Sometimes, I feel like the whole world is an expensive tuxedo, and I'm a cheap pair of brown shoes.

I had that feeling last night-- but I enjoyed it.

I was invited by former UT strength and conditioning coach Johnny Long to a house-party reception for former Vol Al Wilson. I was surrounded by heavy hitters-- local politicians, attorneys, former Vols Eric Westmoreland, Terry Fair, Robert Peace, Fred White, Steve Johnson, actor David Keith, and of course, former UT Head Coach Phillip Fulmer and his wife Vickie.

I spent the morning wakeboarding on Norris Lake with two guys on the pro tour. Brian Grubb is first, he's on a wakeskate which is basically a wakeboard with no boots. 

Manny Ramirez is making me feel stupid. It has nothing to do with his suspension for violating baseball's substance policy. 

It's about the team he's playing for-- the Albuquerque Isotopes. I learned to spell Albuquerque a long time ago, so it's not that. It's the nickname. Its prompted flashbacks to my failure as a science student. 

I could pretty much talk my way out of (or into) any problem in school. But chemistry demanded knowledge that exceeded my ability to cajole. And the modern day cheat-sheet Wikipedia doesn't make it any clearer:

We've deified Peyton Manning around here. And it's not without merit.

I arrived recently at Fox Den Country Club for Manning's benefit golf tournament. I wasn't playing, because doing so would shred any mutual respect we share.

I was there simply to do an interview.

It was dreadfully overcast, and it had rained hard early that morning. The skies were again threatening, and as we prepared for the interview, it started to sprinkle.

At that, Manning gave an unapproving glance toward the sky. It stopped. Almost immediately.

Thirteen years ago, I interviewed former Vol Steve Hamer just after he was drafted in the 2nd round by the Boston Celtics. It's not often I let long established team-loyalties impact my daily work.  But on that day, as thrilled as Hamer was to be drafted-- I was equally thrilled to be interviewing a guy I really respect-- who was selected by a team I really like.

If the UT athletics department really does pay more than $300,000 to an assistant coach it hired six months ago, the move is beyond absurd and further illustrates the fantasy world college sports officials still reside in.

I have weathered ten days at sea without the usual barrage of sports talk, highlights, analysis, and that scoreboard thing that crawls endlessly across my television screen. I realize I am a part of the whole mess, and I recognize its value, but it was good to take a break. Everyone should-- I mean completely-- and not be ashamed of it.

I said in in a twitter.com message last night BEFORE game one-- the Lakers could win in five. They had that look in their eyes during player introductions.  Looks like I could be right.

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ESPN does a feature on Lane Kiffin on Outside the Lines Sunday morning at 9am.  Not worth skipping church over, but worth dvd'ing. 

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Rules change.

Just ask defensive linemen.

And journalists. For this, you can blame and credit the internet.

Two recent stories are developing that may actually happen. Then again, they might not.

The first involves the possibility of the Vols opening the 2012 football season in Atlanta. There's been no confirmation from UT yet.

I am occasionally asked why we don't cover more positive sports stories-- like Tennessee's athletes graduating from college.

My response has usually been, well, because that's what they're supposed to do.

When graduating becomes the exception rather than the norm, we're in trouble.

However, I've modified my approach a bit. There is value in recognizing the hard work done by Tennessee (and other college) student-athletes.