Yankee Haters – don’t start the party yet

Are you like me? Can’t STAND the New York Yankees? Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the players. If I was drafting a team, the first player I would take would be Derek Jeter. He’s a fantastic player and a clubhouse leader. And I’ve gone from being an A-Rod hater to an A-Rod lover. I was really glad to see him have a good spring, mainly because I thought the media just spent too much time on him. The press will tell you that you have to be tough to play in New York because of the constant scrutiny, then turn around and report every time he farts. There are other likeable players – Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Jason Giambi (yeah, I said it. He took his punishment like a man. Oh, and he’s still a ferocious hitter WITHOUT steroids). So when I root against the Yankees, I’m rooting against them as a whole, not as parts. And really, even though I would probably detest him if I knew him, I can’t blame Steinbrenner for doing what he does. He’s putting together $250 million teams because he CAN. Major League Baseball’s current system allows him to do that. I don’t want to get into whether that’s right or wrong, but it is what it is.

But believe me, I hate the Yankees. And once again, they are starting the year in the crappiest of ways. Outside of Alex Rodriguez, they are sucking wind. Pitching is terrible. Bats are silent. And what happens is that many of us say, “Oh, boy THIS is the year that they will finally collapse and Boston/Toronto/Baltimore will finally win the division.” We’ve all said it before and what happened? Yankees win the pennant. See, the Bronx Bombers understand something the rest of us fail to comprehend in April or May. There are 162 games in a season. They are running a marathon. Everybody else is running short sprints. I bet that the Yankees go on to have an even worse May. We’ll get our hopes up and love looking at the scoreboard to see them losing.

But it ain’t gonna last and deep down inside you know it. Even before the trading deadline, when they will go out and get Bary Zito, John Smoltz, Roy Halladay, and Johann Santana, they will turn it around and have some wonder kids propping them up until Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreau, Hidecki Matsui and the rest of the Hee Haw gang turn it around. They aaaaaaaalways do.

So temper your trash talk. It’s gonna come back and bite you when they start winning.

Liberal/Conservative Role Reversal

Ever notice how condescending a hard core conservative can be when you’re talking about social programs like drug prevention or Welfare-to-Work? They just give you that look that says, “Aw, you’re trying to be a good person, you REALLY are, but it just isn’t going to work. You’re just spouting off lame-ass statistics that don’t apply to real life. Some people are just no damn good. WHEN ARE YOU GONNA LEARN?”

You’ve heard it. We all have.

Now if you’re the type of person who is not into “turnabout is fairplay” or “I told you so, so SUCK IT”, then stop reading.

Next time you get a chance, listen to a right-winger defend Bush as he sends more and more and more troops over to the Middle East, sapping the strength out of our armed forces. “We can’t just leave those people over there in that mess…it’s gonna be chaos. If we pull out, there will be no stability in that region……we OWE it to them to stay and fight it out until we win………”

Aw, look at ‘em. They’re trying to fight a stupid war just to save face. It’s so CUUUTE. They have no idea that the mess is over there because of us. Remember when the war started? “We’ve got to get those WMD’s!!!! If yer not for us, yer agin us!!! YOU PEOPLE HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY!! Don’t forget 9-11!” Now it’s, “Look how we deposed the ruthless dictator and how we’re incorporating democracy into this country. We RULE!”

Give them that look they always give you. The one that say, “You’re so full of crap,, but you believe it – that…… is so…… ADORABLE. Who started a widdle war and now says we can’t weave? Who says it? Come on, who says it? YOU DO, that’s a good widdle conservative!”

NBA playoff update

Um, I don’t really care. The NBA sucks anyway

Linebacker update

For some odd reason, I’m obsessing over who is going to play linebacker for us this fall. After losing all three starters (Tony Taylor, Jarvis Jackson, Danny Verdun-Wheeler), it was a concern for most.
Despite everything that has been said, Brandon Miller was NEVER going to be asked to move to defensive end, regardless of his size. If you read any fan blog at all (and let’s face it, collectively we know best), you’ve heard how disappointed Dawg fans are about Brandon. Regardless, Miller has been moved to the middle and seems to be taking a shine to that spot. There are varying opinions on his speed, but the fact is, he is huge for a linebacker and he will probably help stuff the run more than anything. Word from spring practice is that he has found his home and he is really getting comfortable as a player and a leader. Good thing. Considering how highly touted he was coming out of high school, he hasn’t lived up to the hype and this is his last chance to impress numbnuts like Mel Kiper.
It was just assumed that because Dannell Ellerbe has turned his life around and is not stealing teammates’ cars anymore, he would be the starting WLB. And on the other side at SLB, we were watching redshirt freshman Akeem Dent and sophomore Darius Dewberry slug it out for the starting spot. Richt was actually quoted as saying, “we’re in real good shape [at SLB]”.
The week before the G-day game, Ellerbe was demoted to the back up spot and Dent was moved to the starting spot at WLB. So we now have Dewberry, Miller and Dent as the starters, with the obligatory statement that, “of course this line up could change before the Oklahoma State game”.
It should. Several times – just so none of those guys gets complacent.
I’m not a X’s and O’s kind of guy, but I would have thought the LB’s could have made more plays during G-day, since we’ve upgraded in the speed department. If Richt says not to worry, I won’t. There’s a couple of months to work on it, but there’s no actual practice and hitting until the fall. So, I’ll worry just a little.
And I don’t know what the true definition of being “deep” at one position is (that seems to vary on who you’re talking to), but we seem to have some depth there. Outside of the above four listed, Jr Marcus Washington, Rfr Akeem Hebron (suspended the first two games), and RSo walk-on Tommy Watkins provide back up. Why mention Watkins? I have no idea, except there were several feel good stories about him last year. Many think that in coming freshman Rennie Curran will be able to contribute right away. I poo-poo’d the idea of Stafford coming in last year and contributing at QB, so I won’t ever say “never” again. I hope he’s that ready and can at least get some playing time, as well as Charles White.
After all is said and done, the rest is left to coaching. Jancek and Martinez have done pretty well up to this point. I mean, look at Jarvis Jackson. Starting MLB and he weighed 215lbs. He did pretty well for us. I think Jancek will improve now especially since he has more to work with. Do I worry about the LB corps next year? Sure. But just a little.

Update - Akeem Hebron was arrested AGAIN for underage possession. Before you say it's no big deal, ask yourself, "what if it were my kid?" How mad would you be then?

G-day coverage

I took my wife, daughter and father to the G-day game in Athens on Saturday. I can tell you that I was the only one watching who truly cared. However my wife surprised me periodically by calling out names of people I didn't think she knew (I wonder what ELSE I've been saying that she's actually been listening to?)

Anyhow, here's a rundown of what I saw:

QB - Stafford is Stafford. If he really is as smart as he is talented, then good times are ahead. I saw something that I haven't seen in awhile - receivers catching the ball in stride. Even with DJ Shockley's passes, they had to stop a lot to catch them. Joe Cox looked ok, too. I think that's important. I think we all know what happens when the back up isn't ready. Barnes, I don't know, he just doesn't look like he's comfortable. I hope I'm wrong.

RB - Everybody was talking about Moreno and rightly so. He seems to get to the holes quicker than Ware, Lump or Brown. But I'm not exactly worried if he has to come off the field and Lump takes the ball. Kregg can still run very well. I almost hate to see Thomas Brown come back next year. It would be great to have Brown and Moreno AND Caleb King next year in 2008. Brannan Southerland is just a mountain of a man. He really should be an all SEC fullback in '07 - he can run, block and catch and he's almost an automatic two plus yards every time.

WR - Same old story. Lots of talent, but who's going to step up? All the sudden it looks like we are really stocked. Having Sean Bailey back is just HUGE. And I hope I'm wrong about Mikey Henderson, maybe he'll shine. He seemed to have a great G-day last year, but only made plays as a punt returner in '06. I guess his injuries bothered him a lot more than they let on. Anyway, add Kenneth Harris, Mohamed Massaquoi, AJ Bryant, Kris Durham, Mikey Moore, PLUS Tony Wilson.........the list goes on. By the way I was down at the hedges trying to get some video of the players and I saw Israel Troupe signing autographs for kids. Nice guy.

TE - can't tell much here. Tripp Chandler was the only one playing, but he certainly did well. Everyone is clamoring for NaDerris Ward once he's rehabbed, but I think Chandler will do just fine.

OL - Was the defense that bad or the OL that good? Who knows, it's just a scrimmage. But considering there are so many new faces I was pretty impressed. I'm still concerned that Trinton Sturdivant is the starter at left tackle. He better be damn good. I think the most important thing is that new O-line coach Stacy Searels is giving them all a new attitude. The depth chart will change between now and September 1st, but the song remains the same.

DL - Again, was the DL that bad or the offense that good? Lots of new people on the line. One thing that surprised me was that sophomore Geno Atkins replaced Kade Weston as a starter just last week. Not much was said about that, but I hope that bodes well for Geno. I remember reading that Kade was destined for greatness. The defensive ends are what the defensive ends are. They will get better with experience, which is good since it seemed like they got pushed around.

LB - I distinctly remember about two weeks ago Coach Richt saying that we are "in good shape" at SLB, referring to Akeem Dent and Darius Dewberry. Then a week later Dewberry replaced Dannell Ellerbe at the will. I don't ever recall him being so optimistic in April, so that makes me feel better. Even after seeing Brandon Miller & Co being abused most of the day.

DB - Maybe Stafford really is that good. I mean, we've been saying how he can thread a needle, right? So even if he did it against our own D, should we be worried? I feel pretty good about having Paul Oliver and Bryan Evans on the corners. And if the safety positions are manned by Kelin Johnson and CJ Byrd, I can handle that, too. All anyone wanted to talk about was Reshad Jones. Specifically the hit he laid on Jason Johnson and the interception he had. Fine. Johnson got up after that hit and the interception was thrown by WR Kris Durham. Big hits don't impress me. COVERAGE impresses me. Anyone remember 'big hitter' Greg Blue getting toasted in the Sugar Bowl by West Virginia in '05? If Jones and Quintin Banks learn coverage they will be awesome.

Special teams - I paid no attention to this. In warmups I saw a couple of guys (including Coutu) punting with the wind and the ball sailed. But no one punted that well in the game. Besides we won't know anything until Drew Butler arrives this summer. And even though Coutu missed the field goal, he's still the man.

Overall, I think this game is really just a showcase. It's not something to get worked up over. Having said that, it's all we have to talk about until fall practice starts. So nerds like me will analyze and analyze and analyze until we are worked up over it.

Now if these guys can JUST STAY OUT OF TROUBLE..............

Going to the G-day game

The family and I are heading down to Atlanta to visit my folks on Friday. Both of my brothers will be there and if nothing else was going on, I would still be excited. However this year, I’ll be lucky enough to go to Georgia’s G-day game, the annual intra squad scrimmage that signifies the end of spring practice.

We’ve elected not to take our six year old, but my eleven year old has stated she wants to go. I would balk but it’s at Sanford Stadium and I know she will want to see it. So she and I, along with my wife and my father will brave the cold and watch a game that only I will care about.

Oddly enough, I haven’t been to Sanford since 1992, when the Dawgs played UT. All of the UGA games I’ve seen since then have been either at Georgia Tech or in Jacksonville. Granted, an intra squad scrimmage is only a glorified showcase, but many like myself are DYING to see some of these redshirt freshmen who have yet to play. And, of course there’s this guy named Stafford.

I plan on taking lots of notes. Enough to give me something to do all summer. Then I can come back and watch the game again on the web site. Then argue for five months about who will step up and why South Carolina sucks.

I know what you’re thinking. “You need to get a hobby”. Well, this is it. You go ahead and debate who should get kicked off of “Dancing With The Stars”, and I’ll stick to this, ok?

Easter

It happens to me every year. By the time Easter rolls around, I have become an “Administrative Christian”. You know what I’m talking about. If you’re involved in a church at all, you have either been or come in contact with the AC. Spring has sprung and there are lots of things to be done. Fix-up projects around the buildings, assembling the softball teams, planning the upcoming summer events for kids and a whole host of other plans take front and center. There are meetings and committees. More meetings and sub-committees. There are arguments over every little mundane detail of the service, bickering about who was sitting in who’s pew, and all out fights over how we spend our money. And before you know it, you’re walking through the church as though it were a municipal building.

You don’t notice the stained glass or the cross with a black veil draped over it. You don’t notice the palms stacked up.

But the moment I hear the opening notes of “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today”, I feel a wave come over me and I am reminded of why this is truly a day to stop and reflect on what God has done for us.

Go to church this coming Sunday. It is hard not to get caught up in the splendor that is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.