Let’s handle our business.
First, some clips for your pleasure.
We’ll start with a reminder of the greatest NFL penalty ever called, when Jets D-tackle Marty Lyons got a 15-year flag for “giving him the business” to Bills QB1 Jim Kelly.
Now, let’s go to Mrs. Bicycle Bob’s favorite show and this “Celebrity Jeopardy!” clip with Ryan Gosling getting bailed out with maybe the best Hail Mary without Aaron Rodgers involved since Doug Flutie. Enjoy.
Now, let’s get to the Rushmores.
Rushmore of Johnny Cash songs — “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “Hurt,” “I Walk the Line” and in a tough choice, “Folsom Prison Blues.” The tiebreakers for his prison anthem over a slew of quality choices are a) it was his first smash, if memory serves, and b) the line “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die” is downright exquisite.
Rushmore of father-daughter celebrities — the Fondas, Billy Ray and Miley, Quincy and Rashida Jones (Quincy was a bona fide mogul, people), Frank and Nancy Sinatra. You have to pick the Chairman of the Board, right? No one wants a horse head in their bed.
All-time Rushmore of Steve (and this one was so tough, if they go by Stephen, we ruled them out — sorry, Hargis) — Jobs, Wozniak, Martin, and McQueen, which means I apologize to personal fav Steve Earle and makes me wonder how close we were to the most famous computer company in the world being called “Steve” instead of “Apple.”
Rushmore of most annoying Disney animated characters — Olaf, Dory, Hugo and the giraffe from “Madagascar.” Yes, David Schwimmer being his voice matters.
Rules, people. Here’s Paschall with a look at the Vols’ most important portal piece, Chaz Coleman, the five-star edge rusher who followed Jim Knowles from Happy Valley to Knoxville.
Finally, meet the new King of Hollywood, David Ellison.
Let’s bag, the ‘bag.
We’ll start here.
From several of you
“What are your thoughts on Trump’s speech?”
And
“I know you don’t do politics anymore, but what did you think of the State of the Union?”
And
“Unless it’s FDR during World War II, are all the SOTUs kind of ignorable? Anybody remember anything out of Ike’s or LBJ’s or Nixon’s addresses?”
Gang
I don’t have the bandwidth for current politics, and since I walked away from the A2 column several years ago, I don’t follow it as much.
Sure, I pay attention. I think every invested U.S. citizen should. To be more informed. To be more aware. To be an intelligent voter. To be cognizant of the good and the bad that face you and your family and Joe Downthestreet and his Family and Jane Fromacrossthecountry and her family.
But my opinion is mine. I encourage everyone to have their own. Share them here if you want. Or don’t. But be courteous and open to different thoughts — from all sides.
We as a country need more good ideas, regardless of the side of the aisle from which they are hatched.
I did not watch a moment of the SOTU — live or on tape. And that was by choice.
It has become a pep rally at a time when we need more information. I care about the issues of our country. I do not care about the feud between the president, and who was sitting during which part of the speech makes me tired.
(And to be fair, it happened at the same time as Auburn was playing its way out of the NCAA tournament, so there’s that, too.)
I will say this, however.
All of us in this space, though, should be paying attention to this new directive from President Trump.
He is convening a panel to examine college sports, and while I seldom think the solution to complex issues is MORE government involvement, and with the completely fractured state of college sports in so many places, maybe this could unify the structure in some ways.
And if this works, well, it would please a huge chunk of U.S. voters.
From Brad
Jay, I appreciate you writing about BravesVision, I have not seen much about the deal, and (Brad’s cable company) has less than great costumer service.
Do you know any more about whether we will get the Braves this summer?
Brad
I wish I had more answers.
I talked to Sophie Moore, the EPB media relations ace, earlier this week, and in truth, she does not know much about the future either.
She is well aware of the importance of having the Braves on TV here in Chattanooga and across the South.
Heck, she said her husband is a huge Braves fan — the Moores were born in Georgia, so you know what that means — so she feels the want of a solution at work and at home.
Moore did not know when the BravesVision leaders will sit down with reps from EPB and the other major cable providers across the South, but Moore and crew are eager for more information.
When I know more, you will know more, Brad.
And man, I hope for everyone involved — you and me, Sophie and her family, BravesNation and the Braves organization — they will not be pennywise and pound foolish.
Keeping the connection between as devoted a fan base there is in non-NFL professional sports should be goal Nos. 1 through 204.
From David
Good afternoon, Jay:
Love your article and try to make sure I read it everyday. Quick question.
With all of the discussion regarding Chuck Bediako, and yes I’m a huge Tide fan but think Nate was totally off base in allowing him to try and play, I find it interesting that the Vols have a freshman, Ethan Burg, that is 23 and played professionally in Israel for 2 or 3 years prior to coming to Knoxville.
Am I missing something or is this totally different than the Bediako case? I know it’s all about the NCAA’s lack of good, consistent leadership but, cheese and crackers, if Bediako can’t play, then in my opinion neither should Burg or anyone else in the same situation. Thoughts?
Keep it up and hit ’em straight up there.
David
Wish I had time to hit them at all these days; never mind hitting them straight.
Side note: I miss playing golf. Life gets in the way. That said, I played at Albatross with some family members within the last month and was even through eight holes. Big part of that is the “not-having-to-putt” aspect of those simulators.
Anywell, amid all these talking points about the changing perceptions of eligibility and availability, this is a completely fair point.
And UT is far from the lone school with an “experienced” freshman who played professionally in their home country.
Auburn freshman Filip Jovic also has a similar backstory as Burg.
The differences of course are starting the eligibility clock and then leaving, like Bediako did, compared to the coming in from overseas to start your college career.
Bediako’s lawyers asked for an injunction for the Tide player to play the rest of the season as they work on his appeal to the original decision. That request was denied this week.
The hypocrisy is par for the course in NCAA legal conversations and in college sports fandom, if we think about it.
Using the rules as you interpret them for the benefit for your program is a familiar refrain in college sports in particular and sports in general.
Ask NASCAR.
From Spy
Great Junior Bridgeman reference yesterday.
If you can work Sidney Moncrief or Terry Cummings — or Paul Mokeski — into the banter this week, that is a true sign of genius.
Those ’80s Bucks teams were solid. You know, back when the NBA was worth watching.
Spy
If we had a Rushmore of most underrated 1980s NBA stars, the Bucks were stocked with them.
Flush in fact. Because Moncrief and Cummings are contenders for that.
And man, the levels of depth across the 1980s NBA is underappreciated because of the superior greatness of the Lakers and Celtics in that time.
If I had to start, on that underrated 1980s NBA list, I will fight for Alex English until you pry this keyboard from my cold, dead hands.
Thoughts?
And have a great weekend, friends.