Random Thoughts and Talking Pictures

Reid was supposedly 13 at the time and the term Man Child, made famous in a scene from Varsity Blues, certainly applies here.

* I reccomend the latest 30 for 30 "The Best That Never Was" the Marcus Dupree story. It may have surpassed "The Two Escobars" as the best of a very good bunch. For those who don't know the story of Marcus Dupree: Dupree was a once in a lifetime High School talent who set the High School Record with something like 86 TD's. Dupree was a rockstar recruit in a time when rockstar recruits were very rare. Dupree didn't disappoint in his Freshmen season expectations were high going into his Sophmore season, a season which ended abruptly as Dupree left the team. Dupree resurfaced at Southern Miss but wasn't eligible to play until he set out the rest of the 83 season as well as the entire 84 year. The USFL changed their policies and signed Dupree who performed well during his first season. At the start of year two Dupree suffered a major knee injury that effectively ended his career. Dupree later returned and made it into the NFL. So know that I have given you the story I still encourage you to watch the documentary. I promise it will not leave you disappointed.



I urge you to have a Kleenex ready. Stories such as these embodies to me the importance of sports in society. I often think that my love for sports is misguided. Why devote so much time to something that is so irrelevant in the broad spectrum of things then I watch stories such as these and I know I am better off having something that I am so passionate about and something that makes me happy.


* I haven't commented on my World Series thoughts yet so here we go. Sure the Giants vs. Rangers isn't what anybody expected and wasn't likely on anyones wish list outside of San Francisco and Texas and hell even Texas really doesn't care. Also judging by the numbers the lack of intrest nationally was minimal but as a fan of the sport I don't care about the ratings. I can tell you that I enjoyed having two teams with World Series droughts. But the best part about this World Series was the time of the games. All the games started around 8 and all were over by no later than 11:10 meaning I could watch every inning and every pitch and not fall asleep at the wheel on my way to work. Ratings suggest that most fans prefer 9-8 slugfest but I will take a 2-1 ballgame any day of the week. I also have come to the conclussion that the team who has more role player types will win the World Series. If you think about it over the last 20 years most of the major moments have included more Scott Brosius, Edgar Renteria, Billy Hatcher types then even a guy like Derrek Jeter. Think about this series the Rangers had the Starpower on offense of Hamilton, Young, Guerrero and Cruz while the lineup of the Giants was lead by Aubrey Huff who couldn't crack the lineup in the second half of last season, Juan Uribe who is a 300pd SS and Edgar Renteria who was making World Series history when Tim Lincecum was still a baby.

* MLB Trade Rumors.com has a post up predicting where the Top 50 Free Agents will end up. Of course it's all speculation but the conversation is interesting. As a Cub fan I was delighted to see big Adam Dunn going to the Cubs. As you know I am a big supporter of Dunn and his high K totals. Give me a 40 HR threat in the middle of the lineup and I will gladly live with his faults.

* Two coaches didn't live to see the final weeks. On Monday Wade Phillips was predictably fired. I mean something had to be done after the performance on Sunday. Garrett will take over and the Cowboys will play better not because of Garrett but because of change. Jones will attempt to hire a big name guy Gruden would be my first guess. If not Gruden perhaps a big time College Coach such as Harbaugh, Saban or perhaps Bob Stoops who always seems to be mentioned in coaching changes. I certainly believe that Jones will not go the hot assistant route or the retread head coach. On Tuesday Dan Hawkins was removed at Colorado. Another move that has been in the works since another slow start to the season. I have stated before that I believe Colorado can be a good program. Will it ever be among the nations best no way but I do feel that it could join the second tier schools such as Oregon, Iowa, Wisconsin, Auburn, Arkansas etc. Beutiful stadium a move to the Pac 10 awaits and a state that has little competition. Dan McCarthy is the early front runner but come on a 70 year old coach. Sure McCarthy is a icon in Boulder and has been at the top but I can't see many High School All Americans excited about McCarthy and his Medicare stories. It may be hard to pluck a Pat Fitzgerald away from Northwestern or Randy Eadsel from UConn but they could be pursueded. If not how about a top coordinatior perhaps Mushchamp or Malzhan sure both would require a nice salary for a unproven head coach but no doubt buzz would follow. These coaching changes are very contrast you have Jason Garrett who was a hot commodity two years ago but declined head coaching jobs in Atlanta and Baltimore now his stock is near the bottom. In contrast Hawkins was a guy who struck while the iron was hot and left Boise for the big time in the Big 12. Four years later Boise and Chris Peterson has went something like 57-4 while Hawkins moment came in a postgame tyraid.



Perhaps the fact that the man wrestles bears may be all you need to know.

* I have a feeling that this Cam Newton story won't go away. More will surface at some point and a punishment will be handed down long after Newton has left. In big Boy College Football everyone and I mean everyone bends the rules to some degree. So I urge you to never claim that your team wouldn't stoop to those levels because they either already have, soon will, or average about 5 wins a year and should never be used as a comparison to anything. I do have to wonder though if Auburn was 7-3 how much information would be out of the bag?