There were several things that caught my attention this week and when it came time to write my column, I couldn't decide which one I would focus on. So, how about a little commentary on each?

On Wednesday, as I was getting ready for work, I heard "Leaving on a jet plane" playing on WIVK. That was followed by sound bites of students yelling. I had not watched the news Tuesday night before going to bed and was quite surprised to learn Lane Kiffin had quit.

I sometimes watch college football, usually while reading or cleaning the house or working a crossword puzzle. And, even after nine years in Tennessee, I have never been to a UT game. But, I knew that was big news and couldn't wait to get to work to hear Tommy and Corbitt's take on this breaking story. I can pretty much guarantee there was very little work going on around East Tennessee Wednesday, except over at UT where they were scrambling to begin searching for a coach and doing some major damage control.

After the boys filled me in on the ins and outs of college recruiting, I realized why this is so devastating for the UT football program at this time. However, it's also a sad reflection on the emphasis we put on athletics and the ridiculous amount of money spent on coaches. They are revered or vilified. And when they are revered, is there any amount of money a school won't throw at their chosen one or to get the one they want?

Coincidentally, on the day the UT football program was crumbling, an earthquake devastated one of the world's poorest countries. It is estimated up to 100,000 people may have been killed. And the thousands of people already living in shacks lost what little they had.  Imagine what one family in Haiti could do with even a tenth of what Phil Fulmer or Lane Kiffin got paid?

Then on Wednesday night people around America learned where Vonore, Tenn., is when Vanessa Wolfe took the stage at her "American Idol" audition in Atlanta. Video footage showed her and friends jumping off the Highway 360 bridge into Tellico Lake, and she and her mama sitting on a porch swing.

On Thursday, I got a call from a woman in Boston, Mass., wanting to make a donation to help Vanessa get to Hollywood. People were calling Vonore Town Hall wanting to donate clothes for her.
In recent months, Vonore was getting a lot of publicity about the switchgrass plant. But, on Thursday, a country singing girl stole the spotlight. There were articles in the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, the New York Times, on MTV and CMT, and lots of references in blogs.

Congratulations, Vanessa! You helped put your hometown on the map.

editor@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101