Friday Night Dawg Bites

Tonight marks the end of a busy and draining week in Georgia athletics as well as in the myriad of matters making up the rest of life, so I will hold off on expressing in detail my gratitude to the Diamond Dogs and offering the reflective response The Realist’s detailed critique of David Perno’s tenure deserves. Instead, I have the following random ruminations to offer for your consideration:

• Remember how I told you that my friend Robert Lurie had a piece in Chronicles on the Drive-By Truckers? Well, here it is. (Thanks to College Buddy for pointing that out to me.)
• We all know that MGoBlog and Alabama fans are feuding, but I’ve always wondered why. I mean, what caused Nick Saban to be singled out for special disdain from the most noteworthy Wolverine partisan in the blogosphere? We may have our answer in this recent confession by Brian Cook (to which I have added appropriate emphasis):

I, for one, find such a sentiment indefensible and inexplicable; if you’re going to be friends with Auburn people (a questionable enough proposition all on its own), that certainly shouldn’t make you want the Plainsmen to win. However, if you’re going to root for both Auburn and Michigan, then who better to make the object of your vitriol than a man who coached at Alabama, Louisiana State, and Michigan State? It all makes sense to me now. . . .

Except for that part about wanting Auburn to win. I hate Auburn . . . and a Michigan man should, too.

• While we’re on the subject of the Crimson Tide faithful, by the way, I probably should point you in the direction of the 2008 ‘Bama yearbook from Maple Street Press. Why should Georgia fans be interested in a Crimson Tide annual? Because, as I hinted at earlier, I wrote one of the articles appearing in it. Once it’s available for purchase, I’ll let you know where to buy it. Stay tuned. . . .
• I listed Texas Tech among the four teams I ain’t buying for 2008, which sparked some discussion among Big 12 partisans, with whom I have tussled before. Was I right, though? After justifying his position at considerable length (that is not a criticism, at least not from these parts), Sunday Morning Quarterback offered this answer:

• I don’t know which datum I find more astounding: (a) Spencer Hall will be speaking to the College Sports Information Directors of America; (b) there will be no crankin’ dat Soulja Boy in Sanford Stadium this fall; or (c) Bill Hicks’s outlandishly over-the-top misanthropic ranting actually was considered a comedy-like substance in some circles.

My daughter and me, preparing to participate in a religious ceremony that would have inspired Bill Hicks to shout profanity bitterly for five solid minutes before throwing in a one-liner at the end and passing it off as a stand-up routine.

• Finally, I close on a sad note. I don’t know if this was mentioned during the College World Series, because I make it my practice to watch ESPN with the sound turned down, but Bryce Massanari’s grandmother passed away on June 16. That was the same day he narrowly missed hitting a home run during the Diamond Dogs’ win over Stanford, a fact I mention because it helps put Georgia’s recent loss in the College World Series finals into its proper perspective. Our belated condolences go out to the Massanari family on the loss of their loved one.

Go ‘Dawgs!