Recent Sports Stuff

Conference Realignment:

All August everyone talked about Texas A&M moving to the SEC and conference realignment. Now, even with football season having started, people are still talking about it. So, I might as well chip in. I have no problem with it. And here is how I see it shaking out if indeed there does become four 16-team superconferences:

(I've only listed teams that are making a move)


SEC:

Texas A&M - Obviously A&M wants to come to the SEC and it's almost a done deal.

Missouri - This makes sense because it broadens the SEC's scope to the big State of Missouri which includes two major cities.

Florida State - FSU said no to the SEC in the early 90s, and I don't think they will go if they only expand to 14. But if we're talking about going to 16, I think stretching into new markets is over, and the SEC looks for quaility programs...so FSU gets the invite and accepts.

Clemson - Clemson is basically a misplaced SEC school. They round out the 16 nicely.


Big 10 (assuming they don't change to Big 16 like they should):

Notre Dame - They are forced to make a move. A. because it is too much money to pass up. B. they don't want to be left behind as an independent

Syracuse or Rutgers - The Big 10 wants to get into the New York market, this allows them to.

TCU - This allows the Big 10 to get into the Texas market and Texas recruiting.

Kansas or BYU - Kansas seems like a good pick for basketball reasons, but it's not a big market and supposedly Kansas is a package deal with KSU so it might not work out. BYU has a national following among Mormans, and a pretty good football program.


ACC:

Florida State and Clemson leave for greener pastures in the SEC.

After the Big 10 takes their picks from the Big East, the ACC gets the leftovers.

South Florida - This move replaces Florida State's absense in the ACC...up and coming program from a big market in Tampa.

West Virginia - WVU would like to go to the SEC, but aside from a rabid SEC-like fanbase, West Virginia doesn't offer that much to the SEC...but they are a good program so they land in the ACC.

Pitt - Big market, the only reason the Big 10 didn't take them was because of Penn State. Maintains the Pitt/WVU rivalry.

Rutgers or Syracuse - Whichever team the Big 10 doesn't get.

Louisville - Pretty populated city in Louisville, potential for a good football program.

UConn - Not much more to choose from.


PAC 16:

Oklahoma - The PAC 16 offers them a solid conference that is less difficult to win than the SEC.

Oklahoma State - They follow Oklahoma.

Texas - They go ahead and move West, probably abandoning the Longhorn Network.

Texas Tech - They follow Texas.


Baylor, Boise State, Iowa State, Kansas State, TCU or Kansas, and Cincinnati were once in top conferences but are left without a chair when the music stops.



Atlanta Braves:

The Braves have been playing horrible of late. Losing 6 out of 8 and letting the wild card lead slip to four and a half games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. Everything was looking great...the starting rotation was good, the bullpen was excellent, and the lineup was looking like one that could contend for a World Series. Then Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens got hurt and the Braves have struggled since. I think they will be able to find their way out of this funk and clinch a postseason berth, but they'll have to find some starting pitching (ah,em Derek Lowe) for the playoffs.



U.S. Open:

It was good to see two American players make the quarterfinals this year. John Isner played a really good match against Andy Murrey on Friday...too bad the top four are so good, including Nadal wasting Roddick.

Melanie Oudin, who is from Marietta, GA lost in the first round for singles but won mixed doubles alongside Jack Sock with little fanfare. The funny thing about that is, they had never played together before the Open and only decided to join forces a couple weeks ago.

Today's men's final is going to be a good one, Nadal vs. Djokovic...the two best players in the world. Not only is it a rematch of last year's final, but Nadal is the defending champion and Djokovic took Nadal's Wimbeldon title away this year too. I'm predicting Nadal will win today.



UGA Football:

Mark Richt is in hot water for sure. It's not that they are 0-2, it's the way they've become 0-2. One more slip up and he is gone. I don't think he'll be fired before the end of the year unless it all falls apart, but his fate will be sealed with another loss in the next 3-4 games. I don't know what the magic win number is, but if he doesn't win 8, maybe 9 games I don't think he can save his job. It's too bad, because he's a really great person. But in all honesty, Georgia is an elite program, and he's not getting the job done.


JB