Seven People and Stories That Should Be Highlighted on SEC Storied

ESPNU has a program they air frequently called "SEC Storied". It speaks of the lives and careers of athletes and coaches from SEC member schools.
The Southeastern conference has risen in notoriety over the past few decades. Here are some more stories that should be on SEC Storied, if not already in production.
1. Steve Spurrier
The Ol' Ball Coach is as associated with the SEC as anybody or any team. He was a Heisman winning quarterback in 1966 for the University of Florida, later went back to Florida as a coach and won several SEC championships and a national title. After a brief stint in the NFL, he took over the football program at the University of South Carolina. He has made them one of the top programs not only in the SEC but the entire country. Several school records have been broken under Spurrier, and many more may be broken this season.
2. Candace Parker
She was perhaps the most talented female basketball player ever to suit up for the University of Tennessee and the legendary coach Pat Summitt. She was the first female to dunk in a game, led the Lady Vols to a national title, and won several individual awards. She is now a wife, mother, and a successful WNBA player for the Los Angeles Sparks.
3. Joe Namath
Alabama's football program is once again a dynasty. However, many forget one of the most decorated players to play for the Crimson Tide: Broadway Joe. He was more known for his NFL career, being one of the top quarterbacks of the 60s and 70s, and leading the New York Jets to a Super Bowl title. Namath has appeared in TV and commercials since his Alabama and pro ball days.
4. Michael Oher
Yes that's Big Mike from the movie "The Blind Side." His story of overcoming poverty and discrimination to receive a scholarship at Ole Miss and later be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, the defending Super Bowl champions, is an awesome one. There are plenty of other angles to Oher.
5. 2006-2007 University of Florida basketball team
This team became the first repeat NCAA champs since Duke in 1991-1992.  Four of the five starters roomed together during their time at Florida. Six players were drafted from that team and three of them continue to have continued NBA success: Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer.
6. Ray Tanner.
This is essentially the man that broke the "Chicken Curse" in South Carolina. South Carolina had never won a national championship in a major collegiate team sport until Ray Tanner lead the Gamecock baseball team to back to back NCAA College World Series titles in 2010-2011, and a return appearance in 2012. He is now athletic director at South Carolina, ensuring that all of their programs remain competitive in the SEC.
7. The Manning family.
The entire Manning family of Archie, his wife Olivia, and their three sons, Cooper, Peyton and Eli, are storied in SEC lore. Archie and Eli were both star quarterbacks for Ole Miss, Peyton for Tennessee. Olivia was once Homecoming Queen for Ole Miss, and Cooper was probably the best athlete in the family until his career was ended by a spinal cord injury. Archie had a good and long NFL career, but Peyton and Eli both appear headed to the Hall of Fame. Peyton has several NFL passing and touchdown records and a Super Bowl ring. Eli has earned two rings with the New York Giants, and appears to improve yearly.
Honorable mentions: Ryan Lochte, Jay Cutler, Hines Ward, Chaminique Holdslaw, Lou Holtz, Terrell Davis, Pat Riley

Seven Fantasy Football Tips For Anyone Starting or Wanting To Improve

I love sports as many already know about me. Playing fantasy sports these past five years has intensified that love. I play fantasy football, basketball, baseball, and even NASCAR. I'm very competitive and I love matching my sports knowledge and expertise weekly.

The sport I'm more accomplished in is football. I have made the playoffs in at least one league every season except for my very first. I have a third place trophy, and am back to back champion of my company league.

Getting here wasn't easy, although I know football very well. I had to learn the ins and outs of fantasy, player trends and such. Here are seven tips to help you improve your playoff hopes and championship dreams.

1.  Do your research before the draft and season

Fantasy football is not a game where you can go in blind and randomly set a lineup or draft a team and expect a winner. You must watch the games, especially the pre-season games. They show you who may be a breakout player or sleeper this season. Also, use tools such as fantasy articles and magazines with player rankings and cheat sheets. Yahoo! and ESPN both have awesome research tools for free. Both provide extensive draft kits which are worth studying. Finally, watch podcasts and fantasy football specials during the preseason and weekly to help with your lineup. My two favorites are NFL Fantasy Live on the NFL network and Matthew Berry and his various views. Most of us that have won in fantasy owe a debt of gratitude to Matthew. He has become a renowned fantasy guru.

2. Don't draft a QB too early.

Even if you miss the draft and have to go with pre-rankings or if your league is really deep, wait until about the 3rd or 4th round at the earliest to pick a QB. Yes I realize they are often the highest scorers weekly. However, the first few rounds are for building your core. I don't ever take someone like an Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, or RG3 early. That goes for the Manning brothers as well. I would recommend a solid 2nd or 3rd tier starter such as Andy Dalton, Christian Ponder, or even Josh Freeman. I've won the past two years with backups from the waiver wire such as Dalton two years ago, and Russell Wilson last year.

3. Evaluate weekly and even playoff matchups

This is when the question of who you will sit or start comes into play. Usually teams play better at home. Some play better on turf than natural grass and vice versa. You may be facing the 49ers defense that week in San Francisco and think twice about who you start. Also, weather is a huge factor, especially after November. Teams tend to throw less in the cold, and team defenses shine more. Look at offensive lines also. If they are paving the way for the running game and/or allowing few sacks, you may have some sleepers worth starting. It's a weekly chess match.

4. Know your league settings and know them well.

Read your league description before the draft so you can see the points values, roster positions, and even the playoff weeks. This will help keep your squad sharp on a weekly basis. Also, if your waiver wire closes during the first Sunday game, that is also important, especially for your research and scouting. 

5. Always look at the free agency pool and don't be afraid to trade.

You have to manage your team weekly, especially when the bye weeks arise. There may be several weeks where your stars aren't playing, and you need proper depth. Analyze the matchups, how hot a certain player is, and his overall potential. Being proactive can help build you a championship team simply from the pool.

However, at times, it may be beneficial to trade. Don't be afraid; dissect the trade and ensure that your needs and the other owner's needs are met. You can definitely trade your way to a championship. One of the biggest mistakes in all of fantasy sports is to fall in love with a player. That stud could yield you one or more missing pieces. However, don't trade out of desperation, or because it's a bye week and you are short on players. Think long-term.

6. Learn from your mistakes and move on

Certain leagues love to remind you of that bad trade you made, or that player that you dropped that ended up being #1 in yards and touchdowns. It hurts, it really does. But you will not forget it. Just don't let it destroy you. You are playing a game of chance as it is. Learn, keep growing, and keep improving.

7. Have fun, talk trash, but don't let it get personal.

The game of football is supposed to be fun. However every league has cynics that make fantasy football their whole life and love to badmouth and trash the decisions of others. In trades, they may be telling you how to run your team and what you need to do to improve. Good trash talking and discussion is always fun. However, keep it on your league's message boards and don't allow it to escalate to personal attacks. Behave like civilized adults and don't forget what the game is really about.

That being said, have fun and good luck with your fantasy football season!

Top 10 NBA players as of current

The NBA is currently in a lockout, prompting ESPN to run a top 100 list of players. Myself and most of my friends were outraged at the list as it was flawed even by the casual NBA fan's standards. One of my friends (and NBA enthusiast) Jesef Williams, constructed his own list less than 24 hours later. After a long weekend where my other friend, Rashad, got married and I was feeling tired, I've compiled my own list. For those that know Jesef, the list consists of the same players, just in a different order.

1. LeBron James

Yes he doesn't have a championship ring yet, and he is not a clutch player in crunch time (like Peyton Manning and John Elway both were before they finally won championships). However, he is hands down the best athlete in the game, and makes his teammates around him better. He can score, play above average defense, and he has his own unique game. He has already been to two NBA Finals. He will not be denied a ring forever.

2. Dirk Nowitzki

It's hard to ignore arguably the best all around big man in the game right now who can hit the 3, gets his teammates involved and finally got a championship of his own, beating LeBron's Heat. The Mavs contend every year for one simple reason: Dirk. An awesome player and defender that's soo hard to contain.

3. Dwight Howard

Superman has to make the top 3. He's a great big man far as blocks and rebounds, and being a game changer. Like LeBron, his legacy will be incomplete without a ring. However, like Dirk, he is so dominant and hard to contain. Dirk's jump shot and championship ring, puts him above Howard though.

4. Kobe Bryant

Although he's aging and has dropped off a little, he's still a dominant player, and the person you want having the ball in the closing minutes with the game on the line. He's the most accomplished player on this list, from scoring to defense to even championships (appeared in 7, won 5). Say what you will about his character, but his legacy, ability, and game play are not issues.

5. Chris Paul.

CP3 is easily the best PG in the game right now. He's never seen the NBA finals, but his fortitude and beastly statistics assure he can get there with the right teammates around him. He can score, steal, dish the ball off to set the offense,and his rebounding and foul shots aren't bad.

6. Derrick Rose

Many folks, including Jesef, would flip flop D Rose and CP3. Derrick Rose is phenomenal, and has a great team around him. He has resurrected Chicago, a team long down since Jordan's departure. However, he is not as polished, nor does he have the ability and experience of Paul. He cannot be dismissed though as a prime time player.

7. Kevin Durant

Another awesome player, best swingman in the game. He scores, hits the 3, and with PG Russell Westbrook, have given the Thunder quite a reputation. No one wants to face KD35 or OKC in the NBA playoffs. This team, of which Durant is the centerpiece, is only a couple of playmakers away from being like the Mavs, Heat, or Bulls

8. Dwayne Wade

I realize he is ranked low, especially for someone who has an NBA ring (albeit earned when Shaq was with the Heat). However, he is top 10 worthy because of his skills, and his ability to gell with a superteam in just 1 season. He has flaws in his game, such as his shooting, that keeps him from being ranked higher.

9. Carmelo Anthony

I'm biased in this choice being a Knicks fan. Melo is awesome and can drop 25-30 points on a given night. However, he is not multi-dimensional, and doesn't play a lot of defense. He has also proven that is almost useless without a healthy, dominant big man.

10.(tie) Deron Williams and Amare Stoudemare

One player is a PG that's only a 2nd tier compared to CP3 and D. Rose, another is a NY Knick who is dominant and makes his teammates better. Both players, however, haven't been anywhere near the finals. They are great at their position, including Stoudemare, who can play either C or PF with ease like Dirk. Stoudemare may get a slighter edge because he's more dominant and has more talented teammates, while Williams is more explosive.

I wish the NBA season would start already, so we can see how good these guys really do!

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DA PROMOSEUIR

I go hard all the time, far as promoting stuff, things, causes, etc. I am also a connoseuir of fine movies, dining, events, and the like. Someone named me "The Promoseuir" a while back, and I affectionately accept that title.

Here are a list of things/places/causes that I promote (for free and for $$$$)

-The Good Ole Boys radio show
- Your Best Body Fitness Center and Day Spa
- Daddy Joe's BBQ and Grill
- Papa G's Restaurant
- Winthrop University
- Alltel
- Blackberry
- Droid (yeah I know I don't own this phone but it's a nice one, gotta admit)
- Playdate Charlotte/Unique Affairs
- 2DaRealness Entertainment
- Wee Print Tees
- The J-Dub Show
- Yahoo Sports
- Blogger (gotta shout you guys out)
- 2010 Blacksburg High School Black v. Gold Alumni Football Game
- Jay Batista the semi-professional wrestler (returning in October 2010 or sooner!)
- The Twisted Spur
- DJ Dawk
- DJ Billy
- R Elegance Event Planning Services
- Green Sky Radio (next best thing to the Good Ole Boys radio show)
- Mellogroove
- Louis Jones photography
- Gentry's Heating and A/C Service
- Rapper E-Clipz
- MAZ Entertainment
- Elliot's Lawn and Garden Service

And here are some things/businesses/causes that I'm a connoseuir of

- Broncos restaurant
- Courtney's BBQ
- Papa G's restaurant
- Daddy Joe's BBQ and Grill
- Gaffney Entertainment
- Coldstone Creamery
- Texas Roadhouse
- Copper River
- Gamestop
- Blackberry
- Good comedies (Friday, Half-Baked, 40 Year Old Virgin, Hangover, etc)
- The NoDa arts district in Charlotte, NC (The Wine-Up, Evening Muse, etc)
- Charondas Restaurant
- Friday Night Lights
- The Boondocks
- Little Brother
- REAL ILL Hip Hop (check the previous blog and the playlist currently playing)
- Sunnydale (best meats, especially for grilling)
- Aldis
- Chevrolet Motors
- Wal-Mart (may as well have them do a auto-draft from my check each week)
- Xbox 360
- ESPN
- Carrabas Italian Grill
- Buca de Beppos (another great Italian place)
- Braza's Brazilian Grill
- Eagles' Nest Restaurant




I'm sure there are others that I'm missing. If you can think of any and you're reading this blog, just let me know. I'll be sure to add them later.

OK on to promote another good cause and watch some Boondocks!C

BONUS BLOG: 2010 ESPYs Awards Comments

- Is every major award show in NY or LA?

- They better not talk about Mayweather and Mosley!

- Hell yeah UFC, now there’s a sport

- I love these highlights!

- I love these tributes to those in sports that have passed on. Glad they showed Wooden and Steinbrunner

- OK these previews are too damn long. Get to the show PLEASE!

- Seth Myers talks like a little whiny wimp that used to get stuffed in trash cans in high school

- Shaun White looks like Carrot Top

- Did Seth just take a shot at Kim K?

- He mentioned the Lakers, Yankees and Duke. I HATE all THREE! #fail

- These Brett Favre old jokes are lame

- What’s up with Tim Tebow wearing the Tar Heel colored Elvis outfit? VINTAGE!

- TO looks like Pee-Wee Herman with a purple tie

- Tracy Morgan has that look like “I should be up there, but Chris Rock has messed up hosting white award shows!”

- Stoudemare looks like Ray Charles with those shades

- I forgot Stuart Scott was married to a white girl and she’s hot

- More Kardashian jokes!

- That blonde in the peach dress has a great rack!

- Wait is that Christina Applegate?

- Murphy’s Law strikes again: the ONE awards shows I comment on, no one else is. I’m seeing crickets on FB and Twitter

- I still say Bosh looks like an alien without his trademark dreads #fail

- That model looks like such a little person besides Bosh

- I really like the “John Wall” dance. One of few dance moves I have

- Chris Johnson looks like Lil Jon. YEAAAH!! WHAT? WHAT?

- Did Chris Johnson just thank uStream and Twitter? And shouted out his Twitter handle, @chrisjohnson28

- OK Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell are spoofing the LeBron decision interview

- Now are the Cleveland Cavaliers supposed to be the NBA’s equivalent of Chilis? And if the Heat are Outback, are the Lakers the Cheesecake Factory?

- OK and Kyle Busch just looks like Pee-Wee Herman in the face and head. That’s one pale white dude!

- Is Greg Stink MacGruber?

- What the Hell is this performance, who is that and waddup wit that hair?

- Here comes Lindsay Vaughn and Shawn White (I mean, Carrot Top)

- I like CCR. Good theme song for Best Record Breaking Performance

- Deana Favre is cougarlicious!

- Even Brett is looking like “who the Hell won this record-breaking award over me?”

- Mark Ingram (Heisman winner) has absolutely no neck

- What is up with all of the SNL cast cameos? Andy Sanberg as an octopus? Seriously?

- Andy Sanberg is about as funny as Bob Saget, minus the extreme profanity

- Danica Patrick needs to comb her dang hair #thatisall

- Chris Berman could recite the recipe for boiling water and make that exciting. Soo much enthusiasm

- Glad Jim Joyce and Armando Gallarga are making peace. Joyce looks a lot like Wilford Brimley, and dang Gallarga is tall!

- I always thought figure skating was a hot sport, and got even hotter in 1994 when Tonya Harding took out Nancy Kerrington and her horse teeth (that’s right, Chad Burgess, I said it!)

- I didn’t know Bill Clinton was at the FIFA 2010 World Cup

- OK so that guy is Landon Donovan! I can’t help it, I don’t really watch soccer.

- Good Lawd Lisa Leslie could play in the NBA with the guys RIGHT NOW!

- There’s Tebow again with that leisure suit!

- So this band is, uh, something Monet?

- Ashley Green and Tracy Morgan, this should be interesting

- WOW, Ashley Green is smoking!

- Tracy Morgan, my cat Tiny is funnier than you sleeping!

- Always nice to hear Eminem rap over an awards highlight

- And “Cinderella Man” by Em is the business!

- Clint Black doing a Chariots of Fire rendition? OK country music already makes folks feel sad enough, is this really necessary?

- January Jones’s legs are almost as skinny as the microphone stand

- Alright Carrot Top just won an ESPY!

- And I thought I knew sports up, down, left, right. I don’t know half the folks in the audience, smh

- They can keep the camera on Deana Favre all night long!

- Gotta love high school football highlights. So ready for it all to begin!

- OMG that’s sooo sad about Ed Thomas!!! Dude went schizo on his coach.

- That’s sweet how the whole town still consoled the Beckers. At least they realized mental illness is a serious thing, and maybe one day people will stop being judgmental of those that have these evil illnesses. OK off of that soapbox.

- And there’s weird Janelle Monae again, singing swing music. Strangely addictive.

- Maya Moore is one of the few cute women’s basketball players. I’d take her out any day, any time.

- OK Will Ferrel, another SNL alum.

- Take the camera off of Lisa Leslie, PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

- So is this going to be the next character Will Ferrell plays in a movie?

- And now he’s with Monae!

- Emmanuel Streekie is too FINE!! Legs for years!

- I so have to start watching Entourage! Or at least read Maxim. I know Ms. Emmanuel has been in that mag.

- Is the WNBA still revelant? My over/under on how long it will be before the league folds is 3 years, under.

- The Winter Olympians are REALLY dominating the awards tonight.

- With a few exceptions (like the emotional Arthur Ashe award presentation), this year’s ESPYs has just been bleh so far.

- OMG they are NOT spoofing the Blind Side!

- LOL!! The Dark Side!

- The hot gal in the peach dress from earlier is SI’s swimsuit model Brooke Decker

- I’ve noticed that they’re using a lot of corny comedy mixed with eye candy during this year’s ESPYs. The eye candy I like of course. Don’t really care for the comedy.

- And the great play goes to the old man, Brett Favre. Show Deana again, please!

- Greg Lewis looks like a slightly-lighter Kadeem Hardison

- Sam Jackson, yeahh u MFers!

- Guess where George Karl comes from? UNC baby, go Heels!

- It’s sad what cancer can do to folks. Karl has so much courage.

- Wow even Danica looks hot, even with that jacked up hair

- Luke Wilson, what’s up with the hobo beard?

- And Danica looks like ole girl from The Ring with that crazy hair

- Drew Brees is having another boy, cool!

- Exit quote from Brees “And I would like to thank ‘WHO DAT’ nation!”

- The Saints won “Best Team” ESPY. “WHO DAT” nation does it again!!! Thank God the Lakers didn’t win team of the year, or the Damn Yankees (RIP Steinbrunner).

- Am I the only one that noticed these extra long acceptance speeches? They need exit music like most of the other award shows?