First NYC's homeless, now Bravo...

Great! Atlanta is being invaded by CRAP! Wifey was flipping through the channels last night after SYTYCD ended (What was Cat wearing? She looked like a Christmas tree ornament!) and she stopped on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. I stayed in the room for about 6 minutes until my head was about to explode.
A woman (I don't know their names, sorry. I didn't wait that long) who is getting divorced from former Falcon Bob Whitfield has decided to throw an Independence Party. I think I remember reading in the AJC that she is seeking a 7-figure settlement because her lawyer said she cannot read. Yeah. He said she's illiterate. AWESOME! So she can EASILY get a job without the ability to read...But she is going to spend HOW much on an INDEPENDENCE PARTY? She is going to fly in on a helicopter?

My head was about to explode. I had to leave the room.

Then I remembered New York City's mayor is going to start flying and Greyhounding NYC's homeless to Atlanta. AWESOME. Can we send you these "Housewives" in return?

Between the "Real Housewives" (Several of which aren't even married I discovered. How can you be a housewife if you AREN'T EVEN MARRIED?) and the "REAL WOMEN" on Fox's More to Love, I feel bad for Wifey. She isn't a real "woman" because she's less than a size 16 and she isn't a real "housewife" because she's married. That stinks. I guess Roomie and Cake and Lara and Sandy aren't real either. But what is INTERESTING is they are all married women who live in the Atlanta area....WOW.

Brian Jones's top senior QBs in GaHS 2009

We've made it through all of the positions save one: THE QB position. Score Atlanta's Brian Jones breaks down the senior signal callers that High School football fans can catch on the Georgia gridiron Friday nights this season. For more of Big B, tune in this Sunday to Sports Radio 790 The Zone from 5-7 pm.

10. Parker Welch (Wayne County)- 6-3. 186. Has a good arm but doesn’t get to show it off because the wing-t offense that Wayne County runs. Has interest in Boston College, Columbia, Georgia and Princeton.

9. Dylan Shaddix (Eagles Landing) – 6-2. 207. Has a very strong arm. Seems to do well in the spread offense. Has interest in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and LSU.

8. Jamius Gunsby (LaGrange) – 6-3. 210. Has the size and speed that a college coach dreams. Has been under the radar this offseason but Florida has made an offer.

7. Jonathan Watters (Pepperell) – 6-4. 186. Has good touch on the ball and is comfortable in the pro-style offense. Has interest in Georgia, Florida, Florida State and Alabama.

6. Marcus Smith (Hardaway) – 6-3. 202. Has good size, mobility and arm strength. He another Georgia quarterback that has been offered by Florida.

5. Nash Nance (Calhoun) – 6-2- 200. Can stand tall in the pocket, has a quick release and is a tough as they come when it comes to running for the extra yard. Has committed to Vanderbilt.

4. Hutson Mason (Lassiter) – 6-2. 190. Mason is probably the best in the state when it comes to running the spread offense. Threw for over 3,700 yards and 28 touchdowns last season. Iowa, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Georgia Southern have made offers.

3. Connor Shaw (Flowery Branch) – 6-2 195. Has great mobility and can throw on the run better than anybody. He has committed to the Gamecocks of South Carolina.

2. Devin Burns (Carver-Columbus) – 6-2 172. One of the fastest players in the state and happens to have a good arm to go with the speed. Arkansas, UAB, Maryland and Miss State have made offers.

1. Blake Sims (Gainesville) – 6-0. 170. He is dangerous throwing the football and running with the football. He also a great pocket presence which will take him far in the next level. Has committed to Alabama.

Brian Jones' top senior GaHS olinemen

In case you are JUST NOW GETTING TO THE PARTY, Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame has been breaking down the top senior players at each position for the 2009 Georgia High School football season. Here he breaks down the big uglies aka the O-linemen. For more of Big B, tune in Sunday to 790 The Zone from 5-7!

10. Cameron Fordham (Northview) – 6-4. 235. Not the biggest lineman in the state but is the most athletic as he can play center, tight end and defensive end. He has committed to LSU.

9. Grant Ramsay (Pope) – 6-5. 280. Ramsay is a guard that can maintain blocks as good as anybody in the Cobb County and the state. He will play at Vanderbilt in 2010.

8. Max Garcia (Norcross) – 6-5. 280. Garcia has been on Vanderbilt’s top 10 board for a while. He is a guy that is good at getting to the second level of defenders which opens holes for running backs. NC State , South Carolina and Wake Forest have offered.

7. Reid Webster (Etowah) – 6-4. 265. Has long arms and drive defenders back with ease. Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Louisville, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State have made offers.

6. Morgan Bailey (Loganville) – 6-4. 285. Bailey is one more sought after lineman in the southeast. He has committed to Georgia Tech.

5. Austin Sheppard (North Gwinnett) – 6-5. 315. When a defender is locking horns with Sheppard, they are not going to escape. He will play for Nick Saban in the fall of 210.

4. David Yankee (Centennial) – 6-5. 275. Yankee is quick and athletic which will take him far in the college level. Duke, Clemson, Florida and Georgia have interest in him.

3. Ed Christian (Lowndes) – 6-5. 280. Can play with a nasty streak and can dive defenders back as good as any lineman in the southeast. He has committed to Florida State.

2. Kolton Houston (Buford) – 6-5. 270. Could very well be the best guard in the state as he was opening holes for guys like Storm Johnson last year. He will be wearing the red and black in Athens in 2010.

1. JaWuan James (North Gwinnett) – 6-6. 293. James is one of the best tackles in the country as he has great footwork and great body control. He will join Sheppard at Alabama 2010.

DON'T SEND THEM HERE!

Warning: The Georgia Dome and Turner Field will have even MORE homeless folks begging for money around them soon. I just read this in the AJC...

Some homeless New Yorkers may be leaving on a midnight plane to Georgia under New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration. The Big Apple is offering homeless families a one-way plane ticket out of New York to the destination of their choice, as long as a family member agrees to take them in. New York City officials said families have been sent to 24 states and five continents so far, mostly to Georgia, Florida, the Carolinas and Puerto Rico.

It wasn’t immediately known how many families have been flown to Georgia.

The program aims to keep the homeless out of New York’s shelter system, which costs upwards of $36,000 a year per family. More than 550 families have left since 2007. City officials say there are no limits on where a family can be sent and families can reject the offer. Officials said none of the relocated families have returned to city shelters, at least in New York.

Michael Stoops, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, sharply criticized the program. “Just because you’re homeless, you should not be kicked out of a city,” he said. “It’s morally wrong and it’s probably unconstitutional. He continues to say that "if they are homeless in New York, you don’t want them to be homeless in Atlanta. It doesn’t solve the problem...I think it’s an outrage. It’s just not right.”

Are you kidding me? Can we pay for our homeless to then go to NYC? Did Bloomberg call Sonny Perdue or Mayor Franklin? Is Georgia or Atlanta getting any sort of money for this? Don't the NYC honchos realize that Atlanta took all of Nawlins' homeless after Katrina?

Great. CAN'T WAIT! Another reason why New York sucks..........they send their homeless to my town. Thanks!

Maybe it's because he isn't a good quarterback?

Eighteen teams have come out and said that they have ZERO interest in former felon-er-Falcons QB Michael Vick, who has been out of the league and in jail for the past 23 months. Roger Goodell recently partially reinstated Vick, allowing him to sign with a team and of course this has been a hot topic on local sports radio stations in Atlanta. Clearly he isn't resigning with Atlanta and 17 other teams have said they too are out.
I am wondering about the other 14 teams, are they interested? Not because of the dogfighting stuff...
(I think he served his time and should sit out the year to prove he really is over his bad decision-making before getting back into the league. It is a privilege after all, not a right to play in the NFL) (PS, can we stop saying it was a mistake please? A mistake is forgetting to roll your windows up and it rains. This was a decision he made. A VERY VERY VERY BAD DECISION. NOT A MISTAKE. He didn't forget his keys, he killed dogs.)
...but because he isn't that good of a QB. Doesn't everyone remember his struggles in Atlanta? Dude was 38-28-1, not exactly Joe Montana. He was 2-2 in the postseason, and both losses were BAD.
He played parts of six seasons going 1-1, 8-6-1, 3-1, 11-4, 8-7, and 7-9. WOW, that gets my toe a-tappin'. Way to hover around mediocrity!
The guy had a passer rating of 75.7, barely better than Joey Harrington and not as good as Byron Leftwich. Matt Ryan's rating as a ROOKIE last year was 87.7. Vick was holding a water bottle (maybe filled with pot?) his rookie year.
Vick posted a career passing completion percentage of 53.8%, worse than Joey Harrington and threw up such sparkling stats as 6.7 yards/attempt an 12.4 yards/completion. He never made Dan Marino sweat at 155 yards per game. He "amassed" 11,505 yards in six seasons. He career TD:INT numbers were 71:52 Yeah. Watch out record books...the back page might need to get rewritten.

And you might tell me that those numbers don't matter. He gave the Falcons a chance to win! Really? You mean when he fumbled 55 times his career? The experts want him to maybe be a Wildcat back, and yes he scored 21 rushing TDs, but 55 career fumbles? And you have to take into account that while he rushed for 3859 yards, he lost 1153 yards via sacks. But don't you remember 2004? Oh yeah, when HE took the Falcons to the NFC Championship game where they were spanked by Philly? Yeah, I remember that season. 14TDs, 12INTS, 16 Fumbles and 46 sacks. WHAT A YEAR!

Bottom line, make sure you REALLY want Vick when you sign him. Make sure he will be worth the PR Nightmare to get enh stats. People say he's a better QB than a good portion of the league....Mmmmmmmmm...he has the athletic ability to possibly be, but he's never put it together, and with two years of jail-rust on him, suddenly he'll realize it? Doubtful.

Make sure he's worth it. Forget the dogfighting issues, I just don't think he's that good of a QB.

Brian Jones's top Senior RBs for GaHS2009

Big B, Brian Jones writes his tail off for Score Atlanta and appears weekly on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, discussing High school football and Atlanta Falcons. Brian has put together a list of the top seniors at each position that Georgians (and any other folks that care to) can watch this fall on the local high school grid iron. Today, Jones discusses the running backs. Catch more of Big B this Sunday on www.790thezone.com from 5-7pm, or on www.scoreatl.com.

10. Ben Emert (West Forsyth) - 6-foot-1. 220. Big back that can break tackles. Rushed for over 1,000 yards last year with 18 touchdowns. Air Force offered and he is looking at Alabama, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Indiana.

9. Nile Knapp (Sherwood Christian Academy) - 5-foot-10. 185. Not big, not flashy, but he has speed and has good vision. Iowa is the leading school and has been a lifelong fan. Georgia is second and he is also interested in Georgia Tech and Auburn.

8. Rajion Neal (Sandy Creek) – 5-foot-10. 192. Has a good combination of size and speed. Can bench 350 and squat 500. Has received offers from Miss State, Kentucky, Louisville and East Carolina.

7. Juwan Thompson (Woodward Academy) – 5-foot-11. 205. Dominating runner that has good vision and good balance. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield which is always a plus. Duke , Minnesota, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Virginia and Wake Forest have made offers.

6. Rajan Bennett (McEachern) – 6 foot. 211. Bennett can be a speed back or a power back. Over the spring he has worked hard to get faster and stronger. Kentucky has offered as well as East Carolina. Bennett has interest in Georgia and Georgia Tech.

5. Charles Perkins (Collins Hill) - 6 foot. 205. Perkins is as good of a back as they come when it comes to being balanced. In the spring game he stood out with 90 yards on six carries. Has committed to Georgia Tech.

4. Delino DeSheilds (Woodward) – 5-foot-9. 185. He is the only back on this list to excel in football and baseball. He is consider an athlete but has played the majority of his career at the running back position. Georgia Tech, Central Florida, Ole Miss and Stanford have made offers.

3. Kendrum Malcome (SW DeKalb) – 6-foot. 213. Malcome was one of the key pieces to the Panthers playoff run last year. Is a big back that can break a big run at any given point of a game. Malcome will join his cousin TJ Stripling at the University of Georgia in fall 2010.

2. Storm Johnson (Loganville) 6-foot-1. 217. Johnson was a piece of the Buford team that won a state title last year. Some say he is the best big back in the state because of his strength, physicality and his speed. The Times-Picayune reported that Johnson gave his word Les Miles' LSU Tigers.

1. Mack Brown (MLK) – 5-foot-11. 185. Mack Brown can do it all as a back. He can break tackles, has excellent vision and his footwork is flawless. Will be a huge part of the MLK offense this season as he had 21 rushing touchdowns last year. Reportedly Brown committed to Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators but that has not yet been confirmed. Brown told Score Atlanta that he has considered attending University with Malcome and Stripling, both UGA-commits.

Midweek Entertainment report 7/29/09

Marissa stretches her acting ability ;), Paul Mac weighs in on Mischa Barton's hospital visit, PC is TOTALLY bi-making him cool...,Paris makes a yooge mistake, Reggie Bush's work gets in the way (wait, I thought he sucked at RB?) and K-Fed got fat.........

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Midweek Entertainment report!

HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE!

In case you've missed the endless promos on The CW, (and if you have, why aren't you watching gossip girl reruns?), Mischa Barton is stretching her acting cred and playing a pill-popping supermodel in the new series The Beautiful Life. Wow. Apparently she has expanded her acting chops to more than just "wounded deer look" and "confused" (kind of like how Zoolander had Blue Steel and Latigra). I hear her contract calls for her to say, "Haaaaaay" at least once an episode. Basically, in TBL, she will be playing HERSELF. And she is also reprising her role as Marissa in the upcoming movie YOU and I, where Marissa will be a lezbinen with Shantel VanSanten.
I would say it is a shame that Olivia Wilde wasn't involved in this movie, but then I realized that 13/Alex/Olivia has left skidmarks ON Marissa/Mischa. Wilde is Maxim's Hottest Chick of the Summer and appearing on FHM and pretty much every other guy's magazine. She really got the better end of their relationship from The OC. You have to think that Shantel is hoping she can hook up with Marissa and take the same career arc Wilde did. Mischa might be the anti-Adam Sandler in terms of helping v hurting co-stars. (Sandler seems to kill the buzz of all of his female co-stars, maybe Mischa can help to boost all of hers?) I am betting that if Schwartz could do it over again, he would have had Marissa move away and kept Alex as part of the gang. Ohhhh Hindsight.
PS, apparently Marissa was method acting for her new role and was released from the Hospital. SBF's Paul Mac was at the scene (not really, but he wanted to weigh in)

Mischa Barton out of the hospital and headed back to work…. I guess the OC royalty checks lasted all of 3.5 years. That said, I think we still get a gold star for calling this one way back when. I mean she’s not acting in this new role, she’s reprising her life.
Thanks Paul!

Speaking of spoiled kids, NYC Prep was on last night and the kids went to fashion week. PC was pissed that he wasn't in the front row on one of the shows and Jessie told him he wasn't even a girl so why should he care? HOW SEXIST JESS! PC is cool, not because he's a bisexual, but he's a bisexual and he is cool. (Thanks, Taylor. That was a direct quote from her, FYI...) Lastly, I will have to call PC out on his brining three guests as he was a guest of a guest. (I think I followed Jessie's logic.) He KNEW it would get Jessie in trouble, but he did it anyways. Why would he do that? Wait....did NYC Prep hire some of The Hills old writers?

Paris Hilton made a HUGE mistake last night as she ditched Stephen in her quest to find a new BFF. I realize that the show is scripted and the contestants aren't really like that, but Tiniceia cannot win. With her mouth and her willingness to fight ANYONE....you cannot do that on the red carpet. I think that Stefanie [sic] takes it because you heard Paris's real voice with Stefanie[sic] around and not with "Nicie." But Nicie does look nice in the finale and does Paris's sightline give away that Sweet T wins? I MUST KNOW....But honestly, you KNOW Stephen would have been the best call out of those three. Alas.

Have you seen pix of K-Fed recently? He got Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!
Speaking of FAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat, I missed Fat Bachlor last night, aka More To Love on Fox. I had been SO excited about that show. Too bad Fox put it on during NYC Prep. WHY? What was on last night at 8 o'clock? NOTHING. MOVE IT FOX! (I realize it might be heavy....) And another thing, what is it with FaTV these days? More to Love, Dance your @$$ off...when did Fat become the new skinny? And Wifey takes offense to the promos for More to Love. "Real Women are size 18-20" Umm, so Wifey is fake? Neither she nor I get that.

Finally (and speaking of fat..ass) Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush broke up because reportedly Kim didn't like that she never saw Reggie, "Because he is in New Orleans, like, 6 months a year.) Yeah, it's called a job. Maybe you should look into one? But don't worry, Bush won't be in the NFL that much longer because he is OVERRATED! I guess Kim will just have to go back to starring on E! and living off her dead father's money and Bruce Jenner's money....(Wait, does Bruce have any? Does Skating with Celebrities pay that much?)

Thanks everybody, have a great rest of the week!

Brian Jones' top senior Safety propsects for GaHS 09

Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame (as well as 790 The Zone ICON) is putting together his list of top senior prospects that high school football fans can catch Friday nights this season in the Peach State. For more of Brian Jones, tune in to Score Atlanta's Official Visit from 5-7pm Sunday on Sports Radio 790 The Zone....or www.790thezone.com or www.scoreatl.com. He is EVERYWHERE! Here he breaks down the safety position.

10. Jake Skole (Blessed Trinity) – 6-1. 185. Is one of the more versatile players in the state as he can play quarterback, retune punts, plays safety and is a standout baseball player. Recorded 90 tackles and four interceptions during the 2008 season. Has been offered by East Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

9. DeAndre Smelter (Tattnal Square) – 6-2. 202. Is a very intelligent player that has great field awareness. During the 2007 season, Smelter recorded 11 interceptions. Georgia and Georgia Tech has offered scholarships.

8. Sharrod Golighty (SW DeKalb) – 5-11. 180. Golighty is probably one of the best blitzing safeties in the state. Last season he recorded 88 tackles and two interceptions. He has committed to Vanderbilt.

7. D.J. Green (Westside-Macon) – 6-4. 202.Green is very big and very physical. Is good in man-to-man coverage and in short zones. N.C. State will have his services in 2010.

6. Demetruce McNeal (Banneker) – 6-1. 175. Is another one of those players that can play outside linebacker or free safety. Does a good job covering an opposing teams slot receiver ot tight end. Has committed to Auburn.

5. Daunte Carr (Gainesville) – 6-2. 195. An exceptional athlete that made a lot of plays when he was with Buford last season. Posted 73 tackles and 3 interceptions last year and will play college ball at Stanford.

4. Fred Holton (Thomasville) - 6-1. 196. A very aggressive hitter that rarely misses tackles. Holton also has good speed and can excel in deep coverage. He has committed in Georgia Tech.

3. Tyrone Cornileus (Stephenson) – 6-2. 189. Can either play the outside linebacker or the strong safety spot at the next level. In 2008, he posted 118 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions. Has been offered by Georgia Tech, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee and Auburn.

2. Isaiah Johnson (Sandy Creek) – 6-2. 180. Johnson is another athletic safety that is good in run support, but is better in pass coverage. Also has great running ability so he can take one to the house when given the chance. He has committed to the Jackets.

1. Alec Ogletree (Newnan) – 6-3. 214. Is considered by some as the best prospect in the state and the best safety in the nation. He has linebacker size but has the speed of a safety. Has great ball skills and is good in zone coverage. He has committed to UGA.

Wow, a REAL ballpark

The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. One of the true Cathedrals of baseball. I was lucky enough to take in a game at Wrigley over the weekend and as fun as it was, it made me sad.
Yep, sad. Sad that Turner Field couldn't have taken a page out of Chicago's book.
What an experience Wrigley was. It was basically a frat party the entire time in the bleachers, but it was more than just that. It was walking to the stadium and realizing that EVERYONE was decked out in head-to-toe Cubs gear. Guys, girls, young and old, everyone (except for a few Reds fans here and there) was supporting the home team. As much as I LOVE the University of Georgia, the last time I checked, they don't play at Turner Field. How about you sport a Braves hat?

And another thing, the stands were packed from the jump. Not by the bottom of the second, but by the top of the first. And these fans, despite the frat nature of them, were EDUCATED ON BASEBALL. They knew when to stand, when to clap, when to cheer and boo and they didn't need prompting from a jumbotron. It was nice to be around baseball fans who knew what was going on. And one other interesting tidbit, no cartoon figures outside the main gates to entertain fans and no in-between innings tool races or kisscams. This was BASEBALL and that is all anyone cared about.
But I should stop railing on Braves fans.

The old-fashioned scoreboard was neat to look at and the pennants signifying the standings was tight. Throw in the 7th inning stretch which WASN'T followed by a country song (thanks for making the stereotype true!) and the Cubs victory song and flag were very cool. They fly a flag to boast of a victory. The song was a bit cheesy, but EVERYONE was singing it so you didn't feel like a dork.

Then when you walk outside of the stadium after a big win...you DON'T have to sprint to your car to avoid getting mugged or pestered by homeless people. Nope, you can walk across the street to one of 2000 (seemingly) bars or restaurants. I went to Vines. (We thought about doing a bit of a crawl to 312 and Toons, but decided to stay and enjoy the scenery at Vines.) How can you NOT LOVE drinking a brew on an outdoor patio after a win? Did I mention the scenery? I love wifey, but while she was in the bathroom, it was nice to have nothing but hot chicks in sundresses to look at. WOW. Props to you Chicago for hiding all of your ugly women (or at least seding them to White Sox games.)
I just love the idea of having places to go around the stadium after enjoying a game. San Diego had it. It is a shame Atlanta didn't want to jump on something like this. I wish a rich dude could go in and buy up a bunch of the property around and behind Turner Field and turn it into some bars or some restaurants. Buy out that sh*thole that is the Bullpen and those old homes and turn it into a place people WANT to go to. Why should I drive down from Suwanee to go to the Ted if I cannot go out afterwards? (Well I would, but I'm a true baseball fan who would enjoy a drink after the game.) There are more of us out here. We want to make it an experience, and one that doesn't include Tooner Field.

And if the city could put a MARTA stop by the stadium, that would help the cause too!

as for the fans.....I'll save that for another day.

Brian Jones' Top GaHS senior LBs for 2009

Once again, Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame (hey, he's the Falcon's beat writer!) drops his list of the top Class of 2010 Linebackers that folks can see Friday nights on Georgia high school football fields. For more of Big B's thoughts, tune in this Sunday to Sports Radio 790 The Zone from 2-4 for Score Atlanta's Official Visit.

10. Tommy Sanders (Crisp County) – 6-1. 192. Had a monster season last year, 118 tackles 20 sacks and two interceptions both returned for touchdowns. He has committed to Central Florida.

9. Clarence Jackson (North Clayton) – 6-2. 220. Was named Clayton County Player of the year in 2008 for rushing for 1,800 yards as a running back and adding 15 sacks as a outside linebacker. He has committed to Ole Miss.

8. Daeron Mays (Union Grove) – 6-0. 220. Mays is a guy that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes at the middle linebacker position. He has good instincts and doesn’t too many tackles. Western Kentucky, UAB and Western Carolina have offered.

7. Brandon Smith (Carver) – 6-3. 230. Has played defensive end and middle linebacker, but it doesn’t matter where you put him because he just makes plays. Alabama, Clemson. Florida and Florida State have offered.

6. Michael Carlisle (Jonesboro) – 6-0. 205. Carlisle is a very explosive player that uses his speed and agility to get after the quarterback and running back. Has been offered by Mississippi State, Toledo and Middle Tenessee.

5. Victor Beasley (Adairsville) – 6-4. 217. Another player that can play on offense and defense. Last year, Beasley had 57 tackles and one interception. Alabama, Clemson, Auburn and Duke have offered.

4. Shaun Kitchens (Banneker) 6-3. 215. He is the most versatile player on this list as he is being recruited to play quarterback, wide receiver safety and linebacker. Kitchens has committed to Auburn.

3. Telvin Smith (Lowndes) – 6-3. 198. Smith is another player that uses his speed to make plays. He is probably the best cover linebacker in the state and that’s why Florida State and Georgia shown high interest.

2. Michael Taylor (Westlake) – 6-0. 200. Taylor plays with a lot of intensity and one the hardest hitters in the southeast. Offers range from Georgia, LSU and Miami.

1. Neiron Ball (Jackson) – 6-4. 210. Lined up mostly at DE last year but because of his quickness and size, he will be a great OLB in college and scouts are taking notice. Florida and Georgia are leading a long list of schools.

P-Did opines about the Dawgs

As much as Paul Mac LOVES his Big11 (he thinks Penn State goes undefeated and sneaks into the BCSCG), he still has a place in his heart for the Dawgs. Good thing, b/c otherwise he'd be OUT OF THE DRAFT. He weighs in on the 2009 edition of CMR's boys.

Good thing Georgia got TJ Stripling (Editor's note: to go along with Brandon Burrows, Garrison Smith, and Jalen Fields) because they need DEs after last year's failed passs rush. I still think Abry Jones is going to be all world.

Seriously though, Brandon Boykin and Sanders Commings(maybe he might move to FS with his size?) Along with Prince Miller on the other side The secondary is better already.

I still think outside of Rolando McClain and Brandon Spikes...Rennie Curran is maybe top 3 or 4 linebacker at any position in the SEC. Now he gets to play behind what I believe are the two best and most seasoned interior DT's in the country with Kade Weston to throw in the rotation.

I feel pretty much the same this year as I did last year even without Knowshon and Stafford. The reason I liked Georgia last year was the strength on the line and that's the same reason I like them this year they just have to stay healthy.

I think perhaps Cox is more of a Bobo/Richt type of QB than the strong armed but reckless Stafford. I mean I know he played a lot but it's hard for me to believe in as run heavy a conference David Green had nearly 12,000 yards of passing in his career. They are set up well if Chappas can pick up where Southerland left off and if Orson Charles can adapt to the speed of college quickly. I think they will use a lot of guys on offense this year and their defense is improved nearly everywhere.

It's just that Florida is a much better team than last year as well....if Georgia is healthy going into that game though the talent gap isn't that far off at but a few positions. 49-10 should be in their minds and Georgia if healthy will be a tougher more tested team. I don't know if that would translate into a win but I think honestly I'm disappointed if they don't win 10 or 11 games this year even with that schedule.

One man's opinion. Florida is the only team on the schedule that I feel across the board may have a slight talent edge.

At least Joey has a purpose!

Watching last night's Real World Cancun, I kept waiting for RW:C's voice of reason Bronne (like the Paper Towel) to shout, "Why are you cutting yourself, You're in CANCUN!?!?!"

But alas I didn't get Bronne's voice of reason. Instead all I got from the episode was more evidence which proves my theory, "You cannot argue with drunk and/or crazy people."

Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia was confused as to why CJ and Joey started yelling at her when she reasoned that "[she] did NOTHING!" to set off CJ...except enter his bedroom when you knew he had people over then mock his dick three times. You're right though Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiia, you did NOTHING!

But she was drunk, so of course she wouldn't understand why people were being mean to her. I started to feel bad for her too because you know, when you're fighting a battle by yourself, you're by yourself. Really, you're by your f-ing self!

I wasn't sure if the SBF readers knew that, but I guess if a drunk crazy chick says so, it is true. In fact, this was the second night in a row where crazy chicks have openly made me laugh out loud, the first being when NYC Prep's Kelli (or maybe it was Taylor) said that her plan is to graduate high school, go to college and then become a superstar. Ohhhhhhhhh, it IS that easy.

Back to the crazy chick. She was so crazy that she went to a bathroom and cut herself with some nail clippers or something. Jonna revealed that she didn't know what to say to said-crazy,drunk girl after Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiia cut herself. Jonna, has the Rev. Camden and 7th Heaven taught you NOTHING? 1-800-DONTCUT In fact Ayiiiiiiiiiiia even did a PSA about it afterwards. I texted Roomie, but she wasn't interested. Wifey also didn't want to high-five the PSA. COME ON PEOPLE! 7TH HEAVEN!

Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia tried to explain her actions to her concerned Roomies by saying "There is a deeper side to me. Blah Blah Blah." He actually said Blah Blah Blah when talking about how deep she is. Hmmmmmmm, you are deep.

Bottom line, Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is crazy and I love that Joey, CJ (creator of the Waaaambulance) and Bronne (Why are you cutting yourself? We're in Cancun) are trying to get Ayiiiiia to leave. She even said about 18 times in the 44 minutes that she wanted to leave. THEN JUST GO! The house will be a little saner without you. But it wouldn't be as entertaining, unless Bronne gets more airtime. But Joey wouldn't have a foe. And Joey has a chance to be the BEST REAL WORLDER EVER, so let's keep his muse here.

PS, Bronne, if throwing the fire extinguisher off the balcony gets you kicked off, I will be PISSED! "WHY ARE YOU THROWING THINGS? You're in Cancun!"

Brian Jones Top 2009 Senior GaHS DLinemen

Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame has put together a list of the top 2009 seniors (class of 2010) that you will see on the high school gridiron this season. Listen for Big B Sundays on Sports Radio 790 The Zone from 2-4 pm. It's Score Atlanta's Official Visit!

10. Kyle Woestmann (Walton) – 6-4. 260. Has a nonstop motor and is very athletic as he has also played offensive tackle. He has committed to Vanderbilt.

9. Jeffery Whitaker (Warner Robbins) – 6-4. 310. Whitaker maintains his gaps and never gets blown off the ball. He had 40 tackles, 15 tackles for loss last season. Offers range from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

8. Denzel McCoy (Northview) – 6-4. 274. McCoy has the size to play the undertackle position in college. He has great athleticism and also has quick feet. He has committed to Georgia Tech.

7. Michael Thornton (Stephenson) – 6-1. 273. Thornton is very strong and uses his hand to get a strong push on offensive guards and centers to rush the passer. Offers are coming from Alabama Arkansas, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Miami and Louisville.

6. J.C. Copeland (Troup County) – 6-1. 245. Has great lateral range and gives everything he has on each play. Will be playing for the University of Tennessee next fall.

5. Shawn Green (Grayson) – 6-2. 275. – Has been a sleeper, but now people are starting to take notice of him after a stellar 2008 season. He was constantly in the backfield making plays and that’s why he'll star at Georgia Tech starting in 2010.

4. Brandon Burrows (Walton) - 6-3. 235. Burrows has great speed and is considered on of the best pass rushers in the country with 10 sacks last year. He will not play his senior year due to injury but recently accepted an offer from Georgia.

3. Jalen Fields (Dalton) – 6-5. 250. There are very few players that can get to the quarterback better than fields. Because of his size, he can overpower offensive lineman which makes it easier to get to the quarterback. Fields has committed to Georgia.

2. T.J. Stripling (SW DeKalb) – 6-6. 210. Stripling uses his size to fight off blockers and has great lateral range to cause havoc in the backfield as he tallied 15 sacks last season. Stripling committed to Georgia last night.

1. Garrison Smith (Douglass) – 6-3. 255. Smith has all the tools to be a great college-level defensive tackle. He is quick off the ball and does a great job of staying at home on the backside. In 2008 he had 14 sacks as he played both end and tackle. Has received offers from LSU, USC, Georgia, Florida, Florida State and Miami, but committed to the Dawgs last week.

Midweek Entertainment report 7/22/09

Emma Watson to the States, my pick for Paris goes down, Obama backlash begins, Sebass kicks Taylor's ass.

LADIES AND GENTS, it's the MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT REPORT!

(Mas clapping!)

Emma Watson has announced that she will attend university in the States! SWEET! What, who is Emma Watson? I'm just kidding. I know who she is. She was in Harry Potter, right? Regardless, I feel like America has gotten one back after we lost Amanda Bynes' character to Oxford in What a Girl Wants. GO USA!

Last night, Paris Hilton used Kathy Griffin to help her decide to send Elena and Amanda home as she seeks outs a new BFF. Those two were the ONLY real options left other than Stephen, and now CLEARLY Stephen will take the title of New BFF. Is Paris Hilton REALLY going to be friends with someone named Tiniceia? And Crier Girl wouldn't make it as Paris' BFF, especially when someone called her a "Rags to Riches" story. That would get her bawling. Congrats Stephen, I guess it is EVERY boy's dream to grow up and one day be BFF with Paris Hilton.

Speaking of FABULOUS BOYS, I caught up on my NYC Prep last night and saw that PC basically called the juniors Virgins, and I am not certain why they got so pissed. Ummm, it is true. Unless it isn't, in which case, YOU ARE FLIPPIN' 15. WHORE! My favorite part of last week's episode was Sebastian telling Public school Taylor (who thought it would be a good idea to wear crotchless panties to a dance recital) to F-off. Nice work. Although I think all of the "you know"s is getting a BIT old there Sebass. If I know, then why are you asking if I know. And if I didn't, then you just told me. THANKS!

Finally, I guess Obama isn't as popular as he once was. He is now begging the networks for airtime, the same networks that used to want to broadcast him sleeping because it would bring in ratings. He had the door slammed in his face by Fox (because they'd rather put Mary Murphy aka Paula-lite on the airwaves. Better for America...) and NBC said, "we are flying a fat British woman over the pond, so you either move your address, or WE aren't showing it either!" I guess CBS and ABC just don't have better programming on Wednesdays. But how interesting 6 months time is. Maybe it is backlash for him killing that fly....

Have a great rest of the week everybody!

Brian Jones Top 2009 senior GaHS Wideouts

Brian Jones of Score Atlanta fame offers his look at the top GA senior WR for the 2009 season. For more of Big B, tune in Sundays to Sports Radio 790 The Zone from 2-4 for Score Atlanta's Official Visit!

10. B.J. Bostic (Jefferson County) – 5-foot-10. 156. Bostic is an athlete that can play quarterback, wider receiver and cornerback. Has been offered by Colorado, UCONN, Duke, Georgia Tech and Mississippi State.

9. Julian Horton (Greater Atlanta Christian) - 6-foot-1. 185. Horton can also play the cornerback position, but racked up nearly 600 yards last season and made the All-County Team. Alabama, Arkansas, Louisville, Maryland and UNC have made offers.

8. Jonathan Krause (South Gwinnett) - 5-foot-10. 162. Smaller receiver that can break a big one at any given point. Vandy got a committment from the 2008 Gwinnett County leading receiver.

7. Quantavious Leslie (Callaway) - 6-foot-3. 172. Leslie has the combination of size and speed you look for in college-bound receiver. Has been offered by Oklahoma State, South Florida, Tennessee and Clemson

6. Michael Bennett (Alpharetta) - 6-foot-3. 185. Bennett is versatile as he had five touchdown receptions on offense and two interceptions on defense. Bennett committed to Georgia.

5. Ronald Carswell (Westside-Macon) – 6 feet. 171. Carswell is known for being a dangerous slot receiver because of his speed and quickness. Committed to Alabama during the 2008 season.

4. Antonio Goodwin (Washington) – 6 feet. 179. Goodwin is one of the fastest prospects in the state and will be a true deep threat receiver in the future. He has offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Georgia Tech.

3. Markeith Ambles (Henry County) – 6-foot-3. 185. Ambles is considered to be the best route runners in the state. He is also known for having great body control. Offers range from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Oregon and UCLA.

2. Tai-ler Jones (Gainesville) – 6-feet. 174. Jones in a guy hat can explode off the line and can do a lot of things when he is out in space. Had 1,000 yards receiving yards last year and committed to Stanford in April.

1. Da’rick Rogers (Calhoun) – 6-foot-3 206. Rogers looks like a linebacker, but has the tools to be a elite college receiver. Rogers notched 1,300 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns in 2008. He committed to the University of Georgia

a quick peek at the ACC

Last night while I was supposed to be watching NYC Prep and Paris Hilton's BFF (I need some bullet points for the MWER. I don't enjoy these shows, I do this stuff for YOU!), Paul Mac called me and wanted to break down the ACC. Hey, that's what radio partners do sometimes. At times it is necessary to sacrifice Bravo and MTV for a little college football breakdown. ANd he knows I'll ALWAYS talk CFB.

Here is a quick recap of our conversation though in terms of the ACC and how we see it for 2009.

We both have VaTech winning the conference and we both agree that VaTech will get stomped by Alabama to open up the season. However we differ in how they will get to FSU. I say VaTech loses to Bama but runs the table to get to the ACCCG. PMac thinks that VaTech stumbles into the game at 9-3.
I think that FSU will be better than Paul thinks they will be. I know FSU lost some defenders and some wideouts but Christian Ponder is back and you'd think that Jimbo would have molded this guy into AT LEAST Matt Flynn, right?

If I had to put an underrated team out there right now, it would be NC State. I know that EVERYONE has them as underrated, but with Russell Wilson at CUBE and Tom O'Brien as the coach, this team WILL get it turned around and in a hurry. I think they knock off SoCar early and get some of grandma's MO. Paul Mac has RW as the best QB in the conference, but I think that Wake Forest's Riley Skinner might have something to say about that. And UVa has Jameel Sewell coming back from exile, which could help Al Groh hold onto his job for one more season.

We disagree on Tyrod Taylor in that I think that he is JUST what VaTech needs while Paul Mac thinks he is a shite QB. That may be true, but he is fine for what they do.
We also disagree on UNC. I think that while TJ Yates will be solid, they lost too many of his weapons. P Mac disagrees, but he is a UNC homer.
Maryland and BC, yesh; Duke let's not get started.

Two other places we agree....The first is Georgia Tech. We both think that it is crazy for the Techsters to HONESTLY think that GT will run the table. First of all, YOU WILL LOSE (thanks, Jerry McGuire) to Georgia this season. Suck it. The 45-42 score last season, you are welcome. And you clearly don't know how to celebrate a win with class as you tried to rip apart our hedges. I know you haven't been there in eight years, but come on. Back to 2009. While your offense will be more advanced, it will NEED TO BE. The defense lost the front four. Morgan Burnett is good (see my Top 50 players list) but he cannot play four positions in the defensive secondary. The offense MUST score every time down because I think the defense gives up 30+ points per contest. You saw what an "average" offense did in the final game of the regular season to the defense last season and that was WITH Michael Johnson out there. I would be scared of my defense and hope that my ball control offense can keep them off of the field.
But Tech WILL have Dwyer out there as well as three other backs that could win All-ACC too. Josh Nesbitt, if he can overcome his tickle pile injury, should be the starter and he'll have BeBe Thomas and Stephen "I wanted to go to Tech all along and never considered UGA...because they told me Marlon Brown was in" Hill to throw to. Hey, COOL those guys can divy up the 6 passes per game. YEAH!
Paul went to the schedule to look at Tech's chances and he came up with at least one loss in the UNC/@MissState/@FSU/VaTech run. I count two or three (at Miss State will be tough because going on the road is ALWAYS tough in an SEC environment, at FSU because has Tech EVER won there? and VaTech-why WOULDN'T the Hokies win?). Follow that up with a trip to Charlottesville where Tech hasn't won since 1991 and then traveling to Vandy (a probable win, but will be harder than they think). Duke is a gimmie and then Tech's ego will take a hit when Georgia comes to "Historic Grant Field" Come on guys. Tech HAS to consider itself lucky it won the game last season. Nine things had to go right and all nine did. Way to win the lotto! I think the Tech team goes 7-5 with coin flip wins over Clemson, Wake, Miami, and Vandy. You might get there Yellow Jackets, but it won't be this season.

And the other thing Paul Mac and I agree on.....Klimpsen won't be good this year either. But they'll make it to the Champs Sports Bowl! The Dabo Sweeney Era is REALLY catching on! GO CJ SPILLER!

Brian Jones' top GaHS senior CBs

Score Atlanta's Brian Jones (who can be heard Sunday's on The Official Visit on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, 2-4 pm) has broken down this season's top seniors at each position. Here he looks at the top ten Cornerbacks that football fans can see on Friday nights this football season.

10. Martin Jenkins (Centennial) – 5-9. 161. Is the son of former UT great Lee Jenkins. Is one of the fastest high school football players in the state. Has been offered by MTSU, Syracuse, Toledo and Western Carolina

9. Brison Williams (Northside-Warner Robins) – 5-11. 175. Has good size and awareness. He can line up at safety or cover the slot receiver. Committed to South Carolina.

8. Pernell Williams (Coffee) - 6-2. 175. Had a great junior season with 77 tackles, four interceptions and 20 breakups. Has been offered by Clemson.

7. Detrick Bonner (Luella) – 6-0. 165. Has good cover ability and enough speed to cover an opposing teams top receiver. Has committed to Virginia Tech.

6. Bradley Roby (Peachtree Ridge) – 6-1. 171. Has played WR most of his high school career but because of his size and athleticism, he is considered to be a great college coroner back. Vanderbilt, Auburn and Ohio State are his top 3.

5. Garry Peters (Heritage) – 5-11. 173. A quarterback in high school, but has enough speed and awareness to play corner in college. Clemson leads a long list of schools that have offered.

4. Darius Robinson (Westlake) – 5-11. 171. Hard hitting corner who excels in zone coverage. Kentucky, Miami and Stanford are some of the schools that have offered. 43 tackles and 3 interceptions in 2008.

3. Barry Bostic (Jefferson County) – 5-11. 175. Another prospect that can play quarterback. Has great body control and can tackle just as good as any player in the state. Committed to GA Tech.

2. Jonathan Mincy (SW DeKalb) – 5-10. 164. One of the top corners in the region. Great make up speed and great awareness. Committed to Auburn.

1. Ryan Ayers (South Paulding) – 5-10. 178. He’s athletic, fast and has great anticipation. Can just flat out make plays. Committed to GA Tech

Move turning out to be a wise one

The Braves and GM Frank Wren took a HUGE PR hit this past off-season when John Smoltz decided to leave the uniform that everyone had known him to wear for 21 years. When Smoltz decided to take Boston's money over the Braves money, people were calling for Wren's head, asking how could he let the face of the Braves leave?

Ummmm, I wonder where those folks are today? Smoltz was a 40+ year old, coming off yet ANOTHER arm surgery and was not going to be in the rotation until AT LEAST JUNE. Wren wisely traded for Javier Vazquez (possibly the best pitcher the Braves have thrown out there this season. run support is plaguing him) then signed/overpaid for ace Derek Lowe. If Smoltz had been signed to the deal that the BoSox gave him (5+5) instead of the Braves offer (2+8), then the team couldn't have signed Garrett Anderson to play left and I don't believe Wren could have gotten Nate McLouth in a trade with Pittsburgh. The numbers wouldn't have added up.

Smoltz last night was chased from the Boston/Texas game after giving up a home run to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.(a guy that Wren's boss gave up in a trade for Teixeira) Smoltz took the loss to drop to 1-3. While players say that Smoltz can still chuck it up there, the guy is 42 and has missed chunks of seasons throughout his career, and while YES, he IS the winningest postseason pitcher ever, let's just hope he stays healthy enough to get to the mound this season with Boston. It isn't 1996 anymore. I hate writing that, but I believe it. Do I think that the Sox Skipper puts Smoltz on the hill over Beckett in a must-win game? NO. Would the Braves do that THIS SEASON? I don't know. Jurrjens has pitched well. Vazquez has too. Heck, Hanson might even get a thought-bubble from me after his 11 Ks last night.

Bottom line is letting Smoltz walk away might have angered some folks in the short term, but it was best for John (he has another chance at a ring) and it was best for the Braves (payroll flexibility and the emergence of Hanson). Wren knows what he's doing. I wish he would have gotten more for Tex, but I wish JS had never made that trade to begin with. It appears he knows whom to hold onto and whom to let go. Good call on Hanson, smart move with Smoltz and Glavine, shrewd move getting McLouth, excellent getting ANYTHING for Frenchy.

Kudos to you Wren. You keep those earmuffs on. The Smoltz fans and Frenchy fans will come back, hopefully this time as BRAVES fans.

Be careful what you ask for, Utah...

Because you might just get it. Then the world will see just how inferior you are when compared to the big boys.

Following an undefeated season in 2008-09 and a final #2 ranking after defeating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, Utah is beating the drum for a playoff because the Coach, AD, school Prez and even a Senator all believe THEY WUZ ROBT.

Ummmm, I wouldn't beat that drum too loudly, because it could LEAD to a playoff and then, LET'S BE HONEST, that wouldn't be good for you. You might think, "Hey, We're in the playoff for the Title. We've got a shot!"

Not really.

If you were to play in the Sugar Bowl in the first round of an 8-team playoff, you likely wouldn't be facing an Alabama team that is disappointed to be there and has nothing to prove. No, you'd be facing an Alabama team PISSED and eager to crush you to get back to face Florida. Boise State wouldn't be pulling out trick plays to knock off an OU team that really doesn't care about anything coming from the Fiesta Bowl save for the big check. Nope, they'd be facing a Boomer Sooner team wanting another shot at Vince Young and Texas. If Hawaii was in the first round against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl....wait, they'd STILL get their butt kicked.

No Utah, you should be GLAD to be at the BCS table when it doesn't mean anything. Because if it did, these teams which are better than you (sorry, but they are) would CRUSH you. You know they would. They'd be focused.

And if you DID manage to pull the upset against a Cincinnati or VaTech or an at-large SEC or Big12 team (That is assuming you got a 4 or 5 seed, when in reality, you'd get a No.8 seed and play No.1 Florida or No.1 USC) then you'd be facing USC or Florida or LSU or Texas in round two. You think you win that game? NO. And then you have ZERO argument because you would have been exposed.

No, trust me, it is better this way. You always get to boast "Oh we would have beaten them..." You have the same logic as Auburn fans do when they discuss the 2004 team. They bemoan that OU got in over them (#1, don't play the Citadel and maybe you'd have gotten in...) but don't really consider that USC would have beaten about 8 NFL teams season. So if Auburn gets in over OU, do they ONLY lose 55-21 instead of 55-19? COME ON.
Utah, you can always say, "Oh, we'd have given Florida a better game than OU did in the 2008-09 season." Honestly, you wouldn't have and you know it.

But it IS cute that you seem to think you would have. I guess smoking the sticky green in Salt Lake City is legal. You should be careful what you ask for because if you do get it and you lose...big time...that could really hurt you guys in the long run.

Be happy you are even at the table. Quit asking for the carving knife, because your older brothers might just stab you with it and send you back to the kids table. Hawaii nearly got you guys sent back. Good thing you beat a clearly unfocused Bama team. That gave you guys an extra season or two.

You really want to be taken seriously, have your Coach, AD, prez, and even senator lobby for you to be added to the PAC-10. Virginia's guvnah got VaTech into the ACC, maybe your senator can get you into the Pac-10. Then I'd take you a BIT more seriously as a conference champ. (The Pac-10....where they make the Big-12 look like a defensive league!)

Monday afternoon grab-bag

I didn't really have a topic, but I did have three points that I wanted to throw out there because they were too long for a twitter, but not long enough for their own blog.

#1, of ALL of the comic strip/cartoon girls (japanimae excluded because I never watched that stuff) my Hayden Panettiere award winner (girl that you KNEW would be hot as an adult) is the daughter from Blondie. I don't know how Dagwood managed it but thank goodness the daughter took after her momma because they both are lookers. In fact, I'd like to have a "Dagwood" sandwich with those two, IF you know what I mean.....

#2 Joshua Jackson aka Pacey is HUMAN BACON. When added to ANYTHING, it becomes better. Cruel Intentions wouldn't have been the same without Pacey's gay character. Urban Legend wouldn't have been watchable with Pacey's sk8r boy act. Ocean's 11 wouldn't have been good without Pacey's poker scene. I could go on and on.

#3 I like my superheroes like Laney Boggs. I just cannot believe Tobey McGuire as a superhero. he plays the nerd perfectly, but I don't buy him as the person saving the day. He'd get his butt kicked by ALL of those villains. I would rather believe that Dean Cain is a nerd because I can see him as Superman. With Tobey, I just think he's on steroids and I don't like my superheroes tainted. Why do I say Laney Boggs? Because you could SEE she was hot under the glasses and nappy hair. But if they had gotten a truly ugly girl, she NEVER would have passed for hot later. I am more likely to believe the hot/strong playing plain/weak than the other way around.

Frenchy told to kick rocks up to BobbyLab land

The Atlanta Braves finally cut ties with the once-thought-of face of the franchise Jeff Francoeur last night. The Braves sent the rightfielder to the division rival New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Ryan Church. Church is considered to have an above-average arm and will hit from the left side of the plate. Church played mostly rightfield before Mets CF Carlos Beltran went down with an injury and Church shifted to center.
After a promising start to his career in 2005 and 29 home runs in his first full season in 2006, Francoeur has slowly seen his power numbers decline with a trip to the minors last season and a recent benching with Atlanta this season. Francoeur's numbers thus far this season are well below expectations as he has struggled to hit just .250 with 5 home runs and 35 RBI. Church meanwhile has hit .280 with two home runs and 22 RBI. The Braves will also send the Mets over $200,000 to even out salaries between the two players. The Braves and Mets open up the second half of the season next Thursday at Turner Field.

At LAST a line!

For the past few years, the Georgia Bulldog running game has done well DESPITE the offensive line. It seems the last two years have seen Georgia mixing and matching, patching up with Freshmen and sophomores. And the offense last year did REALLY well DESPITE losing Trinton Sturdivant before the season began.

Those two seasons have both led to the 2009 season. This offensive line should be better than the solid line of 2005 and 2006 and might be AS GOOD (or perhaps better?) than the 2002 line which was dominant and paved the way for Georgia winning the SEC title.

Will the loss of LG Tanner Strickland hurt? Sure it will. You also have one of the Davis boys coming off surgery and missing all of Summer and spring practice AND Sturdivant returning from knee surgery. Yes there are question marks, but the depth this line has.......yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah BOY!

Let's start at Left Tackle. Trinton Sturdivant played LT his true freshman year and was all-freshman SEC and AA if I remember correctly. He suffered the knee injury and Clint Boling stepped in and nary missed a beat. Boling will likely move back to RT this season as The Big Stur should be anchored back in, protecting Joe Cox's, Aaron Murray's and Logan Gray's backside. If you want a little depth, Boling would move over or AJ Harmon would get on the field. Austin Long is probably the long-term replacement, but the freshman from Memphis will undergo surgery, from the last thing I read.

Left Guard will likely find junior Chris Davis starting, though Vince Vance got some PT there last season. Strickland had been pushing for reps here, but he is gone this year. Davis played well last season and is a vet on that line.

Center. You've got to love it when the coaches think so highly of a true freshman and say that he's "nasty" that they plug him in the middle and not worry about it for the next four years. That's what they did with Alabama's Ben Jones and I am not worried. Dude handled it as a true freshman and there is NO REASON to think he won't be doing the snaps for the next three years. Love it when someone is NASTY! freshman Dallas Lee and Kevin Perez offer depth at the spot.

Right Guard. As a freshman last season Cordy Glenn started here, then shifted out to RT when Boling was swapped to LT. Now that Big Stur is back, pushing Boling over, Glenn will likely move back inside. Big Bean Justin Anderson got plenty of reps last year at the right guard so he will play some quality minutes you can rest assured. Ben Harden was a stud in high school and will likely see some action too this season. But the more tackles you have on your line, the better. Love Glenn at guard.

Right Tackle. Despite the fact that Cordy Glenn starred here last season, Clint Boling will move back to the spot that he starred at two years ago as a freshman. Glenn would be the first one over as a backup, I would think. Don't discount 6'6 Josh Davis or 6'8 Vince Vance seeing time here if necessary. And you would think that Chris Burnette would get his apprenticeship here as a freshman or maybe in 2010 as a redshirt frosh, with the idea that he would eventually take over maybe in 2011.

The line has players that will pass block and road grade to help the running game. It is ALWAYS good to have a strong line as it helps a new QB get comfortable (he isn't worried as much about eating turf) and it gives the new RB piece of mind to know that HOLES ARE COMING. As dynamic as the offense was last season (scoring when it needed to in the UK game, final drive v Auburn, GT game for some examples) this season the numbers might be better because of a better line. Cox will have time to find Green or Brown, Moore or Charles and hit them in a good space. Thomas, Samuel, King and Jackson will be able to find holes. The offense this year will start in the trenches and I feel good entering this season with ? marks in the backfield as long as the line is strong. Same questions lingered in 2005 and look what happened.
And this line is better. (Too bad Florida is on the schedule...)

Have we seen this before?

For as much ballyhoo as has been made of the sparkling debut of Braves rookie Tommy Hanson (4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his first six starts, with a fifth win going by the wayside after a blown save), Braves fans should not yet anoint this guy the savior of the franchise. Atlanta has been treated to hot starts before, some even more impressive than Hanson’s.
In 1990 Steve Avery arrived in Atlanta as 20 year-old phenom ready to take on the world. Avery struggled to a 3-11 record, but in his first full season, the 21 year-old posted an 18-8 record with a 3.38 ERA. Avery threw three complete games and tossed in a shutout. Following an 11-11 campaign in 1992, the lefty gave his best season as a Brave with an 18-6 record. After the 1993 season though, Avery’s career spiraled down and down and down until he left Atlanta for stints in Boston and Detroit. In Avery’s seven years with the Braves, he made one all-star team and went 72-62 with a 3.83 ERA. Many consider him the last true ace the Braves have developed for Atlanta’s benefit. Jason Schmidt and Adam Wainwright have both blossomed with other teams.
In the off-season leading up to the 2005 season, the Braves acquired Jorge Sosa from Tampa Bay and Sosa helped lead the Braves back to the postseason with a 13-3 record. Sosa’s 2.55 ERA and ability to get out of jams helped the Braves win the franchise’s most recent division title. However Sosa could not sustain the success and the next season was all downhill to the tune of a 3-10 record and a trip out of town. He was shipped to St. Louis for spare parts and left many fans wondering what had happened and promising never again to be hoodwinked by the early success of a young hurler.
Clearly now though you want to think that Hanson will be able to sustain his early success. Hanson was the first pitcher ever to win the MVP of the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League. Hanson dominated Class AA-Mississippi last season, even firing a seven-inning no-hitter. This spring Hanson was arguably the most effective pitcher at the team’s spring training camp. He showed a quick fastball, a knee-buckling curve and a masterful breaking ball. The Braves brass felt he needed to polish up in Class AAA-Gwinnett and he did until his June 3 call-up. Now that the 22-year-old right-hander is wearing the Atlanta tomahawk, he has energized the Turner Field crowd in a way that Sosa never did, but Jeff Francoeur did after his 2005 promotion. People have flocked to the Ted for Hanson’s starts and Hanson has delivered. Recently Hanson ran off 26 straight scoreless innings, three more than the current streak of the reigning Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum. The boy wonder has allowed just 10 runs in 36 innings and seven of those came in his debut, a game the Braves won. In fact, the Braves are 5-1 in his starts and though the strikeouts and the triple-digit radar gun readings haven’t been as Paul Bunyan-esque as everyone expected, perhaps it is because people were expecting too much. This was the centerpiece of the proposed trade for Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy that Braves GM refused to part with. This was the guy that would help ease Braves fans’ concerns after John Smoltz was allowed to leave the team after 20 years.
And perhaps it is in John Smoltz where Braves fans have seen this before. Smoltz led the Braves to the World Series in just his third full season with Atlanta before going on to the 1996 Cy Young award, 8 all-star game appearances, 210 wins and 154 saves. Braves fans should hope that Hanson is most like Smoltz, who constantly reinvented himself and gave the franchise 20 years of greatness and with Atlanta became the winningest pitcher in postseason history.
Hanson must keep a level head and not let early success get to him. He is surrounded by veterans of the game such as Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox, and his battery mate, Brian McCann, is one of the best catchers in the game. He has the tools to be great and the potential to sustain the success. The key will be to realize that potential and become a mainstay in Atlanta for years to come. Braves fans have seen other pitchers come and go; they are hoping he is more Smoltz than Sosa, more early-Avery than late-Avery.

The Roomies turn on Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia

Last night, sanity FINALLY won out. You don't see that all that much on reality TV, especially on MTV. Usually the sane party always goes to war with the insane party, and the insane party's fringe members never cross over to the light. They stick because of loyalty (gender, race, socio-economic standing) and the insanes usually declare victory when the sane party walks away because YOU JUST CANNOT ARGUE WITH CRAZY (or drunk) PEOPLE!

Last night though, the sane party scored a victory and you know across TV's landscape, all of the members of the various Sane party factions celebrated. I'm sure Brooklyn's Chet & Ryan, Survivor's Sierra, Taj and Brendan, The Hills' LC, and A Shot at Love's Bo are rejoicing right now. Their foes Sarah, Coach, the rest of the Hills cast and Jersey, I WOULD say are feeling bad for fellow-crazy Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia, but probably not. Crazy people probably think that Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is getting screwed over.

Why am I chalking up a victory for the sane roommates? Ummmm, let's see. Ayiiiiiiiia hooks up with a chick, despite the fact that her BOYFRIEND at home calls her everyday, then she pitches a fit after Joey spits on her taco (get over it. what, are you out 69 cents? YOU ARE IN FRIGGIN' MEXICO, where tacos are GIVEN TO YOU FOR FREE WHEN YOU GO OUT TO EAT!), she destroys a $1000 guitar, then she gets all uppity when Jonna doesn't want to hang with her. She LEAVES the rest of the group...TWICE (once on an excursion and once at a club), and she doesn't have her girls backs and LATER will SPY on them. Then she goes off on her "Soulmate" Jasime and then on her "first" Emilee. And she drops an "at least I wasn't f-ing adopted." Umm, is that an insult from a Hooters waitress who had one abortion and then another kid out of wedlock? REALLY? That is your insult? WOW. that really hurts.

But she WAS leading the RW:Cancun Party, which featured Emilee and Jasmine (the fringe members), until E&J had a talk with the sane party leaders CJ and Bronne (somehow the VOICE OF REASON of this season. Who'da figured?) and the fringe pairing jumped parties. Now it is 7 v 1 and Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is off being crazy all by herself while the other seven get along. WOW. and the weird thing is, Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia thinks that the other 7 are jerks and she is cool. Isn't it usually the opposite in those cases? If you are alone and everyone else is crazy, YOU are the crazy one. Just saying.

But Crazy people rarely (read: NEVER) see that logic. Thankfully Joey, CJ, Bronne, Derrick, Jonna and now Emilee and Jasmine are sane and maybe they'll vote out/send home Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia. It could happen. And I hope it does soon. But the producers probably won't let that happen because she causes the drama.

And on a sidenote, how come the Producers never just give the Roommates paper plates, cups, and plasticware? EVERY SEASON the roomies fight about cleaning up. It is a tired formula and always a subplot in one of the episodes. Yesterday it was Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia writing a note that "if you can f-ing eat, you can clean up." I would get pissy too I guess, but then I'd remember that I was in Cancun and I'd just wash what I used or what I needed and leave everyone else's stuff in the sink. (Or if I'm in a resort, I'd call room service, perhaps?) But please, next season in DC, just use paper plates or plastic. PLEASE? I am sick of the same argument over and over. It is getting to be boring TV. Like Cheaters.....

Midweek Entertainment report 7/8/09

Lester is finally in the ground, Desi's fashion makes Paris Dizzy, and Real World goes lezbinen....

Ladies and gentlemen, the Midweek Entertainment report!

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Paris Hilton stirred up the drama last night in her quest for a new BFF by adding talking baby dolls (does she REALLY think that people will buy those dolls? REALLY? Well, I guess because 'they're hot!') and that caused Amanda to steal David's shoelaces and then, when David made the observation that Amanda's boyfriend was probably cheating on her (she is such a beyotch, he probably isn't cheating as much as leaving her) and then she grabbed his clothes to throw in the pool. When David got up to get his clothes back he was accused of "putting his hands on her!" Ummm, if he got his clothes back, and happened to graze her arm....gimmie a break. Then Tiniecia for WHATEVER reason decided to get involved and called David white trash. Ummm, Tiniecia, why are you insulting ANYONE? Honestly...You should be glad that you are still on the show. HONESTLY.
At the end of the day though Amanda, David and Tiniecia all get to stay (thank you producers) and Desi goes home because she has no fashion sense. Whatever. The producers made the right call. Of all three: Amanda, Dave and Tiniecia, none have a shot to win. She should have sent them all home. And for the record, David apologized, but the girls did not. Dave said it right too: why should he care if the other girls (stephen included) like him. He is only there for Paris to like him. WHICH IS TRUE! I might have even played the conspiracy card too, ie, they see him as competition so they are trying to get rid of him. But you know what Paris, this isn't a competition to me; this is a chance for me to find a new best-ie. She would eat that up!

In clips for tonight's Real World Cancun, the promo asks, "who would be the first roommate to hookup?" then shots of Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia and the other Hooters waitress are shown. Ummmm, Joey hooked up the first night, as did Bronne (like the paper towel) with the girl's mother! OH, MTV meant with each other.....Isn't MTV going to the Lezbinen well a little early in the season? This could mean trouble....OR THE BEST. SEASON. EVER. Let's hope it is the latter. Hey, the OC went to the LEzbinen well early and it brought Olivia Wilde into our lives (sorry, SKIN). So that wouldn't be a bad thing. Too bad Ayiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiia is involved.

Finally, Lester's body was laid to rest yesterday. Oh, you might know him as Michael Jackson. His memorial service was yesterday in LA and 18000 of his fans were in attendance (a little weird, isn't it?). 11 year-old daughter Paris noted that Chester was "the best father you could ever imagine." Ummm, really? If I was imagining the "BEST FATHER" the phrase "child molester" wouldn't be on the list of qualities.
Al Sharpton continued to feed this child's ignorance by saying "Wasn't nothing [sic] strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with." Apparently to "The Rev" raping children isn't strange. And usually when someone DOES sexually abuse a child they go on trial. I guess THAT is the strange part for Sharpton. That he had to GO ON TRIAL for sexually abusing children. I shouldn't really listen to Sharpton though as he still hasn't apologized to the Duke LAX players after the woman came out and said, "yeah, I was lying." So until Sharpton apologizes, maybe he shouldn't make any comments on anything else.

Oh well, no more children will have to live in fear of the King of Pop, as in putting wine into their soda Pop and then luring them into his bed. The world is rid of a child molester. Thank goodness. Maybe THAT'S why everyone is celebrating...

Have a great week everybody!

Best EVER? Hardly

I know that we live in the SportsCenter era, where ESPN, in an effort to garner ratings will immediately declare EVERYTHING "the BEST EVER," as long as it has a sponsor and it was aired on its station. NBC fell victim to it too on Sunday when the announcer (not McEnroe, but the other creepy-looking guy) boasted, "And Federer has won the greatest match in Wimbledon History!"

Ummm, no. He lost last year to Nadal. Remember?

This past Sunday, yes I was glued to the TV, but I would hardly call the match, "the greatest ever!"

Nope. Not when I also watched last year's Wimbledon.

That match, the back and forth, the rallies, Nadal v Federer WAS the best, at least that I've seen in my 27 years. Last Sunday's match was more "Everything that is WRONG with men's tennis," than "best ever."


Roddick is a zonetastic server and he has grown as an all-around player. He was not broken until the 30th game in the fifth set. 38 straight service holds. But all you ever saw was ace, ace, ace, ace-Game Roddick. Ace, ace, ace, ace-game Federer. Very few rallies and when there were, Federer was in control, save for a few great shots from Roddick. I just never got the feeling, after Roddick blew the 4 second set points that Federer wasn't going to win. Roddick had a shot at a break in the fifth, up 15-40 in ONE of those games, but you knew Federer would win it. And he did.

Last year Nadal and Federer went back and forth, giving it their all. This year, it was just BIG BOOM, BIG BOOM and change courts. Yes I watched and rooted for Roddick, the American, but while he and Federer played the LONGEST, it wasn't the best. Exciting only because it was an American. If Choke-a-vic or Murray had been there, I certainly wouldn't have watched the BOOM BOOM POW show. Just boring. Certainly not the best ever.

Reduce the power of the rackets and give me more rallies. Then you can see the better players and better tennis. But as tennis is now....kind of lame. Shots, not POWER, does it for me on the tennis courts. Maybe I'm by myself.

And I AM rooting for Roddick, but really only because he is an American. I want him to expand his game, which he has started to do, but learn how to return a serve and conduct a rally. That's all I ask.

Paul Mac is sad over the Braves

Paul Mac might be the second biggest petite Braves fan I know (myself included) and the biggest petite ATLANTA Braves fan. Heck the guy even used to host the Braves post-game show! He knows what he is talking about! (And what he doesn't, he has the Score Atlanta Braves beat writer backing him up!)

I had a guy actually bring up Colorado's 21 game winning streak as if that just happens all the time. Um. Colorado could hit and Matt Holliday has been eerily quiet even though he plays in Oakland.

This is where cliches just kill people. Pitching wins championships... great pitching beats great hitting..... um. No. NO IT DOESN'T!

Great pitching keeps you in games. Offense wins it for you. Atlanta was in the postseason what, 15 straight years... why? Pitching. But they only won once...even when they had their best offensive years because the other teams...always hit better than we did. Philly won last year... because they had better more consistent offensive players.

Now you want to trade the actual good acquisition in the off season in Vasquez and your only true starting shortstop in the Organization in Escobar for an outfield stick you could have had in February? That's just dumb. That article (Mark Bradley's in the AJC, discussing who the Braves should trade for. Options included Matt Holliday from Oakland, Mark Teahan from KC, Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego) was just ripping from ESPN though.
Adrian Gonzalez is the best player in San Diego. They aren't going to do us any favors... and trading for him would leave you without a shortstop and the best performing member of your rotation right now.... dumb.

The Braves are dull and they are going to be dull if they don't exercise patience which I believe they will, but Wren is going to HAVE to ask for more money next year. If they had 16-20 HR's in left (whatever Dunn has right now), they could certainly be at .500 or better at this point. He's no worse in left than Anderson.

Once again this year, halfway point.... non-competitive. I guess I can't complain though for 15 years a lot of fun players to watch have played here.

SO ahead of its time...

July 4th usually brings about fireworks, pool action and thoughts of patriotism. Not with my crowd o' friends. Nope.
On our July Fourth holiday, as we sat around Turner's pool, we got into a discussion about how Newsies was ahead of its time. Yep, that movie came out before Moulin Rogue and Chicago brought Musicals back and before High School Musical started printing money.
About 15 years ago, Newsies, starring Christian Bale, Robert Duvall and Bill Pullman (before he became president, he was Our Man Denton), hit the screens and was a ZONETASTIC musica movie, complete with dance numbers and songs such as Seize the Day, Carrying the Banner and Santa Fe.

Our hero Jack Kelly leads the Newsies, steals his friend Davey's brother and bangs Davey's sister, then becomes Batman. Davey was a big puss who THINKS he is the brains behind the newsies, but honestly, Spot Collins was the real Brains. PLUS he had a slingshot. Throw in Max from Doogie Howser and Pullman, pre-DOESN'T ANYBODY HAVE ANY MISSILES? and you have a GREAT MOVIE that was the genesis of HSM. If this movie was released today, it would be huge, break box office records (since the story was cool and the songs were better than anything HSM has ever done!) and generally make me NOT seem like such a freak for liking the movie.

Here is my question...how come Disney doesn't RE-release this DVD, only call it a Director's Edition or special collectors. Make some money off of the musical craze! It must be lost in the vault behind Cinderella. And when I say Vault, I mean the back storeroom at Wal-Mart.

The only bad thing about if Newsies were to be made in today's world is that Zac Effron would be cast as Jack Kelly with Vanessa Hudgens as Sarah, one of the Jonases as Davey, with another younger Jonas as Les, with probably the third Jonas as Spot Collins. And Disney would be douchey and make a girl newsie and cast Miley Hannah Montana Cyrus as that character. They would probably change Racetrack's character to make this one for Miley and instead call her Hopscotch.
Our Man Denton aka Bill Pullman would be replaced by Taylor Hicks and they would give Duvall the boot in favor of Billy Crystal or Robin Williams.

Oh it would be horrible. It would be like the new Karate Kid Movie that Will Smith is making for his kid and casting Jacky Chan as Miyagi.

Actually, thank goodness this movie wasn't made in 2008 because then a movie that I could watch AT ANY TIME isn't douched up into something that I detest and refuse to watch on very principle. Ahead of its time, maybe. And that way, it will always be mine, all mine! (And Roomie's....) Get your grubby hands off you High School Musical droids! You can't have it! PS, they are in college. Stop calling it "HIGH SCHOOL" musical!

under pressure...dumdumdum dududumdum

Somebody queue up Queen's under pressure. NO position will be under more pressure this season than the Defensive end spot of the Georgia Bulldogs. Last season the unit didn't have a force ala QMo, Charles Johnson or even Marcus Howard. And if you were expecting the pressure on the opposing QB to come from the middle of the line, the hopes took a hit when Jeff Owens crumbled in the first game against Ga Southern.
Flashes of greatness popped through from the DE spot with Justin Houston and Rod Battle and DeMarcus Dobbs, but it was never enough and the team fell to 10-3 when it could have gone 12-1 (they were losing the Florida game regardless, but the Bama game and the Tech game could have been reversed with a pass rush).

Justin Houston looked like he could be THE MAN to flip the situation until he got suspended for the first three games for being an idiot. Great, that's only the Okie State game and the SoCar game. THANKS!

But Jeff Owens is coming back. Will that be enough?

DEFENSIVE END POSITION...
DeMarcus Dobbs and Rod Battle to start the year, then Justin Houston when he returns. Dobbs showed some good hands with a nice couple of interceptions and Battle, if he can stay healthy should offer some depth. Houston looked sharp in the spring game and might have that Marcus Howard-like quick step to the QB and could still lead the team in sacks even after his return. Kiante Tripp moves to DE now after TE, DT, OT, QB (just kidding on the last one, but he's played about 98 positions during his stay at Georgia). Throw in Brandon Wood and Jeremy Longo and you have the makings of sheer numbers. (I feel this is like the running back position. Just take all of the numbers and throw them against the wall and keep whomever sticks, like they do with pasta). Don't sleep on Cornelius Washington, the red-shirt frosh and Neland Ball from the roster last season and the newbies Kwame Geathers (if he is eligible this season) and Montrez Robinson, Indiana's Mr. Football last season. If those two can offer ANYTHING along with Houston and Washington, this unit might get back to the Pollack-Moses-Johnson-Howard days when Tebow and Brandon Cox and Colt Brennan hated playing Georgia.

Now, about that dt position. This ONCE AGAIN should be a strength for the Dawgs. Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins BOTH should have been first round picks in the 2009 draft but both came back and will be first rounders in 2010. Geno has a non-spot motor and Jeff Owens might become the Shockley of this team, the leader everyone looks up to because he put the team before himself and you can ALREADY picture the Gameday specials on him week one and then the LSU week when both LSU and UGA are undefeated...(positive thinking there). Throw in Kade Westin (a beast in New Jersey high school history but has really failed to live up to his HIGH HIGH billing) and DeAngelo Tyson and you have a nice two-deep. You want another name? OK. Richardo Crawford. Now, about those freshmen, Abry Jones and Derrick Lott. Those two might not see much of the field, but Jones was a strong high school player that needs to add a bit of weight to really be a tackle and Lott needs A LOT more weight to convert to DT. Lott was more of a rush end/LB at North Cobb and I am surprised he is being converted to tackle. But I trust CRG and CMR and CWM...wait, CWM is a nice guy with a good scheme, but do I trust him? Yes. I will say I do. I think his scheme was good last year, he just didn't have the horses and a few of his players (two of which are now gone, with the third still there) didn't want to make the sound play, just the big play. Two are gone and let's hope the third has grown up. (Reshad Jones, you know who you are!)

Sorry about that tangent. Honestly though, the numbers, if they stay healthy are encouraging. They didn't lose anyone up front and everyone else is just one year more in the system so hopefully that means they are stronger and more comfortable in the system. They know where they are supposed to be and should get a boost with Owens back. If the team can weather Houston's suspension and be 3-0, Houston should give a nice boost and be fresh when the meat of the schedule arrives. The first game will be key and the speed Georgia has will hopefully be enough to subdue the Pokes. Just push enough interior and maybe the ends can get after Zac Robinson. Geno and Kade and Jeff should bottle up Hunter enough and if Georgia can make the Cowboys one-dimensional, the back seven should be able to triple Bryant and escape with a win.

But I wish Houston was available for that trip to Stillwater. The ends will be under pressure and let's hope that the interior can release the pressure valve. If not, my prediction of 10-3 (9-3 with an Outback win) will come true. I'm hoping more for an 11-1 trip to the Sugar Bowl to face Boise State/BYU.

If my kid EVER ends up on this show, SHOOT ME

I am watching My Super Sweet 16 (on Style, but it is the show from MTV) and if my daughter ever ends up like this just-turned 16 yo, please shoot me. Not only is she a beyotch, but she is crying about wanting to go to Dunkin Donuts. Ummm, maybe the reason your party dress doesn't fit is because you just ate two dozen Dunkin Donuts!

Just a thought parents of this girl, instead of the Audi you bought her, maybe you should have gone to see McNamara and Troy. Might have been a better gift.

Just saying. The cost probably would have been the same and THEN she possibly could have been popular for her looks instead of just the money of her adopted parents.

That is just me throwing that out there....

PS, why is this show on Style and not MTV?

Midweek Entertainment report 7/1/09

The BFFs go to jail, the King of Pop dies, Is the Real World donezo?, and NYC Prep is starting to bother me....

Ladies and gentlemen, the midweek entertainment report!

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Before we begin today's MWER, let's have a moment of silence for Michael Jackson (Emanuel Lewis, ssshhhh!) The King of Pop is dead, but long live the new King, Justin Timberlake. Wifey and I were discussing the death of MJ on the plane out to Arizona last Thursday and we were thinking that this was the first big WORLD death since Lady Di. I tried to argue that Heath Ledger was big, but then the more I thought about it, Ledger is more of a second tier when compared to Jackson. Anna Nicole Smith and Nicole Brown Simpson were third tier. I couldn't come up with one that impacted the WORLD the way that Lady Di's did. As tarnished as his rep got with the whole "child petting" thing, he was a global icon. I stopped being a fan after the fourth nose job-or was it the fifth?-but I can still respect the impact he had on music. And THIS will be the last I ever mention the death because it is time to move on. His will is straight forward so let's just move on.

Paris Hilton's BFFs visited the slammer last night so they could get a taste of what Paris went through for 27 days. I thought it was hal-larry-ous when the cops burst thru the mansion door, pushed aside Mike Onch (who looks more and more like a girl. Has she/he had the surgery yet?) and got the girls and two dudes out of bed. Tiniecia was funny when she said, "The Po-lease ALWAYS want to arrest you..." What? Personal problems there?
The biggest shocker was the Caitlin aka Crier girl says she felt like crying when the cops came, but she DID NOT! Huh? Coming in a close second was Stephen saying that he wouldn't like jail. WHAT? Yes you would Stevie!
Stefanie never cried and in fact LOVED THE FOOD in jail because as she says "I was homeless once. At least here we have a bed and a roof over our heads." Rrrright, but you are still IN JAIL WITH A CHANCE TO GET SHEEVED.
Was anyone surprised when Paris asked if anyone had ever been to jail and Desirae admitted she had been? Just checking... Speaking of Dezi, what is a pec-tor-e-al muscle? Crier girl and Nicole went home. That's a shame. I'll give up Nicole since it got crier girl eliminated. Elena-my pick-won pet and I think she's got a real shot at this. But so does Stephen. That is fun.

NYC Prep, featuring Stephen's boyfriend PC aired last night and I am afraid that this show may go the way of SouthLAnd for me. I was really expecting good things, but this show just stinks. Maybe it is because it is on Bravo? I dunno. Sebass is dating and "hooking up" with two girls-both ugly FYI, and PC is seeing a therapist. Boring. I want a little bit of Hills drama here. But I guess they would have to write the script then. The best part of the Episode was the final promo for Bravo.com when the VO guy asked, "Do you want to look like your favorite stars from NYC Prep?" and both Wifey and I made the same joke of "No, I don't want to have reconstructive surgery, widening my eye sockets!" Creepy. I've rubbed off on her. (GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER!)

Finally, we have Bronne screaming, "Why are people fighting? We're in Cancun!" on tonight's episode. Ahhhh Bronne, the voice of reason.
How much though do you think MTV is BANKING on this cast and season? The franchise hasn't had a good run since Key West when you had Johnny Bananas and Svetlana becoming the best guy and girl roommates in history, Tyler rewriting the book on gay roommate, Paula going CRAZY and Johanna starring in personal relations? Denver was enh, Austin was OK, Sydney was Turrbull save Isaac, Hollywood was CRAP with a capital s-h-i-t-e, and Brooklyn was the Chet Show, and even that was like he was the tallest midget. He was good by default. MTV needs Cancun to do well because RW isn't the #1 show on MTV anymore. The Hills is now. Speidi is the #1 character, TRW is getting left behind by even the challenges. Is it too many other shows like Survivor and Big Brother? Possibly. If Cancun fails, then can we PLEASE just put Kenny, Evan, Big Easy, Ev and maybe some of the other FreshMeat from the challenges into a house? COME ON. We'd love that!

That's it everybody. Have a great rest of the week. No Blog Friday because, it is JULY 3, and that's ALMOST A HOLIDAY!