Orange Throat leads today off and he's pissed (and he should be) at what's going on with Von Pearson locally in the press.
Orange Throat
'Random musings as we enter a Memorial Day weekend that should keep our fallen soldiers foremost in our thoughts:
THE WEEKLY'S ARE ANYTHING BUT WEAK: We're ending one of the more forgettable UT athletic years in modern history, especially on the men's side, but Ralph and Karen Weekly's Lady Vol softball team continues to deliver the goods. The softball team soon to be known as the former Lady Vols delivered a clutch come-from-behind 3-2 walk off win last night against Florida State in the NCAA Super Regional Series, and can stamp a ticket to the World Series with a win tonight. This program is the standard by which other UT men's and women's teams should be measured by right now.
BUTCH AND THE GAME MAXIMS: Here's the deal. Our head football coach has an idea per minute. Many of them are great. Some, like the idea to fill Neyland for the spring game with no plan behind to do so, fall flat. I blame the athletics department for not being able to keep pace with our innovative head football coach on that one. The game maxim idea is goofy, but that's okay. Our guy is always thinking, pressing the envelope, and I love it.
INNOCENT UNTIL ACCUSED OF BEING GUILTY: The Von Pearson "investigation" ends yet another week without charges or exoneration, even though he was named by the Knoxville Police Department as being under suspicion of a sex crime weeks ago and suffered from that with a suspension from the UT football team. Are there no civil libertarians left in Knoxville to question this? Can someone dangle some smelling salts under the noses of the Knoxville Snoozinel to investigate why suspects are being named in the media by anonymous accusers and left to twist in the wind and having their lives inalterably changed? If Mr. Pearson is charged and found guilty of sexual assault, levy a harsh penalty. Otherwise, restore his reputation.
Let's remember why this is Memorial Day Weekend.
Orange Throat'
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Hatfield IX Time: Remember Keith is live on the App today with his call in show 'Show Cause'. It begins at 1pm and is very much worth the listen.
Hatfield's Nine
'Memorial Day weekend is here. As always, it's packed with meaningful action.
1. It is still relatively quiet on the Tennessee basketball recruiting front. Rick Barnes and staff appear to be patiently weighing their options, with Charlotte transfer Torin Dorn the latest name to hit the board.
2. Marvin Hudson did his best Joe West impersonation in ejecting Bryce Harper on Wednesday night. The jackass factor is higher than it has ever been among major league umpires.
3. Ben Howland has significantly upgraded the Mississippi State roster in short order. The Bulldogs will be a pesky opponent for the league's hierarchy this year.
4. Chris Mullin made it a point to hire big time recruiters for his staff at St. John's. That decision has already paid major dividends.
5. John Calipari continues to show his only real audience is the Elite talent he recruits. His comments this week about what his team's goals this season were had to be a kick to the gut for the Catspause crowd.
6. LSU openly building its season ticket campaign around Ben Simmons has added another layer to the debate about the value a great player creates compared to what they receive from the school. The ability to find a balance on that issue will determine the ultimate of the current collegiate athletic model.
7. I appreciate the efforts of Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard in trying to alleviate the fears of his fan base regarding a possible Fred Hoiberg departure to the Bulls. However, it felt a lot like Kevin Bacon screaming "All is Well!" at the end of Animal House.
8. The Warriors appear to have all the answers right now. They weathered big Houston runs in each game.
9. It is gut check time for the Atlanta Hawks tonight. A loss effectively ends their season.
Keith'
Lady Vols with a huge 3-2 win last night opening the Super Regional with Florida State. Cool night. It took the Lady Vols a while to get the bats going. They had to get through the line up twice before they were able to come alive. The win is huge because the deal with game one is pretty simple, you get that first one and chances are you're going to the World Series. The winner of game one advances 84 percent of the time. Rainey Gaffin retired 8 straight to keep the Lady Vols in it. FSU is big time on the ropes coming into today's 4pm first pitch. That's series business. That is a wonderful sport to watch.
Here's a quick game story for last night.
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The head coach from Michigan scares me. How would you like to get her mad? That is one tough looking lady. Wow-wee.
Why women's college softball rocks.
1. Fast Games.
2. Field is Small
3. Games are clean
4. Teams are super defensively at this level
5. Quality of play is amazing.
6. Tons of great players to go around. More parity than Womens Bball.
7. Perfect sport for TV. No dead spots.
Now, let's get down to business about the Lady Vol Softball team. What is Dave Hart going to do if this young team goes to the World Series and wins the darn thing? Is he going strip of their name and identity. And btw, I understand Karen Weekly is upset about losing the name and identity. She feels like it's a slight though she won't say it publicly. And here's the rub, how many Final Fours has the Women's hoops team been to since 2008? How many College World Series appearances have the Lady Vols enjoyed? Things could get interesting around here if the Lady Vols advance this weekend. So, how did we arrive at them losing their name and identity? Shouldn't they get to keep their name if they choose? After all, they've earned it. Yet as of July 1, when the Nike deal takes effect, the Lady Vol Softball team will lose their identity. Tell me why it works like that.
BTW, I think the Weekly's are the best coach on UT's campus. I know that's grammatically correct but deal with it because you know what I'm sayin'.
Bruce Feldman gives Derek Barnett some love.
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Former OU Five Star RB Keith Ford is Texas A&M bound.
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I feel sorry for Dave Serrano.
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You can't help but wish Donnie Tyndall well. The guy is really trying and he's a gifted coach.
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Barry Alvarez wants to go Eastern Bloc on football. No more 20 hour rule?
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I agree with Smith. If you grow the playoff, do it in December.
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LSU AD Joe Alleva is cocky.
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Mike White really gets on my nerves.
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6 guys from Kentucky in this mock draft and they couldn't win it? Are you kidding me?
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Cal says Kentucky reached its goal for this season. It's not winning Natty's, it's getting guys drafted. I'll bet Ole School UK fans love that kind of non-sense.
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You're used to the haves and have nots conversation in college sports but it goes to the university level as well. The top 1/3 colleges and universities control most of the money.
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It's been a rough year in Hattiesburg.
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Brewers pitcher Will Smith ejected for having foreign substance on his arm! Yes!
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HOUSTON got a five star football commitment. HOUSTON?
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Steph Curry remains amazing.
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Heartbreaking read for your Memorial Weekend.
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May God bless those who have sacrificed for our freedom.
Have a safe weekend.
Tony
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