Ole Miss took two out of three in Starkville over the weekend, ruining Super Bulldog Weekend and moving into position as a potential national top-eight seed. A guy named Bubba won The Masters again, and the Indiana Pacers rectified their season with wins over the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder. See, life without football isn't so bad. Still, I'm leading this week's 10 Thoughts presented by Grenada Nissan with --- what else? --- football. After all, the games are less than five months away.
1. Phil Steele put out his projected top 25 last week, and he opened with Ole Miss at No. 20. I'd buy that. Steele has Alabama (2), Auburn (4), South Carolina (10), Georgia (11), LSU (13), Missouri (18), Texas A&M (19) and the Rebels in his initial guess at the preseason top Associated Press Top 25.
Steele is one of the very best at what he does. His preseason publication is considered a bible of sorts for sports writers and likely for gamblers as well. He simply doesn't miss much.
I don't have anything resembling Steele's track record, but in the spirit of way-too-early predictions and with the knowledge this will engender message board debate (and hate mail), here are my game-by-game predictions for Ole Miss in 2014.
Note: I reserve the right to revisit these, change them and change them again.
Aug. 28 vs. Boise State (in Atlanta): It's the first game for the Broncos without Chris Petersen, who bolted to Washington after the 2013 season. Bryan Harsin took over for Petersen and has injected some strong optimism into the program. Still, there's rebuilding to be done in Boise. Ole Miss, meanwhile, is in Year 3 of a program. My bet is you'll be able to see the difference. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 31, Boise State 20
Sept. 6 at Vanderbilt (LP Field): Ole Miss returns to the Tennessee Titans' home for the first time since a Dec. 30 win over Georgia Tech in the Music City Bowl. Vanderbilt is breaking in a new coach and new schemes. Again, I think that's significant. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 27, Vanderbilt 17
Sept. 13 Louisiana-Lafayette: Mark Hudspeth has done a nice job with the Ragin' Cajuns, but not that nice. Ole Miss should cruise in the home opener. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 38, ULL 14
Sept. 27 Memphis: Prepare for a week of podcasts with me wondering why the Tigers aren't on Ole Miss' basketball schedule. Maybe by then, they will be, and I'll be forced to talk about the NBA, cricket, polo, badminton or swimming. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 44, Memphis 10
Oct. 4 Alabama: This has all the makings of one of the most significant days in the modern history of Ole Miss football. If the Rebels are unbeaten, the potentially top-ranked (or real close to it) Crimson Tide heading to Oxford could (and likely would) attract the ESPN Gameday set to the Grove and set up an opportunity for the Rebels to emerge as contenders. Alabama will be breaking in a new quarterback, but let's not kid ourselves; the Tide is loaded with talent and won't be intimidated on any stage. It's tempting, but I'll have to see it first. Neal's Very Early Pick: Alabama 24, Ole Miss 21
Oct. 11 at Texas A&M: No one is happier than Dave Wommack to see someone under center in College Station not named Johnny Manziel. Manziel beat Ole Miss twice in the past two years in games where a human quarterback would've lost. The Rebels very likely should've beaten the Aggies each of the past two years, and should be in position to do it again in the fall. However, there will be a hangover from the week before, one way or other other. Hugh Freeze's teams, though, have proven to be resilient. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 34, Texas A&M 27
Oct. 18 Tennessee: Butch Jones is going to get it done in Knoxville. Bet on it. He's recruiting at a remarkably high level, and the Volunteers are going to be a force in the SEC East soon --- just not next-year soon. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 30, Tennessee 17
Oct. 25 at LSU: I know Ole Miss always plays well in Baton Rouge. I've seen it. I know the Tigers are breaking in a new quarterback. However, LSU is freaky athletic, and they're going to be seeking some semblance of payback from the loss in Oxford last fall. It's very winnable for the Rebels, but… Neal's Very Early Pick: LSU 30, Ole Miss 28
Nov. 1 Auburn: It's not inconceivable Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Co. make a second trip to The Grove. Change one of my forecasted losses to wins and this game could have MAJOR conference title ramifications. Auburn returns Nick Marshall but not Tre Mason. The Tigers also lost left tackle Greg Robinson. They should be salty on defense, though. This has all the makings of a classic. Neal's Very Early Pick: Auburn 34, Ole Miss 31
Nov. 8 Presbyterian: If I'm right, and the Rebels enter this one on a two-game losing streak, the Blue Hose (that's Hose, Jeffrey, not hos) should pray and pray a lot. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 51, Presbyterian 9
Nov. 22 at Arkansas: The Hogs should be better in Year Two of the Bret Bielema Era, but that's not saying much. If I'm right, Ole Miss will be thinking about the Egg Bowl by the end of the third quarter. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 38, Arkansas 17
Nov. 29 Mississippi State: I expect the Bulldogs will be pretty good in 2014. I don't think Dak Prescott is a Heisman contender, mind you, but he's a solid quarterback. The Bulldogs' defensive line is a handful, something Ole Miss remembers all too well. The loss in Starkville last November is really the only blight on Freeze's resume so far. Until further notice, I'm taking the home team in this series. There appears to be a cycle developing. Mississippi State gets jacked up for Ole Miss in Starkville and wins. Ole Miss then seeks redemption at home and gets it. Rinse. Repeat. Neal's Very Early Pick: Ole Miss 27, Mississippi State 21
Final Very Early Forecast: 9-3 overall, 5-3 in the SEC
2. Ole Miss lost on Saturday, blowing a three-run lead in the 10th inning. It was the kind of game that could ruin a season. Only the Rebels didn't let it. Instead, Ole Miss blew out the Bulldogs on Sunday to take two of three in Starkville and finish the first half of the SEC slate with a 9-6 mark. If the Rebels can repeat that in the second half, which starts Thursday in Oxford against LSU, they'll likely have a home-field path to Omaha. An 8-7 mark in the final five weeks would almost certainly ensure a host site for a regional.
I'll leave the analysis to Chase Parham, but I'll say this: Ole Miss has talked a lot about toughness, and by gosh, this team displays it. It's been hit with adversity three times this season --- a blown lead at South Carolina, a series sweep at Alabama and then Saturday's collapse at Dudy Noble. All three times, Ole Miss has bounced back. Tough teams do that. Tough teams also win late, and that should be a good sign for the Rebels as the stretch drive beckons.
3. Derrick Millinghaus announced via Twitter last week that he was leaving the Ole Miss basketball program. I don't know this, but I'd bet my house Millinghaus didn't have the option to return. Demarco Cox, per sources, will be leaving at the end of the semester. Personally, I won't be remotely surprised if there is more attrition.
Ole Miss brought in two official visitors --- forward M.J. Rhett and guard Roderick Lawrence --- over the weekend and could have another --- forward Jabari McGhee --- next weekend. Andy Kennedy made no attempt to cover up the reality that he was looking to overhaul some of his roster after a disappointing 2013-14. However, some critics (read: fans) want to hold that attrition against Kennedy.
I'm not here to defend or attack Kennedy. That's not my job. I will, however, present the numbers that must be considered when evaluating Kennedy's worthiness. From 2006 through this past season, Ole Miss is 171-101 overall, good four fourth in the SEC behind Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. The Rebels are 75-72 in league play. Only Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt have been better. The Rebels' basketball budget, I assure you, isn't fourth or fifth in the league. Tad Smith Coliseum, which should be picked up by its alien owners sometime in the next two years, isn't the league's fourth or fifth most attractive venue in the eyes of recruits.
Of course, those programs have more than one NCAA tournament appearance each in that time period. If that's the only criteria used to judge Kennedy, so be it. I just think the total picture is more complicated than that, and the numbers presented to you above bear that out, at least in my opinion.
4. My friend Steven Godfrey's story "Meet the Bag Man" on SBNation.com rocked the college football world last week. It was great stuff --- a glimpse into the seedy underbelly of the college game. I was jealous, if I'm honest. I know bag men and I know boosters for multiple schools who I strongly suspect are involved in funneling money and/or inducements to college football prospects and/or players. I've just never known one stupid enough to talk on the record.
Godfrey's accomplishment was finding at least one guy who met that description and getting him to spill it. He then weaved the story brilliantly. Godfrey has received acclaim all over the country, and he deserves every last bit of it. He's immensely talented, and the story was a coup.
Nothing in it shocked me. I've seen the sausage made. Heck, some of the stories included elements and specificities I'd heard before. I caught myself inserting names into Godfrey's account. Again, the shock for me was from the journalism angle. Godfrey got a bag man to talk, to show him his cell phone conversations even --- all on the record. I've rarely been more impressed and stupefied at the same time. Almost a week later, I remain floored.
Kudos, Steven. The next time I see you, the beers are on me.
5. Kevin Durant draws constant comparisons to LeBron James. Old-timers compare his game to Larry Bird's. Durant, however, has been studying a contemporary for the past several months as he looks to improve his game just enough to earn his first NBA title. Durant has been stealing from Dirk Nowitzki.
Since November, Durant has been working with former Auburn star Adam Harrington as his personal trainer beyond his daily duties with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harrington briefly played alongside Nowitzki with the Dallas Mavericks more than a decade ago and has been studying the unorthodox coaching techniques hatched by Nowitzki's longtime mentor and shot doctor from back home, Holger Geschwindner, ever since.
"It's a lot more than just trying to copy the one-legger," Durant told ESPN.com, explaining that he's not merely focused on trying to mimic Nowitzki's signature shot. "Dirk's got a lot of moves I'm trying to steal."
Among the things Durant has worked on with Harrington: Practicing shots with both hands, off both feet and launched from a variety of stances and spins. Durant has also worked on breathing techniques and keeping his fingers wide on the basketball.
Nowitzki and former Maverick guard Steve Nash worked on those things with Geschwinder when they were together in Dallas at the beginning of their careers.
"I don't know him so well," Durant said of Nowitzki, "but I've always liked the way he goes about his business. And I've learned a lot from him by just studying the techniques."
Durant and Nowitzki have squared off in the playoffs two of the last three years. They could meet again in the first round this weekend. For Nowitzki, it could be like looking in the mirror.
Other thoughts from the week that was in the NBA:
A. Durant's Thunder teammate, Russell Westbrook, has always played angry. Since his return from yet another knee surgery, Westbrook has been downright livid. "For anybody who gets hurt, you come back with a bigger shovel," Westbrook told Yahoo! "You want to compete, come back better and compete at the level before you got hurt. It's made me even more meaner. But that's normal for me." Westbrook never missed a game during his first five NBA seasons. He quickly built a reputation as one of the NBA's most confident scorers despite playing alongside Durant. Westbrook suffered a knee injury in last year's playoffs and has missed 35 games this season. He appears healthy headed into this year's playoffs. "I learned different things about my teammates," Westbrook said. "I learned how they react. I learned the game more from sitting on the sidelines. I saw different things as a point guard that are good things to know." Westbrook was averaging 21.3 points on 42.4 percent shooting with 17.9 shots per game before he was sidelined on Dec. 25. Since returning on Feb. 20, he has averaged 22.3 points on 46.5 percent shooting in 16 shots per game. He also averaged 7 assists in 32.9 minutes compared to 6.8 assists in 27.5 minutes since his return. "He looks like he is more explosive and he's making good decisions," Durant told Yahoo. "It looks like he learned a lot just sitting there watching. You think the game more just sitting and watching."
B. With the playoff picture taking final shape in the next 72 hours, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he would consider re-shaping the playoffs going forward in light of the disparity in records between teams in the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. Either Phoenix or Memphis will be left out of the Western Conference playoffs. Both teams would easily qualify in the Eastern Conference. Memphis, currently the No. 8 seed in the West, would be the No. 3 seed in the East. Atlanta, No. 8 in the East, would be No. 11 in the West. "My initial thought is we should take a fresh look at it," Silver told Fox Sports Southwest during Friday's game between San Antonio and Phoenix. "When these conferences were designed, it was in the day of commercial travel. It was very different when we moved teams around the country. In this day and age, where every team in the league is flying charter, it changes everything."
C. Indiana was reeling just weeks ago. In the past few days, however, the Pacers have caught Miami and beaten Oklahoma City and once again reclaimed the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Roy Hibbert is still awful, sure, but the Pacers' performance Sunday against the Thunder in a must-win game can't be denied. It appears the playoffs will still go through Indianapolis, and Miami --- as witnessed by a weekend loss at Atlanta --- isn't the same team it's been the past two or three years. The Heat, while still the favorite, is vulnerable.
D. LeBron James leads the NBA in plus-minus at 8.11. Chris Paul, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki round out the top five. Steph Curry, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli and Kevin Love are Nos. 7-10. Who's No. 6, you ask? You wouldn't guess it if I gave you 30 shots. It's Oklahoma City reserve forward Nick Collison, who comes in at 5.81. It pays to play in the same rotation with Durant and Westbrook.
6. Speaking of the NBA, here are my personal awards for the season that ends Wednesday, for what they're worth, which is not much at all
Most Valuable: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio
Rookie of the Year: Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia
Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago
Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers
First-team All-NBA:
F Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
F LeBron James, Miami
C Joakim Noah, Chicago
G James Harden, Houston
G Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers
Second-team All-NBA
F Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
F Lamarcus Aldridge, Portland
C Marc Gasol, Memphis
G Lance Stephenson, Indiana
G Mike Conley, Memphis
Third-team All-NBA
F DeMarcus Derozan, Toronto
F Paul George, Indiana
C Dwight Howard, Houston
G Steph Curry, Golden State
G Tony Parker, San Antonio
7. The television ratings for The Masters were down some 28 percent on Thursday. When it comes to golf, I might be shallow, but I'm not alone. If Tiger Woods is playing, I'm interested. If he's not, nah, I'll pass.
Anyway, Bubba Watson won again for the second time in the past three years. He greeted his little boy on the 18th hole after clinching the win.
"This place suits him perfectly," his friend and fellow PGA star Ricky Fowler said.
By winning, Watson denied 20-year-old Jordan Speith his first major. He also got me a little bit interested in what could be --- maybe? --- a new golf rivalry. I still want Tiger to return, but if he's out a while, I have something to intrigue me --- at least a little bit.
8. Jacoby Ellsbury stepped to the plate Thursday night in the Bronx, wearing a New York Yankees uniform when a fan screamed out, "Traitor, you traitor!,"
Ellsbury, who spent more than one third of his life in the Red Sox organization, winning two World Series, doesn't apologize for accepting $153 million from the Yankees this winter. If the Red Sox offered him the same, as USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported, he would have stayed.
"The fans in places like Boston and New York and Philly,'' Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino said in an interview with USA Today, "they're diehards. They want their favorite guys to stay in uniform and never go to the other side. Fans grow up in a rivalry and hate the other team.
"Look, the fans are always going to think about it just one way. The reporters are going to think about it one way. But, as players, we look at it as a business. How can you fault the guy?''
Ellsbury receive his 2013 World Series ring from Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and manager John Farrell in a private ceremony Friday. Ellsbury said he hasn't worn his 2007 World Series ring since joining the Yankees, but he told Nightengale he didn't feel slighted when the Red Sox didn't make a stronger attempt to keep him.
His new teammate, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is one of only 19 major-league players who have spent at least 20 years with one franchise, and even Jeter said he can't blame anyone for switching teams in this day and age. There are three players on his own team that were with the Red Sox last year.
"I don't think you can use me as an example," Jeter said. "This is the only place I ever wanted to play. I think it was a big deal when (Wade) Boggs did it. And (Roger) Clemens. And even Johnny (Damon). But there are so many people switching uniforms now, I don't think it's as big of deal now.''
Other thoughts from the week that was in MLB:
A. The Houston Astros' game last Monday against the Los Angeles Angels drew a rating of 0.0, according to Neilsen (via the Houston Chronicle). Last September, the Astros got a 0.0 rating, losing out to reruns of "21 Jump Street" and "The Cosby Show." Last week, NASCAR's Duck Commander 500, delayed a day by rain, drew a 1.7 rating against the Astros and Angels. Baseball fever, everyone. Catch it.
B. The Milwaukee Brewers have won nine straight games, and Ryan Braun has returned from shame to play well in front of adoring crowds. Well, life certainly isn't fair.
C. Third baseman Adrian Beltre is the latest Texas Rangers star to land on the disabled list. It's my fault. He was my second-round selection in my fantasy baseball league. My first pick, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, is on the DL as well. Next year, I'm drafting all Cardinals.
9. Everyone worrying about the Rebels' baseball fortunes or Bo Wallace's shoulder might be worrying over nothing.
Why, you ask?
Well, pastor and author John Hagee believes events happening in the skies and heavens above us soon are precursors of the end times.
I kid you not.
According to the Daily Express, a publication in the United Kingdom, Mars, Earth, and the Sun all aligned last week, a rare 'opposition of the planets' that only happens once every 778 days.
But what made this event so remarkable is that it occurred precisely a week before everyone on earth will see the first of four dark red 'blood moons', an extraordinary event some Christians believe represents the End of Days and the second coming of Christ.
The King James Bible predicts: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD comes," [Joel 2:31].
And, according to NASA, a highly unusual 'Tetrad' - four successive total 'blood-red' lunar eclipses each followed by six full moons - will, indeed, start next Tuesday and finish on Sept. 28, 2015.
The alignment has only happened a handful of times in the last 2,000 years but, remarkably, on each of the last three occasions it has coincided with a globally significant religious event.
Hagee, from San Antonio, Texas, has written a book on the phenomenon. He believes the alignment marks the dawn of a 'hugely significant event' for the world.
"This is not something that some religious think tank has put together," Hagee said. "NASA has confirmed that the Tetrad has only happened three times in more than 500 years - and that it's going to happen now."
The first Tetrad since the Middle Ages, in 1493, saw the expulsion of Jews by the Catholic Spanish Inquisition, which rocked western Europe.
The second coincided with the establishment of the State of Israel - after thousands of years of struggle - in 1949.
The last one occurred in 1967 - far earlier than expected - precisely at the time of the Six-Day Arab?Israeli War.
A spokesman for NASA said: "This is the first eclipse of the year and is well placed for observers throughout the Western Hemisphere. It will occur at the lunar orbit's ascending node in Virgo. This is the first of four consecutive total lunar eclipses in 2014 and 2015 - a series known as a Tetrad."
The first of the four blood moons will come Tuesday this year, during Passover. The second will be on Oct. 8, at the time of the Feast of the Tabernacles.
"On April 4 2015, during Passover, we will have another blood moon," Hagee said. "Then finally, on Sept. 28, during next year's Feast of the Tabernacles, the fourth blood and final moon will dawn.
"To have four and have them fall on these exact dates is something that has to be beyond coincidental. What is so remarkable about these blood moons is that they specifically fulfill prophecies set out in the Bible.
"Joel Chapter Two also says the 'Day of the Lord will be as when the sun refuses to shine.' The really significant fact is that between these four blood moons there will be a total solar eclipse. Even Jesus himself, in the Book of Luke, states there 'will be signs in the sun, moon and stars' and to 'lift up your heads for redemption draws nigh.' There's a sequence of prophetic events that the Bible says will happen. It does not, ever, give a timeline. It just says 'when you see these signs' - and four blood moons is a very significant one - 'the end of this age is coming."
And to think, I've spent most of my life figuring the end times would coincide with that moment just before the Cubs win the World Series.
10. A "life celebration" for Lacey Holsworth, the 8-year-old St. Johns, Mich., girl who became an inspiration for the Michigan State University men's basketball team and its fans, will be held Thursday at the Breslin Center on the Michigan State campus
"Please come to remember Lacey wearing your bright colors and smiles," her family wrote in a post on her Instagram account. "Tiaras optional
"Lacey died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.
In lieu of flowers, Lacey's family has requested attendees make donations to charities of their choice in her name.
I doubt many --- or any --- of us will be in Michigan on Thursday, but I challenge you to do what Lacey's family asked. Let's give to charity, preferably one that fights cancer. Give to St. Jude's. Give to the V Foundation. Give to Dick Vitale's fundraising efforts to defeat children's charity. Take your pick.
Lacey was born in 2006. So was my son, Carson. I simply can't imagine. I pray I never have to. I do plan to do my part to fight cancer and help the incredible people who are working like mad to defeat it. Personally, I think we all owe Lacey that much.
This post was edited on 4/14 5:58 AM by Neal McCready
This post was edited on 4/14 11:09 AM by Neal McCready
