It looks like the rain has turned into a wintry mix here at the Athens HQ of GRH. Winter Olympics are on in the background with a little bit of work getting done on the side. If you're interested in the weather, Brian and I will be keeping tabs on it all day so check us out on twitter @GRHuddle. Meanwhile, if you're in the affected area, stay warm and safe. Now this week's Brain Droppings...
1) Why Even Try Rest of the Country? - Last week was National Signing Day for football players. I had a discussion with a friend the other night about whether or not all of this gets blown out of proportion and the easy answer is yes but with as much money is on the line for these major programs and the instant access of social media, don't expect it to change any time soon. College football may be in danger of becoming like MLB though where the rich continue to get richer. For instance, UGA had ESPN's 9th ranked incoming class. That was good enough for 7th best in the SEC. Think about that for a second. I understand that the number of stars doesn't always matter but I'll take my chances with more 4 and 5 stars than I will with 1 or 2 stars. Additionally, recruiting rankings are a far cry from what they were a few years ago. People have a lot more information on kids. Busts still happen but it looks to me like the top of the SEC continues to distance itself from most other top programs.
2) When Won't It Matter? - Michael Sam, Co-SEC defensive player of the year, came out to the nation this week. It's a brave move even though we all know it shouldn't matter. However, homophobia is still prevalent in society and nowhere is it more so than in professional locker rooms. The machismo that remains there makes this a story and a gamble for Mr. Sam. His teammates in Missouri accepted him it seems and rightfully so, but will his professional teammates be as progressive. Unfortunately, my guess is no. Maybe not directly, but I'm sure he will have to deal with some passive aggressive behavior and that may start with his draft status. He's got a new fan in me though.
3) Where Were You? - 24 years ago tonight, as an 11 year old I had a friend over to spend the night. We watched Buster Douglas KO the seemingly unbeatable Mike Tyson. It's funny how I still remember and how big of a deal that was. For our younger readers, you should go back and watch early Tyson. He was a beast. I know you know him as that guy with the face tattoo from The Hangover but he was a bad man before venturing into cannibalism. Buster Douglas, on the other hand, is really only remembered for this one fight. He was certainly not the same fighter afterwards but will always be remembered for this upset.
4) Who Cares? - The Winter Olympics are in full swing and the stories out of Sochi are intriguing to me. Unfortunately, I'm not sure anyone else cares. I enjoy getting to watch sports that are different. These really are some amazing athletes that don't get much recognition. Can you imagine flying down a mountain as tall as 3 Empire State buildings on skis at 86 mph? Or jumping a 100 feet in the air and landing perfectly? Or barreling down a chute made of ice with nothing but a lycra suit to protect you? If you're a true sports fan, you'll find reasons to watch, not only these sports but others that are often neglected. You'll find some of these athletes can still make your jaw drop.
5) How About That? - I want to end today by giving a shout out to Brian, the other half of GRH. I've been behind on a lot of this lately due to some things going on with me but he's kept the site buzzing. We've chatted and have some good ideas for the future of GRH with more interviews and some new content but things probably would've floundered without him holding it together right now. So, thanks Brian.
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