Editor’s Note: We get really, really excited when hearing the first chimes of College GameDay’s theme music. TSC will have a college football season preview of the Pac-10, SEC, Big Ten and ACC in the next upcoming weeks. If that doesn’t give you the chills, check your pulse.

So I’ve been told this Tim Tebow character is a pretty big deal down in the swamp. More specifically, in the words of Sports Illustrated, Tebow has built up enough Big Man On Campus Power to reach “rock-star status” in Gainesville (origin of Erin Andrews, who was built by God on the seventh day.)

We’d like to officially kick off college football season — precisely 34 days til kickoff — with a very special “Would You Beat,” combining the power of the SEC’s Hot Shot with the SEC’s Hot Shot Hottie.

Please welcome Tim Tebow’s Girlfriend. (Yes, that’s her real name.)

[ratings]

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Welcome to another installment of TSC’s Who’s Not Now. We’ve created the bracket of 16 athletes and figures of the sporting world who took the wrong paths in life and now must face humiliation on this blog. We’re breaking them down. You decide Who’s Not Now.

No. 4 Tim Donaghy, future inmate vs. No. 13 Alex Rodriguez, tabloid whore

Why Donaghy is Not Now: Tim Donaghy has both been apart of the darkest moment in NBA history, and created arguably the worst scandal in sports history. Although his presence in the Brawl at Auburn Hills isn’t the reason why he’s a No. 4-seed on this “Who’s Not Now” list, it’s still noteworthy to mention and goes without saying Donaghy is the worst person in NBA history after allegedly fixing games and betting over $10,000 through lower-level mob associations from 2005-2007. Since the charges shook the basketball world, Donaghy has since attempted to drag down fellow referrees, saying that they accompanied Donaghy in fixing NBA games. Commish David Stern has persistently denied Donaghy’s claims, saying that Donaghy acted alone.

Why Rodrizguez is Not Now: Alex Rodriguez certainly handles business on the field, but as most TSC readers realize, we’re not entirely focused on the field. But despite individual stats and production, part of his Yankee legacy gets dragged down by the “Zero Rings” curse. Now just recently, A-Rod has written and rewritten the New York tabloids with weeks worth of juicy divorce material — so much content that it propelled A-Rod into breaking the Sweet Sixteen of “Who’s Not Now.” While it’s hard to say that a guy with 538 home runs is “Not Now,” the recently off-field affairs with Modana gives A-Rod a low No. 14-seed.

TSC’s Pick: Donaghy.

But we don’t make the choices. YOU must vote on the right-hand column for who you think is “Not Now.”

Voting ends Tuesday at 7 p.m. eastern.

Taking a few moments away from sports, I’d like to pay respect to not only an iconic American journalist, but a true family man who followed his passion from working-class beginnings in Buffalo, New York.

Tim Russert, 58, passed away this afternoon.

His success represented a platform we all strive to reach: our dreams. Russert grew up in a working-class family; his father worked two jobs to pay the bills. Those values transcribed into his own life, as Brian Williams described him as a “capital J” journalist.

Russert chronicled the journey throughout his childhood in, “Big Russ and Me” — one of my all-time favorites.

What really struck me was his close-knit relationship with his family — in particular his son, Luke. On MSNBC this afternoon, Williams reiterated Russert’s family passion, telling stories how Luke and Tim constantly text messaged each other all day discussing their love for sports, politics or whatever intrigued their minds. It’s such close relationship that I’m proud to have with my own father — sans the politics interest — and greatly cherish every day. Tim’s grounded values best describes his good character and family-oriented upbringing.

Tim filled his book with engaging stories about his childhood, as he grew up striving to accomplish his dreams. It’s a must read for those interested in a true hard-working, family-loving guy.

Tim Donaghy is the cat that swore he didn’t eat the pet bird, but he’s got feathers coming out of his mouth. And what does he do to counteract? He blames the dog.

The former NBA referee alleged that Game 6 of the Lakers-Kings playoff series in 2002 was impacted by the disgusting actions of two of the three zebras who worked the game, according to a filing made by Donaghy’s lawyer in U.S. District Court in New York yesterday.

You got caught for gambling on the game, Donaghy. Take your fines and your prison sentencing like a damn man and quit pointing your gambling fingers.

The NBA’s commissioner, David Stern is in an uproar, and for good reason. He “vehemently denied the allegations, saying they are the desperate act of a convicted felon,” according to Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com. “We welcome scrutiny here. This is something that should be scrutinized.”

This season was going great. No more gambling refs, a Superman cameo at the NBA All-Star game and a Finals between the most historical rivalry in the sport.

It was like the Hollywood masterpiece that somehow made it through the writers’ strike.

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