The Dan Magill Tennis Center

The NCAA has announced that the University of Georgia will host the 2010 and 2012 Division 1 tennis championships. Georgia's Dan Magill tennis complex has hosted the championships 25 times. This year's championships will be held in May at Texas A&M. Georgia's men won the title last year in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and are currently ranked third nationally. The Georgia women are ranked sixth.

Brett Favre: Quietly This Time

The 2009 retirement of Brett Favre from professional football has been announced by the New York Jets. As I'm typing this, I feel that if I were saying this, I'd be whispering. But it kind of hard to relate that via a keyboard, right? You realize a year ago, there was all the fanfare surrounding the tearful retirement announcement in Green Bay. Then the yes I am, no I'm not fiasco. Now it's riding off quietly into the sunset. I'm glad he chose to do it this way this time. He really messed his image up last time, and I blame the Packers for that just as much as Brett. If they had left him alone at the beginning of the calendar year, he probably would have retired and stayed retired. The 'Pack' tried to force his hand, and then that old quarterback ego got in the way and it was "well I'll show you". That led to the year as a Jet filled with a lot of ups and downs, but not much consistency. I like Brett Favre. But I wanted him to stay retired last year. Now I want him to stay retired this year. Don't put anymore tarnish on the armour. Attack retirement with the same vigor you attacked NFL defenses with. Thanks for all the good memories #4. They far outweigh the bad.

Troy Aikman: Cap & Gown Time!

After 20 years, Troy Aikman has completed two courses necessary to earn his bachelor's degree in sociology from UCLA. Aikman will "walk that walk" during graduation ceremonies with all those other 'young' graduates. The sports broadcaster is 42 years old. I commend the former Dallas quarterback for finishing his degree requirements. After all, its not like he needs it to earn a living or anything. Nice going #8!

Jeff Gordon: Never Popular, But Always Professional

As the Nascar world awaits this Sunday's running of their 'Super Bowl', the Daytona 500, driver Jeff Gordon finds himself entering a season following one where he failed to win a single race. This is certainly not the norm for a super-star who has amassed 81 career victories and 4 Cup Championships. In fact, he had not gone through a season without a trip to victory lane since his initial victory back in 1993. Now he remains only four victories away from third place on the all-time win list behind Richard Petty and David Pearson. Not bad for a guy who gets no credit from the fans of the 'Nascar Nation' for being the tremendous talent behind the wheel that he is. It has always been my opinion that his lack of popularity, which borders on pure-out hate, is because he was not afraid to race toe-to-toe with the sports poster boy Dale Earnhardt, Sr. The nerve of that young 'Speed Racer'! It was always admissible for Earnhardt to be as aggressive as he chose to be, but not o.k. for anyone to duel him with that same aggressiveness. Gordon did just that and won his share of checkered flags, but lost almost all of the Nascar fan base. If you recall, Jack Nicklaus went through this as a young upcoming talent on the PGA Tour. He was not looked upon with favor for his success against the ever popular Arnold Palmer in his early years as a professional. Nicklaus, however, won back and won over almost the entire golfing world. I really don't see this type of fairytale ending for Gordon. He deserves it now, but a hard-core racing fan base is not going to reward him with any adulation. They just can't handle the success of Jeff Gordon very well.

Alex Rodriguez: Batting 0 For 2 in Integrity

Alex Rodriguez is a tremendous baseball player. With all his talent and skill combined, he is arguably the greatest ballplayer to lace up the spikes. He literally can do it all. He can make all the plays and throws from both shortstop and third base. He can hit, and hit with power. He can flat out put up some impressive offensive numbers. He has taken more than a little flack due to his less than spectacular postseason production, and this is justified. You make the magnificent bucks to produce in the clutch in the playoffs. He has not lifted his Yankee teams to the heights that all their talent would justify them achieving. Nevertheless, he is one heck of a baseball player. I sometimes wish for him that he had not ended up with the Yankees, where the spotlight beams so bright. I could picture him as a Dodger, or a Cub. Not as much pressure and more appreciation. But he chose his team, and he is and will be a Bronx Bomber. Regarding this steroid issue that has just surfaced with Rodriguez, two major negatives pop up for me. The biggest is that he, and all the hundreds of guys who have taken steroids, have compromised the game of baseball. That's the biggest part of this deal to me. That and the fact that they have cheated the guys who played and chose not to take performance enhancing drugs. Those two things are actually one in the same if you think about it. Thank goodness that the game of baseball is bigger than all of these guys. Individually as well as collectively. Secondly, by lying on national TV to Katie Couric, he perjured himself. One does not have to be under oath to commit perjury. It's just illegal under oath, and just flat out lying out of court. Either way, you compromise your own personal integrity. So, he's 0 for 2 in integrity. But you really don't have to be a "good" person to be a professional ballplayer. I guess integrity doesn't count between the white lines. That's what the Umps are there for, right? Somebody has to be willing to call 'em as they see 'em.

Coach Herrmann, Please Sit Down!

South Carolina handed Georgia its 10th straight defeat Saturday in Columbia. Not that there is any tradition with Bulldog hoops, but it is the longest losing streak for the Dawgs since 1972-73. They have yet to win an SEC contest, going 0-8 thus far this year. I witnessed LSU's dismantling of Georgia last Wednesday night in Athens. I have to admit, even as a die-hard Dawg, we have a terrible basketball team. It is really hard to believe these kids are on scholarship. I'm not trying to knock the kids personally, but is this the top level of talent that Dennis Felton could recruit to Georgia? No wonder he lost his job. And while we're mentioning coaches, interim head coach Pete Herrmann NEVER sat down the entire game. He barked out player instructions while standing up all night long. It might not hurt at this juncture to just try to coach 'em up in practice and then let 'em go play. Try that chair, Coach. Just don't get too comfortable. You won't be in it too much longer. And there are several more chairs on down that line that need to be refilled.

Tom Glavine Not Flattered By Braves Offer

The Atlanta Braves offered veteran pitcher Tom Glavine a one year deal reportedly somewhere between $1 million and $2 million. Incentives could bring the value to around $3 million. This is still much less than the $8 million he was paid by Atlanta last year. Glavine says he is considering if this amount of money is worth coming back another year for. I don't blame the Braves for not offering him more. He'll be 43 years old before he throws a pitch in a game this year. He was injured last year. What did he expect from the Braves? He would be their fifth starter in an improving rotation, if they could count on him even for that. He had his chance last year to earn a bigger paycheck this year. It didn't happen, injuries not withstanding. He's had a Hall of Fame career, full of fame and fortune. Now is his chance to make a paycheck the old fashioned way: by earning it!

Andruw Jones Signs With Rangers

Andruw Jones has inked a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers for $500,000 with bonuses that could pay him $1 million more. This is somewhat less than the $36.2 million, two year deal he signed with the Dodgers last off-season. Maybe Andruw will report to camp in shape this spring and work to regain the form that enabled him to win ten glove gloves and five all-star appearances. It will be interesting to see if he can resurrect that once stellar career.

Duke "Exposed" by Clemson

The tenth ranked Clemson Tigers handed Mike Krzyzewski's fourth ranked Duke Blue Devils a resounding 74-47 defeat Wednesday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. It was Duke's worst loss since 1990. The '3-point dependant' Devils were a pitiful 3 for 13 beyond the arc, as they posted their lowest point total of the year. The typically arrogant Dukies were flustered and flabbergasted all night by Clemson's relentless pressure. "Cryzewski" wasn't nearly as adept at intimidating the officials as he usually is, and Duke teammates even resorted to screaming at one another and calling each other out before the game ended. If you dislike Coach K and his perfect band of players as much as I do, it was a beautiful sight to behold! For the last few year they have survived by the three-point shot. They really have been a vastly overrated team that has been very good at matching your two pointers with their three pointers. When they have that lone weapon taken away from them, as the Tigers were successful at doing, they are not a very good team at all. It is really great to see a cocky bunch lose that swagger when they get their lunch handed to them. Now maybe the rest of the ACC will continue to serve them up.

Michael Phelps: Bong Gone...?

Hey Michael: You're a celebrity, my man. You might be out of the water most of the time now, but everyone is still watching you. Some of them are even watching you just to try and catch you slipping up. I think you've slipped up now. Whatever you want to do is fine. You're a big boy now. But it wouldn't hurt if you perhaps tried to incorporate a little discretion in your behavior. Do whatever you would like, but next time lock the doors. Even get under the bed if you must. There are times when even super heroes need to keep a low profile. You have a great image. Don't tarnish it anymore. I realize there are people everywhere doing far worse things than you did. But they aren't Michael Phelps, the Olympian. You are, even if you are out of the water most of the time now. Just stay out of the "hot water".

National Signing Day

Tomorrow is National Signing Day for high school senior football players around the country. In the South, it's almost like the first of four seasons relating to football: National Signing Day, Spring Practice, Summer Camp, and the Regular Season. There are college football junkies who follow recruiting more than a year in advance (as an example, Georgia Tech just got their first verbal commitment for the 2010 class from a high school junior!). Much of the excitement of N.S.D. has diminished somewhat due to so many seniors committing early. However, the drama is still very thick this year with several highly ranked guys holding out to the last minute with three and four schools listed as their 'finalists'. Some of these guys have made a major spectacle with their announcements by disclosing their selections at all-star games, TV recruiting shows, and other off-campus venues. At times, this can add to an athletes already overblown ego. I have thought many times how insecure it must be as a college coach to know a certain part of your potential for success hinges upon what an eighteen year old tells you, and then what he actually does. They've been told for so long how great they are, and now they want to tell the college football world how great they are. The reality of it is, many times these kids never live up to he high expectations placed upon them. Nevertheless, they get to hold us hostage every year at this time. I know that in the morning, I will be watching the announcements of four or five guys key guys, hoping that at least two or three of them choose to wear the red and black of the Georgia Bulldogs. Tomorrow they get to talk the talk; after that we'll see who can walk the walk!

The "Boss" Rules Super Bowl Halftime

Bruce Springsteen proved that he is still ths "Boss" as he and the E Street Band rocked the house in Tampa Sunday night. The twelve minute show was full of lasers, lights, and 'lectricity!

Glory days well they'll pass you by

Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye

Glory Days, glory days