South Capitol Street

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that it’s a big week for Georgia basketball.
• Florida’s front line starts crucial test tonight at Georgia, writes Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.
• Revived Georgia ready to meet Florida, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Georgia now selling out for men’s basketball, reports David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Fans taking notice of Georgia’s success, writes Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph.
• Auburn travels to Arkansas tonight looking for first SEC win, reports Charles Bennett of the Anniston Times.
• Tennessee says no Woolridge wrong-doing even though witnesses contradict investigation, reports Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• With his team leading the SEC West, Alabama coach Anthony Grant is getting better looking every day, writes Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News.
• Dee Bost says Mississippi State doesn’t play with enough heart, writes Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Vanderbilt’s Lance Goulbourne is on the rise, writes Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

• Bruce Pearl will be back off the bench when Tennessee meets LSU, writes Scott Hotard of The Advocate.
• Parity reigns supreme in SEC men’s basketball, writes Greg Luca of the Independent Florida Alligator.
• Officials moving forward in process to choose a site for SEC Baseball Tournament, reports Tim Gayle of the Montgomery Advertiser.

John Clay’s Sidelines

Linebacker Nick Menocal decommitted from Miami in order to commit to Georgia Tech over the weekend. (Photo by The Miami Herald.)

Georgia Tech’s latest commitment is a Miami guy. Nick Menocal grew up in the South Florida city, starred in football at nearby Belen Jesuit Prep and was a lifelong fan of  the Miami Hurricanes.  So, naturally, when he developed into a top-notch college football prospect and UM offered a scholarship, he accepted to great fanfare in his hometown.

That was way back in June. Since then, Miami had a dreadful season, head coach Randy Shannon got fired and new coach Al Golden got hired. And suddently Menocal wasn’t so sure about the Hurricanes anymore.

And neither were they about him, all the sudden.

“Two weeks ago I got a call from [a Miami coach] and he told me they had reviewed my film and they felt I wouldn’t be a good fit for them,” said Menocal, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound outside linebacker. “He said they would honor my commitment but I’d probably have to …

AJC College Sports Recruiting

Colquitt County OT Xzavier Ward has NFL potential, according to coach Rush Propst. (Photo provided by Colquitt County High School)

Xzavier Ward almost waited too long the first time around. So when the University of Georgia came back with a scholarship offer on Monday, Colquitt County’s star offensive lineman pounced on it.

Ward. a 6-foot-7, 260-pound offensive tackle, committed to the Bulldogs on Monday. He’s No. 22 for the Class of 2011.

“I feel great about it,” Ward said. “I feel like it’s a great opportunity.”

Ward was originally offered by the Bulldogs as part of their mythical “Dream Team.” But he resisted and elected to play out the recruiting process to the end. It almost cost him.

Georgia, Alabama and Auburn, three of the main teams in on Ward early, all filled up their slots on the offensive line and had to withdraw their offers. But with rising senior Tanner Strickland’s recent decision to give up football, the Bulldogs had another O-line scholarship open up.

On …

AJC College Sports Recruiting

Updated Monday, Jan. 24

UGA commitments | Ga. Tech commitments | GSU commitments | AJC Top 50

1. OL Trey Braun, (6-5, 275), Tallahassee, Fla.
2. OL Bryan Chamberlain (6-4, 280), Albany-Monroe HS
3. LB Chaz Cheeks (6-3, 220), East Hall HS
4. ATH Corey Dennis (6-2, 205), Troy, Ala.
5. ATH Jamal Golden (6-0, 180), Wetumpka, Ala.
6. WR Jeff Greene (6-6, 200), Starr’s Mill HS
7. LB Jabari Hunt-Days, (6-3, 226), Hillgrove HS
8. DT Tre Jackson (6-5, 295), Wayne County
9. OL Errin Joe (6-4, 285), Lakeland, Fla.
10. RB Zach Laskey (6-2, 210), Starr’s Mill HS
11. QB Vad Lee (6-2, 200), Durham, N.C.
12. LB Tyler Marcordes (6-4, 231), Normal, Ill.
13. LB Tremayne McNair (6-2, 225) Jacksonville, N.C.
14. OL Shaquille Mason (6-2, 305), Columbia, Tenn.
15. OLB Nick Menocal (6-3, 235), Miami, Fla.
16. ATH Chris Milton (6-0, 175), Charlton Co. HS
17. DB Dominique Noble (6-2, 187), Mount Ulla, N.C.
18. ATH Demontevious Smith (6-1, 185), Monroe Area HS
19. RB Broderick Snoddy (5-9, 190), Carrollton HS
20. SN/LB Sean Tobin (6-3, 220), Holmdel, NJ
21. LB Kyle Travis …

AJC College Sports Recruiting

Updated: Monday, Jan. 24

UGA commitments | Ga. Tech commitments | GSU commitments | AJC Top 50

1. C David Andrews (6-3, 276), Wesleyan School
2. DE Sterling Bailey (6-4, 250), East Hall HS
3. CB Devin Bowman (6-0, 175), Ridgeland HS
4. WR Chris Conley (6-3, 185), North Paulding HS
5. OT Watts Dantzler (6-7, 330), Dalton HS
6. OT Zach DeBell (6-7, 265), Tarpon Springs, Fla.
7. DB Quintavioius Harrow (6-0, 185), Carver-Columbus
8. LB Amarlo Herrera (6-2, 215), N. Clayton
9. QB Christian LeMay (6-3, 188), Matthews, N.C.
10. OL Hunter Long (6-3, 293), Eads, Tenn.
11. ATH Nick Marshall (6-2, 190), Wilcox Co. HS
12. DL Chris Mayes (6-5. 295), Spalding HS
13. WR Malcolm Mitchell (6-1, 185), Valdosta
14. DB Corey Moore (6-1, 185), Griffin
15. TE Jay Rome (6-6, 240), Valdosta
16. DB Chris Sanders (6-0, 175), Tucker
17. WR Justin Scott-Wesley (6-1, 190), Mitchell County HS
18. WR Sanford Seay (6-2, 190), Lee County
19. CB Damian Swann (6-0, 175), Grady
20. OL Nathan Theus (6-3, 255), Jacksonville, Fla.
21. LB Ramik Wilson (6-3, 225), Tampa, Fla.

AJC College Sports Recruiting

Updated Monday, Jan. 24

UGA commitments | Ga. Tech commitments | GSU commitments | AJC Top 50

1. Christian Benvenuto, K    6-2, 190    Palm Coast, Fla.
2. D’Mario Gunn, DB    6-1, 185    Georgia Military College
3. McClain Head, DL    6-4, 228    Whitewater
4. Nick Henderson, ATH    6-1, 210     Roswell
5. Qwontez Mallory, LB    6-2, 220    Georgia Military College
6. Roderick Thompson, DE     6-4,230     Mays
7. Fatu Ulale, DT    6-2, 275    Cerritos (Calif.) CC

AJC College Sports Recruiting

SEC links for Monday:

• Boynton is stepping up on offense and defense for the Gators, writes Edward Aschoff of the Gainesville Sun.
• Tennessee women stop Auburn comeback, reports John Zenor of the AP.
• LSU women beat visiting Florida, reports Scott Rabalais of The Advocate.
• Georgia women cruise past Mississippi State, reports the AP.
• Ole Miss women win at No. 23 Arkansas, reports the AP.
• Alabama women lose at South Carolina, reports the Tuscaloosa News.
• Bruce Pearl hints rotation could be altered when Tennessee returns to SEC play, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Pearl and McRae won’t be following Vols back to SEC, writes Patrick Smith of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Former Auburn football great Ed Dyas passes away, reports Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.
• Arkansas seeking approval for facility funding, writes Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News.

John Clay’s Sidelines

It was a busy recruiting weekend for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets landed three commitments and lost one, according to various Internet reports.

• Outside linebacker Nick Menocal (6-3, 225 pounds) of Miami, a longtime University of Miami commitment, flipped on the Hurricanes in order to commit to Tech, the Miami Herald reported. The three-star prospect had at least 10 offers, including opportunities at Stanford and Virginia. Menocal did not return phone messages seeking comment.
• Tech landed another potential outside linebacker in Kyle Travis of Cumming. Travis (6-3, 235) played a multitude of positions told at South Forsyth High, including defensive end, offensive line and fullback, but he told JacketsOnline.com the Jackets want him to play the weakside outside linebacker position. He chose Tech over Georgia Southern.
• The Yellow Jackets also got a commitment from Sean Tobin, a long snapper out of New Jersey, according to GoJackets.com. Tobin (6-3, 220) also plays linebacker. …

AJC College Sports Recruiting

Clemson is No. 1 over Georgia Tech with Lakip (Photo courtesy of Lakip family)

Chattahoochee All-State kicker Ammon Lakip committed to Clemson over Georgia Tech on Sunday night.

Lakip, whose father graduated from Georgia Tech, made the decision after taking an official visit to Clemson this weekend.

“Clemson felt like home, it was the right place for me,” Lakip said. “My father was real supportive.  He wanted it to be my choice, and it was.”

The strong-legged kicker became a hot commodity late during the recruiting process. His first offer was from Georgia Tech in mid-December, followed by Clemson only a couple of weeks ago.

BCS champion Auburn also entered the sweepstakes, making a “grayshirt” offer that would delay Lakip’s college enrollment until January 2012, so his scholarship would count toward next year’s recruiting class.

Lakip nearly considered committing to Clemson earlier in the recruiting process, but held off after talking with Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson. …

AJC College Sports Recruiting

(AP photo)

SEC links for Sunday:

• Florida crushes John Pelphrey and Arkansas 75-43, reports Kevin Brockway of the Gainesville Sun.
• Georgia mashes visiting Mississippi State 86-64, reports Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.
• Alabama sitting pretty in SEC West after 68-58 win at Auburn, reports Michael Casagrande of the Anniston Star.
• Ole Miss blows out host LSU 78-51, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.
• LSU embarrasses itself, writes Glenn Guilbeau of the Shreveport Times.
• Bruce Pearl returns, but Tennessee loses at Connecticut 71-62, reports Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Vanderbilt’s defense comes to play in 89-70 win over Saint Mary’s, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• Stingy defense and cool foul shooting lead Bama to victory, reports Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register.
• Alabama does its best to ruin Auburn’s celebration, writes Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Auburn football fans celebrate championship season, reports Josh Moon of the Montgomery Advertiser.

• Mississippi State’s zone defense thrashed at Georgia, reports Brandon Marcello of the Clarion-Ledger.
• Georgia dominates State on the backboards, writes Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Bulldogs rebound with a rout, reports Seth Emerson of the Macon Telegraph.
• Georgia steps on State early and often, writes Brad Locke of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Gators feast on the Hogs, writes David Jones of Florida Today.
• Ole Miss gets some sweet relief with first conference win, writes Parrish Alford of the NE Mississippi Daily Journal.
• Was Connecticut just a lost game or much more for the Vols? asks Mark Weidmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• UT’s Jordan McRae suspended indefinitely from basketball team, reports the News-Sentinel.
• Yet another blowout basketball loss for LSU, writes Scott Hotard of The Advocate.

John Clay’s Sidelines

Newt Gingrich toyed with the idea of running for President four years ago, or toyed with his  supporters with the idea that he might right for President to be more precise, but this time he appears to be in for real:

In the last 24 hours, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich has touched base with several prominent Republicans in his former home state, telling them that he intends to make a run for president in 2012 using Georgia as his base – and that he already has his eye on office space in Buckhead for a campaign headquarters.

Gingrich met on Thursday with Nathan Deal, whom Gingrich endorsed during a critical phase of last year’s Republican primary for governor.

House Speaker David Ralston introduced Gingrich Thursday night at a downtown Atlanta affair hosted by the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce.

The visits and conversations – some face-to-face, others on the phone — appear to be an attempt by Gingrich to revive his old campaign network and lock down as much support as possible in a state won by Republican Mike Huckabee in the 2008 presidential primary.

A spokeswoman for Johnny Isakson said Gingrich called the U.S. senator earlier this month – adding that Gingrich was not definite about his plans in that conversation. In an interview on Friday, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss said he had not talked to Gingrich yet, but that the former U.S. House speaker had asked for an appointment in the near future. “He said, ‘I need a significant amount of your time,’” Chambliss said.

Gingrich may not fund Chambliss too receptive given some recent quotes of his:

“Newt is my friend. He’s been a mentor, in some respects, since he was speaker when I got elected [to Congress].”

“But it’s a different world right now, and we’ve got to make sure that whoever the nominee is , that he can win in November. That’s the goal of every Republican right now. John Thune[, the U.S. senator from South Dakota,] is a very close friend. He’s talked to me about his potential campaign.

“I’m going to keep my powder dry.”

Honestly, I’m trying to figure out why anyone would support Gingrich at this point. What, exactly, does he bring to the race that any of the other candidates don’t other than a very checkered personal history and largely failed turn as Speaker of the House?

Outside the Beltway

Does Gingrich, the realist, have a blind spot when it comes to his presidential ambitions?
American Thinker Blog

In?

Not a surprise, but this is as close as he’s gotten so far to a formal announcement. In the last 24 hours, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich has touched base with several prominent Republicans in his former home state, telling them that he intends to make a run for president in 2012 using Georgia […]

Read this post »

Hot Air » Top Picks

Newt Gingrich lives in McLean, Va., and his office is — literally — on K Street. 

But if he runs for President, he’ll run from Georgia:

In the last 24 hours, former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich has touched base with several prominent Republicans in his former home state, telling them that he intends to make a run for president in 2012 using Georgia as his base – and that he already has his eye on office space in Buckhead for a campaign headquarters….

The visits and conversations – some face-to-face, others on the phone — appear to be an attempt by Gingrich to revive his old campaign network and lock down as much support as possible in a state won by Republican Mike Huckabee in the 2008 presidential primary….

Gingrich, 67, is registered to vote in Virginia, and has a Virginia drivers license. But he spent most of his adult life in Georgia, and from 1979 until 1999 — the last three years as speaker — Gingrich was a congressman from metro Atlanta….

“My offices are here. My grandchildren are here. I’m here regularly,” Gingrich said at a Thursday news conference at his Center for Health Transformation in suburban Atlanta. “I helped create the modern Republican Party in Georgia starting in 1960. I have a certain fondness for being back in Atlanta.”

Ben Smith’s Blog

I wrote recently about former White House Counsel Greg Craig’s work in a messy, high-stakes bribery case in the Republic of Georgia. I hadn’t been able to reach him before I posted, but caught up with him this week, and he strenuously objected to my suggestion that he’d been brought in for his legal connections, not his lawyering skills.

The case revolves around a $ 98 million arbitration award to an Israeli businessman and his partner, compensation for Georgia’s seizure of a pipeline they bought in the early 1990s. Craig said he’d initially become involved because his firm, Skadden Arps, represented the businessman, Rony Fuchs, at the arbitration in London. When Fuchs was jailed for a (video recorded) attempt to bribe a government official to drop Georgia’s appeal in the case, Craig was called in, he said, "a lawyering job" of trying to settle the case.

"That role is a very different role than what Lanny plays in going to the media," he said, and it had nothing to do with his administration ties. "I’m not the United States government, and nobody thinks of me as the United States government. I’m a lawyer in Washignton, D.C.," he said.

Craig contends the case is "a classic example of putting pressure on two executives that they had disagreements with [by] putting them in jail," said Craig, who called the case "a gross miscarriage of justice."

His clients, he said, had been "the victims of a plot to target them," though he conceded that his client "took the hook" and that "they have a good case that he offered bribe in the course of that meeting."

His objection: "[The Georgians] have used that status of him in jail as a tool to try to get them to relinquish" the arbitration award. "The cost of his release from jail is $ 98 million," he said.

The Georgian government, he said, had made clear that the criminal case and civil negotiations are linked, he said.

In an interview, Georgia’s First Deputy Prosecutor, Davit Sakvarelidze, called Craig’s contention of linkage "complete nonsense."

"We have not had any neogitations regarding the payment or non-payment of the award," he said, claiming that it was Fuchs’ lawyer had raised the possibility of linking the two in a plea-bargain.

The prosecution, he said, is "a typical criminal case, a typical bribery."

Ben Smith’s Blog