John Clay's Sidelines

From John Calipari’s twitter page:

Ramon Harris' daughter.

Michael Porter and his new baby girl.

SEC links for Saturday:

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Steve Spurrier has gone from Gator to traitor.
• David Climer of the Tennessean writes that Spurrier’s Tebow omission brings questions about coaches’ top 252 poll.
• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Spurrier’s snafu reveals a flawed system.
• Pat Forde of espn.com writes that Spurrier can now be an agent of change.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that the Tebow snub is meaningless.
• But Jeff Schultz of the AJC is just not buying it.
• Jemele Hill of espn.com writes that Tim Tebow practices what he preaches.
• Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun reports that these were not fun days for Spurrier.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Spurrier’s snub produces a poll debate’

SEC links for Friday:

• Tony Barnhart of the AJC examines whether the question about Tim Tebow’s virginity was out of bounds.
• State columnist Ron Morris writes that Tim Tebow can’t hide from good-guy image.
• Rick Cleveland of the Clarion-Ledger writes that Ole Miss’ basked in the glow at SEC Media Days.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News writes that SEC mystery coach does not deserve blame for ignoring Tim Tebow.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun believes that signs point to Steve Spurrier in the Tebow debate.
• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that Ole Miss’ Jevan Sneed might be the SEC’s best quarterback.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Was Tebow virginity question out-of-bounds?’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Rich Brooks played hurry-up at SEC Media Days.
• My column on ex-UK marketing director Kyle Moats, let go by Mitch Barnhart, now the new AD at Missouri State.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Brooks has trimmed his timetable.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that the end is near for Brooks.
• James Varney of the Times-Picayune writes that Brooks hopes to get the last laugh.
• Tim Gayle of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that Brooks took his last-place slot in stride.
• John Pennington of Mr. SEC writes that Brooks is the SEC’s Ronald Reagan.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Brooks leaves them laughing at Media Days’

SEC links for Thursday:

• Ray Melick of the Birmingham News writes that now the opening acts are over, the SEC Media Days can really begin.
• The News gives its best and worst of the first day of Media Days.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that it’s not a fair fight, and the SEC likes it that way.
• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes that the SEC his the jackpot with Mike Slive.
• Athens Banner-Herald reports that Slive is tired of lax attitudes concerning secondary violations.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports that the gabfest was a breeze for new Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Media Days roundup No. 1′

Courtesy of al.com.

Courtesy of al.com.

Here’s what I’ve heard from the local radio call-in shows for Wednesday:

• WLXG-1300: I’ll be on with Chris Cross and Mike Cameron in the 6 o’clock hour.

• WLAP-630: Dick Gabriel will have Tom Leach on at 6:05 to discuss Leach’s new book on Rich Brooks. In the second hour, Dick will have comments from SEC football coaches at the league media days in Birmingham.

• WVLK-590: Recruiting guru, and former Lexington Legends’ play-by-play man Rob Gidel joins Larry Glover.

Ex-UK star and current Milwaukee Bucks rookie Jodie Meeks was among the top 10 performers in the recently-completed NBA Summer League, so says nbadraft.net.

The site ranked overall top pick Blake Griffin as the best player in the league, followed by another Milwaukee Bucks rookie, guard Brandon Jennings. Houston Rockets’ rookie Chase Budinger ranked third.

Meeks was ranked ninth.

You can read the rest of the list here.

As for its analysis of Meeks, here’s an excerpt:

The Bucks quickly signed 2nd round draft pick Meeks, and his performance in Vegas showed us the reason. Meeks scored 19.0 ppg on 55.7% shooting. The Bucks traded away Richard Jefferson before the draft happened and opened up some minutes on the wing. If Meeks can continue to score at the pace he did in college and again in Vegas during the summer league, there may be an opportunity for Meeks to step right in and contribute.

Photo by Mark Cornelison.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports that Rich Brooks wants Randall Cobb to be creative.
• Mike Szostak of the Providence Journal talks to Bernadette Locke Mattox about her time as an assistant under Rick Pitino at UK. (Hat tip to Inner Circle.)
• Dick Vitale places Patrick Patterson on his All-Rolls Royce second team.
• Vitale also has Darius Miller as a one to watch in 2009.
• Craig Thomas of the Herald-Leader reports on UK’s Bruno Agostinelli winning his pro tennis debut.
• At Yahoo Sports, Eamonn Brennan doesn’t think John Calipari should be taking his son to Vegas.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Brooks wants Cobb to be creative’