It's mailbag Friday, and thanks as always for the great response.
Here we go...
Otis Nixon making famed wall catchFROM STEELER FAN
Hey Fiver,
I loved that you used Mike Lum and Rick Camp in the 5 at 10 this week. Could you work in Otis Nixon next week? Specifically, do you think he was named after the guy in Mayberry and the former president.
A follow up. Other that Otis Nixon can you think of any other pro athletes with one name from Mayberry (Side note: location of the famous "Andy Griffith Show") and one name from a U.S. President. I thought of two others: Howard Johnson and Ron Darling. (Hint: Ernest T. Obama is not a correct answer.)
SteelerFan
The 5-at-10 loved this question, and noticed two things quickly. SteelerFan has a little extra time on his hands because of the NFL labor issues, and second, we spent way too much time on this question.
We're not sure what her last name was, but let's start with Barney Fife's main squeeze, Thelma Lou Piniella? OK, we may have made that one up.
For starters, we'll go with the main character of Andrew Jackson Taylor - who may or may not have been called Reggie in some of the shadier circles of Mayberry (the pool halls and what not) and that gives us a possible three-way combo of Andrew Johnson, Zachery Taylor and Reggie Jackson.
What about Rutherford (Aunt) Bea Hayes and his grandson former Oakland Raiders stud cornerback Lester Hayes? No, maybe not.
We almost threw out Deputy Warren Ferguson (Warren Harding and former quarterback Joe Ferguson), but that would be admitting that the non-Black and White, non-Barney Fife versions of the Andy Griffith Show existed, and as we all know, they do not. There's not changing our mind on this point.
OK, here we go, and hold onto your hats...
We'll take Bill Bixby as Ronald Bailey in "Bailey's Bad Boy," one of the better episodes, and maybe a top-10er. Ronald Bailey blows through town and gets pulled over in his sports car. He tries to buy his way out of trouble, and gets a life lesson and logic in 22 minutes from the Sheriff. Andy Taylor could teach more in half-an-hour than any 600-page self-help book. Anyhoo, Ronald Bailey takes us to Ronald Reagan and Champ Bailey - Hall of Famers in both politics and football.
As for Otis Nixon, well, he was not exactly, let's say, well, he was never in any of the talks to be included in People's "Sexiest Man Alive." So rather than Otis Campbell and Richard Nixon - although both Nixons caught a lot of attention for stealing, thank you, thank you - let's go another direction on Otis Nixon. Let's say he's more a combo of Otis Day, the lead singer of Otis Day and the Knights in "Animal House" - "Otis, my man!" - and Cynthia Nixon, that pan-faced woman in the "Sex in the City" movies. Let's just move along.
Arizona's Derrick Williams (23) reacts while taking on Duke during the second half of a West regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 24, 2011, in Anaheim, Calif. Arizona defeated Duke 93-77. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)FROM MRS 5-at-10
Hey Mr. "I-gotta-write-my-web-thingee," why were you in such a mood this morning? Will you get some milk on your way home?
Sorry, dear. The 5-at-10 was in a twist because our sheet took a header after Duke's second-half implosion last night.
After nailing the two early games Thursday - and those were two great, Great, GREAT college basketball games by the way - Duke's meltdown leaves our bracket broken. Alas.
Side note here: Uh, Derrick Williams can flat out play. Wow. That guy destroyed Duke - and dude is 6-foot-10 and is shooting right at 60 percent from 3. Read that again and please accept our apologies for overlooking him for this long.
And for being in a snit this morning. We're much better now, thanks.
Here are quick, less than 10 word NCAA tourney previews for tonight's games, the 4-in-10 of the 5-at-10 if you will:
No. 4 Kentucky (27-8) vs. No. 1 Ohio State (34-2) - Sweet Mother of Kyle Macy, buckle up for Cats' classic.
Marquette vs. North Carolina - UNC's Harrison Barnes may be the best player in America.
Richmond vs. Kansas - Richmond coach Chris Mooney can start polishing his resume Saturday.
VCU vs. Florida State - The Rams' run is nice but FSU is nasty defensively.
Bruce Pearl and forward Tyler Smith embrace after Tennessee's first round win over American at the 2008 NCAA East Regional tournament.
AP Photo/Rogelio V. SolisFROM C-VOL
Hello Jay AKA Agent Double OO 5 at 10,
My my what a week this has been. I think we all knew this was coming, but it's one of those kind of things you put out of your mind hoping it will never happen but knowing deep down that it will. Anyways, Mrs. C-Vol and the C-Vol tikes don't seem to quite understand my somber mood this week. I don't think they've grasped the magnitude of what just happened in my beloved Knoxville. My gosh, Jay, doesn't it seem like this season has just been one long drawn out funeral. One of those where there's too many songs, too many preachers, and a lot of crying. Enough about the past, let's look toward the future of Vols Hoops. Based on your expansive vase of connections and hoops knowledge, who are 3 coaching candidates that the Vols realistically have a shot at getting? And where do you rank the Vols coaching job in relation to the SEC?
P.S. Love the idea that a Boston Celtics coach is being mentioned as a possible replacement.
C-Vol,
Haven't heard that funeral analogy before your question, but it's pretty spot on. Few things are as painful as an over-extended funeral. There are root canals, insurance seminars at the top of the painful-events list, then a few spots down are those weddings and funerals that are too long by a factor of at least 2. Ouch.
Sometimes the family will not understand our sports pain, and that's OK. They prove great support and perspective because they do not understand. Understand?
Anyhoo, the UT list as I see it is a Big One and then a collection of others.
By all accounts, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall appears to be the front-runner. From there, the 5-at-10 hears that Richmond's Chris Mooney is going to get a phone call and then there is the pack of folks that were tossed out earlier this week, but most of them seem like either smokescreens or a pretty big leap.
You asked for a top three, so here's our best educated guess:
- Marshall
- Mooney
- Mark Turgeon, Texas AM
Former football star Lawrence Taylor, center, leaves Rockland County Courthouse in New City, N.Y., Tuesday, March 22, 2011. The 52-year-old ex-linebacker pleaded guilty in January to sexual misconduct and patronizing a 16-year-old prostitute. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)FROM NEW READER
Just started reading your blog, and it's pretty good.
I'm reading about the ALL-LT team and the All-Duncan team and was curious about who all is on these teams.
Help.
New Reader,
Welcome to the show and feel free to join the commentary at any time - we're always looking for new additions and perspectives.
OK, the 5-at-10 currently has three "special/different" teams, and they are as follows:
- The All-LT Team (named for Lawrence Taylor and is comprised of guys who were all-world, Hall-of-Fame level athletes and all-world, Hall-of-Fame level scumbags)
- The All-Duncan Team (named for Tim Duncan and is comprised of guys who are great players yet still did not get enough credit because they played in relatively low-keyed cities, such as Duncan in San Antonio)
- The All-Stan White Team (named for former four-year starting Auburn quarterback Stan White and is comprised of athletes who felt likes they spent 12 years in college - and remember this has to be college athletes or this team would be the 5-at-10 Team, since we really came close to spending 12 years in college)
Now for the added bonus of the charter members of each team. We're going to keep the inaugural classes to five, and this is a final rough draft (meaning if some of you guys come up with a name that is better, well, we can talk):
All-LT team
Lawrence Taylor
O.J. Simpson
Mike Tyson
Ty Cobb
Mike Vick
(Honorary coach: Pete Rose - tip of the cap to EC for the coach role. Nice)
All-Duncan Team
Tim Duncan
Ichiro Suzuki
Joe Mauer
Hakeem Olajuwon
Bruce Smith
And of course... Derek Jeter and Brett Favre (Kidding, kidding, of course)
Two youngsters to watch here are - Kevin Durant and Kevin Love
All-Stan White Team
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams
Casey Clausen
Jay Barker
David Greene
Maya Moore
Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton (2) celebrates with teammate Nick Fairley (90) following a 28-27 win over Alabama in an NCAA college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)FROM P-DAVI
Did you see the lawsuit filed against Auburn? Here's some of it from the Huffington Post:
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Nine workers in the Auburn University athletic department who were laid off or reassigned have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the school of racial discrimination.
The lawsuit against the university was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court. Five of the former custodial workers were laid off last May and four others were moved to other departments during a reorganization after Auburn moved from Beard-Eaves Coliseum to the smaller new Auburn Arena.
Overall, the lawsuit says 10 of the 11 employees who lost their jobs during the reorganization were black.
My question for you, nickles&dimes, do you think Cam Newton was fairly treated when he was employed at Auburn University?
Nice, P-Davi. Of course he was fairly treated. Cam and Auburn each got a great deal from their 13-month association.
Cam got the spotlight and catapulted himself to first-round status and has already agreed on a seven-figure deal with UnderArmor, which is the apparel provider of Auburn and will pattern a lot of Cam's stuff in Auburn colors.
While it now faces the biggest rebuilding project this side of remaking Charlie Sheen's image, Auburn still got its first national championship since 1957. Call it a great trade across the board.
Seriously though, the Auburn Tigers may be college football's biggest unknown right now. They have some talent - Mike Dyer did go for like 1,100 yards as freshman last fall and who really is going to underestimate a Gus Malzahn offense - but they have gaping holes across the board and something like 53 or 54 scholarship players in spring practice. And they have to replace almost all of each line.
These Tigers could lose eight games or win nine - how's that for a swing and that's not talking about if someone gets hurt. (Although, if this bunch wins nine games, the Auburn coaches will have done a better job in 2011 than they did in the national championship run.)
Right now, the defending national champs may be fourth or fifth in the SEC West. Welcome to SEC football folks.
Until Monday, and enjoy the weekend.