Wanted: USC effort and C of C fans

Sporting notes, compiled while trying to cope in a college football world without Larry Munson as The Voice of Georgia football:

--This just in: That madcap Princeton band has signed a huge contract for a Charleston-based "Survivor" series.

Co-starring Citadel cadets as themselves.

--It was one thing for Steve Spurrier to talk about player effort in his first season at South Carolina. But to complain this week, four years in, makes you wonder if it's the coaching staff or the culture.

Or maybe just a good kick in the tail going into a make-or-break October.

--Of course, part of the problem is the guys who got away. Three of the best "effort" players in the Southeastern Conference are spirited South Carolinians not playing at South Carolina: D.J., C.J. and A.J.

Vanderbilt cornerback D.J. Moore (Spartanburg) is an All-America candidate for his impact on the upstart Commodores' plus-9 turnover ratio.

C.J. Byrd (North Augusta) starts at safety for Georgia.

ESPN radio's Mel Kiper Jr. last week gave Georgia freshman wideout A.J. Green (Summerville) his national player of the week award at halftime of the Bulldogs' victory at Arizona State.

--If Washington ran as logically as the rest of the nation, the politicos would be planning the world's largest silent auction and preparing to sell Christmas wreaths country-to-country.

--I've got all my money tied up in cash.

--Of all the juicy World Series possibilities, including L.A.-L.A. and Cubs-White Sox, the best is Rays-Cubs.

--Make enough trips up I-26 toward Columbia and Clemson and it's the fresh little nuances that brighten the journey. Like seeing your first roadkill armadillo inside the Charleston County line.

Babe Ruth is dead

--The New York Times just called Charleston's Gary Smith the "greatest American magazine writer currently working."

Gary, by the way, doubles as one of the greatest Americans currently living and his "Going Deep" collection of classic Sports Illustrated stories is booming.

--Braves first baseman Casey Kotchman is playing well (game-winning homer Tuesday night at Philadelphia) after spending time on the bereavement list in August to be with his mother, who suffered brain hemorrhaging in St. Petersburg, Fla. Sarah Kotchman, 55, is doing better but Casey's sister, Christal, a softball player at College of Charleston, is taking the semester off to help at home.

--My neighbor Earl insists the best coffee is found at fish camps and thinks the Braves are "one player away."

Sure. Babe Ruth.

--The latest basketball head coach to buy into Lowcountry living: Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks and Kiawah Island.

--Kudos to the College of Charleston for landing South Carolina and Clemson for the inaugural year of basketball at the Carolina First Center, and for convincing North Carolina to come next season.

But a sales campaign saying this is the first time Cougar basketball tickets are available to the public in many years is a head-scratcher for Lowcountry sports fans. The school had capacity crowds for a grand total of two games last season (Davidson and Wofford), and at 3,500-seat John Kresse Arena drew only 2,136 people

for Chattanooga and 2,248 for Georgia Southern.

--Hey, Cougars: Are you saying you were turning people away at those games? Or, that you had that many no-shows? Either tickets were available or you have one of the worst distribution systems in college sports.

'The Valley of death'

--Mr. Munson, 85, retired this week. No more radio icon on. No more enthusiastic steel wool broadcasting Georgia games.

Munson was best short and sweet: "And next week we play Clemson in Death Valley, the Valley of Death."

Munson once told me he bought so many books from Barnes & Noble — at least a novel a week — they offered him discounted bookshelves.

--Congrats to RiverDogs GM Dave Echols on his engagement to Debra Glenn.

And, no, they won't say "I do" at home plate at The Joe.

--Former Clemson running back Reggie Merriweather is an assistant coach at James Island High School.

--Bryce Florie, the Hanahan High School grad and former major league pitcher, is an assistant coach for a Mount Pleasant Diamond Warriors fall travel team.

--Did you know Las Vegas posts odds on WNBA games?

What's next? A Rock Paper Scissors Championship? Yes, sorry, Oct. 6 on Fox Sports Net.

--Thanks for stopping by. See you at East Bay Deli.

Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com.

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