an outside view

I’m cleaning off my desk getting ready to take a little vacation. My belated spring cleaning uncovered my lost watch, an old hot dog wrapper, a picture I had printed off of the Internet of my girl friend of 30 years ago, a Mother’s Day card that I meant to give to my wife, and these notes. 

~Bruce Pearl has to be the best spring recruiter in college basketball. His November recruiting class was anything but sensational. It was mediocre at best. Then he comes along after the season and lands two Top 40 prospects, a highly coveted JUCO player, and a point guard with two Michigan state titles under his belt. Anyone remember Duke Crews and Ramar Smith?

~What gives with the rush of football commitments? Signing day is over nine months away and Phil Fulmer has 13 of his 25 scholarships already committed. How long until we see college football coaches taking commitments from 8^th graders like we are seeing in basketball?

~The popularity of NASCAR is at an all-time high but it still has an image problem. Like it or not, mainstream America sees it as a redneck sport. The sport will never live up to its potential until it recruits some African American drivers. It defies logic as to why there are no black drivers. The Williams girls have changed tennis and Tiger has taken golf by storm. NASCAR must make that a priority. 

~I don’t claim to be an NBA fan but wasn’t it gratifying watching the Celtics return to glory in defeating the Lakers for the NBA title? It wasn’t Larry Bird versus Magic but it was a great series nonetheless. Kobe again failed to win a ring without Shaq and the Lakers weren’t able to steal a championship after the Grizzlies gave them Pal Gasol. I still think the NBA needs to investigate that trade.

~I recently had a mom tell me God was leading her son to give up high school soccer to get more involved in the church. I commended her for her son’s commitment to his religious beliefs. Of course, I took it to mean even God doesn’t like soccer.

~Denver Nugget’s star Carmello Anthony plea bargained his DUI charge and pleaded guilty to driving while having impaired ability. Never heard of that one. It must not be against the law in Tennessee.  Judging from the wacky drivers I see on Chapman Highway, we have a lot of folks with no ability at all.

~Radio shock jock Don Imus is back in the news with what some interpreted as a racial slur. Anyone with a brain knows it wasn’t such a slur but that doesn’t matter. How is Jesse Jackson going to make the news if he can’t slam some white guy for being a racist? 

~How ‘bout them Cubs? The lovable losers from the north side of the Windy City are off to a great start and appear to be the class of the National League. Could this be the year the Curse of the Billy Goat comes to an end? We can only hope not. Such would have to be a sign of the end of time.

~Former Steelers quarterback and current NFL television analyst Terry Bradshaw admits that he took steroids to help him overcome injuries as a player. It just goes to prove there are long-term effects of taking steroids. You will go bald and say stupid things in front of millions. 

~The British Open or PGA Championship without Tiger Woods is like strawberry shortcake without the strawberries. Tiger may be hurting after season-ending knee surgery but not as bad as the PGA having to go it alone without its biggest star. TV ratings for the final two majors will plummet with no Tiger on the prowl. The good news is someone else will have a chance to win but will anyone notice?

~ Can anyone tell me who the boxing heavyweight champion is? Talk about a sport that is struggling.

~Are you as tired as me of hearing all the reasons Big Brown lost? He got beat. End of story. 

~The 2008 Summer Olympics are just around the corner.  To that I say, “YAWN”. The money has ruined these once proud games. They are now just a showcase for overpaid professional athletes.

Well, my desk is all clear. Until next time.