Dabblin’ With the Cockspur: Holy Sh*t! I’m Famous!
posted by Roger Olivieri, 7/23/2009 11:04:00 PM
I grew up a Yankee. Like any kid from any walk of life should be, I am proud of my heritage, upbringing, and geographical derivation. My entire family still lives in or around New York so I do get to visit whenever I want. All my fond memories notwithstanding, thank God I moved south 20 years ago next month.
Gushing with pride and ne’er an ugly memory about The Big Apple, why the relief in moving away? Aside from the sadistic season known as winter, the answer is simple: Football.
You people do football the way it’s supposed to be done.
Guess what? The season is upon us, folks. That magical time of year where there is no farce called “Spring Practice” to drool over, no off-season to dwell on “what-if’s,” no, nada, and nil - this is it. This is the real deal. With the opening of SEC Media Days, college freaking football is back.
I’m currently 116 miles from Birmingham with visions of footballs dancing through my head. I can smell the grill, taste the beer and chips; even hear the screams filling Williams Brice parking lots. Football is here.
Yes Kids, Daddy is on TV Tonight!
Remember the scene in the beginning of Jerry McGuire when Tom Cruise introduces himself with a picture of Drew Bledsoe? Bledsoe leans on the podium in a snapshot of some fantastic moment when McGuire says, “See that guy to the left (referring to a hand and 1/3 of a face)? That’s me.”
Today, I was that guy. No, not the guy at the podium, but the guy with 1/3 of a face off to the left – that was me. Yet still, even as the “guy off to the left,” I was on every major network that I’d watched tonight.
Surely, by now, you’ve seen the footage of some idiot asking Tim Tebow, “You go into visiting stadiums and beat the crap out of these teams, are you saving yourself for marriage?”
Not only was his delivery fantastically awful, but his question was asked right in front of mine. Listen closely. As you hear Tebow laughing throughout a silent awe from the media, there is one idiot “off to the left” struggling to get out his question.
“As a senior, what advice would you…”
Tebow: “Y’all are in awe. Y’all are all speechless.”
Me again: “So, being a senior, how would you describe a recipe for success to a younger…”
Tebow amid massive laughter from the media: “I expected the question, but y’all definitely didn’t. Ha, ha, hee, hee.”
Me again! “EH HEM, so Tim, as a senior, what advice would you give younger quarterbacks in the SEC on how to survive in this league?”
I may as well morphed into Charlie Brown’s teacher right then asking, “Whah, whah, whaaaah, whah, whaaaaaah, whah, whah?”
Either way, turn on ESPN, CBS and all the rest – that’s me – your proud Gamecock Central representative.
I’m famous and it feels as awesome as I had always imagined – snubbed by Tim Tebow. Somehow, I must be a better person after this snub from perfection.
Thoughts on a Day of Rockstars
Wow! What a day?!?! I got to speak to Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Houston Nutt, Mark Richt and Tim Tebow today.
I can honestly say, though I’d been quick to fire off a “Superman wears Tim Tebow pajamas” joke, it truly was an honor to talk to possibly the greatest college football player of all time today.
Duce was really nice to me… nah, just kidding.
Tim Tebow was a pleasure to listen to. He seemed truly genuine in his excitement about preaching to children and returning insurmountable loyalty to Coach Meyer and his team-mates by returning for his senior season. Though we all look for a “skeleton” in Tebow’s closet, he really does come off as a fine young man.
Nick Saban is portrayed as a pompous jerk, more concerned about his ego than his legacy. Portrayals are worthless though, because Coach Saban is really a riveting guy to listen to.
The only thing missing from his “motivational” speech was the fact that we are all doomed to live in “a van down by the river.”
After listening to him talk, I was ready to tackle Dave Cloninger (actually, I’m always ready to tackle Dave, but that’s because he’s more egotistical then Coach Saban ever was, but that’s neither here nor there).
Seriously though, Saban and Coach Meyer were both riveting.
They were so fantastic at livening up the hoard of media packed into 45 degree conference rooms at the Wynfrey hotel that guys as awesome as Mark Richt and Houston Nutt seemed boring.
Until Tomorrow…
Tomorrow is the last day here and I am really looking forward to it. Though today was the day filled with big names, Heisman trophy winners and proven track records, tomorrow has a few national titles, Heisman’s and media magnets packed in as well.
Coach Spurrier speaks along with Les Miles, Gene Chizik and that fella’ from Tennessee who never told Alshon Jeffery he’d be pumping gas if he came to Columbia.
Peace.
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Tis’ the Season!
I grew up a Yankee. Like any kid from any walk of life should be, I am proud of my heritage, upbringing, and geographical derivation. My entire family still lives in or around New York so I do get to visit whenever I want. All my fond memories notwithstanding, thank God I moved south 20 years ago next month.
Gushing with pride and ne’er an ugly memory about The Big Apple, why the relief in moving away? Aside from the sadistic season known as winter, the answer is simple: Football.
You people do football the way it’s supposed to be done.
Guess what? The season is upon us, folks. That magical time of year where there is no farce called “Spring Practice” to drool over, no off-season to dwell on “what-if’s,” no, nada, and nil - this is it. This is the real deal. With the opening of SEC Media Days, college freaking football is back.
I’m currently 116 miles from Birmingham with visions of footballs dancing through my head. I can smell the grill, taste the beer and chips; even hear the screams filling Williams Brice parking lots. Football is here.
Yes Kids, Daddy is on TV Tonight!
Remember the scene in the beginning of Jerry McGuire when Tom Cruise introduces himself with a picture of Drew Bledsoe? Bledsoe leans on the podium in a snapshot of some fantastic moment when McGuire says, “See that guy to the left (referring to a hand and 1/3 of a face)? That’s me.”
Today, I was that guy. No, not the guy at the podium, but the guy with 1/3 of a face off to the left – that was me. Yet still, even as the “guy off to the left,” I was on every major network that I’d watched tonight.
Surely, by now, you’ve seen the footage of some idiot asking Tim Tebow, “You go into visiting stadiums and beat the crap out of these teams, are you saving yourself for marriage?”
Not only was his delivery fantastically awful, but his question was asked right in front of mine. Listen closely. As you hear Tebow laughing throughout a silent awe from the media, there is one idiot “off to the left” struggling to get out his question.
“As a senior, what advice would you…”
Tebow: “Y’all are in awe. Y’all are all speechless.”
Me again: “So, being a senior, how would you describe a recipe for success to a younger…”
Tebow amid massive laughter from the media: “I expected the question, but y’all definitely didn’t. Ha, ha, hee, hee.”
Me again! “EH HEM, so Tim, as a senior, what advice would you give younger quarterbacks in the SEC on how to survive in this league?”
I may as well morphed into Charlie Brown’s teacher right then asking, “Whah, whah, whaaaah, whah, whaaaaaah, whah, whah?”
Either way, turn on ESPN, CBS and all the rest – that’s me – your proud Gamecock Central representative.
I’m famous and it feels as awesome as I had always imagined – snubbed by Tim Tebow. Somehow, I must be a better person after this snub from perfection.
Thoughts on a Day of Rockstars
Wow! What a day?!?! I got to speak to Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Houston Nutt, Mark Richt and Tim Tebow today.
I can honestly say, though I’d been quick to fire off a “Superman wears Tim Tebow pajamas” joke, it truly was an honor to talk to possibly the greatest college football player of all time today.
Duce was really nice to me… nah, just kidding.
Tim Tebow was a pleasure to listen to. He seemed truly genuine in his excitement about preaching to children and returning insurmountable loyalty to Coach Meyer and his team-mates by returning for his senior season. Though we all look for a “skeleton” in Tebow’s closet, he really does come off as a fine young man.
Nick Saban is portrayed as a pompous jerk, more concerned about his ego than his legacy. Portrayals are worthless though, because Coach Saban is really a riveting guy to listen to.
The only thing missing from his “motivational” speech was the fact that we are all doomed to live in “a van down by the river.”
After listening to him talk, I was ready to tackle Dave Cloninger (actually, I’m always ready to tackle Dave, but that’s because he’s more egotistical then Coach Saban ever was, but that’s neither here nor there).
Seriously though, Saban and Coach Meyer were both riveting.
They were so fantastic at livening up the hoard of media packed into 45 degree conference rooms at the Wynfrey hotel that guys as awesome as Mark Richt and Houston Nutt seemed boring.
Until Tomorrow…
Tomorrow is the last day here and I am really looking forward to it. Though today was the day filled with big names, Heisman trophy winners and proven track records, tomorrow has a few national titles, Heisman’s and media magnets packed in as well.
Coach Spurrier speaks along with Les Miles, Gene Chizik and that fella’ from Tennessee who never told Alshon Jeffery he’d be pumping gas if he came to Columbia.
Peace.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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Roger Olivieri. Roger began working with GamecockCentral in December of 2007. He currently serves as the site's chief videographer. He may be reached by email at roger(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.