Black Monday in the NFL

Wow!   Seven....as in "7" head coaches fired today.

We wish them well:

 

BLACK MONDAY

Firing Frenzy Begins After NFL Season Ends.. Eagles.. Bills.. Chiefs.. Bears.. Browns.. Chargers.. Cardinals

Top 10 Christmas Movies

From About.com.........Courtesy of Rebecca Murray.

My favorite is ....A Christmas Story.   What's yours?

1. 'Love Actually'

© Universal Pictures

One of the best written romantic comedies in decades happens to have a Christmas theme. Eight storylines collide in this touching, funny, and highly entertaining look at love, lust, loss, and relationships. Starring Hugh Grant as the British Prime Minister, Keira Knightley as a new bride, Liam Neeson as a newly widowed father, and Bill Nighy as an aging rock star, Love Actually has a lot of heart and a lot of engaging characters to get into.

More on 'Love Actually'Read Review

2. 'A Christmas Story'

© Warner Home Video

"You'll poke your eye out!" Anyone who's hoped and wished and dreamed of that one gift, that one item so special nothing else will do, will absolutely adore A Christmas Story. Ralphie (Peter Billingsley, director of Couples Retreat) wants a Red Ryder BB gun, but his parents keep telling him it's too dangerous. But that doesn't stop Ralphie from driving his poor parents crazy by actively campaigning for the gun.

3. 'Elf'

© New Line Cinema

6'3" Will Ferrell is raised by Santa and thinks he's an elf in this hilarious comedy directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man). After getting kicked out of the North Pole because he's too ungainly to handle elf duties, Buddy sets out to find his real father. But once he meets his biological dad, things don't go smoothly. Being raised by Santa creates a lot of problems in a real world where most people don't believe in the jolly old elf.

More on 'Elf'

4. 'Scrooged'

© Paramount

Bill Murray hates Christmas and everything associated with the holiday in this modern retelling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Childhood memories combined with a failed relationship with the love of his life have made this TV producer an unpleasant fellow to be around during the holiday season. But when he's visited by three ghosts, he has a dramatic change of heart.

5. 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'

© Warner Home Video

This is my personal favorite film of all the National Lampoon Griswold family adventures. When the squirrel comes flying out of the Christmas tree, it never fails to send me into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. All Clark wants is for this family (even those members he didn't invite) to have a great holiday, but just about everything that could go wrong, does go wrong.

6. 'A Nightmare Before Christmas'

© Walt Disney Pictures

Like your holiday films a little twisted? Are you into Tim Burton? How about musicals with bite? If you answered yes, then the stop-motion A Nightmare Before Christmas should be right up your alley. Jack Skellington is supposed to be all about Halloween, but he finds himself fascinated with Christmas and wants to take over that holiday by kidnapping Santa.

More on 'A Nightmare Before Christmas'

7. 'Home Alone'

© 20th Century Fox

The first film of the series (there have been four all together, and a video game) is still the best, and still deserves a viewing during the winter holidays. Written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Rent), Home Alone introduced us to the dysfunctional McCallister family and their youngest son, Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin who will forever be remembered for his surprised pose on the film's poster. Kevin's left home (hence the title) at Christmas and after the initial joy of being away from this family wear off, he realizes that even if they get on his nerves, he really does love them all.

8. 'Bad Santa'

© Dimension Films

Billy Bob Thornton is a bad, bad Santa. He smokes, he drinks, he hits on women, and he has really, really bad hygiene. As far as we know, none of these traits apply to the real Santa... Thornton plays Willie, a seasonal Santa hired on to work in a shopping mall along with his associate, Marcus (Tony Cox). Marcus may fit the physical characteristics of an elf, but he's just as R-rated as Willie. But Willie has a change of heart when he meets a beautiful bartender and a troubled kid who truly believes in him.

More on 'Bad Santa'Read Review

9. 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'

© Walt Disney Home Entertaiment

Who can resist The Muppets even when it's not Christmas? All of the familiar puppets, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bear, help bring Dickens' A Christmas Carol to life in this G-rated family friendly 1992 film.

10. 'Gremlins'

© Warner Home Video

I'm guessing the first film that pops into your head when you think of Christmas movies isn't Gremlins, but the 1984 horror comedy from writer Chris Columbus and director Joe Dante actually is Christmas-themed. And quick, don't think about it, what are the rules for raising a gremlin? 1) Don't let them near water, 2) no bright lights, and 3) do not under any circumstances feed them after midnight!

The NFL has to go through the ATL!

It is now official...The road to this year's Super Bowl will have to go through Atlanta.   The Falcons went into Detroit and conquered the Lions.

From the AJC:

 

AP

Falcons clinch top playoff seed

The NFC playoffs will go through Atlanta after win over Lions. | Photos | Playoff tickets on sale Thursday
Schultz: Matt Ryan back to MVP level
Former Tech WR Calvin Johnson sets NFL record

Flying...High

Yes.....we were ...just a little bit hard on these birds.   But who could blame us?

The Falcons just lost to Carolina last week... And the Giants?  The defending Champs?

Well......the "dirty birds" rose to the occasion.

Not only did they win the game...they...dominated!

 

CURTIS COMPTON / AJC

Falcons crush Giants

Atlanta dominates New York at the Georgia Dome, rolls to a 34-0 win and improves to 12-2.

 Falcons vs. Giants
 Bradley: Falcons prove themselves
 Schultz: Ryan steps up at the right time

"Cam'ed" In Carolina

This could possibly be the worst 11-2 team in NFL history.   The Atlanta Falcons were out coached,  out played,  out "Cam'ed"....in just about every sense yesterday.

Carolina scored on their first 4 possessions in route to a 16-0 halftime lead.

It only got worse in the second half.  Cam Newton torch the birds with a 72 yard touchdown run. Quickly it was 23-0.

The Falcons would eventually wake up out of their funk to make the final score a little more respectable.

But make no mistake about it....They got whipped.   And yes they're 11-2....but!

ROAD WOES: Cam Newton, Panthers stun Falcons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It's one loss. And in the eyes of the Atlanta Falcons, it's certainly not time to panic. Their 30-20 defeat Sunday came at the hands of the Carolina Panthers, a team that had won just three games.

A Fool...and His Money

Yes we said it.   Allen Iverson is a fool.   And a fool and the reported $150 million he has earned ...has departed him.

Right now he is bringing in $62,500 a month...but shelling out $360,000 a month.

Do the math.

What a fool!

NBA All-Star Drowning In Debt

Hold Your Head Up....UGA!

Wow!   What a game.  The University of Georgia played the University of Alabama yesterday in a game the will go down in history as one of the greatest...ever.

Somebody had to win....somebody had to lose.

Two heavyweights.  The SEC.

Georgia came up...5 yards short.

What a game!

From the Athens Banner Herald:

 

Welcome B J

The Atlanta Braves have themselves and new center fielder.  All  I can say is that for the price of  $75 million and change....you had better be great.   

Being just good...won't cut it in the ATL.  Last year you struck out 169 times in 146 games.

That is not going to get it done here for that kind of money.

But...we will give you the customary honeymoon for your first month or two.

Welcome!

 

Lisa Blumenfeld

Upton officially a Brave

Five-year contract worth $75.25 million completed after outfielder passed a physical exam Thursday. 

 

 

Atlanta Braves – No. 2
Center fielder
Born: August 21, 1984 (age 28) Norfolk, Virginia
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 2, 2004 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Career statistics (through 2012 season)
Batting average	.255
Home runs	118
Runs batted in	447
Stolen bases	232
Teams
Tampa Bay Rays[1] (2004, 2006–2012)

 

Yes New Orleans...We Do Hate You!

So....New Orleans...Welcome to the ATL!   No...we don't like you...and YES...We hate you!

It is not even a good-natured hate.  This is pure unadulterated hate.  Hate with passion!

Through the years I have seen just about every Falcon-Saint game ever played.  And it's always a fierce battle on the field and in the stands.

Saint fans are obnoxious and arrogant.  

And many are very ignorant.  

So a few eggs....thrown at a bus...is no big deal.

 

Getty Images

Welcome to Atlanta

Airport officials investigate egging of New Orleans Saints' team bus as players arrived for tonight's game.  |  The tweet that started it all
•  Bradley: Yappy Saints  •  Division title within reach  •  Matchups

An Expensive...Firing

The University of Auburn fired a football coach the other day.   And for that...the price tag is going to be around $11 million.   Give or take a few thousand.

Which is why we have absolutely no sympathy for the big time college football coaches.

From Sports Law Blog:

Monday, November 26, 2012

 
The Contractual Implications of Auburn Firing Gene Chizik

As many had predicted over the last few weeks, Auburn University announced on Sunday that it was firing head coach Gene Chizik just two years after he led the Tigers to an undefeated season and BCS national championship.  Because the school decided 17 months ago to give Chizik a contract extension through 2015, Auburn is now on the hook for an expensive buyout of its football coaching staff.  Specifically, Chizik is owed a total of $7.5 million -- to be paid in monthly installments of $208,334 for each of the next 36 months -- pursuant to the early termination clause in his contract.  Had he not been fired, Chizik would have received an additional $3 million over the life of his contract.  However, because many of his assistant coaches were also given guaranteed contracts (in some cases running through June 2014), the total cost of the buyout for Auburn will actually exceed $11 million.

Anticipating Chizik's likely termination, the Columbus (GA) Ledger-Enquirer explored Auburn's contractual commitments to its football coaching staff, as well as the general trends in football coaches' buyout provisions nationally, in a story last week.  Here is an excerpt:

A June 2011 release by Win AD stated of the coaches who were dismissed in 2010 or 2011 with buyout clauses written into their contracts, 70 percent of those buyouts were based on their remaining total or base salary.

The other 30 percent were guaranteed a partial take on their full salary -- either a certain amount of money per month or year remaining on the contract, a percentage of the remaining base salary, or one year's total or base salary.

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/11/21/2285781/auburn-football-a-lot-has-changed.html#storylink=cpy

You can check out the full story (including quotes from myself and Rick Karcher) by clicking here.

AP

Two years after winning a national championship, Gene Chizik has been fired as head coach of Auburn (via ESPN.com). Auburn University doesn't get off easy, it is going to have dish out millions of dollars to make their football coach go away. According to Nathaniel Grow of Sports Law Blog, Auburn owes Chizik $7.5 million based on the buyout clause in the contract extension he signed two years ago. On top of that, assuming the entire coaching staff is let go, the school will have to pay the assistant coaches more than $3.5 million in buyouts, for a total cost that will "exceed $11 million."
Of course, the folks at Auburn have become experts at giving bad coaches a lot of money. In 2008, Auburn paid Tommy Tuberville $5.1 million when he "resigned."
While Chizik did lead Auburn to a national title in 2010, his record was just 19-19 in games that Cam Newton was not his quarterback. In hindsight, maybe they should have given the 2010 Coach of the Year award to Newton.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/auburn-fires-head-coach-a-move-that-will-cost-the-university-11-million-2012-11#ixzz2DSs9Ji00

Auburn Fires Its Head Football Coach, A Move That Will Cost The University $11 Million

Cork Gaines | Nov. 27, 2012, 3:50 PM | 708 | 2

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AP

Two years after winning a national championship, Gene Chizik has been fired as head coach of Auburn (via ESPN.com). Auburn University doesn't get off easy, it is going to have dish out millions of dollars to make their football coach go away. According to Nathaniel Grow of Sports Law Blog, Auburn owes Chizik $7.5 million based on the buyout clause in the contract extension he signed two years ago. On top of that, assuming the entire coaching staff is let go, the school will have to pay the assistant coaches more than $3.5 million in buyouts, for a total cost that will "exceed $11 million."
Of course, the folks at Auburn have become experts at giving bad coaches a lot of money. In 2008, Auburn paid Tommy Tuberville $5.1 million when he "resigned."
While Chizik did lead Auburn to a national title in 2010, his record was just 19-19 in games that Cam Newton was not his quarterback. In hindsight, maybe they should have given the 2010 Coach of the Year award to Newton.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/auburn-fires-head-coach-a-move-that-will-cost-the-university-11-million-2012-11#ixzz2DSrtyD7N

AP

Two years after winning a national championship, Gene Chizik has been fired as head coach of Auburn (via ESPN.com). Auburn University doesn't get off easy, it is going to have dish out millions of dollars to make their football coach go away. According to Nathaniel Grow of Sports Law Blog, Auburn owes Chizik $7.5 million based on the buyout clause in the contract extension he signed two years ago. On top of that, assuming the entire coaching staff is let go, the school will have to pay the assistant coaches more than $3.5 million in buyouts, for a total cost that will "exceed $11 million."
Of course, the folks at Auburn have become experts at giving bad coaches a lot of money. In 2008, Auburn paid Tommy Tuberville $5.1 million when he "resigned."
While Chizik did lead Auburn to a national title in 2010, his record was just 19-19 in games that Cam Newton was not his quarterback. In hindsight, maybe they should have given the 2010 Coach of the Year award to Newton.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/auburn-fires-head-coach-a-move-that-will-cost-the-university-11-million-2012-11#ixzz2DSs9Ji00

Auburn Fires Its Head Football Coach, A Move That Will Cost The University $11 Million

Cork Gaines | Nov. 27, 2012, 3:50 PM | 708 | 2

• inShare
• Email
• More

AP

Two years after winning a national championship, Gene Chizik has been fired as head coach of Auburn (via ESPN.com). Auburn University doesn't get off easy, it is going to have dish out millions of dollars to make their football coach go away. According to Nathaniel Grow of Sports Law Blog, Auburn owes Chizik $7.5 million based on the buyout clause in the contract extension he signed two years ago. On top of that, assuming the entire coaching staff is let go, the school will have to pay the assistant coaches more than $3.5 million in buyouts, for a total cost that will "exceed $11 million."
Of course, the folks at Auburn have become experts at giving bad coaches a lot of money. In 2008, Auburn paid Tommy Tuberville $5.1 million when he "resigned."
While Chizik did lead Auburn to a national title in 2010, his record was just 19-19 in games that Cam Newton was not his quarterback. In hindsight, maybe they should have given the 2010 Coach of the Year award to Newton.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/auburn-fires-head-coach-a-move-that-will-cost-the-university-11-million-2012-11#ixzz2DSrtyD7N

 

Auburn Fires Its Head Football Coach, A Move That Will Cost The University $11 Million

Cork Gaines | Nov. 27, 3:50 PM | 735 | 2

Auburn is getting good at paying coaches to leave.
Read »

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/sportspage#ixzz2DSrkwzfw

Auburn Fires Its Head Football Coach, A Move That Will Cost The University $11 Million

Cork Gaines | Nov. 27, 3:50 PM | 735 | 2

Auburn is getting good at paying coaches to leave.
Read »

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/sportspage#ixzz2DSrkwzfw

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/sportspage#ixzz2DSqXc2Jl

Auburn Fires Its Head Football Coach, A Move That Will Cost The University $11 Million

Cork Gaines | Nov. 27, 3:50 PM | 735 | 2

Auburn is getting good at paying coaches to leave.
Read »

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/sportspage#ixzz2DSqXc2Jl

R. I. P. Larry Hagman

You knew him as J. R. Ewing....We knew him way back when...I Dream of Jeannie.

Here's a special treat from the best of Dallas:

 

A Sunday Firing Squad

Big boy college football...means making some big time decisions.  5....as in five head coaches were let go yesterday....all in the name of ...as Janet Jackson sings...."What have you done for me lately"?

1.   Auburn dismisses head coach Gene Chizik. 

2.  NC State fires Tom O'Brien after six seasons in Raleigh. 

3.   Boston College gives Frank Spaziani the boot after four seasons in Chestnut Hill.

4.  Purdue parted ways with Danny Hope after four seasons in West Lafayette. 

5.   Colorado dismissed Jon Embree after just two seasons in Boulder. 

  Read More | Who's Hot? ... | ... and Who's Not? | Bowl Projections | 5 Biggest Storylines

The Curse of the Bullets/Wizards

"Karma"....is a funny thing.   Don't mess with it.  The NBA Gods, and 5onFive were not too thrilled when in 1997,  the Washington Bullets became the Washington Wizards.   

After caving in to political correctness...this team has become a laughing stock in  the "Association".

In their 15 seasons as the Wizards,  they have had only 4 winning ones.  The record since becoming Wizards?  466 wins.  716 losses.  They have gotten out of the 1st round of the play-offs only once of the four appearances.  

These Wizards were dealt the Gilbert Arenas era.  Remember that?  And who can ignor his "Airness" Michael Jordan  making us almost forget the great player he was ...by being such a lousy General Manager.

And now this fiasco to start this season.

Can you say 0-11?

 

(Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Another agonizing loss for Wizards

Michael Lee NOV 24

Despite a valiant effort from Nene, who bypasses his playing-time limit to score 19 points, the Wizards fall to 0-11 with a double-overtime loss at Verizon Center.

• Box score: Bobcats 108, Wizards 106 ( 2 OT)
• NBA power rankings | Scoreboard | Standings

Relevant....Once Again?

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is relevant... once again.  And that is a good thing for College Football.

In this country there is a love-hate relationship with this school never seen by any other institution.

Notre Dame last played for a title in 1988.  Some 24 years ago.  The Irish have survived the likes of Charlie Weis,  Ty Willingham and Bob Davie....who all had winning records,  but could not elevate the program and were eventually fired.

Enter Brian Kelly.  He has succeeded  in  changing the culture.  He has made believers of his players and has Notre Dame once again at the door of a National Championship.

From the New York Times:

Notre Dame 22, U.S.C. 13

Anxiety Turns to Ecstasy for the Irish

By GREG BISHOP

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Theo Riddick celebrating with Braxston Cave after his 9-yard touchdown run gave Notre Dame a 10-0 lead over U.S.C. The Irish hung on in the fourth quarter.

When the season started, many pundits tabbed U.S.C. as the top team. Instead, Notre Dame entered Saturday’s game undefeated, and left that way, too, en route to the national title game in January.

• Box Score | Post a Comment: Game of the Day?
• Resilient Irish Defense Follows Lead of Te’o

The "Beat-downs"...Continue!

It is one of the nation's oldest and fierce rivalries..but this thing is rapidly getting out of hand.   4 wins in a row for Georgia.   10 out of the last 12?   18 out of the last 24?

What does Tech need to do to get this reversed?

Who knows?   What we do know is this was just another Georgia..."beat-down"!

 

Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com

UGA routs Tech, 42-10

No. 3 UGA rolls over  the Ramblin' Wreck. Next up, SEC title game.| Game photos | Send your photos
Live blog with Jeff Schultz |  Short takes from  Schultz
Bradley on Paul Johnson | Jackets stumble, fall hard

Happy Thanksgiving!

Greetings from Cary, NC.   From all of us at 5 on Five...we would like to wish families all across the world...a very happy Thanksgiving.

Enjoy the day...and be safe!

 

Congrats! Andy Landers!

We have on occasion,  been kind of rough on the subject of women's basketball.   But, be that as it may,  we must recognize a very special feat.

Last night, coach Andy Landers of the University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs earned his 800th career win.

Coach, we salute you!

Landers earns win No. 800 as Lady Dogs rout Savannah State

Andy Landers has been so reluctant to talk about an approaching career milestone, he didn't say one word about it to his players.

Showmanship...over Sportsmanship

Okay,  was this "sportsmanship"...or "showmanship"?  I can't imagine scoring 138 points in one game.

Heck,  I doubt if I scored that many points in an entire season.

But this guy did.  So we will applaud him.

138-Point Game Shatters NCAA Record

Is It A Sham?

Battle of the Birds

This one was real ugly!  The Falcons versus the Cardinals.  6 Atlanta turnovers including 5 interceptions thrown by Matt Ryan.

But...the name of the game is to win.

And win....they did.

From the AJC:

 

CURTIS COMPTON / AJC

Falcons survive Cardinals

Ryan throws five interceptions but Atlanta still manages to record home win, improve to 9-1.

 Schultz: The Falcons escape
 Falcons coach admits to blunder
 Falcons edge Cardinals

As Easy as 1-2-3

The University of Georgia has a seemingly simple task.    1-2-3....as in winning it's next 3 games to become college footballs'  National Champion.

Beat Georgia Tech this week....Beat Alabama next week...And these Bulldogs will play for the BCS title.

Simply....amazing!

 

No. 3 Bulldogs back in national championship talks, but Richt focused on Georgia Tech

Georgia holds its own national title fate just in time for some "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate." The Bulldogs are in position to play for their first BCS national championship Jan.

It's Good to be a Georgia Bulldog!

For the first time this season...Georgia brought their A game.  Defense, offense, and special teams.

38-0....and it could have been 50+ if the coaching staff hadn't called off the dogs.

Georgia clinches, eyes bigger things

The Bulldogs are once again SEC East champions, this time routing Auburn, and this time they are setting the goals higher.

Related:

• Gallery: UGA clinches SEC East with win over Auburn

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/#storylink=cpy

Perfect...No More

Oh well,  it was great while it lasted.   Our beloved Atlanta Falcons fell to those hated New Orleans Saints today.

A game of inches,  the Birds had their chances.  Just wasn't meant to be.

One loss.

Hey Atlanta...you're still the class on the NFC.

TASTE THE PAIN

Falcons Dealt First Loss.. Saints Top Rivals In Thriller.. LIVE SCORES: Pats Survive Bills.. Ravens Set Record.. Peyton Ties Marino.. Bucs Surging.. AP Overruns Lions

Remembering Veterans Day

A Veterans Day......Re-post:

From last year...why change it:

On the ......

11th second......of the 11th minute.....of the 11th hour....of the 11th day...of the 11th month.....

We hope you all paused.......on this Veterans Day.....and said a silent pray for veterans all across this great nation. The men and women of our armed forces have sacrificed so much....for so many.

Vietnam  Veterans Memorial

You're Fired! Again!

Wow....This didn't take long.

Mike Brown was fired today as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.

GET OUT!

Lakers Fire Mike Brown After 1-4 Start.. What Went Wrong?

An Obama...Encore

We are really kind of glad this is all over.   Today we awaken with President Barack Obama winning a second term.

Headlines from across this great nation:  (Click on image for bigger view):