Set hike... I am so ready for football to kick-off. In the same way Mississippi needs rain, I need football, really bad. I’m ready for some hard hits, long touchdown passes, and Tom Brady. I’m tired of all this off-season drama with Tank Johnson and Pacman Jones in and out of jail…they should play football all year long and stay out of trouble.

I cuddle my football at night and think about the bright Friday night-lights, the exceptional SEC conference and experiencing the Grove at Ole Miss.
That’s the thing, football season means something different for everyone. Some fans don’t go to one game all season, but they love football for the tailgates and the camaraderie. Or there’s the die-hard fan that paints his body and arrives at the gate an hour before they open. There’s something for everyone in the game of football. You don’t have to understand everything about the Xs and Os to appreciate an 80-yard touchdown run. On the high school level everyone loves a great pep-rally and that game-day excitement that gets you out of doing extra math sets.

And I love football because of how it brings people together from all walks of life. You and I may have nothing in common, but Friday or Saturday we’re the same, we’re fans.

What kind of fan are you?

What are you looking forward to this football season? Let us hear from you!

Christi

Hey sports fans sorry for the delay with the post…I was shopping. Seriously, what else is there to do this time of year? Actually we lost power at the house during our big "storm" on Tuesday, so I couldn't post my blog. But what is there to talk about? There aren’t any great sports in season and I can only watch so much baseball. Besides, STATE is out of the College World Series and Oregon State is probably going to win it again… boring. I mean the only thing exciting this week in sports was watching Angel Cabrera from Argentina chain-smoking on the back nine at the U.S. Open…and Winning!

Okay, so the M-Braves clinched the first-half of the season championship or something. What does that mean, right ladies?

So like I was saying, I went shopping the other day and we had a crazy storm roll through and I was left without power for 5 hours. It’s crazy how helpless you are when you don’t have the power to do the things you normally do... I wonder if that’s how Kobe feels.

Regardless, I feel like I’m in a summer daze under a baseball coma…that’s all that is on right now, that and So You Think You Can Dance. People love that show. The only sports story that could possibly compete physically would be watching Carl Edwards do back flips off the side of his stock-car the rest of the year.

Which by they way, Carl is my favorite driver – has been since spring of 2005, his rookie year. I was privileged enough to spend a weekend at Texas motor speedway with him and cover him as a student-reporter from Columbia, Missouri where I went to school and he grew up. I hung out in the “hot” pit with the crew and even got to wheel some tires out. I also became friends with Tom …he’s now known as Carl’s buddy who grew out his beard for 15 months until Carl finally got the checkered flag! That’s my claim to fame. I’m still a super 99 Carl fan (we’re on a first name basis). And Christian has decided to claim him as his driver since his driver in previous years (Kasey Kahne) can’t sniff the top 10! Yeah, I could go on, but I won’t.

So hang tough and fight through this sport drought…go water your lawn or something.

Do It and Be Better,
Christi

So what if the Mississippi State Bulldogs are up against No. 3 national seed North Carolina in their first game of the College World Series? So what if North Carolina was the runner-up in last year’s College World Series championship game. And so what if they have more to play for because they’ve never won an NCAA title? ...STATE wouldn’t have it any other way.

They seem to perform their best when the odds are against them. At the beginning of the season they received the least amount of overall votes from coaches in the Southeastern Conference and they were picked to finish in last place…way behind Ole Miss. Well, look who’s in Omaha now!

Forget the regular season, the postseason is where the magic happens. After the Bulldogs were tied up to an 8 out of 10 losing streak leash they were finally let out for a run. And what a run it has been. They beat No. 6 national seed Florida State twice and then went on to sweep Clemson in the Super Regional. (Insert: “who let the dawgs out?”) I had to do it.

I think it’s time for a great sports story and I think STATE can bring us just that story. The Cavs sure couldn’t bring it to us in the NBA finals. We need a story that will touch the hearts of millions. We need a Cinderella story. Yes, ladies Cinderella…you know how everybody was against her, but she still got the prince…kinda like that. We need an underdog team to win the whole thing… like the MSU Bulldogs!

My prediction: MSU goes all the way! Why? Because their bark is as big as their bite.

Do it and Be Better,

Christi

When the city of Omaha sat down and thought of a way to bring more tourism to their state the familiar saying, “If you build it they will come” must have run through their heads.

In 1948 Rosenblatt Stadium was built in Omaha, and since 1950 the College World Series has been hosted at the infamous ‘Blatt’. The stadium is home to many Championships and memories for teams across the country. Hopefully the Mississippi State Bulldogs can make history with their first championship ever before history is replaced.

Omaha city officials are in talks to build a new multi-million dollar stadium downtown. However, not everyone agrees with the idea. STATE Head Coach Ron Polk who quoted in an Omaha paper saying, "Do I want them to tear it down and go downtown? I'm not going to tell the city of Omaha what to do. Rosenblatt has that uniqueness, and I'd hate to see it go." Coach Polk has coached three different schools to eight College World Series appearances since 1973.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree with trend across the country to tear down old memory-filled stadiums to build bigger, better stadiums? The St. Louis Cardinals did it last year and the New York Yankees are doing it this year. Is Rosenblatt Stadium next? What side are you on, New or Old?

Ladies I hate to say it, but it’s going to be another sports-filled weekend.

Friday, 6:00 PM on ESPN 2 Mississippi State vs. North Carolina
Saturday and Sunday 1:00–7:00 the U.S. Open golf tournament on NBC

Be Better,
Christi

Have you ever looked at your husband or boyfriend and wondered what they were thinking? If you’re like me you ask that question…a lot! I look at Christian and think have aliens taken his mind back to Mars and left me with this person that only says “uh huh” anytime I ask a question? Then I look at the TV and realize he’s under a sports-watching spell.

It’s a battle that I don’t even try to fight. I surrender to the spell and hand over the control, the remote control that is. This weekend is no exception. There are just too many great sporting events to compete with my favorite design makeover shows. If you want to score bonus points and impress your man take notes.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are hosting a Super Regional for the first time at Dudy Noble Field against the Clemson Tigers. The last few years hosting honors have gone to the other school in the state, Ole Miss, but this year the Rebels are traveling to Tempe, Arizona for their Super Regional against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Note: Every team wants to make it to Omaha, Nebraska where the College Baseball World Series is played June 15th – 25th. It's best two out of three games.

Okay this next part is vital to your man’s TV viewing performance. Timing is everything. If you wrote all of these game times down for him he’ll probably think you’re under a spell.

Thursday
8:00PM on ABC – NBA Finals Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs (just say you’re rooting for the Cavs, they’re the underdogs)

Friday
11:00AM on ESPN - Clemson vs. Mississippi State (Say something like, “oh the pitching dual is going to be great in this game.”)

Saturday
11:00AM on ESPN2 - Mississippi State vs. Clemson
8:00PM on ESPNU – Ole Miss vs. Arizona State (Keywords: defense and pitching)

Sunday
12:00PM on ESPN – Mississippi State v. Clemson (if necessary)
6:00PM on ESPN2 – Arizona State vs. Ole Miss
8:00PM on ABC – NBA Finals Game 2 Cavs vs. Spurs

Monday
6:00PM on ESPN2 – Ole Miss vs. Arizona State (if necessary)

In order to understand men and sports, take it day by day. Try to get into the game or just read an US Weekly while you’re watching and pretend to be into the game. Who knows you might just find yourself stuffing your face with pizza and yelling at the TV over a bad call.

Be Better,
Christi

Seriously, what was he thinking? As he was crawling across the infield on his belly what was going through the mind of Mississippi Braves Manager, Phillip Wellman? Did he think he was a mighty brave warrior on the baseball battleground sneaking up on the enemy? It was like watching something from the acting ring of the WWF. He pretends the rosin bag is a grenade as he “bites” off the top and launches it towards the umpire. He actually had good form and great aim.

Well, I’m sure you’ve seen it. How could you not? It’s everywhere! I was first introduced to the clown show when I logged onto Foxnews.com on Saturday and it was plastered on the front of the homepage. It provided a link to youtube.com where you can view the show. As of today, on that site over a million people combined have viewed Wellman turn into Coach Commando.
Like giving kids candy, the media has eaten this story up. It’s been the topic of conversation on syndicated shows such as; Pardon the Interruption, SportsCenter, Around the Horn and even NFL Live. Probably for the first time and last time in his life Pellman was grouped with coaching greats such as Lou Piniella, Ozzie Guillen, and Joe Torre, but it wasn’t for his coaching or any great accomplishment. It was for getting thrown of a baseball game. Recently, all four coaches found themselves recipients of that token phrase, “You’re otta here!”

It’s been great for the Mississippi Braves franchise. They’ve gotten more publicity out of it than any well-thought out public relations campaign. The team is now more well known for it’s mad manager than for the number of players called up to the majors.

As Wellman sits out his three-game suspension I wonder if he’s rethinking his coaching tactics. Now what does he say to a player who loses his cool and throws his helmet and bat after bad at bat? Or maybe he’s thinking of how he can incorporate his crawl and toss exercise into workouts?

Overall I give the performance a 9. He didn’t pick up first base!

If you haven’t viewed Wellman’s melt-down you can find a link to the video on our website directly under our blog image.

State is hosting a Super Duper Regional! Nice.

Be Better,
Christi