in Ireland hoping to change their (wait for it) luck ... GEORGIA TECH 24-17.---L | Forum

Mitchell Johnson is excited for the IPL, talks Twitter battles, and his respect for Virat Kohli in his latest column for Fox Sports. Discount Cheap Giants Hoodies ... Being a cricketer in India is unlike any other job in the world.The sheer number of fans here and the passion they have for the game makes the time I spend off the field in India almost as intense as the time I spend on it. Dont get me wrong - the supporters here are amazing, its just that on occasions, things have threatened to get a little out of hand.There was a time last year when I felt a bit concerned about my safety. It wasnt that we were in serious danger - although it felt close - but the sheer number of people involved made the whole experience pretty intimidating.After having a quiet meal with a couple of my Kings XI Punjab teammates in a Dharamsala restaurant, people began to notice us, and seemingly within seconds there were people hanging off doors just to get a look at us.Things soon escalated and before I knew it I had people grabbing onto me, just trying to touch me. I had to whack their arms off me just to get into the car. Then they started shaking the car.It was a whole new experience and pretty crazy. However, I want to make it clear the people that day had no intention of hurting me - theyre just so fanatical and so excited to see cricketers and this is the way they express that fanaticism. Indias fans are some of the most passionate in the world according to Johnson At times like that youve just got to accept this is what life is like as a cricketer in India. There are times when it can all feel like its a bit much, but you need to understand where the locals are coming from. They hardly ever get to see their heroes up close in the flesh so its understandable how passionate they are when they see us.It certainly doesnt detract from the awesome experience that is playing in the IPL, and if anything some of the players - particularly the younger ones who are in awe of the big-name guys - actually enjoy the extra attention.MY TWITTER BATTLESOne man who definitely thrives on extra scrutiny and pressure is Virat Kohli.The man is a superstar and he showed why during the World Twenty20, when he almost single-handedly dragged India into the final.You might have seen that I had a little dig at Virat on Twitter before Indias match against Australia. That was just an attempt by me to throw him off his game but given he scored 82 off 51 balls, I dont think it was such a smart move! Indias Virat Kohli celebrates after victory in the World T20 clash with Australia Maybe I shouldnt have said anything but thats the beauty of Twitter - anyones opinion can be broadcast to the world. I didnt expect my comment to get the level of response that it did, and I probably didnt need to reply to the angry responses from Indian fans.But to be honest that stuff doesnt bother me at all. In the past it would have affected me, but now that Ive got a bit more freedom to express my opinion, I can just laugh it off.I dont mind stirring the pot - I guess I just need to be careful about who Im having a go at!VIRAT AND MEYou didnt need to see my tweet to know Virat and I have a bit of a rivalry. Johnson celebrates the wicket of Kohli during 2015 World Cup semi-final Weve had our differences and most of it stems from the 2014 Adelaide Test, when a ball I threw hit Virat on the body. I was legitimately trying to run him out but he didnt like what I did. When he made some comment in the media that night about having no respect for me as a player, thats when I got really annoyed.Having said that, Virat is the kind of player youd want in your team. Hes a real fighter and to be honest hes a bit like most of us were in the Australian team. We go pretty hard on the field, and hes got that about him as well.The fact he plays the game like us is probably why weve rubbed each other the wrong way. If I sit back and digest it properly, were actually quite similar in the way we approach the game. Johnson is excited to face Kohli (left) and his RCM teammates like Chris Gayle (right) I cant wait to come up against him again and his Royal Challengers Bangalore team-mates in the IPL.RETURNING TO CRICKETSince my final Test match in November last year I havent played any competitive cricket, save for one grade match in Perth.The good sign for me is Im incredibly excited for the IPL to get underway now. Thats certainly not how I was feeling this time last year when I was really flat and physically exhausted after a long Australian summer that included a World Cup. Johnson says he cant wait to put on his King XI uniform again Now Im genuinely pumped to get back onto the field, and even training with my teammates this week gave me a rush I havent felt in a while.A lot of people think the IPL is all about money but I can guarantee you it isnt. I would find it really hard to be motivated if I was just playing for money - you have to actually have your heart in it.I know I do, and I cant wait to pull on that Kings XI uniform again.For the full article, click here. Also See: WATCH: IPL is coming IPL TV times IPL in numbers Get Sky Sports Rod Smith Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. C.J. Conrad Jersey . LOUIS -- Alexander Steen scored a power-play goal with 59. http:///...c-rj-mcintosh-jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Now this is the way to start the college football season.The usual steady stream of games from Thursday through Monday night this year includes four matchups of ranked teams and six more ranked teams facing Power Five opposition, four of those away from home.In some cases, regardless of the quality of the competition, the names alone scream big-time college football game. Alabama vs. USC. Texas vs. Notre Dame.Since the NFL moved the start of its season to the week following Labor Day in 2001, college football has turned summers last hurrah weekend into a delightful opening act. But it tended to be quantity -- lots of games on TV spread out over five games -- over high quality. Most top teams were playing cupcakes.The College Football Playoff has encouraged teams to play step-up nonconference scheduling since one loss early wont kill a teams national championship hopes. The demands of television networks and fans -- who are paying the bills in college football -- also pushed schools to accept more challenging games.This opening weekend is not quite the greatest in college football history. In 1998, eight games matched Top 25 teams. But it is better than most.The last time four games paired ranked teams in the first week of the season was 2009. The opening slate that year included a top-10 matchup in Atlanta between No. 5 Alabama and No. 7 Virginia Tech, won by the Crimson Tide, and No. 20 BYU upsetting No. 3 Oklahoma at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas.A third-ranked Sooners team losing in an NFL stadium to a school from outside the power conferences? Houston fans would like to see a repeat of that Saturday.The picks:THURSDAY KICKOFFAppalachian State (plus 20) at No. 9 TennesseeVols offensive coordinator Mike DeBord was Michigans OC when it lost to App State in 2007. Bad omen? ... TENNESSEE 38-14.Charlotte (plus 40) at No. 19 LouisvilleA fun full season of Lamar Jackson at quarterback for the Cardinals should start with one big half and then some work for the backup ... LOUISVILLE 58-14.FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE FARMKansas State (plus 15 1/2) at No. 8 StanfordWildcats coach Bill Snyder begins season with 193 victories. Getting to 200 might be a nice way for the 76-year-old Hall of Famer to head into retirement ... STANFORD 38-20.SATURDAY MAIN EVENTSNo. 1 Alabama (minus 11 1/2) vs. No. 20 Southern California at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TexasThe thought of losing to the defending national champions might not be so bad for USC fans. The thought of losing to former Trojans coach Lane Kiffin, now the Tides offensive coordinator, probably wont be as easy to take ... ALABAMA 27-14.No. 3 Oklahoma (minus 11) vs. No. 15 Houston at NRG Stadium in HoustonThe last time the Cougars went into a huge early season game this highly ranked was 1991 against Miami, and it did not turn out well for Houston. Can another much-hyped bunch of Coogs be heading for a similar fate? ... OKLAHOMA 38-24.No. 18 Georgia (minus 2 1/2) vs. No. 22 North Carolina at the Georgia Dome in AtlantaThe Kirby Smart era begins for the Bulldogs. More importantly, the Nick Chubb era continues after last years knee injury put it on hold ... GEORGIA 28-23.UNDERCARDNo. 2 Clemson (minus 7 1/2)) at AuburnQB DeShaun Watson was last seen putting up 478 total yards against Alabamas defense. Kenny Ladler Jersey. Auburn does not have Alabamas defense. ... CLEMSON 35-21, BEST BET.No. 5 LSU (minus 10) vs. Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WisconsinBadgers best bet to stop RB Leonard Fournette was defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, but he is with the Tigers now ... LSU 28-10.No. 16 UCLA (plus 3) at Texas A&MPac-12-SEC matchup could feature the No. 1 pick in this years NFL draft, Aggies DE Myles Garrett, and next years, Bruins QB Josh Rosen ... UCLA 27-24, UPSET SPECIALEASY OPENERSBowling Green (plus 28) at No. 6 Ohio StateUrban Meyer gets to ease in a bunch of new Buckeyes ... OHIO STATE 45-14.Hawaii (plus 40) at No. 7 MichiganBack-to-back road trips to Australia and Ann Arbor. The Rainbow Warriors might need a new travel agent ... MICHIGAN 48-7.Rutgers (plus 26 1/2) at No. 14 WashingtonThe Huskies hype machine is not likely to be interrupted by a visit from the rebuilding Scarlet Knights ... WASHINGTON 31-7.Miami of Ohio (plus 27) at No. 17 IowaKirk Ferentz begins his 18th season at Iowa, tied with Bob Stoops of Oklahoma as the longest tenured coach in major college football ... IOWA 45-10.UMass (plus 35) at No. 25 FloridaThe first of three SEC opponents for the Minutemen. Only SEC teams play more ... FLORIDA 56-13.SUNDAY SHOWDOWNNo. 10 Notre Dame (minus 3) at TexasThe first of many referendum games for Longhorns coach Charlie Strong ... NOTRE DAME 24-20.MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALLNo. 4 Florida State (minus 4) vs. No. 11 Mississippi at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FloridaAmong running backs with at least 100 carries, the Seminoles Dalvin Cook had the highest average per carry against Power Five opponents at 7.69 ... FLORIDA STATE 27-17.TWITTER REQUESTSBYU (plus 1) vs. Arizona at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona -- (at)RustyHinkQB Taysom Hill, who was in the same recruiting class as former USC quarterback Matt Barkley, is starting again for the Cougars after two seasons lost to injuries ... ARIZONA 28-24.Missouri (plus 10) at West Virginia -- (at)watt11Its been a few years since realignment, but this still qualifies as an odd SEC-Big 12 matchup ... WEST VIRGINIA 23-17.Colorado (minus 7 1/2) vs. Colorado State at Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colorado -- (at)MackinnonisGodAn often entertaining rivalry game ... COLORADO 30-24.South Carolina (plus 4 1/2) at Vanderbilt -- (at)BCrawford247Will Muschamps first season as Gamecocks coach is going to be a long one if it starts with a loss to Vandy ... SOUTH CAROLINA 15-12.Western Michigan (plus 5) at Northwestern -- (at)MatthewHLeachBroncos were second in the nation in time of possession per game last season at 34:33 ... NORTHWESTERN 24-21.Georgia Tech (minus 3) vs. Boston College at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland -- (at)RustyHinkTwo teams coming off awful seasons, open in Ireland hoping to change their (wait for it) luck ... GEORGIA TECH 24-17.---Last years record: 227-88 straight; 149-152-5 vs. spread.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP Wholeslae Jerseys NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Cheap College Jerseys Cheap Football Jerseys Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap Baseball Jerseys ' ' '