Langford is ranked the No. 11 small forward in his class by scout.com. Rivals.com rates him the No. 86 player overall. Langford was also recruited by Mississippi State, Clemson, Memphis, Miami, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas State, and Southern California. Langford is Louisville first signee for 2010.

Some college coaches are still seething over the one and done rule. The dilemma being do you recruit the highly rated prospect and shun the player with potential and build your program for your future? These are hard tough questions that need to be answered.

The future benefit of the program should take precedence over recruiting the highly rated player in hopes of landing a national championship.

Around The NBA

Ron Artest, Sacramento Kings is close to being traded to Houston for Bobby Jackson and Donte Green.

The Charlotte Bobcats signed Emeker Okafor to a six year 72 million deal.

Atlanta signed Maurice Evans to a three year 7.5 million deal.

]]> http://travellinbaen.wordpress.com/?p=179 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:35:35 +0000 travellinbaen http://travellinbaen.wordpress.com/?p=179 Quote of the Day       "No one is so brave that he is not disturbed by something unexpected."   --Julius Caesar

Through the years there have often been times TB has found himself in a strange place doing something off the life script.  I'll never forget the out of body experience I had around 2 a.m. in the middle of a cotton field in the back seat of a small carload of strangers wedged between a girl I never knew went to my high school who had become a really hot model and some dude that was trying to block my intentions regarding her.  (Neither of us had a chance it turned out.)  Nevertheless, I remember pausing between beers to consider, "how did I get to this exact pinpoint of life?"

I had a similar revelation one day in Palestine, Texas, as I sat on the floor above an air vent with a paper plate full of cookies and pigs in a blanket in the crumbling trailer of a mesothelioma victim I was deposing along with about a dozen other lawyers.  Law school does not prepare you for such a moment.

TB's long time readers have probably noticed I don't discuss my family.  That's because I feel like the blog is my waiver of privacy and not theirs.  But I believe I can relate to you without crossing that boundary the increasingly common moments that come with having a family which I never thought would be part of my life.

It still comes as a shock to me that I can endure, much less watch and handicap, Project Runway.  There was a time in my life when I could not conceive of missing New Year's Day college football and even less a chance of missing a Mississippi State bowl game, but that's exactly what happened in 2007.  If you'd said I'd one day learn to sleep on a postage stamp sized area of my bed I'd have called you crazy.  And today I found myself standing at the zoo holding a soggy graham cracker, sippy cup of water, twenty-five pounds of pure determination and talking on the phone about settlement negotiations and motions to dismiss. I found myself wondering as I hung up the phone just how I managed to take all the right turns in the past to bring me to that pinpoint on the map of life.  Just one misstep back in 1990 or 2004 or any other time and these things would probably have never come to pass.  How's that for some philosobaen?

And finally, I never thought the dark day would come that I'd consider buying a mini-van--oh wait, I am NOT considering a mini-van.  Yet. I'll leave that to the Ed's and Larry's of the world.

According to the sportswriters following the SEC, Florida and Auburn have been predicted to meet in this year's SEC Championship Game, with the Gators winning it all – a pick that runs counter to the GEORGIA IS TEH BEST NOMBA ONE !!!!!111!!!!11!1 theory that was the belief earlier this year.

For the most part, the picks did follow the conventional wisdom, though. In the SEC West, the standings went:

1. Auburn
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Mississippi State
5. Ole Miss
6. Arkansas

For the East, it went a little like this:

1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Tennessee
4. South Carolina
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt

Some jackass is totally in the bag for Ole Miss, though. They picked the Rebels to not only take the West, but to win the conference in Houston Nutt's first campaign in Oxford. Maybe there were some sexy text messages involved.

Florida picked by media to win SEC title [ESPN]

The "M State" logo has never been universally accepted by State fans. The logo bears uncomfortable resemblance to the University of Mississippi, which the rest of the country often confuses with Mississippi State University. It also began appearing on MSU football helmets during an era which is known a lot more for losing than winning. There has also been talk that somehow the M State logo causes technical issues with monogramming.

SixPackSpeak is reporting that MSU is considering several replacement logos. SixPack doesn't stop there. SixPack also shows pictures of what's being considered. Most of the choices are simple variations of the M State logo.

But several choices integrate a bulldog head into the logo so as to "Reinforce the "Bulldogs" nickname through exploration of stronger, tougher interpretations clear of confusion with other institutions". I love the idea if putting a bulldog in the logo. I'd prefer something more aggressive like this from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

But if they want to stay conservative, I'd prefer MSU simply get back to the interlocking MSU logo.

There are rumors that Nike has copyrighted the particular MSU logo shown above. Fine, let's go with it anyway. Clearly, we've done it before - royalties and all. But if not, we could revert back to the pre-Jackie Sherrill interlocking MSU.

Bell Yeah!

Also in the camp was Meridian HS WR and MSU commit Chris Smith. Smith and Russell should make quite a tandem at State.

Team USA has won gold in the world junior 4x400 relay in Bydgoszcz . MSU freshman WR O'Neal Wilder ran the 3rd leg in that race. Earlier this week, Wilder won the bronze in the 400m sprint.

Man oh man I hope this Wilder kid can catch a football.

Your ACC Preview - Coastal Division

by Walker Sports

Welcome back to part two of Walker-Sports ACC preview. In this section we will take a look at the Coastal Division. Of the two divisions the Coatal is without a doubt the tightest, and will prove to be the most competitive. It could also make for some interesting results come November once all these teams have tangled and a couple upsets go down.

Virginia Tech Hokies: The Hokies have been a terror to the ACC since the day they arrived in the league. They have played in 3 out of 4 ACC Championships. There is no doubt the ACC made the right move bringing these guys in. This year the Hokies are likely the only legitimate threat to the Clemson Tigers if the two can meet in the ACC Championship game. However, this year will take a little more effort than Beamer and company are used to. The Hokies lost several key players on both sides of the ball including star running back Brandon Ore and linebackers Xavier Adibi. The Hokies will also continue their battle at quarterback that began last season between Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. Lucky for the Hokies they have the best of both worlds with these guys, Glennon being a scrambler and Taylor a drop back passer.

No matter who is at the helm at QB you can bank that Virginia Tech will play solid defense and great special teams. That will make them a top contender in the ACC and a possible factor in the BCS.

Record: 10-2

Key Games: East Carolina, Nebraska, Florida State

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Change was the theme of the off-season for the Yellow Jackets. Paul Johnson's option offense scared off a couple players, but they will be stronger because of it. Josh Nesbitt will be charged with running the offensive this season, and he has the tools to make it happen, if he stays healthy, a groin injury has sidelined him for much of the spring.

What the Rambling Wreck will do very well this year, is attack opposing offenses. The Yellow Jackets have one of the top ends and one of the top tackles in the league, Michael Johnson and Vance Walker will test any offensive line. The D-Line alone will keep the Yellow Jackets in most any game they play this season.

Record: 7-5

Key Games: Florida State, Mississippi State, Georgia

Miami Hurricanes: Don't go crazy with this one, the ‘Canes fell into this spot by accident, not because they have done anything special. Miami will be pretty much all freshmen or first year players. Lucky for them their freshmen tend to be better than an average teams seniors.

The Hurricanes are moving in the right direction, and they appear to be doing it the right way. That meant getting rid of a lot of players and coaches. That will lead to disappointment in the short term, but if the Alumni can hang in there and just trust in their coach, they will find themselves back on track, especially with this talented group of freshmen.

Record: 7-5

Key Games: UCF, Virginia, Texas A&M

Virginia Cavaliers: Al Groh must go, was the chant heard round Charlottesville after an embarrassing opening lost on the road to Wyoming. However, a 9-4 campaign seemed to make many Cavalier fans forget Groh's shortcomings and he even received a contract extension. However, after a meltdown in the Gator Bowl and an embarrassing off season that saw seven players kicked out of school perhaps Groh's job should still be on the line.

Despite all the setbacks the Cavaliers are looking to employ a more wide open attack and actually toss the ball down field some this year, Combine a revamped passing game with the return of Cedric Peermen and Mikell Simpson at running back and the Cav's could have a decent offense, but don't hold your breath.

Seven wins this season would be a phenomenal achievement. (Your Gridiron Goddess says: ESPECIALLY since they open their season against USC.)

Record 6-6

Key Games: Miami, East Carolina, Clemson, USC

North Carolina Tar Heels: Butch Davis is entering his second year as head coach in Chapel Hill, and while that does mean something, Davis alone is not enough to put the Tar Heels back on the winning track. The Heels will be much better than their 4-8 mark of their last year, however due to a tough schedule; the improvement may not be seen in the win column. Out of conference games against Rutgers, Notre Dame and UConn can mean trouble for the Heels.

The bulk of their success will depend on how their backfield gels together. Greg Little is the sophomore who moved to tailback from receiver late last year and he will carry the load this season. T.J. Yates is supposed to be the starter at QB comes August, but he has not thrown much at all since shoulder surgery in December. If he is unable to go the Tar Heels will depend on backups Paulus and Sexton to step up and run the offense.

Record: 5-7

Key Games: UConn, Boston College, North Carolina State

Duke Blue Devils: I won't lie this is just hard to do because, I don't want to be too tongue and cheek, and Walker-Sports is not about sugar coat anything, so sorry Blue Devil fans. David Cuttcliffe has challenged his team to improve their fitness, and their team speed. To this point the team has responded well. However, Duke simply does not have the athletes to compete at the high levels of the ACC. Nonetheless, the Blue Devils will be an improved team.
Record: 2-10

Key Games, James Madison, Northwestern

ACC Championship Game: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech

Clemson wins ACC Title and Tommy Bowden goes to the Orange Bowl where the ACC can hopefully regain some respect on the national level.

That's it for me, hope you enjoyed the preview feel free to drop a line with your comments. This is going to be a special year in college football, there's a lot of variables out there, and a lot of new faces on the scene so buckle up and get ready for what will be a hellUVA a ride.

[Your Gridiron Goddess says: S-O-U-T-H-ERN C-A-L-I-FORNIA SOUTHERN CALIFORRRRRRRNIA. AUGUST 30TH BABY!]

South Carolina at Kentucky, October 11
Both of these squads are decidedly second tier in the SEC East. But the chasm between the top tier and the second tier has shrunk dramatically. And both have veteran, proven head coaches. The game, while not a titanic clash, will be at least as violent as two crab boats crashing in the Bering Sea. And the participants will be no less desperate.
Both teams have a outside shot at coming in undefeated, but will more likely have only one loss. A solid win in this game and one of these two will find itself a major player in the SEC East title race. Lose this game, however, and the program will face questions.
Brooks and the Cats have less returning, with Andre Woodson graduating, but Spurrier has never found a quarterback that he is totally comfortable with, either. The game will likely be physical, low-scoring, and fought with desperation that comes from knowing this game is a must-win.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State, October 11
Both teams could very well come into this contest 1-2 in the SEC, but with winning overall records. This game, therefore will be pivotal. Netting three early SEC losses is bad news for any team, but could wipe out the Croom resurgence quicker than the sound of cowbells gets annoying.
For Vandy, a win in this game would announce to the rest of the SEC East that Vandy is not going to be pushed around. Unfortunately, a loss will begin the 'Dores' familiar refrain. Unlike some of the other games previewed, this game will not be a physical war. It will, rather, be a game in which the teams will try to see who make the fewest mistakes.
Honestly, this game is bigger for Croom, was perhaps on the hot seat at the start of last year, before their improbable run. However, a loss to Vandy will get the whispers going again.

Titus Brown - Alabama
Anthony Johnson Pick 6
Derek Pegues Pick-6 vs. Auburn
Derek Pegues Punt Return vs. Ole Miss
MSU over Ole Miss
MSU Stops Ole Miss on 4th Down
MSU Winning Field Goal
Keefer McGee
Blade Sacks Palmer
Dicenzo Miller

Yesterday, Wilder won his heat in the first round of 400m sprinting. He posted the 2nd best time of that day. Today in the semifinals Wilder won again, this time by posting the fastest time of the day.

And Wilder hasn't matched his personal best 400m time. I understand he own's the world record for a 19 year old in the 400m sprint.

The finals are tomorrow. Looks like he has a shot to win a world championship.

I have to wonder what this kids throughts are on the Olympics. Sounds like he's Olympic-competitive already. (He can't compete in this year's Olympics, as trials are already being held elsewhere).

I sure hope this guy can run routes and catch a football.

Your SEC Preview

by ByronVolFan

Hello, once again, from the banks of the Mississippi River and the Bluff City. It is getting to that time of year when the sandstorms of the sports year have us crawling through the wasteland of the summer in search of the Promised Land...there it is...COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!! It's juuuuust around that next dune, my friend. We will soon make it there...fear not.

This heat has begun to suck from my memory the idea that a cold fall morning calls for getting the grill ready for the BBQ and a strong and spicy bloody mary. I have forgotten how, no matter how crazy the night before may have been, all God-fearing sports fans are up in time for ESPN's College GameDay. There are very few excuses for missing this and the only REAL excuse you have is that you are en route to an actual SEC game. [This year, I learned, that your roommate will chastise you if you miss GameDay because your fiancé wants to talk on the phone. There is no purgatory big enough for such crimes. We may miss church tomorrowbut Herbie and Corso demand our reverence...even if they malign our beloved alma mater. And, they probably will even as we slam down our red Dixie cups, sloshing our Bloody Marys on the table, and call them every 4-lettered word we have ever heard. In fact, we probably make some up just to let those Yankees know we mean business.

Your Gridiron Goddess says: A commitment to GameDay is no small feat on the West Coast. It starts at 7am out here. And yet, it is my 2^nd favorite time of the week. College Football Saturday is my Holy Day.]

Your humble Southern correspondent also learned some other valuable truths this year. Do NOT assume that your team will not make the conference championship unless it is mathematically impossible to do so. I made the mistake of planning the proposal of marriage on the day of the SEC Championship. When I bought the ring and set up all the necessary surprises, I would not have bet that UT would have made the game. However, we did but to watch that game at a surprise party in honor of your new fiancé...was disheartening, at best, for this Volunteer. Thankfully, my soon-to-be bride loves football as much as I, was equally as disheartened, and was distracted by the wedding magazines her friends had brought her. So, up yours, Football gods!!! You tried to ruin my impending marriage by letting her see me lose my mind over Ainge's "play", however, I outsmarted you with those wedding magazines...the first, last, and only time those things have ever HELPED a guy in need!!

On to football news...last year, I humbly submit to you, that I I was pretty dead-on. Got the championship game right and was fairly close on most teams, with some notable exceptions. So, gloating aside (as this is a new year and ample opportunity to get my butt handed to me) here's the "down and dirty" breakdown of the SEC in the 2008 season.

SEC East

Florida (9-3, 5-3). Tebow is the man. I know that I'm supposed to hate him as the Florida QB, but I can't. However, I've heard the same song and dance out of UF about RB's and D. I'm sorry, but I just don't see the improvement to win the title here and the rest of the conference is figuring Florida out. Good year, close games...but no Atlanta.

Georgia (11-1, 7-1). The hottest team in football last year--well in the 2^nd half of the year at least. Moreno will be in New York at the end of the year and Stafford will prove much better. The Georgia/Florida game will make/break the division...and probably the conference. I've got Georgia beating them again as Moreno will just kill the Gator D. A good deal of pundits are worried about the schedule. Really? Their road games are South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU, Kentucky, and Auburn. So, they lose at LSU and play one INCREDIBLE game at Auburn...but where's the BIG scare here? Other than Richt's inability to close the deal when highly rated, I just don't see it. Conference champs and SEC rep to the Sugar Bowl.

Kentucky (5-7, 1-7) Kentucky's back to their doormat status. Loss of their star athletes and a coach who probably secretly wishes he could run the Full House triple option every game with players with no facemasks...makes for a hard rebuilding process. (Note: It would be cool, however, if someone pulled out that kind of BS consistently...I mean, it works on NCAA Football on PS2!!!)

South Carolina (8-4, 5-3) Spurrier's QB's...Spurrier's QB's...blah blah blah. First, in the interest of full disclosure, I have them beating Tennessee. This is not biased, but I'm just still not sold on them...never have been. The Ol' Ball Coach is slipping. The program will never usurp Georgia, Florida, and UT in the East on a consistent basis (and yes, I know that in my 2008 rankings, they are ahead of UT...I'm talking about the program level). New QB, loss of some key players...mid level bowl and more "aw shucks" from Darth Visor himself.

Tennessee (8-4, 5-3) Bias Alert! Gonna be an ugly year. I'm sorry, Amy, but I just don't see us going back to the Coast and leaving with a victory against UCLA. , I wouldn't put money on that game if I were you. New OC and QB and the same inept banana hammock calling the defense. However, we'll be better than expectations. Crompton is mean as a snake at QB. I like him a lot and the new OC could really take us to the "next level". Also, I wouldn't be super fan if I didn't point this out...there was another time that we lost a superstar QB, had a new QB coming in a great OL, experienced RB's and WR core, and a ready-made-tough-as-nails D...that was in 1998. It's a stretch, I know...and I'm not predicting it! Back to reality, close games but coaching and inconsistent play at QB will eat us alive.

[Your Gridiron Goddess says: UCLA is going to STINK up the joint this year my friend. They barely have a QB that can even WALK right now But they do have Norm Chow, grrrrr..]

Vanderbilt (4-8, 2-6). The only good thing about Vanderbilt being so bad is, as I've spent more time in Nashville for work and personal, the Vandy fans make me laugh. There's always next year. Personal highlight of my Vandy picks...beating Ole Miss!

SEC West

Alabama (8-4, 4-4). But wait, didn't Saban walk on water and bring sight to the blind and cure cancer and find Jimmy Hoffa and figure out what Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row" was about? No. Good QB...but inconsistent QB...will lead you to the Liberty Bowl every time. Just ask South Carolina and Miss. State. Wilson's got the talent and the fire in his gut, but damn, that boy looks stupid sometimes. That, and a ridiculous schedule this year makes it tough for me to find a much better path.

Arkansas (5-7, 2-6). I have to admit, that when I got to Arkansas on my picks sheet, I couldn't believe that they, by default, had this many wins. The latest stop on the Petrino Boat to Nowhere is pretty bare. Casey Dick? Really...a Petrino-style QB? I'm just not seeing it. Thank God for Western Illinois!

Auburn (9-3, 6-2). Year in/year out the toughest team to call but this seems to be about right given the schedule and the fact that, apparently, I'm drinking the Georgia Kool-Aid this year. The only interesting call I'm making here is that Alabama beats Auburn in the Iron Bowl. They're just due for it and I smell something like that brewing in the last month of this year. Incidentally, the month of November will be ridiculous in SEC football. Jobs will be secured and lost in those four weeks.

LSU (11-1, 7-1) SOMEHOW, once again, LSU benefits from a ridiculously great schedule. They'll lose to either Auburn or Florida on the road (my money's on Auburn) and they'll have to play South Carolina on the road (yawn). The rest of the games are at home (or neutral site against Arkansas...yawn). I mean, I don't care who's at QB, they're still loaded and all of those drunk Cajuns (not a term of derision!) provide an incredible home field advantage. Still great on D and have great skill players and one BIG OL.

Ole Miss (5-7, 1-7). As has been noted, I've never been impressed with Houston Nutt. I always thought he was overrated as a coach. All I've heard is "Snead will save the day for the Rebs". Ok, but Snead is not Tebow...who else do you have? Riiiiiight, that's what I thought. Not convinced, here, that this is the year that Houston Nutt sends the Rebs to Atlanta (the only SEC West team never to have done so...tee hee hee!).

Mississippi State (8-4, 5-3). Bias Alert! WOW! Ok, so I should have sent my beloved Bulldogs bowling last year. 8 wins though? Byron, are you crazy? Yes. Sure, they lost some people, but they're stacked behind them. A coach like Croom seizes momentum in his program and uses it to get his guys back in the game. I'm betting on a one game improvement? "8 wins Byron?". Yes, remember, that if Arkansas didn't have one of the greatest RB tandems in football history last year, State would have crushed the mighty Arkansas. They only lost by 2 touchdowns...which for MSU standards vs. a Heisman candidate...pretty dern good! This year, there's no Heisman in Fayetteville and State has a chance to beat up on the new guy, Bobby Petrino.

Championship Game: Georgia vs. LSU...Georgia gets revenge on LSU and heads to the Sugar Bowl.

On a side note, for those of you that like your football to be fun and crazy...pay attention to New Mexico State. Hal Mumme, disgraced former coach at Kentucky who makes Mike Leach look like a run-first coach, and Joe Lee Dunn have teamed up down there. Dunn is notorious for having some of the most odd-ball defensive formations imaginable. Ever seen 2 down linemen on D? He'll show it to you. That combined with Mumme's 158 passes/game, it'll be funny to watch.

So, that's the preview from south of the Mason-Dixon line. I'm not even going to pretend to forecast the nation this year. There's just too many variables and changes this year that it's going to be a toss-up year. Good luck to your teams. If you're a Big 10 fan, can't wait to see OSU be overrated and shown up in the post-season. HA!

(Your Gridiron Goddess says: Sept 13 is the day the Buckeyes dream of another trip to the BCS Championship game dies)

Good luck everyone and continue to check out The Gridiron Goddess for all of your football needs!

The Dallas Mavericks have picked up Charles Rhodes from Mississippi State, avoiding the European league...for now.

In other Mississippi State news, word has it that junior-to-be shooting guard Barry Stewart has broken his foot in a pick-up game, although word is that he will be fully healed by season's start. Stewart's shooting touch suffered last season - much like Beverly's - and his lack of practice over the summer could hurt the Bulldogs.

Also on the MSU front, Jamont Gordon has apparently "verbally committed" to Mike Conley and will join the 76'ers summer camp soon, effectively eliminating him from any discussion for next season SEC talk.

Three SEC teams will begin, or have begun, breaking ground on new basketball facilities in the near future. Ole Miss' building looks to span over 51,000 square feet and cost over $11 million, LSU's will be 58,960 square feet and cost over $14 million, while there aren't any firm details on plans for Mississippi State's, but the building is in the works and there is an artist rendering on how it should look.

More to come soon...

@ Louisiana Tech - W

Southeastern Louisiana - W

Auburn - W

@ Georgia Tech - L

@ LSU - L

Vanderbilt - W

@ Tennessee - W

Middle Tennessee State - W

Kentucky - W

@ Alabama - L

Arkansas - W

@ University of Mississippi - W

That comes to a final of 9-3, which I know is improbable. So I thought I would take some time to share why I think this, game by game.

Louisiana Tech is self-explanatory. We should and will win this game.

Southeastern Louisiana - see above.

Auburn - Here's an upset. First off, I think Auburn's been on a decline for a few years now. The talent just isn't there and with new coordinators the Tigers/War Eagles are primed for disappointment. Throw in the fact that the game is in Starkville and I truly believe that the Bulldogs could and will win.

@ Georgia Tech - And here's a disappointment. Tech won't be very good this year probably as they have a new head coach playing with players who don't fit his system but somehow I think they will defeat the dogs. State's defense under Ellis Johnson was always good but easily fooled and if Tech can run Johnson's option then I smell defeat. Of course this will only the fourth game under Johnson so maybe they won't know what the hell is going on.

@ LSU -  Make it a streak. No way the Bulldogs win in Baton Rogue. No matter how good State is and how bad the Tigers are, LSU always wins.

Vanderbilt - Perfect time for a game at home against Vandy. It won't be a gimme like La. Tech or Southeast La. but should still be a solid win.

@ Tennessee - The biggest reach in my bag but I think State can pull it off. UT has some talent but they're another SEC team on the decline as far as I can see. Also it's a sandwich game for the Vols, maybe they'll forget about MSU.

Middle Tennessee State - Another rollover.

Kentucky - State beat them when Woodson was still under center, they'll cream them without Woodson. Another home game means another victory.

@ Alabama - The Bulldogs have this one coming to them. State's won the last two and Bama won't be that much better this season but something inside me says that there's no way MSU can make it three in a row.

Arkansas - The Hogs will be down talent wise but if this game wasn't in Starkville I might pick Arkansas. The Razorbacks have State's number but there's just to much going in State's favor this season.

@ University of Mississippi - I marked this as a win but honestly it's a toss up. If UM is healthy they've got more talent, if they start to rely on depth they're in trouble.

I know I'm overly optimistic, especially with Auburn and Tennessee, but a guy can dream right.

As of right now, South Carolina is slated to be on TV three times. However, things change as the season wears on, so it's worthwhile to keep up with the updates.

(Thu.) Aug. 28 7:00 p.m. ESPNU
Vanderbilt at Miami (Ohio)

(Thu.) Aug. 28 8:00 p.m. ESPN
N.C. State at South Carolina

(Sat.) Aug. 30 12:30 p.m. Raycom Sports
Hawaii at Florida

(Sat.) Aug. 30 5:00 p.m. ESPN
Appalachian State at LSU

(Sat.) Aug. 30 6:45 p.m. ESPN2
Mississippi State at Louisiana Tech

(Sat.) Aug. 30 8:00 p.m. ABC Sports
Alabama vs. Clemson (Atlanta, Ga.)

(Sun.) Aug. 31 3:30 p.m. ESPN
Kentucky at Louisville

(Mon.) Sept. 1 8:00 p.m. ESPN
Tennessee at UCLA

(Thu.) Sept. 4 8:30 p.m. ESPN
South Carolina at Vanderbilt

(Sat.) Sept. 6 12:30 p.m. Raycom Sports
Southern Mississippi at Auburn

(Sat.) Sept. 6 3:30 p.m. ABC Sports
Ole Miss at Wake Forest

(Sat.) Sept. 6 8:00 p.m. ESPN
Miami at Florida

(Sat.) Sept. 13 12:30 p.m. Raycom Sports
UAB at Tennessee

(Sat.) Sept. 13 3:30 p.m. CBS Sports
Georgia at South Carolina

(Sat.) Sept. 13 3:30 p.m. ABC Sports
Arkansas at Texas

(Sat.) Sept. 13 7:00 p.m. ESPN2
Auburn at Mississippi State

(Sat.) Sept. 20 8:13 p.m. ABC Sports
Georgia at Arizona State

(Thu.) Oct. 23 7:30 p.m. ESPN
Auburn at West Virginia

(Fri.) Nov. 28 12:30 p.m. Raycom Sports
Mississippi State at Ole Miss

(Fri.) Nov. 28 2:30 p.m. CBS Sports
LSU at Arkansas (Little Rock)

(Sat.) Dec. 6 4:00 p.m. CBS Sports
SEC Championship Game (Atlanta, Ga.)

2008 SEC Football Television Schedule [SEC Sports]

If you believe what you read in the preseason previews, and why wouldn't you, the SEC will not be very different than what we always expect. In the East, you have Florida and Georgia battling it out, followed by Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

Rich Brooks thinks Kentucky at No. 5 is bullshit, natch.

In the West, LSU and Auburn will be angling for the trip to Atlanta, followed by Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Mississippi State (Croom'd!).

However, we should really know how things are going to shape up in September, believe it or not. The No. 3s, Tennessee and Bama, are going to the mattresses early and could either put themselves in contention, or immediately out of it.

The Tide's schedule shapes up with an immediate test against Clemson in Atlanta, followed by cupcakes Tulane and Western Kentucky, before getting nailed with back-to-back road trips to Arkansas and Georgia.

The Vols don't have it easy, either, with games against UCLA, Florida and Auburn.

If either can manage a winning record out of those contests, plus wins against presumptive conference champions, October should turn into a fun month.

Carolina has a slightly easier open, but still has major tests. The Gamecocks get N.C. State for what's now become a traditional Thursday night start to the season, then have to put away Vanderbilt before coming home for what will most likely be an ungodly thrashing by Georgia. Wofford and UAB should help out a little, but you never know with this team.

According to Athlon, my preseason drug of choice, the rankings overall are a little something like this:

1. Florida
5. Georgia
8. Auburn
9. LSU
17. Tennessee
30. Alabama
34. South Carolina
48. Mississippi State
55. Arkansas
58. Kentucky
69. Ole Miss
73. Vanderbilt

Of course, what's fun about the preseason rankings is that there is no way in hell four SEC teams will end up in the Top 10. The fratricidal bloodsport so common to the conference will end that idea.

Competing with 16 other university teams from throughout the United States and Canada, MSU recently repeated its 2007 win in a four-year competition jointly sponsored by General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy.

MSU's entry features an electric hybrid powered by a 1.9 liter GM direct- injection turbo diesel fueled by B20 biodiesel. It has achieved a 38 percent increase in fuel economy over the production model on a modified urban test cycle, while maintaining passenger comfort and vehicle performance.

Now, MSU team members are taking a Mississippi victory lap over the next two weeks to give interested members of the public an up-close appreciation of their hard work. The schedule includes:

JACKSON--Thursday, June 26, the state capitol's north entrance, 12:30-2 p.m.

MERIDIAN--Friday, the 27th, Multi-Modal Transportation Center, 5 p.m.

TUPELO--Tuesday, July 1, Tupelo Automobile Museum, noon.

At each stop, team members will explain the fuel-saving technologies and discuss their participation in the up-coming EcoCar competition, GM's follow-up project to Challenge X.

Read the full release.

The first thing that comes to mind for the 2008 season is can Robert Elliott get significant playing time? Elliott was a prized recruit out of Okolona High School. He surprisingly red-shirted in 2007 even though MSU wasn't seen as the type of program were top recruits were red-shirted.

But in hindsight the Bulldogs didn't actually need him. Anthony Dixon and Christian Ducre were great and a third back would have only taken carries away from them. So, what about 2008?

The post-spring depth chart lists Elliott as the third back and second on kick returns along with Wade Bonner. That's good and bad news to me. The good news is if Dixon or Ducre get banged up, which is likely to happen, there's an answer waiting on the bench. Of course that's assuming that Elliott is at least a good player. The bad news, if Elliott is a good player then the Bulldogs need him to get some carries. You can't let talent sit on the bench at MSU. I know the Bulldogs are on the upswing but the talent level still isn't that deep.

Personally I would like to see Dixon and Ducre get about the same amount of touches as last season if possible but I would also like to see a backfield of Dixon and Elliott, at the same time.

The two players seem to be opposites, as Dixon usually smashes his way to the end zone while Elliott is hyped as the fastest back on the team. Defenses wouldn't know how to react when both were on the field, should they clog the middle or contain Elliott?

Again, this is supposing that Elliott can be a breakout type of player. For some reason I think he can. But I think we'll find out in 2008 for sure.

Exactly 18 years to the day after closing out his Mississippi State baseball career in Omaha, John Cohen returned home to replace the retired Ron Polk as the Bulldogs' head baseball coach.

Ron Polk announced his retirement in March of this season and strongly advocated for incoming athletic director Greg Byrne to hire longtime assistant Tommy Raffo to take over the program.  Raffo played with Cohen in the 90's and has been an assistant in Starkville for the last 14 years.  He no doubt knows the program, the families, the administration, the fan base, the camps, etc...  The question about Raffo has never been his knowledge of the program.  It's always been a matter of should he be tapped as the man to take over one of the nation's elite baseball programs.

Byrne has said all along that he would consider Raffo for the job, but he also made it clear his charge was to find the best candidate for the job and that meant searching not only at home but nationally.  In the end, Byrne talked to some six different candidates, four of whom have head coaching experience at programs that regularly compete in the post-season.  I don't know if Raffo would have done a good job as the head man or not, but I would rather hire someone who has already been successful as a head coach.  Getting someone from the State family would just be gravy.

I think Byrne absolutely got it right with Cohen.

• He played in three regionals and a College World Series at State
• He was a first-team All-SEC player his senior year
• He ranks in the top 10 in several career records at State
• He was an assistant at Missouri from 1992-97.  After just three years as a straight-out-of-college assistant coach at Missouri, Cohen was promoted as the Tigers hitting coach and recruiting coordinator.  In '96, the Tigers won the Big Eight championship and played in an NCAA regional for the first time in 16 years.  That year the Tigers broke nine offensive records and 17 overall in Cohen's six years on the staff.
• He was the head coach at baseball factory Northwestern State in Louisiana for four seasons.  In that span, Cohen lead the Demons to two Southland Conference titles and was named conference coach of the year twice.  Under Cohen's watch, the Demons set 18 team and individual offensive records and 10 pitching records.
• As proof that he does not overlook the importance of academics, Cohen's Northwestern State teams averaged 18 student-athletes per semester with GPA's of 3.0 or better.
• In his two years at Florida as the Gators' hitting instructor, Cohen's offenses terrorized opposing pitching staffs.  In 2002, his offense lea the nation in hits and was second nationally in batting average, runs scored, and home runs.  That year, Florida led the SEC in nine offensive categories and set or tied 41 (20 team, 21 individual) school offensive records.
• In 2003, Cohen's offense produced numbers similar to the 2002 squad.
• He's coached four league batting champions.
• In his five seasons as the head coach at Kentucky, Cohen transformed a conference doormat into a contender for post-season play.  His Kentucky teams posted two 44-win seasons, played in two regionals, and won a conference championship.  In the 100+ years of Kentucky baseball before Cohen's arrival, the Wildcats had never won a conference championship and had only been to regionals three times.
• Cohen was named the 2006 SEC Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation and collegebaseballinsider.com.
• His 2006 Wildcats scored a school-record 500 runs.  His 2007 squad had a .320 batting average.
• In reviving Kentucky baseball, Cohen produced the SEC's first ever worst-to-first turnaround in 2006.
• Cohen's 2008 squad produced school records in fielding percentage (.974), putouts (1687), at bats (2157), runs scored (510), doubles (152), RBI (461), sacrifce bunts (75), sacrifice flies (38), and innings pitched (563).
• The list just keeps going...

If you want to contrast that with Raffo's resume:

• Raffo played in the regionals all four years at State and played in a College World Series.
• He was a first-team All-American and All-SEC player.
• As State's hitting instructor, the Bulldogs have hit .300 or better 10 of the last 12 years, including a school record .335 in 1999.
• He ranks in the top-10 of most school offensive records.
• State has played in regionals 11 of the 14 years Raffo has been on the coaching staff, and has played in three College World Series.
• In 2006, Raffo's coaching help Thomas Berkery and MSU career hits leader Jeffrey Rea finish 1-2 in batting average in the SEC.  In 2007, Brandon Turner was second in the conference.

That is the extent of Raffo's coaching resume.    Oh yeah.... Raffo has all that program experience at State, too, something that isn't likely to be listed in your bio.  But look at the results.  Everywhere Cohen has been, tremendous success has followed.  Who would you have hired if you were Greg Byrne?

I tuned into the press conference introducing Cohen and was impressed with what the man had to say.  By the way, you can view the archived video or read the transcript here.  He paid homage to the late Paul "Bear" Bryant and took his hat off indoors, something that will no doubt be passed down to his players.  It's a simple gesture, I know, but the little things add up.

In describing his style of baseball and what to expect from his teams, Cohen let it be known that his teams would play an aggressive, attacking style of baseball that will constantly pressure the defense to either make the plays or make mistakes.  His players will play hard every single play.  There will be no down-to-the-minute scripted practices.  If it takes a whole practice to get something worked out, then so be it.  If it only takes a few minutes, that's great.  The team will work until the goals are achieved.  He followed that up by saying that if he has players that are not interested in that kind of work or focus, they won't like having him for a coach.

When asked about his expectations, he made the statement that anything short of Omaha is a disappointment.  He then took it a step further and said that just making it to Omaha is not enough.  State has been to many regionals and has been to Omaha a number of times.  There's only one thing left to do: win it all.  That is his expectation.  Mighty strong statement there.

But Cohen's wife Nelle may have said it best of all.  When she was telling her sister that John was going to take the job at Mississippi State her sister asked her why.  Nelle's response was an analogy to music.  She said you know how every musician wants to play Carnegie Hall?  Well, Mississippi State is the Carnegie Hall of college baseball.

Now to Coach Polk....

It's admirable to back a longtime assistant and advocate for him to get the job, but what Polk has done in the wake of Cohen being hired is nothing but crybaby bullshit.

Unfortunately, our new athletic director slapped me in face and punched me in the stomach. He also slapped Tommy Raffo in the face and punched him in the stomach after 15 years of loyalty to Mississippi State. He did the same to our players, their parents and signees. I think I have more knowledge about the game than young Mr. Byrne.

I want my name taken off the stadium and in the concourse until Greg Byrne is fired. And if they don’t do it, I will. And as soon as I get back to Starkville, I’m going to make sure the MSU Foundation is taken out of my will. And that’s a lot of money. I’m going to ask former players who give to quit. If you’re asking if I’m mad, then yes. I’m mad.

I was up front with John Cohen, Pat Casey, Steve Smith all along. If Joe Torre got the job, I wouldn’t support him. I know more about Mississippi State baseball than anyone. Greg Byrne doesn’t know anything. Well, he’s about to find out what my name means.

I love John, he’s a former player, but he knew how I felt. And when he walks into his new office, there will only be a desk and chair. No papers on the players or anything. I don’t like what’s done, but I guess he really wanted this job very bad. Good luck.

Is this a good job? I don’t know. Kentucky has the lottery and we don’t. But I’ll tell you one thing, Greg Byrne may be the athletic director, but I’m the athletic director for baseball. I’ve been there for 31 years, and no one is more loyal than me.

Do you think Vince Dooley is glad he listened to me. Look what Dave Perno has done with Georgia and he’s close to getting them back to the world series. But with this hire, Greg Byrne has thrown 15 years away of Tommy’s coaching life and the four years he has played here. Is he the best candidate, I don’t know. I say give him four years. If he doesn’t get the job done, then fire him. But no, Greg Byrne wanted to make a splash. But he’s not a Mississippi State guy, and doesn’t understand what MSU baseball is all about. His honeymoon is over. He blew it.

Wow.  Just... wow.

Coach Polk, you may know more about baseball than Byrne, but you're being a child about this.  Where should we begin?
The amount of baseball knowledge you have does not equate to the amount of authority you have in hiring someone to replace yourself.  That's not your job.  That is the athletic director's job.  You were the head baseball coach, not the athletic director.

Demanding to have your name taken off of the building is probably the stupidest thing you've said.  First, your name was put there to honor the years of service and success you had at Mississippi State.  It was not your decision to put your name on the stadium, nor will it be your decision to take it off.  If your demand is granted and your name removed, can you imagine what you would have to do to get it put back up again?  Think about that, coach.

So, Greg Byrne is about to find out what your name means, huh?  I assure you Byrne knows more about you than you'll ever know, but that does not mean you get to dictate to your boss who he hires to replace you.  He took your recommendation and interviewed Raffo along with the other candidates.  Raffo wasn't the man for the job.

You were the athletic director for baseball?  Really?  Apparently nobody knew that because it wasn't your job title.  And if nobody has been more loyal to you, why did you take your ball and go home whining the first time you retired only to go to another school?  That wasn't loyalty, coach.

You talked to John Cohen a number of times and knew he wanted the job.  You told him you loved him but.... but... you wouldn't support anyone other than Tommy Raffo.  For someone who wants to preach about loyalty, do you not see the irony here, coach?  You're throwing loyalty under the bus when you disrespect Cohen by saying that.  One of your former players at that.

You could have gone out on top, coach.  Think about it.  You're freakin' Ron Polk.  You're a living legend and a God around Starkville.  Your name is on the baseball stadium.  You're one of the winningest coaches in NCAA baseball history.  You could be strolling around campus laughing it up in retirement and would probably have the best seats in the stadium for life.  Kids and adult-kids would still want an autograph and a picture with you.

But you're in danger of throwing all of that away with your childish temper tantrums and threats.  Do what's right.  Apologize for acting like a complete jackass.  Support and embrace John Cohen as one of your former players coming home to take MSU baseball to the next level.  And support Tommy Raffo as he searches for his next stop in his coaching career.

It's not too late.

• Obviously, our hopes of having a Triple Crown winner for the first time since 1978 were dashed yesterday. Big Brown never got going, and might have even been kicked along the way. One has to wonder if the hoof crack didn't have a bigger effect after all.
• Game 2 of the NBA Finals tips off at 7:30 tonight. Here's to hoping that the Lakers can take down the basketball representatives of the Great Satan of Sports Towns.
• Outgoing Mississippi State baseball coach Ron Polk is going batshit crazy because the assistant he tapped to be his successor was passed over in favor of Kentucky Coach John Cohen.

I've got a long day ahead of me. The Cards on the XM, Nascar @ Pocono on TV, and Celtics-Lakers for a nightcap. Life is good...

Game 1: The Resurrection of The Truth

This was a pretty good game to watch unless you’re a Laker fan and very used to their crisp ball movement and efficient offence. I think it’s evident that L.A.’s big bodies – Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol – were playing intimidated basketball due to the presence of Kevin Garnett. I’m not about to claim that grown men are ‘scared’ of the Big Ticket, but they sure did play tentatively compared to what we’ve seen at other times. Then again, neither of those two had particularly good series’ against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Final, either. I guess the likes of Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are too much for them. There are a few things I want to touch on:

1. The point guard battle – if only for one game – was won by the Boston Celtics. Did they facilitate as you might normally expect them to do? Maybe not, but Derek Fisher was repeatedly backed down on the block by Sam Cassell and was scored over two times. If the Celtics can get production out of Cassell in this series, it really helps Doc Rivers out if Rajon Rondo isn’t having a particularly good night. At least now there’s a legitimate option off the bench. I don’t know if the veteran can keep it up throughout the series but it’s clearly why Boston signed him in the first place.

2. ESPN ran an interesting mini-story Thursday night or Friday morning about the fact Ray Allen has been the primary defender on Kobe Bryant for the three games the two teams have played against each other this season. Again, the fact Tony Allen “held” Kobe to 22 points earlier in the year and he could only manage 24 points on a terrible percentage in Game 1 doesn’t mean the MVP’s weakness has been found. I’m sure Kobe will top 30 points more times in this series than not but the Celtics’ defence has been the best in the NBA this year. San Antonio had a good strategy as well but their offence was too anemic with Ginobili held down to capitalize. That’s not the case with the Celtics because of their various scoring options. Can you believe Kobe’s shooting percentage against Boston for this season actually went UP after Game 1? That says something about their scheme.

3. Again, the Lakers’ big men are playing scared basketball. There’s no better evidence of that than looking at the statistics for the rebounding figures in Game 1. What more do you need to see that they were tentative crashing the glass and trying to go after it? Pau Gasol’s offence in the last two rounds has consisted of pretty much that alley-oop lay-up pass he gets a couple times per game and some garbage buckets around the basket. I realize this is part of the game for big men but he’s a lot more skilled and talented than just that narrow set of moves. Lamar Odom has been playing the same way as well. He still seems to be bringing the energy but the smarts just aren’t there. Like Phil Jackson asked the team as he called timeout on Thursday, “What the f*ck are you guys doing out there?” This is not Laker basketball, which is predicated on ball movement and finding open shooters on the perimeter off of transition pushes from defensive rebounds and Kobe Bryant’s penetration.

4. Injuries seem to be attacking the Celtics early. I don’t doubt that Paul Pierce was actually hurt on that play in Game 1 because he has never been known as a guy to flop or fake injuries or anything like that. Why do it in the Finals when you’ve waited your whole life to get there? It just doesn’t make sense to me that any basketball player would want the partial humiliation of being carried off the court by their teammates. What do they gain from it? Some momentum, perhaps? I doubt he was thinking of things in that way. As some of you may know, Pierce turned down the opportunity to have an MRI done and said either way, it still comes down to whether or not he feels he can play so he’d rather not know exactly what’s wrong until the season is over and the Champions have been decided. I can’t really blame him, especially after reading today that his knee is feeling considerably better except for when he does deep squats and really flexes the joint. Hopefully that improves with time before Game 2 and doesn’t intensify as the series continues into the later stages. Also, Kendrick Perkins sustained a high ankle sprain on the same play and it was questionable as to whether or not he’d be able to go tomorrow night but apparently, he will be, according to the Boston Globe. This may seem unimportant to most people but Perkins has actually been an integral part of the Celtics’ success in the playoffs so they need him out there on the Laker big men.

Game 2 Outlook: Rinse & Repeat

As good as the Celtics were defensively in Game 1, Kobe Bryant was right about simply “missing bunnies”. Even though the D collapsed on him very well and forced him into tough, contested shots, he also missed some opportunities he’d normally hit. Will it happen again in Game 2? Who knows, because it’s not like Kobe has torched the Celtics this season. They need to clean up the looks they gave him in Game 1, hope Pierce and Perkins are ready to go and also let Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett know that if The Truth isn’t near his usual production, they have to pick up the slack and try to put up better numbers. For the Lakers, it’s easy to outline but not as easy to do: defend everyone better, move the ball more around the perimeter, clean the glass on both ends, do not be intimidated and penetrate because this Boston team is wounded. It would be great for Boston to win this game and head to Staples Center for three games up 2-0, knowing they still have a chance to come home and close it out if they can get one on the road. On the other hand, the Lakers getting a split would still be in their favour because they have the next three games in their building. It would be like Game 1 didn’t really mean anything unless it comes along with Game 2. I’m not a fan of the 2-3-2 Finals format but I can understand why they did it. Anyway, my official prediction is I expect Kobe Bryant to score around 36 points and here’s the variable: if Paul Pierce has his mobility, the Celtics will find a way to win again. If he’s hampered by that knee, the series will head to Los Angeles tied at one game apiece. Go Celtics!

The Toronto Raptors’ Draft News

Yes, the Raptors still hold the 17^th pick in the draft and had their first workouts this past week. You can find short videos of media scrums with the players at http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/2008_draft.html There are also a couple videos of Jim Kelly, director of player personnel for the Raptors, talking about some of the guys that were worked out.

I don’t have a lot to say about these guys since I don’t know much about them all. Here are some random thoughts:

1. Ryan Anderson seems like a nice talent out of Cal but the Raptors already have bigs with perimeter games – no need to draft another.

2. Jason Thompson out of Rider was intriguing for his athletic ability, according to people in the media that were actually present at the time parts of the workouts took place.

3. Robin Lopez out of Stanford really is Anderson Varejao 2.0 but his offensive game is very limited right now, something that will definitely not sit well with Bryan Colangelo. He’s a hustler, though.

4. Chris Douglas-Roberts out of Memphis seems like a pretty good player and he was key in the school’s run to the NCAA Tournament Final. I like his size and energy but I don’t know if he’d be the right fit for the Raps.

5. Bill Walker out of Kansas State is intriguing to me. His athleticism is something to behold and he seems like the type of swingman that can develop into a very useful piece. However, he can’t start in the NBA yet and I think the Raptors desperately need a new starter at the shooting guard or small forward position.

6. Brandon Rush out of Kansas is another good guy the Raptors might take a look at. He had a knee injury that has apparently completely healed and if that’s the case, he would fit one of their needs. He’s a 6’6 swingman that can play defence, has athleticism, a very steady jump shot and potential for the future.

On June 3, the following players were in Toronto for workouts but no videos were posted on Raptors.com: Wayne Ellington and Danny Green of North Carolina, Shan Foster of Vanderbilt, Jamont Gordon of Mississippi State, Malik Hairston of Oregon and Courtney Lee of Western Kentucky. This was pretty much a day of guards working out, followed by bigs on Wednesday and swingmen prospects on Thursday.

More workouts will probably be scheduled in the coming weeks for the Raptors to continue to gauge the talent of the players projected around the 17^th overall pick in the draft. It’s hard to say which player I’ve thrown my support behind because so much could change between now and the time the Raps make their pick on June 26. They could move up, down or even out of the draft so the possibilities are endless, especially when we’re talking about a team with so many trade options involving expiring contracts, etc. Right now, I still think the Raps should get their big man in the draft and swingman on the trade market but I’ll say my two early favourites are Brandon Rush out of Kansas and Robin Lopez out of Stanford, just because he plays with so much energy and fire.

Headlines

“Phoenix Hires Porter As Coach”

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3431024

Looks like the Phoenix Suns have found their man and will formally introduce him to the public on Tuesday. Terry Porter played in the NBA for 17 seasons then ended up as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks for two years before working as an assistant with the Detroit Pistons this year. Steve Kerr has gone young at the coaching spot and I’m interested in seeing what Porter will do with the Suns. He didn’t really leave much of a coaching style ingrained in my mind from Milwaukee so I can’t say too much about this move except that it’s an interesting one. What about someone like Avery Johnson? Either way, the Suns are about one season away from being in full-fledged rebuilding mode when Steve Nash’s contract expires.

“Doug Collins Out As Candidate For Bulls Job”

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3430388

This one is surprising. I thought everything was almost set in stone and awaiting the stamp of approval over there in Chicago for Collins to return but it didn’t happen. He and John Paxson came to a mutual agreement that they should forget about the previous arrangement and now the Bulls are looking at Vinny Del Negro – someone with no previous coaching experience – to take the helm. If that happens, it’ll really leave me scratching my head as to what is up with John Paxson. A guy like Avery Johnson is still on the market and you’re considering someone with absolutely no head coaching experience in the NBA? The Bulls need a teacher that’s been there next season, not a young guy to restart with.

“Staying In Seattle A ‘Losing Proposition’ For Sonics?”

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3430610

Clay Bennett, owner of the Seattle SuperSonics, wants the team moved to Oklahoma City for next season. He claims that such a move could result in a profit of $20 million over the next two seasons rather than a $60 million loss if they stay in Seattle. That loss figure represents roughly 20% of the price Bennett paid to acquire the franchise in the first place so from a business standpoint, what he’s saying makes a lot of sense. I don’t think Oklahoma City can support a basketball team long-term but then again, there hasn’t been a lot of public support backed by finances in the city of Seattle either. I don’t know what’s going on up there because it’s a good sports market and media market in general but if it has to move, so be it. I just wished it could stay in the Northwest and move to Vancouver, who could really flourish with an NBA franchise again. It’s a shame the Grizzlies were taken from them so soon.

“TV Rating For Game 1 of the NBA Finals Highest Since 2004”

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3429821

Game 1 of the Finals between the Celtics and Lakers scored an average rating of 8.7 on ABC this past Thursday, which is up 38% from the average rating during the Cavaliers/Spurs series last season. No real surprise there. It’s the highest Game 1 rating since 2004 when the Lakers played the Pistons, attracting a 9.8. Hopefully these two teams can crack a 10.0 before everything is said and done in the next week or two. A Game 7 would be epic.

“Nets Fielding Calls For Draft Picks”

Link: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52881/20080607/nets_fielding_calls_for_draft_picks/#

The New Jersey Nets have picks 10 and 21 in the first round of the draft and have gotten a lot of calls. According to their GM, Kiki Vandeweghe, people are realizing it’s a deep draft and may be seeing people they like lower down in the order. It also tells him that if they keep both picks, they could get some pretty solid pieces. For the Nets, if they could swing one or both of those picks with a player into a good big man, it’d be very helpful. I’m sure they’re trying to move Richard Jefferson or even Vince Carter if a team feels like taking on his contract. One of those two, along with Devin Harris and a new big man down low to score would be a nice core to build around for the future because they’re bone dry right now.

“Bucks Tell Redd No Trades On Table”

Link: http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/52879/20080607/bucks_tell_redd_no_trades_on_table/#

John Hammond and Scott Skiles both assured Redd that he was not actively being shopped and anything he hears out there to the contrary is a rumour. Of course, they didn’t say they weren’t listening to offers, either. The Milwaukee Bucks have so much talent on their roster but they were downright terrible last season. How can you be that bad with guys like Redd, Mo Williams, Andrew Bogut, Charlie Villanueva, etc.? The coaching staff had no clue how to get Bogut the ball down low, which is ridiculous considering he’s one of few big men in the Eastern Conference with legitimate post skills. Moves have to be made down there but I’m not sure if trading Redd is the right one. He’s accounts for a huge chunk of their scoring.

“Garnett To Be Featured on Cover of NBA 2K9”

Link: http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/06/06/tough_ticket_to_come_by/?page=2

Yes, for you video game fans, Kevin Garnett will be on the cover of NBA 2K9 next season. 2K8 was a huge success and Chris Paul was on the cover this year. He was injury-free and runner-up in the MVP voting so maybe that bodes well for KG next season, unlike the NFL’s famous “Madden Jinx”, where the cover player ends up injured for that season. The list of such victims is long, including Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Shaun Alexander, among others.

Also, how about Chris Bosh's piece on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Thursday night? That was some pretty funny stuff. You could kind of tell what the network wrote for him and what his ideas/improvisations were. I was impressed. Congrats to CB4 on a job well done.. maybe he'll be playing in the Finals someday.

That’s about it for this entry of TRC. I hope you enjoyed it and I’ll probably be back for something on Monday unless something comes up between now and then. I’m thinking of doing a review/preview of each game of the Finals if this gets a good response. Also, don’t forget that on June 16^th, I will be co-hosting a live blog with James Borbath over at the Dino Nation Blog so stay tuned for that because it’ll be all Raps, all the time. Until next time..

-Mark R.

[The Raptor Core]

I was out of town on Friday so not only did I not get a chance to blog, I also missed out on the news of John Cohen being hired as the new head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team.

I arrived back in time to read some words that came out of Ron Polk's mouth. Words I bet he will regret someday.

Polk didn't get what he wanted, Tommy Raffo wasn't named the next head coach at MSU. 

Does it suck that someone who played for the Dogs and spent 15 years as an assistant doesn't get a shot at being the head coach? Sure it does. I assume Raffo wanted to be the head coach and really I'm sympathetic.

Does someone who played for MSU, then went out and made a name for himself as a coach deserve to coach the Dogs? You bet. That's what Cohen did. And that's one of the things that Polk doesn't seem to understand. Cohen has been working just as hard as Raffo over the past decade and as a former Polk recruit/player, I would expect Polk to be happy about his hiring.

But he isn't. Instead he has said that he will hurt Mississippi Sate and new athletic director Greg Byrne in any way possible. Polk wants his name removed from the stadium and anywhere else associated with MSU basically.

Polk gave me too many good memories to flat out talk bad about him but I will say this. Nobody is bigger than MSU baseball. Not Polk, not Palmeiro, not Pappelbon, nobody. The program was here before them and will exist after they pass. The most they can do is provide their service to the program and reap the benefits from it while they can. We all do this in some small way. I pay for a ticket and I get to see a game. Polk is hired by the university, takes the team to the highest level and gets respect, a paycheck and a legacy.

He won't be getting anymore paychecks, he's losing respect every time he opens his mouth and his legacy will be removed with his name (if he really goes through with it).

I don't like it that way, but that's the hand that he has dealt.

"Now he's got me on the war path and all I can do is hurt him," Polk said of Byrne in a phone interview with The Associated Press from Athens, Ga., where he is watching Georgia play North Carolina State in an NCAA super regional. "I'm going to do everything I can to make his life miserable."

Oh. My. God.

Polk could have done the damage he seeks if he'd have been more discrete. But the more he spews this kind of madness, the more he discredits himself. That man is not right.