AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > October > 12
Thursday, October 12, 2006
A look at the Sonny side of life
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Three Burger King workers were arrested this week in New Mexico for putting marijuana in the hamburgers of two policemen. Suspicions arose when the officers went back to the counter for 37 orders of fries and 16 milkshakes. The good news is, the restaurant had record sales, and B.K. has plans to launch, “The Spicoli Burger,” then figures to start buying small countries.
See, I’m all about looking at the bright side now. Gov. Bobblehead has shown me the way.
Hypothetically speaking, if a governor got a tax bill passed that will save him $100,000 on a land swap while everybody else was sleeping or in the john, I’m all for it. At least it benefits generations of little hypothetical Perdue-ettes.
If somebody panics over a potential gas shortage and cancels school, at least it helps TV ratings, and Sesame Street could even help SAT scores.
You’re right, Sonny. Georgia allows 27 points in the fourth quarter to Tennessee and loses, but we shouldn’t criticize. We should praise the Bulldogs for the three quarters they DIDN’T allow 27 points. Call me Sunshine. It’s you and me, Sonny. I got you, Babe. (It’s OK. I’m up to date on my shots.)
Anything Dawg-related, I am so there. Especially in an election year.
This week, the Falcons face the overrated New York Giants. The Giants have a quarterback who went to Mississippi. His brother went to Tennessee. I assume neither one was good enough to go to Georgia. Arf.
The Falcons haven’t scored in their past 11 red-zone possessions, but they have two Georgia players on the roster and the Giants don’t have any. Also, offensive coordinator Greg Knapp played at Sacramento State, which is almost like Macon. Why even play the game?
The line says Falcons by 3. Are you kidding? With D.J. Shockley as the third-string quarterback? That is so covered.
Faber College
(Where Knowledge is good)
Inferior Educational Facility at God’s University: Georgia has quarterback issues. But do people complain that the Mona Lisa needs a fresh coat? Or that Michelangelo forgot to put a pair of boxers on David? My goodness, people, why harp on the fact we rank 46th in SAT scores, when we’re ahead of four states, three dollar stores and several members of the General Assembly? This week, it’s Vanderbilt. Fresh meat. Ferocious Beasts cover 13 1/2.
Florida at Auburn: This game is pick ‘em, I guess based on the theory that Auburn lost to Arkansas and therefore is a really good team that’s really angry. Only one problem with that theory: Really good teams don’t get stomped by Arkansas. Gators win.
Mississippi at Alabama: Winner advances to the 20th century. (I know: You think I’m better than that. But, really, I’m not.) Bammy wins, but take Old Ms. and 141/2.
Kentucky at LSU: Something is wrong when LSU (12) has more turnovers than Kentucky (7). OK, I’ll bite on the 26. Tigers win but don’t cover.
NFL Six-Pack
‘62 Packers: Off this week. Good thing. Dawgs would’ve destroyed them.
Panthers at Ravens: Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan is out for the year after his sixth concussion. If he wakes up next month and thinks he’s Steve Smith, the Panthers can’t lose. They’re 3-0 with Smith and 0-2 without him. This week, they’re with him. Who’s Dan Morgan? Take Carolina and the gift 2.
Chiefs at Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger has no touchdowns, seven interceptions and is 0-3 as a starter after going 27-4. So blow that out your AMA the next time some Harvard doc says the appendix has no function. Pitt wins but take K.C. and seven.
Texans at Cowboys: Terrell Owens has been screaming all week, “Why am I here?” As a Fantasy League owner, I’ve got a better question: Why did I draft him? More heart than head: Dallas covers 13.
Raiders at Broncos: I never give 15 points in an NFL game. Fortunately, the Raiders no longer qualify. Denver covers.
Dolphins at Jets: Daunte Culpepper was sacked 21 times in the first four games, then got angry about getting benched. Why? He should be buying Nick Saban a yacht. Jets cover 2 1/2.
Eagles at Saints: The Saints are 4-1, but five of their next six games are against the Eagles, Ravens, Steelers, Bengals and Falcons. Not the time to buy stock. Philly covers 3 1/2.
Almost Perfect
Last week: 8-1 straight up, 5-4 against the spread.
Profit margins: 38-14 straight up, 29-22-1 against the spread.
Elections: Perdue by 12 embellishments.
Permalink | Comments (91) | Categories: Jeff Schultz
Outrageous comments from Georgia’s Adams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
You had that silly revolt by Georgia boosters over the ouster of Vince Dooley as athletics director. Folks continue to turn the deepest shades of red and black over tailgating changes at home football games. And who is this guy to take the “cocktail” out of whatever he now wishes to call the Georgia-Florida game?
During the hugely controversial decade that Michael Adams has served as president at the University of Georgia, he has been less popular around the Bulldog Nation than fleas in Uga VI’s doghouse. Maybe that’s why he appeased his barking (as in those against him and those for the Bulldogs) critics with two of the most outrageous comments of the year.
No, ever.
Let’s start with this: According to the latest NCAA statistics for a six-year period that began during the late 1990s, when Adams came to Georgia, the graduation rate for Bulldogs football players was 41 percent. That was the worst in the SEC, which isn’t the Cradle of Rhodes Scholars among athletes. The graduation rate for Georgia basketball players was nine percent, the second-worst among the 319 Division I schools. Even so, Adams told the AJC last week that Georgia would continue to accept some student-athletes who didn’t meet the university’s admission requirements because, “We still have to compete in the [Southeastern Conference].”
Was Adams speaking freely, or was he being dangled over the edge of Sanford Stadium by a dog collar? I mean, surely he didn’t mean to say what he was quoted as saying. Not with Georgia barely free of that Harrick mess. Adams hired the older Harrick, Jim, who hired his son, Jim Jr., who taught that infamous course at Georgia called “Coaching Principles and Strategies of Basketball.” You know, with multiple-choice questions such as, “How many points does a 3-point basket account for in a basketball game?”
This also is the same Georgia athletics department that was exposed during the 1980s as a plantation system in the Jan Kemp scandal. Back then, the objective was to use a slew of remedial courses to keep as many studs playing for the Bulldogs as possible, just as long as they could identify an “X” from an “O.” Back then, the feeling among the Bulldog Nation was that, “We still have to compete in the [Southeastern Conference].”
Guess Adams was speaking freely, because three days after he was quoted as making that statement, he wrote a lengthy op-ed piece in the AJC. He stressed his displeasure with those graduation rates of Georgia athletes, and he mentioned his commitment to getting it right with a $7 million center on campus dedicated to helping the student-athlete. The thing is, while boasting that “at-risk student-athletes” are given mentors by the university, he delivered his other outrageous comment: “… yes, we have made an institutional decision to be competitive in the Southeastern Conference, and therefore recruit some students who require academic assistance.”
It is what it is, and it is about gobbledygook when you have Georgia saying this week that the graduation success rate (GSR) for its athletics department isn’t as important as the academic progress rate (APR). What Georgia’s APR shows is that, over the past three years, no player is in danger of losing his or her eligibility. Which means they likely will be around to help what Adams is saying with those two outrageous comments: To appease the barkers, Georgia doesn’t want too much of this academic stuff to get in the way of winning SEC football games.
University of Hartford President Walt Harrison paused over the phone from Connecticut. Not only is he the chairman of the NCAA committee on academic performance, he is the chairman of the NCAA executive board that also features Adams. “First, a disclaimer: I don’t think there is a president in the country that I admire more than Mike. I just think that he’s a tremendous academic leader, and I consider him a friend,” Harrison said. “If he was somebody I didn’t know, I might have a different feeling about it. But I don’t think that [not letting academics get in the way of winning SEC football games] is exactly what he was saying.”
I didn’t think so, either. But Adams said so twice. In different ways. Within three days, and to the same newspaper.
Permalink | Comments (43) | Categories: Terence Moore, UGA / SEC
Next 3 games will tell for Falcons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
The Falcons have put themselves in position to win the NFC South and play at least one postseason game in the Georgia Dome. They’re 3-1, a record almost anyone based in Flowery Branch would have taken when the schedule was announced. Now comes an even more testing set of games — the Giants at home this week, the Steelers here the week after, the Bengals in Cincinnati to close the month.
Win two of those three and the Falcons will be in business. Win two of those three and they’ll have stamped themselves as one of the best teams in their conference. Win two of those three — the feeling here is that they will — and they’ll have a chance to consolidate gains come November.
Thing is, the Falcons situated themselves similarly a year ago and wilted in the season’s second half. They were 6-2 and looking like the NFC’s No. 1 seed-to-be, and at the finish they were 8-8 looking utterly seedy.
I think this year will be different. I think this team is demonstrably better than last season’s, especially on defense. I foresee no fade this fall. (Then again, I didn’t foresee last year’s.) I refuse to believe that a roster this stocked won’t hold up over 16 games. Beating the Giants on Sunday will go a ways toward turning belief into conviction.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Categories: Mark Bradley, Quick Hit
