Goodbye...........2007

2007.......We hardly knew you......

Florida won the NCAA football National Championship.....The Indianapolis Colts won the NFL's Super Bowl......The San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Championship......The Boston Redsox won the World Series....And the New England Patriots went 16 and 0.

We saw Micheal Vick go from the Penthouse to the Outhouse.....Barry Bonds got the home-run record.....The "Mitchell Report"......The "steroids" accusations.....Pac-man Jones and his suspension........coaches getting fired......coaches leaving with games still left.....

We saw great movies......saw a historic drought in the southeast.....floods in the mid-west.....

We lost Sean Taylor, an NFL star in the making......Barbaro, the race horse....Art Buckwald......Jerry Faldwell....Don Ho.......Basketball's Dennis Johnson......Grambling coach Eddie Robinson......Anna Nicole Smith..........49ner's coach Bill Walsh....Ike Turner...ABC's Tom Snyder.....Beverly Sills.....Joel Siegel......Yankee's great Phil Rizzuto.....Tenor Luciano Pavarotti....NASCAR's Benny Parsons.....Leona Hemsley....and others.

2007......you gave us so much......yet you took away so much more.

As this new year is about to be born........let us remember the year...2007.......May you rest in peace.

Around the NBA....................

As we near the completion of 1/4 of the NBA season.......

From 24-58.......to ????

The Boston Celtics won their 24th game last night against the Seattle Supersonics to maintain the leagues' best record at 24-3. The Celtics are 14-1 at home and 10-2 on the road. The original of Boston's new big three, Paul Pierce, scored a season high 37 points while Kevin Garnett chipped in 23 and snagged 14 rebounds as the Celts held off a pesky Sonic team, 104-96. Last year it took Boston all 82 games to garner 24 wins. This year it only took 27. Barring injuries, a complete collapse or an act of God.......The Celtics will be battling the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals.


Thou Shalt not trade thy Superstar..........

Two of the worst teams in the NBA, the Sonics and the Minnesota T-wolves were involved in off-season deals in which they both traded away their superstar. The Sonics shipped Ray Allen to Boston and the Wolves sent Garnett to B-town also. Judging the early returns......both teams got screwed. Minnesota is 4-23 while the Sonic aren't much better, at 8-21. Meanwhile, the rumor mill is still beating the "Kobe will be traded " drums. Note to Lakers........Hold on to your star.....you may not like him.....but you won't go 20-62 either.

Coaching casualty.........already???

Scott Skiles was the first coaching casualty of the season when the Chicago Bulls fired him after a poor start ( 9-16). The move came as a mild surprise considering Skiles' moderate success: He had led the Bulls to three consecutive play-offs and has a career coaching record of 281-231. The Bulls named assistant coach Boylan to lead the team for at least the remainder of this season. Makes you wonder what those guys in New York are thinking..........you know.......with Isiah and all that losing the Knicks are doing lately. Skiles is regarded as a "great young basketball mind" with coaches around the league.....however, he had problems dealing with certain NBA veterans, most notably, one Ben Wallace.......he of the headband.....which Skiles despised.......loosen up Scottie.

First look at All-Star 2008........

The first votes are in for February's All-star game. In the East, the guards have Dwyane Wade ahead , followed by Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. Kevin Garnette and LeBron James are locks for the forward positions. Celtic leading scorer, Paul Pierce is a distant 4th. At center, Dwight Howard has a 2 to 1 lead over Shaquille O'Neal.

In the West, the top 2 forwards are Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan, with Dirk Nowitzki just a hair behind. The guards include Kobe Bryant.....and the rest. Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash and Allen Iverson will battle for the second spot. At center, Houston's Yao Ming has twice the votes as his nearest competitor, Amare Stoudemire.

Most votes so far? That would be Mr. Garnett (1,186,690), Mr. James (1,005,733) and Mr. Bryant (941,746). The game will be played in New Orleans on February 17, 2008. Get those votes in.

From Scrooge..........to .....Santa Claus.....

A Late Christmas gift.............

The NFL announced today, the much anticipated match-up between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will be simulcast on CBS and NBC. The NFL and DirecTV owned NFL Network has been stubborn and arrogant since it's inception.

It's a major concession by league officials, who repeatedly said they would not show the game anywhere but the NFL Network. The NFL had faced mounting pressure from lawmakers in recent weeks to make the game available to more viewers.

"We have taken this extraordinary step because it is in the best interest of our fans," commissioner Roger Goodell said. "What we have seen for the past year is a very strong consumer demand for NFL Network. We appreciate CBS and NBC delivering the NFL Network telecast on Saturday night to the broad audience that deserves to see this potentially historic game. Our commitment to the NFL Network is stronger than ever."

Well.......lah de dah.........Here we are .......in week 16 ......of a 16 week schedule, and the NFL finally gets it. Wow! After snubbing the cable companies and the American public for going on two years now........Mr. Goodell and company has seen the light?

Please don't mistake this act of giving .....as any sort of peace treaty with Time Warner and the other cable giants. There is still no deal for the 2008 season. The NFL is just as greedy as always..... They just got that Christmas Spirit for this one weekend. Back to being the Scrooge next year......you can count on it.

Florida State 36, Kentucky 0..........

No..........this is not the predicted final score of the Music City Bowl being played in Nashville, Tennessee on December 31, between FSU and Kentucky.

The number 36 represents the number of FSU football players who have been suspended by the University for being involved in an academic-cheating cheating scandal. Friday, FSU president, T. K. Wetherell addressed the issue with this statement: "No coaches were involved, and the student-athletes, who come from a number of sports, did not enroll in the course with the intent to do anything wrong," Wetherell said in a written statement. "However, a university-employed tutor provided inappropriate help on exams, without the request of the student-athletes in many cases."

Regardless, the student-athletes are "suffering the consequences" for accepting the answers, Wetherell said. The tutor, a graduate assistant, has since resigned, but FSU Provost Larry Abele wouldn't say if he's still a student, citing federal privacy laws.

The investigation into cheating began in March when administrators learned of a separate incident in which administrators found that a learning specialist gave answers to at least one student and typed papers for five student-athletes.

That investigation led to the admission by some student-athletes that, in an online music history course, a tutor had been looking over their shoulder while taking the exam and providing answers to test questions, or at least narrowing down the possible answers, Abele said.

Upon interviewing an additional 200 students, staff and faculty members, investigators also learned that the tutor provided completed exams to some student-athletes, Abele said.

Of the 36 players suspended, 11 have starting experience including top defensive player, Dekoda Watson , and Quarterback, Xavier Lee. Not only will these players miss the bowl game, they will also miss up to 2 games at the start of the 2008 season.

While the media folks are hammering FSU coach Bobby Bowden , I think the student athletes are the ones to blame. When you are given the answers to exams.......you have to know......something is amiss. Grow up........already!

This Ain't no Legend........

A quick 5 on Five review of the blockbuster hit movie, I am Legend, starring Will Smith and a German Shepherd named Sam.

While Mr. Smith put on a stunning acting performance, the cinematography was less than advertised. Three-fourths of the movie was shot in the dark and one could barely make out the scenario.

The computer generated special effects depicting the mutes and wild animals simply were not realistic and gave the film an almost cartoonish flavor to it. The plot involves flashbacks that never really explain anything until near the end.

I thought the movie did not live up to all the hype. In a word......far from it ....It was borderline boring for the huge production costs. I don't recommend "I am Legend". My advice is to wait until the DVD comes out......and draw your own conclusion.

Thumbs down..........

Hump Day Thoughts

It's only a rumor......but......

Rumor has it ...... Bill Parcells will take over football operations of the Atlanta Falcons. The AJC, CNN-SI, ESPN and Fox Sports are all reporting the deal is close to being finalized. Parcells won 2 Super Bowls as head coach of the New York Giants, took the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl and rebuilt programs with the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys. If ......and when this is a done deal.....we will express our thoughts.

Atlanta Hawks are 12-12........

The surprising Hawks are at .500 and trail the division leading Orlando Magic by only 4 games. I am so ready to get on that bandwagon, but past let downs have me waiting. Tonight the Hawks entertain the old and beat up Miami Heat --- in a game -- on paper, they should win. But these are the Hawks. We shall see.

Charles Oakley gets lost in suburbia Atlanta......

Former NBA star, Charles Oakley was arrested early Tuesday morning on a DUI charge in Barrow County Georgia, roughly 35 miles east of Atlanta. Oakley's 2008 Land Rover was stopped in the town of Auburn for failing to maintain a lane. According to the arresting officer, Oakley failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody, where after posting an $890 bond, he was released. Oakley told the officer he was lost.........thought he was nearer to Atlanta.

Parcells turns Blank down..........

ESPN is now reporting Bill Parcells has turned down an offer to head the football operations of the Falcons......I guess after sleeping on it......Bill remembered he's a New York and New Jersey guy who'd be a fish out of water in the deep south. Well now .........that was fast....... Arthur Blank must now revise his search and now soothe the ego of one Rich McKay who as club General Manager would have been a lame duck with no authority if Parcells had taken the job. For all his success in the business world, Mr. Blank has demonstrated a lack of clearly thinking things out when it comes to running the Falcons. Did it not occur to him.....Parcells might not take the job? Now after being slighted..........what will McKay's mindset be? And we were under the impression McKay was the one who would hire the next coach........This is the Falcons....

5 Thoughts on a December Monday....

Football .....the way it was meant to by played.

Yesterday's game between the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills brought back fond memories of the pre-dome stadium era. Man versus the elements. Players slipping and sliding, kickers falling on their behinds trying to punt. Officials unsure of where the 50 yard line was. In the blizzard like conditions in Cleveland, both teams gave it their all in front of 73,196 crazed Browns' fans. Jamal Lewis sloshed for 163 yards.....Not bad for a guy from the 'hoods of Atlanta. Cleveland eventually won the "blizzard bowl" 8-0.

Jessica Simpson is a bad luck charm.....

Note to Tony Romo: " Let Jessica watch on TV". Romo's new squeeze......'er girlfriend decided to show her support by attending the Dallas / Philadelphia game. Not only did the Cowboys lose the game (10-6), Romo had ......by far......his worst game of the season. He completed just 13 out of 36 passes for 214 yards and threw 3 interceptions. The Eagles also sacked him 4 times. Tony......quit reading "People Magazine" and get your head back in the game. The loss leaves Dallas tied with the Green Bay Packers for the best record in the NFC.......with playoff home field advantage at stake. The Cowboys sure don't want to go to Lambeau Field in January.

Welcome back Javy Lopez.....

The Atlanta Braves have signed popular former catcher Javier Lopez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training in an attempted comeback for the three time all-star. Lopez got a bad rap in the ATL for his lack of being able to handle pitchers. Greg Maddox refused to let Javy catch his games.....and some of the pitch selection of Lopez.....to put it politely.....was.....well ...questionable at best. Still the guy can hit. At 37, he will battle to be Brian McCann's back up.....Good luck Javy!

Boston.......Best team.....ever?

Not ready to go that far........but.......at 20-2.....the Celtics are the class of the NBA........So far....... They have not lost a home ....yet. They have ...not one.....not two.........but three legitimate superstars in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The role players know their parts and Doc Rivers is one heck of a coach. I still think the Eastern Conference will have to eventually go through Detroit......I give the Celtics their due.

'Tis the Season.......

As we approach the Christmas season......the Atlanta Falcons played the role of Santa in their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On their first offensive possession, quarterback Chris Redman served up a gift interception to Ronde Barber, resulting in a quick six for the 'Bucs. The giving didn't stop there. The Falcons' (not so special teams), gave up Tampa's first kickoff return for a touchdown in the franchises' 32 year history.....a 90 yarder by some guy named Micheal Spurlock. Atlanta went on to lose......37-3. Merry Christmas ....Arthur Blank. At 3-11, the draft picks are looking sweeter by the minute.

Separated at Birth?

I've heard.........everybody......has a (close to it) or an exact twin......somewhere.....could it be?

Marlon Brando and Arthur Blank?

Yoda and Jerry Jones?

Michael Douglas and Pat Riley?

Brad Pitt and Tom Brady?

Curious George and Sammy Sosa?

Tiki Barber......and ....Ronde Barber?

Okay.....I cheated.....but this is not that easy........

See if you can produce more "twins"..... send them our way.....and we'll post the results.



At some point......we may start a contest (when we get an appropriate prize).....but for now......start digging in those .....jpeg files.

No Headlines......but Houston hires a Black Head Coach

Buried in the back pages of newspapers across the country was the hiring this past Friday of Kevin Sumlin by the University of Houston. Sumlin, 43 is the first African-American to be hired as head man of a Division I football program in the state of Texas.

Sumlin spent the last five years as an assistant at Oklahoma, where he served as both the co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach (2006-2007) and special teams/tight-end coach (2003-2005). Sumlin replaces Art Briles, who resigned to accept the head coach job at Baylor. Briles was 34-28 in 5 seasons.

What makes this hire significant is Sumlin marks only the sixth black head coach out of the 119 division 1 schools.

Sumlin joins Randy Shannon (Miami), Turner Gill (Buffalo), Syvester Croom (Mississippi State), Ty Willingham (Washington) and Ron Prince (Kansas State). Karl Dorrell (UCLA) was fired at the end of this season.

Even in 2oo7, there is still a hesitancy among college presidents to give African-American coaches a reasonable chance. While they seem content on re-cycling average white coaches, they fail to grasp the reality that 40% of division I players.....are black.

This type of thinking will never change until the elite African-American athletes refuse to continue to be "slave labor" for the white establishment ......and sign all those letters of commitments to Black head coached programs. Maybe in our lifetime.

Note to Athletes: Keep your "Bling-bling" under Wraps

It has happened.......yet again. Before yesterdays' game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Bobcats, second year forward, Shelton Williams was carjacked at gunpoint. Williams was not hurt, but his car was stolen. The incident took place in front of the barbershop he frequents.

This latest conflict between athlete and thug comes on the heels of the Sean Taylor tragedy in which Taylor was killed in a home invasion gone bad. Last summer, NBA players, Antione Walker and Eddie Curry were tied up and robbed in their Chicago area homes.

Our advice to star athletes..........

#1. Keep the "bling-bling" under wraps......yes, you can afford expensive jewelry, big cars, and fancy clothes. You've earned it. But.......when you go out in public......blend in . Don't stand out so much, that you might as well be wearing a sign saying, "Come on ....rob me".

#2. I'm not an NRA backer.....but get a permit......and pack some heat. Sean Taylor would probably be alive today had he not had a knife instead of a gun during that awful home invasion. Someone, smarter than me once said, "You don't bring a knife to a gunfight.

#3. Hire a posse.......250 pound bodyguards......You can afford it. Have that posse at your house......whenever you go out...everywhere. I would. Call me a wimp? I'll be a living and breathing wimp.

It is a crying shame to live in a country dedicated to protect our freedoms........when we have to resort to this.....just to remain safe.
"bling-bling" all you want........just do it discretely.

Friday.......Thank God.....It's Friday!

What a week......what a week.....what.... a .....week.... An innocent weekend ....followed by a Monday, which saw Michael Vick getting a 23 month sentence......followed by the Atlanta Falcons get humiliated on NFL's Monday Night Football by the New Orleans Saints....followed by Tuesday's Bobby Petrino jumping ship and signing with Arkansas......followed by Wednesdays' fallout (Falcon players calling Petrino a coward).....among other things ...followed by Thursday's "Mitchell Report" (which named Roger Clemons and others)......followed by......by........hey......I'm out of breath. So went this week!

4 out of 5 days this week ......I went to work in the dark of the morning......and didn't get home until the dark of the evening. Trying to make a buck......So spare me A-Rod.....if I don't feel your pain of having to settle for "only" a $27 million a year contract versus a $30 million a year with the New York Yankees.

I'm convinced...........there are "really" only 7 Christmas songs.......However.....during the Holiday season.....different renditions are played several hundred thousand times.

Northeast bracing for Winter Storm......couldn't happen to a nicer bunch........Having lived in upstate New York for nearly 10 years......I feel........absolutely......NO SYMPATHY.... You guys laugh at us southerners for not handling snow and cold weather....well ......suck it up and .....deal with it. Get those snow shovels and snow blowers out.......while I grill on a back porch deck on a 70 degree weekend in December.

The Mitchell Report is Media Powered........400 pages of inuindos........suggestions......names of known and unknown players. What a crap of you know what....Who cares? The Media and the media alone.....The average "Joe Fan" doesn't give a damn. Fact.......Barry Bonds has hit more home runs than any man .....ever. Roger Clemons has won more games than any pitcher alive. So they might have "juiced" up........Oh well....doesn't shave any sleep off my nights. Sometimes the media wants us to care about useless stuff.......so as to make their point. Not going to happen......move on.

Finally.....I caught a little heat for my "Ike Turner" post the other day. I realize it was not sports related......But.....as said in that song, "It's my party ....and I'll cry if I want to"................well.....It's my Blog.......and I'll write what I want to......Not really......

It's ....."our blog" and we will write what we seem appropriate at the time. And your comments are always welcomed.

Happy Trails........Ike Turner

We bid a fond farewell to Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ike Turner. Turner died in his California home yesterday at the age of 76.

Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1931, Turner began his show biz career at the startling age of 8. Said Turner,

"I got a job driving the elevator in the Alcazar and the radio station was on the second floor. It was very exciting to me, a radio station. I'd run up to the second floor and look through the window at the guy spinning records. He saw me and tole me to come in and showed me how to 'hold a record.' I'd sit there and hold it until the one playing stopped, then I'd turn a knob and the one I was holding would play. Next thing I know, he was going across the street for coffee and leaving me in there alone. I was only eight. That was the beginning of my thing with music."

It was in a small southern town.....Nutbush, Tennessee......Turner met a teenage singer named Anna Mae Bullock. Within a year, her name was changed to Tina Turner, and the band ...."The Ike and Tina Revue" was formed. The rest....as they say ......is .......well .....history.

Personally, I never liked the movie, "Whats love got to do with it".......based on Tina's autobiography. I thought it was very one sided. But Ike didn't help his cause when he had this to say in his 2001 autobiography, "Sure, I've slapped Tina... There have been times when I punched her to the ground without thinking. But I never beat her." Huh?

Ike.......you lived a long, prosperous life. You gave the masses music to enjoy for a life time.......Rest in peace, 'bro.

Hump Day........Stuff

The Bobby Petrino Fiasco......

Now that everyone has been able to catch their respective breaths......and been able to review the past 2 days......Petrino, you suck. You lied to your team, the owner, the general manager, the city of Atlanta, and most of all.....you lied to yourself......thinking you had the balls to coach at this level in the first place.

Just thinking..........I have not really bought into this global warming stuff .....just yet......but ......today is the 12th of December....and it was 78 degrees here. And the ATL's normal temperature is somewhere around 55....... Just thinking......

The Atlanta Hawks.......Contenders....or ...Pretenders? Just when I had pulled a couple of muscles jumping back on the Hawk bandwagon..............they got smoked last night .....at home.....by Toronto. Quit all the teasing....Atlanta

The Mitchell Report..............Excuse me....but .....what exactly is this report suppose to accomplish? First.....you would have to be an idiot to admit to anything. It's non binding......and it's actually unconstitutional. (You can not incriminate yourself). Especially if the alleged drugs were not deemed illegal .......if and when you ....allegedly used them. Major League Baseball is attempting to make the world believe they are taking a stance on steroid use............yeah right. ESPN and others are anxiously awaiting the list of some 60 players (or ex-players) that may......or may not be on the list. Wake me only if A-Rod makes the list.

Just 13 more shopping days left.......'Tis the season. All these morons beating a path to Malls and neighborhood Walmarts and Targets all across the nation. Spending money they don't have.....maxing out credit cards......they'll be paying for....for years to come.....for what? Call me a scrooge.....but I'll sleep well in December....as well as the coming months.

Finally.........For those of us who loved the movie ..."Gone in 60 Seconds"......you'll appreciate this headline: 150 cars, 3 days; 6 teens charged ......Coutesy of the AJC.

Finally......Finally.......A parting shot at Mr. Bobby Petrino.......Seems not all of the Atlanta Falcon players bought into Petrino's apology letter.......

The Falcons will Win a Super Bowl....Before Arkansas wins an SEC Championship

Before all you Arkansas Razorback fans get hoarse from doing that pig whatever call.....consider just who you are......and what conference you're playing in.

Yes.....your school just hired Bobby (I just can't take the NFL) Petrino as your new head coach. Last night's ......'er .....pep rally masqueraded as a press conference will eventually wear off to where reasonable folks will come to the reality......you are.....what you are.

Arkansas......you rank 32nd in population in the latest census....you play in a conference that features, Florida (#4), Georgia (#9), and Tennessee (#16). Your border state, Texas is the #2 most populated state. Even South Carolina (#25) and Mississippi (#31) have more potential athletes than you have.

The SEC West......who you gonna beat?.....Alabama.....with Nick Saban?.........LSU......with Les Miles?.......Auburn....with Tommy Tubberville?...... Mississippi State with Sylvester Croom?.......Or will it be ......Ole Miss......with Houston (We ran him out of town) Nutt.

For reasons that escape me......you have .....through the years been able to recruit great athletes.......and you have been competitive from your South West Conference days .....to the current SEC. However.......with this latest little stunt by your new coach Petrino........(jumping ship) .....you might have a tough time convincing high school studs to put their uncompromising faith in the Razorback nation. Tuesday, Petrino burned an awful lot of bridges ---- both in NFL and college ranks........and football people tend to have looooong memories.

Give a Brother a Chance

Breaking News.........The Atlanta Falcons have named long time NFL veteran player Emmitt Thomas to replace departed head coach Bobby Petrino. Thomas will be the interim head coach in Atlanta's final three games.

Thomas made the Kansas City Chiefs team as an undrafted free agent from tiny Bishop College in Dallas in 1966. His career spanned from 1966 to 1978 and was named to the pro bowl 5 times. As a cornerback, he owns the Chiefs all-time interception record with 58, placing him 9th on pro football's all time list.

In August of this year, Thomas was selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Senior Committee as a finalist for election into the Hall of Fame with the class of 2008.

For the past 26 years, Thomas has been an assistant coach for six NFL teams.........and has been the Falcons' Senior Assistant/Secondary coach under the Petrino regime.

Thomas resides in Suwanee, Georgia with his wife, Jacqui. They have two grown children. Their son, Dereck is the head basketball coach at Western Illinois University.

While we applaud Falcon owner Arthur Blanks' decision to name Thomas as the interim head coach.........Mr. Blank.....don't hesitate to at least grant Mr. Thomas an interview for the permanent position. On a team as dysfunctional as the Falcons, Thomas brings a ton of experience as well as calming leadership at this time. Just give a brother a chance.

Petrino Resigns

The Atlanta Journal Constitution........

The AJC is reporting Atlanta Falcon head coach Bobby Petrino has quit the team to become head coach of the University of Arkansas.

PETRINO RESIGNS.........AJC reports......






Developing...........


It is now official......Bobby Petrino has resigned as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons to become head coach of Arkansas Razerback college football team. The Falcons will hold a news conference at 2 pm Wednesday to address the resignation. The Arkansas job became available when Houston Nutt resigned to take the Ole Miss position. Petrino, on no less than 2 occasions, assured Falcon owner, Arthur Blank, of his intentions to stay with the Atlanta organization. However.....Petrino blind sided Blank and the team with his Tuesday decision.



We will have a post tomorrow addressing Mr. Petrino, Mr. Blank and the Atlanta Falcons.......

Stay tuned.......

What they're saying: Vick's sentencing

What they're saying: Vick's sentencing ajc.com12/10/07

I really don't think the punishment fits the crime. Others have killed innocent human beings (babies) and they were not robbed of their freedom and sentenced so harshly. Vick made a mistake and should be punished, but taking so much of his money, auctioning his home in Virginia and a 23-month jail sentence is too much to pay for participating in dog fighting and dog killing. I really hated seeing a handsome, talented, professional football player in that black and white striped jail uniform.



I have a Michael Vick bobble head and I will continue to cherish it.

The Hatton Vs Mayweather Fight 12/08/07

A great recap of the Hatton/Mayweather fight....

Sunday Chat.......

Normally, on Sunday mornings we give you headlines from around the country. But since the college football regular season ended last week, there are so few banner headlines.....lets just chat.

The Heisman is a joke. The Media's love affair with Tim Tebow game to a climax last night when Tebow was named this years' Heisman Trophy winner. For the second straight year, Darren McFadden traveled all the way from Arkansas to New York City, just to see the award go to someone else.

Don't look now.......but do you realize if the NBA play-offs started today......the Atlanta Hawks would be the 7th seed in the eastern conference? No joke! The Hawks (the youngest team in the league) are really not that bad this year. But play-offs? The Hawks?

Good hire....Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets hired Paul Johnson away from Navy. Johnson will bring his "triple option" offense with him as well as his 105-39 career won -- lost record. His Georgia Southern teams won back to back national titles in 1999 and 2000. Question is......can that triple option .....which runs the ball nearly 86% of the time....work in a BCS conference? We shall see.

These Mountaineers are for real......Unlike the West Virginia Mountaineers --- the one's who choked big time last week --- the Mountaineers of Appalachian State are in the championship game for the third straight year after beating Richmond 55-35 in the Division 1-AA semi-finals Friday. You remember App State.....Michigan sure does. It was way back in September when the 5th ranked Wolverines shocked the world by losing 34-32 to App State. Against Richmond, Mountaineer quarterback Armanti Edwards put on a spectacular show, rushing for 313 yards, passing for 182 yards, and accounting for 7 touchdowns. Wow!!! And .....he didn't get a single Heisman vote.