Gang, remember the mailbag.
And we're trying our dangedest to post in the comments, but somehow we have to keep signing in to the point that it's frustrating and we kick the trash can at our desk. So it goes.
From the "Talks too much" studios, we're here so we don't get fined.
Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch attends a news conference for NFL Super Bowl XLIX football game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, in Phoenix. The Seahawks play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt York) Super Bowl
OK, we're still a few days from the big game, and we have a couple of mailbag Super-Bowl related questions for tomorrow, so we're good there.
Let's first talk about the biggest upset of the week so far. Marshawn Lynch sat down with Entertainment Tonight and put different words into sentences and actually answered questions. He even sang for crying out loud. No one has been this surprised to hear actual answers since Mr. Ed started talking to Wilbur.
CUH-razy.
OK, speaking of Lynch, let's turn our view to the turning point for each team.
For the Seahawks, it was cutting Percy Harvin, a multitalented dude that also was reportedly dividing the locker room. Also, his subtraction mean the Seahawks turned Lynch into the focal point of the offense. In two early-season losses to San Diego and Dallas, Seattle forced fed the ball to Harvin rather than feeding Beast Mode. Since they have released the Beast, they have found their stride.
For the Patriots, it was a world-class spanking against Kansas City on Monday night. Some times a team needs rallying point, and the Chiefs delivered it. (Side note: The Chiefs beat each of the teams in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs also lost to the woeful Raiders with the playoffs on the line. Ladies and Gentleman, the Andy Reid era.)
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Hawks
Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) leaves the court as fans reach out to him after his game against the Brooklyn Nets, Wednesday Jan. 28, 2015, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 113-102.What else is there to say? The Atlanta Hawks are the best team in basketball.
We know it's staggering, and ETSUbuc13 called it six weeks ago.
Atlanta is 30-2 since Thanksgiving after smoking the Nets last night. And the numbers continue to be staggering. Check these digits:
* Longest winning streak in franchise history now at 17 games.
* The Hawks are 37-8. They won 38 games all of last season.
* Kyle Korver is in the midst of the most efficient season in NBA history. Dude is on pace to go better than 50-50-90 (shooting percentages from the field, 3 and the foul line). That's happened exactly the same number of times man has walked on the sun. Side note: Korver is shooting better than 60 percent from 3 over the last nine games.
Not sure how we got here - other than coach Mike Budenholzer obviously is a genius - but we're in a bizarro world where the Braves are the worst franchise in the ATL, the Hawks are the best and Falcons are quite forgettable.
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Title IX
We loved the feedback from you guys on Wednesday about the Title IX stuff, and we're thinking about columnizing on it in the coming days.
We'd be remiss though if we did not tip the visor to TFP all-sround ace David Uchiyama's continued coverage of UTC's decision to end the men's track programs.
We also believe this: More cuts are coming, and not just at UTC.
The numbers simply do not compute, especially since the number of female college students continues to grow and the number of male college students continues to flat-line or even drop.
Side note: Golf clap for Stewwie's question Wednesday about the fairness of Title IX in the modern day when it is juxtaposed against a potential federal mandate to have similar break downs by race. Here's assuming our man Stew is not the world's biggest fan of the federal government. STEEEEWWWWW!!!
We know the law was passed with excellent intentions and delivered wonderful results.
But the original idea of creating opportunities for women - as noble and wonderful as that is and has been - has now been replaced with the reality that Title IX limits opportunities for males. Period.
Ask David Blackburn, who said point-blank that UTC would have loved to have added more female sports but that the longterm expenses were unsustainable.
And the Mocs are certainly not alone, and this is not a small school or mid-major problem.
As Jomo likes to say, there is always a class ceiling, and while the Power 5 are sprinting and spending toward it like Willy Wonka and Charlie in the magic elevator, if the Title questions come calling at a place like Ole Miss or Wake Forest or Iowa State, there will be cuts before there will be additions of female sports.
The bottom line is that fragile.
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This and that
- Tiger missed the green at the fun-filled 16th at Phoenix and got booed. He then 'accidentally' skulled a sand shot into the grandstand to play with the rowdies. Wow, this is a new day for Woods.
FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2014 file photo, Tim Tebow answers a question during a interview on the set of ESPN's new SEC Network in Charlotte, N.C. Tebow is taking the field for "Good Morning America." ABC said the Heisman Trophy winner is joining the program as a contributor starting Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, file) - Maybe Tim Tebow picked the wrong sport. Let us pray.
- Kyrie Irving goes for a double nickel as the Cavs continue to roll. Side note: Irving went nuts with LeBron resting, so there's that. Side note II: Kevin Love continues to stink like a foot.
- On this day in 1936, the first baseball Hall of Fame class was announced. Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Honus Wagner and some dude named Babe Ruth were elected. Cobb led the voting with more than 98 percent and Ruth got 95.13 percent of the vote proving that baseball HoF voters have been downright boneheaded from the very beginning. The next year Cy Young barely made it with 76.12 percent - you need 75 percent to get in. Wow, Cy Young's 511 wins needed a second year on the ballot and made it by about three or so votes.
- On this day in 1963, the first inductees to the NFL Hall of Fame were also announced.
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Today's question
Two years ago today famed Southern writer Ferroll Sams died. He wrote "Run with the Horses" among many other books, was a practicing physician well into his 80s and was the Mrs. 5-at-10's great uncle. He was a great man and also forever kind to us. Rest easy Uncle Sambo.
Anyhoo, Tom Selleck is 70 today. Seventy.
Dude could launch a few Rushmores, including best 'stache Rushmore. (If memory serves we did this and it was Selleck, Rollie Fingers, old-school Burt Reynolds and someone else.)
Selleck was at the height of his powers in his short-shorts as Magnum PI back in the day.
In that thought, let's go with a Rushmore of coolest TV characters, knowing that Magnum and the The Fonz and Marshall Dillon are going to be among the slew of serious contenders.
Go - and remember the mailbag.