The Ole Miss Women’s Soccer Team should be eating steak for every meal.  The super-rich Southeastern Conference now has more ammo in its quest to overtake Wal~Mart as America’s largest “franchise.”

It was reported recently that ESPN and the SEC agree to a 15-year television contract in conjunction with the SEC’s contract with CBS.  The monetary value?  A reported 2.25 billion dollars.  Add that in with the existing CBS contract (another reported 55 million dollars per season) and the SEC will be bringing bacon home to the tune of 200 million dollars per year strictly from television rights.

Details from ajc.com can be found here.

One Big Ten fan on a message board the other day stated that the Big Ten was the benchmark in collegiate athletics and that the SEC was just trying to keep up with the more Northern conference.  His biggest endorsement: the Big Ten has its own network, the BTN.  Our response: “The SEC has its own network; it’s called ESPN.”

Now, what would you do with that money?  Comment below or shoot me an e-mail at haydenhodges34@gmail.com.

Jericho Scott, welcome to the world of politics, jealous parents, and spoiled children.  At nine-years-old you are a great baseball player.  In fact, you’re too good.  Your fastball is too hard and reaches speeds of 40 miles per hour.  Your coach has been told by the Youth Baseball League of New Haven that you cannot pitch anymore. 

Your coach, Wilfrod Vidro, did what any red-blooded American would do, he put you back on the mound.  The opposing team gathered up their equipment and forfeited the game.  I guess that the young members of that team learned a valuable lesson.  Or did they?

Now the league says that your team will be disbanded, its players redistributed and $50 refunds for sign up fees will be given to those who desire it back.  Your coach has resigned per the leagues’ statements.  Vidro denies that he has left and now your team refuses to disband.  Parents and players have protested, including on the field that you play on, to support your being able to pitch.

Is it a safety issue?  Are you out of control?  Not according to your coach.  In fact, Vidro says that you’re on target all of the time and questions why you are punished for such.  You have stated that you miss pitching, and now you “feel sad.  You feel like it’s all your fault that nobody can play.”

Don’t feel bad, sport, it’s not your fault, you just tried your best and worked hard with natural ability and talent to be an outstanding pitcher.  You made it so that others cannot hit your pitches; now you’re being punished for doing your job.  When you’re in high school you’ll be friends with someone that loses their job as grocery sacker for using plastic bags.  We’ll support him then; right now, we support you and those around you.

One now has to wonder if there is a problem that extends beyong the level of on-the-field talent.  Local politics perhaps.  The word from the locals is that Jericho was asked to play on the defending league champions squad.  The same team that is sponsored by one of the league’s administrator’s employers.  Interesting.  Instead, Jericho decided to play with a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness.  An undefeated team with 8 wins when Jericho was informed that he would no longer be allowed to pitch.  It was his pitching that was helping to lead this team into the playoffs.  Peter Noble, the league’s attorney (yes, they have an attorney though we don’t know why), has said that Jericho’s pitches being too fast for the other kids is the only reason that Jericho is not allowed to play the position.

What a crock.  Jericho, you’re welcome to come pitch in our league any time.  We’ll even kick the politicians out of town, get the fees taken care of for you, and show you what Little League is all about: ethics, integrity, sporstmanship, fun, and friendship.  Any kids are welcome.  Shame on you New Haven for using this reason to satisfy your petty jealousy.  Shame on the parents for complaining.

Thanks to the SWTR for inspiring this article and for the format.

And thanks to you Jericho for reminding us how cruel adults can be.  Stay strong young man, you’re teaching us all a lesson.

New Haven, you can comment below.  Everyone else can comment or e-mail me at haydenhodges34@gmail.com.  Thanks.

For weeks now Razorback Basketball fans and others from the SEC have been pondering and discussing what happened to cause a press release from the university stating that Junior Guard Patrick Beverley would be ineligible to play with the team during the 2008-2009 Season.

Apparently, the information has finally leaked out. A moderator on a message board at http://www.callthosehogs.com/ has reportedly “broken the story” as to what exactly took place to lead to Beverley’s ineligibility. The Big Red Board at first could not divulge the information per the moderator’s request due to a provision set forth by the two sources although the information itself did seem pretty solid.

However, we have now received permission to state what the sources say happened.  We at Union, SportsBlogNet.com, and the Big Red Board must disclaim that this is the information that I was given by two sources that asked to remain anonymous.  We verify that none of this is true and accurate nor do we claim it to be.

Offense #1:  Patrick Beverley (who has been rumored to have stated that his ineligibility was over classwork) had, shall we say, “assistance” in the composing of some of his school papers from a very close, personal friend.

Offense #2:  Plagiarism.  Anyone in the world of academia knows that this act of taking another’s words and documenting them as your own on any work is taboo.  In some circles, this act of thievery ranks up there with Maximilien Robespierre’s Reign of Terror.

Hopefully this young man and all of those involved can get this worked out and grow from it.  Athletes nationwide need to learn from the mistakes of others to slow the mass amounts of suspensions and expulsions that we as fans have become desensitized to over the past number of years.

E-mail me at haydenhodges34@gmail.com.

Thanks.

Last time I listed my top five favorite college football jerseys. Now it’s time to see which jerseys need to be burned. Here it goes.

5. Texas Tech: I don’t like the black on black look. The red kinda saves it, but still…yuck. At least they look good throwing the ball around.

4. VT: They are my team, but that newer jersey they occasionally sport is awful. A jumble of color consisting of maroon, orange, and white. The swoop over one shoulder is just awful.

3. Florida: I don’t like Florida and therefor the jersey is just that much uglier to me. A nasty shade of blue that suits a very much hated team.

2. West Virginia: Are they Real Madrid or a college team? The jersey could be worn by Davis Beckham or Pat White. The blue and yellow is spin off of Michigan while the straight yellow jersey belongs on a French Mustard employee.

1. Oregon: Duh! They have 15,000 variations of ugly. Once they make a good jersey, the world will end. The tire tread shoulders and the numbers that look like Mandarin Chinese are the low points.

Well there you go. That’s my take. Let me know if I missed anything.

My name is Jack Anderson and I write at skinstalk.com. Send me an email at jackfrom3@yahoo.com.

Craziness has already ensued in college football as Utah knocked off Michigan in Rich Rodrieguez’s debut and ECU squeezed past VT. VT was ranked #17 and Michigan was ranked #24 in the USA Today Poll.

This marks the second straight year Michigan has started the season with an upset loss. Last year they were dumped by Appalachain State who could not repeat the magic today against LSU.

Meanwhile Hawaii will not be the same without Colt Brennan as they were trounced by Florida. USC also rolled to victory over Virginia.

And finally Ohio State overcame Youngstown State and a minor injury to Heisman candidate Beanie Wells.

Tonight the games to watch are definitely Mizzou-Illinois and ‘Bama-Clemson which is looking good midway through the first.

NCAA football is the end-all of great unis. There are classic get-ups that everyone cherishes and then some contemporary pieces that really ring true. The first thing I notice while I’m watching a college game is the jerseys and there are a few I absolutely worship.

5. UCLA: A great look with the baby blue jersey and gold helmet. Kind of loud, but so smooth.

4. Pitt: A blue-collar jersey for a blue-collar city. It looks like its been churned out of the factory ready to be worn by some big ‘ol linebacker who can’t wait to blow someone up.

3. Oklahoma State: I’ll get grief for this, but when Barry Sanders puts on a jersey, that jersey always looks good, forever. Besides, that orange and black really go.

2. Ohio State: I’m a sucker for the classics and the Buckeyes are pretty much the definition of classic (aside from my #1). The red and white candy cane look works well and those helmets with all the stickers scream college.

1. Michigan: I love it! Yellow and Blue, the perfect mix. The helmets have been mimicked by countless teams. They just look ferocious coming out of the tunnel, wearing their Wolverine pride.

Back with the worst of college football jerseys soon.

You hear that? It’s the roar of the crowd, the sound of a marching band. Whoa Nelly! It’s college football season! Lee Corso is back and donning his various costumes; face paint is back in style; and it’s not too early to start crowing your team’s supremacy.

Ohio State is cruising over Youngstown while Appalachain State is not going to get a big upset victory for the second year in a row as LSU is handily disposing of them at the moment.

Later today, USC gets to show off its talent against UVA while the big game of the week will feature Illinois vs Missouri. Juice Williams doesn’t have Rashard Medenhall this year and is coming off of a dismal performance in the Rose Bowl. Missouri still boasts Heisman candidate Chase Daniel and I like the their chances to knock off Illinois.

It’s good to have football back.

Ocho Stinko sunk to a new low yesterday, legally changing his name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco. Wow. And to think I used to think the guy was funny.

Johnson didn’t return calls from the media as he was probably on the phone annuncing to Roger Goodell his intention to officially change the name on the back of his jersey.

Johnson: Yeah Mr. Goodell I just changed my name to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco so I would like my jersey to read accordingly.

Goodell: Am I really hearing this? Shouldn’t you be in rehab or something?

I just can’t fathom this. This guy is a grown man (that’s arguable) and he spends his time changing his name to the most ridiculous alias I’ve ever heard. Meanwhile his team is floundering into the season and need him to be ready to play.

Something is telling me he won’t be ready. What a selfish piece waste. I’m disgusted.

Jack Anderson wites for skinstalk.com. Shoot him an email at jackfrom3@yahoo.com

Image via kultajev.net

Raiders Voice spots a need for his team, but wonders if it is too late to do anything!

The ‘Ropolitan’s have a good discussion going about combined stadiums. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

UK Wildcat Country is starting to trash-talk!

TwinsFix is betraying his team.

Friends of the Program take a look back some ten years.

The Big Red Board makes some opening week predictions.

Skins Talk is looking at a bad scenario, Jason Taylor not playing the first week?

According to Reuters, Olympic gold medalist Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe has really cashed in on her performance in Beijing.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe handed Coventry a $100,000 cash reward for her gold and three silver medals she obtained in the 2008 games.  She was literally handed a breifcase full of cash.  Other members of the Olympic team got payouts of $2,000 to $10,000.

This is kind of odd, considering the dire straights the Zimbabwean eceonomy is in right now.  Last time I checked, the inflation in that country is somewhere around 11 million percent (no joke).

Guess it pays to be an athlete, wherever you are from.