Who Dat?

Mardi Gras has started early! Also, hell must be frozen over and I think I saw some pigs fly by earlier today! All of this is because the New Orleans Saints have won the Super Bowl! After 43 years of playing professional football in the city of New Orleans, they finally made it to a Super Bowl and they pulled the upset and beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17. This was the most watched event in television history surpassing the finial episode of M-A-S-H with 106 million viewers. It was a good game but I will tell you after the first quarter where the Colts pretty much dominated the game, I thought it was going to be a blow out. But the Saints were able to make some adjustments and got back into the game and eventually pull out the win.

All the talk going into the game was about Peyton Manning and how he controls the games and doesn’t make mistakes. But it was Drew Brees and his mistake free control of the game that made the difference. Brees was named the games MVP and of course got to go to Disney World today! Being a Falcons fan, I have mixed emotions about the Saints victory. I hate to think about them getting a Super Bowl title before the Falcons, but they have such a good story that it is hard not to be happy for them and the entire city. Even thought the Falcons didn’t get a title before the Saints, at least they got to the big game first. So, that is something for Falcons fans to hang their hat on! I guess we should be happy to see a team from our division win, but not really!

Anyway, good job Saints, it was a well-played game. I foresee this Mardi Gras as being the biggest and craziest ever!

Let the good times roll!

The Kovy Trade!

Being a die hard Atlanta Thrasher fan, I was very frustrated to hear that the teams leading scorer was traded on Thursday night. I was expecting the trade to happen since the contract negotiations had come to a halt and the trade deadline was fast approaching. I had come to terms with the idea of Kovy playing for another team. Even though it was going to be hard to imagine since he has been with the team since he was drafted in 2001. But I didn’t expect him to be traded to a team within the Eastern Conference. Now we will have to face him several times a year and I am sure he will make the game winning shot every time we play them. That is if he stays with the Devils. I think the Devils view this trade as a rent a player deal. Kovy doesn’t really fit the Devils system and they usually don’t spend a ton on money on one guy. Therefore I don’t foresee them signing him to an extension so he will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season where he will end up with a huge contract. So maybe we will only have to face him one time this year since we only play the Devils one more time.

The trade details break down like this, Illya Kovakchuk and Anssi Salmela for Johnny Oduya (Defenseman), Niclas Bergfors (Forward) and prospect Patrice Cormier (Forward and the Devils first round pick last year) along with a 1st round pick in this years draft. At first glance I was pretty upset with the trade considering we just traded away the franchise all time scorer and the teams main offensive piece for a couple of no named guys, a prospect and a draft pick. But after I have had time to think about it, it might not be so bad. The money we would have paid Kovy would have handcuffed the Thrashers. He was going to be the highest paid player in NHL history if he took any of the top deals laid out for him. So with that money still within the organization, we should be able to sign a couple of big time free agents in the off season. Add those free agents to the strong up and coming players we have now and are in the system, we could be on the right track. But I don’t have a lot of faith in GM Don Waddell that is how things will play out. He has traded away so many good players for much weaker players in the past under the pretense that he was building for the future and we now where that has gotten us! Just look at some of the names that Waddell has traded away; Ray Ferraro, Donald Audette, Danny Heatly, Marc Savard, Marian Hossa, Garnett Exelby, and now Illya Kovalchuk.

There is a chance this can work out good for the Atlanta Thrashers and their fans, but if we have learned anything about the past, we know it is going to fail just like the other plans. There might be a chance we could get Kovy back in the off season. Once he is an unrestricted free agent, he will find that there aren’t going to be a lot of teams willing to play what he is asking for. With him turning down the Thrashers offers, he has shown the NHL that is he very greedy and only wants to be the highest paid player ever. So, he is going to have a hard time getting offers better than he already had. So therefore, he might come back to the Thrashers saying he will take the 10 year 101 million dollar deal. I am not counting on that, but who knows?

I can’t totally blame Waddell and the Thrashers for this but it should have never come down to this in the first place. We should have signed Kovy to an extension right after we made the playoffs three years ago and this would have never happened. But at that time, the management wasn’t concerned and felt like Kovy would never leave. Now he is gone and we are stuck with a team that can’t seem to generate any offense, even when we had Kovy. There are two things that could happen with the team for the remainder of the season. They could rally and play well enough to make the playoffs in spite of losing the best player on the team, or they could pack it in and limp to the end of the season. Of course I hope it is the first option, but knowing the history of the team and the franchise, I think it will be the second one!

There is no time to sit around and feel sorry for themselves; the Thrashers have to go to Washington tonight to play the Conference leading Capitals. This will be the first clue on how the team is going to react to the face of the franchise getting traded away for basically nothing. Even though I am still frustrated with what has happened to my beloved Thrashers, I still will watch the game tonight. But if it is another blowout, it just might be my last game I watch until next season.

Thanks Kovy for your efforts in building this franchise!

2010 Recruiting class

Well, it depends on which source you look to for your college football news, each has a different ranking for the Dawgs recruiting class. ESPN has them ranked 9th, Rivials.com has them ranked 16th and Scout.com has them ranked 21st. The rankings don’t really concern me since having a better ranking recruiting class doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to have a good year on the field. Even though there are some guys who signed yesterday that will make an immediate impact on their team, most will take a year or two to develop. All I am concerned about is did we get solid players who are willing to come in and work hard to learn the system and have potential to be good/great college players. We needed to fill some holes that we currently have or will have in a year or two on the defensive side of the ball. That was defiantly accomplished yesterday! Coach Richt and the new DC, Coach Grantham did a great job at getting some stud defensive ends and linemen. Sure I would have loved to sign Da’Rick Rogers and Nickell Robey, but I feel like we got a great group of receivers and defensive backs in Athens right now. Even thought we didn’t sign a ton of guys (only 19) we signed talented and quality guys. Overall I give the 2010 recruiting class a B+. I applaud the depleted coaching staff for keeping this class together in times of duress!

I can’t wait until September 4th when toe meets leather once again!

Go Dawgs!

National Signing Day!

Today is a big day for college programs all over the country. Of course we hear about the big time recruits and where they are headed, but today is a big day for every high school kid that is lucky enough to get a college scholarship offer. Looks like several of the SEC schools are going to have another year of top ranked recruiting classes. According to Rivals.com the school with the best class so far in Florida, but Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Tenn and Georgia are all in the top 15.

These rankings could change at any time since there are still several big time recruits that have yet to commit. Georgia did lose out on a couple big time players with the most being Da’Rick Rogers a five star wide receiver from Calhoun, Ga. He decided at the last minute to join his best friend (and his dad’s wallet) to sign with Tennessee. There is something phishy about his quick change of heart. There are reports that he has allegedly been driving a new car for a couple of months and that he agreed to sign with Tennessee if they also offered his teammate and best buddy a scholarship as well. Tennessee wasn’t recruiting his BFF Nash Nance until the last couple of weeks and now they are both going to Knoxville. Of course I am a little bitter since he was committed to sign with UGA, but like I said, it is phishy and Georgia is probably going to be better off without him.

Being a football fan in the SEC, I can’t help but get caught up in all of the hype surrounding signing day. But I also feel that it is a detriment to the young players. They are treated like rock stars for their last couple of years in high school, they get calls and visits from big time coaches and are told how valuable they will be if they go to a certain school. All of these things give the players big heads and bad attitudes. It sets unrealistic expectations for themselves and everyone around them because they all think they are going to be big stars at the next level, when realistically, they will be lucky to ever see the field, especially in their first year or two. Some players will live up to their hype, but most do not. After their senior year of being the big man on their high school campus, they will be back to being a peon at a big university. Where there is tremendous pressure to perform up to the high expectations set by all of the hype they had while being recruited. Listen, I am not naïve; I know this is part of college football now and I am part of the problem! I sit around with my buddies talking about these kids and how I hope we get them. That is how big recruiting has become, but that doesn’t mean it is right!

Anyway, teams don’t win championships on this day, but they could just get that one piece that does push them over the top in the next year or two and they will win a championship. All I know is that UGA has another solid recruiting class this year and now we need to focus on getting these guys to make their grades and learning the system so they can start making the team better as soon as they get into school.

Go Dawgs!

Groundhog Day!

Well, it depends on which groundhog you trust or prefer, but the two well-known groundhog prognosticators differ on their predictions this year. The local groundhog, General Beauregard Lee didn’t see his shadow so therefore he predicts and early spring. But up in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter. I found some research done by the AJC.com and they have found that Punxsutawney Phil has been a little more accurate in predicting the upcoming weather than General Lee has. Phil has been right on his predictions 50% of the time while General Beau has only been correct 31% of the time. I am hoping that this time General Beauregard Lee is correct this year and spring is just around the corner! Here is the groundhog himself coming out of his home. He must have had a domestic dispute with Mrs. General Lee and that is why his nose is all scratched up!

Grammys

So, I was looking forward to watching the Grammys after hearing all of the people scheduled to perform but after it was all over, I was left scratching my head! I just don’t get some of the performances! I will say the production value of the performances is getting out of control. What ever happened to the idea that a band or a performer would just come out and perform the song? Now you have to have faceless dancers, a factory with a working incinerator, a Cirque du Soleil trapeze and a bucket of water, futuristic dancing robots, 100 armored dancers, a Broadway cast, a full string section with accompanying chorus or 3D glasses (which by the way, I couldn’t find mine)! I will say the show kept me on my toes and I was worried about what come out next.

Another thing I have come to expect is a young up and coming artist or group is going to be paired with an old has been to try and give the young group validity and the old person relevancy. It usually doesn’t work out for either side. The Taylor Swift/Stevie Nicks duet was horrible and the Zac Brown Band playing with Leon Russell sounded good but it seemed like someone just placed Leon on stage and said play your song when the lights are on you. Zac Brown and his boys sounded good playing America the Beautiful, then went into Leon’s song then into the ZBB’s hit Chicken Fried. But Leon looked lost after his portion was over. Another unsuccessful pairing! But at least the ZBB won the best new artist award.

I did think the Dave Mathew’s Band performance was exceptional and I didn’t mind all of the extras during that performance. Did anyone else notice the curtain fall on the chick from Lady Antebellum during their performance? What a pro, she didn’t even miss a beat! Also, who else was a little uncomfortable watching Michael Jackson’s kids on stage accepting that award for their dad.

As you might expect, I don’t agree with most of the winners since my taste aren’t quite the same as the Academy’s. But I will say the Grammy’s have been the most interesting award show so far this year! Don't you just love the awards season? Bring on the next one!

Can you say hypocrite?

I stumbled across this story and thought is was too good not to share with my three readers. This story comes from Deceiver.com and it is a classic! Apparently the head of anti-gambling task force in Alabama resigned after going across the border to Mississippi gamble. Perhaps he could have played it off as saying he was “doing research on how corrupt and evil gambling truly is”, but he ended up winning a big pay out. Here is a quote from David Barber’s resignation letter.

“On a recent visit to Mississippi, I visited a legal casino and won a $2,300 prize playing a legal game,” Barber wrote in his resignation letter to Gov. Bob Riley. “While my actions were in full compliance with the law, I am convinced that the forces that operate illegal casinos in Alabama will focus on my actions as part of their continuing effort to smear you and your Task Force.”

Upon further investigation, it seems the man who created this role for Mr. Barber as the head of anti-gambling task force, Alabama Governor Riley, was actually getting huge campaign contributions from the Mississippi Indian’s who own casinos. Apparently the Choctaw Indians in Mississippi contributed $13 million to Riley’s campaign in 2002. That is why Governor Riley is so against gambling in Alabama and why David Barber had a government job. Man, why do politicians have to be so corrupt?

It is a pretty funny story though! (Insert your best Alabama joke here!)

Asheville Recap

Meg and I had a great time in Asheville this past weekend. We went up with some friends to celebrate some birthdays and have a quick getaway without kids. The Haywood Park Hotel was great! It was located right in the middle of the downtown area and we walked and explored the entire area. We ate at some wonderful restaurants, (Table, Kanpai-Sushi Thai, and Zambra) we enjoyed drinks at several bars (Rankin Vault, The Beir Garden, and Jack of the Wood) and shopped at the many galleries, bookstores and other cool shops. Meg and the girls also found a wonderful yoga studio to attend a class on Saturday. Even though it was cold, windy and wet, we all enjoyed walking to our destinations and soaking up sights and sounds of this eclectic city. Asheville was a great destination for a quick weekend trip and we can’t wait to go back soon!

This was outside the front door of the hotel. When I saw that, I knew we were going to have a good time!

(Sorry I don’t have any pictures to post. Even thought I took plenty, my computer doesn’t seem to want to load them. I will try to post some soon as I figure out my technical issues.)

Coke and the Olympics!

Coca-Cola Co, has announced their up coming marketing plans for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver next month. Coca-Cola is the longest continuous corporate sponsor of the Olympics and they are not holding back this year. While they will run ads all over the world, they are going to focus mainly on North America and the US. The add campaign will include TV commercials, 700 million commemorative cans, and images of Olympic athletes. Coca-Cola continues to build upon its legacy of supporting active lifestyles through its relationship with inspirational athletes. The Coca-Cola “Six Pack” of athletes is featured on in-store materials and serves as Coca-Cola “Ambassadors of Active Living,” helping encourage and inspire people to lead active, balanced lives. The Coca-Cola “Six Pack” includes five-time Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno (short track speed skating), Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler (snowboard), three-time Olympic medalist Angela Ruggiero (ice hockey), World Champion Evan Lysacek (figure skating) and two-time U.S. figure skating champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker. You can pick up a collector’s six-pack with one of each can in stores soon.

The marketing plan will also include a presence on NBCOlympics.com and NBCOlympics mobile, with an application that plays sounds related to the Games (like air horns and cowbells) and the sounds associated with drinking a Coke (ice clinking, pouring, and -- of course -- “ahh”).

MyCokeRewards.com serves as the hub for everything Olympics Games as members can redeem points for Coca-Cola Olympic Games gear, learn about the collectible cans and the Coca-Cola “Six Pack” of athletes, and earn bonus points when U.S. athletes win medals during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. For Olympic Games fans on the go, Coca-Cola offers a mobile site that reflects the content found on MyCokeRewards.com, plus downloadable wallpaper of the athlete silhouettes featured on the collectible cans.

So don't say you haven't been warned. The market saturation is coming!

Asheville, NC

This weekend Meg and I are headed off to Asheville for a quick birthday celebration with some friends. Not only is it Meg’s birthday this weekend, it is also one of my best friend’s birthday. John and Meg were actually born on the same day just a few years apart. (That makes their birthdays easy to remember!) I am excited to seeing the town of Asheville and the surrounding mountains since I have never ventured to that area of North Carolina. I am looking forward to eating at some nice restaurants, taking in the vibrant downtown scene and having a glass of wine or two with some good friends.

Who am I kidding, bring on the shots!

Conan reaches a buyout deal with NBC

Looks like the late night wars will be coming to an end soon. Conan O’Brien has come to a buyout agreement with NBC. The deal will allow Jay Leno to return to the “Tonight Show” which he hosted for 17 years and Conan will receive 32 million. So even though he was screwed, I don't feel bad for him! Also, Conan wasn’t just looking for a payout for himself, he also worked out a deal for all of his staff. The entire staff will split up 12 million in severance packages. That is one reason why I like Conan so much, he wasn’t just looking out for himself, he wanted to make sure he entire staff was also compensated fairly for their time and efforts. Most of which moved from New York to LA just for the show.

I am sure Conan will lay low for a while after his finial show airs on NBC, but I expect for him to resurface soon on another network. The obvious choice would be Fox, but who knows? Until then, I will enjoy watching his monologue where he has been ripping the network and Leno for their recent actions.

Coachella 2010

One of the biggest music festivals in the U.S. has released their line up and it looks good. The Coachella Music and Arts Festival takes place in Indo, California and has become one of the premier festivals in the world. It takes place April 16th - 18th. They usually have a pretty eclectic line up and this year is no different. Take a look at the official release of the line up and see for yourself.For me, there are some must sees (Them Crooked Vultures, The Avett Brothers, The Dead Weather, Muse, Gorillaz, De La Soul, Devo and more) but I am very curious to know what Thom Yorke ???? means? Thom Yorke is the lead singer and songwriter for Radiohead. I wonder if that means he is going to have an all-star band with him that weekend? I am intrigued! To bad I probably won’t be there to see it. But I am sure history will be made that weekend!