Mr. and Mrs. Tom Brady

After months of rumors, Tom Brady made Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen his bride Thursday in California. The New England Patriot quarterback has been dating his new bride since 2006. Brady continues rehab on his reconstructed knee as he prepares to return to NFL competition this fall. Oh yea Tom, in case you overlooked the prenup, just dial 1-800-dennycrane!

Michael Vick: There's No Place Like Home...

Michael Vick will possibly serve out the remainder of his prison sentence under home confinement. It seems that there is no room in a halfway house for him, thus the move home. There are two months, more or less, remaining on his sentence. Why not keep him in prison since he can't go to the halfway house? I must be missing something here. I wonder if he'll be on "double secret probation"? Will it be one of his houses, or how about a real 'dog' house? What if schools began doing this: "there's no room in 'time-out' now, so we're sending you home to be confined to your room. But do not get on the Internet!" But I digress. Do you think I should post a welcome home sign for Vick on An Opinion On Sports? Oh well, I'll take that as a NO.

NASCAR: So Lame To Be Tamed...

SI Galleries has a great listing of 'The 10 Lamest Rules' in NASCAR. It is a very accurate depiction of how the governing body of the sport has been detrimentally successful in over-controlling the sport. The only other lame rule I would have added would be the "Lucky Dog" rule where the lead lapped car gets that lap back on the next caution flag. Ridiculous!

Good Gosh, Goodell!

Continuing on this economic kick this afternoon, it has just been reported that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will take a pay cut of 20-25 percent. His current salary is $11 million, so he'll have to "make-do' on a measly $8.25 million. Break out the bologna and bread! The remainder of the NFL staff was trimmed by 169 employees, adding together buyouts, terminations, and un-filled positions. Maybe the league won't have to trim any more jobs to come up with Roger's 8.25 mil.

Greg Norman Talks About "Recession" on Tour

Greg Norman feels that PGA golfers should be willing to accept smaller purses in light of the country's economic situation. Yea right, and I suppose all professional athletes will allocate a portion of their tremendous salaries to decrease our national debt. The problem with inflated purses doesn't seem to be with the PGA, but with corporate sponsors who continue to be willing to pay huge sums of money to sponsor tour events. When they say no to huge dollars, you will also see TV revenues fall. That's when you will see a decrease in prize money. Last year's average purse per tour event was $5.8 million. The purse at the Northern Trust Open last weekend was $6.3 million, with a winner's share of $1.13 million. This coming from a sponsor that was granted a $1.6 billion bailout for the federal government, although they insist no TARP money was used for the tournament. Yea, like I insist I'm 6' 1" tall when I am only 5' 10" (the people who know me are shaking their heads at this analogy)! But at least golfers have to earn their paychecks. If they don't play well, they don't get paid well. And there are a lot of guys on tour who would not be able to be there if not for their personal sponsors subsidizing their income. It's not as glamorous as one would think for all the golfers. I understand Norman's point about pro golfers feeling like they are "recession proof", but they will continue to feel that way until the sponsors admit that they are the ones who are not exempt from the perils of recession.

Knowshon at NFL Combines

Knowshon Moreno runs a drill at the NFL Combines over the weekend. He is projected to be a first round draft choice, but not necessarily the first back taken. By all accounts, he had a very productive showing as NFL scouts looked on with all the scrutiny of London Bobbies.

Nice Gesture By Fred Couples

I'm sure Fred Couples has given away thousands of golf balls during his long PGA career. I just happened to be watching this afternoon at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera as Couples handed a young spectator yet another one of his golf balls as he moved from tee to green. The camera showed a big smile on the face of the recipient as Freddie continued on his way to the next hole. It was really just a small gesture on the part of the golfer, but what struck me was that it was an enormously big deal to the young fan. One he will absolutely never forget. With all the negatives that sometimes accompany the world of sports, it really is nice to see good things, regardless of their magnitude. The significance of a gift is always determined by the recipient. A simple flip of a cut golf ball to an unsuspecting young guy turned out to be quite significant. Thanks, Fred Couples!

Matthew Stafford: To Throw or Not To Throw...

As the NFL Combines began this weekend in Indianapolis, conjecture heats up as to who will be the number 1 selection in April's draft. One very interesting note to follow is the decision by Georgia's Matthew Stafford not to participate in the combine's throwing and lifting drills for quarterbacks this weekend. Stafford says he will throw in Athens next month at Georgia's Pro Day workouts. Some draft experts predict Stafford to be the overall number 1 pick by the Detroit Lions. How will his decision at the combines affect that selection? Stay tuned...

Leave the Sophmores Alone...

I realize that this post might have the repugnant odor of sour grapes. I assure you that 'fragrance' is misleading. This is a pure, unadulterated, logical opinion on an aspect of the world of college athletics. Whew, I'm glad we cleared that up! Now on with the cause... Just this week the University of Tennessee offered a football scholarship to a high school sophomore. That's right, sophomore, as in two years away from his diploma. This is where I dance around those aforementioned grapes: the kid is a Georgia prep player, and I, yes, am a die -hard Georgia Dawg. Nevertheless, I don't agree with the practice of offering college scholarships to kids that young. Or to be more precise, that far from graduation. It doesn't matter if its Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, or any other NCAA member. For starters, I don't think they've earned that offer at that point, irregardless of their talent level. More importantly, it isn't fair to the athlete nor the university. Too much can happen during his last two years of high school. Too much can change. Going perhaps a step further, I don't even think juniors should be offered until they have qualified academically for their senior years. Let's narrow this thing down some. Level the playing field, if you will. Not between different schools, but between the high school player and the pursuing college. Allow the prep student-athlete to be teenage undergraduate without any additional, unnecessary expectations. It isn't like college coaches don't have enough on their respective plates already with 85 young men already enrolled, plus a wish list of aspiring juniors. Let the sophs' continue to swim in the sea; learning, growing, and exploring. There will be more than enough time to cast the nets when they can see the light at the end of that high school tunnel. Until then, swim on boys (and watch out for those sour grapes)!

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.