by Rex Robinson

Latest

What’s Red, Black & Green All Over?

I don’t know, but it’s worth $1,000 and a four game suspension apparently. Georgia’s AJ Green has been suspended for three additional games, pending a UGA appeal for selling a game worn jersey to someone technically considered an agent.

The Dawg Nation is beside their collective selves, which is understandable. What I don’t understand is why they consider AJ a victim. He knew the rule and he broke the rule. If you think the rule sucks fine, but don’t place victim status on him.

AJ was and is dead wrong. I have no love for the NCAA, but just as in any real world working relationship, there is the “BOSS” and the “employee”. The NCAA controls the activities and the amateur status of athletes under scholarship at their member institutions.

Unlike other decision makers, the NCAA has chosen to up the ante in order to nip this type of thing in the bud. Four games is harsh, but harsh was what was called for, I guess.

As a Georgia fan, I am convinced that we have plenty of offensive weapons to survive the early slate of games. Our defense is the question and many of those questions have already been answered in a near shut out of Louisiana Lafayette.

The Dawgs will survive this nightmare. I believe it to my core.

09/08/2010 | Categories: EDITORIAL, SPORTS | Tags: , , | 7 Comments »

Dawgs Back on Track

I really hate it when so much negativity is swirling around the Classic City. I want to stay positive as much as possible, so I’m going to take a deep breath and blow off some steam, in a minute.

My impressions of the Dawg’s first game was very positive. We looked good in all phases, offense, defense and special teams.  We beat an over-matched Louisiana-LaFayette team and save a blown coverage by Baccari Rambo, we pitch a rare shut-out.

We beat La-La soundly, the way we should have. But how long has it been since that happened? For several years we won these kind of games in a somewhat ugly fashion.

Coach Richt and Company have righted the ship and we’re on the way. South Carolina is alway tough, but we have the right attitude to go with the talent. It’s going to be fun this year(on the field).

SEE NEXT POST FOR STEAM BLOWING!

09/08/2010 | Categories: SPORTS | Tags: , | Leave A Comment »

TEAM me…One More Time

The motto TEAM me started with Coach Erskine Russell of course, but the meaning and attitude lives on in Roswell, Georgia. Two weeks ago I attended a fundraiser for Roswell Youth Football and Cheer Associations. Coach Vince Dooley spoke to the group of kids and their parents.

You may remember the names Matt McCormick and Heather Stepp McCormick. Both are DGD’s from way back. Matt played football and Heather a gymnast. Heather put the fundraiser together and was responsible for Coach Dooley being there. I don’t know how often Coach Dooley invokes the TEAM me as one of the catalysts for our 1980 success, but with Jim Broadway and I in attendance he referred to many of our fondest memories.  TEAM me being one of the greatest.

The story was not lost on the 3rd grade Green Hornets and they called me to see if history could repeat itself. I delivered 22 TEAM me shirts in time for the first game today and the picture is below. By the way, the Green Hornets won 32-0!

What an awesome lesson in sports and in life…just one more time.

Thanks Coach Russell!

08/28/2010 | Categories: PERSONALS, SPORTS | Tags: , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

Come To Jesus Meetings

On July 12, I participated in the Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer Golf Tournament at The Georgia Club. This great event is supported by Coach Mark Richt and the team members themselves. What was unusual about this day was the golf being delayed by monsoon rains and the emphasis Coach Richt placed on all the players attending a mandatory 7:00 PM meeting that night. Based on this, most players did not finish their round of golf.

Said mandatory meeting was in response to the July 10th DUI arrest of Dontavious Jackson with Tavares King and Branden Smith in tow. This was supposed to be one for the ages, maybe a defining moment in the career of CMR. Or maybe not.  Here it is, a little over six weeks since the meeting and one week away from the opening  game and Waushaun Ealey shows us where his head is.

Let’s just say the sun doesn’t shine there and the smell rarely changes.

I am shocked and dismayed that this “situation” occurred at all much less at 5:22 AM. Staying out late is one thing, an allnight-er on a SUSPENDED LICENSE is inexcusable. Coach Richt seemed to be drawing a line in the sand on July 12th. That line was crossed this morning to the tune of, hey coach, screw you!

(REVISED)…UNBELIEVABLE!

For one thing,you have put Coach Richt in a bad, bad position. Two, for caring so little for your team. Third for not caring more about your own career. If Coach Richt plays this soft, he could lose all credibility with his team.  If he plays it too hard, he might lose arguably his best running back. I know how I would vote.

UPDATE!

Now as of 12:12 PM,  I read that Chuck Oliver, the “Kang of College Football”, says the coaches knew about the suspended license and specifically told Washaun to NOT DRIVE.

I rest my case.

08/27/2010 | Categories: SPORTS | 7 Comments »

God Bless The Teacher

I just ran some errands with Mrs. RTK and one of the stops was The School Box. We’ve been there many times, but this time was different. You all probably know of the cuts in school budgets, furlough days and “reductions in force”. My wife was a victim of being “RIFFED” after having been a teacher for 32 years, but just one year in a new county. She went over 6 weeks without so much as a call for an interview, but has now landed back in the same county, just at a different school and position. We are thankful for that.

But, that’s not the reason for this blog post.

Something that has puzzled me in the eight plus years we’ve been married is how much of “our” money she spent on the kids. It was not always necessary, but if she thought it would help certain kids learn, she did it. What struck me today is that even in this teaching climate, the store was packed with some obviously veteran teachers and just as many new teachers full of ideas. All of them spending money they may not have, to be ready for the school year. It’s obvious to me that no matter what the situation is, the best teachers will find a way.

God bless those with the heart of a teacher.

07/31/2010 | Categories: PERSONALS | Tags: , , | 12 Comments »

Dez Bryant May Not Survive Camp

Did you hear what Dez Bryant did? Or more accurately, what he didn’t do?  Veteran wide reciever Roy Williams told Bryant, a rookie from Oklahoma State to carry his shoulder pads after practice. Dez refused. Big mistake(click),

The biggest challenge an incoming freshman in college or rookie in the NFL faces is fitting in and becoming a part of the team. Dez has put himself squarely behind the eight ball. He needs to do a 180 degree turn or he’ll be the victim of both verbal and eventually physical “encouragement”.

I remember singing I’M A LITTLE TEAPOT as a freshman at Georgia and GLORY GLORY TO OLD GEORGIA as a rookie with the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s embarrassing, but really no big deal. One of the great things going into 1980 was a much heralded freshman, Herschel Walker. He did all the right stuff as it relates to freshman “hazing”. Herschel was not too proud to do a little dance. He loved to dance, probably still does.

Dez Bryant carrying some pads in from the field should have been no big deal. Now he has drawn the attention of the other veterans and the national media.

NOW IT’S A BIG DEAL!

I’m betting the next name you hear about will be Keith Brooking. He’s the type to get in somebody’s grill and in this case it’s very much deserved.  Stay tuned.

07/26/2010 | Categories: SPORTS | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »