Saturday night, #2 Tennessee dropped #1 Memphis for their first loss of the season.   During the telecast on ESPN, a clip of Don Shula discussing "perfection" and what a "perfect season means" aired because, as you know, we just can't get enough of Don Shula talking about perfection. 

It isn't a knock on Shula for continually appearing in various "pursuits of perfection" interview spots, but more just an observation... and a plea to the networks: stop harping on perfection, please. 

We just got done with the Patriots' pursuit of perfection and while that coverage was warranted some time after Week 12 or 13, it was still overwhelming - and as with most "good things" in the sports media, it got old real quick. 

When Bruce Pearl and the Volunteers left the court in Memphis, they took with them any chance of seeing Don Shula appear on a college basketball broadcast for the rest of the year - sans Nutrisystem commercials.  That fact seemed to especially bother the Memphis fans, who looked as though a flock of UPS men ran over their dogs and cats. 

This may not be of much consolation to the folks in Memphis, but the odds of the Tigers winning a national championship are better with at least one notch in the loss column - history tells us as much. 

So turn that frown upside down Tigers fans.  Celebrate the loss and revel in the fact that postseason play for the Tigers won't be innundated  with clips of Mercury Morris inviting you to the perfect neighborhood barbecue.  Sure, it may turn out that the only blemish on the Tigers' 07/08 resume came at the hands of a crazy man in suspenders, but that's better than the alternative. 



Oh, and if Shula and the '72 Dolphins can transcend sports to give their accounts and analysis when teams are striving for perfection, I politely request that Geno Auriemma and Rebecca Lobo be featured in future NFL perfect-season bids along with other sports.  It's only fair. Lobo = perfection.

That's right; I want Auriemma and Becky giving their take on Tiger Woods.  I don't know if you heard, but he's been perfect this year.

The Perfect Rapid Fire Game w/ Don Shula

The Perfect Pizza- "When I traveled over to London this past year to watch the Giants and Dolphins, I couldn't get enough of the UK's famed "Perfect Pizza".  The melted cheese just drips off each perfect slice like my perfect sweat dripping off my shaggy man-bags. Okay, I'll admit, my man-bags aren't perfect." 

Perfect Strangers- "Would have lived up to it's billing had Bronson Pinchot been replaced with Garo Yapremian after season 1.  Still a near-perfect intro, though."

Perfect Storm - "I was in Florida for Hurricane Andrew in 1992.  At one point, Mary Anne and I were so desperate we sought refuge in Richmond Webb's underpants."

the Perfect Murder - "What a perfect movie.  I don't know if you realize it, but the Dolphins went undefeated in 1972, so we know a perfect movie when we see one.  And hey, had Michael Douglas' character gotten away with it, I would have tipped my cap and moved on.  We weren't hoping the Steven Taylor character botched his plans because we are secure enough to tip our cap and crack open the champagne when a wife has been victimized by the perfect murder. Gwyneth Paltrow is the perfect victim."

the Perfect Pushup- "Larry Csonka originally created the perfect pushup using nothing but antelope skin and deer hooves.  He's tough cookie.  Perfect, too."

Mr. Perfect - "This is no exaggeration, just perfect analysis: Mr. Perfect has a stronger arm than Bob Griese and Brian Griese... COMBINED.  Had the perfect mullet and Zuba combination as well."