REPORTING FROM THE JOCK-O-SPHERE

Rob Nunn: Wedding Try-out

Mr. Nunn, a senior defensive tackle for the UConn Huskies, has joined the blogosphere. Here's a choice snippet from his first mega-entry:

"My girlfriend has asked me to be her date to her cousin's wedding," he writes. "Only she didn't outright ask me, it was more like an interview:

'What exactly do you offer that other wedding-dates might not?'

'Well, I will not hit on your relatives or kin, I'll slow dance to corny love songs, and I will shamelessly lead the electric slide.'

'You' re hired!'"

Another DT that enjoys dancing? Warren Sapp does make it look easy for a big fella.

Andre Ethier: Sour Taste

"It was exciting to get this series started," he writes. "I know, the first game didn't go too well. But I've got to say, there's a hoopla in this city I wasn't expecting… I was taking it all in, while still trying not to get caught up in it all. Joe [Torre] reiterates through all of this how he never got the chance to play in postseason as a player and you never know how many other opportunities you'll get, so enjoy it.

"The outcome tonight wasn't so enjoyable. Utley's home run, that was a pop-up. But that's the advantage of playing in a field like this. It is what it is. We made a mistake and they capitalized and used the field to their advantage. On Utley's ball, I thought I had a good beat on it, then I looked at the fence and thought I didn't have a chance, then it started coming down but was carrying and it snuck in two or three rows deep.

"And Manny, he hit a ball to the highest, farthest point you can hit a ball here and it's a double. That's the way it goes here. This park is quirky. There are a lot of things about it. There's Plexiglas that you can't even see unless you're right in front of it. There are balls that you don't even know if they're in play. Joe just told us everything's a live ball until you're told otherwise."

That's Manny being Manny for you. Who hits a ball as far as it can be hit without it being a home run? What a jokester. We're just waiting for Tim McCarver to call him out on it.

Derrick Mayes: So Sayeth Dr. Lou

Former NFL wideout Derrick Mayes has a Dr. Lou moment:

"Recently I had a chance to stop by my old high school, North Central High School in Indianapolis," he writes. "It gave me a chance to step back and realize the impact we can have on those around us, and vice versa.

"I began reflecting on those who helped encourage me along the way: my parents, friends, teachers, teammates and of course coaches. Having a support system of trusted people around you is a key to success. My coach at Notre Dame, Lou Holtz, is famous for saying, 'the Bible says Abraham died by leaning on his staff. The same will be said about me.'"

Lean on your staff all you want, just don't fight them like Adam Jones, or fall on your sword like Travis Henry.

Ronnie Lott: Red River Rivalry one of the Greatest

NFL Legend Ronnie Lott talks up the Shootout, er Rivalry, as one of the best ever:

"As I look back as a kid growing up there were two things I really wanted to see in college football: SC-Notre Dame, because it was that great rivalry every year, and Texas-Oklahoma, because, besides being intense, it has always featured some of the greatest players in the history of college football," he writes.

"It exposed me to a lot of things like the wishbone and the veer, the multiple options for striking for big plays. But as you think about this Red River Rivalry you have to look at the quarterbacks - the offenses have changed so much and the game is played in the air so much now. It is the biggest game for both of these guys, they are representing a long history of quarterbacks who have had to play big in a game of this magnitude. This may sound elementary but it really will come down to the guy who makes the fewest mistakes."

Elementary, my dear Watson.

Champ Bailey: Double Corner Blitz

Champ got excited, real excited when this call came into the huddle:

"I'm almost half way through my 10th year in the NFL and one of the rare calls I hear in the huddle is a 'double corner blitz,'" he writes. "When I heard that call, me and Dre' Bly look at each other like 'you better get to Brian Griese before I do.'

With another chance to get my second career sack, I had a wide open path to the QB because Dre' was picked up by the running back. But the QB gave one little pump fake, it caused me to stutter step. Although I did knock Griese down, I still missed out on that sack. I kind of hated he had to leave the game following the big hit because we felt our defense had him figured out. Oh well, we still got the 'W'!"

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