So as some of you may have or (more likely) may not have noticed, it’s been a tiny bit quiet here at Aaron Torres Sports the last couple weeks. Part of that is by design, and part of that is because I’ve had some pretty darn big things going on behind the scenes.

And today, it’s time to tell you about those things, and share with you this: I am happy to announce that starting this week (tomorrow, actually), I will begin work at the new Fox Sports 1 television station. That’s right; your boy is all growed up, with a real job and everything!! I can’t tell you how proud my grandma is (safe to say that she was the LeBron James of cheek-pinching this weekend).

Now to give you a few details (and really, that’s all I know about the job at this point, are minor, minor details), let me start by discussing the new network. I assume that most of you know a little bit about Fox Sports 1 (mainly because it’s been the buzz of the sports blogosphere these last few months), but for those of you who don’t, below is a quick rundown of the important details.

On August 17, Fox Sports is a launching a 24-hour sports network to go head-to-head, toe-to-toe and blow for blow with ESPN, CBS, NBC and others. It’s called Fox Sports 1 (or “FS1” as the kids refer to it), and that is obviously where I’ll be spending my days in the coming weeks and months. It’s also why over the last few years you’ve probably noticed Fox gobbling up broadcasting rights to a number of different sports, and why they’ve been gobbling up a bunch of talented media personalities as well.  

Simply put, Fox has been positioning itself to do this, and do this BIG for a while now.

Now, for those of you who are curious/intrigued/or worried about whether or not you’ll get Fox Sports 1 as part of your cable package, don’t be. FS1 will actually replace the Fox-owned “Speed Network” on your television dial, meaning that if you have Speed (and over 90 million of you do), in a few months it’ll just be Fox Sports 1 instead. You don’t need to throw a fit, you don’t need to call your cable provider, you don’t need to make any thinly-veiled, half-hearted threats; just go ahead and find Speed, and the rest will take care of itself. Most of you are already Fox Sports 1 subscribers, despite the fact that the network doesn’t even exist yet (and if that doesn’t officially blow your mind, I don’t know what would).

In terms of what I’ll be doing specifically, my job is as a writer for Fox Sports 1’s equivalent of Sportscenter, which will be known as “Fox Sports Live.” Admittedly I don’t know a ton about the show (and even if I did, I wouldn’t say much here for fear of upsetting my bosses), but what I can tell you is this: If you like sports, and you like having fun while consuming your sports, you’re going to LOVE Fox Sports Live. If you’ve ever believed anything I’ve ever said, just take my word on this.

And frankly, that’s a lot of the reason why I took this job. I had other writing opportunities come up in recent months, and even if I hadn’t, I was perfectly content doing what I had been. Not to mention that I never thought I’d writing for TV, or- to be blunt- that a TV network would even consider me to write for them.  But that’s just how the chips fell, and when this opportunity came about, it was something I simply couldn’t pass up.

For one, it’s an opportunity to work with what’s the equivalent of a sports start-up, which is as cool as you’d expect it to be.  

But what makes it even cooler is that it’s not just a sports start-up, but a sports start-up with bright, young, interesting and fun people in charge of it. You know about all of the talent that Fox will put in front of the camera, but just know that the people behind it are just as talented as well. Again, I cannot emphasize this enough: If you like sports and you like fun, you’re going to love FS1 and Fox Sports Live specifically. You just are. Drop the mic. Go home. It’s a wrap. August 17 can’t get here fast enough.   

Of course with the good comes the bad, and that bad is that this website will be pretty limited going forward. I suspect that once I get geared up at Fox, I will help them with their web presence in some capacity (I know they will eventually start a website for the TV network down the road), meaning that I still will be writing somewhere online, sometime soon. It just likely won’t be here very often. I’m hoping to have time to write every now and again, but right now my commitment is 100 percent to my new job. As it should be.

With that, I’m going to save all the corny stuff about how much I’ve grown, changed, and turned into a better man because of Aaron Torres Sports and just leave it at this: I’m bummed to leave things here, but excited for new beginnings, and most of all grateful to all of you who’ve shown support to both me and this site through the years.

Please understand it wasn’t always easy maintaining this site, and giving everyone the quality content I wanted to produce and you deserved to read. But every time I considered the alternative, considered closing things down, doing something different, whatever, there was always one of you with encouraging words to help push me through it. Believe me, if I ever had shut this website down prior to right now, there’s no way I would’ve ever ended up with this job. And it’s because of that, I am thankful to each and every one of you for helping me land this gig.     

Going forward I do hope that all the connections I’ve built through this site will stay intact. I’m in touch with many of you through e-mail ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) and that won’t change, nor will my presence on Twitter @Aaron_Torres or Facebook also (hopefully I will be able to try out a lot of the material I put into the show on Twitter). So as always, feel free to hit me there, chat sports with me, argue whatever.

But most of all let me know what you think of the new network when it does launch in a few months. This whole Fox Sports 1 thing is going to be big…really big. I can’t wait for you all to see the finished product of what we put on your TV screens in August.

Before then, stay in touch and don’t forget about your boy Aaron.

Until next time…
 

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports Images)

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For a long time I’ve hoped to discuss the Nebraska Cornhuskers on the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast, and on Tuesday my wish finally came true, when former Cornhusker great Ralph Brown II stopped by the show.

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Ralph was an All-American at Nebraska, played in the NFL for nearly a decade and was in Lincoln in the Huskers heyday, culminating in a 1997 National Championship. He discussed all that and more, beginning with:

- As a California native, what was it about Nebraska that convinced him to move across country to play college football? More importantly, as a school that needs to recruit nationally to be successful, does Nebraska’s “name” still intrigue prospects outside the state like it once did?

- Staying on the same subject, will the current dynamics of college football allow Nebraska to be one of the elite programs in college football ever again? Furthermore, is it possible that the move to the Big Ten actually hurt Nebraska’s national image more than it helped it?

- Speaking of the Big Ten, Ralph shares his thoughts on the current state of the conference. He explains why he has been so impressed with Michigan and Ohio State, but also why schools like Northwestern have impressed him as well.

- Ralph next shares his thoughts on the current regime at Nebraska. Is Bo Pelini the right man to lead this program? And more importantly, has the program peaked under his watch?

Finally Ralph wraps up by discussing the 2013 Cornhuskers. He explains why Nebraska might have the best group of skill-position players in the Big Ten, why the defense should be improved, and why he believes they’ll win one more game in 2013 than they did in 2012.  

Folks, there is no one in the media who knows the Cornhuskers football program quite like Ralph Brown does. Simply put, if you’re looking for news and information about the Cornhuskers, this is the podcast for you.

For those new listeners, please note that the podcast is available to download straight from iTunes just by searching for “The Aaron Torres Sports Podcast.” You can also subscribe to the Aaron Torres Sports podcast by clicking here.

As always I encourage you to share your thoughts either by commenting below or hitting me up on Twitter @Aaron_Torres or on my newly redesigned Facebook page. Also, if you want updates on all things Cornhuskers football (and really, who doesn’t?) make sure and follow Evan on Twitter @RalphDBrown.

I want to thank Ralph once again for joining the show, and you all for listening in.

Until next time...
 

As you may remember, in recent weeks Aaron Torres Sports took part in a giveaway with the famed rum distributor Captain Morgan.

As you may also remember, when I announced the giveaway, I also made grand promises to those who participated, promises which included some awesome prizes like iPad mini's, Kindle Fire's and Beats by Dre Headphones.

Well the giveaway officially ended a few weeks ago, and with a third place finish overall I was awarded some of the prizes mentioned above. And today, it's time to give those prizes away!

Below, are the winners of the prizes, and prizes won. And please note that while I couldn't give away prizes to everyone who helped with the promotion, please know that I appreciate all your help.

Finally, I also want to make sure and send a big shoutout to the good folks at both Captain Morgan and Taylor Strategy for getting me involved.

It was a fun process and I hope to do it all again next year!

Anyway, here are the winners:

Erin Waggoner, Kindle Fire
Elizabeth Ramirez, iPad mini
Mike DeBella, Captain Morgan swag pack
Trenise Ferriera, Captain Morgan swag pack

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

“The Mouth of the South” has once again spoken. Only at this point you’ve got to wonder if anyone is listening.

That mouth is of course attached to the cherubic face of new Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema, who- when he’s not busy stuffing it with unidentified cured meats- has apparently added a second job title to his resume in Fayetteville: That of the SEC’s biggest cheerleader.

Bielema’s latest comments came Tuesday at the conference’s spring meetings, where according to a number of reporters who were on site, he said the following:

“In the Big Ten, we disliked the SEC because of the success they had.”

Ooooooo, oh no he didn’t!!!!!

Only he did.

And it’s those comments which are just the latest proof that on Bielema’s personal yellow brick road from Wisconsin to football superiority at Arkansas, the man just can’t stop talking. He also apparently can’t stop burning bridges either.

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

To quote the ‘Most Interesting Man In the World’: “I don’t talk NBA basketball often here on the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast, but when I do, I choose to do it with Hall of Famers.”

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Ok, so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but when the opportunity came up for me to speak with NBA Hall of Famer Rick Barry over the weekend, it was a chance I couldn’t pass up.

We spoke on Saturday prior to Game 3 of the Grizzlies-Spurs series (which was ultimately won by San Antonio on Monday), but our conversation quickly evolved from these playoffs to the state of basketball as a whole as well as Rick’s adventures away from the court.

Amongst the topics we discussed included the following:

- Rick’s thoughts on the Eastern Conference Finals between Indiana and Miami. Was Indiana not given enough respect coming in, could you make the case that the Pacers actually have the deeper roster overall, and most importantly, what the hell happened at the end of Game 1 with Roy Hibbert?

- Moving to the Western Conference, Rick discusses the greatness of Gregg Popovich and the Spurs. Rick also explains what Popovich is able to do to get his players to trust and buy into his philosophy, as well  as his ability to turn average players into key pieces of a potential title team.  

- Eventually the conversation changed directions and Rick I instead discussed some of what is currently right and wrong with the state of basketball. Rick shared at length his thoughts on why the one-and-done rule is bad, and why- after seeing his youngest son come through the circuit- AAU basketball is bad for young players.

- Finally, Rick discusses some of his off the court hobbies, including fishing expeditions he runs, as well as a unique shoe line that he works for.

Folks, there is simply no man who has more strong opinions about the state of the NBA than Rick Barry does, and it was truly was a pleasure having him on the show. Whether you agree with everything Barry says or not, there are few who are as informed or opinionated on the current state of basketball as he is.

For those new listeners, please note that the podcast is available to download straight from iTunes just by searching for “The Aaron Torres Sports Podcast.” You can also subscribe to the Aaron Torres Sports podcast by clicking here.

As always I encourage you to share your thoughts either by commenting below or hitting me up on Twitter @Aaron_Torres or on my newly redesigned Facebook page. Also, if you want updates on all the things Rick is up to, be sure to check out RickBarry24.com.

I want to thank Rick once again for joining the show, and you all for listening in.

Until next time...

(Photo Courtesy: Aaron Torres)

(*** Aaron’s Note: This article was originally posted at Aaron Torres Sports on May 28, 2010.

However, in honor of my grandmother turning 97 today, and still going strong, I decided to repost it. Forgive me for the dated “Celtics-Magic" reference and please forgive me for the terrible writing. Hopefully I've gotten better over the last couple years.

Still, enjoy the article and enjoy the holiday weekend)

To some of you, I know you think of me as some crazed, bizarre, sports lunatic. A guy who falls asleep with West Coast baseball games on, and wakes up to replays of Sportscenter in the morning. A guy who watches classic college football games for "fun," reads passages from old Sports Illustrated's when he's bored, and even flips on the India-Pakistan cricket match when there's nothing else on TV. Well, with the exception of the cricket, you'd be right (Ok, ok, I watched cricket, but it was just ONE time. I swear!).

However, beyond that though, I'm a relatively normal guy, that does the same stuff everybody does. I go to the mall and hang out with my buddies. I play pick-up basketball and hit the driving range every once in awhile. And despite what internet rumors might be out there, yes I even put my pants on one leg at a time. Even if it took me until I was eight to totally figure out how.

Anyway, being a sportswriter, I'm sure many of you assume that I spent this past Monday watching either Game 4 of the Magic-Celtics series, or the opener of a three game Red Sox sweep of the first place Rays. Actually though, I was doing my normal guy routine at a birthday party.

Now before we go any further, I know what you're thinking, and no this wasn't one of those "Brody Jenner on The Hills," type birthday parties, I promise. There were no crazy antics or binge drinking, and truthfully, there weren't even presents exchanged.

Why no presents?

Well, I was at my grandma's 94th birthday party, and honestly, what do you get a 94-year-old that has it all? A Nintendo Wii?
 

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

Earlier this week, Lamar Hull, an ex-basketball player at Davidson reached out to me and requested the opportunity to do a guest post here at Aaron Torres Sports. Given that he was looking to cover a subject I wouldn't have considered (Brian Urlacher's retirement from the NFL) and given that I have a soft-spot for all ex-athletes, I took Lamar up on it.

Here is his take on the retirement and legacy of one the greatest linebackers to ever play the game.

Brian Urlacher, perennial Pro Bowl linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League, announced his retirement from the sport he played in for 13 years. On his Twitter account, the 34 year-old linebacker told his fans, “After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made a decision to retire.”

Urlacher had become a free agent in the offseason. After finding little interest from potential suitors, he opted to retire as a member of the Chicago Bears. Urlacher played his entire career with the team. Urlacher told sports talk radio in Chicago he intends to file his official retirement papers with the league soon.

The linebacker played his college ball at the University of New Mexico, where he majored in criminology. He earned a reputation for speed and range playing the “Lobo” position in a 3-3-5 defense. The Lobo is a hybrid position, with elements of linebacker and safety. He was named an All-American safety in 1999. His speed and athleticism allowed Urlacher to also play wide receiver on offense. The college squad utilized Urlacher as a kick return specialist, too.

Over his career, Urlacher played in 182 games, including 180 starts, over the course of what most analysts believe is a Hall of Fame career. He finished his career with 1,779 tackles, 41 ½ sacks and 22 interceptions. The linebacker finishes his career as the Bears all-time leader in tackles. I will always remember watching some of his great performances on NFL Sunday Ticket, I doubt in the near future will anyone live up to Urlacher’s success at the linebacker position.

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports Images)

(For all his podcasts, follow Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres)

Over the past few years, few college football programs have been more fascinating than the Tennessee Volunteers. From coaching changes en masse to on the field disappointments galore, as I said a million times during the 2012 college football season: It’s Always Something with Tennessee.

And on Wednesday, one of the Vols’ top beat writers, Evan Woodbery of the Knoxville News Sentinel stopped by the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast to discuss this most unusual of programs.

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Evan and I chatted about the following:

- What is it about Tennessee that there always seems to be something going on, on or off the field? Evan says it’s no different than his time covering Auburn and explains the parallels between the two schools.

- Evan explains what went wrong last year in Knoxville. Was it the coaching? Did the players not buy in? And why didn’t the one-year experiment with Sal Sunseri’s 3-4 defense ever seem to work?

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports)

For updates all of Aaron's college football podcasts, follow on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.

Spring football is officially over, which also means that we’re now one step closer to the start of actual games this fall. And in honor of it, it’s time to start up the Aaron Torres Sports summer podcast series with one of my favorite guests: Barrett Sallee of BleacherReport.com.

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Simply put there is no one who knows this conference better than Barrett, and on Wednesday Barrett broke down all the major story lines from this spring, specifically in the SEC East (note we will do the SEC West in the coming weeks).

However before we could talk football, we needed to settle a movie debate once and for all, beginning with:

- An argument on the merits of both Major League and Major League II. Barrett explains why Major League is a classic, and I explain why Major League II is one of the more underrated sports movies our time. We also debate Willie Mays Hayes’ character, the genius behind “Black Hammer/White Lightning” and agree that Jack Parkman is the boss of all bosses.

- Moving to actual football conversation we begin in a strange spot… with the Kentucky Wildcats. Both Barrett and I have been thoroughly impressed with what Mark Stoops has done and also wonder what this program’s ceiling might be with him as coach.

- We next move to the other new coach in the conference, Butch Jones at Tennessee. Both Barrett and I have been impressed with what he’s done so far, but have concerns with his ability to get this program back to their winning tradition. Both of us agree that success will start with the run game.  

(Photo Courtesy: USA Today Sports Images)

As you’ve probably heard by now, Andrew Wiggins is a Kansas Jayhawk. On Tuesday, the No. 1 basketball player in the country, who some say is the best high school hoopster since LeBron James, elected to become a Jayhawk, choosing the school over offers from Kentucky, Florida State, North Carolina, Nike and Reebok.

Ok, so I’m obviously kidding about the last two, but Tuesday did wrap up one of the wildest recruitments in recent college basketball history, one which seemingly started in the Mesozoic era and ended with everyone in the college basketball world left clueless as to which school Wiggins would choose. In the process it turned John Calipari in a rumbling, stumbling tweeting mess on Tuesday morning, and even led Bill Self to say afterward, “we never had any idea which way he was leading.”  

And really, doesn’t that last sentence tell you how crazy these last few months have been? When the best recruiter in the history of college basketball is forced to sell the virtues of his program through social media, and the coach who ultimately signed the same kid had no idea he was coming, well, that’s when you know things got weird.

They certainly did get weird with Andrew Wiggins.