I will begin with a thank you. Thanks to our growing audience that has supported our podcasts on SEC football and Tennessee sports.
Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and I appreciate your support. We even appreciate the critics among you, like prominent literary contributor Colorado Mark.
Colorado Mark writes: I noticed on your podcast last week that Sparks was in a room that was completely “barren.” Looked like he was living like a recent grad in a new apartment with no money — or that he was a volunteer for some weird sociology experiment.
And Topp, I think all he had on the wall was a picture of a goldfish or something. Pretty sad indeed. I have a stuffed pheasant in a box somewhere out in the garage I can send Sparks and maybe a stuffed trout I could send to Topp.
YOU on the other hand were in a room that could have doubled as an antique store in Asheville, might even qualify for that TV show about Hoarders.
My response: Adam was in a hotel room. Blake is a minimalist. If you noticed a goldfish in a photo, that wasn’t a former pet.
My office is cluttered. But much of what you see behind me is my wife’s. She’s a borderline hoarder. I probably should have addressed that in the prenup.
Patricia writes: My take on athletes being paid as an employee: Degree option … will be enrolled as a student and pay own tuition with money he is given … #2. Non Degree Option …. No classes just take the Money…..
Also, non-Degree: players would be required to pay for housing, food and medical expenses.
My response: Great ideas. I propose another option: If an athlete were a university employee and not required to attend class, he could attend a trade school in his spare time.
He then would would be better prepared for life after football.
Calvin writes: if you’re gonna pay “student-athletes,” you should not give them scholarships. Let them use the money they’re getting paid to attend. Money earned is money spent. That’s what college sports has become now. It’s not about people, it’s about how much financially those people are worth.
My response: I miss the good old days when you could buy an athlete with $100 handshakes and a car. And they could keep their scholarship, too.
College football was so much simpler then.
Phillip writes: Good article on Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin is a cut above the vast majority of head coaches because he has a remarkable human touch with fans and players. It’s hard not to like the guy because he has many fine qualities that transcend mere football stuff and comes across as a really decent guy.
Players will kill for him and he will excel long term as a coach and leader. He has the intangibles and savvy to be an outstanding coach, likely a great one. He is only getting started. When he gets a few more pieces, he’ll be up there with Georgia and Alabama.
My response: Hard not to like the guy? You obviously haven’t talked to Tennessee fans.
But he has proved himself as a coach and recruiter. And he has significantly upgraded the Ole Miss program.
The big question: Can Ole Miss keep him?
Mike writes: Is 2024 the year the University of Kentucky finally comes to its senses and admits UK erroneously hired Mark Stoops rather than Bob Stoops as head football coach and has therefore, squandered millions of dollars per year by overpaying the mediocre, dufus Stoops brother since 2013?
My response: Tennessee coach Josh Heupel did more for Bob Stoops than Mark Stoops.
He won a national championship for Bob as an Oklahoma quarterback. He is 3-0 against Mark as a coach.
Prediction: Heupel will never lose to Mark Stoops.
ADAMS: Readers agree with me. No need for Tony Vitello to change and ‘no mercy’ baseball
Jim writes: Great article on Todd Helton. I visited with Todd in Chicago when he was playing for the Rockies.
He had two doubles and a single. Sammy Sosa had three home runs for the Cubs.
My response: The wind must have been blowing out at Wrigley Field that day. But it didn’t matter if the wind was blowing in or out for Helton. His line drives were weather-proof.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-628 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Reader rips podcast decor. I blame my wife. Adam Sparks was in hotel.
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