I'm an avid listener of Rush Limbaugh during the week, generally for his political commentary, insight, and opinions.  However, during Friday's (5/16/08) "Open Line Friday" show, he took some time to venture away from the usual politics and interviewed one of his good friends, CBS Sportscaster Jim Nantz.  Jim's latest book, Always By My Side: A Father's Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other, hit the shelves not long ago which, in short, is an autobiographical recanting of his 2+ decade career and the things that he's learned about himself, sports, and the world as it presently exists (full synopsis, here).

I've listened to many interviews of prominent, modern, sportscasters, but never before have I heard one from a man as genuinely and incredibly humbled by his life experience as that of Mr. Nantz.  The radio-interview was exceptionally long (by radio standards), so I'm sure the transcript (linked above) will be quite a long read as well.  Personally, I'm not a fan of reading books for leisure, but I may just have to go out on a limb and give this one a shot, just to hear about the details of some of the antedotes that Mr. Nantz discusses in the interview.

The world (of sports, specifically) would certainly be a better place for all if there were more Jim Nantz's and fewer of this type.  Class, respect, and humbleness is what gets you to the top of your career, good friends.

This is only tangentially related to Tennessee sports, but it concerns one of Rocky Top Talk's first, longest, and best community members, so it's getting bumped to its rightful place. Show your congratulations and support to Aerobab below.

-- Joel

Early Monday, I revealed the fact that "I was dealt a "hefty sum" of GREAT, LIFE CHANGING news over the weekend", which wound up putting a pretty big hamper on any type of productivity for the remainder of the weekend.  That statement was quickly followed by inquiring minds wanting to know the whole story.  I had planned on writing an eloquent, coming of age narrative, but I just couldn't make it work out.  In short, it was going to be about a boy (me) who dreams big (wants to become a rocket scientist/astronaut), works towards those dreams (college, internship), only to have them altered by misfortune on a grandiose scale (Space Shuttle Columbia accident).  Then the boy settles for a local job in a field that he is not particularly interested in (nuclear work), marries a beautiful woman (wife), picks up a mortgage, dog, car payments, and children.  While boy loved to see the paycheck, he just wasn't happy with his professional career-track.  He was working down a track perpendicular to that of what he had always dreamed of.  This dissatisfaction started to take a toll in other aspects of the boy's life.  Boy looks for a change.  After some personal soul-searching and many conversations with family, friends, and numerous other mentors and other individuals whom I hold high esteem, I decided to start the pursuit of a U.S. military career.

I have been working diligently towards receiving a commission in the USAF for nearly two years.  The commissioning process for civilians not seeking a flying position is one that is quite lengthy (one selection board per fiscal year) and loaded with many other highly qualified applicants.  This past Saturday, my hard work was realized, as I was notified of a Selection Status to serve as an Active Duty Aerospace Engineer!  Although this news is much more than just a career change (I like to call it a life change), I couldn't be anymore thrilled to get my career back on my dream-path...let alone while serving this wonderful country of ours!

Based on several factors beyond my control, my departure for Officer Training School (OTS) will be much quicker than the standard process.  I will be reporting to Maxwell AFB located in Montgomery, AL for 12-weeks of instruction and training this coming June 24th.  Upon my graduation from OTS, I will likely attend a several week technical school to learn the AF engineering processes/procedures and then I'll be assigned to a duty station -- unsure exactly where, but certainly away from the Knoxville area where I've called home for the last 12 years.

Needless to say, I've got a plate full of stuff on my plate in the coming months.  Given the schedule at OTS, there will be little (if any) time to post here in the RTT community this summer and early fall.  (Yes, I will miss a significant amount of the football season...talk about personal sacrifice!!)  I expect each of you to pick up my slack and to keep the "Junior Papa's" Corvette running smoothly and efficiently!

Reporting for duty,

Future Lieutenant Aerobab

Via si.com: J.P. "P.J." Prince recently had arthroscopic reconstructive surgery on his shoulder and will be sidelined for the summer.  Should be back to mad-ballin' this fall.

Bumped from the diaries. Many thanks to Aerobab for recognizing the need for commentary upon the current poll.
The polls really need to have the ability to leave comments!  Feel free to leave yours.

With respect to the Was the 2007-2008 basketball season disappointing? poll, I voted for "Not at all" based on the team's regular season play.  Simply outstanding, with a few hiccups at Vandy and Kentucky.  Any time that a team wins a regular season conference championship, the season is a success.  Any time that you can claim #1 in the RPI and media/coaches polls late in the season, and finish the regular season with a 28-3 record, the season is a success...not to mention when it's accomplished with the #1 strength of schedule!

They accomplished all of this with unselfish teamwork (Department of Redundancy Department?), hard work, hustle, desire, care of the ball, skill, design, and strategy.  Mission: Accomplished, sirs!  In the voice of Borat: "Great Success!"

However, I was horribly disappointed in watching the team's various performances (wins and losses) in each of the tournament games (SEC and NCAA).  I wasn't disappointed in the fact that we simply lost to Arkansas and Louisville in the post-season; losses happen.  However, I was disappointed that the quality of the product had diminished.  As a team, the ball handling was atrocious, players weren't working to get open, defense went to sleep, and we were just out-played, out-hustled and generally out-wanted by the majority of the various tournament teams we faced.  Nearly enough to make me puke, regardless of the SEC Semi-final and NCAA Sweet-Sixteen appearances.

The good news is that this partial-disappointment is entirely based on high-expectations.  Under former Coaches Green & Peterson hot starts to seasons were known, rather--expected, to completely fizzle come the end of a season where we oft found ourselves lucky to just receive an NIT, let alone an NCAA, tourney bid.  I can accept loosing to superior competition; it's part of the game.  However, I have a difficult time in accepting an inferior product from what I became accustomed to watching over the preceding five  months.  Aside from the "J.P. Prince Experiment" in the NCAA Tourney (which I believe was a failure, but more on that later), I have no idea what changed or why.  It's certainly painful though.

However, looking at the season's work and realizing that I'm purturbed over a 31-5 mark?  Wow!  There's no shame in that!

It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!

On SEC Tournament Eve, I figured that I'd go ahead and post my picks for the 2008 SEC Tourney.  Here's the blank bracket where you can fill out your own.

Troubles:
Vanderbilt - Shouldn't have a problem with Auburn, but for some reason I have them beating Ar-Kansas.  Arky edged out a home win vs. the 'Doors by 4 earlier this season, so I think VU will get the 'revenge win'.

Florida - When they're on, they're on, when they're off, they're off.  Coach Eddie Munster won't be denied from the Big Dance and will get to the Final round of this Tourney.  IF he can keep his team on.

Tennessee - The Vols have no reason NOT to win it all.  They've beaten every team at least once, so there shouldn't be any mental hurdles to overcome.  Conversely, if UF and UT meet in the final, expect (yet another) dogfight.  Sorry, WVVol.  Beating a team twice in a season is hard.  Three times?  Well that's...hard-er.  As I stated above if UF get's confidence, we could be in trouble.  However, the Vols have shown their resillance this year and can pull out the hard-er wins when they truly want it.

All-East Semifinal?  Has such (East or West) ever happened before?  I may need to rethink this tonight.

Does yours look any different?