Cutting dead weight
A Jacksonville State University associate director of athletics has been shedding pounds on the reality TV show ‘‘The Biggest Loser.''
Unfortunately for Roger Shultz, the former Alabama offensive lineman-turned-JSU administrator, his new employer decided it needed to drop some extra weight as well.
Jacksonville State lost about 235 pounds when it fired Shultz earlier this month.
In essence, the university told Shultz he needed to make a choice between his job and his long-term health. Shultz, who had been hired five months ago to lead marketing and fundraising efforts for the athletic department, had been using sick leave to do the necessary training to shed pounds and stay in contention for the $250,000 prize that goes to the winner of "The Biggest Loser.''
"I feel like we did everything possible to allow this to happen for him, but there came a time and point that we need to move forward in our marketing and fundraising area,'' JSU athletic director Jim Fuller said in a statement released Thursday.
Shultz, an Enterprise, Ala., native, said there are no hard feelings over the firing.
"I was being a little selfish on this end of it,'' he told the Birmingham News. "I wanted to participate [in the show] and get my health back. I didn't know when I got there if I'd be there a week or 15 weeks."
The season finale of the TV show is scheduled to air on April 15, and Shultz would seem to be in prime position among its -- pardon the pun -- thinning herd.
After weighing in at a scale-straining 363 pounds on the first episode, Schultz had shed 127 pounds as of the last episode.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
More Mascot Madness
We don't yet know whether the Columbus Catfish will have staying power in this town beyond the upcoming South Atlantic League season, but this much is certain:
The Catfish are a force to be reckoned with in the world of team mascots and logos.
The team's logo -- a catfish swining a bat at a Georgia peach attached to a fishing hook -- has advanced to the Elite Eight round of the minor league mascot contest created by CNBC.com reporter Darren Rovell.
Rovell constructed an NCAA tournament-style bracket filled with minor league baseball mascots and has invited fans to vote online to determine the nation's best. Votes can be registered at www.DarrenRovell.com and polling will open again Thursday morning at 9.
Columbus advanced to the final eight of the Minor League Baseball logo tournament by outpacing the Aiken Foxhounds in last week's voting. The Catfish are paired up with a familiar foe in this week's bracket, the Augusta GreenJackets.
We don't yet know whether the Columbus Catfish will have staying power in this town beyond the upcoming South Atlantic League season, but this much is certain:
The Catfish are a force to be reckoned with in the world of team mascots and logos.
The team's logo -- a catfish swining a bat at a Georgia peach attached to a fishing hook -- has advanced to the Elite Eight round of the minor league mascot contest created by CNBC.com reporter Darren Rovell.
Rovell constructed an NCAA tournament-style bracket filled with minor league baseball mascots and has invited fans to vote online to determine the nation's best. Votes can be registered at www.DarrenRovell.com and polling will open again Thursday morning at 9.
Columbus advanced to the final eight of the Minor League Baseball logo tournament by outpacing the Aiken Foxhounds in last week's voting. The Catfish are paired up with a familiar foe in this week's bracket, the Augusta GreenJackets.
A life interrupted
Five months ago, Victor Ellis didn't look like a man stricken with cancer.
In a photo taken at a November fund-raiser held on his behalf before an Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa, Ellis looks like he could still strap on the shoulder pads and return to the linebacker position he once occupied. He's standing tall and proud, wearing a black Izod V-neck sweater over a white dress shirt and smiling into the camera. He looks like a young man with far more living to do.
Sadly, Ellis' life, filled with positivity and full of so much promise, ended late Tuesday night.
The former Alabama football standout died at 28, succumbing to cancer in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ellis' former teammate and his best friend, running back Ahmaad Galloway, was at his side at Memorial Hospital. Their friendship serves as testament to the bonds that form through sports. When Galloway was married last April, Ellis wore a tux and served as his best man. When Ellis was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer after developing a persistent cough last summer, Galloway stepped in to help.
He accompanied his friend to chemotherapy treatments and organized a fund-raiser along with Blair Brown, the president of the Russell/Muscogee County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association.
The event that originated through their tireless work produced an amazing outpouring of support. Former Alabama football legends mingled with the masses at the ''Tailgating with the Legends'' event set up near Denny Chimes before last November's home game with Louisiana-Monroe. Brown told me that $30,000 in donations were raised for Ellis in just two hours.
Ellis, who served as an honorary game captain for that home game, had an unspeakably difficult fight against tumors that had formed in a lung, a kidney, his chest cavity, spine and pelvis. You couldn't see any of that in the photo that Brown shared via e-mail, the one that showed Ellis looking so happy and carefree not so long ago.
"Victor told me on several occasions that it meant a lot to him for you all to come out and support him like you did,’’ Brown wrote in an e-mail to A Club members Wednesday. "He was very grateful to the Alabama family. We were honored to know him and call him our friend.''
We can only hope that Ellis is at peace now, free of the pain that attacked his body. We must also remember the good work done last fall for a good man.
To see a slideshow from last fall's fund-raiser, log on to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25115406@N08/show/
Five months ago, Victor Ellis didn't look like a man stricken with cancer.
In a photo taken at a November fund-raiser held on his behalf before an Alabama football game in Tuscaloosa, Ellis looks like he could still strap on the shoulder pads and return to the linebacker position he once occupied. He's standing tall and proud, wearing a black Izod V-neck sweater over a white dress shirt and smiling into the camera. He looks like a young man with far more living to do.
Sadly, Ellis' life, filled with positivity and full of so much promise, ended late Tuesday night.
The former Alabama football standout died at 28, succumbing to cancer in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ellis' former teammate and his best friend, running back Ahmaad Galloway, was at his side at Memorial Hospital. Their friendship serves as testament to the bonds that form through sports. When Galloway was married last April, Ellis wore a tux and served as his best man. When Ellis was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer after developing a persistent cough last summer, Galloway stepped in to help.
He accompanied his friend to chemotherapy treatments and organized a fund-raiser along with Blair Brown, the president of the Russell/Muscogee County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association.
The event that originated through their tireless work produced an amazing outpouring of support. Former Alabama football legends mingled with the masses at the ''Tailgating with the Legends'' event set up near Denny Chimes before last November's home game with Louisiana-Monroe. Brown told me that $30,000 in donations were raised for Ellis in just two hours.
Ellis, who served as an honorary game captain for that home game, had an unspeakably difficult fight against tumors that had formed in a lung, a kidney, his chest cavity, spine and pelvis. You couldn't see any of that in the photo that Brown shared via e-mail, the one that showed Ellis looking so happy and carefree not so long ago.
"Victor told me on several occasions that it meant a lot to him for you all to come out and support him like you did,’’ Brown wrote in an e-mail to A Club members Wednesday. "He was very grateful to the Alabama family. We were honored to know him and call him our friend.''
We can only hope that Ellis is at peace now, free of the pain that attacked his body. We must also remember the good work done last fall for a good man.
To see a slideshow from last fall's fund-raiser, log on to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25115406@N08/show/
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Bracketcide
It's not often you see a 20-plus-point swing in one half, but the Georgia Miracle Network has been officially disconnected.
Xavier 73-61.
The final score isn't indicative of the outcome, however. Georgia, which squandered an 11-point second-half lead, still had a fighting chance with 1:24 left in regulation. Sundiata Gaines whipped a sweet pass to center Dave Bliss for a dunk, closing the gap to 64-61 and keeping hope alive for another possession or two.
Here's the problem: Xavier made its free throws. At one point, the Musketeers were on an 18-of-23 tear at the line. The game got away from Georgia because it couldn't convert makeable shots on the interior in the second half and found itself forced to make chuck-and-duck 3-pointers at the end.
It's not often you see a 20-plus-point swing in one half, but the Georgia Miracle Network has been officially disconnected.
Xavier 73-61.
The final score isn't indicative of the outcome, however. Georgia, which squandered an 11-point second-half lead, still had a fighting chance with 1:24 left in regulation. Sundiata Gaines whipped a sweet pass to center Dave Bliss for a dunk, closing the gap to 64-61 and keeping hope alive for another possession or two.
Here's the problem: Xavier made its free throws. At one point, the Musketeers were on an 18-of-23 tear at the line. The game got away from Georgia because it couldn't convert makeable shots on the interior in the second half and found itself forced to make chuck-and-duck 3-pointers at the end.
Bulldogs in a tough spot
Center Dave Bliss just got his fourth foul with 5:31 to go. That leaves freshman Jeremy Price and the 6-10 kid, Jackson, to carry the load for a while.
Xavier is starting to push the tempo and rachet up their defensive intensity.
Derrick Brown just finished a beautiful fast-break sequence with a layup and drew a foul, so Georgia could get buried here in a moment.
Xavier by 8 points with 5:05 to go.
Center Dave Bliss just got his fourth foul with 5:31 to go. That leaves freshman Jeremy Price and the 6-10 kid, Jackson, to carry the load for a while.
Xavier is starting to push the tempo and rachet up their defensive intensity.
Derrick Brown just finished a beautiful fast-break sequence with a layup and drew a foul, so Georgia could get buried here in a moment.
Xavier by 8 points with 5:05 to go.
Not so fast, folks
Georgia appears to be running out of pixie dust.
Your score with about 7 minutes to go: Xavier 52, Georgia 49.
The Bulldogs had been up by as many as 11, but have stalled on offense. They just completed a sequence with a pair of inside misses that ended with Xavier wingman C.J. Anderson burying a dagger of a 3-pointer for the lead. Dennis Felton just called a time out, so we'll see if he's able to calm things down.
The Musketeers are getting in Georgia's shirts on defense.
Oh, and I just noticed that they have a forward named, get this, Charles Bronson.
How cool of a name is that?
"Hi, I'm Charles Bronson.''
That sounds so menacing.
Definitely not a guy you'd mug on a subway unless, of course, you have a (cringe) Death Wish.
Georgia appears to be running out of pixie dust.
Your score with about 7 minutes to go: Xavier 52, Georgia 49.
The Bulldogs had been up by as many as 11, but have stalled on offense. They just completed a sequence with a pair of inside misses that ended with Xavier wingman C.J. Anderson burying a dagger of a 3-pointer for the lead. Dennis Felton just called a time out, so we'll see if he's able to calm things down.
The Musketeers are getting in Georgia's shirts on defense.
Oh, and I just noticed that they have a forward named, get this, Charles Bronson.
How cool of a name is that?
"Hi, I'm Charles Bronson.''
That sounds so menacing.
Definitely not a guy you'd mug on a subway unless, of course, you have a (cringe) Death Wish.
Feeling smart right now
Could I be the smartest man in the world?
Sorry, but I'm having delusions of grandeur because of this halftime score from the NCAA tournament: Georgia 35, Xavier 26.
If you saw my bracket in Thursday morning's newspaper, you probably coughed up your Cheerios upon noticing that I had Georgia winning two tournament games (the bracket is correct, but there was a typo in the text that ran next to it). I really like the way Xavier plays, but I decided to go all-in with the Bulldogs because of what I witnessed in Atlanta during the SEC tournament.
They have proven to be a very determined team and their big men, Albert Jackson and Jeremy Price, have started to grow into decent players. Price went for 8 points and 4 rebounds in the first half, while Jackson contributed 5 rebounds.
Not a bad start, but I wonder if Georgia can maintain its 53 percent field goal shooting. That's uncharacteristically good for this team.
Now, before I feel too good about my basketball evaluations, let's get another score: Michigan State 35, Temple 26 at the end of the first half.
I picked Temple.
Could I be the smartest man in the world?
Sorry, but I'm having delusions of grandeur because of this halftime score from the NCAA tournament: Georgia 35, Xavier 26.
If you saw my bracket in Thursday morning's newspaper, you probably coughed up your Cheerios upon noticing that I had Georgia winning two tournament games (the bracket is correct, but there was a typo in the text that ran next to it). I really like the way Xavier plays, but I decided to go all-in with the Bulldogs because of what I witnessed in Atlanta during the SEC tournament.
They have proven to be a very determined team and their big men, Albert Jackson and Jeremy Price, have started to grow into decent players. Price went for 8 points and 4 rebounds in the first half, while Jackson contributed 5 rebounds.
Not a bad start, but I wonder if Georgia can maintain its 53 percent field goal shooting. That's uncharacteristically good for this team.
Now, before I feel too good about my basketball evaluations, let's get another score: Michigan State 35, Temple 26 at the end of the first half.
I picked Temple.
Green jacket Mafia
I found out last week that the Columbus State men's golf team would get to play Augusta National Golf Club as a special guest of James Blanchard, the retired chairman of the board for Synovus who happens to be a member.
Getting to play the most storied and beautiful 18-hole course in the country (we're excluding Pebble Beach because of the lack of azaleas) sounds like a pretty cool experience, right? The sort of thing a lot of weekend golfers would enjoy reading about, right?
Sorry, folks.
Augusta National members are more secretive than the scientists at Area 51 (assuming Area 51 really exists).
I expressed an interest in interviewing CSU golf coach Mark Immelman and his players about their trip, but they declined.
A member of the traveling party told me they sought Mr. Blanchard's OK to consent to the interview and that he told them Augusta National ''doesn't want any publicity'' on the subject.
I've met Mr. Blanchard before and he's a very nice fellow. In fact, he can often be found in the press room during the Masters. And he did a very nice thing by affording the CSU golfers an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives.
It's a shame we can't discuss that kindness in more detail.
I found out last week that the Columbus State men's golf team would get to play Augusta National Golf Club as a special guest of James Blanchard, the retired chairman of the board for Synovus who happens to be a member.
Getting to play the most storied and beautiful 18-hole course in the country (we're excluding Pebble Beach because of the lack of azaleas) sounds like a pretty cool experience, right? The sort of thing a lot of weekend golfers would enjoy reading about, right?
Sorry, folks.
Augusta National members are more secretive than the scientists at Area 51 (assuming Area 51 really exists).
I expressed an interest in interviewing CSU golf coach Mark Immelman and his players about their trip, but they declined.
A member of the traveling party told me they sought Mr. Blanchard's OK to consent to the interview and that he told them Augusta National ''doesn't want any publicity'' on the subject.
I've met Mr. Blanchard before and he's a very nice fellow. In fact, he can often be found in the press room during the Masters. And he did a very nice thing by affording the CSU golfers an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives.
It's a shame we can't discuss that kindness in more detail.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Catfish in Mascot Madness
The Columbus Catfish could add a title to the South Atlantic League championship they clinched at Golden Park last season.
This time, however, the Catfish are in contention for having the best logo in Minor League Baseball.
CNBC.com ‘‘Sports Biz’’ blogger Darren Rovell has constructed his own version of Mascot Madness, a 64-team bracket in which fans’ online votes determine the ultimate outcome.
To participate in the contest, log on to www.cnbc.com/id/23674382 and cast your vote.
Rovell selected Columbus' logo, which features a blue catfish swinging a baseball bat at a Georgia peach attached to a fishing hook, as a No. 2 seed in his bracket. The Catfish are paired against the seventh-seeded Kansas City T-Bones in the Round of 32.
Round Two voting closes today at 9 a.m., so you'd better be quick to click.
Other teams on Columbus' side of the bracket include the Casper Ghosts, Lansing Lugnuts, North Arkansas Naturals, Augusta Green Jackets, River City Rascals and Aiken Foxhounds.
Rovell reported on his blog Tuesday morning that a previous bracket pairing between the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and Lakewood BlueClaws drew 8,000 votes. The Iron Pigs advaned in the bracket by capturing 52 percent of the vote.
Log on and take a look. There are some great logos in contention for the honor, but the Catfish would appear to have as good a chance as anyone.
The Columbus Catfish could add a title to the South Atlantic League championship they clinched at Golden Park last season.
This time, however, the Catfish are in contention for having the best logo in Minor League Baseball.
CNBC.com ‘‘Sports Biz’’ blogger Darren Rovell has constructed his own version of Mascot Madness, a 64-team bracket in which fans’ online votes determine the ultimate outcome.
To participate in the contest, log on to www.cnbc.com/id/23674382 and cast your vote.
Rovell selected Columbus' logo, which features a blue catfish swinging a baseball bat at a Georgia peach attached to a fishing hook, as a No. 2 seed in his bracket. The Catfish are paired against the seventh-seeded Kansas City T-Bones in the Round of 32.
Round Two voting closes today at 9 a.m., so you'd better be quick to click.
Other teams on Columbus' side of the bracket include the Casper Ghosts, Lansing Lugnuts, North Arkansas Naturals, Augusta Green Jackets, River City Rascals and Aiken Foxhounds.
Rovell reported on his blog Tuesday morning that a previous bracket pairing between the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and Lakewood BlueClaws drew 8,000 votes. The Iron Pigs advaned in the bracket by capturing 52 percent of the vote.
Log on and take a look. There are some great logos in contention for the honor, but the Catfish would appear to have as good a chance as anyone.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Let's talk some basketball
If any of you want to play hooky from work for a few minutes, log on to www.ledger-enquirer.com Wednesday at noon and find the link to my web chat on the NCAA basketball tournament.
We will be doing a pair of web chats that day, with the second coming at 6 p.m.
Become a member of our Church of Bracketology and tell me who's in your Final Four, what upset possibilities you like, which players you'll be eager to watch over the next three weeks and how ''One Shining Moment'' gives you goosebumps.
My tentative Final Four looks like this: North Carolina, Kansas, Texas and Connecticut. I say tentative because I have yet to put a pen to paper and fill out my bracket. I'm still studying teams and weighing options, but will probably do a grand unveiling in Thursday morning's paper.
Anyway, please feel free to drop in Wednesday at noon and 6 p.m. I could use some company.
If any of you want to play hooky from work for a few minutes, log on to www.ledger-enquirer.com Wednesday at noon and find the link to my web chat on the NCAA basketball tournament.
We will be doing a pair of web chats that day, with the second coming at 6 p.m.
Become a member of our Church of Bracketology and tell me who's in your Final Four, what upset possibilities you like, which players you'll be eager to watch over the next three weeks and how ''One Shining Moment'' gives you goosebumps.
My tentative Final Four looks like this: North Carolina, Kansas, Texas and Connecticut. I say tentative because I have yet to put a pen to paper and fill out my bracket. I'm still studying teams and weighing options, but will probably do a grand unveiling in Thursday morning's paper.
Anyway, please feel free to drop in Wednesday at noon and 6 p.m. I could use some company.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Mad Dawgs March on
ATLANTA -- The two most pressing questions of the day now have answers.
No, Georgia basketball coach Dennis Felton doesn't have to worry about his job security anymore.
And, yes, the Bulldogs will be bound for the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years (OK, Georgia reached the tournament in 2002, but the NCAA later invalidated that appearance as part of probation) after becoming the third team in league history to win four Southeastern Conference tournament games in four days.
Uh, make that four games in three days. Or 120 minutes of basketball in a two-day stretch.
Anyway you want to parse it, the Bulldogs are in after outlasting Arkansas 66-57 Sunday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. They'll play in the West regional, which seems like a cockamamie concept since their opener will be in Washington, D.C. The 14th-seeded Bulldogs (17-16) drew third-seeded Xavier (27-6).
So, you know what that means.
He's baaaaack.
Felton can quit sweating and Georgia athletic director Damon Evans can start listening to the fan who shouted at him from the stands during Sunday's post-game celebration at midcourt.
''Two-year extension!'' one fan yelled. "Three-year extension! Sign the contract, Damon. Now! We're watching you!''
Evans had a message in return: Chill out, dude.
‘‘He's going to be back,'' Evans said. ‘‘Of course he's going to be back. I told you guys you just have to sit back and wait until the end of the year.''
ATLANTA -- The two most pressing questions of the day now have answers.
No, Georgia basketball coach Dennis Felton doesn't have to worry about his job security anymore.
And, yes, the Bulldogs will be bound for the NCAA tournament for the first time in six years (OK, Georgia reached the tournament in 2002, but the NCAA later invalidated that appearance as part of probation) after becoming the third team in league history to win four Southeastern Conference tournament games in four days.
Uh, make that four games in three days. Or 120 minutes of basketball in a two-day stretch.
Anyway you want to parse it, the Bulldogs are in after outlasting Arkansas 66-57 Sunday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. They'll play in the West regional, which seems like a cockamamie concept since their opener will be in Washington, D.C. The 14th-seeded Bulldogs (17-16) drew third-seeded Xavier (27-6).
So, you know what that means.
He's baaaaack.
Felton can quit sweating and Georgia athletic director Damon Evans can start listening to the fan who shouted at him from the stands during Sunday's post-game celebration at midcourt.
''Two-year extension!'' one fan yelled. "Three-year extension! Sign the contract, Damon. Now! We're watching you!''
Evans had a message in return: Chill out, dude.
‘‘He's going to be back,'' Evans said. ‘‘Of course he's going to be back. I told you guys you just have to sit back and wait until the end of the year.''
Judgement Day
ATLANTA -- We're 30 minutes from tip-off here at the Atlantic Coast Conference arena that happens to be hosting the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament.
In another three hours, the NCAA tournament brackets will begin to take shape on CBS' tournament selection show. A number of nervous college coaches will be looking in on the Georgia-Arkansas game because the outcome could burst their teams' tournament bubbles.
If Georgia wins, it will clinch an automatic NCAA bid and likely push a deserving mid-major team out of the bracket. Right now, it looks as if five SEC teams can expect inclusion in the NCAA field: Tennessee, which may have cost itself a No. 1 seed by losing to Arkansas Saturday night, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
ATLANTA -- We're 30 minutes from tip-off here at the Atlantic Coast Conference arena that happens to be hosting the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament.
In another three hours, the NCAA tournament brackets will begin to take shape on CBS' tournament selection show. A number of nervous college coaches will be looking in on the Georgia-Arkansas game because the outcome could burst their teams' tournament bubbles.
If Georgia wins, it will clinch an automatic NCAA bid and likely push a deserving mid-major team out of the bracket. Right now, it looks as if five SEC teams can expect inclusion in the NCAA field: Tennessee, which may have cost itself a No. 1 seed by losing to Arkansas Saturday night, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Dawg tired, but still dribbling
ATLANTA -- The last time such a through-the-looking-glass example of surrealism followed a tornado, Dorothy wandered the Yellow Brick Road with a scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion.
To borrow the words she shared with her faithful dog: ‘‘Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.''
Georgia's stay in the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament has now reached the terrain of the abnormal and the paranormal. The Bulldogs now find themselves on another planet, a place of possibility where it's no longer laughable to spin blindly and hit a game-winning shot or beat a better opponent with three post players plagued by foul trouble and the senior floor leader unavailable for the final 7:18 minutes of regulation after fouling out.
Perhaps this final score shouldn't make eyes bulge out of their sockets given what happened earlier in the day, but tell me these numbers on the board at Alexander Memorial Coliseum don't elicit a double-take and a headshake.
Georgia 64, Mississippi State 60.
Between noon and midnight Saturday, the Bulldogs beat a potential NCAA tournament team in Kentucky and an NCAA lock in Mississippi State to reach their first SEC tournament championship game since 1997.
Still, you'd have to go back much farther in the history book to find such an unlikely and remarkable zeroes-to-heroes metamorphosis. In 1983, Georgia entered the SEC tournament as a No. 6 seed, but won the tournament and dribbled their way to the NCAA Final Four with the help of Terry Fair and Vern Fleming. This year's batch of Bulldogs had to negotiate an extra obstacle in order to reach Sunday's 3:30 p.m. championship game against Arkansas. When Georgia became the only No. 6 seed to win the tourney in 1983 in the days before conference expansion, it merely had to win three games since it received a first-round bye.
‘‘I can hardly describe how proud I am of our players,’’ Georgia coach Dennis Felton said. ‘‘We're also determined to come out and play with the same kind of conviction tomorrow.’’
Throughout the tournament, the Bulldogs have received pivotal plays from unlikely sources. Dave Bliss, the offensively-challenged senior center, banked in a game-winning shot in overtime in a first round game against Ole Miss. Freshman Zach Swansey, forced into late action against Kentucky after senior Sundiata Gaines fouled out, spun and hit a 3-pointer to make the difference in overtime against Kentucky Saturday afternoon. Against Mississippi State, Georgia received inspired play from 6-foot-10 center Albert Jackson (12 points, eight rebounds) and junior wing Corey Butler (8 points, 6 rebounds). Swansey also resurfaced as a leader rather than a last-second scorer, taking over the point when Gaines (20 points, 5 rebounds) fouled out with 7:18 to go.
Gaines sustained a hip injury after charging into a Mississippi State defender beneath the basket on his last foul. Felton said he didn't know whether Gaines' availability for the championship game would be in doubt.
After leading by as many as 11 points in the first half, Georgia was forced to come up with inventive ways to hang together given that Gaines, Bliss, Jackson and forward Jeremy Price were all saddled with second half foul trouble. Not to mention the fact that they were extremely fatigued after playing nearly 80 minutes in one day.
‘‘It was definitely a grind,’’ Bliss said. ‘‘I've probably played 120 games (in my career), but never two in a row. This team has really come together over the last few days.’’
The sum has definitely proven to be greater than the individual parts. Keep in mind that this team had lost 11 of 13 games heading into what was supposed to be a very short SEC tournament stay. With one more win, the Bulldogs will crash the NCAA tournament party by bum-rushing their way through the servant's entrance with four wins in four days.
‘‘My parents always say, ‘When you're at the bottom, you have no way to go but up,’’’ Butler said.
So they will play on, albeit with more sleep and more time to study their opponent than they had early Saturday morning. It would be understandable if the Bulldogs hit the wall and run out of fuel against Arkansas, but the potential rewards could prove to be rejuvenating -- for this team and this program as a whole.
‘‘I'm not really sure what motivation you need besides the automatic bid that's at the end of the fourth game,’’ Bliss said.
They're still following the basketball version of the Yellow Brick Road. Somewhere along the way, this team found what the scarecrow, the tin man and the lion lacked.
A brain, a heart and the courage to continue.
ATLANTA -- The last time such a through-the-looking-glass example of surrealism followed a tornado, Dorothy wandered the Yellow Brick Road with a scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion.
To borrow the words she shared with her faithful dog: ‘‘Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.''
Georgia's stay in the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament has now reached the terrain of the abnormal and the paranormal. The Bulldogs now find themselves on another planet, a place of possibility where it's no longer laughable to spin blindly and hit a game-winning shot or beat a better opponent with three post players plagued by foul trouble and the senior floor leader unavailable for the final 7:18 minutes of regulation after fouling out.
Perhaps this final score shouldn't make eyes bulge out of their sockets given what happened earlier in the day, but tell me these numbers on the board at Alexander Memorial Coliseum don't elicit a double-take and a headshake.
Georgia 64, Mississippi State 60.
Between noon and midnight Saturday, the Bulldogs beat a potential NCAA tournament team in Kentucky and an NCAA lock in Mississippi State to reach their first SEC tournament championship game since 1997.
Still, you'd have to go back much farther in the history book to find such an unlikely and remarkable zeroes-to-heroes metamorphosis. In 1983, Georgia entered the SEC tournament as a No. 6 seed, but won the tournament and dribbled their way to the NCAA Final Four with the help of Terry Fair and Vern Fleming. This year's batch of Bulldogs had to negotiate an extra obstacle in order to reach Sunday's 3:30 p.m. championship game against Arkansas. When Georgia became the only No. 6 seed to win the tourney in 1983 in the days before conference expansion, it merely had to win three games since it received a first-round bye.
‘‘I can hardly describe how proud I am of our players,’’ Georgia coach Dennis Felton said. ‘‘We're also determined to come out and play with the same kind of conviction tomorrow.’’
Throughout the tournament, the Bulldogs have received pivotal plays from unlikely sources. Dave Bliss, the offensively-challenged senior center, banked in a game-winning shot in overtime in a first round game against Ole Miss. Freshman Zach Swansey, forced into late action against Kentucky after senior Sundiata Gaines fouled out, spun and hit a 3-pointer to make the difference in overtime against Kentucky Saturday afternoon. Against Mississippi State, Georgia received inspired play from 6-foot-10 center Albert Jackson (12 points, eight rebounds) and junior wing Corey Butler (8 points, 6 rebounds). Swansey also resurfaced as a leader rather than a last-second scorer, taking over the point when Gaines (20 points, 5 rebounds) fouled out with 7:18 to go.
Gaines sustained a hip injury after charging into a Mississippi State defender beneath the basket on his last foul. Felton said he didn't know whether Gaines' availability for the championship game would be in doubt.
After leading by as many as 11 points in the first half, Georgia was forced to come up with inventive ways to hang together given that Gaines, Bliss, Jackson and forward Jeremy Price were all saddled with second half foul trouble. Not to mention the fact that they were extremely fatigued after playing nearly 80 minutes in one day.
‘‘It was definitely a grind,’’ Bliss said. ‘‘I've probably played 120 games (in my career), but never two in a row. This team has really come together over the last few days.’’
The sum has definitely proven to be greater than the individual parts. Keep in mind that this team had lost 11 of 13 games heading into what was supposed to be a very short SEC tournament stay. With one more win, the Bulldogs will crash the NCAA tournament party by bum-rushing their way through the servant's entrance with four wins in four days.
‘‘My parents always say, ‘When you're at the bottom, you have no way to go but up,’’’ Butler said.
So they will play on, albeit with more sleep and more time to study their opponent than they had early Saturday morning. It would be understandable if the Bulldogs hit the wall and run out of fuel against Arkansas, but the potential rewards could prove to be rejuvenating -- for this team and this program as a whole.
‘‘I'm not really sure what motivation you need besides the automatic bid that's at the end of the fourth game,’’ Bliss said.
They're still following the basketball version of the Yellow Brick Road. Somewhere along the way, this team found what the scarecrow, the tin man and the lion lacked.
A brain, a heart and the courage to continue.
More madness in Atlanta
ATLANTA — Take a good, long look at Arkansas center Steven Hill.
He’s 7-feet of awkwardness, from the gangly limbs to the puffy hair to the Chewbacca starter kit of beard stubble on his face. Add to this a red headband and Hill looks like he should be posting up Jackie Moon, the Will Farrell character in the soon-to-be released comedy/ABA homage ''Semi-Pro.''
Thanks to Hill, we've just witnessed the sort of moment that makes college basketball so riveting in March.
Hill, the Sasquatch look-a-like who dresses as if he's about to play squash, just buried a turnaround jumper a heartbeat before the buzzer to give Arkansas a 92-91 win over Tennessee in Saturday night's Southeastern Conference tournamnet semifinal at Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Unless you're a Tennessee fan, you have to love a moment like this. Before sinking a shot on a play that wasn't even supposed to run through him, Hill had produced a grand total of zero points and four fouls.
"It obviously was designed for me,'' Hill joked after the game. "I need more shots.''
Other than the tornado that shook the Georgia Dome Friday night and forced the SEC to move to an ACC court, this tournament will be remembered for drama engineered by backups and stiff 7-footers.
First, Dave Bliss knocks in a bank at the overtime buzzer to lift Georgia over Ole Miss in the first round. Then Tennessee escapes against South Carolina. Then freshman guard Zac Swansey, on the court solely because a senior starter fouled out, airmails a whirl-and-shoot 3-pointer to propel Georgia past Kentucky. Later Saturday, it was Hill's turn to create March magic.
What was it that they said about Michael Jordan? It's got to be the shoes.
Take a look at the water ski-length sneakers on Hill's feet. The No. 4 is scrawled on the top of both high-tops in black magic marker. It serves as a tribute to recently retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
"He's my all-time favorite athlete,'' Hill said.
Brett would undoubtedly be proud of Hill if he saw that last shot. The guts required to take it, let alone make it, were positively Favre-like.
ATLANTA — Take a good, long look at Arkansas center Steven Hill.
He’s 7-feet of awkwardness, from the gangly limbs to the puffy hair to the Chewbacca starter kit of beard stubble on his face. Add to this a red headband and Hill looks like he should be posting up Jackie Moon, the Will Farrell character in the soon-to-be released comedy/ABA homage ''Semi-Pro.''
Thanks to Hill, we've just witnessed the sort of moment that makes college basketball so riveting in March.
Hill, the Sasquatch look-a-like who dresses as if he's about to play squash, just buried a turnaround jumper a heartbeat before the buzzer to give Arkansas a 92-91 win over Tennessee in Saturday night's Southeastern Conference tournamnet semifinal at Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
Unless you're a Tennessee fan, you have to love a moment like this. Before sinking a shot on a play that wasn't even supposed to run through him, Hill had produced a grand total of zero points and four fouls.
"It obviously was designed for me,'' Hill joked after the game. "I need more shots.''
Other than the tornado that shook the Georgia Dome Friday night and forced the SEC to move to an ACC court, this tournament will be remembered for drama engineered by backups and stiff 7-footers.
First, Dave Bliss knocks in a bank at the overtime buzzer to lift Georgia over Ole Miss in the first round. Then Tennessee escapes against South Carolina. Then freshman guard Zac Swansey, on the court solely because a senior starter fouled out, airmails a whirl-and-shoot 3-pointer to propel Georgia past Kentucky. Later Saturday, it was Hill's turn to create March magic.
What was it that they said about Michael Jordan? It's got to be the shoes.
Take a look at the water ski-length sneakers on Hill's feet. The No. 4 is scrawled on the top of both high-tops in black magic marker. It serves as a tribute to recently retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
"He's my all-time favorite athlete,'' Hill said.
Brett would undoubtedly be proud of Hill if he saw that last shot. The guts required to take it, let alone make it, were positively Favre-like.
Intimate setting
ATLANTA — Anybody happen to have a Dunwoody High School roster handy?
Wait, you mean this isn't the Georgia High School Association playoffs being played today at Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum?
Actually, GHSA postseason crowds are generally larger than what Georgia and Kentucky played in front of Saturday in the quarterfinals of the relocated Southeastern Conference tournament.
Damage done to the Georgia Dome by a tornado late Friday night necessitated a move somewhere, what with debris falling from the rafters of the arena and a hole punctured in the roof. Nearby option -- the Gwinnett Arena and Phillips Arena -- were already booked, leaving SEC officials with no other option but a 9,000-seat venue at Tech. They were also saddled with a collosal headache since the Georgia Dome basketball seating arrangement could accomodate 26,000 fans.
That meant a lot of hacked-off Kentucky fans were waiting outside the coliseum and wondering why their SEC tournament passes couldn't get them in the door Saturday morning. SEC officials determined the only way to ensure security and equitability between the schools was to limit passage into the arena to players' families, pep bands and cheerleaders.
As a result, a mere 1,458 fans witnessed Georgia's thrilling 60-56 overtime win over Kentucky.
ATLANTA — Anybody happen to have a Dunwoody High School roster handy?
Wait, you mean this isn't the Georgia High School Association playoffs being played today at Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum?
Actually, GHSA postseason crowds are generally larger than what Georgia and Kentucky played in front of Saturday in the quarterfinals of the relocated Southeastern Conference tournament.
Damage done to the Georgia Dome by a tornado late Friday night necessitated a move somewhere, what with debris falling from the rafters of the arena and a hole punctured in the roof. Nearby option -- the Gwinnett Arena and Phillips Arena -- were already booked, leaving SEC officials with no other option but a 9,000-seat venue at Tech. They were also saddled with a collosal headache since the Georgia Dome basketball seating arrangement could accomodate 26,000 fans.
That meant a lot of hacked-off Kentucky fans were waiting outside the coliseum and wondering why their SEC tournament passes couldn't get them in the door Saturday morning. SEC officials determined the only way to ensure security and equitability between the schools was to limit passage into the arena to players' families, pep bands and cheerleaders.
As a result, a mere 1,458 fans witnessed Georgia's thrilling 60-56 overtime win over Kentucky.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Felton not feeling heat
ATLANTA -- If the Southeastern Conference tournament was supposed to represent a referendum on the future of Georgia basketball coach Dennis Felton, then the opening round merely served to muddy the issue.
A Georgia team that came to Atlanta with 11 losses in its last 13 games and nothing to play for put together an extraordinary effort to outlast Ole Miss 97-95 in overtime.
Center Dave Bliss, the least appealing offensive option at the end of the game, hit a 6-foot bank shot as the clock expired to send the Bulldogs (14-16) into Friday night’s second round matchup against Kentucky. In doing so, Bliss may have provided a temporary stay for Felton, who has yet to receive a vote of confidence from athletic director Damon Evans.
When asked after the game whether he felt Thursday night’s victory answered his critics, Felton was non-plussed.
"I didn't know I had any critics,'' Felton said. "They just haven't surfaced as far as I'm concerned. How could I possibly sit here and do Damon Evans' thinking for him? That's a question that's suited for Damon.''
Evans' decision will certainly be guided by Felton's overall body of work rather than what happens in Atlanta, but Thursday night should have been seen as a positive.
Georgia played with intensity that belied a team with a 4-12 conference record. The Bulldogs nearly fumbled the game away by committing fouls on last-ditch 3-point shots, once at the end of regulation and once at the end of overtime, enabling the Rebels to force ties. At the same time, they finally finished off a game against a quality opponent.
"For our team to actually finish up the game, which we hadn't done in a long time, I think that is real special,'' said point guard Sundiata Gaines, who converted 11-of-13 free throws and finished with 22 points.
ATLANTA -- If the Southeastern Conference tournament was supposed to represent a referendum on the future of Georgia basketball coach Dennis Felton, then the opening round merely served to muddy the issue.
A Georgia team that came to Atlanta with 11 losses in its last 13 games and nothing to play for put together an extraordinary effort to outlast Ole Miss 97-95 in overtime.
Center Dave Bliss, the least appealing offensive option at the end of the game, hit a 6-foot bank shot as the clock expired to send the Bulldogs (14-16) into Friday night’s second round matchup against Kentucky. In doing so, Bliss may have provided a temporary stay for Felton, who has yet to receive a vote of confidence from athletic director Damon Evans.
When asked after the game whether he felt Thursday night’s victory answered his critics, Felton was non-plussed.
"I didn't know I had any critics,'' Felton said. "They just haven't surfaced as far as I'm concerned. How could I possibly sit here and do Damon Evans' thinking for him? That's a question that's suited for Damon.''
Evans' decision will certainly be guided by Felton's overall body of work rather than what happens in Atlanta, but Thursday night should have been seen as a positive.
Georgia played with intensity that belied a team with a 4-12 conference record. The Bulldogs nearly fumbled the game away by committing fouls on last-ditch 3-point shots, once at the end of regulation and once at the end of overtime, enabling the Rebels to force ties. At the same time, they finally finished off a game against a quality opponent.
"For our team to actually finish up the game, which we hadn't done in a long time, I think that is real special,'' said point guard Sundiata Gaines, who converted 11-of-13 free throws and finished with 22 points.
Day one observations
ATLANTA -- Georgia just outlasted Ole Miss in overtime, 97-95, despite doing everything possible to keep the Rebels in the game.
Georgia committed fouls on a pair of Ole Miss 3-point attempts, once at the end of regulation and once at the end of overtime, allowing the Rebels to tie what seemed to be an airtight game on both occasions.
The Bulldogs made the most of the 5.5 seconds left on the clock in the latter instance. Corey Butler pushed the ball upcourt and found Dave Bliss unguarded to the right of the lane. Bliss, the senior center who is undoubtedly the last option to consider for a game-winning shot, banked in a 6-footer just before the buzzer to seal the deal.
Since I'm waiting for Dennis Felton to arrive for his postgame press conference (in case anyone is still awake), I'll fill the time by running down some players who stuck out.
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt: The 6-foot-6 guard, who earned SEC player of the year honors, lived up to his billing with 26 points against Auburn. He made 6-of-9 3-pointers, many of them coming from waaaaay deep, and displayed a nice mid-range game.
A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Hard to believe he's a freshman. What stood out -- other than his 12-of-13 shooting, was his footwork and soft hands. It's rare to see a 6-11 player with considerable bulk run the floor so well.
Anthony Randolph, LSU: This freshman can afford to stick around. He'll merely boost his NBA earning potential by bulking up his thin 6-10 body and expanding his skill set. He went off for 22 points and eight rebounds in a loss to South Carolina.
Mykal Riley, Alabama: Riley has been lethal from long-range in the last two games. He absolutely buried Florida by hitting crucial 3-pointers in the second half. He may be a bit one-dimensional, but it's a good dimension to have. Keep stepping back until they choose not to guard you and bury it in their face. Riley went 8-of-12 on threes on the way to a 26-point night.
Sundiata Gaines, Georgia: Haven't seen the final box score yet, but he had 20 points and applied some suffocating defense. He's the consummate point guard -- tough in the lane, good court vision and scrappy on defense. He made life miserable for Ole Miss freshman point guard Chris Warren.
ATLANTA -- Georgia just outlasted Ole Miss in overtime, 97-95, despite doing everything possible to keep the Rebels in the game.
Georgia committed fouls on a pair of Ole Miss 3-point attempts, once at the end of regulation and once at the end of overtime, allowing the Rebels to tie what seemed to be an airtight game on both occasions.
The Bulldogs made the most of the 5.5 seconds left on the clock in the latter instance. Corey Butler pushed the ball upcourt and found Dave Bliss unguarded to the right of the lane. Bliss, the senior center who is undoubtedly the last option to consider for a game-winning shot, banked in a 6-footer just before the buzzer to seal the deal.
Since I'm waiting for Dennis Felton to arrive for his postgame press conference (in case anyone is still awake), I'll fill the time by running down some players who stuck out.
Shan Foster, Vanderbilt: The 6-foot-6 guard, who earned SEC player of the year honors, lived up to his billing with 26 points against Auburn. He made 6-of-9 3-pointers, many of them coming from waaaaay deep, and displayed a nice mid-range game.
A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt: Hard to believe he's a freshman. What stood out -- other than his 12-of-13 shooting, was his footwork and soft hands. It's rare to see a 6-11 player with considerable bulk run the floor so well.
Anthony Randolph, LSU: This freshman can afford to stick around. He'll merely boost his NBA earning potential by bulking up his thin 6-10 body and expanding his skill set. He went off for 22 points and eight rebounds in a loss to South Carolina.
Mykal Riley, Alabama: Riley has been lethal from long-range in the last two games. He absolutely buried Florida by hitting crucial 3-pointers in the second half. He may be a bit one-dimensional, but it's a good dimension to have. Keep stepping back until they choose not to guard you and bury it in their face. Riley went 8-of-12 on threes on the way to a 26-point night.
Sundiata Gaines, Georgia: Haven't seen the final box score yet, but he had 20 points and applied some suffocating defense. He's the consummate point guard -- tough in the lane, good court vision and scrappy on defense. He made life miserable for Ole Miss freshman point guard Chris Warren.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Alabama advances
ATLANTA -- Alabama just bounced two-time defending national champion Florida out of the SEC tournament, 80-69.
The Crimson Tide finished strong after allowing a 23-point halftime lead to get cut to 57-51 in the second half.
Mykal Riley was lights-out for Alabama for the second straight game, hitting eight 3-pointers and finishing with 26 points.
ATLANTA -- Alabama just bounced two-time defending national champion Florida out of the SEC tournament, 80-69.
The Crimson Tide finished strong after allowing a 23-point halftime lead to get cut to 57-51 in the second half.
Mykal Riley was lights-out for Alabama for the second straight game, hitting eight 3-pointers and finishing with 26 points.
Uh, not so fast ...
ATLANTA — Now we're seeing a glimpse of the Alabama team that went 5-11 in SEC play this season.
The Crimson Tide’s 23-point halftime lead over Florida dissolved to seven a couple minutes ago. Mykal Riley just buried another 3-pointer to help push it back to 11 points with about five remaining.
Riley has gone absolutely bonkers. Haven't seen updated stats, but he had 14 points at halftime after going 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Richard Hendrix was unstoppable in the first half with 15 points and five rebounds.
It's rare for a Billy Donovan-coached team to go out with a whimper, but the Gators could be playing their way out of the NCAA tournament equation. They were 21-10 (8-8 in the SEC) going into Thursday and were widely believed to be in need of a win or two in the league tournament in order to offset a weak RPI rating (64th).
Florida has won 18 consecutive postseason games over the last two years, but it's looking like any extension to that will come in the NIT.
ATLANTA — Now we're seeing a glimpse of the Alabama team that went 5-11 in SEC play this season.
The Crimson Tide’s 23-point halftime lead over Florida dissolved to seven a couple minutes ago. Mykal Riley just buried another 3-pointer to help push it back to 11 points with about five remaining.
Riley has gone absolutely bonkers. Haven't seen updated stats, but he had 14 points at halftime after going 4-of-7 from 3-point range. Richard Hendrix was unstoppable in the first half with 15 points and five rebounds.
It's rare for a Billy Donovan-coached team to go out with a whimper, but the Gators could be playing their way out of the NCAA tournament equation. They were 21-10 (8-8 in the SEC) going into Thursday and were widely believed to be in need of a win or two in the league tournament in order to offset a weak RPI rating (64th).
Florida has won 18 consecutive postseason games over the last two years, but it's looking like any extension to that will come in the NIT.
Alabama looking sharp
ATLANTA -- If this keeps up, Florida may soon find its NCAA bubble pierced by a stilleto.
Your score from the Georgia Dome at the first TV timeout:
Alabama 14, Florida 2.
The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Gators came ''roaring back'' with their first basket of the game.
ATLANTA -- If this keeps up, Florida may soon find its NCAA bubble pierced by a stilleto.
Your score from the Georgia Dome at the first TV timeout:
Alabama 14, Florida 2.
The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Gators came ''roaring back'' with their first basket of the game.
Auburn out of SEC, on to CBI?
ATLANTA -- Auburn's stay in the SEC basketball tournament was neither long nor particularly memorable.
Even though the Tigers flamed out with a 93-82 loss to Vanderbilt on Thursday, it's entirely possible that Auburn’s season won't end just yet.
The Tigers, who allowed Vanderbilt to shoot 67 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range, wouldn't seem to be an especially enticing postseason commodity at 14-16. The NIT would certainly seem to be a longshot with that record, but an upstart alternative to that consolation prize could have room for the Tigers.
Ever hear of the CBI? Neither had I until Thursday afternoon (I do enjoy CSI, however, preferably the one set in Las Vegas).
The College Basketball Invitational will compete with the 32-team NIT for the leftover scraps that don't land on the plate of the NCAA tournament. A CBI representative has contacted Auburn in search of statistics and background information on the team.
The 16-team CBI is operated by the Gazelle Group, a New Jersey-based firm that operates some of college basketball's early season tournaments.
Auburn basketball coach Jeff Lebo said he'd like for his team to receive a bid to play in a postseason tournament, simply for the experience.
''Just to play in the postseason is big,’’ Lebo said. ''Just to play in that environment.''
The CBI, however, comes with a price tag. In order to host, an athletic department must cut a $60,000 check. Road teams will have their travel expenses paid for them, however. One twist to the CBI format will be a best-of-three championship series.
Lebo said playing in the NIT would likely be more practicle for his program, but stopped short of saying Auburn would turn down a CBI invitation. He said his primary concern with the CBI involves the potential for grueling roads -- especially in a best-of-three final.
"What happens if you play and you've got Washington vs. St. John's in the final?'' Lebo said.
ATLANTA -- Auburn's stay in the SEC basketball tournament was neither long nor particularly memorable.
Even though the Tigers flamed out with a 93-82 loss to Vanderbilt on Thursday, it's entirely possible that Auburn’s season won't end just yet.
The Tigers, who allowed Vanderbilt to shoot 67 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range, wouldn't seem to be an especially enticing postseason commodity at 14-16. The NIT would certainly seem to be a longshot with that record, but an upstart alternative to that consolation prize could have room for the Tigers.
Ever hear of the CBI? Neither had I until Thursday afternoon (I do enjoy CSI, however, preferably the one set in Las Vegas).
The College Basketball Invitational will compete with the 32-team NIT for the leftover scraps that don't land on the plate of the NCAA tournament. A CBI representative has contacted Auburn in search of statistics and background information on the team.
The 16-team CBI is operated by the Gazelle Group, a New Jersey-based firm that operates some of college basketball's early season tournaments.
Auburn basketball coach Jeff Lebo said he'd like for his team to receive a bid to play in a postseason tournament, simply for the experience.
''Just to play in the postseason is big,’’ Lebo said. ''Just to play in that environment.''
The CBI, however, comes with a price tag. In order to host, an athletic department must cut a $60,000 check. Road teams will have their travel expenses paid for them, however. One twist to the CBI format will be a best-of-three championship series.
Lebo said playing in the NIT would likely be more practicle for his program, but stopped short of saying Auburn would turn down a CBI invitation. He said his primary concern with the CBI involves the potential for grueling roads -- especially in a best-of-three final.
"What happens if you play and you've got Washington vs. St. John's in the final?'' Lebo said.
SEC hoop happenings
ATLANTA -- After witnessing the first half of the Auburn-Vanderbilt basketball game here at the Southeastern Conference tournament, I have come to the following conclusion.
Vanderbilt could play 2-against-5 and have a fighting chance to beat Auburn as long as their duo happened to be Shan Foster and A.J. Ogilvy. The pair combined for all but 14 of the Commodores' first-half points.
Your score at halftime: Vanderbilt 47, Auburn 36.
The Foster-Ogilvy stat line: A combined 13-of-16 from the field and 33 points.
Auburn fell into a hole early and lost its grip on the rope when senior forward Quan Prowell picked up his third foul of the half. Prowell, the former Jordan High School standout, scored eight points in just minutes of play.
Here's another startling stat: Auburn ended the first half with just seven rebounds. Sure, the Tigers are lacking size on the inside, but the low total may have more to do with slow-to-react defense. Vanderbilt buried 19-of-25 field goal attempts in the first half and Auburn has yet to figure out a solution to the Commodores' passing from the high post. Ogilvy, who went 7-for-7, scored most of his points on wide-open post baskets created by impeccable feeds from the high post.
ATLANTA -- After witnessing the first half of the Auburn-Vanderbilt basketball game here at the Southeastern Conference tournament, I have come to the following conclusion.
Vanderbilt could play 2-against-5 and have a fighting chance to beat Auburn as long as their duo happened to be Shan Foster and A.J. Ogilvy. The pair combined for all but 14 of the Commodores' first-half points.
Your score at halftime: Vanderbilt 47, Auburn 36.
The Foster-Ogilvy stat line: A combined 13-of-16 from the field and 33 points.
Auburn fell into a hole early and lost its grip on the rope when senior forward Quan Prowell picked up his third foul of the half. Prowell, the former Jordan High School standout, scored eight points in just minutes of play.
Here's another startling stat: Auburn ended the first half with just seven rebounds. Sure, the Tigers are lacking size on the inside, but the low total may have more to do with slow-to-react defense. Vanderbilt buried 19-of-25 field goal attempts in the first half and Auburn has yet to figure out a solution to the Commodores' passing from the high post. Ogilvy, who went 7-for-7, scored most of his points on wide-open post baskets created by impeccable feeds from the high post.
Toasts of the town
Imagine being at a wine tasting and seeing the name of Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones on the label of the bottle about to be uncorked.
Pop it open and breath in the boquet. It will undoubtedly have a strong nose, perhaps reminiscent of a locker in the clubhouse.
How does it taste?
Strong, full-bodied. Definite power to the opposite field. But there's a slight grittiness. Do I detect a hint of infield clay?
Jones and two of his Atlanta teammates, pitcher Tom Glavine and catcher Brian McCann, could soon be stocking your wine cellar in the interest of charity.
The three have teamed up with Charity Hop Sports Consulting and Napa Valley's Clos LaChance Winery and Estate Vineyard to create wines to be sold at retailers in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
All of the profits will be given to charity, according to a press release sent by Charity Hop Sports Consulting. So, before too long, you might see some of the following labels on grocery store shelves:
* Cabernet Glavignon, which will benefit Glavine's designated charity, CURE Children's Cancer.
* Chipper Chardonnay, which will benefit Jones' choice, The Miracle League.
* McCann Merlot, which McCann hopes will benefit Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.
I must say that these would seem to represent far more palatable options than, say, a John Rocker Riesling. In actuality, the bottles would be worth purchasing simply for their value as a collector's item.
The expected retail price for each label will be $13. That's a pittance considering how the money will be applied.
Imagine being at a wine tasting and seeing the name of Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones on the label of the bottle about to be uncorked.
Pop it open and breath in the boquet. It will undoubtedly have a strong nose, perhaps reminiscent of a locker in the clubhouse.
How does it taste?
Strong, full-bodied. Definite power to the opposite field. But there's a slight grittiness. Do I detect a hint of infield clay?
Jones and two of his Atlanta teammates, pitcher Tom Glavine and catcher Brian McCann, could soon be stocking your wine cellar in the interest of charity.
The three have teamed up with Charity Hop Sports Consulting and Napa Valley's Clos LaChance Winery and Estate Vineyard to create wines to be sold at retailers in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
All of the profits will be given to charity, according to a press release sent by Charity Hop Sports Consulting. So, before too long, you might see some of the following labels on grocery store shelves:
* Cabernet Glavignon, which will benefit Glavine's designated charity, CURE Children's Cancer.
* Chipper Chardonnay, which will benefit Jones' choice, The Miracle League.
* McCann Merlot, which McCann hopes will benefit Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.
I must say that these would seem to represent far more palatable options than, say, a John Rocker Riesling. In actuality, the bottles would be worth purchasing simply for their value as a collector's item.
The expected retail price for each label will be $13. That's a pittance considering how the money will be applied.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Shameless self-promotion
Loyal Troy's Noise followers know that I recently wrote about my experience riding around Atlanta Motor Speedway at frightening speeds as a passenger in a Jeff Gordon Racing School stock car.
There's video of the experience as well that will give you a better understanding of what 175 m.p.h. really looks like. My Ledger-Enquirer colleague Jerry Morehouse shot video of his own three-lap ride and recorded my futile attempts to put on the Jeff Gordon Racing School firesuit and get into the vehicle (remember, the doors are welded shut) without assistance. It's funny stuff.
Our ace video guy, Joe Paull, edited the webcast, which can be seen at the following locations:
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS2JBQDG2sw
If nothing else, you can make fun of how the racing uniform looks on me.
Loyal Troy's Noise followers know that I recently wrote about my experience riding around Atlanta Motor Speedway at frightening speeds as a passenger in a Jeff Gordon Racing School stock car.
There's video of the experience as well that will give you a better understanding of what 175 m.p.h. really looks like. My Ledger-Enquirer colleague Jerry Morehouse shot video of his own three-lap ride and recorded my futile attempts to put on the Jeff Gordon Racing School firesuit and get into the vehicle (remember, the doors are welded shut) without assistance. It's funny stuff.
Our ace video guy, Joe Paull, edited the webcast, which can be seen at the following locations:
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS2JBQDG2sw
If nothing else, you can make fun of how the racing uniform looks on me.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Carver loses, but the city makes gains
MACON, Ga. — As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Saturday night’s Class AAA boys state championship basketball game and four fouled-out Carver High School starters watched from the bench, helpless and hopeless, a group of Glenn Hills fans serenaded them with a chant.
‘‘Stick to football!’’ ... clap, clap, clap-clap-clap ... ‘‘Stick to football!’’
Although it’s true that two Carver starters were instrumental in the Tigers winning their first state title in football in December, it's fair to say the basketball team wouldn't have advanced so far without its star wide receiver, Jarmon Fortson, being a very capable guard or its star linebacker, Jarvis Jones, being one of the most rugged post players in the state.
Jones certainly showed up, large and in charge while pouring in a game-high 23 points and owning the backboards, but Glenn Hills held on for a 64-57 because of its excellent and intelligent team play rather than because of any Carver shortcomings.
‘‘When I watched them play the other night, I told the guys that if we were not sharp and we were not structured, they would eat us up,’’ Carver coach Warren Beaulah said.
He was right. The Spartans were razor sharp in executing their flex offense. They maintained excellent spacing, set strong screens, continually made the extra pass for easier shots and put on a clinic in how to lose defenders on backdoor cuts. They encapsulated the consummate team effort, while Carver often resembled a tired and frustrated collection of individuals.
They accumulated fouls from lazy reach-in defense, struggled to find the range on their perimeter shots and couldn't find a consistent offensive threat other than Jones. Most of those issues likely arose from what happened the previous night. Carver knocked off a heavily-favored Dunwoody team filled with three Division I signees and likely treated that occasion with the importance normally afforded to a state championship game.
It's difficult to summon that type of urgency and excellence two nights in a row.
‘‘The game last night actually had me scared,’’ Beaulah said. ‘‘I think we lost energy. We just hit a little bit of a barrier.’’
They hit the wall in the fourth quarter, in particular, when foul trouble and calm, collected play from Glenn Hills proved to be too much to overcome.
So the drought since Carver’s first and only state basketball title in 1971 has grown to 37 years. But think about where Columbus-area basketball is now as opposed to 10 or 15 years ago.
Jordan won a boys’ state title last year in Class AAA. Carver has knocked on the door twice since 2004. The Kendrick girls finally broke through Saturday night against Carrollton and won the city's first state title for their gender after several close calls.
At different times these last seven seasons, programs have risen up without really falling back. Jordan might have faced Carver in the state title game had it not been for a knockout loss to Glenn Hills. Northside's boys have grown into a formidable program, while Shaw and Spencer are typically competitive. On the girls' side, Columbus, Carver, Shaw and Spencer have all enjoyed varying degrees of success.
It’s no longer a surprise when a Columbus team makes its way to Macon for the final four.
The most important factor in the improvement is the desire from so many players to develop their skills year-round. Amateur Athletic Union basketball enabled players like Jones to face the state's elite over the summer, including some of the stars who suited up for Dunwoody and Glenn Hills.
‘‘I think basketball has always been good in Columbus, but it’s getting better,’’ Beaulah said. ‘‘I think a lot can be attributed to the guys getting out and competing. They're getting to face a lot of the good competition that's outside Georgia.’’
While the pain felt inside the Carver locker room late Saturday night was palpable, the presence of two local teams in state championship games proves that the overall health of city basketball has never been better.
MACON, Ga. — As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Saturday night’s Class AAA boys state championship basketball game and four fouled-out Carver High School starters watched from the bench, helpless and hopeless, a group of Glenn Hills fans serenaded them with a chant.
‘‘Stick to football!’’ ... clap, clap, clap-clap-clap ... ‘‘Stick to football!’’
Although it’s true that two Carver starters were instrumental in the Tigers winning their first state title in football in December, it's fair to say the basketball team wouldn't have advanced so far without its star wide receiver, Jarmon Fortson, being a very capable guard or its star linebacker, Jarvis Jones, being one of the most rugged post players in the state.
Jones certainly showed up, large and in charge while pouring in a game-high 23 points and owning the backboards, but Glenn Hills held on for a 64-57 because of its excellent and intelligent team play rather than because of any Carver shortcomings.
‘‘When I watched them play the other night, I told the guys that if we were not sharp and we were not structured, they would eat us up,’’ Carver coach Warren Beaulah said.
He was right. The Spartans were razor sharp in executing their flex offense. They maintained excellent spacing, set strong screens, continually made the extra pass for easier shots and put on a clinic in how to lose defenders on backdoor cuts. They encapsulated the consummate team effort, while Carver often resembled a tired and frustrated collection of individuals.
They accumulated fouls from lazy reach-in defense, struggled to find the range on their perimeter shots and couldn't find a consistent offensive threat other than Jones. Most of those issues likely arose from what happened the previous night. Carver knocked off a heavily-favored Dunwoody team filled with three Division I signees and likely treated that occasion with the importance normally afforded to a state championship game.
It's difficult to summon that type of urgency and excellence two nights in a row.
‘‘The game last night actually had me scared,’’ Beaulah said. ‘‘I think we lost energy. We just hit a little bit of a barrier.’’
They hit the wall in the fourth quarter, in particular, when foul trouble and calm, collected play from Glenn Hills proved to be too much to overcome.
So the drought since Carver’s first and only state basketball title in 1971 has grown to 37 years. But think about where Columbus-area basketball is now as opposed to 10 or 15 years ago.
Jordan won a boys’ state title last year in Class AAA. Carver has knocked on the door twice since 2004. The Kendrick girls finally broke through Saturday night against Carrollton and won the city's first state title for their gender after several close calls.
At different times these last seven seasons, programs have risen up without really falling back. Jordan might have faced Carver in the state title game had it not been for a knockout loss to Glenn Hills. Northside's boys have grown into a formidable program, while Shaw and Spencer are typically competitive. On the girls' side, Columbus, Carver, Shaw and Spencer have all enjoyed varying degrees of success.
It’s no longer a surprise when a Columbus team makes its way to Macon for the final four.
The most important factor in the improvement is the desire from so many players to develop their skills year-round. Amateur Athletic Union basketball enabled players like Jones to face the state's elite over the summer, including some of the stars who suited up for Dunwoody and Glenn Hills.
‘‘I think basketball has always been good in Columbus, but it’s getting better,’’ Beaulah said. ‘‘I think a lot can be attributed to the guys getting out and competing. They're getting to face a lot of the good competition that's outside Georgia.’’
While the pain felt inside the Carver locker room late Saturday night was palpable, the presence of two local teams in state championship games proves that the overall health of city basketball has never been better.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Pete Sampras interview
Here's a transcript of the telephone conversation I had with 14-time Grand Slam tennis champion Pete Sampras on Wednesday in anticipation of Saturday night's exhibition match against Todd Martin at the Columbus Civic Center. Often criticized for not being emotional enough on the court, Sampras seems to be exactly what you would expect: cerebral, articulate and, above all, incredibly polite.
Question: What made you want to do the exhibition matches? Do you use it as a competitive outlet or is it a way to stay connected to your fans?
Sampras: ‘‘A little bit of everything. I still enjoy playing, but I don't play a ton of exhibitions. It (the Martin exhibition in Jacksonville, Fla., and Columbus) kind of happened last minute. It's a way to get a few matches under the belt and shake off the rust (before a Monday night exhibition against top-ranked Roger Federer in New York City). (Todd Martin) is a good friend, but part of it is you want to entertain the people.’’
Question: How seriously will you treat this exhibition, especially with Federer coming up in a couple days? Will you bother taking off your Rolex? Will it be geared more toward showmanship and shot-making?
Sampras: ‘‘People want to see real tennis. We’ll play hard, we’ll play for real. There's a sort of lighter side, but once the ball is in the air we'll play the points.’’
Question: You went 1-2 against Federer in your exhibition tour of Asia last year, which sent a pretty strong message for a retired guy since he rarely loses. Does playing him again get your competitive juices going?
Sampras: ‘‘Obviously, he's on autopilot the way he's going. Roger is expected to beat me. For me, I don't play any matches. It's about trying to find some rhythm and confidence as we go.’’
Question: But you still beat Federer the last time you played him. Does that make you re-think the whole idea of retirement?
Sampras: ‘‘No, not realistically. I’m curious to see how I might do at Wimbledon. But the day in, day out grind of tennis (makes a comeback unlikely). I was listening to what Brett Favre said the other day and how he said he was tired. It's the day in, day out grind of the sport. Once I got to a point where I had nothing left to prove to myself, that's when I knew I could walk away from it.’’
Question: Does being the parent to two sons change your priorities?
Sampras: ‘‘I went from retirement to being a father and it takes up your time and responsibility. My wife (actress Bridgette Wilson) was for me keeping on going. If I decided to come back, she’d be supportive. I don't feel that pressure that I need to be at home because I'm a dad now. You can still be a top-ranked player and be a father, but I enjoy being at home and seeing my kids.’’
Question: You were 19 when you one your first Grand Slam (1990 U.S. Open). How difficult was it to manage the sudden crush of celebrity and the expectations that came with that?
Sampras: ‘‘Initially, the next three or four months I struggled with the expectations, the pressure, even my security as a man. I had a few holes in my game. All of a sudden I was thrown into this celebrity status and I wasn't ready for it. I was kind of thrown into a cage of lions. I wasn't ready for it, I wasn't used to it. I went through some bumps along the way. It was a matter of time and maturity, being around the media, being around people, learning how to deal with some wins and losses. It took some time. When you win that major that young, you did something great, but it definitely changes your life. It took some time for me to get comfortable in my own skin.’’
Question: It seemed like you received a lot of criticism early in your career for being introverted and for being the antithesis of Andre Agassi at that time. At the same time, do you think your success was a by-product of being very private and kind of having tunnel-vision when it came to competing?
Sampras: ‘‘I've analyzed it and looked back at it. I lived in Florida for many of the years I was on top. ... I wasn't in the mainstream media much. I played my majors and played my events and went back to Florida. My friends called me Howard Hughes. I was training hard. In one way, it probably hurt my marketability and exposure, but it kept me together and kept me focused on what I wanted to do. It's kind of a Catch-22, but at the same time, I was all about winning majors. I didn't want to have a P.R. person having me flying around doing all these shows. I just kind of kept myself in the house and was pretty private.’’
Question: You kind of defined a Golden Age for American tennis. How much do you think you think the timing of your arrival factored into your success? You had guys like Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang out there at the same time.
Sampras: ‘‘Having those guys, those young Americans, kind of pushed me harder. I also learned a lot from the servers and volleyers like (Boris) Becker and (Stefan) Edberg. They all pushed one another.’’
Question: How much have you enjoyed the exhibitions against Federer and do you feel you guys share some of the same traits?
Sampras: ‘‘It's been fun and he's a great, great player. He possesses a big serve and moves great and does incredible things on the run. He can come in a little bit if he wants. There's nothing he can't do. We (both) kept it simple and weren't too brash or abrasive out there. I'm a fan of his game and him as a guy. He's very humble and understated. He lets his racquet do the talking.’’
Question: You mentioned that it took some time for you to become comfortable in your skin. It seems like the more bombastic an athlete is, the more attention he or she gets. When people called you ‘boring,’ did it bother you?
Sampras: ‘‘I did stay true to myself and didn't change as much as some folks in the media wanted. Some folks at Nike wanted me to act in a different way. I wasn't going to sell out. I'm an athlete in the purest form. I'm not going to create something that's insincere. I don't think Roger (Federer) is like that either. There's not a lot of horns and whistles there. I've always liked the understated.’’
Question: When you learned you were going to play an exhibition in Columbus were you surprised at all about the location? And did you need to look at a map?
Sampras: ‘‘It's funny. My brother (Gus) manages me and we were trying to set up a couple exhibitions in the Southeast. He said there's one in Jacksonville, one in Columbus. How many Columbuses are there in the country?’’
Here's a transcript of the telephone conversation I had with 14-time Grand Slam tennis champion Pete Sampras on Wednesday in anticipation of Saturday night's exhibition match against Todd Martin at the Columbus Civic Center. Often criticized for not being emotional enough on the court, Sampras seems to be exactly what you would expect: cerebral, articulate and, above all, incredibly polite.
Question: What made you want to do the exhibition matches? Do you use it as a competitive outlet or is it a way to stay connected to your fans?
Sampras: ‘‘A little bit of everything. I still enjoy playing, but I don't play a ton of exhibitions. It (the Martin exhibition in Jacksonville, Fla., and Columbus) kind of happened last minute. It's a way to get a few matches under the belt and shake off the rust (before a Monday night exhibition against top-ranked Roger Federer in New York City). (Todd Martin) is a good friend, but part of it is you want to entertain the people.’’
Question: How seriously will you treat this exhibition, especially with Federer coming up in a couple days? Will you bother taking off your Rolex? Will it be geared more toward showmanship and shot-making?
Sampras: ‘‘People want to see real tennis. We’ll play hard, we’ll play for real. There's a sort of lighter side, but once the ball is in the air we'll play the points.’’
Question: You went 1-2 against Federer in your exhibition tour of Asia last year, which sent a pretty strong message for a retired guy since he rarely loses. Does playing him again get your competitive juices going?
Sampras: ‘‘Obviously, he's on autopilot the way he's going. Roger is expected to beat me. For me, I don't play any matches. It's about trying to find some rhythm and confidence as we go.’’
Question: But you still beat Federer the last time you played him. Does that make you re-think the whole idea of retirement?
Sampras: ‘‘No, not realistically. I’m curious to see how I might do at Wimbledon. But the day in, day out grind of tennis (makes a comeback unlikely). I was listening to what Brett Favre said the other day and how he said he was tired. It's the day in, day out grind of the sport. Once I got to a point where I had nothing left to prove to myself, that's when I knew I could walk away from it.’’
Question: Does being the parent to two sons change your priorities?
Sampras: ‘‘I went from retirement to being a father and it takes up your time and responsibility. My wife (actress Bridgette Wilson) was for me keeping on going. If I decided to come back, she’d be supportive. I don't feel that pressure that I need to be at home because I'm a dad now. You can still be a top-ranked player and be a father, but I enjoy being at home and seeing my kids.’’
Question: You were 19 when you one your first Grand Slam (1990 U.S. Open). How difficult was it to manage the sudden crush of celebrity and the expectations that came with that?
Sampras: ‘‘Initially, the next three or four months I struggled with the expectations, the pressure, even my security as a man. I had a few holes in my game. All of a sudden I was thrown into this celebrity status and I wasn't ready for it. I was kind of thrown into a cage of lions. I wasn't ready for it, I wasn't used to it. I went through some bumps along the way. It was a matter of time and maturity, being around the media, being around people, learning how to deal with some wins and losses. It took some time. When you win that major that young, you did something great, but it definitely changes your life. It took some time for me to get comfortable in my own skin.’’
Question: It seemed like you received a lot of criticism early in your career for being introverted and for being the antithesis of Andre Agassi at that time. At the same time, do you think your success was a by-product of being very private and kind of having tunnel-vision when it came to competing?
Sampras: ‘‘I've analyzed it and looked back at it. I lived in Florida for many of the years I was on top. ... I wasn't in the mainstream media much. I played my majors and played my events and went back to Florida. My friends called me Howard Hughes. I was training hard. In one way, it probably hurt my marketability and exposure, but it kept me together and kept me focused on what I wanted to do. It's kind of a Catch-22, but at the same time, I was all about winning majors. I didn't want to have a P.R. person having me flying around doing all these shows. I just kind of kept myself in the house and was pretty private.’’
Question: You kind of defined a Golden Age for American tennis. How much do you think you think the timing of your arrival factored into your success? You had guys like Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang out there at the same time.
Sampras: ‘‘Having those guys, those young Americans, kind of pushed me harder. I also learned a lot from the servers and volleyers like (Boris) Becker and (Stefan) Edberg. They all pushed one another.’’
Question: How much have you enjoyed the exhibitions against Federer and do you feel you guys share some of the same traits?
Sampras: ‘‘It's been fun and he's a great, great player. He possesses a big serve and moves great and does incredible things on the run. He can come in a little bit if he wants. There's nothing he can't do. We (both) kept it simple and weren't too brash or abrasive out there. I'm a fan of his game and him as a guy. He's very humble and understated. He lets his racquet do the talking.’’
Question: You mentioned that it took some time for you to become comfortable in your skin. It seems like the more bombastic an athlete is, the more attention he or she gets. When people called you ‘boring,’ did it bother you?
Sampras: ‘‘I did stay true to myself and didn't change as much as some folks in the media wanted. Some folks at Nike wanted me to act in a different way. I wasn't going to sell out. I'm an athlete in the purest form. I'm not going to create something that's insincere. I don't think Roger (Federer) is like that either. There's not a lot of horns and whistles there. I've always liked the understated.’’
Question: When you learned you were going to play an exhibition in Columbus were you surprised at all about the location? And did you need to look at a map?
Sampras: ‘‘It's funny. My brother (Gus) manages me and we were trying to set up a couple exhibitions in the Southeast. He said there's one in Jacksonville, one in Columbus. How many Columbuses are there in the country?’’
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Think they'll draft a QB?
Around and around they go in the NFL's version of the revolving door.
Michael Vick stepped in and came out the other side in manacles, bound for federal prison. Byron Leftwich entered it, but got chewed up and unceremoniously spat out after two starts.
We're talking about the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback job, of course, which may be an undertaking more hazardous than sailing through the Bermuda Triangle. This has become the sort of job where careers go to die.
Joey Harrington became the latest casualty when the Falcons released him Wednesday after one uninspiring season that included 10 starts, seven touchdown passes, eight interceptions and multiple benchings.
This leaves Atlanta with Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley and makes it a certainty that the franchise will use one of its draft picks to select a quarterback.
There's been much speculation that Boston College's Matt Ryan could be the guy at the No. 3 spot in the first round. If I'm calling the shot, I pass on him and take Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long to improve a weak offensive line. Now that Michael Turner has been signed, there's no need to think about Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, the best pure talent in the draft.
Here's what gives me pauses about Ryan: He's not especially mobile and he surrendered 19 interceptions as a senior. Yes, he engineered some nice comebacks in college and possesses a presence. But the Falcons would be better served to first strengthen their line play (offensive or defensive) and secure a quarterback later in the draft.
If the Falcons trade DeAngelo Hall and get another first round pick out of it, there's a possibility of grabbing Delaware's Joe Flacco, who drew raves at the NFL combine and the Senior Bowl. Beyond him, a player like Tennessee's Erik Ainge might represent the next best option.
Around and around they go in the NFL's version of the revolving door.
Michael Vick stepped in and came out the other side in manacles, bound for federal prison. Byron Leftwich entered it, but got chewed up and unceremoniously spat out after two starts.
We're talking about the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback job, of course, which may be an undertaking more hazardous than sailing through the Bermuda Triangle. This has become the sort of job where careers go to die.
Joey Harrington became the latest casualty when the Falcons released him Wednesday after one uninspiring season that included 10 starts, seven touchdown passes, eight interceptions and multiple benchings.
This leaves Atlanta with Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley and makes it a certainty that the franchise will use one of its draft picks to select a quarterback.
There's been much speculation that Boston College's Matt Ryan could be the guy at the No. 3 spot in the first round. If I'm calling the shot, I pass on him and take Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long to improve a weak offensive line. Now that Michael Turner has been signed, there's no need to think about Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden, the best pure talent in the draft.
Here's what gives me pauses about Ryan: He's not especially mobile and he surrendered 19 interceptions as a senior. Yes, he engineered some nice comebacks in college and possesses a presence. But the Falcons would be better served to first strengthen their line play (offensive or defensive) and secure a quarterback later in the draft.
If the Falcons trade DeAngelo Hall and get another first round pick out of it, there's a possibility of grabbing Delaware's Joe Flacco, who drew raves at the NFL combine and the Senior Bowl. Beyond him, a player like Tennessee's Erik Ainge might represent the next best option.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Pistol Pete content in retirement
Just finished a telephone interview with 14-time Grand Slam tennis champion Pete Sampras, who will be playing an exhibition against Todd Martin Saturday night at the Columbus Civic Center.
While Sampras claims he picks up his raquet infrequently these days, he still puts it to good use. In addition to beating world No. 1 and possible Grand Slam record heir Roger Federer in an exhibition in Asia last year, he soundly thrashed top-20 pro Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-2 last month at an event in San Jose, Calif.
Sampras insisted in 2003 that he would remain ''100 percent'' retired, but I thought that me be worth revisiting since it's obvious his skills have remained largely intact.
"I enjoy being at home and seeing my kids (5-year-old Christian and 2-year-old Ryan),'' Sampras told me.
Not to mention the fact that he also gets to spend time with his lovely wife, actress Bridgette Wilson.
Sampras admitted there are days when he wonders what it would be like to lace up his sneakers for a Grand Slam event.
"I'd be curious to see how I might do at Wimbledon,'' he said.
But don't take that as any sort of hint that he's contemplating a comeback. He said former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre put the grind of being an elite athlete into perspective when he announced his retirement the other day.
"I was listening to what Brett Favre said about being tired,'' Sampras said. "It's the day in, day out grind of the sport. Once I got to a point where I had nothing left to prove to myself, that's when I knew I could walk away from it.''
You'll be able to hear more from Pistol Pete in the column I'm constructing for Thursday morning's Ledger-Enquirer. As all Troy's Noise fanatics know (I've heard there actually are some outside my immediate family), you'll be able to find it at www.ledger-enquirer.com/sports
Just finished a telephone interview with 14-time Grand Slam tennis champion Pete Sampras, who will be playing an exhibition against Todd Martin Saturday night at the Columbus Civic Center.
While Sampras claims he picks up his raquet infrequently these days, he still puts it to good use. In addition to beating world No. 1 and possible Grand Slam record heir Roger Federer in an exhibition in Asia last year, he soundly thrashed top-20 pro Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-2 last month at an event in San Jose, Calif.
Sampras insisted in 2003 that he would remain ''100 percent'' retired, but I thought that me be worth revisiting since it's obvious his skills have remained largely intact.
"I enjoy being at home and seeing my kids (5-year-old Christian and 2-year-old Ryan),'' Sampras told me.
Not to mention the fact that he also gets to spend time with his lovely wife, actress Bridgette Wilson.
Sampras admitted there are days when he wonders what it would be like to lace up his sneakers for a Grand Slam event.
"I'd be curious to see how I might do at Wimbledon,'' he said.
But don't take that as any sort of hint that he's contemplating a comeback. He said former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre put the grind of being an elite athlete into perspective when he announced his retirement the other day.
"I was listening to what Brett Favre said about being tired,'' Sampras said. "It's the day in, day out grind of the sport. Once I got to a point where I had nothing left to prove to myself, that's when I knew I could walk away from it.''
You'll be able to hear more from Pistol Pete in the column I'm constructing for Thursday morning's Ledger-Enquirer. As all Troy's Noise fanatics know (I've heard there actually are some outside my immediate family), you'll be able to find it at www.ledger-enquirer.com/sports
Keep an eye on Colby
Former Russell County High School baseball star Colby Rasmus appears ready to skip a rung on professional baseball's promotional ladder.
After making the climb from Class A to Double-A the last two seasons, Rasmus has a very real shot at making the St. Louis Cardinals' opening day roster.
The 21-year-old drove in both St. Louis runs in a 10-2 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday and raised some eyebrows with a solo homer.
Not that such production isn't expected. Rasmus, the 28th player taken in the 2005 draft, is ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the St. Louis farm system and the fifth-best prospect in all of baseball. He's the two-time reigning Minor League Player of the Year in the Cardinals' organization, based on his precocious performances in Double-A (.275, 29 homers, 72 RBI) and Class A Springfield (.288, 16 homers, 85 RBI).
While Rasmus faces competition from six other outfielders, he's already made a favorable impression on St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.
"Some of our older scouts, who are tough to convince, think he has the right stuff,'' La Russa told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "He wouldn't be in a 1 p.m. game if he wasn't somebody that we want to evaluate against major league players. With him, it isn't so much a question of it but when he will be ready.''
Sounds like the when portion of the equation is close to being solved.
Former Russell County High School baseball star Colby Rasmus appears ready to skip a rung on professional baseball's promotional ladder.
After making the climb from Class A to Double-A the last two seasons, Rasmus has a very real shot at making the St. Louis Cardinals' opening day roster.
The 21-year-old drove in both St. Louis runs in a 10-2 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday and raised some eyebrows with a solo homer.
Not that such production isn't expected. Rasmus, the 28th player taken in the 2005 draft, is ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the St. Louis farm system and the fifth-best prospect in all of baseball. He's the two-time reigning Minor League Player of the Year in the Cardinals' organization, based on his precocious performances in Double-A (.275, 29 homers, 72 RBI) and Class A Springfield (.288, 16 homers, 85 RBI).
While Rasmus faces competition from six other outfielders, he's already made a favorable impression on St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.
"Some of our older scouts, who are tough to convince, think he has the right stuff,'' La Russa told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "He wouldn't be in a 1 p.m. game if he wasn't somebody that we want to evaluate against major league players. With him, it isn't so much a question of it but when he will be ready.''
Sounds like the when portion of the equation is close to being solved.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Uh ... congratulations?
An e-mail from Auburn's athletic department just popped into my inbox and the subject line caught my attention.
''AUBURN BASEBALL: Burnside And Greinke Placed On Clemens Watch List''
Two thoughts: What exactly is the Clemens Watch List and does Henry A. Waxman, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, keep track of it.
If you happen to play baseball, it's fair to say Clemens happens to be a name with which you do not want to be associated at this moment. Apparently, the Greater Houston Baseball Association is undaunted by Congress' interested in whether a former trainer plunged a syringe into Roger Clemens' buttocks.
They present the Roger Clemens Award, which goes to an outstanding college baseball pitcher of their choosing.
Anyway, the Greater Houston Baseball Association selected Auburn right-handers Paul Burnside and Luke Greinke to be on the 78-player ''watch list'' for the 2008 Roger Clemens Award.
Rumor has it the winner of the award will be honored with a party at Jose Canseco's mansion.
An e-mail from Auburn's athletic department just popped into my inbox and the subject line caught my attention.
''AUBURN BASEBALL: Burnside And Greinke Placed On Clemens Watch List''
Two thoughts: What exactly is the Clemens Watch List and does Henry A. Waxman, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, keep track of it.
If you happen to play baseball, it's fair to say Clemens happens to be a name with which you do not want to be associated at this moment. Apparently, the Greater Houston Baseball Association is undaunted by Congress' interested in whether a former trainer plunged a syringe into Roger Clemens' buttocks.
They present the Roger Clemens Award, which goes to an outstanding college baseball pitcher of their choosing.
Anyway, the Greater Houston Baseball Association selected Auburn right-handers Paul Burnside and Luke Greinke to be on the 78-player ''watch list'' for the 2008 Roger Clemens Award.
Rumor has it the winner of the award will be honored with a party at Jose Canseco's mansion.
One more footnote on Favre
Man, the Atlanta Falcons sure look smart for not keeping Brett Favre around long enough for him to mess up the franchise.
Just kidding.
In all seriousness, though, consider the destiny-altering implications of Atlanta's trade of Favre to the Green Bay Packers.
Atlanta selected Favre in the second round of the 1991 draft. He was the third quarterback chosen, a stupifyingly astounding possibility because of the two stiffs whose names were called ahead of his.
Hello, Lost and Found? Anybody turn in a Dan McGwire or a Todd Marinovich in the last 24 hours?
Naturally, the Falcons had no idea that a future Hall of Famer had landed in their laps. Their failing in this case involved an appalling lack of patience with a young quarterback. The first of the four passes he threw as a rookie was an interception. Perhaps thinking it an omen of things to come, the Falcons traded Favre to Green Bay in the offseason for a first-round pick and made what turned out to be one of, if not the most, lopsided trades in NFL history.
Guess what? It did not turn out well for Atlanta.
The Falcons wound up trading the first-round pick to Dallas. The Cowboys used it to obtain cornerback Kevin Smith, a solid contributor who earned All-Pro honors one season and played on three Super Bowl teams. The Falcons received the 19th and 104th overall picks and used them to obtain Southern Miss running back Tony Smith and Baylor defensive back Frankie Smith. Leave it to Atlanta to find the Smiths who can't play.
As for Favre, well, he did OK for himself. He retired Tuesday as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, completions, attempts and victories by a starting quarterback. He also played in his last 253 regular season games (275 in a row counting the postseason), both of which are records for a starting QB. He also guided Green Bay to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI, played in nine Pro Bowls and earned three league MVP trophies.
Given his longevity and amazing productivity, it's worth wondering how different the last 17 years might have been for the Falcons if they had exercised more patience with him.
Man, the Atlanta Falcons sure look smart for not keeping Brett Favre around long enough for him to mess up the franchise.
Just kidding.
In all seriousness, though, consider the destiny-altering implications of Atlanta's trade of Favre to the Green Bay Packers.
Atlanta selected Favre in the second round of the 1991 draft. He was the third quarterback chosen, a stupifyingly astounding possibility because of the two stiffs whose names were called ahead of his.
Hello, Lost and Found? Anybody turn in a Dan McGwire or a Todd Marinovich in the last 24 hours?
Naturally, the Falcons had no idea that a future Hall of Famer had landed in their laps. Their failing in this case involved an appalling lack of patience with a young quarterback. The first of the four passes he threw as a rookie was an interception. Perhaps thinking it an omen of things to come, the Falcons traded Favre to Green Bay in the offseason for a first-round pick and made what turned out to be one of, if not the most, lopsided trades in NFL history.
Guess what? It did not turn out well for Atlanta.
The Falcons wound up trading the first-round pick to Dallas. The Cowboys used it to obtain cornerback Kevin Smith, a solid contributor who earned All-Pro honors one season and played on three Super Bowl teams. The Falcons received the 19th and 104th overall picks and used them to obtain Southern Miss running back Tony Smith and Baylor defensive back Frankie Smith. Leave it to Atlanta to find the Smiths who can't play.
As for Favre, well, he did OK for himself. He retired Tuesday as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, touchdown passes, completions, attempts and victories by a starting quarterback. He also played in his last 253 regular season games (275 in a row counting the postseason), both of which are records for a starting QB. He also guided Green Bay to a victory in Super Bowl XXXI, played in nine Pro Bowls and earned three league MVP trophies.
Given his longevity and amazing productivity, it's worth wondering how different the last 17 years might have been for the Falcons if they had exercised more patience with him.
This time, he really means it
When the Green Bay Packers’ official team Web site recently posted a ‘‘Favre retires’’ headline, it caused a panic in Cheesehead Nation.
The headline vanished into the Internet ether once concerned fans started bombaring the franchise’s switchboard.
False alarm, team officials said. They blamed it on a software glitch and said that the headline was part of a template created just in case quarterback Brett Favre called it quits in the near or distant future.
Besides, it wasn't as if Favre hadn't flirted with the idea on occasion these last few years. Remember his emotional post-game TV interview in 2006, when his tears were nearly frozen to his face as he walked off the field in Chicago? Given some of the late-game magic he engineered in his career, a comeback shouldn't have been especially surprising.
It would have been perfectly reasonable for him to continue playing on after leading the Packers to the NFC championship game in January, but Favre wasn’t kidding when he confirmed his retirement on Tuesday.
Besides, at 38 and with 17 seasons, three MVP awards, a Super Bowl ring and several NFL records to his credit, he’s earned the right to rest on his laurels.
The question now is where he ranks among the all-time greats.
He broke Dan Marino’s record for most career touchdown passes (442), John Elway’s mark for most career victories by a starting QB (160) and became the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (61,655), completions (5,377) and attempts (8,758).
My all-time list of favorite QBs would look like this:
1. Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
2. Favre
3. Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers (chrome dome, wobbly spirals and a winner's edge)
4. Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers (his stats aren't anywhere close to the top three, but he epitomized the term ''field general.'')
5. Elway, Denver Broncos
6. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins (he threw a beautiful deep ball)
7. Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts (flat tops and high-top black cleats should never have gone out of style)
8. Joe Namath, New York Jets (Who would you rather have as a wingman and whose leftovers would you rather land? Namath's or Tom Brady's? Flip a coin)
9. Archie Manning, New Orleans Saints (great player on an awful team)
10. Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins (only because I'm a Redskins fan)
If we're talking about best quarterbacks of all-time, then Brady and Peyton Manning would naturally bump some of my favorites out of the top 10. But Brady and Manning already have most everything -- money, looks, fame, etc. -- so they'll have to live with me keeping them out of my top 10. It's about time somebody said no to them.
Who are your favorite NFL quarterbacks of all-time? Where does Favre rank?
When the Green Bay Packers’ official team Web site recently posted a ‘‘Favre retires’’ headline, it caused a panic in Cheesehead Nation.
The headline vanished into the Internet ether once concerned fans started bombaring the franchise’s switchboard.
False alarm, team officials said. They blamed it on a software glitch and said that the headline was part of a template created just in case quarterback Brett Favre called it quits in the near or distant future.
Besides, it wasn't as if Favre hadn't flirted with the idea on occasion these last few years. Remember his emotional post-game TV interview in 2006, when his tears were nearly frozen to his face as he walked off the field in Chicago? Given some of the late-game magic he engineered in his career, a comeback shouldn't have been especially surprising.
It would have been perfectly reasonable for him to continue playing on after leading the Packers to the NFC championship game in January, but Favre wasn’t kidding when he confirmed his retirement on Tuesday.
Besides, at 38 and with 17 seasons, three MVP awards, a Super Bowl ring and several NFL records to his credit, he’s earned the right to rest on his laurels.
The question now is where he ranks among the all-time greats.
He broke Dan Marino’s record for most career touchdown passes (442), John Elway’s mark for most career victories by a starting QB (160) and became the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (61,655), completions (5,377) and attempts (8,758).
My all-time list of favorite QBs would look like this:
1. Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
2. Favre
3. Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers (chrome dome, wobbly spirals and a winner's edge)
4. Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers (his stats aren't anywhere close to the top three, but he epitomized the term ''field general.'')
5. Elway, Denver Broncos
6. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins (he threw a beautiful deep ball)
7. Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts (flat tops and high-top black cleats should never have gone out of style)
8. Joe Namath, New York Jets (Who would you rather have as a wingman and whose leftovers would you rather land? Namath's or Tom Brady's? Flip a coin)
9. Archie Manning, New Orleans Saints (great player on an awful team)
10. Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins (only because I'm a Redskins fan)
If we're talking about best quarterbacks of all-time, then Brady and Peyton Manning would naturally bump some of my favorites out of the top 10. But Brady and Manning already have most everything -- money, looks, fame, etc. -- so they'll have to live with me keeping them out of my top 10. It's about time somebody said no to them.
Who are your favorite NFL quarterbacks of all-time? Where does Favre rank?
Monday, March 03, 2008
Falcons Dunn with veteran
Warrick Dunn should have seen this day coming since the end of the regular season, but that couldn’t have made it any easier for a player so readily identified with the Atlanta Falcons and universally lauded as the one component the franchise could count on amid last year's turmoil.
The Falcons released the 11-year veteran running back on Monday, one day after signing free agent Michael Turner to a six-year contract.
While the 33-year-old Dunn ranks fourth among the NFL’s active running backs with 10,181 yards, the Falcons’ decision was as necessary as it was unfortunate. The organization requires radical reinvention and reassembly with new pieces.
The diminutive Dunn gained 720 yards last season, but averaged a mere 3.2 yards per carry behind a patchwork offensive line. Under new offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, the Falcons will require a bruising between-the-tackles back to complement speedster Jerious Norwood. In signing Turner, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry as a backup in San Diego, the Falcons picked up a younger, more powerful back who could have another 10 seasons left on his career clock.
The only real downside for the Falcons is what they lose off the field by unloading Dunn. He represented a quiet, community-minded presence that seems all too rare in professional sports. While Dunn enjoyed three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in Atlanta, he conducted himself with humility and did everything possible to avoid the spotlight.
Here's what will endure about Dunn: In 2004, he received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. His charity work, which included the ''Home of the Holidays'' program that helped single parents become first-time home owners, stands as a testament to what he's about.
As good as Dunn's career numbers are, he may be a borderline candidate for enshrinement in Canton. However, there's no questioning his credentials as a hall of fame-caliber person.
Warrick Dunn should have seen this day coming since the end of the regular season, but that couldn’t have made it any easier for a player so readily identified with the Atlanta Falcons and universally lauded as the one component the franchise could count on amid last year's turmoil.
The Falcons released the 11-year veteran running back on Monday, one day after signing free agent Michael Turner to a six-year contract.
While the 33-year-old Dunn ranks fourth among the NFL’s active running backs with 10,181 yards, the Falcons’ decision was as necessary as it was unfortunate. The organization requires radical reinvention and reassembly with new pieces.
The diminutive Dunn gained 720 yards last season, but averaged a mere 3.2 yards per carry behind a patchwork offensive line. Under new offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, the Falcons will require a bruising between-the-tackles back to complement speedster Jerious Norwood. In signing Turner, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry as a backup in San Diego, the Falcons picked up a younger, more powerful back who could have another 10 seasons left on his career clock.
The only real downside for the Falcons is what they lose off the field by unloading Dunn. He represented a quiet, community-minded presence that seems all too rare in professional sports. While Dunn enjoyed three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in Atlanta, he conducted himself with humility and did everything possible to avoid the spotlight.
Here's what will endure about Dunn: In 2004, he received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. His charity work, which included the ''Home of the Holidays'' program that helped single parents become first-time home owners, stands as a testament to what he's about.
As good as Dunn's career numbers are, he may be a borderline candidate for enshrinement in Canton. However, there's no questioning his credentials as a hall of fame-caliber person.
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