Man in the Hat media

Believe it or not, this recession/depression is a blessing in disguise. You ask how is this so? People are losing their jobs, homes are foreclosing, the auto industry is failing, Wall Street has tanked. How is this possibly good? I'll explain. An epidemic has been going on since the 1990s. Before that time, we worked hard, were the leaders in innovation, and where seen as the place to go to get out of the international ghetto. Now, we have competition in China, Russia, and even Brazil's export economy system. What went wrong? Simple. We have become complacent, lazy, and spoiled while our competitors have passed us by in job, innovation, and prominence. We need this to toughen up and rediscover our American tenacity and grit; The traits that got us to the top in the first place. A little story. I remember planting trees in the yard with my father, and he fell in the hole we were digging because, well, he is a little clumsy. Being a wide-eyed 16-year old, I asked why he did not

It has been one hell of a season. From the quick rise and fall of East Carolina, the Ohio State-So Cal blowout, the run by Penn State, barnburner games in the Big 12 south (Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech), the "who wants to win this" scenario of the ACC, the firings of some big name coaches (Fulmer, Tubberville, Bowden, Croom), the increased hatred of the BCS system, and, let's not forget, the unforgettable moments. Heck, even Ball State looked good this year! Even I had a good year picking the games this year, going 156-56...netting a correct pick percentage of roughly 73%. Now it is time for the Bowls (yipee?) Some look good (So Cal vs Penn State, OK State vs Oregon, Boise State vs TCU, Oklahoma vs Florida) and some not so good (Northern Illinois vs La. Tech, Buffalo vs UConn, Central Michigan vs FAU) while the rest I feel pretty neutral about. Let's see how I do...did I mention we are up to 35 of these things! Eagle Bank Bowl: Navy over Wake Forest (A

I'm pretty sure all are aware that the Florida Gators have a QB by the name of Tim Tebow . The guy is a specimen: 6-foot-2, 240 lbs...can run over LBs, and complete passes, while running the spread option offense. He is also a humanitarian, a humble Christian, and a seemingly squeaky clean guy...and I couldn't be sicker of him. I'm sick about hearing about how great he is on and off the field..with every announcer and color commentator (mostly on CBS) prepared to get on their knees and give him what they think he needs. I've come to the conclusion that he is a pure system QB that couldn't function in a pro-style offense. The guy has a horrible throw that will get picked off in the next level: A long wind up, and unbalanced base, and a sidearm wobbler that can be picked off by even the worst pro-DBs. The guy is a fullback playing QB, and FB is where I expect him to be in the pros. A guy his style will not translate to the NFL. Also, this whole "perfect angel&quo

Another crazy week, and another fun week of college football. The bowl picture is shaping up, and the National Title contestants will be decided this week with the Big 12 and SEC title games. I went 12-5 last week, going 0-2 in headline games. I did pick the Georgia Tech win over Georgia though. Other conference champs will be decided this week. Since it is finals week, I'll just be making picks, because I have got to study. SEC Title Game I'll take Alabama over Florida. DT Terrence Cody has a big game clogging the middle, and John Parker Wilson uses Julio Jones a lot. Tebow plays well for Florida, but Alabama wins a close one. 'Bama heads to the title game, while the Gators head to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. Alabama 24 Florida 21 BIG 12 Title Game No contest here. Oklahoma will roll Missouri. QB Sam Bradford, WR Joquin Iglesias, and RB Demarco Murray all have a huge games. Mizzou QB Chase Daniels will be ineffective, and the Tigers weak D gets dominated. Strangely eno

Well, I had a rough week. My headliners I went 0-2 as GT spanked Miami and Oklahoma blew TT out of the water. One good thing came out of it, I figured out the ACC title picture. For Florida State to hold onto their 1st place Atlantic standing: Their destiny is out of their hands, and it all depends on the Boston College Maryland game. If Maryland wins, they tie FSU with the 'Noles holding the tie-break, and FSU goes to the ACC title game. If BC wins, they tie FSU, and the Eagles hold the tie break and go to the title game. Now, for Georgia Tech to hold onto their 1st place Coastal position, they also depend on another game, since they play Georgia this week. 2nd place Miami is out even with a win over NC State, since the Jackets hold the tie-break. The key is the VT-UVA game. If Virginia wins, the Jackets go to the title game, and if the Hokies win, then they hold the tie-break over the Jackets and they head to the ACC title game. Got a heahache yet? Wait till you see the picks thi

I guess last week can be considered the craziest week so far. Houston beat Tulsa 70-30, the Gators beat USC by 50, and Troy almost beat LSU. And, apparently no one wants to win the ACC, while the SEC is locked up for a bout between Alabama and aforementioned Florida. This week, I'm changing it up a little bit after going 12-6 last week. The SEC, as already stated, is locked up, but the ACC is still up in the air, and the national perspective is taking president. This week, I'll be looking at Miami vs Georgia Tech and Texas Tech vs Oklahoma. @ #23 Hurricanes (7-3, 4-2) The Hurricanes took control of first place in their division last week with a 16-14 win over last year's winner Virginia Tech. QB Robert Marve wasn't spectacular throwing 7-for-16 121 yards, but he also didn't turn the ball over. Marve did do some damage on the ground, to the tune of 44 yards on 14 carries, as did back Graig Cooper 52-yard, 15 carry performance. Kicker Matt Boscher was the player of

As football season gets into high gear for the home stretch, basketball is beginning, and prepping the nation for the Madness in March. In this post, I'll pick conference winners, my Final Four, and preview South Carolina, Clemson, and Georgia. First, our local Universities (Clemson, USC, Georgia) Clemson Tigers The Tigers were a game away from winning the ACC Tournament last year, as they lost to North Carolina in the finals. They went 24-10 last season. They then went on to the tournament, before getting knocked out by Villanova in the first round. Attrition The team loses James Mays, Cliff Hammonds, and Sam Perry, along with a walk on or two. Returning and Newcomers The Tigers return at guard K.C. Rivers, Demontez Stitt-who takes over the point vacated by Hammonds-, Zavier Anderson, and sharpshooting Terrence Oglesby. At forward, Clemson has a giant hole to fill in place of Mays, and Devin Booker looks to do so. Aiding are Raymond Sykes and David Potter. Look for fresh faces and

Where did I come from? Where am I going? The latter has plagued the minds of all college students as they prepare to cross the threshold from fun loving college to the harsh, grim reality of what is so eloquently dubbed, “The Real World.” But what about the first? Some believe we came from a higher power, a God, Intelligent Design; others have pondered that we merely stumbled to where we are today through years upon years of evolution; from prehistoric muck and ooze to the business suit. And the two sides have been in a heated debate since, well, the dawn of the thinking man. Now, the debate has crawled itself into the classrooms, each trying to influence and lobby what should and shouldn’t be taught to their beloved children. The religious believe that it is not feasible to assume that we, humans, just came from monkeys through millions of years of evolution, while the secular and atheistic hypothesize that it is illogical to thin

One thing I love to do in my spare down time over the summer is go fishing. Between working, catching up with people I haven’t seen, and sleeping, to me, there is just nothing more relaxing than kicking back in a chair (or in a John boat), casting out a line, and watching the day go by. I usually don’t catch many, if any, because truth be told, I’m a lousy fisherman. But the best part is I have a friend out there with me stinking it up to. And by stink, I mean he reels them in. But for the past year, I haven’t touched a rod. You see since 2001, our country has been at war in both Afghanistan , and later in Iraq . For the majority of that time, the country has been split on if the war is just or not. But something has been lost in that debate, the solders fighting the war. I’ve had teachers, adult friends, and friends of friends be sent off to war, most of which came back. But last year, my fishing buddy, who signed up for the Army right out of high sch

The BCS is out, and a loss here hurts. Teams have now widdled their way either up to par, or out of contention. The SEC Title game is set with Alabama from the West and Florida from the East, while the ACC divisions are still up for grabs. Iowa had the upset of the week as they took down Penn State, and the door is still open for teams like Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and Southern Cal to get to the title game. The weeks are counting down. Let's play week 12. VS #3 Gators (8-1, 6-1) Florida is coming off an administered beat down on Vanderbilt. Again, their special teams came through and set the game off. QB Tim Tebow, although isn't having a career year compared to last year, is going strong this year. WR Percy Harvin is as explosive as ever, and newcomers like Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps bring explosiveness to an already fast offense. On defense, end, and SC native, Carlos Dunlap is a force to be reckoned with, and linebacker Brandon Spikes is having an ALL-SEC season. Safeties

Happy Post election day. Congratulations to Barack Obama and best of luck. You're going to need it. Now, how bout Texas Tech upsetting Texas, and Florida railing Georgia. Even Clemson came up and bit the BC Eagles. I went 13-3 last week, how will I do this week? * Rankings are according to the BCS for the week of Nov. 2 VS #1 Crimson Tide (9-0, 5-0) The Tide are coming off a tune up game where they shut out Arkansas State 35-0. John Parker Wilson is doing a good job of managing games and finding wideouts Julio Jones and Mike McCoy, and tight end Travis McCall. The Tide are still based on the ground, with Glenn Coffee and Mark Engram carrying the load. Defense, they Tide get back massive DT Terrence Cody, and linebackers Rolando McClain, Brandon Fanney, and Donta Hightower, corner Javier Arenas lead a tough defense. #16 Tigers aka Bayou Bengals (6-2, 3-2) The Tigers are also coming off a tune up, as they beat up Tulane 35-10. The dual QB system with Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch

The Big 10 is a conference loaded with college football tradition. Teams like Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State garner images of past greatness. But recently, the conference has become the whipping boy of the power conferences known as the Big 12 and SEC. Now, computers and people have realized that maybe the BIG 10 can't hang with these guys. Well, there is a way for the Big 10 (11) to remain relevant, competitive, and be considered for a National Title berth every season. They have to add a 12th team and instill a conference title game. There are a few teams that the Big 10 could recruit; Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Connecticut, almost any team from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Navy, Army, or Notre Dame. All the teams mentioned are geographically relevant, and teams like Navy and Army bring tradition, and Notre Dame brings its Big 10 rivalries. Pitt reminds me of a Big 10 team, heavy on the run, hold the pass, while a team like Syracuse, UConn, and the MAC teams bring the new wave

Hello again. The Report has taken down the fences, reopened the gates, and is back open for another week of college football picks. Last week was extremely hectic, and I figured since USC and Clemson took bye weeks, why can't I? I did watch NCAA football, and boy, was I ever impressed with Texas Tech, the LSU/Georgia game, and my biggest question is, how many blocks will Florida get this week? Also, Georgia Tech got beat by Virginia of all teams, and FSU put the hammer to the Hokies. Overall, I went 11-5, bringing my season total to 107-38 (not to bad if I say so myself). It is a new week, and I'm re-energized for some picks. This week, we have dueling Florida/Georgia matches, as the Gators take on the Bulldogs, and the Yellow Jackets take on the Seminoles. VS #5 Gators (6-1, 4-1) Florida is coming off a blowout 63-5 victory over Kentucky. Their offense is putting up 42 points/game on 196 yards rushing and 241 yards passing. Heisman winning QB Tim Tebow (104-for-164, 1,415 yar

Well, I had an amazing week going 12-4, including both big picks--LSU over South Carolina and Boston College topped Virginia Tech. Well, this week will be a little different. Being in school, I have gotten slammed this week with school work, so there won't be any big picks this week but, in honor of the BCS coming out this week, I will give the 2nd annual Lake Report Mid-Season Top 25. Lake Reports' Top 25 1-Texas Longhorns 2-Alabama Crimson Tide 3-Penn State Nittany Lions 4-LSU Tigers 5-Oklahoma Sooners 6-Florida Gators 7-Southern California Trojans 8-Oklahoma State Cowboys 9-Georgia Bulldogs 10-Missouri Tigers 11-Texas Tech Red Raiders 12-Boise State Broncos 13-Ohio State Buckeyes 14-Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 15-Brigham Young Cougars 16-Utah Utes 17-Texas Christian Horned Frogs 18-South Florida Bulls 19-Michigan State Spartans 20-Kansas Jayhawks 21-Tulsa Golden Hurricanes 22-Northwestern Wildcats 23-Vanderbilt Commodores 24-Boston College Eagles 25-Ball State Cardinals Pick

You know what I really like? Flare and showmanship. What could possibly be better? Moving speeches, big ideas with little follow through, unanswered questions that appear to be answered. What more could we ask for with Presidential candidates? How about some substance? How about actual follow through and mapped out plans of how to fix the economic crisis? How about an actual plan of action on Iraq and Afghanistan ? How about healthcare reform that doesn’t have the words ‘universal’ and ‘healthcare’ in the same paragraph? How about a simple answered question? Okay, so maybe I don’t like flare and showmanship. So sue me, I like substance with my choice of President. This is a major issue facing the moderate, undecided voter in America . It isn’t the economy, the war, healthcare, immigration. Nope, it is actual substance in regards to those issues. Today, the game of politics has become a simple equation of being as vague as possibl

How bout those Longhorns knocking off Oklahoma? How bout Miss. State coming up and biting the Vanderbilt Commodores in the butts? How bout the Tarheels taking down the Fighting Irish? And did I mention the firings of Auburn coordinator Tony Franklin, and Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden? And they ask why college football is so addictive. Upsets occur every week, and this coming week will probably do the same. Headliners this week are South Carolina vs LSU in the SEC, and Virginia Tech vs Boston College in the ACC. It is Tigers for Cocks, and a rematch of the ACC Title game last season. As TO says, "Get your popcorn ready." VS Gamecocks (5-2, 2-2) South Carolina is coming off a 24-17 come from behind win over the Kentucky Wildcats. A drive that was led by freshman QB Stephen Garcia (23-for-35, 300 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT), who gets his first career start this week (much to the chagrin of the Carolina faithful). Garcia will lead an offense that is still finding itself with Kenny Mc