48 Days! Are you believing this?
As world football gets off the stage, the SEC takes center stage this week with this metastasized event they call Media Days. It's a complete circus already here in Birmingham. Perfect set up for it though. Great opportunity to see a bunch of folks. That's always fun. I'm not much for coach speak so it will be interesting what nuggets if any this event will produce this week. I'll be set up on radio row so if you're in the area, please get by! Special thanks to Randy Dalton and my great friends at Dalton Bearing and Hydraulic. That's a family business made good and wonderful people indeed. Do business with them when you can please.
This is the 30th year for media days and its nutso here.
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So, what will hot issues be here this week?
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1,500 media people in the same place. That's a lot of hot air.
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Pretty much going to be about Bama and Saban's agenda this week. Slowing games down? Please.
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I love Andrew Butcher! We need more of this! Let's live a little. It's time to get back to winning some games around here and doing it in style! It's time to have some fun. I live Andrew Butcher talking trash on Alabama on Twitter. If you don't have this attitude then why bother stepping on the field. He will grow up in time and get programmed on what to say and not to say, in the meantime, I love this honesty. You be you young man! BTW, I love Auburn fans jumping in on Twitter to Butcher's defense. Pretty comical. Let's all let our hair down a little bit and let being uptight stay in Saban's realm.
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Do you ever remember a year where the QB position is in the much flux in the SEC. Six new QB's and several fledgling signal callers could make this an interesting year.
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I never understood why people insist on doing moronic things at sporting events. I get alcohol but still. Moronic fan behavior part 1.
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If you're going to an arena football game, please don't reach into the field of play while the games going on or you could get your head taken off. This knucklehead is lucky he's alive today.
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I'll tell you this. God bless you if you walk onto a field of play these days because if you do, I believe all bets should be off. I like what that shortstops said a couple stories above. These days, you never know if somebody's packin' or if they are a spree killer or just a Florida fan!
What's the dumbest thing you've ever seen a fan do at a sporting event? Tell me about it. I'll send the winner to Calhoun's with a $25 gift card. E mail me commongfan@gmail.com. Put in subject line 'fan story'. Good luck.
Keith Hatfield, presented by Spring's Dock Resort, is a renaissance man. He flat brings it today in the Hatfield IX. BTW, Keith Hatfield launches his new show 'Show Cause' Friday at 1pm immediately following the Tony Basilio Show right here at tonybasilio.com. Make sure and join him.
Futbol has a new world champion and LeBron James headed home. It was a full few days in sports.
1. LeBron James did exactly what anyone with the freedom to do whatever they please should. He exercised it.
2. I'm a bit puzzled at the criticism of Carmelo Anthony for taking the largest financial offer available to him. I wonder how many how many of the people ripping him have taken a lower paying job to have better co-workers.
3. The Heat came out of the weekend as well as you can after losing the world's best player. Their response showed how classy they are and they made moves that keep them relevant in the Eastern Conference.
4. The Minnesota Timberwolves have to be thrilled with Cleveland's acquisition of James. It gives them another potential suitor for Kevin Love.
5. I was a bit surprised by Houston's decision to essentially swap Chandler Parsons for Trevor Ariza. Perhaps they've finally decided to make a commitment to the defensive end.
6. Dallas paid a high price to sign Parsons. He'll have to incredibly productive to justify that salary.
7. Mario Gotze scored the kind of goal kids dream about to give Germany their fourth title. That is what a World Cup winning goal should look like.
8. Lionel Messi was unable to deliver the Cup to Argentina. That is why he will remain in the shadow of Diego Maradona.
9. Butch Jones continues to add elite talent to the Tennessee roster. It will just be a while before the fruits of the recruiting labor translates to wins.
Hatfield really does need his own show. Why? Cause. That's why we are calling it Show Cause with Keith Hatfield.
Eric S. chimes in today on Nick Marshall's arrest and subsequent banishment from the roster of SEC football players visiting SEC Media days. Consider this some great road trip advice.
Okay, I admit it. I smirked a little when I heard that someone else's QB was arrested and replaced for SEC Media Days. I'm in the, "I'm just glad this story isn't about a UT player" phase. I don't wish I'll on Marshall, just glad it's happening to someone else's program instead of ours.
Then I read the story. He was arrested in Reynolds, Georgia.
Aha!
As a service to all of humanity regardless of whom they root for, I must encourage you to avoid Reynolds, GA if you have a choice. Reynolds is in the middle of nowhere between Fort Valley and Columbus and unlike many towns, GA-96 goes right through town instead of bypassing the town center. There isn't much in Reynolds so there isn't much in the way of business, industry, or tax revenue. In order to boost revenue, the Reynolds police treat GA-96 as a speed trap.
Apparently, Reynolds also has a strong interest in window tinting violations. The USA Today article says that Marshall was pulled over for a window tinting violation. At 12:48 pm. Apparently, they're the only jurisdiction in America highly interested in how much tint you have on the windows. Thank goodness for that!
Of course the rest is history after they "smelled marijuana" and searched the car-with Marshall's consent, and without a warrant I'm sure.
Again, when you drive through an area that just looks economically depressed, often times the local police force will try to become a revenue center by aggressive enforcement on the road. The slightest infraction will draw the swiftest and heaviest fine possible. Regardless of where you stand on drugs or Marshall personally, when the police have decided to pervert the law to suit their own ends, then it's time to steer clear.
Eric S
And Auburn should've brought him. How many of these media people gathered here have ever smoked a joint? Please.
Free Nick Marshall already. I like how they act like his status is up in the air at Auburn. Yeah. Sure.
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Great for LeBron James and the city of Cleveland. Those people have been through so much with their sports teams. Whether they win a championship or not is immaterial. He's returned home and they're getting to celebrate like they've won a title already. So, great for them. Now, why he had to go away in the first place to front run to a title is another story, but unfortunately, that's professional sports these days. Meanwhile Cavs coach says Wiggins isn't going anywhere.
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Think about it. Cal could've been coaching LeBron James. You think he's having second thoughts?
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Andrew Wiggins did a behind the back 360 dunk in warm ups before a summer league game. That's called giving the people their money's worth.
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Pair of former Lady Vols helps send USA to Softball World Cup final.
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SEC success yesterday on the PGA tour.
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You take everybody else, I'll take Mike Trout. What a talent!
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Ponder this: College football unveils its new National Title Playoff era trophy today! How long till UT contents for it? Coming soon!
Tony