RTT on NBC Sports' Hoop It Up: blogging about vomit will lead to bizarre lunchtime phone calls

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 3:45 PM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball

You know, life is odd. On November 15, 2004, in a fit of boredom, I clicked on that mysterious, squiggley orange B on my Google toolbar and wrote my first blog post about nothing. Literally. After a year of intermittent posting, I finally posted a picture of Tennessee Volunteer Jesse Mahelona and was suddenly struck by the realization that more people were interested in the Vols than in stories about my youngest daughter puking on the family dog. Well, forty more people anyway.

Now, this week, I found myself sitting in my car during lunch talking to NBC Sports about Bruce Pearl and the Volunteer basketball team. I'm telling you. Life is weird.

Many thanks to John for having me on, to Dodd for the banter, and to Matt for editing out my most egregious errors.

Update [2008-2-22 15:55:3 by Joel]: If the embedded video won't play for you, try it over at, ahem, NBC Sports.

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permit me a squee?

squee!

by Holly Anderson on Feb 22, 2008 4:21 PM EST reply actions

Squee all you want

Reminds me of home. (Live in a house full of girls, all adoring fans, of course!) Speaking of . . . it's almost the weekend.

This feels a lot like a football weekend, doesn't it?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 4:40 PM EST up reply actions

kinda, yeah

In that I wish I were going HOME this weekend, dammit all.

by Holly Anderson on Feb 22, 2008 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Excellent!

Great job of affable poor-mouthing. Orson has trained you well.

Visit the Georgia Podcast Network to find Georgia's best podcasts in one place.

by rustytanton on Feb 22, 2008 4:36 PM EST reply actions

Yeah

I meant what I said: Davy Crockett's gun is a rifle, as far as I can tell, and we get only one shot. I'm still aiming so I can make it a good one.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 9:17 PM EST up reply actions

Ghost of Neyland

bigshot

by ghostofneyland on Feb 22, 2008 4:36 PM EST reply actions

Nah

A bigshot would have gotten a full 15 minutes of fame. I only got 7:39. Somebody owes me . . . oh, no, math not based on 100s . . . um, hooper? Aerobab?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 9:22 PM EST up reply actions

Depends

If you want engineer math, then you're owed 7:21.

If you want lawyer math, the bill should be finalized to the next full hour, and you have to consider the cost of communication, and the paperwork and the hidden research. On top of that, there's inevitably some follow-up to be done, and there are the usual overhead fees, statutory compliance fees, and fees for having to gain new accreditations for interstate commerce. Lastly there's this little waiver for permission to publish in the peer review journal. All told, when you carry the 3, you're owed $15,550.

by David Hooper on Feb 23, 2008 12:08 AM EST up reply actions

I despise the all-caps . . .

. . . version of this combination of three letters, but sometimes, it's the only thing:

LOL

Add "accounting" to your duties here at RTT.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 23, 2008 7:25 AM EST up reply actions

Kudos!

...only you were wrong about the prediction. I think you meant to say Vols by 3!

Oh, and the NBC music that drowned out the commentary was not cool, but the MSM exposure is what counts!

by Aerobab on Feb 22, 2008 5:37 PM EST reply actions

You got it

Yep. Vols win.

Now I'm covered. On record either way.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

Nice!

This little venture of yours might get even bigger than you ever dreamed, given the rate at which you're getting attention.

Nice cover though: football school trying to figure out the whole basketball thing. That'd make a UT victory that much bigger and a Memphis victory that much smaller.

by David Hooper on Feb 22, 2008 5:48 PM EST reply actions

Team effort

This site is beginning to get attention because of the growing community. Not only is it growing, but the quality improves with each new commenter that jumps in.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

Congrats!

That's awesome. You did well.

by rbk on Feb 22, 2008 6:51 PM EST reply actions

Thanks for the unsuspecting assistance

When they emailed, I went three places for info: StatSheet.com, UTSports.com, and The BruceBall Blog, so I owe you, rbk.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions

Well done!

Great job! Can I get an autograph?

by wvvol on Feb 22, 2008 8:33 PM EST reply actions

Appreciate it

Sure. Ready?

;->

That's it, right there. Enjoy!

Can I get yours?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Feb 22, 2008 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

Congratulations!

I've only been on here like a week and I have already talked to a famous guy lol I'm impressed good work!(even though u didn't pick the Vols) ha jk

Dustin

by volfan5216 on Feb 22, 2008 9:46 PM EST reply actions

Joel

that's impressive. Your really making a name for yourself and for RTT. And I don't blame you for picking Memphis, I mean, all of your colleagues of the MSM are, so you were just following the status quo. Say hi to Jay and Digger for me!
ha ha ha

Go Vols! Hulk Smash!

And now... the BasketVols!

by Volorado on Feb 23, 2008 10:27 AM EST reply actions