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One puzzling situation is the use of Tech running back Orwin Smith on offense. Smith has touched the ball one time in each of the last two games, scoring on both plays (one run of 73 yards against North Carolina and a 10 yard scamper against NC State). If I were Paul Johnson, I’d think about getting the ball in the hands of the guy who is averaging 14 yards per carry and has shown a nose for the endzone. One carry per game isn’t enough for a guy who.......

This year marks year 3 of the Matt Ryan era in Atlanta and expectations are high. The Falcons are coming off back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in team history. Michael Turner is healthy, and significant upgrades have been made to the defense, most notably the addition CB Dunta Robinson. However, there is another unseen pressure that rests on the shoulders of Matt Ryan this year, a pressure that sparks arguments quicker than a match, a pressure that has managed to divide the Falcons fan base – the Ghost of Michael Vick. It has been 4 years since Michael Vick played his last down with the Atlanta Falcons; however, to this day if you mention Vick’s name in this town, a conversation of anger and disdain is sure to follow that would rival any political or religious argument. The conversation is not all anger...

Why? … you might ask. Well, there are two reasons. Here is the first. In the generational battle of who is the best player in the world, we usually get the results on the floor. Because of the Cavs’ management’s ineptitude or LeBron’s shortcomings, we have not yet seen this matchup in a playoff series. This is also the first time we have witnessed one of the players waving a white flag without a fight. LeBron didn’t just leave Cleveland; he willingly removed himself from the debate. This isn’t comparable to the freak injury that removed Grant Hill from the discussion after he left Detroit. It is still hard to believe, even after watching the awful press conference, that LeBron is taking his talents to South Beach instead of staying in Cleveland to carry...

Last year Josh passed for 1701 yards and 10 touchdowns, he also rushed for 1037 yards and 18 touchdowns. Nesbitt is the captain of Paul Johnsons’ ship and his understanding of this offense makes him extremely dangerous. As a triple threat QB (run, pass and pitch), Josh will have defenses on their heels this coming season. He’ll be very instrumental...

A few days ago Roger Clemens was indicted by the US Government for lying under oath regarding his use of performance enhancing drugs. While it has yet to be proven that Clemens actually used PED’s, the indictment is just another sad chapter in baseball’s steroid era. Meanwhile, while Clemens was being indicted, the man who presided over Baseball during the steroid era was being praised and honored. If you haven’t heard, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that they would be erecting a giant 7-foot bronze statue of Bud Selig in front of Miller Park. Now I understand Milwaukee citizens’ love for the baseball Czar, but is this really the man that we should be celebrating and honoring with a statue? Bud Selig is arguably the worst commissioner in Baseball history and is undoubtedly the worst commissioner in pro sports today. Let’s just look at the resume he has...

A few days ago Roger Clemens was indicted by the US Government for lying under oath regarding his use of performance enhancing drugs. While it has yet to be proven that Clemens actually used PED’s, the indictment is just another sad chapter in baseball’s steroid era. Meanwhile, while Clemens was being indicted, the man who presided over Baseball during the steroid era was being praised and honored. If you haven’t heard, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that they would be erecting a giant 7-foot bronze statue of Bud Selig in front of Miller Park. Now I understand Milwaukee citizens’ love for the baseball Czar, but is this really the man that we should be celebrating and honoring with a statue? Bud Selig is arguably the worst commissioner in Baseball history and is undoubtedly the worst commissioner in pro sports today. Let’s just look...

I wrote a nice little article a couple weeks ago in defense of LeBron James. The column theorized on all the reasons LBJ was really not at fault for leaving Cleveland. For the most part, I stuck up for the guy. I wish I had read the newest GQ magazine article prior to writing that piece (though it didn’t exist). In the article, LeBron commits what I consider to be the cardinal sin of...

Frank Wren swung a deal for Derrek Lee and, in doing so, put the Braves in the driver’s seat to the NL pennant. In a creative move that indirectly solved the loss of Chipper Jones, we acquired the middle-of-the-order right-handed bat that we have craved since losing Andrew Jones, a gold glove winner, and a guy who is one of baseball’s finest ambassadors. Wren was able to pull it off without giving up much. I do think Robinson Lopez may turn into a fine player. There is a lot to like about the reports on him. But I don’t know how much of a future he ever had with,,,

I wrote a nice little article a couple weeks ago in defense of LeBron James. The column theorized on all the reasons LBJ was really not at fault for leaving Cleveland. For the most part, I stuck up for the guy. I wish I had read the newest GQ magazine article prior to writing that piece (though it didn’t exist). In the article, LeBron commits what I consider to be the cardinal sin of athletics. It wasn’t an admission of steroid use, nor did he gamble on NBA games. He didn’t start a riot in Detroit or commit a felony in the offseason. No, instead it was revealed that LeBron is currently engaged in the most heinous act of egotistical nonsense known to all of mankind. LeBron James spoke in the third person. Not during...

I wrote a nice little article a couple weeks ago in defense of LeBron James. The column theorized on all the reasons LBJ was really not at fault for leaving Cleveland. For the most part, I stuck up for the guy. I wish I had read the newest GQ magazine article prior to writing that piece (though it didn’t exist). In the article, LeBron commits what I consider to be the cardinal sin of athletics. It wasn’t an admission of steroid use, nor did he gamble on NBA games. He didn’t start a riot in Detroit or commit a felony in the offseason. No, instead it was revealed that LeBron is currently engaged in the most heinous act of egotistical nonsense known to all of mankind. LeBron James spoke in the third person. Not during...-

With the NFL preseason in full swing, football fans across the country have ramped up for another exciting NFL season. Fans from Atlanta to Chicago from Carolina to San Francisco are excited and optimistic for what their team might accomplish in the coming year. Experts analyze the schedules, fans circle wins, and projections are made for teams’ records before a single down of regular season football is even played. Off season moves are praised and lauded or chagrined and questioned. Over-confidence runs high and understandably so; after all, this is the only time of the year when all teams are even at 0-0. Being the consummate Raiders fan, I also succumb to these preseason rituals, throwing out all common sense and making predictions based on my heart and the silver and black blood that runs through my veins. However, in the back...-

In many situations around the NFL, whether a player is on board or not can affect a franchise and, thus, a head coach’s job. In San Diego, the Chargers have 3 pivotal players holding out of training camp and perhaps the season hoping to get what’s "due to them". Wide receiver Vincent Jackson has led the league the past 2 seasons in yards per catch, having 1000 yards both years. Linebacker Shawne Merriman is a difference maker on defense, and he’s supposedly 100% after coming back from injury last year. Perhaps the most critical hold out is Phillip Rivers’ protection on the left side, two-time pro bowler Marcus McNeill. With these players holding out, the Chargers can go from Super Bowl contender to being out of the playoffs to Norv Turner being fired. Guess who is secretly tugging at the owner to cut the check? So where is the power? How about the fans? The consumer? They are the entity that actually pumps...-

They say money makes the world go ‘round. Ok, maybe it doesn’t, but it definitely makes the NFL go ‘round. The owners want to make as much money as they can while spending as little money as possible. The players want to make as much as they can as quick as they can for as long as they can. Everyone else just feeds off the two entities – owners and players. So who has the true power when it comes to the money and making the NFL revolve? Let’s start with the owners because as a single entity they have the most mula. They hold the checkbook that the players want to get into deeply, badly. Some owners pay any expense in hopes...

Chris DiMino of 790 the Zone was the first to report that Chipper Jones will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Obviously, this was very bad news. The Bravos are in the middle of a close playoff race and Chip was hitting .307 with 4 HR’s and 13 RBI’s over the last 30 days. Now the front-office is forced to make some decisions. There are really only 3 choices.