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Media Frenzy I have been back and forth to a number of the conference "media days" that are taking place this time of year. Last week, the SEC kicked things off in grand style in Hoover, Alabama with the buzz of Johnny Football and the presence of the Crimson Tide. There is nothing in college sports that can be compared to the circus that is the SEC Media Days....it's truly amazing. It's a blast interacting with, talking to, and interviewing the best players and coaches in America. Watching the elevator doors open in the lobby of the Wynfrey Hotel and watching Nick Saban be cheered on by the Bama fans was similar to the doors opening at the London hospital so the Brits could get a sneak peek at their new prince. This week, I traveled to Greensboro, NC, interviewing everybody from the ACC. In two days, I conducted 36 interviews....and I loved every second. Later this week, I'm off to Los Angeles and the PAC-12 Media Days.....all of this action covered on SiriusXM, of course. Somehow it doesn't seem right that I'm going to be in Los Angeles while the red-hot Dodgers continue to play great and lead the NL West....as a SF Giants fan, that is unsettling.....but I'll get over it, knowing that I'm covering and talking college football. It's fun, it's hectic and it is also a sign that football is right around the corner.....it's all good. Next week, we start our SiriusXM Camp Tours....some of the locations have been announced and it will be the biggest Tour yet......I can't wait to visit new schools, locations and partake with the locals. One new rule in college football is already getting major air-time....and that is the "targeting rule". The incredible Jadeveon Clowney-Vincent Smith collision in the bowl game has been played a gazillion times on ESPN. According to the ACC suits, that play under the new rule would cost a player an ejection. In the SEC, it would not. You can already sense that this is going to be another one of those subjective headaches that will further complicate issues in the game. I'm all about player safety.....but let's not lose sight that this is a physical game played by big, athletic men. I have a feeling that when we see this rule applied to the games, it won't take long for the controversy to begin. There have been some great lines by players and coaches all over the country, during this media day festival.... I loved Will Muschamp's line about Ohio State....Jadeveon Clowney claiming that every QB is afraid of him.....Nick Saban making fun of the media's inability to make good picks.....the list goes on and on. But my favorite line comes from the Big XII. Kansas coach, Charlie Weis, was asked about recruiting players for his struggling program and his response was an instant classic: "Have you taken a look at that pile of crap out there? So if you don't think you can play here...where do you think you can play?" That is a damn funny response....and what makes it great is that Coach Weis is being honest. The NFL teams are reporting to camp....and that's a good thing, too. The biggest news around Carolina the past few weeks is Cam Newton's affinity for the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers' high profile QB was quoted as saying that he is an Atlanta fan and cheers for the arch rivals except when his club is playing them. I don't have any problem with Newton being a Falcons fan.....I just wished he would have been smart enough not to tell the world or even his own fanbase about his support of the red and black. I expect big things from Newton in 2013...Panther Nation is dreaming playoffs. It will be tough to get there with the Falcons and Saints still rocking in the tough NFC South. Charges were dropped against P.J. Hairston.....the UNC hoopster will breathe a sigh of relief on that news, but there are still some unanswered questions surrounding his relationship with ex-felon Fats Thomas. I'm sure the NCAA might have an interest in all the rental cars that have appeared on the Chapel Hill campus that are traced back to a guy that claims to have no idea who Hairston is or anybody else on the UNC basketball team. Of course, the NCAA might just turn their cheek and head the other direction.....there's no telling what they might do next. But one thing is certain: the UNC suits have some explaining to do.....and at some point in time, it might be a good idea to have some compliance officers follow-up and do their jobs at UNC. Ryan Braun, meet Lance Armstrong. You two have a lot in common. The NASCAR crowd heads to Indy this weekend. While a roadtrip to the Brickyard is still a big deal for the Cup crowd, the biggest news this week involves the announcement that the sport is taking its talents to NBC beginning in 2015. ESPN and TNT have been shown the door. Interesting move by NASCAR.....hopefully the dollars were big enough to keep everybody happy. With NASCAR out of the way, ESPN can now devote more time to their latest acquisition, Keith Olberman. Who says you can never go home? The guy single-handedly obliterated his former employer, and now he returns.....it's a crazy world out there. As for the racing, I suspect Jimmie Johnson will be in the hunt....it's about as safe a prediction as you can make in sports these days.....that, along with the fact that Danica won't win and will still gain media attention for attempting to stay on the lead lap and out of a wreck. I'm not the biggest Phil Mickelson fan, but I've got to hand it to Lefty for his stellar play at Muirfield. He was sensational down the stretch in Sunday's final round. The victory gives him three legs of golf's grand slam.....the only one missing is the US Open, and ironically he has 6 runner-up finishes in that tournament. His next chance to capture the elusive title is next year at Pinehurst. While Lefty grabbed the Claret Jug, Tiger Woods continues to grasp for major win #15. He's been looking for it since the summer of 2008. It makes you wonder what is going on with Tiger, when you see how he's struggled on the weekends at the majors in recent years. He's in the hunt, but he needs to close the deal. Since 2004, Tiger has 6 majors and Phil has 5.....I'm just saying. |
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