Before we begin, let's have a moment of silence for UGA LT Trinton Sturdivant, who will undergo season ending knee surgery. This is a big blow to UGA's season, but hopefully they can overcome. Champions have to rise up. Let's hope the Dawgs can.
Now then, ON TO the Dream Team v the Redeem team. I was breaking down the matchup of the two teams as a co-worker and I bemoaned the fact that Women's weightlifting is being shown on NBC, but not Men's basketball featuring the best collection of talent since 1992. We started to debate on whether or not this team is better than that team was. It seemed crazy at first, but you have to remember that the 1992 Dream Team was facing a bunch of bums and this team is facing fellow NBA players on other teams. (I still am a little disappointed that The Rat King can't get this team to beat teams until the 3rd Qtr. I mean I just don't get this. Kinda like how I don't get traffic, but I digress)
If you were to break down the rosters, the 1992 team is star-studded, but so is the 2008 team. The 1992 team is taller, but the 2008 is more athletic.
Let's look at the teams
1992
Barkley, Bird, Ewing, Magic, Jordan with Drexler, Laettner, Malone, Mullin, Pippen, Robinson and Stockton off the bench.
Barkley was in his prime, Bird was semi-retired, Ewing was destroyed by Hakeem two years later, Magic was HIV retired and Jordan was in his PRIME. On the Bench, Drexler was overrated, Laettner was on the team because...., Malone was a fantastic role player, Mullin could shoot I guess?, Pippen was a defensive stopper (as was Jordan for that matter. These two destroyed Toni Kukoch[spelling] in that one game), Robinson was never an aggresive player and Stockton was a good, solid (dirty) point guard.
Now then. Let's look at 2008
LeBron, Melo, Dwight Howard, JKidd, Kobe with Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Carlos Boozer, Dwyane[sic] Wade, Chris Bosh, CP3, Tayshaun Price.
LeBron is unstoppable right now, and he hasn't reached his prime yet. Just TRY and stop him in the open court. I hate to admit it, but he is ONLY going to get better. I like him when he is on Team USA, just not otherwise. Melo has embraced the role of Team USA for whatever reason. Just make sure he has a driver! Howard has a bit of the Robinson syndrome, but I think he could destroy any other Center alive today. yeah, I said it. JKidd has the international experience, and while he would have been perfect in 2004(age-wise) he holding the seat for CP3. As for Kobe, he is being asked to be a defensive stopper, something the Doberman/Mamba can do. As for the bench, DWill is a big physical point guard, who if these teams were playing, I'd start against Magic. He is physical enough not to be abused by Magic posting up. Redd can flat out fill the basket, and that is his role. Boozer is a wide body. Plus he's from Alaska. D-Wade. The 1996 team didn't have a D-Wade. A 6th man guard that can flat fill up the hoop and can't be stopped with a head of steam. Bosh is a Howard-lite and can defend anyone from a 4 to a 5, but might be better to be a 4 in the NBA, but can guard any world 5, if that makes sense. CP3 is going to be the best point guard in history when it is all said and done, and he is probably the best right now in the game. As for Tayshaun, he plays D and can shoot the 3, I am guessing that's why he's on the team.
OK, so let's look at how the two teams match up with one another.
First with the bench...
Drexler with Deron Williams. Both would be the backup combo guard. I never thought Drexler was all that good. I think he was on the team because he took the Blazers to the finals and lost to Chicago. DWill would body him up and break him down. I think Williams could post up The Glide and could neutralize him during the game. ADVANTAGE: 2008
Laettner v Boozer Both Duke Boys, but I can understandy why Boozer is on the team. It is 16 years later, and I STILL can't figure out why Laettner is there? Boozer would destroy Christian, much like booze has destroyed many christians over the years ADVANTAGE: 2008
Karl Malone v Dwyane [sic] Wade These two guys I think were the first ones off the bench for both teams, but both were/are vastly different players. Wade is a slasher while Malone could go 3-4-5 out there. Malone wasn't really called upon to score for this team if I recall, but as his career wore on, he became quite a scorer AND defender. Really a special player, but not sure if he was that in 1992 like Wade is (Finals MVP already) ADVANTAGE: WASH (They do stuff too differently to compaire them appropriately)
Mullin v Redd The two shooters. I would call this one a wash, but I am going to give it to Redd. I know Mullin, in his prime was something to behold, but to borrow a line from Isiah, if he was black, he wouldn't have been anything special. (I know that was in reference to Bird, but I think it also applies here.) ADVANTAGE: 2008
Pippen v Prince. The defensive stopper coming off the bench. Two guys asked to shelve their scoring potential for the good of the team. Pippen though was just a more talented player and he HAS to win this argument. ADVANTAGE: 1992
Robinson v Bosh. While my co-worker and I argued this one the most, at the end, he was right. Robinson wins this one, even though I think Bosh would try and beat him up. Robinson was once an MVP and he has a few rings. True the MVP came in a year without Jordan and the titles were after Jordan retired and thanks to Tim Duncan, but still that is WAY more success than Bosh will ever have. ADVANTAGE: 1992
Stockton v CP3. This one was close, but I think this was pre-Stockton becoming the Stockton everyone remembers from 1997 and 1998. So this was Pre-Prime for JS. I think we are also in the pre-prime for CP3. And I think CP3 is going to be head and shoulders above what JS ever was. I think CP3 is better RIGHT NOW than JS was. Maybe that is saying too much, but CP3 right now is better than Stockton-1992. ADVANTAGE:2008
So by just the bench, I have 4 for 2008, 2 for 1992 with one wash.
Starters. Magic v JKidd. Magic broke the mold for PGs and set the standard for PGs for all time. Some may have better stats, but he was the most dominant PG ever. Well until CP3 gets better than him. JKidd is just too old. He might have been able to D up Magic at one time, and DWill may have gotten my nod over JKidd in this matchup, but since the Rat King has started Kidd, I say...ADVANTAGE: 1992.
Ewing v Howard. I ALWAYS though Ewing was overrated and shrank in the big games. I think Howard would abuse him like Hakeem did in 1994/95, whenever that was. Howard is so much more athletic than Ewing ever was that Howard might even bring Ewing out to the wing only to run by him. ADVANTAGE: 2008
Bird v Melo. As much as Melo has embraced the role of Patriot and as much as Bird was hurting during the Olympics, I fear that Melo has peaked and an injured, over-the-hill Bird is better. Bird was just clutch. he would get into Melo's head and it would be over. ADVANTAGE: 1992
Barkley v LeBron. Barkley in his prime was unstoppable. LeBron is not yet in his prime and he is unstoppable. Just try and rake LeBron on a breakaway. He'll STILL finish on you. LBJ can do things that Barkley could only dream of, but Barkley would draw him down low and pound him into submission. Each player would score 35+ points in vastly different ways, but LeBron's running style might help his team a little more, whereas Barkley might force the team to slow down. But with Ewing, they would have done that anyways. ADVANTAGE: WASH
Finally.............Jordan v Kobe. Prime v Prime. These two players were told to just be the defensive stopper and don't worry about scoring, as the other players would take care of that. But if these two in their respective primes were matched up, I think the top would blow. No one else would touch the ball as Kobe would just want to top MJ, as he has tried to do his whole career, including with the 23+1=24 number. (He's ONE better. get it?). On the other side, MJ would NOT stand be trying to be outdone by some punk kid who think's he's ONE BETTER? We would see fallaways, drives to the basket.
It would be amazing. Jordan would go for 60 and Kobe would try and do 61. I don't even know how this would turn out. I would LOVE to have seen THIS MATCHUP Alone.
I can't even say who would win. Probably Jordan, but I can't discount Kobe's desire to outdo Jordan. He'd raise his game to a level we haven't seen. But then Jordan would do the same. I can't call a winner here.
Final tally 2008 with 5 advantages, 1992 with 4 and 3 washes, but the washes are so important (Malone/Wade, Barkley/James, Jordan/Kobe) especially Kobe/Jordan that you can't say who would win.
But it would be something to watch.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Hawks played it RIGHT
This is my weekly 790 The Zone Article as well. To read it there, zip over to www.790thezone.com
Believe it or not, but the laughingstock Atlanta Hawks front office played the Josh Smith saga out correctly. Whether it was intentional or not is another story, but let’s assume that they did this on purpose. Josh Smith, frustrated that no maximum offer was coming from the Atlanta franchise, sought out and received a contract offer in the form of 5 years, 58 Million dollar contract sheet. Because he was a restricted free agent, the Hawks were able to match this offer and he is now a Hawk for the next 5 years.
Considering what some of the other players in Smith’s draft class were receiving this offseason, the Hawks got a great deal. Luol Deng of Chicago recently received a 6/71M deal and Emeka Okafor reupped with the Bobcats for 72M. Smith reportedly was looking for this type of cash too, but I have to ask WHY?
Josh Smith is NOT a franchise player that deserves MAX money. By giving Smith less than max money, they can go after another player or two that will help them get back into the playoffs. I watched the Olympics yesterday and saw the Redeem Team out there running past China, and I thought, “now THESE guys deserve MAX money. These guys are franchise players.” Josh Smith will never be invited to represent the country in the Olympics. He just isn’t good enough. He doesn’t deserve the max money. The franchise money contracts should only go to guys you can build a team around. Smith isn’t one of them.
Interestingly enough the Cavaliers were in this situation a few years back with Anderson Varejao. He was holding out as a restricted free agent, believing the Cavs were lowballing him. He signed an offer sheet with Charlotte at below what he could have gotten with Cleveland, and the Cavs quickly matched. The system allows for the teams to play it this way and not overpay. The players can take the restricted qualifying offer, play the one year, then hit the open market, but so many of them just cannot seem to wait. You can put Smith into this category. They are trying to look out for number one, and that isn’t some one I’d want to build my team around.
If the Hawks HAD given max money to Smith, then they would have been unable to sign or resign anyone of note for the next few years. He would have eaten up the flexibility. And to be honest, Smith isn’t a guy that can carry a team by himself, he just isn’t. If he was, then why did it take him so long and require the importation of a point guard before the team reached the playoffs? Smith got the contract he deserved and the team can still go out and get a few more pieces. Now if they do that is another story.
I never said the Hawks could do two things right in a row.
Believe it or not, but the laughingstock Atlanta Hawks front office played the Josh Smith saga out correctly. Whether it was intentional or not is another story, but let’s assume that they did this on purpose. Josh Smith, frustrated that no maximum offer was coming from the Atlanta franchise, sought out and received a contract offer in the form of 5 years, 58 Million dollar contract sheet. Because he was a restricted free agent, the Hawks were able to match this offer and he is now a Hawk for the next 5 years.
Considering what some of the other players in Smith’s draft class were receiving this offseason, the Hawks got a great deal. Luol Deng of Chicago recently received a 6/71M deal and Emeka Okafor reupped with the Bobcats for 72M. Smith reportedly was looking for this type of cash too, but I have to ask WHY?
Josh Smith is NOT a franchise player that deserves MAX money. By giving Smith less than max money, they can go after another player or two that will help them get back into the playoffs. I watched the Olympics yesterday and saw the Redeem Team out there running past China, and I thought, “now THESE guys deserve MAX money. These guys are franchise players.” Josh Smith will never be invited to represent the country in the Olympics. He just isn’t good enough. He doesn’t deserve the max money. The franchise money contracts should only go to guys you can build a team around. Smith isn’t one of them.
Interestingly enough the Cavaliers were in this situation a few years back with Anderson Varejao. He was holding out as a restricted free agent, believing the Cavs were lowballing him. He signed an offer sheet with Charlotte at below what he could have gotten with Cleveland, and the Cavs quickly matched. The system allows for the teams to play it this way and not overpay. The players can take the restricted qualifying offer, play the one year, then hit the open market, but so many of them just cannot seem to wait. You can put Smith into this category. They are trying to look out for number one, and that isn’t some one I’d want to build my team around.
If the Hawks HAD given max money to Smith, then they would have been unable to sign or resign anyone of note for the next few years. He would have eaten up the flexibility. And to be honest, Smith isn’t a guy that can carry a team by himself, he just isn’t. If he was, then why did it take him so long and require the importation of a point guard before the team reached the playoffs? Smith got the contract he deserved and the team can still go out and get a few more pieces. Now if they do that is another story.
I never said the Hawks could do two things right in a row.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Sports thoughts going into the weekend...
Hey it is late Friday afternoon. I've just got two major opinions on some local sports stories as we head into the weekend....
I see where Josh Smith signed a 5 year/58M deal with Memphis, and Atlanta has seven days to match the offer as he is a restricted free agent. If the hawks match the offer and "sign" him, he should have known that the Hawks would do that. His agent should have known that (unless he has his boyhood pals serving as his agent like LeBron did for a while)! Bottom line, he isn't allowed to whine about the team because he is taking the money. He could have signed the one-year offer and left town next year. He could have pulled a Childress and signed in Europe. But no, he signed a low enough contract that the hawks could match. He knew he'd be a Hawk by signing this, at less money. This is on HIM. He can't complain for the next 5 years. He chose money over happiness.
I think the Hawks played this right. They didn't want to have to give him 65M or 72M. If Smith REALLY wanted to be free, he wouldn't have signed ANYTHING, made the Hawks give him a one-year qualifying offer then been unfettered next season. If he is mad at the Hawks for this, it is HIS fault, but he will never admit that. Whether he likes it or not, he is on a crappy team for the next 5 years. Oh, and if he goes to Memphis, Rudy Gay is in his position, and OJ Mayo will be the one hoisting up all of the shots, but I guess the opportunity to play with Javarris Crittenden and Kyle Lowery was too much to pass up......
Moving on to College football!
I think redshirt frosh RB Chris Rainey of Florida is too jitterbuggy from what I have seen. He has to be at his size. and in the SEC, those boys will eat you for lunch if you dance too much. UGA’s Knowshon Moreno can shimmy, but he mostly just runs. If Rainey tries to go through the tackles, he is going to get crushed. Knowshon, for being 5'11 still is a power back. He can run between the tackles (still waiting Reggie Bush...) Thomas Brown certainly could, but TB was never fast. Defenders could catch him from behind. if Knowshon gets in space, he is gone. If Rainey gets in space he is gone, but the trick will be getting him into space. In the sec that is tough to do. the blocking has to be FANTASTIC. Percy Harvin is the same way. Against UGA and Auburn, he has never gotten into space. The good defenses don't allow it.
Notice I didn't include Tennessee. They aren't a good D anymore.
Those little sweeps and crap just don't work against GOOD defenses. SoCar, Tenn, Ole Miss, Arkie, MissState, Vandy and Kentucky. Not good Ds, therefore you see Tebow and Harvin go off. And Rainey will go off against them too. But against Auburn (Fla wouldn't play them until the SECCG, which they WON'T be going to), LSU and UGA, you just don't see those plays breaking off. Why? Because they are good Ds. Rainey won't work against UGA. look at Meyer in his three games against UGA.
05, he put in a FB
06, he got the benefit of a punt off a PR's leg to score the winning score (and a frosh nearly led them back, if not for a crap facemask call)
07, he lost playing that crap spread.
Against good defenses, it just DOESN'T WORK.
I see where Josh Smith signed a 5 year/58M deal with Memphis, and Atlanta has seven days to match the offer as he is a restricted free agent. If the hawks match the offer and "sign" him, he should have known that the Hawks would do that. His agent should have known that (unless he has his boyhood pals serving as his agent like LeBron did for a while)! Bottom line, he isn't allowed to whine about the team because he is taking the money. He could have signed the one-year offer and left town next year. He could have pulled a Childress and signed in Europe. But no, he signed a low enough contract that the hawks could match. He knew he'd be a Hawk by signing this, at less money. This is on HIM. He can't complain for the next 5 years. He chose money over happiness.
I think the Hawks played this right. They didn't want to have to give him 65M or 72M. If Smith REALLY wanted to be free, he wouldn't have signed ANYTHING, made the Hawks give him a one-year qualifying offer then been unfettered next season. If he is mad at the Hawks for this, it is HIS fault, but he will never admit that. Whether he likes it or not, he is on a crappy team for the next 5 years. Oh, and if he goes to Memphis, Rudy Gay is in his position, and OJ Mayo will be the one hoisting up all of the shots, but I guess the opportunity to play with Javarris Crittenden and Kyle Lowery was too much to pass up......
Moving on to College football!
I think redshirt frosh RB Chris Rainey of Florida is too jitterbuggy from what I have seen. He has to be at his size. and in the SEC, those boys will eat you for lunch if you dance too much. UGA’s Knowshon Moreno can shimmy, but he mostly just runs. If Rainey tries to go through the tackles, he is going to get crushed. Knowshon, for being 5'11 still is a power back. He can run between the tackles (still waiting Reggie Bush...) Thomas Brown certainly could, but TB was never fast. Defenders could catch him from behind. if Knowshon gets in space, he is gone. If Rainey gets in space he is gone, but the trick will be getting him into space. In the sec that is tough to do. the blocking has to be FANTASTIC. Percy Harvin is the same way. Against UGA and Auburn, he has never gotten into space. The good defenses don't allow it.
Notice I didn't include Tennessee. They aren't a good D anymore.
Those little sweeps and crap just don't work against GOOD defenses. SoCar, Tenn, Ole Miss, Arkie, MissState, Vandy and Kentucky. Not good Ds, therefore you see Tebow and Harvin go off. And Rainey will go off against them too. But against Auburn (Fla wouldn't play them until the SECCG, which they WON'T be going to), LSU and UGA, you just don't see those plays breaking off. Why? Because they are good Ds. Rainey won't work against UGA. look at Meyer in his three games against UGA.
05, he put in a FB
06, he got the benefit of a punt off a PR's leg to score the winning score (and a frosh nearly led them back, if not for a crap facemask call)
07, he lost playing that crap spread.
Against good defenses, it just DOESN'T WORK.
Dawgs looking strong says SI
So Sports Illustrated has picked UGA to be #1 entering the season, and I would have to agree. I know I am a homer, but if I am looking at the Dawgs v the other top 10 teams, the Dawgs have the fewest holes of any of the teams. The fewest warts of any of them.
Georgia's warts, the O-line is young (as it was last year), the DEs lost Marcus Howard(they lost both QMo and CJ the year before), the kicker is a freshman(so was Billy Bennett a few years back, same with Coutu). That's it. But look at...
#2 USC. Umm they are going with Dirty Sanchez as the QB? Because Mitch Mustain the Arkie transfer isn't as good as everyone in Springdale thought he was. Last time I checked, Dirty Dirty was losing games last year at USC, like the two pick performance against Oregon that cost USC the BCS title game. Oh well. I am sure the kid is MUCH better now...And could someone please point Joe McKnight in the general direction of a classroom? Also, hey can I send some flowers to Stephon Johnson for NOT coming to UGA. Because he did not, Knowshon did. And we know how that turned out.
#3Duh Ohio State University. Let's see, the Defense looks pretty tough coming back, despite the loss of Gholston to the NFL. Beanie Wells is back and they have Pryor in there as a Tebow to TB's Chris Leak, but let's not kid ourselves. If UGA is playing duh Ohio State in the BCS title game (which they won't because duh Ohio State will be knocked out after a trip to the Land of Troy this September. Throw in at least one Big 11 loss..) then UGA is assured of a crystal ball.
#4 Oklahoma. They have Sam Bradford coming back, but the D lost Big 12 defensive player of the year Curtis Lofton. The have a strong running game, I guess, but will the D be good enough in the big games? Stoops seems to have lost his touch now that Mike Stoops is in Arizona (but in that regard, Mike seems to have lost EVERYTHING out in Tucson)
#5 Flawrduh. Oh, I get it. They are PISSED about the Georgia endzone dance last season. Let me ask you this...why didn't you guys win the game then last year when you had a lead? Oh the offense will be bolstered by Rainey and Moody. OK, so you are going to take away what makes Tim Tebow Tim Tebow? And if Moody was so good, why is he at UF right now instead of still being out in USC land? As for Rainey, oh, so you are fast, but you are 5'9. Kind of small. Percy Harvin is fast too, and UGA contained him enough last season to win by 12. Listen, I realize that Florida is going to score a bunch. They'll have to. The defense, which was young last year is STILL young and the DLine is going to be anchored by true freshman Omar Hunter (I watched him at Buford. Why isn't he going to Notre Dame? According to one of his high school teachers, "Omar is a nice young man." She said and she just smiled when I asked how he was as a student.) and the secondary will have true freshman Will Hill as safety, quarterbacking the entire defense. So a defense with two youngersters up the middle? And they are supposed to stop Knowshon and Matt Stafford? But Urban, you keep getting angry at Mark Richt because he out-Meyered you.
#6 LSU. They have a true freshman and a transfer from Harvard competing for the starting QB spot. Done. Moving on...
#7 Mizzou. Chase Daniel is back, but the rusher Tony Temple is gone. Mizzou couldn't beat OU last season...twice. Why should I think they can this season?
#8 West Va. They have a scary QB/RB combo in White and Devine, but Bill Stewart at coach scares NO ONE! That was the funniest hire since Dennis Felton at UGA.
#9 Clemson. They have a QB and a great RB combo, but Tommy Bowden is still the coach (which BTW Klimpsen fans, you have ALWAYS wanted to get rid of him, but once Arkie came acallin' you freaked out and signed him to big money. Therefore, since you showed your true colors and didn't dump him when you could, you cannot put him on the hotseat this year when he loses a game to UNC or Duke or NCState, which he WILL. In fact, you can't complain about TB for the next three years. PERIOD.). Also, let's not forget that your DL took a hit with Merlin leaving and the OLine is a little weak if you ask me.
#10 Texas Tech. OK, so clearly this is a joke right? Texas Tech in the top ten? Really? These guys will go pass-happy ONCE AGAIN, but just beat them up like UGA did to Hawaii, and you can EASILY take them down. Leach should have JUMPED at another gig, because he will ALWAYS be the third best team in his own conference. But hey, if he has stability in Lubbuck and likes it there, why not stick around.
SO will the Dawgs fall to the jinx of SI? I don't think they will. I think the line holds up with all the returning talent they have, even if some are switching positions. Doesn't matter if you ask me. Trinton at LT is a rock. Chris Davis at right guard or Center, Vince Vance at RG if Davis is at Center and Kiante Tripp at RT. Throw in Clint Boling (a returning starter) and possibly Ben Jones the true frosh at center and this line will be good for the next three or four seasons. Just because they are mostly Sophs doesn't mean they are outstanding. Boling Sturdivant and Davis all played last year, as did Vance and Tripp. These guys will be OK up front.
The kicking situation is this...Brandon Coutu made some big kicks as a freshman kicker (See: GT game) so why wouldn't Blair Walsh be able to make the kicks. The kid has a HUGE leg, plus they have some other options if Walsh sputters.
The DEs, well they STILL have Lomax and Battle and Wynn and don't forget, they will be getting a HUGE inside push from Irvin, Owens, Atkins and Westin. Those guys all made Marcus Howard a star last year. Throw in the strong LB options RIGHT BEHIND THEM, and they will be fine.
THIS IS THE BEST D in Willie's time at UGA. It will be OK. Trust me, I'm a blogger.
Georgia's warts, the O-line is young (as it was last year), the DEs lost Marcus Howard(they lost both QMo and CJ the year before), the kicker is a freshman(so was Billy Bennett a few years back, same with Coutu). That's it. But look at...
#2 USC. Umm they are going with Dirty Sanchez as the QB? Because Mitch Mustain the Arkie transfer isn't as good as everyone in Springdale thought he was. Last time I checked, Dirty Dirty was losing games last year at USC, like the two pick performance against Oregon that cost USC the BCS title game. Oh well. I am sure the kid is MUCH better now...And could someone please point Joe McKnight in the general direction of a classroom? Also, hey can I send some flowers to Stephon Johnson for NOT coming to UGA. Because he did not, Knowshon did. And we know how that turned out.
#3Duh Ohio State University. Let's see, the Defense looks pretty tough coming back, despite the loss of Gholston to the NFL. Beanie Wells is back and they have Pryor in there as a Tebow to TB's Chris Leak, but let's not kid ourselves. If UGA is playing duh Ohio State in the BCS title game (which they won't because duh Ohio State will be knocked out after a trip to the Land of Troy this September. Throw in at least one Big 11 loss..) then UGA is assured of a crystal ball.
#4 Oklahoma. They have Sam Bradford coming back, but the D lost Big 12 defensive player of the year Curtis Lofton. The have a strong running game, I guess, but will the D be good enough in the big games? Stoops seems to have lost his touch now that Mike Stoops is in Arizona (but in that regard, Mike seems to have lost EVERYTHING out in Tucson)
#5 Flawrduh. Oh, I get it. They are PISSED about the Georgia endzone dance last season. Let me ask you this...why didn't you guys win the game then last year when you had a lead? Oh the offense will be bolstered by Rainey and Moody. OK, so you are going to take away what makes Tim Tebow Tim Tebow? And if Moody was so good, why is he at UF right now instead of still being out in USC land? As for Rainey, oh, so you are fast, but you are 5'9. Kind of small. Percy Harvin is fast too, and UGA contained him enough last season to win by 12. Listen, I realize that Florida is going to score a bunch. They'll have to. The defense, which was young last year is STILL young and the DLine is going to be anchored by true freshman Omar Hunter (I watched him at Buford. Why isn't he going to Notre Dame? According to one of his high school teachers, "Omar is a nice young man." She said and she just smiled when I asked how he was as a student.) and the secondary will have true freshman Will Hill as safety, quarterbacking the entire defense. So a defense with two youngersters up the middle? And they are supposed to stop Knowshon and Matt Stafford? But Urban, you keep getting angry at Mark Richt because he out-Meyered you.
#6 LSU. They have a true freshman and a transfer from Harvard competing for the starting QB spot. Done. Moving on...
#7 Mizzou. Chase Daniel is back, but the rusher Tony Temple is gone. Mizzou couldn't beat OU last season...twice. Why should I think they can this season?
#8 West Va. They have a scary QB/RB combo in White and Devine, but Bill Stewart at coach scares NO ONE! That was the funniest hire since Dennis Felton at UGA.
#9 Clemson. They have a QB and a great RB combo, but Tommy Bowden is still the coach (which BTW Klimpsen fans, you have ALWAYS wanted to get rid of him, but once Arkie came acallin' you freaked out and signed him to big money. Therefore, since you showed your true colors and didn't dump him when you could, you cannot put him on the hotseat this year when he loses a game to UNC or Duke or NCState, which he WILL. In fact, you can't complain about TB for the next three years. PERIOD.). Also, let's not forget that your DL took a hit with Merlin leaving and the OLine is a little weak if you ask me.
#10 Texas Tech. OK, so clearly this is a joke right? Texas Tech in the top ten? Really? These guys will go pass-happy ONCE AGAIN, but just beat them up like UGA did to Hawaii, and you can EASILY take them down. Leach should have JUMPED at another gig, because he will ALWAYS be the third best team in his own conference. But hey, if he has stability in Lubbuck and likes it there, why not stick around.
SO will the Dawgs fall to the jinx of SI? I don't think they will. I think the line holds up with all the returning talent they have, even if some are switching positions. Doesn't matter if you ask me. Trinton at LT is a rock. Chris Davis at right guard or Center, Vince Vance at RG if Davis is at Center and Kiante Tripp at RT. Throw in Clint Boling (a returning starter) and possibly Ben Jones the true frosh at center and this line will be good for the next three or four seasons. Just because they are mostly Sophs doesn't mean they are outstanding. Boling Sturdivant and Davis all played last year, as did Vance and Tripp. These guys will be OK up front.
The kicking situation is this...Brandon Coutu made some big kicks as a freshman kicker (See: GT game) so why wouldn't Blair Walsh be able to make the kicks. The kid has a HUGE leg, plus they have some other options if Walsh sputters.
The DEs, well they STILL have Lomax and Battle and Wynn and don't forget, they will be getting a HUGE inside push from Irvin, Owens, Atkins and Westin. Those guys all made Marcus Howard a star last year. Throw in the strong LB options RIGHT BEHIND THEM, and they will be fine.
THIS IS THE BEST D in Willie's time at UGA. It will be OK. Trust me, I'm a blogger.
The Future of Women's Tennis lives in Marietta
I recently had a chance to catch up with one of Sports Illustrated's Top 18 under 18 for the next 18 years, Melanie Oudin, tennis phenom.
For most people, realizing what they want to do when they grow up is a long process that some don’t even figure out until they are grown. For sixteen year-old tennis phenom Melanie Oudin, the decision has been made and she’s already a success. Just one week after Oudin appeared in Sports Illustrated as one of the top 15 teens in American sports, the Marietta native won her first professional tournament in Lexington, Kentucky. Oudin, who trains at the RSC Academy under esteemed coach Brian de Villiers, reached No. 2 Junior Girls player in the world and was recently the top seed at the French Open Junior championship. Then after winning seven of ten ITF events, Oudin turned pro and has shot up to No. 232 in the professional ranks.
“It’s not that much different than Juniors,” Oudin said of turning pro. “Only, there’s money now if you win. I don’t think about that though. I play like I’ve always played because I love it.” Now that Oudin is a pro, her day has become drastically different than the typical 16 year-old’s life. A normal day starts with Oudin waking up at 7:30 then training from 11:30 until 4:30 with fitness training continuing into the evening. This is where Oudin, who is only 5’5 works on improving her game so she can tackle taller players. “I’m quick, that’s one of my strengths, so I hit all types of shots in practice.” Her coach de Villiers notes that she works hard and has wanted to go pro since she was nine years old. “You see the ones willing to put in the work, make the sacrifices and reach the goals. She is one of them.”
Due to Oudin’s age, she can only play in 13 tournaments this year and 17 next year. This restriction hasn’t stopped her though from seeking a wild card to this summer’s US Open, the grand slam event that Oudin has called her favorite. “New York is pretty cool itself and the event is nicely set up.” According to de Villiers pros can only gain entrance into qualifying rounds if they are ranked in the top 200-220, and Oudin is right on the cusp of that special number. If a wild card spot doesn’t come, the player and coach will still head to NYC for the US Open juniors, likely Oudin’s last event as a junior player.
As for the future, the sky is the limit. Oudin says that she’d love to compete for the Fed Cup and while she hasn’t thought about the Olympics in 2012, “that would be awesome.” Her coach knows she will be successful, as di Villiers says of Oudin, “I’ve always had a long-term plan for her and it’s started clicking.” If things keep clicking, Oudin may be the one to carry the mantle of best American player into the next decade.
For most people, realizing what they want to do when they grow up is a long process that some don’t even figure out until they are grown. For sixteen year-old tennis phenom Melanie Oudin, the decision has been made and she’s already a success. Just one week after Oudin appeared in Sports Illustrated as one of the top 15 teens in American sports, the Marietta native won her first professional tournament in Lexington, Kentucky. Oudin, who trains at the RSC Academy under esteemed coach Brian de Villiers, reached No. 2 Junior Girls player in the world and was recently the top seed at the French Open Junior championship. Then after winning seven of ten ITF events, Oudin turned pro and has shot up to No. 232 in the professional ranks.
“It’s not that much different than Juniors,” Oudin said of turning pro. “Only, there’s money now if you win. I don’t think about that though. I play like I’ve always played because I love it.” Now that Oudin is a pro, her day has become drastically different than the typical 16 year-old’s life. A normal day starts with Oudin waking up at 7:30 then training from 11:30 until 4:30 with fitness training continuing into the evening. This is where Oudin, who is only 5’5 works on improving her game so she can tackle taller players. “I’m quick, that’s one of my strengths, so I hit all types of shots in practice.” Her coach de Villiers notes that she works hard and has wanted to go pro since she was nine years old. “You see the ones willing to put in the work, make the sacrifices and reach the goals. She is one of them.”
Due to Oudin’s age, she can only play in 13 tournaments this year and 17 next year. This restriction hasn’t stopped her though from seeking a wild card to this summer’s US Open, the grand slam event that Oudin has called her favorite. “New York is pretty cool itself and the event is nicely set up.” According to de Villiers pros can only gain entrance into qualifying rounds if they are ranked in the top 200-220, and Oudin is right on the cusp of that special number. If a wild card spot doesn’t come, the player and coach will still head to NYC for the US Open juniors, likely Oudin’s last event as a junior player.
As for the future, the sky is the limit. Oudin says that she’d love to compete for the Fed Cup and while she hasn’t thought about the Olympics in 2012, “that would be awesome.” Her coach knows she will be successful, as di Villiers says of Oudin, “I’ve always had a long-term plan for her and it’s started clicking.” If things keep clicking, Oudin may be the one to carry the mantle of best American player into the next decade.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
So you THINK you can dance?
To be completely honest, I have not followed this season as closely as I have previous seasons because I have been doing EVHEI many a Wednesday night, so I can't very well walk into 790 and turn on SYTYCD. well, I could but I'd never hear the end of it.
But I did catch last night's final voting show (Tonight is the grand finale, where America's Favorite dancer is revealed). My guess as for Champ...Twitch. He might be the worst of the remaining dancers, but he is everyone's favorite. Plus Wifey voted for him 6 times.
I thought Nigel's statement that Joshua and Katee [sic] were the best couple ever on the show...Maybe a little much? How about Danny and Lacy last season? BETTER. How about Travis and that blonde chick the year before? So forgive me if Joshua and Katee [sic] aren't the best couple EVER on the show. But then he also said that Will didn't deserve to be in the finale. So his credibility was shot right there. But I would have been upset if Will had won and Danny didn't last year.
I also think that Joshua could clearly jump RIGHT OUT of the building. WOW. Dude has ups. I think he made the right call with going with Dance, because could he REALLY have gone on to be a track star or football star with his size? Probably not. Will he go on to be a successful dancer? Well he certainly has a stronger foothole than he did, IMO.
Also, I know Nigel said this was perhaps the best final four ever...really? Last year's final four puts this one to SHAME. Same with two years ago's final four. This was third....of four. Wow. Last year though with Sabra, Danny, Lacy and Neal (Neil?). THAT was a final four to rival this past year's NCAA field.
And lastly, Cat was looking FINE last night. But I am married, so I will just say she really did a good job holding the mic.
Twitch should win tonight. A popper has never won it. He'd be a good one to break that string!
But I did catch last night's final voting show (Tonight is the grand finale, where America's Favorite dancer is revealed). My guess as for Champ...Twitch. He might be the worst of the remaining dancers, but he is everyone's favorite. Plus Wifey voted for him 6 times.
I thought Nigel's statement that Joshua and Katee [sic] were the best couple ever on the show...Maybe a little much? How about Danny and Lacy last season? BETTER. How about Travis and that blonde chick the year before? So forgive me if Joshua and Katee [sic] aren't the best couple EVER on the show. But then he also said that Will didn't deserve to be in the finale. So his credibility was shot right there. But I would have been upset if Will had won and Danny didn't last year.
I also think that Joshua could clearly jump RIGHT OUT of the building. WOW. Dude has ups. I think he made the right call with going with Dance, because could he REALLY have gone on to be a track star or football star with his size? Probably not. Will he go on to be a successful dancer? Well he certainly has a stronger foothole than he did, IMO.
Also, I know Nigel said this was perhaps the best final four ever...really? Last year's final four puts this one to SHAME. Same with two years ago's final four. This was third....of four. Wow. Last year though with Sabra, Danny, Lacy and Neal (Neil?). THAT was a final four to rival this past year's NCAA field.
And lastly, Cat was looking FINE last night. But I am married, so I will just say she really did a good job holding the mic.
Twitch should win tonight. A popper has never won it. He'd be a good one to break that string!
The next otis nixon?
Injuries to the Braves 2008 roster have left the front office with a few questions and not many answers. Who will be the opening day starter come 2009? Who will bat cleanup for this team in 2009? Who will patrol centerfield for the Braves in 2009? One answer though has been found in this season. Gregor Blanco SHOULD be the leadoff hitter come 2009.
When Rafael Furcal bolted Atlanta a few years back for LA Blue (hats) and Green (dollars), the team was without a true leadoff hitter for the first time seemingly in years. Ever since I can recall, the Braves had Otis Nixon or Deion Sanders, Marquis Grissom or Kenny Lofton leading off and setting the table for the Braves bats. The last few years, the team has tried to make Marcus Giles, Kelly Johnson, Yunel Escobar, among others, their leadoff man, but to no avail. This season, due to injuries, Gregor Blanco was pressed into the role and he has excelled. His on-base percentage has gone through the roof since moving into the leadoff spot June 19, and he is off to a .471 OBP clip in August. He won’t blow the doors off with homers, but neither did Otis Nixon. All he did was get on base and wreak havoc once he was there. Blanco is a Nixon-clone in that respect.
Injuries to Matt Diaz and Mark Kotsay pressed Blanco into a full-time role and his wheels led manager Bobby Cox to experiment with him during the interleague series in Texas. Cox hasn’t looked back. Blanco is 10-14 in stolen bases this season, and he is bringing an element to Atlanta that this team hasn’t seen since Furcal was batting leadoff: speed on the base paths. Suddenly when Blanco reaches, he is a threat to steal a base, go first to third on a hit to the outfield, and he can score on a shallow fly ball to the outfield. This was something that the team simply could not do with Escobar batting leadoff or Johnson trying to set the table. Plus with Blanco occupying the top spot in the lineup, Escobar can focus on plain hitting. Chipper Jones can drive a runner in that is in scoring position.
Blanco may not be the long term answer in the outfield as Jordan Schaffer seems destined to man center in the near future and Jason Heyward will be penciled into leftfield starting in 2010. However Blanco is exciting to watch and he could be the catalyst this Braves team needs to make a run in 2009.
Other Braves Bits,
An open funeral service has been planned for Skip Caray to be held this Monday, August 11 at Christ the King Cathedral at the corner of Peachtree St and Peachtree Ave. The service is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. The Caray family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the memory of Skip to Camp Twin Lakes, Winship Cancer Institute, or the Friends House.
And Tom Glavine will make another minor league rehab start this Saturday in Class-AA Mississippi. Glavine pitched well in Myrtle Beach, throwing 53 pitches and completing 4 innings, but team officials have stated they are hoping for 65 pitches this start so that Glavine can test his endurance. He has missed time due to a torn flexor ligament in his pitching elbow and has not pitched since June 11 in Chicago.
When Rafael Furcal bolted Atlanta a few years back for LA Blue (hats) and Green (dollars), the team was without a true leadoff hitter for the first time seemingly in years. Ever since I can recall, the Braves had Otis Nixon or Deion Sanders, Marquis Grissom or Kenny Lofton leading off and setting the table for the Braves bats. The last few years, the team has tried to make Marcus Giles, Kelly Johnson, Yunel Escobar, among others, their leadoff man, but to no avail. This season, due to injuries, Gregor Blanco was pressed into the role and he has excelled. His on-base percentage has gone through the roof since moving into the leadoff spot June 19, and he is off to a .471 OBP clip in August. He won’t blow the doors off with homers, but neither did Otis Nixon. All he did was get on base and wreak havoc once he was there. Blanco is a Nixon-clone in that respect.
Injuries to Matt Diaz and Mark Kotsay pressed Blanco into a full-time role and his wheels led manager Bobby Cox to experiment with him during the interleague series in Texas. Cox hasn’t looked back. Blanco is 10-14 in stolen bases this season, and he is bringing an element to Atlanta that this team hasn’t seen since Furcal was batting leadoff: speed on the base paths. Suddenly when Blanco reaches, he is a threat to steal a base, go first to third on a hit to the outfield, and he can score on a shallow fly ball to the outfield. This was something that the team simply could not do with Escobar batting leadoff or Johnson trying to set the table. Plus with Blanco occupying the top spot in the lineup, Escobar can focus on plain hitting. Chipper Jones can drive a runner in that is in scoring position.
Blanco may not be the long term answer in the outfield as Jordan Schaffer seems destined to man center in the near future and Jason Heyward will be penciled into leftfield starting in 2010. However Blanco is exciting to watch and he could be the catalyst this Braves team needs to make a run in 2009.
Other Braves Bits,
An open funeral service has been planned for Skip Caray to be held this Monday, August 11 at Christ the King Cathedral at the corner of Peachtree St and Peachtree Ave. The service is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. The Caray family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in the memory of Skip to Camp Twin Lakes, Winship Cancer Institute, or the Friends House.
And Tom Glavine will make another minor league rehab start this Saturday in Class-AA Mississippi. Glavine pitched well in Myrtle Beach, throwing 53 pitches and completing 4 innings, but team officials have stated they are hoping for 65 pitches this start so that Glavine can test his endurance. He has missed time due to a torn flexor ligament in his pitching elbow and has not pitched since June 11 in Chicago.
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