Sports Columnists

By brewerfaninATL

January 17, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this

Jim Rice is not in the Hall of Fame simply because he did NOT dominate his peers for any length of time. Yes, he was very, very good, but not great. In fact, I think Andre Dawson deserves it over Rice. Dawson hit more homers, had more hits, stole more bases, and was a Gold-Glover in the outfield. He was much more versatile and consistent over a longer period than Rice was.

Also, will everyone once and for all quit blaming the Colts for losing the game and instead, give CREDIT to the Steelers for winning the game. Bill Cowher simply outcoached Tony Dungy and the Steelers outplayed the Colts…simple as that!

By Lance Taylor

January 17, 2006 04:43 PM | Link to this

There is a rumor going around that the city of Doraville is considering closing down the Paul Murphy Boxing Club. There is a city council meeting tonight, at city hall, to address the issue. Several members of the PMBC will be there to air their concerns.

By northwestDAWG

January 17, 2006 05:28 PM | Link to this

I wish the “BUGS” no ill will,but they could help every fan in the nation if they were able to get Curry off of ESPN but I have to ask the same question Jeff asked: What qualifies him to be an AD. Maybe they could start a nation wide boycott of his broadcasts on ESPN. You talk about a community project! I would follow their lead.

By Michael

January 17, 2006 05:54 PM | Link to this

For #3, you need go no further than down the hall to good ole Terrance “I Have Absolutely No Clue About Anything” Moore.

By Football Expert

January 17, 2006 06:33 PM | Link to this

What qualified Dooley to be an atheletic director? Must have been his skill at scheduling weak opponents.

By Reggie

January 17, 2006 07:26 PM | Link to this

Bill Curry is a genius, just ask him. If he was still coaching, Bobby Bo and Papa Joe would have emphysema from the dust that Bill would be throwing behind him. With him at the helm you Nerds might dare to dream of winning seven, eight games some years! Besides, if you find you don’t like him, just toss a few bricks in the right places and he will run like the French.

By Larry

January 17, 2006 07:31 PM | Link to this

Why isn’t Dale Murphy in the Hall? Thats the more important question.

By geechee

January 17, 2006 08:14 PM | Link to this

Well, I know one thing that can be said in favor of Curry; I just read that cooking with it lowers the chances of prostate cancer.

By Matthew

January 18, 2006 01:58 AM | Link to this

Dale Murphy isn’t in the Hall, because it’s the Hall of Fame…

Not the Hall of Pretty Good, Lar.

Once again, your judgement is impaired and short-sighted.

By Homer Rice

January 18, 2006 07:05 AM | Link to this

Bill Curry is a good man and will be the right man for the job. All of those spouting of negatives about him should be half the person he is. Jealous anyone?

By Mike

January 18, 2006 08:08 AM | Link to this

We all learnd a lot about Bill Curry when he left Ga Tech for Alabama. We can do better.

By Bob

January 18, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this

I’m a UGA fan, but also a Bill Curry Fan and he would be a good hire for Tech. What Tech needs is a national profile, and an impassioned leader - both of which Curry would bring. Many top overall sports programs happen to be led or were led by former football coaches - Nebraska, UGA, Michigan, etc. - is it a qualification - no. A detriment or disqualifier - certainly not.

BTW, please tell me what does having a journalism degree qualify someone to be a sports expert? What journalist skills and background prepare one to be the best person to give advice on sports? Please enlighten me if you would.

By Jeff Schultz

January 18, 2006 09:25 AM | Link to this

To clarify: I never said Bill Curry wasn’t a “good person.” I’m merely asking if he’s qualified for the job. Bob: To the contrary, more and more athletic directors today are coming from the fund-raising, management, corporate side, given that college athletics has become such big business. The days of somebody going from football coach to athletic directors are basically over. Yes, at Georgia, Damon Evans played football. But he also served in administration for a while at UGA. He didn’t go from football to TV commentator to A.D. And as far as me giving advice, I get paid for my opinions. Agree or disagree, but that’s my job. Thanks, JS

By Bob McLeod

January 18, 2006 09:40 AM | Link to this

Sorry Jeff - that was a sarcastic jab at low hanging fruit - i shouldn’t have done it. i apologize for that.

I wasn’t referring to Damon Evans -he was hired more for his business expertise than his football background. i was referring to Vince Dooley. dooley built a top 5 naional program strong across the board - all sports, men and women - which competes for the Sears trophy annually. ditto Bo at Michigan and Devaney at Nebraska, among many others. I’m not saying they are the most qualified people from a business perspective, but coaches do understand the overall collegiate sports environment, conomics, politics, relationships (note how skillful Dooley was at making good, quick and decisive hires in all sports - mainly because of his relationships and personal experience). Sometimes a non-sports hire may not be the best choice. We could go on forever, but i think Curry’s naional respect would benefit Tech (unfortunately, being a UGA fan).

By Steve

January 18, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this

If Bill Curry comes to Tech, it’s only because he can’t find another job he can do well. He doesn’t care about Tech. He’s shown that in the past. Put me down as one alum who will cease my yearly contributions to Tech if he is offered the job.

By Liberace

January 18, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

I would like to apologize for the continuing bad manners of my son, Matthew.

As a single father, I did the best I could with him, but he just hasn’t been the same since spending last summer with those two randy cowpokes on Brokeback Mountain.

Once upon a time, Matthew loved to play with his dolls, but nowadays he spends every waking hour on his computer, spewing venom while humming “It’s Raining Men”.

Whatever happened to the sweet, gentle Matthew I used to know? Please come back, son! And bring that GORGEOUS pink chiffon with you!

By makito

January 18, 2006 10:23 AM | Link to this

The real question is why isn’t Bill Curry in the Hall of Fame?

By Ray

January 18, 2006 10:26 AM | Link to this

Keep it up Jeff,Youare doing just fine.

By Matthew

January 18, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this

Dad, you promised you would never tell. Listen, you just need to keep tickling those ivories, and I’ll keep tickling, well, never mind what I’ll keep tickling!! You were the one that bought me all those Barbie dolls to begin with. I made it through four years at UGA without being outed, and you, of all people, throw me under the bus. P.S.- Could you send me some money? I need to go buy a new pair of sequined hot pants and stiletto heels for this weekend.

By Valerie

January 18, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this

I agree Bill would be a good ad. If Vince Dooley can be one after retiring from football, Bill can too. A very good person and very honest too. A very good announcer too and tell it like it is.

By Matthew

January 18, 2006 11:40 AM | Link to this

It’s easy to write things when you don’t have the balls to attatch your name to them, isn’t it guys?

But I love the fact that I have my own hate group on the blogs, or someone who has such a limited and sorry excuse for a life that they spend their time doing this.

Some days, when when school is going hard or I coem home from work, I need a laugh.

Just keep on feeding the fire, Coward.

But what did I say that was so wrong, Coward? Or TRobb or Jerald, or whichever of the loser Braves Bloggers you are?

Dale Murphy belongs in the Hall of Fame as much as I do.

How about this? The day they let Murphy in the HOF, they might as well let Howard Johnson in. Or Terry Pendleton.

Fred McGriff has more of an argument to be in the Hall, and he’ll probably never get in, even though every single one of his homeruns came from his personal talent, unlike let’s say, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds, the Chemical Wonder Twins.

By Matthew

January 18, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this

You can tell by my EXCELLENT spelling that I’m a UGA “grad”. Now, go you hairy Fleabags!!

By Coach

January 18, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

In 1963 Bill Curry was part of a group of seniors who did not want to go to the Sun Bowl. They wanted to go to the senior bowl, east/west game, etc. Dodd let the team vote and the combined vote of seniors and young players not getting playing time won in a close vote to not go to the Sun Bowl.

After snubbing the Sun bowl, the 1964 team which finished 7-3 did not get invited to go anywhere. Tech’s 1965 team did get invited to the Gator Bowl where they defeated a highly favored Texas Tech team.

Had Tech gone to the Sun Bowl, Georgia Tech most likely would have attended four straight from 1963 to 1966 when Bowls where much more selective than they are now. What would that have done for recruiting?

Bill Curry returned to Tech as football coach and then left to go to Alabama.

Enough said.

There are plenty of Georgia Tech sports alumni with solid leadership and executive management experience who should be considered if the selection committee is not going to bring in an experienced AD.

By Matthew

January 18, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Wow…

Since when do cowards hand out degrees? I mean, it’s a nice thought, Coward, but I think I’ll actually graduate before I get my degree.

By surfrider

January 18, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this

Curry’s plenty qualified maybe over qualified and may want the job to help rescue Tech. How? First he has been a player at every level and a coach at the two top levels as a head coach in College and assistant in both college and NFL. He has run three football programs as a head coach including what use to be the mother of them Bama. He’s had to recruit (sell), hire and fire coaches, organize and plan. He’s even had a brush of budgeting i would surmise. He’s dealt with labor relations as head of the NFL players association. And he understand the unique nature of Tech. Yes he did bolt from Tech but most people or very rarely will someone stay in the same job 10 years anywhere. Experience at other places is a plus for Curry. He has media contacts even more now with ESPN experience. He can always hire an accountant to do some of the administrative work or a manager if needed. What Tech needs is a leader who can make decisions at the top and understands Football because without football being successful the other sports could suffer at Tech in the long run. Curry is the man for the job at the right time.

By Kennesaw Dawg

January 18, 2006 01:08 PM | Link to this

Matthew, just because someone doesnt attach their name, email, social secuirity number, date of birth, blood type, and a background check each time they post does not make them a “coward.” Grow up, quit lying about being in the military, and quit wasting the AJCs server space with your discontent.

By Paul

January 18, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this

Matthew, I wouldn’t call it a hate group. It’s more of a “go away because you’re annoying” group.

By Matthew

January 18, 2006 01:56 PM | Link to this

Like fuel to the flame, boys.

Kennesaw… No, but insulting someone without having the balls to at least let the person know from whom the insult is coming from is cowardly.

And I guess recruit training at Parris Island, going through SOI at Lejeune, training in Chesapeake Bay, stationed at Bangor, 29 Palms, Okinawa, and Pendleton was a waste of time, since you’ve declared that it didn’t happen.

I bow to your inferior wisdom, Kennesaw.

By Kennesaw Dawg

January 18, 2006 02:30 PM | Link to this

Like fuel to the flame, boys

You sound like one of those 4 year lance’s that spends every waking moment trying to get his peers to respect him instead of laughing at him. I noticed Iraq wasent on your list of duty stations. I wonder how many days you spent at BAS crying/faking your way out of that deployment. The Marines couldnt keep me and my unit out of Iraq. I’d like to share you some war stories about real marine stuff, but you dont rate to hear them. Sorry. And Paul Tagliabue, do something about those refs!

By lawton

January 18, 2006 03:08 PM | Link to this

personally, i think deion sanders should be the next tech ad.

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 18, 2006 03:10 PM | Link to this

You would want someone with experience with athletics (coaching, player), business experience, good people skills. 50%+ is politics anyway (ask Dooley). You would also want a winner. I don’t know Curry’s record as coach but he did move around a lot. I could understand the move from Tech to Bama since he played there. I don’t think being a TV commentator/player makes you an expert to run an organization (best example is right here in Detroit). I think Tech should look long and hard at that example before saying okay you were a mediocre coach come run our athletic department. You could probably get Lou Holtz as AD and then he could hire Skip to coach.

By Matthew

January 18, 2006 03:38 PM | Link to this

No, my unit (3/4) went to Okinawa. That’s what happens when you’re at 29 Palms, but you knew that, right? I was there (Okinawa) when 9/11 happened. Even if we wanted to go, and we did, it didn’t matter. My Co Gunny, who was a scout sniper, wanted to transfer out and they wouldn’t let him

And no, I wasn’t a 4 year Lance. I was a Corporal when I was told I couldn’t reenlist because of multiple knee injuries. And I tell you what Kennesaw, there were 4 year LCpls who knew their job better than some Sgts I can think of. What was it Chesty said, “You’re not a real Marine until you’ve been NJP’d.”

Well, in this new Corps of politics dealing with promotion instead of ability, there were a few LCpls I knew who should have been NCOs, but couldn’t because of past mistakes. There are no second chances in your first enlistment in today’s Corps unless you’re kissing your LT’s a—.

But if you really were a former active duty Marine, than you already knew that, right?

By cheez-it

January 18, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

Matthew - WTF does you being in the army have to do with anything JS has written?!!? Go find a veterans blog and post there. Youre not even a combat vet! Since your so angry at the world go reenlist and take your anger out on the terrorist since you were too scared to during your first enlistment. Go away!!!

By Kennesaw Dawg

January 18, 2006 04:08 PM | Link to this

I was in the marines for 4 years, but I see absolutely NO REASON why I need to put my resume up on this blog like you did! LOL, if you want to hang out with vets go to the VFW man. Get a life.

By Larry

January 18, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this

I think Matt is still just mad about them boys from West Virginia putting up half a hundred on his sorry, choking, dawgs!!!!!! I bet that Sugar Bowl trophy sure looks awesome on the West Virgina campus!!! HAHA, sugar is sweet!!! ; )

By gdawginkalamazoo

January 18, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this

Hey Larry, All said and done this year for UGA football, I hope that trophy does look good at WVU. THEY EARNED IT, THEY DESERVED IT. Now, on all of your ignorant post that you have put up, I guess I missed which universtiy that you attended or pull for? Who is it? Obviously an institution lacking in a mathematics department.

By The Coward.

January 18, 2006 04:32 PM | Link to this

Matthew,

I AM THE COWARD. You first called me that and a long time ago and I haven’t even been posting lately partially because I am afraid you might get some of your big bad military buddies to come get me.

You don’t know who you are talking to buddy, but maybe some of us do….

I assure you that none of the recent posts have been by me the ORIGINAL COWARD!

Also, what was that answer to Liberace post about? Ghey tendancies?

Once again, I AM THE COWARD and you are a GEEK!

The Coward.

PS: TRY Googling THAT you dumbshait!

By doug J

January 18, 2006 04:49 PM | Link to this

Matthew always calls everyone a coward becuase they never post their names, but he never posts his name and email. So, according to his “logic” he is Super Coward. Apparently, hes such a Coward he had to fake knee injuries to get out of going to Iraq. I think that is more cowardice than anything he labels as being coward.

By geechee

January 18, 2006 06:31 PM | Link to this

Arguing Bill Curry could do the same job for Tech that Dooley did for Georgia because they were both coaches lacks any credibility whatsoever.

Dooley became AD at UGA because he had a vision and sold the school on that vision. He totally rebuilt UGA athletics and found the money to do it. He played at UGA’s arch rival and had chances to go back there but stayed loyal to UGA and had been coaching at UGA 15 years when awarded with the AD title.

Curry was a guy who landed his “so-called� dream job of coaching at his alma mater and then abandoned that alma mater because he thought only of personal gain which of course he ended up being quite wrong about. He had a chance continue a great program at Tech. Tech fans should not be so fond of this guy. Why would an institution he turned his back on, want to rehire such a man? He wants this job because he wants it not because he deserves it or is even qualified for it.

By Sgt. Vietnam Vet

January 18, 2006 06:50 PM | Link to this

It is always the guys who never faced combat that have the big mouths and act all tough.

The ones who are too sorry for promotion are the ones who cry about the “politics” or that the ones who earned the promotion kissed butt.

Matthew, it’s a lot tougher to hit a target when it is moving and shooting back at you, but you knew that right? Oh no you didn’t since you never were in combat.

It is probably best that Matthew wasn’t in combat. He would be the guy cowering in a foxhole, crapping his pants, and crying for his mommy causing others to get killed and wind up a victim of fratricide. That’s how we dealt with Cafaros in the jungles of Vietnam.

Boo hoo, you couldn’t reenlist because you had sore knees, well I know guys who couldn’t reenlist because they lost their knees along with the bottom part of their legs.

His knees are probably just his excuse, Cafaro was probably a victim of “don’t ask don’t tell”.

Oh, and since VFW means Veterans of Foreign Wars, Cafaro can’t be a member and hang out with vets there since he was never in a foreign war. Even if he was he would be the laughing stock and some WWII vet would smack him in the knees with his walking stick.

By geechee

January 18, 2006 07:07 PM | Link to this

“It is always the guys who never faced combat that have the big mouths and act all tough.”

I’m sorry, I’m a bit confused here but, is this an argument for Tech choosing Curry or an argument against it?

By Kennesaw Dawg

January 18, 2006 07:28 PM | Link to this

Good points all Viet Vet. I didnt even think about the VFW comment I made. I guess Matt could join the American Legion if he wanted to. Good points on the politics of the military too. It seems like EVERY 3-4 year lance always blamed someone else on their shortcomings. Even though they had a shot a pizza box, didnt do their MCIs, had a 3rd class PFT, and no leadership skills. I’ll bet I just described Matthew. Matthew has a case of what my buddies and I always called “Combat Action Ribbon” envy. Its a trade mark of most box kickers and comm guys that spent their enlistments at Okinawa while the rest of us were winning the war.

By Gene

January 18, 2006 07:52 PM | Link to this

Matthew probably got those bad knees from the nightly “code reds” his platoon gave him.

By allen

January 18, 2006 10:17 PM | Link to this

Wow, you guys really put Private Matthews in his place. I just don’t get what any of this has to do with Curry, the Braves, or Jim Rice though.

By Sgt. Vietnam Vet

January 18, 2006 11:33 PM | Link to this

geechee and allen,

It has nothing to do with that and I apologize for the threadjack. It is just that guys like Cafaro who spent their tour of duty peeling potatoes then act like they are some sort of war hero and know everything just hits a nerve in me.

As far as Bill Curry goes, when he left Georgia Tech, Tech won a national championship with his players. After he left Alabama, Alabama won a national title. When he left Kentucky, while they didn’t win a national title for Kentucky’s standards they had a good team and Tim Couch.

So while Curry might be an average coach at best, he can lay the ground work which a more capable coach can succeed rather well. So I think he would be a great AD for Georgia Tech.

Oh and Kennesaw Dawg, Cafaro would probably fit in better joining a Brownie Troop than the American Legion. The American Legion would probably get tired of his expert opinions on American Legion baseball and how he could have been a Major League Hall of Famer if it weren’t for his knees.

By Matthew

January 19, 2006 02:22 AM | Link to this

So sad…

Kennesaw you asked what I did, so I explained.

Vet, thank you very much for your service. It is because of men like you that I dreamed of serving since I was 10, and never wanted to anything else with my life. I’m not in college now because I want to be. I could have stayed black side for 30 years and retired happy. But please, don’t talk to me about men missing knees or men dying. I have friends like that. I know what it is like to see it in their faces. Or to never see their faces again. And I earned my bloodstripes. I remember the ceremony, I remember the pinning (I still have 2 sets of little pin-scars in my collar bone), and I can remember not being able to walk well the next day after walking the gauntlet. Those are memories no ammount of conjecture by you or Kennesaw can ever take away.

Kennesaw, what keeps you out of the Corps? I never wanted to leave. No, as I’ve said before, and will say again anytime ever asked if I served, because I don’t want to be misleading, I never served in combat, but was more than willing. I don’t know how I would have reacted Vet, because no one can say for sure until it happens. But I can guarantee it wouldn’t have been anything like you believe. But anyway, thank you again. I had the chance to talk to many Vietnam Vets over many beers, many times while in 29 Palms, and the stories never ceased to leave me in utter awe of those men. Your war was a terrible war, and from everything I’ve heard from those men, the fact that there was little to no support coming from home made it even worse.

Kennesaw, cause you asked, or really, accused: Never shot below expert, came close once, you’ll see below, but in four tries at the kd range (last one at 29 palms) I never once shot below expert. All of my PFTs but one was first class. And while no one is a perfect leader, my style was firm but fair. Never expected anyone I was ever in charge of to do something I wouldn’t do. And I did a lot of MCIs. Never wasted my time with Math for Marines or Spelling for Marines. I always wanted to do the ones pertaining to the 03 field, my field.

Anyway, OC, the AJC doesn’t post emails anymore, but I’ve never been afraid to let mine out:

expert_40@yahoo.com

I call it like I see it. I’m a pretty straight shooter (unless I’m not being serious and being a smarta—, which is quite often). If you have a problem with me, it’s probably because you’re not.

Send me a line anyone. Or don’t. It’s all the same to me. Even Lar, if you want to. I’m not afraid to take the discourse outside the blog, and it could even be beneficial.

Anyway, I had a long night at work, and have a long day at school ahead of me.