The Sporting Orange Notebook: July 6

During the week, the highly decorated writers of The Sporting Orange read articles by people even smarter and more decorated than us. Our notebook is filled with their stories.

• Doberman On The Diamond goes after the assholes who post random nonsense on message boards. My brother is one of these people. He once called me to find a source on UF’s academic rankings in order to win an argument on a Gatorbait.net message board. Classy.
• Speaking of smarter than we are, The Situationist is a blog based out of the Harvard Law School. Instead of looking at the first amendment or the legality of political donations, this article wonders if ESPN’s negative view of the NHL had led in part to the league’s poor standing. The argument is a valid one and might be true. But as every sport innovates to score more points, the NHL keeps stepping backward. Just once I’d like to see a new offensive style instead of the neutral zone trap or some break out play that does jack squat.
• With Leather reports on the growing menace taking over Florida's rivers and lakes; flying fish.
• Finally, Buc ‘em floats the story that the Bucs would consider signing Tank Johnson. This isn’t real right? Gruden isn’t stupid or crazy enough to do something like this. Or is he? (I‘m covering my face with my Bucco Bruce hat, silently sobbing). -MLM