Mike Slive will take the floor late Monday morning to discuss autonomy, the future of intercollegiate athletics, the SEC Network and so much more as Southeastern Conference Football Media Days kick off in Hoover, Ala. Ole Miss takes its turn on Thursday. The exercise that is Media Days is one of the most useless yet entertaining events you'll ever encounter. It's comic stuff. Media Days dominates this version of Weekend Thoughts, though I'll add my take on LeBron James' return to Cleveland, the end of the World Cup, the rise of the Chicago Cubs' farm system, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and more thanks to my friends at Grenada Nissan.
1. Three years ago, I spent the week at SEC Media Days and put together several comprehensive stories I was proud of. No one seemed to notice. Two years ago, RebelGrove.com didn't staff SEC Media Days and no one noticed that either. Last year, I made a one-day trip to Hoover for Ole Miss' appearance and drew a litany of complaints from subscribers about a lack of coverage of the total event. In short, I have no idea what the majority of our subscribers expect or want from media days.
It's the kickoff to the college football season, but when everyone rolls out of suburban Birmingham on Thursday, fall camp is still two weeks away. I'll spend the week in Hoover, trying to find some big-picture story ideas and also searching for ways to localize stories from other teams. It's a challenge of sorts, but I'll do my best to make it entertaining.
I expect the league to try to turn the week into an infomercial for the SEC Network, which will be launched on Aug. 14. Dish Network is already on board, as is Cox Communications and AT&T. I've gone on record for months now saying I ultimately expect DirecTV to cut a deal with the SEC and ESPN before the first football game is broadcast on the SEC Network on Aug. 28. The SEC can be a bit of a bully, and DirecTV doesn't like being pushed around, but I still believe the two entities will find common ground in the coming weeks. Otherwise, it's going to be one hell of a busy August for Dish Network installers in the Southeast.
2. I don't expect Slive on Monday to shy away from questions about autonomy, pay-for-play, the O'Bannon trial, the first year of the college football playoffs and other issues facing the SEC and intercollegiate athletics. Make no mistake, the SEC commissioner is perhaps THE power player in college sports, and I suspect we'll get a strong idea of the immediate direction of the NCAA from Slive. I anticipate hearing a lot about Slive's desire for scholarships to cover the complete cost of college attendance at SEC institutions. His thoughts on the O'Bannon trial, now in the hands of the judge in the case, should provide a window into the verdict the NCAA expects. In short, for an event that features a lot of speakers who say nothing, Slive's appearance should be more than a bit buzzworthy.
3. As for the rest of SEC Media Days, expect a whole lot of nothing, though it should be as entertaining as always. Every coach will be excited about his team, proud of his players' work ethic this summer, eager to get started and extremely optimistic about the future.
That segment of the Alabama who lives in mama's basement will be in the Wynfrey on Thursday, jerseys on and pens in hand, waiting for Nick Saban and Co. to appear. I'm not joking; they'll be there, completely oblivious to the fact that they're the butt of jokes from people watching them stalk escalators.
There were will be terrible questions, credentialed "media" who are as much media as I am a supermodel and enough cliches and coachspeak to make Crash Davis beam with pride.
But it's football, and as the calendar approaches August, most of us are more than ready.
4. Bo Wallace won't be the most celebrated player to appear in Hoover over the next four days, but the Ole Miss quarterback is as big a wildcard as there is heading into the 2014 season. Wallace spent the weekend in Thibodeaux, La., at the Manning Passing Academy, and if he stays healthy this fall, he could be poised for the best senior season from an Ole Miss quarterback since Eli Manning in 2003. Wallace played all of last season with his shoulder in less than stellar shape. He never used it as an excuse, but it was obvious as the season progressed that Wallace didn't have his optimum arm strength. Opposing defensive coordinators knew that, too. Wallace should be healthy this fall, and count me among the group that won't be surprised if he has a special season and finally gets some of the credit he's earned over the past couple of seasons.
5. With Chief Brown likely lost for the season due to an Achilles injury, Cody Prewitt's role on this Ole Miss team is as important as ever. There was talk back in the spring of possibly experimenting with Prewitt at linebacker this fall, but with Brown out and C.J. Hampton just a true freshman, Prewitt's job as the anchor of the Rebels' defense is a tall one. At times last season, I thought Prewitt was a liability against the pass. However, Ole Miss struggled to garner much of a pass rush last season, and opposing quarterbacks had too much time to throw more often than not. This fall, Ole Miss' defensive line should be much improved. There's depth where there wasn't any last season, and Dave Wommack is going to have more options in terms of blitz packages. All of that should work in Prewitt's favor as he's a monster against the run with an eye for the ball. He deserves the attention he'll receive this week in Hoover. No one cares more about his team and the Ole Miss program than Prewitt.
6. Speaking of an improved pass rush, the importance of C.J. Johnson's return for Ole Miss this fall cannot be overstated. Johnson's absence last season was palpable. He can wreak havoc in the passing game, is a playmaker in every phase and is a respected leader on and off the field. You're not supposed to cheer in this business, and I don't, but I enjoy covering Johnson. He's funny, engaging, personable and unafraid to have a little fun with the media. I won't be at all surprised if Johnson emerges as a bit of a media favorite Thursday morning.
7. Someone will pick Ole Miss to win the SEC this week and draw ridicule for it. It's an annual occurrence. Here are my picks, for those interested:
SEC East
1. South Carolina
2. Georgia
3. Florida
4. Missouri
5. Tennessee
6. Vanderbilt
7. Kentucky
SEC West
1. Alabama
2. LSU
3. Ole Miss
4. Auburn
5. Mississippi State
6. Texas A&M
7. Arkansas
SEC Champion: South Carolina
8. LeBron James returned to his native Ohio on Friday when he announced his decision to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA's second-best player, and its reining MVP, will have the opportunity to return home in a couple of years if he so chooses. And make no mistake, the Washington Wizards are positioning themselves to make a run at Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016. The Wizards decided to let Trevor Ariza go to Houston on Saturday and signed Paul Pierce to a two-year deal instead. As CSNWashington.com reported late Saturday, the Wizards' positioning to make a run at Durant, a D.C. native, is "real. The hiring of David Adkins, who coached Durant in high school, from the University of Maryland's women's team as assistant coach to player development for the Wizards this past week isn't a coincidence. The building blocks are being put in place now. Ariza is off the books and (Otto) Porter, who is playing on a rookie scale contract, is a much cheaper option. Nene (Alerio), who will make $26 million for the next two seasons, will be off the books as well. So what had been whispered or at least kept to a low roar evolved into some full-blown rumbling Saturday." Other thoughts from the week that was in the NBA:
A. The Heat won't be the same without James, obviously, but the retention of Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade, combined with the additions of Luol Deng and Josh McRoberts, should leave Miami very much in the playoff picture in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
B. The Knicks kept Carmelo Anthony and positioned themselves to make a splashy addition next season (here's looking at you, Marc Gasol). Throw in the addition of underrated Jose Calderon from Dallas and the drafting of impressive-looking rookie Cleanthony Early and there's reason for some long-term hope in New York.
C. I loved Memphis' addition of Vince Carter. The Grizzlies had to have a shooter, and Carter can fill it up.
D. Kobe Bryant was a great player, an all-time top-five performer, but his contract is killing the Lakers right now.
E. The Thunder went after Pau Gasol but couldn't get him. Gasol chose Chicago instead, leaving Oklahoma City to settle for former New Orleans sharpshooter Anthony Morrow. One can't help but wonder if Durant is growing frustrated with the Thunder's front office.
F. Bosh made so much sense for Houston, but you can't blame him for returning to Miami and an additional $30 million. I'm tired of listening to people criticize players for taking the most money available to them. I would do the same thing. So would you.
9. The Chicago Cubs finally dipped into their vaunted farm system last week and recalled second baseman/center fielder Arismedy Alcantara, who is hitting .391 with a home run and 5 RBI through his first five games in the bigs. Shortstop Javy Baez hit a home run for the World Team in the MLB Futures Game Sunday in Minneapolis and could be called up in September. Third baseman Kris Bryant played for the USA team against Baez on Sunday and should be in Chicago sometime next spring. Outfielder Jorge Soler and shortstop Addison Russell aren't far off and outfielder Albert Almora and outfielder/catcher Kyle Schwarber figure to be on fast tracks to Wrigley Field as well. Throw in All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, actual progress on the Wrigley Field renovations project and a roster that features no stupid contracts on the books at the end of this season (well, Edwin Jackson, but it's not crippling), and for the first time since 2008, I'm optimistic about the Cubs. And for the first time in, well, my lifetime, there's reason to actually be hopeful about the long-term future of the franchise. Hallelujah! I'll need some solace when Durant leaves for the Wizards.
When I was a kid, I loved the MLB All-Star Game. Specifically, I loved the introductions. I still kind of do, but it's lost its luster. I'm hoping a Cubbie renaissance pulls me back in. I miss baseball.
Here are my awards, for what they're worth (nothing), at the nominal midway point:
AL MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
AL Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox
AL Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles
NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds
NL Manager of the Year: Ron Roenicke, Milwaukee Brewers
10. Congratulations to Germany, winners of the World Cup. Congratulations to ESPN, who couldn't have covered it better. I'm not sure I'll follow soccer closely over the next four years. In fact, I'm fairly sure I won't. I am sure I'll perk up when I hear certain names, though, and the events in Brazil end with me having a strong appreciation for the sport and the athleticism it requires.
My mother was at my house Sunday afternoon, and she was watching the final with me and my nephew, Drew. He was for Argentina, probably because of Lionel Messi. I didn't care, though I caught myself rooting for Germany (I like their beer). Anyway, when it ended, Drew and I went out to the pool. My mother came out too.
"That was fun to watch," she said.
I thought that summarized things pretty well. It was fun to watch. I'm not one to wish my life away, and in 2018, my oldest will be on the precipice of her senior year in high school. So I won't say I'm looking forward to it, but when the 2018 World Cup begins in Russia, I'll watch with strong interest. Soccer made a new casual fan over the past month. I seriously doubt I'm the only one.
