The Love (read: Hate)

The below from ESPN, link from Jewboy.

21. Urban Meyer -- Florida coach, 2005-present
Hated by: All of SEC, with special antipathy in Georgia.

• Claim to Infamy: Biggest problem is obnoxious win total: 44-9 in first four seasons in Gainesville, with 2009 team favored to win a third national title on his watch. Has gained something of a bloodthirsty reputation after ordering late field goal in a 23-point win over Miami and using every timeout late in a 39-point mauling of Georgia last year. Considered by some critics to be excessively pleased with himself.

32. Steve Spurrier -- Florida coach, 1990-2001
Hated by: Entire SEC, most notably Tennessee and Georgia; Florida State as well.

• Claim to Infamy: Head Ball Coach won huge and unapologetically tweaked his victims for 12 years while building the brand at his alma mater. Volunteers fans can still hear, "You can't spell Citrus [Bowl] without U-T" ringing in their ears. Bulldogs fans can still hear him referring to 1990s coach Ray Goff as "Ray Goof." And Seminoles can still hear the Spurrier barb, "Free Shoes University." Unlikely that any SEC coach had more fun angering more people than Spurrier.

34. Tim Tebow -- Florida quarterback, 2006-present
Hated by: All non-Gators in SEC, plus sizable pockets of resistance elsewhere.

• Claim to Infamy: Too virtuous and too celebrated for many rivals' tastes. Scripture on eye black construed as religious grandstanding in some corners. Willingness to run over opposing linebackers and/or sever a limb to win does not help his standing with opposing fans. Mainly because he does win with tiresome regularity and irksome wholesomeness

Go irk 'em and beat 'em
Go Gators.

Almost Time.

That sensation you feel in the pit of your stomach means that it's almost time. Almost time.

Testing with question

Who do you guys think will be the biggest surprise this year on offense and defense? Last year I would say the award goes to: Jeff Demps and Ahmad Black

This year I am going to guess (and remember these are darkhorses, not obvious guys like Hernandez): Moody starts blowing up towards the middle of the season and on defense I’ll say Justin Trattou.

My backup picks would be Rainey/Cooper and Bostic on D.

Friday Links.

• Gators v. Short-horns in the BCS Natty? (Stewart Mandel - SI)
• OMG! It's John Cena, Ol' Bill's Fave! (Oops Pow Surprise - BHGP)
  
• The Chronicles of Percy (SBP)
• Tits, Tits, and Tebow (Id)
• "Wildcat, Wildcat" (Jo Goodman - Herald)
• Meyer's Men (Id)
• Brantley to Get "Meaningful Minutes" (Ben Volin - Palm Beach Post)
• Meyer Unable to Evade the Gator Nation, Because It's Everywhere (Martin Fennely - TBO)
• Demps Not Only Is, But Wants a G (David Jones - Florida Today)

Don't Blink.

At 2:30, take a close look at how quickly Jeff Demps hits top gear, watch how quickly he breaks away from all the defenders. Typically one concentrates on how quickly the ball carrier is getting to the endzone. I like to look at his speed relative to the other players. I don't think I've ever seen a player break away so quickly, including Percy. In a way, Percy reminds me of Dwane Wade, moving like water through defenders, finding more gaping holes than Wall Street Gator did bouncing at Lush/Vibe (what is that place's name now/then?). Percy was and is magnificent at his first few steps in terms of speed and angle, but I think it takes Percy longer to hit his top gear, and even then, it's not as high as Demps's. I know, I'm a blasphemer.

At 2:36, it's just nasty. But keep in mind that they're playing Citadel. Still though, super chorny.

Tip of the hat to the Jewboy for the vid.

Short, but Good Piece on ESPN's Domination of Sports Journalism

This is a short, but thought-provoking piece on ESPN's domination and, some would argue, manipulation of sports news. The piece misses the competitive impact of blogs in reporting sports news so it misses in that regard, but it's still quite dead-on. The analogies are plenty and accurate.

Give it a quick gander and let me know what thou thinkest.

I Haven't the Words.

Let the commentary begin.

Monday's Link List.

• Meyer's millions.
  
• Timbow's millions.
  
• Timbow saving the world, again.
• Pac-10 commish is a Gator.
  
• Falsity in advertising, UT style.

In finals mode, so I'll be low key for the next couple of days.

In the Backyard.

Gator Clause (GC) blog reports that Tennessee will post a billboard ad on Oakland Park Blvd and I-95. GC says it's a move to go after Gator commit and Boyd Anderson High corner Demar Dorsey. Sounds like a lot of money and trouble just to go after a 4-star recruit who's committed to somewhere else, but nothing about this Kiffin fuck surprises me anymore.

It's a ballsy move to put up a billboard in another state's backyard. There are a lot of Gators in Broward, but truthfully, this seems more like a challenge to and dissing of the hurricanes than the Gators, even though it's probably directed at the Gators.

Changing Bigfoot's Tire.

The Timbow and the General lift a 600 lb tire.

They must work out.

Go Be Beastly.
Go Gators.