MJ, Bird, Magic and You?
Usually my email inbox will blow up when I have said something that either riles someone or makes them laugh, hopefully the latter, but Sunday night on Sports Extra, we ran a story on the new pro basketball franchise coming to town in the ABA.
While certainly no where near the NBA, it is still pro ball and players are getting paid. The new team, called the Nashville Broncs, are having open tryouts this Saturday at Fisk University. We put up some information last night about the tryouts, open to any and everyone, and when I get up Monday, I have a bunch of emails about the tryouts and where do they go and what do they need to do, etc.
You can go to our sports page on WKRN.com and there is a linc there for the Broncs so one guy stopped me at the gym on Monday and asked me if that was for real and I said, apparently so. He wants to go try out, played in high school years ago and was going to call some buddies to go tryout as well.
Crazy? Absolutely! Crazy if he doesn’t try to do it. Why not? I say go for it. Do it! The older I get, the more I don’t want to look back and say, ‘you know, if only I would have,’ and my friends, you will never, ever hear me say that.
To borrow a line from Nike, simply, Just Do It. Too many people sit around and wishing and dreaming, too few people are doing it and they are the ones having all the fun.
Moving On…
Moving on….those were the words from Titans Coach Jeff Fisher regarding Pacman Jones. I think we all would like to see ‘Pacman’ move on. When the one guy who was really protecting you says it is time for you to move on, you need to move on.
My only complaint. Why trade this bum to where he wants to go? He wants to go to Dallas, send him to Dallas of the Arena League. Send him to Semi-pro league in the Northeast.
But I guess, trade him and get something, anything for him. The Cowboys are offering a 5th rounder and a player, just fine. I will tell you what. Do it and I am sure there are a ton of Titan fans who will help Adam pack and go.
While reading ESPN.com, they had a listing of some of the problems Pac has had. It takes up almost a whole page. You could take Keith Bulluck, David Thornton, Kevin Mawae, Vince Young, you know Titans who care about their team and especially care about middle Tennessee and you might get one small blemish.
Enjoy…
Adam “Pacman” Jones was suspended for the 2007 NFL season amid several legal skirmishes. A look at Jones’ off-field troubles:
News
March 2008
• Report: Cowboys add to trade offer for Pacman
• Agent: Cowboys, Lions, Pats interested
Feb. 2008
• Pacman may have to re-petition Goodell to return
• Source: Pacman still frequenting strip clubs
Jan. 2008
• NFL asking to be dropped from Pacman lawsuit
• Ga. assault complaint against Pacman withdrawn
• Pacman accused of punching woman at strip club
• Judge cuts Titans out of Pacman lawsuit in Vegas
• Titans try to quash shooting victim’s lawsuit
Dec. 2007
• NFL denies Pacman’s appeal to return in 2007
• Union appeals Pacman’s ‘excessive’ suspension
• NFL to hear union’s appeal on Pacman’s behalf
• Pacman pleads no contest in strip club melee
• Goodell reviewing union Pacman appeal
Nov. 2007
• Judge accepts ‘Pacman’ plea agreement
• Union appeals to commish to reduce Pacman ban
• Report: Some Titans want Pacman back
• Pacman won’t be reinstated early
• Uncertainty surrounds Pacman’s talk with Goodell
Oct. 2007
• Strip club manager sues Pacman, Titans, NFL
• Report: Pacman says he’s earned early return
Sept. 2007
• Pacman wins tag-team title
August 2007
• Pacman to try hand at hip-hop
• Pacman to set record straight in interview
• Pacman makes TNA debut
• Pacman’s ticket violations dismissed
• Arrests? By Pacman’s count, he’s only had two
July 2007
• Pacman defense expected to enter not guilty plea
• NFL may allow Pacman to work out with Titans
• Lawyer: Deputy pledged to pull over Pacman
• Vegas charges may affect Pacman’s Tenn. plea
June 2007
• Vegas bouncer sues Pacman
• VY: Teammates feel Pacman doesn’t care
• Cops seek Pacman about shooting involving crew
May 2007
• Paralyzed victim rebuilds life
• Sources: Pacman at strip club before hearing
March/April 2007
• Pacman takes out ad to apologize
• NFL bans Jones for 2007 season
• Pacman-related incidents
Former UT football player found dead
From the AP
NEWBERRY, S.C. — College offensive lineman Heath Benedict was found dead in his Florida home Wednesday night, apparently of natural causes, according to broadcast reports.
Two television stations in Jacksonville, Fla., reported on their Web sites that homicide detectives were called to Benedict’s home about 7 p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, they found Benedict, 24, dead on his couch.
Police told the television station they did not suspect foul play, drugs or alcohol in Benedict’s death. Benedict’s body was taken to the medical examiner, according to the TV report.
Benedict, a native of the Netherlands, transferred to Newberry, an NCAA Division II school, for the 2004 season after redshirting at Tennessee as a freshman in 2002.
Sporting News’ Draft ‘08 guide ranked Benedict (6-foot-6, 335 pounds) as the ninth-best player at the guard position in this year’s draft class. He was projected as a fourth-round selection.
“Right now, we’re all just trying to figure out what to do,” Newberry assistant coach Ike Allred told The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C. “Obviously, we’re all just praying for Heath and his family at this time.”
A native of the Netherlands, Benedict played high school football at the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., and moved to Greer, S.C., with his family. Following his senior season at Peddie, he was named a Parade All-American, played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and received a scholarship at Tennessee.
According to the report, Benedict withdrew from Tennessee after his redshirt freshman season and returned to Greer, where Newbury coach Zak Willis offered him a scholarship. Given a second chance, he became a stronger student and locker room leader, earning multiple small-college and Division II All-America honors his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Last month, before the scouting combine, Benedict said he was looking forward representing Newbury in the NFL, according to The State.
“Newberry’s a great school. I really enjoyed my four years there and now I have the opportunity to come from there to the NFL,” he said a month ago, according to the report. “I’m always going to be grateful for the opportunity they gave me. I’ll always be a Newberry Indian.”
……..Backet mess, but aren’t they all…
Why, why, why each year do I do those stupid brackets? I sit down, pour over the tiniest of details and make my pics and I have been doing it for years, and I have never come close to winning and usually the ones who come in last are the ones who work in sports.
You know who wins? It is usually someone with a passing interest in sports and they pick their teams because ‘their uniforms are cute’ or ‘Oh, I will pick that school because I know someone who went there.’ Unlike me who thinks, oh, well UNC when they are pressed with a 3-1-1 can’t score in the half court offense or when UCLA presses 60% of the time, they will win 84% of the time. Because I do that and a lot of other people do and we never win.
Or the office person who will bring up any chance he can that he picked that one team to upset a higher seeded team, although their bracket is in complete shambles.
Ahhh good times. But why should I care? After all, it is for amusement only. Right?
Those are the ones who win, always and you know, it is the way we should approach sports in general. For the sheer enjoyment of it and nothing else.
C’mon Albert
Ok, so you are a little frustrated your team doesn’t sign you to the 2 year, $200 million dollar contract you think you deserve, but you will make $7.3 million this year and will probably get your deal soon after.
But not showing up to work out? I know work outs are voluntary but show the team you are working your tail off in the weight room, that you have made a real commitment to being the best you can be, not just a one year wonder.
Don’t think they aren’t paying attention at Baptist Sports Park. Jevon Kearse had the same attitude years ago and they didn’t sign him, (so what if he came back, no where near the same player) but Albert, just go work out, work hard and a lot of fans will forget about those first couple of years when you showed up about 50 percent of the time or the cleat-in-the-face episode back in ‘06.
This soap opera just got a lot more interesting. Yay, only 4 months to training camp opens.
Vols advance to Sweet 16
The Tennessee Volunteers took on Butler in the NCAA Tournament Sunday and won in overtime, 76 to 71.
Titans add TE Dwayne Blakely to roster
The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with tight end Dwayne Blakley, an unrestricted free agent from the Atlanta Falcons.
Blakely spent the last four years in Atlanta. Before that, he was a member of the Titans’ practice squad in 2003.
In his four seasons with the Falcons, Blakely caught 21 passes and scored one touchdown.
General Manager Mike Reinfeldt said 28-year-old Blakely gives them a big body and experience.
He said, “Dwyane is a veteran guy who gives us a big body and extensive playing experience for that position group.”
Blakley, who spent four years at the University of Missouri, originally was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie free agent in 2002.
He spent the majority of the 2002 season with the Chiefs on their practice squad.
In 2003, he played for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe and spent time on the practice squads of the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins before landing with the Titans.
Blakley joins tight end Alge Crumpler, who agreed to terms with the team on March 3.
DE Jevon Kearse returns to Titans
The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with former defensive end Jevon Kearse.
Kearse, now 31, was drafted by the Titans in 1999 as the 16th overall pick.
A fan favorite, he totaled 47.5 sacks with the team and made three Pro Bowl teams.
In 2004, Kearse left for a free-agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
With the Eagles, however, he never achieved the success he did in Music City, totaling just 22 sacks.
He also suffered a knee injury that cost him much of the 2006 season.
Kearse was released by the Eagles last week.
