Rich Rodriguez making changes in Ann Arbor

Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press has an article about the changes Rich Rodriguez has made in Ann Arbor... "When Rich Rodriguez arrived in Ann Arbor for the first time on Dec. 17, 2007, he knew very little would be staying the same. Those close to him had some idea, his new players had a hint of an idea and fans pretty much had no idea." ...

Mark Snyder

Alabama-Clemson - Will the Tigers roar in Atlanta?

Alabama Crimson Tide (0-0) vs. Clemson Tigers (0-0)
8:00 p.m. (EST) - ABC - Atlanta, Georgia
Michigan favored by 5.5 points
Alabama Quick Notes - Alabama returns 9 on the offensive side of the ball...the Tide's strength is its offensive line which is anchored by OT Andre Smith and C Antoine Caldwell....John Parker Wilson is an ole hand at QB and he has one of the most exciting true freshmen in WR Julio Jones...the Bama defense improved as the year went on, but it will have its hands full against an explosive Clemson offense...

Clemson Quick Notes - this is a huge game for the Tigers...a win here, and Clemson could slide into the BCS title hunt - a loss, and they can forget about a national title...the Tigers possess the nation's best RB tandem in C.J. Spiller and James Davis...they also have a soild QB in senior Cullen Harper (6-4, 220) who threw 27 touchdowns passes and just six interceptions...however, the Tigers have an entire new offensive line...the defense has 8 players returning including the entire secondary...look for true freshman Da'Quan Bowers to make an impact at DE...

Prediction - If this game was played in October, Alabama would give the Tigers a battle...but not this early in the season....Clemson 28-13...

Utah-Michigan - Will Rich Rodriguez begin with a W?

Utah Utes (0-0) at Michigan Wolverines (0-0)
3:30 p.m. (EST) - ABC - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Michigan favored by 4 points
Utah Quick Notes - the Utes, from the Mountain West Conference, make their second trip to Michigan...in 2002 they lost 10-7...even though they are a slight underdog again this year, many skeptics of Michigan football believe Utah can walk out of The Big House with a W...Utah is led by senior QB Brian Johnson...when healthy, Johnson is capable of creating problems...injuries have kept him from living up to his potential...the Utes also have the conference's best RB in Darrell Mack and K Louie Sakoda...Utah's defense is susceptible to the run - something that Michigan may not do a lot of this year...

Michigan Quick Notes - No matter if Nick Sheridan or Steven Threet start at QB, expect to see running back Carlos Brown under center during the course of the game...the Michigan depth chart indicates three starting wideouts - watch for true freshmen Darryl Stonum (#22) and Sam McGuffie (#2) to see action...there are so many question marks on the offense, but people forget, the Michigan defense is still solid...the D-line is anchored by Tim Jamison and Terrance Taylor...Obi Ezeh headlines the linebackers...and veterans Morgan Trent and Donovan Warren are still at CB...

Prediction - This is going to be a close game...it will come down to late in the game, but Michigan wins 30-24...

Dan LeFevour - High octane quarterback

Dan LeFevour, Junior, Central Michigan
Quarterback, #13, 6'3" - 230 lbs.
LeFevour just may be the first quarterback drafting when he decides to enter the NFL Draft...the kid has size, arm, and speed...he became the second player in I-A history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season (Vince Young, Texas, 2005)...LeFevour was the first quarterback to lead his team to a Mid-American Conference (MAC) title as a freshman and a sophomore...

In 2006, he was the MAC Freshman of the Year when he threw for 3,056 yards, 26 TDs and 10 Ints...he followed up his freshman year with a banner 2007 as he was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year...he finished with 3,562 yards, 27 TDs, and 13 Ints...

Chippewa head coach Butch Jones had this to say about LeFevour in the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, "Dan has that 'it' factor," Jones said. "You may not be able to define what 'it' is, but you know when someone has that special leadership quality and Dan is clearly a leader, not just on the field, but in the locker room and in the classroom. He can walk into a room and command instant respect."

Interesting note - CMU is pushing LeFevour for the Heisman Trophy...the CMU Marketing Department spent $50,000 to rent a 30-by-60 foot billboard on the back of Comerica Park's scoreboard near the main entrance to Ford Field, where incoming Detroit Tigers and Lions fans can see his photo...LeFevour is an Academic Honrable Mention as he holds a 3.53 GPA...

Michael Oher - the best offensive lineman in college football

Michael Oher, Ole Miss
Offensive tackle, #74, 6'5" - 318 lbs.
If you are looking for a player to root for this year, I have that person for you - Michael Oher....Oher will probably be the first offensive lineman drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft...he is a consensus First Team All-American...Oher had a difficult, yet interesting life...he is the subject of Michael Lewis's 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game...

Growing up was not a fun time...his father was not involved in his upbringing and was murdered when Oher was a junior in high school...his mother was a crack addict...Oher had to repeat first grade...he attended 11 different schools during his first nine years as a student...he bounced around to various foster homes...he finally found stability when he was 16 and moved in with a white family by the name Tuohy...

Oher never played offensive tackle until his senior year...he turned heads immediately and was recruited by LSU, Tennessee, and Florida to name a few...but he chose Ole Miss because the Tuohys were graduates from there...

Blue Ribbon College Yearbook had this about Oher: "If Mike has a big year this year -- which we expect him to have -- he's going to be one of the top picks in the draft," said Kent Austin, Arkansas Offensive Coordinator. "He's got such a great combination of size and athleticism. He's a big tackle with great length and great feet. He's very quick off the ball and he's got a great center of balance. He's got the tools he needs to handle the great edge rushers in our conference."

FF Toolbox, an NFL draft site, had this written about Oher, "NFL scouts love how Oher is able to control the line of scrimmage. His massive physical frame, coupled with excellent footwork, makes it almost impossible for defensive linemen to get around his pass protection. His quick feet also make him a strong run blocker, as he's able to get to linebackers and neutralize their pursuit of the ball."...

The video below is of Oher at this year's SEC Media Day...

Norm Chow looks to "paint" a new picture at Westwood

Chris Foster of The Los Angeles Times writes about Norm Chow's return to college football... "Chow was on vacation with his family in Europe this summer when, stepping out of the Sistine Chapel, he discovered he was the second-most recognizable person in Vatican City that day." ...

Chris Foster

Suzanne Halliburton of the Austin Statesman writes how Texas head coach Mack Brown is trying to reconstruct the Longhorns... "Through the preseason, coach Mack Brown has worked to reconstruct a team around the key players from the 2007 squad — such as Miller and quarterback Colt McCoy. Moreso than in past years, Brown will have to rely on a number of less experienced Longhorns, many of whom signed immediately after the 2005 national championship." ...

Suzanne Halliburton

United States Are Gold Medal Champions Again!

MISSION
COMPLETE

Sports Illustrated cover of Michael Phelps did not go over big with Washington Post reporter

Robin Givhan of The Washington Post was not happy with the Sports Illustrated cover of Michael Phelps... "But Sports Illustrated did him an injustice with its Aug. 25 cover. The photograph treats Phelps like a pinup, like beefcake, like a babe. And he is none of that." ...

Robin Givhan

Obama Girl - Is She Happy with Biden as Veep?

Sex will be rampant in the Olympic Village as the Beijing Olympics come to a close

This article in The London Times bluntly details what will be going on in the Olympic Village this final weekend of the Beijing Games - Booty Call!!!...according to Matthew Syed, a former Olympian and wuthor of the article, it is basically nothing but sex all weekend... "I played my first Games in Barcelona in 1992 and got laid more often in those two and a half weeks than in the rest of my life up to that point." ...

London Times

Greg Middleton - Indiana's stud player

Greg Middleton, Indiana
Defensive end, #92, 6'3" - 275 lbs.
How did this stud and future NFL star get past Ohio State, Michigan, and Notre Dame?...Middleton, who is from Indianapolis, earned a number 6 state ranking from Rivals.com prior to the 2005 season and closed his senior year with 79 tackles and nine sacks...

In 2007, as sophomore at IU, he led the nation with 16 sacks...Middleton was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, presented to the top defensive end in college football...he was named first team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media...that was Indiana's first All-Big Ten first team selection from the defensive line since Adewale Ogunleye in 1997...

He picked up All-America distinctions from the Walter Camp Football Foundation (second team), the Associated Press (third), The Sporting News, CBSSports.com, SI.com (second), Rivals.com (second team) and CollegeFootballNews.com (first team)...

This is what was written about Middleton in the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook: "As a freshman in 2006, end Greg Middleton (6-3, 275) had six tackles in five games. Not the kind of numbers that would have a coach projecting greatness. But Indiana co-defensive coordinator Joe Palcic had a feeling something big was coming from Middleton, calling him the team's best lineman before the season even started. Middleton spent the 2007 season proving Palcic right, recording a national best 16 sacks in a breakout season.

Now a junior, Middleton will be a candidate for several national awards in 2008. He was a finalist in 2007 for the Ted Hendricks Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive end. Middleton was an easy pick for the All-Big Ten team.

"We feel good about what he's doing," Palcic said. "He continues to improve. He'll be an NFL prospect when he comes out."

NFL Films - Video of Gene Upshaw and Raiders offensive line

Gene Upshaw Dies of Pancreatic Cancer

Former Oakland Raider Hall of Famer and NFL Player's Union President Gene Upshaw died today of pancreatic cancer...Upshaw was just diagnosed with the disease last Sunday...he was 63-years-old...

ESPN

Michael Crabtree - the best receiver in college football

Michael Crabtree, Sophomore
Wide Receiver, #5, 6'3" - 214 lbs.
Michael Crabtree - remember the name!...as a redshirt freshman last season, Crabtree sprouted onto the national scene with a mind boggling 134 receptions for 1,962 yards and 22 touchdowns...

Crabtree played "bigtime" against the big opponents...he led the team with 12 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown in Tech's upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma...against the Texas Longhorns, he made a team-high nine catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns...let's not forget the man throwing him the ball, Graham Harrell...

At the end of the year Crabtree walked away with the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver...he also took home the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year...Scout.com had this to say about Crabtree, "Michael Crabtree is the best receiver the school has ever produced, and that includes Wes Welker." ...

The Blue Ribbon Preview had this, "Crabtree, who made the Blue Ribbon and Playboy preseason All-America teams, among many others, has always been a strong receiver, able to keep corners from pressing on the line, but in the spring he showed he's even stronger and his technical skills, such as route running, are even sharper."...

As an interesting sidenote, when asked what his favorite activities are, Crabtree listed "cutting hair"...after watching this 3:30 clip, you will realize that Crabtree also loves to cut up defenses...

John Scott Challis - an 18-year-old kid who did his best

I first read about John Scott Challis when the New York Yankees came to PNC Park to play the Pittsburgh Pirates...Challis was an 18-year-old kid from Pittsburgh who was dying...he got to meet some of the New York Yankees including Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez...a few weeks later, at the height of the A-Rod-Madonna stories, Challis visited Yankee Stadium...he was determined to visit Yankee Stadium this year...

When the Yankees heard he was going to be at the game, they had A-Rod meet up with him...in the afternoon, Challis hung out at A-Rod's penthouse...A-Rod then drove Challis and his dad to the Stadium and allowed them to stay on the field during batting practice...

On Tuesday, August 19, 2008, Challis died...so if you thought you had a bad day today, stop for a few moments and read his story...
John Scott Challis

When asked a few weeks ago how he would like to be remembered, John said, "I could see people having some beers and hopefully remembering how I always tried my best, no matter what I was doing. That's my message -- just for people to always do their best, no matter what they're doing or how stupid it might seem. And no matter what, there will always be a reward, no matter how small it is."

George Selvie - the best defensive end in college football

George Selvie, Junior
Defensive End, #95, 6'4" - 245 lbs.
In 2007, South Florida showed the country they are a force in the college football world...also 2007, South Florida defensive end George Selvie put his stamp on being a force at sacking quarterbacks...the first ever consensus All-American in school history...led the country with 31.5 tackles for loss and needed just one more to break the NCAA record...second in the country with 14.5 sacks...

The College Football News wrote this about Selvie, "Selvie opened eyes as a freshman. As a sophomore, he made them bulge. One of the most explosive ends in the country, he erupted for a nation’s-high 31.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks, commanding constant double teams. An All-American who’s just a few years removed from being a center, Selvie’s a three-down guy that’ll also pitch in on running downs. He’s such a disruptive force, everyone on the defense benefits from his presence." ...

Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook wrote this, "If there was one player who epitomized USF's sudden emergence on the national scene it was junior end George Selvie (6-4, 242). Selvie started as a freshman in 2006, contributed 5.5 sacks and earned freshman All-American honors by The Sporting News. Despite that auspicious debut, no one could have predicted what Selvie accomplished last season. After becoming USF's first consensus All-American last year, Selvie achieved another USF first this summer when he was selected to Playboy's All-American team. He's also a member of Blue Ribbon's preseason All-American team, among others. Rivals.com chose Selvie as its No. 2 "Scariest Defender" in college football, behind only USC linebacker Rey Maualuga."

Coaches call him the best practice player on the team...he is also a good person off the field...Selvie participates in every community service opportunity around the athletics department and football program...

Interesting fact - A Buick rolled off a car jack and onto his head as a infant...still has a dent in his head from the accident to this day...moved many times as a youth because his father was in the military...

Mark May and Lou Holtz talk Big 10 football

ESPN's Mark May and Lou Holtz give their thoughts about the Big Ten this football season...

10 Greatest Athletes - Jim Brown, Jim Thorpe, Bo Jackson, Babe Ruth, Wilt Chamberlain, etc.

With Michael Phelps' amazing feat of 8 Olympic gold medals, ESPN's Buster Olney wrote in his blog about who he thought were the 10 greatest male athletes...he listed in no particular order:
Babe Ruth, Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain, Wayne Gretzky, Pele, Willie Mays, Lawrence Taylor, and (tie) Michael Jordan and Emil Zatopek.

My top 10 (in no particular order) varies a bit...to me, a great athlete does not mean someone who dominates their sport, such as Tiger Woods...to me, a great athlete is someone who can do various sports extremely well or various aspects of their sport very well...below are my top 10...

- Deion Sanders - Sanders was the best lockdown cornerback in the NFL...he was also a good baseball player who had super speed...he was not a baseball All-Star, but he was good enough...

- Bob Hayes (right) - Bullet Bob won the Olympic gold in the 100 meters at the 1964 games...afterward, he played wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys...he was a good receiver...Hayes is the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring...

- Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis - these two are lumped together because they both won 4 Olympic gold medals at one Olympics in four different track and field events...they were not only fast, but they were also the best at the field event of long jump...

- Wilt Chamberlain - Wilt was a badass on the basketball and volleyball court...he did not let his height become a hindrance...

- Bo Jackson - Bo was not a Hall of Famer at baseball, but he was mighty good though...he had a terrific arm...and in football, he was a freakin' BEAST!!!...if not for the hip injury, he would have been enshrined in Canton, Ohio...

- Jackie Robinson - besides all the crap he had to deal with at baseball, Robinson was also a very good football player at UCLA...he was UCLA's first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track...

- Jim Thorpe - Thorpe won the decathlon at the 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm...he was also a rugged football player who played almost any position...former president Dwight Eisenhower played against Thorpe and had this to say after he injured his knee while trying to tackle Thorpe..."Here and there, there are some people who are supremely endowed. My memory goes back to Jim Thorpe. He never practiced in his life, and he could do anything better than any other football player I ever saw."...

- Jim Brown (left) - Jim Brown was the best running back ever...but most people don't realize he may have also been the best collegiate lacrosse player ever too...

- Michael Phelps - Phelps dominated his sport of swimming...but unlike Tiger Woods in golf, Phelps won at varying distances in the pool...and he won his 8 gold medals all within a week's time...often times, having to swim different lengths during the course of a day...

- Babe Ruth - The Babe was simply a Freak of Nature...imagine Alex Rodriguez being able to pitch like Jim Palmer...or imagine Greg Maddux being able to hit like Albert Pujols...The Babe would have been a Hall of Fame pitcher if he stayed on the mound...and he would have easily hit over 900 homers if he was not a pitcher early in his career...

Who are your Top 10 Greatest Male Athletes?......

Check out this 3 minute clip of Bo Jackson and his great plays when he strapped on the helmet of the Silver and Black...

Elena Delle Donne leaves U. Conn; plans to play for University of Delaware

Elena Delle Donne announced today that she plans to enroll at the University of Delaware...story below is from the New Castle-Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal...

DelleDonne hopes to attend UD this fall

Ex-Ursuline star issues statement on decision to leave UConn

The News Journal

Elena DelleDonne intends to enroll at the University of Delaware this fall, the former Ursuline basketball star said in a statement released this morning.

DelleDonne, who has decided to forego a basketball scholarship from the University of Connecticut, will not be eligible to play sports at UD for one school year because UConn has not released her from the scholarship.

DelleDonne, widely considered the nation's top girls high school basketball recruit last season, has not said specifically why she decided not to go to UConn.

"Both UConn and I require a 100 percent dedication to the sport, and as of now I feel I cannot give that level of commitment," she said. "It therefore would be unfair to the excellent program, Coach Geno Auriemma, the team, and UConn fans for me to play."

Elena DelleDonne's statement

"I have decided that in the best interest of both UConn and myself that I will not play college basketball this year. Both UConn and I require a 100% dedication to the sport, and as of now I feel I can not give that level of commitment. It therefore would be unfair to the excellent program, Coach Geno Auriemma, the team, and UConn fans for me to play.

Coach Auriemma and the team have been extremely understanding during this time of my transition from high school to college, and I thank them for that. I am especially grateful to Coach Auriemma whose kind wisdom has shown me why UConn is such a class program.

I intend to enroll at the University of Delaware for my freshman year this fall.

Elena DelleDonne"

The Best Damn NFL Site - PERIOD!!

If you want the best darn coverage of the NFL, check out The Zone Blitz...everything is one click away...he has links to game stories, videos, boxscores...all that shit...so if you are a REAL MAN - a true NFL Fan, then you better check it out...from what I hear, I believe L.T. checks it out...