Karlos Dansby comments

Check this out, too. This is Karlos Dansby on Paul Finebaum's radio show, explaining why he introduced himself not as an Auburn Grad, but rather listed his highschool. He pretty much calls out Paul Finebaum for being a Bama fan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HA7ayMiHy8

Recruiting...

Check out this site. It is a fascinating approach to predicting where high school football recruits will sign, and it is strikingly accurate at 71 percent.

http://ssbea.mercer.edu/recruiting.htm

It is put together by a group of economists at Mercer University who happen to take an interest in college football recruiting. They base their predictions on factors such as distance away from home, whether the athlete has taken an official visit to the school, whether or not the school is in a BCS conference, the newness of the team's facilities and where the team ended up in the previous year's AP rankings, among other factors. Check it out, it's worth your time if you're interested in recruiting analysis.

Griffey Jr. update

Well, reports were wrong. The AJC reported that Ken Griffey Jr., had basically come to an agreement with the Atlanta Braves to sign a one-year deal. But in fact, he signed with the Seattle Mariners yesterday.

I apologize for prematurely reporting this. 

The move makes some sense for Griffey, as this is where he began his career and we all know how players love to come full-circle with their careers. Although rumors were out there for years that he wanted to come play in Atlanta at some point in his career, they are clearly not true, or he would have decided to become a Brave next year. After all, at this point in his career it can't be about the money. I mean, I may never make $5 million in my entire life - he's made it in just one year of his career, probably even as a simple signing bonus - and I'll probably be okay. 

Anyway, so much for that idea. I still think we'll have a pretty good team this year.

Atlanta Braves...

So the rumor is that Ken Griffey Jr. has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves. Before I get started, let me tell you something about me and the Braves: we go way back and I love them.

I remember back in 1991 when they went worst-to-first to win the pennant. Back when David Justice, Ron Gant and Otis Nixon anchored the outfield, Terry Pendleton was at the hot corner, Jeff Blauser and Mark Lemke up the middle and Sid Bream on first. Greg Olsen was behind the plate and Steve Avery, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine were the aces on the mound. Man, those were great years. I'll never forget watching Francisco Cabrerra hit the line drive into left field with Bream racing around third to beat the throw to the plate, then watching the team eventually lose in the playoffs - but it didn't matter because we were happy just making the playoffs.

Then in 1994, when Griffey was on-pace to shatter the single-season homerun record until the strike. I remember watching the Braves that year, wishing we could land a star like him.

Then in 1995, Chipper Jones was young and awesome, and so was Andruw Jones. They brought the star-power I was looking for. I'll absolutely never forget watching the Braves in the World Series. I was at a friend of mine's house named Jeff Fields for a Halloween party when Justice hit the go-ahead homerun, followed shortly thereafter by the Braves claiming the World Title. That day will always mean something a little extra to me because only a few years later, my friend Jeff died in a car accident. Halloween night was the last time we hung out outside of playing baseball together.

Anyway, SNAP BACK TO REALITY. 

So the Braves are going to sign Griffey. I love it, but I think it may be a few years too late. I think we're talking about the best pure baseball player to EVER play the game. This guy has 600 homeruns and hasn't played a complete season in ten years. And he's done it the right way with NO STEROIDS. Don't get me wrong, I'm very glad we finally have him.

On top of him, it looks like the Braves have bolstered their pitching staff somewhat close to what it was in the 90s. Although Smoltz decided to leave the Braves - a shock to say the least - he has been replaced by Derek Lowe. I hate to say it, but at this point in Smoltz's career, Lowe is an upgrade. Combined with Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Javier Vazquez, Mike Gonzales and Rafael Soriano, this is a pretty solid staff. So maybe, just maybe, the Braves will have a shot at the playoffs again.

Mike Leach...

If you ask me, this whole ordeal between Mike Leach and Texas Tech is absolutely ridiculous.

The latest is that he was offered a 5-year deal worth $12.7 million and he turned it down because of some of the fine print, which includes his buyout and a $1.5 million penalty for interviewing with another team without proper permission. The deal included a $4.4 million buyout if they wanted to fire Leach in his first year.

Here's my take: I think both parties need to be a little more mature about this. Texas Tech seems like a girlfriend who is holding on a little bit too tight. If they would just give him a little bit of the freedom that he wants - and frankly, deserves - I think he would be much happier and more likely to sign an extension.

I think Leach is fairly unhappy in Lubbock anyway and is looking for a very lucrative offer to keep him there. I think he is sure he can find another job if Texas Tech goes sour on him and he seems to not be afraid of it. He is not going to accept any offer that is not exactly what he wants. But, for him to have a problem with receiving proper permission to interview with other schools is a little bit weird. I would think that since the AD told him he would never decline him the opportunity to speak with another school, you would think the two could find a way to put that in the contract somewhere - that way, both parties are happy. Not only can Leach talk to whoever he wants, but the AD will know about it just like he wants. 

Aside from that, if Texas Tech decides to fire Leach, which is apparently a possibility since he failed to meet the deadline to sign his extension, I think they would be sending a terrible message to any future coach. If they fire him, they will drop back into obscurity. What they need is for Leach to have another great year next year without his super-stud receiver and quarterback, then offer him a better contract to keep him there. That's how they need to proceed if they want to build their program into a perennial contender. Tech needs to realize how important football can be to a university.

AND, I totally agree with Leach when he said this: "I am not familiar with the notion of firing someone for failing to sign an extension to a contract. That notion to me is mind-numbing. But I guess stranger things have happened. I don't know what part of this is based in rumor or fact, but I can't fathom it. Maybe there are reasons I don't know about."