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Hmph. I can’t believe the ridiculousness of kids these days. Always running around, chasing baseballs in the neighborhood, running onto MY LAWN. Why I oughta!

The following comes from the Columbia Tribune’s Trib Talk, where people call in to leave complaints and comments about life in Mid-Mo. Enjoy.

“I continue to be embarrassed by the behavior of students at these basketball games. That constant noise while someone is trying to make a free throw wouldn’t be tolerated at a Little League game. I fail to see why it should be part of the environment at what is purported to be an institute of higher learning.”

WHY I NEVER! How could they be so gosh darn disrespectful? You want to know what I do to knock these darn kids down a peg or two? I shake my fist at them when I see them. They should show some gosh darned respect for people. Gee-gosh-golly I think I’m having a stroke.

Absolutely spectacular sideline reporter by Jon Jankowski. May be the next Erin Andrews, but what do I know.

Check the information on the video too. Jankowski is “an example of a 4.0 GPA Kent State student.”

[SportsbyBrooks]

2008 was the year of change on the Hill.

2010 is the year of change for DC sports.

DC sports have it a crossroad. In the past decade, teams in the District, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) have won only won title and that was Gary Williams and the Terrapins in 2002. Other than that, DC sports have been nothing short of futile.

Growing up in the DMV, I understand the frustration that arises from being a DC area sports fan. First there was optimism when Snyder bought the team and started trying to completely rebuild the franchise. Then Michael Jordan came and everyone was in awe of arguably the greatest player to ever grace Dr. Naismith’s court. Leonisis’ front office drafted what was supposed to be the greatest player since Gretsky. Oh, and DC United won a championship (which apparently no one cares about) and drafted the 16 year-old phenom named Freddy Adu.

Now, things are different. Mike Shanahan was introduced as head coach of the Redskins, weeks after salary cap genius Bruce Allen was brought in. Alex Ovechkin was granted the captains badge on his sweater for a team that has shown brilliance in the past few years. Abe Pollin is gone and while the Wizards looks promising, Gilbert Arenas has taken all the headlines with his upcoming gun possession charges. Oh, and if you care, Curt Onalfo was named head coach of DC United. But again, I’m guessing you don’t care.

So where do we go from here? No doubt Shanahan is expected to win a Super Bowl and bring back the glory to the Redskins. Will it happen? Possibly.

The Capitals are looking like a team that is poised to make a deep playoff run. Will it happen? Possibly.

Abe Pollin is gone, god bless his soul, and the Wizards are in more turmoil than ever. Flip Saunders was brought to town to stablize everything, yet things have fallen apart as they are near the cellar of the Eastern conference and Arenas has threatened the franchise with extreme possibilities of failure for the next decade.

Where do we go from here?

Up. Hopefully.

But will it happen?

Will Snyder be able to take a step back and understand he doe not have to be as hands on?

Will Bruce Boudreau finally have a team worthy of Lord Stanley’s cup?

Will Leonsis be able to reorganize the Wizards after a fiasco as enormous as the Arenas situation?

All of these are interesting story-lines for a city desperate for a championship?

Will they be asnwered? Who knows.

Will Washington fans be happy if they are?

Probably not, but it will be a huge turnaround i any of these franchises find their way out of the professional sports cellar.

Oh, did I not mention the Nationals. Yeah, probably for the best.

I know you’ve heard about it. Yeah, Danny Snyder hired Mike Shanahan to restore the Redskins franchise to glory. As you may or may not know, I am a Skins fan that has suffered through the ineptitude that is Snyder’s ownership and pray for the day that maybe we can win nine games. Yes, as of right now, I feel that winning nine games could be seen as successful.

Shanahan has signed and will be announced as the head coach during a press conference in Ashburn at 2 pm today.

I’m exhausted. The only thing I can hear are the final murmurs of the short-lived Zorn era and the screams of other Redskins fans and the media about becoming the Super Bowl champs. The only champions Snyder has been able to produce are those of the offseason.

So where does the organization go from here? Shanahan has been known as a control freak, a personality that seems like it would clash with that of Snyder, but just as he did during Joe Gibbs second stint in DC, Snyder will most likely be taking a more hands-off approach. This is the first step in the supposed “return to glory” and it’s a big one. Shanahan also becomes executive vice president of football operations, the position formerly held by Vinny Cerrato.

In terms of personnel, Shanahan has a good opportunity to build the type of team he wants because of Snyder’s will to win games. Snyder should cede nearly all personnel decisions to Shanahan and new GM Bruce Allen is more of a salary cap guy so that should not be a problem.

Since the Redskins have often been known as the offseason champs by simply reloading every season, how will Shanahan reorganize the team? There are changes that need to be made and I do believe they will be swift. I expect the defense to stay largely intact (except for a change or two in the secondary), but in terms of the offense, nothing is a sure thing. Here are some of the major problems and the things I expect Shanahan to do:
1.Jason Campbell He has been on the hot seat since he was promoted to starter in 2006. Most people think he will be gone, I do not. Shanahan will recognize the major problems on the offensive line and at the wide receiver position and understand that Campbell really isn’t that bad of a quarterback. He’s not great, merely average statistically ranking between 13 and 16 in most major offensive categories. Drafting Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen would be far too risky.
2. Offensive Line This is what killed the team all year. Weak players protecting the quarterback was the major problem with the offense. There is NO WAY you can argue with me on that being the biggest problem in terms of personnel. Campbell was never given time and no running back could get through the gaps because the gaps didn’t even exist.

What I expect Shanahan to do: draft Russell Okung out of Oklahoma State. He was the best offensive lineman in the country this past season and I expect him to carry over his talent to the league. Why do you think Shanahan had so many running backs coming out of nowhere and rushing for well over 1,000 yards? He knew how to assemble a solid offensive line.

3. Chris Cooley or Fred Davis Chris Cooley is one of my favorite players in the league and it killed me to see him go down early in the season. He’s a pro-bowler that missed his first games of his career this season. But when he went down, we got a chance to see Fred Davis step up and he definitely impressed a lot of people. There’s no reason to keep two tight ends and switching them in and out would be too much of a hassle for the offense. Veteran Todd Yoder has also shown his worth at tight end and fullback in a backup role so honestly, I could see Cooley or Davis hitting the road this offseason. I’d say it’s more likely Davis draws the short straw and hopefully gets traded for a draft pick. That’s in an ideal world and considering Snyder’s history, I don’t know if it will happen.

4. Wide reciever I don’t know what it is with this franchise’s obsession with short receivers, but our number one and number two receivers can’t stand below six feet. I really don’t want to sound like an idiot, but Brandon Marshall (Shanny drafted) isn’t too happy out in Denver and maybe the team could push through another blockbuster with the Mile High franchise to nap him. Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas have shown flashes of brilliance but I don’t know how that holds up next season.

As for how the team will fare next year, I don’t know. I’m not going to go through the schedule and start marking off wins and losses because that would be ridiculous (although I’m sure many people have done it already). I want to see the changes to the organization and how Snyder will change. I’m excited to see the interaction between Shanahan and Allen because their job duties do not overlap. Shanahan is the control guy while Allen is the salary cap guy.

I was going to try to write this blog post in 1920′s vernacular, the same kind Scoops Callahan (Tom Gribble) uses in this hilarious video, but it’s way too hard. I’m not hip to the oldies (oxymoron?) so I couldn’t. Yeah, sorry.

Tom Gribble of 1310AM The Ticket’s BaD Radio Show asks the hard questions in this hilarious video, interviewing everyone from Tom Brady to Vince Young. VY didn’t understand the question, which is understandable but I also highly doubt he ever understands actual questions fro reporters.

Mack Brown on the other hand understands the question perfectly and answers it. Yeah, dude is old.

Five years and two National Championships for Urban Meyer in Gainesville and he has stepped down from one of the strongest programs in college football due to reported health concerns.

The health concerns are not immediate, but Meyer did acknowledge his health has been neglected during his tenure at Florida. Meyer was admitted to a hospital for dehydration after the SEC Championship game, one in which the Gators lost to Alabama, and he has apparently been weighing his decisions since that incident.

Meyer was cited as a possible replacement for Charlie Weis at Notre Dame earlier this month, but said he would stay at Florida as long as they would have him. It now seems Florida will need to work on finding their own replacement for Meyer.

Meyer will coach the Gators in the Sugar Bowl vs Cincinnati on New Years Day.

We here at The Nine Commandments wish Meyer the best in the future as he battles whatever ails him.

[Update 12/28/09: Meyer has decided simply to take a leave of absence. Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will be taking over the head coaching next season.]