MC Murder: Jae Millz Destroys E. Ness

Diddy's bullshit pontificating aside, anyone with a brain knows that E. Ness got killed in this battle. After toying with him for the first few rounds (which Millz also won), Jae finally takes on the gloves and makes a chalk outline out of Ness. Even Diddy has his face buried in his hands after a while; it's that fucking bad. Anyone wonder no one knows who in the hell Da Band is anymore? Jae Millz killed all of those cats.

Quotables

Consequence's verse from Kanye West's "Gone". He almost manages to steal the show from West's sheer brilliance behind the boards. Almost.

"I been pourin out some liquor for the fact that my pal's gone
And tryin to help his momma with the fact that her child gone
And since we used to bubble like a tub full of Calgon
Guess it's only right that I should help her from now on
But since they got a foul on, what coulda gone wrong
Now they askin Cons, how long has this gone on
And maybe all this money mighta gone to my head
Cause they got me thinkin money mighta gone to the feds
So I ain't goin to the dread, but he'll go on up to bed
And when I came the next mornin he was gone with my bread
And with that bein said, I had gone on my instincts
And gone to the spots where they go to get mixed drinks
But lookin back now shoulda gone to the crib
And rented "Gone With the Wind," cause I'da gone about 10
But I had gone with my friend, and we had gone to the bar
And heard a nigga talkin shit so I had gone to the car
And now the judge is tellin me that I had gone too far
And now we gone for 20 years, doin time behind bars
And since I gone to a cell for some petty crimes
I guess I gone to the well one too many times, cause I'm gone"

Michael Jackson's "A Place With No Name"

You know, I was going to make a post about The Game's first album, but I stopped giving a damn.

Listening to the snippet of the unreleased--and presumably unfinished--song "A Place With No Name" makes me a bit sad inside. It's absolutely beautiful to listen to, featuring a great sample of America's "Horse With No Name." Mike's vocals are on point, and the hook is addictive. I'd venture to say that it's the best he's sounded to me in years. His death is sad for reasons for beyond the fact that he couldn't finish this song (no doubt he'd have had to had the sampled cleared before releasing it), but still, what could have been........

DMX's "X Is Coming"

I've been pretty adamant in saying that DMX is a Tupac clone. I still think he is. However, that doesn't mean that he isn't--or wasn't, as the case may be--a good emcee. 1998's "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" may not be classic, but it's damn close. Not only is it a defining album of the post-Pac Era, but it showed that the tortured thug persona that Pac had adopted later in his life would live on, for better or worse. The album is DMX at his best: sometimes brutal, sometimes reflective, all the time menacing. No track epitomizes this better than "X is Coming." Dame Grease lays the foundation for the song, first by interpolating Freddie Kreuger's "1, 2, Freddie's Coming For You" at the beginning of the track, and second by giving X an appropriately dark beat to spit over. (Listening to this song and most of "It's Dark," it's odd that Swizz Beatz is the producer most associated with X given that it was Dame who was responsible for most of the album's production.) Make no mistake, though: DMX is the star of this show, and his rhymes are chilling in their brutality, complete with a straightforward, no-nonsense delivery. For X, it's kill or be killed, and he intends to kill you; the second verse, featuring a bonechilling reference to rape, is especially shocking. As brutal as the song is, it's definitely one of the better ones in a catalog filled with commercial hits. Without the gift of hindsight, one would have to consider "It's Dark and Hell is Hot" to be the first step in a long and successful journey for DMX. With hindsight, it still stands as that; however, it also stands as a constant reminder that it never got better (qualitatively) for Earl Simmons.

Tupac and the Soul of Hip-Hop

Life is a funny thing. It has a funny way of getting you to think sometimes.

Yesterday, while I was at work, I had to unload boxes for a shipment we'd received in the morning. The guy who was with me, Danny, had his MP3 player with him. The first song that played was Game's "Hate it or Love It," but as the list played on, Tupac came on. As I carried one of the boxes, he looks at me and asks:

"You like Tupac?"

"Yeah," I reply.

He looks at me again and smiles. "Tupac or Biggie?"

"Pac," I say without hesitation.

The dynamic seems mundane, but for me it wasn't. I have a tendency to think of hip-hop as being a solely black phenomenon, so the fact that Danny liked it so--he's Arabic--left me a bit awestruck.

He's not the only one, either; a basic internet search will bring up hip-hop being evident throughout various cultures in the world, from Arabs, to Italians, to the Japanese. Don't believe me? Just ask Palestinian youths who saw Tupac's music as nearly synonymous with their cause during the First and Second Intifadas.

When I consider hip-hop on a global scale like that, it leaves me with a sense of amazement. This is was hip-hop, at its best, should be: not just a mode of communication for one group of people, but communication for various groups. Indeed, poverty and struggle are universal experiences, so it shouldn't be a surprise that Pac's music resonated with one of the poorest groups of people in the world. 

So why, then, is it such a surprise? For me, living in a country where hip-hop is reduced to commercial viability and social scapegoat colors my view, and it's sometimes difficult for me to see how it impacts people worldwide. This isn't to say that hip-hop's on par with diplomacy, but I do think that many Americans sell it's potential short, for a various host of reasons. More on that later. First, though, I want to mull over Tupac; to the extent that he is still viewed as one of the greatest emcees ever, there is nothing new that I can say about the man. He is one of the best to ever pick up a mic. However, I do think that how he is remembered, and the songs that he is remembered for, are in some ways a disgrace to both the artist and the art form he so well represented.

While I was unloading boxes and Pac continued to play, I took note of the songs that played. "I Ain't Mad At Cha," "Ambitionz Az a Riddah," "Hail Mary," "Heaven For a G," and "Can I Be Ya N.I.G.G.A." all played in succession. While they played, I thought about Pac, his career, his iconic status, and what it all means for hip-hop. He's remembered as one of the greatest ever for good reason: he is easily the most influential artist rap has ever had outside of Rakim, and he's also the most visible. Even now, his shadow looms large over the genre; conversations about it inevitably come back to him, and his absence permanently changed the course of rap. His death led to a myriad of imitators and copycats; aspects of his style can be seen in the likes of DMX, Ja Rule, and 50 Cent. However, while the overriding theme of Pac's music was nihilism and overcoming it, the aforementioned three merely managed to scrape the surface of his style, their lyrics lacking the depth and feeling that Shakur was able to inject into his songs with such ease. (and on a side note, it's this feeling that ultimately separates Pac from one Christopher Wallace. I'll always maintain that Biggie was far more technically advanced than Tupac, but Pac was infinitely more personable. Where Biggie was cocky and charismatic, Pac was conflicted, emotional, and unsure. Pac's willingness to struggle with himself and his surroundings is part of what made him the artists that he was. The listener always got the full picture with him: his optimism, his sense of hopelessness, and his paranoia. While Biggie occasionally showed flashes of that depth--particularly with songs like "Everyday Struggle" and "Suicidal Thoughts"--he by and large maintained his bravado, rarely revealing his inner self. Pac's ability to do so made him more human and more relatable to listeners.) 

However, the ultimate tragedy of Pac's death isn't the stable of imitators, it's the misconception of his music. His double CD, "All Eyez on Me," dropped shortly after his death, and was immediately lauded as Pac's best album, and even as the best album ever by various publications. The bitter irony lies in two facts: "All Eyez On Me" isn't close to being Pac's best work (he's easily got three and possibly as many as five albums that are better), and the album is largely a betrayal of the body of work he'd amassed prior to his death. If "2Pacalypse Now," "Strictly for My N.I.G.G.A.Z.," and "Me Against The World" portrayed Pac as man who had demons and valiantly struggled against them, "All Eyez On Me" portrayed him as a man who ultimately succumbed to them. "Can I Be Ya N.I.G.G.A." is an artistic slap in the face to "Keep Ya Head Up." "Wonda Why They Call U Bitch" spits on "Brenda's Got a Baby." This isn't to say that Pac's humanity doesn't shines through at times-- songs like "Picture Me Rollin," "I Ain't Mad at Cha," and "Life Goes On" all show that Pac's depth didn't miraculously disappear--however, the good moments are buried between too many mediocre ones to justify it being considered as one of rap's best albums. The album has significant historical importance, but more than that, it stands as a dramatic artistic decline for a man who was loved and revered for his sincerity.

So, why, then, is "All Eyez On Me" considered Pac's best work? For me, it's because of two reasons, both of which have to do with timing. The first is because of Pac's death; it was the first album released after his passing, and as one Jadakiss would rap later, "You know dead rappers get better promotion." Indeed, "All Eyez" stands as Pac's most commercially successful effort to date, selling over 9 million copies to date. The singles that pushed the album, from "California Love" to the blockbuster "2 of Amerikka's Most Wanted," also undoubtedly helped with sales.

The other reason for the success of the album is a bit more complex. By 1996, rap was just into its Silver Age; while the preceding era saw hip-hop begin to take stage region by region, the Silver Age would see the genre begin to become mainstream. Jay-Z had exploded onto the scene with "Reasonable Doubt," and Nas, with one classic under his belt, aimed for better sales with "It Was Written." Additionally, commerical revolution would come to the South as well, with Master P founding No Limit Records and dropping his debut album in "Ghetto D." As rap became more viable in the mainstream, it would attract more fans. Hip-hop was no longer a black phenomenon, and it was no longer regional. People--mainly white teens-- from the suburbs had access to rap albums and took advantage of the opportunity. Unfortunately, the Pac they were exposed to wasn't the reflective, thoughtful one that had captivated fans in the past; instead, they got the vengeful, shallow Tupac who had largely betrayed his previous work. In short, most fans only got a small glimpse into an artist who had bared his soul for many years before. Given this, it's no surprise that this is the Tupac that is remembered and revered. Unfortunately, it is not the man in his totality.

This is the ultimate tragedy of Pac's death, and this is ultimately the tragedy of hip-hop in its entirety. The genre has never been the same in the wake of his death, and now, thirteen years later, rap has a hole in its soul, one devoid of thought, consideration, and raw emotion. Instead, false bravado and thoughtlessness fill that void. When Tupac Shakur died, a piece of hip-hop went with him.

Sheek Louch's Shining Moment

Not as though Sheek's had a great career (least talented LOX member, pretty boring delivery, monotone worse than any rapper this side of Guru, etc.), but he's had his moments. "Mighty D-Block" is one of them. Jadakiss kills his opening verse, but Holy fuck, Sheek kills his and outshines everyone else on this song. Probably because he actually sounds, you know, intense and all that. Funny what happens when you don't rap like you're reading from a piece of paper. Anyway, here's the song:



On a side note, does anybody even remember who Jae-Hood is anymore, or are we just pretending like he didn't exist? Because that's cool, too.

Byron Scott Canned By the New Orleans Hornets

So what's with the head coach always being the guy to go?

Just 9 games into the season, the New Orleans Hornets, armed with the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul, decided 3-6 wasn't the start they were looking for, so they ditched their coach, Byron Scott. Now I won't exactly shed tears for Scott here; he's been known to wear out his welcome quickly with his players. Look at how the New Jersey Nets and Jason Kidd in particular quit on him when Scott was at the helm in 2003. That being said, though, I think the Hornets found themselves the perfect scapegoat by canning him when they did. The Hornets were off to a disappointing start, and judging by forward David West's comments after the firing occurred, Scott was well on his way to losing another locker room. Given that, why not take some pressure off of the front office and the horrible job it had done in assembling the team by firing an unpopular coach?

And yes, the way that this team has been put together is nothing short of horrible. Outside of Chris Paul and David West, is there any addition that makes sense? Peja Stojakovic's contract is nothing short of assinine. He's set to make $14.2 million this year and over $15 million next year; he's currently averaging 8.7 points per game, the lowest total since his rookie year. Shooting guard Morris Peterson still has two years left on his 4 year, 23 million dollar deal, and he isn't even starting at this point. And their big time trade for Emeka Okafor (which was a relative steal given that they only had to give away Tyson Chandler)? The Hornets are on the hook for the last five years of his contract, totaling $63 million. I understand that Okafor's a good player--he averages 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game for his career--but those numbers don't quite justify his salary in my opinion. Still, I won't hold N.O.'s acquiring him against them; that horrid Peja contract is more than enough reason to say that Hornets' management has failed the team. They essentially tried to build the team to win in the short term by making such a risky move, which seem completely backwards given that their best players are both young. Chris Paul is the best point guard in the game right now; he's a guy you build around for the next decade. Given that, why not surround him with more young players and let them grow and develop alongside Paul and West? Why tie up so much money in an aging player like Peja? Why throw $23 million at a guy who averages 11 points per game on 42% shooting for his career (Peterson)? New Orleans took the completely wrong approach in building this team, and a disastrous season is going to be the end result; the screws were already coming loose on this train, and it showed when they got waxed by the Denver Nuggets in last year's playoffs. Now, they may not even make the postseason.

It's all good, though. At least they dumped their head coach.

2Pac's "Got My Mind Made Up"

Everyone kills it, even Kurupt (who I can't fucking stand). Pac and Meth bring it the hardest, particularly Meth and his edited "Hitler, stickin' up Jews with German Rugers" line. Minimalist beat that lets all five emcees rip the mic. Perfect song, IMO.

Check it:

2009 College Football Preview

Full coverage, son! Featuring:

- Pre-season All-America Team
- Pre-Season All SEC Team
- Heisman Trophy Predictions
- Top 10 Players in the Nation
- Conference Winners
- 5 Teams With a Dark Horse Shot to Make the National Title Game

First, My Pre-Season All-America Team:

QB: Tim Tebow, Florida
RB: Jahvid Best, California
RB: Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State
WR: Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State
WR: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas
TE: Dennis Pitta, BYU
OL: Russell Okung, Oklahoma State
OL: Brandon Carter, Texas Tech
OL: Rodney Hudson, Florida State
OL: Ciron Black, LSU
OL: Sam Young, Notre Dame

DE: Jerry Hughes, TCU
DT: Terrance Cody, Alabama
DT: Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma
DE: Jammie Kirlew, Indiana
LB: Brandon Spikes, Florida
LB: Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
LB: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri
DB: Tervard Lindley, Kentucky
DB: Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
DB: Eric Berry, Tennessee
DB: Taylor Mays, Southern California

A good mix of players here. The Big 12 has the most players from a particular conference, though the SEC has a lot of representatives as well; Tebow, Spikes, and Berry were sure things, though you could make an argument for a guy like Kristofer O'Dowd making the First Team over Ciron Black. The Big 12 is stacked with talent, and has a number of guys who could make the first team. Tight end Jermaine Gresham may have the best argument, but I'd put Pitta (barely) over him for now. I would have placed South Florida's George Selvie at DE, but Kirlew's stats (74 tackles, 21 for loss, 10.5 sacks) were too good to ignore. Overall, though, no big surprises here. Now, let's move on the the All-SEC Team.

QB: Tim Tebow, Florida
RB: Michael Smith, Arkansas
RB: Charles Scott, LSU
WR: AJ Green, Georgia
WR: Julio Jones, Alabama
TE: DJ Williams, Arkansas
OL: Josh McNeil, Tennessee
OL: Mike Johnson, Alabama
OL: John Jerry, Mississippi
OL: Ciron Black, LSU
OL: Maurkice Pouncey, Florida

DE: Carlos Dunlap, Florida
DT: Terrance Cody, Alabama
DT: Geno Atkins, Georgia
DE: Greg Hardy, Mississippi
LB: Brandon Spikes, Florida
LB: Rennie Curran, Georgia
LB: Eric Norwood, South Carolina
DB: Eric Berry, Tennessee
DB: Trevard Lindley, Kentucky
DB: Janoris Jenkins, Florida
DB: Ahmad Black, Florida

Florida gets lots of love here, but none of it undeserved. Spikes and Tebow speak for themselves, but the others played damn well last year, too. Dunlap led the SEC in sacks, Black tied for the national lead in interceptions, Pouncey has been an anchor for Florida's offensive line, and Jenkins has already shown himself to be one of the best young cover corners in the country. Outside of them are a lot of usual suspects. Eric Norwood may be one of the country's most underrated linebackers, and young receivers AJ Green and Julio Jones aim to build on strong freshmen years. Tennessee has two sure fire first round NFL draft picks in Berry and McNeil, which makes last year's on-field performance all the more egregious. Finally, Arkansas' Williams and Smith are reasons 1 and 2 as to why the Razorback offense will be potent this year, even with the loss of Jonathan Luigs.

Next, let's move on to the conference winners.

Big 12: Oklahoma
The Big 12 South looks to be a tough road to hoe again, with Oklahoma, Texas, and Oklahoma State all jockeying for top position. With the losses of Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell, Texas Tech should take a step back from an 11-2 year, while Oklahoma State, which returns nearly every key starter from last year's 10 win season, should take Tech's spot in the fray. The Cowboys bring in defensive coordinator Bill Young, who made Kansas' defense fierce two years ago and did good things at Miami last year. He will be the key to whether or not OKSU makes the leap from good to great this year. Their offense--led by Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter, and the ever-dangerous Dez Bryant--should be fine again, but it's been failures on defense that have hurt the Cowboys the past few years. If they can shore up that side of the ball, Oklahoma State could make a BCS bowl game this year. However, I'm not sold on them making such a leap this year; Texas and Oklahoma still own the division, and the conference as a whole. Oklahoma loses Phil Loadholt and Duke Robinson, but returns Sam Bradford, Jermaine Gresham, and a defense that looks to leap towards dominance this year. With DeMarcus Grainger and Gerald McCoy on the defensive line, there's no reason why they shouldn't. Texas brings back Colt McCoy, and the running backs--a weak spot for the Longhorns last year--will be a year older. Add to that additional experience for a defense that hit its groove near the end of last year, and Texas should be better this year. Kansas could make some noise in the conference and looks like the runaway winner to take the Big 12 North, but I'm not sure if they can challenge Oklahoma or Texas right now. Like most years, the winner of the Red River Shootout should win the conference, and with the Sooners defense being led by Grainger and McCoy (and with no big time playmaker on Texas' defense like Brian Orakpo), I have to give them the edge right now.

Big Ten: Ohio State
This conference seems pretty easy to predict right now. Michigan's still down, Michigan State has another year or two before making any real noise, Iowa lost its best offensive player to the NFL draft, and Wisconsin just isn't a very good team. For me, then, this leaves three possible contenders for the Big Ten crown: Illinois, Penn State, and Ohio State. Illinois should have a strong offense led by Juice Williams (who would've won the award for "Nation's Most Underrated Player" had he not won the award for "Player Who Picks the Worst Times to Screw Up in Games"), Arrelious Benn (who picked up Juice's former award last year), and Daniel Dufrene. However, their lack of defense probably makes them third or fourth in the conference. Penn State returns Daryl Clark and the strong running tandem of Evan Royster and Stefphon Green, as well as the majority of a usually-strong defensive unit; however, they lose two playmakers in Derrick Williams and Deon Butler. Ohio State has issues as well--most notably the losses of Chris Wells, James Laurinaitis, and Malcolm Jenkins--but returns a solid RB tandem of Brandon Saine and Boom Herron, a good offensive line, and, most importantly, Terrelle Pryor. Pryor showed flashes of greatness last year, and should only get better this year. They lose two receivers in Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, but those losses could be assuaged if guys like Dane Sanzenbacher, Ray Small, and Lamarr Thomas step up. On defense, they lose Donald Washington, Malcolm Jenkins, and Laurinaitis, but these loses should be dampened by the fact that other teams in conference lose key players as well. With Penn State losing its best playmakers, it becomes harder for them to exploit OSU's losses. Overall, all of the major teams in the Big Ten lose a great deal, but Tressel's coaching prowess should see the Buckeyes through to another conference crown.

SEC: Florida
The SEC is generally recognized as one of the best conferences in the country, but last year left a lot to be desired. Georgia, a preseason #1 coming into the year, faltered with losses to Florida, Alabama, and Georgia Tech, settling for a Capital One Bowl appearance. Meanwhile, defending champion LSU stumbled to a five loss year. Alabama did rise up to a 12 win season, but suffered a disappointing loss to Utah in the Sugar Bowl. This year, the SEC seems poised to fare better, with Ole Miss, Alabama, and LSU all looking to be stronger than they were last year. However, Florida, returning every player on defense and seven more on offense, is the prohibitive favorite to win the national title this year. They return Tim Tebow, three of five starters on the offensive line, and a dangerous rushing attack led by Chris Rainey and Jeffrey Demps. The only question mark for the Gators? Wide receiver, given the losses of Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy. However, with the players that the Gators have in waiting, a few are bound to step in and be productive this year. Alabama stands as the toughest challenge for the Gators this year, and the two could meet up again in the conference championship. However, Tebow and Brandon Spikes have shown that they can inspire the Gators to new heights when need be, and I don't see any reason that this wouldn't continue through next year.

ACC: Georgia Tech
The ACC is a jumble and hard to predict. You can eliminate some teams (Duke, NC State, Maryland), but the rest is a coin flip. Wake Forest probably takes a step back after losing Alphonso Smith, but I can see the other eight teams making a run at the title. Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina are the teams that I think have the best chances of winning the conferences, but Florida State, Clemson, and Miami are viable options, too. The latter three are stacked with talent, and could put it together for good runs in a mediocre conference. However, FSU suffers from bad coaching, Miami will be adjusting to a new OC and DC, and Clemson seems to have mid-to-late season collpases like clockwork. That leaves UNC, VT, and GT, and of these, I think the Yellow Jackets have the best chance of taking the conference. They return almost all of their offense, including quarterback Josh Nesbitt and star runningback Jonathan Dwyer, as well as their offensive line. They lose players on defense, most notably defensive end Michael Johnson, but they do keep their best playmaker in Morgan Burnett. Plus, they have an excellent coach in Paul Johnson who coached Tech to a 9-win season last year. They get Miami and Florida State on the road, but do get UNC, GT, and Wake at home this year. In what I see as a three team race this year, I think GT can and will come out on top.

Big East: South Florida
The Big East, like the ACC, is a difficult conference to predict. West Virginia, South Florida, and Cincinnati could all win the conference next year. Brian Kelly's shown that he can be a great coach for the Bearcats, and coached them to the Orange Bowl last year, and they do return quarterback Tony Pike and runningbacks John Goebel and Jacob Ramsey. However, they lose their two leading receivers, Dominick Goodman and Marshawn Gilyard; they also lose their two biggest defensive playmakers in Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith. West Virginia loses Pat White, but returns the very capable Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine, and a receiving corp that showed themselves to be more than able during their bowl game against North Carolina; however, they lose a number of starters on defense, and are still in rebuilding mode on their offensive line. Given this, I think South Florida is finally poised to take the conference this year; after two years of disappointment, the Bulls may have all the tools in place to make a run. On offense, their only significant loss is receiver Taurus Johnson; they return quarterback Matt Grothe, and a four-pronged rushing attack headed by Grothe as well as Mike Ford, Jamar Taylor, and Moise Plancher. On defense, they lose linebacker Tyrone McKenzie and cornerback Carlton Williams, but bring back pass rusher George Selvie and linebackers Kion Wilson and Jerome Murphy. If Selvie can bounce back to his sophomore year form, he'll not only create problems for opposing teams, but help out his defensive linemen as well. With Jim Leavitt as coach, I don't see Selvie having another down year.

Pac-10: Southern California
If there's any year another team can rise up from the Pac-10, it has to be this year. USC loses Mark Sanchez, Patrick Turner, it's three starting linebackers, defensive lineman Fili Moala, and defensive back Cary Harris. However, I can only see Oregon and possibly Oregon State challenging the Trojans this year. I'm not sold on Cal, even though they have a legit Heisman candidate in Jahvid Best; until they produce something--anything--in the way of a decent quarterback, Best is going to be a one man offense again. Washington and UCLA are years away from being decent, and Arizona State just isn't very good. Oregon State returns quarterback Lyle Moevao and runningback Jacquizz Rodgers, but loses its two leading receivers and best defensive player. Oregon may be the best threat to USC's reign in the Pac, as they return the core of a very strong offense led by Jeremiah Masoli and LaGarrette Blount, but they also lose the heart of their defense in Patrick Chung. Plus, Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly takes over for former head coach Mike Belotti, and while that may not be a huge deal, it's bound to cause some degree of instability within the organization. Meanwhile, USC continues to be a well-oiled machine, headed by Pete Carroll. They've shown the ability to play at a high level despite losing some of their best players, and I see no reason why that trend shouldn't continue given the talent at USC's disposal.

Now, on to this year's dark horse teams to make the National Title Game:

1. The Oklahoma State Cowboys:
Why: The Cowboys return the core of their offense in Zac Robinson, Kendall Hunter, and Dez Bryant. They lose an excellent tight end in Brandon Pettigrew, but the running game should do a lot to fill the gap left by his absence. On defense, Bill Young is the new coordinator, and he should be able to improve a Cowboys defense that's been much maligned the past few years. In terms of scheduling, they open with a reasonably tough game against Georgia, but they get the Bulldogs at home. In conference, they get Texas at home, as well as Missouri and Texas Tech. Oklahoma State gets Oklahoma on the road, but if they can manage to pull an upset against the Sooners, they could find themselves in NC game contention.
Why Not: Oklahoma and Texas stand in their way. The two have ruled the Big 12 this decade, particularly Oklahoma, and Oklahoma returns the cores of both their offensive and defensive squads. Texas still has Colt McCoy along with a maturing defense. Those two games will be the toughest on the Cowboys' schedule by far; add to that the fact that OKSU has to travel to Norman at the end of the year for the Bedlam game, and they could derail Okie State's title hopes.
Prediction: 10-2, with losses to Oklahoma and Texas

2. The Oregon Ducks:
Why: Much like the Cowboys, Oregon has an excellent offense, particularly in the rushing game. With Masoli and Blount leading the charge, the Ducks are bound to roll up yards and points on opponents. Chip Kelly takes the reigns as head coach, but the team shouldn't suffer for it at this point. The passing game should also be improved over last year; Masoli only completed 57% of his passes last year, so he should improve on those numbers this year. They do lose Jaison Williams and Terrence Scott, but tight end Ed Dickson may be one of the most underrated players at his position, and Jeffrey Maehl should be ready to step up as a leading receiver; also look at for USC transfer Jamere Holland, who could be finally ready to fulfill his potential. If they can avoid an opening season loss to Boise State, and manage an upset against the Trojans, Oregon could be an end of the year contender for a title game.
Why Not: Defense. The Ducks had a porous defense last year, despite having NFL draftees in Jairus Byrd and Patrick Chung. With those two gone, it's hard to imagine the Ducks being any better in that regard. Plus, they've got some difficult games on their schedule, including an opening game road trip to Boise State, who beat them in Autzen Stadium last year. They get their most difficult games--USC, Oregon State, and California--at home, but home field advantage may not be enough to help Oregon, particularly against the talent-laden Trojans and the Jacquizz Rodgers-led Beavers.
Prediction: 10-2, with losses to USC and Oregon State

3. The Ole Miss Rebels:
Why: They've got a good coach, a good quarterback, and a great playmaker. Houston Nutt did a great job of coaching the Rebels last year, helping them to wins over Florida and Texas Tech. Jevan Snead stepped up his play throughout the year, as well; over the last seven games of the year, he threw 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He should only build on that high level of play with another year of experience under his belt. Plus, Ole Miss sports a great rushing attack led by Cordera Eason, Brandon Bolden, and the fantastic Dexter McCluster. McCluster might be one of the best all-around players in the country, and he showcased his talents by torching Texas Tech to the tune of 83 yards receiving and 97 more on the ground. Their offense shouldn't lack for anything this year. Add in Shay Hodge at receiver, and they could have one of the most complete offenses in the country. On defense, they lose Peria Jerry, but return pass rushing specialist Greg Hardy and leading tackler Kendrick Lewis. In terms of scheduling, they have an easy out of conference schedule, and get Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and LSU all at home. If they can take Bama at home, and beat LSU for the second straight year, I think they'd have to be in contention for making the title game (assuming they have only one loss at the end of the year).
Why Not: They have to compete with Florida and Alabama in the SEC. You could also make a strong case for LSU, given the talent they bring in this year. However, Florida and Bama have to be the two big dogs. They play Bama in the regular season, with with the Crimson Tide returning nearly all of its defense, I don't think the Rebels will be able to manage much, even if they are at home. If they do manage to win the West, they'll have to contend with a Florida team that, like Alabama, returns nearly everyone from last year's squad. Add to that the motivation of avenging a humiliating home loss to the Rebels, and Ole Miss could end up suffering a late season heartbreaker.
Prediction: 9-3, with losses to Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas

4. The Virginia Tech Hokies:
Why: Frank Beamer always seems to have his team prepared. They lost Vince Hall, Xavier Adibi, Chris Ellis, and Branden Ore, and still managed to finish 10-4 last year, including an Orange Bowl win over Cincinnati. They found two playmakers on offense in Darren Evans and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who showed flashes of his full potential last year; he had three 100 yard rush games last year, including 137 against Virginia. If he can continue to develop as a passer, then the Hokies should be a dangerous team. They get Alabama to begin the year, so they could still be in the NC game picture even with a loss. Additionally, they get Miami, North Carolina, and Boston College at home, leaving Georgia Tech as the only real threat they play on the road. If they can manage to run the table in the ACC (assuming a Bama loss), or get by with one loss (assuming they beat the Tide), VT could be in national title talks.
Why Not: I'm still not sold on Tyrod Taylor as the quarterback. I love him as a talent, but even late in the year, he didn't seem like he was becoming a fluid passer. He had 140 yards passing on 22 attempts in the Orange Bowl, and 84 yards passing on 19 attempts the game before that. I know spring practices can do a lot to help players develop, but I can't help but think of how well he's going to fare with defenses like Miami's, BC's, or Bama's coming at him full speed. His feet can only do so much to help him. If VT's going to make the next step, it's going to be dependent on whether or not Tyrod Taylor can become a more complete QB; at this point, I don't think he will.
Prediction: 9-3, with losses to Alabama, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina

5. The West Virginia Mountaineers:
Why: They've got Jarrett Brown, Noel Devine, and a solid receiving corps on offense, and a defense that should be improved over last year's. Losing Pat White is a big hit, but Brown has shown the ability to step in and play well in White's absence in the past. Now, with the starting role his, Brown can utlize his skillset to the fullest. He's a better passer than White, and mobile as well. This means that coach Bill Stewart can retain his current offensive strategy, as it suits Brown's skills. Noel Devine should also improve his numbers from last year, as he ran for almost 1300 yards on over 6 yards a carry. Also, the Mountaineer receivers aren't to be overlooked; Jock Sanders and Arlic Arnett proved themselves to be solid last year, and should only be better this year. Plus, the 6'8" Wes Lyons is healthy and looks to make a splash this year. On defense, they return most of their players, and while they didn't look great against North Carolina during their bowl game, a year's worth of experience could go far to help out. Schedule-wise, they get Pittsburgh and Connecticut at home, leaving South Florida and an early date against Auburn as theit toughest road opponents. If they can get past those two, and get through the Big East undefeated, they could be in the NC game.
Why Not: I don't think Bill Stewart is that good of a coach. I thought his attempt at turning Pat White into a passer ultimately killed WVU's chances at being an elite team last year; there were too many times where I saw White looking downfield when he would've normally tucked the ball and run for yards. Stewart made White hesitant, and their offense sputtered because of it. This isn't to say that he's going to do something similar to Brown this year, but I think his handling of White definitely raises questions about his ability to get the most out of his players. In terms of more tangible aspects of the team, West Virginia gets USF and Cincinnati on the road this year; USF has beaten WVU two out of the past three years, and could field its strongest team in years. The Bearcats haven't fared nearly as well, but a late-season roadtrip to Cincy could prove to be a trap game for the Mountaineers. Most importantly, though, I don't think a one loss WVU team makes the NC game over a one loss team from another conference; the Big East is seen as weak, and will not get the same respect as a team from a conference like the Big 12 or SEC. WVU has to go undefeated to have a shot at making the big dance, and I don't think they have the team to do that.
Prediction: 10-2, with losses to South Florida and Cincinnati

And now, the top 5 Heisman Candidates:

5. Jahvid Best, California
Best may be a reach in terms of finishing position, but for right now, I think he's right where he needs to be. I don't see Cal being as good as OSU, Texas, Oklahoma, or Florida, so that hurts his stock here. However, his play is too good to ignore. Last year, he rushed for 1580 yards on over 8 yards per carry; he also added 15 touchdowns. He showed a flare for putting up big numbers, as well, running for 194 yards in the Las Vegas Bowl against Miami, 201 against Stanford, and 312 yards against Washington. However, to be a serious contender for the Heisman, Best has to perform in big games. In Cal's biggest game of the year (USC), Best rushed for a mere 30 yards on 13 carries. That isn't the type of performance that gets you recognized as the nation's most pretstigious player. However, with quarterback Kevin Riley being a year more experienced, he could take some pressure off of Best, allowing him to perform better when need be.

4. Zac Robinson, Oklahoma State
Personally, I'd replace Robinson with Kendall Hunter, but given the insane amount of attention given to quarterbacks, expect to see Robinson get the Heisman love. This isn't to say that he's a chump, though; in fact, he put up damn good numbers last year. He completed 65% of his passes, threw for over 3000 yards, and added another 564 on the ground. He also showed the ability to perform well in important games; he threw for 254 yards and ran for another 90 against Oklahoma, and threw for 329 yards against Oregon. The problem? Oklahoma State lost both of those games. For Robinson to be a contender, the Cowboys have to win their big games this year. With Texas and Oklahoma looming on the schedule, Robinson will have two chances to make statements to the Heisman voters across the country. If he can, expect to see him in New York as a top Heisman candidate.

3. Colt McCoy, Texas
As last year's Heisman runner-up, Colt McCoy did a little of everything for Texas. In addition to being the Longhorns' leading passer, he also led the team in rushing, putting up 561 yards on thr ground last year. He also threw for almost 4000 yards, while completing an outstanding 77% of his passes. Against Oklahoma, he passed for 277 yards, and in a comeback win against Ohio State, he threw for 414 more, including a game winning touchdown pass to receiver Quan Cosby. What kept him from winning the Heisman? Texas' loss to Texas Tech, and Sam Bradford putting up insane passing numbers. The UT loss pushed them on the back burner in favor of the Sooners, effectively taking the spotlight from McCoy enough for Bradford to take the trophy. For McCoy to win it this year, Texas--and by extension, Colt McCoy-- may have to have a year similar to last year's, save avoiding a horrendous three-way tie breaker scenario.

2. Tim Tebow, Florida
Tebow finished third in the Heisman race last year, with a harrowing loss to Ole Miss inspiring him to step up his play. In the games after that loss, Tebow threw 24 touchdown passes against just four interceptions, and Florida eventually won the national title. He played well in Florida's big games, scoring five touchdowns against rival Georgia, leading a comeback in the SEC championship game against Alabama, and ending the season with a 340-yard effort in the national title game against Oklahoma. Playing for the defending national champions automatically lifts his Heisman stock, and his being a quarterback only helps out in this regard. For him to repeat as a Heisman winner, though, Tebow may have to put up more gaudy stats. He passed for 2746 yards last year, which is good, but a far cry from the 3896 he put up his sophomore year. With Percy Harvin gone, we might see Tebow revert back to his 2007 form to some degree.

1. Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
He passed for 4720 yards, 50 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions last year; he also quarterbacked the highest scoring team in NCAA history. He won the Heisman last year, becoming just the second underclassman to do so. Given this, is there any doubt that he's the leading candidate coming into this year? Oklahoma lost two offensive lineman and three receivers, but talent isn't exactly a weak spot for the Sooners. They do face some tough challenges this year (Texas, at Kansas, Oklahoma State), but given Oklahoma's near-stranglehold on the Big 12 this decade, it's not a stretch to assume that they'll be in the Big 12 title picture again. If they can duplicate the season they had last year (which is possible given the return of Jermaine Gresham, Ryan Broyles, and three offensive linemen), expect to see Bradford in position to win the Heisman for a second time.

The Ten Best Players in the Nation:

Honorable Mention:
Arrelious Benn (Illinois), Wide Receiver
Brandon Spikes (Florida), Linebacker
Terrance Cody (Alabama), Defensive Tackle
MiQuale Lewis (Ball State), Running Back
Todd Reesing (Kansas), Quarterback
Dezmon Briscoe (Kansas), Wide Receiver
Russell Okung (Oklahoma State), Offensive Lineman
Trevard Lindley (Kentucky), Cornerback

And now, the actual list:



10. Dez Bryant (Oklahoma State), Wide Receiver:
Bryant emerged as one of the nation's best playmakers last year; were it not for Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree, Bryant may have been the best receiver in the country last year. He's a freakish athlete, able to leap and catch passes with ease with the strength to break tackles in the open field. He's a big play waiting to happen, as evidenced by his 17.01 yards per catch average last year; he also had a number of big games to boot. See his 9 catch, 236 yard performance against Houston. or his 11 catch, 212 yard game against Baylor. Or his 13 catches for 167 yards in the Holiday Bowl against Oregon. With no Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin around, Bryant emerges as the best receiver in the Big 12, and in the country as well.
Last Year's Stats: 87 receptions, 1480 yards (17.01 yards per catch), 19 TDs; 17 punt returns, 305 yards (17.94 yards per return), 2 TDs



9. Jammie Kirlew (Indiana), Defensive End:
Did anyone remember that Greg Middleton led the country in sacks last year? Evidently, Middleton did, as his performance fell dramatically last year, finishing with just four sacks. In his place Jammie Kirlew stepped up and played excellent ball last year, racking up 10.5 sacks and finishing as the team's second leading tackler. He had 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks against Minnesota, and 11 more tackles against Penn State. If Middleton can get back to his sophomore form, expect Kirlew to put up even better stats this year.
Last Year's Stats: 74 tackles (21 for loss), 10.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles



8. Colt McCoy (Texas), Quarterback:
McCoy was Mr. Everything for Texas last year, leading the team in both passing and rushing yards. He finished second in the Heisman voting, and proved himself to be an elite player time and time again. See his clutch performances against Oklahoma and Ohio State for proof of that. What impressed me so much about McCoy last year was his willingness and ability to carry his team; Texas didn't have a running game last year, so Colt did the running. Texas didn't have a great defense last year, so Colt made sure Texas scored enough points to win. He was more than just a good player, he was a leader. If he can lead Texas to a national title game and win it, would he be a better player than Vince Young? We'll have to see.
Last Year's Stats: 332-433 (76.67% completion rate), 3859 yards, 34 TDs, 8 INTs; 136 rushes, 561 yards, 11 TDs



7. Jahvid Best (California), Running Back:
Best is a beast, pure and simple. You don't run for over 300 yards in a game and not be a damn good player. Best can fly, and his 8.14 yards per carry average shows that. On a team with virtually no passing game to speak of, he carried the offense at times. He's the most dangerous weapon Cal has by far, and is the best offensive player in the Pac-10 for my money (sorry Rod Gronkowski). If Kevin Riley can make strides at QB, expect Best to have an even better year as a junior.
Last Year's Stats: 194 rushes, 1580 yards (8.14 yards per carry), 15 TDs; 27 receptions, 246 yards, TD


6. Morgan Burnett (Georgia Tech), Safety:
On a defense that saw Michael Johnson get a lot of attention, Morgan Burnett established himself as a dominant playmaker on defense, leading Georgia Tech in interceptions and tackles. Last year, he showed that he has great ball skills while also proving to be a good tackler; this year, with Johnson gone, Burnett's bound to receive the attention of opposing offenses, and they'll attempt to stray away from throwing towards him. However, with his ability to cover ground, Burnett should still make his fair share of plays this year.
Last Year's Stats: 93 tackles (9 for loss), 7 INTs, 8 passes defended, forced fumble



5. Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma State), Running Back:
If I were a Heisman voter, I'd be wondering why Hunter isn't getting any attention. I'd argue that he--not Zac Robinson or Dez Bryant--is Oklahoma State's best player on offense. Hunter scored 16 TDs last year, and established himself as one of the country's best tailbacks. He is consistent, and can also break big runs; last year, he had carries of 68, 58, 43, 36, and 41 yards. With most of the offense returning this year, there's no reason why Hunter couldn't duplicate, if not improve, last year's production. He comes into this year as the nationa's best running back, and could end the year with that same distinction.
Last Year's Stats: 241 rushes, 1555 yards (6.45 yards per carry), 16 TDs; 22 receptions, 198 yards, TD


4. Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Quarterback:
There's not much else that can be said about Sam Bradford; he's a tremendous talent, and he's shown himself to be highly capable of being an elite player on a elite team. He torched defense after defense last year, and helped Oklahoma roll up 734 points in 13 games last year. He puts up video game numbers, and makes it seem easy in the process. The Sooners look to make it back to the national title game, and with Bradford leading the way (along with reliable target Jermaine Gresham), they have as good a chance as any team in the nation.
Last Year's Stats: 328-483 (67.71% completion rate), 4720 yards, 50 TDs, 8 INTs



3. Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma), Defensive Tackle:
Space-eater, indeed. Gerald McCoy is the best player at his position in my mind (sorry, Terrance Cody), and he can flat out play. Oklahoma finished the year 20th in rushing defense, and McCoy was the biggest reason why. He was second on the team in sacks, third in tackles for loss, and even threw in an interception during the national title game against Florida. Given his size and strength, there's little doubt as to why he could be an early first round pick at the end of next year.
Last Year's Stats: 30 tackles (14 for loss), 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 QB hurries, INT



2. Tim Tebow (Florida), Quarterback:
Like Bradford, there isn't much else to add about Tim Tebow. He's won a Heisman, two national titles, and was named the MOP for the second one. He--along with Brandon Spikes-- is the heart and soul of the Florida Gators, and stepped up his level of play dramatically following the Gators' home loss to Ole Miss. During the SEC Championship game and the National title game, Tebow was a man on a mission, leading the Gators to a comeback win in the former game and turning in a gutty second half performance in the latter. This year, with a team loaded with starters from last year's squad, Florida looks to repeat as national champions. With Tebow at the helm, they could very well do so.
Last Year's Stats: 192-298 (64.43% completion rate), 2746 yards, 30 TDs, 4 INTs; 176 rushes, 673 yards, 12 TDs



1. Eric Berry (Tennessee), Safety:
I bet Berry wishes he played for another team. Maybe not, but if he did, he'd have undoubtedly won the Thorpe Award last year. Eric Berry is as big of a defensive playmaker as you can find; check out his 265 return yards on just 7 picks last year for proof. He led the nation in interceptions, and finished second on his team in sacks, third in tackles, and third in tackles for loss. He was the biggest reason why Tennessee fielded a stout defense last year, and should only get better with another year of experience. Berry has a rare combo of ball skills and physicality, as he can lay a hard hit or leap for the interception. Mel Kiper compared him to Ed Reed, and while I think Kiper's a talking piece of hair, I don't think he's far off in that comparison. Berry is a hell of a talent, and I'd take him over any defensive player in the nation right now.
Last Year's Stats: 72 tackles (9 for loss), 7 INTs, 6 passes defended, 3 sacks

.........That's all I got.

Yung Wun's Finest Hour

Never went as hard as he did on "WWIII." Did an album that went brick despite a pretty good single. Of course, Jada and Scarface outdo him on the track, but Yung Wun holds his own well here.

Oh, Florida Basketball......

I said during my last Florida basketball-related post that to say that Gator basketball was frustrating was an understatement. I've downgraded my opinion.

Look, I love Florida basketball. I still think Nick Calathes is one of the best point guards in the country. I think guys like Erving Walker, Ray Shipman, and Kenny Kadji will be very good players in the future. However, this team has a lot of flaws, all of which begin and end with their desire.

This team doesn't lack for talent. Chandler Parsons and Dan Werner were four star recruits coming out of high school. Nick Calathes was a five star and a McDonald's All-American. Kenny Kadji was a five star as well. Obviously, these guys have the potential to do good things for a basketball team; college scouts didn't turn stupid when they were evaluating the Florida players. The problem is that this team doesn't have enough guys who want to win, who want to put forth the effort to win on a game to game basis. I think Parsons may have the most upside of any player currently wearing a Florida uniform, but he's also the guy most likely to mentally check out during a game. This team goes back and forth between wanting to play and not wanting to, like some see-saw being blown back and forth by a hurricane-force wind. This team's so unpredictable, that they're predictable. When they face a team that plays soft defense and lets them shoot from the outside, Florida wins. When they face a team that's physical and unafraid to attack in the paint, Florida folds like a ten-cent tent. Auburn was that unafraid team last week, when they out-hustled, out-played, and out-lasted the Gators en route to bursting the latter's bubble. Alex Tyus' 21 points and 11 rebounds were rendered useless in the light of poor defense down the stretch and a turnover-ridden Nick Calathes. Speaking of Nick, the last four or five games of the year should be enough for him to return for another year. The guy went 14-44 shooting, with 24 assists and 28 turnovers during that stretch. You think NBA scouts are looking at him and going ga-ga with the way he played in the clutch? Florida won games down the stretch in spite of him, not because of him.

I'm being harsh, though; I won't blame Calathes for tiring out late in the year, not when he spent the first 27 games or so trying to keep Florida afloat. I can't count the number of times when he was the only Gator to show up during a game this year. Walter Hodge only decided to step up during the last 5 games of the year, so outside of Alex Tyus and Erving Walker, it's not like Calathes was getting a load of help.

Back to Walker for a second: is there any other indicator of how little heart this team has than him. A 5'9" freshman might very well have the most heart of anyone on this team. It wasn't Calathes, Parsons, or Werner who took the last shot against Auburn. Instead, it was Walker who did his best to lift Florida up once again, only to have his shot blocked. After the block, Walker wept. Openly. On the court. If there's any better picture that sums up this season for the Gators, that would be the one. Why he's not starting is beyond me.

Actually, it's not beyond me. There's one guy who pulls the strings on personnel decisions, and that's the head coach. Billy Donovan might have coached Florida to two consecutive national titles, but he sure as hell didn't earn his $3 million-plus paycheck this year, not when a team with the talent to at least make the NCAA tourney has to settle for the NIT for the second straight year. Not when Florida went 2-6 against RPI top 50 teams. Not when Florida ended the regular season by losing 8 of its last 12 games. I understand youth being an excuse.........last year. Not this year, when everyone was a year older and the Gators only lost one player to the NBA draft. Instead, this team was the exact same in terms of mindset and attitude; that lies directly on the head coach. It's the head coach's job to inspire his team, to make sure that the same mistakes don't happen repeatedly. It's also his job to make sure that the best players actually play. If Ray Shipman is Florida's best defensive player, then why isn't he playing? It's not like Florida has a team full of Corey Brewers running around; Shipman could help out some on the wing. Watching a team that doesn't highlight its best players is maddening.

UPDATE: Florida lost in the NIT quarterfinals to Penn State. Coasted by two non-tournament teams, then lost against a team that had a solid case to make the tourney. Doesn't say much at all about this squad, in my opinion. Billy Donovan's statement that this team overachieved, when most fans with sense realize that this team underachieved, sounds more like he's trying to convince himself more than anyone else. I'm a Gator basketball fan, but unless Vernon Macklin and Kenny Boynton are for real, then next year is looking to be a repeat.

Scott Van Pelt Tells the Damn Truth

Nails Bud Selig here.

It's a damn shame ESPN suspended him for this, when the man just plain told the truth. Yes, he went at Bud hard, but so what? Bud deserves to get nailed to the wall for this; I know he's in denial and all that, but it's true. He sat on his laurels while MLB players saved the sport, and now he has the gall to get pissed when people actually call him on it? Please.

Scott Van Pelt, this blogger appreciates the troof.

Alex Rodriguez: Pure Fucking Comedy

Let me start with this: I'm not a baseball fan. I think baseball's a joke sport with joke players and joke records. When 5 of the leading 11 are under suspicion of using steroids, along with one of the best pitchers ever, something's wrong with your sport.

Still, though, the Alex Rodriguez Show has been a hell of a show to watch. The guy's so bad at lying that it's comical. Hell, the guy's got the same PR company that George W. Bush employed while he was President; maybe that was their strategy: to make up the lamest story possible so that people would laugh instead of call for his head.

Look at the situation: A-Rod handpicks Peter Gammons and admits to using performance enhancing drugs, then says he doesn't remember how he got them. Then, just yesterday, he says that some unnamed cousin took him down to the Dominican Republic for an over-the-counter "energy booster," because we all know that you inject energy boosters, right? But here's the funny part: he's reading all of this off from a piece of paper. Neon signs saying "KEEP YOUR LIES STRAIGHT" couldn't have been more obvious. Hell, I half-expected A-Rod to give the press a "Is this thing on?" before breaking out the flapping dickie routine. Again, I'm not a baseball fan, but if I were, I think I'd be pretty ticked off. Could this guy be any more pompous? Only an arrogant person could make up such an obviously garbage story and expect anyone to believe him. Never mind the fact that he still hasn't admitted to using the drugs that the 2003 drug test stated that he used. Never mind that there's going to be a book published detailing his drug use. No, the mysterious Dominican cousin took him to get some "Boli," whatever the fuck that is.

And that's probably the thing that gets me the most about this guy. He's completely unwilling to accept responsibility. First, he accused Sports Illustrated Selena Roberts of being a stalker; he even went so far as to accuse her of trying to break into his house while his kids were sleeping. So obviously, he can't be blamed for taking banned substances; some crazy bitch was out to get him. Then came the oft-repeated "I was young and dumb excuse." All those injections must have given poor A-Rod amnesia since he seems to forget that, according to his own story, he started shooting up six years into the league. Either A-Rod's lying or he's the world's dumbest baseball player. Then came the "It was a loosey-goosey culture." First off, who the fuck even says "loosey-goosey?" Second of all, if the culture was so lax about drug use, then why all the secrecy about procuring the drugs? Why even bother going down to the Dominican Republic when everyone was so relaxed about it? I'm not an expert or anything, but something doesn't seem right about that. However, the coup de grace was the unnamed cousin angle. As if blaming real live people for his fuckups wasn't enough, he's now taken to blaming people that don't exist. See, it wasn't Alex Rodriguez who got Boli, it was his "cousin" who told A-Rod that what he was injecting was an energy booster.

None of this is his fault, and that's probably has all the sports reporters on their high horses right now; I normally don't like the whole moral high ground deal, but Alex has given everyone easy ammo. They don't even have to buy the bullets to shoot him down right now; they just have to wait until his next press conference and listen to what he says next. It's pure comedic gold listening to this guy change his story. In fact, MLB should embrace this thing head on; Bud Selig should give A-Rod half of his salary to keep baseball ratings up. Whenever TV ratings dip for a certain month, Selig should call a press conference for A-Rod, and have the guy tell reporters his newest version of the truth. The possibilities are endless. Today, it's the unnamed cousin. Next, why not throw in Mike Tyson and say Iron Mike held him down and injected him? What about throwing in some other things like:

- Bears, because everyone's scared of bears, right?
- OJ Simpson. He's always a good one if you want some sympathy. Everyone hates OJ. Even OJ.
- Jim Brown. "He was showing me how he still keeps giving his wife black eyes after all this time...."
- Jetpacks
- (insert random missing white girl here) To distract people. Duh.
- Michael Jackson. Old white women. See above for the reason.
- Prince. "I couldn't beat Prince at basketball so........"

Just some suggestions. I'm all for keeping this thing going. It's the only thing that's gotten me remotely interested in baseball in years.

PS:

Dear Bud Selig,

It's your fault the steroids issue has gotten out of hand in baseball. You looked the other way when roiders saved your pathetic sport from irrelevancy, and now you're paying the price. Also, you're kinda the commissioner of the sport, so people are probably going to look at you when issues get out of hand. Just a thought. I'm not an expert or anything, though.

Thanks,
Management

Florida= Painfully Average

Don't get me wrong here: I love Florida basketball. I think Nick Calathes might be the best point guard in the league (and no, I don't think Stephen Curry is a real PG; he's a 2 guard being forced to play the point). However, the Gators are an average basketball team. This team has four and five star players all over the place, and a coach that won two straight NCAA tournaments. They've got two upperclassmen on the team for leadership.

So where's the sense of urgency for this team?

Where's the leadership?

Apparently, they're both MIA. Florida is currently 19-6, and 6-4 in the SEC East; they're still projected to make the NCAA tournament, but really, does that mean anything when you consider that Florida's playing in a pathetically weak conference and currently has an SOS ranked 107th in the country? Hell, if they lose enough games down the stretch, they still won't make the tournament. They've got LSU, Tennessee, and Kentucky left on the schedule, along with games against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Alabama. They should be able to beat the latter two, but they'd probably need at least two more wins after that to ensure a tourney bid. The question is, can they do it?

I'm not sure.

Looking at this team, I just don't see enough players who consistently compete outside of Nick Calathes and Erving Walker. I'd throw Alex Tyus in that mix, too, since he's done an admirable job of playing center despite being pitifully overmatched on most nights. However, guys like Chandler Parsons, Walter Hodge, and Dan Werner are either too inconsistent or just plain stink up the joint with bad performances. Parsons has good stretches of games, but disappears during others. Werner and Hodge--the two most experienced players on the team--rarely if ever give the team anything in the way of positive play. Werner is a junior and Hodge is a senior, so where's the on-court leadership? The only memorable things Hodge has done are:

- Elbow a Tennessee player in the face
- Step on Perry Stevenson's arm
- Score 22 points against Georgia.........in a loss

Other than those three, what's he done to make Florida better? I haven't seen anything. Werner is--well, he's Dan Werner: a guy who's playing starter minutes but only giving the team bench warmer production. He had 4 points against Kentucky, and went a woeful 3-11 against a bad Georgia team. Do I really need to repeat that he needs to grab some pine?

My point is this: this team can't rely on Calathes to constantly carry them. He's a great player, and he's gotten a lot better this year, but it's unfair to expect him to be a one man show. Seriously, how many guys have recorded triple doubles, only to have their team actually lose? This team needs to get tough, but more importantly, they need to play like they care. For the past few weeks, I've heard about teams playing like "wounded animals" when they've got nothing else to lose.

So where's Florida's wounded animal mentality? The Gators need to win, and they need to win now; they can't afford to keep losing. This isn't the 2006 Gators team that lost 3 of 4 games down the stretch before turning the light switch back on and repeating as national champions. That team was tough on both the perimeter and in the paint, and played with urgency when they had to. This year's team--and last year's--doesn't have nearly the same mental toughness. And note to Billy Donovan: you're a damn good coach, but saying that Mareese Speights' leaving early for the NBA has something to do with the team's struggles this year is weak. Beyond the fact that you recruited three big men to replace him (Eloy Vargas, Kenny Kadji, and Allen Chaney), it's not like last year's team was tough with Speights in the middle either. This is essentially the same team, minus a bigger, but still soft, guy in the paint. The fact that the three guys you recruited aren't seeing increased playing time doesn't help, either. Those guys aren't going to get better on the bench, and playing them would help with your other complaint, which was that Speights' leaving forced you to give Werner a bigger role in the offense (which is also weak sauce). Also, Donovan has to get some of the blame for not having his team inspired to play against UGA. Seriously, they're the worst team in the SEC; how can you not have your guys ready to tear them apart, especially considering how Florida lost to Kentucky? If Werner and Hodge deserve blame for not providing leadership on the court, then Donovan has to get blame for not providing it from off the court. Again, he's a great coach, but he hasn't done his best coaching job this year.

Is there still hope for Florida? Of course. This is college basketball, and anything can happen if everything falls into place.

But it all starts with desire and a willingness to compete, and unfortunately, I just don't think enough Gators have the desire of the willingness to push this team to anything but slightly above average.

At least for this year. There's always next year, I guess.

Oldie But Goodie

I should post more music shit.

Here's a throwback. Anyone remember Monie Love?

College Basketball "All" Team

Behind college football, college basketball is my greatest love, my favorite sport to watch. As a fan, I've always been intrigued by how quickly players can step in for teams and have an impact; it's rarer to see this in CFB, where guys usually have to grow, mature, and develop for at least a year before contributing for their respective teams. In basketball, this doesn't seem to be the case as much. Every year, there's a laundry list of freshmen talents stepping in to help carry their teams, whether it's Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, or Stephen Curry. This year's no exception. First, however, I'd like to talk about some of the best players in the country regardless of class, as well as which players I'd choose if I were to build a team.

Given that last sentence, I won't necessarily be choosing the best players at each position; I'd also like to factor in things like team chemistry. For example, I don't think that having Stephen Curry, Jodie Meeks, and James Harden on the same team would be good because each player is accustomed to getting a great deal of touches per game. However, pairing one of them with a more passive point guard, such as a Ty Lawson, would be a better fit. Also, let me add this: I'm a fan of a strong inside game. Guys who can rebound and block shots get big ups in my book, and I'm more likely to build around guys like that than, say, a wing player like Curry. It's not that I don't think that he's a good player--in fact, he's probably the best player in the country not named Blake Griffin--it's just a matter of preference. Anyway, let's get to my College Basketball Dream Team, complete with a 7-man bench.

Starters:
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Jerel McNeal
SF: Jeff Adrien
PF: Blake Griffin
C: Hasheem Thabeet

Bench:
SF: Al-Farouq Aminu
PG: Nick Calathes
PF: Jarvis Varnado
SG: Stephen Curry
PF: DeJuan Blair
C: Jordan Hill
PF: Greg Monroe

The starting lineup is pretty damn good I think. Griffin, Lawson, or McNeal can take over the game, but the important thing is this: none of them has to take over the game. Lawson can score if needed, but only takess 9 shots per game overall. Griffin and McNeal are really the only guys starting who require a lot of touches. Jeff Adrien's an underrated interior defender, he can score from offensive rebounds, and can hit mid-range jumpers as well. Thabeet in the middle is always a plus, his game against DeJuan Blair notwithstanding; he's raw offensively, but is one of the country's biggest game changers on defense. And speaking of Blair, I nearly put him in the starting lineup, but I like Griffin's offensive game more than Blair's, plus Griffin leads the nation in rebounds per game. At the perimeter, Lawson and McNeal are both athletic enough to play good perimeter D, and the latter is big enough to get physical if need be. Plus, both can shoot well from deep, with both guys shooting over 40% from 3 for the year.

The bench players can fill big roles, too; Calathes isn't the athlete that Lawson is, but he's got the size and passing skills to be a great complement at the point; plus, like Lawson, he can take over the game if need be by scoring. He penetrates well, and can also shoot from deep. I think the player that would benefit most from two good point guards is Stephen Curry. Curry's done an admirable job running the point this year, but he shoots much better when he's able to run without the ball and find an open shot for himself. Both Calathes and Lawson could set him up, and Griffin is a tremendous passer from the post. Blair--as I've mentioned before--is a great rebounder, particularly from the offensive end. If either Thabeet or Griffin is out of the game, I'm putting Blair in the middle to grab every ball that comes near him. The same would go for Varnado, who's a Thabeet-lite in that he can rebound and block shots with proficiency. The two wild cards are Al-Farouq Aminu and Greg Monroe; the latter is a matchup nightmare for most power forwards given Monroe's combination of size and versatility; he can pass well, shoot from deep, and can rebound as well. Aminu plays a lot like Varnado--but with a lot more upside given his age. He'd be another big body in the paint, but he can also knock down the occasional jumper as well.

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Been bumping this album for a while now; it's damn consistent, bangers from start to finish. Only real problems I have with it are the skits and two other tracks Other than that, though, the album's tight. Despite this, though, I've always held it in lower regard than Aquemini and ATLiens. When I reviewed it about a year ago, I think I rated it 4.25 stars out of 5, but I've been considering upgrading that rating. "Crumblin Erb," "Claimin True," "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik," and "Git Up, Git Out" are some of the best tracks Outkast has ever done; the latter might be the best. More than this, though, I think this is, in many ways, the definitive Southern album; it broke through to the mainstream in a way that albums from the likes of Geto Boys and UGK couldn't at that point in time. Part of the reason that this album is so overlooked, though, is because of the year it was released. 1994 is widely considered to be one of the best years in hip-hop's history. Consider that during this year:

- Nas released Illmatic
- The Notorious BIG released Ready to Die
- Redman released Dare Iz a Darkside
- OC released Word...Life
- Gangstarr released Hard to Earn
- Jeru the Damaja released The Sun Rises in the East
- Method Man became the first Wu-Tang Clan member to release a solo album with Tical

Needless to say, Outkast had some tough competition that year. Add to that the fact that the South had not yet broken into the mainstream; the No Limit and Cash Money Empires wouldn't hit it big until three years later, and UGK wouldn't make a mainstream splash until "Big Pimpin." What does this mean? That Outkast's debut album--by going platinum within a year of its release-- opened the door for an entire region of music to be heard. Think about this for a minutes. Where artists like Scarface and UGK failed, Outkast was able to succeed. Again, I'm not sure if this album is a classic, but it's definitely the group's most significant album.

Some tracks:

Git Up, Git Out:


Claimin True:


Crumblin Erb:

Florida Gator Basketball: Retooling the Roster

Tennessee fans cheered. Volunteer players drained open three after open three, while Florida played out of control and got crushed by an inspired UT team.

Florida's been here before, but they didn't play like it on Saturday. The only consolation for team--and fans--is that Florida is 18-4, and 5-2 in conference; with a win over South Carolina tonight, the Gators can take to outright lead in the SEC East as they prepare to square off against Kentucky this weekend. However, the Tennessee game does raise cause for concern.

- Coming into Saturday's game, Tennessee was 30% from three for the year; the most they'd made in a game was 11 during their opener against Chattanooga. Against Florida, Tennessee shot 43% from deep on 12 threes.

- Florida turned the ball over 17 times, 4 times over their average.

- Tennessee scored 29 baskets against the Gators, 24 of which were assisted. The Vols average about 17 per game.

What do these figures indicate? That Florida simply couldn't stop Tennessee's offensive flow. The Vols moved the ball around the court at will, without much resistance from the Gators; on top of that, many of Tennessee's three point attempts were uncontested, leaving players open for good looks at the basket. I suppose you could blame coach Billy Donovan for not switching out of the zone defense Florida employed for the entire game, but it is not Donovan's fault that players simply refused to contest shots. Run any defense you wish, whether it be a Box and 1, Triangle and 2, or a 2-3 Zone, but none of them will work if players don't put a hand in the shooter's face. More frustrating is the fact that Florida continues to be inconsistent; they destroyed Vanderbilt and Georgia in consecutive games, only to come out completely uninspired against the Vols. A top-tier team simply cannot have this sort of up and down play with the talent that Florida has on its roster. Given that, here are some suggestions to improve Florida's play.

1. Bench Dan Werner and Walter Hodge. It's no disrespect to either of them, but the best players should play in the games. I realize that Werner and Hodge are the two most experienced players on the team, but they're better suited as bench heat for the starters. Some of Hodge's better games have come in precisely that role. As for Werner, his hustle on defense should earn him some playing time. However, neither are starting material. Hodge's numbers have fallen from last year, shooting 43% this year as compared to 48% last year despite the fact that he took more shots last year. Bring him off the bench in relief of either of the starting guards, and give him some shots from the perimeter. He's solid from deep (he shoots 38% from three this year), so he can stretch the opposing defense in that regard. Werner's stats have increased on offense, but that isn't his role; defense is, and his defensive numbers have fallen this year in comparison to last. He rebounds less--4.5 a game this year compared to 6.4 a game last year--as are his steal numbers. Plus, in the Gators' four losses, he simply hasn't gotten it done, going a combined 11-27 from the field in those games. He, like Hodge, should be coming off the bench to provide some energy for the Gators while starters get rest. Both would be more effective in short bursts as opposed to prolonged periods.

2. Play the young guys, particularly Kenny Kadji and Ray Shipman. Erving Walker averages about 23 minutes a game, but I think he should get more playing time as well. Kadji is the important one here, as he could provide the Gators with the inside presence that they have been missing this year. He leads the team in blocks, despite only playing 13 minutes per game. To put that in perspective, Alex Tyus--second on the team in blocks--averages less per game, even though he plays twice as many minutes as Kadji. Another advantage to playing him would be that he receives more in-game experience. Players can only improve so much in practices, and allowing him the chance to play allows him to become more acclimated to playing against opposing defenses; it also gives the Gators at least some semblance of an inside game on both sides of the ball. His per minute stats aren't bad--on a per 40 minute basis, they average out to 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.35 blocks--and it could only benefit the Gators. Walker and Shipman would help out by giving the Gators more help at guard. Nick Calathes has played extremely well this year, but he can't do it alone in the backcourt. Walker has already shown that he can outplay Walter Hodge, shooting better than his senior counterpart despite getting more attempts. He also shoots better from deep, which is an advantage given Donovan's style of play. If Walker were moved to the starting lineup over Hodge, it would also give the Gators a more effective backcourt given Walker's quickness and ability to push the ball upcourt and force the defense to react more quickly. Shipman could also help out with guard depth by coming off of the bench to give Calathes or Walker a rest. He does this to an extent, but only averages 13.6 minutes per game so far (and 11 minutes a game in conference play). In limited action, he's shown the ability to score and rebound; on a per 40 minutes basis, Shipman averages about 12 points and 7 rebounds. This can be compared to Walter Hodge's production on the same basis, which comes out to 10.8 points and 2.1 rebounds. Simply put, the younger players have more upside, and could match, if not surpass, the production of Werner and Hodge.

3. Recruit better perimeter defenders. The inside game should improve next year with Kadji having a year under his belt, Vernon Macklin being eligible to play, and Eloy Vargas being a full strength. The perimeter, however, is going to be an issue, as neither Chandler Parsons nor Nick Calathes are defensive threats. Part of the reason Florida was able to win two consecutive national titles was because both Corey Brewer and Taurean Green were great on the outside. Brewer was long and athletic enough to shut down most guards, and Green had the lateral quickness to prevent the opposing point guard from being effective. This team, however, lacks that presence, and as a result, it forces Florida to be near flawless on offense in order to win games. Against mediocre teams--and some good ones--this will work. However, it also means that Florida will be unable to compete against elite competition. Think of the top teams in the country; all of them have either a good outside defensive squad, a good post unit, or both. Wake has a dominant inside game; Oklahoma has Blake Griffin cleaning up around the rim, and Connecticut may be the best defensive team in the country. Florida is not a great defensive team, or even a good one. They lack the toughness on the inside--and the quickness around the perimeter-- to be such a team. The post game should improve next year, but Donovan has to recruit defensive minded players in order for this Gators squad to be elite. They don't have to be scorers, just role players who can play solid minutes and give the team good defense. This would take the pressure off of the offense, and allow the Gators to become a more balanced team.