A Carolina "Blue" Day...

Everyone knew it was coming. There really was no other choice. But the "what could have been" still looms gigantically large nevertheless. The Tarheels' Ty Lawson and Dwayne Ellington declared for the NBA draft today, thus ending their North Carolina basketball careers as well as any national title talks in Chapel Hill at least for now. Lawson will most certainly be a first round selection, but the jury is still out on Ellington as far as that initial round is concerned. Regardless of when they are selected, they both will have long, lucrative, and successful pro careers. It was indeed time for them to go. But there could have been another banner in the rafters of the Dean Dome next year if they had chosen to finish out their college careers. Ah, the things dreams are made of.

Bill Bonds: Courage, Character, and Class

The Central Georgia area suffered big loss on Sunday. We lost a dynamic man by the name of Bill Bonds. Although he was a football coach "by calling", he could have been rightfully addressed as a senator: the Honorable Bill Bonds. For he truly was a man of honor. A man of integrity. A man of decency. A great husband. A tremendous father. A loyal friend. A dynamic Christian witness. All of the "old school" values that seem to be missing a lot these days, Bill Bonds possessed them all and exuded them all every day of his 49 years. He was the kind of person who made you feel good just being around him. He seemed to make everyone around him "better". If you were fortunate enough to call Bill Bonds your friend, you were extremely blessed for having your path cross with his. When we lose a coach, especially one of the really "good guys" like Bill, I always think about the huge number of lives that have been touched in a positive way by such a man. The number in this case is staggering, because he touched everyone he came in contact with in a positive way. He fought cancer so gallantly for ten years. A fight he waged with no complaints and no regrets. Cancer has had many worthy opponents, but perhaps not so many adversaries as one Bill Bonds. I will never give cancer credit for defeating him, because cancer never came close to touching the heart and soul of Bill Bonds. Cancer never would have been able to claim the fiber of the man. The essence of the man. The heart of the man. That will always be Bill Bonds. Godspeed my friend, and thank you.

Georgia Gymnastics: A Dawg Dynasty!

The University of Georgia Gymnastics team won their 5th consecutive National Championship Saturday night, giving them 10 titles overall. Coach Suzanne Yoculan heads off into retirement having captured those 10 champonships, as well as, 16 SEC titles and 21 regional titles. She is a five-time national coach of the year, and has led the Gym Dogs to 20 top four finishes in the last 22 seasons. Yoculan's motto has been for her teams to compete freely without the fear of failure and without any regrets. No regrets for these Dawgs. Not when five for five makes ten!

This Date in Time: Elston Howard

Elston Howard became the New York Yankees first African American ballplayer on April 14, 1955. He was the American League MVP in 1963, and he won Glove Gloves in 1963 and 1964. He came up behind the great Yogi Berra, and Berra was the league's MVP the year Howard arrived in New York. It would be several years before Yogi retired, so manager Casey Stengel used Howard as his back-up catcher, first baseman, and outfielder, just to get his bat in the lineup. He made his first All-Star team in 1957, without even having a solid starting position. He would go on to appear in nine consecutive All-Star outings. An interesting tidbit with Ellie's career is that he got a hit in his first major league at bat, and he homered in his first World Series at bat. Howard died in 1980 at the age of 51 due to myocarditis, a rare heart disease. In 1984 the Yankees retired Howard's number 32 jersey, and placed a plaque in his memory in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park.

Phil & Tiger: But Do You Love Me, Do You Love Me...

Do Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson even like each other? CBS's David Feherty says Tiger and Phil don't really know each other. He says they are so competitive, that the competition shapes their relationship, if there even is a relationship. They didn't talk during their final round pairing at Augusta yesterday, but Feherty says Palmer and Nicklaus didn't say too much to each other either. They became friends after all the competitiveness. Kinda like Bird and Magic. I think the "mystique" of Tiger and Phil, or Tiger -vs- Phil, adds interest and intrigue to their tremendous talents, abilities, and battles on the course. And that intangible is going to surround them for many years to come. You know, if they put on a duel like they did Sunday afternoon, they might not like one another, but they sure will respect each other. Heck, we can live without the love.

Aaron Murray: Spring Forward...

Aaron Murray completed his first spring as a Georgia Bulldog Saturday in the annual G-Day game. When most other kids his age are getting ready for the prom, Murray is getting ready to digest all that he has taken in throughout spring drills. Although he is an 'early arriving' freshman, it is hard to ignore his spring numbers: 13 for 21 in three scrimmages with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Georgia coaches have said Murray is intelligent, fundamentally sound, and possesses an accurate arm. His future is bright in Athens. But for now, there has to be a whole lot of digesting going on. That learning curve is steep. Don't forget the name though. You'll hear it a lot over the next four or five years. Stay tuned...

Kenny Perry: You Would Have Looked Good in Green

I'll go ahead and say it. I wanted Kenny Perry to win the Masters. But more than that, I didn't want him to lose it the way he did. If Phil, Tiger, or Chad had just run him down and passed him, that would have been o.k. But I certainly did not want to see him bogey the final two holes to lose it. But such is the final day at Augusta National, and such is the way of sports, and heck, such is the way of life. And I'll go ahead and say this: I wanted an American to win the Masters. Sorry, Angel. I read that you're a good guy, just not red, white, and blue enough for me. And you can't get much Red, White, and Blue'er than Kenny Perry. A Kentucky bluegrass kinda guy, with old school values which he refuses to compromise. He called himself "average" Sunday night, referring to that as opposed to "great". And further referring to the separation between the two as an explanation of why he didn't have what it takes to win the "Big One". He went sixteen consecutive holes on Sunday without making a bogey. But sixteen holes does not make a round of golf. You have to play all eighteen . Kenny Perry did, but just not well enough. But, not to worry, he'll play all eighteen many more times before he is finished with competitive golf. And we should all be glad when he does, because we need more guys like Perry. It is said we are the sum of all of our experiences. I'd say Kenny Perry totals up really well. Even without a green jacket.

He Lives!

Happy Easter everyone from An Opinion On Sports!

It's "G Day" in the Classic City

Get ready for some football - Georgia Bulldog style! The annual spring game will be played today "Between the Hedges", and live on ESPN. Get out of here! The Dawgs in the national spotlight. Great publicity, and it can't hurt future recruiting either. Joe Cox and Logan Gray will be the starting quarterbacks in this Red-vs-Black showdown. You remember some guy by the name of Stafford departed early to seek fame, and certainly fortune, at the next level. Not to worry, we will just get our first glimpse of the newly reloaded Bulldogs. Just think about it: the Braves are back, the Masters is in progress, and the Dawgs are playing football. It must be springtime in the South! Happy Easter everyone!

Gary Player: A Class Act

The 'Man in Black' has played in his final Masters. No more walks up the eighteenth fairway for the three-time champion. After a record 52 Thursday tee times at Augusta National, the 73 year old South African has chosen not to tee it up again at the hollowed grounds he holds so dear.

Gary Player did not make the cut at this year's Masters Tournament after shooting an 83 on Friday, but I assure you he will not be remembered for that score at Augusta. But he certainly was adulated for it. He received a standing ovation on every hole for both the Thursday and Friday rounds. A former champion held in the highest regard. A worldwide spokesman for not only the game of golf, but for human decency and dignity. Thank you Gary Player, for being a champion in every sense of the word. And more.