IRISH STEW in a POT-POURRI

GOOD REPORTING or HACK JOURNALISM?: If this summer seems endless so to does the South Bend Tribune series on the recruitment of Jimmy Clausen and whatever else is or will be wrong about the new ND football program. The good folks of ND Nation call the series a "hatchet job" on the cocky California Qb and Charlie Weis. A bit harsh, but one detects some resentment toward the Weisguy by the SBT reporters. However, it's a worthy subject--recruiting the high schoolies amid pomp and ceremony and where it all leads, but readers got more than they needed to know; especially, a pretty biased account. Look, Clausen's HOF performance was a crass stunt, an embarrassment to all of the faithful; hopefully, Paddy Mullen will kick his ass when they first meet on the practice field (or, perhaps in January in the weight room). JC will be okay come university days. I'm glad that Charlie is going after the best boys who are best fits for his program and Notre Dame's good name. I'm sure that they are all good and decent kids and will do well in the classroom. Loosen up, Trib. Enough said.
....ATLANTA REVISITED: We received many more comments than had space to carry them about our travel tips to the Big A for those fortunate to see the ND-GT game in person. Also, a number of e-mails came in, this one from Stone Mountain, Georgia--"I cringed seeing the movie, Rudy, especially the ending when that little shit tackled a Tech back behind the line of scrimmage. I don't believe it, and I don't believe Notre Dame will beat Tech for two good reasons (1) Their defense can't stop the run and (2) their defense can't stop the pass. You can only improve that which can be improved. Your guide was decent, especially keeping visitors away from those pussy places masquerading as discount hotels/motels".....INSTANT INTERVIEW: We had a "short" chat with a vet about upcoming practice. Q - Does Minter have a new game plan to shore up and sharpen the defense? A - "Absolutely. When practice ends the players and the playbook will be upgraded to deal with the run and pass. The guys are hungry for wipeouts." Q - What are the chances of seeing new blood in the secondary? A - "I think you will see the same starters as last year, much better and more determined."

--Old Shillelagh & Wee Leprechaun

ATLANTA Isn't Burning, But it is HOT!

If that Civil War arsonist Union general William Techumsah Sherman were around to march on Atlanta today, he would not torch the city, rather he would raise a toast and settle into one of its many creature comforts, possibly with a modern-day Scarlett. "Table for two, please--upfront, and close to the music."

The Georgia Tech-Notre Dame football game also is a big deal in the BIG A, where most folks are University of Georgia fans, who hope the "Catholics kick the shit out of Tech." However, there will be a huge, raucus, partisan crowd watching the contest under the lights and Yellow Jacket students and supporters frankly, my dears, don't give a damn what Bulldog Backers think. They will be puffed up for the Irish, count on it. Buzz, buzz; sting, sting.

Ah, Atlanta...a great city and a wonderful host. Lucky you, those who can/will make the trip to this citadel of the south come September. Here Come The Irish of Notre Dame.

Here's some good info we picked up on or recent scouting trip to Hotlanta, and also tips for the fortunate:

The wondrous Gold Club has been closed down and seized by the Government because of a mob connection and the fact that all the pro athletes were getting free ass in the VIP room; thus, the other male patrons ended up getting "screwed" as a matter of speaking! There is a strip joint called The Cheetah III that is close to the Tech stadium and open for late-hour entertainment.

The GTech campus is in an area generally called Midtown Atlanta. Good hotels are all around, including Holiday Inn Express, 404-881-0881; Wyndham Midtown, 404-873-4800; AmeriSuites, 404-577-1980; Marriott Suites Midtown, 404-876-8888; Resident Inn Marrriott, 404-872-8885; and Regency Suites, 404-876-5003. Not too many hotels in that area, but those named are not ridiculously expensive.

If you see a discount, off-brand hotel near downtown Atlanta, don't go there. It's either a crack house or a whore house, or both.

The airport area also would be a good place to stay. It's possible to take rapid transit from there to the Tech Stadium. Good downtown hotels include the Peachtree Plaza, Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquee, and Atlanta Hilton.

Restaurants: Most good eating places are just a short cab ride away--Ted's Montana Grill (Ted Turner's buffalo steak house, several locations); The Pleasant Pheasant at 555 Peachtree Street; the famous Varsity Drive In at the edge of the Tech campus; and Fado Irish Pub at 3035 Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Buckhead is a cab ride from GTech and home of the best bars and restaurants. It's the Atlanta version of Washington's trendy Georgetown.

There you have it--a sampling from a relatively-poor-man's guide to Atlanta.

Behave yourselves.

--Old Shillelagh

Up From Atlanta, Down with the Wasps

Oh yeah! We are back! The Irish Brogue is pumped and ready to get down to business. What does the month of July mean to you? No, we don't want to hear about beach trips nor do we want to get an earful about that tasty slush cone you got down at the pool. Cookouts, BBQ's, and cold brews won't do either. Don't throw anything our way about the weather and how hot it is. We just spent weeks in Atlanta amid a swarm of Yellow Jackets and it was hotter than the asscrack of hell. No excuses though, we have got to do what we have got to do. Why, because we are Irish, and nothing less will do.

So here it is boys and girls. Listen up! July is about one thing and one thing only. It is about winning, or thinking hard about winning. It is about those fire-stingin' Yellow Jackets from Georgia Tech. You can put everything else to the side. Everything, and that includes all your wish lists for recruiting and your pondering about how Samardzija is doing in Boise. What's that you say: Where's Tommy Z's next big bout going to be? Please, off to the side.

Stop worrying about how Notre Dame matches up with Penn State, or can we do it one more time against the Wolverines, how to stop MSU's elusive/effective QB, or can we finally beat Pete Carroll's Trojans.

Folks, focus on Atanta, Georgia, September 2, under the lights, and the Chan Gailey gang.
This will be the most important game of the year, the tone-setter, the momentum surge, the grab for a glorious year.

We will have an expert analysis of GTech in August from a deep south sports pundit, very familiar with the Yellow Jackets, and there is a helluva lot more to this team than the potent passing offense of Reggie Ball to Calvin Johnson and the slick running of Tashard Choice, a real sleeper. Any doubts about the Boys from Atlanta should be gone with the wind.

Usually, despite the sprawling Tech campus, Atlanta like the rest of the peach state is Bulldog Country, that is, University of Georgia diehards. "Uga, Uga, Uga." UGH!

But the "Buzz" in this town of much to do is building for the Yellow Jackets and the visiting Fighting Irish, no friend to the arm-raising Evangelicals and bible-toting Fundamentalists. And, you thought the good people down yonder hate Sherman. Wait until Charlie Weis marches into town.

You can talk to any GT booster and the response is the same: "It is great that Notre Dame is number one in many polls, and we get no mention and no respect. That will all change after the game. We can stop the Irish, but they can't stop Calvin Johnson."

Big talk.....but they believe it. There is much support for Chan Gailey, who consistently "coaches up" his incoming 2- and 3-star talent. He didn't recently get a hefty raise for seven win seasons. They know what he can do and they believe he can do it this year, starting with September 2nd.

A word to the wise is sufficient, Irish fans: Don't look beyond the Georgia Tech game.

--Wee Leprechaun