Hairy Mascots and Hurricanes

I’ll be headed down to T-town with Number Three Son tomorrow to watch the Crimson Tide take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. My parents-in-law lived in Bowling Green, KY from 1997-2004, so I had the opportunity to watch WKU play many different sports over the years, and I even saw one of their football playoff games in 2002, the year they won the I-AA national championship. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of progress they’re making as they continue the transition to big boy ball.

I’m all for progress as long as it’s not at the Crimson Tide’s expense. It shouldn’t be that close, but with our still relatively young crew, you never know.… Read the rest

Kawasaki Lets The Good Times Roll

In case you’ve been in a total sensory deprivation chamber for the past two weeks, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Believe it or not, this has caused a lot of controversy, and there are many who feel strongly one way or another about whether or not this is a good thing for our country.

For the most part, I plan to leave those kinds of questions to the big boy and girl bloggers and the hardcore mainstream press such as People magazine. But I do want to address a particular rumor that’s been making the rounds, one that has a vital link to our national security:

Sarah Palin’s glasses are fake and she wears them just so people will think she’s smarter.

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Northern On My Mind

Call me crazy, but for some reason I’m overcome with the urge this morning to dress in plaid, let my beard grow out a bit more, finally make that pilgrimage to Moosefest and watch old episodes of one of my all time favorite TV shows, Northern Exposure.

Speaking of which, here are a few soothing scenes from Wassila Cicely, Alaska.

As we enter into this season of college football and all-out culture war, maybe Alabama and Auburn fans, yea, even Republicans and Democrats can agree on one thing:

Dancing with your honey is a good thing.

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Tarheels Launch Preemptive Invasion Against Duke

Concerned over rumors of a resurgence in Duke University football and the potential loss of the coveted Carlyle Cup, the UNC Tarheels launched a preemptive strike against the Blue Devils this past Saturday.

“Operation Eat Mor Chikin” began just prior to the kickoff of the Blue Devils home opener when two UNC paratroopers landed on the field at Wallace Wade stadium shouting “Mission Accomplished!” as soon as their boots touched the ground. That mission was to kidnap new Duke Head Coach and offensive mastermind David Cutcliffe and to commandeer his WMTs (Weapons of Mass Touchdowns).cutcliffe.jpg

The operation went awry, however, when the twelve Duke students who actually showed up to watch the game and the lone Blue Devil security guard, Barney Fife III, chased the interlopers from the field.… Read the rest

Up Klose and Persun-uhl with Mike The Redneck

It was a Faustian bargain if there ever was one. The deal was that I could blog about the Olympics to my heart’s content if I would then feature a one-on-one interview with everybody’s favorite itty-bitty Bama fan, Mike the Redneck, who was about to bust his little beer gut to talk about the start of the college football season.

So yesterday the two of us sat down for a little Tuscaloosa tête-à-tête, and here’s what transpired:

MTEG: Well, look what the polecat just drug in! If it isn’t Mike the Redneck!

MTRN: Thahutt’s kute. Nice to see you too, Eyeball boy.… Read the rest

I’ve Got Those Post-Beijing Blues

And I’m not the only one.

I suppose its apparent after almost 70 Olympic posts over the past few weeks that I’m an unrepentant, full-bore, red, white and blue Olympic Greek Geek.

Tis the season of overwrought superlatives, but I think it’s safe to say that I enjoyed this Olympiad more than any in memory (and mine goes back aways). Maybe its the fact that I can play press corp wannabe and team up with an actual correspondent on the ground, or maybe it’s because it’s all in HD now so that you feel like you’re actually “there.”

Whatever the reason, my heart aches a little this morning.… Read the rest

So, Who Won?

The Chinese would say they did based on gold medals, 51-36.

The Americans would say they did based on total medals, 110-100.

But what if we split the difference and scored it on a weighted system, 3 for gold, 2 for silver and 1 for bronze? Seems like a reasonable idea to me.

Final score: China 223, U.S. 220.

Wow, that’s close. And to think, we were only a couple of dropped batons and a few underaged gymnasts away from taking the whole thing.

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The World’s Greatest Athlete Grew Up In Hawaii

“You, sir, are The World’s Greatest Athlete.”

–King Gustav V of Sweden to Jim Thorpe after he won the 1912 Olympic decathlon in Stockholm

It’s a sign of the times, I guess, when The World’s Greatest Athlete, Olympic decathlon champ Bryan Clay, takes a back seat to platform diving and beach volleyball. But I’m sure that NBC crunched the numbers and knew what they were doing when it comes to making money.

But what kind of world is it when The World’s Greatest Athlete has to practically beg to be put on the front of the Wheaties box?

A crazy, mixed-up world, that’s what it is.… Read the rest

Dress Code Violation

When historians look back on the U.S. National Basketball team’s 2008 Olympic final victory over Spain, many will point toward Kobe Bryant’s commandeering of the game after the Spanish trimmed the U.S. lead to two points early in the 4th quarter. In particular, they will cite Bryant’s timely 4-point play as the stroke that finally felled the pesky Spaniards.

They will be wrong. It was actually the point where the camera panned across the row of rowdy Spanish male fans dressed in drag. I knew at that moment that it was over.

The basketball gods will not be mocked.

Somewhere, James Naismith is smiling.… Read the rest

Pepperdine Makes A Splash In Beijing

I would be remiss as a fledgling Olympic commentator if I failed to mention the U.S. Men’s Water Polo team which has made an extraordinary run into the gold medal match Sunday against Hungary after a stunning 10-5 victory over Serbia.

I really know next-to-nothing about the sport (I’m sorry, but those little bonnets they wear are just so cute), but when a 9th-seeded team makes it to the final in any sport, it’s big news.

Hey, and how about this, albeit very loose, Church of Christ connection–the team is powered by several Pepperdine University players, including the keeper, Merrill Moses (notice the proper Biblical name), and coached by Pepperdine assistant and alumn, Terry Schroeder.Read the rest

It’s Always Something

Clipped hurdles. Lane violations and DQs. Leading in the final turn only to come up empty in the homestretch.

And the most egregious offense of all, the one that symbolizes everything that could possibly go wrong–dropped batons by both the men and the women in the 4 x 100 relay.

For the U.S. Track and Field team in this Olympiad, it’s like Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say: “It just goes to show you, it’s always something.”

U.S. Track and Field has heard the great hue and cry of the American people and responded.

Still, a little perspective is in order.… Read the rest