The Word

OK, there’s so much to talk about in college football today, let’s get right to the traditional commercial, which you will see anytime you visit a Scott Chancey blog. Pizza Hut’s first-ever commercial, courtesy of the Herald vault (OK, seriously, youtube; wow, amazing all the stuff they have). Has to give Pizza Hut a shoutout, especially the one in Camilla for letting me go in one of their booths late Saturday night and letting me turn it into a personal work station. Sorry, my fingers were just a tad too numb to type outside after covering the Mitchell County-Albany game. For those who seemed a little perplexed when a guy with a backpack walked into the Pizza Hut when you were there around 11:10 p.m. last nite, nothing to worry about — it was me.

Read the rest of this entry »

OK, OK, I know … I’ve been slacking on my “Daily Word” lately.

But the mix-master is back and ready to drop it like it’s hot.

Or something to that effect.

A lot has happened in the last 24 hours, much of which didn’t find its way into The Herald’s tight, four-page section for Friday.

What did make it in, however, was certainly of local interest with the centerpiece story Friday being none other than a double preview on the “Family Feud” — a name coined by last year’s prep football beat writer, Derek Barichello, who these days is off somewhere trying to become the next Mark Geragos — for the annual showdown between Miller and Seminole counties. They’re region rivals and in neighboring towns separated by no more than a few blades of grass and a BBQ stand.

Paul Dehner Jr.’s story on Miller County’s ill defense is here, while his Seminole angle on the Indians’ even iller (pretty sure that’s not a word) offense is here. Dehner predicted, among other things, that Seminole wins by a score.

Speaking of scoring, Herald staffer Scott Chancey scored a great interview with LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez, who lives in Albany, on why she wouldn’t take the vacant LPGA Commissioner’s job if asked. On a down note, it appears as if Lopez and local Dougherty baseball legend Ray Knight, the 1986 World Series MVP with the Mets, are calling it quits after 27 years of marriage, or so reported Mariela Rosario at latina.com back in July.

And now onto “The Daily Word” ….

*** Pretty good college football game Thursday night on ESPN between No. 8 Cincinnati and No. 21 South Florida, although I expected more out of the Bulls, who lost, 34-17, to the still unbeaten Bearcats. The most intriguing thing to come out of the game other than the fact the Bearcats are completely trying to ruin a BCS showdown between Texas and Florida by staying perfect and trying to “Utah” their way into the picture was the play of Cincy’s backup QB Zach Collaros. Collaros came in for Heisman Trophy contender Tony Pike when Pike went down injuired right before halftime — and basically BLEW IT UP, leading Cincy to 17 second-half points. (BTW, “Blew it up,” if you’re over 40, is a good thing. Oh, and “BTW” means “by the way.”)

I found a good story from the game and on the emergence of Callaros here. It’s written by this guy who seems sorta familiar. But I can’t put my finger on where I know him. Ahhh …. it’ll come to me sooner or later.

*** I can’t believe I’m saying this, but make sure to watch Oprah today. For some reason, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are getting together on her show to have a biting contest hash out their differences from that infamous night in 1997 when Tyson went berserk and decided early on if he couldn’t beat Holyfield, at least he was make him wish they’d never fought.

*** Like this guy, I really dislike Raiders coach Tom Cable. And like this other guy, I will NEVER ever again bet on the Raiders — unless it’s against them — as long as I live.

*** Under the category of other things I will never do, this is MOST certainly one of them. (HINT: If you like jumping cars off bridges and onto boats just for the hell of it, this story is for you). I just hope come Jan. 1 at sunrise, we’re not talking about Travis Pastrana in the past tense. Good luck to you, sir.

*** In local Southwest Georgia athlete news, Albany pro golfer Josh Broadaway may finally win his first career event down in Miami. He’s two shots off the lead after the first round. There must be something about that course because he had the best finish of his career (third overall) there a year ago.

As for Leesburg’s Buster Posey, top prospect of the San Francisco Giants, he’s headed to the Arizona Fall League, which is apparently so stocked with talent, he’s just another young star among stars, according to Atlantabraves.com. Still, I’d be willing to bet by the end of December, Posey is named MVP.

*** A buncha people who don’t know what the hell they’re talking about continue to profess that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is not the problem at Florida State. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Sure, while coach Bobby Bowden does need to retire after this year, Deion Sanders with Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant illegally on his payroll as his top assistant would be better coaches than these two right now.

Oh, and the same clueless folks who scribed that story, also think that Bulldog fans need to be careful what they wish for when it comes to wanting Mark Richt and Willie Martinez’s head on a platter. Same story as always, different year.

And now we conclude with a “Daily Dose of Deadspin,” …

** This first story is a good example of why ESPN needs to slow its roll and watch the episode of Seinfeld where George screams out …”We’re living in a society ….!!” In other words, STOP ripping everyone off, ESPN. Including these high schools whose football games you televise nationally. Sure, the exposure is great, but wait until you find out how ESPN pays them (scan to the bottom) for three hours of airtime in which the network’s ad revenue is surely in the millions.

** Since when did it become cool to coach boys high school basketball and then go into a Costco and masturbate? Apparently in Idaho, this is how they roll.

** If you’re mentally unstable, you probably shouldn’t have a nationally syndicated column. Especially when you compare the Dodgers-Phillies series to the Crips vs. the Bloods.

** Word of warning to all colleges: If a player is accused of a crime as serious as rape, maybe you should wait to see if he’s exoerated or not before you kick him off the team and defame him like this guy is accusing Penn State of doing. As an FSU fan, I am pulling for Joe Paterno to lose some wins over this.

** For my birthday, I wanna trade places with Texas QB Colt McCoy for a day. Then hop over to Tim Tebow’s house and handle his light work.

I believe those two ladies know the meaning of dropping it like it’s hot.

Here are the YouTube links with Flux Capaciter YouTube speed.

Herald Tour at Seminole County, Part I

Herald Tour at Seminole County, Part II

So, I have spent much of the the last few days gloating over the success of my Cincinnati Bengals. It’s so great to finally follow a team that is winning. I remember saying before the year how vulenerable I felt I was entering this year. With so many poor seasons from every team I invest any time in, I didn’t know if I could take another letdown. Yet, I am once again reminded of what makes sports great. Oh, and because videos like this one resurface. Rapping Solomon Wilcots? Ickey Woods with three complete sentences!

Where I am going with this is, Georgia fans, I feel your pain. There is nothing more frustrating than when “bigger picture problems” begin showing up and making you question everything the program has been built on. People start talking about blowing it all up. In Athens, that means major media pundits…not just message board wack-jobs…calling for Mark Richt’s job. And guess what, it’s all happening.

Here is Mark Bradley of the AJC taking serious shots at Richt. He brings up names like Ray Goff and mentions stats like UGA being 9-6 in his last 15 games. He calls them a program in decline and, gasp, points out their deficiencies when compared to Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech.

Have to say on some levels I agree. The Bulldogs do need some serious changes, and the clearly show the program is in decline. The defense has been ever since Willie Martinez took over. All signs pointed to Martinez needing to go after last season and Richt stood by his guy and showed loyalty. It’s exactly what you love about Richt. it’s exactly what five-star kids that commit to Georgia love about Richt. He is a man of his word and loyal to his people.

This offseason, Richt should be forced to make a call. Be loyal to your staff, specifically Martinez, without a job. Or keep yours and find someone new. These are the tough calls. The ones that nobody wants to make but sometimes you have to. Like when your defense has allowed more than 37 points or more in seven of its last 12 games. That’s right. The Georgia Bulldogs. Vanderbilt thinks that stat is embarrassing.

Love this line from EDSBS: “Georgia’s secondary leads the nation in chasing windblown plastic bags.”

This is the first piece of significant adversity seen in the Richt era…isn’t it amazing how far this program has fallen in the last 15 months when they were the No. 1 team in the nation preseason.

The point is this slide will not stop until some significant changes are made. They will likely be coordinators, unless Richt stays loyal. Then he will again be mentioned in the same breathe as Ray Goff.

Here is The Word:

– On the other side of the Bulldogs debacle is Georgia Tech playing its biggest ACC game in more than 10 years. They take on Virginia Tech on Saturday and could reach a level of significant national respect, prominence and ranking with a victory.

– By the way, Virginia Tech is really good. People are even talking national title hopes despite opening with the loss against Alabama.

– Florida State tight end Caz Piurowski is out for the year with an ACL tear. Oh, now, Florida State’s season is shot. Wait…it already was screwed. Oh, OK.

– Mike Gundy is a man, he’s 40 and he supports Dez Bryant.

– A Gator fan documents 24 hours in Baton Rouge this weekend. Love: they do shots called Statutory Grape (”It tastes like Dimetapp and Felony Assault with a chaser of grain alcohol.” ) Shocked: No corn dogs!

– The Atlanta Falcons offense looked unbelievable on Sunday. Ryan with a career high 329 yards. Roddy White big plays. Tony Gonzalez solid underneath. Michael Turner 3 TDs. This is what this offense is capable of. Scary thought: Ryan and coach Mike Smith think they didn’t play all that well.

– The Phillies completed the LCS picture with a wild win against the Rockies last night. I still don’t know that their fragile bullpen has enough to hold up in the pressure situations against the Dodgers, or if they get past them, the Yankees or Angels. But they sure are fun to watch.

– Oh, and the umpiring is awful. It reminds me of when Caroline in the City was between Friends and Seinfeld on Thursday nights. You can’t believe you are watching it, but you really have no choice because of all the good stuff going on around it.

– Why was I up watching one of the most meaningful baseball games of the season at 2 a.m? That question is not meant for me, yeah, I am almost always up at 2 a.m., along with the Slap Chop infomercial. But why are they playing it…in Denver….in October! At a certain point aren’t we sacrificing the integrity of the game for TV if we force these guys to play in temps where they can’t feel the ball going into their glove? That answer is yes. For that, I would like to watch Bud Selig chase windblown plastic bags around Coors.

– What is the best part about Twitter? Fake twitter. Specifically, the Chip Caray fake Twitter.

– In the UFL, even the sideline reporters are the equivalent of J.P. Losman sailing a 10-yard out into the first row.

– Today I will end with one of my favorite videos of all-time that I first brought to you Word readers last year. It will brighten your day. Every time. And rememeber, The Albany Herald, your No. 1 source for Kazookelele coverage in Southwest Georgia!

When it comes to Roddy White, I’m glad to know the Atlanta Falcons are getting the most bang for their buck – finally! It’s funny how an NFL player more known for DROPPING the ball after becoming a first-round pick out of UAB just up and demands more $$$ after a breakout season like the one he had last year. Well? so far, so good on the new contract he signed. 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns to a long way in validating the cash.

Maybe it was a change of quarterbacks. If there is one thing I remember about him dropping the ball when he first joined the falcons, it was that Michael Vick was also the quarterback, and White wasn’t the only WR to have problems catching the ball with Vick. Michael Jenkins had the same issue. Granted, Vick’s throws have just a little (ahem!) zip. A quarterback like Matt Ryan with a pace that receivers are comfortable with go a long way.

Read the rest of this entry »

For those of you who want UGA defensive coordinator Willie Martinez fired, he didn’t help his case to stay on with the Bulldogs today. Any defense that makes Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton look good is in need of some dire help. That is, except for area players like Seminole County’s Bacarri Rambo who intercepted a Compton pass and returned it for a TD. Wow, I thought maybe Tennessee’s rushing game might give the Dogs’ defense problems. UGA has LOTS of problems after a 45-19 loss against Tennessee. Isn’t Tennessee rebuilding with a new coach? Not a good day for the Bulldogs. Here is the AP’s story. UGA has clearly lost its dominance at Neyland Stadium. After winning in Knoxville in 2001, ‘03 and ‘05, the Bulldogs have now lost two in a row there.

Read the rest of this entry »

If you have problems viewing the Herald Tour because it takes forever to load, it appears the problem has finally been fixed and we will put it into full action beginning next week. For now, you can view the show immediately on YouTube.

For today’s Herald Tour, Part I at Westwood follow this link.

For the Part II, follow this one.

Also, in case you wanted to see last week’s sketch where Michael Bennett does the jerk that makes every offensive lineman jealous, follow this one.

Also, here are the rest of the my predictions that were sacrificed due to space in Friday’s Herald.

TRINITY CHRISTIAN (0-5) AT DEERFIELD-WINDSOR (5-2): DWS is on a roll and has won four in a row in impressive fashion. Trinity, well, hasn’t.
PREDICTION: Deerfield 42, Trinity 0

VALWOOD (0-5) AT SHERWOOD CHRISTIAN (4-1): Valwood is down this year and Sherwood is up. Get there early because this game should hit the mercy clock in the fourth quarter.
PREDICTION: Sherwood 40, Valwood 6

CRISP COUNTY (4-2) AT WORTH COUNTY (1-4): The Rams have only scored six points in the last three games. Crisp has allowed more than one touchdown only once in the last four games. The numbers don’t lie
PREDICTION: Crisp County 20, Worth County 0

THOMASVILLE (3-2) AT ALBANY (0-5): Thomasville is likely to be playing late into November. Albany will have trouble finding that first win tonight.
PREDICTION: Thomasville 35, Albany 7

BETHESDA DAY (0-5) AT TERRELL ACADEMY (3-2): Bethesda is winless, but they haven’t been dominated outside of an opening week loss. This could be a trap game for the Eagles, but they will be heavily favored to hold on.
PREDICTION: Terrell Academy 31, Bethesda Day 17

WINDSOR ACADEMY (1-5) AT SGA (4-1): Windsor has lost each of its last three games by a number higher than 40 to zero. Make it four in a row.
PREDICTION: SGA 45, Windsor 0

Happy Thursday, everyone. A nice lift getting through hump day with the MLB postseason kicking off. No sport quite compares with playoff baseball. Watching games where every pitch matters is invigorating. It proves exactly why most people love to play baseball, but hate watching it. Baseball is only fun when you are hanging on every pitch.

One of these days my Reds will play in that scenario. Let’s just hope I’m still alive.

On to the word:

– All anybody wants to talk about around UGA these days are kickoffs. Though, they are pretty embarrassing.

– Last year toward the end of the season, I wrote a story about the future of the defensive end pass rush that would give hope for angry Georgia fans. Nearly everyone at UGA pointed to Justin Houston. Looks like they were right.

– There is talk about Tech and UGA opening in the Georgia Dome for 2011. If this is a one-time thing, that is great, but there is something to be said for Georgia Tech ripping out pieces of the hedges as they did last season or the Dogs celebrating as the Tech fans walk out devising a vaccine for slow linebackers.

– Tim Tucker of the AJC takes a closer look at the positives and negatives of the possible game.

– Heather Dinich at ESPN says the Georgia Tech game is on the backburner at FSU.

– Shows like PTI and Around the Horn are so popular because watching collegues argue about sports is entertaining and everybody has an opinion. It is also based in sports departments doing this on a daily basis. In that same vein, I will argue the opposite of what my editor Danny Aller did in this space yesterday. Sure, you can claim that Bowden deserves to stay to preserve his legacy. Don’t tarnish it, right? Well, hasn’t it already been tarnished? Hasn’t the past five, six, seven years of mediocrity all while not falling off in recruiting put a dark cloud on what Bowden built FSU into. There is no shame in not being able to do what you did in the past when you are 80. People are afraid to step on Bobby Bowden’s toes, and he has earned that right. But how long do you let a program be embarrassed on the field because you are afraid of how making changes will make a guy look off of it? If the trustees and Bowden come to an agreement for him to leave after the season and Bobby “steps down” people will praise what he did for the program and laud him as one of the greatest coaches in history and let it go. The longer he sticks around, the worse the bad-mouthing will be and the more it will continue to tarnish his legacy. So, there’s that.

– If you are a college football player: STAY AWAY FROM DEION SANDERS!

– Florida OL Matt Patchan tore his ACL and won’t return this season. It is the fourth-worst injury he has suffered in his Gators career.

– The Redskins don’t like their fans wearing bags on their heads.

– Shannon Brown drops the preseason hammer on Mikki Moore.

– Glad to see my old sports department in Key West is still keeping high standards. (Pun intended)

Thirty days.

Yep, 30 days away before I turn the Big 3-0.

Twelve years since graduation from high school, 8 years removed from college and 2 1/2 years since joining The Herald, I am about to hit the only milestone after 21 and between 40.

My mom, dad, and most anyone who knows I’m about to be 30 keep asking me if I feel any different.

Well, I didn’t. Until they started bugging me about it!

Should I feel old? I don’t. But then again, I’m not so sure. Maybe my indecisiveness is a sign I’m getting old. Or maybe it just means I’m still young and stubborn.

Either way, it’s just another birthday to me, honestly. And God willing, I’ll have many more. 

For my B-day, I’m going to Vegas (for the third time, though first with the wife), and I’m watching the “November Nine” battle it out for the World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet. The final table’s actually being played out on my birthday — and superstar Phil Ivey’s one of the final nine. Exciting stuff. (Pretty big poker enthusiast, by the way.)

Hopefully, I’ll also win some money while I’m there, though that’s not really the point of the trip.

It’s to do something memorable on an occasion in your life that’s supposed to be memorable. We only get one chance at life, and therefore I only get one shot to live my 30th birthday.

And I’m gonna make mine count.

Just as long as it doesn’t go down like this guy’s did, I’ll be cool.

Now onto “The Daily Word” ….

*** Late Tuesday, ESPN reported that FSU coach Bobby Bowden was not going to be asked to step down by anyone from the university. Which is the right call, no matter how bad the Seminoles are right now. Even as an FSU alum, I would rather see my school’s living legend, who is the face of the Seminoles far and wide — and has been for 30+ years — leave with dignity, rather than be forced out by a few folks who just want to see wins. Trust me, I want the wins too, but not at that cost. Plus, if every one of those Bowden detractors would open their eyes some, they’d see it’s not the sometimes-confused 80-year-old man roaming the sidelines who’s making these calls, it’s the young, brash EXTREMELY OVERRATED offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. There is no two-head-coaching system in place that’s mucking everything up. Fisher’s the coach and he’s just … not … very … good.

Simple as that.

BTW, The USA Today caught up with Bowden and asked him what he thought about the proposed “blackout” by some fans for Saturday’s game — a blackout that’s supposed to stand for “Black Out Doak For Change.” A.K.A. …FIRE BOBBY BOWDEN. What a buncha dopes. That’s the wrong reason to black out a game. To protest your legendary head coach who’s having a bad year — that’s no his fault — in what was probably going to be his final season anyway?

Seriously?

Apparently some local Albany guy is helping organize this. I have his number and plan to call him Wednesday and berate speak with him about it.

To be continued …

*** Are you ready for some ….uh .. UFL football? Well, ready or not, the new league makes its television debut Thursday on VERSUS — you know, that powerhouse network that brings you all your favorite NHL games, Tour de France coverage and late-night WAC football games every year.

Somewhere, Vince McMahon is PRAYING this fails.

*** Aside from the Cleveland Browns becoming the LOCK of the season to pick against so far this year, it appears they have more problems than just sucking (we’re talking maybe 0-16-type-bad, folks). Their ball-dropping, butter-finger star receiver Braylon Edwards likes to fight guys outside of clubs who are 1/3 his size — and now the police are involved. The good news is that when Edwards is suspended by the NFL — which he will be— he can seek out someone his own size to take his agression out on. I heard LeBron James is looking for Braylon as we speak to give him a piece of his mind.

*** I’m not sure why the Edmonton Sun (yes, Canada) is so worried about the future of Danica Patrick, but for some reason Canadians must be big fans of NASCAR/IRL racing. And in a recent article, they basically told Danica: “Stop flirting … and pick a boyfriend already!”

*** Sorry, Georgia fans. First “the penalty” and now word that RB Caleb King has a broken jaw and a concussion — and probably won’t play against Tennessee. Maybe it’s time to try Rennie Curran at tailback.

*** In more “How in the world did Tom Cable get an NFL head coaching job” news, the police could drop the hammer on “The Cable Guy” any day now as the investigation into whether he broke the jaw of one of his assistants (what’s with all the broken jaw news?) continues. Maybe then Al Davis and Lane Kiffin will kiss and make up since that Tennessee-thing aint off to such a hot start. 

 *** In local MLB news, the Giants still aren’t sure if they trust Leesburg native Buster Posey enough to NOT re-sign veteran Bengie Molina, who has made it clear he wants to return.

Well, sorry, Bengie — but you’re not getting a new contract. And that’s not coming from me. Buster’s $6.25 million signing bonus told me himself.

*** Ladies, do not marry, father a child or date Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth, says his ex-wife. Just a bad, bad idea.

*** Whatever happened to super-passer Colt Brennan from Hawaii? Well he was drafted by the Redskins, then got hurt. Recently, he just had surgery and is hoping to have more time on his hands to not date Jessica Simpson.

And now the “Daily Dose of Deadspin,” …

** Everyone disses the Mets — even their sponsors.

** Do not hang out with Marlins reliever Sean West, unless you wanted to get thrown up on and deserted in a strange city.

** Seriously … has Lamar Odom lost his mind? Or is he just trying to give his money away in a future divorce.?

** When a high school rivalry goes bad, it really goes … risque? Say hello to the most inappropriate t-shirt in history that was made to trash a rival school.

** Speaking of trash talk, remember this story from earlier this year about a star soccer player whose girlfriend dumped him for a reputed mob boss? Well, neither did I. But there’s an update … and it’s a doozy.

I will do my best not to run into this guy when I’m in Vegas.

I don’t know if anybody heard, but Brett Favre played in a big game last night. In case you didn’t tune in, let me give you a brief synopsis of the Monday Night Football game last night.

Brett Favre is great, Brett Favre is a legend, blown Packers coverage, Brett Favre eyes are great, Did you know Jon Gruden coached Brett Favre?, Brett Favre’s feet are unbelievable, Oh, Aaron Rodgers is good, too, touchdown Favre, touchdown Favre, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Favre may cure breast cancer just by wearing pink gloves, blown Packers coverage, Adrian Peterson is great, but without Favre they would be nothing, slurp Favre, fumble, Did you know Jon Gruden coached Brett Favre, slurp Favre, Rodgers another TD, onside kick recovery, Favre is the greatest ever, The End. 

Yeah, that pretty well sums it up. I am sure John Madden wept tears of joy with little Favre images inside the teardrops through the first three quarters.

Thankfully, that is over, at least until he returns to Lambeau and the nausea and Favreburn begins again.

The performance of the great Brett Favre has inspired me to put together a great series of links and hillarious videos for you to peruse while you pretend to work today. (I’m looking at you, Don!)

Here’s the word:

– This has been the case for years, but the SEC celebration rules are garbage. This time, the SEC admits it. That’s right, the refs blew the call against UGA after the AJ Green TD. See, don’t you feel better now Bulldogs fans?

– Those celebration rules aren’t changing, either.

– Instead of complaining about the refs, Bulldogs fans more need to complain about their kicking unit. As part of one of the great two-day displays in blogging history, former Albany Herald writer, Darton College professor and Charlie B’s nemesis, David Hale, chronicled the two-year disaster that has been UGA special teams.

– One thing the Bulldogs can be happy about is that they are not Florida State right now. The wheels have officially come off as reporters tracked down Bobby Bowden buzzing across campus on a golf cart last night to get his reaction to trustees calling for the 80-year-old coach to step down.

– George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel points out there is nobody FSU can blame for this mess but themselves because “Ya’ll decided to create an organizational football flow chart that looks like a scrambled Rubik’s Cube.”

– For those of you who agree with the trustee that Jimbo Fisher should assume control should take a closer look at his first 31 days as OC compared with former dishonorably dismissed OC Jeff Bowden.

– Georgia Tech enters FSU’s picture with impeccable timing, but Jackets  coach Paul Johnson says his team needs to be better than the 487 yards allowed against Mississippi State. Also, shouldn’t we start to consider the MSU isn’t all that bad? They are one yard away from beating LSU right now. Then put up 31 points against GT. Just saying, let’s give some credit to the job Dan Mullens is doing despite the losses.

– The baseball regular season comes to an end and playoffs begin at 5 p.m. with the one-game playoff between Detroit and Minnesota. I love playoff baseball. Being at a game where the baseball fans are into it from the opening pitch to the final out is when we all remember why this was America’s Past time.

– Listen, I like to drink as much as the next guy. Actually, sorry next guy, I probably like to drink more than you. But when you are in the thick of the final weekend of the pennant race, what are you doing on an all-night bender 13 hours before the first pitch? What in the name of David Wells was Miguel Cabrera thinking? Not to gloss over the domestic violence issues, that deserves its own serious consequences, but this clearly exposes a much deeper issue. And it’s not that vodka is yummy.

– For the other 21 teams, Sunday was the final day of the regular season and goodbyes were spreada across the league. None was quieter than the possible final game for Ken Griffey Jr. I have been an unabashed Griffey hater in this space, and really any space that allows free speech in America, but that is mainly due to the eight years of losing I had to endure while he was with my Reds. But the guy has been the classiest, most productive act during one of the darkest, classless eras in the history of baseball. If this was his last game, it is a sad day to see his sweet swing retire.

– For the Braves, they can look back on a 2009 that restored them to the doorstep of the playoffs and a possible championship thanks to a pitching staff that established itself among the best in baseball.

– By the way, shocker in the High School game of the week voting as Randolph Southern and Westwood have turned out in record numbers to the verge of upsetting the big Dougherty-Monroe showdown on Saturday. You know, most people may criticize a GISA Class A game being mentioned in the GOTW, but this game is huge for those two schools and while the competition level might not be as high as there will be at Hugh Mills, the will and desire to win will be. Plus, that’s why we vote. If you want us to be at your school, we will come. No matter how close or far. Good for Westwood. Now, to find the Junior Miss Gnat for Friday’s show.

– Let’s hope we get to see a finish like this incredible one. What a great celebration afterward, too.

– When High School football fans attack! (1:48 mark) Was he carrying a purse? I think it was a European Carry-All. He’s very fancy.

– Winning a Super Bowl, that’s great. Winning a second, even better. Going on WWE Raw and throwing down the DX “Suck it” four times with Triple H and The Heartbreak Kid, now that is the shining moment of Ben Roethlisberger’s young career.

– Esquire picks the sexiest woman alive. I won’t argue, except to say she is the second sexiest, behind my beautiful girlfriend. (Hi Carey!)

– I want to go to a Boston Bruins game.

– Do you love bad tattoos? I do.

– I leave you with one final hillarious video. This has been around for awhile, but my buddy Trent at Cnati.com posted this and I coulnd’t help but do the same here. George Brett telling a story about a crazy night in Las Vegas. And the editor pumps in the megamix. (NSFW, bad language)