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Photo: University of Virginia School of Law | Charlottesville, Va.
Thursday, September 30
Drivel
And I thought Survivor would be my mindless TV viewing of the evening.
10:50
I gave Kerry the edge in the debate, but he needed a knockout, and only got a victory on points, a victory many had expected given his history as a strong debater. While Kerry defeated Bush on how he said what he said, what he said might not resonate with the crucial swing voters. Bush's dismal public speaking ability gave Kerry a window of opportunity, but I'm not positive Kerry capitalized. We'll see what the voters think in a few days.
10:41
Back to writing a legal research and writing memo. After watching that debate, I almost find myself believing that my legal writing has more promise than these two presidential hopefuls.
10:40
Read John Derbyshire's evaluation of the debate on The National Review's The Corner:
John Kerry plus: He does not come across as arrogant and obnoxious as we believe him to be.
John Kerry minus: His positions don't hold together in any coherent way.
George W. Bush plus: He has an air of authority, experience, and purpose I don't recall from 2000.
George W. Bush minus: The President is a dismally poor public speaker.
10:34
My classmates Allein sums it up the 90 minutes: "What an excellent waste of time."
10:32
Scarborough from MSNBC, a former GOP Congressman, billed the debate "The Cowboy vs. The Professor" and awards the victory to John Kerry.
10:00 - 10:30
A ho-hum close to the debate. Bush had a few decent wisecracks, but joking aside, neither candidate landed any solid blows.
9:59
A theme seems to be emerging -- Is our priority enacting polices that are popular in America or policies that are popular in the world? It's not states' rights vs. the federalism, but americanism vs. globalism.
9:57
Kerry almost sounds as if he's campaigning to Belgium.
9:56
Kerry the Neocon? Kerry supports the doctrine of pre-emption! Maybe Rumsfeld will put him in DOD during Bush's second term.
9:54
Saddam the Pacifist? Does Kerry expect us to believe Saddam Hussein was not a threat to anything? Anybody remember Gulf War I?
9:48
This debate doesn't conjure up memories of Nixon/Kennedy in '60. This debate doesn't even conjure up memories of Collier/Snyder in '02.
9:44
George Bush's four word plan: "More of the same." Good one.
9:36
In his only exposure to America once every four years, Jim Lehrer is asking solid questions, but he's receiving clear answers.
9:33
Senator Kerry, don't forget Poland!
9:30
Not really seeing a hopeful message from either one of these candidates.
"The wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time." Ok, President. Kerry said that. Got it.
These guys can't even wear good ties. The gloves are coming off, though.
9:29
The first Halliburton reference.
9:28
Kerry snaps at Bush when the President wants to take 30 seconds. Sadly, the highlight of the debate so far.
9:25
Kerry is dull, stiff, uninspiring, and dominating this debate.
9:12
Bush is picking up steam.
9:00
Kerry has aged 9 years in 9 months
The candidates say nothing so far in the first five minutes.
Bush completely avoids second question.
Bush keeps making bizarre facial expressions. Kerry is real stiff, and hasn't stated anything we haven't heard before. He's getting his points across, though. Not sure Bush has made any points. We'll give him time though.
Great Debate
Tonight, in between my Legal Research and Writing marathon, I will tune in to the first, and most significant, debate between President Bush and Senator Kerry. This debate will likely set the tone for the last weeks of this election.
Both campaigns are trying to hype up the debate credentials of the opposing candidate. The Bush campaign even went as far as calling John Kerry "the greatest debater since Cicero."
That's a stretch, even for a campaign that has gotten great mileage out of heralding low expectations.
Tuesday, September 28
Blue Ridge Mountains
I stopped at a viewing station on my way back from Lexington Saturday evening. This is a shot of The Blue Ridge Mountains about 15 miles west of Charlottesville.
Popped Collars
Enough is enough. Since when did popped collars start coming back in style and why is this practice considered cool? The undergraduate "grounds" at UVA are swarming with popped collar frat daddies, and I have heard the rumor that this style has caught on at Ole Miss. Who is directing style for our nation's youth now -- the costume designer for The Wonder Years?
Granted, I know nothing about style. Still, the popped collar is a bit over the top. One can still be considered a "cool and tough fraternity guy" (the phrase coined by a certain poster on this message board) without a messed up collar.
Sunday, September 26
Fear and Laptops on the Campaign Trail
Is blogging ruining political journalism, recharging it, or just giving me a way to stay connected with friends? The article from the NYT Magazine. Saturday, September 25
Law Pundits: Was Rocky Liable for Apollo's Death
In the Creed-Drago bout, Ivan Drago was battering Apollo Creed for two rounds, but his corner manager, Rocky Balboa, refused to drop the towel, signaling the end of the fight. Had Balboa dropped the towel, Creed would likely have escaped with only injuries.
Does Apollo Creed's family have a cause of action against Rocky Balboa (or the referee) for not taking measures to end the fight before it was too late?
31-10 Victory Disappoints UVA Faithful
While Ole Miss and Mississippi State fans would just be satisfied with a win every now and then, UVA fans have begun demanding blowouts.
On the UVA post-game radio program, several callers phoned in to express their dissatisfcation with the "narrow" margin of victory over Syracuse.
Al Groh is certainly taking the program in the right direction when fans can be displeased by 3-touchdown victories. Despite Ole Miss's sad prospects for the remainder of the year, I won't abandon them, but I may start following UVA football a little more closely.
Expect UVA to beat Clemson two Thursdays from now, setting up a crucial showdown with Florida State for the heart and soul of the ACC.
Mountain West Pushover Defeats Ole Miss
Ethan Flatt tossed 4 interceptions, the Ole Miss offense squandered 4 red zone attempts, and the defense was exposed as Ole Miss lost to Wyoming 37-32 in Laramie.
The Rebels, 1-3, are off to their worst start since the Billy Brewer era (or possibly before). All indications point to a disastrous season for Ole Miss.
One positive note was Ole Miss's nearly 600 yards of total offense, but penalties and turnovers negated the progress Ole Miss made on offense.
The popularity of the Ethan Flatt buddy icon has plummeted and David Cutcliffe is officially off the imaginary short list for the Tennessee Volunteers coaching job.
Fomer Waterboy Ends JA's Regular Season Drought
The last time Jackson Academy defeated Jackson Prep in the regular season, quarterback Adam Shaffer was a waterboy and elementary school student.
Friday night, the senior quarterback helped ended JA's regular season dry spell, tossing for 223 yards and two touchdowns and running for another as the Raiders humiliated Jackson Prep 34-24 before 4,000 in Flowood.
Corey Magee (pictured above) ran for 179 yards and gave the Patriots defense fits the entire night. Magee has run for nearly 450 yards in JA's last two games against Prep.
JA led 34-12 in the 4th quarter. Prep added two touchdowns late to make the game appear more competitive than it actually was.
The young Prep team should improve as the season progresses, and will likely give the Raiders a tougher game if they should meet in the state championship.
It's possible that if Prep loses to No.1 Hillcrest in several weeks, Prep and JA would square off in the first round of the playoffs instead of the championship game.
Friday, September 24
Just Like Running From the Cops
From last week on washingtonpost.com 
Virginia's Marquis Weeks caps off his 100-yard kickoff return with a touchdown.
"That was just instinct. Kind of like running from the cops," said the senior tailback.
Without question, UVA's football team is starting to play like Miami. They're starting to sound like them too.
Moveon.org
While the media loves to portray Moveon.org as a transformational force in American politics, what have they actually done?
They raise huge sums of money, and spend it just as quickly. They certainly gotten a lot of press to help their cause, but has their work helped John Kerry's cause? Or have they actually hindered his progress?
Think about it. Moveon.org is a far left-wing special interest group. Their ads may play to the Michael Moore crowd, but they haven't convinced may independents or undecided voters to cast their votes for John Kerry. All Moveon.org has managed to do is radicalize the Democratic base, a fact that poses a big problem for Senator Kerry.
527s seem counterproductive in many ways. This Swift Boat Vets seem to effective damage their intended target, but that doesn't mean that group or any other 527 is good for the democratic process.
UVA Pregame
And we thought MSU playing "Who Let The Dogs Out" was a lousy way to fire up the fans. Nice computer generated graphics, but if I wanted to watch a cartoon fight scene, I'd retrieve one of my Thundercats VHS tapes that's gathering dust in the attic. Thursday, September 23
What I'm Reading
For some unknown reason, most blogs have a section that says "What I'm Reading." For a more understandable reason, most people don't care. But I'm going to jump on the blogger bandwagon, and tell all of you about the upcoming book on my reading list.
It's written by the voice of America's youth. Yes, I'm reading It's My America Too.
Tonight, I dropped in the Charlottesville Barnes & Noble at Barracks Road Mall to search for a copy of Ben's book. I was disappointed to see it was not among the non-fiction bestsellers, bumped by rabble-rousers like Kitty Kelley and Al Franken. So I trudged to the Non-Fiction section hoping that Virginians would be able to appreciate the writing of a young southern conservative.
And there it is was.
On a shelf directly below Maureen Dowd's Bushworld and a Thomas Friedeman, I saw four copies of It's My America Too.
While purchasing the book, I quipped to the clerk that this was the first book any of my college buddies has written. The clerk asked how old the author was. I said 23.
He said, 'Wait till a 21 comes along. He'll be washed up.'
I said, "We're 23. We're already washed up."
That got a chuckle out of him, but not a free Barnes & Noble card.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading this book. Should be a welcome change of pace from The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Living in the Past
Some would say only a tool would blog about his high school football team when he was 23 years old.
Fair enough.
But I say, let politicians and tarot card readers talk about the future. Former high school football players .... we live in the past.
Besides, what better way to distract one's self from an evening of legal research and writing?
1998 Raiders
If you read my last blog about the JA-Prep rivalry, you might be asking yourself, "tell me more about those 1998 Raiders."
Ok, since you asked.
The 1998 JA Raider football team returned three starters from a 1997 team that was predicted to win the state championship, but imploded during the second half of the season to finish 7-3. Though the senior class was extremely athletic and had achieved significant success as a 7th grade and JV squad, top athletes had quit or transferred over the course of years and the junior and sophomore classes were considered thin on talent. The expectation level for the 1998 team was low, and the Raiders were ranked No.4, behind Prep, Pillow, and Lee Academy.
Coach David Blount had his work cut out for him, but the JA team meshed. Led by Bradley Kellum, Erskine Wells, and Chesley James on offense, and Bryan Madden and Bo Allen on defense, the Raiders toughed out some hard earned victories during the regular season, despite a schedule the coaches considered the toughest in school history and a rash of injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear to LT Cal Laney.
When JA and Prep finally met during Week 9 of the season, both team were 7-1. Prep had dropped a 17-14 loss to Centreville, a team of giants from Southwest Mississippi including led by Ole Miss Center Justin Sawyer, and a JA had been upended in Greenwood by Pillow Academy and their quarterback, Jonathan "Groza" Nichols.
Prep was favored. They had depth, speed, size, and talent on both sides of the ball, while almost all of JA's starters played both sides of the ball -- ironman football.
We also started a 150 lb offensive tackle.
Prep had Payton Perrett at quarterback, and two of Mississippi's top recruits -- OT Marcus Wilson and LB Justin Wade.
JA's defense, however, was somehow one of the best in school history, and it shut down Prep's offensive attack the entire game. Late in the second quarter, JA capitalized off a Prep turnover as Erskine Wells scored on a bootleg around the right side. The game went back and forth with no points for most of the second half, and the Raiders withstood a furious Prep comeback in the waning seconds of the game to seal the 7-0 win and make school history.
That was the first and only regular season win JA had against the Prep Patriots.
Now, some might ask 'who ended up winning the state championship that year'?
Ehh ... that's irrelevant. For this week, we're focusing on the regular season.
JA vs. Prep
 
Without question, the JA / Prep rivalry is the best in Mississippi high school football. Some will argue with me, saying that these teams are far from the most talented, the rivalry is still in its infancy, and the all-time standings are tilted too far in favor of one team. I'll grant these arguments, but I stand firm. No rivalry in the state is more recognizable, no two schools are more well-known, and no two football teams play one another so often with championships on the line. Seven of the last nine state championships have been won by JA (4) and Prep (3). Plus, the local band Cake or Deaath even wrote a song about the rivalry fittingly entitled "The Rivalry Song."
Friday, Mississippi's best high school football rivalry resumes as JA collides with Jackson Prep in Flowood in the earliest scheduled regular season matchup between the two in over a decade.
JA won the state championship in overtime against Jackson Prep last season, but both teams are going through rebuilding (some might argue reloading) years. Memphis powerhouse Memphis University School pounded Prep in the season opener, and crosstown rival MRA shocked JA 22-21 on a last second touchdown and two-point conversion.
JA, now 3-1 and No.4 in the Academy AAA poll, is favored by four over Prep, 3-1, and No.3, but JA's track record in regular season games against the Patriots has been horrendous.
Prep has one every regular season matchup in the two decade history on this rivalry. Only in 1998, when an undersized, underestimated, scrappy JA team knocked off the Patriots 7-0 at Raider Field.
The 2004 JA team will try to become the 2nd JA team in history to beat Prep in the regular season, and to do it, they'll rely heavily on quarterback Adam Shaffer, a 6th grade waterboy when JA last beat Prep in the regular season (he's pictured above).
Shaffer may have to direct the Raiders without Ole Miss signee Reid Neely, a monstrous offensive lineman / defensive tackle, who has been hobbled by a high ankle sprain.
I'll be pulling hard for my JA Raiders, but it'll be hard for JA to overcome Prep's regular season karma.
Mosvick on Bush and Beer
I've heard the weak argument by people who support President Bush because "I'd rather drink a beer with him than Senator Kerry." Well, Mitch Mosvick debunks the Bush and Beer theory.This is a humorous read from an excellent writer. Wednesday, September 22
Ben Ferguson's New Book
Several of you have asked me where you can get a copy of Ben Ferguson's new book, It's My America Too. In addition to most local booksellers, Amazon.com has a great deal on the book. For autographed copies, I would try Square Books or Off-Square Books. Ben did a signing at one of these two locations and it may still have a book or two in stock. For those of you still unfamiliar with the book, here's a description from the publisher: With It's My America Too, Ben Ferguson, the voice of America's youth and the host of The Ben Ferguson Show, one of the country's fastest-growing syndicated radio shows, delivers his views on all the issues, from politics to current affairs to popular culture. Everyone wants to know what Ferguson will say next -- and here's your chance. Ben Ferguson is a conservative who is also an independent thinker unafraid to take contrary positions. In It's My America Too, the twenty-two-year-old media star shoots from the hip and the lip on numerous topics. Ferguson tells us why he thinks the voting age should be lowered to sixteen; who the "New Minority" is -- the twenty-something men and women who are overworked, underpaid, overmarketed, and drastically underrepresented; why politicians talk about and at young adults, but never to them; how he feels about everything from homeschooling to sex, NASCAR, and George W. Bush; and much more. Ferguson's message is clear. He is not on a campaign to reform liberals and turn them into right-wing Republicans. He is presenting his views on American society and challenging those who do not agree with him to an open debate. Some will not agree with his political and religious views. What he hopes to accomplish, with both his radio show and this book, is to energize future generations about politics. The way to do this is through open communication. He is encouraging his generation (and even some in previous generations) to get involved and be heard. Hip and forthright, funny yet never pedantic, Ferguson offers a fresh viewpoint and insights on topics such as "What the Republican Party can learn from Bill Clinton"; "Why anti-Americanism is our problem"; and "Dubya: my favorite redneck." He reveals a positive outlook on the economy, offers his opinions on bias in the media, and also includes chapters on Donald Rumsfeld, affirmative action, and the values instilled in him by his mother and father. Ferguson's pride in his country, in his religious beliefs, and in his choices reflects his vision of the American dream. He is informed and determined to make a difference. Youthful as he is, he has a unique perspective not only on America and its history, but also on current events and issues. You may applaud his opinions or perhaps you will disagree with them. But for those of you who are angered by this book, Ferguson instructs: "Don't just get mad. Do something about it." Tuesday, September 21
Happy Birthday, Thew
I would be remiss if I didn't wish one of SNN's most devoted followers, Thew Ingram, a happy 24th birthday.
Thew, you're as close to 30 as you are to 18, and only 31 years to retirement. Ah -- doesn't the quarter life provide such a bright outlook on life?
The Philadelphia Eagles Defense gave Thew his birthday present last night, when they played solidly enough for his team, "Gipper's Army", to pull out the victory over me in fantasy football.
No word yet on whether Clinton named today Thew Ingram today. It should have been though.
So this post is for Thew .... great former roommate ... TRL supporter ... fine American .... just to let you know that we care.
The Dean Factor
Remember Howard Dean? A few short months ago, he was the frontrunner to gain the presidential nomination. After an implosion at his Iowa caucus concession speech and questions about his foreign policy experience, Dean has been put out to the political pasture. He did have a lackluster speech at the Democratic National Convention, and he'll pop up occasionally on the cable networks to say something against President Bush. I hear he's having a debate with Ralph Nader, but I may have been dreaming that. I know that's something I'd like to see.
Is it possible just one year ago Howard Dean was taking the political establishment by storm? This guy had a phenomenal ascent. Hell, despite his leftish social values and anti-war stance, I liked the guy, because he represented something fresh and new in presidential politics, a clever straightshooter who bucked tradition. I don't think he's leader of the free world material, but he'd make a more likable liberal pundit than say Paul Begala and would be a great asset to the DNC for liberal fundraisiers.
So my question posed to you is: if Howard Dean had gotten the presidential nomination, where would he stand in relation to President Bush at this juncture?
Rather and Bush in Similar Situations
Since WillBardwell.com and BlaggBlogg are shockingly not providing any coverage of this story, I feel compelled to give it some blog time.
Anyone reading the newspaper, listening to talk radio, or watching cable news during the past week is familiar with the story of Dan Rather, 60 Minutes, and the forged National Guard documents.
But for those who are short of memory or oblivious current events, here is a short summary. CBS's 60 Minutes runs a story about President Bush shirking National Guard during the early 1970s. The foundation for this story came from newly revealed documents supposedly from one of Bush's superior officers. The story received big play from liberal groups and a few of the major networks. However, just a few days later, several blogs started questioning the authenticity of these documents. Turns out, after examination, these documents were identical to those produced on Microsoft Word.
There's the problem. Bill Gates was flunking out of the school around that time, and Microsoft Word wasn't around for two more decades. Typewriters, the common word processors of the time, didn't produce certain scripts contained in the documents.
Rathe signed off on the story, and through the initial questioning, stood by the legimitacy of his story. The furor didn't die down, and after initially seeking to let the storm subside, CBS did some additional fact-checking and found that the sources of the story, including the Guard documents, were erroneous.
Now, Bush supporters throughout the country are calling for Dan Rather's resignation. They claim he is a bad journalist, an embarrassment to his profession, and misled misleading the American television viewer. He's already unpopular with many conservatives, most notably because of his interview with deposed dictator Saddam Hussein in weeks leading up to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The people who are calling for Rather's resignation, however, need to consider what Rather has done.
Dan Rather, a powerful figure prone to controversy, accepts as true information that turns out to be ultimately false.
Sound familiar to anyone?
I look at Dan Rather's acceptance of the Guard documents and George W. Bush's reliance on WMDs as somewhat similar misjudgments. In both instances, they relied on faulty information. While I don't believe either had bad motives, both might have accepted as true information that should have been further scrutized and wasn't because of the passion of their beliefs. Rather and Bush wanted to believe in its authenticity, and as a result, may have allowed events to transpire that could have been averted.
Now, Bush opponents will invariably say, "Rather didn't send men to die for his mistake! While this is true, supporters of Bush can still say other positive purposes are being served by the operation in Iraq -- removing a dangerous dictator, working to establish democracy in The Middle East. etc.
Rather's story has less redeeming value. I guess there were other things pointed out in the story -- Bush used political connections to get placed in the Guard, etc. -- but these were already known.
And also, Bush's sources were probably more credible than rather. The CIA (Chalabi is another story) is far more reliable, or at least should be, then a few partisans down in Texas with a bone to pick.
Don't get me wrong, an inaccurate story for 60 minutes is petty and insignificant compared to the War in Iraq. When lives are at stake, the person in charge has an obligation to be far more careful. Equating the two is unfair except to point out how people of different political persuasions will defend one man and demonize another who basically made similar miscalculations.
I think the fate of Rather and Bush rest with the American people. If you think the bad intellingence on WMDs is enough to remove George W. Bush, vote him out of office. If you think Rather is not a trustworthy or credible news anchor, then watch Jennings, Brokaw, one of the cable anchors, or Sportscenter instead.
Mississippi State Blog
For all of you Mississippi State football fans, there is a blog for your football team.
The Comeback Kerry?
Just when President Bush began enjoying a sizable lead, Sen. Kerry is battling back. In the latest Zogby poll, Kerry has small leads (albeit within the margin of error) in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Iowa and is tied 48-48 with President Bush in Florida and ARKANSAS.
A late poll by Survey USA shows Bush up even in traditionally blue states like New Jersey and tied in MARYLAND, but this poll has carried a conservative tilt to it since electoralcollege.com started tracking the race.
Too much can change between now and Election Day for any polls to be that reliable, but if Bush is tied or barely up in a state like Arkansas on Election Day, he's in deep trouble. Meanwhile, the same can be said for Kerry is he's trailing in states like New Hampshire and New Jersey.
I still think the outcome of this election, like in 2000, rests on Florida. Kerry might win this election without it, but Bush certainly won't.
Monday, September 20
Chris Simms Starts for Tampa Bay
Chris Simms -- son of former NFL quarterback Phil Simms, the Class of 1999's most coveted high school quarterback from the Class of 1999, record-setting but reviled signal caller for the Texas Longhorns -- is back from the brink of anonymity.
Just last week, I wrote about Simms, nearly forgotten as the 2nd team quarterback for the woeful Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sunday against Seattle, Chris Simms got his chance, replacing the ineffective Brad Johnson four series into the contest. Simms was neither hero nor goat , but did throw a crucial interception on the final drive of the game.
Nevertheless, he showed signs of promise in his first start, and the despite claims from critics that he can't perform under pressure, Simms is showing signs of becoming a viable NFL starter. He may already be an upgrade from the medicore Johnson.
I don't really like the Buccaneers. Actually, they're one of my least favorite NFL teams, but I am rooting for Chris Simms. After the scorn he endured at UT, he deserves a shot at redemption.
Unless your fantasy quarterback happens to be Kyle Boller or Ken Dorsey, I wouldn't recommend adding Chris Simms to your team pretty soon. But in the passer-thin NFL, Simms could become of its better players in the years ahead.
Sunday, September 19
Another big winner ....
Non-hockey fans. The NHL lockout means newspaper columns and Sportscenter highlights won't be wasted on hockey.
Week's Winners & Losers
Winners:
Tommy Tuberville: Despite his standing as Ole Miss's second least favorite SEC coach (Nick Saban would be first), congratulations are in order for the Auburn head coach, whose scrappy Tiger squad ended defending national champion LSU's winning streak. Auburn won with their trademark defense, a ball control offense, and luck, something Tuberville never seems to have a problem finding.
Maine: The I-AA Black Bears (I think that's their name) fly 2,000 or so miles to Starkville, Mississippi, and knock off the SEC's Mississippi State. Money made by Maine for playing the game: $375,000. Satisfaction of embarrassing a Division I program in front of its home fans: Priceless.
Eupora High School: The Eagles put up 40 more points en route to a 40-0 blowout of Coldwater.
The Doug Zeigler Express: Barring a miracle, Bardwell's fantasy football team will crush Gordon Fellow's team. This victory is sweet for Bardwell, who had to endure fantasy football taunts from Gordon during the last several weeks.
Ethan Flatt: Ole Miss's starting quarterback won't remind anyone of Eli Manning, or even Josh Nelson for that matter, but he was steady in his debut against Vanderbilt and seemed the cement his claim on the Ole Miss starting job. Rebel faithful are behind this guy and hope as just a sophomore, he'll progressively improve.
The Sopranos: Won a bunch of Emmy despite having another lousy season. Coherent plot lines got a bullet in the back of the head three season ago. Still, they are rewarded. I guess when the other top shows on TV are Will & Grace, Everybody Loves Raymond, and 221 different versions of CSI, even a drama near death can maintain its acclaim. If only Perfect Strangers had come around 15 years later. Then it might have the 5 Emmys it deserves.
Losers:
The American Ryder Cup team. Melts against one of the worst European squads in years. This was a more lackluster performance than that of the U.S. Men's Basketball Team. First presidential candidate to guarantee Vijay Singh American citizenship gets my vote.
Thom Daschle. The guy is minority leader of the U.S. Senate and is trailing GOP challenger John Thune by 3 points in the latest poll. I hope South Dakota tosses this obstructionist out. In Sunday morning's debate with Thune on Meet the Press, Daschle, though aggressive, failed to distance himself from his less experienced rival.
Big 10. Overrated. Arizona State beats Iowa by 37. Michigan, Wisconsin, barely defeat two terrible teams. Ohio State is solid, but that's about it. The sportswriters will continue to rank Big 10 teams higher than they deserve.
Vladimir Putin: This poor man's Stalin is basically ending democracy in Russia.
Keyshawn Johnson: Tricked me into believing he would become one of the NFL's better receivers, but reverted to his unproductive ways this week against the Browns, only catching 2 balls. Next week, Roy Williams will take his place in my fantasy football starting lineup.
Kato Kaelin: Would qualify any week.
Hurricane Ivan: Supposedly a catastrophic hurricane, Ivan did some serious damage, but for the most part, failed to live up to expectations. The Gulf Coast thankfully survived a potentially horrible natural disaster.
Wednesday, September 15
Bush National Guard Records -- Made at Kinko's?
DRUDGE IS REPORTING: "WASH POST: Documents allegedly written by deceased officer that raised questions about Bush's service with Texas National Guard bore markings showing they had been faxed to CBS News from a Kinko's copy shop in Abilene, Texas... Developing..." Hmm. What -- or who-- is in the Abilene area?
Sunday, September 12
Heisman Race
Top Contenders:
Matt Leinart, USC
Jason White, Oklahoma
Kyle Orton, Purdue
Cedric Benson, Texas
Could Emerge:
Carnell Williams, Auburn
Frank Gore, Miami
Kay-Jay Harris, West Virginia
Reggie Bush, USC
Chris Leak, Florida
Not Gonna Happen:
Chris Rix, FSU
David Greene, Georgia
Vashon Pearson, Ole Miss
Justin Vincent, LSU
Darren Sproles, Kansas State
Nick Turner, Mississippi State
The Ethan Flatt Buddy Icon
Now, I'm not taking sides in the QB controversy, but to show your support for the Rebels, I've created "The Ethan Flatt Buddy Icon" for AOL Instant Messenger. 
Get yours today. It's very simple. All you need to is follow these directions.
Save image to your computer.
Go to AOL Instant Messenger.
Go to PREFS
Go to Buddy Icons
Go to Set Buddy Icon; Browse PC
Find the saved image on your computer. Click OK.
With your help, we'll make The Ethan Flatt Buddy Icon one of the most popular on AIM.
Also, a Robert Lane buddy icon is available.
Coming soon:
Stewart Patridge
Spurlock Finished as Starter?
After another horrid performance from Ole Miss QB Michael Spurlock, Coach David Cutcliffe must decide who will start against Vanderbilt next Saturday.
Spurlock, after completing only 30% of his passes, was benched in the 3rd quarter for Ethan Flatt, who misfired on several occasions but did lead the Rebels to their only touchdown drive of the evening.
Ethan Flatt is my favorite of the three quarterbacks. (Robert Lane, the highly touted redshirt freshman from Louisiana is the third quarteraback) Ethan is a tall, dropback quarterback who fits Cutcliffe's system. He's not the second coming of Eli Manning (or Josh Nelson, for that matter), but he seems to have the potential to become a steady starter who will be successful if supported by a good running game, another facet of Ole Miss's offense that has come up empty so far.
It may not matter what quarterback Cutcliffe chooses. This team has problems on both sides of the ball, at almost every position. That we as fans didn't anticipate many of these problems is surprising, but not totally unusual. Having the best quarterback in college football can gloss over a lot of troublesome deficiencies in other areas.
Regardless, this club needs to make some drastic changes. A change at quarterback is a good start.
Saturday, September 11
Game Update
The most notable things from the ballgame so far:
Michael Spurlock's second week of ineptitude
Brodie Croyle's greasy mullet
Ruling Class War
Another winning column by David Brooks of The New York Times. In this column, Brooks discusses the political proclivities of members of the various "distinguished" professions.
Chris Simms
Remember Chris Simms? Yes, believe it or not, he's still in the NFL. In the Class of 1999, there were two great high school quarterbacks -- Eli Manning and Chris Simms. Most would say Simms was the more heralded of the two.
Simms initially committed to Tennessee, but was lured to Texas by promises of national championship glory by Mack Brown. Problem was, Chris Simms was from New Jersey, and the starter, Major Applewhite was from Texas or somewhere very nearby. Simms picked up the starting job in his sophomore year without really earning it and he drew the ire of Texas fans.
The defining moment of Simms career came in the Big 12 Championship against Colorado. A Texas win against Colorado would have put the Longhorns in the national championship. But Simms melted down, Colorado got out to a huge lead, and Mack Brown had to bring in Applewhite who engineered a dramatic comeback that barely fell short.
When I would meet Texas Longhorn fans, they would all profess their undying love for UT and Texas, and their undying disdain for Chris Simms. It was really creepy. A guy who was one of the most effective quarterback in your school's history, and almost all of the student body would have celebrated if the guy had transferred to McNeese State.
Chris Simms college football career will be remembered for unfulfilled potential, not just in his personal development as a quarterback, but for UT football. Pundits kept predicting a national title for Texas, but year-in, year-out, Simms and the Longhorns couldn't live up to predictions.
I think Chris Simms may find redemption of sorts in the NFL, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say this guy will be starting in the NFL one day. Who knows? Simms and Eli may still be the best of the class of 99.
USM beats Nebraska; State crushed
Southern Miss, the scrappy C-USA with limited resources, a ferocious defense, and a rugged schedule, took another swing at one of college football's giant and knocked down this one down for the count.
In a game reminiscent that could be compared to Muhammad Ali's final fight, in Nassau against Trevor Berbick, when the unglamorous but determined Berbick wore down a former champion whose glory days had long since past.
Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Alabama are three college football heavyweights well past their prime, and none show signs of returning to their previous form. Even if Alabama demolishes Ole Miss tonight, a win doesn't signify recovery for that program. Just a few years ago, no one would even question The Crimson Tide's chances against an Ole Miss team that was led by an unproven quarterback and was coming off a loss to Memphis.
But credit Southern Miss. They've won openers against Florida State and Nebraska in the last 15 years, have beaten Bama on occasion, and have no qualms about traveling to the home turf of college football's titans to slug it out for 60 minutes. I'm happy for Coach Bower, my uncle James, the Lee Roberts fan club, and the 2,000 USM fans who made the trip from Hattiesburg to Lincoln. A good win for the State of Mississippi.
Sylvester Croom's Mississippi State Bulldogs, on the other hand, weren't as fortunate on Saturday, as Auburn manhandled the Dogs for 3 1/2 quarters en route to a 43-14 shelling. Had Auburn not replaced their starting defense with 11 members of the Hoover High School dance squad, the score could have very well been 50-0. No sane person expected State to contend with Auburn. They have arguably the SEC's best two running backs, and a third, Tre Smith, that could start for several of programs in the SEC. Still, this blowout made those that follow the SEC realize that revitalization in Starkville will be a slow process, and that 2 quarters of domination against a miserable Tulane team is no indication of revival.
In the blowout, a few promising signs emerged. Omarr Conner's stats indicated remarkable efficiency, especially for a quarterback only starting for the second time in his college career. Will Prosser, a product of the MPSA, is proving to be a reliable receiving threat. Norwood can bust loose when his offensive line isn't completely overmatched. And Kyle York is a serviceable backup quarterback.
I think State has a few more wins to collect this season, certainly next week against 1-AA Maine, probably at least 1 from Vanderbilt and Kentucky, and as a long shot, one at the expense of UAB, Arkansas, or Ole Miss.
With a USM win and a MSU loss, the rubber match for Mississippi's Big Three will be played out tonight in Tuscaloosa. Sadly, I'm not optimistic.
Chris Rix
... chokes again. Miami 16, FSU 10. This had all the elements of a classic Miami-FSU game. Lightning-fast defense, a faltering FSU quarterback, and a crucial missed field goal by Florida State. FSU can still run the table and could wind up in the national championship, but I see another ACC foe knocking them off during the season. Just more heartache in the Seminole Nation.
Bama Fanatics
If anyone runs into Phyllis of Mulga and other legendary Bama fans, please let us know.
High School Football Roundup
Brandon wins their first game. JA survives a lethargic performance to outlast Mag Heights. Clinton nearly pulls the upset against Brookhaven. Coach Boyce keeps East Rankin winning. Hillcrest continues to dominate. Prep blanks Parklane, further proof that Parklane's crumbling football dynasty has nothing left but rubble and memories. Oxford gets pounded by Senatobia.
And in the game of the week, Eupora, Top 5 2A team, beats Winona, a Top 5 3A team. The game featured two of the state's best quarterbacks, Eupora's Lee Swindle and Winona's Wesley Beardain. Eupora's offense continues to roll up points, but is the defense good enough to hold up under pressure come playoff time?
Brandon 55, Florence 14
Brookhaven 21, Clinton 18
East Rankin 35, Winston Aca. 28
Hillcrest Christian 41, Central Private (La.) 6
Eupora 42, Winona 35
Jackson Prep 26, Parklane 0
JA 35, Magnolia Heights 26
Saltillo 21, Booneville 0
Senatobia 21, Oxford 3
South Panola 46, New Orleans Carver 7
Thursday, September 9
Congratulations to Kilgore
Campaign logo courtesty of WillBardwell.com
My sources tell me that Steven Kilgore is the newly elected senator from the law school. Have the seeds of a presidential run been planted? I think Ole Miss has found Gordon Fellows's replacement.
Open Thread
Talk about what's on your mind. Whether it's the woeful Rebels, the resurgent Bulldogs, the insurgent Iraqis, the U.S. Open, the U.S. deficit, fantasy football, or the whereabouts of Donkey Lips from Nickelodeon's Salute Your Shorts. The floor is yours.
Monday, September 6
Mike & Mike
Is it just me, but after Week 1, does the Mike & Mike hype from The Daily Mississippian remind you of Dan & Dave debacle from the 1992 Olympics?
Sunday, September 5
Ben Ferguson - The Future of Radio
Once the youngest radio talk show host in the country, Ben Ferguson is now a published writer. The Ole Miss graduate has recently released It's My America Too. It hasn't arrived at the Courts & Commerce bookstore at UVA, but when it does, I'll be the first to buy a copy.
Here's what Publishers Weekly had to say about Ben's book:
Having gone from a weekly stint on a major Memphis radio program at age 13 to 120 stations and counting for the Ben Ferguson Show at 22, the syndicated conservative wunderkind takes a stab in print at being the voice of conservative youth. On a host of political issues (gun control, school prayer, etc.), Ferguson's approach is "telling it like it is." His positions are to the right of center (for school prayer, against gun control), but Ferguson presents himself as a contrarian. As proof of his independence, he criticizes Republicans for their complacency and lack of concern for average Americans and even urges them to learn from Bill Clinton's "I feel your pain" populism. A light polemic, Ferguson's book is not closely argued; the writing is unsophisticated and the ideas are simplistic. But the book—dedicated in part to "those who hope I fail"—is just as much about pointed revelation ("Some people laugh when I tell them I am twenty-two and have never had sex," begins the chapter "Why I'm a Virgin") and Ferguson's stocktaking of his career so far, which will be of just as much interest to fans.
The 240-page book, published by William Morrow, is currently in the top 25,000 on the Amazon.com bestseller list. You can buy your own copy at Amazon.
The Clarion-Ledger has written an article about Ferguson, and various other media outlets are giving pub to the man Radio America calls, "the future of radio."
Visit his website to learn more about Ben and listen to his past shows.
Saturday, September 4
Concluding my blogging evening
Haven't been posting much as of late, but I found an evening spent watching college football and blogging about America's greatest sport has been therapeutic. I wouldn't be surprised if a few 1Ls read horn books for leisure on the weekends, but unfortunately, I haven't developed this type of affinity for the study of the legal profession.
I've found law school is tiresome, intense, and slightly overwhelming, but not all-consuming. A lot of people enter with the attitude that shutting themselves off from the rest of the world and making studying an around-the-clock endeavor is the only way to flourish during the first semester.
That's fine for some people, but law school is a marathon, not a race, and stress early in the semester is only a liability when the real panic kicks in around November. The key is keeping up with the reading, paying attention in class, getting slightly ahead on the weekends, and leaving time for personal leisure.
But don't take it from me. I haven't graduated, passed the bar, or even finished the first semester. But I guess like many law students, I offer opinions where none have been requested.
UVA Football
The lone positive of college football saturday (will become two if BYU beats Notre Dame) was Virginia's blowout win over Temple. The Cavaliers look like a Top 20 team and may be a sleeper in the new and improved ACC.
What am I saying? ACC? I don't care. When you grow up in the Deep South, following the SEC, nobody else matters.
The Spurlock Experiment
Michael Spurlock's debut as Ole Miss starting quarterback was -- I'll put this nicely -- a debacle?
I didn't actually see the game, so maybe an anemic running game, a mediocre performance by the offensive line, or the vaunted Joe Lee Dunn defense doomed the junior QB. Nevertheless, any quarterback who completes barely 33% of his passes should expect heavy criticism. A 35% completion percentage was a fair output back in 7th grade football, but probably won't suffice on the college level.
I've been predicting a 6-5 season, and a possible return for the Rebels to their winter home in Shreveport. A good many others have been declaring the Rebels as a the real contender with 8-3 or 9-2 possibilities. This very well could still be the case, but I think the people who were claiming Spurlock's speed could compensate for lack of height, inexperience, and passing accuracy are re-evaluating the value of the run-first quarterback.
Fact is -- Eli Manning was the most valuable player in the country last season,. He made the right checks, made clutch throws, and transformed an average team into a very good one. History has showed The Patrick Ewing Theory can happen, but for every example where a team that loses a star player improves, there are four or five others who suffer a huge dropoff.
Last year's Rebels taught us that writing off a team too early is a mistake, and I won't do that. Memphis might be as legitimate Top 25 team that we fought tooth-and-nail, and we could elevate our performance and contend in the SEC West.
Obviously, LSU isn't what they were last year. Auburn finds ways to lose. Alabama is quirky and unproven. Arkansas lost most their team to graduation, the NFL, or the penitentiary. And despite a recharged MSU team under Sylvester Croom, the Dogs won't be a factor. Tulane isn't much better than a Division II team. This initial setback doesn't necessarily doom us to a year at the bottom of the SEC.
I will give Spurlock another week before I preach a sermon about the outstanding qualities of Ethan Flatt. But Spurlock has to progress exponentially if The Rebels expect to defeat Alabama next week. At worst, he has to perform solid enough to cement his role as starter.
But don't fret Rebel fans -- only 10 more years until Tommy Luke's son Cale leads us to two national championships.
Serna -- The Perfect Choker
You have to feel bad for Alexis Serna? Or do you? The Oregon State kicker missed 3 PATs in Saturday Night's game against LSU, including overtime.
Fortunately, people in Corvallis aren't as rabid about football as southerners, so this poor fellow won't have to transfer or be provided an army of security cops for protection.
If this had happened in Baton Rouge or Tuscaloosa, the guy wouldn't have been throwing a tantrum on the field like a spoiled child whose mom didn't buy him the toy in the vending machine at the Kroger. He would have been running for his life.
And this brings up a point of advice for athletes -- when you choke, don't pitch a fit. It only exacerbates your embarrassment. Trot off the field. Do your grieving in private. Act like a man should act.
LSU
After Ole Miss's pitiful showing against Memphis, I thought I could take solace in an LSU defeat to Oregon State. The defending national champions were trailing the Beavers by 8 on 3rd and 10. A couple of plays later, they score a TD, convert a two-point conversion, and then win in overtime thanks to the inevitable meltdown by the Oregon State kicker.
As of this moment, some gelled-head LSU fans from Lafayette are taunting the 12 or 13 Oregon State fans in Baton Rouge, screaming "Tiger Bait! Tiger Bait!" and talking about repeating as national champion.
Knowing Nick Saban's luck, they probably will.
Maybe the invigorated MSU Bulldogs will knock them off in a few weeks. LOL.
Norwood & Williams
Jerious Norwood and Darren Williams are showing flashes of the qualities that made them two of the nation's most prized college football recruits in 2002. No question, Norwood & Williams are the cornerstone of Mississippi State's team, and their production is directly related to the speed at which Croom will turn around this football program.
A Bad Sign
It can be said with absolute certainty that a football team who as many punts as complete passes is not having a good game.
Cody Ridgway - 3 punts.
Michael Spurlock - 3 completions.
The Rebels will get better (can it get worse?)
Eli Who? Eli Manning, that's who.
While all of you are spending the Saturday in the Grove and at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the Rebs' season opener, I am relegated to viewing it on ESPN gamecast, though I must say enduring Rebels first quarter performance would be more painful in person than through the dispassionate prism of a macromedia flash program on the world wide web.
Michael Spurlock (0-2 for 0 yards) is not conjuring up images of Eli Manning (or even Paul Head), and the secondary looks susceptible yet again. The game is still young, however, and these Rebels are a second half team. We'll see what happens.
MSU Football
Is ESPN2 doing a Sylvester Croom documentary or a football game? The camera has been focused intently on Croom for the first two quarters, with an occasional shot of a football game. But then again, most major networks don't broadcast community college-caliber football.
I like Croom, and this new version of MSU football. The Bulldogs are horrendous talent-wise, but they are more disciplined and more intense than I've seen them in a quite a while.
Props to Clinton native Clarence McDougal, who has recovered from the crushing lick placed on him by Chad Pilcher in last year's Egg Bowl, and intercepted a Tulane pass.
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I am a 23-year-old first-year law student at 
