Thursday, July 08, 2010

Belly of the Beast Exclusive: Ass-Kissing of LeBron to Reach All-Time High Tonight

Sources very close to other sources have confirmed that tonight's airing of The Decision, the 1-hour "where will LeBron James sign" show, on ESPN will absolutely shatter all previous records of bending over backwards and puckering up for a network, reporters and personalities. ESPN has announced that Stuart Scott, Mike Wilbon and Jon Barry will host the show and provide analysis with lots of "you did what was best for you" supporting lines. All three men have spent most of the day diligently preparing and we've got some inside information on their preparation.

Reports indicate that host Stuart Scott has been locked away in a spa for the past 10 hours, relaxing and doing something with his eyes before the show, as well as practicing a new handshake/hug/fist bump routine that could only be described by the source's source as "the Magnum of handshake/hug routines."

Reporter/TV-person-more-than-reporter-writer Mike Wilbon was seen in New York earlier today shopping for a new suit, complete with dress shirt that has no visible top button. He too will later visit a day spa to ensure his head is extra shiny, as he was told LeBron loves shiny things. We're also told that Wilbon hasn't been this excited since he realized he no longer has to write anything for The Washington Post.

Jon Barry has reportedly visited every lottery ticket-selling gas station in a five-state area since finding out he would be involved in this show. He also has plans for an extra shiny head and has some questions that only a former player could ask a current player. The source's source could only confirm one question, which will be "You made a tough choice tonight." Although not an actual question, we're told Barry feels like it will get LeBron talking.

Most upset by the show's airing (other than 95% of America; nice job LeBron PR people), is former reporter/personality Ahmad Rashad. His ass-kissing of Michael Jordan was thought to be the single most unbreakable record in sports. Even college football commentators in love with Urban Meyer still marvel at his performance. And John Madden, when trying to do the same for Brett Favre, eventually retired, citing the record as "impossible to touch, and I tried for 16 years." When asked for his thoughts on the impending loss of his record, Rashad could not be reached for comment, but his publicist said that he would be spending time with his family tonight.

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Get to Know Your SEC Football Players

It's Wednesday, which means it's time to get to know a little bit more (or just anything at all) about one of the Southeastern Conference's football players. Now when this player succeeds, massively fails or is shown milling around in the background of a TV shot, you'll know that his greatest off-the-field accomplishment involves the sale and transportation of hobos. Or something like that.

The team of the player selected is chosen through a super-secret process which I cannot reveal, however, the number of the player is randomly chosen by visiting www.random.org and using whatever number is spat out from its random-creating machine.

Today's number: 58
Today's team: Florida


#58 Nick Alajajian, OT, Florida

And seen here in practice doing a stretch that looks like I could do without severely injuring myself:



Some background information: Like seemingly everyone deemed worthy enough to play for Urban Meyer by Urban Meyer, Alajajian was a highly-coveted high school recruit. While in high school, he did some impressive things like win a state championship, get on some all-star teams and have Meyer make eye contact with him and speak his first name. And in his true freshman season, he avoided the redshirt and played in seven games, while dressing out for all of them. Also, there's a chance Tim Tebow might know his name, which could be his most impressive feat so far. But most importantly for this Wednesday feature, he is the leader in the clubhouse for last name that is the hardest to pronounce. My tongue sort of collapses on itself when I try to make it through the minefield of j's and a's.

Greatest on-field accomplishment: He did not allow Tim Tebow to be injured during his time on the field. Granted, Tebow may not have been playing by the time Nick got in the game, but in that case he dutifully protected John Brantley. Although, after the infamous knock-out hit on Tebow,



I'm sure his coaches wanted to put him in to replace the offensive lineman that had just failed them, even though I still think it was Tebow's fault for not sliding right and recognizing that the end would be coming free.

Greatest off-the-field accomplishment: Has not joined the "Get to Know Your Gainesville Police Department," Florida Gators Football Team Chapter.

Way(s) in which he has embarrassed himself, his family, team and school: While Nick has kept himself on the right side of the law, I'll need to see the whole tat on his arm in the picture above to make a judgment call on it being placed in this section.

Strengths: Power, very physical, developed enough that he could see the field as a true freshman. Also, not physically and psychologically wilting in the face of an Urban Meyer death stare.

Weaknesses: Does not contribute speed to the fastest team in America, an idea so novel it took a genius like Meyer to bring it to our attention.

What to look for in 2010: More of the same for Alajajian. A smattering of conference game appearances (baring injury and further attacks on the law by Florida starting offensive tackles) and a healthy dose of playing time against the Charleston Southerns of Florida's schedule. So that means you'll see him hovering in the background of shots of offensive lineman being lectured to/screamed at/cursed at by their position coach, more or less acting as an umbrella for those who play. But, if you find yourself cursing at ESPN for not switching off a Florida blowout win as you impatiently wait for your game to start, you could very well see Nick paving the way for another Florida touchdown against Charleston Southern.

Coming Soon to Ed Orgeron's Cellphone: Patrick Patterson's Phone Number

I know I owe you, and America really, the usual Wednesday get to know a football player segment, but today is going to be a very rare double post day around here. A day like this is sort of like seeing a bald eagle, Kodiak bear and a salmon sitting around in the wild discussing whether or not the Holy Roman Empire was neither Holy, nor Roman or an Empire. So I advise taking a picture so people will actually believe you.

I felt it important to acknowledge the dismissal of highly touted wide receiver Patrick Patterson from the Ole Miss football team, mainly to give me a therapeutic release of sorts. While I suppose I shouldn't stray too far into the wailing and gnashing of teeth category, after all, Patterson wasn't anything special his freshman year (12 catches, 180 yards and one touchdown), but without him, the Ole Miss receiving corps with game experience now looks like this:

Markieth Summers
Lionel Breaux
Jesse Gandy
Melvin Harris

Guh. That's a razor-thin group with not much talent and experience. Combined, those four IN THEIR CAREERS (two seniors and two sophomores) have caught 52 passes and five touchdowns. So actually, the loss of Patterson includes the loss of 19% of caught footballs in games and 17% of caught touchdown passes in games. And given that Ole Miss' tight ends have discovered the scientific properties for becoming invisible to quarterbacks, it matters a little more than I originally thought it would.

(Brief pause to yell at no one in particular.)

However, there is good news if you're an Ole Miss fan. It is doubtful that Ole Miss will have a quarterback this fall that would be able to successfully throw to wide receivers anyway, so all we really need out of this group is some guys who can block well in the running game. Which Patterson could do when he tried...

(Second brief pause to shake fist and yell at the sky.)

So what does this mean for Patterson? If my mathematical skills are correct, he should have four years left with which to play three years of college football, meaning he probably would not have to transfer to a I-AA (What's the real name for it?  FBS? FCS? YMCA?) school since a redshirt year could cover his sitting out for a year due to transferring. The only issue would be do teams at the I-A level want to take a chance on an allegedly talented guy who clearly has an attitude/work ethic problem (and perhaps a fondness for certain substances frowned upon by coaches). If college football has taught us anything, the answer to that question is YES THEY DO.

Even Houston Nutt once gave a scholarship to former Florida player who used the credit card of a women killed six months earlier in a car crash. A dismissal for the standard "violation of team rules" isn't going to scare anyone away. Patterson could have been sitting on JaMarcus Russell's front porch on Monday, enjoying the payoffs of the Purple Drank, and his phone would still ring. This is college football.  Unless a player is a felon...wait...unless a player is too old to play after getting out of jail, he'll get a second chance.  And as fans, we rightfully mock other teams when something like this happens, then say something about "this is a good environment for him" when said talented player transfers to our team.  It is a cycle that will never change.

So, goodbye, Patrick Patterson. We barely knew ye. And if you ever catch a touchdown pass against Ole Miss, so help me, you will find the police beating on your door to ask you about the Purple Drank you didn't know you had.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Since We Last Met

Georgia AD Damon Evans no longer directing athletics at Georgia
Once the police report of his DUI arrest made its way into the papers and the Internet, it was only a matter of time before Evans resigned, and he did just that on Sunday. A few of the better details to surface in the report included the always popular "Do you know who I am/I'm someone very important" line, his lady friend's (who is not his wife) arrest for disorderly conduct/not doing what the cop told her to do and most amazingly, when Evans was pulled over, he had a pair of red panties between his legs. When asked why he would have such an item of clothing there, he replied (and with a straight face, mind you), "She took them off and I held them because I was just trying to get her home."

Well, I'm satisfied. I think that clears everything right up. A few ideas for future consideration by Evans: One, stay clear of bars and restaurants with women who are not the wife. Two, get better at thinking on feet when pressed with a tough question. And three, if going to be out with a lady friend, have her do the driving while you do the drankin'.

Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe wags his finger at Tommy Tuberville
Tuberville recently spoke about the impending collapse of the Big 12, why the conference sucks and how much better life was in the SEC (minus the eight brutal conference games). While everything Tuberville said was 1,000% correct, Dan Beebe was hurt and offended, but mostly hurt. I can't verify this, but I believe he called his buddy Jim Delany of the Big Ten (Twelve) and asked him what the best course of action was. Delany told him that if Beebe sold him Texas, he'd help him out. After consideration, Beebe decided to steal a copy of Mike Slive's reprimand to SEC coaches last spring. It was his first move as commissioner that didn't earn him a double F-minus on the performance scale.

JaMarcus Russell enjoys his Fourth of July with some family time, fireworks and the Purple Drank
Also, bail bondsmen. Russell was arrested at his home in Mobile after police found him to be in possession of a controlled substance, codeine syrup, which is more commonly known to the people as the Purple Drank (If you're familiar with the work of Three 6 Mafia, they mention a good time had by all while drinking the Drank in their song "Sippin' on Some Syrup"). Side effects include laziness, weight gain, incompletions, interceptions, bad decisions, zest for failure and loss of large chunks of straight cash.

Sunday was the first anniversary of Steve McNair's death
One year later and it's still an incredibly sad story, especially when reading about the family members as they continue to deal with the tremendous amount of pain that doesn't seem to be getting any smaller. The Belly of the Beast offers a tribute to Air II that was created by someone with Internet skills, as they took the time to document some of McNair's time on the Reservation at Alcorn State in highlight form.

Thursday, July 01, 2010

Okay, Seriously, I'm Gonna Find the Gear That Gets This Thing in Regular Posting Mode

My most sincere apologies for the lack of posting in this space. I offer no excuses, but I'm open to suggestions that are better than the one I was going to write, which involved mostly lies and delusional fantasies. Anyhow, to quench your thirst for recycled news stories, let's pound out a recap of the past couple of days.

A brief and marginally educated preview of the World Cup quarterfinals
Netherlands vs. Brazil
The first of two quarterfinal games that in just about any other World Cup could have been a final (the other being Germany vs. Argentina). In past years, these teams would have played with a defense-be-damned style and treated us to a Texas Tech/Houston-like matchup. Instead, both teams have decided to dial things down and, you know, play defense that isn't hemorrhaging open space and shots. BORING. If I have no interest in who wins, I want to see maximum entertainment for 90 minutes, as does America. And even though soccer is enjoyed and revered by 5.7 billion people for the way it is now, it's the 300 million in America that are clearly more important than anyone else. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

/hangs head in shame when remembering the Ghana debacle

Uruguay vs. Ghana
If the U.S. team had taken care of business, everyone in America would have essentially had Friday afternoon off. It's the Fourth of July weekend, and even though most people have Monday off, no one would be interested in doing work on Friday afternoon.  The media buildup would have been tremendous, fan interest would have been at an all-time high and every office across the county would have shut down to watch the game. Then if we had actually won, it's three straight days of soccer celebration mixed in with a birthday party for the country. It would have been the greatest Fourth of July weekend ever. Damn you, Ghana for having soccer talent. I hope Uruguay wins 116-0.

Argentina vs. Germany
Our second quarterfinal that could be a final. This one is tough for me. On one hand, I hate Germany. On the other, they are extremely entertaining to watch, so in that sense it would be a shame to not be able to watch them anymore. But then there's the whole two World Wars thing. And the Holocaust. And of course this:



A German defender using his hand to keep the tying goal from going in during our game against them in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals. So you know what? Screw those guys. Plus, how could I ever cheer against Diego Maradona being in my life? That short little man has brought me great joy over the past few weeks. SO DON'T SCREW THIS UP NOW, DIEGO.

Paraguay vs. Spain
A game that rivals Uruguay/Ghana for least compelling matchup of importance I can remember without consulting Google. Other than watching David Villa in this game, I can offer you no reason to sit through this one. Although it is on early Saturday afternoon when nothing else is on, and no American play-by-play announcers are involved, which is always a positive.

Georgia's athletic director got really, really, really dranked Wednesday night
At least they didn't take a mugshot of him lying on the floor:



So while he couldn't keep his eyes open, he was able to stand (or be propped up) for the four seconds it took to snap one of the most amazing mugshots of someone not named Nick Nolte. Also, his salary was supposed to be raised starting today, and he was in the car with a female that was not his wife (she was also arrested). BUT WHAT ABOUT GEORGIA'S STARTING QUARTERBACK SITUATION?

Let's take a brief timeout to remember how awesome Steve Tanneyhill's mullet was


Tommy Tuberville, like the rest of America, thinks the Big 12 is stupid
The orator of the famous "pine box" speech pointed out what everyone outside the Big 12 said a few weeks ago when it was given a stay of execution. On a radio show, he said:

"I don't think this conference will last long because there is too much disparity between all the teams. In the SEC, for instance, Vanderbilt makes as much money in the television contract as Florida. Everybody is good with it. Everybody is on the same page. Everyone gets the same votes. That doesn't happen here in the Big 12. We have some teams that get a little bit more money and have a little bit more stroke than some of the other teams. And when that happens, you're gonna have teams looking for better avenues to leave and reasons to leave."

Now that Tuberville is 55 years old and realizes that he voluntarily lives in Lubbock, Texas, he has removed what little filter he did have between his brain and mouth. And I couldn't be more excited. The man enjoys hearing himself speak and even before now had not been afraid to be somewhat of an agitator and shit-stirrer, but now that the deck is stacked heavily against him, I fully expect him to find 12 on his shoot-from-the-hip dial.  And I see him becoming best of friends with commissioner Dan Beebe.