Author Archive

2010 NBA Mock Draft: Anyone Need a Big Man?

Posted: 7th June 2010 by Joel Barker in NBA
All the publicity may be going to the small guys—Wall, Turner, Henry, etc.—but make no mistake about it, big men will rule this draft. There are more 6'10 guys in the 2010 draft than we have seen for quite some time. It starts at the top with Derrick Favors; continues through DeMarcus Cousins, Greg Monroe, and Cole Aldrich. It doesn't end there, however. Ed Davis, Hassan Whiteside, and Daniel Orton ...

2010 NBA Mock Draft: NBA Draft Order Still Built on John Wall

Posted: 18th May 2010 by Joel Barker in NBA
It's definitely that time again. Time to guess, predict, and forecast which NBA teams will be home to college basketball's elite of the elite. With tonight's NBA Draft Lottery the picture becomes a lot clearer as to who will go where and at which pick. It's still just a guessing game, and no one will no anything for sure until later in the summer. But for now, it's worth a ...

Atlanta Braves Cursed by Kelly Johnson’s Departure?

Posted: 26th April 2010 by Joel Barker in MLB
Just three short weeks ago I was ready to don the new Braves shirt and cap that I purchased in advance of the 2010 season. Things were looking up for the franchise at that time. The emergence of Jason Heyward was just around the corner. Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens were ready to show their young, electric stuff once again. Chipper Jones was ready to prove that his terrible ’09 season was ...
So the Steelers owner said today that it wouldn't happen. So what? When was the last time you trusted anything from a team's front office? The bottom line is that Big Ben has officially worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh. The fans (not all of them) apparently hate the guy. After reading the police report from Milledgeville, Ga I can definitely understand why the two-time Super Bowl Championship QB would ...

MLB 2010 Predictions: Another Phillies-Yankees October?

Posted: 27th March 2010 by Joel Barker in MLB
With one week of Spring Training left, it's time to get the crystal ball down from the attic, dust it off, and see what the future holds for baseball in 2010. Last year this was a lot easier. Just pick the Yankees to win it all and be done with it. While I was tempted to do the same thing for 2010, I just don't see it that way for this ...
Hank Aaron. Ken Griffey, Jr. Now, Albert Pujols. Besides being three of the greatest baseball players in the history of the game, these three have been mentioned over the past month in connection with another subject. Jason Heyward. The Braves rookie phenom has drawn praise from all over. Bobby Cox said the pop off his bat when he makes contact reminds him of Hank Aaron. Bobby Cox!  One of the most successful managers in ...

Atlanta Braves Offseason Moves: Really, Frank Wren? Really?!

Posted: 7th January 2010 by Joel Barker in MLB
Well it's good to see the Braves are serious about contending again. I mean it's not everyday that Troy Glaus falls into your lap or you get the Melkman, Melky Cabrera from the hated Yankees. From the first signing of Billy Wagner, who will turn 39 in July andámissed all but a month of baseball in '08, we should have known Frank Wren was serious about returning the Braves to the ...

Leach To Raiders? Talk About a Match Made in Heav…Somewhere Else

Posted: 4th January 2010 by Joel Barker in NFL
The news of the rumor caught me by surprise at first. By at first I mean maybe three seconds tops. If there has ever been two people made for each other, besides Tim Tebow and Urban Meyer, it's Al Davis and Mike Leach. They're two peas in a pod. Compadres. Amigo's. Kindred Spirits.áBrotha's from anotha motha. How so, you ask? Take the single-most eccentric NFL personality of the last 30 years (the approximate time ...

Tennessee Volunteers Blog: Welcome!

Posted: 25th December 2009 by Joel Barker in MLB
Welcome to the only site (that I know of) that features in-depth blogging/coverage of Tennessee Vols Athletics and the Atlanta Braves. I am a rather successful blogger/writer for bleacherreport.com and I have decided to branch out a bit with this new venture. You can read my new ramblings on this site twice a week. Every Monday I will post a Tennessee Vols related post. Every Friday ...

Atlanta Braves Hot Stove Season Far from Over

Posted: 22nd December 2009 by Joel Barker in MLB
I, along with roughly 75 percent of the Braves fan base, was quite taken aback whenáI fired up the old Blackberry this morning and realized that Atlanta was in serious discussions with the Yankees about Javier Vazquez. Perplexed may be the best word for how I felt when the deal was finalized. The Braves traded their best starter from 2008 for outfielder Melky Cabrera (a career .270 hitter), a left-handed rookie pitcher ...