I'm not a grizzled veteran of bowl games, mind you, but in the past number of years I have attended my share of them with the Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network. Therefore I have this to proclaim as we wrap up another college football bowl season:
Good job, Shreveport!
Sure, it's easy to say that when your team wins in a rout, as the Dawgs did in their 44-20 thumping of Texas A&M, but it's much more than that.
For those of us who cover college football, either as members of the media or members of a school's broadcast team, we look upon a bowl game differently.
For instance, organized post-game interviews with good sound systems are more important to us than to the guy in section 101. Also, good access to a press box is a must. If you park your car in, let's say, Newark, and have to walk to the press box in the Bronx, then that is NOT a good thing. Having bowl representatives attentive to your needs while you are at the game, at a team's practice or at a press conference is also a big plus too. The Independence Bowl met all those challenges, and passed with--as we like to say--flying colors.
The city and the accommodations were good, too. Our team hotel, the Hilton, was clean, inviting and spacious. There was plenty going on as well. A handful of casinos line the Red River in Shreveport and it provided plenty of diversions.
Generally, Shreveport not only is experienced in how to host a bowl game, but they are genuine in their want to have you in their city. Dawgs fans notice, even though A&M fans outnumbered the Georgia fans about 7-to-1.
The Capital One Bowl could learn a thing or two from the Independence Bowl. I have been to the New Year's Day bowl game in Orlando twice, and it is the most overrated, overblown, disorganized mess of a game you can find. And to think the SEC sends its number two or three team there every year. The Capital One Bowl staff seems to feel that since their game is in Orlando, then they pretty much don't have to worry about anything else. Wrong. Last season, many members of the press were not allowed access to the post game interview rooms by member of the yellow-clad "security" staff. It finally got cleared up, but when a person has a press pass and still is not allowed in the press room, then something is definitely wrong.
Add to that mess the fact that the entire game, from video board messages to endless PA announcements, was one big commercial for the Capital One card, and it made for a lousy bowl experience.
The Sugar Bowl knows what it is doing and so does the Chick Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. The Outback Bowl is great, but the Capital One Bowl, like the card, is a drain on your system.
And that brings us back to Shreveport. The Dawgs were ridiculed by many when they accepted a bid to play in the Independence Bowl. Seemingly a bid to the annual game is considered to be put at the bottom end of the bowl spectrum. However, it was a nice surprise. The SEC ends it relationship with the Independence Bowl beginning in 2010, and that is a shame.
Because like all good bowl locations, Shreveport puts in a great effort to make the atmosphere exciting and, unlike Orlando, actually wants to host a game.
The Tiger Woods watch is on.
Not with the public, not with the tabloids, but with the PGA.
The snooty organization that is the favorite of CEO's and millionaires everywhere is holding its breath. And that's because Tiger Woods IS the PGA. Without Tiger, the PGA becomes a TV show that is just about as popular as the NHL on Versus. Without Tiger, the PGA might as well take the Fed Ex Cup and deliver it back to Memphis.
See, regardless of how much of a mess his personal life is right now, there is one true fact about the Tiger Woods mess: Golf needs him more than he needs it.
The endorsements are dropping like flies. Accenture, Tag Heuer, Gatorade...wait a minute. Accenture? What the heck is Accenture? And, who gives a flip? The biggest thing they ever accomplished was having Tiger Woods as their endorser. And now that it's over, they can go back to being an obscure consulting company.
Tiger Woods has earned over one billion dollars in his career. One BILLION! If he has played his cards right, he does not need to golf again. Ever. If I'm Tiger Woods, I take my money (at least what's left of it after my wife gets her share) and I disappear. And that's because the wolves are out and the hunt it on.
Tabloids are scouring the earth for any woman who will claim they had an affair with Tiger. ESPN reports a doctor who has been known to prescribe performance enhancing drugs has treated Tiger. Another report says his wife, Elin, has even been seen without her wedding ring. Stop the presses!
The most popular sport in the United States is not football, not baseball. It is tearing down the rich and famous. As WSB meteorologist and all around good guy Kirk Mellish mentioned to me recently in our news room: "It's sick."
Kirk is right. It's a mess. It's going to get worse. Time for Tiger Woods to take his clubs, his money and what's left of his endorsements and go home. He should become the Howard Hughes of our era.
Okay, I can't use the word HATE, because of all the Hate Crime legislation, but here are the Top Ten things that I really DISLIKE about the Sports World. I guess you can say it is a sign that yes, I am getting old. But, then SO ARE YOU.
1.) High school football on ESPN. Are you kidding me? ESPN already is on the forefront of establishing bad attitudes and poor sportsmanship in the sports world, now they are expanding their tentacles into high school football. Listen, high school kids do not need to be on "national" network TV. First of all, unless you go to that school, you don't given a darn about that team. Secondly, MTV's run with Hoover High School in Alabama ended with both the head coach and principal shown the door and allegations that grades for athletes were changed to make them eligible for college sports. So, there.
2.) The infatuation with Michele Wie. Well, she finally won a tournament. Good for her. But the next time I see her enter a men's golf tournament, I am going to gouge out my eye with a fork. Tell me, what has she done prior to winning in Mexico? Okay, I'm waiting. She finally gets a LPGA win at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, but before that? I'm waiting.
3.) The constant call for a playoff system in college football. Keep it up, fellas, and you're going to turn the regular season in college football as meaningless as the regular season in college basketball.
4.) The amount of money made by the SEC. Anyone who knows me knows that I frequently joke about the "fix" in the SEC. I have often commented that the SEC will do what it takes to make sure Florida and Alabama are undefeated heading to the Georgia Dome in December. Do I believe that? Not really. However, the more money at stake, the more potential for corruption. Remember that.
5.) Not paying college athletes. Okay, I know I just said the money at stake, the more potential for corruption, but the fact that schools gets millions, conferences get millions, networks get million and the athletes get bupkis is not right. And don't tell me these kids are just students.
6.) The World Series in November. Oh my God. Please stop.
7.) The winner of the All Star Game earning home field advantage for its league in the World Series. It's a rule pushed on us by Fox Sports.
And while where at it, 8.) anything produced by Fox Sports.
9.) Defensive players celebrating ever sack as it they've won the Super Bowl. It's a trend begun by the wonderful addition to society and former wife-beater Mark Gastineau. And it sucks.
And finally, 10.) the media proclaiming every time Tiger Woods falters in a major tournament that he is on the decline. Pluuleeeseee...the world's top athlete is just getting started.
Until next time....
First of all, there is no truth to the rumor that WSB Washington Correspondent Jamie Dupree tried to gouge out my eye the other day. Jamie, for those of you who don't know, is a Florida Gator and the Brandon Spikes of the newsroom. Therefore, he has been known to resort to some dirty, low-down trickery. But no, he did not try to plop out my eyeball this past weekend. But a chop-block by Dupree is not out of the question....
Now about that eye gouging incident of Brandon Spikes.
Please...let's give it a rest.
Yes, I am a card carrying member of the Georgia Bulldogs Radio Network. Yes, I do feel bad when the Dawgs lose. But I have no problem with what Spikes did or attempted to do. Why? IT'S FOOTBALL. The on-field trash talking in the Georgia-Florida game was beyond belief. Tempers were at an all time high, and I would bet you this: the eye gouge was only one of the many over the top techniques in that game. It was just the only one the camera caught.
Did you ever hear of Conrad Dobler? In the 70's he was an offensive lineman for the then St. Louis Cardinals. He was, and still is, considered the dirtiest player in the game. He punched defensive linemen, he bit them; he even would go over and spit on an injured player who was down on the field. He would be quite a topic if he were playing today. He would be a YouTube and ESPN sensation. As a side note, unfortunately Dobler, who is now 59, is almost 90 percent disabled due to the pounding he took as a pro football player. He is suffering financial hardship due to the fact that he gets no disability from the NFL. I'm sure the religious right would say that's it is God paying back Dobler for his transgressions, but it actually is the NFL and all the billions they make turning their back on one of the players who made them what they are. Anyway, that's for another time....
Still if I want a good football team, I do not seek the efforts of choirboys. And, and this is the biggest thing yet, the culture we have created today applauds, actually holds in high esteem, the bad sportsmanship we now see on the playing fields. And at the forefront of this is ESPN. Just watch SportsCenter. The show is full of bad sports, cheap hits, and bad behavior. The young players today? Oh, THEY watch SportsCenter. So, what do you think is the end result? Yes, in effect, you can trace the Brandon Spikes incident all the way back to the Mickey Mouse of the sports world, the World Wide Leader, ESPN.
Meanwhile, the UGA football season of misery goes on. Let's hope we can gouge out an eye or two on our way to a good conclusion to what has been a challenging fall of 2009.
A realization hits when you see Courtney Kupets, Tiffany Tolnay, Grace Taylor and the other UGA Gymnasts perform.
You are suddenly aware the best athletes on campus do not play at Sanford Stadium in the fall.
I mean, seriously.
This is my first year of covering the back-to-back-to-back-to-back NCAA Champion Gym Dogs and I can only think of one adjective.
Damn!
Is that an adjective? Not sure. But what am I sure of is that Stegman Coliseum--in all due respect to everyone who has performed there--is the house Suzanne Yoculan built.
I was never that caught up in gymnastics before this year. Sure, I watched the Olympics. I am old enough (gasp!) to remember Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci and how they got our attention years ago. But for me, honestly, it took a back seat to other sports. Not anymore.
A Gym Dogs' event is just that. An event. Complete with fireworks, laser lights and, once the overhead lights come back on, some of the best single performances you will see from student-athletes.
In addition, the enthusiasm of the athletes is startling. Standing in the back hall area prior to the entrances of the teams, I have heard the Gym Dogs chant--the entire team I'm talking about--"It's great to be a Georgia Bulldog!." A few weeks later I listened as the Crimson Tide team sang, "Yea, Alabama" before running into the arena.
Once the event gets underway, the precision, the grace and this sheer ability at first catches you off guard, but then you realize you are seeing something special. I was there when Kupets performed on the bars and beam against Alabama. And I never thought seeing a number flash up on the scoreboard would move me, but seeing a 10.00 appear was as as exciting as anything I have seen this year.
And then afterwards. After you have seen what you think is a spectacular performance, after all the roses have been handed out, all the confetti has been shot out of the cannon for another Gym Dogs win, the reporters are led back to interview the team and...and...the girls are...NOT HAPPY!?
What?
Well, I should qualify that. They are happy to win. But not happy in that they think they can do better. Not just better, but a LOT BETTER.
So perfection comes with a price. And that price is a realization that you may never get there, but you will never stop trying.
Go see the Gym Dogs perform this year. And you will say the same thing I first said.
Damn!
I have often wondered why fans get so shook up about athletes leaving school early and going to the pros.
There's always someone else.
Matt Stafford set a Georgia single season touchdown record with 25 this past season and announces he leaving school early and heading to the NFL Draft.
You had a fine career in Athens, Matt, but:
There's always someone else.
Knowshon Moreno rushed for over 27-hundred yards in only two season at Georgia and he too is going pro.
You were a sensation, Knowshon, but:
There's always someone else.
To me one of the wonderful things about College Football is the new faces we see at key positions every 3-4 years. Granted, Stafford was good, but aren't you kind of excited to see how Joe Cox will perform. Or even if he will perform. Could be that Aaron Murray or Logan Gray or Zach Mettenberger prevails during summer camp.
Knowshon was incredible. But are you just thrilled about the prospect of Dontavious Jackson living up to his hype or if Washaun Ealey can scores as many touchdowns in Athens as he did at ECI?
And if you are all tied into ratings by the "services," did you know that Jackson was ranked the overall 8th best running back in the country when he left high school? Not good enough for you? The fact is Knowshon was ranked the 10th best running back in the country when he left New Jersey.
With A.J. Green coming back, with a more experienced and healthier (hopefully) offensive line and some new blood in the backfield, I am pretty pumped about the 2009 Dogs.
Stafford and Moreno were wonderful. Great young men to make UGA proud.
But have a nice NFL career, guys. I have not lost a minute of sleep over your departure. Why?
There's always someone else.
I am not the type to get all hyped up about the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry. I have many good friends who want to see Tech go DOWN. I mean really go DOWN. To me it's no big deal. Florida is my passion. Or, rather, beating Florida. To me the Gators are the real rival.
My kids are different, in a way. Their journey through the Georgia Public School system gave them exposure to many goofy Tech fans. And, according to the kids in the Schiavone household, you have never experienced anything as obnoxious as a goofy Tech fan.
Maybe they are right.
Did you hear the one about the team that was so pumped about the win over the Georgia Bulldogs that they not only gave their coach a contract extension, but also bought rings for their players?
Well, it's true. The former is a no-brainer. Paul Johnson is a damn good coach, and they needed to make sure he is in place. But rings?
Yes, look no further than North Avenue for the latest craze. Schools are able to give players gifts totaling $500 for bowl games. For Georgia Tech, part of the booty includes a ring with the score of the win over the Dawgs within the design.
And maybe all you need to know about why the Jackets won the game is wrapped up in that ring.
Maybe, just maybe, they wanted it more.
If you are like me, you have grown weary of ESPN commentators who continually criticize coaches. Okay, I get it. These guys are on TV because it makes for (sometimes) good TV. But if I ever have a suicide party, Mark May, Lou Holtz, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard will be on my invitation list. Hey, I grew up a big Redskins fans, but if I never see Mark May again, it will be too soon.
So I have come up with what I think is a sure-fire hit. A new show that will allow the revolving door of coaches in college football to speed up.
Hire A Coach.
Here's how it works. Tennessee grows tired of Lane Kiffin (yes, I know we all see this one coming) and they announce that they have fired him. Then they announce that their new coach will be selected on the next episode of ESPN's Hire A Coach!
The following week. A panel made up of May, Holtz, Herbstreit and the other idiots will do a one hour show and give the top four guys who they think should take over at Tennessee. These four will be highlighted with video footage and testimonials from former players.
The final segment will be a vote from the ESPN Nation. The coach with the highest percentage of votes gets the job.
But here's the catch, if that coach flops then one of the ESPN announcers gets fired as well.
It's called accountability. And announcers these days who have a profound influence on the games they cover have none. Each of the above announcers will deny in public that they have that big of an influence on the game, but privately each knows they do. They wallow in the glory.
It's the world we live in. The information age has brought with it a flood of bad opinions. And with all that, coaches in college and pro sports will continue to get fired and hired at a rapid fire pace.
I just wonder why most times the guys who clamor for the change have no responsibility when it comes to disaster.
And while we're at it, what in the world has Joker Phillips done to earn "coach in waiting" status at Kentucky.
All this bunk was brought to the limelight by that living monument to great football owners everywhere: Jerry Jones. Jason Garrett is the Dallas Cowboys coach in waiting. And after Wade Phillips is fired at the end of this season, Garrett will take his place and the King Almighty of Coaches In Waiting. Good luck, there, Jason. If you're lucky, Jones will bring in Odell Thurman and then DeAngelo Hall to go with the likes of Pacman and T.O. Great bunch of guys.
So during all this talk of Joker this and Jimbo that and now Muschamp this AND that, a though has occured to me. We ALL are coaches in waiting. The only difference between us and the current crop is a vast lack of experience and the fact that we have not been lied to by overzealous AD's. Oh, and also the fact that when Texas defense crumbles and Kentucky can no longer score points, that our record will still be unblemised.
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