Hawks Vs Grizzlies

The 17-6 Atlanta Hawks host Rudy Gay and the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at Philips Arena. Memphis is currently 10-14 on the season, averaging 101.6 PPG but allowing 104.6 to opponents. Atlanta is 10-2 at home and averages 105.8 PPG, while holding their opposition to 97.4.

The key match ups in tonight's game will be Joe Johnson (21 PPG) vs Rudy Gay (21.3 PPG). On the boards, Zach Randolph has been very productive for the Grizzlies, averaging 10 rebounds a game. Al Horford leads Atlanta in this category, averaging 9.3 boards per game.

Atlanta's depth should be too much for Memphis to handle. Jamal Crawford (16.5 PPG) excels in his 6th man role for a Hawks squad that continues to improve.

Opening tip is scheduled for 7:00 on Fox South. You can click on the title of this post to view some Hawks highlights from NBA.com.

Deja Wrong

Alabama fans, you're welcome. I've been wrong on so many picks this year, it ain't even funny. So, why should the SEC Championship be any different? I still can't believe the way UF got manhandled, but who cares? Bowl season will soon be upon us. At this point, it ain't exactly breaking news, but Saban's Tide will face off against Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns to decide a National Champion.

Well, what happens if a Brian Kelly-less Bearcats squad gets dismantled by Tebow and the eye gougers from Gainesville? Does the Fiesta Bowl winner stake claim to one half of the National Championship? Based on their rankings (#4 TCU and #6 Boise State), I'd guess that the undefeated Horned Frogs would have the strongest argument. But, TCU would need to route the loss-less Broncos, in order to breed such a discussion.

If this scenario unfolds, it may add some fodder to the "we need a playoff system" debate, but let's be honest. There will be no split National Championship like we saw in 1990, when G Tech and Colorado both claimed the title. Why? Because 1 program will be crowned king of college football and it will be Texas or (drum roll...not really needed) Alabama. Tide fans, you outta be concerned. I'm picking ya'll to beat Texas by 10.

The National Champion will be crowned where? Click on the title of this post.

And remember...Go Dawgs, ya'll!

P.S. How's the 6-1-9 DC? Hope you're havin' a blast out there, dude.

Hawks Vs NY Knicks

Atlanta opened the game with a flurry, outscoring NY 11-0 in the first minutes of the game. Then, the Knicks went on a huge rally, to take the lead.

After putting 34 points on the 1st quarter scoreboard, Atlanta is currently being limited to 8 in the 2nd (5:19 left at time of post). Al Harrington is dominating his former team, in front of a packed house at Philips Arena. The ex- Hawk has erupted for 25 points.

2 quick tech fouls on Josh Smith and he has been ejected from the game with 6:21 till halftime. Chris Duhon makes 1 of 2 FT. NY leads 51-42. I'll post a few updates later, in the comments section.

Hawks lead by 1 after 3.

SEC Championship

As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for tomorrow's SEC Championship Game vs Florida, they outta beware of deja vu. The victor will once again move on to play in the BCS Championship Game. Unfortunately for 'Bama, they will only be undefeated for one more day. Even worse, their only loss will be to the #1 team in college football. Ok, that's not the bad part. The cruel truth, is that this defeat will plummet the Tide out of National Title contention. Sound familiar? This is 2008 revisited. Well, minus a Florida loss to Ole Miss.

Who do you predict to win this game and why? Also, who will be named MVP of the 2009 SEC Championship Game?

According to Lane Kiffin, "Florida has the better players and Alabama has the better coaches." Call it an educated guess, if you will, but I'm sure Kiffin won't be wishing Urban Meyer any success tomorrow night.

Click on the title of this post for more deja vu. It will show you my pick for MVP of the 2009 SEC Championship Game. Not exactly an earth shattering prediction, but who cares?

Dawgs Win, Johnson Downplays Defeat

What's up, ya'll? It's been an interesting week in the state of Georgia. Last Saturday, Mark Richt took his "bad news Bulldogs" over to Craplanta and defeated the then #7 georgia tech yella jackets 30-24. Whooooooooooooo!!!!

Sorry for the lack of professionalism, but that was pretty sweet. I'm also sorry for the lack of class G.I.T. coach Paul Johnson showed on the radio. In an interview that caught the attention of the AJC's Bill King (the Junkyard Blawg), CPJ decided to throw some stones, shortly after his defense appeared to have none. King quotes Johnson referencing Georgia's program with these "sour grape-ish" quotes:
"What have they done to be the mark for georgia tech football? What's the last thing they've won? 1980?"

Oh, the dreaded 1980 line. Didn't think I'd ever hear an opposing coach throw out such irrelevant trash talk. You see, most of them at least pretend to have some class. But, Johnson is a different character.

In case he forgot, the last thing UGA won, was a game the Dawgs were expected to lose. Johnson's Ramblin' Wreckers were ranked #7 in the nation and UGA was a 6-5 team that just lost to Kentucky. But, Georgia flipped the script on 'em. The Dawgs out-rushed gt by 134 yards, en route to a 30-24 victory in that 55,000 seat stadium on the flats.
Paul Johnson, that's what "they've done" and that's the last thing "they've won." Go Dawgs!!

Click on the title of this post, to hear what I'd really like to tell the gt coach.

Dominique Wilkins

Growing up in Marietta, I often heard about the legendary Blue Devil and Supersonic career of a sharp shooter named Dale Ellis. I attended his basketball camps and once "beat him" at a game called bump. That was always fun.

But, Dominique Wilkins was my hero. He was a man, who rattled rims inside the Omni, the Boston Garden, and every NBA arena he walked into. Wilkins was the greatest athlete I have ever seen. As a kid, I would religiously watch the Hawks on our cable-less TV. The picture used to fade in and out at times. But, no matter how cloudy the reception became, Dominique was always visible. I can remember trying to emulate his dunks on my Nerf hoops. Unfortunately for those thin plastic rims, I often got so excited that I would destroy them, Darrell Dawkins style.

Dominique had what they call "once in a lifetime" talent. He was Babe Ruth to me. The Wilkins led Hawks may not have won an NBA title, but I'm thankful to have grown up watching #21 play the game.

Click on the title of this post, to view highlights of Dominique Wilkins.

Richt Must Choose

A 6-5 season ain't sittin' well in Athens, GA. Especially, when the Dawgs have been tremendously slaughtered by their most hated rivals (45-19 Tennessee,
41-17 Florida, and 45-42 Tech in 2008). Something must change between the hedges. A once proud and dominant Bulldog defense has become one of the weakest units in college football. It's time for Mark Richt to make a very difficult decision. Either Willie Martinez must go, or CMR must go with him. Although Richt built a very impressive resume' during his first 8 years on the job, his program is rapidly decaying.

There are many problems with this year's squad, but the weakest link over the last few seasons is on the defensive side of the ball. I'm not sayin' there ain't play makers over there. There are. And that is the source of extreme frustration for Georgia fans all over the country. You could possibly see 3 Georgia DTs selected on the first day of the NFL draft. If ILB Rennie Curran skips his senior season, he could be one of 4 UGA defenders selected highly by the NFL.

Under the tutelage of Willie Martinez, Georgia's defense has done nothing, but freakishly diminish year, after year, after sorry azz defensive year. It's time for Richt to make a decision. Martinez must go, or he must kick rocks as well. As a proud fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, it's a sad day when I have to write an article such as this. But, Georgia fans don't wanna see any more of this: (click on title of post).

November 28 in the SEC

Iron Bowl: Friday Nov 27: Bama @ Auburn on CBS at 2:30. Tide rolls Tigers.

Saturday November 28:

Clemson @ Sloth Carolina on ESPN and ESPN360.com at 12:00. Tigers storm into ACC title game with a victory over evil Steve and the Gamecocks.

Egg Bowl: Ole Miss @ Miss State on SEC Network and ESPN360.com at 12:21. Rebels kick Mullen's Dogs all over the field.

FSU @ Eye Gouge U on CBS at 3:30. Seminoles stun Gators in Gainesville.

Tennessee @ Kentucky on ESPNU at 7:00. Not sure about this one. But, I'll take the Kats at home.

Arkansas @ LSU on ESPN and ESPN360.com at 7:00. Game will be played in Death Valley, underneath the lights. LSU doesn't lose under those circumstances. Tigers roast Pigs.

Georgia @ georgia institute of technology on ABC at 8:00. Dawgs salvage their season, with a win over the much hated yella jackets.

November 21 in the SEC

Chattanooga @ Bama on ESPN360.com at 12:21. No pick.

Miss State @ Arkansas on ESPN360.com and SEC Network. Hogs over Dogs.

Florida International @ UF on ESPN360.com at 12:30. No pick.

LSU @ Ole Miss on CBS at 3:30. McCluster leads Rebs to victory over Tigers.

Vandy @ Tennessee on ESPNU at 7:00. Commodores fall to 0-8 in SEC.

Kentucky @ Georgia on ESPN2 and ESPN360.com at 7:45. Dawgs win a thriller in OT.

Auburn and Sloth Carolina have a bye.

Saturday's home game versus Kentucky will mark the first time since 1956, that UGA has not had a live mascot on the Sanford Stadium sidelines. Uga VII passed away Thursday and a successor has yet to be named. The young mascot was just 4 years old. Click on the title of this post, to see Uga VII at his best.

Hawks Vs Heat

Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks are playing the Miami Heat in Philips Arena. These teams last met in the NBA playoffs last year. It was a weird series, that saw the home team blow out the visitors in each of the 7 games. Thankfully, my Hawks had the home court advantage and won the series 4 games to 3. Atlanta's play by play announcer, Steve Holman, was criticized for his cynicism of "Dwaaayne Wade." But, I loved his calls.

As I'm typing this post, the 9-2 Hawks lead Miami 21-17 in the 1st quarter. New Hawk, Jamal Crawford just drilled a 3. So far, the great Dwaaayne Wade is scoreless on an 0-4 night in Atlanta.

Click on the title of this post to hear Holman's controversial calls.