Meyer, Liar; Did Retire (Sorta)

There is something extremely disingenuous about a person doing something for one reason and then making another decision that completely contradicts their first action. It’s quite another thing to go back on the original choice less than a year later. Of course, I’m talking about former Florida football coach Urban Meyer.


While in Gainesville, Meyer won two national championships (2006 & 2008), dominated the Southeastern Conference and had a pretty good record with a damn good quarterback, but you already know all of this. When Urban retired from the Gators at the end of last season, he said it was due to his poor health caused by the stress of his job and so he could spend more time with his wife and kids.

Instead, he joined the “Mother Ship” of sportscasting and became a color commentator for ESPN, traveling across the country every week calling college games. Now, being a sportscaster myself I can assure you the stresses of this job are nothing compared to that of a Division I football coach. However, the travel and time needed to do this at a high level can take away from that precious family time. That immediately made me question Coach Meyer’s truthfulness in retiring.

Yesterday it was announced that Urban Meyer would be the new head coach of the program formerly known as THE Ohio State University. Meyer had denied ever speaking with the Buckeyes in the weeks leading up to this announcement but everyone knew it to be true. Why? Cause once he put on a headset everyone knew he wasn’t quitting football for good and it certainly wasn’t to be with his family.
So the question now is, why did he leave Gainesville and a conference that is still the best in Division I football? Was it that he knew he could not win with Tim Tebow gone? Did he begin to lose his recruiting touch with the rise of Auburn and Alabama again? Did he see what was happening at Auburn with Cam Newton and decided to get the hell out of dodge before something bigger about Newton’s time at Florida came out? Or was it simply because he wanted an excuse to leave Florida and wait until another prolific program opened its doors?

Let’s be honest, if Meyer had stayed at Florida one more year and Jim Tressel was still dismissed from OSU, everyone would have pegged Urban to replace him. The guy is an Ohio native and was a Buckeyes assistant in the late ‘80s. At Utah he was Chris Peterson before there was a Chris Peterson. Nobody would have blamed him if he left the Swamp for the Horseshoe, nobody. Instead we question his methods and I, personally, have lost a lot of respect for what was a great man and still is a great coach.

Maybe I’m wrong. The guy is a miracle worker after all: He built the Utes into a BCS Buster, he birthed Tim Tebow, and apparently, he’s even cured all his stress related illnesses and watched his kids grow up just a year. Even that is impressive.

 
 
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2011 CMA Predictions: The Greatest Music Show Not Named the Grammy's

So with all the terrible things happening in the world, I'm reminded of one of the better things in life: music. With music we can tell a story that reaches everyone and can change your mood for the better. And no style does that better than Country music. Tonight, the Country Music Association Awards will be showcased on ABC and I personally cannot wait to watch! Not only because it's some of the greatest musical talent there is, but also to gauge how much I still think I know about the industry with my picks:

Musical Event of the Year:
Nominees: As She's Walking Away (Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson); Coal Miner's Daughter (Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert); Don't You Wanna Stay (Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson); Old Alabama (Brad Paisley featuring Alabama); You and Tequila (Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter)
Last Year's Winner: Hillbilly Bone (Blake Shelton ft. Trace Adkins)
Who Will Win? While "Coal Miner's Daughter" is an iconic song in the industry sung by three insanely big stars (including the original artist), and Zac Brown had arguably their biggest popularity year, Brad Paisley featuring Alabama will take this. You have a fun song that incorporates some great old-school rythym and guitar with probably the best guitarist in the business into a hit number one. Awesome stuff.

Song of the Year:
Nominees: Colder Weather - Zac Brown Band, Dirt Road Anthem - Brantley Gilbert & Colt Ford, If I Die Young - Kimberly Perry, Mean - Taylor Swift, You and Tequila - Matraca Berg & Deana Carter
Last Year's Winner: The House That Built Me
Who Will Win? Now, it is important to note this is an award based on song writing and not performance (hence why Jason Aldean is not listed with Dirt Road Anthem). Dirt Road Anthem is a career defining song for Aldean, but since it isn't up for Single of the Year he won't win. "If I Die Young" catapulted The Band Perry to new found fame and will not only win this award, but others tonight.

Album of the Year:
Nominees: All About Tonight - Blake Shelton, My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean, Speak Now - Taylor Swift, This Is Country Music - Brad Paisley, You Get What You Give - Zac Brown Band
Last Year's Winner: Revolution - Miranda Lambert
Who Will Win? Honestly, this will probably be the award I'm most disappointed in as a fan (a.k.a a guy). All of these albums were amazing in terms of the amount of hit songs produced from them. But only one has helped to keep a world-wide phenom at the top. Taylor Swift has the music world in a choke hold and although I will be upset if/when she accepts this award, it rightfully does belong to her.

Single of the Year:
Nominees: A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans, Colder Weather - Zac Brown Band, Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean w/ Kelly Clarkson, Honey Bee - Blake Shelton, If I Die Young - The Band Perry
Last Year's Winner: Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
Who Will Win? At this point, my buddy Goose has stopped reading because I once again am not picking ZBB. Blake Shelton had a great feel good up-tempo love song that was dominant this year. But Blake is also established in the industry. When a song takes you from "one-hit wonder" to "legitimate act" and gets you a gig opening for legend Alan Jackson, you got a special single. The Band Perry wins.

Vocal Duo of the Year:
Nominees: The Civil Wars, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia, Sugarland, Thompson Square
Last Year's Winner: Sugarland
Who Will Win? Well, they didn't really do much over the past year in terms of song output, but Kristian Bush and Jennifer Neddles were at the center of one of the most painful events of the summer when a stage at a state fair they were performing at, collapsed killing multiple people. That will have little to do with the award but hearing their acceptance speech will be very emotional given the circumstance.

Vocal Group of the Year:
Nominees: The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Zac Brown Band
Last Year's Winner: Lady Antebellum
Who Will Win? Sometimes, in categories like this, I think the association just puts in groups to fill it up. The Band Perry has had a phenomenal year as already mentioned. Rascal Flatts is a powerhouse group that gets better every year. Little Big Town still has yet to become that "headline" act despite having almost a 10 year career. Lady A has been to vocal groups what Taylor Swift has been to solo artists, amazing. That being said, this is when the Zac Brown Band gets their due. They are an amazing group that blends old-time country meaning and music with new-age lyrics and tempo. It will not be long before they are nominated for, and win, multiple Entertainer of the Year awards.

New Artist of the Year:
Nominees: The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Thompson Square, Chris Young
Last Year's Winner: The Zac Brown Band
Who Will Win? This is the category that I can never understand. True country music fans will understand because only two of these artists are actually "new". Luke, Eric and Chris have been around for a few years (Chris Young won the original Nashville Star back in 2007). That being said, Luke has add a tremendous year and I will be holding on to my bias in rooting hard for him. Don't be surprised if Eric Church adds an award to his resume. Both are awesome but I'm rooting for the ACM New Artist of the Year in Luke Bryan.

Male Vocalist of the Year:
Nominees: Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban
Last Year's Winner: Blake Shelton
Who Will Win? It is no secret that I absolutely LOVE Kenny and he still is the best concert I've seen (saw him twice this year). He took a summer off last year which cost him quite a view awards including his reign as Entertainer of the Year. Keith is a great talent in both vocals and instrumentals but he's been on the back burner aside from the song "Without You". Blake once again had a great year professionally and personally while Brad is still the best SHOW I've ever seen. All that fails to match the year Jason Aldean had. If Taylor Swift did not have the year she did, he would win Album of the Year as well. This is a nice consolation though.

Female Vocalist of the Year:
Nominees: Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood
Last Year's Winner: Miranda Lambert
Who Will Win? Well the Champ has a great chance to repeat this year considering the career of her husband and herself were mirrors of one another. Sara had a strong showing but just one song, while Martina and Carrie continued to be the icons they are. However, with all the love I gave Taylor earlier, it should not be a surprise that she captures this title along with the previous honor.

Entertainer of the Year:
Nominees: Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban
Last Year's Winner: Brad Paisley
Who Will Win? Last year, Brad proved that it takes more than catchy songs and a good voice to be a true Entertainer knocking off Kenny. This year, Chesney isn't even nominated. For me it comes down to the Titan of Pop-Country in T-Swift and not the Male Vocalist of the Year in Mr. Aldean, but Mr. Miranda Lambert. Blake has come a long way since his mullet and cowboy hat singing songs like "The Baby" but he has always kept the edge you heard in "Ol' Red". This past year he matched that with some heart-felt love songs and a great showing on the hit TV program "The Voice". Though I have not seen his concert in about four years, and wasn't impressed, he has become very entertaining and very deserving as this year's Country King.



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Richard Childress Proves, Again, that NASCAR is Built on Family

So I know it's been a while since something has come out of the fryer, but there have been a lot of other things on my mind lately. Family is something incredibly important and when you lose a piece of that it's a wound that Neosporin and a Band-aid won't easily fix. That being said, here is your newest deep-fried musing; centered around family.

In February of 2001 at Daytona International Speedway, race fans saw one of the greatest things in the sport happen. Dale Earnhardt, Sr., in his patented black #3 Cheverloet, was blocking the other drivers from passing him on the final lap of the Daytona 500. More amazing was that in front of him were his teammate and good friend Michael Waltrip and his son, Dale Jr. The man was giving up himself to let his friend and family fight for the greatest prize in NASCAR. Ultimately, the Intimidator gave up everything in a horrific crash in turn 3 on the final lap that claimed his life.

Still one of the saddest moments in history, it was only appropriate that the #3 be retired from the sport even it was only ceremoniously.

On Friday, Richard Childress (owner of Richard Childress Racing, a powerhouse in NASCAR) announced the #3 car would be back full-time on the Nationwide circuit for the first time since that fateful February evening next season with his grandson, Austin Dillon behind the wheel. Now before you go claiming Richard is using his stature in the sport to unearth the most well-known figure in NASCAR, or that the #3 should never be driven again, check this out.

In an ESPN article, Childress explained that his grandson has been racing in the Craftsman Truck Series (and dominating it) with the #3 plastered on the side and Dillon intends on moving up to NASCAR's "minor leagues" next season. He also made it a point to speak with Junior about seeing someone else drive a car with his fathers number.

"He has used the 3 predominantly throughout his career, and I for one am excited to know he'll be running it at the next level," said Earnhardt. "He's a sharp kid with a lot of potential. The respect he shows the sport and his competitors is a reflection of the family values that has molded him into the person he is today."


Family is something that runs deeper in NASCAR than any other sport in the country. It's such an important fiber in every racer, whether blood is shared or not. As evidenced by the reaction to Dan Wheldon's tragic death at Las Vegas a couple weeks ago.

It should also be noted that Childress drove the #3 for five seasons before Dale, Sr. made it famous. And has he notes towards the end of the piece, "I know (Earnhardt) would be proud."

He absolutely would. Not because of who is driving the #3, but because of why. It's a family thing. They said blood is thicker than water. In NASCAR, it's thicker than oil too. So go get 'em Dillon. Do that #3, and your family proud, like we know you all will.



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