I don't have any news about the Alabama coaching search. My source - an Auburn fan that told me last Wednesday that Shula and Kines would be retained (see my tirade below) - keeps telling me the same names that I read about on al.com, tidesports.com, and any other forum wherein rumors are started. He just likes to yank my chain, I think. I guess we'll just wait 'til we know.
It is a sad day for Birmingham radio. WRAX - The X, is no more. The one time GIANT of alternative music has been shut down so that WJOX can have an FM platform. The station that jump-started many of the alternative bands of the 90's has been closed in favor of the Scott Griffins, Herb Winches, Kelly Hunters, and Jim Dunaways of the world. Oy.
Under the guidance of Dave Rossi, WRAX literally started the mainstream careers of Sister Hazel, Cracker, Hootie & The Blowfish (Monica kissed a blowfish!) and many, many others. I know all of you may not have liked them, but that's my kind of music. After Matchbox20 became known across the country, the band was asked how it felt to be famous. Members of the band answered, "every day is like Birmingham". Rob Thomas wouldn't be who he is today without The X. The station was never really the same after Rossi left.
So today, I say goodbye to an old friend. I may go home and find my X-Fest 1 t-shirt and wear it for old times sake.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Wait 'til we know
William F. Buckley was on The Tonight Show in 1992 prior to the Bush-Clinton presidental election. He was asked for his prediction and he answered, "The American people have a tough choice. They have to decide if the unseen devil is worse than the devil they've seen."
Wait 'til we know, Tide fans, wait 'til we know.
Wait 'til we know, Tide fans, wait 'til we know.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Football Pool Final Standings
As they've done a gathousand times the last few years, Noter Dame screwed me again. If I pull for them, they lose. If I pull against them, they win. I had the Irish +1.5 Saturday night. They lost by 20.
Congratulations to Karly on her 6th place finsh in the football pool this year. Although my win-loss record was actually better than her record, she did a far better job assigning confidence factors to her games. She finished ahead of both me and JRod. Congrats also go out to Katrina for her 11th place finish. She did an excellent job picking winners this year, having the same win-loss record as Karly, but her points came up just short. She does, however, claim the title of Best Teet in the OFP. Wow, Gary Coleman finished with the best overall win-loss record, but doesn't finish in the money. That's gotta hurt.
1. WHAWKS 463 pts. (80-50-0)
2. DENNIJO 448 pts. (78-52-0)
3. CRK5 439 pts. (72-58-0)
4. GARY COLEMAN 432 pts. (82-48-0)
5. KEYWON 425 pts. (76-54-0)
6. DREWS MOM 416 pts. (74-56-0)
7. KINGCONCH 407 pts. (75-55-0)
8. JRODJACK 407 pts. (71-59-0)
9. BANG-GU 398 pts. (73-57-0)
10. DIAMOND TRIM 395 pts. (68-62-0)
11. FULMERSRIGHTTEET 389 pts. (74-56-0)
There's always next year!
Congratulations to Karly on her 6th place finsh in the football pool this year. Although my win-loss record was actually better than her record, she did a far better job assigning confidence factors to her games. She finished ahead of both me and JRod. Congrats also go out to Katrina for her 11th place finish. She did an excellent job picking winners this year, having the same win-loss record as Karly, but her points came up just short. She does, however, claim the title of Best Teet in the OFP. Wow, Gary Coleman finished with the best overall win-loss record, but doesn't finish in the money. That's gotta hurt.
1. WHAWKS 463 pts. (80-50-0)
2. DENNIJO 448 pts. (78-52-0)
3. CRK5 439 pts. (72-58-0)
4. GARY COLEMAN 432 pts. (82-48-0)
5. KEYWON 425 pts. (76-54-0)
6. DREWS MOM 416 pts. (74-56-0)
7. KINGCONCH 407 pts. (75-55-0)
8. JRODJACK 407 pts. (71-59-0)
9. BANG-GU 398 pts. (73-57-0)
10. DIAMOND TRIM 395 pts. (68-62-0)
11. FULMERSRIGHTTEET 389 pts. (74-56-0)
There's always next year!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
It's not you, it's me
I realize that this isn't going to be good read for many of you, but it's what has dominate my thoughts the last five days (well, this and all the talk about who's zooming who...WOW). This is just me adding my two cents worth to a situation in which my two cents aren't worth two cents.
A couple of things before we get started. I found out recently that more people read this garbage than I thought. Hello to everyone that’s not Kathy, Katie, Leah, Karly, Jarrod, or Lee.
The 1997 Iron Bowl in Auburn, Alabama was one of mine a Leah’s first dates. I actually don’t remember all of our dates, but this had to be one of the first because I didn’t get mad at her when she spilled beer in my car and then used the new shirt that I bought to wear in to the stadium as a towel to clean up the Coors Light. Also on that day, one of the longest running questions in Alabama football history was born. It really started as a joke. My friend Jim, acting as if he was calling in to the Alabama pre-game radio show, was prefacing his question with, “Coach Gold, I love Alabama.” Since then, any question about Alabama football is required to begin with, “Coach, I love Alabama”. This is similar to Auburn fans beginning, ending, or comprising a statement, question, or entire conversation with War Eagle. War Eagle. War eagle? WAR EAGLE! OH, war eagle.
Including the 1997 game and the nine Iron Bowls since, Alabama has managed to win three games against Auburn. Still, “Coach, I love Alabama”.
This has been a rough week for me. Alabama Head Coach Mike Shula remains one of my favorite collegiate players of all time. He was the quarterback at The University of Alabama when I was a sophomore quarterback at The High School of Tarrant. I had pictures and newspaper articles of him on my wall. I liked him as much as any straight teenaged boy should like another man.
Quarterback Shula, while under center, would keep one leg straight, bend the other at the knee, and turn almost his entire body in order to give himself a 360-degree view of the field. (That’s important because you want to make sure that your running backs are where they’re supposed to be.) I liked Mike so much that I started doing that move in practice. Coach Hulsey, the offensive coach at THS, yelled, “Jammy, cut that $hit out”! He must have really not liked it, because he never cursed on the field, or in the locker room for that matter.
Quarterback Mike Shula was knowledgeable and insightful, a quick thinker, a decision maker, and someone that every one else around him could believe in and rally behind. He was ‘The Field General’. As a coach, he is none of these things. I’m not going to detail all of his mishaps as a coach – I’ve broken two keyboards since Iron Bowl week started and the ensuing aftermath and I don’t want to break another – suffice to say, in my unqualified opinion, he is not a good coach.
I don’t think that there is any doubt that Alabama is contemplating a coaching change. Why, other than the administration is incompetent from top to bottom, would they allow such uncertainty during this recruiting period? If Shula was a 100% LOCK for next year, an announcement would have already been made.
I’m not breaking any news when I say that Alabama is looking else where for a coach. Rumors abound that an offer is on the table for Coach Steve Spurrier, who I would have LOVED to have been hired immediately after the Dubose firing and in the face of NCAA probation. Can you imagine his answer to the question, “What about the NCAA investigation?” I can only imagine that it would have been something along the lines of:
“I don’t care about the NCAA or their investigation. I care about Alabama football and making this program a champion again. As long as the NCAA leaves me 11 players, we’re going to work hard, believe in each other, fight, claw, and try to win some football games. We may not win them all, but by golly we’re going to play every game with all the pride and determination that Alabama football deserves. Next question.”
The other rumor making the rounds is that an offer is on the table for former LSU coach and current Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban. Here’s what I know about Saban:
1.
2.
3.
For our Spanish speaking readers, that list goes:
1.
2.
3.
Honestly, I know that Saban won a couple of SEC titles at LSU, and hoisted one National Championship trophy above his head.
What I like about both of these coaches is that they believe in themselves and, therefore, those around them are gravitated to believe in them also. In the office or with your friends, don’t you like the person that can actually make a decision? Do they always make the right decision? Probably not, but at least at that moment, they made a decision and believed in it and executed upon it with conviction and determination. When, in his four years at Alabama, have we been able to say that about Coach Shula?
For you political types, I believe that Mike Shula is the collegiate football equivalent to Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. He can't make a decision with out the input of at least a half dozen people.
At the end of the day, I’m not really as concerned with WHO is in control at Alabama as I am with knowing the SOMEBODY is in control at Alabama.
What started as a joke nine years ago remains an unanswered question today.
“Coach Gold, I love Alabama. Why do we suck so bad?”
Happy Turkey Day every body! Thanks for coming by.
A couple of things before we get started. I found out recently that more people read this garbage than I thought. Hello to everyone that’s not Kathy, Katie, Leah, Karly, Jarrod, or Lee.
The 1997 Iron Bowl in Auburn, Alabama was one of mine a Leah’s first dates. I actually don’t remember all of our dates, but this had to be one of the first because I didn’t get mad at her when she spilled beer in my car and then used the new shirt that I bought to wear in to the stadium as a towel to clean up the Coors Light. Also on that day, one of the longest running questions in Alabama football history was born. It really started as a joke. My friend Jim, acting as if he was calling in to the Alabama pre-game radio show, was prefacing his question with, “Coach Gold, I love Alabama.” Since then, any question about Alabama football is required to begin with, “Coach, I love Alabama”. This is similar to Auburn fans beginning, ending, or comprising a statement, question, or entire conversation with War Eagle. War Eagle. War eagle? WAR EAGLE! OH, war eagle.
Including the 1997 game and the nine Iron Bowls since, Alabama has managed to win three games against Auburn. Still, “Coach, I love Alabama”.
This has been a rough week for me. Alabama Head Coach Mike Shula remains one of my favorite collegiate players of all time. He was the quarterback at The University of Alabama when I was a sophomore quarterback at The High School of Tarrant. I had pictures and newspaper articles of him on my wall. I liked him as much as any straight teenaged boy should like another man.
Quarterback Shula, while under center, would keep one leg straight, bend the other at the knee, and turn almost his entire body in order to give himself a 360-degree view of the field. (That’s important because you want to make sure that your running backs are where they’re supposed to be.) I liked Mike so much that I started doing that move in practice. Coach Hulsey, the offensive coach at THS, yelled, “Jammy, cut that $hit out”! He must have really not liked it, because he never cursed on the field, or in the locker room for that matter.
Quarterback Mike Shula was knowledgeable and insightful, a quick thinker, a decision maker, and someone that every one else around him could believe in and rally behind. He was ‘The Field General’. As a coach, he is none of these things. I’m not going to detail all of his mishaps as a coach – I’ve broken two keyboards since Iron Bowl week started and the ensuing aftermath and I don’t want to break another – suffice to say, in my unqualified opinion, he is not a good coach.
I don’t think that there is any doubt that Alabama is contemplating a coaching change. Why, other than the administration is incompetent from top to bottom, would they allow such uncertainty during this recruiting period? If Shula was a 100% LOCK for next year, an announcement would have already been made.
I’m not breaking any news when I say that Alabama is looking else where for a coach. Rumors abound that an offer is on the table for Coach Steve Spurrier, who I would have LOVED to have been hired immediately after the Dubose firing and in the face of NCAA probation. Can you imagine his answer to the question, “What about the NCAA investigation?” I can only imagine that it would have been something along the lines of:
“I don’t care about the NCAA or their investigation. I care about Alabama football and making this program a champion again. As long as the NCAA leaves me 11 players, we’re going to work hard, believe in each other, fight, claw, and try to win some football games. We may not win them all, but by golly we’re going to play every game with all the pride and determination that Alabama football deserves. Next question.”
The other rumor making the rounds is that an offer is on the table for former LSU coach and current Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban. Here’s what I know about Saban:
1.
2.
3.
For our Spanish speaking readers, that list goes:
1.
2.
3.
Honestly, I know that Saban won a couple of SEC titles at LSU, and hoisted one National Championship trophy above his head.
What I like about both of these coaches is that they believe in themselves and, therefore, those around them are gravitated to believe in them also. In the office or with your friends, don’t you like the person that can actually make a decision? Do they always make the right decision? Probably not, but at least at that moment, they made a decision and believed in it and executed upon it with conviction and determination. When, in his four years at Alabama, have we been able to say that about Coach Shula?
For you political types, I believe that Mike Shula is the collegiate football equivalent to Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. He can't make a decision with out the input of at least a half dozen people.
At the end of the day, I’m not really as concerned with WHO is in control at Alabama as I am with knowing the SOMEBODY is in control at Alabama.
What started as a joke nine years ago remains an unanswered question today.
“Coach Gold, I love Alabama. Why do we suck so bad?”
Happy Turkey Day every body! Thanks for coming by.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
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