Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Hump Day Rantings and Ravings.......


It's Wednesday again............We apologize for last week. Too much work just interfered with our Hump Day Rantings.........We will attempt to rectify that this week by giving you more rants than ever..........

First.........let us dip into the political scene.................

EDWARDS DROPS OUT OF RACE
...will not immediately endorse



John Edwards is out............
Hey John........what took you so long? You came in third in your home state of South Carolina...........The interesting part of all this is from a New York Times poll that exposed a very disturbing fact. Even though Edwards finished a distant third..........He had the most votes by White South Carolina voters, beating both Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama. Seems the deep south is not yet ready to elect a black man.........much less a female.

Staying in politics.........check this out:

Tiger Woods impressed by Obama...

Wow......an athlete taking a stand.
We applaud Tiger for speaking up.......But really Tiger......what exactly are you saying? Just go to the polls with the rest of us and vote your with you heart. We know that Obama is articulate........tell us something we don't know.

Burress says Giants win, 23-17


It has happened yet again............a member of the under-dog team has made an astonishing prediction.......This time its Plaxico Burress making a Joe Namoth like prediction.......

Dah............New England has won 18 straight .........Do you think they give a rats ass what Mr. Burress thinks? I think not.


Anyone keeping up with "American Idol"?

Did everyone receive their W2 forms?

Are you guys really expecting a gift from George W. ? In the form of a tax break check of between $600 and $1200?

Spend it wisely.................

Monday, January 28, 2008

A Roaring Start


Woods Renews Attack on the Record Book

The above courtesy of the New York Times...........

On a rather cold (by California standards) and rainy Sunday afternoon......one Mr. Tiger Woods made a statement. Tiger won the Buick Open by 8 shots in a tournament that wasn't even this close. He simply obliterated the field. But Woods doesn't win tournaments on Sunday.

Tiger Woods wins tournaments the day of the start........usually Thursday. This is when there are no less than 150 eager golfers that tee it up and hope this is their day.

Most of the 150 "pros" are only trying to "make the cut"..... Tiger's only missed a handful in 10 plus years. Most play Thursday and Friday to get to the money round.

Tiger plays Thursday and Friday to get a true feel of the course.......then by Saturday and Sunday.......it's lights out.

With Sundays win........Tiger now has 62 Tour wins, tying him for forth with the legend Arnold Palmer....

Palmer, 78, was among the first to congratulate Woods, sending a statement prepared earlier in the day at Bay Hill Golf Club, where he was playing golf.

“I congratulate Tiger,” he said. “I’m sure that there are many, many more coming in the future. There isn’t any question about that. I wish him all the luck in the world.”


Let us just sit back and enjoy something we can tell our grand kids...........We actually witnessed and appreciated the greatest golfer of all time.

So....Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini and Vijay Singh................you guys are good.........but you're in an era in which you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

You are Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and Patrick Ewing against Michael Jordan.........

No fought of your own........but just a little bit ............over matched.........

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A "Shocking" story.......


From the AJC.......

Racy photos cause Shockley to resign


So..........former University of Georgia quarterback D. J. Shockley is in the news........no big deal.....

Unless, his father happens to be one Donald Shockley.....the high school football coach at metro Atlanta's North Clayton High School.


This is fast becoming a sports story as well as a high tech story.............

Seems Mr. Shockley solicited one of his students to "fix" his personal computer ..........low and behold.........the student finds these illicit photo's of Shockley and a female assistant principle in some rather uncompromising positions .......

Said student then spreads the images all over the school..........

Two points here.............

Mr. Shockley, do you have ............half a brain?

Said student............. do you have any back bone?

Indeed........Mr Shockley messed up............ It is a bad scene......... but this little punk took the easy way out by outing Shockley and his female co-conspirator .

Note to .........everyone.........

Fix your own stuff..............

Never let your hard drive come into the hands of ............anyone......anywhere............especially geeks like this one....in this case.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Georgia ....being Georgia



From the Red & Black.........


Athletes face DUI, alcohol-related charges


Yes it's college.....and boys will be boys. But the must disturbing part of this whole fiasco is the comments to the police officer by one of the arrested Georgia players:

Munzenmaier told the officer he thought the police car was a taxi and tried to flag it down. The officer searched Munzenmaier, and afterwards he "thanked me for 'costing him two games,'" the officer wrote. He asked what sport Munzenmaier played.

"'Look at me,'" Munzenmaier replied, according to the police report. "'What sport do you think I play?'"

On the way to the Athens-Clarke County Jail, Munzenmaier told the officer it was "obvious 'we have it out for them.'"

Munzenmaier expressed concern about "a point system that the police have apparently against athletes."

Munzenmaier told the officer to "shut up" and used an expletive because "he didn't want to make small talk."

Please note that Munzenmaier is a third string fullback who rarely saw game day action......If he has this kind of feeling of entitlement ........I can only imagine what the real stars are thinking.

Such is the reality of big time football in the south.........Georgia, just being Georgia.


Let the Hype begin........

A preview of more to come........from those northeast tabloid newspapers........




At least this ends.....The Brett Farve.....Love-fest.....for now....



With the New York Giants victory over the weather elements and the Green Bay Packers, let us shout out a "Hallelujah" and a "thank-you".

All season long we have been subjected to one Brett Farve story after another.......after another. Brett Farve........He loves his team mates ..........Brett Farve, he plays the game the way it should be played. Brett Favre, the ultimate gunslinger........Brett Farve, a "mans' man. ESPN even got Mrs. Farve involved in one of its' Monday Night Football telecast.

Well, thanks to the 23-20 overtime victory (in Green Bay), at Lambeau Field , the Giants have effectively put an end (for now) of that love-fest created by the national sports media.

All week long we were told that Eli Manning........he of the low lands of southern Mississippi....could never deal with the cold chill of 6 degrees and a wind chill factor of 20 below in that hated atmosphere of Lambeau Field.

Well now........it seems they somehow forgot just where Brett Farve was born.......Try Gulfport, Mississippi. And he went to college at Southern Miss. The media would have us believe Farve was born, weaned and raised on the frozen tundra of Green Bay.

Bottom line? Southern boy #2 (Eli Manning) got the better of southern boy #1 (Brett Farve) on Sunday night. And that's a good thing.

We now get a 4 month break from the media's love affair with Mr. Farve.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Weekend........Madness......

Winter Wonderland?

We here in these southeast parts are getting part 2 of a rare winter system of sleet, freezing rain and .....dare I say????? Snow. The forecast calls for a low of 21 degrees tonight.

But............before we start feeling sorry for ourselves..........lets look at to
morrows weather conditions in Green Bay, Wisconsin:

Flurries
Flurries
High
6° F
Precip:
30%

Now that's cold...........


Rams owner Georgia Frontiere dies at 80 (AP)


Yes the old bag is dead...........While she's being praised by the media, the Los Angeles contingent will only remember her as the witch who took away their beloved Rams and moved them to St. Louis. Los Angeles is still without a pro football team to this day.





Stubblefield pleads guilty in BALCO case (AP)

Dana Stubblefield learned..........life lesson number 4,500. Never, ever lie to men in suit s. He plead guilty to not telling the truth to a federal grand jury. It's alright to do the crime...........bu t just don't set yourself up for a perjury conviction.


Well............the snow has ended...........I've got a 6:00 am store to inventory....so I'll slip & slide away.

It's about Time...........


You've seen him.....heard him. But you don't know him....

Let us introduce you to Mike Carey, an 18 year veteran NFL referee.....

From The Associated Press:



Mike Carey will be first black to referee Super Bowl

By Dave Goldberg
Associated Press Football Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Mike Carey will become the first black referee in Super Bowl history.

Carey, in his 18th year as an official, was notified by the NFL office this week that he had the assignment for the Feb. 3 game in Mesa, Ariz.

The officials at the Super Bowl are chosen on merit, with the highest ranked at each position getting the assignment. Carey, who in his private life runs a skiing accessories company, has been among the NFL's top crew chiefs for a decade and has been a Super Bowl alternate, but has never been the referee.

Black officials have been increasing in number over the years. This season there were 26 on the 17 crews, a single-season high.

Blacks also have been well-represented in the Super Bowl at other positions, starting with Burl Toler, a former player, who was involved of several of the early games.


Carey was a college football running back for Santa Clara University and suffered an ankle injury which affects his ability to run. Today, Carey limits himself to running on the days he is scheduled to officiate games.

He is an inventor who owns or shares eight ski apparel patents, including "Cat Tracks," a protective device which he created at age 30 to slip over the sole of a ski boot, preventing damage away from the ski run. Mike Carey is married to Wendy, who is the Chief Financial Officer of Seirus. They have two two daughters, Drisana and Danica, and currently reside in San Diego, California.


On October 3, 2005, Mike and his brother, Don, an NFL official as well (back judge), became the first brothers to officiate an NFL game together when they were assigned on the same officiating crew for the game between the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.


Carey was the referee during a 2005-06 playoff game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins. At the conclusion of a play during this game, Redskins safety Sean Taylor spit in the face of Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman . Pittman retaliated with a slap to Taylor's helmet. Carey immediately ejected Taylor from the game, as it could be heard through a microphone attached to Carey. Head linesman Steve Stelljes conferred with Carey over Pittman's actions, but Carey decided not to penalize Pittman. When questioned about taking no action against Pittman by Redskin players, Carey said in response to being spit upon, "What would you do?" Mike Pereira, the vice president of officiating, approved of Carey's handling of the incident saying, "offsetting personal fouls would not have been appropriate". Pereira added, "If anybody didn't eject somebody for spitting in somebody's face, I'd be disappointed."


We applaud Mike for his accomplishments.......his referee style is smooth and professional. He never brings attention to himself or his crew.


Friday, January 18, 2008

NBA TV Top 10: January 16th

Top 10 plays of the week......

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Hump Day .........Stuff......


Woman claims Pacman punched her at strip club

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

Is Pacman Jones not the biggest moron in the whole wide, wide world of sports? Does he ever want to play professional football again? Can he ever steer clear of "Topless Bars"? As of this post.......no charges have been filed.......but we really question the judgment of one Mr. Pacman. Already serving a year long suspension, why would he put himself in harms way? Pacman deserves everything he gets on this one..........How about just going home and serving your suspension and .......keeping a low profile!!!



Richmond Braves coming to Gwinnett

Yes........it's official. After a 42 year stint in the AAA International League city of Richmond, Virginia, the Atlanta Brave are moving their affiliate to metro Atlanta.



Terrell Owens crying during press conference, defending Romo

I laughed when I saw this ............the above link will include a YouTube video........Come on, T.O. The real reason you're crying? No team that you have ever been on has ever won a Super Bowl........save it... for some one who gives a rat's ass about you or those over-rated Dallas Cowboys.


And finally...........

50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Others Named In Steroids Probe - News ...

Are you .......freaking kidding me? Not Mary J.........Fiddy? Say it ain't so! Our media is so out of touch with reality. Do you really think..........while I'm listening and groovin' to some sounds.....I really give a damn if "Fiddy" took steroids? Just another attempt by the Y2K scaredy-cat media to stir some stuff up........


Monday, January 14, 2008

Happy Birthday ......6eVoice


Yesterday was my brothers birthday......

You know him as 6eVoice.....One of the contributors of 5 on Five. I know him as an older brother ........The number 1 son. This is a day late.....but......We at 5 on Five......would like to extend a Happy Birthday salute to our 'bro.

You've been there countless times for all of us. We wish you the best.........If anyone should ever look up the word "brother" in a dictionary.......or Google "brother".........your name should appear....for you are what a brother ......means.

Happy Birthday ..........'bro............

Your Dog Knows.........When You're Speeding..

Cavaliers' James acknowledges driving 101 mph
January 14, 2008

CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James acknowledged driving 101 mph on the highway on his 23rd birthday, and gave no assurance he wouldn't go that fast again.

The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar was ticketed by the State Highway Patrol on Interstate 71 in suburban Medina at nearly 3 a.m. on Dec. 30. He was driving in a 65 mph zone, and the patrol said it's the first time James was ticketed.

"I was doing 101," James said Monday after practice. "That's it. I was speeding. I've just got to abide by the law. I got caught. It happens."

Lawyer Colin Jennings filed a not guilty plea for James in Medina Municipal Court. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11, when the Cavaliers play in Orlando.

When James was asked if he will continue traveling at such speed, he said: "I don't know, maybe at times. It's not a big deal to me. You've just got to abide by the rules that's all. I made a mistake and I'll live with it."

James said he was heading home after the team arrived in Cleveland from New Orleans, where they had lost to the Hornets a few hours earlier.

"I'm not going to jail or nothing like that," he said. "I wasn't drunk. I was just speeding. That's it."

Friday, January 11, 2008

The Marion Jones Tragedy

Sometimes.... pictures......are worth......a thousand words.... words that can never explain why this ever happened.....

The emotional human roller coaster of life.....

Who are we to judge?






So young......so beautiful......so devastatingly talented....










Thursday, January 10, 2008

Wow......who saw this coming?


We have been bragging about the Boston Celtics all season long. The Celts have the best record in the NBA. They have not one, not two........but three legitimate superstars in Kevin Garnette, Ray Allen and Paul Peirce. They had just completed a west coast road trip that saw them annihilate Seattle, Sacramento, Utah and the LA Lakers to close out the month of December.


The new year saw these Celtics beat Yao Ming and Houston.....edge an inspired Memphis team......and won the showdown with Detroit, 92-85.


So it's safe to say as the Celtics prepared for Wednesday's match up with the Charlotte Bobcats......they weren't exactly expecting the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls of the nineties.


Even with Ray Allen sitting this one out with a pinched nerve .....the Celtics were heavy favorites in Vegas.


But a funny thing happened. The Bobcats defeated Boston, 95-83 in what might be the biggest upset of the 2008-09 season. Consider..........Charlotte had a record of 12-24 entering last night. They had won only 1 road game out of their first 11.


Maybe that pep talk Jordan gave the team a few days ago worked. Or maybe this is what happens once in a while during a grueling 82 game schedule.......Go figure.......


Check out the Box score.

The Travesty.....that is The Baseball Hall of Fame

I just don't get it........Or maybe I do get it and those 65 year old white anglo-saxon sports writers don't get it.

Consider these statistics:


*Career batting average of .298
*Career home run total......382
*Career rbi total......1451
*Career hit total.......2452
*8 seasons with 100 rbi's or more
*8 time AL All-star
*1978 AL MVP
*2 time AL Silver Slugger Award winner

These are the stats of Jim Rice who played 15 seasons for the Boston Redsox. Jim Rice is not in the baseball Hall of Fame.


Conversely Gary Carter is in the Hall of Fame. Let us compare stats:


*Career batting average of .262
*Career home run total.....324
*Career rbi total...............1225
*Career hit total...............2092
*4 seasons with 100 rbi's or more
*11 time All-star
*0 MVP Awards
*5 time NL Silver Slugger Award winner


Based on just the obvious facts the stats show, it is mind boggling why Carter is in and Rice is not.


Here's our reasoning..........


Carter played for 19 seasons as opposed to Rice's 15? No, Sandy Koufax played only 11 seasons and he's in.


Carter is white.......and Rice is black? No, plenty of black and Latin players in the Hall.


Carter was very accessible to the press and was a likable person? Now......we're getting somewhere. Throughout his career, Rice was not exactly media friendly. He did not possess the out going personality exhibited by Carter. Thus he alienated members of that all powerful "Baseball Writers Association of America" (BBWAA).


Of the 543 ballots cast in this election, Rice was named on 392. That means there were 151 on which his name did not appear. Of those 151, three ballots were blank, cast by those guardians at the gate who deemed no player worthy. That leaves 148 ballots that included some names, but not Rice’s name.


Of course, the Hall of Fame balloting is an election, which means it comes with certain flaws and glitches. For starters, there are probably people voting who shouldn't. Then there are people who undoubtedly succumb to personal biases and grudges, whether they are capable of admitting it or not. That’s why an approval rate of 75 percent - and not 100 percent - is required for induction.


Having just missed getting in this year.......it is safe to assume Rice will be elected in 2009, his last year of eligibility. It's just a shame he has had to wait this long.


Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Hump Day Ramblings...........

Arthur Blank never learns.......

The Falcons' coaching search may be getting juicier.
Late Tuesday night, ESPN.com, citing multiple sources, reported that Falcons owner Arthur Blank is pursuing USC coach Pete Carroll.

A former head coach with the New York Jets and New England Patriots, Carroll, 56, is 76-14 in seven seasons at USC.

According to the story, the Falcons "might be willing to grant Carroll far-reaching responsibilities."

If this isn't the stupidest decision I've heard so far this young year! Mr. Blank.....are you kidding me? After Bobby Petrino leaves you at the altar just 2 months ago..........you want to get back in bed with another college coach? A college coach who failed twice when he was in the NFL? A college coach who is a west coast guy......doesn't run a disciplined program.......a rah rah guy? No wonder the Falcons are the laughing stock of the league.

Hope she learns her lesson...............




Anchor apologizes for 'lynch' Tiger remark





The Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman got in hot water this past weekend by jokingly suggesting a group of young golfers should lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley.........Note to all anchor persons.......Just read the telepromter........period.......Do not try to ad lib.....ever.




Same old Hawks.................



Just went it looked as if these young and athletic Atlanta Hawks were legitimate, the bottom falls out. The Hawks have lost 4 straight and seem to be clueless about the game of team basketball. Things won't get any easier for the Hawks tonight as they entertain the Cleveland Cavaliers and the red hot LeBron James. The Hawks are still lacking beef in the middle .......and when jump shots aren't falling......the Hawks go to losing.





Save it......Dr. Adams......



University of Georgia president, Dr. Michael Adams has sent a proposal to NCAA president Miles Brand detailing a BCS 8 team play-off system. It'll never happen. The big bowls have too much at stake and make too much money for the major conferences.



Finally.................


No, Roger Clemens..........We don't believe you.......You are a liar and a cheat. But you still deserve to be in the Hall of Fame, because you were one of the greatest pitchers of all time.





Happy Trails.....College Football 2007


The year of the cat......


What a year! College football gave us everything. Upsets, coaching changes, amazing finishes, BCS debates, Cinderellas, Davids versus Goliaths, the SEC, the WAC, FOX network bowl games, ESPN talking heads, etc. etc. etc.


The curtain finally closed Monday evening with the LSU Tigers pounding the Ohio State Buckeyes 38-24 in the BCS Championship Game.


After a little more than 1300 games played this year by division 1 teams, the BCS gave us LSU - OSU as a finale to an awesome season. We can all argue about a possible play-off system which would have included USC and Georgia...........but.....College football did what it's done for ......well....forever.......reward the team with the best season. Starting in September, and going through December and into January. Not who's the hottest at the end of the year..........but who was the best.....throughout the year.


Georgia claims to be the best team....now. Where were they when they were humiliated at Tennessee 35-14 back in October. Or USC.....they claim they are the best.....yet lost to a 40 point underdog Stanford, 24-23 also back in October.


LSU lost twice.........both in overtime.........both to rugged SEC teams. Ohio State lost only once........to a very athletic Illinois team.


Maybe one day.....in our life time.........we'll have a play-off system for the BSC.......until then.......let the current system continue to invoke debate.........and keep the regular season of college football interesting.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Be Careful.......What you ask for......


"We want to be in a BCS bowl game"......


"We are 12-0........we are the WAC champion.....we have the longest current winning streak (13), in all of college football. Our Quarterback, Colt Brennan was third in the Heisman voting."


"In the 2007 season, we averaged 42 points per game and generated 529.2 yards of offense. Quarterback Brennan threw 472 passes for 4,174 yards and 38 touchdowns. "


"The latest BCS poll has us ranked number 10 in the nation. Our receiving core of Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullen and Jason Rivers all have more than 1,000 yards receiving this year. And while our offensive line averages (a bit smallish) 295 pounds up front.......we allowed only 2.8 sacks a game."


The above was heard over and over in the weeks preceding the January 1 Sugar Bowl. Hawaii versus Georgia........Don Ho versus James Brown.........Umbrella drinks versus mint julep.......Sushi versus grits........


Inevitably, it all boiled down to a football game. Line 'em up....11 on 11........and see who can score the most points in 60 minutes of rock 'em sock 'em.


Georgia heard all the pregame posturing of the team from the island.......far, far, away. It was reminded little old Boise State had defeated big bad Oklahoma in last year's Fiesta Bowl. The gap between the traditional football powers and the upstarts from the Mid-major conferences was narrowing. Hawaii can score on anybody......any where.......


Be careful........be very careful ......of what you ask....


Georgia 41, Hawaii 10. The final score doesn't even begin to detail the severity of the beating Georgia put on the Warriors. Georgia's defense sacked Colt Brennan 8 times, forced 6 turnovers, and limited the highest scoring team of 2007 to 306 yards and 10 points.


It was over when.............Hawaii had two illegal procedure penalties on their first drive and had to punt the ball to Georgia after gaining only 2 yards. Georgia promptly goes 61 yards in 9 plays to score their first touchdown.


Hawaii.........you had a great year.......you have a decent football team. You're just a tad smaller.......a tad weaker......and a tad slower the this SEC powerhouse. Nothing to be ashamed of. But before you step in the ring with a Mike Tyson (in his prime) make sure you know the consequences.


In the end......you kind of felt a little sorry for the Warriors. The little engine that could. But this was a Mount Everest of an undertaking. Let this be a lesson for all those mid-major teams that want to step up in weight class.......Be careful what you ask for.

One Newspaper's account: