Sterling Bailey embodies what we strive for...

Image courtesy of accessnorthga.com

With all the negative comments on recruiting and recent problems of kids getting arrested, I have to repost this. Thanks to mountaindewman over on Scout.com's UGA fan boards for sharing this email. As if Sterling Bailey wasn't enough of a beast on the field, he is truly a man among boys off of the field. I'm already proud of this future Dawg!

I don't get into the recruiting fray too much, but I did receive an email forwarded to me about Sterling Bailey. The email is from the Rabun County girls basketball coach to the FCA director at East Hall, which is Sterling Bailey's high school.

Just wanted my fellow dawg posters to see what kind of young man we're getting in Sterling Bailey.
Enjoy.

Jason,

Just wanted to share with you an event that took place Friday night in Rabun County. East Hall and Rabun County were locked in a region battle when something unbelievable happened. A Rabun County player was seriously injured when he landed awkwardly. It quickly became apparent that he had suffered a compound leg fracture. As his family gathered around him, so did his coaching staff as well as East Hall Coach Joe Dix. Several minutes went by as they waited for the paramedics to arrive. As the player grew restless and time seemed to creep by, Sterling Bailey, an East Hall basketball player, walked over and asked the family if he could pray for the injured player. As he knelt down to pray, both teams came together to surround the player and his family. As the crowd began to see what was happening, the packed gym fell silent. You could seriously hear a pin drop. Sterling led hundreds in a prayer that could be heard from anywhere in that huge gym. Even the paramedics, who arrived at the beginning of the prayer, stopped in their tracks and joined in. When he finished praying, the entire gym closed it out with a resounding AMEN followed by an ovation that would make you think someone had hit a game winning shot. The injured player's family embraced Sterling and thanked him for his wonderful and Godly gesture. I had the honor of witnessing this amazing event and will never forget it. I am overjoyed to see our athletes doing exactly what God calls them to do.

I shared this with some of our deacon ministers this morning. One was actually David Baston and he said I needed to share this with you so could share with the rest of the FCA leadership. Blessings!

Gary Gaddy

East Hall Girls Basketball

Jeremiah 29:11

You Wanted It, You Got It

Here at SportsCrack, you could say we are brash, you could say we don't care and you'd be right, but we do have some kind of heart and it shows. After numerous, okay, maybe just a few, requests for a mail bag, here it is. Email me @ mcpeters@sportscrack.com or Matt @ matt@sportscrack.com and get in our heads. We'll be doing this weekly on Thursdays and posting answers on Tuesdays. Keep it juicy and don't worry, we won't hold back.

"So, in closing, I'd like to give big ups to God, Buddha, L. Ron, whoever. Hell, maybe I just need to thank me. If there's one thing I've learned through all my adventures and conquests, it's that some people are just wired for success. I had no choice when it came to being great. I just am great. I'm not trying to sound cocky or full of myself, but Kenny Powers has a sneaking suspicion that no matter what comes his way he will always be great. Because that's just the way shit works sometimes. This has been based on a true story. The motherfuckin' end." - Kenny Powers

What's the Word?

Image Courtesy of georgiadogs.com

It's almost Friday CrackHeadz and National Signing Day is getting closer and closer. Here's the latest from what I can gather for UGA.

Ray Drew, according to Chip Towers of the AJC has reportedly canceled all in home visits this week. Further, Chip reports that Isaiah Crowell will not be visiting Auburn this weekend. Gotta love that news if you're a Dawgs fan!

Drew, by the way, said it was he, not the college teams recruiting him, who canceled all the in-home visits scheduled for this week. Clemson, Auburn and LSU were all due in his Thomasville home this week, but Drew said he asked them not to come.

“I needed this week just to breathe a little bit and clear my mind,” the 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end said. “I didn’t want to talk to any more coaches.”

Drew is going to announce his decision Friday morning at 10 a.m. at Thomas County Central High School. That has required a lot of his time to get ready. Not only has he had to figure out who he’s going to pick — he already knows, by the way — and how he’s going to do it, but he also is having to juggle his academic schedule. He’s having to take one test today that was scheduled for Friday so he can get it out of the way.

“I’m ready to get it out and get it over with,” he said.

Drew offered no hints or intentional deflections were provided by Drew this time. He said will talk about finalists Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU and Miami on Friday. But there will be no hat ceremony, he said. “Only the one I’m going to put on my head when I say where I’m going.

Also, word on the street is that Jeoffrey Pagan has decommitted from Clemson and that Clemson will not be sending scholarship paperwork to either Pagan nor Ray Drew. Even the Clemson insiders over at Scout.com think that Pagan will probably sign with UGA. I'm hearing that UGA staff is visiting both Crowell and John Jenkins this week before the dead period and that at least one UGA staffer will be at the Drew press conference on Friday.

Finally, I'm still hearing things are looking good for the Dawgs with Kent Turene and Antonio Richardson. While Turene remains a USC commit, several experts tend to think UGA has a real shot with him, especially if Pagan commits. Richardson may be a bit of a stretch, but stranger things have happened and if the UGA staff is still on him this hard and this late, there has to be a chance and there has to be room. It's going to be an interesting week for the Dawgs, but look for them to finish strong thanks to excellent recruiting by Coach Bobo, yes Coach Bobo, and Coach Richt. The Dawgs should be looking at a top 3 class by the time all is said and done. It's still great to be a Dawg folks!

TV HOST LIKES TO HAVE A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

Seriously I was just waiting for her to start motorboating. If I didn't flunk Spanish all those years I would interpret what exactly they were saying but it wouldn't be as sexy as just not knowing. You know what I'm saying. Sometimes the mystery of a foreign language while some broad gropes on boobs is something I don't want spoiled by real English words. Oh and by the way a guy would never get away with this shit on camera.

Video via Ebaum's World

PARTY TABLE OF FAIL

How come I never get invited to parties like this? It must be because I tend to strip down and piss on everyone when I get drunk. Apparently I was raised in much more liberal household. Props go out to her finishing the shot by the way. She's marriage material.

Video via Ebaum's World

NOTRE DAME RELEASES OFFICIAL FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR LIST

Taylor Dever-Starting right tackle who's play improved greatly last season. He will again be the starter at right tackle in what should be an excellent line in 2011.

Gary Gray-Top cornerback on the team and a top five corner in the nation. Gray is one of the best tacklers from the corner position and was a huge reason why the Notre Dame defense was so greatly improved in 2010. Should be an eventual starter in the NFL.

Andrew Nuss-Backup to Taylor Dever at offensive tackle. Provides much needed depth and experience for the Irish line.

Mike Ragone-Backup tight end to Tyler Eifert. Ragone has battled injuries since high school but when he plays he is the best blocking tight end. Was a must get since Kyle Rudolph left early for the NFL.

David Ruffer-Finalist for the Lou Groza Award this past season and should be on scholarship in 2011. One could argue that Ruffer was the MVP of the team. A fan favorite even though NBC butchers his name.

Harrison Smith-Starting safety who had an excellent 2010. He has transformed himself into one of the best safeties in the nation. Had a game saving pick vs. USC at the end of the game and also had 3 picks in the bowl game vs. Miami. Named a captain along with Michael Floyd for 2011.

From what I see on paper only offensive lineman Matt Romine and defensive lineman Emeka Nwankwo were not asked back for 5th years. As of now with the 23 incoming recruits and the 5 fifth-years back Notre Dame has a full roster of 85. Notre Dame doesn't "gray-shirt" like the SEC schools do so if they take on anymore recruits before signing day or a transfer like Prestwood from FSU then somebody would have to transfer out of the Notre Dame program who is currently on the scholarship chart. My money on a possible transfer out would be a QB, defensive lineman, or kicker.

RB SAVON HUGGINS ELIMINATES NOTRE DAME, WILL PICK BETWEEN UNC AND RUTGERS TOMORROW

It's starting to look like Notre Dame will not be getting a tailback in this recruiting class with recent news that RB Savon Huggins has eliminated the Irish and will choose between North Carolina and Rutgers tomorrow. Huggins is a definite game changer who reminds me a lot of Knowshon Moreno when he came out of high school. He has the same build, lateral quickness, and speed. He is currently ranked the #7 back in the nation and is the #1 recruit out of New Jersey. Right now if I had to bet on where he lands I think the good money is on home state Rutgers. Head coach Greg Schiano is selling him on the pro-style offense they run and Huggins as his Ray Rice 2.0.

I was hoping Notre Dame would land Huggins because with the graduations of Armando Allen and Robert Hughes they only have Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray with any experience coming back. Wood could have a monster season in 2011 as the feature back and bolt for the NFL. Plus injuries always happen so if there is one position the Irish will be recruiting hard in 2011 it will be tailback. Barry Sanders Jr. is the top target among the juniors.

Here are some of Huggins highlights...

VLADIMIR GUERRERO AN ORIOLE? ME LIKEY

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports the Baltimore Orioles have made free agent Vladimir Guerrero an offer. Supposedly it's a one year deal with a range of $3-5 million. Fuck yeah!

Vlad is coming off another solid season of 29 homers and 100 plus RBI's at Texas. He would be perfect for the Orioles lineup with him as the full-time DH and putting Luke Scott in LF while Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold battle it out for the 4th OF spot.

Check out this lineup if Vlad does sign with the O's:

Brian Roberts, S (2B)
Nick Markakis, L (RF)
Derrek Lee, R (1B)
Vlad Guerrero, R (DH)
Luke Scott, L (LF)
Mark Reynolds, R (3B)
Adam Jones, R (CF)
Matt Wieters, S (C)
J.J. Hardy, R (SS)

Their lineup would have serious pop and a decent balance of lefties, righties, and switch hitters. With the Blue Jays and the Rays both taking serious steps back this offseason it wouldn't be all too shocking to see the Orioles finish 3rd in the AL East. They would at least be exciting to watch from an offensive standpoint.

USC LOSES ANOTHER PLAYER, SNOOP DOGG IS OFFICIALLY NOTRE DAME

The defections keep coming from the USC Trojans football program. Once the sanctions hit you knew players would be jumping ship but now they have lost one of their biggest celebrities in rapper Snoop Dogg. Snoop-a-loop was spotted last night in South Bend with a Michael Floyd jersey and flashing "O" line signs with offensive tackles Mike Golic Jr. and Taylor Dever. By next week expect to see Will Ferrell wearing a Manti Te'o jersey while filming his next movie. Poor USC.

GIL MECHE QUITS BASEBALL, SAYS "I DON'T DESERVE $12 MILLION"

Wait a god damn second. That headline can't be right! There is no way an athlete would just walk away from $12 million.

Actually one did. His name is Gil Meche and instead of reporting to Kansas City Royals spring training in a couple of weeks he has decided to retire and essentially walk away from $12 million guaranteed if he just sat his ass on the bench.

“When I signed my contract, my main goal was to earn it,” Meche told the paper from his temporary home in Lafayette, La. “Once I started to realize I wasn’t earning my money, I felt bad. I was making a crazy amount of money for not even pitching. Honestly, I didn’t feel like I deserved it. I didn’t want to have those feelings again.”

“This isn’t about being a hero — that’s not even close to what it’s about,” Meche said. “It’s just me getting back to a point in my life where I’m comfortable. Making that amount of money from a team that’s already given me over $40 million for my life and for my kids, it just wasn’t the right thing to do.”

Talk about receiving a big ole slice of humble pie. All professional athletes are in fact NOT greedy pricks. I'm not going to lie and say I would do the same thing Meche did. I sure as hell would want the rest of my money because the contract stated it. But Meche isn't a dick like myself. He probably saves kids in Africa and donates money to shelters in his spare time while I sucker punch the homeless and run away with their change. My Durango can't pay for gas itself people.

HT to Dave

FSU'S JORDAN PRESTWOOD TO TRANSFER TO NOTRE DAME?

What is the world coming to when Notre Dame is stealing recruits from FSU? Florida high school kids no less!

The hot rumor going around the forums lately is current FSU early enrollee offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood (committed to ND before signing with FSU) is not happy in Tallahassee and is looking to transfer to Notre Dame in the summer. Prestwood and Notre Dame defensive end Aaron Lynch are good friends and went on the same paths during their recruiting trips. Both committed to Notre Dame last summer only to decommit in October. Both took a couple of days before deciding to go to FSU. As we all know Lynch switched back to Notre Dame right after the US Army All-American Game after he felt he was lied to by FSU coaches. If Prestwood does transfer to Notre Dame he would have to sit out a year due to NCAA regulations regarding transfers.

Another college football story going around is USC Trojan WR Brice Butler is looking to transfer. Butler was a 4 star recruit coming out of Georgia who has never blossomed into the star he was made out to be. Since USC is on probation Butler can transfer and not have to sit out a year. It's looking like Georgia or FSU could get Butler. The Bulldogs could use Butler immediately with the departure of AJ Green to the draft.