Auburn makes Wall Street Journal
OK, there are a few unofficial college football rules we can all admit are iron clad, right?
Steve Spurrier is the king of the zinger. Check.
If you think you have two quarterbacks, then you really don't have a quarterback. (Well, other than THE Ohio State.)
Anytime you make real news in August, it's almost never good.
And speaking of not good, when a New York Times or Wall Street Journal reporter or Yahoo's Dan Wetzel starts calling faculty members at your school, well, know there's something most likely embarrassing on the horizon.
Mississippi wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (1) is taken down by Auburn's defense during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)So it goes again, and this time it's Auburn's turn.
The Wall Street Journal posted a story about how more than half the students in the Public Administration major at Auburn were athletes. The school voted to end the major, which had about 100 students in it, last year and the athletic department said it would fund the major if needed.
Here's the story and it does not sound like anything illegal or against NCAA rules happened.
Full disclosure: Uh, I apparently was the least athletic person with a public administration degree in Auburn history. That said, when I graduated in 1995, I don't remember any athletes in my classes. So, that either means they were really gaming the system back then or (cue the "walked to school five miles in the snow uphill both ways" old-guy voice) when I was there, public administration was really hard.
That said, anyone who is stunned about the athletic department - especially the football program - being a powerful force in the matters of a major university in today's climate, well, welcome out from under that rock.
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Do what?
As Roger Goodell continues to get panted in the DeflateGate hearings, now this comes down the pike.
Roger Goodell and the NFL have agreed with Yahoo to stream a regular-season game this year online.Apparently the judge in Adrian Peterson's appeal against Goodell and the league said, "I'm not sure Roger Goodell understands there's a CBA."
Ouch-standing.
Here's the story, and it just continues to magnify misstep after misstep the league has made under Goodell.
Is it possible that Roger Goodell could very well be the most economically successful commissioner while being the worst commissioner in the history of team sports?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Vick stretches during practice for the NFL football team, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers signed Vick to a 1-year deal to replace backup Bruce Gradkowski, out with a hand injury. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) ---
Vick protestors
Hey Mike Vick made some really terrible choices and did some awful things.
But he has paid for those criminal acts, so how much is enough with this guy.
Protestors were outside of Steelers practice Wednesday - which happened to be "National Dog Day" - showing their angst that Pittsburgh signed the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback.
Yes, Vick's crimes were bad, but in addition to spending time in jail he has fully repaid all his financial debts. Fully repaid them - in the hundreds of millions - even though his financial advisors told him he only had to pay back a fraction of the total after declaring bankruptcy.
And with all the violent criminals in the league, why is Vick still such a lightening rod?
No one was protesting outside of Cowboys camp after they signed Greg Hardy.
Let it go folks. Let it go.
FILE - This Nov. 23, 2014, file photo shows San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ray McDonald (91) on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif. Police say Chicago Bears defensive end McDonald has been accused of domestic violence in Northern California, the latest arrest for the former San Francisco 49er. McDonald was taken into custody Monday, May 25, 2015, on suspicion of domestic violence and child endangerment. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File) ---
This and that
- Speaking of NFL scumbags, Ray McDonald has been indicted on rape charges. Wow. Also, 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was charged with sexual battery. This has been an awful offseason for San Francisco.
- And then there's this: IK Enemkpali apparently punched a dude and missed a game in college after hurting his hand. The dude was posing as a girl who IK met online and was going to hook up with. Yes, it's a catfish-type incident. Here's the story.
- Enjoyed Weeds' column here.
- The two biggest position battles for the two favorites in the SEC East are still unsettled. Here's Paschall on the UGA QB derby. Here's Downtown Patrick Brown on the Vols' MLB shuffle.
- This middle school football highlight is pretty cool.
- And Derrick Rose is being sued in civil court by an ex-girlfriend on the charge that he drugged her and participated in a gang rape of her. Insert your own Rose injury joke here, but it's a least a little curious that the victim started in civil court rather than prosecuting, right?
FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives with the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans. The team announced Bryant's surgery Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, to repair his torn rotator cuff. The surgery has been scheduled for Wednesday morning. A timeline estimate for Bryant’s return will be issued following the surgery. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman, File) ---
Today's question
We are not a normal podcast listener. Just how it is.
That said, we'll make time to hear Kobe Bryant join Shaquille O'Neal on his podcast on Monday.
Here's a preview story on it and they both regret the feud that ended their run in L.A.
It's hard not to wonder how many the Lakers could have won if they had not been affected by the "disease of me" as Pat Riley calls it.
In fact, we think Kobe-Shaq is certainly on the short list of the best one-two punches in NBA history, and if they had stayed together could have been historic.
What's your Rushmore of sports tandems (same team, mind you)?
Go and remember the mailbag.