The Word

Whatever happened to those grainy, old-school “Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” commercials?

You know, the ones that took up the entire three-minute commercial break. Each one started like a mini-soap opera — lots of drama and emotion — only it ends up nothing like a soap opera at all, and instead inevitably a young, mean-looking punk ends up helping an old woman up off the street who fell, or a young workaholic father realizes he’s been at the office too much and not spending enough time with his family, then brings home presents to everyone, capped off with hugs and kisses all around!

Now while I used to think these ads were nothing more than guilt-laden interruptions to my ABC ”After-School Special” when I was younger, watching some of the commercials on TV these days makes me kind of wish they’d make a comeback. For example, like when a major corporation like Pizza Hut thinks hiring complete, un-funny, buffoon washed-up comedian Jim Bruer to do their ads is going to sell more pizzas, rather then hurt business. (The first person who can rationally explain to me in the comment section why Bruer is sitting on a raft in the pool with a hot box of pizza in his lap yelling “Jackpot!!” repeatedly will win a “Albany Herald tote bag.”)

Of course, once I started thinking about the “Latter Day Saints” spots, I went to You Tube and checked, thinking someone had to of tossed a few up, right? Well, sort of. Mostly what came up when I typed the key words, were just hundreds of videos of this die-hard ”Latter Day Saints” woman reading from the 6th Book of Mormon. Talk about a You Tube legend! (She owns you Kimbo! — kinda like that Seth from Orlando owned you.)

Anway, check it out if you wanna be creeped out need some uplifting. And hey guys, good news: She looks exactly like a cross between Dolly Parton and Tammy Faye Baker.

Oh, wait. That’s terrible news. My bad.

Onto “The Daily Word” ….

*** OK, Braves fans. Sit back down. You’re one day of hope and optimism is over. As is, most likely, your playoff run. Three games back now after the worst-case scenario happened last night: Braves lost, while the Rockies won. And of course, just to twist a knife in every Atlanta fans’ heart, less than a half hour after it was announced at Coors Field that Atlanta had lost —- prompting the Rockies crowd to go nuts — Colorado took a 5-2 lead over the Brewers into the 9th, then suddenly blew it as Milwaukee tied it up, then had to go to extras.

In the 11th, the name many Braves fans are likely uttering today after their curse word of choice — ”Chris Iannetta” — hit a two-run, pinch-hit home run to lift the Rockies, 7-5. In fact, the phrase “We just got Iannetta-ed” may just become the new slang around Atlanta. If it does, I want it copyrighted first. I ain’t gettin’ hosed like Lil’ Wayne did with “Bling Bling.”

*** In college football news, Florida Gators coach Urban Meyer holds hands with goes with Tim Tebow to the doctor while he takes post-concussion tests Tuesday. I wonder if Meyer will do the same for the Fight Irish’s starting QB when he takes over Notre Dame next season?

In Athens, the AP’s Paul Newberry writes a pretty interesting story: UGA, like a lot of other top teams, has been in a lot of wild, close games this year, setting the stage for what could just be a crazy season all around. While down in Atlanta, the AP’s Tuesday story on Georgia Tech was billed as “Dwyer not the only weapon for Tech,” though tell me what you notice about it when you read through it here. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Correct observations do not win you a tote bag in this instance).

And lastly, in Tallahassee, the most suspect offensive coordinator/head coach in waiting in all of college football Jimbo Fisher tells The Orlando Sentinel that FSU needs a culture change to begin a new kind of mystique that the great teams of the ’90s had.

I’ve got an idea, Jimbo: Since you’ve done squat in three years on the job, and the offense has looked both less-than-awesome and awesomely terrible once again this season, how about the school does, indeed, change the culture there. Starting with paying you $5 million you’re owed for not becoming the new head coach by 2011 — and sending you to the nearest bus station.

BTW, Pretty sure I predicted that loss to USF. After all, it made perfect sense: Hang with/crush Top 25 powers Miami and BYU, but nearly lose at home to lowly Jacksonville State, then actually lose to South Florida — a team without its star quarterback and with a backup, redshirt-freshman making his first-ever career start. Even more ironic? The kid (B.J. Daniels) was a Tallahassee native who Jimbo didn’t even bother to recruit. Warning flag #378, FSU. Pay attention. And remember … you are now the fourth-best team in Florida.

*** In NFL news, remember the Raiders assistant coach whose jaw was broken by failed experiment Oakland head coach Tom Cable? Well, he’s ready to talk — and is doing so to Napa Valley, Calif., police, naturally over a glass of wine.

While in Buffalo, T.O. doesn’t have time to fight with the media (OK, yes he does) because he’s too busy calling out ex-Patriots DB Rodney Harrison/current NBC analyst on Twitter for being a steroid junkie. (Daily World newsbreak: “Harrison to come out of retirement for one game, shut down T.O., horse-collar tackle him, then re-retire).”

In more ridiculous trash-talking news, Chargers RB Ladanian Tomlinson — after spouting a lot of junk about how he’s still the best RB in the NFL during the preseason — will miss his second game in a row when the Chargers take on Pittsburgh this weekend because of a “Come on! Suck it up!” sprained ankle. Maybe he’ll still help the team out by sitting on the sidelines with his helmet on the entire game, occasionally riding an exercise bike and talking to no one. Oh, wait. Been there, done that.

*** If L.T. really wanted to toughen up, he would get a buncha pictures of Abraham Lincoln tatooed on his neck and face like NBA baller DeShawn Stevenson of the Washington Wizards recently did.

Can’t wait to see how awkward things get when Obama comes to a game!

And now we close with the “Daily Dose of Deadspin” ….

** Ever wonder if you’ll win the “random-lucky-seat-contest” at a baseball game and be handsomely rewarded with a prize of some kind? Well, if you go to Rogers Stadium in Toronto, count on being misled, embarrassed and ultimately not rewarded with crap.

** Want to attend a WNBA Finals game between the Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever? Well, former NBA star Steve Kerr wants you to. Like, he’ll buy you a ticket if you please, please, please, please, please, please come, fill out the seats and save the league from utter embarrassment during their championship series no one really cares about.

** Donald Trump, who is apparently widely credited with the fall of the United States Football League some 25 years ago, doesn’t like being interviewed for a special documentary ESPN is doing on the league. So much so, he berated he filmmaker, walked out on him during their interview and then sent him a nasty letter calling him a “loser, who’s living in the past.” No, D.T., he was commissioned to make a film about the USFL, and along the way found out everyone blamed you for its collapse. It’s called doing his job.

** Need someone to help you pick winners, you helpless gamblers? Seattle Mariners announcer Mike Blowers can do it. He’s scary good.

** And lastly, I will preface this by saying that I do not really know anything about St. Louis rookie star Colby Rasmus. Other than he has one of the craziest female fans EVER. She made a rap video tribute to him that I dare you to try and get out of your head once you’ve watched it.

Move over strange, ”Latter Day Saints” woman — you’re about to be overtaken on YouTube! 

Out of habit, I typically check the bottom line on ESPN every night to look for two baseball scores, no matter the situation, standings or day. I always look for my hometown Reds and the Atlanta Braves.

I look for the Braves since I moved down here because, well, it’s my job. But, of late, once they fell to 8 1/2 games back of the wild card with 21 to go, I asked myself, why do I care? There is absolutely no way they can make a run at this thing.

Then, this streak happened. Don’t look now, but the Braves are only two games back. This is not only amazing, it is unprecendented. The last time a team came from 8 1/2 games back in September to make the playoffs was 1904. It has never happened with 21 games left. Ever.

Yet, here are these Braves with their five smoking hot starting pitchers, hot bats and 15 wins in 17 games. They are the team that nobody in Philly, Denver, Los Angeles or St. Louis wants to see make the playoffs.

But, can it happen? Here is a take from John Kruk. Then there is this reasoning from Steve Phillips.

Here’s what you need to know. The schedule heavily favors the Braves. They have two games against Florida and and then four against the Nationals. The same Nats the Braves just swept this weekend. The Rockies have three at home against Milwaukee and then finish the year with three at the Dodgers.

If Atlanta were to force a tiebreaker, the one-game playoff would be in Atlanta.

Unless there is a Mets-like final-week collapse then it would appear the margin of error for the Braves is one loss. They can lose one, but anything beyond that will eliminate their realistic hopes of making history.

It’s nice to see a pennant race show up in what has been one of the most boring Augusts in recent baseball history.

On to the word:

– One other quick MLB note for the baseball fans, pretty cool day in Detroit today with a doubleheader at Comerica Park between the Tigers-Twins. By the end of the day the Twins could either be tied for the division or eliminated. Can’t remember anything like this ever happening.

– Most underrated manager in baseball: Ron Gardenhire.

– If the Angels AL West championship celebration honoring Nick Adenhart doesn’t send chills up your spine, you are not alive.

– Another big week upcoming for Georgia. This may be the most entertaining team two watch in the country, though that’s not necessarily great news for Bulldog Nation. Part of that is the fact no game is ever over. And part of that is the turnover issue.

– That issue plays right into LSU’s hands.

– I can say I had the (dis)pleasure of watching the Georgia Tech-UNC game on Saturday. It was my first live viewing of the triple-option offense. As my good friend Darren McPhail said, it is like going to the dentists office and just waiting for the Novacaine to kick in. “Has it happened yet? Has it happened yet? Is it going to happen? It’s over.” Though, McPhail is a former UNC football player, so it probably felt more like this.

– It may be boring, but it was certainly effective in the win against UNC. It seemed like GT was in third-and-long for their entire final scoring drive and converted every one.

– UNC thought it was ready for the Jackets running game. They weren’t. Miss. State believes it is.

– AJC’s Jeff Schultz dares broach the topic of which program is better in the long run? Georgia or Georgia Tech? Can’t say I agree with him. Remember how bad Tech looked against Miami. Did you see how bad Miami looked against Virginia Tech?

– Nolessports.com’s Corey Clark takes a deeper look at the problems at FSU after their demoralizing loss to USF. He points out a stat that would have been unfathomable not long ago. Against Division 1-A competition since Oct. 15, 2005, the Seminoles are 25-23.

– Life without Tebow? But then who will circumcize the children?

– How would Tebow playing against LSU affect the view of Urban Meyer? If you’re smart, dramatically.

– Here’s the thing we should learn about this mini locker-room blowup by Richard Seymour. It is not the players that go crazy, it is the Raiders that make you crazy. Personally, I am surprised it only took Seymour three games to lose his cool.

– Even when Detroit Lions fans win, they lose.

– The Onion is now selling greeting cards. Some of them can be very real life motto’s, even in their hilarity. (See: Study: Alligators are dangerous no matter how drunk you are)

First off, gotta give a shoutout to ex-Dougherty star Daryl Smith, who forced a fumble and then recovered it in the end zone to keep Houston from tying Jacksonville during Sunday’s game. Outstanding player and great guy. Like ex-Monroe star Deion Branch who plays for Seattle, Smith exemplifies humility. he also became a dad over the past year.. couldn’t happen to a better guy. Here’s a story we put together from the game. I had to add the Daryl Smith information because he was not mentioned ANYWHERE in the Associated Press story. Hard to believe. Here it is.

(more…)

Hey gang! Has it been a week, already since we haven’t been on here?

Let’s hang out….

But first, in the tradition of my blog, let’s pause for a commercial.

uh.. OK….

Really, if there is a Bulldog commercial-worthy today it’s receiver AJ Green (seriously, couldn’t he sell a LOT more ShamWows than this guy?). You name it. Girl Scout cookies? Wrapping paper? Why not?

(more…)

We begin today with a moment of laughter for the doomed-from-the-beginning one-time promising television/radio career of former USC and NFL quarterback-turned ESPN analyst and Gary Busey look-alike Sean Salisbury.

I eluded to the fact Salisbury was in the middle of a complete crisis/mental meltdown in Wednesday’s “Daily Word,” directed at AJ Daulerio, editor of (the greatest Web site ever) Deadspin.com.

Little did I know the storm was just gettin’ a brewin’.

It’s hard to surmize everything that’s transpired in the last few days, so I will give you the links momentarily to follow it step-by-step. (And you gotta read it order.)

But my best synopsis, in two paragraphs or less, is this: Salisbury was most definitely allegedly fired two weeks ago from his radio job in Dallas from giant, 105.3 FM The Fan, for — according to Deadspin — sexting a young, female co-worker in his office and “freaking her out.” This news was nothing new to Salisbury fans out there as their hero also allegedly was in hot water two years ago over at ESPN – which also fired him – for whipping out his cell phone at an ESPN party and showing folks an explicit picture of … ahem … Lil’ Sean. Salisbury, of course, denies both above reports, so after Deadspin went to town on his latest (allegedly) moronic hi- jinx, the former jock went ape in a series of poorly worded, unintelligible and downright nutso emails to blogging master Daulerio.

Ummm … bad idea.

Daulerio, in turn, posted each and every one the moment they came in. Along with his responses. Prompting newspapers like the L.A. Times to scribe such headlines Friday as “Has Sean Salisbury lost his mind?”

So sit back, relax and as long as you have 10 minutes, the fun begins here, continues here and (for now) ends here.

Althugh, if Salisbury follows through on everything he’s alleging to do for those responsible for defaming him — lawsuits galore, dirt on all the famous folks he knows at ESPN and even an R-rated tell-all book on ”The Worldwide Leader in Sports” — this will not be the last we hear about this story.

Good luck with all that, whack job Sean.

And now onto “The Daily Word” ….

*** In case you were hanging out in Russia and busy putting in an “unpatriotic” billionaire-dollar bid to buy The New Jersey Nets last night, you probably missed No. 4 Ole Miss falling to South Carolina on ESPN by the final of 16-10. To make matters worse, I lost a lunch bet to my Herald colleague Paul Dehner Jr., who took South Carolina thanks to his theory that will land him in gambler’s anonymous one day hunch about always taking home underdogs.

Congrats, PDJ. Long John Silver’s on me. And bring Houston Nutt so I can choke him out and leave him in on the floor of the restaurant while I throw my shrimp tails and coleslaw at him.

*** Speaking of PDJ, he had five — count ‘em, five — bylines in Friday’s paper. Including his awesome centerpiece story about “The Georgia Varsity Sports Vent,” which is a Web site that’s supposed to be used to discuss and debate Peach State high school sports. But as Paul discovered, it’s something much more sinister. He then followed that up with a column about what he found on ”The Vent” about the way The Herald covers of high school football — and gave his candid reaction to the completely uninformed opinions of those people who think they know what they’re talking about, but really have no clue.

In between all that, he wrote a game preview of Trash-talk Fest 2009 our Herald Game of the Week: SGA at Deerfield, then cranked out a preview of Cairo at Monroe, before capping it with a game story on Albany High’s latest loss on Thursday night at Hugh Mills, this time to one-win Cook High School.

After that hard day, I probably would’ve bought him lunch anyway even if he didn’t win the bet.

On second thought …. nah. Probably not.

*** Down in my old stomping ground  ofTallahassee, Fla., the word is (now that FSU crushed terrible, Mountain West joke BYU) that suddenly Seminoles QB Christian Ponder is good. I tend to disagree having watched him blow six chances inside the 15 yard-line to score against Miami and put my alma mater’s season on the ropes after the very first game, even if it was mostly FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher’s fault for once again demonstrating utterly suspect play-calling. Plus, have we forgotten about FSU needing a touchdown in the final minute to beat lowly Jacksonville State two weeks ago? Sure, Ponder got them the win. But it took him ALL game and he nearly was the captain of the worst loss in Seminole football history. The AP and other news outlets wrote similar stories about how Ponder is emerging as a talent, completely ignoring the fact FSU is coming off a Ponder-led 7-6 season in 2008 and is merely 2-1 right now — and probably gonna get upset by South Florida on Saturday. After all, leave it to schizofrantic FSU to beat the No. 9 team in the nation a week after it almost loses to a team that wouldn’t even be in the Top 90.

*** In more uplifting news, the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes can move on with their lives now that Wayne Gretzy showed up to work — then promptly quit as head coach. ESPN examines where Gretzky ranks all-time for athletes who were once great players that went into coaching. Considering he missed the playoffs all four years, I’m gonna put him somewhere between Wally Backman and Matt Millen.

*** Some of you may have heard that former UGA and NFL great Herschel Walker is set to make his MMA fighting debut with a company called Strikeforce. Well, UFC president Dana White went bezerk when he heard this news, claiming his attempts to make UFC a mainstream, legitimate sport takes a blow every time a gimmick like this is announced to drum up publicity because it will ultimately make the sport look bad when Walker gets butt kicked by a 60-year-old man in a wheelchair in his first fight.

Here’s one of the many quotes from White:

“I think it’s ridiculous. People think we’re anti-competition? We’re anti-dumb competition. Doing stupid things like this, putting a 50-year-old guy in the Octagon for the first time, and then going out there putting out press releases like it’s a big deal because you signed a 50-year-old Herschel Walker? Are you serious? Strikeforce is a small, little, regional show. The geniuses over at Showtime, these guys are the most arrogant, cocky, pompous jackasses I’ve ever met in my whole life.”

Do I smell a Kimbo Slice-Herschel Walker non-title fight in the making? Work on that, Showtime, you pompous ….

**** And lastly, before we end with the “Daily Dose of Deadspin,” I just want to give a shoutout to my girl Danica Patrick, who decided late Thursday she was staying in the IRL Series. Which is good. After all, for as much pub as she’s gotten, let’s not forget she has only one won race in her career, and it really wasn’t a REAL win considering she was merely ahead when the race was called because of rain with a buncha laps to go.

I just hope she continues the “Go Daddy” commericials. Meet ya at the showers, Danica!

And now, the “D.D.o.D.” …..

** The MLB’s Reds-Pirates game Thursday attracted a whopping 3,000 fans thanks to the G20 Summit being in town in Pitt — and the fact both teams couldn’t beat the South Georgia Peanuts on their worst day. (South Coast League Champs, baby!)

** Deadspin discovered a new Webisode show put out by Foxsports.com called “Cubed”. It’s like “The Office” meets “Saturday Night Live,” — but just not nearly as good (even though the one girl on the show is stunningly hot). Still funny and worth a watch. Especially when one of the characters, “Pizzi,” welcomes washed-up actor Carl Weathers onto his show and proceeds to embarrass him “Ali G style,” like our favorite British razzer did once to famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

** The great mystery about why Plaxico Burress was wearing sweatpants — in a NIGHT CLUB — when he shot himself earlier this year has finally been solved: The answer? He wasn’t actually wearing sweatpants. Rather, it was a mistake in a story by a New York Post reporter, who got the info from a New York City cop — who was clearly a Jets fan trying to paint Mr. Burress as a gun-toting fashion disaster. FYI, Plaxico, the guys at Riker’s Island where you’re spending the next two years are NOT Giants fans.

** Meeting Plaxico in jail might be this guy — a Binghamton, N.Y., college basketball player who was arrested for possessing and dealing cocaine on Thursday. Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben led the school to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance last year. No jokes here. Just a terrible story.

** And ending on the theme of terrible stories, the Lions host the Redskins this weekend in the highly anticipated, epic Matt Stafford-Jason Campbell showdown. Too bad the game is blacked out and the NFL doesn’t care.

Maybe Sean Salisbury can send someone an email about that.

I frequent the local bars quite a bit. I know, those of you who know me are shocked. A few beers, a shot, some laughs and a waffle house debacle are really what motivate me to live.

When I am out, however, I always end up in a conversation with Braves fans about Bobby Cox. For some reason, you Braves fans are ready to see Bobby Cox go. There seems to be this idea that the game has passed him by and he has lost control of the locker room.

Well, as we found out yesterday, Bobby will be going after next season. I have to say that Braves have finally got their wish and now they get to find out how the other half lives.

Nobody has more respect in a clubhouse than Bobby Cox. Every time a player would talk about playing for the Braves, the words honor and respect always preceded Cox’s name. He is the stable general that drove the team to 14 consecutive division titles and in baseball managing, respect and credibility go as far as baseball savvy. And Cox is overflowing with all of those.

Cox was a big reason they won the 14 titles and a much smaller reason they didn’t make the playoffs the last four years. You can chalk that up to inadequate pitching.

Not sure who Braves fans think will waltz into that clubhouse and be better than Cox. As a Reds fan, however, I will pay you to take Dusty Baker. Your only overhead is a toothpick dispenser.

On to the word:

– Everybody is talking about Bobby Cox today. The AJC, for all its faults and lay-offs, still has enough talented staff around to hit a home run with its coverage of this. Jeff Schultz says that despite some of you whining about Cox, he deserves this one last chance.

– In Mark Bradley’s blog he takes a look at the five candidates to take over Cox’s job. Spoiler alert: Terry Pendleton is on this list. Like Terry a lot, great guy, one of the nicest interviews I have done. But do we really think he is ready for this?

– John Schuerholz talks about relating to Cox’s decision.

– Ejection photo gallery!

– The Detroit Free Press talks to Tigers manager Jim Leyland, another one of the great managers to prove age don’t mean squat in the dugout, about Bobby Cox. Leyland says, among other things, “it was an honor to have managed against him.”

– ESPN’s Rob Neyer steps in and tracks the Cox legacy.

– Foxsports Ken Rosenthal says Cox deserves a respectful exit.

– Oh, by the way, another sweep for the Braves. They are now four games out with 10 to play. If this turned into a 13-game win streak to steal the wild card, it will go down as the greatest retirement announcement in the history of professional sports!

– Ok, let’s move forward. Ole Miss at South Carolina tonight. Here is a quick breakdown. Beware the home dog! Especially with a team not used to playing the role of favorite hitting the road. Winning on the road in the SEC tends to be the last step into elite status. Good luck, Ole Miss, don’t trip. (Gamblers: Home dog, night game, national TV alert!)

– The Cocktail Party is staying in Jacksonville (pick up travel board games to play while sitting in gridlock traffic now! The announcement has them flying off the shelves!) Tony Barnhadt says it was never in doubt.

– Mark Richt didn’t say much about the Jacksonville decision. However, he did have something to say about Richard Samuel being in jeopardy of losing his starting RB spot.

– The Athens Banner-Herald tracks the play of Bulldogs in the NFL last weekend.

– So, you can get out of jail to go to a baseball game if you are die hard Red Sox fan? Though, “conjugal visit” with the Red Sox gives me nasty images of David Ortiz and Kevin Youklis.

– The U appears to be back and Heather Dinich takes a closer look at their offense as they roll into Blacksburg. From my angle, the U appears to be the team to beat in the ACC. If they can find a way past VT and Oklahoma WITH Sam Bradford, there may be a run on fatigues sales in South Florida.

– If you play for the Indian National Cricket team you better find yourself a woman.

– In Russia, we believe Nets are good!

– The Yankees and Red Sox fans still don’t like each other? This video launches my new favorite phrase: Go home to yah mutha!

The Daily Word was delayed Wednesday because for the second time in a month, my post was completely erased just before publishing.

How a seemingly perfectly new computer suddenly pops up with an error message, closing everything — including my blog post, that was unsaved because WHO thinks something like that would ever happen.

So frustrating.

Anyway, here’s the Daily Word (or in this case, the Daily Abbreviation). Apologies, but I don’t have the patience to try and recreate what was essentially two hours of lost work. Again.

Guess I’m gonna go back to using a typewriter.

*** Over at ESPN, the battle of the Tonys is on as Tony Dorsett rips Dallas QB Tony Romo. Funny, but I’ve been saying since 2007 that the guy is no good. Way to copy me, T.D.

*** Another ESPN story says that a Russian billionaire is about to buy the New Jersey Nets. Maybe the NBA could hire the city of Albany to check this guy out and make sure he doesn’t have any skeletons in his closet. Heard they were good at that.

*** Braves manager Bobby Cox is retiring after next season. Over/under 30 games Cox gets tossed from in his final year in an effort to hit the showers early and catch the final hour of “So You Think You Can Dance”?

*** Over at Deadspin, former ESPN flunkie Sean Salisbury melts down over recent allegations he’s a complete tool he was fired from his Dallas radio morning show for more sexually explicit behavior. Oh, and he’s writing a tell-all book on ESPN called, “ESPN Exposed: The truth behind the R-rated company.” Sounds as juicy as a plate of salisbury steak!

*** Also at Deadspin today, UFC fight Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is calling it quits because his feelings are hurt by the fact people are making fun of his upcoming role in the “A-Team” remake movie. That’s the least of your concerns, Rampage. And yes, I will accept your challenge to a fight. Right after the “A-Team” cracks a $1M in box office sales. (BTW, neither of those are happening)

*** In completely unrelated news, check out this new reporter for NESN in Boston. Makes me wonder where she was when I was doing my search for an intern this summer.

*** Over at Kansas, the football and basketball team got into a fight outside the stadium. What happened to just beating up on the wimps from the local JUCO college?

*** Some NBA D-League owner is putting $100K in money for charity if Michael Jordan and Byron Russell play a one-on-one match.  Pretty sure I’ve seen this movie and know how it’s gonna end.

*** And lastly in this abbreviated version of “The Word,” to the reader who commented it was a bad idea to let folks vote on where our Herald Game of the Week will be, I will just ask you this question: How is getting your readers involved in selecting which game is most important to them a bad idea? It’s not like we put Pelham vs. Lanier County or Albany vs. Cook up as choices. We pick what should be two highly competitive games that could EASILY be our Game of the Week — then we let the readers decide. It’s actually the opposite of a bad idea, especially in a day and age of “alleged” newspaper decline in which interaction like this is the key to keeping readership strong.

I would’ve Twittered this response, but I don’t roll like Washington Redskins rookie Robert Henson.

Feeling a little bit groggy this morning, but yet I persevere for you, our dedicated readers. Which judging by the comments section may only be a collection of six extremely bored people.

Not going to lie, I can’t hate on our readership this week, not with what is happening with the readers polls. This has been a record-setting week for the Game of the Week poll as the total votes number nearly hit 150 for the decision between Bainbridge-Westside (Macon) and SGA-DWS.

However, you can look for the Herald Tour making its first return trip of the year now, as SGA-DWS took 59 percent of the vote. You can log on to albanyherald.com and see what shenanigans happen next. Though, I promise no more death or threats of death. The shows to this point have had a concerning dark humor to them, but Tim and I are men of peace and plan on acting as such this week.

Also, a huge voter turnout for the Nile Knapp poll question. This seems to be a galvanizing topic as to whether Knapp is the best RB in the area. Sixty-three percent say no, but that is no knock on Knapp. He will always be questioned because of the region he plays in, but he has real next-level skills. Of course, his numbers would not be anywhere near as astronomical at say, Lee County or Westover, but he would certainly make his fair share of big runs at those schools.

He is the big fish in a little pond, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t survive in a big pond. He would certainly see 10-20 touches a game at any school in the area.

Moving on to the word:

– This is a MONSTER week for local high school football. It’s the kind of week I wish I could go all Multiplicity and be in four places at once. (I my come under fire for this, but I say Multiplicty is the best Michael Keaton movie ever….I know you disagree Batman fans, but this is how I feel) Still, the slate of big games runs long.

SGA-DWS : It is the GOTW and there has been a lot of trash talk back and forth about this one. SGA (4-0) thinks they are good enough to compete with the big boys this year. Here is their best chance to prove it.

Cairo at Monroe: Confession — I have been the only one voting for Monroe in the Class AAA state poll. But what does a team have to do to make it in there? They allowed three points in four games. And that was a 44-yeard field goal! All that will change if the Tornadoes can beat Cairo, whose name automatically garners respect for what they did last year, but they are still fighting youth on a team that lost 17 starters from the state title group last year.

No. 6 Bainbridge at No. 3 Westside (Macon): On paper, this will be one of the top three games in the state, not just SW Ga. this weekend. The great folks at Georgia High School Football Daily claim the GSWA poll has Bainbridge too high. That it is too soon to judge them. Maybe so, but here will be a result for all to judge against Westside, who has won every game by at least 20 points and not allowed more than a touchdown in any contest. A lot at stake here, including the possible No. 1 seed for the state tournament, though an Oct. 16 game at Hardaway will also be a major factor.

Mitchell County at Fitzgerald: Clearly, I would send Michael Keaton No. 3 to this game, but it still has a lot of intrigue. Every year I have covered HS football in this area, it seems Mitchell County believes it can be an elite program at this week and then Fitzgerald slams them back to reality. That will almost certainly again be the case again here, but not because Mitchell isn’t much better, they are. More because Fitzgerald is the best team in the state, in my opinion.

– At UGA, everyone is calling for the head of DC Willie Martinez….again. By the numbers, it’s hard to argue for the move at season’s end. The average points against have risen every year under CWM. That is assuming the current trend continues after the latest shootout win against Arkansas. Here is a story from David Hale at the Macon Telegraph about the defense. And here is his assesment on the blog. Here’s a sample of the numbers:

1) Last in the SEC in total defense
2) Last in the SEC in scoring defense
3) Last in the SEC in passing defense
4) Last in the SEC in interceptions
5) Second to last in SEC in sacks
6) Last in the SEC in allowing opponents 1st downs
7) Second to last in the SEC in allowing 4th down conversions
8) Last in the SEC in turnover margin
As Kevin Bacon would say in A Few Good Men, “These are the facts of the case, and they are undisputed”

– Georgia Tech buckles in for Round 3 of their heavyweight ACC fights. To come out of this three-game stretch 2-1 would be a victory for the Jackets. And necessary for them to win the ACC. This UNC game on Saturday at noon (Noon, seriously? The networks are really down on the Wreck) will be the biggest game of their season against a team not named Georgia.

– Sure would be nice if the Jackets had this guy.

– The AP says UNC will be drawing on what it did last year in shutting down Tech.

– Boy, did FSU get lucky. I really hate to see a guy who did so much for South Florida see his career end on crutches.

– Though, I don’t believe it would have mattered anyway. What I most took away from the Miami-Florida State game was these were two teams that were playing good football. It wasn’t high scoring because the defenses were bad — offensive players were making plays. Great plays. Turns out Miami was better than we ever thought they would be and, apparently, losing to them on a dropped 4-yard pass isn’t something to sulk about. As for Jax St., these are 19-year old kids, they overlooked J-State…wouldn’t you?

– Speaking of better than we thought they would be…Auburn, really? I hate to jump the gun, but this offense has been impressive. There certainly were a lot of Chizik haters out there when this hire was made, but winning does cure everything. Though, the jury is still out as Auburn was a no-show in the polls again, the Tigers’ own DB Walter McFadden says, “We are a good team, not a great team.” Well, at least you can’t call them cocky.

– I know none of you care about my fantasy golf team…yeah, I play, don’t judge. You can root for my boy, Steve Marino, though! But despite the fact I am in contention for the season-title, this week’s Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta is a big deal. 10 million dollars will go to the overall FedEx Cup points winner. I assume Elin already has the blueprints drawn up for her “Nordgrenland Village” in Sweden.

– I know baseball has rain outs. And so does tennis. But did you know school could get rained out? Can I call in rainy one day from work? Regardless, the massive rains in Atlanta have East Lake at the saturation point.

– Oh, the Braves are still playing. Game 150: blowout win. In my best Monty Python voice — “Yaaayyy.”

– I can’t make a Monty Python reference without this. “It’s not an ordinary rabbit, it’s the most foul, cruel and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!”

– Chris Fowler cracks jokes at a distraught Clemson fan after they lost to GT in a hillarious off-air broadcats feed (via Deadspin).

– For all of you LSU haters out there (they actually do smell like corn dogs, btw) here is a hillarious clip of a drunk Tigers fan after the game on Saturday. My favorite line of the day, “You don’t want him vomiting into his airways, that would suck.” In a close second is, “If he dies, we’ll fix it.”

Welcome to the show!

Have a seat, make sure the grilling gear from watching Sunday’s NFL games is put away and hang out for a while.

But first, let’s take a short commercial break.

Now wasn’t that lovely? And yes, I know Roy Williams is now with the Bengals. I just wish this other guy would leave the Cowboys. too.

I’m sure Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not clapping now.

Total cost of new Dallas Cowboys Stadium: $1.15 billion

Cost of “drive-in” screen hanging from that stadium ceiling: Way more than anyone should ever spend.

Watching the rival New York Giants beat the Cowboys in the middle of all that and watch Jerry Jones’ reaction?: Why of course… priceless.

(more…)

It only makes sense that since my esteemed colleague Paul Dehner Jr. brought you Saturday’s blog at 5 a.m. that I try to do the same.

Hi! How are ya?

But first, let’s pause for a commercial.

Welcome back! Now where were we?

Oh yeah, at the point that I was trying to make two weeks ago while the whole world was trying to cave in on Georgia quarterback Joe Cox. Throwing five touchdowns, tying a school record will quickly put fans on your side ANYTIME! When I did a story on Joe Cox before covering the Sugar Bowl a couple years ago, I liked what he had to say about his leadership from his days playing high school football in North Carolina. He IS a leader, and he IS the guy for the quarterback job this season. Here is former Herald Writer David Hale’s take on UGA while covering them Saturday for the Macon Telegraph. Here’s another. Here’s the game story from the AJC’s Tim Tucker.

And what about Auburn? Instead of blowing double-digit leads and losing like the Tigers did on more than one occasion last season, they are actually holding their own, beating West Virginia on Saturday (ironically, West Virginia was one of last year’s teams that rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Auburn last year). Here’s the AP’s game story from this year’s game. Here’s a story from The Birmingham News on that interception that iced the game. And here’s The Birmingham News’ game story by beat writer Charles Goldberg.

And the enigma that is Florida State’s football team continues. Seriously, did anyone see THAT coming after the ‘Noles barely slipped past Jacksonville State last week? Apparently, FSU can still look competent when it really wants to.  Here is the Tallahassee Democrat’s game story. And I’m sure Ty Jones will be popular in Tallahassee this week. Now watch them lose against South Florida next week.

Oh, dare I forget Lane and Urban! That game surprised me as much as FSU’s big win. I really thought this would be ugly — like 2008 Florida-Georgia ugly. Heck, the Vols were in striking distance of the Gators, even during the final five minutes. That went a lot more civil than I thought it would between the two coaches after the game. I’m sure there will be a “Lane Kiffin” chapter on the Urban Meyer biography sequel, though!

Here’s a full top-25 capsules roundup.

Want a SEC roundup? Here are game stories on Kentucky, Bama, LSU, Vanderbilt-Miss. St, South Carolina and Ole Miss. And how about the ACC? Here goes … North Carolina, Clemson, Duke, Maryland, and WOW! what a win by Va. Tech. Here’s Virginia, NC State and Wake Forest.

And where does Georgia Tech go after its blowout loss vs. Miami? The AJC has an update here.

Albany State was off Saturday, but I have a story here about the Rams looking ahead to their homecoming contest against Benedict. This may be one of the most spirited homecomings in quite some time since the Tigers beat the Rams last year. Fans at homecoming like blowout wins. I have a feeling if the Rams have their chance, they won’t hold back on the scoreboard.

What else is happening around the SIAC? Well, Benedict won Saturday. Fort Valley State also won, as did Kentucky St.  Miles lost, Morehouse won, Tuskegee beat Clark Atlanta. No word on Stillman-Central State yet. Central State’s coach? It’s former NFL star Kellen Winslow.

And what blog of mine would be complete without a fight song? I’m finding something out, though. I had good luck getting good youtube video of college marching bands playing fight songs the first 3-4 weeks. Now? Not so much. This is the best I could find for Florida.

Now…. GO GET ‘EM!!!