Finally

It only took five days. Look, No Willie on the front of the Website. When a mayor who announces a bogus run for another office the same day another of his controversial budgets comes out, why do we give him the press he searches for. I'm worried good drivers might inhabit Memphis next.

Follow me to Freedom

I think you covered it guys

I admit it. I love football. OK, let me rephrase that. I love college football. Would you like to know the Top 10 reasons I love college football much more than pro football. Well, here's the top one. 

1.  I get sick of NFL Draft coverage. Enough already. Everyone from Dan Banks to Todd Mc(I can't remember what I said yesterday, so I'll change my opinion again)Shay to that drunk guy at the bar comes out with 339 different opinions for 11 months preceding the draft. Then this past weekend we pretend like we need 600 cameras on every potential prospect so these guys can give us an opinion that will again have changed by next weekend.

95 percent of the guys picked this past weekend will be working in an office next to you in 4 years if they were smart enough to get their degree in college. The guy below, however, will have 257 names to read off again next year.I'm over it.

2. Fans are better. They are much more loyal, and not quite as generic. Well, except for Green Bay.

3. There are still STUDENT-ATHLETES out there. For every Clarrett, Dickerson, Mike Williams, etc., there are thousands of other athletes that work their tails off all year to entertain us for 12 Saturdays a year, and they still manage to graduate from school. I respect them.

4. Saturday - I don't have to go to work the day following a big college win. I do the day following a big pro win.

5. Styles of play differ. Look, I realize some pro teams are more physical than others, but the athletes are so good, there's little variance in playing styles. I like watching spread teams versus 3-3-5 defenses, and triple-option teams try to stretch out a 50.

6. College football equals no sports agents. Thank God.

7. Did I mention NFL Draft coverage.

8. Traditions like Tiger Walks, live mascots, 12th Man, the Iowa Sway, The Grove, Chief Osceola, etc., are non-existent in pro football.

9. College fans love teams. Pro fans love players.

10. I forgot my last one, while clicking off another draft recap.

This is why I'm for torture

So, as a prideful southern male, I've always tried to carry myself with some class not one of these jack&#$es. I realize people of all races can be racist, idiots. I also realize that in group settings, some people say stupid stuff just because they think it sounds cool. 

Personally, I have about as much tolerance for white racists (southern or not) as I would have for a law stating we all have to have swastikas tattooed on our faces. Therefore, forgive me for being extreme, but every time a few idiots like these get together, they overshadow the progress that thousands of people try to make in bridging the race-gap every day. That's why I have no problem with letting the Southern Miss football team, many of whom happen to be black, spend an unsupervised hour or two with these buffoons. I can't stand Sportsline.com's Mike Freeman, but unfortunately, in this case, he represents what a great many think. 

The worst part is that one of the fools you hear on air is the station owner's son, and he'll keep his job. I don't have children, but if my son ever made this much of a fool of himself, a job would be the least of his worries. 

I love the state of Mississippi. I lived there for four years, and know some of the best people in the world who live there. Unfortunately, those people get lost in lots of people's site lines behind a few words from a few fools that will no doubt spread like kudzu this week across the internet and the media. God, help us. 

Addictions anyone?

Seriously iTunes.

So the whole song for 99 cents thing isn't addicting enough? Now, you go and hit up my second addiction which are old sports broadcasts on both video and radio. You stink and I hate you. Actually, I kind of love you. I just don't love the fact that it's taking me twice as long to finish writing this paper as it should. 

Here's to the Final Four

So here in Memphis we'd rather lick the floor at Silky's on Saturday night than here of any more bad news in terms of the economy.

In the words of this guy, 

"This thing really sucks."

Here are some things you can do this weekend to give yourself a distraction from economic news, house chores, or really bad blog posts. A'hem.

1. Final Four - There is never any lack of drama with the Final Four. As the son of a Tar Heel fan, I wasn't raised with any choice. You're better off scheduling 15 large tasks the weekend before than scheduling anything in the first weekend in April. Some years end in sweet victory, while many times they also leave you questioning why you keep coming back. All in all though, it is one of our most special sporting events. I'm going to get hamburger buns now.

2. Schoolwork - So you've been watching the Tigers all semester, and haven't gotten around to looking at a calendar. Well, school is out in a month. Replace a trip or two to Celtic, and hit the library occasionally. 

3.Wash your car - Hey, the winter weather may actually be over now. That also means there is not excuse for your car to look like a newborn child before they are cleaned off. Give it some quality TLC.

4. Go to the gym - Like your car, you haven't been taken much care of this winter. The cold is no longer an excuse. It's time to put on the Olivia Newton John "Physical" video on, grab the sweatbands and go.

Other than that you're on your own. Post below with your suggestions. I'll add some throughout the week.

Dear Mr. Packer

                                                                

This has nothing to do with newspapers, but I need to say something. I've watched almost every second of this year's NCAA Tournament. 

OK, confession time. I do that almost every year. However, this year has been more enjoyable. Yes, taking in last weekend's South Regional live here in Memphis was nice. It was even nicer since the team I've loved since I was a kid crying every time Hubert Davis missed a shot (UNC) won the thing. 

Still, one addition by subtraction element to this year's tournament is the absence of a certain Wake Forest University alum - Mr. Billy Packer. 

Packer started calling the tournament in 1981. That means he has called it my whole life. His cracked umbrella style of broadcasting college basketball made countless fans like myself miserable for years. I'd rather listen to Sam Kinison, Dick Vitale, and this kid debate tourism benefits in Antarctica than listen to any more Packer. Clark Kellogg, consider yourself on a honeymoon big guy. 

This is getting ridiculous

OK, so Memphis basketball fans are upset because the "Spin"-ing cycle known as Cal, finally spun on up to horses and bourbon country. 

However, the Memphis-area news coverage, despite some outlets holding on, has been ridiculous. In a deadline race to sway more eyes, multiple outlets have run with stories before confirming much more than the spelling of Calipari. 

At least four different times, Cal's signing with UK was deemed official. Then, this morning, we get unsubstantiated Bob Knight rumors, and 15 different Bruce Pearl rumors thrown in front of the Memphis fans faster than Cal's Steakhouse, will undoubtedly change names. 

While I'm concerned about the subject matter here, I wonder if this is going to be an issue with the current economy. News outlets, so desperate to hold on, are turning into third-grade cafeterias in the name of a dollar. 

Welcome

I have lots of issues with the current state of journalism in America, especially the newspaper industry. Things ain't like they used to be. The biggest issue I have is that large news corporations are their own worst enemy. Much more in future posts. For now, listen to a good song, breathe in some fresh air, and smile because there is work to be done.