Super Bowl? I Don't Think So!

NASCAR calls the Daytona 500 its Super Bowl. Can you imagine the NFL calling their biggest spectacle complete after three quarters? That is precisely what the good 'ole boys did. But it was raining and the track was too wet and slippery to continue, you say. I say, it was stupid to start the biggest 500 miler so late in the afternoon. I know, TV made you do it. You should have argued for a 1:00 P.M. green flag. I also say, finish the contest on Monday if you have to, with perhaps an 11:00 A.M. re-start. Do whatever you have to do to make the thing more legitimate. You know, just grant the fans a continuance. Or give them one fourth of their money back. We are in a recession you know. Step up to the plate NASCAR and earn some credibility. It never rains very long at a time in Florida anyway. You just let it rain all over your 'parade'. Shame on you.

New York Post 2/18/09

We all know the "Big Apple" to be a tough city. But if this is your home town 'having your back', what in the world will it be like on the road? At least A-Rod doesn't have to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium in front of all the "Crazies"!

Here and There, This and That...

Check out some interesting things going on around the sports blogging world:

Like the cool "Blue Word O' the Day" game over at the Blue Workhorse, or

The tremendous story of sportsmanship at the Georgia Sports Blog, as well as

Bernie's great post on athletes, drugs, leadership, education, etc. at Bernie's Dawg Blog, and

A look at Georgia's great receivers at Bubba and Earl's, and take a look at

Jeff Owens explanation about what it means to wear the "G" at Jeff Owens: The Real Deal, and

A Bulldog in Exile for a lot of interesting stuff.

Sanford Stadium: 92,746

The University of Georgia ranked 6th nationally in attendance for the 2008 college football season, drawing a Sanford Stadium capacity of 92,746 per contest. Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Texas made up the top 5 schools in average attendance. The only way UGA can move up this list is by stadium expansion. There are some long-range plans in this area, but there will be no changes in capacity to Sanford anytime soon. There can't be very many venues in college athletics as picturesque as Sanford Stadium with the background of the beautiful Georgia campus. I would be opposed to any changes to the stadium that altered its aesthetic uniqueness. I hope those in charge of making decisions regarding changes would share my perspective ( to some degree anyway). It's good to be a Georgia Bulldog!

Big Papi Says Year Long Ban

David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox says to test every major leaguer on every team several times a year, and for anyone who tests positive, ban them from baseball for an entire year. Forget the fines, threats and court injunctions. Just take the game they love away from them for a complete year. Soon the message will sink in: take performance enhancing drugs and forfeit a year from your career. Then you'll have natural athletes playing America's Pastime. Just the way it was always intended to be.

No Petty No More...

For the first time in more than 40 years, there will not be a Petty in the Daytona 500. Kyle Petty found himself out of a job when Petty Enterprises merged with Gillett Evernham Racing. He states that there is no 'Petty Enterprises', and he has no loyalty for the new corporation. Kyle Petty is a super-nice guy who is involved with some great charities and causes off the race track. His interests and abilities have always been so diversified that he never has seemed to be able to focus solely on racing. I believe that is why he never achieved the stardom on the track that was expected of him as Richard Petty's son. Part of his frustration now stems from the fact that he was not allowed to end his racing career on his own terms. Whether he would have been able to be competitive if allowed to race this year is debatable, but nevertheless, it will be a little strange with no Petty in the 500 field today.

Winless No More!

Georgia avoids going winless in the Southeastern Conference by upsetting Florida in Athens 86-84. Terrance Woodbury poured in a career high 32 points as the Hoop Dawgs snapped an eleven game losing streak. This streak was the Dawgs longest since 1975. Georgia played with an aggressiveness they had not shown very often this season, and they refused to fold down the stretch when Florida took a lead late in the game. The bulldogs lost at Tennessee Wednesday by a score of 79-48, but scored 54 points in the first half against the Gators. This early momentum was a result of "lights out" shooting that propelled Georgia to this much needed (how's that for an understatement?) late season victory. The Dawg's next opponent is Auburn in Athens Wednesday night.

Ken Griffey, Jr. on Braves Radar

The Atlanta Braves are reported to be interested in acquiring the services of free agent outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. The Braves feel that he would fit their need for a left handed hitter to platoon with righty Matt Diaz in left field. The Braves open spring training tomorrow, and Griffey is in California for the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament. The Seattle Mariners are also interested in bringing him back to the city where his big-league career began.
It is believed that a deal with either club could happen within the next week. Even though at 39 years old Griffey cannot take the field every day, his success against right-handers and the veteran leadership he would bring to the clubhouse make him a worthwhile pursuit for the Braves.

Greg Reid: He'll Take The "High Road"

Greg Reid is a highly touted defensive back out of Lowndes County High School in Valdosta, Georgia. He recently signed a letter-of-intent to play college football at Florida State University. His other college preferences were Alabama and Georgia. The Atlanta Journal has published an article in which Reid explains why he elected not to attend his state's university. One of the reasons was that Athens was just a little too far from Valdosta. Yea, sure. I don't think Google Map will advise you to layover in Sandersville for the night or anything on that trip. However, the most intriguing reason the prep star gave was that he figured he would have to compete too hard to play at Georgia, as opposed to FSU. Does that mean the kid isn't willing to earn a starting position? He would rather be given the job? I would say this young man has a lot to learn. And not just about football.

Not For A Photo Finish This Time...

Let's talk about Michael Phelps once more. I do not condone what he did. You may label his actions with any descriptive you want. Stupid, immature, irresponsible, illegal, all of the above. They all fit. However, the reason I bring up this subject again now is because of the news that the authorities in Columbia, South Carolina where the alleged marijuana pipe incident took place, are making arrests related to this event. All of the arrests being made, and it is rumored that Phelps' number is soon to be called, are stemming from the picture of Phelps and the story behind that particular picture. I'm sorry, but that sounds a little like the "ambulance chasing lawyer" to me. Did you not have a case until the picture surfaced? What do you have, some guy married to the Internet tracking down leads that you can't uncover on your own? Are you doing this simply because of Phelps' celebrity status? I might be 'splitting hairs' here, but this just doesn't seem the same as being caught by one of those traffic cameras running a traffic light and being prosecuted after the fact. It would go down much better if you had raided the 'party' and locked all of the participants up. Then I would have thought "those Carolina police are on top of things over there". But on the other hand, with all the technology in our world today, this way sure is one heck of a lot easier than the old fashioned "beat the bushes" method. But I gotta believe 'ole Joe Friday couldn't handle this. You know, he was a "just the facts ma'am" kinda guy!

How About "Four" On 'Coach K Floor'!

It's always easy for me to recall Joe Namath running off the field after his Super Bowl victory over the Baltimore Colts with that index finger waving over his head signaling that this New York Jets were indeed number 1. Now, how about Tyler Hansbrough running off Coach K Court in Cameron Indoor Stadium with four fingers waving over his head emphasising that his North Carolina Tar Heels had swept four games in a row from the Duke Blue Devils on their home floor? In one of the toughest arenas to play in college athletics, that is an unheard of accomplishment. And to hang "a hundred" on Duke while earning number four was just the proverbial icing on the cake. Especially when it was the first time in 26 years that an opposing team scored a hundred or more against Duke at home. Carolina seniors Hansbrough, Denny Green, and Bobby Frasor will always be able to say they never lost to Duke in Cameron. It would be difficult to imagine the magnitude of relief that the Duke team, as well as, the student body feels knowing they are through having to face the unconquerable Tyler Hansbrough in Cameron. Junior guard Ty Lawson was instrumental in the Tar Heel victory while scoring 25 points, 21 of which were registered in the 'Heels big turn-around second half. The "Cameron Crazies" are always roaring like lions before a game at Duke, but turn out to be timid little lambs after getting drubbed. Especially by their fiercest, most hated rival. It's hard to figure out which sound was the most deafening: The loud chants and taunts before the game or the utter silence after the final horn. You know what I mean?

Miami Hurricanes On The Ground!

The University of Miami has announced it has cancelled plans to fly to two interstate football games, and will charter buses instead. The university's athletic department will save approximately $140,000 by letting the "rubber meet the road". The games are at Central Florida and South Florida. The school has elected to make these cost saving changes in light of the tough economic times the entire country is facing. With all the conference, television, and ticket revenue that major Division 1 schools have pouring in, it sure is encouraging to see an athletic department being so responsible with their dollars. I think that major corporations, not to mention the federal government itself, would be wise to learn a few lessons from the University of Miami.