I just arrived at SEC Media Days in Hoover, AL. I’m here with Opelika-Auburn News Sports Editor Mike Szvetitz and Auburn Sports Beat Writer Collin Mickle.
We’re getting all of our stuff set up, then we’ll be bringing you news, video and more from your favorite SEC coaches and athletes.
This year, we’re highlight Auburn sports. Check out our new site AuburnVersus.com for more.
Apparently this news broke yesterday, but I didn’t hear about it until today.
Drew Carey announced (video) on the Late Show with David Letterman that he will be the next host of The Price is Right.
I was an avid Price is Right watcher growing up and in college. When Bobby B. decided to call it quits, I figured PiR would retire along with him. But I have to admit, Drew Carey might be able to fill Barker’s shoes.
Every day most of us get into our 3,000 pound (at least) cars and drive to work, or to the mall or to dinner. We often take for granted the power of these cars, and the damage they can do.
Really, it’s pretty amazing to think that so many people can be on the road at one time, sometimes going 60 or 70 miles per hour, and not run into each other more often. It’s especially amazing to me because I’m so clumsy, I can barely walk around my apartment without bumping into something, and I’ve only been in one car accident (knock on wood).
This morning, my heart started thumping a little faster when I got a call from my girlfriend. She had just gotten into an accident. She sounded alright. Maybe a little anxious, frustrated, shocked.
She was on her way to work, stopped in traffic, when a three cars back, one car rear-ended another car, starting a chain reaction of crashes that involved my girlfriend, who was forced into another car in front of her (that car left the scene).
By the time I got to the scene of the accident, there were at least three police officers on the scene, along with a fire truck and an ambulance.
Fortunately, just about everybody, including my girlfriend, escaped any major injuries. One person was taken to the hospital.
I watched as friends and family members of other people involved in the accident arrived at the scene, cell phones in hand and worried looks on their faces.
I’ve seen this play out many times before.
During my days as a reporter, I had to report on dozens and dozens of accidents. Some of the accidents were horrifying. Death, dismemberment and tragedy were common.
Eventually I learned how to separate myself from it all. I had the perspective of an outsider, trying to piece together the circumstances that caused the accident and the extent of the injuries of those involved. Like somebody stuck in traffic behind the accident, I was disaffected by what had happened. I had a job to do, and somewhere to be.
But today, I was on the inside, with someone I love involved, and my perspective changed.
I thank God today’s accident wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
I thank God professional and courteous Columbus Policemen, Firemen and EMTs responded quickly, acted decisively and compassionately.
I thank God my girlfriend wasn’t hurt.
I thank God almost everybody walked away. I hope and pray the person taken to the hospital makes a full recovery.
Federal grand jury in Virginia indicts Michael Vick
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick today in its investigation of illegal dog fighting.
When most of us think about terrorism in the United States, we think about the big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, etc. being threatened.
Most of us don’t think Columbus is really in the terrorists’ crosshairs.
But there are some folks out there who think the Fountain City could become a target, and it’s getting national attention on NPR’s Morning Edition (audio available in the article, linked below).
Columbus, Ga. Readies for Terror Attack
Morning Edition, July 16, 2007 · The leader of homeland security in Columbus, Ga., discusses the community’s preparedness against terrorist attacks. Lieutenant Randy Robertson, the city’s director of the homeland security, talks with Linda Wertheimer.
It is military appreciation night at the Catfish game at Golden Park.
I have been to a lot of Catfish games since I moved to Columbus, and I have never seen a crowd quite this pumped up.
It is a beautiful night for baseball.
Every now and then my girlfriend and I like to have a glass of wine with dinner after a hard day’s work.
Our wine of choice is usually a brand sold only at Trader Joe’s, a boutique-type grocery store. The closest location is in Atlanta.
So, every time we make a trip up to the big city, we stop at Trader Joe’s and big up a couple bottles (or a case) of Charles Shaw (Wikipedia). It’s affectionately known as “Two Buck Chuck” because it only cost about $2.50 per bottle.
We always thought we were drinking the cheap stuff, and one day, we’d be rich and drink the fancy expensive stuff.
Turns out, we were drinking the good stuff all along.
Check this article out (There’s video, too):
California’s Wine Surprise
The connoisseurs may cringe, the snobs may even sob, but the judges have spoken: California’s best chardonnay costs less than $3.
It’s has been about 3 weeks since I broke my wrist. I went to the doctor today. Apparently I’ll have to keep wearing the “wrist immobilizer“ for three more weeks.
I’m tired of this thing. It gets in the way. It smells funny.
On a somewhat related note, I finally broke down and bought one of those fancy Bluetooth headset things for my cell phone. I realized this was necessary after repeated attempts to drive my car (with a manual transmission) and talk on the phone at the same time. I nearly drove off the side of the road the other day.
Here are the rules I am laying out for myself, so I don’t look like a bigger dork than I already am:
1. No wearing of the Bluetooth when I am not actually talking on the phone.
2. Bluetooth will only be used in situations that require both hands to be free. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to driving, carrying large objects, typing and talking at the same time at work, and doing chores around the house.
3. There will be no Bluetooth usage in public places. This includes, but is not limited to grocery shopping, walking around the mall, or any other situation where an unknowing passerby might think I am actually talking to them rather than somebody on the phone.
I encourage other Bluetooth users to adopt similar rules of usage to prevent rampant dorkiness.
According to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Iraq War protestor Cindy Sheehan will be making a stop in the Fountain City Saturday.
The past few months have been a bit traumatic for me in the mornings.
Since I’m not up early enough to watch News 3 This Morning at 6:00am ET, I usually start my day by watching CNN Headline News’ Robin and Company while I do my various morning chores.
Just over a year ago, I read a column in Entertainment Weekly by Stephen King (I’m assuming this is not the same Stephen King who writes those crazy scary novels, but who knows) who shares my enjoyment of Robin and Company. He sums up the essence of the show far more elegantly than I ever could.
From the column (full text):
I doubt very much if Ms. Meade earns the big Katie Couric bucks, but she runs a four-hour marathon that would probably leave her better-known network counterparts exhausted, and does so with considerable style and panache (not to mention some killer outfits). Of course, the primary order of each day’s business is — for me, at least — to make sure that none of the world’s major cities blew up during the night and that Mr. Bush did not choke to death on his own syntax, thus making Dick Cheney (known in my family as Darth Maul) president. After that, though, I can move on to Ms. Meade and her supporting cast.
But, over the past few months, that supporting cast has been getting smaller and smaller.
Rally Caparas of flightexplorer.com, who used to join the show via telephone to provide updates on air travel across the country started the exodus of “Company” members. I must say his departure did not upset me. He looked like a Steven Segal wannabe and his air travel forecasts were basically a regurgitation of weather forecasts.
I was devasted a few months later when R & Co. entertainment reporter Adrianna Costa announced she was leaving the show.
From King’s column:
I couldn’t care less about the latest Britney Spears item, but I’d gladly listen to pork-belly futures delivered in Adrianna Costa’s breathless, faux–Joan Rivers ‘'Can we talk?‘’ tones. And some of her stories have a Zen strangeness that sticks in the just-waking mind like Velcro. ‘’[Pooh] is 80 years old!‘’ she exclaimed to Robin one morning, after the de rigueur American Idol story. ‘'And he looks so good!‘’
Apparently Costa has moved on the greener pastures. She’s now the host of Fox’s reality show On the Lot.
Then this morning, nerdy sports guy Will Selva announced that he would soon be leaving Robin and Company for some other job. Honestly, I can’t say that I actually care about his departure. He always seemed like the kind of guy who thought his jokes were hilarious, but they’re really not. When nobody laughs, he would just yell the joke, but it still wasn’t funny.
So now, all that’s left Robin Meade, of course, and wacky weather guy Bob Van Dillen. While I think both are a great addition to my morning, lately I’ve found myself browsing around trying to find a new morning crew to keep me company.
Maybe I’ll have to start getting up earlier to watch Tammy and Company on News 3 This Morning.
In the car this morning, I heard a really interesting interview on NPR’s Morning Edition. There’s a link to the audio from the interview in the article I’m linking to below.
Army Ranks See Imbalance in Iraq War Sacrifice
Army Maj. Gen. Mark Hertling, Commander of the 1st Armored Division, which is soon to deploy to Iraq, has two sons who are Army officers and have served in Iraq. Hertling says many in the military are recognizing, if not resenting, a growing imbalance of sacrifice in the war in Iraq.
I have a couple of pretty cool notes to get you started on this Wednesday morning.
First, Miss Georgia Leah Massee has joined our list of bloggers. She’ll be writing about her experiences over the next year, wearing the Miss Georgia crown.
On an unrelated note, I read a very thought-provoking book at my girlfriend’s apartment the other night. It’s called Who Moved My Cheese?. It’s an interesting little story about change and how people adapt to change. The story was particularly interesting to me, as the journalism industry is going through some fairly significant changes lately. The book also provides a fresh perspective on a lot of life’s changes, and how we deal. It’s an easy, two hour read.
Then there’s this story, which is generating a lot of buzz around town:
Suit Claims Bill Heard Recall Unfair and Deceptive
A Columbus-based automobile dealer has come under fire, accused of unfair and deceptive practices.
Finally, our media partners down at the Dothan Eagle have started up a new series of reports called Odd Jobs. So far, the reports are a pretty interesting look at some people who’s jobs are… well… odd.
Do you have an odd job? Leave a comment and I’ll be sure the folks at the Dothan Eagle get your suggestions.
I came across an interesting video on one of the sites I try to check out regularly, BuzzMachine.com.
The video contains a discussion on CNN’s Reliable Sources about the growing popularity of Facebook, not just for young people, but mature audiences as well.
I have to say, I am a Facebooker. I like it a lot more than Myspace. Here’s my badge.
Here’s a couple of cool stories I came across this morning.
Boeing unveils first assembled 787 Dreamliner
Boeing has raised the curtain on its first fully assembled 787 to an audience of thousands who packed into its wide-body assembly plant for the plane’s extravagantly orchestrated premiere.
Spain’s biggest bulls take on Pamplona runners
Spain’s largest fighting bulls lived up to their fearsome reputation, goring two and crushing at least seven people as thousands of daredevils sprinted down narrow streets Sunday in Pamplona’s annual running of the bulls.
New 7 wonders of the world named
The new seven wonders of the world were named Saturday following an online vote that generated server-crushing traffic in its final hours.
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Chris Sweigart |