Catch of the Day.

HOOK:

“Vacancies.”

I have already discussed some of the other vacancies over the weekend, but today Mike London of UVA resigned and USC hired Clay Helton.  These are significant moves.  With UVA, you have a school where academics do make it a little tougher to build Stanford #2, but they have been good before, they have the DC area to pull from, and it can be done.  VA Tech, who has been stealing in state recruits for the last 20 years, is relatively weak right now.  This is a good job for someone.

With USC, mad props for this internal hire.  Instead of feeling like they need a big name for big impact, they took a guy there since 2010, who has multiple instances of being interim head coach, and gave him the keys to the city.  He is well regarded and well loved at USC.  After many hiccups by Pat Haden over the years, this is a solid hire.

LINE:

“Move.”

Kobe is one of the best ever, no doubt about it.  But the franchise he returned to prominence he has been bringing down for the last 3 years with his salary, his shots, his injuries, and his ego.  Thanks for announcing you are stepping aside after this year (should be sooner).  It gives Russell and Randle fresh air that they can actually shoot next season, and allows L.A. to be a player for free agents like Durant, where they can PROMISE players they can be the next face of the Lakers.  You are painful to watch this season, Kobe.  Move.

SINKER:

“NFL.”

The Steelers not only have more injury problems with Ben, but now will not control their own destiny.  Not good.  The Seahawks might have lost Jimmy Graham, which changes things.  The Pats lost to a team in Denver that made a spot for itself again at the Contenders Table (Why the HELL was Kobe on the front page of ESPN this morning instead of the Broncos?????).  Denver can deal with the QB issue at another time, but they are for real as a team.  And Gronk is hurt for the Pats, which changes things if long term.  The Cardinals won on what might have been the longest, slowest QB scramble you will see, and they are for real.  Other games I already commented on.  After the amount of football I watched this weekend, I don’t think Lindsey will get a fight from me for the tube tonight for the epic battle that is Baltimore vs. Cleveland (both with different QB’s now).  Cleveland wins an ugly game…23-17.  I will most likely NOT watch this game.

That’s all for today.  Talk to you tomorrow.  Peace.