 |
||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Pack Before I get into the latest batch of Ripe Gripe, I would like to thank the National Sportswriters / Sportscasters Association (NSSA) for alerting me that I have been nominated for the "National Sportscaster of the Year". I was shocked and a bit overwhelmed when I heard the news, but I am honored to be considered with the folks that I have always admired from afar....but I'm being honest when I tell you that there's only a choice few like Bob Costas, Jim Nantz, Al Michaels (and others) that are a cut above anybody that talks into a microphone for a living. When I go down the list of all the names that have been nominated, I wonder how in the world I made the cut? It's a Who's Who of the best in our crazy sports broadcasting world. Thanks again to the NSSA for the nomination. It was completely unexpected...and I appreciate SiriusXM for giving me a national platform each day. A nomination on this level would have never occurred without the support and opportunity from the folks at SiriusXM. The college football world has been wondering when the SEC was finally going to relinquish their stranglehold on the BCS crystal. For the past six years, the Southeastern Conference has dictated policy and kicked all potential opponents to the curb. SEC fans loved the domination and they have no problem reminding anybody, anywhere of their position in the college football food chain. Heading into this past weekend, Alabama continued to be the #1 ranked team in all the land....and there were another half dozen SEC teams listed in the latest BCS standings. One of those teams was SEC newbie, Texas A&M. Well, the new kid on the block sure made an impact in the league and throughout the country compliments of Johnny Football and Maroon Goons. The Aggies upset Bama, and sent the entire college football world outside of the SEC footprint into a state of euphoric bliss. They are still partying at Kansas State, Notre Dame and Oregon. Those three schools are still unbeaten and can see every single SEC team in their rearview mirror. The bigger question now remains...can the unbeatens close the deal and win out? There's no way any SEC team can climb into the BCS national title picture without some help from the three teams in front of them. I wouldn't put dirt on the SEC grave yet....Oregon still has tests with Stanford, Oregon State and a possible PAC-12 title game. Kansas State still has to beat suddenly resurgent Texas....and Notre Dame has a tricky road test in LA to play disappointing, but dangerous Southern California. In all likelihood, Bama and Georgia will meet in the SEC title game in Atlanta....there's still a chance that the winner of the game could backdoor their way to BCS title game in Miami.....but for the first time in a long time, the SEC doesn't control their destiny. College football is awesome.....you just never know. Closer to home, I can't help but laugh at how putrid the ACC's Coastal Division is turning out. On one side of the bracket in the Atlantic Division, FSU will punch their ticket with a win over Maryland and punch their ticket to Charlotte for the ACC title. Clemson is tied with the Noles, but FSU beat Clemson in a thriller back in September and gets the tie-breaker over the Tigers. The other division is a collection of ineptitude....and that's being kind. The leaders all have 3 losses...and that includes Duke, Miami and Georgia Tech....UNC also has 3 conference losses, but they are ineligible due to NCAA probation. In the next few weeks, Duke plays both Ga. Tech and Miami...so therefore Duke of all people controls their destiny. There has been speculation that Miami might forfeit an opportunity to play in the ACC title game along with a potential bowl bid if they make it. Some people believe they are trying to limit the potential punishment that could come their way based on an on-going NCAA investigation. For the record, Georgia Tech is on NCAA probation, too. What a mess. This won't happen, but I think if Miami wins the Coastal and declines the invitation....the ACC should mandate that FSU and Clemson play in Charlotte. They are by far the two best teams, and it would be great for the ACC to have two potential Top 10 teams showcasing their skills for a championship. I don't expect that to take place....but the ACC needs all the help it can get in high profile games. I can't see Florida State being challenged by any team in the Coastal division...nor can I see the stadium in Charlotte being filled up for the title game. The Carolina Panthers unveiled their new black unis for their homecoming game against former coach John Fox over the weekend. I'm assuming the black pants help hide all the grass stains since Cam Newton was sacked 7 times and the team was stuffed by Peyton Manning and Von Miller. It was another terrible performance at home by the Panthers who are now a NFC worst 2-7. There's even speculation that team owner, Jerry Richardson, is being charmed by the suits in LA that would love to have a pro football team that is not called the USC Trojans. The city of Charlotte has already lost one pro sports franchise with the NBA's Hornets....and I vowed back then that there was no way that the league would allow them to leave...and I was proven wrong. Ironically, three owners during that time told me in confidence that the club would not leave Charlotte....and poof, they were gone. I'll say it again....there's no way Jerry Richardson leaves the Carolinas for Los Angeles. I do believe Richardson will use the leverage to get whatever he wants in upgrades to his stadium from the spineless Charlotte leaders without having to spend one cent of his own money. Richardson is smart and a shrewd businessman.....Charlotte leaders are weak and are influenced by any chance of gloom and doom. NBA Commissioner David Stern used Charlotte to perfection to have the city build an arena that nobody wanted for a NBA team that nobody demanded. Stern found a sucker in Bob Johnson to pay $300 million for a franchise and watched Charlotte bend over backwards to build them a home free of charge. Stern was brilliant....Richardson is, too. Charlotte will spend a fortune to upgrade the stadium....and the rest of the city will watch the Panthers try to put a winner on the field...and apparently, that is becoming more elusive than any of us thought...and that includes Jerry Richardson. In the meantime, LA will continue look for a pro football partner while their Lakers struggle and their Dodgers continue to suck. Of course, being a SF Giants fan, I had to mention the latter. This weekend I'm heading off to Kansas City for the College Basketball Hall of Fame ceremonies. I'll be broadcasting Saturday from Charlotte and then Sunday and Monday from KC....I look forward to the event. If you love college hoops, the Hall of Fame and the dignitaries involved are usually fantastic. I'm also looking forward to eating some of the best BBQ on the planet....and I say that as a born and bred North Carolinian....the BBQ in KC is outstanding. I've already told the executives at SiriusXM to have the car and driver ready to take me from the airport directly to Oklahoma Joe's on Saturday afternoon. The shows from KC will be loaded with great guests...stay tuned. |
|
|||||||||||||||
