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The Final Horne: Graves featured in video in latest Lady Vols practice report

By James D. Horne | October 25, 2012 |

Clarksville High alumni Bashaara Graves will be a freshman on the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team this year, along with Northeast High alum and Lady Vols senior Kamiko Williams.

Graves was featured in the latest practice report on the Lady Vols Basketball team on its web site at UT Sports.com.

Bashaara is just one in the long line of great women basketball players from the area. In my time here I’ve seen the likes of April Thomas (APSU), Dawn Evans (James Madison), Jasmin Shuler (TSU), Williams and then of course the fab five of Graves, Chandler Cooper (Florida), Jessy Ward (Mississippi St.), Tiasha Gray (APSU) and Tia Nicholson (TN Tech). And of course Pat Head Summit got the ball rolling.

For me, seeing Bashaara  transition from the purple and gold of Clarksville High to the Orange and light blue of the Lady Vols is a cool thing.

And she is getting to be a big part of history in playing for new coach Holly Warlick as she takes over the reigns of the Lady Vols program.

So here’s the YouTube Video featuring Bashaara!

UT Lady Vols Freshman Bashaara Graves

The Final Horne: Sports Illustrated profiles Fort Campbell Football

By James D. Horne | October 18, 2012 |

In most of the United States, parents can usually attend their son’s local high school football games. On the military base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, that luxury can be snatched away without warning. Fort Campbell High is the school of students living on a military base. Day to day, the Falcon players face dealing with deployment, injury, and even the loss of family members. As a result, several players must fill in the void often left by the demands of military life. The boys live a regimented lifestyle and must be resilient to cope with the unpredictability of military life. (Photo by sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1210/hs-underdogs-9/content.1.html#ixzz29fdxQDaN

Sports Illustrated has done a wonderful story on the Fort Campbell High School Football program and coach Sean Berner in their online web series called ‘Underdogs: Inspiring Stories in High School Football”. The links are below.

It’s easy to forget that every child who goes to that that high school — and the elementary and middle schools — have a parent or parents who have been deployed, possibly injured or given the ultimate sacrifice of their life for our freedoms.

Fort Campbell is currently ranked No. 6 in Class 3A in Kentucky, is 6-2 overall and 3-0 and in first place in District 1. This Friday the Falcons host Heath for Homecoming.

Last year, the Falcons advanced to the Class 3A semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Central and in the first year of the new classifications in Kentucky.

Fort Campbell also won three straight Class 2A State Championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Highlighted in the story are coach Berner, volunteer Gerard Counts, Tristan Luke, Drayton Simmons and Coty Hix.

Luke is the team’s standout sophomore running back and really helps shape why he loves Fort Campbell High School

But the most special parts of the story are on Hix and especially Simmons and his family.

We all have our crap that we think we deal with everyday and think is so important, after watching this and what Simmons and his family — and his injured mother, a solider — go through without complaining and how the football team has accepted his little brother, you’ll realize that you really don’t have that bad.

And if you have a child or a loved one you’ve been separated from for any period of time, you’ll know understand the pain a father and son share when they have to be apart because of deployment.

It’s a great story and I hope you enjoy it. Thanks to Donnie Caver for sending me the link.

Sports Illustrated

The Final Horne: Lots of good games to pick from this week

By James D. Horne | October 5, 2012 |

Sarge and I continue to pick games on From the Sideline on Thursdays and Fridays, I just have gotten the chance to jot them down here.

But the picking season has been good for both of us.

I’m a solid 141-65 on the season, or been right 68.4 percent of the time, and Sarge is just behind at 137-69 and is at 66.5 percent.

In college some of the big games are: LSU at Florida, Louisiana-Monroe at Middle Tennessee, Georgia at South Carolina, Miami at Notre Dame, West Virginia at Texas, Nebraska at Ohio State and Washington at Oregon.

In high school, three of the best games will be, Clarksville at Henry County, No. 7 (1A) Clarksville Academy at No. 5 (2A) Houston County and No. 10 (4A) Northeast at Dickson County.

In the NFL, two big games are the Broncos at Patriots and the Eagles at the Steelers.

How Sarge and I did last week are below and so are my picks, which are in bold. N-Joy.

High School Football Games

Clarksville at Henry County

No. 7 (1A) Clarksville Academy at No. 5 (2A) Houston County

No. 10 (4A) Northeast at Dickson County

Montgomery Central at Camden

Springfield at Kenwood

West Creek at Rossview

Fort Campbell Bye

Northwest Bye

OVC Games

#16 Eastern Kentucky at #24 Tennessee State
Eastern Illinois at UT Martin
Murray State at Austin Peay
Jacksonville State at Tennessee Tech

College Football Games

Thursday Night

USC at Utah ESPN 9 p.m.

Friday Night

Pittsburgh at Syracuse ESPN 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Navy at Air Force CBS 11:30 a.m.

Mississippi State at Kentucky SEC 12:21 p.m.

LSU at Florida CBS 3:30 p.m.

Louisiana-Monroe at Middle Tennessee ESPN3 3:30 p.m.

Washington State at Oregon State Pac-12 6 p.m.

Georgia at South Carolina ESPN 7 p.m.

West Virginia at Texas FOX 7 p.m.

Vanderbilt at Missouri ESPN3 7 p.m.

Texas A&M at Ole Miss ESPNU 7 p.m.

Miami (Fla.) vs. Notre Dame NBC 7:30 p.m.

Florida State at NC State ESPN2 8 p.m.

Nebraska at Ohio State ABC 8 p.m.

UCLA at California Pac-12 10 p.m.

Washington at Oregon ESPN 10:30 p.m.

NFL Games

Bye week
Cowboys, Lions, Raiders, Buccaneers

Thursday
Cardinals at Rams, 8:20 p.m. ET

Sunday
Falcons at Redskins, 1 p.m. ET
Eagles at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
Packers at Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Browns at Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Titans at Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
Dolphins at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
Ravens at Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET
Seahawks at Panthers, 4:05 p.m. ET
Bears at Jaguars, 4:05 p.m. ET
Broncos at Patriots, 4:15 p.m. ET
Bills at 49ers, 4:15 p.m. ET
Chargers at Saints, 8:20 p.m. ET

Monday
Texans at Jets, 8:30 p.m. ET

The Final Horne: Expect to see two local kids transfering to play for coach Loos

By James D. Horne | September 15, 2012 |

If I was an Austin Peay men’s basketball fan I’d anticipate that former local standouts’ West Creek’s Zavion Williams and Kenwood’s Damarius Smith will be playing in Govs’ uniforms next season (2013-14).

I have it solidly confirmed that Zavion will redshirt this season and I’m rock solid on that one. I’m making an estimation on Damarius, but feel pretty good it has a good chance of happening after he leaves Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, this season.

Williams would be transferring from Lipscomb. Both played for the Bisons last year and don’t appear on their roster for the upcoming season, but did last year.

That works perfectly with Anthony Campbell and Jerome Clyburn graduating at the end of the season. (AC actually already has and is getting his Master’s right now.  He’s a good kid.)

If both come they are good transfer for APSU coach Dave Loos for a few reasons. First, because the last batch didn’t turn out quite like it looked like it should have. After starting 6-0 two years ago, the group fell off and end up getting bounced by Jacksonville State in the first round of the OVC in March with no titles. The goal at APSU is for its student-athletes to leave with a diploma and a ring

Secondly, there was a steady steam of Clarksville kids going to Lipscomb including Zavion and Damarius, along with Malcolm and Martin Smith and Adam Barnes going to Belmont The perception was building that Loos couldn’t keep the fence in on Clarksville talent. BTW — Alex Poythress does not fit into this, because he was destined for the big time. And I’m not demeaning APSU, but its history does not compare to Kentucky basketball history and that’s OK but not an argument. Just like Bashaara Graves was destined for Tennessee.

And (since I’ve been here in Oct. of 2003) Loos did go with local kids Brandon Burney, from Montgomery Central, and Clarksville High’s Tyrone Caldwell, both who didn’t succeed and that’s OK, too. There are some who’ll say Loos should have gone with Dickson County’s John Primm over Caldwell and even try to keep DC’s Corey Pflieger from going to Rice a few years ago.

Of course, Northeast’s Drake Reed did pretty well, and in full disclosure, he is a friend of mine, so I’m trying to be objective in my compliment.

The just graduated John Fraley is also from Clarksville after going the Heritage Christian Academy in Hopkinsville.

You could also throw in Hopkinsville’s Michael Dudas and Ryan Isom.

Oh, and that Trenton Hassell guy from Clarksville High back in the late 1990′s was pretty good, too.

In defense of Dave though, for some getting away from home, in this case Clarksville, but not too far,  is the goal of many college students in general and certainly for student-athletes. It’s not often that if things don’t work out a student-athlete can go home and still compete at the Division I level.

I never got to see either of them play, but they all say they both were good. Again, full disclosure, I have great respect for Amius Smith, Damarius’ brother, an APSU Football Hall of Famer and Kenwood FB great, and his family, again trying to be objective.

But I do know coach Loos goes after good, hard working kids, so I have no bout that these two are. And while I’m on this full disclosure thing, and also because sometimes people don’t believe it until they read it, I have the utmost respect for coach Loos, his program, his being A.D. at APSU and how he treats men like men. It is a rare quality and I have the two T-shirts to prove it.

The Final Horne: It’s a good day to choose the winners

By James D. Horne | September 14, 2012 |

Last week saw me go a really solid 28-17 and now I’m  58-24 on the year. Sarge is rolling along at 55-27.

For the season, I’ve picked 70.7 percent right, while Sagre, who  of course, keeps the stats, is 67.1 percent.

You can hear who’ll we’ll choose today on “From the Sideline” today and every Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. on WJZM. (Listen Live)

I’m coming off a 30-10 advantage after going 17-1 two weeks ago before the NFL started. Sarge aka Chris Austin went 15-3 and was 28-12 two weeks ago.

I picked the Bears to win Thursday and Sarge went with the Packers so going into today’s show it’s 58-25 me to 56-27 Sarge.

And my picks this week are:

High School Football Picks

(7-0 last week)

Rossview at Kenwood, 7 PM

Clarksville High at West Creek, 7 PM

Montgomery Central at Waverly, 7 PM

Dickson County at Northwest, 7 PM

No. 6 (5A) Christian County (Ky.) at No. 8 (3A) Ft. Campbell, 7 PM

No. 4 (1A) Clarksville Academy at East Robertson, 7 PM

OVC PICKS

(3-1 Last Week)

Austin Peay at Tennessee State, 1:00 p.m.
Eastern Illinois at Illinois State, 1:00 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at Oregon, 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky at Coastal Carolina, 5:00 p.m.
Southeast Missouri at Southern Illinois, 6:00 p.m.
Murray State at Missouri State, 7:00 p.m.

College Football Picks (All Times ET)

(7-9 last week, ouch)

Presbyterian (1-1) at Vanderbilt (0-2), 12:30 p.m.

Virginia (2-0) at Georgia Tech (1-1), 3:30 p.m.

North Carolina (1-1) at Louisville (2-0), 3:30 p.m.

East Carolina (1-1) at Southern Miss. (0-1), 3:30 p.m.

Florida (2-0) at Tennessee (2-0), 6 p.m.

W. Kentucky (1-1) at Kentucky (1-1), 7 p.m.

Middle Tennessee (1-1) at Memphis (0-2), 7 p.m.

Texas (2-0) at Mississippi (2-0), 9:15 p.m.

Arizona St. (2-0) at Missouri (1-1), 7 p.m.

Notre Dame (2-0) at Michigan St. (2-0), 8 p.m.

Alabama (2-0) at Arkansas (1-1), 3:30 p.m. (Big)

Southern Cal (2-0) at Stanford (2-0), 7:30 p.m.

NFL Picks (all times ET)

(11-4 Last Week)

Thursday 9/13, 2012:

• Bears @ Packers – 8:20pm NFLN

Sunday 9/16, 2012:

• Buccaneers @ Giants – 1:00pm FOX
• Cardinals @ Patriots – 1:00pm FOX
• Vikings @ Colts – 1:00pm FOX
• Saints @ Panthers – 1:00pm FOX
• Chiefs @ Bills – 1:00pm CBS
• Ravens @ Eagles – 1:00pm CBS
• Raiders @ Dolphins – 1:00pm CBS
• Browns @ Bengals – 1:00pm CBS
• Texans @ Jaguars – 1:00pm CBS
• Cowboys @ Seahawks – 4:05pm FOX
• Redskins @ Rams – 4:05pm FOX
• Titans @ Chargers – 4:25pm CBS
• Jets @ Steelers – 4:25pm CBS
• Lions @ 49ers – 8:20pm NBC

Monday 9/17, 2012:

• Broncos @ Falcons – 8:30pm ESPN

My Picks Last Week (9/7/12)

High School Football Schedule

Northwest at Henry County

Kenwood at Dickson County

Rossview at Montgomery Central

West Creek at Northeast

Springfield at Clarksville

Mt. Juliet Christian at Clarksville Academy

Ft. Campbell at Ft. Knox (Army Bowl)

OVC Games (times Central)

Austin Peay at #16 Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Chattanooga at #24 Jacksonville State, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
#20 Central Arkansas at Murray State, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State, 6:00 p.m. (Memphis, Tenn.)

College Games (times Eastern, USA Today rankings)

(7)   Georgia  at  Missouri (7:45 PM)
(14)   Nebraska  at  UCLA (7:30 PM)
(16)   Oklahoma St.  at  Arizona (10:30 PM)
Miami  at  (20)   Kansas St. (12:00 PM)
(23)   Florida  at  Texas A&M (3:30 PM)
Auburn  at  Mississippi St. (12:00 PM)
Penn St.  at  Virginia (12:00 PM)
N.C. State  at  Connecticut (12:00 PM)
Maryland  at  Temple (12:00 PM)
Iowa St.  at  Iowa (3:30 PM)
Georgia State  at  Tennessee (4:00 PM)
Toledo  at  Wyoming (4:00 PM)
Memphis  at  Arkansas St. (7:00 PM)
Florida Atlantic  at  Middle Tenn. St. (7:00 PM)
Vanderbilt  at  Northwestern (8:00 PM)
Illinois  at  Arizona St. (10:30 PM)

NFL Games

Colts @ Bears – 1:00pm CBS
Eagles @ Browns- 1:00pm FOX
Patriots @ Titans – 1:00pm CBS
Falcons @ Chiefs – 1:00pm FOX
Jaguars @ Vikings – 1:00pm CBS
Redskins @ Saints – 7:00pm FOX
Bills @ Jets – 1:00pm CBS
Rams @ Lions – 1:00pm FOX
Dolphins @ Texans – 1:00pm CBS
49ers @ Packers – 4:25pm FOX
Seahawks @ Cardinals – 4:25pm FOX
Panthers @ Buccaneers – 4:25pm FOX
Steelers @ Broncos – 8:20pm NBC

Monday Night
Bengals @ Ravens – 7:00pm ESPN
Chargers @ Raiders – 10:15pm ESPN

The Final Horne: Time to make the picks

By James D. Horne | September 7, 2012 |

Sarge and I have been picking high school games since the start of the season on “From the Sideline”, heard daily from 3 to 6 p.m. on WJZM, added college football games last week and will start with the NFL today and do so ever Friday in “The Final Stretch!”.

But I had yet made my prognostications online, because I like picking everything at the same time.

Sarge, of course, has kept the stats of what we’ve done so far and I’ve already jumped out to a 30-10 advantage after going 17-1 last week. Sarge aka Chris Austin went 15-3 and is 28-12.

Some ground rules: I will pick most in state college and all OVC conference games (and some non-conference games), I never pick with the spread (but for college games I will pick close games), I won’t pick midweek games and don’t use these to bet on (except if you win something big and want to throw me a few bucks).

The biggest rule is: This is all about having some fun.

So without further adieu, here is my picks for this week’s games, the team in bold is my choice!

High School Football Schedule

Northwest at Henry County

Kenwood at Dickson County

Rossview at Montgomery Central

West Creek at Northeast

Springfield at Clarksville

Mt. Juliet Christian at Clarksville Academy

Ft. Campbell at Ft. Knox (Army Bowl)

OVC Games (times Central)

Austin Peay at #16 Virginia Tech, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Chattanooga at #24 Jacksonville State, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
#20 Central Arkansas at Murray State, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Tennessee State vs. Jackson State, 6:00 p.m. (Memphis, Tenn.)

College Games (times Eastern, USA Today rankings)

(7)   Georgia  at  Missouri (7:45 PM)
(14)   Nebraska  at  UCLA (7:30 PM)
(16)   Oklahoma St.  at  Arizona (10:30 PM)
Miami  at  (20)   Kansas St. (12:00 PM)
(23)   Florida  at  Texas A&M (3:30 PM)
Auburn  at  Mississippi St. (12:00 PM)
Penn St.  at  Virginia (12:00 PM)
N.C. State  at  Connecticut (12:00 PM)
Maryland  at  Temple (12:00 PM)
Iowa St.  at  Iowa (3:30 PM)
Georgia State  at  Tennessee (4:00 PM)
Toledo  at  Wyoming (4:00 PM)
Memphis  at  Arkansas St. (7:00 PM)
Florida Atlantic  at  Middle Tenn. St. (7:00 PM)
Vanderbilt  at  Northwestern (8:00 PM)
Illinois  at  Arizona St. (10:30 PM)

NFL Games

Colts @ Bears – 1:00pm CBS
Eagles @ Browns- 1:00pm FOX
Patriots @ Titans – 1:00pm CBS
Falcons @ Chiefs – 1:00pm FOX
Jaguars @ Vikings – 1:00pm CBS
Redskins @ Saints – 7:00pm FOX
Bills @ Jets – 1:00pm CBS
Rams @ Lions – 1:00pm FOX
Dolphins @ Texans – 1:00pm CBS
49ers @ Packers – 4:25pm FOX
Seahawks @ Cardinals – 4:25pm FOX
Panthers @ Buccaneers – 4:25pm FOX
Steelers @ Broncos – 8:20pm NBC

Monday Night
Bengals @ Ravens – 7:00pm ESPN
Chargers @ Raiders – 10:15pm ESPN

The Final Horne: See how I’ll dominate Fantasy Football this year

By James D. Horne | September 3, 2012 |

Below are my soon to be two championship Yahoo! Fantasy Football teams that I will guide this year. I have a third that I will be doing on ESPN that drafted Sunday, but I’ll tell you about that one in a later post. If you haven’t drafted yet, remember, running backs are the key in most leagues, even in this pass happy NFL.

The first team, BigDog’s SuperCanes, is in the league I’m commissioner in, The Evil Monkey in Your Closet League, and finished in 2nd last year. It was one of those if I play another player I win the title kind of things.  We don’t play for money and I’ve run this league since 2004.

The second team, BigDog’s BigBucs, is in in the simply title, The League (the two who thought of the name wanted to try to be like the short-lived TV show of the same name, but it didn’t happen, we all work for real). But it grew out of the baseball league I’ve been in for about seven years now, a league that I won back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.

But last year they wanted to play for money and so we did. I had always told them, “The first time we play for money, I’ll win!” And that came true when I won the regular season and $50. I finished third and the eventual winner also got $50 (good payout and alas we don’t play for cash anymore.

Big Dog’s SuperCanes

How can I lose with the BigDog’s SuperCanes with Aaron Rodgers, Michael Turner (picked in the 4th round), Marshawn Lynch (picked two round before Turner), Victor Cruz, Marques Colston and Ahmad Bradshaw. Getting Willis McGahee in the 10th and Reggie Wayne in the 12th were steals as was Ben Tate in the 15th. And how a now happy DeSean Jackson fell to sixth is beyond me. With San Fran’s defense and Tony Gonzalez at tight end, I’m unstoppable.

BigDog’s BigBucs

You’ll notice some carry overs on my BigDog’s BigBucs team with Lynch, Colston, Bradshaw, Gonzalez, Green, Heyward-Bey, Gresham and Tate. Hey, the draft went the way it went and my target players stuck around. Honestly, I’m not thrilled about having Shon Greene, but other than Tim Tebow, they don’t have another good short-yard back and they can’t use the Wildcat all the time at the goal line.

But getting LeSean McCoy first is just amazing and with the 6th pick no less. Fred Jackson in the third and Reggie in the 5th, I thought were great gets.

I actually wanted to go with Jackson in the 6th round, but had to go with Eli Manning and still got DeSean in the 7th. Owens Daniels in the 16th and Mike Williams in the 19th also could be steals.

Chicago’s defense, David Akers and a solid back up in Andy Dalton certainly make this team a winner, too.

So I showed you mine … if you want to show me yours or have an extra spot in your league email me at james@clarksvillesportsnetwork.com

The Final Horne: I could see Reeves-Maybin playing quarterback at the college level

By James D. Horne | August 31, 2012 |

I could see Northeast High’s and now Tennessee signee Jalen Reeves-Maybin (4) play quarterback at the college level.

I had heard all the hype about Northeast High’s and now Tennessee signee Jalen Reeves-Maybin and never doubted anything that was uttered. What I thought was the best was I got the fortune to meet the young man and talk to him a few times during the summer as a regular teenager on ‘From the Sideline’ and liked him right off. wherever

Now I want to be absolutely and completely clear here: In no way do I doubt his decision to play defense or Tennessee’s want to have him play on defense.

With that being said, I was so impressed with his skills as a quarterback that it left me thinking, ‘Now why, wasn’t Jalen being recruited more as a quarterback!’

First off, he’s got a rocket arm. He can fling the ball on a go route like a Chinese badminton player swats a birdie. But he can also find players on the crossing route and screens.

Oh and can he run. Reeves-Maybin is nimble, agile, nifty, shifty and flat out fast. Former Fort Campbell standout Micah Johnson, Independence (La.) High running back LaBrandon Tofield and Hammond (La.) Hign corner Fred Booker are three of the most impressive high school football players I’ve covered and Reeves-Maybin ranks right up there.

And as I watched him against Rossview last Friday night, I could have easily seen him doing that on Saturday playing quarterback for Georgia Tech, but also at Tennessee, Louisville, Ole Miss or Vandy.

Boiling all down Reeves-Maybin is one of the many talented kids in the area along with Tristan Luke, Jaylen Williams, Isaiah Washington, Jeff Webb, Charles Talleyrand, Isaiah Johnson and Dontavious (DJ) Cutno … just to name a few (and the one’s that have stood out to me in the two games I’ve seen so far).

So, like with the Clarksville High girls basketball team, including Tennessee’s and Team USA’s  Bashaara Graves, or Northeast’s and now Kentucky’s Alex Poythress, make sure you get out to see these and all the great football players in the area.

But Derek Dooley if by chance you happen to read this, Jalen has a pretty good arm.

The Final Horne: Washington Nationals’ treatment of Strasburg could go the way of Dan Marino

By James D. Horne | August 26, 2012 |

I can understand why the Washington Nationals want to shut ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg down. I just don’t agree with it and it’s all because of Dan Marino.

The Nationals’ brain trust are looking long term. They have an investment in the young 2nd-year phenom and want to see him in that uniform for 17 plus years and in turn feel like they will ultimately win the many World Series.

And it’s a smart way to look at things. It’s just misguided, because this is a win-now sports world.

Right now the surprising Nats have the best record in baseball and are an odds-on favorite to go to and win the World Series this year. Yes, there’s no guarantee, but there’s really none in the future either and sometimes it’s better to throw your chips in now and play the cards in front of you.

Just ask Dan Marino, the 17-year pro, the greatest quarterback never to win a Super Bowl, and more important the guy who got there in his second year, never to go again.

Everyone thought Dan Marino would go back. He had all the tools and talent to get there and went to the playoffs eight more times after.

But it never led to a Super Bowl ring.

The worst thing is in some ways, the Nats are also squelching his natural competitive nature. Strasburg wants to pitch,

“The job isn’t finished, it’s still August. We’re still focused, we’re still trying to win as many games as we can.”

Right now the Nats have everything in their grasp. Again, I understand the want to save Strasburg for the long term, but he could get hurt in a car crash and unfortunately in this world, something even worse.

You just never know.

And let’s be really honest, the Nationals never thought they’d be this good. But they are.

So let him pitch and lead you to the promise land.

Or you could just be Dan Marino.

The Final Horne: Titans had no choice but to go with Locker

By James D. Horne | August 23, 2012 |

It’s was a no-brainer for the Tennessee Titans to go with second-year pro Jake Locker as the new starting quarterback.

Really, they had no choice.

The real problem was Matt Hasselbeck played out of his mind last year and almost led the Titans to the playoffs and an unthinkable 9-7 record.

I think most Titans fans would say, if they’re honest with themselves did not foresee that or the 3,571 yards he threw for with the 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Hasselbeck was supposed to flounder in his 13th year last season and easily allow the then-rookie Locker to slide in with no problem.

I’m not an NFL GM, but I’m smart enough to figure when an NFL team signs a free agent quarterback and then drafts a quarterback in the first round with the 8th pick no less in the same offseason, the thought is the rookie is going to get his chance sometime in the first year. But Hasselbeck went and screwed it all up by playing well. How dare he?

But all Hasselbeck did was his job and truthfully Locker and the Titans will be better for it  will be better for it.

And as coach Mike Munchak said Monday:

“Matt was exactly what we needed here. We needed his leadership. We needed his experience, and he is a big reason as to why we were 9 and 7 last year, and we mention that quite often.

When Jake did get a chance to play last year, he was ready to go. He played in three games; he played very well; he got in situations. We were surprised at how well he did for not playing, at how well he moved the team; he brought excitement and energy. So when the season did end, we thought that we had something special, like we did when we drafted him. That’s why we told y’all right from the beginning that we thought we were going to have a competition here, because of what Jake showed he was capable during the season, of how much he progressed. That’s kind of how we looked at it.

We went into April, May, June, July, did our OTAs, and again, he just continued to get better and better at a lot of things, at handling the team; all of the things that we’ve talked about that we were looking at and analyzing and watching him and how he improved. When he went into camp, it was the same thing; he just got better. He had some bad days, but he came back quickly from them. When things didn’t go his way, he handled them very well, which was good to watch. Matt was having a nice solid camp and games. Every time Jake has been in the game he has scored points; he moves the team.”

Plus, these new-fangled 21st century type firs-round draft rookies really seem to be capable of coming in and playing. Matt Ryan, Matt Staford, Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Josh Freeman, Christan Ponder and Blaine Gabbert have all gotten it done and the expectation is Andrew Luck, RGIII, Ryan Tannehill and Branden Weeden all will as rookies this year.

And so will Jake Locker, sometimes you you have to give them the keys an let them run with it.