 |
||||||||||||||||
Heading to Omaha I can't wait to get to Omaha, later this week. The College World Series awaits, along with some great steaks and fun times with my SiriusXM crew for the broadcast remotes. Last year was my first visit to the city, the venue and the event. I had heard all the great props from everyone who previously made the trip, and I couldn't wait to take it all in....and I can't say this all the time, but the event was even better than I anticipated. I absolutely loved it, and I'm counting down the days to get back. The field is wide-open for the championship, thanks to all the "upsets" to the nationally seeded teams, but it doesn't matter. The quality of depth in college baseball is amazing and so is the play on the field. It was so much fun doing the shows from outside the ballpark....the NCAA has screwed up many things before, but they got it right in Omaha. The city has embraced the teams and fans and you can't help but have a great time. If you plan on making the trip....I look forward to seeing you at the ballpark...and if you aren't headed to Omaha, be sure to put it on your "bucket list". Rafa is untouchable at Roland Garros. I don't spend much time talking tennis, but when a person makes history, it's worth noting. Rafa Nadal became the first men's player to win the same grand slam tournament 8 times.....he is now a remarkable 59-1 during his career on the red clay in Paris. That's incredible. Nobody can touch him....even though Novak Djokovic pushed him deep into the 5th set during the semi's before falling 9-7 to the Spaniard. Watching Nadal on clay is like watching Picasso....or maybe Dali is more appropriate. He is sheer genius with a racquet in his hand and the red clay beneath his NIKE's. If he can manage to stay healthy, there is no telling how many more grand slams he will pocket not only in Paris, but Australia, New York and Wimbledon, too. The 113th US Open Golf Championship starts this week at venerable Merion. The fantastic, old-school track outside of Philly is not really designed to handle huge crowds or the technology that has severely wounded the game of golf....but that makes for one of the fascinating story-lines this week. Anytime you talk major championships, Tiger Woods' name will enter the dialogue. This week marks 5 years since his last major conquest....the US Open at Torrey Pines. Is this the week Tiger gets to # 15? Maybe. He has been the best player on Tour this year, even though his recent play at Jack's event left many people, including Tiger, shaking their head in disbelief. I think that was more of the exception than the rule......I suspect Mr. Woods will be ready to play this week. His pairing is interesting, too. Tiger will get to see his rival-in-waiting, Rory McIlroy, along with Masters winner Adam Scott. Of course, Scott's caddie knows something about Tiger since he used to loop for him and all those major titles. I guess it would have been asking too much to flip-flop McIlroy with Sergio.....too much venom and animosity for any threesome. Either way, the course, the tournament and the drama should be must-watch TV, this Father's Day weekend. The NBA Finals continue to unfold as I am posting this latest version of Ripe Gripe. I thought Game 1 was fantastic.....both teams were tremendous and the quality of basketball was outstanding. New School vs. Old School......Duncan, Parker & Ginobli against LeBron, Bosh and Wade. I thought the Spurs' coaching staff had a huge edge heading into the series, and that was evident in the opening game. Regardless of the outcome, this series has the potential to be incredible. I know a lot of folks are turned off by the NBA.....but at this stage of the proceedings, it is special. I hope that we can get to at least a Game 6....there is a "legacy" feel to this match-up on both sides. I received my SiriusXM / Conference Media Day assignments for the upcoming college football season, and I can't wait for them to get started. I'll be headed down to Birmingham (Hoover, Alabama) for the SEC Media Days in July. It is a 3-day circus with all the coaches, players, media and fans from the most passionate fanbases in the country. After the trip down South, I'll get back home to Charlotte and head up I-85 for the ACC Media Days. The event feels like a country club atmosphere after the SEC event.....but the players and coaches are always a joy to talk to before the season gets cranked up. My final media day session will take me out to Los Angeles for the PAC-12 Media Days. I've never participated in this one, so I look forward to seeing what Larry Scott has in-store for us. I'm hoping my man, Rick Neuheisel, will be co-hosting.....that way I can remind him of how many games the Dodgers are out of first place in the NL West....plus, he's always a great host. I hope we have another trip for cocktails at the Bel Air Country Club during the trip out west. Once we finish up with the Media Days....the SiriusXM suits will unveil our "Camp Tours" for 2013. Last year, I visited and broadcasted from great football venues like Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Florida State and Oklahoma. I can't wait to see where they are sending me this year. By the way, as of this posting.....there are only 80 days until kick-off.....not that I'm counting. |
|
|||||||||||||||
