All right folks, this week Phil on the Hill returns to its old lineup format. And in honor of the rain-shortened World Series Game 5, we will discuss exactly 3 1/2 topics in order to help you finish your bus ride or class or wherever you decide to give me a few moments of your time.
So first up, I can't avoid it - Saturday's UF-Georgia matchup will be huge. But seriously, let's take it down just a few notches, at least until game day rolls around. I know UF fans have been counting down the days for their chance at retribution. But if there's one way the Gators lose this game (besides the 2007 defense making a comeback showing), it's being overhyped. Urban Meyer is a master at motivation, so I doubt this will happen, but with players keeping all their hype inside all week, the possibility for aggressive, bonehead mistakes early on is there.
For me, I'm looking forward to taking in the atmosphere. Yep, I'm losing my "World's-Largest-Cocktail-Party-That-Isn't-A-Cocktail-Party" virginity this week. For what it's worth, I predicted before the season that each team would come in with a loss and that UF would win the Jacksonville showdown.
Next up, the NBA season kicked off Tuesday night. (In related news, the NHL season has apparently been going on for weeks. Did anyone know?) The past few years, the season's beginning likely would have gone unnoticed by me, but after immensely enjoying last season's playoffs, I'm trying to give the league a shot from the get-go - or at least until college basketball season.
There's also been a lot of negative talk about the World Series this week with all the rain. It was definitely a weird feeling to start last night's game without a national anthem and have this "mini-game" that is the completion of Game 5 decided by each team's bullpen. Philadelphia Phillies fans certainly do have a point worth arguing about Monday night's decision to suspend the game coming after the Tampa Bay Rays tied things up in the sixth inning.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the UF soccer team has a chance to go undefeated in Southeastern Conference play if it can win at South Carolina tonight. It will be a true test of how much the Gators want their unblemished mark, having already clinched their third straight league title. The Gamecocks are unbeaten in 10 home matches this season, and a win could be a major boost to their SEC Tournament seeding.
Be smart and be careful this weekend, folks. For now, I'll go back to mourning the end of one of the best stories in sports. R.I.P. Rays.
