Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Hold The Tuna

Stop me if you've heard this. Bill Parcells takes over a new team and molds them in "his image"...mostly through intimidation and humiliation. He attempts to strip the manhood of a star player as if to say "I'd rather be feared than respected." Conservative media outlets applaud his style, however ineffective it may be.

The latest target of the Big Bad Bully is Jason Taylor, who opted to dance the night away rather than welcome the new boss. Such an act is a slap in the face to a man that preaches dedication, loyalty, and commitment...(the same man I might add that left four different teams and an analyst job for greener pastures). I personally don't blame Jason Taylor. He is in the twilight of his football career and the NFL's retirement plan is a joke. Loyalty? Ha! Ask Steve McNair how fast you can go from hero to zero. The Titans had the trainer tell him that he's no longer welcome. Guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

You would think Parcells learned something in his four years with Dallas. Not only did the team not win a playoff game, but Jerry Jones chose TO's antics...and td's over the leather helmet football mentality. The team's production on both sides of the ball improved tremendously in his absence. Coincidence?

It's a new day, a new culture, and a new NFL. Look no further than coach Tom Coughlin, who went from losing his locker room to world champion in one season. The difference? Coughlin made internal changes to adapt to his team and his players responded, pulling off arguably the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. Jason Taylor is not reporting to camp, and who knows, maybe not at all. This would be a good time for President Parcells to serve something other than tuna....the players are losing their appetite for it.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Sports, Lies, & Videotapes

Spies...federal agents...and multi-million dollar transactions. This isn't your latest blockbuster action film, this is a day in the life of the NFL. No wonder it's the most popular sport in the western hemisphere. You know you're having a bad off season when losing the Super Bowl and a chance at immortality is what u wish people were talking about. Sorry Bill Belichick...spygate isn't going any where any time soon. You have no one to blame but yourself.

A wise man once told me that if you don't learn from the past you're doomed to repeat it. Obviously this man isn't in Belichick's fav 5...and for that matter neither is Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, or Roger Clemens. If they were he would have gotten the memo...DON'T CHALLENGE THE MEDIA...YOU WILL LOSE!!!! The Giants front four is a walk in the park when compared to a blood thirst reporter looking to cement his legacy at the expense of yours. It's not fair but it works both ways. I have never heard a player or coach demand an apology from the media for being crowned the "next big thing". They ride that adulation straight to the bank. You cheated Bill and you got caught simple as that. It doesn't mean that you're the scum of the earth, it just means that you got a little greedy and careless. Don't allow your pride to sabotage the legacies of everyone....be a big boy and take one for the team while you still can. Admit you were wrong and that the players had nothing to do with it. Shift the focus back to your championship caliber team. The media is quick to forgive....besides...everyone loves a good comeback story.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

I LOVE THIS GAME!!!

When I hear the letters NBA I have visions of mainstream America rolling up up their windows and locking their doors. Tattoos, cornrows, and hip hop music has Joe Middleclass reaching for the remote at the site of professional basketball. It seems that people have been so busy running out the forest they haven't noticed the beautiful new trees blossoming. In literal terms...the NBA is back!!!...back in L.A...back in Boston..and most importantly back in New Orleans. Off season acquisitions and mid season trades leveled the playing field. It's May...and 6 teams have a legitimate chance of winning the title. The NFL could only wish to be so lucky this fall.

You know the future is looking pretty bright by the All NBA 1st team with Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard, and Chris Paul...all of which are young superstars on winning teams. Kobe Bryant won his first MVP, but can he win his first title without Shaq? Can Boston really go from worst to first? How long will Lebron James and Chris Paul wait in the wings? And we haven't even mentioned the defending champs!! The influx of young talented players has lead to a more athletic and entertaining brand of basketball. Credit David Stern for continuing to adapt to the changing times and stay relevant to today's viewer. The NBA...yep...I love this game!!!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

School of Hard Knocks

"A mind is a terrible thing to waste" is a sentiment shared by anyone with even a shred of political correctness. As a fan I say.."A jump start on building a rapport with your new offensive coordinator is a terrible thing to waste"... Especially if you're Rose Bowl phenom turned rookie of the year turned regressing quarterback Vince Young. Yes, the Titans and their fans enjoyed an improbable playoff run last year. But that was in spite of Young's performance, not because of it. Was it the quad? Was it the Madden Jinx? Ask Jeff Fisher and he'll say it was Norm Chow, whom he abruptly fired after watching his Achilles heel squander a low scoring playoff game.

This we know...Mike Heimerdinger is back. This we don't know...where's Vince Young? Could he be 800 miles away enrolled in school? Of course not! Not after the offense we saw. Not after coming so close...could he? Don't get me wrong, I support the value of an education. I certainly applaud making good on a promise. My cynical side can't help but notice that Young did enter the 2006 NFL draft as a junior. Was the promise not as important then? Maybe it's the Steve Mcnair in me that wanted to see our leader stand front and center and accept responsibility for a season that could have been. To vow to do what ever it takes to get the offense on track and be a world champion. I'm rooting for Vince to obtain his degree...and I'm looking forward to the new season. Just remember, you still have a "school of hard knocks" exam. It's September 9th against the Jags.