Parity in the SEC

So far this year, many of my predictions regarding the SEC have been true. I missed LSU losing to Florida and winning the rematch in the SEC Championship. While the second part of that could still be true, the Gators and Tigers still have a lot to overcome. However, I nailed, probably as many of you did, South Carolina upsetting Alabama. Now, when I said Alabama would lose at least two games this year due to the bye weeks and their schedule, many people out there thought I was crazy. Well, that's one of six for them. It was even more nuts when I said LSU would win the West. Well, right now my predictions are on track in those areas.

So far, the West Division is holding true to form. Alabama, Auburn, and LSU are fighting it out on top. Arkansas is right there with modest improvement from Miss. State. As predicted, Ole Miss is at the bottom. It's the Eastern side that has this blogger confused. What the hell is going on in Athens and Gainesville this year? Mark Richt and Urban Meyer do not have their teams ready to play. Both have stumbled a lot. 

Let's be clear about one issue, while I didn't predict  South Carolina to win the East (who would with their history?), I did say they would be a factor. Like many of you, I figured this to be Spurrier's best chance to win an Eastern crown at South Carolina and to go play in Atlanta. I just thought they would choke. Who knows, it's still early. I just don't see them losing to Tennessee at home. Even if they lose to Florida, which will probably happen, Florida could still lose one more themselves. 

Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee have fallen back this year. With the Vols, that was expected. All the freshmen they have played is taking a toll. Look out next year and the following years. Dooley will have this team ready. Urban Meyer has questions at Florida to answer as well. People are getting very upset over the offense. Personally, I think the Gators are going to be fine. If Meyer really felt like he needed to make a change, he would do it. Fans were rumbling five years ago as well with Chris Leak and they won a BCS Title a year later. The fans in "The Swamp" need to relax. As far as Georgia is concerned, keep stocking up on Tums. Mark Richt is in a lot of trouble there. The win over Tennessee still does not mask a 2-4 record. Just making it to a bowl game is unacceptable in Athens....period! 

Either way you look at things, no team is running away with this conference. I just hope all can rebound next year or the SEC will lose its number one power ranking.

The End of an Era

Last night, in front of a sellout crowd of 52,000 at Turner Field in Atlanta, Bobby Cox walked off the field for the final time as manager of the Atlanta Braves. So significant are his accomplishments, no one will ever take his place as the most beloved figure in Atlanta history. That's right, Hank Aaron, Chipper Jones, and maybe even Matt Ryan will never match Bobby Cox. He took a team that rivaled the Cubs as the biggest losers and took them to the top of the division 14 years straight. How fitting an ending that he does something he never did before - win the Wild Card to close out his career.

However, this season, baseball fans are indeed witnessing the end of an era. That's not just in Atlanta. It's in LA, Chicago, and possibly St. Louis. At no other time in history will we ever witness such a quartet of successful managers leaving the game of baseball together. Bobby Cox, Lou Piniella, Joe Torre, and Tony La Russa will go down as four of the greatest managers of all time. All are in the top fifteen among most wins in history, with La Russa, Cox, and Torre in the top five. Combined, they have eight World Series rings between them and many more appearances. Yet, at least three, possibly all four will not be in dugouts when the first pitches are tossed out to open the 2011 Season.

It's going to be strange next season. There is no question about it. All four are certainly Cooperstown-bound. I wish La Russa would call it quits now so all four could go into the Hall together. Wouldn't that be something to see? Four of the greatest standing together in five years, celebrating not only a rare and extraordinary accomplishment, but the end of one of the most successful baseball eras of all time.

Here is to you gentlemen....thank you!