Finding Fatherhood
Take my advice, please: Children, spend as much time as you can with your fathers, and fathers, spend as much time as you can with your children.
The Slate
Ohio State President Gordon Gee offended members of his own conference (Big Ten), Catholics and the SEC for starters, and he sent out a long list of apologies. Stay classy.
Do the Right Thing, IOC
Last week the International Olympic Committee selected wrestling, softball/baseball (combined bid) and squash as sports for its short list of those to include in the 2020 Olympic Games. It dropped wrestling from the 2020 games in February, but now it has one final shot to make the games.
Jackson Showboats Ready for Year Two
Jackson Showboats owner and general manager Grant Worsley is excited about the future of the Showboats.
Jackson State Tigers Baseball
The Jackson State University Tigers finished the SWAC baseball regular season as Eastern Division champions, setting up for what could be the "Battle of the Tigers" at the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament this weekend.
The Slate
While you were (probably) sleeping Sunday night, someone made sports history. Do you know who? Answer at the bottom of the Slate.
Off to the College World Series
The field for the 2013 College World Series was announced Monday morning. Our state is well represented with three teams in the field. It was almost four teams, but Southern Miss' 10-inning loss to Rice in the C-USA title game ended that dream.
The Slate
Oxbow won the 138th Preakness Stakes to kill Orb's hopes of a Triple Crown this year. Orb was doomed before the race, drawing the first post and having to run in traffic.
Battle to be the Best Conference
Maybe it is the college football playoff starting in 2014, or maybe it is because the Southeastern Conference raided the Big-12 to add Missouri and Texas A&M. Whatever the reason, football coaches in the Big-12 are taking shots at the SEC.
Millsaps Baseball Team
Millsaps has been on a roll this baseball season. The Majors won the Southern Athletic Association regular season title and earned the number-one seed in the Southern Athletic Association Baseball Tournament.
Ferriss Trophy Finalists
Mississippi nearly always has an abundance of college baseball talent. Each year the best college baseball player is awarded the C Spire Ferriss Trophy at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
The Slate
Two retirements last week will give their competitors a reason to exhale. Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement from Manchester United should send joy throughout European soccer and Ronde Barber's retirement gives hope to NFC South quarterbacks.
Beating the Heat
While everyone wonders what kind of series the Chicago Bulls could have given the Miami Heat with all healthy players, I wonder if any team left in the playoffs can beat the Heat.
Eduardo Cruz, Victor France and Tom Gavin
On Monday, April 29, the Mississippi Brilla announced they had added three members of the national-championship winning Belhaven Blazers soccer team.
The Slate
The biggest sports story last week was NBA player Jason Collins' announcement that he is gay in an article in Sports Illustrated article. Collins appeared in 38 NBA games last season with the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.
Living Up to the Clichés
Overused phrases and cliches run rampant in sports today. For instance, how often is the word "elite" thrown around when discussing quarterbacks?
Number-One Fan
This Sunday, we take time to honor our mothers. One day a year can't possibly do justice to the work of a mother, but it does give us one day a year to spend doing what mom wants.
The Slate
Something you are going to hear a lot over the next few weeks: We haven’t seen a Triple Crown winner in horse racing in 35 years. Another phrase you will hear a bunch is “Lord Stanley’s Cup.”
At Long Last
Finally, there will be a playoff in college football in 2014. No more wanting, wishing or hoping. The BCS is done after the 2013-14 season is completed.
Among Olympians
Recently, I attended an event at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, which showed off renovations and expansion of the Olympic Room at the museum.
Joseph LeBeau & Rico Richardson
Over the next three days (starting tonight, April 25, with the first round) the NFL will hold its annual amateur draft. Two Jackson State Tigers are hoping to hear their names called before the draft ends.
The Slate
The NFL Draft starts Thursday and ends Saturday and 254 college football players' dreams will come true when they hear their name announced. The waiting will be the hardest part for some players.
Scouting the Picks
Nearly every NFL team will probably feel good about themselves after the final pick of the 2013 NFL Draft is announced.
Fixing Defense in the Draft
The New Orleans Saints should focus on two things during the 2013 NFL Draft: their defense and their offensive line.
The Slate
The NBA Playoffs start Saturday, but the schedule is not out, yet, so we don't have any NBA games on the Slate this week. Expect some hockey, soccer, baseball and more this week, folks.
Sports Grab Bag
No one single topic monopolized my attention this week, so, once again, here are my thoughts from all around the sports world.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson wanted to run the Warrior Dash last year, the first year the event was held in Jackson, but waited too long to sign up. This year, on April 20, he and two of his co-workers will run the Warrior Dash together.
Bulldogs and Rebels
It has been nearly 10 years since two of the biggest rivals in this state played each other on Thanksgiving night. Mississippi State versus Ole Miss was a staple on Thanksgiving evening from 1998 to 2003.
The Slate
The sports world is starting to hit its annual summer slowdown. College basketball is over, the NBA and NHL are playoff-bound and the NFL will go dark after the draft.
Getting Paid or Really Hurt
The National Football League might have found its way to win the concussion lawsuit that more than 4,000 former players have brought against the league.
Yee-Haw!
Horses for Handicapped, now celebrating its 32nd year, is usually in April at the fairgrounds.
Wayne Brent
Jackson State wasted no time selecting a new coach when Tevester Anderson retired after 10 years of leading the Tigers basketball program. JSU announced last week that the school selected Jacksonian Wayne Brent to replace Anderson.
The Slate
This is one of my favorite weekends in sports and entertainment. WrestleMania is sandwiched between the Final Four and national championship games.
Last Cinderella at the Ball
Florida Gulf Coast's flameout against Florida leaves Wichita State as the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament's only Cinderella team. The Shockers lived up to their nickname when they shocked Ohio State in the West Regional Final.
Mind Over Muscles
Jarrett Becks began studying martial arts when he was 5 years old. He started with Tae-Kwon-do and moved on to other styles throughout the years.
Mississippi Brilla Returning Players
For Mississippi Brilla, this season--the team's seventh--will mostly be one of change, but four veteran players will be back as well.
The Slate
Ole Miss fans will wonder what might have been for the rest of this week and years to come after the way they lost to La Salle.
The Madness So Far
This year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has reached the Sweet Sixteen. We've seen some entertaining games the first weekend, including some surprises no one expected.
Squat, Press, Jerk
Over the last 30 years or so, fitness training has changed a lot. These days, fitness fiends have more ways than ever to get into shape.
Mississippians in the Madness
The madness of March begins today with the open round of the NCAA Tournament set to start shortly before noon.
The Slate
One of the best sporting events starts Thursday with the opening round (now the second round after the play-in games) of the NCAA Tournament. Chances of a perfect bracket are nine-quintillion to one.
Debate in a Fighting World
If you missed it, the big news last week comes from a mixed martial arts fighter, Fallon Fox, whose license to fight in the state of Florida under review. Fox is the first openly transgender fighter in the MMA sport.
Rebels Going Dancing
Ole Miss finally broke through under head coach Andy Kennedy. The Rebels earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament after winning the SEC Tournament for the first time since 1981.
Fred Thomas
Mississippi State University won its opening round game of the SEC Tournament with a 70-59 victory over the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Slate
Looking for perhaps the biggest underdog to root for in the NCAA Tournament? Take a look at the Big South tournament champs Liberty Flames who have a 15-20 record.
Rick Ray
Mississippi State head basketball coach Rick Ray called out the talking heads after the Bulldogs defeated Auburn 74-71 in overtime.
Howell and Gillom Trophy Finalists
Earlier this week, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced the three finalists for the Howell and Gillom Trophies.
Cowboys and Cutting Horses
Watching a highly trained cutting horse with "cow sense" is an athletic event on par with few equine sports.
The Slate
The NFL Scouting Combine has been called the "Underwear Olympics" by some of the media and former NFL players. It's a good place to see potential starts that could be drafted in April.
Big Dance Hopes
College basketball has been filled with crazy upsets this February, but the real fun begins this Friday when the calendar turns to March. The NCAA Tournament will be the major focus for teams on the bubble across the nation.