Premature forecasting counts for nothing

By Joe McAdory

I don’t understand how a meteorogist in Colorado is supposed to be the foremost expert on predicting the number of hurricanes the Atlantic basin will have each year. We get this doom and gloom forecast of 12 named storms, or whatever, and 8 hurricanes—3 of which may become catastropic.

But it’s become apparent to me that such premature forecasts are worthless. We can use climatalogical (cool word, huh?) data to come up with some estimate of what we think might happen, but it really just boils down to a wild guess. A shot in the dark. Maybe these forecasters should seek the advice of palm readers to help them.

We should never be wrapped up in what someone in Colorado thinks might happen during hurricane season. Instead, we should worry more about issues we know we must face and come up with solutions to solve them. As for hurricanes, the coast should take measures to make itself safer for future storms, if and when they arrive.

This hurricane season hasn’t delivered much of anything to the U.S. so far and that’s a good thing. We’ve still got a few weeks left, and remember that Opal developed in early October of 1995. But at this point, the biggest news hurricane season brought us was a baseless forecast.

Aces in the hole

By Joe McAdory

Ever hit a hole in one? Me either. Ever seen a hole in one? I’ve missed out on that too. Just imagine making a hole-in-one only to have your shot duplicated by a buddy just seconds later. It happened the other day in New Jersey. Check out the link below to read the story published on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Web site.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2007/09/20/doubleaces_0920.html

Call me nuts, but I’ll pick Georgia

By Joe McAdory

Call me crazy, but I believe Georgia will beat Alabama Saturday night. Why? Ebb and flow. So many times in the past I’ve seen a good football team notch a memorable, euphoric win then be caught off guard seven days later. Sometimes I wonder if a good football team can maintain focus and play at a consistent level from week to week, even though I suspect Alabama is better than Georgia.

Georgia is still shaking off the cobwebs from its Sept. 8 loss to South Carolina and is due something good. Otherwise, Georgia falls to 2-2 with games against Tennessee, Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech still to play. The natives in Royston would become restless. If Alabama wins, it very well could be 8-0 going into LSU. Wouldn’t that be a showdown?

As for Auburn, I still think the Tigers will struggle to some degree on Saturday. This team has not found an identity and really cannot get on a roll until it does. This, however, should not translate into a loss. The last time Auburn lost three-straight at Jordan-Hare Stadium was 1999 (Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Florida) and I can’t see that happening this time. Considering the Tigers are fielding what grossly resembles a freshman team, you can’t help but wonder the potential this team has between 2008-2010.

Here is this week’s attempt at picking winners:

High schools
Auburn over Russell County
Bessemer over Lee-Scott
Dothan over Smiths Station
Opelika over Northview
LaFayette over Beulah

College
Miami over Texas A&M
Auburn over New Mexico State
Georgia over Alabama
Oklahoma over Tulsa
Southern Cal over Washington State
LSU over South Carolina
Florida over Ole Miss
West Virginia over East Carolina
Cal over Arizona
Texas over Rice
Ohio State over Northwestern
Wisconsin over Iowa
Michigan over Penn State
N.C. State over Clemson
Arkansas over Kentucky
South Florida over North Carolina
Mississippi State over Gardner-Webb
Tennessee over Arkansas State
Arizona State over Oregon State
Oklahoma State over Texas Tech

NFL
N.Y. Jets over Miami
Baltimore over Arizona
Green Bay over San Diego
New England over Buffalo
Indianapolis over Houston
Kansas City over Minnesota
Pittsburgh over San Francisco
Tampa Bay over St. Louis
Philadelphia over Detroit
Oakland over Cleveland
Seattle over Cincinnati
Denver over Jacksonville
Carolina over Atlanta
Washington over N.Y. Giants
Chicago over Dallas
New Orleans over Tennessee

Last week
High school: 3-2 (11-4 overall)
College: 14-6 (47-13 overall)
NFL: 8-8 (19-13 overall, very disappointing)

I wonder if BBQ octopus goes with baked beans and Texas toast ...

By Joe McAdory

I think of the Opelika-Auburn area as a community dominated by barbecue and chicken finger/wing restaurants, not counting the usual crowd of fast-food chains. We like our BBQ and we love our wings. College towns are chicken wing magnets.

But over the last few years I’ve noticed another growing trend I never would have expected to find in Alabama. Sushi. There are sushi places popping up all over now. I looked in the phone book the other day and found nine places that serve this Japanese delicacy. It may remind some of bait on a plate, but I like my octopus sunomono and shrimp tempura with teriyaki sauce thank you.

I like BBQ. I like sushi. I wonder what would happen if we put them together? Well, I have heard of BBQ eel. Let’s throw some Dale’s Sauce and KC Masterpiece on an octupus, throw it on the grill and see what happens. If it’s awful, grab a slab of ribs and forget those tangy tentacles.

Headline makes the news

By Joe McAdory

It’s neat to see the Opelika-Auburn News mentioned at a highly-publicized Web site such as CBSSportsline.com. On college football writer Dennis Dodd’s blog, he speaks of the local newspaper’s Sunday headline following Saturday’s AU-Mississippi State game, won 19-14 by the Bulldogs. The headline: Well ... halftime was fun. This, of course, is in reference to American Idol winner and former AU student Taylor Hicks’ performance with the Auburn Band.

Any chance we could get Carrie Underwood any time soon?