We're back in the greater Hamilton County-area - and happy to be so. Thanks to everyone who followed along throughout the Masters stuff this weekend - it's a great event, there's no doubt.
Don't forget about Friday's mailbag, and with that, here we go...
Staff Photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free Press Sep4, 2010
UT's Jacques Smith lines up against UT Martin at Neyland Stadium Saturday evening.UT spring fling - defensive tackles
The University of Tennessee is speeding toward Saturday's Orange and White game.
There are some strengths on this team, which has a bevy of young and talented players on the offensive line, at wide receiver and in the secondary.
Experience is in short supply in a lot of places - so it goes with the amount of coaching upheaval that has occurred in Knoxville in the last three-plus years.
The coaching turnover, the up-and-down recruiting, etc., has left a large void in the middle of the Vols defensive line. There are talented defensive ends - and every report from K-town has former Ooltewah star Jacques Smith looking like a star-in-the-making - but there are few defensive tackles.
Sure, every college program in the country would like to have a couple extra athletic, 300-pound guy to stuff the middle. But the Vols were relying on walk-ons and converted defensive ends there last year, and it worked on some levels, which is a credit to those kids and the defensive coaches.
That said, there may not be a more important piece that's currently in school for this UT defense than Montori Hughes. Entering his junior season, Hughes needs the light to go on. He needs to be the big-time player that he appeared destined to be less than two years ago.
He looked like a monster two years ago as a freshman. He was less than impressive last year. If Hughes can return to form and become a possible all-SEC-type player, that would make a load of difference for this defense.
A productive Hughes would make every player on the UT defense better, and how many non-quarterbacks can you say that about?
Members of the striking Miami Dolphins haze a carload of players as they leave the Miami Dolphins' training camp early, Sept. 23, 1987. Miami Dolphins' quarterback Dan Marino, right, watches as running back Mark Clayton, foreground, shouts at the players in the Dolphin team van. (AP Photo/Raul Demolina)Let the mediation begin
The NFL and its former players are going to start judge-ordered mediation on Thursday.
The 5-at-10 says, "Good, we guess."
There's no way to estimate a timetable here - we are sticking with middle-school romance as the best comparison to the level of communication between the two sides.
A couple of things are starting to become more and more apparent during the NFL's labor unrest. Let's break the big four and ask some of sports' more flamboyant announcers to add a little insight:
- Rookie payscale is a must. And this will be a sticking point for every league until there's something handled. (Let's go to Dickie V, for more)
"They may be diaper dandies, BABY, but they can't be gold-plated Pampers, you know what I'm sayin.' Call it the JaMarcus Russell Shuffle. Sorry big guy, you were SO special at LSU, but your time in Oakland will eventually be so memorable for all the wrong reasons, baby."
- Labor-issue dealings are losing-propositions in the fans' eyes for everyone involved. Hope you NBA guys are paying attention since they have this coming later this year. (Let's go to Troy Aikman, for more)
"That's a great point, and the way I see it, these dealings with labor issues are losing-propositions in the fans' view for everyone involved. Let's hope the NBA guys are paying close attention since they have something like this coming later this year, I believe."
- The spin cycles have been set to "out of control," by each group, and it's becoming mind-numbing. Either play 16 games or 18 games, do more or the same about concussions, etc. (Let's go to Mrs. Donovan, Charlie Brown's teacher, for more)
"Wah-Wah-Wah-Waaaah-Wah-Wah"
- If this cuts into the season, all bets are off. The only way the NFL could hurt it's Gi-NORM-ous popularity right now is to lose regular-season time to this. (Let's go to the Astrodome crowd of the late 1970s "Bad News Bears in Breaking Training," for more)
"Let them play. Let them play. Let them play."
In this file photo, Jay Greeson tees off on hole 10 during the practice round of the 2007 Chattanooga Classic at Black Creek Golf Course Tuesday. Official play for the Chattanooga Classic will begin Thursday and end Sunday.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry/ Chattanooga Times Free PressMasters scorecard
We shot an 83 Monday at Augusta National, and it was a wonderful experience. Before we get going, know that we played the members' tees, not the pros. There's at least a 1,000-yard difference between the two.
Hit the ball very well, putted very well (especially for the 5-at-10) and Angel Cabrera let us share his locker in the Champions Locker Room. Granted he wasn't there, and he probably wasn't asked about it, but still, it was awesome. (Side question: Where does Cabrera's nickname of "El Pato" - the Duck - rank? The 5-at-10 loves it because it fits him very well.)
Highlight/lowlight shots on some familiar holes:
Found the huge fairway bunker off No. 1; had to pitch out and started with double-bogey.
Played Nos. 4-7 even par (par, bogey, par, birdie). The birdie on No. 7 was a tap-in, almost holed a 56-degree wedge after a really good tee shot.
Made par on 10 with four really good shots. It's a 460-yard hole, went driver 4-iron, and two putts. Somewhere Rory McIlroy just spit up a little bit.
Uhh, Amen Corner was less than accommodating. Pulled tee shot on 11, punched out, hit the third into the greenside pond, went to the drop zone and hit it to 5 feet and made the putt for double (truthfully, that wedge from the drop zone was one of the three best shots Monday). Made double on No. 12, and was in the back bunker on No. 13 (on a down slope - scary shot by the way) and did not get up and down.
Played the last four holes even par that included really good tee shots on Nos. 16 and 18.
It was great a day.
Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) talks with referee Tony Brothers (25), center, after committing as foul, as Dwyane Wade (3) looks on in the third quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Miami, Sunday, March 6, 2011. The Bulls defeated the Heat 87-86. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)NBA taking shape...
The NBA regular season is not over, but the playoffs are starting to take shape.
In the East, we know the Bulls are the top seed, the Heat will be No. 2 and the Celtics No. 3.
In the West, the Spurs are No. 1, with the Mavericks and Lakers still battling for the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds.
That said, looking at the possible matchups, two things of note:
First, the Grizzlies are in the playoffs, and currently they are matched up to face Dallas. The Griz were 3-1 against Dallas this year, and we're not sayin' anything, we're just sayin' - could be interesting.
As for the Atlanta Hawks, it's hard to trust a basketball team in the postseason that has not had a point guard since Doc Rivers was actually playing. Still, the Hawks are destined to meet the Orlando Magic, who the Hawks bested 3-1 in the season-series. We're not sayin' anything, we're just sayin' - could be interesting.
In this Sept. 25, 2010 file photo, Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor, left, and coach Jim Tressel talk during a time out against Eastern Michigan in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)This and that
- Wow, from the files of "If he didn't have bad luck, he'd have no luck at all," UGA offensive lineman Trinton Sturdivant tore his ACL. Again. Yep, that's No. 3 for him, and he'll miss the upcoming season. Here's our TFP UGA ace David Paschall's reports HERE.
- The 5-at-10 loves the draft. You know this. Did you see that Terrelle Pryor may explore his options in the NFL supplemental draft - the summer draft process for players in odd circumstances that missed the main draft? Pryor, the Ohio State quarterback who has been suspended for the first five games this season, had promised to coach Jim Tressel for his senior year. Now, with all the trouble Tressel's in, who knows what's going to happen next.
- You know how the 5-at-10 feels about the draft, and it's not limited to just the NFL draft. Maya Moore was taken first in the WNBA, and as EC pointed out Monday, if that surprised you, well, welcome back from your coma that ranged anywhere from six month-to-four year. As for the rest of the picks, well, the 5-at-10 loves the draft (you know this), but this one is not at the top of the draft pecking order. We do know that UT's Angie Bjorklund was picked. so there you go.
- Kemba Walker entered the NBA draft. He had to, how's his stock going to get any higher than it is right now.
- Did you see that Carl Lewis is running for a New Jersey state senate? Yes, that Carl Lewis. Maybe he's running as an "Independent-ly Stupid" nominee? Wow, let's just hope there's no singing involved and move along, huh.