Ok so I was driving up 280 last week sometime and I saw a pick-up truck gaining on me rather quickly in my rear view mirror. Now normally I wouldn't have paid this any attention, but as I'd just hit a little patch of traffic and could not get over to let the speed demon pass, he was stuck behind me. Mind you I was stuck behind a 18 wheeler and next to a car that looked as if they set their cruise control and wasn't trying to speed up or slow down.

Anyway, this goes on for several minutes and when I finally get where I can speed up to get over, the speed demon behind jumps in the right lane and tries to speed around me to jump in front of me before he runs into the car that was a quarter-length ahead of me on the right. Now obviously he gets stuck again till I pass the car. But in the process the freakin IDIOT looks me square in the eyes and shoots me a bird. Normally I would have turned and cursed his stupid behind out (yeah I have a little road rage from time to time), but for some reason I was in a rather good and I just turned and laughed at him. That only seem to make him angrier, since he jumped back over behind me and began to ride my bumper. So be the a** that I can be from time to time I slowed to the pace of the car that was cruising to the side of me. So as I drive the next six miles doing about 60 mph and laughing my a** off, the idiot behind me continues to ride my bumper. I was tempted to slam on my brakes but I didn't feel like 1) Dealing with all the mess that comes with having and reporting an accident and 2) beating somebody's a**.

So I finally speed up so the idiot can pass and he does and as he passes he flips me off and again and by this time I laughing hysterically as flies by and speeds off right into a speed trap that a state trooper had set up just over the hill we were going up.

Umm don't look now but there's an undefeated team on the Auburn campus and no it's not the swimming and diving team. The Auburn Women's basketball team is quietly 10-0 and truly flying under the radar - on campus that is. With all the hype surrounding the "resignation" - firing or whatever it is of Tommy Tuberville, and the disappointment of the football season that wasn't (Glad that debacle is over), the women have jumped out to a great start on their season and are ranked 11 behind perennial SEC power Tennessee. (Who by the way has lost a game already).

On a side note the men are 4-4, just in case anyone was wondering. (Doubt it seriously though) Back to the women though, they could quite possibly be the lone bright spot on The Plains this year (08-09 season that is). Well I take that back aside from the always stellar swimming and diving teams, the women could actually make a run in the NCAA tournament if they can hold strong through a brutal SEC Conference schedule. A schedule that could possibly include five ranked teams by the time they play them. (Tennessee and Vandy are already ranked and Florida, Georgia, Miss St. all received votes in this weeks poll.)

While I don't think the women have a chance to go undefeated (Not a knock on them, the SEC is just always tough), they do have a chance to have an excellent season which could provide some solace for the lackluster fall we had on the plains. Now I know what you're saying... there's no way basketball, let alone womens basketball, can make up for a disappointing football season, but it does provide us with an opportunity to rally around a winning squad. Not only that, it'd be nice for an Auburn basketball team to do well for change.

SO here's to the Auburn Women's Basketball team whose band-wagon I'm officially jumping on. See you at the games.

Ahhh... All is right in the football world again. Those cocky Bama fans, that have been absent or in hiding for the past 8 years or so have finally shut their mouths about being back and quite frankly I'm rather glad.
Now normally I wouldn't revel in Florida beating someone, but boy are you glad they did?!!!! Go Gators! Now that is the last time you'll hear or see me right that, so I hope all you Gator fans are happy. While I'm not a fan of Florida or Alabama for that fact, I am a fan of the SEC and love it when teams from the conference make the other BCS (something I like to call Beautiful Collection of... you can use your imagination for the last word) conferences look like the fraud they are. But I digress. While it's definitely been a down year for the SEC as a conference, only because we beat up on one another week in and week out, we still ended up with the two best teams in the nation playing for the conference championship.
Now while I really hate to admit it Bama had an excellent year, but as I tried to explain to my cousin (whom I refer to from hence forth as The Bama Fan), they were running into a buzz saw that was the Florida Gators. Now he didn't want to hear that like most Bama fans I talked to didn't, but oh well, the proof is in the pudding. I even called him after the game after he'd texted me 12x during it(it stopped in the fourth quarter) to talk about the game, like we do after every game that Auburn/Alabama plays and he didn't want to hear nothing I had to say. Typical... no seriously though, he was upset and didn't want to hear the obvious that Florida, minus Percy Harvin(their best player), beat them and covered the spread. I was calling to gloat or to rub it in because we (Auburn) have no room to talk, but I'm just saying if we gone chop it up like we always do, don't get mad cause I'm pointing out the obvious. Like he did the entire season about every game Auburn loss. I didn't get mad, hell I even agreed 95 percent of the time.
Anyway, I just glad Florida CHOMPED that ass and I don't have hear "We're Back" or we're gonna win the National Championship. I really don't think I could have taken that for an entire year. But hey at least they're going to the Sugar Bowl and could possibly win another mythical National Championship if Oklahoma can beat Florida(NOT!!!!) and Texas losses to Ohio State (WHO SHOULD NOT BE IN A BCS BOWL!!!!!!), then the AP just might vote them #1 again.

Normally I'm not a political person, scratch that, I'm not really political in my blog. I will however talk politics with you face to face all day if you like. Anyway, since we are on the eve of the most historic election in U.S. history, I felt compelled to let you know why I vote.

Now I'm not here to tell you who to vote for or why you should vote for one candidate over the other, but if you'd like to know I'm voting for and why you're more than welcome to email me or hit me up on facebook. Now while I want tell you who to vote for, if you're still undecided or on the fence, I’ve compiled a list of candidate websites(local and national), as well as state and federal voting info sites as well the candidates sites on social networking site at the end of this post.

Now back to my original thought as to why I vote. First off, because I have the right to vote. Simple in nature but my right as an African American came at a heavy price to many. Now I know what some of you are thinking, "He's about to get on his soap box..." and you're right. (So for those that don't want to read my entire spill, scroll to the bottom and check out some of those sites so you can make and informed decision tomorrow.)
I heard someone say earlier this year, that most blacks didn't know or care about why Martin Luther King Jr. birthday is a federal holiday. Obviously he thought I missed his comment and the other party in the room quickly ushered the conversation to another topic as I made my way into the room.

Contrary to that statement I do know why and understand and it's large part of why I do vote. He and many others like him were beaten and hosed and denied rights given to them by the 14th and 15th amendments to the US Constitution. Rights that because of America's violent and racist history were being trampled on. NO I'M NOT PLAYING THE RACE CARD!!!! Only stated the facts about the denial of blacks the right to vote and other civil liberties throughout America's history. If it was racist what was it?

If there weren't a race problem, there wouldn't have been a need for four Civil Rights Acts to be passed as legislation in 11 years. Yes four started with the 1957 Civil Rights Act which created the Civil Rights Division within the Department of Justice and the Commission on Civil Rights and gave the Attorney General was given authority to intervene in and institute lawsuits seeking injunctive relief against violations of the 15th Amendment.

Then there's the 1964 Civil Rights Act - It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Then the one that ensured that I have the right to vote was the 1965 Voting Rights act. (No explanation needed)And finally the 1968 Civil Rights Act which is basically the fair housing act.

Ok so I just grazed over these acts, but if you want to see what all of them did visit the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division page.

But the 1965 Voting Rights, that's the coup de gras for me. That's the reason I vote and take my vote seriously. The scores of people black and white who marched and protested and bucked the system so I could exercise a right that was already given to me by the constitution is why I take voting seriously.
People like Medgar Evers who was gunned down in his driveway. People like Andrew Goodman, Michael Shwerner and James Chaney who were shot, burned and then dumped in while working to register black voters in Mississippi. People like Viola Liuzzo who was killed in what was basically a drive by while transporting people back and forth during the Selma to Montgomery March. People like Denise McNair, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Addie Mae Collins who died in the 1963 bombing of 16th Baptist Street Church.

People like my uncle and mother-in-law and scores of kids like them that were arrested and held for staging and participating in a massive walk out. People like the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, who survived several attacks on his life.

People like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy who were all gunned down because of their roles in the Civil Rights Movement.

That's why I vote, because somebody was willing to lay down their life for me to have the right to say who I think should or should be president, vice-president, mayor, governor, city council person, etc... Because somebody thought I was important enough to have all the rights that are bestowed a natural born citizen of the United States.

That's why I vote, because if it was that important to them I would be dishonoring their memory by not voting. NOW THAT'S WHY I VOTE!
Like I said earlier, we're on the eve of the most important and historic election in my fairly brief lifetime and I hope, now I implore you to go out and exercise your right to decided who's going to lead the country the for the next four years. Again I'm not telling you to vote for JUST VOTE!

Site to see where to go and vote and get a sample ballot:

alabamavotes.gov

voteforchange.com

johnmccain.com/gotv


Presidential Candidates Sites:

John McCain

Barack Obama


Senate

Jeff Sessions/a>

Vivian Davis Figures

US Congress Representative 3rd District

Joshua Segall

Mike Rogers

US Congress Representative 2nd District

Bobby Bright

Jay Love

Social Networking

Alabama SOS on Facebook

Barack Obama on Facebook

John McCain on Facebook

So I was reading one of msn sports blogs a little while ago and it had its Top 10 upset alert specials for the week and guess what game was number 1. Yeah Auburn at Vandy. I'm not gonna go into the details of the article if you want to read it you can go here. Auburn being on the upset watch isn't why I'm writing this blurb, it's the comments on the post that I got a chuckle out of. One in particularly from Mr. Kudzu that went a little something like this...

"The only way Auburn will win is if their defense and special teams put the points on the board. Auburns new bend over, SPREAD you cheeks and grab you ankles could not outscore squat. Heads should role at Auburn for waiting the defense they have this year by saddling them with such a pathetic offence."

If it weren't true I'd be upset, but I'm just saying, the new bend over, SPREAD you[r] cheeks and grab you[r] ankles line cracked me up. (Note: You will see this again in a post, article or something I write.)
Think about it though, if it weren't for the defense Auburn would be 1-4 right now instead of 4-1. (Yeah you can send all comments on that statement to me via snail mail or just fill out the comment form to the right.) If you don't believe me look at the number of points the offense has actually score this season.

Against La Monroe they offense actually scored 20 (14 if you take away the Wes Byrum field goals). The defense scored a TD and Robert Dunn scored on a punt return. So let's start a running total - that's 14. Then there's Southern Miss... The offense scored 21 of the 27 points, but they left another 21-28 points on the field. Two fumbles inside Southern Miss' 20, an INT on their own 25 and another fumble... but I digress. So 14+21 is 35 points. Then there's Miss State. I'm not going into that let's just add the points up. 14+21+3=38 points. Then LSU came to town and the offense scored...14 points, which is amazing considering how good LSU's defense played that game. I won't go into how many times wide outs were wide open down the field or the two interceptions that were thrown, (I guess I lied), but let's see. 38+14 is 52 points in four games.

Then there's Tennessee, again let's not talk about that one let's just add the 7 points the offense scored to the 52 and that's a grand total of 59 points in 5 games by the offense. Add in the 21 from defense and special teams and that's a total of 73 points. Now to put that in perspective, Vandy's offense has scored 91 points in four games. Hell they scored 38 points in one game.

So what's my point right? If Auburn had say... a defense that played like Arkansas' who has given up 152 points, force only 5 turnovers and is dead last in opponents 3rd down conversions in four games, then they'd definitely be 1-4.

But Auburn doesn't and that's why they're 4-1, in spite of the new bend over, SPREAD you cheeks and grab you ankles offense. I know, I know, I know, it takes time to learn all the intricacies of a new offensive scheme, but damn, you're six games in and still struggle!!!!! Kudo's to the defense and the effort they put in every week, because they sure as hell deserve it. And when the coaches are handing out team awards, all of them should go to the defense. ALL OF THE!!!!!

Auburn's new bend over, SPREAD you cheeks and grab you ankles offense. HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!

I know I shouldn't revel in someone else’s misery, but I really love to see USC lose. Not because I dislike them, but because they play in a less than stellar conference and are the media darlings. They went from being ranked #3 to #1 ahead of Georgia because they beat Virginia 52-7. SO they beat Virginia (1-2) who as it turns out is the worst team in the ACC. Then they beat an OVERRATED OHIO STATE team (who struggled to beat tiny Ohio University 26-14) 35-3. I'm just saying, they haven't played anyone.

So the mighty USC goes into Corvallis, Oregon, to take on the unimpressive Beavers of Oregon State. A team that was blown out by Penn State and that also lost to woeful Stanford AND LOSE!!!!! Can you see the smile on my face? Now normally I wouldn't devote an entire post to a Pac 10 team, but I would be remised if I didn't point out some glaring issue I saw with "The Best Team" in the nation.

USC's dominate, stingy defense (adjectives used by the media) gave up 186 rushing yards to 5-6, 185 lbs true freshman running back. Now I don't know about you, but giving up 186 yards on the ground doesn't seem very dominate or stingy does it?

And what about that potent, high-powered USC offense? (Rhetorical question of course) They only manage to gain 6 first down and 21 points against an OSU defense that has given up 88 points in its three prior games. Even with that, what about their Heisman Trophy candidate QB Mark Sanchez hmmm... cracking under pressure. Don't get me wrong I like Mark's game, I think he's a better QB than the two previous USC Abs Matt Leinart and John David Booty, but when it counted (in this game at least) he didn't rise to the occasion. Partly because OSU's defense just whipped his offensive line and partly because he looked flustered the entire game.

Now just four weeks into the season the great college football debate begins... who's going to play in the National Championship game. I couldn't begin to predict who's going to play in the national championship game, but I do know that after an abysmal performance against OSU it had better not be USC. Why? Three words... Weak conference opponents.

Ok so I'm a little delusional, everyone knows that if there's any chance for the media to get their darlings in a position to play for the National Championship it's going to happen. If you don't believe me, just look and see where they're ranked next week. I can bet they're still in the Top 10. But if you ask me they shouldn't be ranked any hire than the team from the Big Ten (#12 Penn State) that beat OSU.

Ahhh... now that that's out of my system, congrats to Oregon State they play a heck of a game and beat, not held on as one of the commentators said, USC from beginning to end. Now all I need is for Georgia to beat Alabama and Mississippi State to beat LSU and I'll be having 'The Best Week Ever'...

I'm sorry, but who the hell are the voters in the AP Poll? First Alabama goes from un-raked to 13 after beating a suspect Clemson team. Now they go from 13 to 11 after barely getting by Tulane. Yeah I know the score says 20-6 and it looks like they may have dominated the game but I watched the playback yesterday and they looked like Clemson did the first game, pitiful and discombobulated.
Okay Alabama jumping like that has me bugging, but Texas jumping over Auburn (from 10-8) in the polls after beating FAU and UTEP? Give me a FREAKING BREAK! (Yah, I didn't use profanity. Are you guys proud of me?) I'm just saying man, what are the pollsters smoking and how can you justify both Alabama's and Texas' rise after playing not so stellar competition. (Yeah I know Clemson is in the ACC, but if you ask me the ACC is looking like the Big Ten.) They did get one team right, East Carolina makes their entrance into the poll at 13 after beating both Virginia Tech and West Virginia, who if you ask me are teams of a higher caliber than any team in the Top 10 has played. (That's including Auburn.)
If I were voting my Top 25 would look something like this:

Rk Team
1 Georgia
2 Florida
3 USC
4 Oklahoma
5 LSU
6 East Carolina
7 Missouri
8 Auburn
9 Texas
10 Ohio State
11 Wisconsin
12 California
13 Kansas
14 West Virginia
15 Penn State
16 Oregon
17 Alabama
18 Brigham Young
19 Arizona State
20 Wake Forest
21 Fresno State
22 South Florida
23 Utah
24 Illinois
25 Texas Tech

Now to explain my poll, I have Georgia ranked 1 because that's where they start and I don't think USC beating a retooled Virginia team is reason enough to have them jump Georgia. I have Florida second because in both there outings the look like the better team when compared to USC. East Carolina is sixth because well they've beaten two very good football teams and deserve it. (Yeah I know some of you are saying both Va Tech and West Virginia are over rated, but they are the class of their respective conferences.) The rest of the poll is pretty self-explanatory though, the only hesitation I had was ranking Fresno State and Wake Forrest.

Just in case you want to see what has me perplexed here's this weeks AP Top 25 Poll.

Rk Team Prev
1 USC (33) 1
2 Georgia (23) 2
3 Oklahoma (2) 4
4 Florida (4) 5
5 Ohio State (1) 3
6 Missouri (6) 6
7 LSU (1) 7
8 Texas 10
9 Auburn 9
10 Wisconsin 11
11 Alabama 13
12 Texas Tech 12
13 Kansas 14
14 East Carolina 27
15 Arizona State 15
16 Oregon 18
17 Penn State 19
18 Brigham Young 15
19 South Florida 17
20 Wake Forest 20
21 Fresno State 21
22 Utah 22
23 California 28
24 Illinois 24
25 West Virginia 8