OK gang, we are feet in the sand and hand in the Yeti here on the panhandle. Good times.
As is customary, we will do an abbreviated 5-at-10 each day this week, because, well that's what we do. If it's a Monday-through-Friday, we do a 5-at-10 or you get your membership dues back.
Here are five quick things that caught our attention:
FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2014, file photo, Desmond Howard, Chris Fowler, David Pollack, and Kirk Herbstreit, from left, talk during ESPN's "College GameDay" in Fargo, N.D. Rece Davis is taking over as host of the show, with Fowler focusing on calling the Saturday prime-time games. Davis has signed a contract extension through 2021, the network said Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Bruce Crummy, File) 1. Because we know you guys and gals love you some college football, here are some details about the ESPN talent for its midweek broadcasts. This from our friends at Cynopsis media: ESPN unveiled its new pairings for both Thursday and Friday night college football games on ESPN this season, which includes a new deal with college football analyst David Pollack. Shifts will see play-by-play commentator Dave Flemming move to Thursday nights and call games alongside Jesse Palmer in a two-man booth with Laura Rutledge as sideline reporter. Play-by-play commentator Adam Amin will call Friday night games with analyst Mack Brown and sideline reporter Molly McGrath, David Pollack's new multi-year deal will see him continue to appear on College GameDay each week, with a more prominent role on College Football Live and contribute to additional studio shows this season. As for our view on this, we think getting Pollack out of the booth and letting Palmer be the only analyst on Thursday night is a good move. Pollack is better in studios than he is live action, and we believe Palmer is as good a college analyst as there is going today and could be the longterm replacement for either Gary Danielson or Kirk Herbstreit whenever either of those plum gigs opens.
Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson (11) shoot over Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) 2. The biggest offseason move for the Golden State Warriors may have happened Wednesday. Yes, Kevin Durant agreed to play for the record-setting sharpshooters on July 4, but Wednesday was the day we got a chance to see how it might work with three of the top 12 shooters in terms of attempts on the same team. Wednesday was the day that Klay Thompson put words to the plan. Here's Thompson's quote to reporters at USA basketball practice, via ESPN: "I know how good I am in this league. I'm not going to judge my performance off numbers or anything. If we get wins, it really doesn't matter, man. It's all good."...
"I look at a guy like Manu Ginobili who came off the bench almost his entire career," Thompson said. "Never averaged more than 20 points a game, but he's a four-time champion, you know? He could have easily been on another team and averaged 25 a game, but he sacrificed to win, and that's what I expect to do next year. I don't care about averaging 25 or even 20. I just want to finish it out and get back to the Finals and enjoy that ride."
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., addresses the delegates during the third day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) 3. OK, we spent some time last night with the GOP convention. Here are a few quick observations. Ted Cruz has completed the journey to totally unlikable. Quick, name Ted Cruz's most redeeming quality? It's hard, right? Here's our suggestion: We'll never have to worry about him again after last night's disastrous speech. Also, Donald Trump's son's speech was fine - it's easy to forget how nervous the family members can get in moments like these, and those nerves were clear - but it was impossible to focus on his words because of the bewitching smoothness of his forehead. Did anyone else notice that. Then the GOP actually showed some promise. Newt Gingrinch absolutely crushed his speech, and Trump's VP pick, Indiana governor Mike Pence, was aces. The last hour-plus of the convention Wednesday night was the highlight of the Republican Party of the last 16 months. Seriously.
4. While we're here, the conundrum facing most of us who lean toward the conservative point of view was ever-present in the crowd last night. A lion's share of the signs and billboards being held by the party members said "Anyone but Hillary" which figures to be the strongest asset in the Trump resume at this point. (And while the "AbH" movement even has its own Facebook page, did the GOP really have to stretch the limits of proving that maxim with Trump? That said, and we have said it from the start, Trump is better than Cruz, and Cruz proved that in force last night. Man, Cruz was that guy who walked to the mic to make a toast as everyone cringes and he still managed to be a bigger jackwagon than we even imagined.) Also, as impressive as Pence was, maybe the GOP has wanted Pence to be the candidate all along, and will work to get Trump elected ("AbH" after all) only to have him win and then say he wanted to focus on other things and turn it over to Pence.
Georgia junior safety Dominick Sanders has started 25 of 26 games in his two seasons and has snagged nine interceptions, including a team-high six interceptions last season.5. Finally, there are a few odds and ends out there - if you are into such things, keep an eye on David Paschall's SEC series in the TFP (today was an interesting look at Georgia defensive back Dominick Sanders), and keep up with the Junior Amateur from TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer, who has done excellent work this week at The Honors, along with Kelley Smiddie - like the Braves being the Braves and the Dodgers potentially putting Clayton Kershaw on the shelf for the season. (No es bueno, Dodgers supporters.) We'll close with requests for mailbag entries and nominations for the Rushmore of Cookies on this national junk food day. Whatcha' got?