FREE THOUGHT FRIDAY:

HOMERUN DERBY THOUGHTS: Though I believe the HR Derby is close to running it’s course -as the NBA Dunk contest did close to a quarter century ago- I do think it was given new life with the altered format. The bracket play and clock additions were welcomed variations.

ALL STAR GAME NUGGETS:

-The American League can win every year and I’ll still think World Series home field advantage riding on the outcome is ridiculous.

-Like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera before him David Ortiz’ incredible career achievements pale in comparison to the respect other players have for him.

-Having the AL as the home team in San Diego was confusing regardless of how many consecutive All Star Games have been played in National League parks.

-I tire of seeing Marlin Man sitting behind the plate of every big baseball game but at least he didn’t weasel his way into the Fort Bragg game like Home Run Ball Boy.

-As Fab-Five Freddy said, you understand what sad shape the Yankee’s roster is in when you don’t see the pinstripes and interlocking NY in the All Star Game until the 6th inning

-MLB always has -and always will- put on the best All Star event and it’s not close.

BASILIO AND BEANO (from Reno) PICK WINNERS: The Dean and I killed a July Monday with a game-by-game SEC pickathon earlier this week on The Tony Basilio Show. Here are the results of my effort on Monday:

BLOGGER’S NOTE: As stated during the show Tony and I both reserved the right to adjust our picks right up until the opening day of CFB season. I exercised my option early reversing my prediction that Florida would defeat LSU in Gainesville on October 8th before I pulled into my driveway at the conclusion of the show. I feel much better because it not only gives the hated Gators an additional loss but also keeps the equally disgusting Tide out of Atlanta. Killed two oppressors with one pick.

2016 SEC FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS

EAST: RECORD SEC LOSSES

Tennessee 6-2; 10-2 Bama; @A&M
Florida 5-3; 8-4 @TN; LSU; @Ark
Georgia 5-3; 9-3 @Miss; TN; Fla (Jax)
Kentucky 3-5; 5-7 @Fla; @Bama; MS; Ga; @TN
S Carolina 2-6; 5-7 @MS; @Ky; A&M; Ga; TN; @Fla
Missouri 1-7; 4-8 Ga; @LSU; @Fla; Ky; @SC; @Tn; Ark
Vandy 0-8; 2-10 Whoever shows up on the schedule.

WEST: RECORD SEC LOSSES

LSU 6-1; 11-1 @Ark
Alabama 6-1; 11-1 @LSU
Ole Miss 6-2; 9-3 Bama; @LSU
Miss State 5-3; 8-4 @LSU; @Bama; @Ole Miss
Arkansas 4-4; 7-5 A&M (Arl); Bama; OM; @Miss St
Texas A&M 3-5; 6-6 @Aub; @Bama; @Miss St; OM; LSU
Auburn 2-6; 5-7 LSU; @MS; Ark; @OM; @Ga; @Bama

NIGHTMARE SCENARIO: Want a potentially ugly side to my above predictions coming to fruition and Tennessee and LSU meeting in Atlanta? The Vols beat the Tigers and win the SEC Championship which of course sends Big Orange Nation into delirium The next day the fervor is slightly dowsed with the announcement that the 11-1 Alabama Crimson Tide is invited to participate in their third straight College Football Playoff without as much as winning their own division.

BUTCH ON-POINT IN HOOVER: I listened intently to the Tony Basilio Show earlier this week as callers implored Butch to take the podium at Hoover and basically say “we’re gonna kick the Gators ass”. I would eat that up myself but there are only certain guys that can pull that off and Butch is simply not wired like those guys. Steve Spurrier, Jimmy Johnson, Buddy Ryan, Bruce Pearl, hell even one so unaccomplished as a head coach as Lane Kiffin could do it because that’s who those guys are. Butch wouldn’t be comfortable doing it and it would be so out of character I doubt his team would gain any additional motivation from it if he did. The bottom line is you have to be who you are in a media setting and trying to be anything else would be perceived as phony and probably be counter-productive as well.

TRUST em BUTCH: There has been much discussion about if Butch Jones has what it takes on Saturdays to take advantage of he and his staff’s amazing work on the recruiting trail? Did he grow as a game manager as the 2015 season progressed or did the schedule get more accommodating? Can he stay out of the way and keep from blowing a gasket at the most crucial junctures? All are legitimate questions but I believe a more relevant query is can he trust what he’s built so well? Will he trust Jalen Hurd to get a crucial yard rather than kick a FG shorter than an extra point? Will he trust Alvin Kamara to share touches in the biggest of games? Will he trust Josh Dobbs to win games late rather than running plays so conservative that a Sal Sunseri defense could stone them? Will he trust his defensive line to get to the QB and his secondary to hold up if we rush more than three with a small lead late in the game? For the first time in his career he embarks on a fourth season at a stop as a head coach. He has upperclassmen that he has recruited and developed. If he truly believes -as he preaches- that he has the right personnel in the right system it’s time he proves it by trusting those he hired, recruited and instructed. If he does many more of the Vol faithful will trust him on Saturday as well.

FINAL FRIDAY THOUGHT: From the conclusion of the SEC Media days until the first Saturday in September is a difficult period for a CFB nut such as myself. I seem to get in full football mode prematurely.

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