NCAA: Get This One Right...

The NCAA is considering a rule (another rule) to ban scholarship offers to high school athletes

before July 1st of the summer between their junior and senior years. The rule would apply to all sports if passed. This means there would be no more sophomore and junior , or even earlier, offers. This is one piece of legislation that I hope the governing body of intercollegiate athletics passes. Offering kids scholarships early in the formative high school years serves as no great service to the kid nor the college. Too many things can and do happen when the time span between offers and college entry is drawn out too long. Let high school student athletes be high school kids until they get much closer to meeting their eligibility requirements.

Bob Sheppard: "The Voice" is Gone at 99

The Yankees affectionately called him "the Voice of God". Any other non-Yankee baseball aficionado knew the distinctive voice was indeed the voice of the Yankees and old Yankee Stadium. The voice of the legendary PA finally gave up the fight at the age of 99. It's significantly ironic to note that he always said the players number twice in his introductions, and to say his final age one must say the number nine twice. All of baseball will miss Bob Sheppard. He's a part of the lore of the sport, a significant part of baseball's legacy, and a part of all that's right with the grand old game.

Mark Richt: Why Do Kids Keep Testing Him?

It's been a very long time since I was 18, 19 or even 20 years old . That is the biggest understatement since the declaration that the ACC is a basketball conference. The passing years have eroded the recollection of the reality of perhaps how dumb for my age I actually was. Having admitted that, it continues to baffle me how kids the same ages as I mentioned above repeatedly push a coach like Mark Richt, even though his track record proves to his players that he will sit you. Furthermore, if those players are repeat violators of behavioral standards, he will forget you. Being a Bulldog is a privilege, but that privilege can be denied those who abuse the membership in that family. Tavarres King and Dontavious Jackson have been suspended from the Bulldog family because of their arrests on charges of underage drinking. Jackson will miss at least six games this coming season, and King a minimum of one contest. Jackson's penalty is half of the season. Heck, he might as well red-shirt. Or transfer for that matter. But the point I was reaching for is that these two kids have seen past teammates suffer at the disciplinary hand of Richt. You screw up, you miss games. You mess up really bad, you're gone. Why do these kids keep testing Richt? He is a man of principle, which means he will not give in to this insubordination by his players. Why do players keep forfeiting the single thing that is most cherished by them, that is playing time? Game time. Time between the Hedges. Time wearing the red headgear with the prideful 'Power G'. Perhaps I was that hard-headed, that stupid. I'm just glad time has eroded the truth of that possible reality.

Lebron James: A Ton of Cash, A Thimble of Class

Please understand this. I wouldn't walk across the street to watch an NBA game even if it was free. I love college basketball, but I am not a fan of the pro game. It is the only form of Dr. Naismith's game where walking with the ball is allowed, and is exercised on one heck of a lot of trips up and down the court. From a very admittedly narrow viewpoint, I think most of the participants are spoiled millionaires. But I digress..The Lebron James free agent announcement was a debacle. ESPN really took a black eye for that ridiculous program they aired. I could care less where LBJ plays the next 5 years, but just sign the contract without rubbing Cleveland's nose in it. By signing with the Miami Heat and joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosch and with James' terrible play in the playoffs, I don't think he wants to be the guy to 'take the last shot' anymore. I don't think he can handle the blame for a big loss. I don't think he relishes that role. He can't handle the heat (no pun intended). And now he doesn't have to anymore. Just pay him and surround him with a cast that that enable him to wear a ring. He can't do it without them.

Paul Goydos: A Titillatingly fine 59!

Paul Goydos became only the fourth player in PGA tournament history to post a competitive round of 59. The three others were Al Geiberger (1977), Chip Beck (1991), and David Duval (1999). Goydos 12 under bogey free round was posted during the opening round of the John Deere Classic today. He made the turn at only 4 under, but amazingly birdied every hole but one on the back nine. Goydos has been on the Tour since 1989 and is currently ranked number 137th in the world. At least he knows he'll be ranked number one on the leader board at the end of the day.

Martin Prado: The Total Package

Last night Martin Prado went 3 for 5 with two home runs in the Atlanta Braves thrashing of the Philadelphia Phillies. He is stroking the stick at a torrid .336 clip. It was his second multi homer game of the season, and he has three lead-off dingers. He has 121 hits, 15 three-hit games, and 40 multi-hit games. He leads the Major Leagues in each of these categories. Deservedly, Prado will be the starting second baseman for the National League in next week's All-Star game. He has been quietly putting together a stellar season, but now his impressive stats are beginning to speak louder and louder. In a first half season where all of his Atlanta teammates have struggled at some point, Prado has not only been consistent, but superlative. To coin an old cliche, he has literally carried this Atlanta Braves team on his back. As I posted earlier, I don't see how he can play any better in the second half. His start has just been too impressive. Having said that, I do feel that his all-around game is so solid that he will remain steady and productive. Don't be surprised if his September stats are very close to the ones he's comprising before the All-Star break. I think that will be a matter of him just staying healthy the rest of the season. If he can stay on the field and the Braves can win the division, it is possible we could be talking about the National League MVP. Now don't both of those possibilities sound grand? We'll just have to wait and see...

Jason Heyward: A First Half Highlight!

Jason Heyward has been cleared (from a thumb injury) to possibly take batting practice by the weekend. That may also open the door for him to participate in his first (of many) All-Star games. As the Major League Baseball season arrives at its season midpoint, Heyward provided fans with a storybook highlight by belting a 414 foot homerun in his very first big league at-bat. The stadium rocking blast came off Chicago Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, which looking back, might have been the beginning of his demise. Nevertheless, the Braves roll on. With a healthy Heyward returning after the All-Star break, things are looking up for Atlanta in the National League East. I don't think any team is going to run off and hide from the pack, but Braves fans have to feel good about our chances to make a legitimate run for the playoffs. I don't see second baseman Martin Prado playing any better, but every other roster position player has the potential to pick his game up for the stretch run. It should be an exciting second half of the season. Go Braves!

Yunel Escobar: Have Some Fun...

I watch the Atlanta Braves play a lot. They are winning, it is a contagious attitude moving around the team, and all the guys are having fun. Winning and leading your division will allow a ballplayer to have a little fun, and the Braves are soaking it all in. All except one. I never see shortstop Yunel Escobar smiling. The cameras are not always on him of course, and I don't recall any of the announcers bringing it up, but he just doesn't seem to be happy at the ballpark. Escobar has always had a propensity to be a little on the temperamental side. A little moody with a tendency to pout when things begin to go south on him. He probably won't win the Most Mature Ballplayer Award anytime soon. He can allow an error to change his total demeanor for an entire game. But the kid can flat out play. He has a cannon for an arm, he can make all the plays in the field, and until now has been more than capable with a bat in his hands. This year he is hitting only .241 with no homers. Last year he hit .299 and smacked 14 round trippers. The Braves will need Escobar cooking on all cylinders during the second half of the season if they want to stay atop the National League East. Yunel needs to get hot. He needs to get happy. He needs to have some fun.

Michael Adams: Kudos This Time

I think the University of Georgia made the best of a bad situation by handling the Damon Evans situation the way that it did. Not by any stretch of the imagination am I about to jump on President Michael Adams bandwagon. The way he handled the Vince Dooley situation a few years ago still doesn't fly well with most of the Bulldog Nation, myself included. However, I will admit that the quick, decisive manner that he exercised in dismissing Evans was one of his better hours as UGA president. There is absolutely no way Damon Evans could have remained under employment by the University of Georgia. One of the most detailed, thorough and complete incident reports in the history of law enforcement sealed his fate without a doubt. His continued association with Georgia could only have been detrimental. The fast resignation and settlement was exactly what was called for. Evans carries the spoils, not the university. My hat is indeed tipped to President Adams and the athletic association board for their smooth resolution to a tough situation.

Jim Joyce: One of The Best Who Missed One of the Biggest

One thing that still puzzles me about the infamous incorrect call that Jim Joyce made to deny Armando Galarraga a perfect game is that major league umpires always give that close play at first to the team in the field. It seems that runners very seldom even are privileged to the unofficial rule of the "tie goes to the runner". Yet Joyce made the call in favor of the runner and he was even out to begin with. I realize Jim Joyce is a stand-up guy and he had the humility to apologize, as well the courage to admit he blew the call. Nevertheless, I still wonder what he saw on that play that he hadn't seen on probably hundreds of other plays just like that where I'm sure he called the runner out. One up for sportsmanship, none up for the human element in our national pastime.

Peachtree TV: Get Ouside the Box

Peachtree TV is one of several networks that telecasts Atlanta Braves baseball games. The play-by-play, the commentary and the game itself are all presented to the viewer in an above average manner. However, the thing that gets me about Peachtree TV is the way that they handle the telecast between innings. Zilch, zero, nada. No commercials, no music, no cameras panning about bringing the viewer candid shots. Nothing. Silence. Now I'll be the first to admit that there are far too many stupid commercials out there that we have to suffer through. Thanks for sparing us that misery Peachtree. But otherwise, the silence is deafening. How about piping in the crowd noise between innings? Or a little ballpark organ music perhaps? Something besides utter and complete silence. And while we're at it, how about letting the cameras move around and give us some shots of the crowds, the ballpark, and/or the city? Does it have to remain in a single, fixed position the total time the teams are changing the field? Think outside the box for a change Peachtree TV. Give us some sights and sounds no other network can do because they're too busy making money showing commercials. Give us a reason to hang with you between innings. I'm getting up and down enough already.

Damon Evans: Dawg Gone With No Bone...

A few vodka cocktails, a pair of red panties, some illegal lane changes, and the next thing you know $550,000 is being windblown down Peachtree. In southern vernacular, it's all "gone with the wind". Such are the recent circumstances regarding Georgia's former athletics director, Damon Evans. One minute he orchestrates one of the most prominent university athletic programs in the country, and literally the next minute he only orchestrates his own departure. The river is wide and the valley is deep. Evans will have to negotiate all of the rivers and valleys now. Where does he go from here now that this chapter in his professional life has been closed? His credibility is wounded, and he can only hope the damage to it is not terminal. His image has been forever tarnished, and he can only hope it is recoverable at some distant point. Life is full of blown chances, but it is also full of second chances. I'm sure all Damon Evans is looking forward to is a second chance. From his family as well as from a future employer.