Morning gang. Hope all is well and thanks for an entertaining and informative week. You guys rock.
A lot has happened through history on this day, March 4, and we may try to sprinkle some of it into each answer after we get to our Rushmores and answer the questions of the week. (Thanks to Sammy and Sheila for reminding us to answer the questions we pose. We should be better about that.)
One of the noteworthy things that happened on March 4 was that Cal Coolidge was inaugurated on this day in 1925, and it was the first inauguration broadcast on the radio. (No word whether Larry Ward did the play-by-play but we're not betting against it.)
From the "Talks too much" studios, it's go time.
From Sammy and Sheila
You are forgetting to answer your own Rushmores again. Please try to remember to do that. It's our favorite of reading your blog.
S&S -
Thanks, and you're right.
Monday: Rushmore of leaps literally and figuratively. (It was Leap Year, after all).
Using the word leap: Lover's Leap, Leap Frog, Leap of Faith and "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Rushmore of leaps/jumps: The Fosberry Flop deserves consideration; Van Halen's "Jump" is personal choice: Fonzie jumping the shark - literally and figuratively; and Jumpman, the original name of a little dude who tried to beat Donkey Kong. That Jumpman became Mario and he and his brother Luigi changed video games as we know them.
Tuesday: Question was are the Mocs better served with a one-and-done in the NCAA or a long run in the NIT? We concur with some of the regulars and UTC super fans that the NCAA is almost always better, especially this year because the Mocs have not been in a while and this team is good enough to make some noise. (And even if they get bounced in round 1 against an Indiana or a West Virginia, UTC's record and resume will get them a ton of press in the week between the selection and the start. Wait and see, if the Mocs are dancing, they will be a lovable double-digit pick for guys like Bilas and Kellogg and the rest.)
Wednesday: Rushmore of three-name celebrities (Jon Bon Jovi's birthday) and famous doctors (Dr. Suess' birthday)
Three-name stars: As we do some times on Press Row, we'll do a sports and non-sports with Jon Bon Jovi, Alexander Graham Bell, Daniel Day
Lewis and George Washington Carver (and there are tons, folks - tons). Sports, we'll go Kareem, Florence Griffith Joyner, Billie Jean King and personal fav World Be Free.
Thursday: Expanded Rushmore of best football players at each SEC school (in honor of Herschel Walker's 54th birthday on Thursday). Yes we conferred with Press Row co-host and SEC football guru David Paschall on this one yesterday.
Alabama - Derrick Thomas
Arkansas - Darren McFadden
Auburn - Bo Jackson
Georgia - Herschel (and that may be the most clear-cut with the possible exception of Missouri)
Florida - Danny Wuerffel
Kentucky - Art Still
LSU - Billy Cannon right now but Leonard Fournette may very well pass him. That boy is good. (And this was the toughest one.)
Mississippi - Archie Manning
Mississippi State - Dak Prescott
Missouri - Kellen Winslow
South Carolina - George Rodgers
Tennessee - Paschall said Peyton over Reggie White; I went with Doug Atkins over Reggie White
Texas A&M - Johnny Manziel
Vandy - Will Worford narrowly over Jordan Matthews
From Stewwie
Republican presidential candidates, businessman Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, argue a point during a Republican presidential primary debate at Fox Theatre, Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (This was question was referencing something we wrote earlier this week that pointed out no mid-to-big-sized newspapers have endorsed Donald Trump to date.)
I'm curious as to why you think that is. I think it has less to do with his perceived capability as President and more to do with his politically incorrect approach. I think the newsmen behind the endorsing would be worried about getting publicly shamed by others in their profession. And if that's true, then that's sad.
Stewwie -
Completely fair question, and as you pointed out, the papers in Pittsburgh and Toledo - which are owned by the same company - may change that soon.
We think first that a lot of folks are doubtful of Trump's ability to effectively govern. That comes from a lot of things.
First, even accomplished politicians who we all thought would be pretty good presidents have struggled. Second, it's not the best job to give to a first-timer. Third, it's not like Trump has espoused a lot of his plans or strategies beyond working out deals and finding experts to work it out on the myriad of issues facing our nation. Finally, even some of the general folks who are supporting Trump because of his outsider appeal and his brashness are not exactly sure what kind of commander and chief he'll be.
We also think in regard to the newspaper endorsements, there's a little bit of the permanent marker principle. The other GOP faces are safer choices, and Trump is a wildcard. If he gets elected he could be exactly what the country needs or he could be an unmitigated disaster. Endorsing the latter can be a tough hurdle to overcome. Is that hedging their bets? Yes, in a lot of ways it is.
But even to use Trump words after Nevada, "I LOVE the poorly educated." That's not exactly the folks on the opinion pages of the major newspapers around the country.
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Alabama football coach Nick Saban, pictured, was happy to welcome back former Crimson Tide graduate assistant Derrick Ansley as the team's new defensive backs coach. The hire was confirmed by Saban on Wednesday.From Jomo
What percentage of college and pro sports fans would be willing to give up who they are supporting for President and any chance of that person winning in exchange for a championship for their favorite college or pro team? And follow up question - Why do you think some would?
Jomo
Great question, and one that made us think a lot this week.
We think it's close to 75 or 80 percent of hard-core sports fans would pick their team over their candidate if given the chance to have a guaranteed winner. And it's closer to 95 percent for people living in Alabama.
As for the casual sports fan, we'd drop that percentage to around a third in this presidential election but more than half in a normal election.
First, the majority of Americans are disenfranchised by the process to begin with and feels like the government is going to screw them anyway. So who sits in which seat during the process is relatively meaningless for most.
As divergent and contrasting as the eight years of Bush and the eight years of Obama have been, most people believe they were equally sucky.
Plus, there's the rare chance reaching a never before imagined place. Think of it this way, Jomo. We know you are passionate about this election and the Mocs. But as much as we stand to lose with four years of Hillary potentially on the horizon, would you trade a rubber-stamped Clinton win for the Mocs catching magic in a bottle and winning six NCAA tournament games and cutting down the nets on that first weekend of April?
Of course you would.
Then you may move to Canada come January 2017.
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Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, second from left, gestures as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich watch him a Republican presidential primary debate at Fox Theatre, Thursday, March 3, 2016, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) From a host of you
Who won the debate last night and what do you think it means?
Gang
It seems almost blasphemous that today is the anniversary of the first U.S. Congress meeting and enacting the Constitution and we are trying to figure out what happened last night.
It started as a potentially meaningful debate that spiraled into a discussion about Donald Trump being happy with his hands - and his junk -
Marco Rubio trying to set the world's interruption record and Ted Cruz trying to be a living SNL skit for two solid hours. (Seriously, if Cruz gets the nomination, we can see SNL bringing Jon Lovitz back for a very good satire impression. Of course if Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam ever runs for higher office it would single-handedly save Dana Carvey's career. Those dudes are dopplegangers for Pete's sake.)
We'll go two quick winners and two quick losers and then what we think it means.
Winners: John Kasich and Hillary Clinton
Kasich looked like the lone adult on the stage for most of the night. Plus, he hammered home his point that he is the only one in the race on either side that has experience leading from the executive branch of government and running a fiscally balanced ship. That's impressive. It's also paramount considering the mounting debt we face and the problems that causes. (The economy is the prism in the moment that shapes the view of a president; the world theater and global safety defines a president through history.)
As for Hillary, well, she gets the chance to swing daggers at the GOP while pretending to run against Bernie Sanders, but that's a race not unlike
American Pharoah running against Mr. Ed for Pete's sake. And she gets to bank her money as the GOP and the candidates continue to wage an in-party not-so-civil war.
Losers: Marco Rubio (and in part Trump) and Mitt Romney and the GOP establishment
Rubio's descent into the muck to try to engage Trump on Trump's level has backfired. Massively. Rightly or wrongly, when you get in the mud to fight a pig, you both get dirty and the pig likes it. And c'mon Marco, no one really cares about Trump University. There are so many other areas to attack Trump that make more sense. It seems desperate, and this comes from a guy that voted for Marco earlier this week. Still, as mismanaged the attacks are and the poor decision to go into them, Trump can't shut Rubio up because he has very little substance to offer to any of the hard questions.
Romney and the GOP. That dog and pony show Thursday afternoon was insulting and belittling and had the exact opposite effect on Trump that the GOP wanted. The establishment proved Trump supports right and galvanized a call wanting change. Heck, it made a lot of us non-Trump fans sympathetic to Trump. Plus, running a complete toolbag like Romney - who gave away the 2012 election in the 11th hour - out there was akin to the Acme Company having Wil E. Coyote endorse their Roadrunner catching equipment. Seriously, who's making the decisions at the GOP headquarters over the last year? Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.
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Casinos far from Las Vegas are experimenting with different ways to draw millennials. In December, Twin River Casino in Rhode Island removed 274 slot machines to make way for more poker and other table games favored by younger gamblers. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)From Ted
I am going to Vegas this weekend. Who do you like in the NCAA tournament and is there another bet out there you like?
Thanks. Now shut your fat face.
Ted -
As always, great to hear from you.
Have fun in Vegas, my man.
Here are the odds on the top 10-15 college basketball teams to win the whole thing heading into conference tournaments:
Michigan State - 13/2
UNC - 8/1
Kansas - 17/2
Kentucky - 11/1
Oklahoma - 11/1
Xavier - 12/1
Villanova - 14/1
Virginia - 14/1
Duke - 18/1
Maryland - 22/1
Cal - 25/1
Iowa - 25/1
Arizona - 28/1
Miami, Oregon, West Virginia and Wisconsin - 30/1
Of that group, we like Kansas among the heavy favorites and like playing some longer odds on Call and Maryland. (As for the ones off the board, we like Wichita State and Iowa State at 35/1 and as crazy as it sounds, Vandy at 200/1 because they are talented enough at full strength to make a run.
They still may not get in, but that's why the price is so god.)
As for any other bets, well, here are a couple we like (and if you put a few entertainment vouchers on these, we'll be happy to split it with you):
Give us Rickie Fowler at 15/1 and Adam Scott at 25/1 at Augusta.
Give us the Diamondbacks at 25/1 to win the World Series.
And, since the Warriors are a stunning 5-to-8 against the field to win the NBA title, well, we'll sit that one out.
Remember, these are not our picks to win as much as our picks with the most beneficial odds and payout.
Great week gang.