My Corner of the World

Saturday, April 29, 2006

DeAngelo Williams was just drafted 1st round no. 27 by the Carolia Panthers.

DeAngelo Williams in today's NFL draft:

Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazzette - 2006 NFL DRAFT : Made in Arkansas
DeAngelo Williams, a running back from Wynne who rushed for 6, 026 yards at the University of Memphis, is projected as a first-round pick in many mock drafts. If Williams goes in the first round of today’s draft, he’ll join Camden’s Shawn Andrews and Van Buren’s Matt Jones as small-town Arkansas guys who were first-round picks the previous two years.

Scott Loftis, Arkansas Democrat-Gazzette - Second Thoughts
"I’ll still continue to eat at Wendy’s, Burger King and McDonald’s. That’s not an endorsement. It’s just the way I eat." Running back DeAngelo Williams on how playing in the NFL will affect his life

Alan Schmadtke, Orlando Sentinel - White, Bush could go in first round
DeAngelo Williams might be the biggest beneficiary of Lendale White's slide. Blessed with downfield vision and balance, Williams logged nearly 8,000 all-purpose yards at Memphis. And he's approaching the draft as if he's trailing in a race. "I'm not one of those guys that's looking back. I turned my rear-view mirror off a long time ago," he said. "I'm chasing."

Zach McMillin, The Commercial Appeal - DeAngelo's day has finally arrived
Sandra Hill, the woman who gave DeAngelo Williams his smile and charisma, has become something of an NFL Draft fanatic over the last three months, and she has her own opinion about where her son will be picked in today's first round. Hill says it's going to be the Indianapolis Colts trading up to take Williams, who set numerous school, conference and NCAA rushing records in his four years at the University of Memphis.

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The Houston Texans will choose NC State defensive end Mario Williams as the no. 1 draft pick later today. He's already signed a 6-year deal worth $54 million. The move leaves many shocked, including members of the team, that the front office would pass on USC's Reggie Bush & Texas QB Vince Young.

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The last time the Tennessee Titans had such an early pick in the draft, they took a chance on a young QB out of Alcorn State named Steve McNair. That was 1995 & I believe that worked out pretty well for the team. Today, the Titans are expected to spend their no. 3 pick on another quarterback: Vince Young.

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Grizzlies in the playoffs:

Giveaways hurting Griz

Griz tired of 0-10 talk, but only a win stops it

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NASCAR driver & owner Michael Waltrip says he has talked to Dale Jarrett about joining his team next year when they debut the Toyota Camry in the Nextel Cup Series. What? No more DJ in the UPS commercials?! That would be disappointing. Then again, Jarrett needs to go somewhere he can win & it appears Robert Yates Racing ain't the place for him. But is an upstart team something a driver in the twilight of his career should really fool with?

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Thursday, April 27, 2006

There could be a steroid contraversy coming soon to a college near you. The Dallas Morning News reports that among NCAA athletes who reported taking anabolic steroids, over 24-percent believe their coach knows what's going on. Almost 18-percent said the steroids came from a coach, trainer or team physician.

The entire report on substance abuse with college athletes can be found at NCAA.org.

Hey, at least the NCAA has their priorities. Tomorrow the organization will hear appeals from from Bradley University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois-Champaign & the University of North Dakota over their use of mascots the NCAA believes to be offensive.

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Meanwhile, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors will consider legislation today allowing 6-6 football teams to be bowl-eligible starting this season.

According to the NCAA website, other action items expected from the Board include:

Consideration of legislation defining season-length parameters for men’s and women’s basketball (and elimination of the “two-in-four rule”).

Approval of emergency legislation from the Working Group to Review Initial-Eligibility Trends that fortifies the validity of prospective student-athletes’ academic credentials and establishes a process by which to ferret out academic fraud in nontraditional high schools (that is, the so-called “diploma mills”).

Possible determination of the appropriate cut points in the APR under which teams become subject to the historically based penalties in the academic-reform structure.

Possible elimination of the subdivision labels in football (advocates for this have long believed the I-AA and I-AAA labels that apply only to football have been inappropriately used by media and others to label entire athletics programs).


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Grizzlies in the playoffs (AKA Will they ever win a postseason game?):

Bear down: Mavs beat Grizzlies easily, 94-79

Memphis' clock strikes 12 during Mbenga time

Grizzlies still perfect as they lose once again

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What's being written about DeAngelo Williams:

Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star - Memphis’ Williams has put up numbers like another No. 20
Williams, a compact, 5-foot-9, 214-pound whirlwind expected to be a late first-round pick in Saturday’s NFL draft, conjures up images of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, with his thick build and ability to start, stop, dash, dart and change directions, sometimes all on one play.

The Lakeland Ledger - Dolphins Might Add RB to Draft Wish List
Coach Nick Saban declined to comment Wednesday on how the suspension (of Ricky Williams) alters the Dolphins' draft priorities. But they don't consider (Ronnie) Brown a workhorse running back, and with Sammy Morris and Travis Minor behind him on the depth chart, the position needs an upgrade. Running back prospects Miami might consider in Round 1 are LenDale White of Southern California, DeAngelo Williams of Memphis and Laurence Maroney of Minnesota.

Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic - Still talent at RB after Bush
After Houston takes Reggie Bush with the first pick in this weekend's draft, you could probably mow the yard, wash the car and take a good nap before the next running back is chosen. But that chasm between Bush and the rest of the field doesn't mean there is a dearth of talent at the position. There are a handful of running backs worthy of being selected in the first round. Minnesota's Laurence Maroney is fast enough to run outside, can change speeds and is a good blocker. DeAngelo Williams of Memphis is quick and has great moves. Joseph Addai was never a featured back at Louisiana State, but he has made a steady rise up the draft boards over the past few months.

Connor Byrne, RealFootball365.com - Walker, Williams would solidify Denver's offense
In the event that the Denver Broncos do add wide receiver Javon Walker before this weekend's draft, they can shift their focus away from the receiver position in Round One, and turn their attention to the running back position. Denver has the No. 15 overall pick on Saturday, so they'll be in peak position to select DeAngelo Williams, formerly of Memphis. The Broncos already have the 5-11, faster than lighting third-year man Tatum Bell, but Shanahan likes to employ two back sets, as he did when Anderson was with the team. Williams is by no means a bruising back like Anderson, but he'd be splendid in Denver's system, which seems to magically produce 1,000 yard backs year in and year out. During his career at Memphis, Williams emerged as one of the preeminent backs in the country. Williams stands only 5-9, but he makes up for it with his great running skills, the ability to block and be a receiver from the backfield. He's scarily similar to the 5-11 Bell, who is actually one pound lighter than the 214 pound Williams. If USC star Reggie Bush wasn't in the upcoming draft, it would be Williams hogging most of the spotlight at the running back position.

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The Houston Bowl appears to be in big trouble. It was revealed last week the bowl still owes Iowa State & TCU over half of their payout. Today, officials are meeting with various conference heads in Orlando to discuss the bowl's future.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has polled 10 presidents of BCS universities & all but one would consider a "plus-one" model for college football, meaning a championship game would be played one week after the major BCS bowls are played.

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After being turned down by TV commentator Steve Lavin Wednesday, N.C. State was ready to turn to West Virginia's John Beilein as their next head coach. That is until Beilein issued a statement saying, "It has never been my philosophy to comment on job openings at other schools, but the speculation today about me accepting another head coaching job is erroneous. I am flattered by the interest and recognition that the basketball program has received. I will be the coach at West Virginia next season."

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Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Afternoon update:

Here's something to chew on. I've heard many Tiger fans say, "Well, if Cal leaves we can always find a good coach with the money we've been paying him."

Not true.

Poor N.C. State has had a third coach tell them thanks, but no thanks. Steve Lavin is the latest to turn down the Wolfpack. With a contract speculated somewhere around 2-million being floated around, why can they not find a coach? What's wrong with this situation?

No, I am not surprised nor do I really blame Darius Washington & Shawne Williams for testing the NBA draft waters. Do I think the two Tigers standouts need at least another year in the college ranks? Absolutely.

So there reignites the debate: if the opportunity is there, do you take the money & run or do you further improve your skills to better you draft chances in the future?

That's tough to answer & we can debate it all day long. I'm a proponent of a kid staying in college as long as possible & my reasons are numerous. However, I cannot judge a young man for taking a chance to immediately change his family's life.

The date to withdraw is June 18, 10 days before the draft. A player is then eligible to return to his college team if he didn't hire an agent or do anything to taint his amateur status.

My prediction: Darius is gone, but Shawne will be back in a Memphis uniform next season.

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Grizzlies in the playoffs:

Memphis has a not-to-do list for Game 2

Jones' team dinner suggests a cohesion that subdue Dallas

Win tonight is crucial for Griz's future

Business Pulse results: Cost of Grizzlies games keeping some fans away


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Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s no. 8 Budweiser Chevy will sport a black paint scheme, reminiscent of his late father's famous no. 3, this weekend in Talledega. It's to honor his father's induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.

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Texas & Arkansas will resume their football rivalry in 2008, according to several reports.

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I feel sorry for sportstalk show hosts across the country... why? It appears Brett Favre will return to the Green Bay Packers, according to the team's website. As a now-former sports host, I always found there were two topics that could stir the pot: should Pete Rose be in the Hall & should Favre retire. You could stir heated emotions on both sides of the issue.

The 36-year old QB is going to give it at least one more try. Last season he threw a career-high 29 interceptions. His fault? Sure, some of them. But he needs more tools around him to win again. Brett may not be in his prime, but he should have another playoff run in him. He just needs some help.

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Remember the Whizzinator, a device used to beat drug tests? Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith was busted with one a year ago, then failed a drug test later in the spring which resulted in a one-year suspension.

A source close to Smith says the NFL has informed him he will NOT be reinstated next month, which could mean he didn't fulfill all mandatory obligations under the NFL's treatment plan.

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Ricky Williams has let down his teammates again. Are you surprised? The Dolphins running back lost his appeal yesterday over his fourth violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. He will miss the entire 2006 season, including the playoffs.

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The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville asked 50 questions of Matt Leinart, Vince Young & Jay Cutler. Click here & you will know more about these guys than you really wanted.

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Tuesday, April 25, 2006

"With the commitment that we have here, why can't we do special things here? Why can't we be in the top 25? Why can't we be one of the elite programs in the country? I asked the players that: Why not us?" - new SMU basketball coach Matt Doherty, speaking to media yesterday after he was officially announced as the Mustangs new basketball coach.

I am cautiously optimistic this is a good move for SMU. It's time schools around CUSA step up & improve their basketball programs. With UAB hiring former Indiana coach Mike Davis, maybe CUSA basketball will follow the lead of football. After all, CUSA football is known for George O'Leary at UCF, Mike Price at UTEP & even Tommy West at Memphis.

See the similarities? O'Leary had his problems emerge when he accepted the Notre Dame job, Price made a mistake or two right after taking the Alabama job. Both have received second chances & have been pretty successful.

Maybe that is the natural step for CUSA basketball. Former party hopper Larry Eustachy has just dismantled Southern Miss in hopes of rebuilding; Davis never had the support of the Hoosiers faithful, but the Blazer fans will be there if he provides an up-tempo game, similar to that of former coach Mike Anderson. And Doherty, a former national coach of the year, now has the chance to improve SMU in a league fighting for respect.

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Could former Rebels basketball coach Rod Barnes soon call Knoxville home? UT coach Bruce Pearl is considering Barnes & Bob Sundvold to replace Scott Edgar, now head coach at Southeast Missouri.

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Grizzlies in postseason...

Grizzlies' Jackson a king-sized problem

Gasol knows he has to play better than Game 1

Will drama behind scene have effect on Grizzlies?

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The NFL Players Association will hear the case of Titans QB Steve McNair.

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Determining a national champion in college football shouldn't be difficult. The BCS is doing a little PR this week selling the idea of the fifth game which is supposed to open opportunities for football teams residing in non-BCS conferences. The fifth game will also be hosted at the same site which will host the national title game.

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Monday, April 24, 2006

Thanks for all the emails as the blog has not been updated for nine days. Last week was pretty busy for an unemployed guy! The job search continues & I hope to any day have news on that front. A slight back problem I have been dealing with for a couple of months made it difficult to sit in front of my computer last week, but doctors are working to fix it.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Wow, what a week. Memphis coach John Calipari keeps Tiger fans happy electing to stay put here instead of trekking to N.C. State. Meanwhile, Tigers football coach Tommy West receives a slight raise & extension & that spurs the debate over whether he's worth the money or not. Finally, the death of Logan Young went from a murder investigation to an accidental death. Maybe I watch way too much CSI or Law & Order, but I just feel there is more to this story.

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It seems SMU has officially interviewed Texas assistant basketball coach Rodney Terry for the vacant head coach's position. It's also being reported that "informal" talks have been held with ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla. Jimmy Tubbs was fired last week for alleged NCAA violations.

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New UAB basketball coach Mike Davis has announced his staff.

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As someone on the outside looking in at the resignation this week of Melrose High School football coach Chester Flowers Jr., I can't help but feel sorry for the first-year coach of the Golden Wildcats. He led the team to the State 4A championship game, finishing with a 13-2 record. He was at the helm of a storied program which has amazing fan support.

But somewhere along the way it sounds like the job became too much of a headache, so he walked.

"Some are going to think I'm out of my mind to just walk away like this, but I've discussed it with my family and my pastor and they support me in my decision, and that's all that matters," Flowers told the Commercial Appeal. "I want to do things that are more gratifying to the soul, like going to St. Jude (Children's Research Hospital) and visiting sick children and going to nursing homes and visiting the elderly."

Those are all admirable things, but so is teaching young men the game of football & the game of life. I know, it's why I coached youth league baseball many years ago. It was gratifying & it served a positive purpose, similar to what coach Flowers I am sure was doing at Melrose. But then it sounds like it turned into a job with too many headaches, too much stress & no room for satisfying the needs of young men.

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Pop quiz: What college athletic department had the largest profit in 2005? USC you say? No. Florida? Again, no, but you are getting warmer. The University of Georgia turned a $23.9-million PROFIT last year! All I can say is wow.

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A poll released today indicates a majority of Californians believe slugger Barry Bonds has used steriods. A Field Poll says 58-percent point the finger at Bonds, with the number jumping to 68-percent if the respondent also claimed to be a fan of baseball.

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The big question in New York is will Larry Brown return to the Knicks? The coach was at his Connecticut home yesterday resting after spending a day in a hospital for a stomach ailment. Add this to the rest of the turmoil that is the New York Knicks right now & if I were the 65-year old Brown, I would take a walk... hasta la vista, baby.

For the record, Brown's agent says he will be back next season.

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Broadcasting 101: every mic is hot (turned on) & should always be treated as such. If not, you'll sooner or later say something that at the least will embarrass you... at worst, it could cost you your job. Look, it's happened to me... I've heard it happen to Jack Buck, Joe Buck & even Pat Summerall.

Years ago I was doing color on a high school football game. During what he assumed was a lengthy halftime break, the play-by-play guy flipped our headset receiver to a competing station so we could get a score of another local high school's football game. We started listening to the newby they had behind a mic & couldn't help but laugh. But I was the one who opened my big mouth & said, "Wow, he is awful!"

Looking at his stopwatch, the PBP guy flipped back, thinking we were about to return to the air. But when we hit our station all we could hear was the crowd mic. It seems we had been on-the-air for about 60 seconds... yes, our entire conversation was out there. It was embarrassing, but at least there were no "f" bombs or anything similar offered.

Oh, to top it off, our studio producer who was not smart enough to cover the entire break was smart enough to edit our aircheck tape, so we had no physical proof of what occurred. But there were plenty of earwitnesses that let us know.

I go through this whole story after reading this one which caught a pair of NY Mets TV announcers with a conversation they had no idea they were sharing every viewer.

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Happy Easter, everyone.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

It was announced at a press conference this afternoon that Memphis businessman Logan Young died from blunt force trauma to the head, believed to have occurred when he fell down the stairs at his home earlier this week.

This is an amazing turnaround from reports which surfaced Tuesday that his death was a homicide investigation & he could only be identified through dental records & fingerprints, which led us to believe it was a nasty crime scene.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

So what are the bloggers writing about Cal's decision to stay at Memphis?

The Sports World According to Dub - Apparently, NCSU's pursuit of men's basketball coach John Calipari has ended as reports are coming out that Calipari will decline the coaching job. Evidently Calipari's not a fan of sweet tea and BBQ after all. (My note: obviously the author has never had Memphis BBQ or sweet tea; ours beats theirs any day of the week.)

Rick Bozich - John Calipari is reportedly out of the NC State job. Smart move by Cal. If you can dominate C-USA, why would you want to dine on any scraps left by Coach K and Roy Williams? I know NC State is talking major money, but who wants to be the third fish in a two-fish tank? (My note: yes, this is the same Bozich that writes for the Courier-Journal; which begs the question, why does a published journalist need a blog to publish?)

Unknown Column - Say what you will about John Calipari, and plenty has been said about the guy, both good and bad, but he made a wise decision in turning down bigger bucks from North Carolina State to stay at Memphis. Yeah, this may come as a surprise to some folks who believe the ACC is hallowed and sacred, but Calipari isn't dumb. The Tigers are huge in Memphis. Hell, before the Grizzlies arrived, they were the biggest - and, really, only - show in town. The city loves the team and they play in an NBA arena. With more seasons like the one recently completed, Calipari could be king in Memphis. (My note: even with the Grizz in town, the Tigers are still the biggest; last month was a prime example. Now if the Grizzlies make a little noise in the NBA playoffs, their fever will catch, too.)

StateFans Nation - With that comes the conclusion of the John Calipari 2006 Contract Renegotiation Tour Ultimately, the guy ended up being the slimeball that so many people warned us that he was. We don’t express these sentiments out of frustration for Calipari’s rejection of NC State. We say this because of they way that all of this went down. We also hope that our leaders at NC State take advantage of the opportunity to publicly call out Calipari for his behavior during the conversations - what the hell do you have to lose? (My note: hey, you win some, you lose some... you lost. Get over it!)

T.J.'s Take - John Calipari? "No thanks." Rick Barnes? "Nahh."
0 for 2. That's what NC State is batting so far in this contest of a coaching search. Well...perhaps we should make that 0 for 3, because afterall, they had a good coach that they let get away and move out west. But my question is this. Why is NC State having such a hard time filling this vacancy? Could what we, who are close to the situation have suspected for some time, actually be true? Could NC State be as irrelevant in college basketball as most Duke and UNC fans would have you believe?
(My note: go hire Bobby Knight & get it over with.)

Two stories have thrust Memphis into the national spotlight over the last 24 hours. The first actually started Sunday when North Carolina State made a trip to Memphis to lure away Tigers basketball coach John Calipari.

As they story was building, word came yesterday morning that businessman Logan Young was found dead at his Memphis home. As the day wore on, we learned of details from the scene which led confirmed it was a murder investigation.

This morning we wake up with the good news that Coach Cal is staying in Memphis. Add to it the sad news that Young's son is being questioned in his father's death.

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Thanks to my friends Wayne & Lee at WNSP-FM in Mobile, Ala., for having me on this morning to talk about these two stories.

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I was asked Sunday night what I thought Cal would do. I had just arrived back in town after tending to a family matter in Atlanta, so I was out-of-the-loop, so to speak. Heck, I had just missed the Memphis Tigers spring football game; little did I know basketball was still making headlines.

All along I thought Cal would stay. Memphis has Final Four talent on board next year & Cal has spent many seasons trying to get the program to this point. When Memphis agreed to sweeten his contract here, I think it became an easy choice for him to stay.

I am not saying there weren't some times during this whole process that Tigers fans shouldn't have been nervous. Anytime someone wants your coach, proceed cautiously. Sometimes they make an offer you can't refuse. But right now, Cal is good for the university & the university is good for Cal.

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What's being written about Calipari:

Ken Tysian, Charlotte Observer - Calipari won't join Pack
John Calipari apparently will accept a raise and stay at Memphis instead of accepting an offer to coach basketball at N.C. State, a source close to the Memphis athletics program said Tuesday.

Chip Alexander & Caulton Tudor, Raleigh News-Observer - Calipari spurns State
Those with knowledge of the search say Texas coach Rick Barnes and Calipari were far and away the Pack's top two targets. Now that both have rejected NCSU's entreaties, Wolfpack athletics director Lee Fowler may next contact LSU coach John Brady, who guided the Tigers to the Final Four this year.

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One raise & contract extension came from the University of Memphis yesterday with little drama. Football coach Tommy West received an extension through 2010 along with an unspecified raise putting him somewhere between his old salary of $800,000 & $1 million.

The new deal also means more money for assistants. I fully believe a huge part of Tommy's success comes from little turnover at key positions on his staff.

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Southern Mississippi is still committed to improvements to their facilities, even in Hurrican Katrina has altered the plan slightly.

Athletic director Richard Giannini tells the Clarion-Ledger construction could start on some projects this fall, with much-needed improvements finished at the football stadium & basketball coliseum by 2008.

Not only did Katrina delay the start, it has sent construction costs skyrocketing as everyone around the region is rebuilding in the hurricane's aftermath.

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What's in a name? For former boxing great Muhammad Ali it's $50 million. Ali sold 80-percent of marketing rights to his name & likeness to a marketing firm CKX, the same company which holds rights to American Idol & the name of Elvis Presley.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Evening update...

As I expected, it appears Coach Cal will be staying put in Memphis. If it hasn't happened already, an announcement should come tonight or in the morning. I was told it could happen this evening so it would make deadline for newspapers tomorrow.

Now that this appears to be coming to an end, I think it is interesting how coaching searches are vastly different today than just a few years ago before the internet. Fans can connect immediately with other fans; the fans & the media can track airplanes & then speculate on who is on them; numerous blogs can provide insight or additional info to what the mainstream media is offering.

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Traffic here has been triple what it normally is. For those of you new to the site, please come by again & tell other folks about it. I try to update every day. Also, feel free to post a comment or drop me an email at forrest@forrestgoodman.com.

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All the news so far this week really gives me the itch to fire up an internet radio show. What do you think?

BREAKING NEWS: Alabama booster Logan Young found dead this morning

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Wow, the spike in traffic here at the ol' blog has been amazing the last 24 hours. Everyone wants to know what Calipari is doing, where is he going & will he stay at Memphis.

I've tried to asnwer every email I have received, but in case I missed you, I don't much more than you do about what's happening. But what little extra I know leads me to believe John Calipari will be coaching the Memphis Tigers next season. Plus, I think all of this will be settled in the next 24 hours.

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In the meantime, here's what folks are saying:

Jim Young, Greensboro News-Record - Calipari makes day trip to N.C. State
"I can't imagine, with that interest, him coming to Raleigh and seeing something that would cause him to change his mind," said Butch Wilson, of Burlington, a member of the Wolfpack Club's board of directors. While Calipari likely visited the RBC Center and the Dail Basketball Complex when he came to N.C. State, he left behind an athletics director and boosters in Memphis who were feverishly trying to come up with a compensation package to match any offer from the Wolfpack.

Randy Rosetta, The Advocate - Brady on N.C. State short list
ESPN.com writer Andy Katz wrote Monday that if the Wolfpack’s pursuit of Memphis coach John Calipari falls through, then N.C. State would “turn to LSU’s John Brady.”
On www.newsobserver.com, the Web site of the Raleigh News and Observer, veteran sportswriter and columnist Carlton Tudor lists Brady as a candidate on the Wolfpack’s “wide radar screen” should Calipari turn down N.C. State’s overtures.
Brady and LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman were unavailable for comment Monday.


Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer - Calipari still on Pack's radar
A source close to Calipari told the Observer he expects Calipari to accept the N.C. State job if N.C. State and Memphis make similar offers. The Observer has been unable to confirm reports N.C. State offered Calipari close to $2 million a year. Craig Fenech, Calipari's New Jersey-based agent, declined to comment.

Andrew Jones, Wilmington Star-News - After ‘due diligence,’ N.C. State comfortable with Memphis coach
John Calipari has been offered the job at N.C. State, a source very close to the situation told the 'Star-News' late Monday night, but sources close to N.C. State were unaware of Calipari’s decision by the time the 'Star-News' went to press.
According to published reports, State extended an offer on Monday, reportedly worth $1.7 million annually, and Calipari would receive money from a trust fund, which hasn’t been finalized. According to sources, school officials have given “due diligence at the highest level possible” in their efforts to dig into Calipari’s controversial background. While they have acknowledged the last few days their respect for Calipari as a coach, they wanted assurance that his suspect reputation was more fiction than reality.


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Virginia Commonwealth coach Jeff Capel will likely be announced as the new head coach at Oklahoma later today.

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New SMU athletic director Steve Orisini isn't on the job yet in Dallas, but he's very much involved in looking for the school's next basketball coach. Orisini will take vacation from his current post at UCF to work with SMU retiring AD Jim Copeland & university president Gerald Turner to find a replacement for Jimmy Tubbs, who was fired last week.

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Larry Eustachy wants to shake up his Golden Eagles roster. "We could sign as many as nine guys," Eustachy told the Clarion-Ledger. "My goal is not just to be an upper tier program in Conference USA behind Memphis. My goal is to be a conference champion like Memphis. We want to win. That's a must. We have to do that."

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Sunday's national rating for The Masters earned a 9.0, compared to the NASCAR race at Texas which garnered a 4.8. What's confusing the experts is viewership for both events was down compared to 2005, with The Masters taking a 13-percent hit. Then again, some guy named Tiger Woods was in the hunt last year on the final day. It's amazing the difference one guy makes.

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I was watching a show last night on Spike TV called Pros vs. Joes, a reality show which seems to pit regular guys against retired pro players. I didn't catch much of it, but what I saw was pretty funny. These guys had to try to tackle Herschel Walker in a one-on-one drill. It was quite entertaining watching guys, who all looked to be in good shape, just bounce of Walker.

The show will be repeated this weekend on Spike TV, so the DVR is set so I can check the whole thing out.

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Matt Leinart is working out for the Tennessee Titans today in Nashville. Have you packed your bags yet, Steve McNair?

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Speaking of McNair, teammate & NFL union players rep Peter Sirmon sides with McNair on the issues right now dividing the quarterback & his employer. The Titans refused to allow McNair to go through team workouts last week since his future is in question with the team as they sort out his contract.

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Former Titans running back Eddie George interviewed with ESPN yesterday. He's trying to land a job with the network starting this fall.

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Following Vice President Dick Cheney's hunting mishap in February, I must admit I found this headline entertaining in today's New York Daily News, in regards to Cheney throwing out the first pitch in today's Nationals game against the Mets: Duck! Cheney gets 1st pitch

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw donated his four Super Bowl rings, College Football Hall of Fame & Pro Football Hall of Fame rings,his Hall of Fame bust, four miniature replica Super Bowl trophies & a helmet & jersey from one of his Super Bowl victories to Louisiana Tech. They will put them on display on campus.

"I don't need [these things] to remind me of anything," Bradshaw said. "I played in those games, and that's all the memories I need. All of this memorabilia represents blood, sweat and tears throughout my career, and it's nice to know that there is now a permanent home for it."

Monday, April 10, 2006

As the Basketball Turns...

Gary Parrish, Commercial Appeal - Tigers try to sweeten the pot for Calipari

NBCSports.com - Wolfpack trying to hire Calipari

The Memphis Flyer - Should He Stay Or Should He Go Now?

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It's Monday morning & as far as I know Memphis still has a basketball coach. However, the Calipari-to-N.C. State rumors are out there. Here's the latest:

David Glenn, David Glenn's ACC Journal - NCSU Offer "Overwhelms" Calipari
"He (Cal) used the word 'overwhelming,'" the source said. "He said, going into the meeting, he was just going to listen. He came out and said he doesn't think there's any way Memphis can afford to pay the kind of money N.C. State is offering."

Jim Young, Greensboro News-Record - N.C. State pursues Calipari
Unless N.C. State athletics director Lee Fowler and university Chancellor James Oblinger suddenly decided to visit Graceland or Beale Street, it became clear Sunday that the Wolfpack is very interested in University of Memphis basketball coach John Calipari.

John DeLong, Winston-Salem Journal - Wolfpack officials are waiting for Calipari's decision on job offer

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N.C. State started heavy pursuit of Cal after being turned down by Texas coach Rick Barnes last week. It's reported Barnes will receive a raise in his new contract with the Longhorns, taking him from $1.3 million to $1.8 million.

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If I was Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair, my bags would already be packed & my house for sale... I can think of at least six teams right off the top of my head that could use him at quarterback.

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Larry Woody of The Tennessean writes today of later start times for NASCAR races, thanks to TV. I see I am not the only one who has noticed that just a couple or three seasons ago I could walk in & watch the pre-race show right after church. Thanks to TV, I can come home, eat lunch, put my two-year old down for a nap & just about slip into a napping state myself before the green flag drops.

But I am not complaining. It's the price of success. TV dictating what a sports leagues does or does not do is nothing new. That comes with mult-million dollar contracts.

There was one fact by Woody that was very revealing at the end of his column: NASCAR's TV ratings trail only the NFL's among pro sports. The telecast of the Nextel Cup race at Bristol last month went up against the UConn-George Mason NCAA Tourney thriller and the race drew one million more viewers nationally. Fox's 2½ hours of coverage of a rainout at Atlanta (driver interviews, taped segments, commentary, etc.) drew higher ratings that day than the NBA game on ABC and PGA tournament on NBC.

I used to upset folks when I would say on my old show that NASCAR was now the no. 2 sport in the country. Guess I was pretty close.

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Remember how we all used to make fun of Phil Mickelson? Lefty picked up his second Masters title in three years yesterday. And some folks are predicting a golf grand slam this season. Stay tuned...

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Thursday, April 06, 2006

A drop in attendance has the Memphis Grizzlies scratching their heads. The team is currently 26th in the NBA after finishing 19th last season. Memphis is 43-32 & on the verge of their third-straight playoff appearance.

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It appears SMU basketball coach Jimmy Tubbs in on his way out. He's in the second year of a four-year contract, but met extensively with his AD yesterday to discuss the specifics of an ongoing NCAA investigation into his program. Any SMU coach can be terminated without compensation if it is proven he or she knowling committed a NCAA violation.

A decision on Tubbs is expected by Friday.

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I have been told UAB is close to announcing Mike Davis as their new head basketball coach. Two unrelated sources told me yesterday a deal was close & a press conference could happen today or Friday. Today's Birmingham News reports an offer is close for the former Indiana coach, although UAB officials did interview Florida assistant head coach Anthony Grant on Wednesday.

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The Mississippi basketball program lost an assistant basketball coach & a signee all in one day. First, coach Tracy Dildy surprised the administration yesterday after announcing he is leaving the program. Dildy was a finalist for the top spot, after serving as an assistant on former coach Rod Barnes staff. He was retained by new coach Andy Kennedy last week.

It was also learned yesterday that signee Eric Bozeman has been released from his letter-of-intent, after his father said the Rebels were no longer in his son's nest interest.

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South Carolina basketball coach Dave Odom released a statement yesterday removing his name from the list of candidates for coach at N.C. State or any other university. "I have not nor do I expect to have any contact with any other university about any coaching vacancy. I have no interest in leaving the University of South Carolina. I am totally committed to focusing all of my attention and energies on the continued development of our team and program."
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Those six arrested Mississippi State football players I mentioned here earlier this week have been suspended by coach Sylvester Croom & will miss Saturday's Maroon & White game. The six, all freshmen, are accused of assaulting an off-duty police officer in a fight last Saturday night at a Starkville business.

At least one eyewitness claims the football players were trying to break up a fight between two females.

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University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt has become a proponent of an on-campus, alcohol-free nightclub.

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Minor league baseball will start tonight, with or without their striking umpires. The Association of Minor League Umpires voted on the move last month over what the group call "noneconomic & economic issues."

The association's president has a dire prediction: "They're jeopardizing the players on the field and putting a less-quality product on the field for the fan. The talent and speed of the game is so high, particularly at the Triple-A level, that it's going to be hard to maintain those high expectations and standards without us. I think there's going to be disapproval, by managers, players and fans. It's a real shame."

The replacements will consist of retired professional umps & collegiate umps. Something tells me most fans won't even notice a difference.

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High school standout Michael Beasley may not be a lock to head to Kansas State after all. Beasley's mother tells the Charlotte Observer, "Michael's thing is Dalonte (Hill) left and he thinks they're throwing him out behind him. He feels like he's been tossed out on his head. If Charlotte throws in the towel because Dalonte left, that says to me, `Do they really honestly deserve him?' I think Charlotte should recruit him, keep being there for him. Michael loves that school. Don't turn your back on him."

Although he committed to the 49ers at the age of 15, it was assumed by many Beasley would follow Hill, who left Charlotte to join the staff of Bob Huggins last week. Beasley's mother was quick to point out her son is not part of a package deal.

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Here's a good story on Will Bogan, who committed to Coach Cal & the Tigers last year. He's just a junior & this was actually his first year of playing high school basketball, but he's been named the Southeast Missouri Player of the Year & helped lead Bell City to the Class 1 state championship game.

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Former baseball star Dwight Gooden is behind bars for violating his probation. The judge offered him the following deal: serve a year-and-a-day for the violation or reinstate probation, but if he violated it again, it would mean serving the full five-year sentence. Gooden, who admits an addiction to cocaine, opted to take no chances & just serve the current sentence.

Gooden will likely spend only seven months of so because he will get credit for time already served. The former Mets pitcher found himself in hot water last August when he ran from police. When he was caught, he failed a drug & alochol test & was taken into custody for breaking the rules of his probation.

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Did anybody watch the Barry Bonds reality show on ESPN2? According the numbers, it appears I am not the only one who missed it.

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The IOC has told baseball to clean up its act for alleged doping if it wants reinstatement to the Olympics. Baseball was removed from the games set for 2012 in London. Baseball can apply in 2009 for participation in the 2016 event. IOC president Joacques Rogue says progress has been made in cleaing up the sport, but not to the point where the "Olympic family would accept it."

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Pro golfer Tom Lehman was unhurt after a 26-year old thug decided to use Lehman's courtesy car for target practice. Lehman is at Augusta this week for the Masters. He was on his way to the airport earlier this week to pick up his son when he heard a loud pop. A bullet hole was found in his 2006 Escalade. Troy Willis Smith was charged with the shooting, after being arrested for a seperate charge Tuesday night.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

University of Memphis basketball coach John Calipari has been the center of attention now for three job openings. First it was Indiana, then Oklahoma, now N.C. State. Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson told the Commercial Appeal Monday that a new contract, including pay raises for assistants, was coming.

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Is N.C. State a better job than Memphis? Rick Barnes' name is tossed around, so is it better than Texas? Is it worth Jay Wright leaving Villanova?

Steve DeShazo, Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star - Schools in need of coaches likely to eye Larranaga
George Mason coach Jim Larranaga has said he is happy in Fairfax and has agreed in principle with athletic director Tom O'Connor on a raise, but has not signed a contract extension. Meanwhile, his name has begun to pop up in rumors about coaching vacancies at N.C. State and elsewhere.

Andrew Jones, Wilmington Star-News - Wolfpack zeroes in on Barnes
State’s first choice is Texas coach Rick Barnes, who has led the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament in each of his eight seasons at the helm and built the program into national prominence. Barnes told the Austin American-Statesman on Sunday he wasn’t "thinking" about the N.C. State job. Sources close to Barnes have said he’s quite content and happy in Texas, but if there’s a job that could lure him away N.C. State would fit the description. While Barnes is clearly State’s top candidate, the school has a list that extends beyond Barnes. Miami coach Frank Haith has ties to North Carolina and would be a possible long-term solution. Haith, 38, is from Burlington and graduated from Elon. He understands the passion of ACC basketball fans and described his hiring by Miami two years ago a "blessing." Haith inherited a struggling program at Miami. But the Hurricanes have gone 16-13 and 18-16, making the NIT both seasons. Haith, however, said on Monday he hasn’t been contacted by N.C. State.

Ken Tysiac, Charlotte Observer - AD Fowler keeps mum on possible candidates
If (Lee) Fowler has wooed Texas' Rick Barnes or Memphis' John Calipari, considered the frontrunners by N.C. State fans, he hasn't done it in an official capacity. Texas senior associate athletics director for communications Nick Voinis said Monday night Barnes has not been contacted by N.C. State. Memphis spokesman Lamar Chance said Monday afternoon that to his knowledge, N.C. State hasn't asked permission to talk to Calipari. Barnes, who is from Hickory, said last month before an NCAA tournament game that he was happy at Texas and had no interest in coaching in the ACC. Calipari has been the subject of speculation for the Indiana and Oklahoma jobs. According to Chance, Calipari has said he will listen to overtures from other schools but isn't looking to leave as long as Memphis remains committed to having a top-10 program.

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UAB is set to talk to former Indiana coach Mike Davis today. Florida associate head coach Anthony Grant is also rumored to be on UAB's list.

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Monday night's national championship game between Florida & UCLA seemed a bit anti-climatic after the way numerous storylines played out during the month of March. Congrats to Florida on their win, although something tells me basketball is not in danger of replacing football in Gator country.

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Former Green Bay tight end Mark Chmura called Brett Favre selfish & hypocritical on a Sunday radio, while discussing whether the quarterback might retire from the Packers.

"People who don't think that it's all about him are fooling themselves. With a quote like, 'What are they going to do, cut me?' It's all about him. ... He's a selfish guy. He's a very selfish guy."

Chmura also stated Favre did not call him or show any support when Chmura was accused of sexual assault in April of 2000, then aquitted at trial 10 months later.

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The agent for Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair says his client's days are numbered with the team after McNair was refused entrance to workouts at Baptist Sports Park in Nashville. Of course this all stems from McNair's contract situation where he is expected to receive $9 million this season, plus have a drastic affect on the Titans' salary cap, unless a contract can be restructured.

We all know there is little or no loyalty from the Titans after the whole Eddie George affair. Then again, should there be? The NFL is a business. There is little loyalty among most players. If McNair really wanted to work things out, don't you think he would restructure his contract? Then again, it was the Titans who agreed to it so they should pay.

See, tough questions with no easy answers.

Meanwhile, the Titans are spending time in Los Angeles with USC standout QB Matt Leinart.

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The Memphis Grizzlies aren't just working on postseason eligibility, but also on homecourt advantage in the first round.

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Is Cincinnati point guard Devan Downey interested in following Andy Kennedy to Mississippi? Downey says he is looking at his options since interim coach Kennedy left the Bearcats last week for Oxford, while Mick Cronin comes to Cinci as the new head coach.

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Six Mississippi State football players pleaded not guilty in court Monday to charges of assualting an off-duty police officer over the weekend at a Starkville bar. Five teammates, all freshmen, were arrested Sunday including defensive backs Keith Fitzhugh & Derek Pegues, offensive tackle Michael Gates & defensive linemen Charles Burns & Quinton Wesley. Freshman QB Tray Rutland was arrested Monday. Each is free on $25,000 bond.

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Barry Bonds claims a fan tossed a syringe at him Monday in the Giants' opening day loss at San Diego, 6-1. The syringe did not contain a needle & Bonds says he picked it up & carried it off the field in his glove.

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One sporting event on my list of attending sometime is The Masters. As golf's prestigious event approaches, it is reported scalped badges for yesterday's practice round were fetching $125... for a ticket originally priced at $35. A couple of weekend badges were on Ebay last week for $6500.

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Monday, April 03, 2006

I learn something new everyday. So far on this Monday it's up to two. Actually, it's one new thing & the second is probably something new, but I just forgot.

I did not know Terrell Owens middle name is Eldorado. That's a fact you can never forget. The one I am pretty sure I knew, but just forgot, was Owens' hometown is Alexander City, Ala.

All of this comes to mind after reading the Dallas Morning News & their continuing coverage of TO signing with the Cowboys.

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The city of San Antonio is definitely on the list of most-wanted by the NFL & Major League Baseball. Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria confirmed Sunday that talks with the city as the new home of his team are serious. Several city officials will be with Loria today when the Marlins open up their regular season against Houston.

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NFL Pro Day:

Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean - Leinart: Questions about arm thrown out
The Titans were there mainly to see quarterback Matt Leinart, who at the end of the sun-drenched day gave himself a passing grade, but was less than satisfied. "I thought I could have done better, but I am happy with what I showed. I think I answered some questions about my arm strength and moving around and throwing and stuff," Leinart said. "It's been a long day, but I think I did well. This feels like a big burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I still have a few workouts now, and then the draft is the next step."

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Several mock NFL drafts are floating around. The latest I read over the weekend had Deangelo Williams of Memphis going late in the first round to Carolina. Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports writes, Moving Thomas Davis to linebacker shored up that spot. Another safety would seem to be the pressing choice here, but Williams would be too tempting to pass up. A safety and tight end can be chosen in later rounds. There are no guarantees with DeShaun Foster's health, and the team doesn't seem to be sold on Eric Shelton. Circumstance – not talent – is going to push Williams down the draft board. To get him this late would be a steal.

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Congrats to the Memphis baseball Tigers for winning 2-of-3 on the road against nationally ranked Southern Miss.

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The Grizzlies snap a 3-game losing streak, beating Atlanta 98-87.

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Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal says the NBA holds him to different standards compared to other big men & he points his finger directly at league senior VP Stu Jackson. "They need to be consistent in how they call the game, and it all starts at the top. When you got a guy like Stu Jackson running stuff, then it's obvious why the refs are the way they are," O'Neal said of Jackson, who has three times after the fact charged O'Neal with flagrants that weren't called. When asked if there was an agenda, he answered, "Looks like it to me. All they did was flop and the refs fell for it. They make the rules up and then they don't follow them. We all know it's a double-standard; I just wish they wouldn't make it so obvious."

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Coaching rumors:

Rob Daniels & Jim Young, Greensboro News-Record - Wanted: Personable winner to lead Pack
Sources close to the athletics program said N.C. State, which paid Herb Sendek $800,000 per year, may make overtures to Calipari, Rick Barnes of Texas and West Virginia’s John Beilein.None of them is certain to be interested. Calipari’s program is clearly the best in the downscaled Conference USA, and he has four years remaining on a contract paying an annual average of $1.5 million. He was reportedly linked to the Indiana job before Kelvin Sampson’s hire.

Scott Fowler, Knight Ridder News Service - Wolfpack's next coach must be winner
Memphis coach John Calipari may be a target. Calipari is too slick for me, but he might play well in Raleigh given Chuck Amato's success with the red faithful. My dark horse candidate is Wichita State coach Mark Turgeon, who has done a very good job in a very tough place.

David Teel, Hampton Roads Daily Press - Sendek, N.C. State share blame for separation
The question for ACC fans is, who replaces Sendek? The Raleigh News & Observer mentioned Texas' Rick Barnes and Memphis' John Calipari, but each is much better-positioned to win in his current job.

(If you would like a good chuckle, read the second letter-to-the-editor at this link; the author would make a good talk radio clone spouting off things she has heard, but has no idea if they are true or not. You can say what you want about Coach Cal, but inspiring "zero loyalty," as the author claims proves most people open their mouths (or wirte) before taking the time to research the topic.)

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Let's not forget their is a basketball championship game on the tube tonight. Florida faces UCLA to put an end to the 2006 edition of March Madness. It's still one of the greatest sporting events held each year, but I slowly lost interest as my bracket was shot after rounds 1 & 2, the Tigers lost in the Elite Eight, then George Mason's Cinderella run ended in the Final Four Saturday. Yeah, yeah, but I will still be watching tonight.

Ok, I'll be watching as long as it's interesting. If this game follows Saturday's pattern, I'll just flip to Fox & make sure Jack Bauer is still on the path of saving LA from terrorists.

Sunday, April 02, 2006

I am a weather nut. I always have been. When the storms rolled through our area tonight, my weather radio was on & my TV set to Dave Brown. Then in the aftermath, I watched intently as reporters scurried through eastern Arkansas & northwestern Tennessee to assess the damage.

It brings back so many memories of my ol' news days in Mississippi. Our group of stations took pride in being first when weather struck. While the competition was on its usual automated programming, we were live & on-the-air. Sometimes I was in-studio, others I was running with the storm spotters from the local EOC. I even had a radio with my on call-sign so they could keep up with me.

We spotted tornadoes, covered ice storms & reported live from scenes of damage from straight-line winds. It's what local radio is supposed to be about.

God bless those affected by the storms tonight. WMC-TV's Joe Birch just reported eight people were killed in Newbern, Tenn., in Dyer County.