ESPN.Com’s Chris Low takes Lane Kiffin to task in a round-about way, calling the supposed commitment of 13-year-old Evan Berry — younger brother of Tennessee Heisman Trophy candidate Eric Berry — “absurd.”

Low doesn’t specifically say that Kiffin offered Berry, but might as well have, suggesting that Tennessee was seeking publicity with the Berry commitment, which of course implies that Kiffin actively sought the commitment. He goes on to say that Kiffin has been a master at generating publicity, then adds: “But a 13-year-old kid?” He wraps up his column by asking, “What’s next, though? Staking out recess at elementary school playgrounds.”

There’s only one problem. Tennessee hasn’t offered Evan Berry a scholarship. And they couldn’t if they wanted to, because NCAA rules prohibit offering scholarships before a prospect’s junior year in high school . . . which won’t be for another three years.

In fact, it turns out that this story about Berry’s “commitment” to Tennessee — which became nationwide news when Rivals.Com and ESPN each ran stories — was nothing more than a reporter sticking a microphone in his face and asking him where he wanted to go to school.

But, you know, it’s absurd and a say-anything-for-publicity stunt by a coach who will stake out playgrounds for young talent if you believe the incredible spin applied to the story by Low.

I wish I could say that Low simply made a mistake and jumped the gun with this story. But it seems that the guy who used to be one of the best reporters on the UT beat during his tenure with The Tennessean has become nothing more than another ESPN tool who could just as easily have a last name like Fowler or Herbstreit.

But it’s Kiffin, the great satan of the SEC East. So I guess that makes it okay, if you’re a columnist who isn’t interested in facts.

. . . a press manager losing all of your PDF’ed pages.

How is it possible to lose all of them, anyway?

Did someone order some rain for the holiday weekend?

Here’s what the GFS computer guidance model suggests. This is 36-hour rainfall ending at 7 p.m. Sunday. For now, the GFS predicts the rain to hold off until Saturday night, maybe after the fireworks have ended. It’ll be interesting to watch whether the low pressure system that looks poised to track over the Mid-South will speed up or slow down.

The guys at the NWS’s Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) agree with a relatively dry July 4th holiday. This is their projected 5-day rainfall total ending at 7 a.m. Sunday:

For now, the NWS’s official forecast is only for a 20% chance of thunderstorms Saturday and Saturday night, increasing to 40% on Sunday.

I have a comfort zone when it comes to novels, and its a zone I prefer to stick to. King, Koontz, White, Deaver, etc.

Occasionally, though, I have an opportunity to sink my teeth into something new when I’m asked by a publisher to review a book or just happen across a new title.

This one was delivered to me by Natalie Lloyd. It is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, a children’s writer making her first foray into the art of writing novels. It is a young adult science fiction-romance novel.

Color me unimpressed. I’m no longer in the young adult age range, and have never been a fan of science fiction, let alone science fiction with a romantic tint.

And then I started reading it.

Wow.

The Hunger Games (which is actually the first in a trilogy; the second is set for release by Scholastic Press in September 2009) is set in the fictional and futuristic nation of Panem, which arose after the fall of the United States. Panem consists of the luxurious Capitol, surrounded by 12 districts. Each of the districts have specific trades, and are forced to provide the fruits of their labors to the Capitol, while living a poor lifestyle that leaves them foraging for food and substance.

From the 12th District hails Katniss Everdeen. The 12th District is the area formerly known as Appalachia. Their trade is coal mining. Katniss’s father was himself a miner before being killed in an accident in the mines. Readers learn that there was once 13 districts, before the residents of Panem revolted against the government. District 13 was obliterated. As punishment, the residents of the other districts must sacrifice two of their children each year for the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games consist of one male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 being chosen from each district and cast into the wilderness, where they will fight to the death. The last remaining child is the victor, and is celebrated across the nation.

It isn’t a far-fetched guess to assume that Katniss is going to wind up being cast into the Hunger Games to represent District 12, the poor Appalachian region. What follows is a story of tragedy and romance intertwined in a suspenseful page-turning plot that will have readers waiting anxiously to see what happens on the next page. As Stephen King wrote, “Reading The Hunger Games is as addictive (and as violently simple) as playing one of those shoot-it-if-it-moves videogames in the lobby of the local eightplex; you know it’s not real, but you keep plugging in quarters anyway.”

Collins’ debut is tremendous. It left me simultaneously chilled and inspired. It is one of the best novels I’ve read in a couple of years, and as young adult adventure-type novels go, it’s probably the best I’ve ever read. If I were still in the “young adult” category, I’d be impatiently awaiting the release of the second novel, maybe with the same enthusiasm as fans of the Harry Potter and Lords of the Rings series. Yes, it’s that good (to me, at least).

For the older readers, there is a number of political and societal parallels between the futuristic Panem and modern-day America — whether intended or not — that would make for an interesting analysis. But that’s a topic for another day.

If you’re into this genre of fiction and you haven’t picked up a copy of The Hunger Games, do so. You won’t regret it.

Mike Griffith on the possibility of black jerseys being introduced to Tennessee’s wardrobe:

Phillip Fulmer and Bruce Pearl couldn’t do it, and the only reason Rod Delmonico got away with it was the relative apathy to baseball and the need for a third jersey on baseball road trips.

We’re talking black jerseys here, and they could be a thing of the future for the Vols’ football program under Lane Kiffin.

If you haven’t noticed, the Lane Train is pulling out of the station, and as one person informed me via e-mail, “get on the train, or get run.”

Note to Lane Kiffin: When you came here, you said you didn’t intend to mess with UT traditions. Please stick to your words. Orange works.

Griffith points out that Phil Fulmer was a traditionalist during his 16 years at Tennessee. So was Johnny Majors. And Bill Battle. And Doug Dickey (well, I guess Dickey actually introduced a number of new traditions that are endearing to UT fans today, such as the Power T and running through the T to enter the field, etc.).

But wouldn’t the chief of all UT traditionalists — Gen. Robert Neyland — be rolling in his grave at the prospect of UT opting out of the unique shade of orange that the players have donned ever since Charles Moore discovered the orange-colored daisies growing on the hill back in 1891. Neyland who is said to have been so opposed to “two-platoon” football (separate units for offense and defense) that when the NCAA attempted to legalize it while he was a member of the governing body that he made a motion against it, jerked up the arm of the unfortunate person sitting next to him to second it, roared “aye,” and followed with “we’ll have no chicken-shit football this year.”

Orange works.

And I don’t understand the argument presented in Griffith’s article that black jerseys might somehow make the team more competitive. Georgia has tried it, and they’ve been the most under-achieving team in the SEC since Mark Richt’s arrival (relatively speaking based on their talent levels). Oregon has about 400 different jerseys and the biggest stories coming out of Eugene each year is the stylish appearance of the Ducks, not that they beat UCLA or USC.

Orange works.

Zach Rogers, incoming freshman (no #67 on current roster)
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Nashville (David Lipscomb High School)
H/W: 6-2, 170
Position: Wide receiver

The brother of Tennessee senior wideout Austin Rogers, Zach Rogers comes to the Vols fresh off a state championship and being named Tennessee’s Class 3A Mr. Football. Rated a 3-star recruit by both Scout.Com and Rivals.Com, Rogers was ranked as the nation’s #31 wide receiver by ESPN.Com, #56 by Scout.Com and #54 (and #9 overall recruit in Tennessee) by Rivals.Com. In his senior season at David Lipscomb, he caught 14 passes for 369 yards and six touchdowns while rushing 59 times for 671 yards and nine scores.

Today’s recommended VOLS reading:

KNS: UT gets a commitment from OL Fulton, gives a hug to family

It appears there are two options for funding major school projects at Robbins and Burchfield: A wheel tax or a property tax increase.

Either way will be expensive for the projects, which have been estimated to cost in excess of $10 million.

The property tax increase would be about 34 cents. The wheel tax would be around $50 per vehicle per year.

Commissioners at tonight’s work session could not reach a consensus on which would be the best route to take. A special meeting will be called for next Monday night, at which time we could get a vote to go ahead with the building of the schools.

Dave Blevins on Microsoft’s Xbox 360:

I am also starting to doubt the quality of the system itself. The applications and flexibility are awesome, but it sure seems to go down often.

Yes. The 360 is the best gaming console available. It’s also junk. Microsoft offers one of the best warranties in the business (standard 1-year warranty, with 3-year warranty on certain issues). But the quality of the warranty wouldn’t be such a big deal if the system itself were a better quality system.

I mean, honestly. I learned when researching Xbox’s known issues (after my own console broke, of course) that an unusually high number of consumers have problems with their systems. Of the folks I know personally who have an Xbox, I don’t know anyone whose didn’t stop functioning within two years.

I have never tried to hide my distaste for Microsoft. Their popularity exceeds their quality, for sure. With gaming systems as with operating systems.

Dave points out what I was thinking just yesterday: the old generations of video games never had these issues. Atari and Nintendo systems were darned near indestructible. So is it just that the latest generation of gaming consoles are more poorly built? Or is it just a Microsoft issue? The Playstation III and Wii don’t seem to have the problems that Microsoft has. But, to be fair, they aren’t nearly as popular so there aren’t as many people to complain about broken systems.

. . . why not start by talking ATVs again?

There was some talk last week that state Rep. Les Winningham might sponsor a bill in the next General Assembly to assist ‘ATV-friendly’ local governments.

I ran into Rep. Winningham this morning at the grand-opening of Panda — a new Chinese restaurant in Huntsville — and we talked briefly about the issue. Winningham said he hopes for a peaceful solution to be worked out.

“We have seven months (before any legislation could be introduced),” he said. “A lot can happen in that time. I hope we see some sort of solution in the meantime that makes both sides happy.

“Would I be willing to sponsor a bill? Yes I would. ATVs are generally accepted and they’re a good asset as far as revenue and tourism.”

Nu’Keese Richardson, incoming freshman (no #68 on current squad)
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Pahokee, Fla. (Pahokee High School)
H/W: 5-10, 165
Position: Wide receiver

Nu’Keese Richardson . . . the player that started it all. Ranked a 4-star recruit by both Scout.Com and Rivals.Com, Nu’Keese was once thought to be a Florida lock. But Lane Kiffin managed to snag the Pahokee native (who was ranked the #68 overall recruit by Rivals.Com) at the last minute. A couple of days later, he joked to Vol boosters that Florida coach Urban Meyer “had to cheat and still couldn’t get him,” a reference to Florida’s staff calling Richardson repeatedly while Richardson was visiting Tennessee. The SEC reprimanded Kiffin, who apologized for the remark. Kiffin also accused Pahokee of trying to shuttle players to the Gators, also remarks that he later apologized for. It was also revealed that Kiffin had used Richardson’s cell phone while Richardson was at Tennessee to text Florida coaches, pretending to be Richardson. The Richardson hoopla nearly single-handedly established Kiffin’s reputation as the SEC’s new bad boy.