Game Day Zone

Role Model

2010-02-10T20:26:00.001-08:00

Recently, the Philadelphia Phillies signed veteran catcher Brian Schneider to a two-year deal. It got virtually no notice on national sports shows and appeared in the agate type in the newspaper sports section under transactions. Schneider, a solid veteran who is most noted for his defensive prowess and ability to handle young pitching staffs, has played his entire career in the National League East. He debuted with the Montreal Expos, moved to the District of Columbia with the franchise as the starting catcher for the Washington Nationals, and joined the New York Mets in a 2007 trade (with Ryan Church for Lastings Milledge). When the Mets chose to go in a different direction, Schneider, who went to high school in Pennsylvania, grew up a Phillies fan (and as a National kept a Chase Utley jersey in his locker). What makes this a nice story is that Schneider is one of those guys who appreciates his role as a major league baseball player. Three seasons ago, I sat outside the players parking lot iwth my six-year old son after a night game at RFK Stadium. Every car passed by a small group of autograph seekers. But only one car stopped and it was right where my son stood. Schneider stuck his head out of the car window signed a picture for a thrilled six-year old boy, and thens several others for other fans. I had the opportunity a few days later to speak to Schneider and thank him as a father. He smiled shyly, and said, "I was one of those little boys hanging outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring training camp looking for autographs. I know what it's like to be passed by, so I always told myself I'd never take this life for granted and I'd never try to disappoint any of the kids." Brian Schneider is my kind of role model.

I Want My Quarter Back!

2009-11-02T18:32:00.000-08:00

Just watching Monday Night Football and appreciating two good quarterbacks, Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. Ryan is young, yes... but coming on strong. Brees, well, we know what he can do. Regardless, two fine signal callers for sure. But too often we watch the NFL and we can't find this situation. Sometimes we can't even find a good one on just one side. How does this happen? How can the league not have 32 good starting QB's? We have Brady, two Mannings, Brees, Ryan, Romo, Favre, Rivers, Roethlisberger and we'll go ahead and include young guys like Sanchez, Orton and Flacco who look like they will progress. And, yes, surely we overlooked a few. But who is running the other half of the teams? Why are we still burdened with watching David Garrard, Rex Grossman, Byron Leftwich and others? That's just naming a few. Can you name the starting QB's for 16 NFL team as of this month? Try it and then look at the active quarterback list at nfl.com and see what you missed. Or, watch most NFL games and see what all fans are missing.

Business on the Brooklyn Side

2009-09-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

What do you think about the New Jersey Nets being owned by Russia’s richest man, Mikhail Prokhorov? It's pretty much an international business already, isn't it? Kobe's jerseys are big sellers in Europe. LeBron is a common phrase in Asia. And the players in the NBA, (which might need the word "national" removed since it has moved abroad), Yao, Kirilenko, Pavlovic, Eyenga... not exactly roll call from the heartland is it? So, is this a good move? From a business standpoint, yes. Anyone selling something would rather be global, especially if there is easy shipping of your product. David Stern is already delivering around the world. The NBA is wildly popular everywhere, merchandising profits are high. So why not get some foreign money involved in the structure of the league. Let them build new arenas, bring in more people, especially to a struggling franchise. It can only help the economy. Besides, Brooklyn deserves it. Not since the Dodgers hopped a bus to the west coast has this burrough had anything to talk about, not to mention it's a retro infusion. But what about this issue from a nationalistic view? Will Americans have anything left to call it's own? It appears we've had a huge yard sale the last 100 years, and we're selling quickly. Hmmmm.... this could take a lot of blogs.

Blount Mistake

2009-09-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

LeGarrette Blount made a mistake. He is on the top of the Yahoo search list right now. What he did was wrong. What he did provides hours, days or weeks of fodder for sports talk stations, SportsCenter, internet junkies.... well, actually all of us. But who among us hasn't lost our cool? I have. You have. Mine just doesn't make ESPN. Has yours? Higher-ups will debate this issue for a long time. Granted, most people are on one side of this issue (he should be punished), but I bet nearly everyone could see the other side. If you've played any level of athletic competition, heck, if you've ever played Monopoly, you know what it's like when someone beats you, then beats you again, then has something to say about it. It cuts to the core like nothing else. It burns. Quite frankly, it makes a man do things he doesn't normally condone. However, in this story, the villain seems to have priors in the area. If that is the case, then perhaps shame on the coaches. Fool me once...

Cav Rising

2009-06-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

When the Virginia Cavaliers beat Ole Miss in a best-of-three series in the Oxford Super-regional last weekend, it marked the first College World Series appearance for the Cavs. But not for UVA Coach Brian O’Connor, who grew up near Omaha and pitched in the CWS for Creighton. Ironically, his first round opponent is LSU, which is coached by Paul Mainieri. Mainieri and O’Connor coached together at Notre Dame several years ago with Mainieri serving as O’Connor’s mentor. Now the two will face each other at Rosenblatt Stadium this weekend in college baseball's biggest showcase. But Virginia’s emergence on the national college baseball scene shouldn’t be a surprise. After making just 3 appearances in the first 49 NCAA tournaments, Washington National Ryan Zimmerman and Arizona Diamondback Mark Reynolds led the Cavs into their successive tournament appearances which now number six, culminating in this trip to Omaha. So now, the student must see if he can defeat the teacher and advance into the winner's bracket. It's a great week in Omaha, one that every college baseball fan should visit someday.

Do You Wieters?

2009-06-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

I received tickets to a Baltimore Orioles game for my birthday from my family. As a former season ticket holder who hasn't been back to Orioles Park at Camden Yards since the advent of the Washington Nationals, which is closer to my home and which I know own a mini-plan. But I'd forgotten how much I love Camden Yards and how much I like seeing American League teams such as the Red Sox, the Angels, and the White Sox. We saw a great game, a 6-3 victory by the Detroit Tigers. We saw good pitching, timely hitting, and an atmosphere that reminded me how great an atmposhere someone can experience at Camden Yards. But the thing that really surprised me was a story someone told me in the Orioles Team Store. We saw the second major league game of Matt Wieters, the new O's catcher out of Georgia Tech. He was called up from the Norfolk Tides and started the night before. I saw probably 10 to 15 people wearing tee-shirts with Wieters name and number on the back. My son and I went into the store in the fifth inning and I saw racks of Wieters tee-shirts. I casually mentioned how surprised I was to a clerk, who told me the organization had the shirts ready before he arrived. "We couldn't put them out until yesterday was an official game", she said. "We had to wait for the sixth inning, but when we did put them out, there was a line waiting for them." I thought that was pretty interesting and asked my son if he wanted a Wieters tee-shirt. "No," he said, "I want this one," as he held a Nick Markakis tee-shirt. One less Wieters sale for now, but I if he hits like he did Saturday night (a double and a triple), I bet my son buys a #15 Wieters shirt the next time we go to Camden Yards.

NB A-list

2009-05-04T18:51:00.001-07:00

I have several friends who really don't like basketball, namely NBA. They're football people, baseball guys. No more Bird and Johnson they say. No more Jordan. No great matchups, no legendary players. I disagree. The new NBA is great. Watch the playoffs and see awesome plays and players making them. The recently ended Bulls-Celtics round one series was one of the best ever. Players like Superman, Kobe, D-Wade, King James and more are creating new legends. What about Dirk? He reminds me of Larry Bird.... kinda, doesn't he you? Paul Pierce. Magic-like? I'm just throwing some things out there. Legends become increasingly so the longer time goes by. Games become more classic the more the actual play fades from our memory. Wars seem more glorious centuries later. The NBA is good, really good. I feel like we are certainly watching heroes of the game right now, maybe some you don't even realize yet. Rondo, Mo, Noah, Ariza. Keep shooting fellas.

March Gladness

2009-03-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

March Madness? No. March Gladness. Glad because as a football fan it's the dead zone. That time between national signing day and kickoff. Ugh, hate it. Thank goodness for March. Honestly, even if you're not a basketball fan, you have to appreciate the pure sportsmanship and emotion of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. It's passion, it's hustle and it's fun. Great announcers, great fans, great rivalries. Duke and North Carolina. The Demon Deacons. The Terps, the Hilltoppers. Gonzaga (know where that is? course you don't!). The "what-I've-never-heard-of-that schools" that seem creep in every year. Binghamton? Binghamton? Seriously. Radford, where is that? Doesn't matter. They all play hard. Hat's off to all of them. Everyone loves David and Goliath, don't we? DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? Yes, and we look for them every March.

Timeout on T.O.

2009-03-05T19:42:00.000-08:00

Really, what is the next chapter in Terrell Owen's saga. The Resurrection. The Demise. The Acquittal. The End? Is it a drama, comedy, adventure, mystery, what? As fans we need closure on this love-hate relationship with the self-promoting one. We like him, we do. We also get really tired of him. We love to watch him play, we do. We also tire of his antics. Come on, TO... just play already. You're a physical specimen. We wish we had your talent. Heck, most NFL receivers wish they had your talent. Use it man. Take a timeout, gather yourself and realize that you've been given a privilege that most people could never dream of. Fame, money, talent, power and, not least of all, the chance to do your hobby for a living, a tremendous living. Find a team that will have you, give 110% that we know you have, and sail that big ship into Canton. And, please, don't go Rodman on us!

Ohh J!

2008-12-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

Gifted athlete, Heisman trophy winner, NFL superstar, actor, media darling, fugitive, armed robber, convict.... wow, what a resume! How can someone fall so far? Is it stress? Is it the media? How did O.J. Simpson end up taking such a long and winding road? It's sad, really. No matter your position on Juice, it's ultimately sad. From a perspective of humanity, where does the blame lie? Maybe we are all capable of similar moves. Fame and wealth have a way of twisting normalcy (see Dennis Rodman). Most of us will never be in a situation to test that theory. We're pretty boring. It's not an excuse but it is an intriguing discussion as to why the ones who make it big fall so hard. It might be just a percentage thing. In other words, the same percentage of famous people go bad as does the percentage of the rest of us. Maybe. But the question is why... why would you find yourself in situations that might tear down your image, destroy your credibility, tarnish your name? Well, if I get famous and fall, I'll e-mail you and give you my reasons. For now, we'll chalk it up to human error.

Bama Ball

2008-11-16T17:25:00.000-08:00

Wanna know what football looked like decades ago? Go to Tuscaloosa, AL. The Crimson Tide will show you. Up the gut. Up the gut. Run left. First down. Up the gut. Run right. First down. Up the gut. Incomplete pass. Run left. First down. Touchdown. Then the other side takes the field only to succumb to a stifling defense. Punt. Exciting, isn't it? Only if you're an Alabama fan. Bear would be proud. Knute, Pop... yep, they would be, too. So if the Tide surges to the big game and one of the high-octane circus shows of the Big 12 comes a-callin'... well, we'll see what happens. Most say Saban's boys aren't the best team in college football right now. Nick says, "Who cares?". Eleven wins, no losses. Hard to argue with a heavyweight fighter that wears down his flashy opponent for twelve rounds. It may come with a knockout or it may come later when you simply hear the bell ring and you can barely move. So don't be surprised if this working man's team makes it, and does it without conventional style points. But no matter what, you'll have to respect the effort. If your team lines up against the Crimson hardhats, make sure they're in for the whole shift. Grab your lunch pail. It's gonna be a long day.

A Bunt To Go, Please

2008-09-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

Kevin (from Fairfax)
I am an avid baseball fan. I love the intracacies of the game. Taking an extra base, hitting the cutoff man, moving the runner along. But it steams me to no end when a pitcher gets up and fails to lay down a sacrifice bunt. I understand that these guys - as Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tim Redding, who is a decent bunter, said during a Q&A for Nats fans recently - are paid to pitch, not to hit. But during batting practice, the pitchers do work on bunting. And are expected to do that during games. So how can a cleanup hitter like David Ortiz lay one down during a Red Sox-Mariners' game last night. A beauty too. Now I do understand the shift was on, and he may have been trying for a surprise bunt single. But it was a better looking bunt than most pitchers do. And I bet Big Papi doesn't really practice too many bunts during BP. And he received a standing ovation from not only the Red Sox fans, but his teammates as he came back to the dugout. And deservedly so.

Tiger versus the Game

2008-08-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

There's no doubt about it, the component has become larger than the unit; the particle has become more important than the mass; the athlete has become bigger than sport itself. That's right, Tiger is bigger than golf. Afraid to say it? It's true. We've made it so. Through a blinding myriad of media, we have injected this young man into culture's conscience. In the process we have eliminated all other participants in the gentleman's game. If anyone else wins a tournament, it will forever be remembered as the win without Tiger. Nobody cares. You do not watch golf anymore, you watch him. Come on, admit it, golf is boring! It's fun to play (if you're good), but it's painful to watch. I would rather watch granny cross-stitch. Tiger transformed the game. Is that true? Didn't the Golden Bear do that? Arnie? Yes, every game has its greats. Every sport has it watershed moments. Every one has it revolutionaries. Tiger only had the most powerful agent in the world: the media. He has used it (whether intentionally or not) to his greatest advantage. With all the resources available to us these days, we have the power, and the desire it seems, to vilify or canonize anyone. I'm not really sure we appreciate sport anymore. We relish in the drama of it. We hide ourselves in the characters we create. So now Tiger is gone, for now anyway. So what of golf? I personally don't care, but I know many do. So get over him. Forget about him. Enjoy golf again.

No Story, Thanks

2008-07-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

I don't care if A-Rod has marital problems. I don't. I don't care if his wife is shopping with Elvis at Macy's. I don't care. Really... I don't. Bring me sports. Don't bring me life drama. Dear ESPN, if I want life drama I'll turn to the Oxygen network. If I want that crap I'll watch the talentless dregs on The View. No thanks. I watch sports. I watch competition. I watch win or lose within a competitive environment. Hey, I'll even watch gymnastics if the mood strikes me... or figure skating if I want (you don't know me so I can say that openly). Point being, I like sport... I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PERSONAL TROUBLES OF A-LIST ATHLETES!!! Stop it already! Even in the void we know as late summer in the sports world we still have plenty to talk about, don't we? Favre returning, college football, NASCAR, some baseball game in New York recently... yeah, there's still plenty. Do we need to follow every move outside the stadium? I do appreciate a feelgood story once in a while, but only ONCE, in a while. Josh Hamilton's recovery... good story. Tony and Eva? Cute, but enough is enough. So let it die already. Britney and Miley can keep the tabloids busy, let's keep sports sporty.

Rambis Revival

2008-06-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

So the Lakers and Celtics meet again in the NBA Finals, this the 11th time in the history of the two storied franchises. Think back to all of the great matchups and rivalries...Russell vs. Chamberlain...West vs. Havlicek...Magic vs. Bird...McHale vs. Rambis...RAMBIS? Did I really type that? Sure did! And there's a reason for that. As one of the key contributors during the Lakers' four titles in the 80's (including two over these same Celtics), Rambis did all the dirty work that gets overlooked in the box score. But even more memorable than that, was the thick mustache and incredibly thick-rimmed glasses he wore on the court. Now I may not have given Rambis a thought recently, until I saw a couple of signs that indicated he's back. During an evening out with my best friend from college who lives on the west coast now, I spotted a guy in the bar, wearing a yellow Lakers t-shirt with Rambis' name and number 31 on it. "Odd," I thought. "Someone actually has a Rambis t-shirt." A day later, while attending an AAU basketball tournament, I saw a middle-aged man wearing a gold and purple Rambis jersey. "Hmm," I thought. "What's with all the Rambis sightings? It must be a sign of something." Then this morning, I'm watching NBA Live as the Lakers wander out onto the court at the Fleet Center to meet the media. Who's the first one out on the floor? You got it! Rambis! It's gotta be Laker karma.

Kevin Sloan
Fairfax, VA

Lacrosse-less

2008-05-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

Did you know MLL conducted their draft today? Do you know what the MLL is? Heck, do you even know what lacrosse is? I bet the majority of you answered no to a majority of these questions. And, I bet, your only "yes" answer was marked with an apprehensive defensiveness. Sure you know what lacrosse is. Don't you? Did you know what it was before the Duke scandal? Are you really sure what it is now? Do you care? Mmmm...curious as to why certain sports get certain attention. Why football as a cultural phenomenon? Lacrosse players wear cool helmets. They wear shoulder pads. Is it the size of the ball? They use a ball about the size of a baseball (I think), yet MLB is our national pasttime. Is it the scoring? The NBA enjoys a multi-million dollar ledger of sales on their gear because guys try to get the ball in the net. Watched any lacrosse lately? Yep, a net. The MLL has cool names like the Barrage and the Outlaws, they have cool colors and logos. It's athletic. It's fast. It's furious. It's colorful. It's sport. They even have a 2-point shot outside the arc. How cool is that? So why no love for lacrosse? Hey, football junkies... do you realize that lacrosse is a "full contact sport"? And you diamondheads, with your love for the history of baseball... do you know lacrosse is over 300 years old at the least and possibly the first sport to be played in North America? Look it up. And who could not get excited about a sport that has a position call attackmen? Come on! And, one more thing... ever heard of Jim Brown? Fantastic running back, actor, activist, yada, yada, yada. Let me reintroduce him as Jim Brown, member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Yep, John and Yoko had it right... give lacrosse a chance!

NBA Revival

2008-05-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

What makes the greatest eras of sports? If I ask you, what was the greatest era of the NBA, what would you say? I was born in the late 60's. I was a kid and teenager in the 80's. Guess what I would say. You got it... Bird, Magic, Kareem, Dr. J., Showtime. But why? Because it was or because I was there? What about Wilt, Oscar and those guys? I'm sure others would say they had the greatest era. Determining the significance of any era is unavoidably tied to proximity. In other words, your era is the greatest. No offense, but maybe it's not. I remember a lull in the league in the early to mid-90's that, to me, had only one exciting attraction... MJ alone. That's just me, of course. I lost interest in the league. College, marriage, kids, you know, just lost the time. But now... now, things have changed. LeBron, CP3, Dwight Howard merged with older active vets like Garnett, Kobe, Duncan... all awaiting the infusion of new talent like Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo. All this makes the league worthy again. Solid teams like the Spurs, revived dynasties like LA and Boston actually competing for the title, Maravich-like ball handlers like Ginobili, true shooting guards, imposing centers, extraordinary passers.... ohhh boy, the league is back. It's back in a good way. Oh, and by the way, have you noticed who many of the coaches, execs and administrators of these teams are? Names like Joe Dumars, Danny Ainge, Michael Jordan, Kevin McHale, Byron Scott among others. Now tell me, when did these guys play in the league? Right.

re-TIRED of

2008-03-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

Did you hear Brett Favre retired? I bet you did, quite a bit even. Yes, we've heard. Brett Favre retired... from football... a sport... a game. What we all loved doing as kids in the backyards and empty fields, he did for millions of dollars. Do you get it? He's not yet 40 and he is retired. Retired from his hobby, no less. He never has to worry about money again. Ever. Don't get me wrong. He was great for the league. He overcame great personal tragedy and trying circumstances on the national stage. He carried himself with a charisma and charm that made him everybody's brother or favorite uncle. That's great. Brett is Everyman U.S.A. Good job, thanks, now let's move on. Look, there are people every day who retire from military service after a career of protecting our national security. In harm's way (more than a charging LT), they sacrifice much to do what they do so that we can do what we do. Where is their honor? Where is their press conference? Where is their sappy epilogues? Don't they deserve such? It is a telling sign about our culture that we parade these events up and down the American streets over and over. We love our heroes. We make our heroes. We maintain our heroes. I love football. I thing Brett Favre is the single greatest quarterback, pound for pound sort of speak, that has ever played. He embodied all that is great about sports. He exemplified every characteristic that I want to instill in my son, and daughter for that matter. He was gracious, polite, funny... a great ambassador for the NFL. I loved to watch him play. I am a lifelong Cowboys fan, but I would go out of my way to watch and cheer the Packers, (sorry Jerry). Point: We all appreciate Brett Favre, but let's not pin too much on him. At the least, let's do the same for others who do equal or more in matters of increased importance. As one of his biggest fans, somehow I think ol' number 4 would agree... and that's what ultimately makes him great.

desti-NY

2008-02-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

Where does a 300-pound gorilla sit? Wherever the New York Giants tell him to, that's where! We previously posted about this gorilla and the fact that the G-men thought themselves a "team of destiny". Is there any such thing? The previous question remains; don't all players think that? What do we make of this destiny thing? Is it a feeling? Is it an arrogant rant? Is it blind ambition? What would have happened if the Pats had continued on to perfection? What then, Strahan? What then, Plax? Tom Brady chuckled at the fact that it was suggested they would only score 17 points when Burress looked into his crystal ball. Who would have known that this offensive juggernaut would not even make that small number? Did the Giants? Does anyone really know... I mean KNOW.... that they will be victorious in a team sport? Of course not. Too many variables. But, when comments are made in Nostradamus-like fashion, those comments will haunt you or heroize you. Look at what we have now: Plaxico is a confident underdog with a ring, Strahan is a wise veteran seer, Brady is an arrogant ex-champion. See? Our words stay with us. How those words play out is not totally in the hands of the speaker. Ever notice how predictions that come true are heralded later as matters of fact? "I knew we would do it, I knew we would win!" However, when the prediction fails, it was simply a profession of confidence. Talking is so easy, isn't it? Words are powerful, statements are volatile. Be confident, be careful.

Big Gorilla

2008-01-23T19:46:00.000-08:00

What do the New England Patriots and the New York Giants have in common? Simians. Simians? Correct. Brady and the Pats are the proverbial 300-pound gorilla, while Eli and Company have a monkey on their back. Yep, it's hard to ignore the greatness of New England; dynasty, perfect record, robot-like QB, you know, stuff like that. We don't always find more detailed reasons to cheer for these guys though, do we? Really, Brady is good, very good, but offers no personal reason to invest in him emotionally. Moss, although toned down in '07, still has spots. Interestingly, the most intriguing and genuine part of this team is the linebacking corp. Workman, middle-class, over-the-hill veterans with a personal seasoning in their lives. Good stuff. Other than that, unless you have a personal attachment to the team, there is no reason to cry if they lose. On the other hand is the wild card Giants. Little Manning with his monkey Peyton on his back. Overshadowed, underestimated but never overlooked. No, we never pass on an opporunity to cast a player into the pit of underachievement and high expectation... right? And the rest of the team, well, they're not expected to go any further than NFC champs. Are they? Who knows? Michael Strahan, through his Letterman-smile, said the G-men are a team of destiny, that this is their year. But c'mon, we all say that. I say it every January 1st and by March I'm still in debt, looking at grass where my deck should be and wondering if my bathroom scales can possibly register any lower numbers. But reality is what it is. And sometimes destinies come face to face with 300-pound gorillas. And guess where they sit..

Paper Champion

2008-01-10T18:51:00.001-08:00

What is a champion? Our old buddy Noah Webster defines it this way: “a winner of first prize or first place in competition; also: one who shows marked superiority”. So, having concluded another post-season collegiate football dance, one that has all the drama and excitement of an arranged marriage, where are we with this crowning of a champion? Les State University has the trophy, they were victorious in the designated game and they presumably reached these goals by following the rules throughout the course of the season. Champions, right? Examine the definition again for a moment. Did they win first place in a competition? Yes. Did they show superiority? Yes. Both answers are positive, but relevant to the last game only. Apply those same questions to the whole year: no and no. Don’t get me wrong, I think LSU is Miles ahead of most programs, but did they deserve even a shot at the national title? Let’s review: two losses, last minute wins and two appearances at #1 only to get knocked off. Most teams never get a chance at being at the top; Bayou Tigers got three. Who else gets that? No one. Some
don’t even get one, much less three. It’s all a matter of timing and perception. When did you lose, how good was the team you lost to perceived to be when you lost to them and how much better did the team you lost to early become late in the season after they beat teams that were thought to be bad but later beat teams that were thought by some to be better than expected?Confused? So are we. This formula does not a champion make. Keep it true. Make a champion earn it. If it means pushing the fat kid off the hill, so be it. If it means jumping the most bricks, let it be. If it means slugging with your eyes closed ‘til the bully
walks away, sport is better for it. Sorry Noah.

Hail To The King!

2007-12-14T20:07:00.000-08:00

Who's the best player in college football? Do you know? Perhaps the question should be this; WHAT is the best college football player? MVP? Rushing leader? Most proficient passer? Maybe. For years, the college football world has designated that this player be awarded the Heisman Trophy. This year's recipient is Florida Gator Tim Tebow. Is he good? You bet. Is he Florida's most valuable player? Strong argument. Is he the best single player in the country? You know as well as anyone that there is no possible way to answer. He's hard to stop, he's hard not to watch. He's exciting, he's tough and, after all the physical accolades, he's a fantastic representative of college football. Keep up with the games on Saturday as you have and you'll see there are many great players. Some consistent, some less so. In the end, the Heisman exists, and it must have a recipient. Tebow has it and, well done Superman. But have we answered the original question? Supposedly we have, and our desire to crown an individual champion amid a team sport has been quenched yet again... at least for a year.

Fun, fun, fun

2007-11-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

Brett Favre is having fun. Can you tell? Well, he is and, because of that, NFL fans and ex-fans alike are
having fun, too. Don't be alarmed by his recent injury, the old man is transformed, (not out
of neccessity mind you), back to the days of backyard football. You remember, the 5-boy team all crouched
down around a dirt spot.... "Johnny, you're the bottle cap, Scott, you're this rock.... both of you go long."
Back to the days of all-time quarterback, two-hand touch, one-mississippi-2-mississippi and other such
nostalgic phrases. Yep, old #4 is having a blast... and the league never looked better. Call it what you
want; a renaissance, a revival, I call it good ol' football, the way it was meant to be. Forget the
millions of star-bucks greasing the corporate pigskin machine, Favre has returned us all to a day when it
was fun to watch the world's most exciting sport. Fun to follow the most beloved professional league in the
world. Fun to be a kid, fun to be a fan. Thanks Brett... we needed it.

Lame Duck

2007-11-18T20:32:00.001-08:00

After watching yet another #2 fall from grace, I come to another painful conclusion about too many college football teams: when your toughest bull leaves the arena, you've got no rodeo. Heisman hopeful Dennis Dixon, Oregon's nifty QB, went down against Arizona and every lame Duck on the roster was evidently tied to him. National title hopes were shot down all because their best bull was out. Now, before that unfortunate incident, I saw much talent on the Oregon "O"... speed, intensity, power. Where did it go? Does it emanate from Dixon like some strange magic lamp? Is it purely a momentum issue? Why do teams continue to put all their eggs in one paper basket? No offense to Dixon, or Pat White for that matter, but when the weight of your team is on your shoulders and you're built like the down marker, it's tough! Heck, even if you are Darren McFadden, a man-child by all accounts, you can only take so much. Same goes for Superman, Tim Tebow... how much pounding can he take? Granted, all these teams have good talent surrounding their trophy players. So let's use them and, for the fans' sake, don't let the team's success hinge on every offensive snap so that the Mallard Nation must collectively holds its breath every time Dixon takes a step. It's not wise, it's not fair and it's not good preparation.

Take us back....

2007-11-07T20:43:00.000-08:00

USC, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisville, Boston College, South Florida, Kentucky... sound familiar? Yeah... they all flirted with #1, or at least the top 5. So what's the deal? Why the carousel of teams in and out of the top 10 in college football this year? Parody? Don't think so. More astute coaches? Could be. Nope, methinks it is something else. Something more basic. Something throwback. Something missing from the core of sport's most powerful game. Keep up here... ever see Florida State and Miami teams from the late 80's and into the 90's? Did you get a chance to witness the Tide defense of '92? How about the offensive explosions that were the 'Huskers and Gators around '95 to '99. What about the running back factory where Tennessee seemed to churn out NFL backs like a Pez dispenser for what seemed like an eternity for other SEC fans? Yep, it's that unit intensity, whether offensive or defensive, perhaps the whole team, whatever. Missing are the days when watching college football was like watching a high-flying acrobatics show from a Russian circus! Don't tread me... admittedly, we have the Tebows, McFaddens, the wrestler spawn Buckeye linebacker and others maybe, and thank you for those, but where are the units? Send in the units. Where's the click, the cohesion, the beautiful threads of talent and intensity that wove together a single, seamless tapestry of football brilliance every Autumn? It is missing... and it is needed. Bring it back coach.