Saturday DawgNews

Turns out, Ohio State brought a bag of softballs to Tallahassee. 

The Diamond Dawgs exploded for season highs in runs, hit and total bases on their way to 24-8 weather-delayed butt whoopin'. They'll take on the host Seminoles today at 4pm (tv ESPNU, radio 960theRef).

• UGAs Track and Field is heading into the weekend tied with Tech in the NCAA East Regional up in Greensboro. Note to readers: always stand behind junior Chris Hill when he's throwing the javelin.
• Mark Bradley has us losing four games this fall...one of which is to NATS. We're meeting at 9pm to go roll his house. Bring at least two rolls of TP and a healthy dose of angst.
• Damon Evans is bringing home a BIG wad of cash from Destin.
• Lastly, you may have heard that Erin Andrews wants to wear skimpy outfits and dance around on a reality tv show. Over at Blogging Pantsless, Mackie has you set up with a useful list.

If you have a spare couple a hours and just love being outside in the yard...my lawn could use some attention. Preeesheeate it!

From Destin With Love...

SEC coaches were destin'd to make some headlines...

Master planner, Laney "Cookies" Kiffin showed up at the league meetings with bells on. Turns out making an ass of himself and a mockery of the program with the guts...er...idiocy to hire him was all part of a grand scheme. 

I won't rehash the quotables for you, but it basically boiled down to: I make plan. Make Daddy happy.

So when the voWels are floundering in SEC East obscurity, our dear hillbillys can thank Al Davis for setting this scheme in motion. In related news, KiffyBaby also asked media members if they would like to buy some beachfront condos with indoor plumbing in Knox County.

What an oxymoron. The good news in all this is that Corch Meyer is as ornery as toddler slinging peas. Not in the cute YouTube way either. More like the I just cleaned the floor and this brat is painting it green kind of way.

If you're a parent...you get that.

Friday Feedbag

• Long overdue, but congrats to Nama for finishing last weekend's SCAN Foundation's 5K Run/Walk. If Bernie hadn't used a well hidden Segway half-way through, Nama would have easily walked away with (another) free-t-shirt. 
• So what's worse that losing you're cheatin' coach to college roundball's most storied program?...being that storied program.
• Diddy...sit on these hot coals for a little while longer.
• It took nearly two centuries, but Georgia Sports Blog found a way to celebrate gamechicken athletics.
• Weiszer discovered that CMR feels a little "weird" at the head of table this week. Spurrier reportedly tried to sit in Richt's chair, but SEC bylaws reserve it for a coach who actually has a QB on roster. 
• Lots of great stuff from Hale this week as he clearly has made the most from his travel allowances. He's got a good blog post on how (vastly) different CMR and Slurban are when it comes to handling criticism, a piece on what it's like to prepare for a daunting schedule (something floriDuh's coach knows nothing about as well) and a great interview with '09 signee Jordan Love.
• As for next year's recruits, TotalUGA has two (free) reports on a couple of stud GA players.
• The WLOCP has been a hot topic for the crapfest that is the AJC the past month. CMR is now mum. This Bulldog Illustrated post about sums up how I feel. 
• Outside the hedges, spring sports' post-season play has commenced. The women's softball team dropped their opening game in the CWS out in Oklahoma City. Perno leads his team out of the dugout today at noon. And the men's golf team is surviving the new NCAA format up in Ohio...barely.
• And Exhile has discovered that NBC thinks John Salley is actually a celebrity. Supposedly, the former tech hoopster even took his own entrance exam for the reality tv series.

I made my usual $5 weekly donation to GA 

Lottery funds last week. Since I am typing this still under the weight of a mortgage, you can surmise that I also made a donation this week. 

But, as luck would have it I found a genie's lamp last weekend and my first wish was granted.

It was hard to focus through my fly eyes, but I was able to see Slive throw two empty tylenol bottles at the Mouth from tha Outhouse, yelling This is what you've done to me!!  The SEC head honcho then handed out some serious benjamins before I had to skedaddle. That reptilianTweebot lover was eyeing my perch on the wall while showing his tongue.

I sure do hope Charleston Southern School for the Blind Nuns scores a touchdown on those gators.

Oh well, better shut this down before I get pulled for another BUI. Enjoy your weekend Reader. Whether you earned it or not.

Bernie

Rules IS Rules...but...

Roundtable Wednesday. 

About three months ago I wrote this post recalling the round ball phenom that was Len Bias and his subsequent, premature passing. It was the height of the A-Rod saga, or at least I thought it had reached it's apex.
Since then, we've seen a couple of Dawgs suspended by Coach Richt. The reports seem to match the supposition - failed drug tests. And I was about over it, until a story broke late last week that is related...and should really have Dawg fans wondering.
Jeremy Jarmon failed a drug test. He's a stellar D-end for Kentucky; he's an even better man. Model citizen, holds one degree, working towards another, team leader, community volunteer.
Big news, right? It got even bigger when Jarmon called his own news conference to clear the air. Seems he had decided to drop some weight and visited a local GNC, purchased an OTC product and began taking it.

Jarmon said his goal in the offseason was to become leaner. He bought a dietary supplement while shopping for vitamins on the recommendation of a worker at a nutrition store, not knowing that it contained a banned substance.

Unfortunately, Jarmon skipped a crucial step: he didn't take the product to a trainer until the it was in his system. By the time he did...it was too late.
Then it got worse. Jarmon was entering his last year of eligibility. The mandatory penalty is one season.
Jarmon's collegiate career is now over.
All that to say, this guy buys something over the counter and loses what's remaining of his college career. Other players get caught with an illicit drug in their system and they lose a couple games. What Jarmon did was careless. What Figgins and Houston did was stupid. Jarmon will no longer wear Kentucky blue. Figgins and Houston will grace the field together by mid-season.
Crawford said it best in his editorial:

Yes, Jarmon made a careless mistake. It should not define him. Jarmon is one of those guys whose jersey you could be happy to let your kid wear. Still.

Something doesn't add up. There's not an ounce of me that would condone what Jarmon did. And on Saturday November 21st, I'll be real glad he's not 'tween the hedges. But the NCAA is basically saying to youngsters across the nation that it is one thing to roll a joint....but you best not visit your local GNC.
Ever.

Memorial Day Weekend Wrapup

Great weekend of grillin' and chillin'. If you unplugged even more than I did, here's what you may have missed.

• The Diamond Dawgs struggled through the Saturday rain in Hoover and dropped two shortened games to eventual champion LSU. Yesterday, the NCAA field was announced and Perno has the bus pointed south to Tallahassee.
• During the post-season, junior hurler Alex McRee will work from the bullpen. Hale's blog has a good recap with a look at some telling stats.
• Magill had a look at Dawgs who have lost their lives in service to our great country.
• Sticking with the Memorial Day theme, Rex Robinson had a nice tribute to every person who has paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we hold so dear. He also has a fresh perspective on a new F word and is ready to draw a line in the sand.
• Men's golf team is Toledo bound as they take dead aim on what would be their third Nat'l Title in 11 years.
• And Catfish and Cornbread has Eric Zeier as third on its countdown that ends Friday. Speaking of the former QB, the announcement should come soon on who will be manning the radio booth this fall.

Diamond Dawgs Drenched Out of Tourney

Coach David Perno's Diamond Dawgs faced LSUs murderers row of bats Saturday needing just one win to advance to the championship, but their greatest enemy was the weather. They dropped both rain shortened games and were eliminated from the tourney. Now we wait until Monday to find out our NCAA fate. My guess would be a visit to Clempson's regional.

TotalUGA write up

ABH write up

the SEC sports play by play

UPDATE: Dawgs headed to Tallahassee 

to the FSU regional. Will face Ohio St.

Hoover Doesn't Suck, Buffaloes Crap Their Pants and Orson Completes Me

It's a Holiday Weekend Chargrilled 

Watermelon-Cooled Edition Reader!

My humble blawg was trampled earlier this week and I've spent the last few days cleaning up the dung. When you're averaging one (singular) reader a day and suddenly are averaging nearly 

50 an hour...well, I eventually figured sumpin' wuz up. Turns out some Colorado football fans caught wind of a post a couple of weeks ago relating to our Dawgs possibly moving an away game to the GA Dome and link'd it to a message board thread.

So I learned that buffaloes are a paranoid breed. They not only remember being 27 point underdogs in '06 and only losing by one, but it is a brightly colored feather they have stuck in their cap. The thought of not getting a crack at Joe Cox and Jeff Owens' successors in their own stadium is filling 'em full of false bravado.

And as much as I welcome visits and clicks, getting link'd at a site entitled netbuffs.com isn't a feather for my cap. Watch your step. I think I missed a pile.

Saddle up...it's a three day weekend-sized...

Friday Feedbag

• Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall will undergo a transformation over the next year and a half. For you visual learners, back in January PWD found this rendering.
• Let's see - KiffyBaby's assistant has about as much of a grasp of NCAA compliance as the wonder genius himself. Yep! That about adds up. But this story begs the question: what the hell kinda map is the UT AD trying to refold?
• TotalUGA has a look at Coach Fox's newest roster addition.
• Diamond Dawgs earn a relaxing Friday afternoon by advancing in dramatic style over the hogs. Alex McRee will take the mound Saturday and lead the Dawgs in facing the winner of today's S. Carolina/LSU game.
• First he destroys Urbie's MNC trophy. Then he spurns every major program in the country to come to Athens. Now Orson's waxing so poetic I'm recalling lines from the end of Jerry Maguire. Mr. Charles, you had me at Go Dawgs!
• For you Nittany Lion fans that were worried JoePa was ruffling too many feathers...well, he's now back to toeing the company line.
• No doubt inspired by Bernie's skills in the first round of the USTA playoffs, Nate Schnugg has advanced to the NCAA round of 16 in singles while surviving the opening round in doubles with partner Jamie Hunt. On the women's side, Chelsy Gullickson has also advanced.
• Slurban calls this "adapting". I'm with the anonymous SEC rival coach, and hope it's "disastrous." And I guess we can safely assume the anonymous coach wasn't the Kif'ster. For one, he's not clever enough for that high a level of humor. Two...well, it's pretty obvious isn't it? 
• Doc Saturday echoes sentiments expressed here and abroad before, but in a way that is full of class and realism. There are readers out there who will throw up in their mouth a little when they read this...but I'd rather have CMR w/o the MNC, than have Slurban w/ his two.
• And don't even think about questioning my seriousness in that statement; I mean it from the bottom of my Dawg heart. CMR is more than a coach for our program, he's a man all alumni can look up to with pride. And he'll be here as long as we'll have him. Maybe it's the bright orange shoes and the pretty scripted helmet, but I just don't see it in Corch Meyer.
• Lastly, if you enjoy The Office half as much as I do, you'll appreciate this timeline of events in the history of our favorite paper company. Guess I waited too late to replenish my supply of dot matrix paper...

Don't forget that free t-shirts are being given away tomorrow at the 3rd Annual Skin Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk to any participants who finish ahead of Bernie. Those that finish behind him can hand over their self-respect at the finish line. So wake up, drive down, lace 'em up...and you're all but guaranteed to be rewarded.

After that there's a full weekend of family fun, relaxation and some char-grilled goodness planned. In between, I'll be keeping an eye on Hoover and doing some vehicle shopping 

evidently. Sure hope the Diamond Dawgs transmission isn't slipping like the one in my Dodge Ram. So it sounds like a good weekend to give the oven some time off. Afterall, who eats meatloaf on Memorial Day?

God bless those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Bend a knee, say a prayer, raise a glass - or do all three. 

Have a weekend Reader.

Bernie

SCAN Foundation 5K Run/Walk Saturday

Just another plug for a great event for a great cause. I mean let's face it, you're not gonna fire up the grill or ice down the beer until later Saturday afternoon. So why not come out and get a little excercise and a free screening.

Here's a link to the SCAN Foundation website for more information - CLICK HERE

Here's my first shameless promotion w/ actual pictures of Dooley - CLICK HERE

And here's a summary of last year's event - CLICK HERE

An Evening with Coach

I've never man-dated, but when a friend invites you to tag along to ESPN Zone to a Meet and Greet with Coach Richt...well, I'll give it a go.

On the way down Peachtree I decided to take the opportunity to pretend I was the great David Hale, or a member of JensenSports, or even a beat writer for the AJC. When moderator Randy Waters asked for questions from the audience I had at least 20 lined up.

CMR was gracious enough to answer one.

It is through countless tears that I type to you that he indeed does NOT read BDB, or any blog for that matter. Guess that comes as even more of a shock to respectable bloggers like Senator, Exhile, PWD, newcomer Rex...maybe even Mackie. But to be honest...how could he not read Hale. Even my wife reads Hale.

Ouch...maybe I shoulda led with the Will you and Kathryn join our Supper Club? Or perhaps a mundane How do the guys look in shells Coach?

But the excitement heated up when my date revealed to all within earshot his true Oregon State colors. After I thanked Coach for his time, Cord pressed him for a time and day when the Dawgs would play the beavers, head to head, mano eee mano.

Get this...Coach asked if that was the University of Oregon. (Oh no he dih-ent!?!)

I thought Cord (a former Beaver FB) might bulldoze our fearless leader. Luckily the smell of more chicken tenders and warm tater-skins distracted Mr. California HamDog long enough for a housewife from Marietta to move in for her face time.

Disaster averted. Some other thoughts and surmisings:

• CMR is excited about the depth and talent at interior D line
• He doesn't make recruiting a competitive event between his assistants; feels that might compel them to offer a kid who's more suited for NATS (my analogy, my emphasis)
• Shanequa pours a good Sweetwater Ale
• Somehow Bernie mistook the honey mustard dipping sauce for melted cheese and poured it over his salsa
• It is not a recruiting violation for a kid from the Norcross HS junior varsity squad to ask CMR a question if his name was drawn out of a cardboard box once stationed inside a Publix supermarket
• Publix and Kellogg's do not pay for beer poured by Shanequa
• CMR puts housewives from Marietta on hold when his son buzzes dad's blackberry
• Pretty sure Bernie was the only blogger in attendance; other Publix patrons not amused by his homemade "press" credentials
• Honey mustard salsa is pretty good on chips, but not as good as cheese
• CMR enjoys speaking to other UGA athletic teams and thinks Yoculan could kick Paul "Bear" Bryant's ass!! (my words, my emphasis); he's proud that the b-ball team is 1-0 after his speeches...but glad Coach Fox is on board
• The most interesting thing I thought was that after giving Cox the expected and much deserved vote of confidence, he said that he doesn't expect another QB to supplant him. There was something in the way he said it that made us think that maybe one of these QBs is pressing hard....hmmm...maybe this guy.
  

You're welcome Reader. While other prima donna media types are covering high profile stud recruits, high school baseball or at home eating Haagen Das...your faithful blawgger is on top of the comings and goings of the state's biggest rock star.

And even though he and Kathryn won't be hosting our next supper club, I'm pretty sure Coach Richt comes by this area of the cybersphere every once in a while. So...thanks Coach!...and kick Urban's ass on Halloween. There's some extra Rice Krispie treats in it for ya!

Bernie

CMR Meet and Greet

Some pics from last night. I'll have a more thorough synopsis up later today, including a video where CMR admonishes me for having no accountability. Well, that might be overstating it some, but you get the point.

Randy Waters asks if Kathryn uses Rice Krispies

in her treats or the cheaper Publix box

Explaining how he manages recruiting

These are the people I'm about to push 

aside for a little face time

Random Musings

Let's clean off the desk...

• Worried about depth at D-end? It won't help allay your fears for Okie State, but TotalUGA has a look at one of the state's most sought after products, TJ Stripling of SW Dekalb. And at 6-6, 215...it's no wonder he has offers from all over the southeast. (subscription required)
• In the wake of Donnan's NCAA shout-out, lots of discussion about Erk being excluded from the CFHOF. Perhaps GSU alum Chris Carroll put it best, It's a tragedy. Here's a collection of links in case you missed one or two: newly re-named Dawg-Leg Write, Tucker's blog,Barnhart weighs in, and the Senator asks What if.
• I've read a lot of material on the man I consider to be God's greatest gift to college football, T. Kyle King's tribute just after Erk passed away is the greatest read. If you can read that without your heart sinking just a little...well, I have no use for you.
• The Jacksonville/GA Dome debate rages on. Evans continues to impress me as AD and I liked his words on the subject. But I feel like the writing is on the wall. I don't like the idea of this game in the ATL, but I think it's a matter of time before we see a game or two (at least) played there.
• Maybe I'll ask CMR about it tonight at dinner. That's right...tonight's the night. If you have a question you'd like me to pose, lemme know. I'm sure he'll be all ears as long as he doesn't stand us up.