Gators Welcome Back Donovan In A Big Way, Plan To Pay Him More Than Meyer

Last week it looked like Billy Donovan had left Gainesville for the NBA. Now he's back, and his new deal will pay him more than head football coach Urban Meyer.

Both coaches have been offered new contracts at the same time, and Donovan's extra championship seems to add a little more value. Donovan is reportedly going to be paid $3.5 million per year over six years(with an optional 7th), and Meyer's contract is setup as $3.25 million over six years.

Both are nice increases for the coaches, Donovan had been making $1.7 million per year, and Meyer had originally signed a contract worth $2 million(guaranteed + incentives) per year. However, I am bit surprised that at a school where football has traditionally been king the head basketball coach will be getting paid slightly more than the head football coach. I always believed that there was a ceiling of sorts in place for the salary of the basketball coach that would keep him from being paid as much, or more, than the football coach. It appears that I was wrong in that assumption. In any case, both coaches are reaping the benefits of their recent championships.

Football Movie Trailers, The More They Change The More They Stay The Same

Recently, I was involved in a discussion about movie trailers. Over time, the movie trailer has become an integral part of Americana. Why else would they show 50 of them before the movie that you actually want to see?

Seriously, seeing a kickass trailer for a film that you've been waiting for only increases your want to see it. The clips and music edited together in such a way that you don't mind paying $20 to watch a 90 minute flick(better secure a good line of credit if you want popcorn and a drink). Part of the discussion was about how much better movie trailers have become over the years. Due to advances in technology, and the desire to create a "hook", the movie trailers we see today are vastly superior to those of years past. At least quality wise.

I say quality wise because I believe that content wise certain types of films will always have the same elements. Being that I'm a sportsfan, I brought up the subject of football movies(ones that are more "serious" in nature), and how, while the quality of the trailer may change, the basic content will stay the same. I tracked down three clips, one from the '00's, one from the 90's and one from the 80's to illustrate my point.



The Program Movie Trailer(Click Link)

All The Right Moves Movie Trailer(Click Link)

After watching those three clips, I noticed a few common elements:

1. Coach yelling. Without a coach yelling at some point during the trailer your movie is probably doomed. If he's grabbing facemasks while he's yelling you've probably got a hit on your hands.

2. Partying/drinking. Really, what else do football players have to worry about other than playing their sport? They just show up on Sunday, collect a paycheck and then party like it's 1999. At least that's what people want to see in the trailer.

3. Games/practices in the mud & rain. Somehow this has worked its way into the trailers of many football movies. I guess it shows that the team has had to battle through numerous obstacles to obtain the success that they usually have in the end of the movie. Or it helps mask how crappy the extras are at running routes and making tackles.

4.(optional) Key position battle. This doesn't always make it into the trailer, though it's usually a key storyline in any football movie. One character has held a firm grip on his starting position, but there's a new guy on the team who's battling him for it. This almost always involves either a quarterback or running back.

So there you have it, the elements that I think are universal to any movie trailer you see about the sport of football. Feel free to add any that you've noticed in the comments.

Trindon Holliday, Faster Than Everyone You Know

If you're a fan of college football, especially of the SEC variety(toughest conference suckas!), then you've probably heard of Trindon Holliday. He's the diminutive(5'5", 159lbs) athlete that plays football for the LSU Tigers, and is so fast that he could give JaMarcus Russell enough speed for him to run a 4.2 forty and still be faster than 3/4 of your favorite college team. Seriously, the guy has "wheels" in every sense of the word, and he showcased them in excellent form Wednesday night at the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Holliday bolted from start to finish in the 100m dash to the tune of 10.02 seconds. He ran the fastest 100m time for an American this year, and only two guys in the world have put up faster times in '07(9.97 by world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica and 9.98 by Derrick Atkins of Bahamas).

For reference, here's Holliday running a 10.08 in the SEC Championships last month.



And for those of you who like your sports with a bit more violence(you can't hit what you can't catch), here are some highlights from the LSU vs Arkansas game last year. You'll have to fast-forward to the 2 minute mark to see how Holliday's speed translates onto the field. And that black stuff coming off of his cleats in the end zone? Obviously it's smoke because he just smoked the Razorbacks kick coverage team.


IM ON UR FEELD BURNING UR TEEM!

The Mickelson-Woods Rivalry Is Starting To Heat Up

A little over a month ago, I commented on Phil "FIGJAM" Mickelson hiring Tiger Woods' former hitting coach, Butch Harmon, and subsequently winning The Players Championship. At that time, it seemed like a friendly rivalry was being born, but Harmon's latest comments have added some HGH to this baby. With reference to Mickelson taking the #1 world ranking away from Tiger, Harmon had this to say:

"Tiger's got a big lead as No. 1 in the world so it'll take a couple of years but I think he can and I think he will actually," said Harmon, 63, hired by Mickelson a few months ago to re-do the southpaw's swing.

Not to belittle Mickelson's accomplishments, but Harmon, better than anyone, has to know how much Tiger has dominated the #1 world ranking spot. As of right now, he's been ranked #1 for a total of 446 weeks, and his current streak at #1 started back on June 12, 2005. Since turning pro in 1996, he has finished the year ranked #1 eight times, Greg Norman('96 & '97) and Vijay Singh('04) are the only other golfers to finish ranked #1 turning that span.

While it is nice for Harmon to voice his full support for Mickelson, it does seem rather unlikely that he will be the golfer to overtake the #1 ranking from Tiger. Harmon said that he believes it will take years, but Mickelson is currently 36(5 years older than Tiger) and he's not getting any younger. Eventhough I find it doubtful that Mickelson will be able to move up to #1 and finish the year there, it does add one more element to the Mickelson-Woods rivalry heading into the U.S. Open next weekend.

Mark Philippoussis Is Holding Serve In The Court Of Love

Mark Philippoussis, a tennis star who was at one time ranked in the top 10 in the world, has ventured into the world of reality TV dating. Philippoussis has been cast as "America's most eligible bachelor" on NBC's summer program, "Age of Love".

The show is setup so that there are two "teams" of women grouped together by their age. One team is made up of "cougars", women in their 40's. The other is made up of "kittens", women in their 20's. Each woman will be vying for Philippoussis'(who's 30 years old) affection, and the audience will supposedly get to see whether age makes a difference when trying to find true love(yeah, that TV crew will have no affect whatsoever, right).

Apparently, Philippoussis was unaware of the age differences, and supposedly was caught a bit offguard by the rising age levels when he was first introduced to the "cougars". I guess we'll just have to wait until the first episode to see that compelling TV moment.

Obviously, this follows in the footsteps of ABC's decision to use NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer as its "prize" on "The Bachelor". Having a well-known athlete seemed to help that show's ratings(11 million viewers for the premiere), though Philippoussis might not be quite as famous as Jesse Palmer is, at least here in the U.S.(that's a great insight into the state of tennis in the U.S.)

Oh well, keeping him in the back of a limo, wearing a wifebeater, and letting the "contestants" grope him is probably all NBC needs to do to have a successful reality TV show. Either that, or let him show the women why his nickname is "Scud". It's unfortunate that Paris Hilton is locked up, or they could bring her in at the end for a twist.



Welcome back Mr. Philippoussis(typing it is a bitch, saying it is fun!), even if it's not on the tennis court. And try not to hurt that surgically repaired knee when you're teaching the women about grips, groundstrokes and jamming.

Suspended NFL Stars, Fielding The Baddest Flag Football Team Of All Time

Upon hearing that Tank Johnson had been suspended for the first eight games of the NFL season, I began wondering what he and his fellow suspended NFL stars could do with their time. Then it dawned on me. They could field one kickass flag football team.

Now, there are a ton of leagues out there, each with numerous stories about how this one guy was going to go pro but he blew his knee out(damn you feeble ACL!). These guys, however are the real deal. Running around, pulling flags, and then drinking beer and eating wings afterwards is a great way to stay in playing shape. It's a lot better than sending Tank to prison, that's for sure. The only way to get them to play, though would be to offer an incentive. Since I'm unaware of any flag football league that awards lapdances and blunts as prizes, we'll have to go with cash.

In this case, we'll see what kind of team could be fielded for the 4-on-4 ZFootball Tournament, and it's $30,000 prize.

Pacman Jones: Currently serving a one year suspension from the NFL. Has the coverage skills to dominate at defensive back, and the speed to play wide receiver. Don't bring any cheerleaders, though unless you want him to show them his "bump 'n run" technique. In the absence of Michael Vick being suspended, Jones will play quarterback because of the arm strength he's shown while "makin' it rain".

Ricky Williams:Pending reinstatement decision to come in September. "Ricky Marley" appeared to be on track to get back into the NFL, but last month it was reported that he failed a drug test. It's also been reported that the physicians overseeing his rehabilitation program have recommended that he not be reinstated in September. That just means more time for flag football! Ricky has the talent to destroy opponents from the running back position. He also has some experience playing linebacker, and can use his coverage skills to lock-up whoever he's guarding. Just make sure that the officials realize who he is, or they might wonder why a homeless man has wandered onto the field.

Chris Henry: Suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season. Henry's brushes with the law have been well publicized, and for that he's gotten himself an eight game suspension. His speed and size make him a threat downfield and in the red zone. He's the prime candidate to receive those jumpball passes for touchdowns because there's no rushing allowed within five yards of the endzone. He's also the most likely to celebrate every single f#@king point he scores, as he's been Chad Johnson's understudy for two years.

Tank Johnson: Recently suspended for the first eight games of the 2007 season. Tank will have a number of positions to play on his flag football team. He might not be the fastest, or most athletic, but he's very integral to the team's success. On offense he'll play center/TE, as his size will force opposing pass rushers to choose which side they want to rush from. He also has experience playing TE, and his wide frame is perfect for shielding the ball from defenders. On defense he will rush the passer. As nose tackle on a stellar NFL defense, Tank is familiar with angles and chasing down the QB. Combine that with his imposing size, and most quarterbacks will be too busy scrambling to even think of throwing the ball downfield. Unfortunately, he does have a weakness for beef jerky and honeybuns, so his teammates have to monitor his intake of those before games.

Possible Additions:

Michael Vick: Vick's involvement with dog-fighting could net him a multi-game suspension. If that's the case, there's always a spot for him on the flag team. He would instantly come in as the starting QB, and as long as he can keep his fingers to himself he should be able to torch opposing defenses every game.

Odell Thurman: Up for reinstatement into the NFL in July. However, recent alleged assault may keep him out indefinitely. Thurman has the talent to be used at multiple positions. Running back, defender, just about everything but designated driver. He can be a valuable asset off the bench, or perhaps "off the couch" which is what he practiced last season.

So there you go, not only do these NFL players get to practice something they enjoy, they also have a shot at winning $30,000. With the way some of them are going that would be a welcome addition to their legal defense fund.

The Death of A NASCAR Legend

Most of the time, when you hear that a NASCAR legend has died, you think about a famous racer. Dale Earnhardt, Davey Allison, Adam Petty are just a few of the NASCAR drivers that have had their careers cut short. Without Bill France Jr., however they probably wouldn't be as well known as they are. Bill France Jr. passed away today at the age of 74.

France took over the duties as the chairman of NASCAR from his father in 1972. He was a major reason why NASCAR became a billion dollar industry, and puts on some of the most attended events in the U.S. He was even responsible for helping build the Daytona International Speedway.

"France worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week as he drove a compactor, bulldozer and grader in the 13 months it took to build the track. He once even tried to use a mule to pull trees out of the swamps, because the motorized equipment kept getting stuck."

Under France's guidance, NASCAR grew it's TV presence(many times ranking behind only the NFL in the ratings), and expanded on an international scale with races in Canada, Mexico, Japan and Australia. He was a big part of the $2.4 billion TV contract that began in 2001, and of the numerous corporate sponsorships that NASCAR has secured over the years.
Without his leadership it's unlikely that NASCAR would have grown to the sport it is today. Jeff Burton had this to say about Bill France Jr.'s impact:

"His role in the impact of the sport has been huge," Burton said. "His personality came at a time when it was what our sport needed. I think he did an incredible job of basing his opinion on what he believed the facts to be and then having the courage to make that decision and see it through."

Bill France Jr. may be gone, but his legacy will live on forever through every driver that puts on a flamesuit and gets behind the wheel of a stockcar.

A Reminder of LeBron's Last Visit To San Antonio

With the start of the NBA Finals just three days away, I thought it would be nice to post up a video reminder of LeBron's last game in San Antonio. I think a kid down the street from me has that as a poster on his wall now.

Billy Donovan Seems To Be Experiencing Signer's Remorse

Usually you think of someone experiencing a bad case of remorse when they purchase a car, and then regret the decision 24 hours later. Apparently, that's what Billy Donovan is going through right now, except that it involves an NBA team and a $27 million contract.

"Sources close to the situation"(you always have to love those!) say that Donovan is "attempting to return to Gainesville". The situation is serious enough that Florida AD Jeremy Foley had to return quickly to Gainesville on Saturday morning instead of meeting with VCU coach Anthony Grant, a former Donovan assistant, to discuss the opening. Sources close to that "situation" say that Florida was poised to offer Grant the job for $1.1 million per year.

I guess Donovan realized that the NBA is much more of a grind than college, and that being the King of Basketball in Gainesville isn't all that bad. Heck, a few more winning seasons, and they would probably would change the name on the O'Connell Center for him.

My hunch is that the DeVos family told him that he would have to sell 25,000 units of Amway products, and that BillyD realized that playing Kentucky twice a year wasn't so bad after all. Florida fans may be rowdy, but at least they're not cultlike.

The biggest question now is how will the fans react? Will they welcome him back with open arms? Will they be suspicious, always wondering when the next NBA team will try to lure him away? Personally, I think the two championship trophies in Gainesville speak for themselves, but BillyD might want to carry them around with him on campus for a while just to remind everyone.

Down Goes Kobayashi!

Many of you have probably heard of Takeru Kobayashi. He's the Japanese competitive eater that seemingly holds every imaginable eating record. His most famous record, however is probably in the sport of hot dog consumption. Last year he broke his own record of 49 hot dogs by eating 53 3/4 hot dogs during the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4. Kobayashi's reign over the hot dog kingdom, however is no more.

His record was smashed yesterday when Joey "Jaws" Chestnut consumed a whopping 59 1/2 hot dogs in 12 minutes during the Southwest Regional qualifier for the Nathan's Contest in Arizona.

Chestnut almost beat Kobayashi at the Nathan's Contest last year. He lead Kobayashi for much of the contest, but finished second with 52 hot dogs consumed. It will be interesting to see how things turn out for this year's match-up now that Chestnut holds the title. It's also interesting to note that(from Wikipedia): "He is famous for training with cheese fries. He is known to be able to eat over two pounds in 5 minutes." Sounds like me at Denny's after a night of drinking.

Anyway, here's video of Chestnut breaking the record. Someone should loop the "Rocky" theme over the entire thing because that guy yelling "Joooey!" almost ruins it. Though, it is nice to see that Miami Heat fans are taking in competitive eating contests since their team got knocked out of the playoffs.