Barack Needs to Give Merchandising a Rest

GoneGator    Politics    

The Obama team, as brilliant in the field of marketing as they are, need to stop it with all the merchandising. A couple of days ago, I got a package from the Inauguration committee with an “official invitation” — heavy stock, embossed lettering, presidential seal. But in reality it was a direct mail pitch to buy a bunch of Barack crap to help pay for the event. Sure, this is history, but come on …

No Respect for SEC Hoops as Gators Hide

GoneGator    College Basketball, Florida Gators     Billy Donovan, Jeremy Foley, Nick Calathes

I’m not sure what to make of the fact that as conference play began in earnest this week, the SEC was getting absolutely no respect (at least on the men’s side).

This week’s AP poll featured only one SEC team: Tennessee, hanging on at No. 24 (and certainly out of next week’s poll after its blowout loss to Kentucky at home last night). The coaches’ poll was completely void of SEC schools. And it’s hard for anyone down South to complain.

Oh, where have you gone, Florida Gators?

Remember them, the back-to-back NCAA champions in 2006 and ’07? As of this writing, Florida may have the league’s best overall record at 14-2, but it doesn’t have a signature victory (unless you want to count a road win at UWashington back in November). The Gators lost their highest profile games — to Syracuse (89-83) and Florida State (57-55).

Florida is a long way from getting any sort of Top 25 consideration.

And for that, I blame Billy Donovan and Florida A.D. Jeremy Foley. God love ‘em, but they did the program no favors this season by lining up a pathetically weak pre-conference schedule for the second year in a row.

A pattycake slate made sense last season, after losing all five starters from its national-title teams. But this year? With so many players returning from a team that made it to the 2008 NIT Final Four, there was little reason for the Gators to crawl into the season like a bunch of newbies. Donovan should have set them up with plenty of challenges to toughen them for an NCAA run in 2009.

I mean, really … Southern Utah? Florida Gulf Coast? Stetson? Longwood? Couldn’t the Gators have replaced a couple of those games with major-conference matchups on national TV?

The only way Nick Calathes and Co. are going to learn what it takes to win championships is to compete against championship-caliber teams. They did little of that leading up to this SEC season. As things stand, I believe the Gators need to win 11 or 12 regular-season conference games to earn NCAA Tournament at-large consideration. In a down year for the SEC, that certainly is achievable.

And if Florida doesn’t make the Big Dance this year?

Fans mights start wishing Donovan had not left the Orlando Magic at the altar.

… It’s Great To Be A Florida Gator!

GoneGator    College Football, Florida Gators    

Ahmad Black’s steal of an interception. Riley Cooper in his swan song before heading to pro baseball. Percy Harvin at only 90 percent(!). Aaron Hernandez on shuttle passes. Big-game receiver David Nelson. Tim Tebow being Tim Tebow. And the SEC’s BEST DEFENSE. Gators rule yet again! Thank you Urban Meyer!

… Screw You Sooners! Gators Over Oklahoma

GoneGator    College Football, Florida Gators, Prognostication    

I’ve consulted with friends, family, seers, and most importantly my rabbit hound Big Boy, and have concluded that Florida will win big tonight over Oklahoma. Let’s call it a 10-point margin with an O/U of 75. Go Gators!

Getting Serious About College Basketball

GoneGator    College Basketball, Florida Gators    

I just bit the bullet and ordered ESPN Full Court so I can see every Florida Gators game the rest of the season. I think today’s win over N.C. State is going to be a turning point, and I don’t want to miss what comes next.

Is Tyrod Taylor Following in Marcus Vick’s Footsteps?

GoneGator    College Football     Frank Beamer, Jim Weaver, Marcus Vick, Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech sophomore QB Tyrod Taylor is an unquestionable talent. But he’s also an undeniable prick on the field, witnessed at least three times during the Orange Bowl:

• after a sideline run when he pushed the ball in his tackler’s face;
• at the end of his touchdown run when he tucked his hand behind his helmet as he pushed the ball across the goal line, dancing inside the pylon; and
• during a post-game celebration pose — leaning back, arms crossed, head bobbing.

Those were not isolated incidents. Throughout his two seasons, Tyrod — the supposed team-first player — has shown an oh-so-subtle flair for taunts and showboating in almost every game in which he appears. Subtle, because he taunts in a hit-and-run style that can go unnoticed. Methinks he gets away with it because of his innocent, baby face — and his 13-2 record as a starter.

But the Hokies should be embarrassed. And no one moreso than coach Frank Beamer.

What happened to Beamer’s get-tough policy? In the wake of the infamous Marcus Vick chest stomp in 2005 and other incidents that were tarnishing the Hokies’ program, Beamer announced before the 2006 season a set of escalating penalties for unsportsmanlike play.

And don’t forget this quote from Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver in January 2006 after he (not Beamer) dismissed Vick from the program:

“Additionally, let me make it clear, to everyone, that Virginia Tech, myself and Head Coach Frank Beamer; will never put a single player above the integrity of this program or this great University. We owe that much to the players of the past who have helped put Virginia Tech on the map, and to the thousands of Tech fans who take pride in this program.”

But Beamer and Weaver seem to be turning a blind eye to Tyrod’s antics.

(Or am I the only one who sees this? Refs did not throw a flag on either of the Orange Bowl incidents I saw, TV commentators said nothing, and Hokie fans I know are silent.)

Evidently, Beamer either cannot discipline Taylor, or is afraid to. And because of that, I’m convinced that sooner or later, Tyrod is going to have his chest-stomping moment and prove himself to be just another Hampton Roads punk like the Vick brothers before him.

Tyrod, prove me wrong. Stop the posing and the taunting. Don’t waste your talent. Just play ball.

And Frank, grow a pair and do something about this before Taylor revives unfair talk of VT being Thug U.

End the Bailout Madness

GoneGator    Economy    

Somehow I missed this gem amid the holiday buzz: “Developers Ask U.S. for Bailout as Massive Debt Looms.” Mr. Obama and Congress, I beg of you — end the bailout madness! We cannot save every industry that made bad business decisions. And we cannot save individuals who racked up huge loan and credit-card debts as they pursued lifestyles way beyond their means!

Mele Kalikimaka, Mr. Obama

GoneGator    Uncategorized     Barack Obama, Hawaii

Obama: An Inspiration to Overweight Nation

GoneGator    Uncategorized     Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Smoking

Hailed as a savior on many fronts before even taking the presidential oath, Barack Obama revealed during his recent Hawai’ian vacation that he’s also working on physical perfection — and is damn close to achieving it.

In doing so, might he inspire an overweight nation?

The Obama Administration has declared health care reform to be one of its top priorities, and nothing would go further to resuscitate the health care system than the lightening of America.

In 2004, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ranked obesity as the No. 1 health threat facing the nation. A recent study published in JAMA said obesity results in an estimated 400,000 deaths annually, and NIH estimates the health care costs at nearly $122.9 billion a year.

Imagine the positive impact to the system if we could reverse the obesity trend.

Such a reversal starts with children, who are growing fatter by the minute. Barack and Michelle Obama seem to have a knack for inspiring kids. Maybe Barack’s six-days-a-week workout regimen (a mix of weights and cardio) will inspire some of them to put down the video-game controller and get out and exercise.

That goes for the older generations too. Barack, at age 47, isn’t just talking healthy living; he’s modeling good habits in advance of revealing his plan for reforming health care.

Obama has inspired me. If the soon-to-be leader of the free world can find time to exercise daily, I certainly can. Now that I’m 40, I really should lose my baby fat.

And perhaps during brisk walks during lunch hour, I will discover an Obama flaw.

He can’t really be perfect. Can he?

P.S.  Before many of you remind me that Obama is a former smoker — and perhaps a current closet smoker — spare me. He seems to have worked hard to kick the habit and has vowed to Michelle that the White House will be smoke-free during his Administration. Now, take that literally, and Obama certainly could find a corner of the White House gardens for a quick smoke, but whatever. He’s trying.

Bowl Preseason Wasn’t Pretty

GoneGator    College Football, Prognostication    

The bowl “preseason” was not kind to me — I correctly picked the winner in only 3 of 8 games (though I am quite proud of my Notre Dame pick). The real games start today with both FSU and Miami trying to kick off their 2009 campaigns in style. I hope they do; I picked them both.