$12 million over four years for a basketball coach? I remember when Ole Miss would not have spent that much on a basketball arena, much less a coach.
• Never expected to do this: Cover a nationally-televised women's basketball game at Mississippi State with a sellout crowd and ticket scalpers doing their business two blocks away from The Hump.
Of course, I never expected to be sent to Columbus, Ohio, or Dallas to cover a Mississippi State's women's basketball team playing for the national championship.
I cannot believe the NFL in the 21st century would put itself in a position where that could even possibly occur. Those four zebras might be the most honest, fair-minded people in the world, but it just doesn't look right. Might as well let the Olympic basketball or gymnastics officials all be from Moscow. Just imagine if the NFL situation had been reversed and the guys making the call were from New Orleans.
Fifty years ago, none of the players were that big and precious few, if any, ran that fast. Sweat will be drafted in the first round and sign a contract for more money than entire teams made 50 years ago.
Granted, 50 years ago, I didn't know who Tommy Tuberville was. That was long before he looked us in the eyes and told us that the only way he would leave Oxford was in a pine box (and then a few days later left for Auburn in a private jet).
Rick Cleveland is a Hattiesburg native and an award-winning sports columnist in Mississippi. Email Rick Cleveland at rcleveland@mississippitoday.org.