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It’s that time of year again… that’s right “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party” aka The Florida/Georgia Game aka The Georgia/Florida game… No matter what you call it this year there will be tons of fans glued to this game.  Georgia Fans will be hoping that the Georgia Defense steps it up a few notches and doesn’t allow Tebow in the endzone and every single Florida Fan will be screaming “Give it to Tebow” when the Gators are inside the Red Zone.

Don’t you think it’s somewhat Ironic that Tebow has the chance to break Herschel Walker’s rushing TD record in a game versus his Alma Matter?  I DO!  If this doesn’t beef up this long time Rivalry game then I don’t know what will.  Georgia is going to do everything they can to keep Tebow out of the endzone… but will it be enough?  Possibly… But… Honestly I doubt it… Tebow is a train and usually get’s what he wants… I guarantee you Tim Tebow want’s to break this record in this game against the Georgia Bulldogs.

This is it Florida Fans!  Same for you Georgia Fans!  It’s SEC football at it’s best… this record is a big deal and it only going to make this Rivalry stronger.  Please share your opinions in the comment section!

O yeah… it’s on Halloween… who will be wearing there costumes this weekend in Jacksonville?

Tim Tebow managed to recover from a concussion and beat… at the time #4 ranked LSU… not only did he come back and beat the #4 team he also managed to perform well enough at be on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Tim Tebow will appear on the October 19th issue and this will be the fourth time in 2009 alone.  If Tebow and the Gators win the National Championship then he could actually grace the cover again.  Last week against LSU Tim and the Gators broke a long held 32 game winning streak for playing night Games at home on Saturdays.

Tebow and the Gators have another tough week ahead of them as they face Arkansas who defeated a tough Auburn team 44-23 last week.  Last year the Gators traveled to Fayetteville and beat Arkansas 38-7.

Mississippi State Univeristy and Southern Miss are back on each others Football schedule again.  After not facing each other for over nearly 20 years the MSU Bulldogs will meet the USM Golden Eagles in Starkville MS on August 30, 2014 at Scott Field. This rekindled in-state rivalry is set to be the season opener for both teams. So far it is just a two game series scheduled with the first being in Starkville in 2014 and the second taking place in Hattiesburg the following year, however the school officials haven’t ruled out the possibility of the meeting continuing after the two face-offs that are already arranged.

Some are referring to this match up at stimulus package for the Magnolia State. It is said that many State Representatives have fought hard for this matchup to take place again.  The reason is to keep the money in the State if possible.  I totally agree that it makes more sense for the State as a whole and will certainly benefit the local economy.  What I’m more interested in is the rivalry… could this be another Egg Bowl like rivalry between two in State teams?  I know that the possibilities are there, and if the first two games go well the school officials may allow that to happen.  After all rivalries and competition is what the game of football is all about and I think it’s a great idea for the school officials to restore such a rivalry.  What is your opinions?

The 2014 match up will be the first since 1990 where MSU beat USM 13-10.  This rivalry began back in 1935 in Hattiesburg.  The majority of the matchups between the two teams back in the 80’s were held in Jackson, including the game in 1981 which broke a sports attendance record for Mississippi at that time.

So,  have any of you reading this article attended a MSU vs USM game?  If so please share with us in the comment section below… also share your opinions on this new rivalry… is this a good decision made by the school officials or not?

HE15MAN

TEBOW WILL PRACTICE TODAY!

Tim Tebow will practice today.  He will be in full pads but it will be on a limited basis.  Tim will be wearing a non-contact jersey, but that is normal for any quarterback.  Tim was taking snaps and throwing passes with the first team offense during practice.  I still haven’t heard how he looked but I know  that recovering from a concussion will affect his balance and equilibrium.  This could affect his judgment and how he throws the ball.  This is Tim Tebows first practice back and first football related activity since his injury and we are wishing him the best.  Doctors are saying that his symptoms are improving and he’s shown that he is healthy enough to attend todays practice.

Don’t worry though.  Tim has the best healthcare providers and will and has always been under some of the best supervision.  The Gator Coaches and medical staff aren’t going to do anything to jeopardize Tim’s future.  It’s good to hear that he is able to get back on the field.

Tebow is still not cleared to play this Saturday against #4 Ranked LSU.  But Coach Meyer says that backup John Brantley has been taking snaps and is looking good.  This means that LSU will have to prepare for both Quarterbacks which is going to be a difficult task for them.  I assume that if Tebow does play the announcement will be very last minute to keep LSU on their toes.

Let us know what you think.. post your comments below!

Tebow showing his Faith with his Eye Black

Tebow injury Update-

We ALL love Tim Tebow in some shape, form, or fashion.  Whether it be love to watch him play or we love to hate his athleticism.  Tim Tebow is one of the most outstanding all around athletes in College Football and has been since his debut. His arsenal is deep and his biggest threat is rushing.  This guy has rushed for 48 touchdowns and is close to breaking a all time record. Tim has already won one Heisman trophy… Does he deserve another?  I think so!  The Heisman race this year is a close one between Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy. Who is more deserving?

Tebow is also a CHRISTIAN… make no bones about it… this guy loves the Lord!  He wears a different bible verse on his eye black each week.  I believe Tim is using this, as a tool to witness to all of the young athletes that look up to him is there a better role model in College Sports today?

I’m sure everyone is aware that Tim Tebow suffered a mild concussion the last time he was on the gridiron.  Everyone watched in awe as Tim was hit from the blind side and on his way down his head struck hard.  Tim was out… just like that… SuperMan went down… you can bet your paycheck that he wasn’t down long.  The trainers rushed on the field along with Coach Meyer, only to hear Tim’s first words after coming to… “Did I hold on to the ball?”  I thought that was classic Tebow and knew after he said that … that he would be lacing up his cleats again soon.  The injury hit the “Gator Nation” hard.  Everyone has been searching for updates on SuperMans injury.  Honestly any concussion is scary… once you have your first it is easier to get your second.  The Gator coaches and Doctors are taking every precaution and won’t be taking any risk in Tebow’s recovery.

ESPN released this update earlier today:  Gator QB Tim Tebow is watching television, attending class, reading, and studying film and doing ALMOST everything else he was doing prior to his concussion…… EXCEPT PRACTICING.

Gator Coach U. Meyer said earlier this week that his superstar player hasn’t been cleared to return to the gridiron or play in this weeks upcoming matchup against number four LSU.  Meyer went on to say that Tebow isn’t dealing with post-concussion symptons.  Tebow is a fighter and tough guy we all know that and he will definitely want to play… however he won’t see any playing time unless cleared by some of the best doctors in the world. Meyer also stated that Tebow could possibly play if he was cleared to practice later on this week.

So will Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Heisman Trophy Canidate play against LSU this week?  It’s possible, but we all want what’s best for Tebow.  A concussion is a different kind of injury and can’t be rushed like others.  We will just have to wait and see.

What will Tebow do if he isn’t able to strap on the shoulder pads and play against LSU?  We all know Tebow is famous for his speeches.. so my guess is he’ll be right there with the team pumping them up as always.

I’ll never forget Tim’s promise he made to the Gator Nation after last years loss to Ole Miss.  This speech gave the entire Nation chills and your lying if you say it didn’t. This Speech got it’s own plaque on the campus at the University of Florida, this speech is famous and will probably be in our children’s history books one day.

“To the fans and everybody in the Gator Nation, I’m sorry.  I’m extremely sorry.  We were hoping for an undefeated season.  That was my goal something Florida has never done here.

I promise you one thing, a lot of good will come out of this.  You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season.  You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of this season.  You will never see a team play harder than we will play the rest of the season… God Bless”

Well Tim,  we all love you and are praying for your Speedy recovery!  I promise you one thing Tim Tebow… there are a ton of people wishing you the best and there are a ton of people that have your back!  GET WELL SUPERMAN!

Colby Brister is a SportsFan Writer and wants you to check out the Tim Tebow Promise Kept T-Shirt at SportsFanTreasures. Colby also wants you to check out all the other cool Gator Gear

The wild card races always seem to produce some unsung fantasy heroes, and this year is proving no exception. This week, we’ll have a heavy-buy version of stock watch with a focus on teams competing in the N.L. wild card race. Enjoy, and don’t be shy about offering your thoughts in the comments link.

Buy: Matt Diaz, Braves OF

As the Braves struggle to stay afloat in the N.L. wild card race, they have found a welcome surprise in the bat of Matt Diaz (owned in about 25% of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues). Over the last 30 days, Diaz has led all major leaguers with at least 90 at bats with a ridiculous .419 batting average. Perhaps equally impressive has been his across-the-board production – Diaz ranks among the top 15 outfielders in runs, homers, RBI, and stolen bases over that span. While the Braves outfield has been in constant flux this season, they have found a fixture in Diaz. With his ability to play every outfield slot and his season average of .327, he should continue to see daily playing time even after the pending return of injured new Brave Nate McLouth. It’s also worth noting that when McLouth returns, Diaz is likely to vacate his leadoff spot for Nate and move down the lineup, which should result in an increase in RBI situations.

Buy: Chris Coghlan, Marlins OF/3B/2B

The Marlins are another team in the N.L. wild card race, and they have found an unlikely sparkplug in rookie Chris Coghlan. Coghlan is an interesting fantasy specimen, because in Yahoo! leagues (33% owned) he has 2B/OF eligibility, while ESPN leagues (23% owned) classify him as a 3B/OF. While his eligibility in your league may or may not be your ideal position of need, his .393 average and 22 runs over the last month rank 4^th and 5^th among all players, regardless of position. That makes him an effective utility man or injury replacement in any league, and the Marlins lineup only figures to improve around him with the recovery of trade deadline acquisition Nick Johnson and the calling up of rookie speedster Cameron Maybin. Coghlan will continue to get opportunities to score when he gets on, and may even become more of an RBI threat as Florida’s batting order coalesces.

Buy: Leo Nunez, Marlins RP

When Matt Lindstom returned from his injury a month ago, it was assumed that he would be eased back into the closers role. Unfortunately for him, his backup Nunez has done so well that manager Fredi Gonzalez has been reluctant to make the switch back. In the 2 months since taking the reigns as Marlins closer, Nunez has notched 13 saves while only blowing 2 (and he got a win during one of those). In the last month since Lindstrom’s return, he Leo has ranked 3^rd among all closers with 8, behind only Ryan Franklin and Fernando Rodney. Fredi Gonzalez seems to be enjoying the use of Lindstrom as a setup man and the reliability of Nunez to finish the job, but most fantasy owners still haven’t gotten the memo (Matt is still owned and started in about 60% of standard leagues, while Leo is only owned in about 30% of standard leagues). That’s good news for anyone looking for saves from a team who is always involved in save situations.

Buy: Jonathan Sanchez, Giants SP

All of a sudden, the Giants boast the most talked about pitching rotation in all of baseball. The addition of Brad Penny to the already potent mix of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Barry Zito has impacted many fantasy rosters. How quickly many owners have forgotten the 5^th pitcher on that rotation, who pitched a perfect game just under 2 months ago – Sanchez is owned in about 50% of Yahoo! leagues, but less than 17% of ESPN leagues. In the last month, Sanchez ranks 3^rd in strikeouts behind only C.C. Sabathia and Jon Lester, and while the Giants bats haven’t given him enough run support for wins, he has maintained a very respectable 2.43 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. If the bats in San Francisco can wake up for the wild card run, Sanchez can be a top-10 starter. Even if they don’t, he can be a poor man’s Zack Grienke, contributing in Ks, ERA, and WHIP with 6+ inning consistency.

As the Fantasy Football Season looms closer, it’s time to start looking at draft boards. Over the next few segments, we’ll rank each position – starting with this week’s quarterback inventory. This year’s quarterback class is remarkably deep, so it’s not really worth stretching to get a QB in any round. The best idea for a QB is to simply wait for value to fall to you. Aside from Drew Brees, there is no QB that should be drafted in the first 2 rounds, though there undoubtedly will be more than Brees drafted in your league by the time the second round is over. All 12 of the quarterbacks listed below will make fine week to week starters, so don’t be afraid to shun the big names in the early rounds in order to bulk up at the much thinner positions of running back and wide receiver. Enjoy, and as always, feel free to reply with your thoughts.

Quarterback Ranks for the 09-10 Fantasy Football Season

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

3. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals

5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

6. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

8. Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

9. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

10. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks

11. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

12. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Best Overall - Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

This should be automatic for anyone who has paid attention to Fantasy Football over the last 3 years. His worst season stat line since joining the Saints is 26 touchdowns on 4418 yards, which makes for an floor that eclipses the highest ceilings of most other QBs around the NFL. His performance last year was particularly impressive, coming within a pass or two of the NFL all-time yardage lead (he finished with 5069, Dan Marino had 5084) despite having problems with new tight end Jeremy Shockey and injury concerns with #1 wideout Marques Colston. Both are healthy and ready to contribute in a big way, but frankly I don’t think it would matter if the entire Saints receiving corps was replaced by blind schoolgirls – Brees still going to get his numbers. There may be a legitimate argument about who is the best quarterback in real life, but in fantasy that question has a consensus answer – Drew Brees.

Best Value – Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals

After missing 12 games last season with an elbow injury, all of the key factors seem to be very much in place for Palmer to rebound strong this season. To start with, he has a very talented receiving lineup with a Chris Henry, Laveranues Coles, and a newly-motivated Chad Ochocinco. Secondly, the Bengals running game is in shambles, led by burnout Cedric Benson and anchored by an offensive line that lost its only 2 Pro Bowlers in the offseason. Not only does that likely mean an increased number of passing plays for Palmer’s offense, it further solidifies his standing as the number one option in the red zone. Carson is only a year removed from consistent 4000 yard/30 touchdown production, yet he is falling through 6 rounds of most early fantasy drafts and is not usually among the top 10 quarterbacks taken. He can be a pleasant surprise as a 5^th or 6^th round flier that will likely end up with top-3 quarterback fantasy numbers.

Most Over-hyped – Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

It’s important for me to reiterate that this is the most overhyped in fantasy football, as I am a firm believer that the elder Manning is the best quarterback in the NFL. The distiction is best illustrated by noting that last year Peyton won the NFL MVP because of his exemplary play, yet he was only the 6^th ranked fantasy quarterback for the season. He is unlikely to repeat those numbers, as this offseason has cost the him head coach (Tony Dungy), offensive coordinator (Tom Moore), and #1 wide reciever (Marvin Harrison) that he has worked with for his entire career. I have no doubt that he will find a way to help Indy stay competitive regardless, but it’s hard to justify his current drafting position as the 3^rd QB taken in standard drafts (befhind only Brees and Tom Brady). That usually equates to a late 2^nd round pick, which would be far better spent on a solid running back or an elite reciever.

With the trade deadline passing for most leagues last night, the waiver wire takes greater importance as it is now the sole means to upgrade your fantasy roster for a playoff run. Fear not, there are still plenty of options out there, and this week we’ll take a look at 3 viable ones.

Buy: Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks C

Like so many of his Arizona brethren, Montero is far from a household name. He actually began the year as a backup to Chris Snyder, but stepped in when Snyder went down with an injury early in the season. Since then, he has played so well that he continues to start even with Snyder healthy again. In the last month, he has 6 home runs and 21 RBI with a .351 average, all of which rank 2^nd amongst catchers during that span (Joe Mauer ranks first in all 3). He bats behind the surprise fantasy stud Mark Reynolds, so he should continue to get RBI opportunities even in the anemic Diamondbacks lineup. Most importantly, he has sustained a .297 average through 286 at bats for the season, so he has shown consistency despite a sluggish start. If you’re looking for an upgrade at the catcher position, Montero is a solid (and likely available) option.

Sell: David Ortiz, Red Sox DH

Despite his year-long slump, Big Papi is still owned in almost 90% of Yahoo! and ESPN standard leagues and still starts in many of them. Over the last 30 days, Ortiz is batting .206, which lowers his average for the season to .221. While he has recovered from the legendary HR slump he began the season with, the 5 homers he has notched in the last month rank 40^th in the majors, which put him behind such names as Will Venable, Ben Francisco, and Kyle Blanks (all of whom are owned in less than 10% of fantasy leagues). That leaves him with no speed, no batting average, mediocre power and 0 versatility – his DH position can be filled by literally any player. It’s also worth noting that with the acquisitions of Victor Martinez and Casey Kotchman, the Red Sox now have 5 quality bats to fill 3 roster slots (Martinez, Kotchman, Kevin Youkillis, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek for catcher, first base and third base). This increases the likelihood that someone will cut into Big Papi’s DH time as the at bats begin to get more and more crucial in Boston’s pennant race. It’s time to finally fantasy cut ties with the big man for the season, if not beyond.

Hold: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates OF

Several announcers have labeled McCutchen the next Deion Sanders because of the way he almost casually runs faster than anyone on the field. He’s performing more like the next Grady Sizemore, displaying a rare mix of power and speed. While his power may not be on a level with the fantasy elite, Andrew looks like a guy with 20-20 and perhaps 30-30 potential in the coming years. He has already recorded both a 3-steal and 3-home run game, and he has been given a green light to run whenever he wants by manager John Russell.  In the last 30 days, McCutchen ranks 10^th amongst all outfielders in stolen bases, 12^th in runs, 18^th in homers while maintaining a .292 average. That’s pretty good all-around production from a rookie owned in less than half of ESPN and Yahoo! fantasy leagues.  McCutchen ranks as an excellent SB upgrade, but part of what makes him such a great option is the fact that he will be able to contribute in every other category as well, unlike most speed specialists you’ll find on the waiver wire.

As the dust starts to settle after the All-Star break, it’s once again time to re-evaluate Fantasy Baseball rosters and try to squeeze the most value out of every possible position.  In this week’s stock watch, we dig a little deeper to find the less-heralded options to upgrade your roster in time for a late playoff run.

Buy: Gordon Beckham – White Sox SS, 3B

A rare gem find for a fantasy team besieged by injuries or just weighed down with underachievers, Beckham is only owned in about 20% of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues. His versatility is enticing enough for any injury-plagued fantasy roster in particular, but it is his numbers since being called up from AAA in his first season out of the University of Georgia that have been eye-opening, for those few that have turned an eye towards him. Over the last 30 days, his .357 batting average ranks 3^rd among third basemen with at least 50 at bats, and 4^th among shortstops with at least 50 at bats. His 17 RBIs over that span ranks 4^th among third basemen and 2nd among shortstops. While he may not continue to be a multi-position top 5 kind of guy, Beckham has clearly shown he has adapted quickly to the majors, and he is batting in a solid lineup behind Jermaine Dye, Carlos Quentin, and Paul Konerko. Look for him to post steady production as his development continues.

Sell: Matt Wieters – Orioles C

Fantasy baseball nerds across the world have ordained him as the future messiah of fantasy baseball catchers, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the future might not begin this year. He is clearly feeling the pressure of his potential, as his 29 strikeouts and only 9 walks would illustrate. He is still yielding roughly every third start to veteran Greg Zaun, and when he has had opportunities at the plate he hasn’t taken advantage. A .239 average with 10 RBIs through 117 at bats is not what the gurus had in mind for Wieters, but it has been the sad truth of what is a normally a difficult transition for most rookies. With so many everyday catchers on most waiver wires who are out-producing Wieters (Kurt Suzuki, Jason Varitek, Ryan Doumit, and Yadier Molina, to name a few), it’s time to cut ties on him for 2009 and perhaps begin dreaming again of what might lie in store next season.

Hold: Ryan Doumit – Pirates C

If he’s been sitting on your DL, now’s the time to reactivate him. The Pirates offense is somehow still producing, despite the management’s best efforts, and a healthy Ryan Doumit could be exactly the spark the Bucs need to…well, stay mediocre in an increasingly more competitive division. The Pirates may be landlocked for the season, but Doumit can still produce big catcher numbers for the second half. His injury made many fantasy owners give him the axe already (he is unowned in about 40% of Yahoo! and ESPN leagues), but he’s already rebounded strong with 5 RBIs in his last 6 games. He was initially projected by many analysts to be just out of the top 5 catchers this season, and with Soto and Martin not living up to potential, it’s likely he’ll end up cracking the list in the second half. If Ryan is out on your waiver wire and your starting catcher isn’t one of the M-igos (McCann, Mauer, and Martinez), he could be worth a serious look.

In this segment, you’ll see a focus on a buy, sell, and hold player for fantasy baseball. The “buy” player is one whose progress you should be buying into, the “sell” is a player who has seen his best days and is destined for a downturn, and the “hold” is for a player whose current trends match pretty evenly with fantasy market value. Enjoy, and as always, feel free to offer your own thoughts by posting a comment.

BUY

Ricky Romero - Blue Jays SP

Everyone knows about the Jays dominant #1 starter Roy Halladay, but the less heralded third man in in Toronto’s rotation has quietly been producing outstanding numbers. Over his last 6 starts Ricky Romero has accumulated a 4-1 record with a 1.91 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 42.1 innings. His most dominant outings were his most recent, which were against the formidable lineups of the Rays and Phillies. During that 2 game span, Romero has 14 Ks, no earned runs over 15 innings, and a 0.67 WHIP. While it may be unrealistic to expect Ricky to stay this white-hot, he clearly is able to produce against quality opponents and he has shown his ability to consistently pitch 7 innings, which is particularly useful while Toronto closers B.J. Ryan and Scott Downs have been battling injuries.

SELL

Juan Pierre - Dodgers OF

After a red-hot start in which he batted over .400, Pierre has only managed to hit .264 over the last 30 days. He is still stealing bases at a healthy clip – the 11 bases he has stolen in the last month ranks behind only Jacoby Ellsbury and B.J. Upton – but the batting slide along with his complete lack of power makes him a single-category guy. Add to that the fact that Manny Ramirez returns this Friday, and manager Joe Torre has made it clear that Pierre will once again be assuming a backup and spot-start role. A trade would normally seem imminent, but Pierre’s advanced age and hefty price tag (over $20 million for the next 2 years) make him a bit less attractive to any potential suitors.  Pierre seems doomed to fantasy obscurity, only a month after he pleasantly surprised owners with his monster May performance.

HOLD

Tommy Hanson - Braves SP

Any time a rookie can hold the Yankees and Red Sox scoreless in consecutive starts, it’s worth a closer look. Even pitching behind a lineup that is notorious for its low run production, Hanson has led the Braves to victory in all 5 of his first major league appearances so far (though he received a no decision is his first start). He hasn’t show the ridiculous strikeout potential he flashed in AAA earlier in the season (90 Ks in 66.1 innings), but that should pick up as he becomes more confident against big league bats. There has to be a small concern for his ability to win consistently, as he has yet to go more than 6 innings and Atlanta’s bullpen is shaky at best, but this is clearly a man with a talent for getting batters out. The peripheral numbers (ERA, WHIP, BB:K ratio) are all at least acceptable now and should improve as the season progresses.