Talking points: the politics of division
Tennessee football
- [crickets]
- There is the harrowing experience of fellow Vol fan and blogger Ghost of Neyland at 3sib. Stop by and tell him you're glad all turned out well.
Tennessee basketball
- Bruce Pearl called John Calipari a couple of weeks after Cal took the Kentucky job to thank him for the secondary effect of increasing the Tennessee staff's salaries despite the fact that no one from the University of Memphis actually ever called Pearl. Pearl said he wouldn't have talked even if they had called. Market activity does have a way of triggering market adjustments across the board.
SEC
- Nick Saban is schooling Alabama fans, telling them they played a role in last year's embarrassing Sugar Bowl loss:
There's very little interest from our fans, our players or anybody else to play in the Sugar Bowl, which to me is a tremendous opportunity. I tried to tell everyone, you're only going to remember one thing about this game and that's the outcome. So there's no interest, there's no passion and everybody is embarrassed because of how we played. Well, it's because you didn't have any passion for it, you didn't have any interest in it, you didn't have any enthusiasm to do it, and that's across the board. And that's not right. We go to a BCS bowl game, everybody ought to be positive and enthusiastic about what we're doing.
For the record, I think he's mostly right. Symbiosis, people. - SB Nation blogs Team Speed Kills (SEC) and The Rivalry, Esq. (Big 10) have launched a series on the ten best games between the SEC and the Baker's 10. The Rivalry, Esq. kicked things off with the 2007 Capital One Bowl between No. 10 Wisconsin and No. 12 Arkansas, and Team Speed Kills followed up with the 2006 Outback Bowl between No. 9 Florida and Iowa, during which the Hawkeyes were totally ripped off of a chance to tie the game due to a bad call on a recovered onside kick.
NCAA
- Dawg Sports rebuts an argument from Dr. Saturday and MGoBlog and by asserting that division only complicates matters on the question of conference superiority in the NFL Draft. Team Speed Kills rebuts Dawg Sports' rebuttal.
- Hail to the Orange is embarrased at "the ever-expanding glut of University-sanctioned merchandise."
- The NCAA tells Mark Richt he can't go honor a recruit with a 5.12 GPA who has made nothing but straight As since kindergarten with his presence at graduation. Rules just get in the way sometimes, eh?
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September is sooooo far away. Theres only so much MLB I can take, I dont care about the NBA, and while I would love to see more NHL playoff games, they just arent on TV that much.
Strangely, this is my most productive time of year. I can’t figure it out.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm with you on the NHL bit.
I used to watch them on TV with something that was probably beginning to approach the foundings of a religion. After the strike year, I don’t think I’ve seen a game in its entirety. A part was that they lost so much air time, but most of it was because of the rule changes. I still can’t understand how the goalie restrictions are supposed to somehow fit in to the general concept of the game. It’d be like placing ankle weights on the middle linebacker to help offenses score; sure, it’d work, but what sense does it make as an actual game concept?
I’ve watched a lot of minor league games, though. Hockey’s incredible to watch live.
by David Hooper on Apr 29, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Scoring was down, it was a way to fix that.
The two-line pass was a bigger deal, IMO.
by Chris Pendley on Apr 29, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't really pay any attention to hockey
But I LOVED going to Knoxville Speed games for the dollar beers and the fights.
"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook
by rustytanton on Apr 29, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
hockey is awesome
Playoff hockey is super-extra awesome. But ever since my Blues went out with all they had, its been tough to watch another game and get into it. I’ll get there, but a 3OT thriller would help a ton.
"Statistics mean nothing to the individual"
"You are what you eat and you clearly went out and devoured a big fat guy"
I would’ve loved to see the ‘canes – devils game 7 last night, though personally I’m a Toronto and Detroit fan. And to be honest, I would rather see hockey playoffs than NBA playoffs, especially since they dont last 3 freakin’ months.
But yeah, the strike year hurt them a lot, and they lost a lot of air time, but its slowly coming back, and I think in the long run, they are better for it.
Are you referring to the pad restrictions for goalies? I can see the point you’re making, and I pretty much agree, though it does bring back some skill for the goalie, particularly in guarding the 5-hole. Other than that, Im right on board with you.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions
I live in Boston and am a Celtics fan...
and am pretty sure that last season’s run to the playoffs, first against the Hawks and the current series vs. the Bulls has been straight amazing. Like, I actually didn’t watch the Biggest Loser last night! (wink wink)
Though September with the Vols, NFL and MLB playoff to jeep me warm are by far the best couple months of the year.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
~Earl Wilson
by BeantownVol on Apr 29, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
and yes, they jeep me warm
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
~Earl Wilson
by BeantownVol on Apr 29, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I do have to admit, Ive enjoyed the Bulls - Celtics games lately
They have been mostly an exception, but I also enjoy seeing Rondo and Rose
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't thinking the pad restrictions so much as the puck-handling restrictions.
I was totally on-board with the restriction of not handling the puck beyond center ice as a goalie (the old rule), but cutting off specific sections around the goal itself is silly. Sure, it helps offense. It does not fit within the frame of the game, though.
by David Hooper on Apr 29, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Ah, gotcha
Yeah, I don’t see its aim either.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Toronto and Detroit fan?
…can you even do that?
by Chris Pendley on Apr 29, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
hah. Its probably a faux pas, but I like both. Im not a rabid NHL fan, more casual so I don’t know if that gives me a pass or not. When I first started playing hockey I liked Detroit, but I had a Canadian friend who got me hooked on the leafs.
I also like to root for Flyers and Penguins sometimes. Go figure.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Flyers AND Penguins? Get out from under my tent.
I will brook no Philly orange. I can at least look at orange again now, so there’s that.
by Chris Pendley on Apr 29, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Ha Ha Im a fan of certain players
so I find myself rooting for various teams – I probably shouldve looked at what SB blogs you post at before I posted that last comment, I didnt know I was dealing with a straight-up Penguins fan :)
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't have a problem if you rooted for the Flyers.
(Well, I WOULD have a problem, but not the problem I do have.) It’s a sports bigamy thing; you can’t root for both of them. It’s like wanting Tennessee and Alabama to do well. You can’t like them both, even if you have a jersey foul half-jersey with each of them. That’s just not how it works.
Of course, I should’ve warned everyone in advance I’m in full-on hate mode right now; going from the Flyers to the Caps will do that to a man. Lordy, do I want some hockey blood right now.
by Chris Pendley on Apr 29, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
You mean like my UT-Wyoming half-n-half? (Only with a real rivalry behind it?)
by David Hooper on Apr 29, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
And for the record,
we did dissect the jersey afterwards. I have two intact jerseys in my wardrobe.
by David Hooper on Apr 29, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I also just wanted to say how awesome this picture is.
Ive seen it before, but it deserves another go around. +10 for effort.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, pretty much.
No offense, but Frankenjerseys are a pretty classic foul. On the plus side, you weren’t trying to make another number with it, so there’s that. And you got rid of it, so there’s that too.
by Chris Pendley on Apr 30, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey, I know I'm no Laura Quinn
and even she couldn’t make a halfnhalf look respectable. ;)
But I figured you wouldn’t see such an ugly combination of colors in a long, long time. My entire goal was ugliness and uncoolness, and I do believe I met it. Besides, when you consider what was taking place on the field that day, I was the most entertaining thing in the stadium.
It was completely worth it.
by David Hooper on Apr 30, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, your mitigation is that it doesn't really form anything.
That is a faint, faint mitigation, but it is still one.
And yes, that was atrocious. :)
by Chris Pendley on Apr 30, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Off-Topic:
(as if anything in the offseason is on-topic…)
The Wyoming jersey is far, far, far more comfortable than the UT one. It’s better constructed, more durable, and lays better on the shoulders. Perhaps it’s just the particular UT jersey model I happened to pick up, but they are doing themselves a disservice if that’s typical of all the UT jerseys for sale.
by David Hooper on Apr 30, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
"It’s like wanting Tennessee and Alabama to do well."
Lol. Thats funny, because i come from a family where my mother is an Alabama fan and my father is Tennessee fan. Obviously, I chose tennessee over alabama, BUT I will root for alabama on occasion as long as they are not playing Tennessee.
Im sure this honesty might put a price on my head, but I guess im just a dichotomous person.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions
And one more thing before I get tore up by graysnail...
I think its hilarious that the only conversation that has occurred today has been about the NBA and NHL. Its a sloooooow news day around here.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 29, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Do they have one of those "family divided" front license plate thingies?
by David Hooper on Apr 30, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I dont know, but looking at your jersey-sewing ability...
hows your welding ability?
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 30, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Heh.
For one, the Mrs. did the sewing. If you know what a “whip stitch” is, there you go. I don’t know what that means other than it worked like a champ.
And I’ve never welded before in my life. I can solder like a madman, though.
by David Hooper on Apr 30, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Interestingly enough, I do know what a whip stitch is – I’ve done my share backstage in the theatre dept when I was an undergrad. And while Im fairly proficient in the wood shop, I dont know a thing about welding myself.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on Apr 30, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I know the physics of welding (engineering major)
and I know that a good welder is an extremely valuable commodity. Other than that, count me out.
by David Hooper on Apr 30, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm an Avalanche fan, so I think I can wait a while.
Again, growing up in the Rockies, you pick the closest thing you can find to a home team. (After that, it’s the Oilers and Flames.)
I'm not going to lie, it'd be a little bit awesome if you were a Flames fan.
I don’t think you’re categorically insane enough to qualify as an Oilers fan.
by Chris Pendley on Apr 29, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
No, really.
I do like those two teams. I relate well to western Canadians and I was just barely old enough to remember Gretzky with the Oilers. I started liking the Flames when they picked up Chris Drury from the Avalanche a while back. He’s one of my favorites.
by David Hooper on Apr 29, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh god, don't tell me you're a Rangers fan because of Drury too.
He’s over there now. I kind of have a soft spot for the Flames – can’t explain why. One of my friends here is a displaced Nordiques Avs fan, so I’m not unfamiliar with the type. It’s just so rare to find non-Hab and non-Leaf Canadian fans on this side of the country. I went to a Caps-Oilers game a few months ago and there were like 12 people rooting for the Oilers.
by Chris Pendley on Apr 30, 2009 8:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Nah.
The Rangers are like the Yankees to me. There’s no need to cheer for them; they already have enough support, and most non-NY fans are simply people who want to wear “sports-designer” clothes and treat the team logo like a name brand. I still like Drury though. And now that you mention the Nordiques, I have a dormant desire to see an Avs/’Canes final in the hopes that a bunch of people will attend in Nordiques/Whalers attire.
In a general sense, I still cheer for a lot of teams from the Rockies. I was probably one of the (very) few people in Tennessee who was cheering for Utah in the Sugar Bowl rather than cheering against Alabama.
by David Hooper on Apr 30, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
I was pulling for Utah.
That’s purely a hate-related thing, though.
by Chris Pendley on Apr 30, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

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