Monday, October 4, 2010

What's Wrong in Athens?

Literally everyone wants to know what the problem is in Athens. The Dawgs are currently on a four-game losing streak, and they have not won a conference game up to this point. They have given two programs, Mississippi State and Colorado, a false sense of gratification for achieving much less than they actually did. They have let South Carolina and Arkansas be Division contending pretenders, at least for a game. So what is wrong with the football program at the University of Georgia? Some say a lack of talent, although Mark Richt's teams have been in the Top 10 recruiting class polls every year he's been in Athens. Some say our Strength & Conditioning program is no longer producing positive results (hence our poor offensive line performance). Still others say Richt's "Florida State Offense" needs to be revamped and overhauled (that is changed completely). Our offensive philosophy is said to be very predictable; 'vanilla', if you will. You hear the phrase 'lack of discipline', both on and off the field. Another reason for the downturn at Georgia thrown around is that kids are not being 'coached up'. Some members of the Bulldog Nation feel that Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo need to go (the phrase is Bobo needs to Gogo), and still others believe Richt himself must end up being the 'fall guy' when this is all said and done. In other words, Georgia needs to clean house and let a "new broom sweep clean". I'll tell you up front that I'm not smart enough to decipher through all these problems (and yes, I think all of the above are legitimate concerns). I just want to know if whatever is wrong in Athens is "fixable" by Mark Richt. If they ere, then let's go forward starting right now. If Richt can't fix the program, then I know what the answer is and will be.

Atlanta Braves: Wild Card Winners!

It does not matter how a team gets into the playoffs. The main thing is to get in. Period. The Atlanta Braves are indeed in, by virtue of the Wild Card spot. They will open Thursday night in San Francisco against the Giants. It is true that the Braves are 'limping' into this post-season because they carry with them injuries galore. However, when you get into a short series, anything can happen. Especially if your starting pitching holds up and you get some timely, clutch hitting. So Bobby Cox has the deserving opportunity to lead his Braves into post-season play one more time. He's earned this trip, and so has his over-achieving club.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

L.S.U. -vs- Tennessee: Unbelievable Finish...


L.S.U. tried to give Tennessee a victory Saturday afternoon. Tennessee wouldn't take it. In as bazaar a finish as you are likely to see in college football, L.S.U was given a second chance to literally pull victory from the jaws of defeat. After being stopped on the one yard line by the Volunteer defense while trailing 14-10, L.S.U.'s center T-Bob Hebert snapped the ball over quarterback Jordan Jefferson's head on what everyone thought was the final play of the game. Tennessee wins, and Derek Dooley tastes his first SEC victory, right? Only in your dreams, Vol fans. The men in Orange were caught with 13 men on the field and the Bengal Tigers are given a "do-over" from the 1/2 yard line with no time left on the game clock. 'Lucky Les' Miles continues his "Magical Mystery Tour" through the L.S.U. schedule, and finds his squad somehow at 5-0. Meanwhile, Dooley takes his team to his Dad's old stomping grounds next Saturday as he travels "Between the Hedges" to face a hapless Georgia Bulldog squad. One thing is for sure, after the Vols leave Athens, either Mark Richt or Dooley will have garnered his first conference win of the season. Now isn't that a heck of a storyline for those two once proud southern football programs?





Friday, October 1, 2010

Lebron James: Race? Are You Kidding Me...?

Let me set the table for you by telling you that I probably wouldn't walk across the street to see an NBA game, even for free. It really isn't true basketball to me, just a random version of the original game. Give me the collegiate version any day. Now with that point made clear, I'll touch on a comment made by one Mr. Lebron James. He stated that all of the negative publicity he has received because of his staged announcement to sign with the Miami Heat, is because of race. Not greed on his part, but race on the part of the media and general public. Not his selfishness, but his race. Hey, we have plenty of race problems in America. If you don't think so, you might want to get your head out of the sand. However, I believe the infamous "race card" gets played far too often and unnecessarily. The reaction to James' decision had nothing to do with race. It had everything to do with a bad decision he made blowing up in his face.