Hi folks, I’m Fred Thompson.

Boy, times are sure tough nowadays.

And I understand how unpredictable and unpleasant conference realignment can become.

If you are like many American football conferences, you may be looking for a simple solution to help ease your financial worries.

Well, I may have a solution that is right for you:  A Grant of Media Rights.

A Grant of Media Rights is a government insured* program that allows you to make use of your hard-earned equity in your own conference.

It could help you get much-needed cash, right now, to:

–  upgrade your facilities

–  renegotiate inequitable television contracts

–  keep other expansion-minded conferences at bay

Or simply improve your conference’s brand and give you the football lifestyle you so richly deserve.

I’m extremely proud to be associated with the ACC, a regionally recognized sports leader in many non-revenue sports (plus basketball).

That’s why I want to send you this free DVD, about how to sign away your unneeded future self-determination in exchange for a sense of security in the here and now.

Its safe*.

Easy to understand.*

Effective* tool.

That can give you peace of mind in an uncertain world.

Why don’t you give ACC a call today?

Just pick up the phone, and call me at 1-800-ACC-BROKE.

______________________

* claims are not representative of actual facts, rights, or other legal representations, but represent only the anecdotal opinion of the spokesperson depicted.

The TRC Unleashed trio returns in a foul mood. Age and  frequent prostate exams are obviously getting to the guys, but they manage to trudge through another edition of your fifth-favorite Gamecock sports-related podcast with topics such as:

• Spring games are way overrated
• Spring tailgates are way underrated
• Who impressed at the Garnet and Black game
• @bclickclack
• This Week in Dabo
• The baseball sadness

We also have a kicking new opening thanks to [name redacted because we’re not sure if she wants us to reveal it].

Anyway, we’re grumpy, but still lovable. Enjoy.

Click the graphic to listen.

 

 

Or something – other submissions welcomed.

This has been a disappointing baseball season. I know that sounds silly considering we entered this weekend series with Florida with a 27-7 record and ranked 8th or 11th, depending on the poll. But after getting swept by a good Gator team with a mediocre record, the problems with this team are glaring like the noonday sun – terrible defensively, lacking in quality at-bats, no bullpen with the exception of Adam Westmoreland, and yes, there have been some questionable coaching decisions.

The way we lost these games to Florida only exacerbated the frustration:

• Thursday – Trailing by a run in the top of the 9th, we get a clutch 2-out hit from Chase Vergason with T.J. Costen at second. Costen trips and falls rounding third and is thrown out to end the game.
• Friday –  The Gamecocks take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth only to see the Gators score 3 and secure a 4-3 victory.
• Saturday – Chad Holbrook’s squad claws back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the game at 4-4. The Gators then put up a 10-spot in a horrific bottom of the sixth, and cruise to a 14-5 victory to complete the sweep.

They were all hard games to watch. When you lose games like that the fan frustration boils over, and people start tweeting and Facebooking and blogging. Some complaints are reasonable to point out (like the above) and many go over the top. People can get stupid in times like these, but I understand. If you don’t like it you can ignore it or not respond to it.

Or, you can be Andy Demetra:

It’s no secret this guy gets under our skin, and this is a prime example of why.

First, the “clever” play on words, a Demetra trademark – “Win Anyway”, “Whine Anyway”. I felt like I was experiencing his wordplay again for the first time. Yuck.

Second, the finger-wagging. As a representative of USC and the athletic department there are ways to respond to fair criticism and unfair criticism alike that don’t make you sound like a condescending a-hole. People say stupid things, and people respond in kind with stupid things. The play-by-play guy for a major university sports program doesn’t have to lower himself into that conversation, and if he does there’s a proper way to do it. The proper way is not to insult your fan base.

Finally, as a guy who covers this team day in and day out, it’s ok to point out some shortcomings. Not only is it ok, we should demand it. Otherwise he just becomes the Baghdad Bob of Gamecock sports.

“All is well!”

I got news for you, it ain’t. And it’s ok for us to talk about it. Really.

Buck puts forth some more raw audio while headed north on GA 400. This week he talks about his reaction to the horrific injury suffered by Kevin Ware of Louisville, and CBS’ decision to halt replays of it. Enjoy.

(Press graphic to play.)