Roll 'Bama Roll: FanPosts

Happy Bob Dylan's Birthday Random Ten

2013-05-24T18:12:18Z

Yep, as the title suggests, today Bob Dylan turns 72 years old. He is unquestionably one of the greatest songwriters of our time.

Now, I know some folks can't hardly stomach listening to him sing. I know, because I once was one of you. It wasn't until I was in my early 40's that I began to appreciate the wit and nuance in most of his music. Once I got hooked, though, I ended up collecting all of his works. Some of it I still don't like, but the vast majority is something I can't imagine being without.

All I know is the world of music would be a whole lot poorer without the contributions of Bob Dylan.

Now, here's my Bob Dylan Random Ten.

1. Shake Shake Mama-Together Through Life

2. Ugliest Girl In The World-Down In The Groove

3. Under Your Spell-Knocked Out Loaded

4. Hurricane-Desire

5. What Was It You Wanted-Oh Mercy

6. When You Gonna Wake Up-Slow Train Coming

7. High Water(For Charley Patton)-The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8 Tell-Tale Signs-Rare And Unreleased

8. Queen Jane Approximately-Highway 61 Revisited

9. Drifter's Escape-John Wesley Harding

10. I Shall Be Free No.10-Another Side Of Bob Dylan

And Bonus Track 11. Never Say Goodbye-Planet Waves

via i.telegraph.co.uk

Yep, as the title suggests, today Bob Dylan turns 72 years old. He is unquestionably one of the greatest songwriters of our time.

All I know is the world of music would be a whole lot poorer without the contributions of Bob Dylan.

Now, here's my Bob Dylan Random Ten.

1. Shake Shake Mama-Together Through Life

2. Ugliest Girl In The World-Down In The Groove

3. Under Your Spell-Knocked Out Loaded

4. Hurricane-Desire

5. What Was It You Wanted-Oh Mercy

6. When You Gonna Wake Up-Slow Train Coming

7. High Water(For Charley Patton)-The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8 Tell-Tale Signs-Rare And Unreleased

8. Queen Jane Approximately-Highway 61 Revisited

9. Drifter's Escape-John Wesley Harding

10. I Shall Be Free No.10-Another Side Of Bob Dylan

And Bonus Track 11. Never Say Goodbye-Planet Waves

NCAA® Women’s College World Series® Bracket Challenge

2013-05-23T18:46:49Z

Got this in an email the other day and figured you guys may be interested:

On Monday, May 27, fans will be able to follow the 2013 NCAA® Women’s College World Series® for softball like never before, with an NCAA-sanctioned bracket challenge hosted by official partner Northwestern Mutual.

In the meantime, fans can go here, like the page and register for the challenge. A Grand Prize winner will be randomly selected from among the four highest bracket point totals and will win a $500 online gift certificate to the NCAA Shop, and one additional randomly selected winner will receive a $100 gift card to the NCAA Shop.

The deadline to enter is Thursday, May 30, before 11:00 a.m. CST.

Roll Tide

Got this in an email the other day and figured you guys may be interested:

The deadline to enter is Thursday, May 30, before 11:00 a.m. CST.

Roll Tide

Alabama Gets The Black Bear Off It's Back

2013-05-23T18:07:30Z

Alabama Baseball had a big win this afternoon in an elimination game with Mississippi. It took 10 innings to do it but the Tide prevailed 7-5. To be honest, after falling behind early, and then taking a lead only to lose the lead again it looked like we would fall to a Mississippi team once again (we were swept by both Miss and MSU during the regular season, the only two times we were swept by SEC teams.)

But this time it was Alabama. And this time Mississippi is sent home with a heart breaking loss. Roll Tide.

Alabama Football All-time Greatest Games (Redux)

2013-05-23T03:37:50Z

Greetings, Tide fans. I started to do a little housecleaning of my fanposts, and I found this "little" article I created back in 2010. Since things are so off-seasony right now, I thought I'd throw this back out and see if any of your/our perceptions have changed since then. Basically, I'm just dying for some football, and since we're a long, long way from having any, this is what I can do...remind you of some of our past glory.

Since our national title count is up to fifteen, I'll add these to the list: (14) January 2012, Bama 21, LSU zereaux; and (15) December 2012, Bama 32, UGA 28.

Read on...and Roll Tide.

Memories of this past season still keep me warm at night: Roy Upchurch's annhilation of a Virginia Tech DB on his way across the goal line in the season opener, Trent Richardson's unbelievable TD run versus the Hogs, Rolando McClain's all-everything performance against Kentucky, Mark Ingram's Heisman-winning night against the Gamecocks, Julio's fastest-man-alive TD versus LSU, Greg McElroy's MVP performance vs. the Gators, Marcel Dareus's ownership of the Longhorns, Cody 5, Blocky Stop, the chest bump. 14-0. BCS champs. Perfection.

I own a book some of you may have called Greatest Moments in Alabama Crimson Tide Football History (released in 2002 by The Tuscaloosa News). Obviously, there's nothing in there about this past year's awesomeness. And, although I love the book, it strikes me as odd that it starts with the 1926 Rose Bowl (omitting everything before it) and ends with our 2000 triple-overtimeloss to Michigan (followed by Zow's big win over Auburn in 2001). I just don't understand how a loss can be considered one of the greatest moments in Tide history...or how everything before 1925 could be overlooked (especially Xen Scott's historic win over Penn in 1922).

Anyway, since the University chooses to recognize 13 national titles for the University, I decided I would list what I consider to be our 13 greatest moments on the field. I did not attempt to rank them, so they are presented in chronological order. Knowing our fanbase (especially those here at RBR), I'm guessing there will be a few nominations for games I left off this list, so please feel free to comment and let me know what they are. My top 13 appear after the jump. Enjoy.

(1) 1922, Nov. 4: Alabama 9, Pennsylvania 7 (Philadelphia). As many of you know, Alabama football, and Southern football in general, was considered inferior to the brand played in other parts of the country, particularly the Northeast. Although our first national championship team changed that for good, the landscape had already been altered dramatically by Coach Xen Scott's 1922 squad when they traveled to Philadelphia and beat Penn on their home turf. If you own a copy of Talk of Tide (John Forney and Steve Townsend), you may remember reading an interesting and amusing article with Al Clemens, who played for the Tide that season. Below is my favorite excerpt from that interview:

They (Penn) had an All-American lineman named Thurman. We were going to pretend Thurman didn't exist.

Our game plan was to run right at him. During the game, between the plays, we'd say, "Where's Thurman? We thought he was supposed to be some All-American. When's he going to show up?"

We got him so upset, he slugged our fullback W.C. Baty.

The referee put him out of the game. He was a great player, and we dominated the game after that point.

Clemens also notes that that evening after the game, the team hit the town together with Coach Scott cradling the game ball. People would ask him what he was carrying, and Scott would say, "It's gold, just as good as gold."

Coach Wallace Wade came to Alabama the following year, as Xen Scott was dying of cancer, and Wade would lead the Tide to unprecedented heights soon enough. However, the win over Penn in 1922 was the first signature win for a Southern team against a Northern opponent, and at their place. In Forney's book, he notes that this game was played 'less than 60 years after Appomattox,' which further highlights the importance of this particular game. Like the great Rose Bowl win in 1926, this game meant something, not only to Alabama, but to people all across the South.

(2) 1926, January 1: Alabama 20, Washington 19 (Rose Bowl). This game still exists for many as the biggest in Alabama's history, if not the history of the entire region. It was the first of three for legendary coach Wallace Wade (Alabama's first national title-winning coach and the first nicknamed "Bear"). The 1925 team featured a smart and tough All-American QB in Pooley Hubert and an amazingly fast runner in future screen legend Johnny Mack Brown. Their team had allowed only one score prior to their Rose Bowl matchup with Washington, in a 50-7 victory over Birmingham-Southern College. Nevertheless, Alabama found themselves behind 12-0 at the half. Coach Wade's halftime speech consisted of one statement: "And they told me Southern boys would fight." That 'speech', combined with an injury to Washington's own All-American George Wilson and two missed PAT's by the Huskies, gave Alabama what it needed to mount the comeback and garner the Tide's first ever Rose Bowl victory and Alabama's first ever national championship.

(3) 1930, October 18: Alabama 18, Tennessee 6 (Tuscaloosa). Despite the fondness many of us have for Phillip Doyle's FG to beat the Vols in 1990, this game from Wallace Wade's final season in Tuscaloosa still stands as the Tide's greatest over one of our most hated rivals. Alabama featured All-Americans John Suther and 'Football Freddie' Sington...plus a sometime FG kicker named J.B. 'Ears' Whitworth. This team would emerge as national champions after trouncing Washington State 24-0 in Wade's final game for Alabama, but the win over UT was the biggest of the season. The Volunteers entered the game with an astounding 34-game winning streak, and this would be General Neyland's only loss of the season.

(4) 1935, January 1: Alabama 29, Stanford 13 (Rose Bowl). Frank Thomas's first national championship squad featured the greatest receiver in the history of the game and the greatest coach in the history of the game, the starting end and the 'other end', Don Hutson and Paul 'Bear' Bryant, as well as Riley Smith, Tarzan White, and Dixie Howell, whom famed sportswriter Grantland Rice dubbed 'the human howitzer from Hartford, Alabama' after his breathtaking play in this drubbing of Stanford. A Rose Bowl record 85,000 attended the game and were privileged to witness the greatest passing game yet seen in Pasadena. Hutson caught TD passes from Riley and Howell, who finished the day with 160 yards passing plus 111 on the ground.

(5) 1946, January 1: Alabama 34, USC 14 (Rose Bowl). 93,000 watched Alabama destroy the perception that USC could not lose in the Rose Bowl. The Tide outgained the Trojans 351 to 41 yards in the contest, and both of Southern Cal's scores came in the fourth quarter after Alabama had already sealed the deal. Perhaps the greatest player in Alabama history, Harry Gilmer passed for a mere 59 yards, but added 117 on the ground, in addition to his usual duties at DB and as a return man. Although no Alabama team outshines this one statistically, and they finished the season without a loss, this is not one of the ones that the University numbers among its national title teams. Still, USC was 8-0 in Rose Bowl games before this matchup, and the defeat would be so painful that the Rose Bowl committee decided that their future games would only pit Pacific 10 teams against teams from the Big 10.

(6) 1962, January 1: Alabama 10, Arkansas 3 (Sugar Bowl). Led by its stellar defense (the Tide outscored its opponents 297-25), Alabama finished the regular season with five straight shutouts before heading down to New Orleans to play the Hogs for all the marbles. During the regular season, Bama literally added insult to injury as Darwin Holt leveled Chick Graning with a near-lethal, and possibly illegal, blow to the face. The game would serve as a primary motivator for Bobby Dodd and Bama rival Georgia Tech to leave the SEC. The Tide was led by the late great QB Pat Trammell, as well as Lee Roy Jordan, Billy Neighbors, Bill Oliver, and Mal Moore, to name a few. A Sugar Bowl record 82,910 witnessed the game, and it was Bama's first Sugar Bowl win in three tries. This game gave Coach Bryant his first of six national titles as head coach. Afterward,he claimed that this was "the best team I've been around."

(7) 1966, January 1: Alabama 39, Nebraska 28 (Orange Bowl). Sloan to Perkins was the theme of the first half, and a few completions to Jerry Duncan from his position at tackle led the rules committee to take note of a change it needed to make before the following year. Alabama started the season with a one-point loss to Georgia and ended up with a 7-7 tie with Tennessee after Kenny 'Snake' Stabler spiked the ball on fourth down with the team in field goal range. Still, the third-ranked Tide found itself in national title contention after the first- and second-ranked teams went down earlier that day. Bama rushed for 222 yards, and -- although it led the nation with 290 rushing yards per game -- Nebraska was held to only 145 on the ground...even though it outweighed Alabama's line by 35 pounds per man. After Alabama won a national title the previous year even though it lost its bowl game, the rules committe made sure the voting would happen after the bowls, allowing the Tide to emerge victorious a second straight year.

(8) 1971, November 27: Alabama 31, Auburn 7 (Legion Field). Delbert Reed of The Tuscaloosa News dubbed it 'the most gigantic football game ever played in the South'. Johnny Musso was on crutches for almost three weeks prior to the contest -- he only ended up with 167 yards on 32 carries and two TDs. He also threw a 17-yard pass to Wayne Wheeler. Auburn's Heisman winner, Pat Sullivan, went 14-27 for 121 yards...and two interceptions. Meanwhile, Bama QB Terry Davis went 9-11 for 105 yards and added 43 yards on the ground. All three were outshined by Bama's stiff defense, which held Auburn well below its season averages and handed the Tigers its first loss of the year, giving undefeated Alabama the SEC title.

(9) 1979, January 1: Alabama 14, Penn State 7 (Sugar Bowl). After Alabama fumbled the ball in its own territory in the fourth quarter, Don McNeal made an incredible tackle at the one to set up the greatest play in Alabama history, the Goal Line Stand. Before the play, Bama's Marty Lyons famously told PSU QB Mike Guman, "You better pass." When the Nittany Lions opted to run instead, LB Barry Krauss knocked himself out stopping the play...and earned himself lifelong adoration from Crimson Tide fans.

(10) 1985, November 30: Alabama 25, Auburn 23 (Legion Field). After a beautiful 74-yard scamper by Gene Jelks gave Alabama a fourth-quarter lead, Auburn scored with about a minute to play to go up 23 to 22. The Tide found itself at its own 20 with one timeout and 57 seconds to play. It was just enough, as heroics by Mike Shula and company left Alabama's Van Tiffin 52 yards away from glory. The Kick stands forever as the greatest moment in Iron Bowl history.

(11) 1993, January 1: Alabama 34, Miami 13 (Sugar Bowl). Miami entered the game with a 29-game win streak and dissed our players in the French Quarter and at the coin toss. However, after coaches Stallings and Oliver made Heisman-winning QB Gino Toretta look like a scared child with bookends Copeland and Curry, a fierce linebacking crew, and the greatest defensive backfield Alabama's ever had, the Hurricanes died down quickly. They wouldn't score a single offensvie TD, Alabama would outrush them 267-48, and George Teague would make the greatest non-play in college football history. It was 13 years after Bama's last national title, and it would be 17 years until we would win another, which brings us to...

(12) 2009, December 5: Alabama 32, Florida 13 (SECCG). The second-best team in the country (ranked first) gets crushed by the best team in college football history (ranked second). Greg McElroy goes insane with passes, runs, blocks, and bunny-hops to win the MVP over the so-called 'greatest player in college football history'. Mark Ingram seals the deal on Bama's first Heisman, Marquis Maze runs wild, P.J. Fitzgerald tackles one of the fastest men in America, and the defense shuts down Urban Tebow to capture our first SEC title since 1999 and maintains Alabama as the only team to win at least one conference title each decade since league inception. Oh, yeah...and it sets up...

(13) 2010, January 7: Alabama 37, Texas 21 (BCSNCG). Bama's 13th title against a team it had never beaten. The only team to ever beat 10 bowl teams in a season. The first 14-0 national title winner from the SEC. The only coach to win two BCS titles at different schools. Thank you, Marcel Dareus, Eryk Anders, Javier Arenas, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Butkus winner Rolando McClain, Mount Cody, Leigh Tiffin, Mike Johnson, Julio, CNS, and every member of the greatest team ever. Roll Tide.

Since our national title count is up to fifteen, I'll add these to the list: (14) January 2012, Bama 21, LSU zereaux; and (15) December 2012, Bama 32, UGA 28.

Read on...and Roll Tide.

They (Penn) had an All-American lineman named Thurman. We were going to pretend Thurman didn't exist.

Our game plan was to run right at him. During the game, between the plays, we'd say, "Where's Thurman? We thought he was supposed to be some All-American. When's he going to show up?"

We got him so upset, he slugged our fullback W.C. Baty.

The referee put him out of the game. He was a great player, and we dominated the game after that point.

Women's Golf In Second Place At Half Way Mark

2013-05-23T01:45:48Z

The Alabama Women's golf team is currently at four under par after the first two days of the NCAA Tournament. Four under is good enough for second place at the moment. But the defending champs have a big hill to climb as #1 ranked USC had a record setting day and sits 12 shots ahead of Bama at 16 under.

Now making up a 12 stroke deficit is no easy task. But we are playing a familiar track and we still have two days of competition. If we can cut it down to 6 strokes after tomorrow we still have a good shot at the win. Last year we blew a lead even bigger than 12 strokes. So you know it is possible.

By the way, unlike the men, in the women's championship there is no match play portion. It is just 4 days of stroke play.

Here is a link to a write up: http://www.ncaa.com/news/golf-women/article/2013-05-22/usc-breaks-14-year-old-ncaa-record-12-under-276-day-2-tourney

By the way, unlike the men, in the women's championship there is no match play portion. It is just 4 days of stroke play.

Here is a link to a write up: http://www.ncaa.com/news/golf-women/article/2013-05-22/usc-breaks-14-year-old-ncaa-record-12-under-276-day-2-tourney

Eddie Vanderdoes reportedly not headed to Notre Dame

2013-05-21T13:30:57Z

Remember back on Signing Day when the only drama left for the Alabama Crimson Tide Class of 2013 was where Eddie Vanderdoes was going to sign? Well, the drama is not over.

Even though he signed with the Irish in February, many reports are saying that the 5-star defensive tackle will not be reporting to beautiful downtown South Bend, Indiana to play his college football. The reason is unclear for now but one reporter at MaxPreps who covers the California Bay Area seems to think it is an academic issue.

Vanderdoes was the consensus #1 defensive lineman for 2013. The northern California-native surprised many (including this monkey with a laptop) by choosing Notre Dame over UCLA and Alabama (remember that Signing Day was after the Dames' embarrassing lost to Alabama in the BCSCG and after the whole Manti Te'o invisible girlfriend silliness). Vanderdoes had previously de-committed to Southern Cal.

Much like the Matthew Thomas situation at Florida State, Vanderdoes may have to sit out the upcoming season if Notre Dame does not release him. If it is an academic issue, he may choose to go to a prep school. If this is a change of heart, my thought is he ends up at UCLA.

Remember back on Signing Day when the only drama left for the Alabama Crimson Tide Class of 2013 was where Eddie Vanderdoes was going to sign? Well, the drama is not over.

Poll

What will happen to Eddie Vanderdoes?

Caption Time Again

2013-05-21T02:00:20Z

via cdn3.sbnation.com

Lets see who can do this while keeping it tasteful. I know that these can be played out and well be somewhat boring, but its the off season and basically there is nothing better to do. So, lets hear them boys and girls. Remember, the idea is to be tasteful (LMAO) I know that this will be a challenge since the image is such an easy target. My caption," I told you Aubarn fans I was an upgrade, I have teeth!" Have fun GUMP'N

via cdn3.sbnation.com

Baseball team beats #1 Vandy

2013-05-18T03:49:34Z

Vandy is the #1 Baseball team in the country and they were on a 14 game win streak when Alabama beat them tonight in Nashville 5-4 in 10 innings. I'll let Roger give you the full write up. However this win is huge. Tomorrow we play the rubber game of the series. I think we stand a chance as we almost won on Thursday night. Anyway if you like Bama baseball this is as big a win as we have had in a long time.

I'd Like To Announce That I Am Retiring From the NFL Random 10

2013-05-17T16:52:00Z

I have never gotten the great honor of posting the Random 10 but it's almost noon and nobody else has done it.

And while I have your attention, I'd like to take this moment to announce my retirement from the NFL. I have been a free agent for quite some time and think now is the best time to hang up the ol' cleats.

Here is some retirement music to calm your fears:

1. Fatboy Slim - Going Out Of My Head

2. Chris Rea – Fool If You Think Is Over

3. Grover Washington Jr. - Mister Magic

4. Sugarhill Gang – Rapper's Reprise

5. Pink Floyd - One of These Days

6. Butthole Surfers - The Hurdy Gurdy Man

7. M.I.A. - Paper Planes

8. T.Rex – Children of the Revolution

9. Sugar - Hoover Dam

10. Emerson Lake and Palmer – Still...You Turn Me On

--- --- ---

I have never gotten the great honor of posting the Random 10 but it's almost noon and nobody else has done it.

Here is some retirement music to calm your fears:

1. Fatboy Slim - Going Out Of My Head

2. Chris Rea – Fool If You Think Is Over

3. Grover Washington Jr. - Mister Magic

4. Sugarhill Gang – Rapper's Reprise

5. Pink Floyd - One of These Days

6. Butthole Surfers - The Hurdy Gurdy Man

7. M.I.A. - Paper Planes

8. T.Rex – Children of the Revolution

9. Sugar - Hoover Dam

10. Emerson Lake and Palmer – Still...You Turn Me On

--- --- ---

Life Goes On Random Ten

2013-05-17T16:37:23Z

As I mentioned on last week's R10, I was faced with the heart-wrenching decision to end the suffering of one of my dogs, Sierra. She was diagnosed with kidney failure, and we had little choice but to say goodbye to our beloved companion.

Sierra was a wonderful, sweet dog. She was a somewhat anxious dog, and always seemed to have a concerned, worried expression on her face. She would lie on her dog bed and stare at me intently, seemingly knowing what I was thinking at all times. I miss those stares.

We buried her in our backyard, and covered it with stones. She will not be forgotten.

However much pain it causes to lose an animal, the joy of having had it far outweighs that pain.

Sleep well, dear Sierra.

And on that uplifting note, let us share some tunes...

1. Bruce Springsteen-Because The Night-The Promise

2. Mumford And Sons-Sigh No More-Mumford And Sons

3.Journey-Separate Ways-Greatest Hits

4. Glen Campbell-Galveston-Best Of

5. Vince Gill-It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long-Guitar Slinger

6. George Jones-We Can Make It-Anniversary:Ten Years Of Hits

7. Marvin Gaye-Mercy, Mercy Me(The Ecology)-What's Going On

8. Bob Dylan-Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat-Bootleg Series Vol.4

9. Jim Reeves-The Blizzard-Essential Jim Reeves

10. The Mavericks-Back In Your Arms Again-In Time

And Bonus Track 11-Radiohead-Weird Fishes/Arpeggi-In Rainbows

We buried her in our backyard, and covered it with stones. She will not be forgotten.

However much pain it causes to lose an animal, the joy of having had it far outweighs that pain.

Sleep well, dear Sierra.

And on that uplifting note, let us share some tunes...

1. Bruce Springsteen-Because The Night-The Promise

2. Mumford And Sons-Sigh No More-Mumford And Sons

3.Journey-Separate Ways-Greatest Hits

4. Glen Campbell-Galveston-Best Of

5. Vince Gill-It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long-Guitar Slinger

6. George Jones-We Can Make It-Anniversary:Ten Years Of Hits

7. Marvin Gaye-Mercy, Mercy Me(The Ecology)-What's Going On

8. Bob Dylan-Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat-Bootleg Series Vol.4

9. Jim Reeves-The Blizzard-Essential Jim Reeves

10. The Mavericks-Back In Your Arms Again-In Time

And Bonus Track 11-Radiohead-Weird Fishes/Arpeggi-In Rainbows

Joe Lunardi Has Bama Basketball as a No. 7 seed for the upcoming BB Season

2013-05-16T07:00:00Z

I find it hard to believe so many "bama fans" are selling Grant down the road when an expert has them coming in as a No. 7 seed in the upcoming basketball season. I have followed the bama players from Douglas, Reginald King, Dunn, to Whatley, McKee, Buck Johnson, Sprewell, Horry, Benoit, to Wallace, Mo Williams, and Gee.. I have tracked Newton to Sanderson to his assistant to Gottfried to Grant.. Bama fans who like winning and don't really understand basketball have NO IDEA what they are talking about when they are complaining about the BAMA status of 2013.. they are spoiled with winning football games and don't understand the complexities of basketball today.. please educate yourself first before you start selling your coach down the road.. Bama Fans need to focus on being fans from the beginning of the game to the end.. never stop cheering.. create an environment no SEC team likes to play in.. and, an environment every Bama recruit likes to play in.. and, quite worrying about their arm chair analysis of coaches.. Alabama for being a football state has an outstanding coach.. don't you dare run him off.. look at your cross state neighbor.. whether you know it or not.. you are one basketball coach removed from being a cellar dweller.. quite complaining... be the best fan you can be day in and day out.. and ROLL TIDE!!!!

Rolando McClain Retires from Football at 23

2013-05-15T21:45:41Z

Ro after a 2008 "Petrino" (aka motorcycle accident)

On Wednesday afternoon, Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome announced that he had placed linebacker Rolando McClain on the reserve/retired list.

McClain had signed to a one year $700,000 deal with Baltimore on April 12, but was arrested just 10 days later in his hometown of Decatur , Alabama for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

McClain, no stranger to trouble, was also arrested in December 2011 and charged with third-degree assault, among other charges. In January of this year, he was arrested again after an officer pulled him over for a window tint violation and charges of providing false information. The false ID charge was later dropped and he pled guilty to the tinted windows charge

The former Bama star is due in court on July 9 for his most recent charges. After being selected by the Raiders with the 8th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, McClain recorded 246 tackles (173 solo), 6.5 sacks, one interception, one safety, one forced fumble and 20 passes defended in 41 career games with Oakland. In 2012, McClain was kicked out of a practice and later made some regrettable and premature tweets about his departure from the team.

Baltimore found themselves suddenly thin at middle linebacker after losing linebackers Ray Lewis (retirement), and Dannell Ellerbe (free-agent). Additionally, Jameel McClain is still rehabbing a serious spinal cord injury. It may now all be up to their 2013 second round pick from Kansas State, Arthur Brown.

EDITORIAL: I personally do not understand this move in the latest round of bizarre behavior from McClain. What is he going to do? Go back to Decatur and get in more trouble? McClain would’ve undoubtedly seen the field in Baltimore due to the Ravens' lack of depth. At age 23, this seems like a foolish move unless he is seeking some kind of real help. Here is hoping he gets his act together and makes a comeback in 2014 if not sooner.

McClain had signed to a one year $700,000 deal with Baltimore on April 12, but was arrested just 10 days later in his hometown of Decatur , Alabama for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Poll

What is the future of Rolando McClain?

Yahoo/Forbes Article on (gasp) Why Coach Saban's Salary is a Bargain

2013-05-14T04:14:19Z

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/magic-nick-saban-everyone-wants-alabama-155022258.html

I have to admit that it's nice to hear a reasonable position on this topic from an outside source. The article expounds on the cash pouring into the University because of increased out-of-state student tuition, donations from alumni and naturally, the crazy people (like us) that spend a ton in T-Town. With positive press like this, the recruiting machine is truly being supplemented with solar and wind power.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/magic-nick-saban-everyone-wants-alabama-155022258.html

Help Me Alabama!

2013-05-11T03:15:13Z

So, name the museums that would be cool to see in Alabama. Especially interested in old timey like stuff. Want to bring my wife out for a weekend trip this summer, see Alabama! Old working plantations, cultural centers, walking history tours of cool towns, anywhere that a professor of history and cultural anthropology might say "Hey I can dig that!" If there is a decent Catfish place nearby, all the better.

Cheers,

Mean Bob Mean

Love And Hard Times Random Ten

2013-05-10T17:43:05Z

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=163458800489189&set=a.163459233822479.1073741827.100004752095257&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf

Today is a bittersweet day at Casa de Peabody. I took one of my dogs to the Vet this week, and turns out she's not doing well. The Vet says her kidneys might be shutting down.

Obviously, this is not a good thing. The family has to decide in the next few days what course of action we want to pursue: if no improvement in the next 24 hrs, end her suffering, or bringing her home for a few days to give her a fighting chance.

These things are so difficult. We have already had 3 pets put down over the last 12 years, and let me tell you: It doesn't get any easier. This dog is such a sweetie, but she's 10 yrs old and a very large dog, a Weimaraner. She weighed over 100 lbs at her peak, but is now down to 83 lbs.

I know it's inevitable, but I want to bring her home for a few days, just to say goodbye. She deserves that.

Sorry for the downer. I'm just a softie when it comes to my dogs.

1. Van Morrison-Into The Mystic-Still On Top

2. Deep Purple-Ramshackle Man-The Battle Rages On

3. Robert Plant-Dancing In Heaven-Greatest Hits

4. Johnny Cash-Redemption Day-American VI:Ain't No Grave

5. Waylon Jennings-Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line-Greatest Hits

6. Steve Earle- I Love You Too Much(Live in Raleigh, North Carolina)Copperhead Road(Deluxe Edition)

7. Faces-Stay With Me-A Nod Is As Good As A Wink To A Blind Horse

8.Steely Dan-Babylon Sisters-Best Of

9. Dire Straits-Communique-Communique

10. Paul Simon-Love And Hard Times-So Beautiful Or So What

And Bonus Track 11. Glen Campbell-Honey, Come Back- Best Of