Fortaleza has turned into unobtainium in the last couple of years. Anyone know of a place that carries it in the Round Rock area, or am I down to ordering it online?

Plenty of news from a busy weekend - and a lot more coming this week:

What is the best site for dfs parlays?. Prize picks declined my account for failure to verify identity. with TX Address Permaban without explanation. Where should i play?

A couple OL notes of interest ...

Login to view embedded media
Texas and Oklahoma are two to definitely watch with Oregon, Ohio State, USC and others in the mix but now Missouri is also joining that top group after the Tigers made a huge impression over the weekend.
The five-star offensive lineman from Lewisville, Texas loved the environment and the brotherhood he saw between the players and the coaches but the message from coach Eli Drinkwitz on down was what stood out most.
“Their message was very clear: They see me as a program-changer and they want me to be the best I could possibly be at Mizzou,” Fasusi said.

Login to view embedded media
Getting a great read on Rogers’ recruitment is difficult because the four-star offensive lineman from Mesquite (Texas) Horn stays pretty quiet about favorites but his trip to Texas this weekend went well.

Sitting down with coach Steve Sarkisian and especially position coach Kyle Flood definitely helped the Longhorns as Rogers works through his recruitment. He will be at Oklahoma this weekend and then Texas A&M in early February but LSU should be a program to watch as well.


Link: Recruiting Rumor Mill: Key Junior Days taking place across the country

Adam Loewy is one of the top personal injury lawyers in Austin. Adam is a proud graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and started his law firm in 2005. Adam helps people who have been injured in car crashes, slip and falls, dog bites, and other assorted ways. He is actively involved in every case he handles and is always available to talk or text. If you or a loved one has been injured, call the Loewy Law Firm today at (512) 280-0800.

Steve Sarkisian's ability to adapt is arguably one of the reasons he is emerging as the next great football coach.

Yes, @Travis Galey filled in for me last week.

No, Terry Middleton is not filling in this week.

The college football landscape has changed in real-time. A few years ago, any player who wanted to transfer was at the mercy of his coach, and many times that person was vindictive. Coaches were allowed to limit the schools a player could attend. Some coaches purposely screwed players and left them with few options. Heck, we are old enough to remember when former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury tried to limit the transfer options of Baker Mayfield, who was a walk-on quarterback. The public backlash is the only reason Coach Cool eventually lifted Mayfield’s restrictions.

We are also old enough to remember when schools claimed paying athletes would lead to the end of college athletics. Do you remember when athletic programs said some schools would cease to exist if forced to pay players? And how the heck were programs going to generate money to pay players when so many athletic departments were barely surviving? As it turns out, NIL did not lead to the Death Star exploding like many people associated with college athletics predicted.

Sarkisian has adjusted to the transfer portal better than many coaches. He initially dipped his toes in the transfer portal waters and made safe decisions. Sarkisian was not ready to jump into the deep end. Nowadays, Sarkisian reminds me of that friend who you take to Las Vegas and they get hot. You tell that friend, “Hey, you’ve won a lot of money. Cash out and let’s get a drink.” And that friend says, “I’ll catch up with you later.”

I want to go back to Sarkisian’s ability to adapt for a moment.

As I was conducting research for this column, Sarkisian said something in February of 2022 that slipped my mind.

"I think to go back, if you recall, a year ago at this time when I got hired, we were in the midst of a pandemic,” Sarkisian said. “I think, quite frankly, the rules of such where I couldn't go on the road. I couldn't go recruit. I couldn't go see any high school coaches. I couldn't go to the high schools. It was very difficult to connect. I was making a lot of phone calls. But this time, really the last two weeks in January, I made it a point to try to get to as many high schools as I could in the state of Texas. I left for about one day I went to Louisiana for one day to recruit.

“The other 10 days I spent in the state of Texas recruiting, whether it was Dallas, East Texas, whether it was Houston, whether it's West Texas, and getting around to the coaches … The reality of it is if we signed 25 guys, about 20 or so of those every year are going to come from the state of Texas. Last time I checked, our jersey says Texas on the front, not United States. We got to make sure that we do a great job recruiting our state and the high school coaches here are a critical component to making that happen. So, developing those relationships with them, to me, is a key part of making that happen as we move forward.”

However, I wrote on December 24, 2023:

“Sarkisian finished with the No.2 ranked recruiting class this past week, according to Rivals. Sarkisian’s 2023 class was ranked No. 3. The Longhorns’ 2022 class was ranked No.5.

“The most interesting aspect about those classes is the amount of out-of-state players Texas has signed compared to around 20 years ago. Nearly 50 percent of the 2024 Longhorn class are players from outside of Texas. If you view that number from an early 2000s recruiting lens, it would be easy to walk away saying Texas needs to improve in-state recruiting with the 2025 class.

“However, if you are willing to adjust, we might be witnessing a trend of recruits who have expanded their horizons and are more open to playing for programs in different states than players in previous eras and think more globally.

“Without question,” Sarkisian said when I asked him about this topic on signing day. “I think kids from Texas are going other places more than they ever have. I think kids in California are going places more than they ever have. I think kids in Florida are going places more than they ever have, and so on and so forth. I think 7-on-7 has played a factor in that that guys are traveling now. They're going to play in other places. I think social media and the Internet has provided that opportunity because more schools are seeing these kids more so than just the local schools that are getting their tape and know the high school coach.

“I also think summer visits have changed that because now guys are having the ability and have the time to take visits in the spring and in the summer, as opposed to just in the fall. It's difficult when you live in California and I want to take a visit to Texas and I play Friday night and we have an 11 a.m. kick the next day. You got to try to get on a plane, get here, and then for us to spend really quality time with them and then they have to turn around and fly back. Well, when they come in June, I get 48 hours with them and I really get to spend time with them and they're not rushed and we can forge those relationships. But that's the same for the kid that's here in Texas and when he goes to visit somewhere else around the country. I think all of those things have added up to you seeing more kids travel.”

Sarkisian did not hold onto the outdated belief Texas needs to win the majority of in-state players to have recruiting success. Instead, Sarkisian decided to acquire talent from across the country – and it has paid off.

Let us examine another area of growth for Sarkisian.

Here is what I wrote in April of 2023:

“When asked about pursuing players in the transfer portal, Sarkisian said coaches, in general, have to be careful about making promises they cannot keep. He said the one thing they can guarantee players is an opportunity to compete for playing time. Sarkisian said, “We've got to be careful in this recruiting process of kids in the portal because they all want immediate gratification. They want to step on the field the moment they get here, and they have to earn that. And they have to earn the respect of their teammates and earn the respect of their coaches. That may take a little bit of time. It doesn't happen overnight, but we have to be one that can help facilitate that respect.”

That was before Adonai Mitchell emerged as a difference-maker last season. Sarkisian also found success with Jalen Catalon, Gavin Holmes, and Ryan Sanborn. In addition, Sarkisian carved out a role for Trill Carter.

Nowadays, Sarkisian is relishing in picking up impact players through the transfer portal.

Sarkisian has acquired Andrew Mukaba (Clemson), Trey Moore (UTSA), Matthew Golden (Houston), Silas Bolden, Kendrick Blackshire (Alabama), Isaiah Bond, (Alabama), and Amari Niblack (Alabama) through the transfer portal. Each player could have an instant impact this season.

Oh, and Sarkisian is still kicking the tires on more portal players.

Now, let us discuss five takeaways from Sarkisian’s transfer portal success.

1. Sarkisian wants to reload, not rebuild

High school recruiting will always be important to Sarkisian. He is not going to be a coach who acquires 20-plus through the transfer portal. Sarkisian believes high school recruiting is the foundation of his program.

However, high school recruiting is like buying a car with all the standard equipment – a radio, power steering, automatic headlamps, rearview camera, and SYNC Voice Recognition. It will get the job done.

The transfer portal offers optional equipment that takes your car to the next level.

It would have been easy for Sarkisian to rest on his laurels and just wait to see who steps up in the receiver room. Ryan Wingo, Parker Livingstone, Freddie Dubose, and Aaron Butler are members of the 2024 class. Sarkisian already had Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore.

Nevertheless, Sarkisian picked up three difference-makers at receiver through the transfer portal, and his offense will not take a step back this season.

2. Longhorn players better get used to competition

Do you know what the biggest knock on Texas players has been?

The Longhorns are soft.

Texas was viewed as a soft program before Sarkisian’s arrival. Remember, players used to take charter buses to practice. Many players never developed because they acted like they arrived after committing to Texas. They were just happy to be here and treated like kings.

Charlie Strong tried to eliminate the mentality. Tom Herman fought against it. Sarkisian has figured out the easiest way to eliminate complacency.

Competition.

Any player who believes they will be given a position because they are next in line will receive a rude awakening in the Sarkisian era. You may have been a 5-star athlete in high school but that accolade does not guarantee playing time at Texas. Sarkisian is not afraid to go into the transfer portal and find an instant-impact player while his younger guys develop.

Sarkisian has eliminated entitlement.

Players who do not realize that will get left behind, or leave.

3. Texas is offering players what they want

Players who enter the transfer portal want two things: Play for a coach who can develop them into an NFL draft pick and NIL money.

Sarkisian is providing players with the opportunity to go pro.

We are old enough to remember when Texas did not have any draft picks in 2022. It was an embarrassing reflection on the program. It also explained why Texas finished 5-7 in Sarkisian’s first year. However, five Longhorns were drafted in 2023. The number of Longhorns who are drafted this year could come close to double-digits.

I previously asked Texas receivers coach Chris Jackson if Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Jordan Whittington were ready for the NFL, and his response highlights the benefits of playing for Sarkisian.

“The way this style of offense is with Sark’s offense is completely a pro-style offense,” Jackson said. “You know, you're going to rely heavily on the run. You want to solidify that upfront. Have the runs and then play-action passes, and then of course, you have your explosive plays, which is a very pro-style offense. It's not gadgety. Nothing against a run-and-shoot. Nothing against the other offenses out there. This is truly what they're from the concept base. The things will be named a little bit differently, but they're not going to be shell-shocked when they get to the NFL by the concepts of those same things. So, they're ready conceptually. They understand the work ethic that goes behind it because Sark runs very, very difficult and hard practices, and they’re skill sets there. Now it's just up to them to continue developing and adjust to whatever team they go to.”

Sarkisian is not in charge of NIL deals, but the people in charge are not afraid to use it to their advantage.

4. Playing with Quinn Ewers is appealing

Texas does not acquire elite offensive players in the transfer portal if they do not believe in Ewers. It is one of the reasons why Bond transferred to Texas.

Check out a portion of this ESPN story:

Bond should be in a better position to catch more passes in 2024. In one fewer game, Ewers threw the ball 110 more times than Jalen Milroe.

Asked whether catching balls from Ewers was an attraction, Bond said: "One hundred percent. He's a great big-time pocket-passer quarterback. He's a top pick in the draft next year. I'm also going to be a top pick. It's going to be a good duo."

Joining Texas should give Bond a chance to showcase his skills in a wide-open offense that will be heavily reliant on the pass.

Ewers announced this week that he is returning for his senior season, a move that will project him among the top of the 2025 draft class. Texas also brings back an experienced offensive line, led by left tackle Kelvin Banks, a rising junior who projects as a top tackle in 2024.

In other words, Bond wanted an upgrade at quarterback, and Ewers was it.

5. It only gets better with Arch Manning in 2025

If you think playing with Ewers is appealing, wait until Sarkisian gets to pitch the opportunity to be on the same team as Manning.

Every game will be featured on a major network.

Every pass and reception will be on ESPN.

Sarkisian will not need to make any calls.

Players will reach out to him.

Sarkisian's ability to adapt is arguably one of the reasons why he is emerging as one of the next great coaches.

Funniest Things You Will See This Week

What is Unc drinking? Beer? Bourbon? Gin? Tequila? Vodka?
Login to view embedded media
Cowboys fans, I finally understand your unhealthy loyalty
Login to view embedded media
Wait for it …
Login to view embedded media
I cannot wait for Texas to be included in these videos
Login to view embedded media
Sports On A Dime

1. Game, blouses
Login to view embedded media
2. Sarkisian picked up the verbal commitment of a 2026 Aledo running back Raycine Guillory on Saturday night? I will check back in the summer of 2025.

3. Former Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II’s draft stock is high. At this rate, he might get invited to attend the NFL Draft in Detroit this year.
Login to view embedded media
4. Congrats, John Bianco.
Login to view embedded media
5. My biggest takeaway from seeing Alabama’s dynasty crumble since Nick Saban’s retirement announcement is officials within the athletic department will be remembered for one of the biggest failures in college football history. Alabama had the opportunity to follow FSU’s blueprint when everyone knew Jimbo Fisher would replace Bobby Bowden when he retired. Recruits knew it, FSU fans were aware of the plan, and college football fans understood what would eventually occur. Alabama never put a similar plan in place to prepare for Saban’s eventual retirement. Even if Sarkisian was previously the guy, Alabama had three seasons to find someone else.

I was baffled that the sirens did not go off when Saban purchased a 17.5-million-dollar home on Jupiter Island in April of 2023. Saban did not have to purchase a home in Del Boca Vista for anyone to know that was his retirement home in Florida, and nobody spend that amount of money to leave it unoccupied for years. Saban turned 72 years old in October and has been complaining about not being able to keep up with NIL for multiple years. Yet, Alabama never had a plan in place, and the Crimson Tide is suffering the consequences.

The SEC Championship will run through Texas, Georgia, and Ole Miss in the foreseeable future.
Login to view embedded media
6. Speaking of powershifts, Ohio State has exited the conversation
Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media
7. So, Michigan was caught cheating and Jim Harbaugh received a slap on the wrist, but FSU gets body-slammed for an NIL violation? The NCAA never ceases to amaze us.

Check out a portion of this story from Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger:

“A Florida State assistant coach, offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, is found to have committed two Level II violations, which include impermissible recruiting activity and facilitating impermissible contact with an NIL-related booster. Atkins is alleged to have driven a prospect and his parents to a meeting with a leading member of the school’s NIL collective, Rising Spear.

“During that meeting, according to the NCAA, the booster encouraged the prospect to enroll at Florida State and offered him an NIL opportunity with the collective worth approximately $15,000 per month during his first year at the school.

“As part of the penalties, Atkins will be suspended the first three games of the 2024 regular season and is given a two-year show-cause. A show-cause requires schools who hire Atkins to explain the decision to NCAA officials. Atkins is expected to remain on FSU’s staff in his current role.

“In a first of its kind in the NIL era, the school must disassociate with the NIL collective representative for a term of three years. The school also must disassociate from the NIL collective for one year. As part of the dissociation, FSU cannot accept assistance from the collective and the collective cannot contribute to the athletic program in any way. However, the collective is free to continue working with FSU athletes on NIL endeavors.

“Other penalties, which were confirmed by the NCAA Thursday, include:
“- two years of probation.
“- scholarship reductions of 5% over the next two academic years.
“- a reduction by seven in official recruiting visits for 2023-24.
“- a prohibition on recruiting communication for six weeks over the next two academic years, including this next week (Jan. 12-18).
“- a prohibition on communication with athletes in the transfer portal from April 15-21.
“- a reduction by 18 evaluation days this spring.
“- a financial penalty of 1% of the athletic department’s budget.”
Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media
8. Helpful memo to all South Alabama players: When Major Applewhite tells you to take off a coat while on his sideline … you have been warned.
Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media
9. I did not realize Showtime announced it would no longer air boxing after its obligations in 2023. That lack of awareness by former boxing enthusiasts like myself who have evolved into casual fans is probably why Showtime decided to head in another direction.

Here is a portion of an October 2023 ESPN article about Showtime’s decision:

“For 37 years, "Showtime Championship Boxing" has televised some of the biggest fights in the sport, but Showtime will exit boxing programming at the end of 2023, the network's parent company Paramount Global announced in a statement Tuesday.

"As we evolve our strategy to more efficiently allocate resources and align our content offering across the business, we've made the difficult decision not to move forward with boxing and other content produced by the SHOWTIME sports team," the company said. "SHOWTIME will continue to air and support the remaining 2023 boxing slate and honor obligations through the end of the year. We want to express our deepest gratitude to our employees who have contributed to this award-winning sports programming over multiple decades."

Al Haymon's PBC has an exclusive deal with Showtime and has been the main provider of fights on the network since 2013. That included the sport's top star at the time, Floyd Mayweather.
PBC is exploring broadcast deals with Amazon Prime Video and DAZN, which has a partnership with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, sources told ESPN.

Here is the final Showtime boxing video (Jim Gray and Mike Tyson)
Login to view embedded media
10. Speaking of boxing, Muhammad Ali would have been 82 years old on January 17. RIP to the GOAT
Login to view embedded media

@Ketchum

https://x.com/ap/status/1748344822849470966?s=46&t=ONgtx9amRkIrKRFuTfXBbQ
Login to view embedded media

Only Lamar Jackson stands in the way.

OJ Simpson, Kurt Cobain, Ebola, NAFTA, Tonya Harding, Rwanda, Netscape, Friends airs, Cowboys repeat, The Lion King, Rockets win, PlayStation, George Foreman, Pulp Fiction, MLB Strike, Kin Il Sung, Sarajevo, Whitewater and Mandela wins

It’s hard to think that 30 years ago these terrific and lasting albums were released. Here we list them in no particular order along with some late ’93 releases that really took off later from the previous year.

Nirvana- Unplugged in NY

Soundgarden- Superunknown
Login to view embedded media
Pearl Jam- Vitalogy
Login to view embedded media
Beatie Boys- Ill Communication
Login to view embedded media
Alice in Chains- Jar of flies

NIN- The downward spiral
Login to view embedded media
Weezer- Blue Album
Login to view embedded media
Notorious B.I.G.- Ready to die
Login to view embedded media
The Cranberries- No need to argue

Jeff Buckley- Grace
Login to view embedded media
Dave Matthews Band- Under the table…

Oasis- Definitely Maybe
Login to view embedded media
STP- Purple
Korn- Korn

Bush- Sixteen Stone
Login to view embedded media
Hole- Live through this

Nas- Illmatic
Login to view embedded media
Outkast- Southerplayalistic….
Pink Floyd- Division Bell
Tori Amos- Under the Pink
R.E.M- Monster

Pantera- Far beyond driven
Login to view embedded media
Live- Throwing Copper
Login to view embedded media
The Toadies- Rubberneck
Beck-Mellow Gold

Green Day- Dookie
Login to view embedded media
Blur- Park life
UGK-Super tight

“The Crow” Soundtrack
Login to view embedded media
Tom Petty- Wildflowers

The Eagles- Hell freezes over
Login to view embedded media
Hootie & The Blowfish-Cracked rear view mirror

Page & Plant- No Quarter
Login to view embedded media
Ice Cube- Lethal injection
Liz Phair- Whipsmart
Sonic Youth- Experimental ..
Tupac- Thug Life vol. 1

Portishead- Dummy
Login to view embedded media
Veruca Salt- American Thighs
Login to view embedded media
Underworld- Dubnobass..
Seal- Seal
Rollins Band- Weight
The Rolling Stones- Voodoo Lounge

**Let’s not forget these late ’93 that hit huge the following year….

10,000 Maniacs- MTV Unplugged

Gin Blossoms- New miserable experience
Login to view embedded media
Smashing Pumpkins- Siamese Dream
Login to view embedded media
Snoop- Doggystyle

Cypress Hill- Black Sunday
Login to view embedded media
Wu Tang- Enter the 36….
Easy E- It’s on 187 killa…
A Tribe Called Quest- Midnight Marauders

Mazzy Star- So tonight I might see
Login to view embedded media

Kinda surprised this has not been a hotter topic on the board. The ole Twitter machine says Gus Cordoba of LT—who allegedly put peanuts in a guys locker with allergy—picked up Texas offer.

I didn’t watch enough LT football to say if he is a hoss or a douche.

Anywho Dicker, Card, and the one center (O’Doyle??) are the only non-douches that I recall coming out of there.

By Rock Westfall

College Football’s free agent extremism threatens competitive balance and the ability of fans to relate to it.

How to Destroy an Emerging College Football Market​

On December 28, 2023, the Arizona Wildcats beat the Oklahoma Sooners 38-24 in the Alamo Bowl. In just his third season, Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch improved the Wildcats program from 1-11 in 2021 to 10-3 in 2023. A bowl win over one of college football’s power brands ignited momentum for a program that was primed for a breakthrough.



Design Your Storefront

Ad
Shopify


One week ago, Arizona was a young football program with unlimited upside. They would be one of the favorites to win the Big 12 Conference in 2024 and contend for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.

Although known as a basketball school, Arizona fans were as excited for their football future as at any time in history. Fans were eager for what they expected to be a 2024 season of glory. Season ticket sales and donations were primed to skyrocket. But a nuclear bomb has detonated in the desert.

Fisch left Arizona for the Washington Huskies. As bad as that was, it was still manageable because of the talent Fisch left behind. Or at least that is how it used to be. Instead, Arizona is likely to lose most of its roster and best players, many of whom will follow Fisch to Washington.

College Football just blew up an emerging hot market and a lot of goodwill.


Related video: Review: Dramatic, Controversial & Epic College Football Games (SportsGrid)

it a better television production than it was.
Loaded: 100.00%


Play
Current Time 0:40
/
Duration 1:41

Quality Settings
Captions
Fullscreen

SportsGrid
Review: Dramatic, Controversial & Epic College Football Games
Unmute
0

View on Watch
More videos

• 
  DailymotionThe Surprising Exit of Nick Saban and Impact on College Football
  2:08
• 
  DailymotionNick Saban Retires: Shock Hits College Football World
  3:30
• 
  StadiumHow to Fix Championship Game Blowouts
  2:17

If Arizona fans never attend another college football game and ignore the sport forever, who could blame them? What could have been the best team in school history instead disappeared in the dark of the night. Of greater concern is that this scenario will be playing out soon at a school near you.

Player’s Rights Pajama Boys Forgot a Key Element – LAW!​

As NIL and the transfer portal emerged as new factors in college football, the pajama boy sports media squealed in delight. The lazy and tired old argument was that if a coach can leave anytime he wants for millions of dollars, why can’t players?

Of course, the media ignoramuses forgot to add that college football coaches work 24/7/365. They are on call more than elite medical personnel or the President of the United States, even when on “vacation.” They have zero privacy and are the target of unrestrained venom during tough times, often having to shelter their families in virtual bunkers during the uproars. Players don’t face such demands. Not even close.



Want a Non-Invasive Option? - Individualized Patient Care

Ad
qckinetix.net/qc/kinetix


But these are the same putrid, pusillanimous pollyannas who screamed that college football players were playing for “free.” In their unbridled, if not intentional, ignorance, these player’s rights social justice warriors did not consider the value of a college education even as most of them whine about their “oppressive” student loan debt.

College football players were getting six-figure educations with three hots and a cot, all paid for. No doubt they earned those benefits, but that’s how America is supposed to work, or was, anyway.

Now, college football players can leave on a whim. If a coach actually coaches them, they can screech about being offended or insulted and take their ball and go to the next school. Or, in the case of Arizona, Alabama, and any school that loses a coach, they can leave.

The players got their rights and bags, and the pajama boys got to think they stuck it to the man. But the only folks really getting the shaft are the fans.

There is no law. But there will be consequences.

Now That College Football is a Pro Sport, Adapt or Die​

The next great cause for the media minions is the unionization of college football players. Of course, this will be utter insanity. Can anyone say “STRIKE?” A season stoppage will sure as hell happen, just as it has in the major professional leagues. And the great irony is that the media that covers the sport will support the strike, just as they fiercely advocated for COVID-related lockdowns and cancelations in 2020. It takes a unique type of mind to advocate the destruction of the sport you cover for a living, but, hey, that's the brilliance of the college football media.


Instead of handing the game over to player’s unions that will hold the game hostage, college football would be well advised to develop frameworks where players sign contracts that lock them into their schools for multiple seasons. With that comes the necessity of a salary cap to ensure a competitive balance.

The NFL and NHL have relatively hard caps and strong competitive balance. But these sensible ideas require vision and the collective sharing of power. Which means they are unlikely.

College Football faces the risk of degenerating into Major League Baseball, where a few mega markets dominate the game, and the rest of the teams serve as developmental farm teams that feed talent to the mega-market brands such as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.

A Warning From History​

Younger sports fans would be shocked to learn that the sad-sack Kansas City Royals were once a perennial MLB World Series contender. From 1973 through 1989, the Royals were in the hunt almost every season. Before the current expanded participation trophy wild card expansion, KC made the playoffs seven times when it was much more difficult to do so. The Royals won two pennants and a World Series title. They even had a superstar who played his entire Hall of Fame career in KC, George Brett. Kansas City was a thriving baseball market and among the MLB leaders in attendance.


But with the proliferation of large market cable TV networks and their willingness to pay big for championship content, Kansas City was blown away and left behind. 100-loss seasons and an empty stadium are now the norm in KC. Sound familiar?

It is now impossible for small-market MLB teams to sustain success. Franchises such as the Oakland A’s, who won three consecutive World Series titles (1972-74), are currently farm clubs. Concurrently, the A’s play in front of three or four people per game as they await a desperate move to Las Vegas.

Is this the college football future of Arizona, Iowa State, Purdue, Northwestern, Mississippi State, Wake Forest, Illinois, Pitt, Syracuse, and countless other schools? Probably so.

A Failed Opportunity and Two Success Stories​

Baseball had a chance to save itself when it canceled the end of the 1994 season, locking the players out. But in 1995, the feckless fools who ran the game caved in, and the big markets became permanent powers. The 1994 playoffs and World Series were canceled for nothing by gutless, gelded cowards unwilling to hold the line.

But two other sports were not afraid to clang their church bells.

In 1987, the NFL players walked out on strike after a couple of games. Led by then-Dallas Cowboys president Tex Schramm, the NFL used replacement players and played on. The regular players quickly returned. The union was brought to heel, and the NFL has had control of its business ever since.

In 2004-05, the National Hockey League owners took the ultimate hard line, nuking an entire season rather than surrendering to fiscal insanity. The tail stopped wagging the dog in hockey. The NHL now has tremendous competitive balance and market stability.

College football faces the same fork in the road as the sports mentioned above. Will it continue with its current laissez-faire era that will end up driving away fans and permanently busting out schools? Or will it put the hammer down, NFL and NHL style, and get its affairs in order?

We See the Future, And It Doesn’t Work​

It is agreed that college football needs a pro sports type of commissioner or “czar.” But do you really think SEC commissioner Greg Sankey or Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti will surrender any of their current substantial power for the greater good? And for that matter, do you really believe lightweights such as ACC commissioner and warden Jim Phillips would do so either when he can instead hold schools as prisoners for the next decade in a league that has devolved into a maximum-security prison?

Because of ego, selfishness, extreme self-interest, lack of vision and courage, and Gordon Gekko-style greed, the result of college football’s current state will be the loss or demotion of programs, the permanent power status of a few schools, and the inability of fans to relate to the game. A mass exodus of customers will follow.

College basketball was once a thing, a big thing with a meaningful regular season. Now, it is a three-week binge of gambling and brackets in March. Fans can't connect to a sport where the players come and go through a revolving door, much like with small-market MLB teams.

College hoops and baseball are niche sports these days instead of the powerhouses they used to be. College football, you’re next.

College football’s current situation is reminiscent of an unfortunate village caught up in the Viet Nam War. An American military officer being interviewed on TV said of the village, “We have to destroy it to save it.”

The self-destruction of college football is highly likely. And it may be the only way to save the sport from itself.

I have an almost 4 year old female Bernedoodle. She's always been very calm and easy going. For some reason over the last 6 months or so medium to heavy rain (even with no thunder) gives her big time anxiety. Rain started about 1 this morning and she was up and down all night, heavy panting and wouldn't settle down.

I have no clue what triggered all of this out of nowhere but it's about to drive me nuts. Anyone dealt with this or have recommendations or suggestions?

TIA

I'm guessing X Filsaime didn't get his 5th star based on whats been revealed so far.
Not that it matters in the end, but it would've been cool if he did or does.
Brandon Baker checks in at 27.

After Mahomes was interviewed in post game and very respectful of the Bills, he runs over to a few Chiefs fans to give a kid a ball. He has to duck as Buffalo fans started throwing snowballs and drinks at him. Still gave the kid the ball and then ran off for his own safety. Wide Right with no class in sight.

Purdy, Mayfield, Goff, Mahomes and Allen

Right @Ketchum?

i Have a gas fireplace that is operated with a wall switch to turn it off and on. The switch is currently on the wall behind my 65 inch TV. It is near the side edge so I can easily reach it. I’m bout to get. 77 inch TV and am concerned it might make the switch unreachable. Is there some sort of smart switch or other solution for this?

With the amateur from Bama winning the PGA tour event yesterday, does him having an NIL deal or any other college golfer affect their PGA amateur status? Thanks for any info. Hook Em

Arizona DT Tiaoalii Savea is coming in for an OV. Played in 12 games and had 22 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

You have to think this one will get done.

Login to view embedded media

With LHN nearing its end, I’m thinking about ending my DirecTV Stream sub, and moving to something hopefully better and lower cost. What is the best option? I watch local mostly local channels and sports on DirecTV Stream.

Fubo? YouTube TV? Something else?

Thanks in advance for the info.