Tough weekend for Atlanta

GA Tech was upset by Kansas. UGA got dominated and out-coached against South Carolina, the Falcons could not even score a touchdown and lost to a bush league quarterback, and the Atlanta Braves' Ace, Tim Hudson, got rocked and lost his third decision in a row.

Things are not looking good in Atlanta right now. Lets start with the Braves. I am really starting to get worried about the way things are going. Pitching is the first thing that is bothering me. The Phillies are playing lights out baseball right now, and their Ace pitchers are playing their best ball in September, while our pitching seems to have deserted us as of late. Huddy is our ace, and if he is losing then we are in trouble, plain and simple.

Second thing troubling is our first base play. Troy Glaus has bad knees and has been one of the worst hitters in the game for the last 3 months. What do we do, we go and get Derrek Lee, someone who I really thought would help us. He has not. He has hit 1 homerun with the Braves so far and continues to make outs in clutch situations. Should we go with Freeman? Some people would not want to throw a young guy in there in the thick of a pennant race with 18 games left, but I don't have a problem with that. If he is the Braves best first basemen than it is time for him to be a man and step up. I am just not sure he is the Braves best first baseman right now. And I don't think we are going to bench DLee. Like it or not Braves fans, were going to roll with this guy.

The third thing that concerns me is the NL West. The Rockies have won 10 in a row. The Giants are coming on strong. A week ago, I was not as worried because I knew that even if we lost out to the Phillies, at the time we had a wild card lead of 4 games. Now that lead is down to 1. And the way the Giants and Rockies are playing, it looks as if that 1 game lead may be over quickly.

However, with all this being said, there is still hope. We have been playing our second worst baseball of the year (worst was 9 game losing streak in April) and we are only down 1 game. We play the Phillies 6 more times before the season is over. Forget everything that has happened so far, those 6 games are going to decide the Braves 2010 season.

Also, keep in mind that we have a major league leading final at bat victories this year. This is living proof that this team believes in one another and does NOT give up. They are on a mission to win for Bobby and I still believe in them. So with all this being said, lets forget what has happened as of late and enjoy these last 18 pivotal games. And if we are in Atlanta or can make it to Atlanta, GO TO THE BALL PARK. We have the best home record in the national league, we are in a pennant race, and we need the fans to SHOW OUT. Lets GET IT BRAVOS!!!

On to the Falcons...

A few of my observations a day after the game:

1. No ice in "Matty Ice's" veins - We really need to stop referring to Matt Ryan as "Matty Ice". What has this guy done to deserve a nickname that refers to how clutch he is?? Now I am not saying hes not a good QB. I am not saying he can't be great. But I am tired of all this hype surrounding him. His rookie season is now 2 years removed and the NFL is about "what have you done for me lately." As of late, MR2 has not done much. I'm not sure if MR wanted that nickname, and I'm not even sure he embraces it, but he definitely has not been living up to it. He didn't get us in the endzone 1 time yesterday, and although the Steelers made a great pick with 1:40 left in the game, he is responsible for it.

I think MR is a tough player, I think hes incredibly smart as well, I just think hes not as good as Falcons fans, NFL commentators, etc. give him credit. I'm not going to give him unjust credit based on "potential". I'll give him the recognition and credit when it is justly due.

2. We lost to a pretty bad QB in Dennis Dixon. The guy didn't get his team a touchdown until OT, and that was a 50 yard aka a complete meltdown by the Falcons D. With Dixon playing QB, the Falcons should have jumped all over this opportunity. Instead, we struggled to score the entire game as well. I know Pittsburgh is still good, but the Falcons are already a game behind the Saints and lets just say they can't afford to get another game down if they want to have a chance to win the division...

GA Tech...that was a really bad loss. TERRIBLE day for the ACC. VA Tech goes down to James Madision?? So much for Boise States big win. Miami gets beat @ Ohio St. and Jacory Harris threw 4 picks. Then GA Tech lost to Kansas. Thats weaksauce.

More on UGA and Mark Richt tomorrow....

-Sports BRO

SEC RECAP - WEEK 2

The picture on the right was given to me courtesy of my buddy JJ Pettit who just Graduated from USC. JJ traveled to Columbia for the game this weekend and took this pic for me. His Gamecocks may finally have a legit shot at getting to Atlanta this year


Week two in the SEC was burning up! I mean it was HOT in the Southeast this weekend. I went to Tuscaloosa to see JoePA and Penn St. come to town and when I walked to gameday at 8AM it was already 90+ degrees outside. Erin Andrews was wearing jeans and a freakin' jacket! Not really sure what she was thinking. And yes, just to let you guys know, she looks even better in person than she does on tv. She and Kirk "frosted tips" Herbstreit went out to Innisfree Friday night before the game as well. Innisfree is a really cool bar in Tuscaloosa, probably my favorite one there. It's a huge Irish pub that has a big patio out front and on the side. College students LOVE this place.

Speaking of Kirk Herbstreit, Alabama fans did not give him a warm welcome on Saturday morning after he predicted Auburn to win the SEC west a few weeks ago. There were quite a few jeers from the crowd when he spoke and numerous signs about him. He's not a very popular guy in Tuscaloosa. However, his gelled hair and frosted tips were perfectly constructed. He must have spent extra time to make his hair look right since it was so humid. I give him credit for that. One of the coolest signs I saw was from a Penn St. guy that said, "Bro Paterno is a BRO KING." Simple but to the point. That guy really is a Bro-King.

The atmosphere in Tuscaloosa was unbelievable and Penn St. fans were swarming. Even after they lost they crowded the streets looking to have a good time. I think they knew they were going to lose because it seemed like they just wanted to experience an SEC football weekend.

Since I on the subject of Alabama, I'll start with the recap of this game...

Alabama v Penn St.

Nick Saban's boys absolutely dominated this game from the start. It is Saban's goal every week for Alabama to physically dominate their opponent on EVERY play, and Alabama did just that. The o-line made a statement with their physical play early, and Trent Richardson was unreal. He rushed for 102 yards in the first half and broke tackles seemingly every time he touched the ball. Alabama fans aren't surprised though, they know there is not a drop off without Ingram. It is going to be scary when Ingram comes back. McElroy may not even throw the ball the rest of the season. Speaking of McElroy, he was solid as usual. This guy is Mr. consistent. He made great reads the entire game and led a balanced attack. I think he may be the best leader in college football right now. The guy has not lost a game since 8th grade!

Did anyone see when the camera showed Bro Paterno around 8:30 PM in the second half? I really think he fell asleep during the game. Poor guy. Those night games are probably tough for him.

South Carolina v Georgia

This game was frustrating for me since I am a UGA fan. Marcus Lattimore was absolutely unstoppable against the Dawgs. They could not tackle him. Our defense seemed to be a step slow the entire game. I am sure they were tired too. South Carolina did a really good job on offense with long drives. They first drive of the game was 8 minutes long! You have to give a lot of credit to South Carolina, because they clearly came out ready to play. The Evil Genius outcoached Richt again. He also was hilarious after the game when asked how his QB Stephen Garcia played. Spurrier just won't give this dude a compliment. Garcia must have some thick skin to play for that guy. He also may be the ugliest QB in the SEC. That dude really needs a haircut!

As for UGA, Aaron Murray looked solid in his first SEC test of his career. He made good reads and didn't seem to force the issue. He underthrew Kris Durham a little bit in the 3rd quarter and if he hadn't then Durham would have ran in the endzone untouched. Two plays later, Ealey fumbled the ball at the 1 yard line, which turned out to be the turning point in the game. If UGA punched it in there, I think it would have been a whole different game. Tough break for the dawgs. However, UGA does NOT need to panic. It was an early road loss against a good team. UGA's offense is still clicking, and the defense has only played two games under Grantham. The D was not spectacular, but it definitely got better as the game went on, which is a promising sign. AJ Green was definitely missed though. Aaron Murray threw a few deep balls that I think AJ catches if he is out there.

With that being said, next weeks game against Arkansas is a MUST WIN for the Dawgs. It will be a huge game for both teams because if UGA falls to 0-2 in the SEC, they are done after week 3. If Arkansas loses, they have Alabama waiting. And they are not going to beat Alabama. It is going to be an interesting game.

Auburn v. Mississippi St.

Cameron Newton is really good. But Mississippi found a way to lose this Thursday night game. That dropped pass at the end of the game cost the Bulldogs. There was no excuse for dropping that one. Seems to be the story of Mississippi St. They will play teams close but just can't get over the hump. Look for Newton to continue to put up good numbers. Auburn goes as far as Newton takes them this year.

Florida v South Florida

The Gators once again got off to a slow start against a decent South Florida team. They were down 7-0 at the end of the 1st quarter but eventually found their stride and pulled away in the second half. I still am high on Florida though. It is just going to take a little time to adjust to a completely different QB in John Brantley. JB can sling it though. But right now, it looks like Alabama is going to roll on the gators in a few weeks.

In other games...
Kentucky rolled against Western Kentucky
LSU drilled Vandy 27-3. Not really shocked about that one.
Tennessee got off to a good start but Oregon eventually woke up and pounded the Vols 48-13.
Arkansas defeated Louisiana Monroe 31-7
Ole Miss defeated Tulane 27-13 in New Orleans. The Rebels still are not looking so good. But I guarantee they will beat someone that they have NO business beating this year.

Sports Bro's SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Marcus Lattimore RB South Carolina - True Freshman Marcus Lattimore rushed for 182 yards against UGA. This guy is a STUD! He was the difference maker in the game and is what Spurrier has been missing the last few years.

SEC Week 1 Recap

Don't get too confident just yet big guy...You got to face the Evil Genius next week...






Ole Miss Stunned by JSU????
Seriously Ole Miss? Jacksonville State University? JSU...otherwise known as "Just Show Up" by many that attend. Located in Anniston, Alabama...this University just went into Oxford and left Ole Miss fans stunned. So much for the hype about Jeremiah Masoli. Losing to JSU kind of puts a damper on the NCAA ruling. I am not going to lie, this is an embarrassment to the SEC. My question is, how do you rebound from this if your Ole Miss? You just lost to "Just Show Up" at HOME. How are you going to feel when you guys play at Alabama? I really hope none of those players went out to party Saturday night after that loss!

Alabama Rolls

I did not get to watch the game because it was on Pay per view, but the outcome was as expected for Alabama. 48-3 victory. Defense did not give up a touchdown. I heard Alabama's backup quarterback A.J. McCarron looked good, which is good news for Tide Fans. Although you have to keep in mind that he looked good against San Jose State. I heard the new addition to the stadium looked amazing inside Bryant-Denny. I have seen it from the outside, hoping to see it from the inside next week against Penn State. FYI - Saban's statue is not up yet, but his name is engraved and 2009 is already engraved as well. Looks like it is about to go up. Can you imagine walking into work and looking to the right to see your own statue?!? That's when you know your big time!

UGA looks better than expected!

No AJ Green, no Washaun Ealey, no Alec Ogletree (suspended for stealing a $35 scooter helmet aka hes an idiot!) And a few others that did not play as well. I expected UGA to look a little rusty on offense, but 55 points negated that theory. Aaron Murray looked poised and confident, and didn't try to do to make any crazy Matthew Stafford throws. However, he better be careful with some of those runs he made. Richt may want to talk to him about sliding on some of those because South Carolina is going to hit a lot harder than the Ragin Cajuns'. And even though Hutson Mason threw a touchdown pass on his first play, I don't want to see him playing against South Carolina next week. Defense looked great! I loved how when UGA's defender (can't remember who) bit on that pumpfake to give up their only big play, Grantham GOT IN HIS FACE! He was PO'd to give up that play. It was relentless pressure and the D seemed to have fun out there. Next week's game is HUGE.

Florida looks rusty

Look, I'll be the first to say it...the Gators looked bad. Really bad. They have about 12 bad snaps to new qb John Brantley. They struggled against a team that only won 1 game last year. However, they are still really good. They will get the snapping situation under control, and we still have not seen all that Brantley can do. This man can sling the rock. They are still the team to beat in the SEC East.

Les Miles gets lucky...AGAIN!

Once again...LSU escapes a game that they probably should have lost. Make no mistake about it, LSU's talent is incredible, but their coaching sort of equalizes it. UNC was miss 15 players!! They should have won the game. My old basketball team mate TJ Yates almost pulled off an unbelievable comeback. This was an entertaining game to say the least, and its going to be an intertaining season for LSU to say the least. I can see Les Miles being canned at the end of this year.

Stay tuned for an SEC week 2 preview later this week...

- Sports Bro

SEC Predictions

Look for this guy to be holding up that finger again this year

With College Football approaching, I felt it was necessary to put together a little SEC predictions preview. I won't bother with any of the other Conferences because A. I love the SEC, and B. The SEC is the BEST Conference - no doubt about it!

Let's start with the SEC West...

SEC WEST PREDICTIONS

SEC WEST CHAMPIONS - Alabama
2. Auburn
3. Arkansas
4. LSU
5. Ole Miss
6. Mississippi St.

Alabama - The defending National Champions from a year ago, Alabama Returns some significant weapons on offense including Heisman Trophy RB Mark Ingram, QB Greg McElroy, and Wide Receiver Julio Jones. Let's not forget about their backup RB Trent Richardson who has blazing speed and would most likely start on any other team in the country. Their defense loses 9 starters but that should not matter - because of their head coach. As long as Nick Saban is at Alabama, their defense will reload. Saban has it going at Alabama and as long as he is there I am not sure I can pick against them. In my opinion he is the best coach in the country, hands down.

Auburn - Kirk Herbstreit went on ESPN and predicted Auburn to win the SEC West last week. While I am not the biggest fan of Herbstreit (Ohio St., Gel frosted hair etc.), I do agree with him that Auburn will be much improved. However, they won't be good enough to beat Alabama, and will finish the year with 3 SEC losses. Look for QB Cameron "fig" Newton to have a solid year.

Arkansas - So many people seem to be jumping on Petrino's band wagon this year, but I don't see why. Yes, Ryan Mallett may be the best passing quarterback in the SEC and is definitely the best pro QB prospect in the SEC right now. But did anyone see their defense last year? It was worse than UGA's, and UGA defense was pretty bad. Mallett and Petrino won't be ready for the hype and they will lose back to back games at Georgia and Alabama.

LSU - the Les Miles train is about to come completely off the tracks in Baton Rouge. This guy is arguably the worst coach in the SEC, and seems have no idea what he is doing at times. If they lose to UNC this weekend, look out, because it could get ugly quick. However, they still have talent and speed, and those are two things Les Miles does not have to coach. They are capable of beating anyone, but losing to anyone as well.

Ole Miss - look for Oregon transfer Jeremiah Masoli to win Ole Miss a game or two that it shouldn't win, but they will not be in contention to challenge Alabama in the SEC West. With that being said, Ole Miss plays better in an underdog role, and could play the spoiler role a few times this year.

Mississippi St. - Unfortunately for Dan Mullen, the SEC West is stacked this year. Although he is a good coach, he will find himself at or near the cellar once again.

SEC EAST PREDICTIONS

SEC EAST CHAMPIONS - Florida
2. Georgia
3. South Carolina
4. Tennessee
5. Kentucky
6. Vanderbilt

Florida - After a strange off season in which Urban Meyer quit and then sort of quit and then came back, Florida is loaded again this year. Although Tim Tebow is gone, I am afraid that the emergence of John Brantley will not be too much of a drop off. Although he is completely different from Tebow, he can really throw the ball well. Florida will lose one regular season game, but they will be back in the SEC Championship.

Georgia - Look for freshman QB Aaron Murray to struggle some at South Carolina on Sept. 11, but to really find his stride mid way through the season. UGA will be improved on defense this year thanks to new D-coordinator Todd Grantham and his 3-4 scheme. UGA will lose to South Carolina on the road early, but will win 9 out of its last 10 to finish second in the SEC East and set the stage for a better year in 2011.

South Carolina - The Gamecocks will be riding high early after their win over UGA, but as has happened the last few years, they will level out in November. They will finish third in the SEC East only because Tennessee will be down and Vandy and Kentucky will be...well...Vandy and Kentucky.

Tennessee - Look for new coach Derek Dooley to have his hands full in year one. He will go into Athens wearing orange with his parents and lose. Then he will play Alabama two weeks later and get pounded. However, this guy can coach. It will just take him a few years to get rid of the mess Lane Kiffin left him.

Kentucky - They are capable of one upset but that is about it. Hopefully it won't be against UGA again this year.

Vanderbilt - They had a good coach the last few years - but he left and that should tell you something about how confident he was that Vanderbilt could compete for an SEC East Championship. Look for new coach Robbie Caldwell to have a frustrating year one in the SEC.

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP - Alabama v. Florida
Winner - Alabama 24 - 17. Look for Alabama to get back to the National Championship and hopefully play Boise St. so that the nation goes into an uproar about a playoff system!

An article I wrote about the Birmingham-Southern Baseball Team this Spring for the Hilltop News

http://www.bscsports.net/news/2010/7/8/BB_0708104923.aspx?path=baseball

St. Louis Bound

Off to St. Louis today to visit Coach Kevin Carroll. Coach Carroll is undoubtedly one of the best young basketball coaches in the country and has already landed a head college coaching job at Maryville University. Still in his early 30's, Carroll is one of the youngest head college basketball coaches in the nation. Mark my words, down the road, you'll be watching this guy work wonders on CBS in March!

Coach Carroll was my high school coach, and the thing that I remember most about him was his tireless work ethic and his demand for perfection. He put his heart and soul into getting the most out of his players. Once when I was a junior in high school, Coach Carroll told me that his goal was for his players to appreciate him and love him 5 years AFTER he coached them. His goal was not to be our best friend while he coached us. Rather, he wanted us gain appreciation for him after we were finished playing. He promised me that I would have a new perspective on all the hard work he demanded from us after I had finished playing basketball. Well, I am now done playing basketball and I promise you I now appreciate Coach Carroll way more than I did when I was in high school. I can also promise you that every single player that played for Coach Carroll feel the same way. When we were in high school, there were many times we hated Coach Carroll and all the drills he made us do that seemed pointless at the time. However, now we all think back on those days and understand the full value of those grueling days in the gym. They won us a championship, and that is something no one can ever take away from us. So thank you Coach Carroll, for being hard on us and demanding the absolute best out of each and every one of us. None of us would be where we are today without your influence.

If you have love for this country, than this book is a must read. Marcus Luttrell's story is inspiring, motivating, and heartfelt. The book really touched me. Read it, and I promise it will touch you as well.