John Clay's Sidelines

We’re 16 days away from Kentucky’s opener against Miami of Ohio at Paul Brown Stadium.

Today’s chart looks at winners of college football bowl games that past three years, and teams that match UK’s three straight wins.

Chris Cross

Day three of the Media Approval Ratings brings us Chris Cross, who co-hosts the Sports Huddle on WLXG-1300 in Lexington, as well as those Castle Jewlery commercials on television. Chris is a long-time veteran of the radio airwaves, and makes few bones about rooting for the home team. (We’ll do his partner, Mike Cameron, tomorrow.)

So what say you on Chris Cross, thumbs-up or thumbs-down?

Previously: Dick Gabriel – Larry Glover.

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commerical Appeal reports that sources say Memphis will be forced to vacate its 2007-08 NCAA Tournament run.
• Commercial Appeal columnist Geoff Calkins writes that NCAA ruling is less about Memphis and more about Calipari.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK safety Ashton Cobb’s fresh start.
• Ryan Alessi of the Herald-Leader reports on John Caliapri’s speech in Louisville, in which the coach says his newcomers “think they poop ice cream.”
• My column on programming suggestions for a UK TV network. (They’re only jokes.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Memphis media blames Calipari’

(Photo by Alabama media relations)

SEC links for Thursday:

• Adam Jones of the Tuscaloosa News reports that Julio Jones won’t be a school senator after winning write-in campaign.
• AP reports that media associations are protesting new SEC media policy.
• Jeff Schultz of the AJC writes that Georgia defensive coordinator Willy Martinez isn’t running from criticism.
• Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun reports that Curtis Dunlap is Florida’s latest freak.
• Joe Person of The State reports that offense cruises through South Carolina scrimmage.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Julio Jones turns down school senate seat’

Dick Gabriel

For day two of our Local Media Approval Ratings feature, we submit for approval Dick Gabriel.

Dick was a few years ahead of me at UK. He’s done various radio and TV gigs, including sports director at WKYT. He now works for IMG and is host for Sports Nightly on WLAP-630 in Lexington.

So what say you on Dick, thumbs-up or thumbs-down?

Previously: Larry Glover.

Photo by Mark Seliger.

I don’t know if the “Four Horsemen” went shirtless, but the greatest college football player of the modern era has stripped for the new issue of GQ.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is shirtless for a feature story in the magazine this month.

The Timteblog has the details.

Of course, Florida comes to Kentucky on Sept. 26. Tebow is expected to be wearing his jersey, his pads, and a long winning streak over the Cats.

Alexis Stevens of the AJC also writes about Tebow showing off his chest.

Writes Stevens:

Now football fans, and maybe just Tebow fans, can see exactly what’s under that No. 15 jersey. All 6-foot-3, 235 pounds of him.

Can another shirtless player top that?

Jeremy Fowler also writes about it for the Orlando Sentinel.

In what is a nod to college football and Florida Gator issue, the magazine also has Erin Andrews in muddy shoulder pads.

Here’s the GQ link.

We’re 17 days away from UK-Miami of Ohio at Paul Brown Stadium on Sept. 5.

For today’s chart, we look at the correlation between offensive line experience and Kentucky’s record.

Is there a correlation?

This is based on the depth charts heading into pre-season practice. The top chart breaks down the projected first-string linemen by year, number of returning starters, and letters won. The record is the won-loss record team ended up with at the end of the year. The bottom chart lists the invidiual players who were first-string heading into fall camp. The ones shaded are returning starters, though not necessarily at the same position.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• H-L report on Kentucky’s pairings in Cancun Tournament.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader takes a look at the depth on the Kentucky football team.
• Cosby reports that Randall Cobb is seeing a back specialist.
• H-L report on ESPN’s basketball GameDay coming to Rupp.
• Slam Online interviews basketball recruit Marquis Teague, who says Kentucky is in his top five.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that the football Cats get a chance to relax, a little.
• Dan Wiederer of the Fayetteville Observer writes that Brandon Knight is giving UK and Miami heavy consideration, while Duke tries to get in on the action. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Marquis Teague puts UK in his top five’

Bryce Brown

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that the NCAA is investigating eligibility of Tennessee’s star freshman running back Bryce Brown.
• Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that ex-UT basketballs star JaJuan Smith has been arrested on assault charge.
• Mark Bradley of the AJC picks every SEC game, one or two correctly (his words).
• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News reports that Auburn coach Gene Chizik vows he won’t interfere with offensive coordinator Gus Malzhan.
• Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News writes that Nick Saban is pushing harder as Alabama’s camp nears end.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that replacing Jerry on defense a challenge for Ole Miss.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that D.J. Swearinger’s work ethic is opening eyes at South Carolina.
• Randy Rosetta of The Advocate reports that LSU’s linebackers are coming full circle.
• Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun reports on Jon Bostic’s early start at Florida.
• Peter Kerasotis of Florida Today writes on late ex-Florida coach Charley Pell.

Larry Glover

I’m a thief, and make no bones about it. One of Deadspin’s more interesting features is its “Media Approval Ratings.” It’s always great to see that 90.1 percent agree that listening Mike Lupica is as enjoyable as taking a cannonball to the temple, or that 93.9 percent think Skip Bayless should be punched in the face, or that 89.8 percent agree that Jeff Van Gundy makes you smile, or that 82.6 percent approve of Tim Kurkjian, and not just for the fact that you can relate to the term “vertically challenged.”

But, alas, you never get to see what Deadspin readers think about Alan Cutler, or , or Chris Cross, or Tom Leach, or Mary Jo Perino, or Rob Bromley, or Dick Gabriel, or any of our other local media heroes.

Kentucky Sports Radio did its own version last summer, but seems to have given up on the idea.

So I’m giving you, dear Sidelines blog reader, the chance.

In the spirit of it’s-all-in-fun, I will periodically supply an opportunity to give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to those who nosh on sports news for a living. We’ll offer up the Lexington crowd, Louisville, and probably throw in some national types, as well, especially those who report/broadcast a fair number of UK events.

But we’ll start with the local talk show hosts. Full disclosure here, I don’t have a dog in this fight, and I am a frequent guest on all three shows, and am friends with all the hosts. The vote belongs to you, not me.

I’ll start with the left-hand of the dial and Larry Glover, former play-by-play man for the Lexington Legends, and now the host of SportsCentral 590 on WVLK in Lexington. Of course, Larry has been the long-time host of WVLK’s Sunday morning sports talk show, a gig he held when doing the Legends game.

So what say you on Larry, approve or disapprove?