Sports Columnists

By The Man

November 6, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

Nothing against Schultz, but UGA isn’t a top-10 team and I’m a fan. He’s not.

The Bobby Petrino era will be exactly like the Dan Henning era, except ol’ Dan never wore a cap.

Chan Gailey is supposed to be an offensive coach, but he looks more and more like Marion Campbell. Oops.

Notre Dame’s season is Karma paying that a-hole Weiss what he deserves.

You know what’d be really cool, is if a sasquatch or a yeti could pilot an UFO and take Schultz off to Pluto and then blow it up.

Selah, whatever that means.

By Elmo

November 6, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

Makes you wonder how many more sound effects are used to enhance telecasts and bumbling announcers. We already know that if the make-up and lighting was removed - ugly would be HDTV spooky.

By Gordon

November 6, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this

Keep your day job, “The Man”. Or should I call you Schultz Jr.

By schultz hater

November 6, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

Thanks Jeff,

For yet another useless column.

Signed, The AJC readers

By D Ellis

November 6, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

Mr. Schultz-They paid you to write this?????? Please don’t try and write comedy…yes I did read your column but if you were in a comedy club you would hear nothing but crickets. This could be one of the worse columns ever written about the PAtriots/Tom Brady/And we already knew Chan Gailey could not use the ND win after about week 3 of Notre Dame’s season.

Thanks for the awesome info….and NO sir it would not be cool if CBS imposed Godzilla or a swarm of Locusts for Tom Brady to fight through…..that would suck and so does this article.

By Dap

November 6, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

Notre Dame stinks, yet they still get 10 minutes of each Sports Center broadcast.

What will ESPN and MSNBC have to promote if there is no Notre Dame? Themselves?

By mcdawg

November 6, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

you’re bringing me down man-

ND needs to cancel the NBC contract and stop scheduling teams it CAN’T compete against

College football is a full-time job if NDs prime objective is to educate students who also happen to play football thats great but don’t throw these kids out there on national TV completely and entirely UNPREPARED to play football-its a joke-after Holtz was run out of ND the school no longer allows the coaches time with the players-ask Bob Davie, ask Willingham (who BTW was QUITTING b/c he saw the writing on the wall) and now Weiss is finding that out

Unless Notre Dame can recruit superior athelets at every position, the legend is DEAD and a dead tradition is no tradition-they need to do some serious soul searching and it starts not with Charlie Weiss but the people at the top-lets see how much intergrity the administration has-cancel the contract and quit the charade

now as for the positive

its debatable whether UGA is better than VT, Michigan, Texas ?-but we will know at the end of the season if we are a top 10 team-win out and there is doubt the dawgs are top 10

By Ron O

November 6, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

IF Georgia isn’t the #10 team in the BCS, who is? UConn? Give me a break! Hawaii? Unlikely. VaTech? Possibly. USC-maybe. Texas- no way.

By Georgia Fan

November 6, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

If Georgia wins this Saturday, which it has as good a chance of doing as Auburn, it is a top 10 team. End of story. In the meantime, I will continue to laugh AT Schultz (note: not with) pretending to know anything about college football. I’m still waiting on his EXCUSE for his nimrod Georgia-Florida prediction.

By Lasagna and Asparagus

November 6, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this

Wow, that was delicious! Thank you so much! K.Mc.

PS: War Eagle!

By SW

November 6, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

1. The million dollar question is whether Tom Brady or Randy Moss has propelled the Patriots. Definitely Moss. Despite his “abrasive attitude”, Moss has stretched defenses thin and made those around him better everywhere he’s gone. Brady is by far the beneficiary here and will get the gist of the credit. Yes, Moss increased his chances of going to and winning the SuperBowl but seriously, would the Pats be putting up these kind of offensive stats without him? Granted they’d be winning but definitely not undefeated…

2. Belichick should have been suspended at least for the year from the NFL because he cheated (a) it is impossible to measure how long he had been doing that and (b) HE CAN’T BE TRUSTED TO BE TRUTHFUL. Major double-standard. He should be paranoid as most cheaters are when caught.

3. The Falcons have historically been horrible. Save four to five seasons out of their history, they have been laughable relative to other franchises. However, they have had some players, including you know who, that put butts in the seats. Granted, 99.99% of the people who critique the Falcons or other pro athletes, such as myself, would not be able to do any better…but they still suck. The “thousands of dollars” question is can we get our money back from the Falcons considering they’re getting theirs back?? I mean, they should have known you know who was doing something illegal, right?

4. Yes, Georgia’s rise in the rankings is suspect but then again, whose isn’t? You can’t single out Georgia because the rankings themselves are suspect…until your team is on top! I am all for ranking disbandment until the 4th or 5th week, playoffs, and paying collegiate athletes (a stipend) but we all know that makes too much sense and would financially hurt too many people/corporations that benefit and do not want fairness.

5. Notre Dame definitely sux!!! Charlie Weiss is the perfect example of how much hype is thrown at coaches and quarterbacks as if they are the end all-be all saviors of the game! Granted, there are some coaches , quarterbacks, and other players who have proven their mettle regardless of where they’ve gone. Meanwhile, others have benefited from their supporting cast, while gathering all the hype.

Overrated Charlie Weiss (Pats are just fine without him & ND is just as bad with him), Jimmy Clausen (was not ready!), Tim Tebow (how many other qbs have done what he’s done? are currently DOING what he’s doing?), Steve Spurrier (offensive genius?!?!?!), Bill Callahan, Matt Ryan, Michael Vick (at least he sold tickets), Taylor Bennett (C.Johnson really made him look good!), and Bill Belichick (cheater)

The Real Deal Urban Meyer (i see why ND wanted him), Randy Moss, Tom Brady (even though he’s better with Moss he’s just fine w/o him), Andre Woodson, Ben Rothlisberger, Dennis Dixon, Knowshon Moreno, and Calvin Johnson.

By sw

November 6, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

(cont’d)

Overrated Reggie Bush, The Yankees, Tony Romo…

The Real Deal Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Vince Young, LaDanian Tomlinson, Terrell Owens ability, Brett Favre (d@mn you Falcons!!!!!!)…

Feel free to add more…

By ChampDawg

November 6, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

Anyone realistic with any sense knows damn well UGA is not a top-10 team. Most fans will probably admit that… come on folks we lost to TN and SC and bearly beat Vandy and the defense, under the brilliant WM, has given up 64 points in 2 games. But, let’s enjoy it while we can. If we can win out, then top-10 for sure, otherwise, nah.

By pookie in tha pen

November 6, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Jeff you such a racist, everything you write is racist. You always gotta be down on Michael Vick. He is a rolemodel and you write about him every chance you get. You racist

By haha

November 6, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this

pookie’s comment made me laugh. Vick isn’t mentioned once. Nor is anything said about race. I am thoroughly amused.

By Jorge

November 6, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

You know… for all the vitriol that has been spat at Barry Bonds for steroid use and being a cheater, it seems like they’re finding hard evidence of everybody BUT him buying ‘Roids and HGH. Jose Guillen? Matt Williams??? I’m not saying, I’m just saying.

Sorry Schultzy, I’d comment on your Blog, but there was nothing worth commenting on. Figured I’d add a little insight and fresh perspective, since you rarely do.

By The Man addressing "Gordon"

November 6, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this

You may address me as The Man, you pimply faced little puke.

My day job is kicking you to the curb.

By JACKETS FAN

November 6, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

SW,

Do you even know what Bill Belichick did wrong? I’ve listened and listened to all the mainstream media vilify Belichick and the Patriots as cheaters, and I’m wondering what exactly was so wrong with what was done? The media and fans talk about the Patriots as if they broke into the Jets training facility, stole the playbook and game plan and then beat the Jets with it, or as if they kidnapped Chad Pennington and replaced him with a robot look alike who can’t throw the ball more than 20 yards. I mean they video taped the defensive hand signals of the Jets for Pete’s sake. I realize there are rules against this, but who really cares? To me it’s the same as a runner on second base stealing the signs of the catcher. If the Jets (or any other NFL team) don’t want their opponents to decode what they are doing, then they should either make the signals so complicated that no one can decode them or become telepathic. To me it seems that this rule about videotaping is overkill. I mean if the Patriots wanted to, they could hire a team of 100 guys who’s sole job it is to watch the other team’s defensive signals and record them with a pen and pad, and the Patriots would have netted the same information as they got from the video (albeit more costly and tedious) and would not have broken any rules or be labeled as cheaters. The Patriots are not cheaters. The rules don’t preclude any team from “decoding” their opponent’s signals. It just says they can’t use video equipment to do so. It requires a slap on the wrist. But in no way should it taint what the Patriots have accomplished. Because in the end, it doesn’t matter if you know what’s coming, you still have to be skilled enough to stop it on the field. Where’s the outrage with the Carolina Panthers or Oakland Raiders for using players who were on steroids/HGH? That’s the real cheating. If you don’t like the Patriots, fine. But trying to defraud their accomplishments over some video taping of hand signals is pretty weak.

By Gordon

November 6, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this

Now see, that wasn’t too hard was it? When you just write in your natural style, using such clever phrases as “you pimply faced little puke”, you are so much clearer.

By the way, I think I did address you as “The Man” in my first post, but I think a better handle for you would be “Pavlovian Dawg.”

By Smitty

November 6, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

For anyone attending the Georgia-Auburn game on saturday, make sure you wear black. Rumor has it Georgia is coming out wearing all black jerseys and Coach Richt wants to see a “black-out”. Let’s go out there and disprove any home field hexes!!!

By TN Jeff

November 6, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

Completely off the subject - hoping for a response to this question

Why is it that every 3 named college quarterback must be referred to by all 3 names by game announcers. I’m sick of hearing John David Booty back to pass, John David Booty throws the ball, John David Booty intercepted, John David Booty having a rough game. (sub in the Alabama quarterback’s name etal). Is this taught in broadcasting school?

By JCubby

November 6, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this

Is Georgia no. 10? Better question. Is Ohio State no. 1? The answer to both questions is…. Yes, this week they are. As for next week…

By The Man addressing "Gordon"

November 6, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this

When you write in your natural “style,” you put the comma in the wrong place vis a vis the quotation marks.

What would be really cool right now is if you’d go leap off Peachtree Plaza, rectum first onto a flagpole. Hope the phrasing was clever enough for you.

The Man will address the inferior slug “Gordon,” (note the correctly placed comma) no more. Have a nice life, or better yet, help me have a nice life and die a swift death.

By Shamus Thacker

November 6, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this

AJC circulation has dropped 10% over the past year. That’s top-five territory among major US newspapers in lost circulation.

We don’t get sports here, we get opinion on sports no better than our own.

Why do we read this crap? Because we’re bigger idiots than the 10% who kicked the habit…

By Dr. Sigmund Football

November 6, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this

My diagnosis is that Gordon does not have the mental muscle to match wits with the writers on this blog and should return to the kiddie pool that is the various sports or life vents.

By GT Fan Jeff

November 6, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

UGA at #10 is not as ridiculous as USF was at #2 a few short weeks ago, or BC at #2 just last week. All three are indicative of the “parity” in college football today, and the total chaos the BCS has become. If UGA wins out, they are deserving of a top 10 ranking. However, based on the way this college football season has gone so far (and the way UGA’s defense has played all year), I think they are just as likely to go 0-3. And, wouldn’t that be SPECIAL???

By Big Dawg Fan (and I mean big as in overweight)

November 6, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

No, GT Fan, we will not go 0-3 because we have to play YOU GUYS. The Dawgs’ ranking is based in part because of the brutal SEC schedule we play. We are NOT a member of the All Crappy Conference.

By DB Cooper

November 6, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

I’ve got an idea for the #10 team in the BCS. Michigan wait a minute didn’t they lose to Appy State? How bout Auburn? Wait a minute didn’t they lose to MIss State and USF? How bout Hawaii? Wait have they even played a ranked team? How bout VT , wait didn’t they get thir a$$ handed to them by LSU and lose to a paper tiger BC? How bout Florida who’s lost every meaningful in league game. What’s your point???

By SW

November 6, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this

JACKETS FAN,

We’re on the same page but the difference is that you’re trying to give a pass to/defend Belichick when what he was doing was against the rules. No, he wasn’t running a dogfighting ring or shooting spitballs at babies but he did at the very least know of if not authorize the videotaping, which is illegal. You attempt to marginalize what he did but you can’t deny the facts that (a) there are very few teams in the NFL (b) divisional rivals play each other twice a year and (c) unlike the college ranks, there is a lot of crossover as far as coaches and players. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that you can gain a competitive advantage over time by compiling illegal video footage, which is different from a runner on base seeing the catcher’s signals. They were also reviewing it during the game, correct? Just as you stated, I’m willing to concede that a team must be skilled enough to stop whats coming but if you do know whats coming, you still have a huge competitive advantage. And please do not forget the importance of the timing in regards to stopping an opponent. What if your competitive advantage led to a only a few stops….on 3rd down??? Depending on the down and distance that would lead to a punt, correct? You do the math. So exactly how long had this been going on? Asking Belichick would be a farce because he can’t be trusted and would undoubtedly minimize it because of the larger ramifications. You do recall that players had previously accused the Patriots of cheating, right? The “slap on the wrist” was a slap in the face to players, who must adhere to a conduct code, and also fans. The NFL should have come down on him just as the NBA should have come down on the gambling refs, which they are allowing to continue officiating…especially considering players had complained of horrible officiating before (they were fined!). Its a double standard. Also, I’m aware that the NFL, just as MLB, has a major problem with performance enhancing drugs and I agree that there should be outrage. The difference between you and I is that I’m for equal enforcement and punishment across the board. On the other hand you make excuses for, attempt to normalize, and argue for mild punishment for abhorrent behaviors (e.g., cheating) when its your team or someone you admire. That is the problem and its disgusting…

side note: Restaurants in NFL cities across the nation should deny Bill Belichick service.

By charles

November 6, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this

TO: GORDON & THE MAN Take your absurb, childish back-and- forth emails somewhere else. Who gives a rat’s a* what you two obvious losers think of each other? Get a motel room and sort it out.

By The Man addressing "Charles"

November 6, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

Chuck, The Man addressed only sports topics until the li’l b tch decided to crack on him. Meanwhile take your uppitity I’m-in-charge-here (you’re not) attitude and go bed up with “Gordon.” The Man will address the snotty b stard “Charles,” no more.

By charles

November 6, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

You’re right. I stuck my nose where it didn’t belong. I’m sorry.

By Pete

November 6, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

I may be mistaken (but am usually not) but Notre Dame not having the players seems to go against the always No.1 recruiting class every year. If they don’t have players who ranks the class as a top class… or is it who is coaching the class the problem?

By DWG

November 6, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

Funny stuff:

“It’s bad enough outlets like ESPN skew news coverage to enhance their broadcast properties and artificially inflate ratings.”

This coming from an AJC writer. Wake up Jeff, the paper YOU work for engages in the same practices.

I agree the dawgs are over ranked - but this season, who isn’t? LSU is a couple of bounces away from having 4 losses. The days of dominant power house programs are a thing of the past.

By Gordon

November 6, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this

My guess is that someone who demands people address him as “The Man” on a blog has no one to call him that in real life.

Gee, I hope there weren’t any punctuation errors in this post that will annoy “The Man”. (period deliberately placed outside the quotation mark to annoy “The Man” which I find amusing)

Sorry, Charles. You’re right but I couldn’t resist.

By The Man's homey 'Dre

November 6, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

Yo Gordy, The Man ain’t demanded nothing. He was just laying his comedy rap down this mornin’ and you had to raise yo li’l sissy butt up and say somethin’ smart to him. You the one stepped in it and he just put you in your sorry li’l place. Peace, out.

By JACKETS FAN

November 6, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this

SW,

We just disagree. To me the outrage and criticism just doesn’t match the offense. It’s like asking for life in prison for a traffic violation. If the rules say “don’t use cameras to log a team’s hand signals” then the rule should be enforced and a penalty paid. But a fine should have been sufficient. But the league took a huge sum of money AND docked them a 1st round pick. That seems overboard to me. Not to mention the constant barrage from ignorant media and fans making a mountain out of a molehill. And like I said (and you totally ignored), the information gained by the videos could have been gained by other means that are legal. So it’s a technicality, and therefore not cheating. A team of eyes could break a team’s hand signals just the same as a video could, and so if the only violation is that the Patriots used a camera in lieu of their own eyes, then the punishment is overkill.

By SW

November 6, 2007 5:58 PM | Link to this

JACKET FAN

Yes, you did offer a savvy way to get around breaking the rules by having people steal signals visually. You also mentioned that it would take a lot of time and $$ to do that, which I also agree with (but human recall is subject to error, while the videos don’t lie). So the reason I disregarded what you stated was because that is legal, while what the Patriots did was illegal. The rules are subjective in themselves and when broken, the enforcement is even more subjective. I think Belichick’s fine and the punishment was light relative to the fact that they could have been doing this for a while and therefore, affecting outcomes of numerous games. IMO, this wasn’t a “traffic violation”. I’d say it would be classified more as an assault. Yet, the prosecutor would use his “discretion” to only seek a misdemeanor indictment and then allow him (Belichick) to further plea out instead of seeking a felony…happens all the time. I’ve never been their fan but Vick, Adam Jones, and that Chicago Bear guy, etc. were punished for what they did off the field. They did not hurt the game. Belichick, the NBA refs, and also MLB have hurt the actual games just as people taking performance enhancing drugs. Yet, their punishments have been comparatively light relative to the former persons. If there were ever someone who I feel should have been kicked out of the NFL, it is Albert Haynesworth for stomping the Cowboy in the face but again, he only hurt the game. On or off the field, adverse behavior should be punished. In this case, I say its inconsistent and not enough and you say it was unfair and too harsh. It is what it is, Jacket Fan. But I wouldn’t trust Belichick leading a company I had stock in…

By casual observer

November 6, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this

I just spotted Charlie Weiss on camera with a headset, whistle and black ski mask on.

Authorities have decided to charge him with Theft by taking, Fraud, Impersonating a real coach, and conspiracy to actually win 1 game.

Best example of stealing money since Jon Koncak.

By casual observer

November 6, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this

Please allow me to rephrase that last statement.

Best example of stealing money since Jeff Schultz.

By Hoof Hearted

November 7, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

It’s nice to see that somebody else has noticed ESPN’s obnoxious tendencies to overhype coverage of sporting events on Sportscenter that it just conincidentally covers. Has anyone noticed how NASCAR is now one of the first things mentioned on Sportscenter? I don’t remember such prominent placement before this year, when ESPN/ABC started televising NASCAR. Hmmmmm… .

As for UGA not being worthy of the No. 10 spot, in a normal year, I would agree, but what team is better that is ranked lower? Nobody, including Ohio State, LSU, Oregon, etc. is great. Really, Kansas has played as well as anybody, but who has Kansas really played? We’ll see.