central Carroll then facing, likely North Hall. NHHS faces Hart Co and if I remember Hart Co correctly they have two junior twins as its star QB and WR. Give Hart Co ONE MORE YEAR to make noise. I'm tempted to pick the Hartwell warriors, but think that North Hall wins at home.
Jackson/Thomson could be a great game, but Jackson ends up winning a nailbiter. Everyone will have to wait until Saturday to see that LaGrange crushes Dougherty. Grangers probably takes the Jackson game too. Grangers were #2 up until two weeks ago in the GPB/Score Atl poll.
The final bracket is the southwest and defending champ Carver-Columbus is facing Crisp in round one with likely Waco in round two. Washington County has lost 2 of its last 3, but got a little MO with a win last week. I think Carver-Columbus (which lost big time to Baldwin and by 1 to NWR) is more than ready to advance to the quarters.
The lower side of the bracket has Gainesville as the "Grayson" of AAA. Blake Sims must first go through the strong armed Zach Mettenberger of Oconee Co. (hey, good QBs can sometimes carry teams. But Oconee County's supporting cast isn't very good. Can wait to see that arm with capable receivers though!) Then if the Red Elephants can get past the Warriors, it will face either Donovan Tate of Cartersville (could be the #1 overall MLB pick or could go to his pick of SEC schools for CFB. WOW, what an athlete) or Cole Moon and St. Pius X, who will be angry after losing to Dunwoody to end the season. Then if Gainesville survives that game, the defending champ in Carver-Columbus is sitting right there. Oh, then they'd face Cairo and Baldwin. If this IS truly Gainesville's year, they will certainly EARN it.
My final four picks: Cairo, Baldwin, Dunwoody, Carver-Columbus
Champ:Baldwin. (You are welcome Body!)
My initial thoughts say that Paul Mac's Baldwin Braves might have the best team entering the playoffs, sorry Cairo and Carver-Columbus (the defending champs that Baldwin already beat once this year). My darkhorse to win it all: Dunwoody. I've been on these guys all season and I just hope the injuries they suffered against St. PiusX don't come back to haunt them...........
Let's roll on to the brackets.
Northwest. Cairo is the #1 team from the preseason and they won all 9 of the games it played in. (one was hurricaned out.) Angelo Pease and Reggie Bryant and Ronnie Wooten can score against anyone, and Troup isn't an easy first round opponent. But Cairo didn't come this far to lose this early.
As far as Burke Co and Mary Persons, my sophomore roommate at UGA was from Mary Persons, but I can't go with the Fighting Adams just because of that. Burke is my pick here.
Eastside and Creekview shouldn't be entertaining as Eastside is a boring #1. It will win, but boring.
Carrollton and Washington might be fun, but Carrollton is too talented to lose this early.
The Northeast bracket finds Carver-Atlanta and its talented defense will go down to Ridgeland's offense. The #1 though will go down the following week as Flowery Branch is a #3 seed, despite being the second best team in Region7. The Reservation is normally a tough place in which to play, but not this year. Connor Shaw and the rest of the Falcons pull the upset in round one and "shock" Ridgeland in round 2. Shaw's boys are good up in Flowery Branch.
Too bad FloBranch is also in Baldwin's bracket. Yep. The BRaves will ROLL over Eagles' Landing before stomping Peach Co AGAIN. They already won once this year against Peach, and they will do so yet again. The scores may make you think it isn't a blowout, but just watch the games. They dominate. Corrico Hawkins leads the best defense in the Classification. As for Shaw and Peach Co, Shaw has lost 73 games this season and they will lose #74.
The Southeast bracket has Dunwoody, my darkhorse winning over Central Carroll then facing, likely North Hall. NHHS faces Hart Co and if I remember Hart Co correctly they have two junior twins as its star QB and WR. Give Hart Co ONE MORE YEAR to make noise. I'm tempted to pick the Hartwell warriors, but think that North Hall wins at home.
Jackson/Thomson could be a great game, but Jackson ends up winning a nailbiter. Everyone will have to wait until Saturday to see that LaGrange crushes Dougherty. Grangers probably takes the Jackson game too. Grangers were #2 up until two weeks ago in the GPB/Score Atl poll.
The final bracket is the southwest and defending champ Carver-Columbus is facing Crisp in round one with likely Waco in round two. Washington County has lost 2 of its last 3, but got a little MO with a win last week. I think Carver-Columbus (which lost big time to Baldwin and by 1 to NWR) is more than ready to advance to the quarters.
The lower side of the bracket has Gainesville as the "Grayson" of AAA. Blake Sims must first go through the strong armed Zach Mettenberger of Oconee Co. (hey, good QBs can sometimes carry teams. But Oconee County's supporting cast isn't very good. Can wait to see that arm with capable receivers though!) Then if the Red Elephants can get past the Warriors, it will face either Donovan Tate of Cartersville (could be the #1 overall MLB pick or could go to his pick of SEC schools for CFB. WOW, what an athlete) or Cole Moon and St. Pius X, who will be angry after losing to Dunwoody to end the season. Then if Gainesville survives that game, the defending champ in Carver-Columbus is sitting right there. Oh, then they'd face Cairo and Baldwin. If this IS truly Gainesville's year, they will certainly EARN it.
My final four picks: Cairo, Baldwin, Dunwoody, Carver-Columbus
Champ:Baldwin. (You are welcome Body!)
We're HERE! Actually...... Part 2
We continue our look at the state playoffs for Georgia High School football. Is this Texas, no, but come on, you people KNOW you love this stuff.
Let's go to Classification AAAA!
My initial thoughts, how can ANYONE beat Westside Macon? I am not sure anyone can. Maybe Tucker, and they'll get a chance in the quarters. Tucker is the fastest team I've seen in the last five years. That HAS to count for something, right? I wish Sandy Creek had Braxton Lane and I think one bracket completely stinks and shouldn't even send a team to the final four.
The northeast west bracket. The best team plays here in Westside Macon. They cruise past the Glynn Academy. Why they even need to host this game is beyond me. Let's move past this one. And why even hold the next game either? Hephzibah/Jonesboro. Oh gawd, I am preclempt!
As for Loganville and Hillgrove, Hillgrove is the nice story, but Loganville won Region 8 over Apalachee, Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central. They must be legit. Go with Maxy Price Chevy's hometown school
Tucker beats Whitewater (sorry Randy, my friend who is a Whitewater coach. His 9th grade team went undefeated and Randy told me that Whitewater is actually going to be really good NEXT year. This was just a preview). Well Whitewater will get a good view at what speed is with Calhoun, Davis and Beck. Can't WAIT for Tucker/WSMac
In the Northeast bracket, Marist should overpower Northgate to set up a date with Sequoyah. Yeppers I am going with Sequoyah to "upset" Clarke CentralR8#2. As far as the rest of that bracket, Evans is the "worst 10-0 team" according to their stud DE, and they should be 11-0 with a meeting between Ware Co (the preseason #1 which is now a three seed from its own region) or Thomas CC (STILL overrated if you ask me). I think Evans beats Ware Co, but would lose to TCC. Wait, I have to pick this? TCC then to the quarters.
In the southeast bracket, does it get any better than Sandy Creek/Chamblee in the first round? Chamblee's wheels came off at the end of the year, but they made the playoffs. I REALLY want Braxton Lane to bust out the Stone Cold entrance for this game, but he won't be necessary. Rio Johnson and Co will be more than enough for Warren Norman and Darius Jones.
Rome v Apalachee is interesting. I am biased toward the Wildcats of Apalachee and away from Rome(because of some Dalton ties), but I do have logic for picking Apalachee. The team went ON THE ROAD last season and won in the first round of the playoffs and I think they do it again. Gresham MUST have a big game to legitimize the hype for me. I don't buy it, unless he REALLY improved from last season. Jon Lee runs to a win.
North Clayton over the Richmond Academy. I know nothing about either of these schools. Wait, didn't DJ Shockley's dad used to coach NCHS, before a racy photo scandal or something?
Statesboro beats Harris County I THINK because the SHS coach heard what I said on the air about how they were donezo after losing the QB and that somehow fired up his team. OK, FINE, you win this game and the next one, but you lose in the quarters. YOU DON'T HAVE A QB!
The final bracket is the worst BY FAR. Bruiswick and Bainbridge? Go with the latter because its coach has 200+ wins. Griffin and Glen Hills? Who cares? Sprayberry v Cedar Shoals? Take CSHS in a mild upset. Villa Rica and SWD? Take SWD in an upset. See DeKalb folks saying I am a Decatur hater. I picked an upset.
Final Four: Bainbridge, WMac, Marist, Sandy Creek
Westside Macon as the champ (but I'd LOVE to say Tucker wins it all. I WANT TO SO BADLY)
Let's go to Classification AAAA!
My initial thoughts, how can ANYONE beat Westside Macon? I am not sure anyone can. Maybe Tucker, and they'll get a chance in the quarters. Tucker is the fastest team I've seen in the last five years. That HAS to count for something, right? I wish Sandy Creek had Braxton Lane and I think one bracket completely stinks and shouldn't even send a team to the final four.
The northeast west bracket. The best team plays here in Westside Macon. They cruise past the Glynn Academy. Why they even need to host this game is beyond me. Let's move past this one. And why even hold the next game either? Hephzibah/Jonesboro. Oh gawd, I am preclempt!
As for Loganville and Hillgrove, Hillgrove is the nice story, but Loganville won Region 8 over Apalachee, Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central. They must be legit. Go with Maxy Price Chevy's hometown school
Tucker beats Whitewater (sorry Randy, my friend who is a Whitewater coach. His 9th grade team went undefeated and Randy told me that Whitewater is actually going to be really good NEXT year. This was just a preview). Well Whitewater will get a good view at what speed is with Calhoun, Davis and Beck. Can't WAIT for Tucker/WSMac
In the Northeast bracket, Marist should overpower Northgate to set up a date with Sequoyah. Yeppers I am going with Sequoyah to "upset" Clarke CentralR8#2. As far as the rest of that bracket, Evans is the "worst 10-0 team" according to their stud DE, and they should be 11-0 with a meeting between Ware Co (the preseason #1 which is now a three seed from its own region) or Thomas CC (STILL overrated if you ask me). I think Evans beats Ware Co, but would lose to TCC. Wait, I have to pick this? TCC then to the quarters.
In the southeast bracket, does it get any better than Sandy Creek/Chamblee in the first round? Chamblee's wheels came off at the end of the year, but they made the playoffs. I REALLY want Braxton Lane to bust out the Stone Cold entrance for this game, but he won't be necessary. Rio Johnson and Co will be more than enough for Warren Norman and Darius Jones.
Rome v Apalachee is interesting. I am biased toward the Wildcats of Apalachee and away from Rome(because of some Dalton ties), but I do have logic for picking Apalachee. The team went ON THE ROAD last season and won in the first round of the playoffs and I think they do it again. Gresham MUST have a big game to legitimize the hype for me. I don't buy it, unless he REALLY improved from last season. Jon Lee runs to a win.
North Clayton over the Richmond Academy. I know nothing about either of these schools. Wait, didn't DJ Shockley's dad used to coach NCHS, before a racy photo scandal or something?
Statesboro beats Harris County I THINK because the SHS coach heard what I said on the air about how they were donezo after losing the QB and that somehow fired up his team. OK, FINE, you win this game and the next one, but you lose in the quarters. YOU DON'T HAVE A QB!
The final bracket is the worst BY FAR. Bruiswick and Bainbridge? Go with the latter because its coach has 200+ wins. Griffin and Glen Hills? Who cares? Sprayberry v Cedar Shoals? Take CSHS in a mild upset. Villa Rica and SWD? Take SWD in an upset. See DeKalb folks saying I am a Decatur hater. I picked an upset.
Final Four: Bainbridge, WMac, Marist, Sandy Creek
Westside Macon as the champ (but I'd LOVE to say Tucker wins it all. I WANT TO SO BADLY)
The Playoffs are coming! hang two lanterns! Part1
The playoffs are coming! the playoffs are coming! That's right, Georgia high school football fans, the state playoffs kick off this week (and be sure to log on to http://gpb.org/football or scoreatl.com to check out the game of the week: milton @ East Paulding-starring THIS GUY with coverage. That's right.)
Usually I wait until Thursday to talk high school football, but I just couldn't wait. I had so much to say, let's do it ONE DAY EARLY! What I will give you are random thoughts on the matchups, picks and predictions that OF COURSE will change weekly. Let's get it ON!
PS: I am breaking this into 4 parts (AAAAA, AAAA, AAA and AA/A combined.)
AAAAA
The #1 entering the playoffs is OF COURSE Lowndes, but my pick to win it all hasn't changed. Still Northside Warner Robins. Crazy? I know, but I think they take it. I like Fields and Jones and think that, if given the chance again (and they could get it in the finals at the dome) they take down Lowndes. I think the defense would bow up this time and shut down Reid and Demps. And you KNOW Conrad Nix will have them geeked up for that game. In the first round, NWR crushes an overranked Union Grove. We saw what happened the last time Union Grove faced a semi-formidable opponent.
In that bracket, they would face Camden County in the second round. WOW. I had wanted Camden to go to the final four, along with NWR, Lowndes and Newnan, but THAT isn't going to happen.
Isn't THAT going to be huge, but let's discuss that NEXT week.
Parkview v Norcross, Norcross is the mystery. Some weeks they are unstoppable, others they can't get out of their own way. I like Parkview's attack in that the Panther coaches know what the team is and doesn't do anything BUT that, but I think Norcross gets it together and the playmakers carry the Blue Devils into the second round.
Walton v Woodstock. How about Woodstock sneaking into the playoffs? Good for them. They will lose to Michael Boydston and the Walton Raiders, but good for them. Ray Rayburn is a strong enough QB though to steal a playoff game by himself. The mirror opposite of Charles King. Sometimes the steady hand is all you need...
Moving to the southeast bracket, Lassiter makes the playoffs and Chip Lindsay should win coach of the county for his work in just his first year. He has instilled that winner's attitude there and with a few of his talented players, this team could make some playoff noise. They face Etowah in the first game, a tall task, but MAYBE JUST MAYBE they can pull off the upset. If I had a gun in my face, I'd pick the upset.
North Gwinnett v Brookwood. WOW. Two great names, but too bad that is all Brookwood is this season. A name only. Michael Tamburo and Tyler Jarry are two PLAYERS that will led the Bulldogs to quarterfinals. Which means they win this one. Hey, how come no major conference school has offered Tamburo? All he does is make plays and win. (Well except for last week.) But it is playoff time, and Tamburo will come to play. (though with a win last week, he could have punched his ticket to another final four. this way he has to go thru Newnan-yesh!)
Speaking of Newnan-they rock all the way to the final 4. they win this week v Johnson of Savannah and next week against Tift County. Yes, that means I have Tift Co beating MLKing. I think ALL of the Decatur schools are out by Saturday night. Sorry guys, but that's my bold prediction.
Next bracket is the southwest. The weakest bracket IMHO. I think Stephenson loses to Coffee then we get a crapfest of Chapel Hill and Coffee (which Coffee wins)
Peachtree Ridge shouldn't have a problem with the offensively challenged Dacula.
The most intriguing matchup on the first round in this bracket is Harrison/Kell. You get a great runningback matchup. Hopefully Robbie Godhigh is healthy, because when he is, he's a game changer. If not, give Kell the win. I know high ankle sprains can linger, but I think Godhigh toughs it out and the Hoyas win. (Next week is a different story. Ptree Ridge is my pick from this bracket)
The final bracket features the biggest stars. Lowndes has Reid and Demps, Grayson features Pemberton and Horne (and Jones and Gunn), Collins Hill has Michael Box, Milton has Toney Williams and EPaulding has Brown. WOW. Star studded. Lowndes takes the first two rounds without breaking a sweat while Grayson is rewarded for its 10-0 season with three of the toughest games of the entire draw. IF they survive Collins Hill (which I think they will-barely) then Mickey Conn's Rams will get either Toney Williams, but more likely East Paulding. I think EPHS is better coached and can grind out a win.
So IF Grayson can outgun Collins Hill then outrush EPHS, then they get Lowndes? WOW. Sorry Coach Conn.
My final four is Lowndes, Ptree Ridge, Newnan and N-WR with N-WR and Lowndes doing battle in the dome!
Usually I wait until Thursday to talk high school football, but I just couldn't wait. I had so much to say, let's do it ONE DAY EARLY! What I will give you are random thoughts on the matchups, picks and predictions that OF COURSE will change weekly. Let's get it ON!
PS: I am breaking this into 4 parts (AAAAA, AAAA, AAA and AA/A combined.)
AAAAA
The #1 entering the playoffs is OF COURSE Lowndes, but my pick to win it all hasn't changed. Still Northside Warner Robins. Crazy? I know, but I think they take it. I like Fields and Jones and think that, if given the chance again (and they could get it in the finals at the dome) they take down Lowndes. I think the defense would bow up this time and shut down Reid and Demps. And you KNOW Conrad Nix will have them geeked up for that game. In the first round, NWR crushes an overranked Union Grove. We saw what happened the last time Union Grove faced a semi-formidable opponent.
In that bracket, they would face Camden County in the second round. WOW. I had wanted Camden to go to the final four, along with NWR, Lowndes and Newnan, but THAT isn't going to happen.
Isn't THAT going to be huge, but let's discuss that NEXT week.
Parkview v Norcross, Norcross is the mystery. Some weeks they are unstoppable, others they can't get out of their own way. I like Parkview's attack in that the Panther coaches know what the team is and doesn't do anything BUT that, but I think Norcross gets it together and the playmakers carry the Blue Devils into the second round.
Walton v Woodstock. How about Woodstock sneaking into the playoffs? Good for them. They will lose to Michael Boydston and the Walton Raiders, but good for them. Ray Rayburn is a strong enough QB though to steal a playoff game by himself. The mirror opposite of Charles King. Sometimes the steady hand is all you need...
Moving to the southeast bracket, Lassiter makes the playoffs and Chip Lindsay should win coach of the county for his work in just his first year. He has instilled that winner's attitude there and with a few of his talented players, this team could make some playoff noise. They face Etowah in the first game, a tall task, but MAYBE JUST MAYBE they can pull off the upset. If I had a gun in my face, I'd pick the upset.
North Gwinnett v Brookwood. WOW. Two great names, but too bad that is all Brookwood is this season. A name only. Michael Tamburo and Tyler Jarry are two PLAYERS that will led the Bulldogs to quarterfinals. Which means they win this one. Hey, how come no major conference school has offered Tamburo? All he does is make plays and win. (Well except for last week.) But it is playoff time, and Tamburo will come to play. (though with a win last week, he could have punched his ticket to another final four. this way he has to go thru Newnan-yesh!)
Speaking of Newnan-they rock all the way to the final 4. they win this week v Johnson of Savannah and next week against Tift County. Yes, that means I have Tift Co beating MLKing. I think ALL of the Decatur schools are out by Saturday night. Sorry guys, but that's my bold prediction.
Next bracket is the southwest. The weakest bracket IMHO. I think Stephenson loses to Coffee then we get a crapfest of Chapel Hill and Coffee (which Coffee wins)
Peachtree Ridge shouldn't have a problem with the offensively challenged Dacula.
The most intriguing matchup on the first round in this bracket is Harrison/Kell. You get a great runningback matchup. Hopefully Robbie Godhigh is healthy, because when he is, he's a game changer. If not, give Kell the win. I know high ankle sprains can linger, but I think Godhigh toughs it out and the Hoyas win. (Next week is a different story. Ptree Ridge is my pick from this bracket)
The final bracket features the biggest stars. Lowndes has Reid and Demps, Grayson features Pemberton and Horne (and Jones and Gunn), Collins Hill has Michael Box, Milton has Toney Williams and EPaulding has Brown. WOW. Star studded. Lowndes takes the first two rounds without breaking a sweat while Grayson is rewarded for its 10-0 season with three of the toughest games of the entire draw. IF they survive Collins Hill (which I think they will-barely) then Mickey Conn's Rams will get either Toney Williams, but more likely East Paulding. I think EPHS is better coached and can grind out a win.
So IF Grayson can outgun Collins Hill then outrush EPHS, then they get Lowndes? WOW. Sorry Coach Conn.
My final four is Lowndes, Ptree Ridge, Newnan and N-WR with N-WR and Lowndes doing battle in the dome!
Midweek Entertainment report 11/12/08
The Secret Service will cover a Renegade, ANOTHER Smith to star in crappy movies, Clark Gable rolls over in his grave and House needs a pair.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's the midweek entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLACPALCAPCLAPCLAP!
Apparently the secret service has revealed the top secret code names for the new First Family. Obama is going to be coded as Renegade. The rest of his family will be Rosebud, Radiance, Renaissance, everything starting with an R. Umm, is it a good idea to give these code names out? Just wondering. I wouldn't have leaked them, but that's just me. I also wouldn't step in front of a bullet, so the secret service has one up on me.
I hear where Jaden Smith will "star" in the remake of the Karate Kid Movie. Seriously? As if ONE Smith wasn't bad enough, we now have to be subjected to ANOTHER one that steals money? And if Jacky Chan is REALLY going to be the new Mr. Miyagi, I will want Ralph Machio to stop bussing tables for a night to go picket the opening. Please? This is bad. Really bad.
On last night's House, Dr. House REALLY needed to grow a pair at the end when he wouldn't knock on Cuddy's door and ask her out. Come on Greg. Get with Cuddy aka Bobby Bernstein. Do it! She's hot. Hotter than Cameron. Well maybe not, but better for you.
Lastly, Paris Hilton, in her quest for a new BFF, pulled a shocker move last night when she allowed Vanessa to be a b!tch and select someone for elimination, then OVERRULING her and taking the Virgin off the "chopping block" (to borrow an overused phrase from MTV) and instead putting Klassy Kayley up for elimination. And just in case we DIDN'T know, Kayley is the granddaughter of Clark Gable. She mentioned this about 600 times in last night's episode. Thanks, Kayley, but quite frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. You called yourself too classy to try to pick up guys in Vegas, so instead you smoked and did enough shots to choke a small army of goats. Wow. You were THROWING them back. Then you go off and recruit about 6 men, all over the age of 45 to come to Paris Hilton's house. I think they were actually your grandfather's friends. But please stop calling yourself classy and saying that you are a homebody. You OBVIE like to party. That's fine, but don't try to play the whole "I'm never drinking again!" card when you are CLEARLY going to drink the next chance you get. COME ON.
And as far as Corrie's XBFF on camera talking about all of the schtuff she has done...wow. Sleeping with a bunch of married guys? No wonder they call you Bikini Corrie. (Wait, that was because you earned it!) Last thing about the episode: when Corrie started crying, right before Paris shocked everyone and kept her, thus sending Clark Gable's granddaughter packing, Corrie noted that sometimes she would come home from school and cry and wish she wasn't so attractive. I asked Wifey and she said that no girl EVER wished to be ugly. Just didn't happen. Corrie tried to say that "heavy is the head that wears the crown." really? First off, let's disabuse her of the notion that she is pretty. Just putting it out there: you aren't honey. Just so you know. Would CT drunkenly talk to you? Probably, but that isn't saying much. It was very surprising though that Corrie got to stick around. I know she is sort of the new villain, but Kayley offered WAY more in terms of trainwreck-potential. Neither is going to win. I STILL say Britney is going to win it. I've thought that ever since Japan. And if Vanessa wins, I might break something.
For the record.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's the midweek entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLACPALCAPCLAPCLAP!
Apparently the secret service has revealed the top secret code names for the new First Family. Obama is going to be coded as Renegade. The rest of his family will be Rosebud, Radiance, Renaissance, everything starting with an R. Umm, is it a good idea to give these code names out? Just wondering. I wouldn't have leaked them, but that's just me. I also wouldn't step in front of a bullet, so the secret service has one up on me.
I hear where Jaden Smith will "star" in the remake of the Karate Kid Movie. Seriously? As if ONE Smith wasn't bad enough, we now have to be subjected to ANOTHER one that steals money? And if Jacky Chan is REALLY going to be the new Mr. Miyagi, I will want Ralph Machio to stop bussing tables for a night to go picket the opening. Please? This is bad. Really bad.
On last night's House, Dr. House REALLY needed to grow a pair at the end when he wouldn't knock on Cuddy's door and ask her out. Come on Greg. Get with Cuddy aka Bobby Bernstein. Do it! She's hot. Hotter than Cameron. Well maybe not, but better for you.
Lastly, Paris Hilton, in her quest for a new BFF, pulled a shocker move last night when she allowed Vanessa to be a b!tch and select someone for elimination, then OVERRULING her and taking the Virgin off the "chopping block" (to borrow an overused phrase from MTV) and instead putting Klassy Kayley up for elimination. And just in case we DIDN'T know, Kayley is the granddaughter of Clark Gable. She mentioned this about 600 times in last night's episode. Thanks, Kayley, but quite frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. You called yourself too classy to try to pick up guys in Vegas, so instead you smoked and did enough shots to choke a small army of goats. Wow. You were THROWING them back. Then you go off and recruit about 6 men, all over the age of 45 to come to Paris Hilton's house. I think they were actually your grandfather's friends. But please stop calling yourself classy and saying that you are a homebody. You OBVIE like to party. That's fine, but don't try to play the whole "I'm never drinking again!" card when you are CLEARLY going to drink the next chance you get. COME ON.
And as far as Corrie's XBFF on camera talking about all of the schtuff she has done...wow. Sleeping with a bunch of married guys? No wonder they call you Bikini Corrie. (Wait, that was because you earned it!) Last thing about the episode: when Corrie started crying, right before Paris shocked everyone and kept her, thus sending Clark Gable's granddaughter packing, Corrie noted that sometimes she would come home from school and cry and wish she wasn't so attractive. I asked Wifey and she said that no girl EVER wished to be ugly. Just didn't happen. Corrie tried to say that "heavy is the head that wears the crown." really? First off, let's disabuse her of the notion that she is pretty. Just putting it out there: you aren't honey. Just so you know. Would CT drunkenly talk to you? Probably, but that isn't saying much. It was very surprising though that Corrie got to stick around. I know she is sort of the new villain, but Kayley offered WAY more in terms of trainwreck-potential. Neither is going to win. I STILL say Britney is going to win it. I've thought that ever since Japan. And if Vanessa wins, I might break something.
For the record.
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