The first Saturday of the college football season is just 19 days away. The NFL follows suit a few days later. The Major League Baseball season is nearing the final stretch of the regular season and the NBA released its 2015-16 schedule. My thoughts on those topics and more follow here in a link-heavy version of 10 Weekend Thoughts presented by Oxford-based RE/MAX agent Harry Alexander.
1. Media covering Ole Miss will get a viewing opportunity on Tuesday morning this week. Hugh Freeze and selected players will talk to media on Tuesday. On Friday, media will speak with selected assistant coaches and players.
Until then, there’s little news to report. In 19 days, there will be a score on a scoreboard and a game in the books. We’ll know more then.
There was some news around the Southeastern Conference over the weekend. Here’s a sampling:
Is Kyler Murray the next Johnny Manziel? Some around Texas A&M think so.
http://collegesports.blog.statesman...hman-qb-kyler-murray-the-next-johnny-manziel/
Speaking of quarterbacks, Alabama still hasn’t named a starter at the position, and Nick Saban is tired of being asked about it.
http://coachingsearch.com/article?a...labama-quarterback-race-I-cant-make-it-happen
Jakob Johnson is learning a new position at Tennessee.
https://tennessee.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1792736
At Florida, Jim McElwain says he’s remodeling, not rebuilding.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/florida-gators-football-sec-2015-preview/?ex_cid=story-twitter
Arkansas _ and running back Jonathan Williams, specifically _ got terrible news Sunday.
http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2015/aug/16/williams-could-miss-2015-broken-foot/
Gannett’s Glen Guilbeau wrote Sunday night Brandon Harris is going to be LSU’s quarterback.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/stor...16/guilbeauharris-lsus-starter-book/31832853/
2. Ole Miss has made the final five for Motlow State Community College guard Jaylen Barford, according to his hometown newspaper, the Jackson (Tenn.) Sun.
Barford, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard, has listed Arkansas, Memphis, Missouri, Ole Miss and Xavier as his top five, in no particular order. As a high school senior, Barford led South Side to the Class AA state championship with 22.5 points and 7 rebounds per game.
During his freshman year at Motlow State, Barford averaged 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line.
3. This week, it’s the final installment in the division-by-division predictions for the NFL. It’s time for the NFC East, home of the enigmatic Dallas Cowboys, the impossible to predict Philadelphia Eagles, the weird Washington Redskins and Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
I want to pick the Giants, as I think they’re potentially the sexiest story in the division, but it’s really tough to see them getting to 10 or more wins.
http://m.nydailynews.com/sports/foo...e=twitter.com&utm_campaign=RVacchiano+Twitter
I’ll go with the Cowboys, who I believe are positioned to win 11 games and take the division. Philadelphia is putting a lot of hopes on Sam Bradford, but Chip Kelly has managed a pair of 10-6 seasons since bolting from the college game. The Redskins’ defense should be better, and I really believe Jay Gruden is a strong coach, but it’s hard to see them getting to .500. As for the Giants, the offensive line is going to be their undoing. I’ll say the G-Men go 7-9, which would make it very difficult for the organization to give Tom Coughlin more time.
Speaking of Manning, the player he was essentially traded for on draft day 2004, Phillip Rivers, signed a contract extension Saturday night, one that included $65 million _ that’s SIXTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS! _ of guaranteed money.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...agreed-to-a-contract-extension-030326592.html
4. The St. Louis Cardinals lost to Miami, 6-4, Sunday and saw their lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central reduce to five games. The Pirates swept the New York Mets over the weekend, leaving the Mets with a season mark of 0-13 against the Pirates and fellow N.L. Central division mate Chicago Cubs.
Speaking of those poor Cardinals, they just can’t catch a break, can they? God bless ‘em. But hey, maybe there’s good news on the horizon. Adam Wainwright could return in September. I’m having a hard time containing my excitement.
http://m.stltoday.com/sports/baseba...5441-a491-09ef720c1687.html?mobile_touch=true
The key to the Cardinals’ success, however, might be luck. No, seriously. The Cardinals’ key could be clusterluck.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-st-louis-cardinals-cluster-luck/?ex_cid=story-twitter
The Kansas City Royals were in the World Series nine months ago. Nine months later, well, you know…
http://www.kansascity.com/living/article31043529.html
5. The NBA schedule came out on Thursday afternoon and, predictably, there’s a whole lot of LeBron James and just as much Golden State Warriors coming your way. The Warriors’ NBA Finals defeat of James’ Cavaliers drew major ratings, and the NBA took notice.
The season begins on Oct. 27 with the Chicago Bulls playing host to Cleveland followed by the Warriors opening defense of their title at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.
If you want to see who turns the dial in the NBA, however, check out the Christmas Day slate. The Pelicans and Miami Heat start the holiday in Miami. Chicago heads to Oklahoma City that afternoon. A Finals rematch between Cleveland and Golden State is the highlight of the day, leading into an evening doubleheader featuring the Rockets and Spurs and the Lakers versus the Clippers.
In other NBA notes:
Kevin Durant believes he’s back to full health following his most recent _ and most controversial _ foot surgery.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...n-bone-break-in-foot-but-says-hes-healthy-now
Speaking of foot injuries, Joel Embiid will undergo yet another season-ending foot surgery on Tuesday. He’s hoping Durant can be an inspiration.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Michael Jordan is still making millions upon millions.
http://mweb.cbssports.com/nba/eye-o...h-money-michael-jordan-has-made-in-retirement
The Washington Generals are done losing, and that’s a sad thing.
http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/washington-generals-folding-harlem-globetrotters/
6. James Harrison ignited a social media debate of sorts on Sunday when he made a post on Instagram about trophies his sons received recently.
"I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies!” the Pittsburgh Steelers standout wrote. “While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues”
While I understand Harrison’s point, at least to an extent, I think this is much ado about nothing. My kids have gotten trophies for finishing a season. They don’t care about them, really. Attention spans at that age are short. My daughter, Caroline, is a competitive dancer. She’s 12. She wants to win. Badly. She wants first place, not second. She wants platinum, not gold, or however that works. She wants to get invited to nationals, etc.
I love that competitive drive. However, I’m not sure the world is going to stop spinning if young boys and girls get a little $6 trophy along with their juice box and slice of pizza at the end of the day. Some people take youth sports far too seriously.
7. It’s been a long, difficult year from Packers coach Mike McCarthy, and none of the suffering has been due to football. The loss of his brother put Green Bay’s NFC Championship Game loss to Seattle in context quickly.
http://www.nfl.com/lostandfound
8. Regardless of where you stand on climate change, this is interesting stuff (or at least I think so).
http://www.rollingstone.com/politic...e-change-nightmares-are-already-here-20150805
Along those lines, scientists are worried about this year’s El Nino.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
9. A record number of Americans are unplugging, meaning they’re consuming media online only. Given what we pay for DirecTV each month and living in a house with three kids who consume programming so much differently than I do, I found this fascinating.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e6c79d46-4104-11e5-9abe-5b335da3a90e.html#axzz3j2HSkHel
10. Now for some random links:
I’m never going to get religious here. Spiritual? Maybe. Philosophical? Probably. Political? Against my better judgment, at times. But I leave religion to others. I’m extremely private about mine, and if that disagrees with your view, that’s cool. It’s OK. It’ll all get sorted out eventually, right? Anyway, Carl Lentz had some pretty interesting _ and occasionally profound _ words of advice that he shared in a recent interview with Esquire.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politic...w-2014/?src=spr_TWITTER&spr_id=1456_222842967
Have you ever wondered why you feel so awful after a long flight? It might be all about the air you’re breathing up there.
http://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/he...0001&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
Finally, Jim Cornette is out of professional wrestling, and he’s thrilled about it.
http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...ornette-finds-relief-away-wrestling/31780625/
1. Media covering Ole Miss will get a viewing opportunity on Tuesday morning this week. Hugh Freeze and selected players will talk to media on Tuesday. On Friday, media will speak with selected assistant coaches and players.
Until then, there’s little news to report. In 19 days, there will be a score on a scoreboard and a game in the books. We’ll know more then.
There was some news around the Southeastern Conference over the weekend. Here’s a sampling:
Is Kyler Murray the next Johnny Manziel? Some around Texas A&M think so.
http://collegesports.blog.statesman...hman-qb-kyler-murray-the-next-johnny-manziel/
Speaking of quarterbacks, Alabama still hasn’t named a starter at the position, and Nick Saban is tired of being asked about it.
http://coachingsearch.com/article?a...labama-quarterback-race-I-cant-make-it-happen
Jakob Johnson is learning a new position at Tennessee.
https://tennessee.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1792736
At Florida, Jim McElwain says he’s remodeling, not rebuilding.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/florida-gators-football-sec-2015-preview/?ex_cid=story-twitter
Arkansas _ and running back Jonathan Williams, specifically _ got terrible news Sunday.
http://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2015/aug/16/williams-could-miss-2015-broken-foot/
Gannett’s Glen Guilbeau wrote Sunday night Brandon Harris is going to be LSU’s quarterback.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/stor...16/guilbeauharris-lsus-starter-book/31832853/
2. Ole Miss has made the final five for Motlow State Community College guard Jaylen Barford, according to his hometown newspaper, the Jackson (Tenn.) Sun.
Barford, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard, has listed Arkansas, Memphis, Missouri, Ole Miss and Xavier as his top five, in no particular order. As a high school senior, Barford led South Side to the Class AA state championship with 22.5 points and 7 rebounds per game.
During his freshman year at Motlow State, Barford averaged 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line.
3. This week, it’s the final installment in the division-by-division predictions for the NFL. It’s time for the NFC East, home of the enigmatic Dallas Cowboys, the impossible to predict Philadelphia Eagles, the weird Washington Redskins and Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
I want to pick the Giants, as I think they’re potentially the sexiest story in the division, but it’s really tough to see them getting to 10 or more wins.
http://m.nydailynews.com/sports/foo...e=twitter.com&utm_campaign=RVacchiano+Twitter
I’ll go with the Cowboys, who I believe are positioned to win 11 games and take the division. Philadelphia is putting a lot of hopes on Sam Bradford, but Chip Kelly has managed a pair of 10-6 seasons since bolting from the college game. The Redskins’ defense should be better, and I really believe Jay Gruden is a strong coach, but it’s hard to see them getting to .500. As for the Giants, the offensive line is going to be their undoing. I’ll say the G-Men go 7-9, which would make it very difficult for the organization to give Tom Coughlin more time.
Speaking of Manning, the player he was essentially traded for on draft day 2004, Phillip Rivers, signed a contract extension Saturday night, one that included $65 million _ that’s SIXTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS! _ of guaranteed money.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...agreed-to-a-contract-extension-030326592.html
4. The St. Louis Cardinals lost to Miami, 6-4, Sunday and saw their lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central reduce to five games. The Pirates swept the New York Mets over the weekend, leaving the Mets with a season mark of 0-13 against the Pirates and fellow N.L. Central division mate Chicago Cubs.
Speaking of those poor Cardinals, they just can’t catch a break, can they? God bless ‘em. But hey, maybe there’s good news on the horizon. Adam Wainwright could return in September. I’m having a hard time containing my excitement.
http://m.stltoday.com/sports/baseba...5441-a491-09ef720c1687.html?mobile_touch=true
The key to the Cardinals’ success, however, might be luck. No, seriously. The Cardinals’ key could be clusterluck.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-st-louis-cardinals-cluster-luck/?ex_cid=story-twitter
The Kansas City Royals were in the World Series nine months ago. Nine months later, well, you know…
http://www.kansascity.com/living/article31043529.html
5. The NBA schedule came out on Thursday afternoon and, predictably, there’s a whole lot of LeBron James and just as much Golden State Warriors coming your way. The Warriors’ NBA Finals defeat of James’ Cavaliers drew major ratings, and the NBA took notice.
The season begins on Oct. 27 with the Chicago Bulls playing host to Cleveland followed by the Warriors opening defense of their title at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.
If you want to see who turns the dial in the NBA, however, check out the Christmas Day slate. The Pelicans and Miami Heat start the holiday in Miami. Chicago heads to Oklahoma City that afternoon. A Finals rematch between Cleveland and Golden State is the highlight of the day, leading into an evening doubleheader featuring the Rockets and Spurs and the Lakers versus the Clippers.
In other NBA notes:
Kevin Durant believes he’s back to full health following his most recent _ and most controversial _ foot surgery.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...n-bone-break-in-foot-but-says-hes-healthy-now
Speaking of foot injuries, Joel Embiid will undergo yet another season-ending foot surgery on Tuesday. He’s hoping Durant can be an inspiration.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...tml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Michael Jordan is still making millions upon millions.
http://mweb.cbssports.com/nba/eye-o...h-money-michael-jordan-has-made-in-retirement
The Washington Generals are done losing, and that’s a sad thing.
http://sportsworld.nbcsports.com/washington-generals-folding-harlem-globetrotters/
6. James Harrison ignited a social media debate of sorts on Sunday when he made a post on Instagram about trophies his sons received recently.
"I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies!” the Pittsburgh Steelers standout wrote. “While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I'm sorry I'm not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I'm not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best...cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better...not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues”
While I understand Harrison’s point, at least to an extent, I think this is much ado about nothing. My kids have gotten trophies for finishing a season. They don’t care about them, really. Attention spans at that age are short. My daughter, Caroline, is a competitive dancer. She’s 12. She wants to win. Badly. She wants first place, not second. She wants platinum, not gold, or however that works. She wants to get invited to nationals, etc.
I love that competitive drive. However, I’m not sure the world is going to stop spinning if young boys and girls get a little $6 trophy along with their juice box and slice of pizza at the end of the day. Some people take youth sports far too seriously.
7. It’s been a long, difficult year from Packers coach Mike McCarthy, and none of the suffering has been due to football. The loss of his brother put Green Bay’s NFC Championship Game loss to Seattle in context quickly.
http://www.nfl.com/lostandfound
8. Regardless of where you stand on climate change, this is interesting stuff (or at least I think so).
http://www.rollingstone.com/politic...e-change-nightmares-are-already-here-20150805
Along those lines, scientists are worried about this year’s El Nino.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
9. A record number of Americans are unplugging, meaning they’re consuming media online only. Given what we pay for DirecTV each month and living in a house with three kids who consume programming so much differently than I do, I found this fascinating.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/e6c79d46-4104-11e5-9abe-5b335da3a90e.html#axzz3j2HSkHel
10. Now for some random links:
I’m never going to get religious here. Spiritual? Maybe. Philosophical? Probably. Political? Against my better judgment, at times. But I leave religion to others. I’m extremely private about mine, and if that disagrees with your view, that’s cool. It’s OK. It’ll all get sorted out eventually, right? Anyway, Carl Lentz had some pretty interesting _ and occasionally profound _ words of advice that he shared in a recent interview with Esquire.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politic...w-2014/?src=spr_TWITTER&spr_id=1456_222842967
Have you ever wondered why you feel so awful after a long flight? It might be all about the air you’re breathing up there.
http://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/he...0001&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
Finally, Jim Cornette is out of professional wrestling, and he’s thrilled about it.
http://www.courier-journal.com/stor...ornette-finds-relief-away-wrestling/31780625/
