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?

Random Thoughts on the Weekend that Was...

I've got the Celtics in 7 for the series, but I must admit, I'm with Phil on the foul disparity Sunday night. It's not as if the Lakers weren't aggressive in taking the ball to the rack. The Lakers shot 10 foul shots to the 38 freebies the Celts had. Anyone know where Tim Donahey was last night?

I'm a NASCAR guy, but I'm here to tell you, the best race of the weekend was in Tezas, and I don't mean the truck race. The IRL put on one heck of a show and continues to get traction with the racing public. 28 cars, some real personalities and incredible speed make it worth a look. Now, if someone could just do something with that Dixon guy...
Speaking of NASCAR...fell free to whack a 100 miles off that Pocono race. For that matter, one trip per season to the quirky triangle would be fine with me as well. The best NASCAR event of the weekend was in Nashville where Brad Keselowski gave Dale Jr. one more win as an owner than he has as a driver this season. Thursday I had a chance to sit accross a table from Keselowski for lunch at Noshville and this kid gives me the same vibe I got from Carl Edwards the first time I met him...back when he was driving the trucks.

And finally....I guess this whole Triple Crown thing IS pretty tough to win! Big Brown was a Big Dud Saturday and you can't tell me the hoof didn't have something to do with it. Not the crack itself, but the disruption in the training schedule. The horse was out of it's groove. Man, I wish I had that superfecta! $48,000 for a $2 ticket? Chances are I wouldn't have been in today....

Who Would You Swap With?

It is fair to question some of the decisions Vince Young has made early in is professional career. You may even want to say that that decision making ability, for better or worse, may carry out on to the field. But how many of us would have liked to have the glare of the media focused on us in our early twenties as we stumbled out of college and into ealy adulthood? I'm not a VY apologist, just a realist. Now, let me pose a question. Who would you swap him for? The only true measure of a quarterback is his value in helping your team win. How about the guys he came in with? Lienart? Forgetaboutit! Cutler? You can make an argument, but how has he done in the clutch? Not at Vandy, nor in Denver can you say that guy made all the difference. Cutler is reliable and mature, but he hasn't carried a team to major victories or a playoff. Denver was in much better shape 2 years ago than the Titans...and they haven't improved. What about David Gerrard in Jacksonville? He's 30 now and just had his first big year...no thanks. Philip Rivers? Maybe, but when he was Young's age he had yet to start a game...VY has two years under his belt. Eli? He was ready to be run out early last year...his fourth as a starter, before having a nice playoff run. Derek Anderson? Maybe a fluke, but he also got 2 years to watch before becoming a starter. Tony Romo? How would Vince have done with that team around him...think he'd a won a playoff game by now? My point is, be careful what you wish for, and appreciate what could be coming...

Maybe not Bird and Magic, But.....

It may not have been Larry Bird and Magic Johnson but Sunday's duel in the Garden between Paul Pierce and LeBron James was a classic. Pierce, after toiling so many years on bad Celtic teams now has Amigos 2 and 3 and no excuses. LeBron, the self proclaimed King James, laboring without a Prince or even a Duke; just a bunch of Court Jesters, yet carrying this group to the edge.
James' 45 really wasn't all that surprising. In fact, in a pitiful sort of way, it was almost expected. In the second half, he was the ONLY Cavs starter to score, other than Delonte West's measly 4 points. Pierce, on the other hand, seized the moment. Surrounded by the likes of Garnett and the ever disappearing Ray Allen, the archaic, yet useful PJ Brown and an emerging Rajon Rondo, he was not about to let this pass. Not if he wanted that #34 hoisted to the rafters someday. He showed true Celtic pride. But will it be enough against the Blue Collar Pistons? Or the Lakers, Spurs or Hornets? We'll know soon....hopefully before the football season starts!

Another one takes the walk...

Blessings come in many forms to a person's life, and one of our greatest has been our children. Kelly, 23, graduated from the University of Alabama-Huntsville Magna Cum Laude and has made her parents very proud. There is nothing greater in life than seeing your children raise whatever bar you have set in life. This one gets her looks from her mother and her brains from....well, her mother and her creativeness from....well, I know I made some contribution along the way..I'll have to get back to you on exactly what it was! Just thought you'd like to know...

Big Brown and the Lady

Big Brown broke strong from the 20 gate to capture the Derby in stunning fashion...and Eight Belles just broke down. In the aftermath of a historic win in which Big Brown did what no horse had done since 1929, all eyes were focused on the front stretch where Eight Belles had collapsed from what looked like was a heart attack. With two broken ankles, she was put down marking the first fatality in 134 Derbys. I know the animal folks will be out en masse on this one, but the fact is, about 2 horses die per 1000 races on dirt tracks around the world, but this one was in front of the biggest audience of the year. As for Brown, this horse has to be a favorite to win the Triple Crown now, after such a dominant effort on Saturday. And it would be a nice homage to the Philly who gave all to run second at Churchill Downs.