From Kyle C.
Jay, thanks for the shirt, gift card and the rest of the stuff. To answer your question, I’m not sure why I picked Mendelssohn last. A lucky guess I guess.
This was the first 5-at-10 contest I have enter, how many contests do you do? These are fun.
P.S. Why do you not do more on hockey? The Preds are the best.
Kyle C. –
Glad you got the prize pack. Enjoy.
We have a college bowl contest, a Masters contest, a March Madness contest and the Derby contest. Those are assured and every year.
We have added an occasional contest here and there, be it a random golf major or horse race. Keep your eyes peeled.
As for the hockey, well, and we say this knowing how great the sport is to watch in person, but hockey is really not that enjoyable as a TV option.
With the rainouts we had last night, we were poised to give the Preds our full viewing attention last night. Then one quick, fluke goal, then another soft goal and out goes Pikka Rinne and the Preds are cooked and we’re out.
As for the talking points around here, well, we may be too LeBron heavy, and we love the draft, and there’s always going to be a ton of college football – and more than a few wagering tips for entertainment purposes only of course – and whatever we are interested in.
And truth be told, hockey doesn’t do it for us for the most part. Yes the drama of Game 7s is cool. We paid attention to the Preds and the miracle that is run by the expansion Las Vegas bunch. And the storyline of Alex Ovechkin finally delivering in the playoffs has intrigue. But brother, if this one turns into Winnipeg-Tampa, then there will be ice crickets in the TV numbers.
Folks are welcome to offer questions and kick it around in the comments.
FILE – In this Jan. 26, 1997, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Andre Rison during the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Favre was equal parts desperado and virtuoso during his 20-year NFL career that was predicated on taking big risks in the game’s biggest moments. Favre will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File) This week’s Rushmores
Rushmore of best quarterbacks who made their career with their second team: Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, Steve Young and Drew Brees.
Rushmore of UT football: Reggie, The General, Fulmer, Peyton, and yes that leaves off Doug Atkins, who was a complete dude, and Johnny Majors. (Can anyone explain the universal and overwhelming connection between UT fans and Manning? Yes, he was an All-American and delivered an SEC title, but still. In fact, we want your input on a bonus Rushmore today: Most beloved players in SEC history. We’d go with Herschel in Athens, Tebow in Gainesville, Peyton in Knoxville and either Bo in Auburn or Archie in Oxford. Thoughts?)
Rushmore of TV Moms. Wow this one is tough. Carol Brady, Marion Cunningham, Marge Simpson and Rosanne. And that’s leaving off a ton of great ones, like Florida Evans, Elyse Keaton, Claire Dunphy, Claire Huxtable, Jill Taylor and June Cleaver.
Rushmore of TV shows intro songs. This one may be even tougher. So tough that we broke into categories. There’s instrumental: Dallas, Hawaii 5-0, Game of Thrones, Andy Griffith Show. (And that’s leaving off Sanford and Son and What’s Happening.) There’s the sports category: Monday Night Football, the Olympics music, the old-school Wide World of Sports and one of the most famous ever, the SportsCenter . There’s old-school sing-a-long: Brady Bunch, Mister Ed, Green Acres and The Flintstones. (And that’s leaving off Gilligan’s Island.) There’s original song: Jeffersons, Good Times, All in the Family and LaVerne and Shirley. There’s themes so good they became crossover hits like The Monkees, The Dukes of Hazzard, the Beverly Hillbillies and Welcome Back Kotter. An impossible category for sure.
But we are here for the impossible: Cheers, Twilight Zone, M*A*S*H, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Tiger Woods tips his hat on the 18th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament Thursday, April 5, 2018, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)From JJJ
Mailbag: Natty any sport, World Champ any sport, or any golf major champ? Only one.
JJJ –
Such a great question. Simply perfect in the realm of 5-at-10 discussion.
Let’s count them down in reserve order, using golf, the four major U.S. pro sports, boxing and the two major college sports.
Last: Winning the NCAA tournament. Unless of course we get to keep Jim dantz’ necktie. Then this goes to No. 1. Or a place worse than DFL. You decide.
World Series. Rosters are huge, and even if you are Jose Altuve, well, it’s not as big a deal. Plus, does anyone look down on Teddy Ballgame Williams or Hank Aaron like they do Barkley or Marino for not having a title.
Stanley Cup. Did you know they are removing names/putting name plates over old names, on Lord Stanley’s chalice? Crazy right? where’s Jim Nantz when you need him?
NBA title. Case in point: Robert Horry has more than MJ or LeBron.
World boxing title. This one may be low because it comes with a nice check, presumably.
College football natty. Now if you are the key piece for bring one back to Knoxville or Athens or Austin, then this one sets you up for life.
Super Bowl. The relief, the sacrifice, the investment. This one looks like the most satisfying, no?
A Masters green jacket. And this one is not even close for me because of all the lifetime bennies that come with it. There’s the cash. There’s the coat, and rest assured, we’d wear that think everywhere. There’s the annual invite and all the golf entry chances to other events. The only bad thing: Spending that much time in the Butler Cabin with ol’ Jim Nantz.
Great question.
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens yells from the sidelines during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Monday, Feb. 13, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero) From Joe Don
Happy 5-at-10 day, my friend!
Sad news today about Stump. I got to see him a couple of weeks ago when he was in Life Care of ER. He’s iconic and beloved … and an all-time great BS-er.
Nice read today, sir.
I’ll offer this … how in name of Red Auerbach can Brad Stevens get ZERO votes for COY??????
Joe Don –
There is no good answer to this question Joe Don. None.
And it makes it even more puzzling considering that he held this team together and delivered the second-best record in his conference after losing his second-best player (on paper) midway through the first quarter of the opener.
Now he’s coaching circles around everyone in his path.
Case in point about this: Brett Brown, the 76ers coach who was walked to the coaching woodshed in their series, got more consideration.
Simply inexcusable and points to the other talking point that far too often the voters on these awards are looking for a reason not to go with the clear choice or the expected winner. And that’s unfortunate. And wrong.
And yes, our prayers and thoughts are with Stump’s family and those deeply affected by his death.
Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) celebrates his three-point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter of Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Monday, April 30, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)From Spy
Best sign from Wednesday night (from Boston’s win over Philly): Process of Elimination.
Rozier has 1 turnover in home playoff games and that came last night? Wow.
Yes, it’s LeBron and he is Godzilla combined with King Kong meets Thor. But what will Brad Stevens do? Will he make it difficult as he can on LeBron? Or will he go, LBJ gonna get his 40; we’re going to make sure the LeBronaires get diddly in support. And who do the Cavs defend? There is no lead dog for the Celtics. Do you try to shut down Tatum? Or Brown? Or try to neutralize Horford? And what about Marcus Morris?
Because it’s LeBron, the Cavs have the edge. But do not dismiss the Celtics and their home court advantage.
Spy –
I think Stevens will take a very similar approach to this series as he did with the 76ers.
Go get 40 Lebron, especially if it is on an array of fadeaway jumpers and one-on-one contested 3s.
If he gets single coverage, LeBron gets to the rim against everyone, even Smart and Morris, two of the more physical and tenacious defenders who match-up with James as well as anyone really can.
Will James have the wherewithal to continue to attack the rim, play after play and foul after foul, through six or seven games? That may be Stevens’ biggest goal and most unknown question.
Because, like they did with the 76ers, if you never leave Korver – like they never left Reddick – then he can’t create his own shot and he’s a defensive liability.
Plus, the C’s have enough perimeter talent and balance, that James is going to have to work on the defensive end, something the Raptors never made him do.
As for there being no lead dog for the Celtics, that balance helps, but that lack of an alpha playmaker (we think Tatum will be that one day, and Rozier has looked the part against weaker foes) against someone with the playoff chops like James is a negative, no matter how many clutch out-of-bounds plays Stevens puts in.
We think the Cavs win, but it will be close than most think. We expect LeBron to deliver in a couple of close games; games that Stevens was able to snatch from the young and inexperienced 76ers.
Cleveland in 6.
Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies hits a grand slam during the sixth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, May 10, 2018, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)From Todd C.
An early T or F – the Braves cannot outhit / outscore their mediocre starting pitching and win 90 games.
T or F – you will never say that (Tiger is one of the most intriguing athletes in sports today) about another golfer in the sport, ever.
Todd –
We keep saying false to your Braves question and they keep finding ways to win and score runs and get big hit after big hit.
And now, to make matters even more cloudy for those of us who thought the Braves were a 74-88 type of club, the pitching has been far better in the last couple of weeks.
Sean Newcombe has been really good. So has Teheran. And the rookie can really pitch.
As for Tiger, 100 percent true.
It’s silly to never say never, but Tiger and Arnold are the only two golfers since WWII who have carried that type of cache.
Sure Nicklaus was the greatest and ’86 in Augusta was the sporting world’s cosmic tumblers clicking together and making magic happen.
But as far as head-turning, top-of-the-heap star-power, no golfer ever will approach Tiger’s zenith, which was a step or two ahead of Arnie’s
Great job this week friends, and thanks so much to everyone who offered feedback from Thursday’s A2 column. It meant the world to me.
Enjoy the weekend.