Unacceptable!

Forget the missed chip shot FG....And that blocked punt? A critical error, but offset by Nevin McKensie's interception for a TD. If you're looking for a place to lame the blame for this season opening dud, lay it at the feet of the coaching staff...including new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson. A veteran line....two stud backs. Pound the Rock. I guess it's just lip service. In a tight game that UT is leading throughout, they should NEVER throw more than run the ball. 34 running plays for nearly 200 yards. 5.2 a pop. So why not run it 50 times. Can't do that? Why not? Alabama did and stole Clemson's manhood in the process. UT needed to do the same. Don't make Jonathan Crompton throw it 42 times...he's not that guy! And for the record, every time UT dropped back to pass was good for 4.5 yards a play. Do the math...this isn't rocket science.
Norm Chow made the adjustments; Rick Neuhiesel settled his team...and his boys played with passion. And speaking of the blocked punt, why do Special Teams coordinators feel the need to ticker with punt protection? 5 guys with 2' splits, 2 wings, 2 flyers and a personal protector. It has worked forever, every NFL team uses it, stop jerking with it. This was a total team collapse and it begins with the guys in the khaki slacks...

Now Can He Carry an Entire Team?

OK, so it's over. Brett Favre is a New York Jet. Now the first inclination is to say, "I guess the Packers showed him!" But this Jets team is only one season removed from being a playoff team. Plus they added offensive lineman Damien Woody and Alan Fanica. And Bubba Franks. Lavernaus Coles and Jerricho Cotchery don't suck as receivers. Thomas Jones needs to step up at running back and Leon Washington is a playmaker. Now the Jets defense won't be confused with the crew in Green Bay, but I believe the Jets just put themselves in the Wild Card race in the AFC. And with Chad Pennington's release, Eric Ainge can have his familiar number 10 back!
Note: the Jets will be at LP Field on November 23rd in a game that could have playoff implications for both teams...

Nice Stadium...Not so Nice Place...

Wow. What a beautiful stadium they've built in Bejing. But on the eve of the Summer Olympics, I'm having a real problem balancing this historic sports happening and the "Celebration" of "Chinese Pride". Proud of what? Atrocities against human kind? Tibet? Tiananmen Square? Mao the Murderer? The Olympics often turn into a glorification of the host city or region, but how can any red blooded freedom lover not feel a bit put back by all of this. 40 years ago John Carlos and Tommy Smith made a statement about how they felt America treated there own people of color. Here's hoping that someone, anyone, makes a stand...like the Tank Man in the Square...

Sports' Most Tragic Figure?

OK, "Tragic" is a strong word. But in a sports sense....and not in a Barbaro, Dale Earnhardt, life and death type tragic, Greg Norman may be sports' most tragic figure. Oh, I get the big picture; Norman finishing 3rd at the Open is an incredible achievement...but....leading going into the final round...again....tied for the lead with 6 holes to play...and finish 6 strokes back! Thankfully, Paddy Harrington fired a 69 to WIN it, not a 73 to slide in, but I truly felt the golf gods owed Norman one here. This was going to be payback for all the grace and class he had shown in so many failures. He hadn't led going into the final day of a major since the Masters...the one where he....blew...a...6 stroke lead on the final day. Yet, for all the drama and fairytale this win would be...it wasn't meant to be. For us, and ABC, this was much better than him shooting 80-80 and getting ready for the Senior British next week, but I wonder how the Shark feels about that? Classy as always, he'll never say...

Frozen Out?

Never have I seen an athlete who has given so much to his team and his sport treated with such disrespect. The same thing that made Brett Favre such a sporting icon, drove him to tears at that podium when he (prematurely) announced his retirement. Football is a game that, played right, is played with the utmost passion. "Leave it all on the field" is more than a trite coaching cliche. Favre left it all on the field. And just like the throwbacks we liken him to, he wasn't ready to go again in March...or April, or June.
OTAs and Mini Camps are valuable tools for acclimating newbies to the NFL...but they are more for the coaches than the players. So now it's July, and Favre's internal clock, and that huge heart, may be telling him it's time to play again. Yet the fans, and apparently the Packers all want to say..."No, no, no Brett...you moved on, and so have we!" Moved on to what? A bunch of classroom time and some field time playing flag football? "But Aaron Rodgers is ready!!!" Yeah, so was Scott Mitchell, Rob Johnson and Frank Reich. Rodgers may end up being a fine player; in fact, I like his chances...but this is BRETT FAVRE off one of his best season's ever. This isn't Johnny U with the Chargers or Joe Namath with the Rams.
Some of you folks in Green Bay have been out in the cold a bit to long....

How Good is Good?

As the old saying goes...the devil is in the details. In reviewing Phil Fulmer's new contract extension with UT, we find that an 8 win season results in an automatic extension of one year. The contract also has handsome bonuses for SEC and National Championships, which is great...but an automatic extension for 8 wins? Any 8 wins? Not 8 wins, including Alabama and Florida? The rationale behind the 8 wins is that the 8-4 season is relevant to UT's all-time winning percentage. Now I'm not suggesting that 8-4 should get you canned...but an extension? Most UT fans I talk to tell me 8-4 would result in turning up the wick in the seat warmer, not add years to the current deal. Phil Fulmer will go down as one of the legendary coaches in UT and college football.
Mike Hamilton said, "In my opinion, there aren't going to be a lot of Joe Paternos and Bobby Bowdens in the future of college football." The question is, does his overall record in general and his record in the last 6-8 years in particular put him in the Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno club of guys who basically will call there own shot on when they retire. For UT fans, the hope is that the 8-4 scenario is not one that has to be discussed...

Father's Day Drama...

TNT's slogan is "We Know Drama". Well, drama was on full display Sunday on TNT, NBC AND ABC! Dale Jr.'s dramatic win, on TNT, may just provide the push he needs to make a real run at a first NASCAR Championship. The drama was in the fact that had he not gotten that last caution, he would have run out off gas on the final lap. Of course, it wouldn't have been a question had it not been for the second last caution. The drama was enhanced by listening to the in car radio as Tony Eury, Jr. cut him loose with 2 laps to go and he roared past Kasey Kahne, who, naturally, drives the Budweiser car that Jr. made so famous.
Then it was ABC's chance to provide the drama as a hobbled Tiger Woods saved his one dramatic moment of the day for his 73rd shot, a birdie on 18 to tie the affable, lovable, goofball underdog with the funny name and 70's belt buckle, Rocco Mediate. The only thing that deal lacked was a sudden death overtime to finish in the gloom of a San Diego sunset. Something right out of Bagger Vance. Monday will be like watching Rocco get a root canal...or will Walter Mitty pull it off?

For the nightcap, the Lakers once again blew a lead, only to come back and win and prevent the hated Celtics from partying in Westwood. Paul Pierce is about the only Celt that wanted that, since it is his hometown, and he did everything in his power to make it happen...but this party will be a Garden Party...the only question is, will it be Tuesday or Thursday night?