What up Mississippi -

So it's here, the state tournament at the BIG HOUSE, and as always the competition will be fierce and the action intense. Here are my picks for the High School version of the Big Dance:

5A Boys - Provine. Luther Riley's club is too good, and so is the guy going to U-CONN! Scottie Haralson can play. Wingfield is good, but the Rams are better.

4A Boys - Vicksburg. A bit of an underdog most of the season... they beat Lanier twice this year and are primed to take a Gator bite out of the competition

3A Boys - Aberdeen. At 33-3 coming in... the record speaks for itself.

2A Boys - I'm going with Newton here. Why? They've won 24 in a row.

1A Boys - Myrtle. The 1-A runners-up from a year ago take home the hardware in '08.

So who do you pick? Be bold or go home. Let us hear from you!

For a look at the girls bracket... check out "The Better Half"

Christian

What up Mississippi?

Well the 50th running of the Great American Race is in the books, and my question is this, is it really the greatest American event we have in stock-car racing anymore? Don't get me wrong... the history is deep, and the hype is huge, plus the gravity of the race is hard to measure - what other sport has it's biggest event lead off each year? My only point is that restrictor plate racing isn't the pure form of what NASCAR was built on, and in the biggest race of the year with the largest prize at stake, shouldn't we see cars max out and not have to rely on teammates to get them over the top in the last-lap, bump drafting game it has become?

Ryan Newman is a deserving champ, and Kurt Busch for once didn't come off looking like a punk when it was all said and done. But we all know Kyle Busch had the best car, and Tony Stewart is the best driver... too bad their egos and pride didn't allow one of them to play the self-less act of second fiddle. If so... Gibbs racing would have won another Daytona 500... instead Roger Penske ended his 23-year drought by the beach.

But we all know... the best car and the best driver... didn't win this year's "Great American Race"

Christian

So here it is... divisional playoff time for yet another season on the hardwood in high school! So here's how I see it going down people...

Lanier is loaded, and they'll be the team to take on in 4A ball once again if you want to win a title! I like Callaway a lot, they're young and play with no fear. You're right, Provine is solid and coach Luther Riley may just repeat with the Rams... and I love what Wingfield has as far as talent and athleticism! If they can just play sound ball, and limit turnovers, they may do damage! And watch out for NW Rankin and Canton, they may just surprise some people!

Let me know what you think... my predictions to come before the State tourney begins!

CT

Congrats to Eli Manning, for proving his critics wrong with one hoist of the Lombardi Trophy! The guy deserves all the credit in the world... he rallied his New York Giants to score 14 points in the 4th quarter and beat the undefeated New England Patriots in one of the biggest upsets of all time! And on that final drive to win it all, showed that true mental toughness isn't always worn on your sleeve, it comes from the heart!

Think about it... from the miracle escapes of the Patriots D-Line, to David Tyree's epic one-hand catch off his helmet, to the final fade route to Plaxico Burress that sealed the deal against an all out blitz - Eli proved he CAN do it HIS way... and for that all of Mississippi is proud!