Thoughts of the Day for April 15, 2010

Good morning Gator Nation: Here’s something to remember today if you’re feeling down at any time: Florida quarterback Johnny Brantley will have more receiving threats and options in 2010 than Lane Kiffin had secondary recruiting violations at Tennessee and Southern California. How comforting is that?

1. THE NFL DRAFT I: As we move closer to the NFL Draft (next Thursday evening from Radio City Music Hall) the question on a lot of your minds is where will Gator great Tim Tebow be drafted and by whom. Tebow has his supporters, including for Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and current ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/44054/jon-grudens-qb-camp-tim-tebow

2. THE NFL DRAFT II: And, as we know, Tim Tebow has his detractors, including a new one in Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who was a little, er, under the weather when he was caught via a cell phone clip that was provided to Deadspin.com (and shown here via ESPN):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX6F7me5Ad4

3. WALTON’S WALLBANGERS: With two more home runs in Wednesday’s 8-4/9-2 sweep of No. 19 Florida State in Tallahassee, coach Tim Walton’s No. 3 Florida Gators softball team has hit 70 in 36 games, a shade under 2 a game. Florida trails only Hawaii, which is averaging 2.41 home runs a game (106 in 44 games). Methinks this team – Francesca Enea has 15, Brittany Schutte has 12, Megan Bush has 10 and Aja Paculba and Kelsey Bruder have 7 each – needs a nickname and this one fits, don’t you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh6SA8kY0MU

4. NO MORE MUD BOWLS: Can I get an AMEN, brothers and sisters? Orlando has finally seen the light and will be installing the latest artificial grass surface (FieldTurf) for the Citrus Bowl in time for the heavy schedule of games that are played there each year. The installation will probably cost about a $1 million but then the city won’t be embarrassed by the display of clumps of turf and mud flying all over during last year’s Capital One Bowl between Penn State and Louisiana State. The Citrus Bowl hosts that bowl and the Champs Sports Bowl, the Florida Classic between Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman, the Florida High School Athletic Association state football playoffs and other high school and college football games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6CqfKk0Jko&feature=related

5. SURPRISE, SURPRISE: Brandon Knight made it official Wednesday by signing with the University of Kentucky basketball program. “I just chose Kentucky because I felt it was a place that had great players, a great environment and a place where I can elevate my game,” said the 6-3 point guard, a McDonald’s All-American who played at Pine Crest School in Boca Raton, Fla. Hmm, I smell a one-and-done here, folks. Another fine signing there, John Calipari, who probably couldn’t spell student-athlete because he probably hasn’t coached one yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3RMzjd3wYg

6. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GATOR: Dara Torres, the Florida and Olympic swimming great, is 43 today. Best wishes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5bR2d7VKhg

7. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA … HELLO: They say records are made to be broken. Well, if that’s the case, Mr. Suspenders, Larry King, is running in good company. The 76-year-old CNN talk-show host has filed for divorce from his wife of 13 years, singer Shawn Southwick, who has done the same in Los Angeles, Calif., both of them citing the usual “irreconcilable differences.” This would be King’s eighth divorce (he got a mulligan with one of his ex-wives), which puts him in impressive company with Zsa Zsa Gabor (who is on husband No. 9), Liz Taylor (who married eight times, twice to Richard Burton), Lana Turner (eight marriages, twice with restaurant owner Steven Crane) and Mickey Rooney (eight wives). And now there is word out of Orlando that Elin Woods may move ahead with plans to divorce Tiger Woods, who is alleged to have more than 10 paramours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly4zzIW2BBo

8. MIDNIGHT IS APPROACHING: Need you be reminded what you must do before midnight this evening, Eric Clapton and his late friend George Harrison have a message:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8OgkjcW0g4&feature=related

Well, Eight is Enough. Later Gators.

John Fineran