Morning.
Great back and forth yesterday. Well-played all around.
From the "Talks too much" studios, U-S-A, U-S-A.
Women's soccer
The U.S. Women's National Team moved to the World Cup finals with a 2-0 win Tuesday over top-ranked Germany.
It was a fun match - and thankfully the U.S. got the second goal so the controversy of a penalty kick on a questionable call was not the only goal.
AS TFP ace columnist Mark Wiedmer notes here there is always a mounting interest/mania in our country during World Cup events.
This will be even more meaningful for us here in Chattanooga if the women win the whole thing - they will play the winner of England-Japan this weekend - since they are coming to town next month.
United States' Julie Johnston (19) heads the ball toward the goal as Germany players defend during the first half of a semifinal in the Women's World Cup soccer tournament, Tuesday, June 30, 2015, in Montreal, Canada.
That would be cool.
That said, let's please not go 12 ways from Tuesday about how soccer is about to explode in the states.
Is soccer more popular than ever here? Yes it is. Everything is because there's so many more of us than ever before.
But let's not confuse the high interest/pride in the World Cup for anything more than it is. It's patriotism not soccer passion for most of us.
Period.
That said, U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A.
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Daytona
Well, let's get all bent out of shape shall we.
Daytona International is now looking for ways down the road to ban the Confederate from the infield of its track.
NASCAR banning the Confederate Flag.
Joey Logano (22) leads the field during the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/David Graham) Some will call that progress, and I firmly believe that everyone has the right to be offended by whatever offends them.
And we also understand states looking at whether government buildings should fly a flag that many feel is offensive.
But we flipped the switch and punched the accelerator from zero-to-bigot in a way that should frighten all of us.
Yes, the shootings in South Carolina were a terrible tragedy and the racist hate of one single nut job should be condemned.
But when we start acting and creating rules that value one person's personal choice over another aren't we taking a dangerous step down a path of attacking freedom every much as a flag.
Plus, how are we supposed to line up behind a theory that anyone can burn the American Flag in protest but a Confederate Flag is that offensive that we need to ban it?
Whatever.
And this may be a lost cause if NASCAR is looking for ways to bury the Confederate Flag in a huge attempt to avoid controversy.
Still, it feels an awful lot like the internet morality mob of political correctness has extended its powerful tentacles on this issue and the dye may be cast.
And that's an extremely scary proposition because who knows what the next topic that morality mob of Facebook posters and anonymous social media assassins will fancy and what steps that will cause us to travel.
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UK hoops ripples
There was too much happening today, which is weird on July 1.
But converging stories of interest each have Kentucky basketball ties.
First there was a report that UK coach John Calipari was approached about whether he was interested in the Sacramento job.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari shouts instructions to his team during the second half of an NCAA tournament college basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, March 21, 2015. Kentucky won 64-51. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) The answer of course is no way, since a) Cal has more talent at UK; b) the Wildcats are not hinder by salary-cap restrictions; and c) the Kings likely would be a paycut.
Calipari, who now has passed Jon Gruden as the most mentioned name for every job opening this side of the Republican nomination for president, denied the report. Heck, even Kings GM Vlade Divac denied the report. Then of course Divac flopped on the floor trying to draw a charge on his assistant.
Do we believe that at some point Calipari will return to the NBA? Yes we do. But it will be a plum job that has a chance to win right a way. The Kings are not that job.
Story two, former Wildcats star Anthony Davis is now the highest paid player in the NBA. AD signed a five-year extension that averages $29 million over the course of the deal.
LeBron James will likely pass it when he signs his next deal sometime this summer, but it's noteworthy to mention Davis because he's going to be right there with James and the rest of the best players in the game for the foreseeable future.
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This and that
An entrance to Neyland Stadium promotes the beginning of the University of Tennessee's deal with Nike on Wednesday.- Today is the big day of the new UT-Nike gear. We feel pretty sure there will be something about it on the interweb today.
- Cool story here about the Titans longsnapper hitting a hole in one in a golf tournament and winning a barrel of top-shelf Jack Daniels. And if you are wondering, a barrel of Jack is about 250 bottles. Party on, Wayne. Party on, Garth.
- Chris Farley (R.I.P) made the "Fat guy in a little coat" routine famous in "Tommy Boy. Here La'El Collins does a pretty nice "Huge guy in an out and up" routine at Cowboys practice.
- Brett Favre must be getting bored. He says he can still play in the NFL at 45. Step away from the telephone Rex Ryan.
- Steph Curry has passed LeBron James as the most popular player in the NBA in jersey sales.
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Today's question
Since we are close to July 4 and we spent some U-S-A, U-S-A time above, let's stay Patriotic today.
What's our Rushmore of most All-American movies?
Whatcha' got and remember the mailbag.