5 at 10: Friday Mailbag

Friday, June 3, 2011

From the "7-Up Stinks Studios" here we go...

From Jordan Rules

photo Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade, right, and LeBron James speak during the last minutes of the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Miami. The Mavericks defeated the Heat 95-93. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Will you stop the NBA title party plans for the Heat now? They choked bad last night. Like the type of loss that stays with you kind of choke. Like Bill Buckner-level choke.

Dallas will win this series, and then all you LeBron lovers can make excuses about how the coach is bad or the bench did not help. Please. Dude is overrated.

Well, here's saying that Jordan Rules has either had a phone number with a 213 area code for Cleveland residents or knows some folks that do.

First, let's talk about the Mavs' comeback (awesome in its awesomeness) that combined with the Heat's meltdown (which was surprisingly complete) to create an interesting NBA Finals and a huge question for the rest of this match-up: Was this the Mavs' one bright moment or is this the beginning of the end for this Heat team? It's hard to know this morning, but the

collapse was so thorough - they were up 15 with seven minutes left - it will have some lingering effects regardless what the Heatles and Miami coach Erik (Estrada) Spoelstra said after the fact Thursday night.

But now that the series is tied 1-1 heading back to Dallas, this is anybody's series. The 5-at-10 still believes the Heat will win the series, and this is similar to the Heat's blowout loss in Game 1 against Chicago in the Eastern Conference finals when everyone overreacted more than a little bit.

As for LeBron's status, he's the best player on the planet. That's not overrating anything. If you're talking about all the LeBron-Jordan talk, well, we're tired of that, too. In fact, why do we always have to find the next Jordan or the next Shaq or the next Bird or the next whomever? LeBron is LeBron, and right now he's the best basketball player on the planet. And he does not have an NBA championship. That's not overrated or underrated.

From scole023

photo Al Davis.

When is the next contest? I like to win stuff. You still talk too much. (And what happened to Pretend Al Davis?)

Hey, thanks for stopping by scole023 and know that we appreciate the support.

You've got a valid point - we have not had a contest since the Derby First-In, Last-In Challenge. We're open for suggestions, and we'll make an announcement early next week. Maybe give away some Braves tickets or something.

Here are a couple of ideas we're kicking around:

- We're planning on something with the home-run derby, so know that's coming.

- The other one right now is trying to predict what Dan Uggla's average, his home run total and his RBI total at the All-Star break.

As always, your thoughts are welcomed.

As for Pretend Al, well, he's had his plate full with the NFL labor issues. He'll be back around soon.

From CelticVol

photo Tennessee head basketball coach Bruce Pearl no longer has a job at the school.

Hello 5@10,

Wow, we may need to have a special limited edition 5x2@10 due to the number of major storylines going on. Who would've thought 9 months ago after the revelation of Bruce Pearl's infamous BBQ that Ohio State would be much in the same boat as Tennessee. The only difference is that the Buckeyes boat has a hole in it and it's filling up with water......FAST. Mike Hamilton needs to send OSU and Jim Tressel a letter of thanks this morning for making UT look squeaky clean.

Do you think Tressel's final nail in the coffin was the comments made by Ray Small last week? I found it very interesting that Small, being a former captain, would comment the way he did. From everything I've read it looks as if OSU's transgressions are much worse (and much more may come out) than the USC/Bush/Mayo scandal and we all know how that turned out for the Trojans. Am I wrong on this?

C-Vol,

We concur 100-percent with everything you threw out there - except the 5x2@10, because we already write way too long. Just ask scole023.

Anyhoo, as the stories continue to leak from Columbus, Bruce Pearl's BBQ is starting to look like a Boy Scout meeting. Love the image of Mike Hamilton sitting down to write a letter to THE Ohio State University. Maybe it would go something like this (and don't you know it would be on one of those stationary pads with something like "From the Happy Desk of Mike Hamilton" in orange ink across the top):

Dear Gordon Gee, Gene Smith and Jim Tressel

Know that our sympathies are with you in this time of unrest and uncertainty. Know also that we here at the University of Tennessee and the officials and representatives of universities from Los Angeles to Auburn to Gainesville to Eugene, Ore., greatly appreciate the sacrifices you have made for college athletics and your willingness to face adversity.

This time can be difficult, and know that we are happy to help any way possible.

Sincerely (happy that you guys have pitched a tent in the crosshairs of NCAA trouble),

Mike

And, you are 100 percent right on about THE Ohio State's transgressions being worse thatn USC's. We believe THE Ohio State is in big-time trouble. Big-time trouble - like if they get the 30-scholarship loss and two-year postseason ban that USC got, they may not even appeal. As for Small's comments, that kept the ball rolling, but once this started to stink (and the stench really got strong when the report of the car deals to like 50 players and their family) and the national media started to smell blood, it was all over but the shouting.

From KG

photo In this file photo, Jay Greeson tees off on hole 10 during the practice round of the 2007 Chattanooga Classic at Black Creek Golf Course Tuesday. Official play for the Chattanooga Classic will begin Thursday and end Sunday. Staff Photo by Dan Henry/ Chattanooga Times Free Press

Enjoy the 5at10. Everybody has a favorite memory - a special one that you can remember so strongly it feels like yesterday. What is your favorite memory?

Thanks for the question KG and welcome to the program.

Favorite memory? well, the quick answer is the birth of the 5-at-10 tots, but let's go a step deeper. Favorite memory is a wide question that has so many directions. There's no other way to address this than to break it down by category.

Favorite personal memory (nonchildren division): Seeing my wife walking down the aisle. Perfect vision. Perfect day. (Sidenote: How perfect was it? It was 81 degrees and breezy. In early August. In central Alabama. For an outdoor wedding. We've always been lucky like that.)

Favorite sports memory (attended as a fan): Dec. 2, 1989 in Auburn, Ala. The then-No. 2-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide visiting Auburn for the first time ever. So much emotion - there were at least 40,000 people at the TigerWalk as the Auburn players entered the stadium. The student section was full three hours before the game - and about seven minutes after they opened the doors. Unbelievable electricity and Auburn won 30-20.

Favorite sports memory (as a participant): Playing Augusta National.

From PDavi

photo South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier looks on as quarterbacks Stephen Garcia calls to others as they organized for a group photo during media day Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)

Does Stephen Garcia have naked photos of Steve Spurrier?

Since we're talking about a Southern icon in Steven Orr Spurrier, we're going to use Lewis Grizzard's "nekked" in reference to those photos. Grizzard, a true Southern icon in his own right, famously said "Naked for a Southerner means you ain't got no clothes on. Nekked means you ain't got no clothes on and you up to somethin'."

A straight-up naked photo of Spurrier may not be enough, P-Davi, so if it has to do with a picture it would be the Ole' Ball Coach nekked.

That said, PDavi's theory is as good as any for Spurrier allowing Garcia to return to the team after his fifth (Yes, FIFTH) suspension.

"One more, he'd be finished," Spurrier told reporters at the SEC's meeting. "He's got some guidelines he has to follow or he knows he's finished. Hopefully he can do that."

One more, he'd be finished? Wow. Is that the college football version of double-secret probation, Dean Wormer?

Compromising photos may be the answer, PDavi. But more likely than anything, the answer has a lot to say about Spurrier's belief (or lack thereof) in back-up quarterback Connor Shaw's ability to guide a South Carolina team that has legit SEC championship hopes. Something tells the 5-at-10 that if Shaw was up to snuff in the spring, Spurrier would have gladly walked Garcia to his car. Nekked photos or not.

Until Monday.