AD Searches, Recruiting Wars, Tour de France and Wimbledon

If you read my post from a couple of days ago, you saw that I changed the rules and will write a little bit about sports on Saturdays.  Let me tell you why, since most of you come here, I presume, to read my ramblings about faith.  First, I am a huge sports fan and have toyed with writing a University of Tennessee sports blog.  However, I really don’t have time to do that full time and write all of this other fantastic stuff that you read.  So, I thought Saturdays would be a good time to do it.  Second, based on the number of hits I have on Saturdays, no one is really reading my other stuff on Saturday.  Whether that changes or not doesn’t matter.  I will get my sports writing “fix” out of system each week.  Finally, when I started this I said I would write about faith, family, football and foolishness.  I have focused priamily on faith, with a little foolishness thrown in.  Time to take care of one of the others.  Plus, it’s sixty-three days until the start of college football season.  So, here goes.

The University of Tennessee’s search for an athlethic director was one of the main stories in Tennessee sports news this week.  Tony Basilio, a local radio host and blogger, threw out the name of Heath Shuler as a candidate and said that both sides were expressing interest.  I will admit that my initial reaction was one of excitement.  Shuler is one of my favorite Vols.  He was an exciting player during his two years as a starter at quarterback.  He was a runner-up for the Heisman (by the way, does any school have more runner-ups without every haveing a winner than Tennessee?  Four??? But I digress).  Heath is now a congressman from North Carolina who seems to be facing an uphill battle to win his seat back due to the districts being redrawn.  There are some positives to consider about Shuler for AD.  He could raise money.  He could maneuver the politics.  He loves the University.  However, I think at this time Tennessee does not need an Athletic Director who is learning on the job.  Is it rocket science?  No.  Is Shuler a rocket scientist? No.  But I hope that an AD who knows the job will be hired.

Much was made over Vanderbilt receiving three commitments yesterday.  One was from the number one player in the state of Tennessee who had an offer from UT.  The other two had not received offers.  I wish the kids well.  I will not disparage seventeen year old kids.  My daughter will soon be seventeen.  However, this is not the big deal that a lot of people are making it.  Would UT love to have Brian Kimbrow?  Sure.  However, with only about twenty scholarships to offere, Tennessee has to get players that fit their priority.  Quite honestly, a 5’9″ 165 lb. running back is not Tennessee’s priority this year.  I would encourage everyone to just calm down about this and trust the UT coaching staff.  And don’t verbally abuse a seventee year old kid who wants to go play at Vandy.

The Tour de France begins today.  As always, I hope an America wins.  More than likely, though, it will be a showdown between Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.  Contador failed a drug test last year, but has appealed it and appealed it so that he can ride in this Tour.  Even if he wins again this year, there is a good chance that he will eventually have it stripped.  Andy may have won last year if his brother Frank had not been injured and been available to help him in the mountains.  Realistically, I believe that Andy has the best shot at taking down Contador.

The Wimbledon finals are here.  I am not a huge tennis fan.  I do love the major tennis tournaments though.  I was disappointed to see Roger Federer go down this week.  While he had the most majors ever and is still one of the best players in the world, I believe that age is beginning to overtake him a little and he cannot dominate as he once did.  I imagine that Nadal will win the men’s final and here’s hoping that Maria Sharapova wins the women’s.

Confessions of a 42 Year Old Nerd

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog about introversion and how I feel like an intruder when many people would not.  I even read something
recently where someone was so introverted that they feel overwhelmed when they are in a large group.  I can relate to that.

Today I want to confess something about myself.  I am a nerd.  Sometimes I refer to myself as a geek.  Nerd.  Geek.  It’s all the same to me.  And I’ve been one most of my life.

I was country when country was anything but cool.

I bought and collected comic books through college.

I am a runner and preferred running by myself to many other activities.

I love to watch the Tour de France, somewhat because it has a nerd coolness to it.

I still geek out to all of the super-hero/comic book movies that have been coming out for the past couple of decades.  I even geek out to
the bad ones.  I did a countdown to the 1989 version of Batman and saw it four times in the first week.

I like Doctor Who and a lot of shows that show up on SyFy.

I currently like bluegrass and Americana music.

Guess what?  I used to try to keep this cleverly hidden from as many people as I could.  I did not want anyone to know I was a geek.  I wanted to fit in.  I listened to music, watched TV, saw movies and did who knows what to cover up my inner nerd.

Oh, how I wish I hadn’t done it.

Now, I relish my inner geek.  I don’t buy comic books, but I am geeking out over Thor, X-Men First Class, Green Lantern and Captain America
this summer.  The Avenger, Spider Man, the next Batman and Superman come out next year.

The Tour de France starts this Saturday, July 2.  I’m pulling for Andy Schleck over Alberto Contador.

The second half of this year’s season of Doctor Who will be back on in September.

I’m reading Dean Karnazes’ book about running 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days right now.

I don’t like today’s hit country.

I need a bluegrass festival fix.

I confess.  I’m a 42-year-old nerd.

The good news?  Jesus loved me enough to die on the cross for me.  Despite my sins.  Despite my nerdness.  None of that mattered to Him.  He loved me enough to pay the debt for my sins and save me.

How about you?