This water crisis in Toledo/Northwestern Ohio is some gutwrenching stuff to ponder, let alone it be a reality. I'm hopeful a resolution isn't too far off.
In the meantime, at least one Toledo-area Stop and Go is using this crisis to gouge their customers' eyes out over a $15 pallet of bottled water. That's the neighborly (yet entrepreneurial) bedrock on which our great country was founded, folks.
I don't know when I'll be in Toledo next — not soon enough, to be honest — but when I do touch down in the Glass City, I'll make sure to make it a point to spend my easy-earned money at the Stop and Go.
(And when I say I'll "make it a point to spend my easy-earned money at a Stop and Go," that's Internet Man smarm for "I'd rather drink a glass of poisoned toilet water than spend my precious pennies at a Stop and Go.")
So, yeah... it's Monday, and I'm ready to fight somebody. (Only on the internet though, of course.)
Hopefully some of the young gremlins on Ohio State's football team are ready to bang (IRL) too.
Camp opens today (here's the full schedule if you need it); it's time to cleanse our pallets; not with illegally overpriced bottled water, but with actual football.
[There are a mere 117 days until The Game.]
HUNGRY BUCKS. Losing two games to close the 2013 campaign hurt, but sometimes, humility is the best fuel. I wouldn't be as high on the 2014 Buckeyes if they had knocked off Clemson, because it would've satiated some of their hunger.
Hunger for the 2014 Buckeyes won't be a problem, at least not yet, anyway. (Please don't feed the Buckeyes.)
From Bill Rabinowitz of Columbus' only major daily newspaper:
“My anticipation is that we will be very hungry,” coach Urban Meyer said last week.
[...]
For Meyer, the top three issues are getting a mostly new offensive line up to speed quickly, continuing the progress he believes the pass defense has made since co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s arrival, and the need for running backs and receivers to emerge and seize roles.
[...]
“If our offensive line develops, we’ll be very good,” Meyer said. “I’m confident (it will), but I have a little apprehension because spring ball was not good.”
*puts on Terminator shades* I'm not worried about anything, Urban. THEY MIGHT AS WELL CROWN YOUR TEAM TOMORROW.
BUCKEYES NOT TO WATCH. Here are three Buckeyes of which cleveland.com's Doug Lesmeries says there's no need to watch in training camp (because they're known commodities with no lingering questions).
Senior defensive lineman Michael Bennett: One of the best pro prospects in the country on the interior defensive line, Bennett should be a captain, will be a leader and should produce at a higher level after playing through an injury through part of last season.
Senior cornerback Doran Grant: He played well last season opposite Roby and got some preseason votes for an All-Big Ten team. He has the strength to handle what's needed in the Buckeyes' new press coverage and the speed to stay with any receiver he faces. He'll be out there every snap and allow the coaches to focus on filling the other corner spot with either Armani Reeves, Gareon Conley or Eli Apple.
Sophomore punter Cameron Johnston: He emerged as one of the best punters in the Big Ten last season and should be the same this season. So if you normally do spend a lot of time during the preseason wondering about punting, you can stop.
Jim Tressel would shit himself if he read that last sentence.
A SCOUT'S EYE ON BRAXTON. I mentioned CBS Sports' Dane Brugler's love for Noah Spence on Friday. Later in the day, he published his full breakdown on Ohio State prospects (they're stacked).
I found his breakdown on Miller, however, to be the most interesting. Here's a snippet:
While much improved in areas, Miller needs to continue his development as a passer for some NFL scouts to be sold. His touch and accuracy still run hot/cold with too many fastballs in his arsenal, needing to develop a change-up. Starting with his footwork and base, Miller needs to continue and tweak his mechanics and improve his ball placement, something that continues to be a work-in-progress. Ball security (10 fumbles in 2013) and durability are two other areas that are concerns, especially after off-season shoulder surgery and a knee injury that plagued him throughout last season. Miller has never thrown for 300+ yards in a game (his single game-best is only 252 passing yards), but his weapons at wide receiver have been average-at-best and with his legs, he hasn't needed to chuck the ball 30+ times a game. He set career-bests last season in every statistical category, including 63.5% completions, but his performances against Michigan (40.0%) and Michigan State (38.1%) late in the season were discouraging.
Miller is a gifted athlete and exciting in the open field with dynamic speed, but as a senior, scouts want to see improved touch. He takes a lot of deep shots, but needs to develop a better feel in the intermediary passing game and not rush his process or escape the pocket before necessary. Whether he is drafted as a quarterback or running back will be determined by his performance this season and in a weak class of senior passers, it's not bizarre to project Miller as one of the top-five senior quarterback prospects and possible top-100 pick if he improves in 2014.
Miller was thrust into an unfair position during his freshman year, but the dude never whined and carried himself like a pro since he stepped foot in Columbus. As a fan of Ohio State, I'll always be thankful for that.
Brugler, however, is spot on here with his analysis. In fact, I can't find a single sentence in those two paragraphs in which I disagree.
BOTTOM B1G TEAMS CATCH A STRAY. Imagine being a lowly Big Ten team — like, say, Illinois. You're getting ready for camp, MINDING YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS, and then you catch this stray hellfire missile from Hatin' Ass Spurrier:
Spurrier says he doesnt like Saban idea of Power 5 playing only Power 5. ECU is a lot tougher game than a bottom Big Ten team."
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) August 3, 2014
I don't think Spurrier is wrong. And before somebody tees off on me in the comments, please ask yourself: Just how much money would you be willing to put on Purdue or Illinois in a game against East Carolina? Because I'm not risking any "beef-flavored" Ramen noodles.
TAKE A WALK, AIR FORCE. Would you believe it if I told you Stop and Go's price gouging wasn't the most scumbag thing I'd read about all weekend?
This investigative piece into Air Force's athletics culture from Tom Roeder of The Colorado Springs Gazette was also downright infuriating:
U.S. Air Force Academy cadet athletes flouted the sacred honor code by committing sexual assaults, taking drugs, cheating and engaging in other misconduct at wild parties while the service academy focused on winning bowl games and attracting money from alumni and private sources in recent years, a Gazette investigation has found.
*makes sure seatbelt is tightly fastened*
Documents newly released to The Gazette reveal how serious those "poor choices" of the past have been. They detail parties dating to 2010 where cadets, including a core group of top football players, smoked synthetic marijuana, drank themselves sick and may have used date-rape drugs to incapacitate women for sexual assault.
The culture was so wild that academy leaders canceled a planned 2012 sting out of concern that undercover agents and confidential informants at a party wouldn't be enough to protect women from rape.
"They smoked synthetic weed!"
So?
"They drank themselves sick!"
How else would they know it's time to stop drinking?
"They used date-rape drugs."
Okay, somebody needs to go to jail.
I don't mean to sound like a Bitter Old Timer©, but whatever happened to drinking yourself sick and using a warm puddle of your stomach bile as a makeshift blanket/pillow in some unknown gutter?
Sometimes — in the few moments in which I'm forced to reflect on the world 6" outside my nose — I have a hard time justifying how much I care about sports. (I will still watch every second of Browns and Buckeyes football because I'm a hypocrite.)
THOSE WMDs. The cut-throat world of Victorian orchid hunters... The richest person in every state... Winners behind the 2014 Nat Geo photo contest... Here's a baby armadillo playing with a toy... Pure 1930s Clickbait... I too support this Pulitzer nomination... Actually, this is a fair question... Running for five minutes a day has long-term benefits...
