Last night, Brey Cook, a highly-touted offensive lineman from Springdale, announced his decision to play football for Arkansas beginning in the fall of 2011. Well, kind of. He issued an oral commitment which is completely non-binding. He could change his mind between now and Signing Day in February. He could change his mind a dozen times and orally commit to every Division I school in America.
Yet at least two of the three NWA TV stations decided to carry this momentous occasion live during the 6 p.m. news. But not during sports. Instead, during the first segment known as the "A block" among TV types. The TV producers didn't have the stones to tell a high schooler "No, if you want to do this live our sports segment starts at 6:20. We can do it then."
As I've said before, oral commitments are like engagements, Signing Day is the wedding ceremony. Sure, you might have an engagement party, but the wedding is usually a much more lavish affair. Yes, you get your engagement announcement in the paper, but I don't remember the last time the DG devoted an entire page to a society engagement the way they do society weddings.
I'm beginning to think the wedding analogy is fitting in another way. These high-school athletes are turning into Bridezillas. In fact, as long as they're turning this announcements into ceremonies, they should do it up right.
Perhaps inspired by such foolishness, LeBron James is working out a deal to announce his selection of an NBA team during a live one-hour ESPN special on Thursday night. At least James will actually be signing some paperwork at his media appearance and not just announcing he plays to play for Team X ... but with the understanding he might change his mind between now and the start of the season.
Hopefully James will have various NBA caps on a table in front of him and do the idiotic reach-for-this-cap-stop-reach-for-that-one-stop-grab-the-third-one-and-put-it-on-his-head move.
Oh well, at least Cook gave the in-state talk shows something to discuss. They can take a break from doing a week-by-week prediction of which games CBS will take or whether ESPN GameDay will be in Fayetteville (not Little Rock, Matt) or debating Heisman contenders a full five months before the award is given or discussing whether Hazen will repeat as 2A-6 champions.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Best guess for the coming season
If it is summer, it must be time for college basketball!
Okay, okay, I realize that probably only applies to me and the 21 sports information directors I’m currently harassing for Lindy’s College Basketball.
(Soon to be on newsstands in like months, so buy a copy and revel in my brilliance.)
Anyway, between that and the current mafia story* I’m covering for my real job, my mind drifts to college football in times like these and I’ve been thinking about Arkansas’s role in the world of college football.
Despite having lived in Arkansas for roughly 26 of my 40 years, I missed the Razorbacks kool-aid that was served at mighty Elgin B. Milton Elementary in Ozark.
So, somehow, I never became much of a fan of the Piggies. Then the downward spiral, at least to some, continued as I began to openly mock The Program. But it sure was fun flinging those FCA lollipops at TCU’s horny frog back in the day.
Life progressed, college football became a livelihood and the idea of being a fan, of any sports team, became repugnant to me.
With that out of the way, let’s examine Arkansas’s role in college football’s terra firma.
And without question, it isn’t where the Razorbacks fans think it is. Arkansas is, at best, a second-tier school, that to challenge in the conference, a team in the SEC West needs to be on probation and ineligible for the title.
The scenario for a national title usually involves something like 23 steps and lots of luck with better teams losing both early and late.
Here’s the thing, on the former, no team in the West is on probation (yet) for this season, and on the latter, even if Arkansas somehow runs the table and goes undefeated, the Razorbacks still won’t play for a national title.
Book it.
If Ohio State and Boise State go undefeated, a realistic possibility for both, they’ll play for the national championship.
Both are preseason top five schools and won’t have to climb the polls.
If Arkansas is ranked, and that’s a giant guess, it will be 18th to 25th. The cupcake con-conference schedule, really Tennessee Tech, won’t win them any points from pollsters.
So there you go. Too long a road and too many good teams to play in the conference.
Arkansas won’t go undefeated. Bobby Petrino has yet to win a road game in the SEC during his tenure, and that September game at Athens looks, well, it looks like Petrino’s streak will continue.
But it isn’t just that, Arkansas has to get some defense, and lots of it. Plus, a reliable place kicker to win the occasional close game.
At last report the kicker and the defense still haven’t reported to campus.
For next time: A look at the conference expansion and contraction and why Arkansas really isn’t in the South, but not really anywhere else either.
* Many thanks to regular Poolsville reader and D*G columnist Linda Calliouet (maybe, I can’t remember how to spell it but Word suggests "Calliope") for printing in her paper verbatim, and without any attribution, passages from my Arkansas mafia coverage.
Okay, okay, I realize that probably only applies to me and the 21 sports information directors I’m currently harassing for Lindy’s College Basketball.
(Soon to be on newsstands in like months, so buy a copy and revel in my brilliance.)
Anyway, between that and the current mafia story* I’m covering for my real job, my mind drifts to college football in times like these and I’ve been thinking about Arkansas’s role in the world of college football.
Despite having lived in Arkansas for roughly 26 of my 40 years, I missed the Razorbacks kool-aid that was served at mighty Elgin B. Milton Elementary in Ozark.
So, somehow, I never became much of a fan of the Piggies. Then the downward spiral, at least to some, continued as I began to openly mock The Program. But it sure was fun flinging those FCA lollipops at TCU’s horny frog back in the day.
Life progressed, college football became a livelihood and the idea of being a fan, of any sports team, became repugnant to me.
With that out of the way, let’s examine Arkansas’s role in college football’s terra firma.
And without question, it isn’t where the Razorbacks fans think it is. Arkansas is, at best, a second-tier school, that to challenge in the conference, a team in the SEC West needs to be on probation and ineligible for the title.
The scenario for a national title usually involves something like 23 steps and lots of luck with better teams losing both early and late.
Here’s the thing, on the former, no team in the West is on probation (yet) for this season, and on the latter, even if Arkansas somehow runs the table and goes undefeated, the Razorbacks still won’t play for a national title.
Book it.
If Ohio State and Boise State go undefeated, a realistic possibility for both, they’ll play for the national championship.
Both are preseason top five schools and won’t have to climb the polls.
If Arkansas is ranked, and that’s a giant guess, it will be 18th to 25th. The cupcake con-conference schedule, really Tennessee Tech, won’t win them any points from pollsters.
So there you go. Too long a road and too many good teams to play in the conference.
Arkansas won’t go undefeated. Bobby Petrino has yet to win a road game in the SEC during his tenure, and that September game at Athens looks, well, it looks like Petrino’s streak will continue.
But it isn’t just that, Arkansas has to get some defense, and lots of it. Plus, a reliable place kicker to win the occasional close game.
At last report the kicker and the defense still haven’t reported to campus.
For next time: A look at the conference expansion and contraction and why Arkansas really isn’t in the South, but not really anywhere else either.
* Many thanks to regular Poolsville reader and D*G columnist Linda Calliouet (maybe, I can’t remember how to spell it but Word suggests "Calliope") for printing in her paper verbatim, and without any attribution, passages from my Arkansas mafia coverage.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Letters to Ramon: To the Big 12
From Lonesome Traveler:
And by the way... OK I'm saying it.
I think Arkansas should go to the former Big 12. It's a better fit for a lot of reasons and a move away from the insanity of the SEC. Money isn't everything, but sadly it is. (See republican party.)
Then the Big 10 can be officially changed to the Big 12, which would seem appropriate and the former Big 12 could be re-named the Southwest Conference, which is even better. Of course you would need to add like a Colorado St. (I think that would be a good choice) to round out the divisions and give it a few seasons and the fans would settle in. That's Arkansas' heritage, and the program will never get the respect it deserves (does it deserve respect anymore?) playing in the SEC.
If that were magically the scenario this season, the Razorbacks could very well be playing for a national title. That will never happen in the SEC cause it's like a national title almost every week. Too many bruising games to get over the hump. The program has never seen the glory it once had. Do you want the money and prestige and decent seasons? Or do you want a winning program and still make a decent bundle. I would chose the latter.
Plus the fans don't have as far to go and as it's been stated a million times, the program would recruit better in the hotbed of football (Texas). Cause Arkansas sure ain't recruiting in the other so-called hotbed, Florida.
On a personal note it would be tough to play Texas every year as much as I hate them. I think my response at the Razorback Club meeting when asked by Ch. 4 how much I hated Texas was "more than the amount of water on the face of the earth."
But then I hate Alabama, Tenn. (oh I hate Tenn.), and Florida, so as Johnnie Cochran might have said, my hate will not abate.... just realign, which is what Arkansas needs to do while it has the chance.
And by the way... OK I'm saying it.
I think Arkansas should go to the former Big 12. It's a better fit for a lot of reasons and a move away from the insanity of the SEC. Money isn't everything, but sadly it is. (See republican party.)
Then the Big 10 can be officially changed to the Big 12, which would seem appropriate and the former Big 12 could be re-named the Southwest Conference, which is even better. Of course you would need to add like a Colorado St. (I think that would be a good choice) to round out the divisions and give it a few seasons and the fans would settle in. That's Arkansas' heritage, and the program will never get the respect it deserves (does it deserve respect anymore?) playing in the SEC.
If that were magically the scenario this season, the Razorbacks could very well be playing for a national title. That will never happen in the SEC cause it's like a national title almost every week. Too many bruising games to get over the hump. The program has never seen the glory it once had. Do you want the money and prestige and decent seasons? Or do you want a winning program and still make a decent bundle. I would chose the latter.
Plus the fans don't have as far to go and as it's been stated a million times, the program would recruit better in the hotbed of football (Texas). Cause Arkansas sure ain't recruiting in the other so-called hotbed, Florida.
On a personal note it would be tough to play Texas every year as much as I hate them. I think my response at the Razorback Club meeting when asked by Ch. 4 how much I hated Texas was "more than the amount of water on the face of the earth."
But then I hate Alabama, Tenn. (oh I hate Tenn.), and Florida, so as Johnnie Cochran might have said, my hate will not abate.... just realign, which is what Arkansas needs to do while it has the chance.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
College football: North vs. South
Stadium Size:
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.
Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also a physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss America.
Cheerleaders:
NORTH: If you are slightly coordinated, you make the varsity squad.
SOUTH: You begin cheer camp at age two, complete with ballet, dance, and gymnastics training.
Getting Tickets:
NORTH: Five days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus and purchase tickets.
SOUTH: Five months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus & put name on the waiting list.
Women's Accessories:
NORTH: ChapStick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a fifth of Jack Daniels/Crown. Money is not necessary — that’s what dates are for.
Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they’re going to the game because they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don’t want to see the few hungover students that might actually make it to class and throw up on their floor.
Parking:
NORTH: An hour before game time, the university opens the campus for game parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.
Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting “Game Day” to get on camera and wave to the folks up north.
Tailgating:
NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio station with truck tailgate down.
SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance by the Dave Matthews Band, who come over during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.
Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask, “Where’s the stadium?” When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you’re near it, you’ll hear it. On game day it becomes the state’s third largest city.
Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup with the home team’s mascot on it, filled less than halfway with soda, to ensure enough room for Jack Daniels/Crown.
When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH: Stands are still less than half full.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.
Smell in the Air After the First Score:
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of Jack Daniels/Crown.
Commentary (Male):
NORTH: “Nice play.”
SOUTH: “*#@&@, you slow *&%$@#! - tackle him and break his legs.”
Commentary (Female):
NORTH: “My, this certainly is a violent sport.”
SOUTH: “*#@&@, you slow *&%$@#! - tackle him and break his legs.”
Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.
After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is emptying out.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker while somebody goes to the nearest package store for more bourbon. Planning begins for next week’s game.
NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
Campus Decor:
NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.
SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.
Homecoming Queen:
NORTH: Also a physics major.
SOUTH: Also Miss America.
Cheerleaders:
NORTH: If you are slightly coordinated, you make the varsity squad.
SOUTH: You begin cheer camp at age two, complete with ballet, dance, and gymnastics training.
Getting Tickets:
NORTH: Five days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus and purchase tickets.
SOUTH: Five months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus & put name on the waiting list.
Women's Accessories:
NORTH: ChapStick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket.
SOUTH: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a fifth of Jack Daniels/Crown. Money is not necessary — that’s what dates are for.
Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game:
NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they’re going to the game because they have classes on Friday.
SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don’t want to see the few hungover students that might actually make it to class and throw up on their floor.
Parking:
NORTH: An hour before game time, the university opens the campus for game parking.
SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.
Game Day:
NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.
SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting “Game Day” to get on camera and wave to the folks up north.
Tailgating:
NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio station with truck tailgate down.
SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance by the Dave Matthews Band, who come over during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.
Getting to the Stadium:
NORTH: You ask, “Where’s the stadium?” When you find it, you walk right in.
SOUTH: When you’re near it, you’ll hear it. On game day it becomes the state’s third largest city.
Concessions:
NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.
SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup with the home team’s mascot on it, filled less than halfway with soda, to ensure enough room for Jack Daniels/Crown.
When National Anthem is Played:
NORTH: Stands are still less than half full.
SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.
Smell in the Air After the First Score:
NORTH: Nothing changes.
SOUTH: Fireworks, with a touch of Jack Daniels/Crown.
Commentary (Male):
NORTH: “Nice play.”
SOUTH: “*#@&@, you slow *&%$@#! - tackle him and break his legs.”
Commentary (Female):
NORTH: “My, this certainly is a violent sport.”
SOUTH: “*#@&@, you slow *&%$@#! - tackle him and break his legs.”
Announcers:
NORTH: Neutral and paid.
SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.
After the Game:
NORTH: The stadium is emptying out.
SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker while somebody goes to the nearest package store for more bourbon. Planning begins for next week’s game.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Project Playoffs:
2009 post-bowls final standings and seedings
Standings in realigned conferences with seedings for a 16-team playoff. Seedings are derived from the Massey Comparison Rankings, which take every poll and computer rating into account. There is no reason to consider the BCS rankings as the ultimate authority for determining the top 16.
First-round match-ups:
16 USC at 1 Alabama
15 Nebraska at 2 Florida
14 LSU at 3 Texas
13 BYU at 4 Boise State
12 Georgia Tech at 5 TCU
11 Iowa at 6 Ohio State
10 Penn State at 7 Cincinnati
9 Oregon at 8 Virginia Tech
Click here for a full explanation of Project Playoffs.
First-round match-ups:
16 USC at 1 Alabama
15 Nebraska at 2 Florida
14 LSU at 3 Texas
13 BYU at 4 Boise State
12 Georgia Tech at 5 TCU
11 Iowa at 6 Ohio State
10 Penn State at 7 Cincinnati
9 Oregon at 8 Virginia Tech
Click here for a full explanation of Project Playoffs.
Southern
1 Alabama (14-0)
14 LSU (9-4)
Ole Miss (9-4)
Auburn (8-5)
Tennessee (7-6)
Mississippi State (5-7)
Southern Miss (7-6)
Vanderbilt (2-10)
Memphis (2-10)
Southeast
2 Florida (13-1)
12 Georgia Tech (11-3)
Miami (9-4)
Clemson (9-5)
Georgia (8-5)
Florida State (7-6)
South Carolina (7-6)
South Florida (8-5)
Central Florida (8-5)
Mid-South
3 Texas (13-1)
5 TCU (12-1)
Oklahoma (8-5)
Arkansas (8-5)
Texas Tech (9-4)
Oklahoma State (9-4)
Texas A&M (6-7)
Baylor (4-8)
UTEP (4-8)
Northwest
4 Boise State (14-0)
9 Oregon (10-3)
13 BYU (11-2)
Utah (10-3)
Oregon State (8-5)
Air Force (8-5)
Washington (5-7)
Colorado (3-9)
Washington State (1-11)
North Central
6 Ohio State (11-2)
7 Cincinnati (12-1)
Notre Dame (6-6)
Michigan State (6-7)
Purdue (5-7)
Michigan (5-7)
Louisville (4-8)
Illinois (3-9)
Indiana (4-8)
Atlantic
8 Virginia Tech (10-3)
North Carolina (8-5)
East Carolina (9-5)
Kentucky (7-6)
Wake Forest (5-7)
North Carolina State (5-7)
Duke (5-7)
Virginia (3-9)
Maryland (2-10)
Northeast
10 Penn State (11-2)
Pittsburgh (10-3)
West Virginia (9-4)
Connecticut (8-5)
Navy (10-4)
Rutgers (9-4)
Boston College (8-5)
Syracuse (4-8)
Army (5-7)
Midwest
11 Iowa (11-2)
15 Nebraska (10-4)
Wisconsin (10-3)
Missouri (8-5)
Northwestern (8-5)
Minnesota (6-7)
Iowa State (7-6)
Kansas State (6-6)
Kansas (5-7)
Southwest
16 USC (9-4)
Stanford (8-5)
Arizona (8-5)
California (8-5)
UCLA (7-6)
Fresno State (8-5)
Arizona State (4-8)
Hawaii (6-7)
New Mexico (1-11)
Friday, January 08, 2010
Springer's Final Thoughts
And so another season of the college football pool has come to an end. The question I have gotten most since midseason is, "Who is this Steve Wells guy?" Wells has now won the Classix at Oaklawn, the NCAA tournament pool, and the college football pool. I guess the karma is good when you pay to build a church in Honduras and also when you host a victory bash to watch the BCS Championship Game. Arkansas Lottery, look out. In a year as unpredictable as any, Wells turned in a stellar performance. But the 2006 winner and resident pool heel, Jeremy Peppas, would like me to point out that his pool record of 162 points and 77 wins still stands.Congratulations to everyone who won this season, including the champs of the Davis Cup, Shields Cup, Verizon Cup, and all the other side bets within the standings. I'd also like to note Jeff Kendall and Chad Chambliss, who continue to finish high in the standings year after year but have yet to place, and Michael Hinchey, who finished fifth this season after having his big-money dreams sabotaged by Troy for the second year in a row.
Thanks to everyone for entering, and thanks to those who provided me with so much entertainment during the season –– Scott Faldon's Five Things, Doug Virden's haikus, Jeff Goebel for the most entertaining game analysis available anywhere, Will Johnson and Robyn Edwards for the e-mail designs, Oscar Davis's weekly explanation for his picks, John Kriz's Seminole Fact of the Week, Janis Morrow and Brad Heifner for the conference calls, and all those funny comments in the e-mails every week. Special shout out to Moose Thomas for the Big Daddy.
After 111 games, I hope you feel like you got your $10 worth even if you didn't come close to winning. The whole idea of this pool is to add another element to the college football experience to make it even better than it already is, so I hope the pool accomplished that for you even when the ACC4 of Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Boston College as well as teams such as Oregon and Notre Dame were making a winning Saturday so difficult.
So until next time, remember, it's all about The U. 'Nuff said.
The next five games with be out August 31.
2, 3, 4...
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Five Things (Liberty Bowl edition)
1. When watching soccer, you might hear the phrase "against the run of play." That means one team is dominating the match, and suddenly the other team manages to score an unexpected goal.
Arkansas' first 10 points in the Liberty Bowl were against the run of play. Obviously, since interceptions played a role.
The Razorbacks were absolutely man-handled by ECU on the lines. Petrino's recruiting needs to focus on bigger, stronger players on the OL and DL.
2. Who knew Memphis could double for Hoth? I'm pretty sure I saw a Razorback fan slitting open a tauntaun to survive.
I was disappointed there was no snow. After all, bad weather + football = awesome. (See Sunday's Colts at Bills game for proof.) How cold was it? So cold it cracked my Jeep's windshield.
3. Was anybody else skeeved by Eddie Money singing "Two Tickets to Paradise" to preteen cheerleaders? I kept waiting for Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC to walk onto stage. And did anybody else laugh at this exchange ...
Money: I just love this country!
Ronnie Spector: Me too!
4. Ryan Mallett needs a Crash Davis to teach him cliches for interviews.
Following the game, he behaved like a petulant brat during the press conference. First, he gave a condescending "You'll be the first to know" answer when asked about the NFL. Then, when Petrino was being asked about the offense's troubles against the ECU defense, Mallett rolled his eyes, shook his head, rolled his eyes again and then fixed a "go to hell" look on the reporter asking the question.
5. Is I-40 in West Memphis ever not under construction?
Thanks to d-bag drivers who rushed down the left lane, right up the barrels, before merging. Traffic was stopped and crawling before the dog track. Merge early and everybody can keep moving. Merge late, and you screw it up for everybody.
Then somewhere east of Little Rock, traffic stopped again. This time, rumor has it, for a wreck on the White River bridge near Devall's Bluff. I jumped off I-40 at Hazen and took backroads to North Little Rock. More scenic, but thanks to the delays it turned into a 6-hour drive to Fort Smith.
Next time, I have to remember to leave Memphis the same time as every other fan who lives west of the Mississippi River.
Arkansas' first 10 points in the Liberty Bowl were against the run of play. Obviously, since interceptions played a role.
The Razorbacks were absolutely man-handled by ECU on the lines. Petrino's recruiting needs to focus on bigger, stronger players on the OL and DL.
2. Who knew Memphis could double for Hoth? I'm pretty sure I saw a Razorback fan slitting open a tauntaun to survive.
I was disappointed there was no snow. After all, bad weather + football = awesome. (See Sunday's Colts at Bills game for proof.) How cold was it? So cold it cracked my Jeep's windshield.
3. Was anybody else skeeved by Eddie Money singing "Two Tickets to Paradise" to preteen cheerleaders? I kept waiting for Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC to walk onto stage. And did anybody else laugh at this exchange ...
Money: I just love this country!
Ronnie Spector
4. Ryan Mallett needs a Crash Davis to teach him cliches for interviews.
Following the game, he behaved like a petulant brat during the press conference. First, he gave a condescending "You'll be the first to know" answer when asked about the NFL. Then, when Petrino was being asked about the offense's troubles against the ECU defense, Mallett rolled his eyes, shook his head, rolled his eyes again and then fixed a "go to hell" look on the reporter asking the question.
5. Is I-40 in West Memphis ever not under construction?
Thanks to d-bag drivers who rushed down the left lane, right up the barrels, before merging. Traffic was stopped and crawling before the dog track. Merge early and everybody can keep moving. Merge late, and you screw it up for everybody.
Then somewhere east of Little Rock, traffic stopped again. This time, rumor has it, for a wreck on the White River bridge near Devall's Bluff. I jumped off I-40 at Hazen and took backroads to North Little Rock. More scenic, but thanks to the delays it turned into a 6-hour drive to Fort Smith.
Next time, I have to remember to leave Memphis the same time as every other fan who lives west of the Mississippi River.
Monday, January 04, 2010
Ice Station Zebra, AKA the Liberty Bowl
MEMPHIS — It was so cold in Memphis Saturday night that Hell froze over and Alex Tejada made a clutch kick.
That's me, above, dressed for the weather and even then I was still cold.
By now you know that Arkansas won the Liberty Bowl in overtime against some directional school from one of the Carolinas. It isn't clear which Carolina, but we do know that East Carolina is not a state, but North and South Carolina are.
While you had drama on the field, it wasn't limited to there.
The MATA shuttle bus besides the one we rode back to the Peabody was cleared out. A man on the bus was feeling chest pains and then went into cardiac arrest, or for the non-medical types, he had a heart attack.
A group of doctors and nurses from Baptist Health in Little Rock began working on the man. I know this because their group had been split up and two of them were on the bus and sitting by me.
They reported that the man had been down for 20 minutes but was revived. It wasn't clear where the man was from or what his condition is now.
A search of the googles reveals that the Razorbacks expats site has a note on it as well.
http://www.arkansasexpats.com/2010/1/4/1232958/notes-from-the-south-endzone
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