The Word

Happy Friday to everyone. Hard to belief January is almost over. I still feel slightly hungover from New Years. Lot going on this weekend.

Let’s start tonight with high school basketball action.

The big three games we will have reporters at tonight are:

Westover at Dougherty, Crisp County at Monroe and Lee County at Bainbridge.

Any other coaches, you won’t see us there so please remember to call in your scores tonight.

Big game for the Westover girls tonight. I would explain why, but I already did in today’s Herald. Here is the story. The Herald No. 3 Westover boys don’t have a big game on Saturday, but we will call it fun game. They will host Herald No. 2 Terrell County. This game was one of the most entertaining I saw all last season at Terrell. Will be again. If you were rejected by the girl you asked out yet again, I recommend going to this game.

Darton opens its home baseball season Saturday, DWS and Southland wrestlers at the state championships, GISA swimming state championships. The list goes on.

Oh, and some football game on Saturday.

My friend that lives in Tampa says the city is out of control right now. She was out at a bar on Thursday night and took a photo with Joey Fatone and Alfonso Ribero, better known to most as Carlton from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (Greatest…show…ever) and for this. Then DJ Jazzy Jeff showed up (who should remember for this) and started DJing the party. Why must other people live my dream.

Here is today’s word:

I am going non-traditional today, I want to start with this non-local piece by Rick Reilly. Mainly because I meant to link to it yesterday but forgot. This is one of the great fan stories of all time. If you have ever attended a game and try to sneak into better seats, you must read this. And then tell me you Seinfield fans don’t think of this (Go ahead, take a pull).

Dave O’Brien takes a look at what the Braves can still afford to do. And of course, thousands of people instantly comment.

All Braves fans can unleash a sigh of relief. Andruw Jones probably won’t be back this year. It is a shame. I was looking forward to daily updates on which was higher: The price of gas of Jones’ batting average. And no, I am not expecting a gas hike.  

Here are some of the highlights from the Braves caravan trip through Auburn.

My favorite Macon-based, bitter prep sports writer Jonathon Heeter has an excellent take on the Felton firing.

National Signing Day on the horizon, and here is a reminder as to why you shouldn’t care how many stars any of these guys have. This is the equivalent of seing how Ebert and Roeper review a movie and basing your decision to go on that. Its all subjective.

David Wells called Joe Torre a punk. It’s funny, I was just saying the other day, “You know what we need here, a drunk, retired, fat, former pitcher to chime in here.”

Nothing says Super Bowl weekend like a list of the best cheap booze! Glad to see Evan Williams make the list. And I really appreciate leaving the brown bag over the bottom of the bag. Excellent low-life touch.

The South Georgia Wildcats pushed through a list of 16 players for the 2009 season today.

With Antwone Savage, Demetrie McCray and Ray Gant already on the roster that puts them close to the 20 allowed for the season. The team will no doubt take more into camp with them and make cuts.

The names won’t ring much of a bell with anybody in Southwest Georgia, except for OL/DL Steve Sutton, who played at Lee County before moving onto College of the Canyons. Also, we will see the return of QB Cecil Lester. The longtime af2 backup got his shot at a starting job at the beginning of last season and even was named af2 Player of the Week after an opening week win against Tennessee Valley. He was later replaced by Andrico Hines midseason.

Some around af2 circles might take notice of a few, however. The tops among those is WR Mel Long who racked up more than 1,000 yards for the Austin Wranglers last year. And he is from Toledo, and everybody knows about the lack of sleep you can take on MAC football!

WR Robert Kilow also had over 1,000 yards receiving for the Iowa Barnstormers.

Here is the entire press release from the Wildcats.

Wildcats 2009 roster begins to take shape

ALBANY, GA.- The South Georgia Wildcats are pleased to announce that they have been assigned 16 players by the af2 league office for the upcoming 2009 season. With a mixture of seasoned veterans and promising rookies the defending South Division Champions believe they have the nucleus to once again be in the hunt for the ArenaCup Championship.

“I, along with the rest of the coaching staff, am very excited about the group of players we have signed today,” said Head Coach Rodney Blackshear. “With the mixture of veterans and rookies, we look to defend our South Division Championship and make a run at the ArenaCup as we continue to build upon the past years of success in South Georgia.”

Headlining this strong group is 6 year WR/LB Mel Long of Toledo. In 2008, Long was the second leading receiver for the Austin Wranglers with 97 receptions, 1,010 receiving yards, and 24 touchdowns and also pulled in 4 INT returning three of them for touchdowns. During his career in the af2 (Mohegan, Manchester, Bakersfield, Rio Grande and Austin), Long has caught 335 passes for 4,055 yards and 86 touchdowns. Long played four seasons of collegiate ball at Toledo, and graduated as the Rockets’ all-time record holder for receptions (175), TD receptions (21) and receiving yards (2,188).

Also joining South Georgia is 5 year wideout Robert Kilow of Arkansas St. In 2008, playing for the Iowa Barnstormers, Kilow led the team in receptions with 95 for 1,026 yards and 21 touchdowns and was also dangerous in special teams with 1,010 kick return yards and two touchdowns. For his career (Peoria, Memphis, Arkansas, and Iowa), Kilow has caught 406 passes for 4,651 yards and 87 touchdowns. In 2003, Kilow was a member of the AFL’s Chicago Rush.

With returning starter Antwone Savage, the addition of these two great wide receivers will once again give the Wildcats one of the most explosive passing attacks in all of the af2.

5 year WR/DB Lejuan Edwards of West Texas A&M joins Long from Austin. In 13 games last year for the Wranglers, Edwards caught 36 passes for 397 yards, and 6 touchdowns while returning kicks for 1115 yards, averaging 16.9 yards/return.

Rounding out this strong group of wideouts entering his third season is WR/LB Kelvin Dickens of Morgan St. While playing for the National Conference Champion Spokane Shock last season, Dickens hauled in 70 receptions for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns.

At quarterback the Wildcats will be bringing back 2007 and 2008 back up from Fort Valley St. Cecil Lester. Lester who began 2008 as the starter will be battling for the starting spot with rookie Darnell Kennedy of Alabama St. Kennedy has spent much of his career in the CFL as a back up for the Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders, and Ottawa Renegades.

Veterans Mike Lane (DL, Tiffin), Takashi Walker (DB, Eastern Kentucky), Quentin Burrell (DB, Notre Dame), Kinny Spotwood (FB/LB, Tulsa), and Kenneth Turner (OL/DL, Fort Valley St.) will be joining the impressive roster being built in South Georgia.  Lane and Walker will be entering their third season in the af2, while Burrell, Spotwood, and Turner will be beginning their second campaign.

Joining South Georgia as rookies for the 2009 season will be Andrew Levers (K, Portland St.), Joshua Nesbitt (WR/DB, Clark Atlanta), Justin Nester (DB, Texas A&M Kingsville), Troy Perry (WR, Washington), and Steve Sutton (OL/DL, College of the Canyons). Sutton will be familiar to many in the Southwest Georgia area as he played for the Lee County Trojans in high school.

Also in a trade for future considerations with the Spokane Shock, the Wildcats have acquired rookies Richard Clebert (DL, South Florida) and Tremaine Kirkland (WR, Portland St.).

“I am excited about these additions to our roster,” said Vice President Will Carter. “This is the start to a strong nucleus of a championship caliber team.” 

The Wildcats open their home schedule Saturday March 28th against the Florida Firecats.  Season tickets are still available by contacting the Wildcats box office at 229-435-2TIX.  Don’t miss out on the action

Well, on the heels of the Dennis Felton firing it just goes to show again that being the nice guy will only get you so far. In this case, it took Felton further than he probably should have lasted.

Felton was as nice guy and a players coach at UGA, only, those players never did anything except spin out of a tornado inspired basketball players last March.

My one at length interview with Felton came at the Albany Bulldog Club this past August in the midst of the UGA football No. 1 tour. Felton accompanied coach Mark Richt. I showed up to talk to both, but had an idea for an AAU recruiting story I wanted to chat with Felton about. Well, after Felton and I gabbed like to old ladies for 25 minutes about the ugly sides of recruiting, I was informed by Richt I had five minutes with him. Oh well, it was worth it. I secretly rooted for Felton since then. But even the most partisan fan could see this had to happen. Going 0-6 in the SEC by losing 83-57 to Florida doesn’t help.

On to today’s word:

Michael Carvell at the AJC recruiting blog talks about how Georgia Tech pulled the same trick UGA did on Stephen Hill earlier this year. I love that this rivalry has teeth again.

Mark Richt, ladies and gentlemen! He’ll be here all week. Try the veal and don’t forget to tip your waitresses.

Here is a story from USA Today about where some of the top unsigned recruits are looking as National Signing Day (Feb. 4) approaches.

Heather Dinich at ESPN posts a blog about Georgia Tech’s increased expectations in 2009.

Over at Talking Chop they are obsessing over Jordan Schaefer and debunking his HGH bump myth. Some pretty telling numbers.

My boy and Cairo-native Willie Harris is optimistic about his Nationals chances in 2009. That’s why you love Willie, he always thinks its about to happen.

Why snow days are great. It’s all about what you will spell in the snow. When you live in St. Louis, it’s an easy choice.

Roger Clemens snorts when you touch his undercarriage. Ugh.

This news from a press conference this morning at UGA. Felton was in his fifth season as a successor to Jim Harrick in 2003. 

Here is the story from Mark Schlabach at ESPN. 

Here is the press release from the Bulldogs. 

UGA Men’s Basketball Coach Dennis Felton Relieved of Duties Effective Immediately 

ATHENS——-University of Georgia men’s basketball coach Dennis Felton has been relieved of his duties by UGA Director of Athletics Damon Evans effective immediately. 

Evans met with Felton Thursday morning.  Associate Head Coach Pete Herrmann will serve as interim head coach the remainder of the season according to Evans. 

“I’m disappointed that things have not worked out better,” said Evans.  “I do think it is in the best interest of our men’s basketball program that we move in a new direction and while this may be unusual timing, I’m convinced it is the right time.  I want to extend my best wishes to Dennis and his family and thank him for his service to the University over these five-plus years. 

“We have goals and expectations at Georgia for every sport and that includes competing for championships on a regular basis both on the conference and national levels.  We have significant resources, a brand new $30 million basketball practice and office facility that is without equal, there is outstanding high school talent in our state, and the high school and AAU coaches in Georgia are the best in the country. 

“My number one priority is to do what is best for the University of Georgia and our basketball program and I’m committed to beginning the process that will identify the right person to lead our team,” said Evans.  “I want our students and fans to know that in difficult times, their support is critical for the young men on our team and I hope they will rally around them during this period of transition.” 

“I accepted Athletic Director Evans’ recommendation with regret, but I believe this decision to be in the best, long-term interest of the men’s basketball team,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams.  “I also regret the impact this decision has on Coach Felton and his family.  Dennis is a good man, and I wish him well in all future endeavors.” 

Georgia is currently 9-11 overall this season and 0-5 in the Southeastern Conference.  Felton’s overall record at UGA is 84-91 with an SEC record of 26-59 in regular season games.  The Georgia team made an improbable run through the 2008 SEC tournament by winning four games in three days after finishing 13-16 overall during the regular season and a sixth place finish in the SEC East with a 4-12 record. 

The last five Georgia teams have finished 16-14, 8-20, 15-15, 19-14, and 17-17. The 2004 and 2007 teams each earned a spot in the National Invitation Tournament while the 2008 team earned an NCAA bid by virtue of winning the SEC Tournament title. 

Felton came to Georgia in the spring of 2003 following a successful five-year run at Western Kentucky that included an overall record of 56-20, three conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.  He served as an assistant coach at several schools including Clemson, Providence, St. Joseph’s, Tulane, and the University of Delaware. 

Herrmann served as head basketball coach at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1986-92 after six years as chief assistant at Navy.  He has also held assistant coaching positions at Western Kentucky, Virginia, and Kansas State.

I have always been pretty up front about my allegiance to my hometown of Cincinnati. I love the teams there. I love the city. It’s home.

But days like these remind me of why I am glad I don’t live there in the winter.

Here is the story about the storm that is crushing the Midwest, including the Nati.

And then there is this.

Yeah, sometimes in bad weather I have pine needles in my windshield. I wipe them off.

Here is today’s word.

The thankfully goatee-less David Hale has a good story up on Georgia QBs Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray who met the press Tuesday. They are both early enrolled for the spring. This competition will be one to watch. Loser wins a redshirt.

David Ching at the Athens Banner-Herald explains what Joe Cox’s role will be the development of the freshmen.

The Bulldogs are now trying to steal Tennessee’s WR recruits in their desperate search for another wideout. All this craziness can be put to rest with two words: Marlon Brown. The Memphis WR sitting in the top five of scout.com’s class has UGA and UT on his list. Thoughts are the fightin’ Kiffins might have edge, but UGA is far from out of the picture. I love his highlight video.

Listen, don’t pigeonhole the Braves as only searching for talent circumnavigating the Sea of China, they also have trekked plenty through the Panama Canal. (Sure, they fly everywhere, but I prefer the vision of Frank Wren working steer of a ship)

Investing in sports never seems to work out well. The Hawks and Thrashers are hemoragging cash.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt thinks his team needs to toughen up.

One of the best writers ESPN employed, Jeff Pearlman, is leaving to go to SI.com. If you haven’t read Pearlman’s book about the 86 Mets, “The Bad Guys Won,” you should if you love baseball and drinking and Keith Hernandez and of course, Wally Backman — Experience. Leadership. Mustache.

Simeon Rice calls Jon Gruden a scumbag.

If you are like WFXL’s news reporter Jana Baranello and occasionally get so angry you have to change your Facebook status, here is how to do it correctly.

The Florida Marlins released sketches of their proposed new ballpark. I don’t know what is funnier, the idea of the Marlins building a ballpark that their fan base (term used loosely) won’t fill or the negative reaction of the commenters below the sketch.

A birth of octuplets has experts rattled. I imagine the mother was as well. I imagine the worst had to be after the fifth kid, knowing there are STILL three more of those little guys to come! And I am already setting my DVR to record the premiere of their reality show in 2016.

Ready to hit up some city rivalry action tonight with Monroe at Dougherty. Haven’t seen the Tornadoes in a few weeks and am excited to see how they are playing. And anytime I can watch Arabian Williams throw his 5-foot-5 body into traffic play after play it is a good night. Hopefully I will see you there.

We will also have reporters at Westfield-Deerfield and Thomasville at Albany.

Here is today’s word:

Georgia Refugee passed along a great link from the Chicago Tribune talking about how some of the city games in Chicago have been moved to 4 p.m. with no visiting crowds allowed. That is because there has been a rash of shootings at games of late. Thankfully, nothing like that has been happening in this area. (Knocking on wood) Here is the story.

Sorry, angry Bulldogs fans, looks like you are keeping Big Willie Style as DC.

The recruitment of Greg Reid has turned into a spectacle. But I guess this is what he wanted when he started loving all the attention at the Under Armour game. Feels like the last school to host him could win. That might be good news for UGA, which is up this weekend.

Here is a must-read from Andy Staples at SI.com about where football recruits are coming from in the new age of recruiting. Good news for Georgia. Better news for Florida.

The Mountain West Conference is angling to jump into the BCS automatic bid picture.  They romped to a 6-1 record against the PAC-10 during the regular season and since 2003 have had at least one team in the Top 25 every year and twice had a team finish in the top four. Time to make the move.

The Braves are turning Japanese, I think their turning Japanese, I really think so.

His last name is Samb, he plays for the LA Clippers. Brandon Roy owns him.

The MLB Front Office Manager video game comes out today. Have to say I am excited. Although, I did play 24 seasons of Madden 2006 in Franchise mode to much concern from friends and family.

Terrell Owens is getting a reality show. Here is hoping New York, Pumpkin, Heather, Whiteboy and Stephen Baldwin all show up and make his life a living hell.  

GSWA basketball poll

I am concerned over the fact I had a dream where I was celebrating some sort of baseball championship on the field with George Bush and Barack Obama. And apparently Bush was my dad. We had a conversation about how I didn’t view him as my father when he was president. It was awkward for both of them. But the amazing element was, even in my dream, Bush delivered genius comedy.

As we were all three discussing the enormity of winning this championship or whatever it was, Obama talked about years or hard work and dedication, I talked about seeing tears in the players eyes. Then Dubya just said, “It was awesome,” then did his creepy laugh.

This sort of makes me never want to sleep again. And I also have to apologize to my real father, who is incredible and should not think that I subconsciously wished he was George Bush. Tomorrow is his birthday and I will be sending him a “#1 Dad card.”

Enough of that, you didn’t come here to listen to my dream. At least, I hope you didn’t. 

Here is today’s word:

Here is the schedule for the 2009 Braves Caravan taking place this week. Kind of disappointed this is only four days. I know many teams spend two to three weeks on the road. That means you have situations like the closest stop to Albany being in Macon on Tuesday. My guess is the only reason anybody would get up the energy to go there would be to yell at Frank Wren.

Braves prospecet Jordan Schaefer denies HGH use to AJC columnist Jeff Schultz.

Frenchy is learning a new batting stance. Anything’s better than what he was doing last year.

Georgia and Georgia Tech going head to head in a recruiting battle. Have a feeling this one will end up much like the one at Sanford Stadium this year.

David Hale at the Macon Telegraph catches up with WR Tony Wilson coming off an injury plagued 2008. Wilson is arguably the most physical wideout on the team. Should play an important role next season.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press talks with AD Damon Evans about his five years leading UGA.

A nice story from the Charlotte Observer about Joe Cox.

Jim Tressell is starting to look more and more like Philip Fulmer did in Alabama. I expect him to be served with a subpeona next time he shows up in Valdosta.

FSU athletics waiting out a couple of situations, the primary one being the status of 61 student athletes under investigation for academic infractions by the NCAA. Also, Miami-FSU is likely being moved to Labor Day night.

So, Tyson and Holyfied might box for a third time? In Abu Dahbi? Only if Holyfield promised to return the ear feast favor would I watch these two old creeps swing at each other. I’d rather watch Canseco-Bonaduce. (Caution: pathetic)

The coach who won a high school girls basketball game 100-0 was fired for not apologizing for it. Here is the recap from Deadspin. Having seen some lopsided games in my day, I can see how this can happen. Even with the bench empty, you can’t ask girls to stop playing hard. As long as they weren’t in a full-court press or jacking up 3’s, then I agree with the coach.

Finally, here is a story that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich considered Oprah for the Senate seat. I am guessing that is one name Oprah didn’t want to hear hers associated with. Who got the exclusive Oprah interview response: The Gayle King Show. I have to assume Gayle just has the “talk to Oprah” segment every day to keep listeners.

I know most people don’t work the same late hours I do, but I always though it unneccessary to be breaking out the chainsaw and cutting down trees outside my window at 9:30 a.m. And the wood chips and pollen now scattered across my black car was a nice touch.

But I digress.

Here’s the word:

A few big games on the local high school basketball scene this weekend. Westover will host Crisp County for first place in Region 1-AAA. Don’t laugh at these Cougars anymore, they are a perfect 5-0 in region when playing with their two leading scorers Javon Dawson and Bo Carter. They missed two region games with injuries, both losses. Here is the game preview.

The Albany girls will play for an easy road to the Region 1-AA title at Mitchell County. The team in itself is a great story, here is the tale of their journey in today’s Herald.

If you can’t take your kids to the Aussie Open, where can you take them? (Note: Everyone was OK in the fight, so I can laugh at how someone wearing an oversized yellow sombrero can be taken seriously in attending to an injured woman)

Looks like Manny Pacquiau tried the old walk away from the bargaining table technique on Ricky Hatton’s folks. We’ve all tried it at the local car dealership. I’ve also tried it with women, but they just let me go. Glad to know it actually works sometimes. Now, May 2 should be an exciting day for fight fans.

 If you want to go to the University of Tennessee, you better run a 4.4 40-yard dash, because you won’t be learning anything in your major. The new batch of University of Tennessee football assistants will be making $3.6 million next year, meanwhile the school’s faculty is cutting $4.4 million in salaries. This says something about the University and, sadly, I think the powers that be at UT are thrilled with what it says.

The Braves announced the non-roster invitees to spring training. Also, two of them that will be there were ranked in the top 10 prospects across the minor leagues by Keith Law.

Georgia fans will be thrilled to know the G-Day game will be seen on ESPN, according to the Athens-Banner Herald.

Lesson: If you think you have a winning lottery ticket, find out YOURSELF! I am pro-laziness in many respects, but this takes it too far.

My favorite prop bet ever conceived is the over/under on the length of the Super Bowl national anthem. As I thought it was a fun joke myself and some of my friends were playing for the Indy-Chicago Super Bowl a few years back, turns out some people take it very seriously. Here is the analysis of Jennifer Hudson’s National Anthem techniques. I imagine the same people that put this together also bet on the East-West Shrine Game. And Iona-Siena. And every Hawaii home game this season.

Caught up with Former Georgia quarterback David Greene at the Quail Unlimited Celebrity Quail Hunt dinner Thursday and he said it is time to put his NFL career behind him and concentrate on other things. He added he has yet to file his paperwork for being retired, but he was offered a workout with the Giants less than two weeks ago but decided not to try out. Full story in Friday’s Herald.