So I know I'm supposed to give a midweek entertainment report today, but this info was too big not to comment on. Miller Grove forward Donte Williams committed to play for the Georgia Basketball team and Mark Fox has gotten himself a huge piece in the rebuilding process.
I've watched this guy in two straight Class AAAA semi-final games (once last year and once this year, duh) and this guy is a PLAYER. 6'9 and 210, Williams has the ability to be a long-armed defender IMMEDIATELY and from what I saw the last two seasons, he can add weight and become a dominant low post player eventually during his Bulldog career.
Mark Fox has a good one in Williams, especially when teamed with Cady Lalanne (6'9 F) of Florida and perhaps Dwayne Polee (6'7 W/SG) from the Left Coast and maybe the other SG from the Florida juco Sherrard Brantley, and this recruiting class (including Gerald Robinson Jr from ETSU who is eligible to play this year after sitting out last season) could help Georgia make the Tourney this season.
Trey Thompkins would have to come back, but if he does, and Travis Leslie (returns and) makes the switch to SG, this team could be a huge player in the SEC. Imagine....
PG Dustin Ware
SG Travis Leslie
SF/W Gerald Robinson Jr
PF Trey Thompkins
C Jeremy Price
Bench:
Vincent Williams
Chris Barnes
Ebuka Anyorah
Cady Lalanne
Donte Williams
maybe Dwayne Polee (who would likely start)
maybe Sherrard Brantley (who'd likely get quality minutes backing up Leslie)
and suddenly this team is something to be reckoned with. Just saying. Donte Williams sees the future of Georgia. Perhaps other in-state talent will too. Mark Fox is building something. GET DOWN TO ATHENS TO CATCH THEM SOON! GO DAWGS!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Brian Jones' top 10 rising senior GA defensive linemen
Be sure to tune in tonight to AM 790 The Zone from 7-9 pm for Score Atlanta's The Official Visit. It is going to be HUGE. (It always is when I co-host!) Well, wouldn't you know, we here at SBF have a little inside access; therefore I present you Brian Jones' Top Ten rising seniors of 2011 list of Georgia's top D-Linemen. Enjoy and tune in (or log on to www.790thezone.com) tonight from 7-9 pm! DO IT!
10. Grady Jarrett
9. Tyler Botts
8. Chris Mayes
7. Jonathan Battle
6. Xzavier Dickson
5. Chaz Cheeks
4. Stephon Tuitt
3. Sterling Bailey
2. Gabe Wright
1. Ray Drew
10. Grady Jarrett
9. Tyler Botts
8. Chris Mayes
7. Jonathan Battle
6. Xzavier Dickson
5. Chaz Cheeks
4. Stephon Tuitt
3. Sterling Bailey
2. Gabe Wright
1. Ray Drew
Monday, March 29, 2010
It feels like I JUST wrote this blog....
Let me start by saying that I don't care if my bracket went to crap, I'm just glad I didn't get into bed with Duke and Coach K. If I seriously had to root for the Rat King in order to win a bracket pool, I probably wouldn't be able to truly celebrate that win. Why? Because now I can root AGAINST Dook until my dying day. And I don't feel dirty. Just saying....
With that said, if Tom Izzo wins his second national title one week from tonight, Izzo will move past Coach K in my book at least. PLUS imagine if he beats Coach K in the process....
Let's go back to the logic I presented last season when I said Roy had moved past Coach K with his second title vs. Duke's three. Coach K won his first two titles with the SAME team, especially with the first title coming with UNLV laying down due to pay off gambling debts. (I'm sure...) Duke's second title in that run came against the Fab Five when people didn't want to see the Chris Webber-led crew win a title. Then Coach K's THIRD title came against an Arizona team that collapsed when the going got tough. Seriously? you are counting a win against a Pac-10 team? Come on.
Roy's titles though came against Illinois (no doubt the second best team that season) and against Michigan State last year, against Izzo who may be the best coach of the last 12 years.
Which brings us to Izzo. He has made it to 6 final fours in the last 12 years and Izzo is something like 6-1 in regional finals with the only loss coming to No.1 Texas in 2003. Izzo's charges have all made it to at least one final four in their college careers, dating back to the freshmen of 1996, when he took over. Izzo won it all in 2000 and then got back and back and back, getting to the final game in 2009 and he's back in the final four in 2010, with a eerily similar feel to the last time he went back to back final fours.
He is also doing with with smoke and mirrors. He has been living through the drama all season with players ebbing and flowing in terms of attitudes and he even lost his best player the first weekend of the tournament. What happened? He won in the sweet sixteen and then again in the Elite 8. And I don't think anyone doubted he could do it. Has he gotten a little lucky along the way? Yes, but you cannot argue with his record.
He built this program past what it was with Magic in East Lansing, and now there is no reason to think he won't keep adding to his impressive resume.
Today Brandon and Woolvy broke down the best coaches in all of college sports and both came to the conclusion that Izzo was tops, even over Urban Meyer. Meyer won his two titles with the same basic offense but different defenses. Duke won "two" titles with different teams and Izzo would win a second title with a FAR different team (umm 10 years apart) and if he could win it over Coach K, that would put him on the same level as K, despite being one title behind.
Izzo's resume even with just one puts him ahead of Jim Boeheim (1) and Lute Olson(1) and on the same level as Billy Donovan (2), whom he actually beat. I think Jim Calhoun (2) is still ahead of him right now, but if Izzo gets two, he moves past Calhoun, and Dean Smith (2) and right beside Roy (2) and Coach K (3).
One year after I did the list, my updated list is now ready....
Top Level. John Wooden
Right Behind: Bobby Knight, Coach K, Roy Williams
Next Level Down: Dean Smith, Jim Calhoun
Next Level Down: Izzo, Donovan, Pitino, John Thompson
Next Level Down: Boeheim, Olson, Tubby, Gary Williams, Harrick, Steve Fisher, Nolan Richardson
Next Level Down: Every other coach that won a title (including that chocker Bill Self), John Calipari, Bob Huggins.
Bottom Line: I am rooting for Tom Izzo, mainly because I want to see Coach K get knocked down another notch and because Izzo deserves more credit than he gets. Give him some attention. He's a good coach. He is McGuyver for Pete's Sake! Open your EYES people!
With that said, if Tom Izzo wins his second national title one week from tonight, Izzo will move past Coach K in my book at least. PLUS imagine if he beats Coach K in the process....
Let's go back to the logic I presented last season when I said Roy had moved past Coach K with his second title vs. Duke's three. Coach K won his first two titles with the SAME team, especially with the first title coming with UNLV laying down due to pay off gambling debts. (I'm sure...) Duke's second title in that run came against the Fab Five when people didn't want to see the Chris Webber-led crew win a title. Then Coach K's THIRD title came against an Arizona team that collapsed when the going got tough. Seriously? you are counting a win against a Pac-10 team? Come on.
Roy's titles though came against Illinois (no doubt the second best team that season) and against Michigan State last year, against Izzo who may be the best coach of the last 12 years.
Which brings us to Izzo. He has made it to 6 final fours in the last 12 years and Izzo is something like 6-1 in regional finals with the only loss coming to No.1 Texas in 2003. Izzo's charges have all made it to at least one final four in their college careers, dating back to the freshmen of 1996, when he took over. Izzo won it all in 2000 and then got back and back and back, getting to the final game in 2009 and he's back in the final four in 2010, with a eerily similar feel to the last time he went back to back final fours.
He is also doing with with smoke and mirrors. He has been living through the drama all season with players ebbing and flowing in terms of attitudes and he even lost his best player the first weekend of the tournament. What happened? He won in the sweet sixteen and then again in the Elite 8. And I don't think anyone doubted he could do it. Has he gotten a little lucky along the way? Yes, but you cannot argue with his record.
He built this program past what it was with Magic in East Lansing, and now there is no reason to think he won't keep adding to his impressive resume.
Today Brandon and Woolvy broke down the best coaches in all of college sports and both came to the conclusion that Izzo was tops, even over Urban Meyer. Meyer won his two titles with the same basic offense but different defenses. Duke won "two" titles with different teams and Izzo would win a second title with a FAR different team (umm 10 years apart) and if he could win it over Coach K, that would put him on the same level as K, despite being one title behind.
Izzo's resume even with just one puts him ahead of Jim Boeheim (1) and Lute Olson(1) and on the same level as Billy Donovan (2), whom he actually beat. I think Jim Calhoun (2) is still ahead of him right now, but if Izzo gets two, he moves past Calhoun, and Dean Smith (2) and right beside Roy (2) and Coach K (3).
One year after I did the list, my updated list is now ready....
Top Level. John Wooden
Right Behind: Bobby Knight, Coach K, Roy Williams
Next Level Down: Dean Smith, Jim Calhoun
Next Level Down: Izzo, Donovan, Pitino, John Thompson
Next Level Down: Boeheim, Olson, Tubby, Gary Williams, Harrick, Steve Fisher, Nolan Richardson
Next Level Down: Every other coach that won a title (including that chocker Bill Self), John Calipari, Bob Huggins.
Bottom Line: I am rooting for Tom Izzo, mainly because I want to see Coach K get knocked down another notch and because Izzo deserves more credit than he gets. Give him some attention. He's a good coach. He is McGuyver for Pete's Sake! Open your EYES people!
Friday, March 26, 2010
If Wrestling had a bracket.........
SportsbyFletch must admit that some of its writers used to watch the WWF (now WWE) and the WCW when growing up, and with it being bracket-season, we thought we'd throw up an all-time wrestling bracket. Our wrestling correspondent Brian Jones is expected to offer his thoughts on who will win.
"Midwest"
1 HBK v 16 Yeti
8 Kurt Angle v 9 Ravishing Rick Rude
5 Superfly Jimmy Snuka v 12 Arn Anderson
4 Rowdy Roddy Piper v 13 Bad Ass Billy Gunn
6 Kane v 11 Randy Orton
3 Macho Man Randy Savage v 14 Golddust
7 Jake the Snake Roberts v 10 Edge
2 Undertake v 15 Road Dawg Jessie James
Results: I've got HBK easily polishing off the Yeti! and then Kurt Angle to make the Sweet (Chin Music) 16. Jimmy Snuka gets his sweet revenge over Rowdy Piper in the second round with a big splash off of the top rope for a 1-2-3.. Randy Orton hits an RKO to spring the upset in the first round, but he cannot dig it brother and Macho Man snaps him like a slimjim in the second round. The Edge is a rate-R superstar and takes out the snake by avoiding the DDT in round one, but the Undertaker takes him for the last ride in round two. The Undertaker nails Macho with a tombstone but falls victim to the Sweet Chin music in the Elite 8 as HBK advances to the Final four.
" West"
1 Ric Flair v 16 Genius
8 Chris Benoit v 9 Jeff Jarrett
5 Dusty Rhodes v 12 Ted DiBiase Million Dollar Man
4 Goldberg v 13 Jeff Hardy
6 Giant/Big Show v 11 Batista
3 Sting v 14 Terry Funk
7 Razor Ramon/Scott Hall v 10 Booker T
2 HHH v 15 Tatanka
Results: Ric Flair puts Jeff Jarrett to shame with a win and then shows Jarrett how to properly strut in the post-match celebration. Dusty Rhodes slaps the sleeper on The Million Dollar Man and wins after Sweet Saphire konks out Virgil before he can interfere. Goldberg makes quick work of Jeff Hardy with a spear after Hardy tries to immediate hit Goldberg with a move off the turnbuckle. (8 second match) Then Goldberg crushes The American Dream with a jackhammer (10 seconds). The Beast Batistia "upsets" the Big Show then takes out Sting in maybe the biggest surprise of the second round. Razor Ramon beats Booker T with a Razor's Edge then shows up too drunk to compete against HHH and is pedigreed. HHH uses his sledge hammer to beat Batista in a "no DQ" match. Ric Flair uses the brass knuckles to beat Goldberg without the ref seeing (he IS the dirtiest player in the game!). In the Elite 8, the torch is passed among former Evolution members as HHH beats Flair.
"East"
1 Stone Cold v 16 Doink
8 Mr. Perfect v 9 RVD
5 Ricky "Steamboat" Dragon v 12 Sgt Slaughter
4 Owen Hart v 13 Chyna
6 Nikola Volkoff v 11 Raven
3 Bret Hart v 14 1-2-3 Kid/X-Pac
7 Y2J v 10 Eddie Guerrero
2 The Rock v 15 Dean Malinko
Results: Stone Cold hits Doink with a stunner and then enjoys some more victory beer after perfectly perfecting Mr. Perfect in round two. The Dragon Steamboat is hoodwinked by Owen Hart in round two and the King of Harts advances with a sharpshooter after catching the steamboat coming off the ropes. Bret Hart takes out X-Pac then proves Canada is better than the USSR with a win over Volkoff. Y2J eats up Guerrero in round one then falls victim to the People's elbow in round two. The Rock is on fire in the Sweet 16 and slams Hart, only to finish him off with the sharpshooter. StoneCold hits the stunner on Owen Hart to eliminate both Harts. In the Elite 8, The Rock wins his third straight huge matchup with an elbow over Stone Cold.
"South"
1 Hogan v 16 Repo Man (he beat Al Snow in play-in match)
8 Iron Shiek v 9 British Bulldog
5 Kevin Nash v 12 Tommy Dreamer
4 Andre the Giant v 13 Lance Storm
6 Brock Lesner v 11 Harley Race
3 Ultimate Warrior v 14 Brutus the Barber Beefcake
7 Lex Luger v 10 John Cena
2 Mick Foley/Mankind/cactus jack v Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
Results: Hogan gives the big leg drop to the Repo Man then battles teh Iron Shiek in a match out of the 1980s. The USA wins over the middle east as Hogan gives the big boot to the Shiek. Nash jackknifes Tommy Dreamer then somehow takes out Andre the Giant. Brock Lesner outmuscles Harley Race then eliminates the Warrior, who was likely pegged too high as a 3-seed. John Cena gives the F-U to Luger then takes out Foley (as Mankind) in round two with a "SPF-U". Cena v Lesner is expected to be big and Cena gives it a nice effort but Lesner is just too strong. Hogan barely holds off Nash but cannot take out Lesner as Brock advances to the F4.
Recap: I'd have an Elite 8 of Hogan v Brock, The Rock v Stone Cold, Flair v HHH and HBK v The Taker
In the Final Four HBK takes on HHH in a matchup of D-X members. Back and forth, per usual between these two before HBK kicks out of the pedigree. HHH is complaining to the ref when HBK hits the sweet chin music. HBK WINS! In the other final four matchup, The Rock is in trouble against Lesner before the millions AND MILLIONS of the Rock's fans root him into delivering the People's Slam. A people's elbow ends Lesner's run.
HBK faces The Rock in the finals and HBK is down and seemingly out before he slips out of the People's Slam and delivers a kick to The Rock. Roll up, 1-2-3. HBK wins!
"Midwest"
1 HBK v 16 Yeti
8 Kurt Angle v 9 Ravishing Rick Rude
5 Superfly Jimmy Snuka v 12 Arn Anderson
4 Rowdy Roddy Piper v 13 Bad Ass Billy Gunn
6 Kane v 11 Randy Orton
3 Macho Man Randy Savage v 14 Golddust
7 Jake the Snake Roberts v 10 Edge
2 Undertake v 15 Road Dawg Jessie James
Results: I've got HBK easily polishing off the Yeti! and then Kurt Angle to make the Sweet (Chin Music) 16. Jimmy Snuka gets his sweet revenge over Rowdy Piper in the second round with a big splash off of the top rope for a 1-2-3.. Randy Orton hits an RKO to spring the upset in the first round, but he cannot dig it brother and Macho Man snaps him like a slimjim in the second round. The Edge is a rate-R superstar and takes out the snake by avoiding the DDT in round one, but the Undertaker takes him for the last ride in round two. The Undertaker nails Macho with a tombstone but falls victim to the Sweet Chin music in the Elite 8 as HBK advances to the Final four.
" West"
1 Ric Flair v 16 Genius
8 Chris Benoit v 9 Jeff Jarrett
5 Dusty Rhodes v 12 Ted DiBiase Million Dollar Man
4 Goldberg v 13 Jeff Hardy
6 Giant/Big Show v 11 Batista
3 Sting v 14 Terry Funk
7 Razor Ramon/Scott Hall v 10 Booker T
2 HHH v 15 Tatanka
Results: Ric Flair puts Jeff Jarrett to shame with a win and then shows Jarrett how to properly strut in the post-match celebration. Dusty Rhodes slaps the sleeper on The Million Dollar Man and wins after Sweet Saphire konks out Virgil before he can interfere. Goldberg makes quick work of Jeff Hardy with a spear after Hardy tries to immediate hit Goldberg with a move off the turnbuckle. (8 second match) Then Goldberg crushes The American Dream with a jackhammer (10 seconds). The Beast Batistia "upsets" the Big Show then takes out Sting in maybe the biggest surprise of the second round. Razor Ramon beats Booker T with a Razor's Edge then shows up too drunk to compete against HHH and is pedigreed. HHH uses his sledge hammer to beat Batista in a "no DQ" match. Ric Flair uses the brass knuckles to beat Goldberg without the ref seeing (he IS the dirtiest player in the game!). In the Elite 8, the torch is passed among former Evolution members as HHH beats Flair.
"East"
1 Stone Cold v 16 Doink
8 Mr. Perfect v 9 RVD
5 Ricky "Steamboat" Dragon v 12 Sgt Slaughter
4 Owen Hart v 13 Chyna
6 Nikola Volkoff v 11 Raven
3 Bret Hart v 14 1-2-3 Kid/X-Pac
7 Y2J v 10 Eddie Guerrero
2 The Rock v 15 Dean Malinko
Results: Stone Cold hits Doink with a stunner and then enjoys some more victory beer after perfectly perfecting Mr. Perfect in round two. The Dragon Steamboat is hoodwinked by Owen Hart in round two and the King of Harts advances with a sharpshooter after catching the steamboat coming off the ropes. Bret Hart takes out X-Pac then proves Canada is better than the USSR with a win over Volkoff. Y2J eats up Guerrero in round one then falls victim to the People's elbow in round two. The Rock is on fire in the Sweet 16 and slams Hart, only to finish him off with the sharpshooter. StoneCold hits the stunner on Owen Hart to eliminate both Harts. In the Elite 8, The Rock wins his third straight huge matchup with an elbow over Stone Cold.
"South"
1 Hogan v 16 Repo Man (he beat Al Snow in play-in match)
8 Iron Shiek v 9 British Bulldog
5 Kevin Nash v 12 Tommy Dreamer
4 Andre the Giant v 13 Lance Storm
6 Brock Lesner v 11 Harley Race
3 Ultimate Warrior v 14 Brutus the Barber Beefcake
7 Lex Luger v 10 John Cena
2 Mick Foley/Mankind/cactus jack v Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
Results: Hogan gives the big leg drop to the Repo Man then battles teh Iron Shiek in a match out of the 1980s. The USA wins over the middle east as Hogan gives the big boot to the Shiek. Nash jackknifes Tommy Dreamer then somehow takes out Andre the Giant. Brock Lesner outmuscles Harley Race then eliminates the Warrior, who was likely pegged too high as a 3-seed. John Cena gives the F-U to Luger then takes out Foley (as Mankind) in round two with a "SPF-U". Cena v Lesner is expected to be big and Cena gives it a nice effort but Lesner is just too strong. Hogan barely holds off Nash but cannot take out Lesner as Brock advances to the F4.
Recap: I'd have an Elite 8 of Hogan v Brock, The Rock v Stone Cold, Flair v HHH and HBK v The Taker
In the Final Four HBK takes on HHH in a matchup of D-X members. Back and forth, per usual between these two before HBK kicks out of the pedigree. HHH is complaining to the ref when HBK hits the sweet chin music. HBK WINS! In the other final four matchup, The Rock is in trouble against Lesner before the millions AND MILLIONS of the Rock's fans root him into delivering the People's Slam. A people's elbow ends Lesner's run.
HBK faces The Rock in the finals and HBK is down and seemingly out before he slips out of the People's Slam and delivers a kick to The Rock. Roll up, 1-2-3. HBK wins!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Well it IS all about the money
Paul Hewitt has decided to remain the Georgia Tech men's basketball coaching after he pulled his name from the pool of names in the St. John's head coach search. Hewitt said it was because his family was comfortable here, but come on. It is ALL about money.
Your family is really comfortable here? Didn't you say it was your mother that was the one that was upset with Mark Bradley after he "slammed" you by printing your record at GT? But I guess she is comfortable here, right?
No, Paul, the REAL answer is that you have a $7M golden parachute here at Tech and odds are St. John's would not give you the automatic roll-over clause that gives you an extra year and that extra cash.
I think that the contract isn't as juicy as the one is here, and if you HAD taken the job in New York (oh, wow think about how THAT media would treat you Paul. Mark Bradley would look like a swedish massage) and you had the same results that you had here with GT, you'd be fired but likely with FAR less of a severance package.
Let's be honest here Paul: it's about the $7M and you didn't want to leave that on the table. You'll take GT fans complaining about your program and I think secretly you WANT to get fired so you can wrap your arms around that money before you go back to a St. John's-type job. Money, Money, Money. And today you proved it.
But hey, I guess 2-14 next season will be fine. You'll be a lot closer to that $7M.
And quickly, I plan on writing MUCH more about this for my THE FLETCH column for Score Atlanta, but Urban Meyer, dude you were in the wrong for going after a reporter that ran a FULL QUOTE FROM A PLAYER (so he couldn't be accused of taking it out of context) and instead of yelling at the player for douching up his point (he was trying to praise the QB skills of new QB John Brantley, but it came off like he was insulting Tim Tebow), you yell at the beat writer and basically threaten his job (if you REALLY pulled his credential, the paper he works for would assign someone else and this guy would either be reassigned or fired), when he WASN'T IN THE WRONG.
He wasn't Urban and yet you blame him when you should blame the player or just sweep it all under the rug and pretend it didn't happen.
Oh, and Urban, if you really want to threaten someone, maybe you should remember that you have a bad heart that forced you to retire for 6 minutes. I thought Brandon Adams made a good point today on 790 The Zone: Urban said that if Deonte was his son, he (Urban) and the writer would be going at it right now. BA said that the reporter should have shot back, "I think you have enough of your own family problems." I say that if Deonte was in his family, he probably wouldn't know about it because he is more focused on football than his family. CLEARLY. Nice leave of absence. 2 weeks, if that?
Urban should apologize but he won't because Urban is a whiney dick. The nation is finally starting to realize that. Florida fans (like Scott Janovitz my radio co-host) will try and spin it that he is sticking up for his player, but his PLAYER was the one that messed up, not the reporter. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BEFORE YOU SAY IT NEXT TIME!
Your family is really comfortable here? Didn't you say it was your mother that was the one that was upset with Mark Bradley after he "slammed" you by printing your record at GT? But I guess she is comfortable here, right?
No, Paul, the REAL answer is that you have a $7M golden parachute here at Tech and odds are St. John's would not give you the automatic roll-over clause that gives you an extra year and that extra cash.
I think that the contract isn't as juicy as the one is here, and if you HAD taken the job in New York (oh, wow think about how THAT media would treat you Paul. Mark Bradley would look like a swedish massage) and you had the same results that you had here with GT, you'd be fired but likely with FAR less of a severance package.
Let's be honest here Paul: it's about the $7M and you didn't want to leave that on the table. You'll take GT fans complaining about your program and I think secretly you WANT to get fired so you can wrap your arms around that money before you go back to a St. John's-type job. Money, Money, Money. And today you proved it.
But hey, I guess 2-14 next season will be fine. You'll be a lot closer to that $7M.
And quickly, I plan on writing MUCH more about this for my THE FLETCH column for Score Atlanta, but Urban Meyer, dude you were in the wrong for going after a reporter that ran a FULL QUOTE FROM A PLAYER (so he couldn't be accused of taking it out of context) and instead of yelling at the player for douching up his point (he was trying to praise the QB skills of new QB John Brantley, but it came off like he was insulting Tim Tebow), you yell at the beat writer and basically threaten his job (if you REALLY pulled his credential, the paper he works for would assign someone else and this guy would either be reassigned or fired), when he WASN'T IN THE WRONG.
He wasn't Urban and yet you blame him when you should blame the player or just sweep it all under the rug and pretend it didn't happen.
Oh, and Urban, if you really want to threaten someone, maybe you should remember that you have a bad heart that forced you to retire for 6 minutes. I thought Brandon Adams made a good point today on 790 The Zone: Urban said that if Deonte was his son, he (Urban) and the writer would be going at it right now. BA said that the reporter should have shot back, "I think you have enough of your own family problems." I say that if Deonte was in his family, he probably wouldn't know about it because he is more focused on football than his family. CLEARLY. Nice leave of absence. 2 weeks, if that?
Urban should apologize but he won't because Urban is a whiney dick. The nation is finally starting to realize that. Florida fans (like Scott Janovitz my radio co-host) will try and spin it that he is sticking up for his player, but his PLAYER was the one that messed up, not the reporter. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BEFORE YOU SAY IT NEXT TIME!
THE FLETCH, check it out here before you pick it up!
Just because I give you a sneak peek here, you should STILL go to www.scoreatl.com to download the issue or stop by QuickTrip, Kroger or Blockbuster and pick up this week's issue. It comes out tomorrow.
If you caught Pollack & Bell on 790 the Zone last week, you may have heard Norm Hitzges from Dallas calling in to discuss the Ron Washington situation as well as the Dallas Cowboys. As I listened to the interview, only one thought ran through my head: what is that accent? I couldn’t put my finger on where that dude was from. It wasn’t a Texas accent and his cadence was slightly off. Then another thought popped into my head: thank goodness that guy doesn’t host a show in Atlanta. I could not listen to him on a regular basis. What as up with that voice. I felt bad for the people of Dallas. He did not represent the people of Dallas very well. I wonder what other people think of our radio hosts. Actually, I would hope that only two local hosts ever do over the phone interviews: 790 The Zone’s Chris Dimino and 680 The Fan’s John Kincade. These two are the only two in Atlanta that I would feel comfortable representing our city on other cities’ radio shows. Both are knowledgeable enough to discuss a variety of sports topics and neither relies on a shtick or a past athletic achievement to garner sports credibility. Both simply know what they are talking about and can deliver it professionally. Honestly, those are the only two that should get any sort of play in other markets and The Zone and The Fan should be lucky that each has a go-to-guy to represent their stations and their city.
Could the NCAA men’s basketball Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds be a littler more presidential this weekend? CBS Sports president Sean McManus said he would be open to putting President Obama into the broadcast booth in any way if the president was open to it. So far, Obama has not taken McManus up on his offer. Earlier this season Obama sat in on the network’s broadcast of the Georgetown/Duke game and was quite good. Obama also once again filled out a bracket and cut a segment for ESPN on his bracket. Obama’s picks: Kansas over Kentucky in the championship game. I gave Obama a bunch of flack last season for doing the SportsCenter segment and once again I think that maybe instead of filling out a bracket, perhaps the Commander-in-Chief could better spend the two hours perhaps trying to fix some problems he said he would tackle in the election process. I thought we were electing a president, not a First Fan of Basketball.
As long as we are talking about the NCAA tournament and CBS’s coverage of the “Big Dance,” have we determined whether a four-year-old with ADD or a chimp is at the main control center? Why in the world do we jump from situation to situation in MID-PLAY during crunch time of big games? Friday night I feel like I had whiplash as CBS jumped around to about three different games, and I believe we missed the crucial plays in all three. Yes, we got to see the end of all of the games (Cool! People dribbling out the clock!) but we missed the big layup and the game-winning shot one of the other ones. And on Sunday, we watch Xavier make a huge shot against Pittsburgh then Pittsburgh drive down and miss a shot, but .4 seconds is left. So CBS cuts to Texas A&M and Purdue with over one minute left. WHAT? HUH? I’m so confused. You couldn’t wait about, oh, I don’t know, .4 seconds before switching over?
Former Braves pitcher John Smoltz has gone on record and said that he isn’t retiring but he is moving to a new team: the media. The former Cy Young award winner will work this season for Peachtree TV, TBS and MLB network, calling games for all three networks. Smoltz will debut on MLB network, partnering Bob Costas to call Yankees/Red Sox game on April 6 then do a Braves game April 7. His PTV partners will include Ernie Johnson Jr., and Joe Simpson.
Speaking of Braves announcing, it is amateur hour for the Braves spring training games. After Buck & Kincade butchered their way through a few games for braves.com, Tony Schiavone and Leo Mazzone worked games last week. Leo actually offered some baseball insight when not trying to crack jokes about alcohol. Meanwhile Schiavone is the radio voice of the Gwinnett Braves, but even still all I could think of was during a call of Martin Prado’s home run was Schiavone screaming, “Prado rounding second and MY GOD! STING AND THE MACHO MAN ARE STOMPING PRADO in front on Hanley Ramirez. My GOD! Won’t anybody help him? WAIT! HERE COMES THE YETI! Won’t somebody please stop this? HERE COMES GOLDBERG, TO SAVE THE DAY!”
Mark Bradley of the AJC, who has been caught in an unfair war of words with Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt, wrote a very on-point column about the Jackets season following the team’s bouncing from the NCAA tournament by the hand of Ohio State. Bradley correctly assessed that this team fell short of its high ceiling that its coach referenced during the season. With the talent that Hewitt accumulated, it is a wonder that Hewitt told the AJC that it was a “major accomplishment” to cap a “great year,” when his team made the field of 65. Really? I must agree with Bradley when he simply spouted off the facts that the team lost 13 games with two potential lottery picks and another McDonald’s high school All-American on its roster. I must agree with Bradley that this team should not have been a ten-seed due to a losing record in conference play. I must agree with Bradley that this team was, on whole, a massive underachieving disappointment. Bradley was right to question the team’s success (out of the tournament before the end of the first weekend), and he was unfairly called out by the coach recently when the coach got on Twitter and blasted him. I wonder if the coach also was angry at the recent Sports Illustrated article that poked fun of Hewitt over the Twittering.
CAN YOU BELIVE HE JUST SAID THAT!?!?
Speaking of Norm Hitzges from Dallas’s The Ticket 1310 AM… At one point during his interview last Wednesday on Pollack & Bell, he said “Is Wade Phillips like your Uncle Charlie after he’s had four too many beers at the family reunion? Yes!” This statement was met with uncomfortable laughter from P&B and with an eye roll from me. Dude, we don’t know your sense of humor and I’m not certain that was even funny. Build a rapport first before you bust out the bad jokes. At least when radio hosts from the ATL make bad jokes on the air, we are used to it and their shtick. That is who they are. Drop the “this works for me in Dallas, so OF COURSE it will work for me in Atlanta!” routine. It flatlined. Sorry Bro.
If you caught Pollack & Bell on 790 the Zone last week, you may have heard Norm Hitzges from Dallas calling in to discuss the Ron Washington situation as well as the Dallas Cowboys. As I listened to the interview, only one thought ran through my head: what is that accent? I couldn’t put my finger on where that dude was from. It wasn’t a Texas accent and his cadence was slightly off. Then another thought popped into my head: thank goodness that guy doesn’t host a show in Atlanta. I could not listen to him on a regular basis. What as up with that voice. I felt bad for the people of Dallas. He did not represent the people of Dallas very well. I wonder what other people think of our radio hosts. Actually, I would hope that only two local hosts ever do over the phone interviews: 790 The Zone’s Chris Dimino and 680 The Fan’s John Kincade. These two are the only two in Atlanta that I would feel comfortable representing our city on other cities’ radio shows. Both are knowledgeable enough to discuss a variety of sports topics and neither relies on a shtick or a past athletic achievement to garner sports credibility. Both simply know what they are talking about and can deliver it professionally. Honestly, those are the only two that should get any sort of play in other markets and The Zone and The Fan should be lucky that each has a go-to-guy to represent their stations and their city.
Could the NCAA men’s basketball Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds be a littler more presidential this weekend? CBS Sports president Sean McManus said he would be open to putting President Obama into the broadcast booth in any way if the president was open to it. So far, Obama has not taken McManus up on his offer. Earlier this season Obama sat in on the network’s broadcast of the Georgetown/Duke game and was quite good. Obama also once again filled out a bracket and cut a segment for ESPN on his bracket. Obama’s picks: Kansas over Kentucky in the championship game. I gave Obama a bunch of flack last season for doing the SportsCenter segment and once again I think that maybe instead of filling out a bracket, perhaps the Commander-in-Chief could better spend the two hours perhaps trying to fix some problems he said he would tackle in the election process. I thought we were electing a president, not a First Fan of Basketball.
As long as we are talking about the NCAA tournament and CBS’s coverage of the “Big Dance,” have we determined whether a four-year-old with ADD or a chimp is at the main control center? Why in the world do we jump from situation to situation in MID-PLAY during crunch time of big games? Friday night I feel like I had whiplash as CBS jumped around to about three different games, and I believe we missed the crucial plays in all three. Yes, we got to see the end of all of the games (Cool! People dribbling out the clock!) but we missed the big layup and the game-winning shot one of the other ones. And on Sunday, we watch Xavier make a huge shot against Pittsburgh then Pittsburgh drive down and miss a shot, but .4 seconds is left. So CBS cuts to Texas A&M and Purdue with over one minute left. WHAT? HUH? I’m so confused. You couldn’t wait about, oh, I don’t know, .4 seconds before switching over?
Former Braves pitcher John Smoltz has gone on record and said that he isn’t retiring but he is moving to a new team: the media. The former Cy Young award winner will work this season for Peachtree TV, TBS and MLB network, calling games for all three networks. Smoltz will debut on MLB network, partnering Bob Costas to call Yankees/Red Sox game on April 6 then do a Braves game April 7. His PTV partners will include Ernie Johnson Jr., and Joe Simpson.
Speaking of Braves announcing, it is amateur hour for the Braves spring training games. After Buck & Kincade butchered their way through a few games for braves.com, Tony Schiavone and Leo Mazzone worked games last week. Leo actually offered some baseball insight when not trying to crack jokes about alcohol. Meanwhile Schiavone is the radio voice of the Gwinnett Braves, but even still all I could think of was during a call of Martin Prado’s home run was Schiavone screaming, “Prado rounding second and MY GOD! STING AND THE MACHO MAN ARE STOMPING PRADO in front on Hanley Ramirez. My GOD! Won’t anybody help him? WAIT! HERE COMES THE YETI! Won’t somebody please stop this? HERE COMES GOLDBERG, TO SAVE THE DAY!”
Mark Bradley of the AJC, who has been caught in an unfair war of words with Georgia Tech head coach Paul Hewitt, wrote a very on-point column about the Jackets season following the team’s bouncing from the NCAA tournament by the hand of Ohio State. Bradley correctly assessed that this team fell short of its high ceiling that its coach referenced during the season. With the talent that Hewitt accumulated, it is a wonder that Hewitt told the AJC that it was a “major accomplishment” to cap a “great year,” when his team made the field of 65. Really? I must agree with Bradley when he simply spouted off the facts that the team lost 13 games with two potential lottery picks and another McDonald’s high school All-American on its roster. I must agree with Bradley that this team should not have been a ten-seed due to a losing record in conference play. I must agree with Bradley that this team was, on whole, a massive underachieving disappointment. Bradley was right to question the team’s success (out of the tournament before the end of the first weekend), and he was unfairly called out by the coach recently when the coach got on Twitter and blasted him. I wonder if the coach also was angry at the recent Sports Illustrated article that poked fun of Hewitt over the Twittering.
CAN YOU BELIVE HE JUST SAID THAT!?!?
Speaking of Norm Hitzges from Dallas’s The Ticket 1310 AM… At one point during his interview last Wednesday on Pollack & Bell, he said “Is Wade Phillips like your Uncle Charlie after he’s had four too many beers at the family reunion? Yes!” This statement was met with uncomfortable laughter from P&B and with an eye roll from me. Dude, we don’t know your sense of humor and I’m not certain that was even funny. Build a rapport first before you bust out the bad jokes. At least when radio hosts from the ATL make bad jokes on the air, we are used to it and their shtick. That is who they are. Drop the “this works for me in Dallas, so OF COURSE it will work for me in Atlanta!” routine. It flatlined. Sorry Bro.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Midweek Entertainment report 3/24/10
The Human Torch becomes Captain America, Pirates replaces Keira with Penelope, Miley mentors the Idols and Ol' Joe drops the F-Bomb
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Midweek Entertainment report!
The crowd goes nuts, just like in Rex Manning's head!
Chris Evans has been cast as the new Captain America, set to be released in May 2011. The guy played the annoying Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies and was the Freddie Prinze knockoff in Not Another Teen Movie. Anyways, THIS GUY for Captain America? Over Chace Crawford? Really? But the crazy thing is that the movie studio signed Evans to a NINE picture deal. he is going to be in NINE MOVIES? Really? Throw him in an Iron Man sequel or something? WOW?! NINE MOVIES....
For the next Pirates movie, apparently Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom are out and Johnny Depp gets a girlfriend. Yep, Penelope Cruz has signed on to be Capt Jack's love interest. OK, two beautiful people (and not the Gideon-type of BPs), I can see that. Also, Jack will go up against Blackbeard, played by Deadwood's Ian McShane. I never saw No.3, so I'm not certain how this one will turn out. No.2 was turribull enough to turn me off of the series.
Hey, Miley Cyrus was the Idol mentor last night. I wonder what advice she gave them: Have a quasi-famous one-hit-county-music-wonder, father who then forces you down Disney's throats so you then get hooked up with Nick Sparks? Is that how it works? I didn't watch, only because I will NOT support Miley's takeover of the world.
Finally, Joe Biden was caught on camera saying to Obama that the health care plan was a big f-ing deal. Joe, you aren't so good with the words and the saying things, are you big guy? Maybe you stop talking for a while?
Thanks everybody have a great day and tune in to NPR later for my Braves season preview, likely around 3:45ish on WABE 90.1 FM. SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION!
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Midweek Entertainment report!
The crowd goes nuts, just like in Rex Manning's head!
Chris Evans has been cast as the new Captain America, set to be released in May 2011. The guy played the annoying Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies and was the Freddie Prinze knockoff in Not Another Teen Movie. Anyways, THIS GUY for Captain America? Over Chace Crawford? Really? But the crazy thing is that the movie studio signed Evans to a NINE picture deal. he is going to be in NINE MOVIES? Really? Throw him in an Iron Man sequel or something? WOW?! NINE MOVIES....
For the next Pirates movie, apparently Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom are out and Johnny Depp gets a girlfriend. Yep, Penelope Cruz has signed on to be Capt Jack's love interest. OK, two beautiful people (and not the Gideon-type of BPs), I can see that. Also, Jack will go up against Blackbeard, played by Deadwood's Ian McShane. I never saw No.3, so I'm not certain how this one will turn out. No.2 was turribull enough to turn me off of the series.
Hey, Miley Cyrus was the Idol mentor last night. I wonder what advice she gave them: Have a quasi-famous one-hit-county-music-wonder, father who then forces you down Disney's throats so you then get hooked up with Nick Sparks? Is that how it works? I didn't watch, only because I will NOT support Miley's takeover of the world.
Finally, Joe Biden was caught on camera saying to Obama that the health care plan was a big f-ing deal. Joe, you aren't so good with the words and the saying things, are you big guy? Maybe you stop talking for a while?
Thanks everybody have a great day and tune in to NPR later for my Braves season preview, likely around 3:45ish on WABE 90.1 FM. SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Traffic correspondent Paul Mac weighs in on the traffic debate
Ever since Paul Mac once said Car-be-que while cutting a traffic promo for the radio station, I've always considered him something of an expert on traffic. So with SportsbyFletch now trying to fix the country's problems, we turn to Sleazy P for insight on traffic.
Ever notice how much easier it is in the Summer or Christmastime? All those freaking moms off the road. Can't really do anything about old people... but seriously traffic would move faster if everyone paid attention and drove with the courtesy in mind that the guy behind me might want to make it through the freaking light TOO!!!!
Driving your kid to school just makes more wusses.
SBF responded: yeah, how about the guy that has a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG line of cars behind himd when the light FINALLY turns green, but he decides to left the people who JUST HAD a green continue to turn right. Especially since odds are they are going to clog up the cycle and mess everything up for the folks behind him. Does he think he is being a nice guy? I don't get it. THEY JUST HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO. NOW IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GO.
I dunno, maybe he's too busy texting to realize the light is now green.
Paul Mac's solution: The instant the light is green you should be going... hopefully leaving one of those red-running douches out to dry in the middle of the intersection. If we're lucky enough they will be the recipient of a red light ticket when they don't make it out on that light. I can't stand that crap.
On on ramps to the highway.... in heavy traffic you let one car in.... it's common courtesy... one car then the next car lets one in it's like a freaking zipper... it's very fluid.
If there is a wreck... move that freaking hunk of crap out of the way and get on with it.
Traffic, which we here at SBF STILL don't understand would be helped by these steps. SBF's solution. JUST GO
Ever notice how much easier it is in the Summer or Christmastime? All those freaking moms off the road. Can't really do anything about old people... but seriously traffic would move faster if everyone paid attention and drove with the courtesy in mind that the guy behind me might want to make it through the freaking light TOO!!!!
Driving your kid to school just makes more wusses.
SBF responded: yeah, how about the guy that has a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG line of cars behind himd when the light FINALLY turns green, but he decides to left the people who JUST HAD a green continue to turn right. Especially since odds are they are going to clog up the cycle and mess everything up for the folks behind him. Does he think he is being a nice guy? I don't get it. THEY JUST HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO. NOW IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GO.
I dunno, maybe he's too busy texting to realize the light is now green.
Paul Mac's solution: The instant the light is green you should be going... hopefully leaving one of those red-running douches out to dry in the middle of the intersection. If we're lucky enough they will be the recipient of a red light ticket when they don't make it out on that light. I can't stand that crap.
On on ramps to the highway.... in heavy traffic you let one car in.... it's common courtesy... one car then the next car lets one in it's like a freaking zipper... it's very fluid.
If there is a wreck... move that freaking hunk of crap out of the way and get on with it.
Traffic, which we here at SBF STILL don't understand would be helped by these steps. SBF's solution. JUST GO
SPOILER ALERT! Big B's Top senior Olinemen for 2010-11
Be sure to tune in tonight to 790 The Zone (or www.790thezone.com if you don't live in Atlanta), from 8-10 p.m. for Score Atlanta's Official Visit. Of course I will co-host along with birthday boy Scott Janovitz. Here is Brian Jones' top ten rising senior offensive linemen. Enjoy.
10. Justin Olderman
9. J.D. Jones
8. Justin Floyd
7. Kyle Harris
6. Quincy McKinney
5. Xavier Ward
4. Alan Posey
3. David Andrews
2. Thomas O’ Riley
1. Watts Dantzler
10. Justin Olderman
9. J.D. Jones
8. Justin Floyd
7. Kyle Harris
6. Quincy McKinney
5. Xavier Ward
4. Alan Posey
3. David Andrews
2. Thomas O’ Riley
1. Watts Dantzler
Monday, March 22, 2010
SBF...solving the county's problems? YES I AM!
I know typically I talk sports and/or pop culture or a combo of both, but today I've decided to step into politics and solve two (perhaps even three) of this county's problems.
Get rid of mail jeeps and have the mailmen-er-mail carriers walk. Boom. You are welcome.
Wait! What did you just do, SportsbyFletch?
Let me tell you. Cleaner air with fewer jeeps. We are using less gas and there is less smog across the country. Problem one.....SOLVED. Clean air!
But SBF, then the mail wouldn't be as efficient. Au contrare! You hire more mail carriers to walk and deliver the mail. Boom, unemployment is lessened and obesity is already starting to drop. TWO PROBLEMS! YOU ARE WELCOME.
But SBF, how will we pay for that? Umm, you could always cut mail service on Saturdays. I don't really need a bill delivered to me when I'm trying to have a nice weekend. And seriously, stamps used to cost one quarter. Now they are 42/43/46 cents (whatever they are now). Make them 48 cents. DONE.
Now that I've solved that problem, SBF will target Traffic, which SBF doesn't understand. JUST GO! PUSH THE GAS PEDAL!
Get rid of mail jeeps and have the mailmen-er-mail carriers walk. Boom. You are welcome.
Wait! What did you just do, SportsbyFletch?
Let me tell you. Cleaner air with fewer jeeps. We are using less gas and there is less smog across the country. Problem one.....SOLVED. Clean air!
But SBF, then the mail wouldn't be as efficient. Au contrare! You hire more mail carriers to walk and deliver the mail. Boom, unemployment is lessened and obesity is already starting to drop. TWO PROBLEMS! YOU ARE WELCOME.
But SBF, how will we pay for that? Umm, you could always cut mail service on Saturdays. I don't really need a bill delivered to me when I'm trying to have a nice weekend. And seriously, stamps used to cost one quarter. Now they are 42/43/46 cents (whatever they are now). Make them 48 cents. DONE.
Now that I've solved that problem, SBF will target Traffic, which SBF doesn't understand. JUST GO! PUSH THE GAS PEDAL!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Scanning the Dial? Please! This is THE FLETCH
Sorry about that. I didn't choose the new title. but let's go with it. Here is this week's THE FLETCH! On newsstands now!
Last week while calling the Class AAAAA and AAAA basketball semifinals for Georgia Public Broadcasting at the Gwinnett Arena, I ran into an old colleague from 790 The Zone, “Hometeam” Brandon Leak. After he was let go by 790 The Zone in September 2008 and replaced with David Pollack, Hometeam has managed to keep his hand in the local sports market through various media forms. Leak has done some voiceover work for the Atlanta Hawks and has made contributions to a blog on the Hawks webpage. “It is a great opportunity, working with the Hawks,” says Leak. “The way technology has improved, the web is the future of this business.” Leak also co-hosts HawkTalk on Comcast OnDemand with fellow former 790 The Zone personality Sandra Golden. Leak’s previous Comcast OnDemand experience came as he was the host of the Falcons Report during the 2009 season. Hometeam still considers himself a “Jack of All Trades,” who would love to get back into radio, perhaps with the Hawks. “I’ve been very fortunate that opportunities have presented themselves without leaving the city. Extremely fortunate.” As the playoffs near, check out Hometeam on HawkTalk on Comcast OnDemand.
Last Sunday on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, our show followed the ACC Championship game, featuring Georgia Tech. As 790 is The Official Home of the Yellow Jackets, the game was aired and after a quick postgame from ISP, callers lit up the phone lines and the first hour and twenty minutes was just Tech fans calling in. What was strange was the range of callers’ opinions on the program. Some callers thought that Tech made up for a “crappy season” with an NCAA tournament appearance. More callers than not though were unhappy with the fact that Paul Hewitt likely saved his job with the appearance in the ACC title game and now a bid to the NCAA tournament. Several fans called for Hewitt to be fired the day after the ACC tournament ended before a contract roll-over was activated, and when I asked who would coach the team, one caller said, “the same person coaching it now: no one.” The Georgia Tech fan base, at least the 19 or so calls we took during those four segments were clearly unhappy with Hewitt’s performance over the past few seasons and the unpleasantness continued the follow day on Brandon & Woolvy’s show on The Zone. The range was a little wider with a few more folks calling Brandon and Jeff to voice support for Hewitt, but the ratio was still in the favor canning Hewitt. On Sunday eight out of ten wanted him gone but by Monday it was maybe just six of ten. How will Tech fans feel after the first weekend of the tournament? Tune in this Sunday from 2-5 p.m. for Score Atlanta Sports Sunday as we will take your calls yet again.
Doug Roberson of the AJC covers the Jackets and he appeared on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday, where he not only discussed the basketball team but also gave some insight into the football team. Roberson said that he believes that maybe only two or three true freshmen will see time this season and perhaps the defense may take some time to find the pieces to make the 3-4 work. He also went on to say that he thought Tevin Washington would take most of the first string snaps this spring with Josh Nesbitt injured and Jaybo Shaw having left the team to transfer to Georgia Southern.
As we all know by now, 680 The Fan is the new radio home of the Atlanta Braves. (Just listen. You’ll hear a promo saying that within eight minutes!) Former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone of The Rude Awakening and the Braves pregame show has now taken up the mantle previously held by afternoon host Buck Belue as top Braves apologist. This is understandable as Mazzone used to be under the employ of the Braves and Bobby Cox is such a close friend, as are certainly many folks in the locker room, but some of the comments are a bit much. Sometimes we need to hear it as it is. Don’t just sugarcoat everything just because you don’t want to hurt feelings. This is why you were brought in I believe, to give the insight on baseball and that means sometimes delivering the hard line. We all know Leo has it in him. Remember Tim Spooneybarger? Perhaps after Cox leaves the Braves and the team doesn’t resemble the team it was with Leo rocking on the bench, maybe then honest, apology-free analysis will be offered up.
Speaking of morning shows, do they REALLY need a break THAT early in the program? Both The Rude Awakening and Mayhem in the AM regularly run interviews from the previous day around 6:30 or 6:50. Really? Just two or three segments in? Are the guys stopping for a coffee break? I understand wanting to replay big-time interviews, like when Buck & Kincade had Michael Vick on or when the Stews interviewed some of the big names at the Super Bowl, but some of the interviews that are re-aired…I didn’t want to hear them the FIRST time around. Seriously guys. You offer replays on the website. If I want to hear an interview I missed, I’ll go to the website. You don’t have to re-air them for me when I’d rather hear some fresh material on my way to the gym.
Finally, Michael Vick to appear on this season of Spike TV’s Pros vs Joes. The announcement was made a few days after Vick appeared on a St. Louis Radio station declaring that he’d love to play for the Rams. This was after he was on another radio interview saying he’d like to play for the Carolina Panthers. Umm, Michael, the last time I checked, the Philadelphia Eagles picked up your roster bonus and decided to keep you for the second year of the two-year deal that you signed. You are Eagles property until they decide to cut you or trade you. Quit pining to be on another team and show loyalty to the team that took the bullet to sign you. And maybe try and keep your head down and out of the media for a while. You know. Let people breath a little more after the whole “I killed dogs,” thing.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE SAID THAT?
D. Orlando Ledbetter is the AJC Falcons beat writer and Mr. Ledbetter decided to release his own mock draft, which is cool. Everyone has one these days. The decision though for the Atlanta Falcons is what I think is bizarre. Ledbetter has Atlanta selecting Florida Gator center “LaShawn” Maurkice Pouncey at No.19. Ledbetter acknowledges that this selection, for the second straight week, has made some readers “irate” but he attempts to justify the pick by saying that the Falcons need interior offensive linemen, and it is noted that that Damien Woody went No.17 and Jeff Faine went No.21. To that I argue that Atlanta-native and Colts center Jeff Saturday was undrafted and current Falcons center Todd McClure was a seventh round pick. Yes Pouncey may be a quality center, but to take him at No.19? Seriously?
Last week while calling the Class AAAAA and AAAA basketball semifinals for Georgia Public Broadcasting at the Gwinnett Arena, I ran into an old colleague from 790 The Zone, “Hometeam” Brandon Leak. After he was let go by 790 The Zone in September 2008 and replaced with David Pollack, Hometeam has managed to keep his hand in the local sports market through various media forms. Leak has done some voiceover work for the Atlanta Hawks and has made contributions to a blog on the Hawks webpage. “It is a great opportunity, working with the Hawks,” says Leak. “The way technology has improved, the web is the future of this business.” Leak also co-hosts HawkTalk on Comcast OnDemand with fellow former 790 The Zone personality Sandra Golden. Leak’s previous Comcast OnDemand experience came as he was the host of the Falcons Report during the 2009 season. Hometeam still considers himself a “Jack of All Trades,” who would love to get back into radio, perhaps with the Hawks. “I’ve been very fortunate that opportunities have presented themselves without leaving the city. Extremely fortunate.” As the playoffs near, check out Hometeam on HawkTalk on Comcast OnDemand.
Last Sunday on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, our show followed the ACC Championship game, featuring Georgia Tech. As 790 is The Official Home of the Yellow Jackets, the game was aired and after a quick postgame from ISP, callers lit up the phone lines and the first hour and twenty minutes was just Tech fans calling in. What was strange was the range of callers’ opinions on the program. Some callers thought that Tech made up for a “crappy season” with an NCAA tournament appearance. More callers than not though were unhappy with the fact that Paul Hewitt likely saved his job with the appearance in the ACC title game and now a bid to the NCAA tournament. Several fans called for Hewitt to be fired the day after the ACC tournament ended before a contract roll-over was activated, and when I asked who would coach the team, one caller said, “the same person coaching it now: no one.” The Georgia Tech fan base, at least the 19 or so calls we took during those four segments were clearly unhappy with Hewitt’s performance over the past few seasons and the unpleasantness continued the follow day on Brandon & Woolvy’s show on The Zone. The range was a little wider with a few more folks calling Brandon and Jeff to voice support for Hewitt, but the ratio was still in the favor canning Hewitt. On Sunday eight out of ten wanted him gone but by Monday it was maybe just six of ten. How will Tech fans feel after the first weekend of the tournament? Tune in this Sunday from 2-5 p.m. for Score Atlanta Sports Sunday as we will take your calls yet again.
Doug Roberson of the AJC covers the Jackets and he appeared on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday, where he not only discussed the basketball team but also gave some insight into the football team. Roberson said that he believes that maybe only two or three true freshmen will see time this season and perhaps the defense may take some time to find the pieces to make the 3-4 work. He also went on to say that he thought Tevin Washington would take most of the first string snaps this spring with Josh Nesbitt injured and Jaybo Shaw having left the team to transfer to Georgia Southern.
As we all know by now, 680 The Fan is the new radio home of the Atlanta Braves. (Just listen. You’ll hear a promo saying that within eight minutes!) Former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone of The Rude Awakening and the Braves pregame show has now taken up the mantle previously held by afternoon host Buck Belue as top Braves apologist. This is understandable as Mazzone used to be under the employ of the Braves and Bobby Cox is such a close friend, as are certainly many folks in the locker room, but some of the comments are a bit much. Sometimes we need to hear it as it is. Don’t just sugarcoat everything just because you don’t want to hurt feelings. This is why you were brought in I believe, to give the insight on baseball and that means sometimes delivering the hard line. We all know Leo has it in him. Remember Tim Spooneybarger? Perhaps after Cox leaves the Braves and the team doesn’t resemble the team it was with Leo rocking on the bench, maybe then honest, apology-free analysis will be offered up.
Speaking of morning shows, do they REALLY need a break THAT early in the program? Both The Rude Awakening and Mayhem in the AM regularly run interviews from the previous day around 6:30 or 6:50. Really? Just two or three segments in? Are the guys stopping for a coffee break? I understand wanting to replay big-time interviews, like when Buck & Kincade had Michael Vick on or when the Stews interviewed some of the big names at the Super Bowl, but some of the interviews that are re-aired…I didn’t want to hear them the FIRST time around. Seriously guys. You offer replays on the website. If I want to hear an interview I missed, I’ll go to the website. You don’t have to re-air them for me when I’d rather hear some fresh material on my way to the gym.
Finally, Michael Vick to appear on this season of Spike TV’s Pros vs Joes. The announcement was made a few days after Vick appeared on a St. Louis Radio station declaring that he’d love to play for the Rams. This was after he was on another radio interview saying he’d like to play for the Carolina Panthers. Umm, Michael, the last time I checked, the Philadelphia Eagles picked up your roster bonus and decided to keep you for the second year of the two-year deal that you signed. You are Eagles property until they decide to cut you or trade you. Quit pining to be on another team and show loyalty to the team that took the bullet to sign you. And maybe try and keep your head down and out of the media for a while. You know. Let people breath a little more after the whole “I killed dogs,” thing.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE SAID THAT?
D. Orlando Ledbetter is the AJC Falcons beat writer and Mr. Ledbetter decided to release his own mock draft, which is cool. Everyone has one these days. The decision though for the Atlanta Falcons is what I think is bizarre. Ledbetter has Atlanta selecting Florida Gator center “LaShawn” Maurkice Pouncey at No.19. Ledbetter acknowledges that this selection, for the second straight week, has made some readers “irate” but he attempts to justify the pick by saying that the Falcons need interior offensive linemen, and it is noted that that Damien Woody went No.17 and Jeff Faine went No.21. To that I argue that Atlanta-native and Colts center Jeff Saturday was undrafted and current Falcons center Todd McClure was a seventh round pick. Yes Pouncey may be a quality center, but to take him at No.19? Seriously?
Thursday, March 18, 2010
No blog today. Sorry. TOURNEY TIME BABY!
What did you expect? I'm watching the tournament.
Hoping for ZERO major upsets, only the ones I picked. I want UK vs. KU in the finals. That's all I want.
Oh, and go to www.scoreatl.com and check out THE FLETCH, my scanning the dial column got a name change. Enjoy. Or you can just read it here tomorrow.
Enjoy the bball!
Hoping for ZERO major upsets, only the ones I picked. I want UK vs. KU in the finals. That's all I want.
Oh, and go to www.scoreatl.com and check out THE FLETCH, my scanning the dial column got a name change. Enjoy. Or you can just read it here tomorrow.
Enjoy the bball!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Midweek Entertainment report 3/17/10
Happy St Patrick's Day!, Idol does the STONES, Corey Feldman writes a letter that won't be delivered, Arrest warrant out for Lil Wayne and DMX gets 6 months in jail
Ladies and gentlemen, THE MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT REPORT!
Fans scream like Justin Bieber walked into a mall!
St. Patrick's Day is today. AKA another day that Beer companies love and people with quasi-drinking problems invented just to have an excuse to get drunk. You know, Cinco De Mayo, Mardi Gras, MLK Day (where college kids at Georgia get together, drink 40s and watch Friday), Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween(Ok, so the last one was really an excuse for chicks to dress slutty and for guys to not judge them before trying to sleep with them)...you get the idea. Honestly, do we REALLY need a holiday to celebrate a guy that drove some snakes out of Ireland? We need to celebrate that in America? Or we need to drink beer. OK. That's what I though.
American Idol did the Rolling Stones last night. Does that mean that Keith and Mick will be strutting around tonight on the results show? Did I watch last night? No. Instead I watched Couples Retreat. REALLY funny, FYI. Vince Vaughn's best work since Old School.
Can someone please explain to Corey Feldman that Corey Haim is dead and cannot read a letter anymore? Feldman "wrote a letter" to Haim and posted it on his website, explaining why he didn't go to the funeral. Here is a bit of it: You also know the only reason I am truly not there is out of respect for your mother and her wishes to minimize the media attention as much as possible. I want your family to have a calm peaceful day. Hopefully we will not see one shot of the funeral on the news. Don't worry Corey, there WAS no media attention. Odds are you couldn't afford the plane ticket, that's why you didn't go. And I don't think if you HAD have gone, ANYONE would have cared.
You continued: I miss you so much already. When I think of something funny I don't know who to tell it to. I find myself trying to call you but then remember your not there. I think about the new movies we will soon be doing together and then suddenly realise [sic] that the dream is over. You think you aren't doing movies because he died?
Nobody will ever understand the brotherhood we shared. Nobody will ever get the inside jokes we told. They weren't funny.
"My mission in life became saving yours. I never gave up, I tried... MISSION NOT ACCOMPLISHED.
I have been so hounded by the media and barraged with condolences since your death that I have not been given my own time to [grieve]. I was still in shock while cameras were chasing me down the street looking for my feelings on the matter. When I did Larry King I could barely form sentences, but knew I had to be strong to send a message. /get back INTO the limelight.
I would go on, but it seems kind of mean. Especially when he said that Haim and his death have meant so much to the world.
Let's just move on.
An arrest warrant was issued for Lil Wayne. Umm, if you really need to find him, I THINK HE'S IN JAIL!
And finally, DMX was sentenced to 6 months in jail and a mental exam after violating probation for his previous felony charge of cruelty to animals. I guess just like babies and DUIs were the hot thing for white 20ish Hollywood starlets several years back, going to jail is now hot for rappers. OK.
Have a great rest of the week everybody. Be careful out there tonight when you're pretending to be Irish.
Ladies and gentlemen, THE MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT REPORT!
Fans scream like Justin Bieber walked into a mall!
St. Patrick's Day is today. AKA another day that Beer companies love and people with quasi-drinking problems invented just to have an excuse to get drunk. You know, Cinco De Mayo, Mardi Gras, MLK Day (where college kids at Georgia get together, drink 40s and watch Friday), Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Halloween(Ok, so the last one was really an excuse for chicks to dress slutty and for guys to not judge them before trying to sleep with them)...you get the idea. Honestly, do we REALLY need a holiday to celebrate a guy that drove some snakes out of Ireland? We need to celebrate that in America? Or we need to drink beer. OK. That's what I though.
American Idol did the Rolling Stones last night. Does that mean that Keith and Mick will be strutting around tonight on the results show? Did I watch last night? No. Instead I watched Couples Retreat. REALLY funny, FYI. Vince Vaughn's best work since Old School.
Can someone please explain to Corey Feldman that Corey Haim is dead and cannot read a letter anymore? Feldman "wrote a letter" to Haim and posted it on his website, explaining why he didn't go to the funeral. Here is a bit of it: You also know the only reason I am truly not there is out of respect for your mother and her wishes to minimize the media attention as much as possible. I want your family to have a calm peaceful day. Hopefully we will not see one shot of the funeral on the news. Don't worry Corey, there WAS no media attention. Odds are you couldn't afford the plane ticket, that's why you didn't go. And I don't think if you HAD have gone, ANYONE would have cared.
You continued: I miss you so much already. When I think of something funny I don't know who to tell it to. I find myself trying to call you but then remember your not there. I think about the new movies we will soon be doing together and then suddenly realise [sic] that the dream is over. You think you aren't doing movies because he died?
Nobody will ever understand the brotherhood we shared. Nobody will ever get the inside jokes we told. They weren't funny.
"My mission in life became saving yours. I never gave up, I tried... MISSION NOT ACCOMPLISHED.
I have been so hounded by the media and barraged with condolences since your death that I have not been given my own time to [grieve]. I was still in shock while cameras were chasing me down the street looking for my feelings on the matter. When I did Larry King I could barely form sentences, but knew I had to be strong to send a message. /get back INTO the limelight.
I would go on, but it seems kind of mean. Especially when he said that Haim and his death have meant so much to the world.
Let's just move on.
An arrest warrant was issued for Lil Wayne. Umm, if you really need to find him, I THINK HE'S IN JAIL!
And finally, DMX was sentenced to 6 months in jail and a mental exam after violating probation for his previous felony charge of cruelty to animals. I guess just like babies and DUIs were the hot thing for white 20ish Hollywood starlets several years back, going to jail is now hot for rappers. OK.
Have a great rest of the week everybody. Be careful out there tonight when you're pretending to be Irish.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Brian Jones' top WR in GHSA class of 2011
Big B, Brian Jones unveiled a brand new top ten list last night on Score Atlanta's The Official Visit on Sports Radio 790 The Zone. In case you missed it, the top ten rising senior Wide Receivers in Georgia are.........
10) Michael Showers: 6-2, 185 out of Camden County. Interest in Georgia, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Was one of the top performers at the recent Jacksonville NUC event. Great size and strength, with solid hands. Great at making touch catches in coverage.
9) Vincent Dallas: 6-0, 176 out of Cedar Grove. All about speed and explosion. Great track athlete.
8) Jeff Greene: 6-6, 200 out of Starr’s Mill. Offer from Duke. Interested in Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Maryland. 33 catches, and 622 yards, 3 tds as a junior.
7) Zack Walker: 6-1, 185 out of Johnson County. Interest in Georgia and Georgia Tech. Caught 72 passes for 1,172 yards and 12 scores. Physical for his size, great hands, good blocker, good with jump balls and poses a deep threat. Shiftier than fast, lacks elite top-end speed.
6) Zach Witchett: 6-0, 185 out of Washington high. Offers from Georgia, Toledo, and West Virginia. Great hands and at going up for jump balls. Good speed, good quickness, decent size. Impressive deep threat. Like him as an all-around athlete.
5) Malcolm Mitchell: 6-1, 170 out of Valdosta. Offers from Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Good hands, great focus as a receiver. Good at going up for jump balls. Quality speed and power. Lacks great elusiveness.
4) Nile Daniel: 6-0, 165 out of Griffin. Offer from Maryland. Good hands, solid speed and quickness, but nothing great. Quality possession receiver.
3) Chris Conley: 6-3, 180 out of North Paulding. Offers from Bama, Clemson, Georgia, Tech, Maryland, Stanford, Tennessee, among others. Good quickness and agility for a player his size, very physical, good on jump balls and at using his body. Pretty good after the catch, in space.
2) Justin Scott: 5-11, 190 out of Mitchell County. Offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Stanford, Wake, East Carolina and South Carolina. A dynamic athlete with solid strength and build. Tremendous speed. Great deep threat.
1) Alex Chisum: 6-2, 185 out of Sandy Creek. Offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, and Mississippi State. Great at adjusting to the ball in the air, good on jump balls, good hands. A dominant possession guy at this point.
10) Michael Showers: 6-2, 185 out of Camden County. Interest in Georgia, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Was one of the top performers at the recent Jacksonville NUC event. Great size and strength, with solid hands. Great at making touch catches in coverage.
9) Vincent Dallas: 6-0, 176 out of Cedar Grove. All about speed and explosion. Great track athlete.
8) Jeff Greene: 6-6, 200 out of Starr’s Mill. Offer from Duke. Interested in Georgia, Georgia Tech, Alabama, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Maryland. 33 catches, and 622 yards, 3 tds as a junior.
7) Zack Walker: 6-1, 185 out of Johnson County. Interest in Georgia and Georgia Tech. Caught 72 passes for 1,172 yards and 12 scores. Physical for his size, great hands, good blocker, good with jump balls and poses a deep threat. Shiftier than fast, lacks elite top-end speed.
6) Zach Witchett: 6-0, 185 out of Washington high. Offers from Georgia, Toledo, and West Virginia. Great hands and at going up for jump balls. Good speed, good quickness, decent size. Impressive deep threat. Like him as an all-around athlete.
5) Malcolm Mitchell: 6-1, 170 out of Valdosta. Offers from Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Good hands, great focus as a receiver. Good at going up for jump balls. Quality speed and power. Lacks great elusiveness.
4) Nile Daniel: 6-0, 165 out of Griffin. Offer from Maryland. Good hands, solid speed and quickness, but nothing great. Quality possession receiver.
3) Chris Conley: 6-3, 180 out of North Paulding. Offers from Bama, Clemson, Georgia, Tech, Maryland, Stanford, Tennessee, among others. Good quickness and agility for a player his size, very physical, good on jump balls and at using his body. Pretty good after the catch, in space.
2) Justin Scott: 5-11, 190 out of Mitchell County. Offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Stanford, Wake, East Carolina and South Carolina. A dynamic athlete with solid strength and build. Tremendous speed. Great deep threat.
1) Alex Chisum: 6-2, 185 out of Sandy Creek. Offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, and Mississippi State. Great at adjusting to the ball in the air, good on jump balls, good hands. A dominant possession guy at this point.
Monday, March 15, 2010
2nd annual SBF Bracket pool
After last season when I pulled a Boston Rob and DOMINATED the bracket pool on SportsbyFletch's first EVER tourney, I figured Roomie and Paul would probably be scared to challenge me. I still thought that perhaps they would enter OTHER bracket pools, (one with fellow plebians that they have a shot at winning) so I thought I'd post my picks so, IF THEY CHOOSE, they can swipe my picks and win those pools and feel good about themselves.
Hey, what can I say, I'm a nice guy.
With no further ado, my picks....
Midwest Region
First round
1 Kansas over Lehigh. KU has the most talented team in the bracket. (Was that a spoiler? you'll have to wait and see....)
8 UNLV over 9 Northern Iowa. In honor of Mikey and Trent I say UNLV doubles down and beats NIU by 11.
5 Michigan State over 12 New Mexico State. Sparty as a 5 seed? too low!
4 Maryland over Houston. In Georgia, it would be pronounced How-stun. Everywhere else it is pronounced DAY ONE LOSER.
6 Tennessee over 11 San Diego State. I LOVE San Diego....as a honeymoon destination
3 Georgetown over 14 Ohio. I wonder if the president will be on THIS CBS broadcast too like he was when the Hoyas beat Duke? Take the Hoyas.
10 Georgia Tech over 7 Okie State. What? You don't think I'm not still pissed that the Pokes beat Georgia then lost the next week to Houston? I AM! Their b-ball team suffers.
2 the Ohio State over 15 UC Santa Barbara. UCSB looked like a fun place on Newport Harbor (the short lived MTV show which was The REAL Real OC.) why did that show not get picked up for a second season? That one guy Clay was a drip but Grant seemed REALLY cool.
Second Round
Kansas over UNLV. The most talented team in the county against UNLV? Seriously? You question this pick?
Michigan State over Maryland. Sorry General Grevious, but you suffer the same fate as the cockroach from Star Wars: you lose to Sparty. Wait, was that what happened?
Georgetown over Tennessee. The Vols should have lost twice to Georgia. DQ. You are out
Ohio State over Tech. Don't worry Tech fans. Paul Hewitt WILL mess this one up.
Third round
KU over Michigan State. Sorry Sparty, but this one turns into 300-2 and Tom Izzo is NO Gerry Butler
Georgetown over Ohio State. Why? Because Obama threatens to leave Ohio out of the new health care plan unless the Hoyas win.
Fourth Round
KU over Georgetown. Come ON, Kansas is the most talented team in the field!
WEST REGION
1st round
1Syracuse over 16 Vermont. Hey citizens of Montpelier, you guys beat Da Cuse in 2005. This is payback
9 FSU over 8 Gonzaga. I have Gozaga overload disease. I've been told for SO many years that these guys are plucky and tough. PLEASE, they are the Boise State of college basketball. People are sick of rooting for this Cinderella. Is it midnight yet?
12 UTEP over 5 Butler. Butler is Gonzaga's stepbrother. We don't like your entire family!
6 Xavier over 11 Minnesota. Sorry Tubby, but I think you cashed all of your chips in during the Big11 tourney
3 Pitt over Oakland. Imagine being from Oakland and you get to GO TO THE TOURNEY all the way to...Milwaukee. Ouch.
7 BYU over 10 Florida. As Janovy said yesterday to me in a text, Florida cannot shoot.
2 K-State over North Texas. I still say Frank Martin was a "keep the player" hire.
2nd round
Da Cuse over FSU. Sorry Hitman.
Vandy over UTEP. SEC! SEC!
Pitt over Xavier. I'll be honest. I cannot name a SINGLE PLAYER on Xavier. (Or Pitt)
K-State over BYU. They will play this game on a Saturday because of the Mormons...
3rd round
Da Cuse over Vandy. I think the Orange's big man is back in time for this one, no sweat.
K-State over Pitt. The greatest K-State team since Beaz and Bill Walker! (Wait that was two years ago?)
4th round
Da Cuse over K-State. Syracuse is one of the three best teams in the country. K-State crumbles when it has to play the top teams. Sorry Frank
EAST REGION
First round
1 Kentucky over East Tennessee State. They are NOTHING without Gerald Robinson Jr., who transfered to Georgia. Well, they'd have lost to UK even with him.
9 Wake over 8 Texas. Boy did Rick Barnes drive this team into the ground. Plus I needed another upset.
12 Cornell over 5 Temple. And I needed a 12 to beat a 5.
4 Wisco over 13 Wofford. Don't think I'm not still angry about the Terriers beating Georgia earlier this season!
6 Marquette over 11 Washington. The Pac10 is TERRIBLE
3 New Mexico over 14 Montana. did they REALLY name a state after Joe?
7 Klimpsen over 10 Mizzou. Oliver Purnell pulls a Tommy Bowden and wins this one to keep himself off the hotseat ala Tommy Bowden
2 West Va over 15 Morgan State. After the Neers won the Big East title, I heard burning couches were FLYING off of roofs all over West Va. Most people though thought it was just Saturday night
Second round
Kentucky over Wake. They have the BEST PLAYER in the tournament. JOHN WALL.
Wisco over Cornell. I'm going with a guy named BO everytime. Sorry Smarties
Marquette over New Mexico. Seriously? We needed a new one? Wasn't the old one enough?
West Va over Klimpsen. That's OK Clemson fans, you'll start out next season 17-0!
Third round
Kentucky over Wisco. JOHN WALL
West Va over Marquette. Could Bob Huggins make his first final four?
Fourth Round
Kentucky over West Va. No
SOUTH REGION
First round
1 Duke over 16 Winthrop (who beat Ark-PB). A 16 has NEVER beaten a 1. Won't happen here.
9 Louisville over 8 Cal. The Pac10 SUCKS
5 TAMU over 12 Utah State. I've already picked 2 #12s. Enough!
13 Siena over 4 Purdue. Why are the Boilermakers even going? Hummel is hurt. Your season is OVER!
6 Notre Dame over 11 Old Dominion. As much respect as I have for the CAA, their champ goes down. Sorry Dave Cohen.
3 Baylor over 14 Sam Houston State. SHSU may be my favorite college name every year. Way more than Austin Peay. Maybe right behind Stephen F Austin.
7 Richmond over 10 St. Mary's. Giving the Spiders some LOVE
2 Nova over 15 Robert Morris. Robert Morris is NO Sam Houston!
Second Round
Duke over Lou-a-vul. And Rick Pitino leaves after the game to go to the Raptors?
TAMU over Siena. Siena gets Burnt! HA!
Baylor beats ND. Those people in WACO are CRAZY!
Nova beats Richmond. Not THAT much love Richmond
Third Round
Duke beats TAMU. Did I REALLY have Texas A&M in the S16?
Nova beats Baylor. Scottie Reynolds
Fourth Round
Nova over Duke. And Dickie V cries a little bit.
Final Four.
Kentucky beats Nova. JOHN WALL
Kansas beats Da Cuse. The best collection of talent in the field!
Title game:
Kentucky beats Kansas. John Wall will NOT BE STOPPED by Kansas. Carmelo part TWO!
Hey, what can I say, I'm a nice guy.
With no further ado, my picks....
Midwest Region
First round
1 Kansas over Lehigh. KU has the most talented team in the bracket. (Was that a spoiler? you'll have to wait and see....)
8 UNLV over 9 Northern Iowa. In honor of Mikey and Trent I say UNLV doubles down and beats NIU by 11.
5 Michigan State over 12 New Mexico State. Sparty as a 5 seed? too low!
4 Maryland over Houston. In Georgia, it would be pronounced How-stun. Everywhere else it is pronounced DAY ONE LOSER.
6 Tennessee over 11 San Diego State. I LOVE San Diego....as a honeymoon destination
3 Georgetown over 14 Ohio. I wonder if the president will be on THIS CBS broadcast too like he was when the Hoyas beat Duke? Take the Hoyas.
10 Georgia Tech over 7 Okie State. What? You don't think I'm not still pissed that the Pokes beat Georgia then lost the next week to Houston? I AM! Their b-ball team suffers.
2 the Ohio State over 15 UC Santa Barbara. UCSB looked like a fun place on Newport Harbor (the short lived MTV show which was The REAL Real OC.) why did that show not get picked up for a second season? That one guy Clay was a drip but Grant seemed REALLY cool.
Second Round
Kansas over UNLV. The most talented team in the county against UNLV? Seriously? You question this pick?
Michigan State over Maryland. Sorry General Grevious, but you suffer the same fate as the cockroach from Star Wars: you lose to Sparty. Wait, was that what happened?
Georgetown over Tennessee. The Vols should have lost twice to Georgia. DQ. You are out
Ohio State over Tech. Don't worry Tech fans. Paul Hewitt WILL mess this one up.
Third round
KU over Michigan State. Sorry Sparty, but this one turns into 300-2 and Tom Izzo is NO Gerry Butler
Georgetown over Ohio State. Why? Because Obama threatens to leave Ohio out of the new health care plan unless the Hoyas win.
Fourth Round
KU over Georgetown. Come ON, Kansas is the most talented team in the field!
WEST REGION
1st round
1Syracuse over 16 Vermont. Hey citizens of Montpelier, you guys beat Da Cuse in 2005. This is payback
9 FSU over 8 Gonzaga. I have Gozaga overload disease. I've been told for SO many years that these guys are plucky and tough. PLEASE, they are the Boise State of college basketball. People are sick of rooting for this Cinderella. Is it midnight yet?
12 UTEP over 5 Butler. Butler is Gonzaga's stepbrother. We don't like your entire family!
6 Xavier over 11 Minnesota. Sorry Tubby, but I think you cashed all of your chips in during the Big11 tourney
3 Pitt over Oakland. Imagine being from Oakland and you get to GO TO THE TOURNEY all the way to...Milwaukee. Ouch.
7 BYU over 10 Florida. As Janovy said yesterday to me in a text, Florida cannot shoot.
2 K-State over North Texas. I still say Frank Martin was a "keep the player" hire.
2nd round
Da Cuse over FSU. Sorry Hitman.
Vandy over UTEP. SEC! SEC!
Pitt over Xavier. I'll be honest. I cannot name a SINGLE PLAYER on Xavier. (Or Pitt)
K-State over BYU. They will play this game on a Saturday because of the Mormons...
3rd round
Da Cuse over Vandy. I think the Orange's big man is back in time for this one, no sweat.
K-State over Pitt. The greatest K-State team since Beaz and Bill Walker! (Wait that was two years ago?)
4th round
Da Cuse over K-State. Syracuse is one of the three best teams in the country. K-State crumbles when it has to play the top teams. Sorry Frank
EAST REGION
First round
1 Kentucky over East Tennessee State. They are NOTHING without Gerald Robinson Jr., who transfered to Georgia. Well, they'd have lost to UK even with him.
9 Wake over 8 Texas. Boy did Rick Barnes drive this team into the ground. Plus I needed another upset.
12 Cornell over 5 Temple. And I needed a 12 to beat a 5.
4 Wisco over 13 Wofford. Don't think I'm not still angry about the Terriers beating Georgia earlier this season!
6 Marquette over 11 Washington. The Pac10 is TERRIBLE
3 New Mexico over 14 Montana. did they REALLY name a state after Joe?
7 Klimpsen over 10 Mizzou. Oliver Purnell pulls a Tommy Bowden and wins this one to keep himself off the hotseat ala Tommy Bowden
2 West Va over 15 Morgan State. After the Neers won the Big East title, I heard burning couches were FLYING off of roofs all over West Va. Most people though thought it was just Saturday night
Second round
Kentucky over Wake. They have the BEST PLAYER in the tournament. JOHN WALL.
Wisco over Cornell. I'm going with a guy named BO everytime. Sorry Smarties
Marquette over New Mexico. Seriously? We needed a new one? Wasn't the old one enough?
West Va over Klimpsen. That's OK Clemson fans, you'll start out next season 17-0!
Third round
Kentucky over Wisco. JOHN WALL
West Va over Marquette. Could Bob Huggins make his first final four?
Fourth Round
Kentucky over West Va. No
SOUTH REGION
First round
1 Duke over 16 Winthrop (who beat Ark-PB). A 16 has NEVER beaten a 1. Won't happen here.
9 Louisville over 8 Cal. The Pac10 SUCKS
5 TAMU over 12 Utah State. I've already picked 2 #12s. Enough!
13 Siena over 4 Purdue. Why are the Boilermakers even going? Hummel is hurt. Your season is OVER!
6 Notre Dame over 11 Old Dominion. As much respect as I have for the CAA, their champ goes down. Sorry Dave Cohen.
3 Baylor over 14 Sam Houston State. SHSU may be my favorite college name every year. Way more than Austin Peay. Maybe right behind Stephen F Austin.
7 Richmond over 10 St. Mary's. Giving the Spiders some LOVE
2 Nova over 15 Robert Morris. Robert Morris is NO Sam Houston!
Second Round
Duke over Lou-a-vul. And Rick Pitino leaves after the game to go to the Raptors?
TAMU over Siena. Siena gets Burnt! HA!
Baylor beats ND. Those people in WACO are CRAZY!
Nova beats Richmond. Not THAT much love Richmond
Third Round
Duke beats TAMU. Did I REALLY have Texas A&M in the S16?
Nova beats Baylor. Scottie Reynolds
Fourth Round
Nova over Duke. And Dickie V cries a little bit.
Final Four.
Kentucky beats Nova. JOHN WALL
Kansas beats Da Cuse. The best collection of talent in the field!
Title game:
Kentucky beats Kansas. John Wall will NOT BE STOPPED by Kansas. Carmelo part TWO!
Friday, March 12, 2010
The ALL NEW expanded Scanning the Dial
Score Atlanta has decided to push Scanning the Dial UP A NOTCH. Apparently I'm pretty good or something. Regardless, this sneak peek of Scanning the Dial is a bit longer than usual and will now contain a "CAN YOU BELIEVE HE SAID THAT?" feature. Hopefully this will become a sports version of what Rodney Ho does for the AJC. Be sure to grab a copy of Score Atlanta at metro area QuikTrips, Krogers and Blockbusters.
NASCAR has gotten a lot of play on Atlanta radio recently. Both sports radio stations in Atlanta have a weekly racing program (Full Throttle on Monday nights for 680 The Fan and Speed Zone on either Monday or Tuesday nights for 790 The Zone) but each station has been including circuit talk into regular conversation. The Zone’s Pollack and Bell program was live from Daytona recently for the Great American Race, and Mike Bell was live at the Atlanta Motor Speedway last week leading up to the Kobalt 500. Bell was able to grab crew chiefs, commentators and a few drivers, including Carl Edwards. The Fan meanwhile was promoting a big contest to send “lucky” fans to the race. Then after the race took place over the weekend, both stations were talking about the huge crash between Edwards and another driver where it appeared that Edwards purposely crashed Brad Keselowski. Hearing these local programs that are not up on their NASCAR try and discuss the “sport” is quite humorous and it actually makes me want to stick with their program moreso than the guys who DO know about it and attempt to teach the average listener who has no desire to learn. On the flip side though, if there is a topic that people care about and the co-hosts don’t know about it and refuse to learn anything about it before commenting, that gets annoying.
I found the recent flipflopping from AJC columnist Mark Bradley to be a little disappointing. Several weeks back Bradley wrote a column that talked about Georgia Tech head basketball coach Paul Hewitt and was critical of the team’s performance on the court, and Bradley wrote the piece so that it was all backed up by facts. Hewitt however took the column as a personal attack and went on 790 The Zone and fired back after also tweeting on the subject. Hewitt earlier this week appeared on 680 The Fan and noted how he didn’t really want to talk about it before proceeding to talk about it and try to make himself out to be the good guy. On the AJC’s website Bradley released several pro-Georgia Tech blogs that are clearly an attempt to get back in Hewitt’s good graces. I ask WHY? Why would you go back against your own researched-based, non-personal attack article just to get “back inside” with this coach? Coaches are bullies sometimes and every now and then a watchdog is needed. Bradley was serving as that watchdog. Stand strong next time, especially since it didn’t read to me as a personal attack.
The Atlanta area news organizations got a taste of the national sports media when Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a twenty-year-old female at a Milledgeville bar. ESPN swooped in to do live standups in front of the Capital City Bar in Milledgeville, GA and major news stations across the country have picked up AJC stories ever since the event took place last week. On our weekly radio show Score Atlanta Sports Sunday on 790 The Zone, we started our show with the topic and the calls poured in. Folks were wanting the Steelers to do everything from suspend him (the length ranged from two games to four games to, as one caller wanted, the season) to cut him to even draft another QB and make Roethlisberger train his replacement. One caller made the point that sexual assault could mean anything from grabbing a female’s tush to forcing yourself on her just short of sex. The caller said that if it was the former, this would be much ado about nothing. Several callers responded to this one gentleman, saying that if Roethlisberger had even done so much as touch his daughter on the arm and she didn’t want him to, he would have a beef with the quarterback. The Steelers have told the local Pittsburgh papers that the organization will wait until the investigation concludes, but personally, I say they must do something now. This is three incidents in the last four off-seasons, after the motorcycle crash, the alleged rape and now the claim of sexual assault. This twenty-eight-year-old must learn that he is putting himself in the wrong situation constantly and something must change. I made the point on Sports Sunday that you keep hearing about Roethlisberger doing these things, even if no charges are filed or charges are dropped, but you never hear about Matt Ryan doing these things, you never hear about Peyton Manning doing these things. They are smart enough not to put themselves in those situations and maybe Roethlisberger, who has more rings than both combined, should strive to be a bit more like those two.
Braves minor league phenom Jason Heyward will be featured in an upcoming article in Sports Illustrated. According to the team website, the writer was on hand earlier this week and witnessed Heyward crush his first spring training home run for approximately 440 feet that cleared the team’s batting cages before bouncing once on a shed room and then shooting straight over the facility behind the outfield wall. Jeff Francoeur was featured during his rookie season by the magazine before the SI jinx hit Frenchy, eventually costing him the Rookie of the Year award to Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard.
Finally, an interesting decision may force the program director at the 680 The Fan to hurt some feelings. The Fan has trumpeted its stance as “Home of the Atlanta Thrashers,” for years now, however the hype has been even more extreme as the Braves now call the Fan its flagship station. The Thrashers are hovering near the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and should the Thrashers make the postseason, what will the station do? Putting Thrashers games on a sister station for the Braves is fine during the regular season, but if the Thrashers make the postseason, are you really going to bump the Thrashers again? And if you put the Braves on the sister station, that would be curious, considering the massive (and sometimes annoying) campaign the station put on to let everyone know that The Fan is the new home of the Braves. The decision will be one to keep an eye on.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE SAID THAT?
Can anyone tell me what or where Mettenberg is? Is it a town in West Virginia? Oh, Pollack and Bell, did you guys mean Zach MettenbergER? The redshirt freshman competing for the Georgia starting quarterback position? Ahh, I bet you guys did. Here is the thing though: shouldn’t you guys know the name of the person you are talking about? I mean it was only plastered all over ajc.com, the Athens Banner-Herald, ESPN.com, macon.com, etc., but somehow you guys called him Mettenberg? What? Even David Hubbard doing the updates was getting it right. Who is Mettenberg?
NASCAR has gotten a lot of play on Atlanta radio recently. Both sports radio stations in Atlanta have a weekly racing program (Full Throttle on Monday nights for 680 The Fan and Speed Zone on either Monday or Tuesday nights for 790 The Zone) but each station has been including circuit talk into regular conversation. The Zone’s Pollack and Bell program was live from Daytona recently for the Great American Race, and Mike Bell was live at the Atlanta Motor Speedway last week leading up to the Kobalt 500. Bell was able to grab crew chiefs, commentators and a few drivers, including Carl Edwards. The Fan meanwhile was promoting a big contest to send “lucky” fans to the race. Then after the race took place over the weekend, both stations were talking about the huge crash between Edwards and another driver where it appeared that Edwards purposely crashed Brad Keselowski. Hearing these local programs that are not up on their NASCAR try and discuss the “sport” is quite humorous and it actually makes me want to stick with their program moreso than the guys who DO know about it and attempt to teach the average listener who has no desire to learn. On the flip side though, if there is a topic that people care about and the co-hosts don’t know about it and refuse to learn anything about it before commenting, that gets annoying.
I found the recent flipflopping from AJC columnist Mark Bradley to be a little disappointing. Several weeks back Bradley wrote a column that talked about Georgia Tech head basketball coach Paul Hewitt and was critical of the team’s performance on the court, and Bradley wrote the piece so that it was all backed up by facts. Hewitt however took the column as a personal attack and went on 790 The Zone and fired back after also tweeting on the subject. Hewitt earlier this week appeared on 680 The Fan and noted how he didn’t really want to talk about it before proceeding to talk about it and try to make himself out to be the good guy. On the AJC’s website Bradley released several pro-Georgia Tech blogs that are clearly an attempt to get back in Hewitt’s good graces. I ask WHY? Why would you go back against your own researched-based, non-personal attack article just to get “back inside” with this coach? Coaches are bullies sometimes and every now and then a watchdog is needed. Bradley was serving as that watchdog. Stand strong next time, especially since it didn’t read to me as a personal attack.
The Atlanta area news organizations got a taste of the national sports media when Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexually assaulting a twenty-year-old female at a Milledgeville bar. ESPN swooped in to do live standups in front of the Capital City Bar in Milledgeville, GA and major news stations across the country have picked up AJC stories ever since the event took place last week. On our weekly radio show Score Atlanta Sports Sunday on 790 The Zone, we started our show with the topic and the calls poured in. Folks were wanting the Steelers to do everything from suspend him (the length ranged from two games to four games to, as one caller wanted, the season) to cut him to even draft another QB and make Roethlisberger train his replacement. One caller made the point that sexual assault could mean anything from grabbing a female’s tush to forcing yourself on her just short of sex. The caller said that if it was the former, this would be much ado about nothing. Several callers responded to this one gentleman, saying that if Roethlisberger had even done so much as touch his daughter on the arm and she didn’t want him to, he would have a beef with the quarterback. The Steelers have told the local Pittsburgh papers that the organization will wait until the investigation concludes, but personally, I say they must do something now. This is three incidents in the last four off-seasons, after the motorcycle crash, the alleged rape and now the claim of sexual assault. This twenty-eight-year-old must learn that he is putting himself in the wrong situation constantly and something must change. I made the point on Sports Sunday that you keep hearing about Roethlisberger doing these things, even if no charges are filed or charges are dropped, but you never hear about Matt Ryan doing these things, you never hear about Peyton Manning doing these things. They are smart enough not to put themselves in those situations and maybe Roethlisberger, who has more rings than both combined, should strive to be a bit more like those two.
Braves minor league phenom Jason Heyward will be featured in an upcoming article in Sports Illustrated. According to the team website, the writer was on hand earlier this week and witnessed Heyward crush his first spring training home run for approximately 440 feet that cleared the team’s batting cages before bouncing once on a shed room and then shooting straight over the facility behind the outfield wall. Jeff Francoeur was featured during his rookie season by the magazine before the SI jinx hit Frenchy, eventually costing him the Rookie of the Year award to Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard.
Finally, an interesting decision may force the program director at the 680 The Fan to hurt some feelings. The Fan has trumpeted its stance as “Home of the Atlanta Thrashers,” for years now, however the hype has been even more extreme as the Braves now call the Fan its flagship station. The Thrashers are hovering near the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and should the Thrashers make the postseason, what will the station do? Putting Thrashers games on a sister station for the Braves is fine during the regular season, but if the Thrashers make the postseason, are you really going to bump the Thrashers again? And if you put the Braves on the sister station, that would be curious, considering the massive (and sometimes annoying) campaign the station put on to let everyone know that The Fan is the new home of the Braves. The decision will be one to keep an eye on.
CAN YOU BELIEVE HE SAID THAT?
Can anyone tell me what or where Mettenberg is? Is it a town in West Virginia? Oh, Pollack and Bell, did you guys mean Zach MettenbergER? The redshirt freshman competing for the Georgia starting quarterback position? Ahh, I bet you guys did. Here is the thing though: shouldn’t you guys know the name of the person you are talking about? I mean it was only plastered all over ajc.com, the Athens Banner-Herald, ESPN.com, macon.com, etc., but somehow you guys called him Mettenberg? What? Even David Hubbard doing the updates was getting it right. Who is Mettenberg?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Midweek Entertainment report 3/10/10
One Corey down and one to go, Lohan is suing E-Trade, David Archuleta writing his life's memoirs and is anyone watching Idol?
Ladies and gentlemen, the midweek entertainment report!
BEATLES-like screaming!
So Corey Haim died last night/this morning. He was 38. The cause of death is not known though reports are saying that he was with his mom. Couldn't the coroner just ask her? I am sorry but I don't remember Corey Haim. I remember Feldmen because of the Goonies. But Haim? Apparently he was in The Lost Boys and Lucas, but I've never heard of those. I've heard of Corey Hart (The sunglasses at night guy), and I've heard of Corey Matthews (Ben Savage, if you will), but Corey Haim? His "work" doesn't stand out to me. I know he was on Two Coreys or whatever that crap A&E show was, but again that was with Feldmen. I guess I just feel that this guy's life probably went off track at some point and he tried to blame it on being a child actor. Ummm, wasn't John Cusack and Charlie Sheen and all of the kids from The Breakfast Club and ummmm EVERYONE ELSE from that Brat Pack era that seemed to do OK and not go off the deep end? I don't feel sorry for him because I never knew his work, just as a screw up that would do anything to stay in the limelight. Actually, it is a shame this didn't happen last week because he would have ended up in the Oscars montage...the closest he's ever been to the Oscars.
Speaking of child actors that are screwed up yet only have themselves to blame...Apparently Lindsay Lohan is suing E*Trade for $100M for the commercial using the name Lindsay for a "boyfriend stealing baby" who is a "milkaholic." Lindsay's PR people (who should be fired for this stunt) say that EVERYONE KNOWS that the "milkaholic" baby is a parody of her. And Lindsay Lohan apparently is ONLY going by Lindsay these days, so that is the reason EVERYONE KNOWS it is her? IT IS?! Wait, first off Lindz, you are an AL-co-holic, not a milkaholic. you should have been flattered that they weren't calling you a lush. Milk is GOOD for you. Secondly, it was a BOYfriend-stealing baby. You dated a GIRL named Sam. Quasi-lezbinen=you; boyfriend-stealing baby=NOT you. Third, it was a BABY, not a 23-year-old redhead that was so desperate to get her name out there that she came up with this stupid story. Seriously Lindz, are you THAT desperate to be relevant again? Actually, if E*Trade REALLY wanted to make a commercial spoofing a celebreality person, they'd likely choose one of the Kardashians. Sorry Lindz, you aren't relevant anymore.
Now if Lindsay was suing E*Trade to get them to STOP DOING CREEPY BABY Commercials JUST BECAUSE, that would be fine. I'd be on board, but stop trying to get money.
Finally, David Archuleta is writing a memoir. What is he? 14? How long is this book going to be? 8 pages?
And is anyone watching Idol? I tried last night, but I had to turn it off. These chicks stink. I could care less who wins this season.
Ladies and gentlemen, the midweek entertainment report!
BEATLES-like screaming!
So Corey Haim died last night/this morning. He was 38. The cause of death is not known though reports are saying that he was with his mom. Couldn't the coroner just ask her? I am sorry but I don't remember Corey Haim. I remember Feldmen because of the Goonies. But Haim? Apparently he was in The Lost Boys and Lucas, but I've never heard of those. I've heard of Corey Hart (The sunglasses at night guy), and I've heard of Corey Matthews (Ben Savage, if you will), but Corey Haim? His "work" doesn't stand out to me. I know he was on Two Coreys or whatever that crap A&E show was, but again that was with Feldmen. I guess I just feel that this guy's life probably went off track at some point and he tried to blame it on being a child actor. Ummm, wasn't John Cusack and Charlie Sheen and all of the kids from The Breakfast Club and ummmm EVERYONE ELSE from that Brat Pack era that seemed to do OK and not go off the deep end? I don't feel sorry for him because I never knew his work, just as a screw up that would do anything to stay in the limelight. Actually, it is a shame this didn't happen last week because he would have ended up in the Oscars montage...the closest he's ever been to the Oscars.
Speaking of child actors that are screwed up yet only have themselves to blame...Apparently Lindsay Lohan is suing E*Trade for $100M for the commercial using the name Lindsay for a "boyfriend stealing baby" who is a "milkaholic." Lindsay's PR people (who should be fired for this stunt) say that EVERYONE KNOWS that the "milkaholic" baby is a parody of her. And Lindsay Lohan apparently is ONLY going by Lindsay these days, so that is the reason EVERYONE KNOWS it is her? IT IS?! Wait, first off Lindz, you are an AL-co-holic, not a milkaholic. you should have been flattered that they weren't calling you a lush. Milk is GOOD for you. Secondly, it was a BOYfriend-stealing baby. You dated a GIRL named Sam. Quasi-lezbinen=you; boyfriend-stealing baby=NOT you. Third, it was a BABY, not a 23-year-old redhead that was so desperate to get her name out there that she came up with this stupid story. Seriously Lindz, are you THAT desperate to be relevant again? Actually, if E*Trade REALLY wanted to make a commercial spoofing a celebreality person, they'd likely choose one of the Kardashians. Sorry Lindz, you aren't relevant anymore.
Now if Lindsay was suing E*Trade to get them to STOP DOING CREEPY BABY Commercials JUST BECAUSE, that would be fine. I'd be on board, but stop trying to get money.
Finally, David Archuleta is writing a memoir. What is he? 14? How long is this book going to be? 8 pages?
And is anyone watching Idol? I tried last night, but I had to turn it off. These chicks stink. I could care less who wins this season.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Brian Jones ranks the rising QBs for GHSA football in 2010
Big B Brian Jones of Score Atlanta and 790 The Zone fame gives Sportsbyfletch a new recruiting top ten list every week. For a breakdown of this list, tune in to 790 the Zone tonight from 8-10pm for Score Atlanta's The Official Visit as Scott Janovitz will break down the list with his thoughts.
10. Kent Rollins
9. Alex Ross
8. Carson Bennett
7. Tony Daniel
6. Austin Brown
5. Ronnie Bell
4. Akil Dan-Fodio
3. Martay Mattox
2. Nick Marshall
1. C.J. Uzomah
10. Kent Rollins
9. Alex Ross
8. Carson Bennett
7. Tony Daniel
6. Austin Brown
5. Ronnie Bell
4. Akil Dan-Fodio
3. Martay Mattox
2. Nick Marshall
1. C.J. Uzomah
Monday, March 8, 2010
Roethlisberger should be smarter than that, right?
Ben Roethlisberger (I made sure to include his last name in case the CBS football commentators read my blog, because they never say it. I thought there was a chance they didn't know it...) made an ass of himself YET AGAIN at the tail (no pun intended) end of last week, this time in Milledgeville, GA when he reportedly sexually assaulted a twenty-year-old in the Capital City bar.
This comes two years after he allegedly raped a female in Colorado....
which is just years after he rode a motorcycle sans helmet and went through a car's windshield. PS, his contract explicitly prohibited him from riding motorcycles.
And since he is the QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers who has been under center when the team won a pair of Super Bowl titles, who knows how much stuff he's gotten away with in the Steel City that was swept under the rug.
But let's leave that thought for a moment and just consider the three incidents that we KNOW of. You ride a motorcycle WITHOUT A HELMET? A real brainiac. Maybe that's why he went to Miami (OH) instead of a higher institute of higher learning.
Then you allegedly rape a girl?
Then after no charges were filed in that case you STILL put yourself in harm's way by reportedly sexually assaulting another female? I realize it could be as "harmless" as just grabbing this woman's tushie, but what if it was more? If she didn't want you to do that, you DON'T DO IT.
My co-host yesterday on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday (on Sports Radio 790 The Zone. Tune in this Sunday from 3:30-6pm, after the ACC tournament championship game. Shameless plug, sorry.) agreed with one of our callers that said that if Roethlisberger grabbed his daughter's butt and it was JUST THAT, he'd be furious. Could you imagine if Big Ben did anything more? I don't have a daughter, but I think I would be pretty pissed if I did.
Roethlisberger isn't smart and while he does have a pair of rings, I say the Steelers should seriously consider firing a warning shot across the bow and draft a QB. Tell Roethlisberger that if he messes up again (after serving a two-game suspension, not for the sexual assault, but for continuing to be a fool), he is gone. He is giving the Steel City's pride a black eye, time after time, and that might be the only way he'll learn to grow up. The dude is 28. He should know better.
If I am a Falcons fan, I am happy that I have Matt Ryan. You've never heard Ryan's name in connection to a rape, sexual assault or motorcycle accident. For all I know, Ryan has never even BEEN to Milledgeville. Last Thursday night, where was Ryan while Roethlisberger was chasing Milledgeville townie tail? Likely studying the playbook.
Yesterday on our show we actually went around to all of the team whose QBs weren't Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees (and Brett Favre) and played the "would you rather have Roethlisberger with his two rings or your guy!" Aaron Rodgers or Roethlisbeger? AR. Rivers or Roethlisberger? Rivers. Carson Palmer or Roethlisberger? Palmer. Eli Manning, yes. Matt Ryan, yes. Romo? Well maybe there I'd take Roethlisberger.
This isn't hard. Tell him to keep his nose clean and quit being such an idiot. And if he cannot and he continues to make your team look bad, then cut him. Make a statement. Do it. Come on. You are the Steelers. Don't stand for that crap.
This comes two years after he allegedly raped a female in Colorado....
which is just years after he rode a motorcycle sans helmet and went through a car's windshield. PS, his contract explicitly prohibited him from riding motorcycles.
And since he is the QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers who has been under center when the team won a pair of Super Bowl titles, who knows how much stuff he's gotten away with in the Steel City that was swept under the rug.
But let's leave that thought for a moment and just consider the three incidents that we KNOW of. You ride a motorcycle WITHOUT A HELMET? A real brainiac. Maybe that's why he went to Miami (OH) instead of a higher institute of higher learning.
Then you allegedly rape a girl?
Then after no charges were filed in that case you STILL put yourself in harm's way by reportedly sexually assaulting another female? I realize it could be as "harmless" as just grabbing this woman's tushie, but what if it was more? If she didn't want you to do that, you DON'T DO IT.
My co-host yesterday on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday (on Sports Radio 790 The Zone. Tune in this Sunday from 3:30-6pm, after the ACC tournament championship game. Shameless plug, sorry.) agreed with one of our callers that said that if Roethlisberger grabbed his daughter's butt and it was JUST THAT, he'd be furious. Could you imagine if Big Ben did anything more? I don't have a daughter, but I think I would be pretty pissed if I did.
Roethlisberger isn't smart and while he does have a pair of rings, I say the Steelers should seriously consider firing a warning shot across the bow and draft a QB. Tell Roethlisberger that if he messes up again (after serving a two-game suspension, not for the sexual assault, but for continuing to be a fool), he is gone. He is giving the Steel City's pride a black eye, time after time, and that might be the only way he'll learn to grow up. The dude is 28. He should know better.
If I am a Falcons fan, I am happy that I have Matt Ryan. You've never heard Ryan's name in connection to a rape, sexual assault or motorcycle accident. For all I know, Ryan has never even BEEN to Milledgeville. Last Thursday night, where was Ryan while Roethlisberger was chasing Milledgeville townie tail? Likely studying the playbook.
Yesterday on our show we actually went around to all of the team whose QBs weren't Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees (and Brett Favre) and played the "would you rather have Roethlisberger with his two rings or your guy!" Aaron Rodgers or Roethlisbeger? AR. Rivers or Roethlisberger? Rivers. Carson Palmer or Roethlisberger? Palmer. Eli Manning, yes. Matt Ryan, yes. Romo? Well maybe there I'd take Roethlisberger.
This isn't hard. Tell him to keep his nose clean and quit being such an idiot. And if he cannot and he continues to make your team look bad, then cut him. Make a statement. Do it. Come on. You are the Steelers. Don't stand for that crap.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
GHSA basketball semi-final preview
The QTRFinals just ended and here is a preview for the semi-finals. Enjoy! remember that I'll be calling Class AAAAA and AAAA semifinal games LIVE from Gwinnett Arena this Wednesday and Thursday.
Boys AAA
Benjie Wood, coach of the North Hall Trojans has been to the Final Four before, though it was with the Johnson girls basketball team in 2005. This will be the Trojans first trip to the Final Four and seniors Robert Humphrey and Chase Syfon will try and get the Trojans two more wins to truly make North Hall history. Trevor Ross had eight points in the 53-49 win over Riverwood in the quarterfinals. Robby Hill will be back after missing the Riverwood game. The Trojans will play undefeated LaGrange. Dionte Mains led the Grangers with 16 points in the quarterfinals 59-51 win over against Dougherty. Mains is one of eight seniors that are experiencing their first success in the playoffs. Jamius Gunsby is a force down low in the post and fellow senior Antione Green lights things up from the backcourt. Finally, don’t sleep on the impact that undersized forward Qua Hardy provides.
The Columbia Eagles managed to run away from Elbert County and have now reached the final four for the fifth straight season. The Eagles won the 2006 and 2008 titles, and came up short in the 2007 title game. The Eagles might just make it three titles in five years with JerShon Cobb in shooting guard. The future Northwestern Wildcat is joined by Chris Grier in the backcourt and the frontcourt is anchored by 6’8 center Darnelius “Tank” Sessions. If the Eagles are to advance to a fourth title game in five years, they must beat Westover. The Patriots knocked off the defending state champions in South Atlanta and now the Pats will need even more from guards Anthony Ball and Malcolm Sapp as well as forward Onochie Ochie. Chris Wheeler is also a threat to explode, as he did for 32 against Cairo earlier this season. Coach Dallas Smith had his team in the finals last year, this year he wants to win that game.
girls AAA
Carver-Atlanta advanced to the semi-finals after besting Franklin Co 43-38. For Coach Cedrick King, his Lady Panthers have won at least twenty games in back to back seasons and now Carver is trying to win at least one more and will start against top-ranked and undefeated Kendrick, who beat Spalding 61-28 in the quarterfinals. The Carver Panthers have a standout junior in Bria Dorsey and two outstanding freshmen that get significant minutes. Meanwhile, Kendrick has a plethora of scorers that can explode at anytime for points. Simone High, Janae Merritt and Deshanti Lewis all reached double digits for Kendrick in the second round against Peach County and with its win over Spalding, the Lady Cherokees improved to 30-0. This is the third trip to the final four in four years and the team is seeking its second title in three years.
LaGrange beat Northside-Columbus 66-64 on a Arneshia Williams basket with 7.6 seconds left. Williams finished the quarterfinal game with 16 points, and in the semis, expect Williams to be joined in the scorer’s book by Angel Penn and Steara Mitchell . The Lady Grangers, Region 2-AAA three-seed, will play Columbia, who beat East Hall 46-17. The Lady Eagles led from nearly the jump in the quarterfinals against East Hall as 6’5 senior center Akila McDonald scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, with Zuri Frost adding ten points. Columbia will be difficult to top on the boards as they have a knack for finding the rebound. The Eagles defense really turned up against East Hall in the quarters, shutting out East Hall for an entire quarter. The Eagles have won 19 straight for coach Chantay Frost. The semifinal may come down to whether LaGrange can force enough turnovers from Columbia, leading to fastbreak points.
Boys AAA
Benjie Wood, coach of the North Hall Trojans has been to the Final Four before, though it was with the Johnson girls basketball team in 2005. This will be the Trojans first trip to the Final Four and seniors Robert Humphrey and Chase Syfon will try and get the Trojans two more wins to truly make North Hall history. Trevor Ross had eight points in the 53-49 win over Riverwood in the quarterfinals. Robby Hill will be back after missing the Riverwood game. The Trojans will play undefeated LaGrange. Dionte Mains led the Grangers with 16 points in the quarterfinals 59-51 win over against Dougherty. Mains is one of eight seniors that are experiencing their first success in the playoffs. Jamius Gunsby is a force down low in the post and fellow senior Antione Green lights things up from the backcourt. Finally, don’t sleep on the impact that undersized forward Qua Hardy provides.
The Columbia Eagles managed to run away from Elbert County and have now reached the final four for the fifth straight season. The Eagles won the 2006 and 2008 titles, and came up short in the 2007 title game. The Eagles might just make it three titles in five years with JerShon Cobb in shooting guard. The future Northwestern Wildcat is joined by Chris Grier in the backcourt and the frontcourt is anchored by 6’8 center Darnelius “Tank” Sessions. If the Eagles are to advance to a fourth title game in five years, they must beat Westover. The Patriots knocked off the defending state champions in South Atlanta and now the Pats will need even more from guards Anthony Ball and Malcolm Sapp as well as forward Onochie Ochie. Chris Wheeler is also a threat to explode, as he did for 32 against Cairo earlier this season. Coach Dallas Smith had his team in the finals last year, this year he wants to win that game.
girls AAA
Carver-Atlanta advanced to the semi-finals after besting Franklin Co 43-38. For Coach Cedrick King, his Lady Panthers have won at least twenty games in back to back seasons and now Carver is trying to win at least one more and will start against top-ranked and undefeated Kendrick, who beat Spalding 61-28 in the quarterfinals. The Carver Panthers have a standout junior in Bria Dorsey and two outstanding freshmen that get significant minutes. Meanwhile, Kendrick has a plethora of scorers that can explode at anytime for points. Simone High, Janae Merritt and Deshanti Lewis all reached double digits for Kendrick in the second round against Peach County and with its win over Spalding, the Lady Cherokees improved to 30-0. This is the third trip to the final four in four years and the team is seeking its second title in three years.
LaGrange beat Northside-Columbus 66-64 on a Arneshia Williams basket with 7.6 seconds left. Williams finished the quarterfinal game with 16 points, and in the semis, expect Williams to be joined in the scorer’s book by Angel Penn and Steara Mitchell . The Lady Grangers, Region 2-AAA three-seed, will play Columbia, who beat East Hall 46-17. The Lady Eagles led from nearly the jump in the quarterfinals against East Hall as 6’5 senior center Akila McDonald scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, with Zuri Frost adding ten points. Columbia will be difficult to top on the boards as they have a knack for finding the rebound. The Eagles defense really turned up against East Hall in the quarters, shutting out East Hall for an entire quarter. The Eagles have won 19 straight for coach Chantay Frost. The semifinal may come down to whether LaGrange can force enough turnovers from Columbia, leading to fastbreak points.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Georgia High School basketball quarterfinals!!!
The quarterfinals are here for the GHSA playoffs for roundball and Score Atlanta and GPB are once again on the scene. Here is the Class AAA preview which you can pick up at any of the sites that are hosting games tonight and tomorrow. Next week, log on to http://gpb.org/basketball on Wednesday and Thursday to catch THIS GUY calling the Class AAAA and Class AAAAA semi finals, LIVE from the Gwinnett Arena. I'm doing two games Wednesday and two games Thursday, both days starting at 7! (Though I could be doing the 5:30 games on both days too. Check back with SBF for more details or follow me on Twitter, at the top right corner of this page!)
The Class AAA boys basketball playoffs feature multiple teams with a legit shot at the 2010 state crown. Defending champion South Atlanta may no longer have Derrick Favors manning the paint but three juniors have Coach Michael Reddick’s Hornets in a position to repeat. Nick Jacobs (6’8), is a beast underneath with Rashuad Bell (6’6) flanking him at forward and versatile Dominique McKoy (6’7) doing a bit of everything from strong defense to scoring. The Hornets will face Westover, having won 23 games and is led by guards Anthony Ball and Malcolm Sapp and forward Onochie Ochie ….Columbia once again seems poised for a long run in the playoffs, especially with JerShon Cobb sparking the offense from the backcourt. Columbia would likely love nothing more than to get a rematch against South Atlanta in the semi-finals after losing in the title game last year. The Eagles face Elbert County and Rod Rucker. The 6-5 senior routinely goes for 20+ points and 20+ rebounds…Dougherty knocked out Liberty County in an exciting 59-58 second round contest. The Trojans will face LaGrange, the undefeated champs of Region 2 and current No.1 team in Class AAA…Finally, North Hall has lost just twice since opening up the season with a loss and Benjie Wood’s team looks ready to move on to the semi-finals. The Trojans whipped Central Carroll in the first round and took care of Franklin in round two. Riverwood benefited from a second-round home game in its 55-52 win over Johnson (Gainesville). Riverwood’s run has been inspired and another victory may just be in the cards for the underdog Raiders.
A new Class AAA girls champ will be crowned after Carrollton is not in the hunt this season. The 2009 runner-up Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe also went down in round two, falling to Carver 54-38. Coach Cedric King’s Lady Panthers has won 16 of its last 18, with the only two losses coming either in OT or by just two points. The Lions of Franklin County may have been the Region 8 runners-up but they are capable of popping off for huge points, as the Lions put 75 on the board in the first round against Grady and 88 earlier this year against Hart County….Spalding needed overtime to knock off the Golden Hawks of Washington County, and will need Shay Williams and Shakeva Richards to step up if the Jaguars want to make the semi-finals. Spalding will face Kendrick in a David v Goliath matchup. Kendrick is 29-0 and the Lady Cherokees’ closest win this season was 7 points. Kendrick clocked Liberty County 66-45 in round one and Peach County in round two…Northside-Columbus staged a furious rally in its win over Westover, coming back to win after scoring just two points in the first quarter and now the Patriots will face LaGrange. The Lady Grangers upset Region 3 runner-up Baldwin in round one 51-41 then edged out Monroe 66-55. Jan Jones’ crew has won twenty games and is looking for lucky number 21 against Westover…Region 5 champion Columbia crushed Hart County 65-27 and followed that up with a convincing 55-37 win over Flowery Branch. Columbia has won 18 straight games and is looking to grab its 25th win against East Hall/Stephens County.
The Class AAA boys basketball playoffs feature multiple teams with a legit shot at the 2010 state crown. Defending champion South Atlanta may no longer have Derrick Favors manning the paint but three juniors have Coach Michael Reddick’s Hornets in a position to repeat. Nick Jacobs (6’8), is a beast underneath with Rashuad Bell (6’6) flanking him at forward and versatile Dominique McKoy (6’7) doing a bit of everything from strong defense to scoring. The Hornets will face Westover, having won 23 games and is led by guards Anthony Ball and Malcolm Sapp and forward Onochie Ochie ….Columbia once again seems poised for a long run in the playoffs, especially with JerShon Cobb sparking the offense from the backcourt. Columbia would likely love nothing more than to get a rematch against South Atlanta in the semi-finals after losing in the title game last year. The Eagles face Elbert County and Rod Rucker. The 6-5 senior routinely goes for 20+ points and 20+ rebounds…Dougherty knocked out Liberty County in an exciting 59-58 second round contest. The Trojans will face LaGrange, the undefeated champs of Region 2 and current No.1 team in Class AAA…Finally, North Hall has lost just twice since opening up the season with a loss and Benjie Wood’s team looks ready to move on to the semi-finals. The Trojans whipped Central Carroll in the first round and took care of Franklin in round two. Riverwood benefited from a second-round home game in its 55-52 win over Johnson (Gainesville). Riverwood’s run has been inspired and another victory may just be in the cards for the underdog Raiders.
A new Class AAA girls champ will be crowned after Carrollton is not in the hunt this season. The 2009 runner-up Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe also went down in round two, falling to Carver 54-38. Coach Cedric King’s Lady Panthers has won 16 of its last 18, with the only two losses coming either in OT or by just two points. The Lions of Franklin County may have been the Region 8 runners-up but they are capable of popping off for huge points, as the Lions put 75 on the board in the first round against Grady and 88 earlier this year against Hart County….Spalding needed overtime to knock off the Golden Hawks of Washington County, and will need Shay Williams and Shakeva Richards to step up if the Jaguars want to make the semi-finals. Spalding will face Kendrick in a David v Goliath matchup. Kendrick is 29-0 and the Lady Cherokees’ closest win this season was 7 points. Kendrick clocked Liberty County 66-45 in round one and Peach County in round two…Northside-Columbus staged a furious rally in its win over Westover, coming back to win after scoring just two points in the first quarter and now the Patriots will face LaGrange. The Lady Grangers upset Region 3 runner-up Baldwin in round one 51-41 then edged out Monroe 66-55. Jan Jones’ crew has won twenty games and is looking for lucky number 21 against Westover…Region 5 champion Columbia crushed Hart County 65-27 and followed that up with a convincing 55-37 win over Flowery Branch. Columbia has won 18 straight games and is looking to grab its 25th win against East Hall/Stephens County.
Your weekly Around the Dial fix
Here is your weekly fix of Score Atlanta's Around the Dial. Be sure and pick up Score Atlanta at any metro-area QuikTrip, Kroger and/or Blockbuster, or any of our other 1300 locations. For more info, www.scoreatl.com
The NFL combine was a busy place last weekend and the NFL Network was on the scene for the whole event. NFL fans got a chance to watch future professionals in the largest job interview in the world. Players such as Tim Tebow, CJ Spiller, and Jahvid Best all likely improved their draft stock with impressive 40-yard dash times while Mitch Petrus and Georgia defensive lineman Jeff Owens likely shot up draft boards with their bench press results. Watching the NFL combine workouts has its moments of excitement such as when a tailback busts a sub 4.40 forty-time or when a lineman falls in a three cone drill, but for the most part, the drills are not that exciting. Several high school football coaches told me that they enjoy watching the drills as they have picked up a few things to implement into their summer practices. Otherwise though, I would just keep the channel locked to college basketball and catch the “highlights” on ESPN instead of wasting a Saturday afternoon watching dude in their tighty-whiteys.
The Winter Olympics came to a close last weekend with a fine closing ceremony that more than made up for the opening ceremony which was quite lacking. Before the closing of the Games though, the US Hockey team squared off against the host Canadians in what might have been the most watched Winter Olympic event ever. Several NBC hockey commentators predicted that close to 35M of Canada’s 40M residents were likely watching the game, not to mention the several million folks in America that tuned in to see if the underdog Americans could pull off another “miracle.” Canada clearly failed to “Own the Podium,” like they tried to do (and even created a campaign to try and do so) but the Canadians won more gold medals than any other country, including the medal-leading United States. The game last Sunday was a chance for Canada to claim the manifest destiny of winning the gold medal on home soil, and sure enough the Canadians pulled it off…in overtime. The Americans scored with less than thirty seconds left that had to have sent NBC execs high-fiving into the other room as the largest rated event ever likely just got even bigger ratings. Radio shows across the county including Fox Sports Radio were all over the story, even bumping a college basketball guest back to stay live with the hockey from the two co-hosts. On CBS you could hear the Purdue fans chanting USA, USA after the late equalizer from Zach Parise to force the OT. All of the networks and sports fans alike realized how big this game was, even if it didn’t have the draw of the Cold War ala 1980, it was still perhaps the biggest game the Olympics has seen since that day in Lake Placid. The Canadian team was more or less the 1992 US basketball Dream Team but on skates. The best player in the world Sidney Crosby scored the game winning goal in OT to give the host team the medal and NBC was likely high-fiving again, knowing that Crosby will probably be scheduled on multiple games on the Peacock network for its NHL coverage. Hockey will also see a bit of a bump much like soccer did back in 1994 after the World Cup when the US did relatively well. And in this day and age, hockey needs all of the help it can get.
Finally, Chuck Dowdle was named to the Braves post-game coverage on the Braves radio network. Dowdle participates in the Georgia Bulldog football broadcasts and also hosts the Mark Richt show as well as the Mark Fox show. Dowdle worked with WSB for 24 years before retiring last December. The postgame show will feature Dowdle working with a rotation of Mark Lemke, Tom Glavine and Don Sutton.
The NFL combine was a busy place last weekend and the NFL Network was on the scene for the whole event. NFL fans got a chance to watch future professionals in the largest job interview in the world. Players such as Tim Tebow, CJ Spiller, and Jahvid Best all likely improved their draft stock with impressive 40-yard dash times while Mitch Petrus and Georgia defensive lineman Jeff Owens likely shot up draft boards with their bench press results. Watching the NFL combine workouts has its moments of excitement such as when a tailback busts a sub 4.40 forty-time or when a lineman falls in a three cone drill, but for the most part, the drills are not that exciting. Several high school football coaches told me that they enjoy watching the drills as they have picked up a few things to implement into their summer practices. Otherwise though, I would just keep the channel locked to college basketball and catch the “highlights” on ESPN instead of wasting a Saturday afternoon watching dude in their tighty-whiteys.
The Winter Olympics came to a close last weekend with a fine closing ceremony that more than made up for the opening ceremony which was quite lacking. Before the closing of the Games though, the US Hockey team squared off against the host Canadians in what might have been the most watched Winter Olympic event ever. Several NBC hockey commentators predicted that close to 35M of Canada’s 40M residents were likely watching the game, not to mention the several million folks in America that tuned in to see if the underdog Americans could pull off another “miracle.” Canada clearly failed to “Own the Podium,” like they tried to do (and even created a campaign to try and do so) but the Canadians won more gold medals than any other country, including the medal-leading United States. The game last Sunday was a chance for Canada to claim the manifest destiny of winning the gold medal on home soil, and sure enough the Canadians pulled it off…in overtime. The Americans scored with less than thirty seconds left that had to have sent NBC execs high-fiving into the other room as the largest rated event ever likely just got even bigger ratings. Radio shows across the county including Fox Sports Radio were all over the story, even bumping a college basketball guest back to stay live with the hockey from the two co-hosts. On CBS you could hear the Purdue fans chanting USA, USA after the late equalizer from Zach Parise to force the OT. All of the networks and sports fans alike realized how big this game was, even if it didn’t have the draw of the Cold War ala 1980, it was still perhaps the biggest game the Olympics has seen since that day in Lake Placid. The Canadian team was more or less the 1992 US basketball Dream Team but on skates. The best player in the world Sidney Crosby scored the game winning goal in OT to give the host team the medal and NBC was likely high-fiving again, knowing that Crosby will probably be scheduled on multiple games on the Peacock network for its NHL coverage. Hockey will also see a bit of a bump much like soccer did back in 1994 after the World Cup when the US did relatively well. And in this day and age, hockey needs all of the help it can get.
Finally, Chuck Dowdle was named to the Braves post-game coverage on the Braves radio network. Dowdle participates in the Georgia Bulldog football broadcasts and also hosts the Mark Richt show as well as the Mark Fox show. Dowdle worked with WSB for 24 years before retiring last December. The postgame show will feature Dowdle working with a rotation of Mark Lemke, Tom Glavine and Don Sutton.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Taking basketball stock...
Remember that girl from high school that was uber-hot but uber-religious that was always planning on waiting for marriage and got so tired of turning down everybody's advances that she started dating the still-closeted gay guy that needed a beard and so she started dating him so she could say she was dating someone and they made the decision together to wait and then she still was flirting with everyone, ("playful," she would say) but then you graduated and went to college where you nearly forgot about her, until you went home after your sophomore year to see her in the video/grocery store and she looked just worked over, to the point that you might want to strap a board to your butt so you don't fall in aka like throwing a wrench into a coat closet, and you WANT to say something to her, but then you realize that all of the turned down guys from school won and she lost and most likely she feels the worst about it because she feels like she let God down and suddenly, she isn't as hot anymore?
Remember her? HA!
You know what else is funny? The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Seriously guys. You can't win a road game? Seriously? (I know as a Georgia fan, I shouldn't be talking, but hey, WE didn't start the year ranked, spend most of the year ranked and have the best high school player from last season who is a future top ten lottery pick, AND have another lottery pick on the squad AND have three more freshmen that should be on the All-ACC freshmen team AND a coach that once took you to the Title game. No, Georgia didn't have that, but our new coach IS 1-0 against you guys. Hey, I can take a page out of Paul Johnson's book, right? Oh, wait, that's right. CPJ is 1-1 vs. Georgia. I nearly forgot.)
You pretty much KNEW that your NCAA bid is on the line when you went up the Klimpsen, and you laid an egg. Wuzzup wit dat? If GT loses to VaTech at home and then falls in the first round of the ACC, they won't make the dance and that prolly means Hewitt is GONE. So I guess I am rooting for him to win against VaTech, but lose in the ACC so maybe the boosters feel like "Tech was screwed!" they keep him around and Mark Fox continues to own him. Actually, Tech fans, if you DO go to the NIT then lose Lawal and Favors, just remember the last time you had a big-time one-and-done and could only make it to the NIT: you went to the title game the next season! There is HOPE!
Georgia got crushed last night by Kentucky-awesome-but they did show that perhaps they won't go down without a fight. They rallied back from down 18 to within 8 at one point, but they just ran out of steam. Georgia will get better with another year under Fox and I think that next year, worst-case will be an NIT run but I do think that if Thompkins and Leslie stick around, these Dawgs will be dancing come March 2011. This is the beginning. I am starting to feel like I did under Harrick, only with Mark Fox's son giving away TVs and money. I guess one thing I really like about Fox is that he always has his team ready to play (except for the missing shoes, but that wasn't his fault) and I would be willing to bet the mortgage payment that they'll win at LSU to wrap up the regular season, because his teams have rebounded from losses all year long. Oh, and another thing, he develops players. OH, and he seems like he is actually coaching them instead of glaring at them when they mess up or yelling at them when they come out of the game. Nope, instead he instructs them, tells them what they did wrong and then teaches them the correct way to do it. His players don't seize up when they make a mistake, KNOWING they will immediately come out like they did under Felton. You don't think that gives the players the confidence to know that Coach has their backs? You make a mistake, he'll let you try and correct it or he'll take you out and teach you the right way when on the bench. More butt slaps and high fives than under the previous reign (of terror). He gives the Georgia fans a rainbow after the rainstorm that was Dennis Felton's neverending rebuilding project. See Dennis, this is how easy it is to do well WITH YOUR PLAYERS at Georgia. Just saying...
Maryland looks like it will be a player come Madness time. They had a HUGE lead over Duke, let it slip away and Duke led, but this Terp team wouldn't go slowly into the night. They rallied back and Maryland won on senior night. I wouldn't be surprised if Maryland doesn't spoil Duke's bid for a top seed in the ACC tourney and with the General out there, the Terps could be the last ACC team dancing in the second Saturday/Sunday of the tourney.
Speaking of Duke, hey maybe they DO have a different core of what they've had the last few seasons. Zoubeck and the twins offer some bigmen help to Scheyer on the outside. Maybe Dook makes the sweet sixteen. Could be.....
I still stand by Kentucky as the 2010 champ. John Wall, I watched him last night, will take over a game when necessary and he is SUCK a freak...and I mean that in a good way. He will not let them lose come tourney time. And if he isn't going, Cousins, Patterson, Bledsoe, Ligon, etc can go to work. But why wouldn't Wall be going? Come on. superstud.
Syracuse has done nothing to make me think they aren't the top seed entering the tournament. They might even edge out Kansas for the final game...to lose to Kentucky. But on the plus side, when Coach Cal leaves for Sacramento in 5 years and Kentucky has to vacate the title, that means the Orange will have another title, right? Isn't that how it works?
Boy is Texas sucking these days. Rick Barnes is an AWESOME coach, isn't he? Wait... he is F-ing up a sure thing that was No.1 in the beginning of the season. What are you DOING Rick Barnes? Why is he still employed at Texas? Actually, I don't want them to fire Barnes because they might come after Fox.
Remember her? HA!
You know what else is funny? The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Seriously guys. You can't win a road game? Seriously? (I know as a Georgia fan, I shouldn't be talking, but hey, WE didn't start the year ranked, spend most of the year ranked and have the best high school player from last season who is a future top ten lottery pick, AND have another lottery pick on the squad AND have three more freshmen that should be on the All-ACC freshmen team AND a coach that once took you to the Title game. No, Georgia didn't have that, but our new coach IS 1-0 against you guys. Hey, I can take a page out of Paul Johnson's book, right? Oh, wait, that's right. CPJ is 1-1 vs. Georgia. I nearly forgot.)
You pretty much KNEW that your NCAA bid is on the line when you went up the Klimpsen, and you laid an egg. Wuzzup wit dat? If GT loses to VaTech at home and then falls in the first round of the ACC, they won't make the dance and that prolly means Hewitt is GONE. So I guess I am rooting for him to win against VaTech, but lose in the ACC so maybe the boosters feel like "Tech was screwed!" they keep him around and Mark Fox continues to own him. Actually, Tech fans, if you DO go to the NIT then lose Lawal and Favors, just remember the last time you had a big-time one-and-done and could only make it to the NIT: you went to the title game the next season! There is HOPE!
Georgia got crushed last night by Kentucky-awesome-but they did show that perhaps they won't go down without a fight. They rallied back from down 18 to within 8 at one point, but they just ran out of steam. Georgia will get better with another year under Fox and I think that next year, worst-case will be an NIT run but I do think that if Thompkins and Leslie stick around, these Dawgs will be dancing come March 2011. This is the beginning. I am starting to feel like I did under Harrick, only with Mark Fox's son giving away TVs and money. I guess one thing I really like about Fox is that he always has his team ready to play (except for the missing shoes, but that wasn't his fault) and I would be willing to bet the mortgage payment that they'll win at LSU to wrap up the regular season, because his teams have rebounded from losses all year long. Oh, and another thing, he develops players. OH, and he seems like he is actually coaching them instead of glaring at them when they mess up or yelling at them when they come out of the game. Nope, instead he instructs them, tells them what they did wrong and then teaches them the correct way to do it. His players don't seize up when they make a mistake, KNOWING they will immediately come out like they did under Felton. You don't think that gives the players the confidence to know that Coach has their backs? You make a mistake, he'll let you try and correct it or he'll take you out and teach you the right way when on the bench. More butt slaps and high fives than under the previous reign (of terror). He gives the Georgia fans a rainbow after the rainstorm that was Dennis Felton's neverending rebuilding project. See Dennis, this is how easy it is to do well WITH YOUR PLAYERS at Georgia. Just saying...
Maryland looks like it will be a player come Madness time. They had a HUGE lead over Duke, let it slip away and Duke led, but this Terp team wouldn't go slowly into the night. They rallied back and Maryland won on senior night. I wouldn't be surprised if Maryland doesn't spoil Duke's bid for a top seed in the ACC tourney and with the General out there, the Terps could be the last ACC team dancing in the second Saturday/Sunday of the tourney.
Speaking of Duke, hey maybe they DO have a different core of what they've had the last few seasons. Zoubeck and the twins offer some bigmen help to Scheyer on the outside. Maybe Dook makes the sweet sixteen. Could be.....
I still stand by Kentucky as the 2010 champ. John Wall, I watched him last night, will take over a game when necessary and he is SUCK a freak...and I mean that in a good way. He will not let them lose come tourney time. And if he isn't going, Cousins, Patterson, Bledsoe, Ligon, etc can go to work. But why wouldn't Wall be going? Come on. superstud.
Syracuse has done nothing to make me think they aren't the top seed entering the tournament. They might even edge out Kansas for the final game...to lose to Kentucky. But on the plus side, when Coach Cal leaves for Sacramento in 5 years and Kentucky has to vacate the title, that means the Orange will have another title, right? Isn't that how it works?
Boy is Texas sucking these days. Rick Barnes is an AWESOME coach, isn't he? Wait... he is F-ing up a sure thing that was No.1 in the beginning of the season. What are you DOING Rick Barnes? Why is he still employed at Texas? Actually, I don't want them to fire Barnes because they might come after Fox.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Midweek Entertainment report 3/3/10
Producer gets banned from Oscars, Erin Andrews to dance as a star, Hulu loses Colbert, Casey McCall tries another network, Palin is a barrell of laughs and Let's Get Idol!
Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is the MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT REPORT.....(Thanks Seacrest)
CLAPCLAPCLAP, tween girls screaming!
So the Oscars have banned one of the producers from Hurt Locker from this weekend's awards show. Apparently this dude was sending out emails to the voters, telling them to vote for his movie and to put Avatar at No.10 on their ballots. This is a no-no according to the Oscars. Let me get this straight...this guy invested money into this movie, and is now trying to get an award for it, so people will go see it again (let's be honest. see it for the first time!) and he can make money. Hmmmmmm, what a DICK he is being, trying to make money!
Erin Andrews was revealed to be in the cast of Dancing with the Stars. Good for her. Now college fratastics won't have to imagine her in sexy, quasi-revealing outfits, they can just tune in to SEE her in them!
Comedy Central announced that it is pulling the Colbert Report and the Daily Show off of Hulu. Doesn't matter. Hulu is blocked at the office. Plus I can watch the reruns on Charter On-Demand at home.....if I watched those shows. I'm not really a news hound, even a comedic news hound. More of a sports guy, to be honest.
Casey McCall is getting another shot on network TV! His show Parenthood debuted last night and while the Promos made it seem like it was going to be a comedy, especially with the F-me santa Gilmore girl and Dax Shepard, the show was heartbreaking at times. I am assuming that is what REAL parenthood is all about. Plus it has COACH in it, so you KNOW I'm going to watch.
Sarah Palin was on Leno last night and she apparently is now a standup comic. Well, not really, but her writing staff certainly gave her a sackful of one-liners that she pulled off. Outdid Leno to be honest, but that isn't hard. Careful Sarah, if you do better than him, he'll steal your timeslot!
Finally, I missed Idol last night (I was watching West Wing DVDs. Santos v Russell v Hoynes v Al Bundy at the DNC! Fun stuff!), but I heard that the mullet kid, while not good, has the support of VOTE FOR THE WORST, so he'll stick around. For some reason the boys sang last night instead of tonight, whatever. I watched last week. Everybody stinks. Likely no memorable moments from this season. Cool! Another Jordin Sparks year!
Thanks everybody and be sure to log on to gpb.org/basketball starting at 5:45 for 2nd round BBall action!
Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is the MIDWEEK ENTERTAINMENT REPORT.....(Thanks Seacrest)
CLAPCLAPCLAP, tween girls screaming!
So the Oscars have banned one of the producers from Hurt Locker from this weekend's awards show. Apparently this dude was sending out emails to the voters, telling them to vote for his movie and to put Avatar at No.10 on their ballots. This is a no-no according to the Oscars. Let me get this straight...this guy invested money into this movie, and is now trying to get an award for it, so people will go see it again (let's be honest. see it for the first time!) and he can make money. Hmmmmmm, what a DICK he is being, trying to make money!
Erin Andrews was revealed to be in the cast of Dancing with the Stars. Good for her. Now college fratastics won't have to imagine her in sexy, quasi-revealing outfits, they can just tune in to SEE her in them!
Comedy Central announced that it is pulling the Colbert Report and the Daily Show off of Hulu. Doesn't matter. Hulu is blocked at the office. Plus I can watch the reruns on Charter On-Demand at home.....if I watched those shows. I'm not really a news hound, even a comedic news hound. More of a sports guy, to be honest.
Casey McCall is getting another shot on network TV! His show Parenthood debuted last night and while the Promos made it seem like it was going to be a comedy, especially with the F-me santa Gilmore girl and Dax Shepard, the show was heartbreaking at times. I am assuming that is what REAL parenthood is all about. Plus it has COACH in it, so you KNOW I'm going to watch.
Sarah Palin was on Leno last night and she apparently is now a standup comic. Well, not really, but her writing staff certainly gave her a sackful of one-liners that she pulled off. Outdid Leno to be honest, but that isn't hard. Careful Sarah, if you do better than him, he'll steal your timeslot!
Finally, I missed Idol last night (I was watching West Wing DVDs. Santos v Russell v Hoynes v Al Bundy at the DNC! Fun stuff!), but I heard that the mullet kid, while not good, has the support of VOTE FOR THE WORST, so he'll stick around. For some reason the boys sang last night instead of tonight, whatever. I watched last week. Everybody stinks. Likely no memorable moments from this season. Cool! Another Jordin Sparks year!
Thanks everybody and be sure to log on to gpb.org/basketball starting at 5:45 for 2nd round BBall action!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
that's two out of three!
Did anyone else see that Danica Patrick crashed yet again? If she keeps crashing, the ratings will eventually go back down for the minor league NASCAR races, right? If people really want to see women wreck, couldn’t they just look to the side of I-85 to see soccer moms gabbing on their cell phones while the HERO until works on their cars? Honestly though, Patrick has finished one of three races thus far on the Nationwide Series, that being 31st out of 43 cars, with her other two races against some of NASCAR’s elite ending with crashes. Can we say the experiment failed yet?
HELLO? NASCAR?
Unless she starts driving around naked, I really don't care that much anymore. And I think she's been replaced by Lindsey Vonn as the sorta hot female athlete that gets considered hot because, well, she's an athlete and her competition is a female jockey
HELLO? NASCAR?
Unless she starts driving around naked, I really don't care that much anymore. And I think she's been replaced by Lindsey Vonn as the sorta hot female athlete that gets considered hot because, well, she's an athlete and her competition is a female jockey
Monday, March 1, 2010
Oh, Life was TOUGH, Jimmy?
Hey Smush-face, you might want to really think before you give your next interview. Really. Think really hard.
Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen, who left the Irish early to enter the NFL draft, yet didn't throw yesterday at the NFL combine because he is "injured" decided to instead give The Sporting News an interview. Hopefully he didn't use stock answers that he gives NFL team execs or hopefully those interested in drafting Clausen don't read the following comment he made to TSN Daily:
"It's a tough situation being in a fishbowl at Notre Dame." Umm, wow. It stinks that Notre Dame was the only school to offer you.
Wait.......
It also stinks that Notre Dame required you to show up to school in a stretch white limo.
Wait.......
It also stinks that life dealt you the cruel hand of having Notre Dame's schedule year in and year out, yet you could never get to a bowl bigger than the Hawaii bowl.
Wait.....
Clausen, you had the world by the balls coming out of high school. you could have gone to USC where they churn out NFL QBs and where you'd have just been one star among many stars, but you chose to go to Notre Dame, where your star would shine the brightest. You wanted your own network and you wanted to go play for the Fupa. You wanted all of the attention that the Notre Dame QB has. YOU CHOSE the fishbowl.
Dude, you are like the Real World roommates that always seemed surprised at how the show plays out. WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU WENT IN A HOUSE WITH CAMERAS EVERYWHERE? Emu, what did you THINK would happen when you agreed to be Notre Dame's QB and guaranteed four titles and four heismans? You were walking into a situation where people WANTED you to fail and relished any struggles you went through. You CHOSE to go to a place where in Charlie Weis's first two years, he never won a big game. YOU DECIDED THAT WOULD BE SMART.
Smush-face, please don't talk about how tough it is to live in the Notre Dame fishbowl. You could have gone to ANY school in the country. You chose this. Live with it.
Former Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen, who left the Irish early to enter the NFL draft, yet didn't throw yesterday at the NFL combine because he is "injured" decided to instead give The Sporting News an interview. Hopefully he didn't use stock answers that he gives NFL team execs or hopefully those interested in drafting Clausen don't read the following comment he made to TSN Daily:
"It's a tough situation being in a fishbowl at Notre Dame." Umm, wow. It stinks that Notre Dame was the only school to offer you.
Wait.......
It also stinks that Notre Dame required you to show up to school in a stretch white limo.
Wait.......
It also stinks that life dealt you the cruel hand of having Notre Dame's schedule year in and year out, yet you could never get to a bowl bigger than the Hawaii bowl.
Wait.....
Clausen, you had the world by the balls coming out of high school. you could have gone to USC where they churn out NFL QBs and where you'd have just been one star among many stars, but you chose to go to Notre Dame, where your star would shine the brightest. You wanted your own network and you wanted to go play for the Fupa. You wanted all of the attention that the Notre Dame QB has. YOU CHOSE the fishbowl.
Dude, you are like the Real World roommates that always seemed surprised at how the show plays out. WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU WENT IN A HOUSE WITH CAMERAS EVERYWHERE? Emu, what did you THINK would happen when you agreed to be Notre Dame's QB and guaranteed four titles and four heismans? You were walking into a situation where people WANTED you to fail and relished any struggles you went through. You CHOSE to go to a place where in Charlie Weis's first two years, he never won a big game. YOU DECIDED THAT WOULD BE SMART.
Smush-face, please don't talk about how tough it is to live in the Notre Dame fishbowl. You could have gone to ANY school in the country. You chose this. Live with it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)