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By Harold McIlvain II

I’d like to thank those you have continued to visit the site despite the lack of posts. But there hasn’t been a lack of content if you have been checking out the stuff I’ve posted for the school paper.

But instead of not writing long articles for this Web site so infrequently, I’ll be updating on Twitter pretty regularly with thougths and random things about sports from around the nation. You can follow me:  atnsports.

Watch free replays of SEC games

Miss a game in the Southeastern Conference? Don’t worry about it. A Web site as you covered.

by Harold McIlvain II

It is somewhat rare for something to simply blow me away. I’m a guy that is amused by many things but not amazed when I see them.

That isn’t the case with this Web site, which allows you to watch full game replays of Southeastern Conference games. That’s right, free SEC game video that is streaming.

Want to break down film like a coach? Go for it. Miss a game while watching antoher? You can catch up now.

It’s amazing.

Random thought: Blue Jays smart to keep Halladay

Blue Jays general manager J.P. Riccardi didn’t make a deal and fans are disappointed. But should that be the case?

By Harold McIlvain II

What’s wrong with not trading away one of the better pitchers in the league, Roy Halladay?

Sure, Toronto is 13 game back in the division.

But the team is in a great position to make a run next year. The Blue Jays rotation was blown up this year because of injury, losing Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum.

Positions have been filled up with emerging players in Adam Lind, Ricky Romero and Aaron Hill.

And it isn’t like the Blue Jays are playing terrible this year. They are top 10 in the majors in average, runs, OPS, stolen bases, ERA, pitching OPS, WHIP and quality starts.

The organization didn’t get the deal they wanted, so they needed to protect their investment.

Maybe they get a pretty good deal in the offseason with maybe the Cubs as a buyer that isn’t out there right now. Perhaps a disappointed Yankee team.

But if Halladay doesn’t get the whole team traded to another division, it looked like it was wise for Riccardi to keep the ace.

Around the SEC: Georgia ‘Kings’ of the East?

The Georgia Bulldogs and Joe Cox will have to overcome some lost talented offensive weapons and Florida to make it back to the Southeastern Conference championship game.

By Harold McIlvain II

With big expectations last year, the Georgia Bulldog football team fell short, failing to navigate a very difficult schedule with a mass amount of injuries.

Georgia Football Schedule 2009: 9/5 @ Oklahoma State 9/12 South Carolina 9/19 @ Arkansas 9/26 @ Arizona State 10/03 LSU 10/10 @ Tennessee 10/17 @ Vanderbilt 10/24 Bye 10/31 Florida 11/7 Tennessee Tech 11/14 Auburn 11/21 Kentucky 11/28 @ Georgia Tech

But Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and Mohamed Massaquoi are back for another run at a national title.

What’s that? They are all gone? All of them? Well, I guess a SEC title is out of the picture.

But that isn’t the case for this talented team.

Replacing Stafford, Moreno and Massaquoi will not be easy, but the trio of Joe Cox, Caleb King and Tavarres King will look to fill the talent void that left Athens.

The schedule is still a problem, however. The Bulldogs will be served well by playing some solid out of conference teams early, especially Oklahoma State.

Cox will be thrown right into the fire with three road games in the first four games, but Georgia head coach Mark Richt said the senior has been ready to play for two years.

“In my opinion, you need to have an accurate passer, you need to have a great decision maker and you need to have a young man who can handle the pressure of the job,” Richt said. “And Joe really personifies all those characteristics.”

The offensive line has went from a question mark the past couple of years to being a clear positive as the Bulldogs bring plenty of experience back this year.

And it doesn’t hurt to have sophomore wide out A.J. Green (963 yards with eight touchdowns)  as a main target.

Understatement of this article:  There might be a little more of that to come this season.

Cox and the team is expecting big things out of receiver Tavarres King, who redshirted last year after not being ready for SEC football. Along with senior Michael Moore (451 yards), the team has talent to spread a team out and open for the other King, Caleb, and perhaps allow Georgia to be the kings of the east.

Another huge factor in not living up to expectations last year were injuries. And there were a lot of them.

Richt said it got to the point last year that the defense didn’t even get to practice in full pads at times to figure out the starters from the reserves.

But that won’t happen this year.

“I knew I made a mistake because you don’t get good at defense by doing that,” Richt said. “I hope I’m not put in that situation again to have to make that decision, but if I don’t flinch, we’re gonna keep practicing the way you got to practice playing defense.”

Good, solid defense and an upset win over Florida could bring the Bulldogs into a surprise national title game a year removed from those expectations.

Players to watch:

LB – Rennie Curran:  The defense was a pretty big problem last year as the unit allowed a lot of points in big games. Curran (115 tackles and three sacks) will lead the talented linebacking core and set a tone of the rest of the group.

WR – A.J. Green/Tavarres King:  College football fans saw what Green could do last year, but it is now King’s turn to help the offense. Both are talented and will open space up for one another.

QB – Joe Cox:  He has been waiting for this season for a couple of years now. He is a true leader that has the full support of the team behind him and will look to make plays for the team has stuck around with.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the Mississippi State, Alabama, Florida, LSU or Ole Miss preview.

Around the SEC: Sleeping LSU Tigers?

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson and the Tigers finished the season strong with a bowl victory, but can the team overcome a rough schedule?

By Harold McIlvain II

Could a program with two national titles in the last five years be flying under the radar?

It sure appears like it for the LSU Tigers this season. But the top ranking might not show.

After finishing with an 8-5 record and struggling with quarterback issues, the Tigers seemed to find their stride in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl with a 38-3 win over Georgia Tech.

After starting so many young quarterbacks last year, LSU head coach Les Miles said he sees the offense being quite a bit better.

LSU Football Schedule 2009: 9/5 @ Washington 9/12 Vanderbilt 9/19 Louisiana 9/26 @ Mississippi State 10/03 @ Georgia 10/10 Florida 10/17 Bye 10/24 Auburn 10/31 Tulane 11/7 @ Alabama 11/14 Louisiana Tech 11/21 @ Mississippi 11/28 Arkansas

“Offensively, certainly we’ll be better,” Miles said. “A year ago we put three freshmen quarterbacks on the field, all of which at one point in time got hurt. One currently has eight games experience as a starter, one three.”

And that experience will make a big difference for the Tigers this year.

Jefferson has a year of experience and will look to lead the offense to a better season.

“If we had to start today, I would start Jordan Jefferson,” Miles said. “But I believe our offense will function extremely well with the idea that our quarterbacks are a little bit more veteran.”

Miles did not make it known who would start if the season started on a Tuesday or a Thursday, or perhaps a week or two from now. Or yesterday. Just that day.

Senior running back Charles Scott will be the feature producer of the offensive attack after gaining 1208 yards on the ground with 18 touchdowns.

But I just hope he won’t be the producer of any other program you watch on your television.

I’m not going to lie, both have talent. If there were a football and American Idol hybrid show, I think both would be in the finals.

The team has the weapons around it to be successful, but the defense brings the Tigers to another level.

With a great core of defensive backs helping the rest of an improved defense, LSU could sneak past what most people are projecting they can’t attain – a Southeastern Conference championship.

But are they really under the radar? Houston Nutt doesn’t think so.

“I don’t want to ever look at it like that,” Nutt said. “I know LSU is going to be good. I can tell you right now when I look down at their stretch lines, they’re going to be three deep and they’re going to look beautiful. I know they can play.”‘

The only thing that might hold the team back? The schedule.

Having both Georgia (on the road) and Florida on the schedule doesn’t help the Tiger’s chances with the usual suspects of Alabama (on the road) to deal with, which could mean they fall a couple of games short.

Offensive lineman Ciron Black said the Tigers are determined to have another great season as the bowl win only did so much for the team’s overall success.

“Right now we’re really hungry,” Black said. “We ended the season on a great note with the Chick-fil-A Bowl. That wasn’t enough. We only had one game to do that and we couldn’t salvage the season with that one game.”

Players to watch:

QB – Jordan Jefferson:  The sophomore seemed to make the right progression last year and evolved into a quarterback who could lead a team. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he has a very good season.

RB – Charles Scott:  He seemingly came out of no where when the team was looking for a back to carry a run-heavy offense. He hasn’t looked back and should have another great season.

OL – Ciron Black:  The left tackle will lead one of the better offensive line units in the nation by anchoring the left side. Success starts up front and this team has the talent.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the Mississippi State, Alabama, Florida, Georgia or Ole Miss preview.

Around the SEC: Houston enjoying Ole Miss

After a turn around season at Ole Miss, Houston Nut is looking to take the program to the next level.

By Harold McIlvain II

Sometimes things you like to do become a burden everyone once in a while. Every once in a while you want to do something but just don’t the energy or motivation.

Well, it is one of those days.

But with my fair share of connections, I got Houston Nutt to write the rest of the preview for me. He likes the media.

Houston Nutt:

While I’d like to just sit here and look at the helmet that is here on my Ole Miss desk, I just can’t. I’m a man of the people. When I get a chance to help Arkansas, I do the best I can.

Mississippi Football Schedule 2009: 9/6 @ Memphis 9/12 Bye 9/19 SE Louisiana 9/24 @ South Carolina 10/03 @ Vanderbilt 10/10 Alabama 10/17 UAB 10/24 Arkansas 10/31 @ Auburn 11/7 Northern Arizona 11/14 Tennessee 11/21 LSU 11/28 @ Mississippi State

I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to let fans know about our upcoming season.

Things have changed. That high school coach Gus Mal-za-hn is back in the Western Division, and we lost some players from last year.

But I don’t want to focus on that. I just want to try to go out there and be the best team in the nation for three or four hours.

Heck, maybe even longer. We are a group of winners and fighters here at Ole Miss. Once we lock arms and move around before the game, we transform into a pack of wolfs.

At the same time, I don’t want to sit here and give lip service. I want to give a little opinion, too.

I don’t think the other teams have the talent level of a Jevan Snead or a Dexter McCluster.

I’m not against that Chad Johnson thing where he wants to Twitter on the field. I think I should be able to text on the field.

I love me some me!

Alright, I think that is enough from Houston.

Despite his aggressive admiration of all things relating to helmets and texting, Nutt could be in line for another great year down in Oxford.

And Snead will be there to lead the way. But after a 2,762 yard, 26 touchdown season, Nutt said Snead just needs to be himself to take the team to another level.

“He’s always been a very unselfish guy,” Nutt said. “Very intelligent. He’s a pleaser. He’s a guy that can move the chains. He knows how to do it.”

But despite shocking Florida and winning nine of 13 games last year, Ole Miss ranked last in the Southeastern Conference in passing yards allowed.

Nutt said the team has improved in the area despite four 300 yard game last year.

“There’s always concern,” Nutt said. ” But our secondary got better. You could tell in the Cotton Bowl. Our secondary did much better and will be better.”

The defense took a little hit by losing four of the top five tacklers from last year, but the defensive line up front could be one of the better units in the country.

And with that help from the front four, the secondary could have a little easier job this year.

The schedule isn’t bad at all with Alabama, Tennessee and LSU at home. Getting South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn and Mississippi State on the road could set up for a run to Atlanta.

Players to watch:

QB – Jevan Snead:  He is a top five quarterback in the nation that will lead the team during his junior season. He has a nice, balanced offense that will post even bigger numbers from last year after struggling a bit early in the season. Hesiman?

RB – Dexter McCluster:  Gaining 697 yards on the ground is alright. Hauling in 625 passing yards is nice, too. But gaining six yards a carry is even nicer. He is a duel threat that can be at two places at one time. I’ve seen him do it.

S – Kendrick Lewis:  He will lead the defense again this year after a 85 tackle, four pick season. Some top tacklers are gone, so he will have to step up his game a little bit this year. But he has a lot of help up front.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the Mississippi State, Alabama, LSU, Georgia or Florida preview.

Around the SEC: Gators go for perfection

High five! I like you. Is that Borat? It isn’t a crazy thought for Florida to be unblemished in a couple of areas on the field this season.

By Harold McIlvain II

If you watch the Florida Gator football team player this year, it might seem like they have the same players on the field from last year.

Well, they do.

Florida returns 18 starters while the whole defense is coming back this year.

Yes, the whole defense. Brandon Spikes, Joe Haden, Major Wright and the rest of the company are back.

And it doesn’t end there. They are bringing back all 11 back ups, too!

Does it mean this will be a historic year for the program? Probably. It sets up for a Florida team that is coming off a 13-1 record to run the table and return to the championship game.

Florida Football Schedule 2009: 9/5 Charleston Southern 9/12 Troy 9/19 Tennessee 9/26 @ Kentucky 10/03 Bye 10/10 @ LSU 10/17 Arkansas 10/24 @ Mississippi State 10/31 Georgia 11/7 Vanderbilt 11/14 @ South Carolina 11/21 FIU 11/28 Florida State

But does the perfection end there?

Of course not.

When asked at the SEC Media Days if Tim Tebow had any flaws, both coaches Dan Mullen and Urban Meyer couldn’t really come up with any negatives.

Really? I expect that from the media but not the coaches.

Granted it isn’t a fair question but perhaps a little nudge in the right direction might have worked.

But it is the perfection the Florida program will be looking for when they take the field against Tennessee to start the Southeastern Conference season. (There are no story lines whatsoever heading into that game I think of…)

Despite bringing back all those Gators, there actually is a fairly noticeable weakness at wide out.

The Gators didn’t have the best core last year and have lost their top two leaders in yards in Louis Murphy (655 yards) and Percy Harvin (644 yards).

However, the Gators will find a way to replace the missing pieces. Tight end Aaron Hernandez should have a great year as a possession guy while Jeffery Demps replaces the lost speed.

It’s uncanny how easily big time players are replaced.

But even with the high flying offense, you will see a lot of this if you watch the Gators this year.

It appears a little fluky that the team was positive 22 in turnovers last year. But with the talent around the defense, it really isn’t that crazy.

Meyer said it was a possibility the defense could be historically good at the end of the season.

“It really could,” Meyer said. “I’m real excited about that. More important, our defensive players are real excited. Last year, we gave some yards, but our guys would stop them.”

The schedule isn’t too rough either. Florida gets Tennessee, Arkansas and Vanderbilt at home while having to play LSU on the road, which could be the only close game on paper.

Regardless, it should be a special season for Florida.

Players to watch:

QB – Tim Tebow:  You might have heard of this guy. There is a little talk about him playing under center this year. That won’t happen. The offense is too good right now to change up. With the team they have, it almost would seem strange for him not to get another Heisman.

LB – Brandon Spikes:  He could have went pro easily. But he is back to play games, not attend media days. Meyer said he was a little shy around the cameras. That isn’t the case when he is on the field making plays (93 tackles, two sacks and four picks).

C – Maurkice Pouncey:  He will help lead one of the biggest and best offensive line units in the nation. It starts up front and the center is very, very important. The line will be a core to help the play makers win a championship, whether it be a conference or national title.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the Mississippi State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia or LSU preview.

Around the SEC: Tide high or low?

There wasn’t a question about the talent level of sophomore Julio Jones. But can the team around him make another run to Atlanta?

By Harold McIlvain II

It’s another year of football for the Alabama program.

But they don’t do things like most other teams.

It’s the age of the spread, high flying offenses.  It’s about lighting up the scoreboard like a pinball machine. And it’s all about getting the right guy in an open space to beat your opponent.

How about Alabama? Nah.

It’s all about the defense for the Tide, who only allowed a 100 yards on the ground three times while forcing 25 sacks and a positive six turnover margin.

The defense returns nine starters and could post even more impressive numbers.

But most importantly, it is another opportunity for wide out Julio Jones to add to his YouTube highlight videos.

At the end of the day, it’s all about a quality YouTube video.

Jones will have to catch balls from a new guy under center, junior Greg McElroy.

But McElroy, who has studied the quarterback-friendly offense for two years, has shown promise during the spring.

“McElroy has done a nice job of developing,” Saban said. “He’s a good leader, and he makes good decisions. He’s been in the offense for two years. But he does lack experience.”

But for the team to take it to the next level and perhaps win a Southeastern Conference title the other receivers will have to step up.

Alabama Football Schedule 2009: 9/5 Virginia Tech 9/12 @ FIU 9/19 @ North Texas 9/26 Arkansas 10/03 @ Kentucky 10/10 @ Mississippi 10/17 South Carolina 10/24 Tennessee 10/31 Bye 11/14 @ Mississippi State 11/21 Chattanooga 11/27 @ Auburn

“I think for our receiver core to continue and develop, and have more explosive players, other than Julio Jones, showing consistency in making plays, is going to have a lot to do with it,” Saban said.

Running the ball is very important to the offense, but the offensive line took a couple hits last year when they lost Antonie Caldwell.

Both Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch, who averaged over five yards a carry, will fill in for departed Glen Coffee (is for closers).

The offense will need to improve a little bit. But Saban knows the defense will need to carry the team through the season.

“The challenge to me on defense is those guys have to take it to the next level,” Saban said. “They can’t be satisfied. You know, it’s kind of human nature that, when you’re satisfied and you’re ranked high in a lot of categories, all that, that maybe you don’t challenge yourself as much. That can’t happen.”

Alabama was a game away from perhaps playing in the national title. It’s a drive that should help the Rolando McClain (95 tackles) and the defense end strong.

“Last year, we won 12 games, but we didn’t finish how we wanted,” McClain said. “We were disappointed but this year will be different. Coach Saban is preaching to us, ‘Finish, finish, finish.’ And that’s what we’re working on doing.”

Players to watch:

QB – Greg McElroy:  He knows the offense and should do a good job. He will be tested early against Virgina Tech in a neutral site game. But the offense is one of the best in the nation in terms of ease and focusing on what the quarterback does well.

TE – Colin Peek: He is a Georgia Tech transfer that is an athletic pass catcher with pretty solid hands. A great tight end is a quarterback’s best friend.

LB – Rolando McClain:  He is one of the best in the nation and can fly around the field. He will lead the defense and should have another great season.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the Mississippi State, Georgia, Florida, LSU or Ole Miss preview.

Around the SEC: Think Positive, State

Senior running back Anthony Dixon could have another cork-popping season for the Bulldogs.

By Harold McIlvain II

It wasn’t a great year for Mississippi State football.

The program had a lone win in the Southeastern Conference in 2006 but finished with a solid 4-4 Southeastern Conference record in 2007.

Mississippi State Football Schedule 2009: 9/5 Jackson State 9/12 @ Auburn 9/19 @ Vanderbilt 9/26 LSU 10/03 Georgia Tech 10/10 Houston 10/17 @ Middle Tennessee 10/24 Florida 10/31 @ Kentucky 11/14 Alabama 11/21 @ Arkansas 11/28 Ole Miss

But the Bulldogs took a step back last year, winning two of eight in the SEC.

However, it isn’t time for the negatives. Let us focus on the positives heading into the season.

To the bullets!

• New head coach Dan Mullen could bring life to an offense that hasn’t been great over the last couple of seasons. Next year.
• The Bulldogs will get a shot at LSU, Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss at home. That should help the economy but perhaps not the win total.
• Team chemistry took a hit when second-team All-SEC running back Anthony Dixon was charged with intoxication when champagne bottles where found in his car. Hey, save it for the team after the game!
• Nothing is more heart-pumping than football on Saturday. And the media relations department has come up with a great campaign slogan for the official Web site this year:  “Mississippi State football:  This is going to be exciting.” I can’t make that up.

But the energy is high in Starkville, Miss., with a future looking brighter. If the team wants to sneak a home win away from one of the top three teams at home, quarterback play will be a big factor.

And Mullen knows it.

Senior Tyson Lee, who ran a spread offense in high school and junior college, will be adjusting back to the spread after a year of running a different scheme.

“That adjustment for him I think makes life a little bit easier coming out of it,” Mullen said. “I think if you look at it, having a guy like Tyson Lee starting us off right there, his leadership [is important.”

Sophomore tight end Kendrick Cook will be a nice weapon that Mullen can move around, creating different match ups.

“Kendrick has done a real good job for us,” Mullen said. “But Kendrick is one of those guys that’s made a great impression. We’re going to use Kendrick in a lot of different ways, whether he’s attached, a motion fullback, or flexed out, to do those sort of things.”

Mullen should take a similar approach to Arkansas last year, who was moving away from a more run oriented offense to a pass-happy one.

With minimal talent at receiver, the Bulldogs could play for the future by running out true freshman. It worked for Arkansas last year as they prepare for a better run though the league.

But no doubt about it, this is a rebuilding program in a very difficult conference. And it doesn’t help the Bulldogs are bringing back the fewest starters back in the conference. But with the enthusiasm, optimism and talent Mullen is bringing to the job, Bulldog fans have to be looking to the future after perhaps another rough season.

Players to watch:

QB – Tyson Lee:  He can set a tone for a couple years with leadership if the team is able to be competitive and setup future successful years.

RB – Anthony Dixon:  A punishment hasn’t happened yet but one will. He is a talented runner that the offense needs.

TE – Kendrick Cook:  Can be lined up all over the field and will be a pretty big fixture in the rebuilding offense.

LB – Lamar Chaney:  He can make plays and will be an important factor in establishing a defense fans are use to seeing under the new defense coaches.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the  Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia or LSU preview.

Second half fantasy MLB steals

Could Adrian Gonzalez win you a fantasy baseball championship in the second half after a terrible July?

By Harold McIlvain II

Steals. Steals. Steals.

Everyone needs them. And they are not so easy to locate sometimes. No, not stolen bases.  We are talking about trades that are steals for your fantasy baseball team in the second half.

After blasting 20 home runs in the first two months of the season, Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t found much success at the plate lately.

After struggling a bit in June, he took an even bigger dip statistically during July, hitting .130 with zero home runs.

Gonzalez told the local media recently that he hasn’t been able to focus putting in quality plate appearances latter in games.

But that won’t continue to happen.

After starting strong with a .297 average and 12 home runs in April and May last year, Gonzalez finished the year strong by hitting almost 10 points higher.

And that hasn’t been the only time he has taken things to another level after the all-star break. In the last three years, Gonzalez has hit  .308 compared to .271 during the first half. And he has nearly the same production. Injury isn’t an issue either, as he has played 160 or more games in the last two seasons.

You can set your watch to it. Gonzalez will turn things around and finish the year strong. The overall numbers are still there, but fantasy owners could be willing to deal him after that terrible July run.

Matt Holliday is an interesting player to own right now.

If you are in the selling mood, there is evidence to do so. But if you are in a holding mood, there, too, is a case for Holliday.

Batting in the third worst offense in the AL, Holliday has put together decent numbers in his first season away from Coors Field. But it doesn’t look like he will post a usual 100 run, 20 homer, 100 RBI season.

He is looking at a 80 run, 80 RBI finish with maybe 20 home runs on top if he finishes the season in a green uniform.

But with a free agent year coming up this off season, the A’s will clearly be looking to sell him to a better team, improving his numbers to end the year.

At the plate, Holliday is showing signs of being a better hitter, as he is striking out less. But he is hitting a lot less line drives and his BABIP is a bit low for his career (.315 to his Coors-affected .351), which could mean there are more hits to come than usual.

But Holliday could cool down right when he arrives with his new team.

Over the last three years, Holliday has hit .338 in the first half compared to .317 in the second half. However, he has stolen more bases and hit more home runs in 221 less plate appearances.

If you are in a selling move, make your offers. But Holliday could be in store for a big second half.

Could a second half preview go without a mention of Robinson Cano?

Well, not now.

For those who follow second half numbers, Cano is a player that is always tossed around as a second-half player.

And rightly so. In the past three years, he has hit .278 in the first half while hitting .337 in the second. He also has 16 more home runs and 37 more RBIs in 194 at bats.

If the price is right, pull the trigger on a deal to get him.

There hasn’t been a lot of celebration in J.J. Hardy lately.

After posting two near 80 run, 80 RBI seasons, Hardy can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to putting balls in play (.260 BABIP compared to a .280 career).

He is hitting line drives 13.7 percent of the time compared to a career 17.1 percent despite swinging at pitches out of the zone nearly three percent less than last year.

But things could be looking up for Hardy, who also is making less contact overall.

Let the second half celebration begin. Hip hip, J.J.! Hip hip, J.J.!