Saturday, April 24, 2004
Thoughts For Bubba
Last night, Bubba's mother passed away in Pittsburgh, as a result of complications due to an ongoing medical problem. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
This posting is made with his explicit permission.
This posting is made with his explicit permission.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
Auburn Hires New Women's Basketball Coach
Fortner decides to return to sidelines
AUBURN, Ala. -- Former WNBA and Olympic coach Nell Fortner was hired Thursday as the coach of Auburn's women's basketball team.
Fortner replaces Joe Ciampi, who retired after his 25th season with a school-record 568 victories and 16 NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Joe had a tremendous career at Auburn and I am honored to follow in his footsteps," Fortner said. "I can't wait to get started."
Full Story
AUBURN, Ala. -- Former WNBA and Olympic coach Nell Fortner was hired Thursday as the coach of Auburn's women's basketball team.
Fortner replaces Joe Ciampi, who retired after his 25th season with a school-record 568 victories and 16 NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Joe had a tremendous career at Auburn and I am honored to follow in his footsteps," Fortner said. "I can't wait to get started."
Full Story
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
A Biscuit Worth Watching
SS B.J. Upton of the Montgomery Biscuits is one of the Top 10 prospects in all of baseball, according to Baseball Prospectus, possibly the most respected baseball analysis organization in existence. As shown here, Upton is rated as the #8 prospect in any MLB organization, and as the top SS prospect. This is particularly noteworthy given that two of the players frequently mentioned as this season's early favorites for NL and AL Rookie of the Year honors, Kazuo Matsui of the Mets and Bobby Crosby of the A's, come in 10th and 13th respectively.
A couple of things should be noted here. First of all, this article was written in February, before the season started. It's difficult to say exactly how these projections might change as the major and minor league seasons progress. Secondly, rating baseball prospects is exceptionally difficult, because even if a player (such as Upton) clearly has all of the physical tools to excel, you just never know how the player will react mentally to higher levels of play. Also, it often takes years for players to progress to the point of being ready to enter the majors. In spite of this, it seems possible, even likely, that there is a rising star in Montgomery right now.
A couple of things should be noted here. First of all, this article was written in February, before the season started. It's difficult to say exactly how these projections might change as the major and minor league seasons progress. Secondly, rating baseball prospects is exceptionally difficult, because even if a player (such as Upton) clearly has all of the physical tools to excel, you just never know how the player will react mentally to higher levels of play. Also, it often takes years for players to progress to the point of being ready to enter the majors. In spite of this, it seems possible, even likely, that there is a rising star in Montgomery right now.
Rudi Johnson Becomes "The Man" In Cincy
As those of us who followed the NFL last season are aware, Rudi Johnson came on strong in the middle of the season, almost totally replacing Corey Dillon as the featured RB for the Cincinnati Bengals. This was a welcome event for those of us who wanted to see what Rudi, Auburn's former star RB, would do when given a chance in the NFL. Rudi came just short of 1000 yards after starting the season as a backup, and only getting less than 2/3 of the total team carries during the season.
Largely as a result of Rudi's performance, Corey Dillon demanded to be traded to a team that would give him more carries, as opposed to continuing to share carries with Rudi. The Bengals obliged him with a trade yesterday to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2nd round draft pick. This makes Rudi Johnson the dominant RB for the Cincinnati Bengals, which is something that I think all of us who saw him at Auburn should welcome.
Largely as a result of Rudi's performance, Corey Dillon demanded to be traded to a team that would give him more carries, as opposed to continuing to share carries with Rudi. The Bengals obliged him with a trade yesterday to the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2nd round draft pick. This makes Rudi Johnson the dominant RB for the Cincinnati Bengals, which is something that I think all of us who saw him at Auburn should welcome.
Monday, April 19, 2004
Catfish and Shrimp.
The Foy free movie this week is Big Fish, and I highly recommend it.
Let me count the ways. It's directed by Tim Burton, who is perhaps best known for directed the Batman movies that were actually enjoyable. It stars Ewan McGregor, who has played in some of my favorite movies, as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels and as the singing, dancing, penniless writer of Moulin Rouge.
It is set and was filmed in Alabama. And, the protagonist's love interest -- the most beautiful girl in three counties -- attends our own beloved Auburn University.
Beyond all this, it's a truly moving story about life and death, facts and truth, and the relationship between a father and son. Burton creates with ease a world that supports both the son's real world of journalism and the father's fantastic world of tall tales. And amid the stunning visuals and the surprisingly cohesive story, there's a real humanity there, and the movie deserved more praise than it received.
But, getting back to the reference to Auburn, I think Big Fish and Forrest Gump together summarize the reality of higher education in this state. The University of Alabama recruits the mentally handicapped to play football, and Auburn University attracts the most beautiful women imaginable.
I've said it many times, but it is still a wonder that I was able to get any work done during my four-year stay. And, it was a very good thing that my workload was relatively light senior year, when one of Auburn's belles -- a perfect rose in a field of flowers -- actually agreed to go out with me.
Let me count the ways. It's directed by Tim Burton, who is perhaps best known for directed the Batman movies that were actually enjoyable. It stars Ewan McGregor, who has played in some of my favorite movies, as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels and as the singing, dancing, penniless writer of Moulin Rouge.
It is set and was filmed in Alabama. And, the protagonist's love interest -- the most beautiful girl in three counties -- attends our own beloved Auburn University.
Beyond all this, it's a truly moving story about life and death, facts and truth, and the relationship between a father and son. Burton creates with ease a world that supports both the son's real world of journalism and the father's fantastic world of tall tales. And amid the stunning visuals and the surprisingly cohesive story, there's a real humanity there, and the movie deserved more praise than it received.
But, getting back to the reference to Auburn, I think Big Fish and Forrest Gump together summarize the reality of higher education in this state. The University of Alabama recruits the mentally handicapped to play football, and Auburn University attracts the most beautiful women imaginable.
I've said it many times, but it is still a wonder that I was able to get any work done during my four-year stay. And, it was a very good thing that my workload was relatively light senior year, when one of Auburn's belles -- a perfect rose in a field of flowers -- actually agreed to go out with me.
Athletic Briefs.
AU Baseball and Softball.The No. 12 ranked baseball team won its series in Tuscaloosa this weekend, two games to one, while the softball team split a double header with Georgia Saturday.
AU Tennis. In its regular season finale, the men's team defeated the No. 8 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, 5-2.
AU Golf. The women's team tied for second place in the SEC Championship, while the men's team finished third.
Professional Baseball. The Montgomery Biscuits were hot in their home opener Friday night, defeating the Huntsville Stars, 8-0. The Biscuits ended up losing the series, 2 games to 1. Their four-game home series against the Mobile BayBears begins tonight.
And the Boston Red Sox won the season's first series against New York, three games to 1. I believe this leaves only fifteen regular season meetings between the two teams.
AU Tennis. In its regular season finale, the men's team defeated the No. 8 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, 5-2.
AU Golf. The women's team tied for second place in the SEC Championship, while the men's team finished third.
Professional Baseball. The Montgomery Biscuits were hot in their home opener Friday night, defeating the Huntsville Stars, 8-0. The Biscuits ended up losing the series, 2 games to 1. Their four-game home series against the Mobile BayBears begins tonight.
And the Boston Red Sox won the season's first series against New York, three games to 1. I believe this leaves only fifteen regular season meetings between the two teams.
