Quick Hits - From Lost to Rocks to Mayo

• Billboard entices 'Lost' viewers (Knoxville News Sentinel, 01/08/08)
  

  A billboard for fictitious Oceanic Airlines greets travelers on Interstate 40 eastbound just before the West Hills exit. The ad is related to the upcoming season of ABC's hit television series "Lost."

  I'll take personal responsibility for "Lost"'s popularity in Knoxville. Thank you, thank you... ;)
  

  McGhee Tyson Airport spokeswoman Beth Baker said Monday that the airport has received no calls inquiring if a new airline is coming to Knoxville's airport.
  
  "There was a 'press release' last week that we discovered that named Knoxville as one of nine cities that fictitious Oceanic would begin serving.
  
  "I was surprised to also see a billboard. My best guess, being a fan of the show, is that the character Sawyer's tie to Knoxville is why we were chosen to be one of the cities. All of the nine cities have ties to characters' pasts," Baker said.
  
  ...
  
  Also, it was unclear Monday if Knoxville would be mentioned in upcoming "Lost" episodes or if the nine cities are all homes to characters in the show.

  Just for the record, early on in the series the character of Sawyer (a southerner) was shown to be carrying around a letter he had written as a child but never mailed. The return address on the letter was Knoxville, TN, establishing Knoxville as his home town. It hasn't really been mentioned again in the series that I recall but that could change.
  
  
• Rock ruling lessens sentence - Boulder not considered destructive device, state appeals court rules (Knoxville News Sentinel 01/08/08)
  

  In a landmark decision Monday, a state appeals court has removed a rock from the list of weapons deemed under state law as destructive devices.
  
  The ground-breaking ruling comes in the May 2004 death of Barbara J. Weimer, 69, who was slain when a 10-pound rock heaved from an Interstate 75 overpass smashed through the windshield of the van in which she was traveling.
  
  The ruling does two things. One, it fills a gaping hole in a state law that made it a case of first-degree murder to cause a death by throwing a destructive device. Two, it cuts the prison term of Weimer's killer, Alford Lee Morgan, from a minimum 65-year prison term to 18. With credits for good behavior, Morgan could be eligible for release now in as little as six years.

  This is yet another example of how reality can be warped by those that sit back and allow it, and how anyone can get away with virtually anything today. To not consider the little "redneck fun" they were taking part in as anything less than deliberate, wanton, reckless endangerment with intent to cause massive bodily harm is a complete idiot. I'm usually not so crude, but this ruling is just revolting. Oh wait, one more quote that's also pretty revolting:

  "This is a great day for Alford Morgan," defense attorney Russell T. Greene said Monday. "This has been a four-year battle to finally get to the point we said we should have been all along."

  A great day for the moronic killer of the woman driving along the interstate, minding her own business, when she's smashed with a 10-pound rock. Yes, Mr. Greene, this is a great day. I hope nobody ever uses his services as defense attorney again.
  
  I wish I could offer some brilliant blogging insight into this story, but there's really nothing to be mined from it. The court was completely inept and negligent in overturning this conviction, the attorney should never practice law again, and the perpetrator should never again see the light of day. It should be blatantly obvious to everyone, and those that agree with the ruling or have sympathy with the perpetrator I will never be able to understand. I only hope a higher court can restore the original sentence.
  
  
• After that last story, I almost could care less about anything else, but then there's this bit of sports news:Mayo expected to enter NFL draft; Foster may follow
  

  The NFL's college advisory committee prompted mixed responses from three Tennessee juniors considering leaving school early.
  
  Linebacker Jerod Mayo was projected to be a late second- or early third-round pick and is expected to forgo his senior season and enter April's NFL draft, a source said.
  
  Tailback Arian Foster was told he likely would be a second-round pick and is still contemplating his decision. Foster is thought to be leaning towards going pro, the source said.

  Hear this, guys. Mayo, if you do get drafted the first day you'll get picked up by the Falcons or the Lions or the Chiefs or something and never heard from again. Get that, you'll never be heard from again. Foster, whoever told you you'd be a second round pick after the year you had was telling you what you wanted to hear. If you leave now, you're screwing yourself out of an NFL future. Both guys need to return for their senior years and get another year of experience. Trust me, the rate of return will be much higher. Look at Robert Meacham - he left early for the draft and did nothing all year on whatever pro team drafted him. Had he stayed around Tennessee not only would it have helped us immensely, he would've been drafted much higher this year and perhaps actually played as a rookie.
  
  Except for the very rare exception, any player going out as a junior is kidding themselves about a real future in the NFL outside of 3rd string obscurity.