Lance Briggs to the Redskins - Great move for Bears in my opinion.  There is tons of defense in the top 10 picks and maybe even a QB that they need so bad.  I'd trade the disgruntled LB and my 31st pick for the sixth pick overall. 

 

I don't think Billy Donovan is going anywhere.  He's saying the things he has to say while his team is still playing.  The president said Billy can go look, but he won't let him leave.  Donovan will be a well paid man in Gator Country next year.  Florida fans have got to love having both Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan as coaches. 

 

Anyone else besides the states of Florida and Ohio State excited about another rematch?  Could this be the next big rivalry?  We'll have to see.  I for one would love to see the Gators repeat over the Buckeyes.  It'd make it that much sweet.  I know OSU would love to finally stick it to the boys from Gainesville.  It's amazing how far these football schools have come in basketball.  I'm calling Ohio State vs Florida in Omaha this summer!

 

Does anyone else smell something fishy about this tourney?  After no upsets in the opening rounds, the high seeds sweep through.  Throw in some questionable calls and it makes you take notice. 

 

I'm also finally getting excited about basketball again.  Grant Hill killed my love.  Well, next year his $16 million plus will be off the books in Orlando.  Throw in a scoring threat that Jameer Nelson can pass to and another year of progress from Dwight Howard and the Magic could start to make a deep run in the playoffs.  (I know they are a few years away, but at least they will be competitive)

 

Please Orlando don't resign Grant Hill.  Please!

 

Peyton Manning is hilarious.  "I'll kill a snitch."  SNL is hardly watchable anymore.  Justin Timberlake is the only decent host in the last two years until Manning this last Saturday.   The only skits that are somewhat funny are Target (sometimes), Two A-holes (always), Blizzard Man (which only I find funny apparently) and Bronx Beat (most of the time).  Peyton's United Way is up there with Omletville.  (I'm only comparing SNL skits from recent years.  There is no way anyone could beat Steve Martin era or Adam Sandler era)

 

Baseball update.  It's about to start.  Dice K mania is everywhere.  I say he has 12-14 wins with an ERA of about 3.50 or so.  Hitters will eventually find him out.  If pitches come across the plate, Major League players will find ways to put it into play.  MLB has turned into an offensive game, I don't see one pitcher changing that. 

 

Could Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz really be retiring next year?  What will happen to the Braves?  Will John Smoltz wear another uni?  If Atlanta is out of the running, will Andruw Jones change his mind about the no-trade clause?  Can Chipper stay healthy for a full year anymore?  Will their starting pitching mirror their bullpen last year?  The Braves have lots of questions.  Every team does this time of year.

 

Will baseball ever have a salary cap?

 

I don't care if A-Rod leaves the Yankees without winning a title.  If I'm correct, Derek Jeter didn't win one while A-Rod was there either.  The Yankees just aren't as good as they once were.  They just don't have the pitching anymore. 

 

P.S.  Kobe is not better than Jordan.  It's an injustice that you even mention the two together. 

 

Maybe the Mets shouldn’t be scared yet. Give it a few more weeks at this pace. The Braves have a long way to go. Going into the final days of the trading deadline the Braves need to do two of the three things listed to make it to postseason (and maybe 15 straight division titles).

-Bullpen…Okay, that was easy. Every team that participates in Major League Baseball needs relief help. There are only a handful of teams. I would say a quarter of the teams in baseball are in a position to sell. There’s probably a reason why they don’t win games. Maybe they had bullpen problems also. If anyone out there could pull a diamond from the rough and not overspend for him, it’s John Schuerholz. Look out, we may have to give something for him. This leads me to my next thing the Braves need to do to reach the postseason.

-Find room for Wilson Betemit. As you could tell on Monday with his four hit, 5 RBI performance that it has taken Betemit a little longer to become that prospect that Atlanta hoped he would. That time has come and now the infield is full. With Chipper playing baseball like he’s in a time warp. He’s just playing like it’s his ’99 MVP season all over again. Edgar Renteria revived his career after a horrid year in Boston. He’s playing like a true all-star. Giles is the most underrated second baseman to me. He plays hard. David Eckstein gets the praise of being small and playing shortstop. I think Marcus should get some praise at second. Adam LaRoche has made some good strides through the season. He’s getting hot. Who do you move? As much as it pains me, you have to move Giles. He’s going to be due some big money plus he has a load of trade value. You just took Giles leadoff spot (which he never should have had, he’s a natural number two hitter), you need to get a leadoff hitter.

-I’ve been saying this for a while, but go out and grab Carl Crawford (or someone close to his caliber). Langerhans has been solid in the field, but lackluster at the plate. Carl Crawford can give you that leadoff hitter you need and great defense. He’s only 25 or 26 and hasn’t entered his prime yet. Could you imagine Crawford, Jones and Francoeur together in the outfield for the next few years? You’d better hit a line drive in the gap if you want it to land.

I know these won’t all be easy. I’m sure that John Schuerholz already has the first two on his list. The third could seal the deal on a 15th divisional championship and maybe a World Series. This is all wishful thinking. There is probably a reason why I’m not the General Manager. They have about six million to play with, so let’s see what the magician has got in his hat.

It will be a sad day when I turn to TBS and find no Braves to be watched. That's what I read today on the Braves website just minutes ago. TBS is dropping the Braves for the Divisional Series and like 26 Sunday games in 07.

I know my family will be devasted. That's something that all of us have in common. After a trip to Atlanta in 91, my mom became hooked. She could tell you things about the Braves, that would make Bobby Cox check his diary.

I can only hope that another station tries to pick up the Braves for at least some of their games. We know ESPN and Fox can't do it. They will be too busy showing New York and Boston.

So heres to all the good times seen on TBS. Here's to the Dale Murphy's and the Terry Pendleton's. The Otis Nixon's and the Deion's. The Francisco Cabera's and the Sid Bream's. To the Ace's...Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine. To the now...Chipper and Andruw Jones. To the future...Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann. Hopefully we will get to see you again sometime.