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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > November > 18
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Mr. President, college playoff can wait
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
And now for the Tuesday Countdown:
10: And Mark Cuban probably assumed the Jason Kidd trade would be the low point of his year.
9: Anybody who read, “The Godfather,” should remember the Balzac quote in the prelude to the book: “Behind every great fortune, there is a crime.” So, with that in mind, let’s assume for a moment that Cuban is guilty of insider trading (because, like, duh). Take a cue from crooked celebrity predecessors, Mark: Admit guilt, don’t lie, act contrite. Then maybe you can end up avoiding temporary residence in the Martha Stewart home for wayward potholder makers.
8: Devin Harris is averaging 23 points and six assists for New Jersey. Kidd is averaging 10 points and eight assists for Dallas. Harris is 25. Kidd is 35. On second thought, Cuban might find solitary confinement therapeutic.
7: To President-elect Barack Obama: If I may speak for 303 million Americans. I think it’s really great that you want to take a sledgehammer to the BCS like the rest of us. But, really, Prez, before you strong-arm college football into a playoff system, can you do something about the economy? And maybe Iraq. And Afghanistan. And the stock market, health care, unemployment, energy, illegal aliens, the tax code, corrupt CEOs, golden parachutes, my 401ks and brain-cell-melting productions like the Real Housetwits of Atlanta?
6: The Braves’ Frank Wren says talks to acquire Jake Peavy from San Diego are dead. Folks, nothing is dead in mid-November.
5: The SEC obviously is more down this season than anybody realized. But the conference still has Alabama and Florida, two dominant teams that give it an identity and a great championship game. You know what the ACC needs? Miami’s return to greatness.
4: Oh, I can hear Tech fans now. “He’s pulling for Miami Thursday! I knew it!” Calm down. I’m not pulling for anybody or anything, except maybe everything in No. 7. But when the ACC decided to split into two divisions and create a championship game, it hoped for increased visibility. That hasn’t happened. Part of the reason is Miami’s decline and absence from the three conference title games. The Hurricanes once were a national power with national appeal, even if a bit slimy. If they make it to Tampa this season, it would be the best thing that could happen to the ACC.
3: The Thrashers can talk all they want about a star player trying to adjust to a new coach’s system. But when Ilya Kovalchuk has only six goals in 17 games, something is wrong.
2: The good news for Cuban: Even if he is found guilty and the NBA suspends him, he can always find a job in the NHL. They’ll take anybody. When Tampa Bay fired coach Barry Melrose after only 16 games, it named Rich Tocchet interim head coach. This is the same Rich Tocchet who last year pled guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling in connection with a nationwide sports gambling ring. He also played in the World Series of Poker last July. Seven months later, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reinstated him. Wonder if Tocchet is still giving odds on NHL games?
1: News: Arthur Blank lays off employees in his foundation office. Views: Blank to Obama: “College playoff can wait.”
