It's Better to Build Boys than Mend Men

Happy Father's Day Weekend

...from all of us at BDB.

If you're a dad, hope the rain stays away from Beth Page long enough for some quality sofa time for you. And even if it doesn't, I hope your children are as adept at bringing you cold beers as mine.

My girls and I just got back from the Bulldog Father and Kids Experience at Woodruff Practice Fields. If you were out there, I'm sure you would join me in saying it was a terrific experience. HOT!...but terrific nonetheless.

Any day you can get a book (same title as this post...check it out at Amazon by clicking here) handed to you by Truett Cathy himself is a day to cherish. There was a great turnout (bigger even than I

expected) and I got to reconnect with two other great dads - Matt Kirby and Shane Todd, both former high school classmates. As operators of Chick-Fil-As in town, they helped lead the event. Shane almost got Coach Van Gorder to do a touchdown dance and Matt is a real pro with a bull horn.

Super job by the Cedar Shoals (Go JAGS!!) coaches running everyone through the drills. I wasn't surprised when Ainsley excelled at the LB drill, but Conner really whipped me at the D-back position. That girl has quite the hip turn and explodes on the ball like Tim Wansley.

The real highlight of the day for me though was just the time with my girls. I got high-fives and hugs, a thumbs up and even a couple of kisses...(from Ainsley). They got to run around on the same field Knowshon used to do backflips on while redshirting. (I chose not to remind CMR of that)

And they got to do this...

The rematch had a similar result... somehow the five year old

was savvy enough to get the side with the

rope again...competitive advantage.

I've added an All Pro Dad widget to the right. If you're a dad and are not yet receiving the daily emails, I would strongly suggest it. As Cathy and Coach Richt said, today's world is losing it's sense of family and more and more fathers are not present in the home. And even if their present...well, we're not always present. I'm sure you get what I'm saying.

It's not easy being a parent. But it's our greatest job. So much more important than anything I can do in the office...and even more important than beating the crap outta Florida on Halloween. It's important to reconnect, refocus and reenergize.

That's what today did for me and hundreds of other dads...and some moms too. :)

So make a date with your kids sometime soon. Check out the All Pro Dad website where you can sign up for the daily emails, and even register to become an All Pro Dad yourself.

Have a great weekend Reader. See ya Monday for some Meatloaf.

Bernie

Where There's Smoke, There Ain't Always a Flame

Anybody who tells you otherwise is either blowing selling something, or is my neighbor. More to follow.

This week's Roundtable helped put to rest rampant speculation that Coach Richt is in any way whining, scared of the St. John's River or jealous of Corch Meyer's OOC skedYule (if you're new here, that's out of conference schedule...try to keep up).

So it was all a smokescreen. Let's surmise:

• CMR - mental giant
• KiffyBaby - grown man, yet drools and wears diapers
• The Visor - loses more than Regis Philbin would on Jeopardy, and wears Depends

So inspired, I tried to produce my own smokescreen this week. Had a mound of leaves, a match and a can of fuel. WHOOOOPFFFT!! Leaves go bye-bye. Flame entinguishes within seconds, smoke lingers for a little longer.

An hour later the lawn was mowed and I was pushing the mower back into the garage. Lo and behold! a fire engine from Station 27 pulled up. Turns out the new neighbor is a rat. Luckily Joe the Fireman was nice, albeit a little miffed that someone had wasted his time by picking up the phone instead of walking next door.

Bernie gets a warning paired with a knowing grin. Joe went back to his lunch at the firehouse.

So - courtesy of the Gwinnett County Fire Department, Smokey the Bear and a lady who dare not darken my doorstep in need of a cup of sugar...here's your Safety Tip: When rolling your neighbor's house, use at least two-ply. That cheap stuff doesn't have the weight needed for trees over 7-8 feet tall. You might just tear a rotator cuff.

Thank you. I'm here all week. Try the veal.

Friday Feedbag

** Ever wonder who the hell writes this (crap)? Here ya go...the rebuttal is forthcoming; my blawggeristic integrity requires me to fact check everything. You know, unlike other greasier, pantsless varieties.
** For something totally unrelated, here's Hale's interview with Chris Burnette. The one from Troup Co.
** Damon's phat checkbook just gets phatter.
** Itch!...MUST scratch!! We're under 80 days 'til Stillwater folks. I certainly hope you've already caught these countdown/preview posts, but if not: Pete Fiutak at CollegeFootballNews gives us a taste of Okie State; Streit reminds us how many yards passing Joe Cox had at G-Day; Mackie puts some chicken on the menu (although don't be surprised that a visit to Rome didn't help the guy master Roman numerals); and BattleHymnNotes breaks the entire season down into two posts: the Grind and the Second Wind.
** Congrats to Tiger Woods on another US Open victory...uh oh!....sorry, that's an ingredient still in the fridge for Monday's Meatloaf. Pardon me!
** Exhile's back in the friendly confines of his cornfield after increasing his HdL to astronomical levels during his whirlwind tour of the home state.
** Our brave Senator took on some toothless grins, chicken salad eaters and vacated victory Sabanites this week in a debate on the wonder that is Layla's husband. Probably the one point almost all could agree on is that one day Laney will only be known as just that, Layla's husband.
** Earlier this week, I weighed in on the recruitment of Jeff Luc of Port St. Lucie, FL.TotalUGA reports that a GA prospect has narrowed his list to three. Click here to see who Alec Ogletree names (sub required).
** After years of denial and epic episodes of screaming at rivals to bark like a dawg!!...Dr. Robinson has diagnosed me as fanatical. Luckily, I own no poster of Newberg. So I'm not ORD.
** Without getting too political, I consider THIS proof that Canada's socialist healthcare system is an abject failure.
** And don't forget the Bulldogs Father and Kids Experience tomorrow at the practice fields. A great way to celebrate Fathers' Day with the kids. According to reader Meg, you Metro ATL dads can also stop by selected Chick-Fil-A's with kids in tow for a free milkshake.

Been a good week. Met Mackie over some greasy onion rings; turns out he might blog pantsless, but he drinks a frosted orange fully clothed. Thank the Good Lord!

And Ainsley converted one of her former classmates to the Dawg Pound. Julianne may have once enjoyed a good rendition of the blue tick'd hound RockyTop. But now she tells her dad to bark like a Dawg!! Way to go Ainsley!! Tell Mommy I said you're good for an extra popsicle at lunch today.

And looking back on my venture with the wrong side of the law this week, I see it as further proof that my life and college football are in perfect sync. How do I figure? Glad you asked. Well...by September the axis will be righted and our blood-thirsty gridiron souls will be satiated.

That's also when I'm next allowed to strike a match outside the safety of my own doors. I figure by then, the leaves, twigs and brush will be piled so high and the fever-pitched desire to drench them in highly combustible fuel will be so great...WHOOOOPFFFT!!

As the mushroom cloud reaches the heavens, I'll be the smoke-stained white boy at Ground Zero singing an eclectic mix of the Trampps' BURN BABY BURN and selected tracks from Def Leppard's Pyromania. That mutha may even burn the remnants of the toilet paper from my neighbor's trees.

Everybody now: Gunter glieben glauchen globen.....DISCO INFERNO!!

Enjoy your weekend Reader. I'm off to stand in line at BestBuy. They're selling some new rotary phone today that's supposed to be all the rage. Make sure and tip your waitresses and don't forget the collect call to dad Sunday afternoon.

Poor bastard.

Bernie

Jeff Luc - Don't Piss Him Off....

...or carry the football in his vicinity. Either could be hazardous to your health.

If you've been tuned in lately to CMRs '10 recruiting class, you've undoubtedly noticed that we've picked up a handful of 17 year old nods in Da'Rick Rogers, Michael Bennett and Brent Benedict in the past week. Add to that a LB prospect in Demetre Baker out of Orange Park, FL and the '10 class is beginning to take a good shape.

Earlier this week PWD gave a good writeup to Jeff Luc of Port St. Lucie, Florida. I have to agree that this kid's john hancock would be HUGE.

Take a look:

As you can see, the kid is violent, fast and incredibly athletic.

Probably the reason his is such a sought after signature and

the #1 MLB prospect in the nation. He would be a great

addition to a kickass '10 class and more importantly CWMs

defense.

Enough of my blabbering...here's Luc's own words:

“I am going to get to the ball.....I am going to go through

anybody in my way, or step on anybody that gets in my way, to get to the ball. I do ladder drills all the time and my coaches are always working me. We are always working to get better, and we never settle. At times, I just rely on my power and when I hit you I am going to make you feel it. I also love to read the play and then step into the hole and make the hit. My coaches blitz me some and I love to read the key and hit the quarterback flush.”

Want more? Here's PWDs take. And as usual, Jensen's all over it. Kid's looking for a school with a good business program...I'd like to see him take care of some bidness 'tween the hedges.

The Man, the Myth...

...the Chess Master.

Last week, the Senator posed the question of What is CMRs end game? Having been troubled lately with all the turn tail and run from J'ville nonsense and bring on the cupcakes talk, the read did me a lot of good.

I figure by the time he reaches downtown ATL with the Bulldog Club tours, the focus will be squarely on T. Boone Pickens' little toy. Where it should be.

Whaddya think? Let's open the phone lines. Mike from Valdosta...you're on the BDB PowerHour, is CMR baitin' the hook or is he three steps ahead of Bernie...as usual?

Monday's Meatloaf - Mammal or Fish?

If you're a northerner...bless your heart. (And if you're a southerner, you know what I meant by that.)

An actual one from Meecheegan, overheard on the beach talking on her cell phone last week: Edith! You won't believe it...we spent 2 grand on the condo and now they're closing the beach....THERE'S SHARKS! Unbeleeeeveable I tell ya.

Gag me with a snowshoe.

There should be a penalty for yelling SHARK! when it's just a dolphin. Makes me appreciate the fact that Grizzard survived the great white north those scant years. If you live amongst denizens that can't tell the difference between a dolphin and shark, what chance is there that they can tell the difference between a 4.4/40 and...Ron Dayne?

So on more than one occasion I just had to leave Nanook the Frozen to fend off the fins to the left...and fins to the right with just their mukluks and the Hilton Head permafrost, to take a dip in the pool. Luckily, that only brought me closer to Buddy the seaside bartender.

And for some reason he was always out of soda pop.

Your Ingredients for Today:

• Summer's here, whether it's official or not. And you know what that means?...even more ads with that creepy Six Flags dancing old man.
• After picking up a BIG commit this week from a top state WR prospect, the Dawgs are holding out hope for another WR from Tulsa.
• Joe has always had a keen eye for research, and he sends this link in from College Football News that remarks favorably on CMRs program, as well as UGAs campus and Athens as a whole. Ol' Joe and I should know a thing or two about UGA co-eds having bedazzled a couple of them long enough to shove a ring on their finger.
• Weiszer's hedge clippings.
• Despite being drafted in last week's MLB draft, the great Hale has obviously decided to stick with his gig at the Macon Telegraph. Here's an outlook for the 2009 season. And here's an apt comparison of an apple and...a nut.
• After a torrid season that ended like a splattered bug on the windshield of a big motorhome with a Utah license plate, Bama IS BACK!!
• Are you a dad? Looking for something to do Saturday morning before devoting a few hours to BethPage? Join me (oh! and also Coach Richt) at the practice fields for Bulldogs Father and Kids Experience. I bet my five year girl can beat yours in skeleton drills.
• Lastly, Title IX (and the ladies who read BDB) require me to post a link to the story that UGA Athletics leads the SEC in gender equity.

Hope Catherine Zeta-Jones is happy now. Maybe she'll return my phone call.

So it is with renewed enthusiasm and vigor that I head back to normal life. I'm sure the office inbox is chock full of goodies. Fortunately it's right next to the trashcan.

It could always be worse though...I could be a lifeguard on Hilton Head Island armed with only a whistle amid a sea of wannabe Jacques Cousteaus. One minute you're just a few minutes away from your lunch break, the next you're telling every dimwit within earshot to get out of the water.

Sounds like a good time for a cheeseburger in paradise. Or a heaping helping of meatloaf. Take a dolphin sized bite Reader....and enjoy!

Nanook and Edith's friend...well, as dear ol' Grizzard would say...Delta's ready when you are.

Bernie

Bernie Went to the Beach...

...and left the intern the passwords and keys.

If you've come by BDB for your weekly Friday dose of fun, Darren's in charge.

Well it all sounds pretty glamorous, but it's just business as usual here at BDB Industries.

The only instructions left were to clean up the microwave and post this video, Bernie's all time (non-Dawg highlight) favorite YouTube clip.

Enjoy. See ya Monday.

Mockery..?? Really, He Went There??

Dave Braine's lovechild had his wittle feelings hurt after a spade was called a spade by a congressman from Tennessee. Now, try to set aside your shock that we still allow the state of Tennessee representation in our federal gov't...and let's get to the task at hand.

Thad-Yo, aka Thaddeus Young, averaged over 14 points and nearly 5 boards for Paul Hewitt during the 06-07 season. In June of 07 he was drafted 12th by the 76ers. During his brief yet productive stay on North Avenue, Young was a management major.

Seems to me (at least thus far) Thad-YO!! has managed his life rather well. Enter Rep. Steve Cohen (D- Tenn), who says:

"(Young) could have gone straight to the

pros. I don't think he's going to be an engineer. It's just kind of a mockery."

After unwadding his panties, Coach (and I use the term loosely) Hewitt retorted:

"Saying a young man choosing to go to school at Georgia Tech, whether it's one year or four years, is a mockery, I just didn't think that was an accurate statement and I thought it was somewhat damaging."

Ok, damaging...I'll give him that. Although the statement in and of itself is much less damaging to the program than the contract Braine bestowed upon the "coach". But a mockery is what it is.

Personally, I see this as more of an NBA vs NCAA issue than a Hewitt v Cohen. That crappy excuse for a professional sports organization is devaluing college basketball by allowing stud athletes to use college programs as a farm system. On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing Lebron didn't go to college.

At any rate, get over it Hewitt...don't you have bigger worries? Like how to get the most mileage out of Derrick Favors...for just one season??

Monday's Margarita - Wastin' Away at the Edge of Seventeen

That's right...time for a vacay. And the meatloaf won't keep in the car all the way to the coast.

And this time we're taking the SEC commish. I mean, who could use a little R&R more that Mr. Slive? Blogging in the off season is not for the feint of heart. But running the SEC machine takes an astute mind, a phat checkbook and a large bottle of Alleve.

It's become quite apparent that for the HillBillys new head coach, reading and deciphering the NCAA rule book is as arduous a task as singing along with Stevie Nicks to a Fleetwood Mac song...word for word. Even if you have a set of lyrics in front of you....What was that she said? Just like a one winged glove....Huh?

H/T The Sporting Blog/LSU Freek

Sorry Laney...YA CAN'T DO THAT!!

Seriously, he either actually thought he could entertain recruits in his office while ESPNs cameras rolled or he thinks for each secondary violation he gets another year on his contract. And I bet a box of mason jars he blames the whole thing on Wendi Nix.

And all you overall'd toothless warriors - the our coach is gettin' us all kinds of attention routine is as old as the swimming schollies Bear Bryant used to give to 280 lb linemen. Cheatin' is cheatin'.

Sings a song sounds like she's swimming...what?

Simple recipe: mix then chill.

• Senator's update on the status of the Kiffin watch.
• After they both batted over .300 and launched 44 balls beyond the playing field, Diamond Dawgs Poythress and Massanari were named to the All Ping! baseball team.
• PWD found Rep. Corrine Brown after a grammar class, but still up to her old hi jinx.
• Are CMR and I growing apart? First the difference of opinion on the WLOCP and now he wants more cupcakes.
• T. Boone Pickens is a BIG money OSU homer, but he likes the Sooners better. Must've gotten hit in the head by one of his windmills...
• And Mike Gundy might be a man, but he's currently working pro bono.
• Speaking of being a man...if you're a Man vs. Wild fan, you undoubtedly tuned in last week to see Bear nearly meet his match in Will Ferrell. Entertainment Weekly has a top five moments from the show, including a clip. Unfortunately they left out the yellow snow synopsis.

Lastly, for all you Roger Federer is the best ever! people...gimme a break. That Spanish turd who tried to put the beret on Roger's gorgeous locks (Jenn's words) would've received a patented Sampras forehand long before that Rennie Curran wannabe security guard tackled him. R-Fed...he cowered and waited for an incompetent french security crew (talk about an oxymoron) to succumb the scum.

Game. Set. Match! Enjoy your new GrandSlamwich Roger. You lucked out, but to your credit...you took advantage of the situation when the stars aligned for you. Oui'Oui'!!

Stay tuned for the next episode of Man vs. Wild when Bear Grylls hosts John McEnroe, Stevie Nicks and KiffyBaby while surviving the recruiting environs of Pahokee, FL. Ms. Nicks translates the NCAA rule book for all while Mac calls the mayor blind...in so many words.

You'll know you've got the right channel when your hear Ol' Kifster say, "Reading is for losers and gas station attendants. I win! Let's all go to my daddy's house on ol' RockyFlop!!"

That and Bear eats the inner workings of the high school's fax machine. Awesome!

Salt or no salt Reader...have a great week!

Bernie

Greene Can Always Come Home

Reading over Hale's Catching Up with David Greene earlier this week got me thinking about a day...way back in...2004...'tween the hedges...

Some thoughts:

• not enough shots of Darth Saban
• Uncle Verne...is that you singing?
• I've got a picture of that second Greene to Brown TD autographed by each to my daughters
• Raiders obviously took pity on Jamarcus after watching film on this game...otherwise I can't explain him being drafted to another team that can't protect the passer
• Saban coaches DBs...??
• not enough shots of Saban
• Thomas Brown can obviously squat two LSU LBs if needed
• David Greene = DamnGoodDawg
• Saturday...October 3rd....2009....here comes the Hat

Have a Pollack-sized Saturday Reader. And if you play the lottery...45 and 16 sound like good numbers today.

Just sayin'.

When in Doubt...Eat a Doughnut

Doubt can be a bond as powerful and sustaining as certainty.

It's a line early in the movie Doubt. Seymour Hoffman and Streep lead a terrific cast; a lot of cinematography and dialogue instead of action, adventure. But overall, a great movie. 

And like all great movies, it got me thinking about college football. More specifically, the Dawgs.

A year ago, we were certain of our talent. The grandest dreams not only had CMRs crew in contention for titles, but had Stafford and Knowshon pitted against each other for the Heisman. 

Right up until a night in late September, certainty was nice and comfy.

This off season there is much that is uncertain. Sure, it helped allay some fears during the spring when Houston showed a tenacity for backfield disruption. But he's not following us to Stillwater.

And as nice as it will be to see a 5th year senior trot out 'tween the hedges as the QB, his claim to red and black fame came against a Colorado defense three years ago (h/t Mackie). And don't get me started on RBs who can't pick up a blitz...

Certainty can breed complacency. Perhaps a little doubt will create some hunger...some fire in the belly. 

Friday Feedbag

• We're gonna need to tidy up around here...Exhile's comin' home.
• Branden Smith committed to CMR before Nat'l Signing Day and didn't back down from that commitment. True to form, recently he refused to back down from the Great  Hale's questions.
• Just as decisive as his dad was in the pocket, Nick Montana is near a decision on his college choice. Jensen has the latest on his recruitment.
• Over at Bulldog Illustrated, Jeff Dantzler has comprised an All Donnan-Richt team and Vance has some good news for golfers who enjoy the scenery that Robert Trent Jones bestowed upon us..
• Dawgs play ball...but also crack the books.
• Get your remotes retuned before the SEC season gets into full swing. Finding the best college football games is gonna take a savvy surfer this fall.
• Mack of Blogging Pantsless fame is providing an opportunity for you to meet a really rich guy tomorrow.
• And in the best for last category, the Chicago White Sox didn't take long to realize that Gordon Beckham is show-worthy.

Without a doubt and with every certainty, Stillwater is only 92 days away now. So close, you can almost start to smell T. Boone Pickens' pit sweat.

Speaking of counting these Dawg Days of Summer down, be sure to click on over to Bubba 'N Earl's neck of the internets. They've got a countdown going that is sure to bring a smile to your face....daily. 

And before you go, be sure to grab your free doughnut - after all, it is National Doughnut Day. We'll celebrate anything in the name of carbs and sugary sweetness.

Much to Homer's delight.

Bernie