Beginning Monday, these awards will be passed out, leading up to the final awards on Friday afternoon. So, keep an eye on the site for these “not so prestigious” awards.

Post from: EveryJoe

What to watch for next week

In that original post, I said I thought it was a good idea. However, it would be a better idea if they allowed students/fans to grab signs after they enter (give away blank poster boards), so they can better monitor the situation.

I understand them going away from the signs (due to all of the ‘Fire Groh’ signs last season), but college football is about passion and enthusiasm. After all, would ESPN’s College GameDay be as big of a draw as it is right now if students/fans couldn’t bring in their signs? It’s all about keeping that demographic happy.

Post from: EveryJoe

University of Virginia reverses ‘banned sign’ rule

Ambrose will drive the No. 47 Toyota Camry, co-owned by Tad and Jodi Geschickter and former NBA All-Star Brad Daugherty.

Ambrose won his first NASCAR victory earlier this season at Watkins Glen.

Post from: EveryJoe

Marcos Ambrose makes NASCAR history

Menard was one of two drivers at DEI that had a full sponsor, but he will be taking that with him to Yates. Now, only Martin Truex, Jr. is left at DEI with a full sponsor. Menard has gone 68 career races with reaching the winner’s circle and posted only one top 10 finish in his career at DEI. Menard’s first race for Yates will be in 2009.

Speed will be joining the NASCAR Sprint Cup series after running in the Craftsman Truck Series. Speed will begin running the No. 84 car on Oct. 19 at Martinsville. Speed was able to run a test on the Red Bull car at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last week. However, Mike Skinner will run the next two races in the No. 84 car, including at Lowe’s Speedway, before Speed takes the wheel.

Post from: EveryJoe

Speed and Menard make headlines in changes

Post from: EveryJoe

Brewers host playoff pep rally – VIDEO

First it was the St. Louis Rams canning Scott Linehan. Then, the Oakland Raiders finally fired Lane Kiffin. But, which NFL franchise will be the next to make a coaching change?

The Raiders finally pulled the trigger on Kiffin, firing him after weeks of speculation. Al Davis said he ‘picked the wrong guy’ when he chose Kiffin for the job. Linehan was canned by the Rams after starting the season 0-4. Yet, I have to wonder, who’s next?

Is Marvin Lewis’ job safe in Cincinnati? What about Rod Marinelli in Detroit? Marinelli is actually my choice for the next guy to go. The Lions have finally proved they will fire someone (after Matt Millen was kicked to the curb) and there is no sign of improvement in sight.

The Lions are 0-3 in 2008, losing to three teams with a .500 record. The statistics for the Lions are just as bad as their winless record. Detroit is 26th in total offense (289 yards per game) and dead last in total defense (430 yards allowed per game).

So, it’s not hard to point fingers and speculate about Marinelli’s fate in Detroit. It seems like it’s only a matter of time.

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Which NFL coach will be fired next?

It’s no secret the Southeastern Conference is the toughest conference in college football for 2008. Just last week the SEC had four of the top five teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. However, after a crazy weekend of football, I’m wondering one thing. Why is Alabama not getting more love in the polls?

The Tide have rolled just about anyone that they have played against. After taking down Clemson and Georgia, Alabama has a strong claim at being the top team in the land. Yet, in the latest rankings, the Crimson Tide moved up to number two in the country, behind Oklahoma. Yet, I feel that Oklahoma has not played the caliber of teams Alabama has and it’s time the voters realize who the real top team is.

Alabama still has a few big games on their schedule where they can prove they should be considered for the top spot. The Crimson Tide will visit Tennessee on Oct. 25 and LSU on Nov. 8. The Crimson Tide host Auburn on Nov. 29, which will most likely be for bragging rights in the SEC West.

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Should Alabama be getting more votes in the polls?

As much as everyone wanted Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers to be the feel good story of the year, but my vote goes to Fernando Tatis of the New York Mets. Until Tatis got hurt near the end of the season, I thought he had a great chance at Comeback Player of the Year in the National League. However, Tatis finished fifth in the voting as Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge took the honors.

But it was a nice comeback for Tatis, no matter where he finished in the voting. To be honest, it was shocking to hear that Tatis was back in Major League Baseball. Yet, not only was he back in the big leagues, but he was a main contributor for a few months when the Mets were on a roll.

Tatis actually came back into baseball in order to raise money to buy land in order to build a church in the Dominican Republic. After a two year absence from the game, this was his motivation for returning.

In his injury-shortened season with the Mets, Tatis batted .297 with 11 home runs and 47 runs batted in. It was a surprise season for Tatis and in my opinion the feel good story of the year. I just wish he would have received more votes for the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Why no more love for Fernando Tatis?

Detroit Tigers General Manager Dave Dombrowski has finally admitted it was a mistake trading away young right-hander Jair Jurrjens in exchange for shortstop Edgar Renteria. I was really hoping he would actually admit it was a mistake and he finally did just that.

Jurrjens was a budding starting pitcher in the Tigers organization and when the team (and fans) smelled a hint of another winning season on the horizon, Dombrowski decided to clear out the farm system to acquire some veteran players. Jurrjens was shipped to the Atlanta Braves so that Renteria could become the everyday shortstop for the Tigers. Along with that move, Carlos Guillen was moved over to first base in order to make room for Renteria.

Renteria’s only other stint in the American League wasn’t very successful. Renteria hit just .276 with the Boston Red Sox in 2005 and saw hit strikeout total skyrocket. In 2008 with the Tigers, Renteria hit .270, score only 69 runs and post a .317 on base percentage. For these numbers, Dombrowski paid Renteria $9 million. It doesn’t take a diehard baseball fan to realize Renteria robbed the Tigers and the Braves got rid of the aging shortstop at the right time.

“We thought at the time that Renteria would be a difference maker for us at shortstop — the player that could put us over the hump,” Dombrowski said [in the Detroit Free Press]. “There’s no question — that was a miscalculation. I wish I had Jurrjens back, but we knew we were giving up a good player.”

Bad trades happen in baseball. It’s part of the game that gives guys like me something to talk about. I’m just happy to see that Dombrowski was acknowledged his mistake.

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Tigers GM admits dealing for Edgar Renteria a ‘mistake’

It was a collapse. A collapse that was only supposed to happen once. Only, it didn’t. It happened twice – and in back-to-back seasons. The New York Mets closed out the final season at Shea Stadium by blowing the lead in the National League East and falling in the final game ever at the stadium. But it wasn’t just a loss. It was a loss that meant the team would again miss the playoffs after once being in command of their division.

The entire season for the Mets seemed a little off. General Manager Omar Minaya fired Willie Randolph after a night game on the west coast. Randolph didn’t even have a chance to sleep off the loss to the Los Angeles Angels before he learned he was being let go. He in turn was celebrated as a New York Yankee great during the final game at Yankee Stadium.

After Randolph was fired, bench coach Jerry Manuel took over. Manuel had a shaky time with the club while guiding the team for the remainder of the season. After Johan Santana pitched a shutout on the second to the last game of the season, Manuel described Santana’s performance as “gangsta.” Not exactly the thought I had, but I might have to incorporate that word into my vocabulary more to describe great pitching performances.

But back to the subject of being the “other team” in New York. Was I the only one that thought Yankee Stadium got much more of a goodbye than Shea? ESPN sent their Sunday Night Baseball crew to the Bronx to cover all of the action at the House that Ruth built, but Shea was forced to be sent out on TBS? It doesn’t make sense to me.

Maybe ESPN knew something the rest of us didn’t… Maybe ESPN knew the Mets were going to tank. After all, that’s what the did last season too. But, it didn’t seem right that the Yankees sent their stadium out in a night game and all Shea got was the biggest game of the season and their fans could only see them blow it on TBS.

Next season, the Mets will ring a new era in Citi Field and you have to wonder if that means changes for the club. Will they keep Manuel? Will Carlos Delgado be a contributor again? There’s so many questions that have to be answered, but unfortunately for the Mets, it will have to wait until next year and in a new park.

Image: Newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

The other New York team