Forgive me, as I don't like to interject non-sports items into this blog. However, taking into consideration the importance of the 2008 United States Presidential Election, I feel it is completely necessary to bring this issue to light.
Just in case you didn't already despise CBS's blatant SEC homer-ism, here's one more thing to chew on. As if he has any justification, obligation or warrant to inject the 2008 United States Presidential Election into his job--college sports writer--Dennis Dodd has lowered himself to depths only reached by the likes of Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Frankly I'm surprised he hasn't left CBS Sports for Fox Sports.
In his sorry excuse for a column, Dodd felt it completely necessary to begin his blather with this peach of an opener:
"USC's situation is not as bad as it is made out to be. Don't be a lemming -- or an Obama supporter. Think for yourself on this issue."
Sir, I have thought for myself. I will vote for Obama, but it's sure as hell not due to your thoughtful analysis that I must not think for myself.
Dodd's comment is in fact so left-field, so ridiculous that I was tempted to just ignore it and continue not-reading his work. If it were about Joe Paterno being too old, or the SEC's (mythical) speed, I definitely would have let this pass by like a big shit after my morning coffee. Not now, not this time. This CBS writer has fallen to the lowest reaches of shameful, asserting that, lacking any and all substantiation, that if you are a voter supporting Obama, you must be a mindless follower, a blind minion. That, sir, is bullshit. You sir, are nothing more than bullshit.
Dodd has the audacity, the self-righteousness to not only plug his personal, unsolicited opinion into his work, but to slam it over our heads in the lead. This is offensive, and I'm not going to back down. I read (on the rare occasions that I do) CBS Sports for coverage of just that--SPORTS. I do not go to the college football page looking for anyone's political spin. If CBS's editorial crew was willing to let that line go, they should be ashamed of themselves.
I will never, ever tell anyone who to vote for. I may not agree with everyone I meet, and I will always engage them in serious debate over the issues and candidates. However, as Dodd and his minions at CBS fail to do, I will never mock someone for their choices. I will never accuse someone of not thinking for themselves, without first listening to their case for those ideas. Dodd doesn't think that way, though. He would rather throw out some lame, unsubstantiated allegation, a claim that he most likely didn't think of on his own.
So I leave it to Mr. Dodd. He can either issue a concise argument validating his charge against Obama supporters, or he can just apologize to the more than 18 million American voters who are, apparently, just not thinking for themselves.
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From MSNBC:
Paterno hospitalized, tested for dehydration
Penn St. coach, 81, still plans on dinner with Texas coach Brown on Friday
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State coach Joe Paterno was taken to a hospital Thursday because of apparent dehydration and was expected to be released later in the day after having a series of tests, team spokesmen said.
The 81-year-old coach was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center by ambulance after feeling nauseated, said team spokesman Guido D’Elia. Paterno had not been admitted to the hospital and was “tapping his fingers, waiting to get out,” D’Elia said.
JoePa still plans to make a trip Friday to Austin, Texas, for a dinner with Texas football coach Mack Brown, D’Elia said.
Penn State quarterbacks coach and son Jay Paterno told The Asssociated Press his father was OK.
“It’s no big deal,” Jay Paterno said in a telephone interview. “If it’s dehydration, he’s probably all talked out.”
Paterno had been on a busy schedule of late. He traveled to the Philadelphia area last weekend and also recently returned from a meeting with Big Ten coaches. Paterno was on the phone Thursday morning talking to two recruits before he went to the hospital, D’Elia said.
Paterno is coming off two 9-4 seasons that each included bowl wins. His 372 career wins rank second only to Florida State coach Bobby Bowden’s 373 among major college coaches.
Questions about Paterno’s health and age have dogged him in recent years, but he repeatedly has tried to downplay the issues. His contract is up after this season, but both Paterno and school officials say that doesn’t mean much.
The university president has said both the school and Paterno agree that a contract isn’t necessary for a man entering his 43rd season leading the team. They have agreed to meet, as they have in the past, at the end of the season to discuss Paterno’s future.
© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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All of the major recruiting Web sites are buzzing today with the rumor that one of the nation's top offensive linemen will commit to the Nittany Lions in the near future. That, coupled with the verbal from another highly regarded lineman, is cause for celebration among Penn State fans. Frankly, it's been a pretty damn good two weeks for Penn State recruiting.
Eric Shrive (West Scranton HS) is rated by Scout.com as a five-star recruit and the third best tackle for 2009. He's a four-star according to Rivals.com. (Not that the stars matter anyway, as previously discussed) Towering around 6'7", Shrive has the physical build to play early. He also fits Joe Paterno's preference for lean agility over mass. Shrive weighs between 285 and 300.
Since I hate the star rankings, I'll give you my opinion on how to correctly judge Shrive's potential on the collegiate level. Look at which schools offered him a scholarship: Pitt, Rutgers, Tennessee, Virginia, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, NC State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma. Most of those schools know how to recruit. A few more know how to get to BCS games. If they think Shrive can play, then he must have at least some talent.
Adding to the good news was Edison HS (Alexandria, VA) lineman Frank Figueroa. His good size (6'4" 275) indicates that Penn State is shifting its focus for lineman. More emphasis is being placed on size. Although he's not ranked very high, Figueroa will add precious depth to the offensive front. As of today, Penn State has seven verbal committments, most of which are top-50 position prospects. Not bad for late spring.
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How great would it be to get revenge for 2003? The boys over at CFN think it's possible. Penn State in a rematch of the 2003 Captial One Bowl with Auburn would draw huge ratings, a packed house and, depending on whether or not these two teams play up to their potential, one of the best games of the bowl season. In fact, these two programs are the Big Ten-SEC standard for good teams that just can't catch a break.
From CFN:
Capital One Bowl
Jan. 1 / 1 p.m. Orlando, Fla. ABC
Tie-Ins: Big Ten No. 2 vs. SEC No. 2
Way Too Early Projection: Penn State vs. Auburn
Top 5 Others Considered: 1) Wisconsin, 2) Tennessee, 3) LSU, 4) Georgia, 5) Florida
I could live with this. A New Years Day game would do Penn State well. A game against an SEC foe would allow the Lions to carry the Big Ten torch on their way to a fourth straight bowl victory. But if Penn State can't hack it in the horrid 2008 mid-season conference run of @ Purdue, @ Wisconsin, Michigan, @ Ohio State and @ Iowa, there's still a chance at a January bowl.
Outback Bowl
Jan. 1 / 11 a.m. ET Tampa, Fla. ESPN
Tie-Ins: Big Ten No. 3 vs. SEC
Way Too Early Projection: Michigan vs. LSU
Top 5 Others Considered: 1) Penn State, 2) Georgia, 3) Tennessee, 4) Auburn, 5) Florida
Some Penn State fans would be grossly disappointed with these two bowls. I too believe that Penn State has the talent to make an at-large BCS spot this season. However, San Antonio was not a place the Nittany Lions were aiming for, so any bowl after December 31 would be satisfactory for 2008.
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In one weekend, PSU lands 3 DBs, stealing one from Buckeyes
Updated 5/12/08
T o all those who are saying Penn State's lost its edge in recruiting: And what?! Darrell Givens, a highly-rated defensive back from Maryland, has backed out of his commitment to Ohio State. Where's his new home to be? Why, Penn State of course. But Givens wasn't the only one to commit Saturday to the Nittany Lions. This only proves my point that Penn State's recruiting is just fine.
Stephen Obeng-Agyapong also gave the nod to Happy Valley. The 5'11", 185-lb cornerback from NYC had other offers from Iowa, UConn and Buffalo before committing to Penn State.
Adding to this weekend's joy, Derrick Thomas committed Sunday night to play at Penn State. Thomas is a 6-foot, 177-lb defensive back/wide receiver prospect with good speed to go along with his size. He said Penn State was looking to get him in on both sides of the ball. We'll see how that turns out, but it's still a great pick up for the Nittany Lions. It seems that the defensive backfield will be just fine. After coming under a lot of pressure to sure up the depth on defense, Larry Johnson, Sr. has done a great job, again.
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