Great mailbag gang, seriously. Thanks for all the feedback and we did not even get to NFL labor stuff and a couple of Tiger questions - sorry guys/gals, send them again next week and maybe we'll get to them.
Anyhoo, here we go...
FROM MAD ABOUT MARCH
Tennessee's Scotty Hopson (32) shoots over Mississippi State's Riley Benock (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 in Knoxville, Tenn. Mississippi State won 70-69. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)The NCAA tournament is awesome and it's almost here. Who's in? Who's out?
There is still a lot of work left this weekend, but let's cover the regional teams:
Tennessee - Got to believe the Vols are in. Schedule is strong and the resume has some nice wins. Big performance last night in Columbia. The 5-at-10 is never afraid to pat itself on the back, but welcome to the party Tobias Harris - the player we've said from the start that is the key for UT. The Vols will need a lot more Harris and his production and a little less Scotty Hopson and his preening to make a run this month.
Georgia - UGA has 20 wins in a power conference, but played a less-than-impressive schedule and still have a little more work to do. One more win - be it Saturday against Alabama or in the first round of the SEC tournament - should do it. (This originally said Georgia had some bad losses, but it was edited at 12:10 p.m. thanks to najones75's attention to detail and insight. Well done, and carry on.)
Alabama - They are 11-4 in a power conference, but a lot of folks think the Tide must win against Georgia on Saturday to get in.
Vandy - Absolutely in.
Georgia Tech - Absolutely out.
SoCon - In a one-bid league, the ticket to the Dance will be handed out Monday night at McKenzie Arena. It's never to early to pick, so the 5-at-10 will go with the Mocs. Yep, those UTC Mocs. War Shulman.
FROM P-DAVIES
Brigham Young University head basketball coach Dave Rose, right, talks to the press as university spokeswoman Carrie Jenkins, center and BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe listen at a press conference in Provo, Utah, Thursday, March 3, 2011. The press conference was called to discuss BYU kicking their starting center, Brandon Davies off the third-ranked basketball team for violating BYU's honor code. (AP Photo/George Frey)Sweet-tea included in the BYU honor code? I could abstain from sex easier than I could sweet tea, and I'm married with 2 kids.
Step away from the Lipton's, P-Davies. Put down the Nestea and just relax. Breath deep; it's going to be OK. And for the love of Goodness, don't let your wife read this or you may not have an option about abstaining.
The BYU honor code has received a lot of attention since the Cougars suspended Brandon Davies, the leading rebounder and second-leading scorer on the nation's No. 3-ranked team, for having, um, let's call it relations with his girlfriend.
That said, this code was not adopted during winter break. If you sign on, you need to carry on or you need to move on. Does it derail a dream season for the Cougars? More than likely. Could it hurt BYU in the eyes of prospective athletes that it may recruit? More than likely.
But let's hope this - worrying about enforcing a program's rules rather that worrying about shaping the rules to protect a program's record - becomes the trend in college sports.
?FROM STEELERFAN
FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2011 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers' Hines Ward warms up before the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game between the Steelers and Green Bay Packers in Arlington, Texas. Ward will be a contestant on the new season of Dancing with the Stars. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)Dear Mr. Five & Dime: ??I read that you wanted my opinion on Mr. Hines Ward's pending appearance on "Dancing With the Stars." Here it is: I'm PO'd. This means I will now have to watch this stupid program. I'm also upset that they didn't have this "Dancing With the Stars" back in the 1970s. Is there any doubt that Mr. Lynn Swan would have won?
??Thanks for keeping us informed about the NFL combine this week Mr. Five and Dime. It seems that you love the NFL draft and the NFL combine better than the actual NFL season, which is a bit puzzling. I'm glad to know the Tar Heels "won" the combine, though. Add that to the list of silly championships that college fans try to claim for their teams. ??
Steelerfan prediction: iCon Newton will be appearing on "Seeing Stars" next fall in an NFL stadium near you. (I heard someone say this weekend that he called his own number on that QB sneak just before the game-winning field goal in the BCS championship game in hopes he could score and take a victory lap. Classic iCon move.)??
Which is it SteelerFan, are you upset you're going to have to watch this year's show or are you upset that this show has not been around for a couple more decades?
As for the iCam Newton references - nice tie in, by the way, and who knows he may have already signed a spokesman deal with Apple. Well, his performance at the combine leaves some questions, no doubt. He could very well struggle in the NFL, but it will not be physically. And he'll dish out as many stars as he gets - dude is 6-5, 250 pounds and as fast as most running backs.
As for the quarterback sneak stuff, well, just goes to show you that being sneak-y never pays off in the end. Bah-dum-dah. Thank you, thank you and remember the 7:30 show is different from the 9:30 show.
Is Newton overrated, maybe. Is Newton underrated, maybe. That's the thing that makes him the central figure in all of the draft discussions. The range on Newton swings from All-Timer to all-time bust. Plus, because of the expectations and emotions involved with Newton, that range is shaped like an A-Frame, and anything short of All-Timer or all-time bust will slide in those dramatic directions. Crazy, huh?
And since you brought him up, Lynn Swan is in the top-five of overrated players in NFL history. Seriously, he wasn't even the best receiver on those great Steelers teams, and he ranked as what, the fourth offensive option? As for the complete top five, well, glad you asked:
- Joe Namath - Flamboyant character; looked great in panty hose; and his lasting legacy will always be the guaranteed win in Super Bowl III. His numbers, though, were lousy. For his career he threw 173 TDs and 220 interceptions. His career passer rating was 65.5. Read that again. For the love of Weeb Eubanks, Gary Hogeboom's career rating was 71.9 in his nine forgettable years with three NFL teams. For an active QB, well, know this, Rex Grossman's rating is better than 70. Namath's best comparison may be Trent Dilfer, who also won a Super Bowl, but we don't want to insult Mr. Dilfer, who's rating was 70.2 in his 13-year career.
- William Perry - A situational defensive tackle who had a cool nickname. The fact that he has more career Super Bowl touchdowns than Walter Payton should haunt Mike Ditka forever.
- Tony Romo - Dude has done very little in the league other than date an attractive young lady or six. Maybe he belongs on the overpaid list more than the overrated list, but either way, here it is.
- Lynn Swan - We've covered this above.
- Brett Favre - Maybe this is because of Favre-fatigue in recent years, or maybe it's because one more reference to how much Favre "loves the game," or how much "fun he has playing" will be an even million. Let's move on.
?FROM CELTIC VOL
Just wanted to tell you that I really enjoy reading the 5@10 every day. I was curious to hear what you thought about the proposed look of the new football complex at Tennessee. Wow.
Great question, and welcome to the show Celtic Vol, feel free to stop by anytime.
The 5-at-10 has not seen the new digs in Knoxville, but I've heard nothing but rave reviews. Everyone we've spoken with has offered nothing but serious, Serious, SERIOUS praise.
Plus, I spoke with at least one member of Derek Dooley's most recent recruiting class, and he had nothing but great things to say about the complex. And more than anything, that's one of the most important things about these football practice palaces - can they impress the four- and five-star kids. ????
FROM ANONYMOUS?
In this file photo, Atlanta Braves reliever Mark Wohlers reacts on the mound after Cincinnati Reds batter Eric Anthony, in the background, hit a three-run pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning, Thursday afternoon, June 22, 1995, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 9-8. (AP Photo/David Kohl)You're Mr. Funny Guy, huh? The Wohlers' family losing their house in a fire is funny?
That's not something to be joking about. You suck.?
The 5-at-10 received a couple of e-mails about this topic and truth be told this is a fair point. No, not about us sucking (which may also be a fair point) but about the fire.
Yes, everyone got out safe, but still. The 5-at-10 may have been a little insensitive since Mark Wohlers and his family lost their home in a fire. That's not funny.
Wohlers' big-time mullett during his playing days with the Atlanta Braves, though, was funny.
In fact - let's channel our inner-Seinfeld - "What's the deal with relief pitchers and mulletts? I mean really? Is it a Samson-type thing? And if that's the case then why haven't the Mets signed Billy Ray Cyrus?"
Quickly, how about another top five? Great - top five mullett/closer combos (a good mullett alone won't get you on the list and the uber-effective-but-mullett-less Mariano Rivera does not qualify either):
Side note: The 5-at-10 panel of mullett experts determined that Lee Smith's jheri curl did not qualify. Plus, Rollie Fingers mustache mullett was denied on appeal. So sad.
- Mitch Williams - This one is too close to call. Williams' nickname pushes it over the top - what other kind of haircut would someone known as "Wild Thing" have other than a mullett.
- Rod Beck - The mullett standard, plain and simple.
- Dennis Eckersley - The best pitcher of the top three, but truthfully only an ordinary mullett.
- Mark Wohlers - An Atlanta classic.
- Todd Jones - Frankly, there are a lot more - and unfortunately, Randy Johnson was only a starter. The 5-at-10 went with Jones here because he grew up in Cobb County, and we know from experience that a Cobb County mullett's roots run deep. Holla.
Until Monday.