We think most will agree that we're all a little tired of the same old song and dance when it comes to recruits announcing their college destinations.
You know the routine. Frankie Football comes out and sits down behind a table that has anywhere from two to 47 college caps lined up across it. Family, friends and coaches gather behind him, breathlessly awaiting his decision. Finally, the prospect reveals his choice by placing the cap of the school he has chosen upon his head.
We've all seen it. More times than we care to remember.
That's why we're giving it up to George Brown, a three-star offensive tackle out of Winston Woods High School in Cincinnati.
We usually don't get this excited about a three-star recruit, especially one who is choosing between Alabama, Florida and Kentucky. But Brown won us over with his twist on the traditional hat trick, pulling out what everyone thought was a live baby alligator while announcing he had chosen to orally commit to Florida over the other two SEC schools.
OK, so later we learned that the little critter was actually a dwarf caiman -- apparently it's illegal to possess an alligator in Ohio -- but the stunt was still way more entertaining than the usual theatrics.
We're hoping it's a trend that catches on.
How about an Arkansas recruit riding a miniature Tusk into his signing day ceremony? Or a Missouri recruit walking in with a baby Tiger? An Alabama recruit could ride in on a baby elephant.
Or, instead of family and friends, an Oregon recruit could announce his decision while surrounded by a podium full of baby ducks. Who doesn't love baby ducks?
All we are saying is that we are all for spicing up these announcements.
Just be careful with those South Carolina recruits. Those Gamecocks can be a little feisty.
Painting the town
Derek Jeter has enjoyed his share of tributes this season in his swan song as a major-leaguer, but nothing quite like this one.
Dancers at a Queens strip club will pay homage to the New York Yankees shortstop Sept. 7 by wearing nothing but Yankee-pinstriped body paint at work that day. The tribute just happens to coincide with the day the Yankees will honor their longtime shortstop in the Bronx.
The Huffington Post reported that the strip club is offering Jeter and his teammates free lap dances, and that all Yankees employees will be admitted free.
The strip club also said Jeter will be admitted free for the rest of his life as a thank-you for his longtime service to the Yankees.
Santa's watching
Nothing strikes fear into Nick Saban. Other than maybe Santa Claus.
Saban, the often stoic head coach of Alabama's football team, admitted this week during an interview with ESPN's Colin Cowherd that he was terrified of jolly old Saint Nicholas as a child.
"When I was a kid, I was very afraid of Santa Claus," Saban said. "We had to stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve to open our presents, and Santa always used to come in and I always used to cry."
Are you paying attention, Razorback fans?
We're sure Bret Bielema would love to see 72,000 Hog-calling Santas in the stands Oct. 11 in Razorback Stadium.
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Sports quiz
Derek Jeter was taken sixth overall in the 1992 major-league baseball draft. Name the five players taken ahead of him.
Sports quiz answer
Phil Nevin (No. 1, Astros), Paul Shuey (No. 2, Indians), B.J. Wallace (No. 3, Expos), Jeffrey Hammonds (No. 4, Orioles) and Chad Mottola (No. 5 Reds)
Sports on 07/27/2014