Whitley's Believe It Or Not: Hey Tennessee fans, you can now drive all over Steve Spurrier
Urban Meyer has one. Mike McCarthy has one. Heck, Rex Grossman even has one.
It’s about time Steve Spurrier got one.
We’re talking about a street named in your honor. It will happen Friday at 5:30 p.m., when Steve Spurrier Way is unveiled at a ceremony in front of his Celebration Pointe restaurant.
All I can say is what took so long?
Spurrier has awards named after him. Two football fields bear his name. Gator fans have probably named dozens of children and countless pets after him.
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And there are about 1,100 streets named after athletes in America, according to ESPN. You can’t tell me there are 1,100 sports figures more accomplished than Spurrier.
(Tennessee fans – “Yes we can!!!”)
“Only the best coaches, like Don Shula, Bobby Bowden and Coach Fulmer in Tennessee, usually get this honor,” Spurrier said. “And I’m glad to join them.”
They should be glad to have him. Ask yourself, do we really want to live in a world where Phil Fulmer has a street named after him and Steve Spurrier doesn’t?
(Tennessee fans – “Yes we do!!!!)
Regardless, SW 31st Place will officially become Steve Spurrier Way on Friday. Somehow, you always knew Spurrier would get his way …
Stud of the Week: Aaron Rodgers, for winning the PGA Tour’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Of course, he put down that he’s a 10-handicap. If Rodgers is a 10 handicap, Tyler Huntley is a Pro Bowl quarterback.
Stud II: Tyler Huntley, for throwing four TDs in the Pro Bowl’s new flag football format. That’s two more than he threw all season for the Ravens.
Stud III: JJ Franks. The 7th grader from Minot, N.D., made a layup, a free throw, a 3-pointer and a half-court shot – all in 25 seconds – to win $10,000 in a halftime promotion at a high-school game.
A night later, Russell Westbrook missed 10 of 14 shots and made $573,945 in an NBA game. The Lakers should definitely consider trading him for Franks …
American Top 40 this isn't
Dud of the Week: The Welsh Rugby Union for banning the Tom Jones’ 1968 hit “Delilah” during matches. The lyrics about a lover stabbing his unfaithful partner were deemed “problematic.” If this catches on, we can say goodbye to hearing “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Hey Joe,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Psycho Killer” and half the songs Johnny Cash ever sang …
We can’t ignore the week’s biggest news story, the Chinese Spy Balloon. All I know is Bill Belichick is somehow involved …
Speaking of Spygate, after Tom Brady posted his retirement announcement from a beach last Wednesday, a jar of sand from the “exact spot” quickly went on sale on eBay for $677. As of Monday, bidding had increased to $99,900. For that kind of money, they better throw in six dates with Giselle Bundchen …
Congrats to Trey Dean III for being named Defensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Game and proving to skeptical Gator fans that he really can make a tackle …
North Carolina last week extended football coach Mack Brown’s contract through the 2028 season, at which point he’ll be 77 and qualified to run for the U.S. Senate …
Street Trivia: A Las Vegas developer named every street in a new community after players from the Golden Knights’ inaugural 2017-18 season, when they made the Stanley Cup Finals.
I’m just glad a Gainesville developer didn’t do that after Florida won the 2008 national championship. Tim Tebow Boulevard would be perpetually popular, but it might be tough to sell a house on Aaron Hernandez Avenue …
Balloon Update: China has denied it was on a spy mission and that it sent the balloon over to celebrate LeBron James becoming the NBA's all-time scoring leader ...
Street Trivia II: Tennessee’s campus features Pat Summitt Drive, Phil Fulmer Way, Peyton Manning Pass and Jeremy Pruitt Dead End …
Double bogey for Josh Allen
Pro Bowl Update: Bills quarterback Josh Allen skipped the Pro Bowl due to an injury but managed to play in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Doesn’t the NFL have a rule against faking injuries? ...
Oops of the Week: Duke and FSU apparently used a men’s basketball during the first half of their women’s basketball game in Tallahassee. I can’t wait for the day when a men’s basketball team declares it is nonbinary and its school uses those players in the first half of a women’s game …
eBay Update: A swatch of leather from the barstool Urban Meyer was sitting on when he was fired by the Jaguars has gone on sale. Bidding starts at 39 cents …
Street Trivia III: Construction of Peyton Manning Pass was delayed in the mid-1990s because Florida defensive backs kept intercepting the plans ...
Breaking News: A Pentagon source has confirmed the Chinese Spy Balloon contained surveillance photos of a New York Jets practice …
NHL television ratings are down 22% from last year, according to the Sports Business Journal. League sources blame the drop on poor scheduling and the Flyers starting Don Lemon in goal …
Street Trivia IV: There's a road in Michigan named Psycho Path. No, Jim Harbaugh does not live there …
That’s about all the space we have for this week’s Whitley’s Believe It or Not. Till next week, if you go to the beach, be sure to have a jar handy in case Tom Brady walks by.
David Whitley is The Gainesville Sun's sports columnist. Contact him at dwhitley@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidEWhitley
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Ex-Florida coach Steve Spurrier adds a street in Gainesville to legacy
