MattStark's Blog

Thanks to a bout with a mean stomach bug, I was home watching TV Saturday and here's how I saw things....

--How about the 5-0 and SEC East leading Vanderbilt Commodores? Sure they turned down our request for credentials to the game (which NEVER happens), but I can overlook that and say-- that is a pretty good football team.  They looked awful in the 1st quarter and trailed 13-0, but then shut the Tigers out the rest of the way. That in itself isn't really all that impressive because Auburn's offense is offensive. However, Vandy capped the comeback led by their back-up QB Mackenzi Adams who came off the bench to account for 207 Yds of offense, and 2 scores. Their schedule gets tougher starting with a trip to State, but this could be a team we'll be seeing at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Jan 2nd...

--I don't know ANYONE who paid to watch the UT-Northern Illinois game, so I'm just going off what I've read, but 13-9? Really? The mighty Vols had fewer first downs and rushing yards than the Huskies, which doesn't bode well for their chances next week against a Georgia team that's no doubt still stewing after the beating they took from Alabama....

--Arkansas put up a better fight than I expected against Florida, for a while anyway. And while the final score was pretty ugly (38-7), I've got to give it up for the Razorback fans. They may not have filled the stadium, but they still showed up in big numbers to support their team. Take note Memphis Tiger fans....

-- Will it be another 100 years before the Cubs win a World Series? Probably not, but I'll bet a lot of Cubs fans feel that way, after watching their Cubbies get swept in the playoffs for the 2nd straight year. What happened? Well, the Cubs didn't pitch well, they hit like crap, and they didn't go a very good job fielding the ball. The players said that the 100 year drought thing had nothing to do with it, but I'm not buying it. As a Red Sox fan I can say, hang tough Cub fans, there is hope (2 Titles in 4 Years for BoSox!!), but it starts with the fans. How quiet did Wrigley get when things started to unravel in Games 1 and 2? The players can't help but notice that, and react accordingly, by tightening up. Fenway was the same way until the Sox finally broke through in 2004. Hang in there KB and other Cubs fans-- maybe next year, right?

--What's up with Kimbo Slice getting KO'd in 14 SECONDS by some dude with Pink Highlights in his hair? That can't be good for the MMA...

--Did you know the NHL season gets underway Sunday? Do you care?

What's up with everyone hating on their head coaches these days?

Phil Fulmer has been on the hot seat with many UT fans since last years 1-2 start, never mind their SEC Championship game appearance. And with the team 1-2 again this year-- and likely looking at 1-3, the heat is on Fulmer BIG TIME on Rocky Top. This won't make any UT fans any happier, but look at his numbers 148-47. He's 101 games over .500. Not too shabby....

Mississippi State fans apparently have a short memory too, since Sylvester Croom is back on the hot seat in Starkville. Yes, the Bulldogs often look clueless on offense (like they did a year ago) and there need to be some changes this off-season in the coaching staff. BUt do you REALLY want to hand Croom his walking papers? Are you that confident you can do better than Sly? I'm not....

Tommy West has heard it from Memphis Tiger fans too with the Tigers off to their 2nd straight 1-3 start. Will they turn it around? We'll see. Arkansas State is certainly no push-over, and hasn't been for years, but if the Tigers get by the Red Wolves they can certainly rip off 3 consecutive wins headed into their game with East Carolina. One more thing. Stop ripping Tommy and show up at the games to support your team Tiger fans. The turnout for the Nicholls State was embarrassing.

Bobby Petrino's Arkansas Razorbacks could be the worst team in the SEC. They looked awful against Alabama and could very well be 0-3, except for those last minute rallies against Western Illinois and LA-Monroe. What will happen first, Hog fans calling for his head, or Bobby bolting town for a greener pasture? Stay tuned...

I've never been big on the fire the coach stuff during the season. Play them all, add them up, and then go from there.

After all, someone once told me, don't make a decision when you're angry...you may regret it....

What in the Wide, Wide World of Sports is going on with Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young?

Sunday he played like crap-- like he did all pre-season-- and got booed off the field, while tossing 2 interceptions. He also then appeared to be pouting and didn't want to return to the game after that 2nd pick-- despite the fact that the Titans WERE WINNING THE GAME.

A few plays later he got hurt, and will now miss the next 2 to 4 weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee.

Monday the team was concerned enough about his fragile mental state, that they had him meet with a psychologist, and later, team officials called the cops after they couldn't find him for a few hours.

What in the heck is going on behind the scenes in Titantown? What do they know about him that caused them to worry so much? We will probably never know...

Wednesday Vince Young's mom told a Nashville newspaper that Young is "hurting inside and out" and indicated to her that he doesn't want to play football anymore-- partly due to the rough treatment he's received from Titans fans.

I feel for Vince, I really do. It's got to be rough getting booed by 70,000 fans and hearing it on sports talk radio, reading about it in the papers, and seeing it on TV. It's not like he's trying to play poorly.

However, all that goes with the territory of being a starting QB in the NFL. When the team is winning, they get most of the credit, when the team is playing poorly, the QB is usually front and center on the firing line. It is what it is.

That said, assuming there are no complications with Young's knee, and assuming he's ready to play again in 3 or 4 weeks-- Are you confident that Vince can be an effective leader for the Titans, or does all this drama from Nashville make you wonder if he has what it takes to survive and thrive as a Quarterback in the NFL?

Not many college football teams did more losing in the past 3 years than Ole Miss, but now the tide seems to have turned in Oxford.

I was impressed after watching the Rebels offense tear up the Memphis Tigers in their opener, but I also wanted to see what they would do with a tougher opponent like Wake Forest. And after nearly stealing one in Winston-Salem, I'm still pretty high on the Rebels chances the rest of the season. They're showing imagination on offense, they've finally found a Quarterback who can--lo and behold-- complete a forward pass, and once they get healthy on the D Line, look out. So lets look ahead.....

Samford? Easy Win.

Vanderbilt? They're 2-0 and playing well, but that game is in Oxford, so I'll take the Rebels. That puts them at 3-1.

They won't beat Florida at The Swamp. 3-2

South Carolina at Home on Homecoming? SC hasn't beaten Ole Miss in Oxford since 1974. Granted they've only played in Oxford 3 times since 1974-- but that stat sounds impressive don't you think? I like the Rebels in this one...Which gets them to 4-2.

At Alabama will be a huge test. Ed Orgeron and company got screwed by the Officials in Oxford last year and I like the idea of righting a wrong, but the Rebels are 1-22 in Tuscaloosa, and that stat is even more impressive than the whole 1974 thing. Lets say the Rebs fall to 4-3.

Houston Nutt back at Arkansas? Whoa Nelly. He's gonna run the Wild Rebel down the Hogs throats (man they've looked AWFUL in their first two games) and sing the New Years eve fight song in the end zone after Ole Miss mops the Fayetteville floor with Bobby Petrino. 5-3.

From one payback to another. Rebel fans still love to hate the Old Riverboat gambler Tommy Tuberville. Maybe this is the year they finally beat him again. I'll give it to the Rebels. 6-3.

LA-Monroe? Easy W. 7-3.

At LSU? Death Valley isn't nearly as Deadly to the Rebels as other SEC stops. Ole Miss has lost 3 straight in Baton Rouge-- but only by a grand total of 7 points-- to some pretty good LSU teams. Prior to that streak, they'd also won 3 in a row there. Maybe they pull an upset. But thats too far out, and too big an upset for me right now. I'll take LSU. Rebels fall to 7-4.

We wrap with the Egg Bowl. This game cost Ed Orgeron his job last year. No way Houston Nutt goes for it on 4th down, when punting is the thing to do. Don't tell my MSU co-workers Kristin Tallent and Marcus Hunter, but they'll be partying in the Grove after the Rebels win, finishing the year at 8-4 and most likely locking up a spot in the AutoZone LIberty Bowl.

Am I wrong?

I know fans can be irrational and downright crazy after a tough loss, (I am) but isn't it a BIT too early to start calling for Phil Fulmer's head?

Sure the Tennessee Vols should have beat UCLA. I thought they would win by 10 easily...

But they didn't, and now fans of the Big Orange want blood. Fulmers Blood.

But why?

Did Phil fumble the ball in the red zone in the 3rd quarter? Did he miss 3 field goals? I could go on and on....

A year ago the Vols won the SEC East and lost in the SEC Championship to the eventual National Champions. Anyone remember that?

Coach Fulmers track record--to me-- buy's the man the benefit of the doubt. For now.

Now if UT opens 2-4, we can revisit this discussion. But for now, it's just too early.

Tigers+Rebels, Who ya Got?

We're counting the days until the season opening kickoff between Memphis and Ole Miss and I'm looking forward to spending Saturday night in Oxford.

Some things I'll be watching....

--I'm interested to see how both new QB's look. The Tigers Arkelon Hall has looked good from what I've seen at practice, but will that carry over to his first real taste of college football? Will he get rattled if he gets off to a slow start and the Tigers fall behind?

The same can be asked of Jevon Snead. If he's half as good as Rebel fans think this kid can be, it will be a huge upgrade after years of frustration watching Michael Spurlock and Brent Schaeffer overthrow/underthrow the rebels talented receiving corp.

--How will the Rebels Defensive line injuries affect their ability to get to hall, and stuff the Tiger running game? Ditto for the Tiger O-Line, which has been banged up and who's depth is pretty suspect headed into this game...

--Will the Tigers D respond to new coordinator Tim Walton? Their defense has been borderline awful for the past few years, so any improvement will be a welcome one for Tiger fans....

--Will the Tigers avoid the turnover bug that killed them in the past few meetings with the Rebels?

--Will Houston Nutt know all the words to the Ole Miss fight song? And will he really unleash Jevon Snead after years by living and dying by the rush at Arkansas?

I can't wait.

And since we have some time on our hands until kickoff, give me your take on the game. Who wins, and how does it unfold? Who are your hero's? Give me a score and next week we'll see who talked the talk, and walked the walk......

I've been busy working on our FOX13 Price Ford Pre-Season Playbooks (the 3rd and final one airs Thursday at 6:30pm), but here's what's been on my mind....

--I didn't think I'd watch too much of the Olympics, after all it's not on FOX13, but Michael Phelps sucked me in. Like many of you, I was screaming my head off as Phelps somehow, someway won the 100m Butterfly on Friday. He'll leave Beijing with 8 Gold Medals and looking at as much as $100 in endorsements. He'd better strike while the Iron is hot- how many of these Olympians (aside from Phelps) will will hear from, or remember a year or two from now...

--Count me as one of the skeptics about the Chinese women's gymnastics team winning the Gold Medal. If that one girl in question is any more than 14 years old-- she's supposed to be at least 16-- I'll eat my hat.

--Speaking of eating, did the Commercial Appeals Geoff Calkins really admit to eating Sheep Penis? I'd have tried the Lo Mein....

--The Ole Miss Rebels are losing Defensive Lineman (Hardy, Jerry, Ted Laurent) at an alarming rate. You think Houston Nutt wants that opener to get here, like tomorrow?

--I'm very anxious to see what Memphis Tigers Quarterback Arkelon Hall looks like against Ole Miss. He looks good in practice-- and certainly is a much better run threat than last years starter Martin Hankins was, but everyone looks good in practice. Will it carry over when the games count? We'll see....

--I'm also intrigued by UT's Jonathan Crompton. I think he'll be better than most people think. And when you factor in who the Vols have back, coupled with their new Off Coordinator, I think they may surprise folks too.

--I may be crazy, but I don't think Georgia will win the SEC East. They finish with 4 straight conference road games (LSU, Florida, Kentucky and Auburn). They could easily lose 3 of those games.

--I'm so glad the Brett Favre-Green Bay divorce is over. The NY Jets now have custody of #4, and the Aaron Rogers era is underway in the Land of Cheese. The question is-- how tough will it be for both sides to get over everything that's been said and done when Favre finally retires AGAIN.

--I'm so ready for football season to get here. Enough with the Pre-Season games, and college scrimmages. Let's play already....

--Ernie Freeman (Good Morning Memphis) is dreaming if he thinks he can beat the Sports Dept in a 3-on-1 scramble format.  KT gets to hit from the Red Tee's, and I hear she's pretty good. That alone gives us a 200 yard advantage on almost every hole. Hunter says he drives it 300+. If that's true (and thats a big if) we're in business. Every week it seems Gaston comes in and says he just played his best round of the summer. I think he's a player too. I of course am the ultimate money player-- who won a car by hitting a hole in one-- and with you on the links, I'd be like Great White that just caught a whiff of some fresh blood. So bring it Meat. BRING IT!

I'm familiar with the NFL acronyms "Not for Long", and "No Fun League" but today I found a new one.

No Freakin' Loyalty.

Thats what the Green Bay Packers showed their "starting Quarterback" Aaron Rogers.

The Packers, you may recall, said that Rogers was their "QB of the future" following the 3rd (yep, 3rd) retirement of their old QB Brett Favre.

Favre of course unretired--again-- and the mess has played out like a bad soap opera for the past few weeks.

Sunday, Favre showed up at training camp, and rather than stick to their guns and make Favre a back-up, the Packers have declared an "open competition" for the QB job. Score that as a 1st Round KO for Favre. As for the Packers front office- Man Up. What a cave job. You got manhandled AGAIN by Favre.

I understand that the NFL is a business, Big Business, and you have to give yourself the best chance to win games. Favre is without question the better QB, but the way he jerked the organization, and Rogers around FOR THE 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR leaves a bad taste.

Why not turn the tables a bit and make Favre sweat it out- and keep Rogers as the starter? Make Favre earn it back, make him earn back his teammates trust and loyalty. And reward the guy who the Packers and Favre put in the middle of this bad marriage. Aaron Rogers.

Let him start. See what he can do. And in the meantime send #4 a message-- although the Packers already did that.

Whatever you want Mr. Favre, whenever you want it.

By now you've heard, Tennessee head football coach Phil Fulmer was served with a subpoena on Thursday in Birmingham, Alabama to testify in a lawsuit against the NCAA.

The woman who reportedly served him was decked out in Tennessee gear from head to toe. Ouch!  Think Phil will break out in Hives before he signs his next autograph?

I'm no Legal Eagle and I guess business is business, but wasn't there a better way to hit Fulmer with this subpoena than by doing it at the circus that is the SEC Football Media Days?

No wonder that Fulmer-- under a threat of a subpoena back in 2004-- skipped the SEC's annual trip to Birmingham.

What do you think? Is all fair in love, lawsuits and war, or was there another time and place that would have been better served (pun intended)

Before the C-USA and SEC Football media days next week, time to dish out a little Stark Reality....

-Brett Favre needs to simmer down, pick up a phone and work out what he wants to do with the Green Bay Packers front office people, not Greta Van Susteren. Enough already.

-The show that Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton put on in Homerun Derby at Yankee Stadium was one of the most impressive performances that I've ever seen. Factor in his past battles with drug and alcohol addiction, and what he's doing this year is absolutely incredible.

- I feel for Jonathan Papelbon, former Miss State standout and closer for the Boston Red Sox. His comments about wanting to close in the All-Star game, were totally blown out of proportion by the NY Media (shocker!) . However, Paps should have known better than to bring his wife on the All-Star parade through the streets of NY prior to the game. Pregnant wife or not, he had to know Yankee fans weren't going to roll out the Red Carpet to him, or anyone from Boston.

-I don't know former Memphis Tiger, and current Florida Marlin Dan Uggla, and have never interviewed him, but my respect for him went up big-time after his All-Star game meltdown. For those who don't know, Dan played one of the worst games in All-Star history-- setting a record with 3 errors in the field, and going 0-4 with 3 strikeouts at the plate. Oh yeah, he also grounded into an inning ending double play, with the go-ahead run at 3rd base. However, after the game Uggla stood his ground and answered any and all questions about his rough night, and he did so without copping an attitude, or being defensive. If fact, despite everything that happened, he called the experience "great" and said it was a night he'll never forget.

-What's up with the University of Texas wanting to retire the jersey of Kevin Durant? The dude played one year there and they didn't make it past the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. I mean, he had a great year, but the team did nothing worth noting. So why retire the jersey?

- We're a week into the free agent signing period and so far, there hasn't been a peep heard from the Memphis Grizzlies. Surprised?

-Doneal Mack, is lucky to have John Calipari as his coach. There aren't many coaches or schools that will take a player back once he decides to transfer like Mack did. I'm glad it worked out for him. He's a good kid, and was one of the only Tigers to talk with the media after their loss to UT, which tells you a lot about his character.

- In just a few weeks we'll unveil the 2nd FOX13 All-Mid South High School Football team. Got a player in mind we should watch out for? Let us know.

- FOX13's Ernie Freeman (Good Morning Memphis) has challenged the Sports Department to a golf challenge. He thinks he can beat us (3 person team) even if we play a best ball-scramble format. I think he's crazy, and we're trying to line up the time to do this. Freeman talks a good game, but he doesn't always walk the walk, and I'm not afraid to call him on it. Bring it EFree! 

You know the old saying, you gotta bet Big to win Big?

That's exactly what the Memphis Grizzlies did in Thursday's NBA Draft, when landing O.J. Mayo and Darrell Arthur in a pair of trades.

Other than Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, OJ is generally regarded as 3rd potential superstar in this class.

And the Grizz got him.

Did they take a risk? Sure. Kevin Love I believe will be a very solid pro- a 15 point, 9 rebound guy, night in and night out. The Grizz will also miss the outside shooting, and leadership of Mike Miller.

However, while I certainly appreciate what Mike did on and off the floor during his 4 and a half year run in Memphis, the time was right to move him.

Throw Mayo in with Mike Conley, and Rudy Gay and you've got a pretty talented young core to build around.

Adding Darrell Arthur, a 6-9 power forward from Kansas-- who should have been a lottery pick, if not for an unwarranted medical issue-- and that's just icing on the cake.

So whaddya think Grizz fans? Did the draft exceed your expectations? Are you back on board and feeling the love for the hometown team?

OK Memphis Grizzlies fans- it's need to know time.

The 2008 NBA Draft is about 24 hours away.

You've heard all the rumors-- well probably not all of them, since a new one pops up every few minutes-- but you know that Miami is apparently open to the idea of trading the #2 pick.

That, unless the Bulls front office has gone plum crazy, means Michael Beasley will be there for the taking.

I'm temporarily sidelining Chris Wallace and making YOU the GM of the Grizz.

Should the Grizz do anything in their power to trade up to get Beasley? Keep in mind, the hot rumor right now would mean sending Mike Conley, Mike Miller and the #5 pick, in exchange for the #2 pick and Daequan Cook.

Are you interested in that, or does including Conley (last years #4 pick) make that price tag too steep?

If it's too steep and you stay put at #5, who would you draft?

Like Christopher Walken needing "More Cowbell", it sure looks like the Memphis Grizzlies have decided that they need more Gasol on their roster.

Reports from Spain surfaced last week that said the Grizz have already worked out a 3 year, $9 million dollar deal for Pau's littler brother Marc Gasol. And don't be mislead by the word little, Marc is little brother to Pau in name only, topping out at 7 foot 1, and tipping the scales at 270 pounds (give or take an lb. here or there).

His arrival would allow the Grizz to move Darko Milicic back to power forward, and hopefully fill the need that this team has had ever since they arrived in Memphis, which is a post presence that can rebound, and defend the paint.

For those of you who remember the chubby, rather immobile Marc from his playing days at Lausanne-- here is how he's described by DraftExpress.com

 The current leader in efficiency rating in the ACB League, Marc Gasol has built a pretty mistake-free style of game that helps him to emerge as a statistical standout. He’s long, very strong, nicely skilled, and very smart playing the game. A menace in the low post, he shows solid footwork, a decent jump-hook and a very nice turnaround jumper. Indeed his shooting range extends out to the three-point line, while he greatly combines his scoring power with his passing game, not really looking for definitive passes, but feeding his team’s offensive flow by distributing the ball from both the high and low post.

In spite of all that, his nice effort in the quarterfinal game wasn't enough for Akasvayu Girona to overcome an extremely solid Real Madrid team. Despite being regularly double-teamed, Gasol managed to amass 19 points, most of them coming off continuations towards the basket, and other off-ball stuff near the rim. The attention he delivered from Real Madrid defense didn't allow him to produce much in one-on-one plays in the low post, but he still connected on two thunderous one-handed dunks from there, one of them after capturing the baseline with an excellent spin move where he showed nice footspeed.

However, Gasol's great statistical production doesn't always necessarily reflect a dominating performance on the floor. Indeed, it didn't in this Copa. He wasn't really a go-to guy for Girona on the offensive end (mainly because of Real Madrid’s double-teaming defense, that's true), but especially he doesn't make a great impact on the defensive end. His limited mobility gets exploited in pick-and-roll situations that the opponents throw at him; he's not a great intimidator, he allows smaller opponents to shoot over him; and given his superb size, he's not the best rebounder around.

Still, Pau's younger brother is one of the most promising centers in Europe, and probably an underrated piece -by the American media- in the recent blockbuster trade that involved both brothers. Anyway, he doesn't seem to fit too well with the current Memphis Grizzlies game style, but he might be a nice asset to work in a trade in the near future.

So whaddya think?

Is this a good signing (assuming it happens) or due to a less than satisfying relationship with Pau, are you all Gasol-ed out?

Stunning news today courtesy of Tiger Woods web site, that Tiger will miss the rest of the season, and soon undergo surgery to repair a torn ACL that he injured last summer.

Wow.

And you think the economy is bad now.

Tell that to all the Big Wigs at the various networks who just saw their biggest draw, and money maker, go up in smoke.

Not to mention the tournaments that expected to have the sports #1 draw in their field. Or the advertisers that may want to rethink spending big bucks on tournaments that Tiger will no longer play in. And on, and on, and and on it goes.

How Tiger lasted almost a year, playing with a torn ACL I don't know, and how this layoff will affect him no one knows yet either.

But I know this. Don't bet against Tiger. Ever.

His doctors advised him to skip the US Open, and his swing coach, Hank Haney even doubted if Tiger could physically handle Torrey Pines... 

It's been a busy few weeks but here's some stuff that's been kicking around my cranium....

Anyone out there as worried as I am that the Grizz will blow it with this 5th pick?  I'm not interested in them drafting another soft, sweet shooting European. It didn't end well for the last one of those we had here....Ditto for the athletic kid from LSU, once bitten twice shy...I do know that Kevin Love had a great workout on Monday, and most mock drafts have the Grizz picking him. I think I can get on board with that, how about you?

I wanted Big Brown to win the Triple Crown, but in the end, I was just rooting for him to finish on all 4 legs....

How about that putt by Trevor Immelman on #18 last week? Talk about ice water in your veins.  Ditto for Justin Leonard's putt in the playoff hole for the win. It may have been hot out there, but the folks at the Stanford St. Jude Championship did another bang up job at Southwind.

Anyone else worried that disgraced NBA ref Tim Donaghy may be telling the truth about officiating in the NBA? After watching Boston get a bunch of calls in Game 2 against LA, I just knew they were going to get hosed in Game 2 of the Finals-- and they did. The commish David Stern can call Donaghy a "rouge ref" all he wants, but he's starting to sound more and more like the Great and Powerful Oz, telling everyone to pay no attention to the man behind the curtain....

I love going to AutoZone park, I just wish it didn't always feel like I was making a trip to the Sun...

The Chicago Cubs have been red hot, but will they cool off now that Alfonso Soriano is headed to the DL for 6 weeks with a broken hand? I think Yes. Ditto for the Cardinals who will be without Albert Pujols for 3 weeks while he works back from a calf injury...

I love the idea of pairing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at the US Open. I only wish I could have seen them go head to head at the SSJC last week.

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th...Worried?