... the race card he apparently keeps up his sleeve and deals it into the mix. Black columnists like Xolela Mangcu (and, by implication, his Weekender colleague Jacob Dlamini - ... don’t cut the mustard, according to Bullard: The problem with many black columnists is that they can’t write. Sure, they can string sentences together in such a way that they would pass an English language O level but ...

Looks like newspaper columnists are announcing their departures via Twitter. Jeff Elder announced via twitter that he is taking a buyout from the Charlotte Observer, Sarah Aarthun twittered she is leaving the Observer for CNN, and, Rachel Sutherland twittered her last day at the Observer will be November 13. Hat tip: Jeff Taylor . . .

This week's featured columnists: Jay Mariotti, Kevin Blackistone, Rick Morissey and Lynn Henning. ItsJustSports posted 52 minutes ago from blog.mlive.com Find more top sports news, videos, and blogs on BallHype: NCAA Football, Rich Rodriguez, Joakim Noah, Jay Mariotti, Michigan Wolverines

I LOOKED at my calendar on Wednesday and to my surprise, amazement and downright panic realised there was a month to go before excited children ride around on their new bikes, mums and dads everywhere try to work out how to plug in a PS3 and the whole family sits down to Christmas lunch at around half four.

I have yet to see a pair of Birkenstock women's shoes that didn't look like part of the required uniform for police SWAT teams. Sensible shoes are one thing ... quite another to don a pair that look like they're meant for rappelling down the sides of buildings with a Heckler & Koch sniper rifle slung over your shoulder. via www.calgarysun.com Hmmm.

Neill Woelk, Boulder Daily Camera: The outcry for Dan Hawkins' ouster is certain to grow louder. A 2-6 season that as recently as Saturday morning still presented the Buffaloes with the legitimate opportunity to contend for the Big 12 North has only solidified a growing call for a coaching change. Loren Tate, Champaign News-Gazette: Rich Rodriguez stopped by Saturday and took Ron Zook's ...