Recent content by Keith Parsons

Re: Heisman Trophy finalists announced: Who ya got? Did everyone see where Paul Finebaum said he left RGIII off his ballot because SEC defenses would have never allowed Griffin to put up those type of numbers? Is that really what this has become? Even though his vote is his opinion, this still...

Several years ago after an Atlanta Falcons' preseason game, we're all loading up in the elevator. Tony Siragusa gets on, followed by a dude that weighs maybe 150 pounds. The elevator starts buzzing and Siragusa said to the guy, "Hey, buddy, we're overweight. You're going to have to take the next...

I haven't gone through all the pages or read the entire police report. Still, I'm surprised more hasn't been made (here and in other stories about this) of Roethlisberger purchasing shots and other alcoholic beverages for underage women. The person who reported this was 20, correct? I wonder how...

Longtime reader, first time starting a thread. Ed Shearer, who has served as the prognosticator on Southeastern Conference football for The Associated Press since 1969, is retiring effective Friday. I don't know all the details of Ed's career, but here are a few highlights: He started with the...

Yes, this will be incredibly indulgent, but forgive me, I'm no longer in the business. When I was with the AP in Atlanta, I had a day-broadcast shift that ran from 5 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. (basically rewriting the newspaper wire for radio and TV stations). Just as I was heading out, got a call...

An observation: Anyone else notice how the teams that supposedly press and play fullcourt defense actually don't? I'm thinking of Tennessee and Louisville. Each normally goes for maybe one trap in the backcourt, then falls back to a more conventional D. For the Cardinals, it's a 2-3 zone that...

I didn't read the column/story that started this thread, but I wanted to take the time to give my two cents on the whole "Moneyball" phenomenon. And my views have little or nothing to do with how Billy Beane drafts his players. When this book came out, all the seam-heads I knew were all about...

This is something I always bring up in any Hall of Fame discussion: how did Jim Bunning get in? His career was before my time, so I don't have the advantage of actually seeing him pitch in person. The numbers: 224-184 lifetime record, one 20-win season (his first full year of 1957) and a 3.27...

Zeke and Buck, thanks for enlightening me. I honestly didn't realize that and don't think many others do, either. I wonder why, if the rules were there, no one bothered to enforce them? Interesting. I appreciate the 4-1-1.

I've always had a problem labeling any player from this era a "cheater," even Jose Canseco. As has been mentioned on this thread, there was no baseball rule prohibiting the use of PEDs. Exactly how did they cheat? Yes, it was against the law, but so was driving while intoxicated, spousal abuse...

I don't think anyone would fault Petrino for simply taking a better job, or even a different one. The problem comes when someone has 16 jobs in 20 years (I believe that was posted earlier on this thread, forgive me if the totals are a bit skewed). I was talking with a friend who is the HR...

I never read Thomas' original quotes regarding the Ravens, and never heard about Ray-Ray's response, so apparently my head has been in the sand a bit. Having said that, after his initial statement on the conference call regarding Sean Taylor's death and the personal devastation it brought...

I'll go with Jim O'Connell, the AP College Basketball writer. College hoops always was my favorite sport to cover (most people assumed it was NASCAR), and he was a big help early in my tenure with the AP. He's the kind of guy who goes to the postseason NIT semifinals on one of his off days...

Cranberry gave some wonderful insight on AP life. I spent six years with the company (four in Atlanta and two in Raleigh) and enjoyed nearly every moment. Anyone who has worked an event with Paul Newberry can probably attest to the fun I had in Georgia. I really liked having so many resources...

It reads as if most everyone feels John wrote this blog as "retaliation," or some other form of payback. I read the blog in question and didn't get that vibe at all. Perhaps I missed something. As a columnist, his duty is to report on the news from his perspective. That's all he did here...