The 5-at-10 had a rocking H-R meeting this a.m., so we're moving quickly today. Plus, as the Mrs. 5-at-10 often reminds us, the comments on here are hilarious (so get to comment-ating-ly-zation-ized).
Here we go...
Staff Photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free Press Sep4, 2010
UT's Marsalis Teague, left, and Janzen Jackson break up a pass intended for UT Martin's Chris Thompson at Neyland Stadium Saturday evening.UT spring fling -- defensive backs
The SEC's spring football offensive MVP in absence is South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, who was suspended indefinitely for the something like the 43rd time earlier this month.
The SEC's spring football defensive MVP in absence is UT safety Janzen Jackson, who is not enrolled in school this semester to handle personal issues.
There is no real way to overstate Jackson's affect on the Vols secondary. With Jackson, a big-time player who has NFL speed and is an All-Pro caliber hitter, the secondary is a strength. Without him, the shuffling and reshuffling that will result turns the secondary into another question mark on a team filled with them.
So it goes.
But -- like UT's linebackers -- help is most definitely on the way.
The Vols have one of the nation's top recruiting hauls of DB's, a great thing considering how defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox likes to deploy multiple defensive backs.
Plus, there are some true studs coming -- and the 5-at-10 is on record saying that incoming freshman safety Brian Randolph is going to be a big-time big-timer. Write it down.
Fans hold signs with asterisks as San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds takes his position in left field against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of a Major Leauge Baseball game in Milwaukee, Friday, July 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)Bonds guilty (duh) -- officially
Barry Bonds was found guilty of obstruction late Wednesday afternoon. Here's hoping he gets whatever the judge decides and this is the last we hear about this for a long while.
Wait, we do have one more question -- how much did the government spend to get that (steroid) hardened criminal off the mean streets of his gated community in some seven-figure neighborhood.
Here's knowing that the American people can sleep a little easier tonight now that Barry has been brought to justice.
One more thing -- Greg Anderson is some kind of steroid wing-man. Anderson, Bonds' longtime trainer kept his silence (again) and faces jail time (again) for refusing to cooperate with the prosecution (again).
One more thing (last one, promise) -- This Bonds case was SO much fun that we can't wait until the Clemens trial. (That's sarcasm, scole023.)
Members of the Auburn football team including running backs Michael Dyer (5) and Davis Hooper (45) work out during the first day of spring NCAA college football practice for the national champion Auburn Tigers in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday, March 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)Breaking News: NCAA to discuss possible Auburn infractions
Former Auburn football player Chaz Ramsey is reportedly meeting with NCAA officials in the coming days. No word whether he is heading to Indy or whether the NCAA is coming to him. Heck, the NCAA probably should open a satellite office in Birmingham halfway between Auburn and Tuscaloosa.
Ramsey told the Birmingham News that he "may" know the coaches and boosters that he told HBO Sports gave him thousands of dollars when he was playing football for the Tigers.
If Ramsey names names, this could get messy. If he doesn't, well, this will either be part of the conspiracy or part of the eventual burning of The Plains -- the view depending greatly on how you feel about the Tigers.
The 5-at-10 would be remiss if we did not mention Ramsey's failed lawsuit against Auburn for his career-ending back injury. No commentary here, just stating the fact.
Let's just move along.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant celebrates after making a three-point basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)Kobe gets slapped for slurs
Quick question: Have you ever -- in a moment of anger or frustration -- ever cussed or said something you regretted? Yeah, the 5-at-10 has too.
Well, it cost Kobe Bryant $100 grand. His choice of words was poor, but it was in the middle of a heated exchange in the middle of a heated game.
Was the slur need? Of course not, but that's some serious coin for something said in the heat of the moment. So it goes.
We can't use either of the words Kobe used that were caught by TNT courtside microphones -- let's just say he was less than kind to a specific group. But what is more troubling, Kobe's poor choice of words in a heated moment or the fact that he has 15 technicals - yes, 15 - this year? In his public apology, Bryant said he regretted the slur because of the bad example it might set for the people that look up to him. If he's worried about setting a poor example, quit showing your tail and getting T-ed up once every fifth game.
We're not sayin' anything, we're just sayin' - you know?
This photo taken April 5, 2011 shows Rebel the Black Bear, the new University of Mississippi mascot, making its much-awaited debut Tuesday, at the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital on the University of Mississippi Medical Center campus in Jackson. Ole Miss has been without a mascot since Col. Rebel was retired in 2003. Last fall, students voted to create a on-field mascot and Rebel the Black Bear won out. (AP Photo/The Clarion-Ledger, Greg Jenson)This and that
- The NBA playoffs seeds are set. We already have a question in the mailbag about the playoffs, and we didn't want to double dip. Yes, this is what we called a teaser in the family-oriented-Intertube-web-based-sports-column business. Bulls, Spurs are the No. 1 seeds and neither will make the NBA finals - how about them apples?
- Quick NFL draft question: What do the Titans do? More and more the thought of Julio Jones makes more and more sense. That said, there likely will be a big-time prospect that was previously mentioned as a possible No. 1 overall pick (a DeQuan Bowers, a Nick Fairley, a Patrick Peterson) on the board when the Titans pick at No. 8. That would be hard to turn down - especially Peterson, who in a few years will be among the best DBs in the NFL.
- Quick props to Chipper Jones, who homered in the ninth inning of last night's 5-1 loss to the Marlins. That was RBI 1,500 for Jones, who has crafted a Hall of Fame career. It was the lone highlight for the Braves, who had little answer for Marlins righty Josh Johnson, who has Hall of Fame talent.
- Wow, there is more unrest in Oxford. Rising junior quarterback Nathan Stanley, who had the most experience of the players competing for the QB job, reportedly has left the program. This after linebacker D.T. Shackleford - only the Rebels' biggest stud - was lost for the season with a knee injury. You know who's to blame - that's right the Rebel Black Bear.
Until tomorrow and the mailbag.