Mission accomplished.....a solo act...366 days.......366 posts.......

And ..........a toast.......to me....

Our goal for 5 on Five since January 1st of this year, was to post at least one article each day. There were droughts........and there were days with multiple postings. But in the end we got our 366 posts. I use the word "we" rather loosely .....as this writer authored all of the 366 post for 2008. No promises or goals for 2009, if we feel a blog........we'll post it. If not, we won't.


New Year's Eve, 2008..........

Today ..........or tonight, we bid farewell to the year 2008. What a year it was. An African-American president elected.......the meltdown of the economy.....In sports, the Super Bowl to the Beijing Olympics........2008 was awesome. Check out MS NBC 's

The Year in News Pictures

Odds are.......A home team is bound to win.......

For maybe the first time ever..........at least the first time I can remember.....all four road teams are favored in this weekend's wild card play-offs in the NFL. Here's the Vegas odds:

NFL Lines Wild Card Playoffs - NFL Football Line Wild Card Weekend Playoff Games - NFL Game Lines 1/3 - 1/4, 2009

Date & Time	Favorite	Line	Underdog	Total
1/3 4:30 ET	Atlanta	-2	At Arizona	51
1/3 8:00 ET	Indianapolis	-1	At San Diego	51
1/4 1:00 ET	Baltimore	-3	At Miami	37.5
1/4 4:30 ET	Philadelphia	-3	At Minnesota	41.5

I see Arizona and Minnesota playing over their heads in front of frenzied home crowds to defeat the Falcons and the Eagles straight up. Then again........

Another day.......another coach fired?

DENVER (AP)—Over the past few years, Mike Shanahan, the vice president of football operations, didn’t do Mike Shanahan, the coach, any favors.

In the end, both got fired.

The Denver Broncos parted ways with Shanahan on Tuesday following a late-season fizzle that knocked the team out of the postseason for a third straight season.

Read full article at :

Broncos fire coach Shanahan

And now, some breaking news about our friend, Charles Barkley........

Playoffs????? Playoffs??????

With all due respect to Tom Landry (right) and America's Team .......the Dallas Cowboys....neither will be around for the 2008-09 NFL play-offs.

The NFL concluded its regular season in style Sunday.........The Atlanta Falcons are in.....the Dallas Cowboys are not. The Miami Dolphins are in.......the New England Patriots are not.

AFC division winners are San Diego (8-8 , with their win over Denver), Tennessee, Pittsburgh, and Miami. Wild cards are Indianapolis and Baltimore.

NFC division winners are the N Y Giants, Arizona, Minnesota, and Carolina with wild cards Atlanta and Philadelphia.

A 44-6 beat down.....

That loud noise you heard late Sunday afternoon was the moans and groans coming out of every Dallas Cowboy fan from coast to coast. This thing got down right ugly......and it was so much fun to watch.

Now can we be .....done with Brett Favre?

Favre.......once again showed his true colors when it matter the most. The N Y Jets sold their souls to the devil and Favre........unceremoniously dump quarterback Chad Pennington........only to have Favre.......under perform.......and get beaten out of a play-off spot by none other than Chad and the Miami Dolphins........I loved it.

Black Monday in the NFL.....

Three coaches fired.......... NFL axe falls on Lions, Jets, Browns coaches

Rod Marinelli (He of the 0-16 Detroit Lions), Romeo Crennel (Cleveland) and Eric Mangini (N Y Jets) ............all fired yesterday. The NFL is brutal.......win .......win.....or find another job.


One good thing..........a black head coach ( Crennel) was among the ones fired..........and nobody is upset. This is great......Why?


It means that in the NFL, coaches are hired and fired on their abilities to coach..........period....not by the color of their skins..........and that....is a good thing.

Why we love........the NBA.......

Yes.....I said it.........

My team. The Atlanta Hawks. That team. That team of the "thug" NBA.

White America has been so..........mis-informed.....by the good old boy "white media".

We have heard that this league (the NBA) is a league of thugs..........Black guys with tattoos .......

Is that all they have? Listen.......these guys .....just happen to be the best athletes on the planet. The NFL has far more problems regarding players getting into trouble (see Plaxico Burris).

The NBA is back..........and so are the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are now 19-10....in second place in their division.

And.......they're playing some good basketball.........and that 's a good thing.

Yes...........Atlanta........I am now...........back on your band-wagon.

The Detroit Lions..........

Made history today. They lost a football game, 31-21 to the Green Bay Packers, to become the first team in NFL history to go 0-16.

0-16...........

Sixteen games..........no wins......16 losses. The impossible........has happened.

How can an NFL team with 45 players of elite status (the best of the best) , all high draft choices........college all-Americans.......high school phenomenons .......field a team .....that can't win a game?

Leave it to Detroit..........Owned by a Ford..........

Oh.....did I mention my Ford still won't start?

The box score.....in case you don't believe me:

| Box Score

And the recap........per Yahoo Sports:

Lions become first NFL team to go 0-16

0-16 is no way to sell seats

The above was an article in todays Detroit Free Press......Kind of sad what's happening in the "Motor City" these days.

General Motors and Ford are in a financial tailspin..........The NFL football team (the Detroit Lions) are 0-15..........with the strong possibility of being the only team in the history of the league to go 0-16.

But........Detroit........I know pain. I have been where you are today. How bad.......is bad?

How does a team lose every game ....of a season? Been there..........Done that.....

I was a second baseman on a church softball team..........that lost every game we played for two seasons. And what did we do after each game? No crying........no pouting.......just a few cold beers in the parking lot. After all, the sun continued to rise each day.......and none of us died.

I have been beaten while playing guard on a basketball team, 95-18..........by a far superior team. Our response? At least we kept them under 100 points.

My point is a simple one..........Life is..........what it is.....full of disappointments.......full of accomplishments.......and full of all things in between.

It is what we do ........in spite of the wins and losses that count......

Detroit.......I feel your pain.....Your Lions are owned by a Ford. William Clay Ford, Sr..........

I drive a ford...........and I could not get it started today.

Yes........Detroit.....I feel your pain.

"So this is Christmas........what have you done?........

Another year is over........and a new one just begun"......(John Lennon, 1971)

I must apologize..........I was wrong.

When the Atlanta Falcons first drafted Matt Ryan........I was under-impressed to say the least. I speculated the weak offensive line of these Falcons would spell a quick and sudden death, both to the rookie QB........and to the team's play-off aspirations.

Again..........I was wrong.

I thought this team would be lucky to win 3 games........It was not a good team. Michael Vick had proceeded to camouflage much of the teams deficiencies by his super-natural talents and his running abilities.

With Vick..........now just an after thought ........still doing time for the dog fighting mess.......thus a non issue.......

We turn our attention to the new Atlanta Falcons......

A new general manager.......a new coach...........and a new quarterback .....

And............after a 4-12 season..............a play-off birth.

In the spirit of the season........can you say, "Miracle on .......Peachtree Street?"

Merry Christmas .......Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan............and ........yes........Michael Vick!

'Tis the season...........


'Twas the night before Christmas.......when all through the house.....

not a creature was stirring.....not even a mouse.....


Except ..........those ass-holes in the front office of the New York Yankees!


Mark Teixiera........here is an early Christmas gift. $180 million for 8 years! Yes, we are the Yankees..........we don't "haggle" over a couple of millions........Everyone else's offer to the former Anaheim Angel first baseman was between $140 million and $160 million. Let's get ....serious. Let's not bull-shit around. Let's blow everybody completely out of the water!

And in essence ......this is exactly what the Yankees did. $180 million..........

So Santa.......wears pinstripes.

The baseball world is up in arms.........."This is so unfair", they rail..........But is it?

Again.......we ask, "How much is a player worth?"..............and again we reply, "You're worth....exactly what someone will pay you".

So .......don't hate on the Yankees..........or Teixeira...........or sports..........or MLB........

Mark Teixeira happens to be able to do something .......only a precious few in the 2 billion plus populated earth.....can do......... Hit and catch a little round ball.

Merry Christmas Mr. Teixeira............and Merry Christmas to you too.......New York Yankees.

Yours Truly...........

Took a road trip these past few days......A trip which took me, my father and my mother back to where it all began.......For me and my siblings, anyway.

The city of Savannah, Georgia...........(where I first lived).........Hunter Air Force Base ( where I breathe my first breath of air.......and Fellwood Homes........(a public housing project where I had my first bed).

I have heard..........to better understand the present and the future.......one must visit the past.

Well.....as much as Savannah has changed in the last 40 years........much of it remains the same.

A smaller version of Hunter AFB remains..........My father's high school ( A. E. Beach High ) is still standing.....still open. My mother's high school ( Woodville and later, Tomkins High is now a Technical school.

And Fellwood Homes?...............It no longer exist........at all. The old housing projects built in 1941 have been leveled (see top photo).

We lived in "the projects" at a time when "the projects"were not yet a bad word........Affordable government subsidized homes. Clean.......efficient......crime free.


But after over 50 years.............Fellwood Homes..........became a drug infested........high crime black eye to the city of Savannah.

It was breath taking and somewhat surreal to see bulldozers working so late on this Christmas Eve afternoon...........clearing the ground for a new Fellwood..........termed, The Sustainable Fellwood. (See Photo above on right).

There is just something about........seeing your past..........living the present.....and envisioning the future.

Merry Christmas........to all.......

Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield............

Lost a fight last night. He was pitted against a man who out weighed him by almost 100 pounds and was 10 years younger. The 7 foot Russian, Nicolei Valuev...........won the bout with a majority decision, and ended Holyfield's quest for yet another heavy weight title.

Holyfield, who would have become the oldest heavyweight champion in history had he won the World Boxing Association title, ruled out retirement, while his management team insisted their man had been 'robbed'.

Holyfield, who now has 10 defeats on his career record of 42 fights, was gracious in defeat. He said: "I thought I had won the fight, I thought I had won more rounds than he did. My goal is to be heavyweight champion of the world, I am not interested in fighting for the sake of it, I want to be a champion again. That hasn't changed."

Evander..........Evander..........wake up..........smell the coffee.....

You are 46 years old.....you have 11 illegitimate kids..........you live in a multi-million dollar mansion.........which requires millions in up-keep expenses........ You have no marketable skills out side of boxing. And this pay day was for only $500,000 .........and.......you lost.

Mr. Holyfield..........retire..........hire a lawyer.......renegotiate your child support payments....sell that mansion...........

And then .......call up George Foreman...........and see if ..........you and he...........can successfully market ..........a "Holyfield Grill"..........or........maybe..........a line of "The Real Deal"..........playing cards.

From GaPeach913..........

A couple of interesting and timely Christmas cards......

Now that's a cool president........

The big secret is out. Time magazine has chosen Barack Obama as its "person of the year". There are some amazing photographs of the president-elect in the newest on-line edition of the magazine including some very funny college pictures. See them all here: See pictures of Obama's college years.


Almost home.....but not quite......

We mentioned in yesterday's edition of the pending deal of Rafael Furcal coming back to the Atlanta Braves. Well.......not so fast! Seems the L A Dodgers are sweetening the pot in a last ditch effort to retain the services of their shortstop. Fucal is reported to be considering their counter-offer. Stay tuned.


The Arena Football League to take a year off..........

Yes ..........the Arena Football League is suspending play. There will not be a 2009 season as the financially stripped league reassesses itself. I personally was never a fan of the AFL, but I hate to see so many players not get an opportunity to play........even if it was on a smaller platform than the NFL.

A-town versus Bean-town........

Tonight at Philips Arena in the ATL.......The Atlanta Hawks host the Boston Celtics in prime-time on ESPN...........The Celts have the best record in the league at 23-2 and are riding a 15 game winning streak. The Hawks (15-9) have won 3 in a row. A great early season showdown.


Happy Trails.......Reggie Bush.....

New Orleans Saints running back, Reggie Bush will miss the remainder of the season . Bush sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during the Saints’ loss at Chicago last Thursday night. The knee was examined over the weekend and coach Sean Payton said at practice on Wednesday that the team decided to put Bush on injured reserve. Will this guy ever make through an entire NFL season? Ever?



The " Brothers Manning".......



For the first time in history two brothers have been selected to the NFL pro bowl. Eli of the N Y Giants and Peyton of the Indianapolis Colts will be in Hawaii for the NFL showcase of its all-stars. Did we mention their dad (Archie) was also a pretty good QB back in the day?

Hey hey hey, it's Mike Tyson............

Mike is giving a whole new meaning to "Heavy Weight".......
The man once regarded as the baddest man on the planet shocked fight fans this past weekend, when a rather rotund Tyson fronted up to present an award at the sixth annual Video Game Awards in Culver City, California. The once-fabulously-chiseled physique of the former heavyweight champion of the world is now more flabulous than fabulous, with the once-feared pugilist now looking more like cartoon character Fat Albert.


Things........I'm thinking about.......

I am convinced there are only five Christmas songs........they just get recycled and replayed by hundreds of artists.

70 degrees in this southern college town today.........that ain't right! It's December!

Why is there still no cure ...........for the common cold?

'Tis the season.....for all those "lists".......You know them .......they're coming.....but....I can wait.........Top stories of the year..........Best dressed.....Worst dressed........Best stories.......Best movies..........Top 10 plays of the year........and on .......and on ........and on.......

Have a great "Hump Day"

The prodigal son is coming home...........

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, former Atlanta Braves shortstop, Rafael Furcal is coming home. An L A Dodger for the last three years, Furcal and the Braves have reached an agreement on a 3 year, $30 million dollar deal that will re-unite the all-star shortstop with his original major league team.

This might spell the end of the line for Yunel Escobar........the young phenom out of Cuba. Trade rumors of Yunel surfaced as early as this past summer.

To me the deal makes no since..........Why get older?

Rafael .....now 31..........was a stud in his first stint..........but.......he only played in 38 of 162 games last year because of a bad back.......

And backs have a well of ..........well ........not getting better.

Note to the Braves brass.......use some of that $30 million ..........to "bail out" your anemic pitching staff.

Thanks to YouTube........this is kind of cute.....

Enjoy....

Six........and counting......

Such is the state of life in the NBA as a head basketball coach.

From the Washington Post:

Reggie Theus was fired as coach of the Kings yesterday after a 6-18 start to his second season with the club.

Assistant coach Kenny Natt took over the Kings at their shoot-around before last night's game against Minnesota, spokesman Troy Hanson said. Natt is Sacramento's fourth coach in less than three years.

Assistant coach Chuck Person was fired along with Theus, who went 44-62 in with Sacramento.

The Kings, who have had star G Kevin Martin sidelined by injuries for all but nine games, have lost 10 of 11. They've fallen into last place in the Pacific Division, with only a win over the Lakers in the last 3 1/2 weeks. Sacramento's 24-point home loss to the Knicks on Saturday night -- the ninth in 10 games at Arco Arena -- was Theus's final game.

He is the sixth coach fired in the NBA this season, following P.J. Carlesimo (Oklahoma City), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Sam Mitchell (Toronto), Randy Wittman (Minnesota) and Maurice Cheeks (Philadelphia).

Talk about lack of job stability...........the NBA takes it to a new level.

The University of Auburn ..........

Had the chance to make a huge statement. Auburn had the opportunity to project its school as progressive..........pro-active..........open-minded........non bias......color blind........willing to promote change in Division 1 football. And in the University's search for a head football coach (to succeed Tommy Tuberville) ..... they interviewed a diversified field of applicants.

Auburn is not Buffalo...........or Washington........or Mississippi State......or Kansas State (schools who have recently hired black head coaches, but are nowhere near the top in big time college football).


Auburn.......is ....."big time"........With "big time" facilities and a huge base of die hard fans. Auburn competes year in and year out for conference championships and national rankings.




This is why it was so important for Auburn to make the right decision........the right choice.



One of the candidates was Buffalo University's Turner Gill (right).......a very good head coach (8-5 this year, and the MAC championship) who happens to be black. Another candidate was Gene Chizik..........a not so good head coach (2-10 this year)......who happens to be white.

Guess who got the job?

Auburn hired a coach with 2 years of head coaching experience........a coach who actually had a worse record this year that his first year at Iowa State. Total? 5-19...........

5 wins ........19 losses .......two years.....at a salary of $1,100,000........And Auburn hires Chizik.......at $2 million per year.......A $900,000 raise.....for being a not so good coach.

Turner Gill's base salary at Buffalo is $180,000 a year and he is signed through 2011.......



Only in America........if you're a fair-skinned white guy.

I'm sure Mr. Chizik (left) is a respectable human being with a loving family. It's not his fault.

It is the "Good Ole Boy" network that gets part of the blame....The other goes to these 5 star black recruits themselves.

Imagine an Auburn team 3 or 4 years from now had it hired Gill..........and all those black recruits had said no to Nick Saban , Urban Meyer, and Mark Richt..........and came to play for Gill and Auburn.

But..........it won't happen......Turner Gill never got the chance.......Even with a resume far superior to that of Chizik.......Auburn has wimped out..........

Why...........this is from Charles Barkley and Yahoo Sports:

Barkley said he talked with Gill and Gill was concerned he’d never be a serious candidate because his wife is white. Barkley, and a number of Gill’s peers in the coaching community, agreed, but encouraged him anyway. Apparently such marriages are still uncomfortable to university presidents, major boosters and assorted Klan members.

“He was concerned about having a white wife,” Barkley said. “It’s just very disappointing to me.”

And.....extremely disturbing .....to us too.

When is.......enough.......enough?

When is.......too much....too much? When is ...."the sky's the limit".......the limit? When will the old saying, "Nobody's worth that kind of money" really apply? My thoughts? Never.......



C. C. Sabathia........from here on to be known as "Cash Cow"..........has agreed to a contract with the New York Yankees that will make him the highest paid pitcher in league history.

$161 million for 7 years........Simple math? Try $23 million per year.......

And the Yankees? They had offered $140 million for six years.......Sabathia waited......a month later? 7 years and $161 million. Do I blame him? Heck no........get it when you can it.....

But..........

Be prepared for everything.......and I mean ........everything .......New York has to offer.

This will not be Cleveland....or Milwaukee.......This is ..........New York City!

Sabathia, is only 28 years old.......and .......he is an American, born and raised in southern California. He lettered in three high school sports ( Football, baseball, and basketball) and had a scholarship offer to attend USC as a tight -end ..........

His major league career record as a starting pitcher is 117-73, with an earned run average of 3.66. A left-hander who stands 6' 7" and weighs 250 pounds.

But............

The post-season? Play-offs? Check this out:

 Year   Round Tm  Opp WLser  G   GS   ERA   W  L SV CG   IP   H   ER  BB  SO
+------+-----+---+---+-----+---+---+------+--+--+--+--+-----+---+---+---+---+
2001   ALDS  CLE SEA     L   1   1   3.00  1  0  0  0   6     6   2   5   5
 2007   ALDS  CLE NYY     W   1   1   5.40  1  0  0  0   5     4   3   6   5
        ALCS  CLE BOS     L   2   2  10.45  0  2  0  0  10.1  17  12   7   9
 2008   NLDS  MIL PHI     L   1   1  12.27  0  1  0  0   3.2   6   5   4   5
+------+-----+---+---+-----+---+---+------+--+--+--+--+-----+---+---+---+---+
 3 Lg Div Series       1-2   3   3   6.14  2  1  0  0  14.2  16  10  15  15
  4 Postseason Ser      1-3   5   5   7.92  2  3  0  0  25    33  22  22  24

Yes.......1-3 ...with an era of 7.92

What's wrong with our Atlanta Hawks?


A week ago, the Hawks were 12-6 and alone in second place in the NBA's southeast division after dispersing of the N Y Knicks, 98-95 in the friendly confines of Philips Arena in the ATL.


One week later........and the Hawks are still in second........though tied with the Miami Heat. But the record now stands at 12-9, with three straight losses in the state of Texas.


Atlanta lost a heart-breaker at Dallas, 100-98 on Saturday. Then were dismantled on Tuesday, 92-84 at Houston and out played by San Antonio, 95-89 on Wednesday.


Suddenly, these young Hawks are not shooting.....making way too many turn-overs.......and are not functioning as a cohesive unit.



All star guard Joe Johnson has done his part.......Joe averaged 30 points per game in the three losses. For that matter, the entire starting five has been decent........averaging double figures. The problem for these Hawks is bench play from the reserves. No one is stepping up. Are they tired? It is an 82 game grueling schedule but there have only been 21 games played.....roughly one-fourth of the season.


A starting five in the NBA can take you only so far.......players 6 to 12 on the roster have to produce and make an impact . The Hawks bench is neither ..........


Panic time? No........but the Hawks should start recruiting now to strengthen their weakness. Time to check-out those aging veterans who need one more chance to show themselves in post season play........

A few names that come to mind.......

Stephon Marbury ? Jason Terry ? Juwan Howard ? Antawn Jamison ? Joe Smith ?

Just a thought.....

Some headlines on this rainy afternoon........

A lazy man's "Hump Day News.......I supplied only the headlines....you have to click and read....

I'm tired.....so here it is.......

CC, Yanks agree:
7 years, $161 million

Congressman proposing bill to kill BCS systemNeck injury threatens Pacman's season, career

By now .........

You all have heard or seen what happened this past Friday night with the Boston Celtics' second year player, Glen "Big Baby" Davis. Seems the Celtics had a 25 point lead in the 4th quarter....only to be whittled down to 13. Enter Kevin Garnett........and not too subtle.......For he had the "Big Baby" in tears.

Note to the baby.......grow up! This is not high school.......or college.......This is the NBA.......

Watch.......courtesy of YouTube..........(who else?)

Just an e-mail folks.....

This photo came via GaPeach913........It is a very sexy looking piece of meat. I just wonder how good it tastes.


I quit..........

As in trying to pick the outcome of college and pro football games......In our "Friday Picks".....We went for it all..........picking 10 games.......Well, we went 4-6.......against the spread...Vegas wins .......again! We were 2-3 with the college guys and 2-3 with the pros. At least we were consistent with our losses. That gives us a season ending record of 36-33-1..........Still above water.......but not enough to make sufficient money.

Happy trails........Greg Maddox...

The "Mad dog" retired today........he with the 355 wins........he ......a future Hall of Famer.......the greatest actual "pitcher" I have ever seen.

Happy trails.......Oscar De La Hoya........

You .......my friend .....got a beat down on Saturday........You looked old and slow. Time to hang 'em up.

Remember when?

When companies gave out Christmas bonuses........and sprung for the annual Christmas party? Thing of the past. Not in the budget this year...........

Welcome aboard..........Mike Locksley........

The University of New Mexico announced the hiring of former Illinois offensive coordinator, Mike Locksley as their new head coach. Yes........a black man.....one of four.......African-Americans to lead a major college football program........Good luck, Mike.

Today in
Sports History
1908 - At the University of Pittsburgh, numerals were first used on football uniforms worn by college football players.

1970 - The Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy and the Bill Masterson trophy were stolen from the NHL Hall of Fame.

1973 - Ron Santo became the first major league player to veto his trade.

1978 - Pete Rose signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. The contract was for four years and $3.2 million making Rose the highest paid athlete in team sports.

1982 - Mel Gray ended an NFL streak of 121 consecutive games with receptions.

1983 - Steve Howe (Los Angeles Dodgers) was suspended for 1 year for cocaine use.

1983 - The video arcade game "NFL Football" was unveiled in Chicago. It was the first video arcade game to be licensed by the National Football League.

1995 - Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) passed for 300 yards in a game for the 52nd time to set an NFL record.

2000 - Karl Malone (Utah Jazz) moved past Wilt Chamberlain into second place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.

2002 - Michal Handzus (Philadelphia Flyers) became only the second NHL player to score an overtime goal on a penalty shot. The Flyers beat the New York Rangers 3-2.

Cadillac Records............

is a 2008 musical biopic written and directed by Darnell Martin. The film explores the 1950s musical era, chronicling the life of the influential Chicago-based record-company executive Leonard Chess, and the singers who recorded for Chess Records.

The film stars Adrien Brody as Chess, Cedric the Entertainer as Willie Dixon, Mos Def as Chuck Berry, Columbus Short as Little Walter, Jeffrey Wright as Muddy Waters, and Beyoncé Knowles as Etta James. The film has been rated R by the MPAA for "pervasive langauge and some sexuality."

I have never been much of a musical fan......but I may make an exception in this case. The previews seen interesting and the cast is strong.

If anybody sees this film over the week-end, let us know your thoughts....

Now........on with the picks. We took a week off to enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities so this week, we' ll double up and pick 10 games (5 college and 5 pro) instead of our usual 5 (3 college and 2 pro)

Last Week: 3-2-0

Season: 32-27-1


UCLA (+33 ) over USC..........Yes, the Bruins lost to BYU, 59-0 earlier in the year.......but I have a feeling this game will be closer. The Trojans win but don't cover.

Oklahoma (-16 1/2 ) over Missouri.......Okay......I believe........Lay the points. The Sooners will score and score some more.

West Virginia (-7) over South Florida.....A meaningless Big East game in December....in Morgantown. The home team wins.....Lay the 7 points.

Boston College (Pk) over Virginia Tech......A rematch of sorts.......BC beat Tech 28-23 at home earlier this season. I think they will do it again in the neutral site in Tampa.

Alabama (-9 1/2) over Florida.....All week long I had been leaning toward the Gators, but something tells me, brawn and beef will beat brains and speed Saturday. The Tide in the upset.


Cincinnati (+13 1/2 ) over Indianapolis .....The Colts have beaten only one team by more than 6 points. The Bengals will stay close but lose....Take the points.

Cleveland (+13 1/2 ) over Tennessee .....Same thing in this game. The Titans win but not by 13.....Take the points.

Green Bay (-5 1/2) over Houston......The Texans had their day in the sun on Monday Night .....Now, with a short week and in Green Bay in December? Tough going. Lay the points. The Packers win big.

Pittsburgh ( -3 ) over Dallas......Game of the day? Could be. The Steelers hit the 'boys in the mouth and win big.

New Orleans ( -3 ) over Atlanta........I love the Falcons but facts are facts. Teams in the NFC south just don't lose at home. In a close game, the Saints prevail. Lay the points.

This brings to a close the college regular season, but we will be back next week with pro games and the bowl season.

From Fox News.....

O.J. Simpson was sentenced Friday to at least 15 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping in a failed attempt to recover sports memorabilia from two collectibles dealers.

There will be the possibility of parole after six years, Judge Jackie Glass said.

His co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart received the same sentence.

Before the judge handed down his sentence, Simpson apologized to her and the Las Vegas court after learning he won't be able to be freed on bail if he appeals.

Simpson appeared at the hearing in a blue prison jumpsuit, shackles and handcuffs.

It was as if O.J. was looking and waiting.....

For Johnnie Cochran to come running into the court room with a last ditch effort to keep him out of jail.

It didn't happen.......For one, Mr. Cochran (God rest his soul) is dead......And this was Las Vegas.......not Los Angeles.

We all knew Simpson was guilty of two counts of murder back in 1994........but he and his "Dream Team" of lawyers beat the system that for generations had beaten the black man.

This case was different..........No Court TV........No fan fare........just the law versus the evidence versus the defense. And the defense lost.

Let's hope Mr. Simpson ceases to make any more headlines and lives a peaceful and quiet life in that gray-bar hotel.

Cold and Drizzling ..........

In this southern college town......With all due respects to Brook Benton...... A dreary day. Gray.....dark.......Something out of a Stephen King novel.

I don't dare turn on the news...........Lay-offs..........store closings.......bankruptcies.....stockmarket plunges.......recession..........terrible car wrecks........man beats dog with sledge hammer......and on and on and on........

What a world.......what a life . Can we get a good comedy show in here? Now?



Happy Trails........Houston Comets....

This is.......or was a WNBA team.....but not just an average team. The Comets won the championship of the league in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. In fact........the won the championship the first four years of the league's existence.......and this is how they are repaid?

Yesterday, the Comets folded..........closed shop. Unable to find sponsers and new ownership. There will be a dispersal draft at a later date of all current non free agent players. We have often ragged on women's basketball........but this is a shame. This would be like the New England Patriots folding in the NFL.



Happy Trails.......Mike Hampton.....


The former Atlanta Braves left handed pitcher has signed a deal to pitch for the Houston Astros. Yes, that Hampton..........he of the million dollar heart..........but a fifty-cent body......By the way..........he must still pass a physical.......to make the deal final. And that may be asking just a little too much for the injury proned Mr. Hampton.






Things......I think..........I'm thinking.......

I voted Tuesday in this run-off election in Georgia.......me and about ten other people.

I filled up my car today..........for $19.95.....Couldn't even get $20 in the tank.

Today, DirecTV gave me $10 off a month for a year........and added ShowTime and Starz for free. Who says there is no Santa Claus?

Thanksgiving is still........by far........the best holiday of the year. And I am blessed with the best family ........anywhere......any place.

A special birthday wish for my niece..............Andrea........yes, I remembered.......Happy 29th!

Phil Fulmer? Sylvester Croom? Tommy Tuberville?

All former coaches in the Southeastern Conference this year.......all of the above.......who will not be back next year.

I'm no math major, but that's 25% of the coaches.......

What a league..........Fulmer, winner of a National Championship.....gone.

Tuberville.......an undefeated season 3 years ago..........gone.

Croom.......SEC coach of the year in 2007........gone.

The SEC...........the "What have you done for me lately league".

One bad season and the big bad boosters and the universities will boot your behind out. When is enough..........enough.

Georgia's Mark Richt is now the dean of coaches with 9 years in Athens.......but.......a mediocre season..........say a loss to Florida and rival Georgia Tech next year? I can see it now, "Richt resigns".......date-line December 10, 2009.

And Nick Saban of Alabama? You know how crazy those Tide fans are......Today, he can do no wrong..........the savior........but let 'Bama have a couple of bad years......."Here's the door Saban, don't let it hit you, where the good Lord split you".

Such is the life in the SEC. Win , win, win..........We pay the big bucks.......lose.......and you're out. Who in God's name would want to live this way? Who would ever want to coach in the SEC?

With that said..........this is "big boy" football..........not for the weak.....In this league....you eat....or be eaten.

Nice guy?..........Go to the Ivy League........Family guy?.......Go home and play with your kids........

This league is for but a few........

For this is the ..........SEC.

The Plaxico Burris fiasco........

Only in New York. Seems Plaxico's self treatment of a pulled hamstring in his right thigh calls for a bullet to that said thigh.

Yes, Mr. Burris , shot himself in the right thigh..........in an accidental shooting at a night club in the City. Here is where things get absolutely silly.

Mr. Burris then went to a hospital..........called on one of those "friends of the family doctors" for treatment.....failed to report it to police........and used an alias name (Harris Smith) and said he had been shot at an Applebees ..........

Teammate, Antonio Pierce was also at the club and is believed to have hidden the gun.....

The Giants have placed Plaxico on the reserve non-football injury list.......meaning he won't get paid....and suspended him for the last four games. The NYPD has charged him with possessing an illegal firearm.

By the way..........Mr. Burris is married to a lawyer..........go figure. Below is ProFootballTalk.com's take on this.

#1..........and a 10 point dog........

Leave it to college football. The number 1 ranked team in the nation, Alabama (12-0) faces Florida (11-1) in Saturday's SEC Championship game and the Tide is a 10 point underdog.

What is going on here? In the name of Bear Bryant, what is Vegas thinking? Bama is undefeated........untied...........#1 in the BCS.......the game is in a neutral site........

That said........take Florida.....and lay the points.



LeBron James and Charles Barkley in a war of words....

Charles is not too thrilled about all of talk surrounding James supposedly heading to the N Y Knicks in 2010.......

Take a look.....courtesy of ESPN and YouTube: