Sometimes in our lives, we are witness to something so unusual, so ludicrous, so impossibly wrong that we hope to never see it again and will pray we never do. These include Justin Bieber music videos,sweaty back cleavage and the humiliating of peopleofwalmart.com.
However the events that occurred on this weeks MNF game were beyond the point of ludicrous, hardly entertaining and impossibly frustrating for fans of football everywhere.
Replacement officials are dismembering this game. Piece by piece, they are destroying every shred of credibility that the worlds highest level of organized football has to offer, and they are making it a complete and utter joke.
Except we're all done laughing.
I watch NFL games every week and what I see are not men who have officiated at the highest levels of college football for years, I see a bumbling squadron of clowns who traded in their red noses and Ronald McDonald shoes for pinstripes and a whistle.
Was there even some form of testing before these men were deemed appropriate replacements for qualified, capable men like Ed Hochuli? If so, did they have, at the very least, an old high school gym teacher come in to teach them the rules of football? I'm frankly not sure if that was even done, seeing how intent the NFL is on not paying old men to do their jobs. This entire issue is caused by the childish fighting between two groups of stubborn men fighting over who gets the most clams. We have a league that declares itself as "fighting for player safety" and yet players face more risk of injury than ever as cheap shots and extra fluff after the whistle go seemingly unnoticed by replacement officials.
There's an old saying that you don't really know what you've got till its gone. It might seem relevant to this situation based on the amount of harassment the regular officials receive from around the league in their line of work. Frankly, yeah, I'm gonna admit, that's is me. To a T. I always carried a little doubt in my mind about the ability of officials in this league but with what I see on the field these days, I'd counter with another adage;
Beggars can't be choosers.
And make no mistake people, we are, in fact, beggars. We need football more than we should, it's a pleasure, and a vice, and a reward all at the same time. The things this country has done in the spirit of football dwarf the attention some countries give to foreign policy. We will drive a gas guzzling suburban 250 miles to tailgate at an away game, and if the officials miss calls, then by jove we'll let them know it. We are held captive by the very sport we enjoy as entertainment, and the thought of anyone, or any group of middle aged, colorblind, stuttering clowns ruining our beloved sport drives us crazy.
And to clarify, I'm not angry that one of the replacements is an outspoken Saints fan. I'm not angry they instituted the first female referee (one of the only benefits of this dark period) or that she plays poker on the weekends as a hobby. I'm honestly not worried that this group will fail to leave their personal agenda at home and affect games negatively based on their personal hobbies. I AM worried that they will ruin games with their obvious lack of familiarity with the rule book. The problem is that we know, for a fact, that they have given teams unwarranted possessions, time outs, additional penalty yards and have even told players to step it up for their fantasy teams. That is the sort of stuff that honestly just can't happen. It will single handedly undermine the integrity of this game.
After these officials horribly botched the big call in Monday Night Football in front of a huge national audience, the situation has reached a boiling point. Players and coaches, generally seeking to refrain from bad mouthing officials in all but the worst circumstances, are coming out of the woodwork with complaints. The NFL sits in this precarious position with what is hopefully an open mind and one that realizes the potential damage to the league and their customer base the longer these men call the games. It will get much much worse before it gets any better, and I fear we may see ever increasing drastic measures being taken on and off the field that will create further issues.
So please, casual or dedicated fans of the NFL, take a moment out of your busy day to write to your local hometown NFL commissioner and tell him how angry replacement officials make you. We're not even going to have a hockey season due to OTHER groups of old men bickering over money, so we can't afford losing this football season as well. And please, if you see a replacement official on the streets, make sure you throw a damn rulebook at him-or her.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
NFL Sunday a Tough Nut to Crack for Rookie QB's
Chances are, if you caught some football yesterday, you probably witnessed history being made, as there were five teams starting rookie QB's to kick off their 2012 campaign. Yes, five. For most football fans, it served as a source of intrigue, and a chance to watch much ballyhooed signal callers such as Rober Griffin III and Andrew Luck get a taste of the NFL action. It is rumored that Kim Kardashian left her car in busy L.A traffic upon hearing about the "fresh meat" and ran home to update her OkCupid and eHarmony accounts. Subway fired its director of marketing after realizing he had only signed one of the five to make borderline inappropriate comments about footlong sandwiches, and Roger Goodell was seen DVRing the Browns game "just in case" it was worth watching. Chances are, if you tuned in to one of those five games, you are very disappointed that you did, as the five star children combined to throw eleven picks to just 4 touchdown passes. RGIII ended up impressing the most, as he led the upset of the Saints by being very close to flawless in the Redskins 40-32 victory.
I personally ended up watching Luck the most. Deemed the most advanced QB of the five, it was widely believed, and probably still is, that he will flourish in the NFL very quickly. Yesterday, he struggled against the Bears, turning the ball over four times in a losing effort. Yes, he did turn the ball over, but three of the turnovers were caused not by inadequacies on his part but by superb defensive positioning by the Bears. Luck looked like a young Peyton Manning on the field, struggling in his first game but still possessing the framework of a good quarterback.
Tannehill and Weeden are the cut and dry college QB busts this year. Every year we have quarterbacks who excelled in the college game but struggle to make the transition to the pros. I guess I'd have to give the nod to Tannehill over Weeden, but its honestly six of one, half dozen of the other. Gonna be another long season, Cleveland.
Russell Wilson had a pretty subpar outing, doing nothing special and getting out-dueled by the two headed monster that is Arizona's quarterback situation. However, Wilson has a strong defense and run game that will be a very important crutch for him as he looks to build on his first start, and alot of people expect big things from him this season.
Additionally, more history was made when the first female referee to officiate and NFL game was on crew for the Lions-Rams game. Shannon Eastin worked her first game largely without incident and many people didn't even notice the milestone. In related news,Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was fined an undisclosed amount by the league for a comment involving football not being played in kitchens. Jones was unavailable for comment on the matter.
Word from the Jets camp is that Tim Tebow has started a public feud against Rex Ryan, as he was told he was still the backup QB after a strong game from Mark Sanchez. Tebow threw a tantrum for more than 10 minutes before his mother arrived to take him home for some pizza rolls and some milk.
And finally, The Ravens host the Bengals on MNF, however half of the Bengals team could not make the trip, since their electronic probation tethers only allow them 100 feet of travel outside the stadium. To combat the short handed situation, members of the teams personal security staff will suit up on the O Line.
Friday, September 7, 2012
When Football Powers Stay in State, Everyone Wins
History will be made on Saturday, when the Michigan State University Spartans travel to Kelly Shorts Stadium for an away game versus THE Central Michigan University. While it is not uncommon for the Big Ten and the MAC to play each other occasionally, quite the opposite, actually, this game will be different. Michigan State has realized the importance of spreading the wealth to football programs in the state not named U of M and not on the banks of the Red Cedar, and has structured a deal to play away games at the stadiums of several MAC teams in the next few seasons, including CMU this year and EMU within the next few seasons.
While some may criticize this deal as accepting charity, I believe it is remiss to view it as anything less than helpful to everyone involved. By returning more money back into the schools in Michigan that are dwarfed by the Spartans, they assure themselves a more competitive football atmosphere locally as well as gaining more respect on a national level. I'm so impressed by the forward thinking sports administration at State for thinking this deal up that win or lose, I respect MSU immensely. In todays' college football scene, every decision is driven single handedly by money and the desire to win, and for a perennial powerhouse school to stop and pay it forward to a smaller (not lesser) program shows a maturity and selflessness that should be embodied more often in collegiate athletics.
With the additional revenue from this game on Saturday, which is expected to be at full capacity in every sense of the word, and the thousands of dollars that will be pumped into the local businesses surrounding the stadium, Michigan State has assured our CMU football program a better outlook for the future, and in what is shaping up to be an exciting in state rivalry will be all the more exciting when the two schools have the maturity and forward thinking to help each other out.
That being said, you will find me in that student section on saturday cheering as loudly as I can for a repeat of my freshman year, when we took down the Spartans in a neck and neck game. I hope that stadium is loud as hell, I hope every Chippewa is proud as hell, and I hope it is a damn good game.
FIRE UP CHIPS.
While some may criticize this deal as accepting charity, I believe it is remiss to view it as anything less than helpful to everyone involved. By returning more money back into the schools in Michigan that are dwarfed by the Spartans, they assure themselves a more competitive football atmosphere locally as well as gaining more respect on a national level. I'm so impressed by the forward thinking sports administration at State for thinking this deal up that win or lose, I respect MSU immensely. In todays' college football scene, every decision is driven single handedly by money and the desire to win, and for a perennial powerhouse school to stop and pay it forward to a smaller (not lesser) program shows a maturity and selflessness that should be embodied more often in collegiate athletics.
With the additional revenue from this game on Saturday, which is expected to be at full capacity in every sense of the word, and the thousands of dollars that will be pumped into the local businesses surrounding the stadium, Michigan State has assured our CMU football program a better outlook for the future, and in what is shaping up to be an exciting in state rivalry will be all the more exciting when the two schools have the maturity and forward thinking to help each other out.
That being said, you will find me in that student section on saturday cheering as loudly as I can for a repeat of my freshman year, when we took down the Spartans in a neck and neck game. I hope that stadium is loud as hell, I hope every Chippewa is proud as hell, and I hope it is a damn good game.
FIRE UP CHIPS.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
5 Questions for the NFL Season
Greetings readers!
If you're currently reading this then you are just hours away from the long awaited start to the NFL regular season. I myself have patiently waited for many months for this moment, pining away for countless hours on talk of ERA, WHIP and batting averages just to keep myself sane until the real deal, the epitome of the American sports reality came back around. Here we are, approaching the last days of baseball season, and as brutal pennant races are playing out I'm glued to my fantasy football lineups like thats what I'm going to school for (It's not). I can say goodbye to Sunday as a day of relative productivity, as I will almost definitely be glued to the TV as well as flipping between 4 or 5 periodically refreshing box scores. I'm going to worship all things Bears in the middle of what has become proud Lion country, and I'm going to do it proudly. I'm going to yell at the TV, I'm gonna laugh, I might cry, I'm gonna pull at my hair in frustration. And I am going to do all of these things and love every damn second of it, because this is football, and it's back.
Now that I'm done gushing about my man crush for football, here are five major questions heading into season and how they could possibly play out.
1. Will the NFL reach a deal with its' veteran referees soon or will the league be stuck with replacement officials?
By all accounts, replacement referees will be used by the NFL for the first week of games, and from there as needed. This group of replacements has done an abysmal job this preseason, botching spots, forgetting rules, making up new rules and just all around creating a joke out of the preseason, which was already a joke to begin with. In the end, the issue comes down to money, as it frequently does in situations like this, and eventually the NFL is going to have to pony up, or see their league turned into a mockery. Their choice.
2. How much will Tim Tebow see the field for the Jets, and how much time should he see?
Tim Tebow going to the Jets in the first place was a weird concept, and then they went ahead and talked about him being part of their punt team, and then, as things often go with the Jets, it became a media circus. Jets coach Rex Ryan insists that Tebow is the backup and troubled starter Mark Sanchez has nothing to worry about, but I'm not really buying it. Frankly, they have a backup quarterback who can't throw and who's only asset will be in the Wildcat, in which case, who cares? He'll get some snaps every game but at the end of the day he's going to get more attention than he deserves.
3. Will Peyton Manning thrive at Mile High?
I think Peyton will do just fine in his new surroundings, and will probably be embraced by the fans there as Elways was before him. I mean hell, they thought Tebow was a football god, just wait until they see No.18 throw a few passes or two. Peyton hasn't thrown for under 4,000 yards since 2005 and only twice in his 13 seasons has he not surpassed that mark. He's old, but he's not done, and I don't see this trend changing, he'll have a pretty good season if he can stay healthy, and with him, Denver will be a contender, at least on paper. At the very least he should be able to get a bit more distance on those bombs in the thin air up there.
4. Which division will see the toughest competition and have the best quality teams?
For me, this is an easy pick. All bias aside, the NFC North has quickly risen to relevancy as of late and will continue to do so this season. This division headlines two top tier quarterbacks in Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, a handful of great receivers and also brings some defense into the mix. Honestly this division could get real interesting as I see Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay all vying for the title, and Minnesota could even get involved if they get hot during the season. It'll get colder than ice at their stadiums but make no mistake, this division is the hottest in football.
5. Can the Giants repeat as Super Bowl champions, and if not, who will hoist the Lombardi this year?
The Giants turned alot of heads last year and it was for good reason. Traditionally, this team has struggled with consistency, yet has still managed to put together a run of success over the past few seasons. Problem is, no team has repeated as Super Bowl Champions since the Patriots did it back in 2004 and 2005. The Giants will have alot of teams gunning for them this season and it will be very difficult to fend off teams such as Green Bay, New England, San Fransisco and Pittsburgh, all of which I see potentially vying for the championship, with it likely going to Green Bay.
Well thats it, my five big questions for this season. I hope it was an interesting read, and I wish a good season on all of you happy fans. If you're NOT going to be watching any football this season, then I hope Gossip Girl keeps you riveted to your seat as much as football does for me.
If you're currently reading this then you are just hours away from the long awaited start to the NFL regular season. I myself have patiently waited for many months for this moment, pining away for countless hours on talk of ERA, WHIP and batting averages just to keep myself sane until the real deal, the epitome of the American sports reality came back around. Here we are, approaching the last days of baseball season, and as brutal pennant races are playing out I'm glued to my fantasy football lineups like thats what I'm going to school for (It's not). I can say goodbye to Sunday as a day of relative productivity, as I will almost definitely be glued to the TV as well as flipping between 4 or 5 periodically refreshing box scores. I'm going to worship all things Bears in the middle of what has become proud Lion country, and I'm going to do it proudly. I'm going to yell at the TV, I'm gonna laugh, I might cry, I'm gonna pull at my hair in frustration. And I am going to do all of these things and love every damn second of it, because this is football, and it's back.
Now that I'm done gushing about my man crush for football, here are five major questions heading into season and how they could possibly play out.
1. Will the NFL reach a deal with its' veteran referees soon or will the league be stuck with replacement officials?
By all accounts, replacement referees will be used by the NFL for the first week of games, and from there as needed. This group of replacements has done an abysmal job this preseason, botching spots, forgetting rules, making up new rules and just all around creating a joke out of the preseason, which was already a joke to begin with. In the end, the issue comes down to money, as it frequently does in situations like this, and eventually the NFL is going to have to pony up, or see their league turned into a mockery. Their choice.
2. How much will Tim Tebow see the field for the Jets, and how much time should he see?
Tim Tebow going to the Jets in the first place was a weird concept, and then they went ahead and talked about him being part of their punt team, and then, as things often go with the Jets, it became a media circus. Jets coach Rex Ryan insists that Tebow is the backup and troubled starter Mark Sanchez has nothing to worry about, but I'm not really buying it. Frankly, they have a backup quarterback who can't throw and who's only asset will be in the Wildcat, in which case, who cares? He'll get some snaps every game but at the end of the day he's going to get more attention than he deserves.
3. Will Peyton Manning thrive at Mile High?
I think Peyton will do just fine in his new surroundings, and will probably be embraced by the fans there as Elways was before him. I mean hell, they thought Tebow was a football god, just wait until they see No.18 throw a few passes or two. Peyton hasn't thrown for under 4,000 yards since 2005 and only twice in his 13 seasons has he not surpassed that mark. He's old, but he's not done, and I don't see this trend changing, he'll have a pretty good season if he can stay healthy, and with him, Denver will be a contender, at least on paper. At the very least he should be able to get a bit more distance on those bombs in the thin air up there.
4. Which division will see the toughest competition and have the best quality teams?
For me, this is an easy pick. All bias aside, the NFC North has quickly risen to relevancy as of late and will continue to do so this season. This division headlines two top tier quarterbacks in Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, a handful of great receivers and also brings some defense into the mix. Honestly this division could get real interesting as I see Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay all vying for the title, and Minnesota could even get involved if they get hot during the season. It'll get colder than ice at their stadiums but make no mistake, this division is the hottest in football.
5. Can the Giants repeat as Super Bowl champions, and if not, who will hoist the Lombardi this year?
The Giants turned alot of heads last year and it was for good reason. Traditionally, this team has struggled with consistency, yet has still managed to put together a run of success over the past few seasons. Problem is, no team has repeated as Super Bowl Champions since the Patriots did it back in 2004 and 2005. The Giants will have alot of teams gunning for them this season and it will be very difficult to fend off teams such as Green Bay, New England, San Fransisco and Pittsburgh, all of which I see potentially vying for the championship, with it likely going to Green Bay.
Well thats it, my five big questions for this season. I hope it was an interesting read, and I wish a good season on all of you happy fans. If you're NOT going to be watching any football this season, then I hope Gossip Girl keeps you riveted to your seat as much as football does for me.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Chippewas Struggle Early, Prevail Late Versus SEMS Redhawks
I've always been of the opinion that support should be earned, not expected. In the case of a university football team and its fans, there is a certain return that every fan expects out of their team every year, something to make it all worth it.
It has been no secret that the Chips have struggled recently, I myself have watched them reach the pinnacle of success just 3 years ago as a freshman and have seen the team plummet to two straight 3-9 seasons since. However, this latest offseason brought about a new sense of hope in the program and fan base. The team was blessed with a very favorable schedule, seven home games at Kelly/Shorts and the chance to upset Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State in front of thousands of loyal fans just dying to see things as they once were. Then the university ponied up money for brand new uniforms to further excite players and fans about what this season held in store.
Indeed, with all this excitement in the air, as well as returning many players from last years team,and with the State game looming so close, everyone viewed last nights' game against FCS school Southeast Missouri State as an easy tune up game for the Spartans.
This one got messy.
In front of a mass of excited students and alumni, the Chips came out very flat and quickly got behind early. Students stood open mouthed in disbelief as the Redhawks dominated early on the ground, running up a 24 point lead on the Chips with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. The Chips had no real trouble moving the ball on the ground, with running backs Zurlon Tipton and Anthony Garland running wild through the Redhawks early. However, a fumble and a bad interception by three year starter Ryan Radcliffe killed two promising Central drives and gave the Redhawks momentum heading into half.
Fortunately for the Chippewa's, the offense seemed to gain new life after the Redhawks stretched the lead to 14, and with less than seven minutes to go they were able to put two quick touchdowns on the board, using the run game almost exclusively and with a little help from the CMU defense in forcing a three and out.
Watching attentively from the stands, my main concern coming out from half was that the team might squander the momentum and come out flat out of the locker room, but in the third quarter the Chips started to really tighten up the defense and shrink the field for Redhawks freshman quarterback Scott Lathrop. After dominating possession in the first half, the Redhawks only managed a field goal after the break, and CMU scored twice more, once a Tipton scoring run and the other a wide open touchdown pass from Radcliffe to seal the win in the season opener.
While certainly not the easy game that many expected it to be, there were some good things to take away from the game as well as some bad things. Lets break down each part of the team and their performance yesterday.
Offense: A-
While the offense wasn't able to get CMU a lead early, they had a field day with the Redhawks defense, especially on the ground, where the Chips racked up 324 yards with a 7.2 YPC average and several scores. Senior quarterback Ryan Radcliffe was admittedly shakier than I had hoped he would be, and the early interception had many fans thinking back to last season all over again. He made some good plays under pressure and avoiding sacks, yet also missed easy plays where he had plenty of time to get off a good throw.
Defense: B+
Arguably the Chippewa's biggest weakness on paper, the defense had some bright spots yesterday, but overall gave up too many points to a weak football program and also struggled to stop 3rd down conversions. Additionally, the Chips continue to struggle to get ample pressure on the opposing quarterback, as Lathrop had a pretty easy time in the pocket on the night. The tackling looks solid, and the defense is far form porous, but they might have a tough time with some of the bigger schools on the schedule.
Special Teams: B+
Didn't we have an issue with field goals once? Well, whatever that was, it seems to be gone, as David Harman knocked in a short field goal early and was perfect on his extra point attempts on the night. Going back to last season, Harman provides the Chippewas with a suitable kicker who can be relied upon in clutch situations. Our kick return team struggled to give the offense decent field position all night, as we would've been better off kneeling almost every return considering where we ended up. The blocking needs to improve in this unit.
Play Calling: B+
I'm not going to pretend I'm a coach. I'm not going to pretend I know more than Dan Enos. In my opinion he picked a safe, solid strategy last night, exploited the opponents weakness on the ground and it worked for us. Some would say we were to predictable, and that this might hurt us later in the season. While that is hard to say, I definitely feel like Radcliffe needs to take the reins and do something with this team for his final season, and Enos should have the confidence in his quarterback to air out the football and spread the defense.
Concessions: A+
Facing an increased amount of student attendance, the concessions crew seemed to really step up their game early and often, giving a promising image of what we should be able to expect this season.
It has been no secret that the Chips have struggled recently, I myself have watched them reach the pinnacle of success just 3 years ago as a freshman and have seen the team plummet to two straight 3-9 seasons since. However, this latest offseason brought about a new sense of hope in the program and fan base. The team was blessed with a very favorable schedule, seven home games at Kelly/Shorts and the chance to upset Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State in front of thousands of loyal fans just dying to see things as they once were. Then the university ponied up money for brand new uniforms to further excite players and fans about what this season held in store.
Indeed, with all this excitement in the air, as well as returning many players from last years team,and with the State game looming so close, everyone viewed last nights' game against FCS school Southeast Missouri State as an easy tune up game for the Spartans.
This one got messy.
In front of a mass of excited students and alumni, the Chips came out very flat and quickly got behind early. Students stood open mouthed in disbelief as the Redhawks dominated early on the ground, running up a 24 point lead on the Chips with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. The Chips had no real trouble moving the ball on the ground, with running backs Zurlon Tipton and Anthony Garland running wild through the Redhawks early. However, a fumble and a bad interception by three year starter Ryan Radcliffe killed two promising Central drives and gave the Redhawks momentum heading into half.
Fortunately for the Chippewa's, the offense seemed to gain new life after the Redhawks stretched the lead to 14, and with less than seven minutes to go they were able to put two quick touchdowns on the board, using the run game almost exclusively and with a little help from the CMU defense in forcing a three and out.
Watching attentively from the stands, my main concern coming out from half was that the team might squander the momentum and come out flat out of the locker room, but in the third quarter the Chips started to really tighten up the defense and shrink the field for Redhawks freshman quarterback Scott Lathrop. After dominating possession in the first half, the Redhawks only managed a field goal after the break, and CMU scored twice more, once a Tipton scoring run and the other a wide open touchdown pass from Radcliffe to seal the win in the season opener.
While certainly not the easy game that many expected it to be, there were some good things to take away from the game as well as some bad things. Lets break down each part of the team and their performance yesterday.
Offense: A-
While the offense wasn't able to get CMU a lead early, they had a field day with the Redhawks defense, especially on the ground, where the Chips racked up 324 yards with a 7.2 YPC average and several scores. Senior quarterback Ryan Radcliffe was admittedly shakier than I had hoped he would be, and the early interception had many fans thinking back to last season all over again. He made some good plays under pressure and avoiding sacks, yet also missed easy plays where he had plenty of time to get off a good throw.
Defense: B+
Arguably the Chippewa's biggest weakness on paper, the defense had some bright spots yesterday, but overall gave up too many points to a weak football program and also struggled to stop 3rd down conversions. Additionally, the Chips continue to struggle to get ample pressure on the opposing quarterback, as Lathrop had a pretty easy time in the pocket on the night. The tackling looks solid, and the defense is far form porous, but they might have a tough time with some of the bigger schools on the schedule.
Special Teams: B+
Didn't we have an issue with field goals once? Well, whatever that was, it seems to be gone, as David Harman knocked in a short field goal early and was perfect on his extra point attempts on the night. Going back to last season, Harman provides the Chippewas with a suitable kicker who can be relied upon in clutch situations. Our kick return team struggled to give the offense decent field position all night, as we would've been better off kneeling almost every return considering where we ended up. The blocking needs to improve in this unit.
Play Calling: B+
I'm not going to pretend I'm a coach. I'm not going to pretend I know more than Dan Enos. In my opinion he picked a safe, solid strategy last night, exploited the opponents weakness on the ground and it worked for us. Some would say we were to predictable, and that this might hurt us later in the season. While that is hard to say, I definitely feel like Radcliffe needs to take the reins and do something with this team for his final season, and Enos should have the confidence in his quarterback to air out the football and spread the defense.
Concessions: A+
Facing an increased amount of student attendance, the concessions crew seemed to really step up their game early and often, giving a promising image of what we should be able to expect this season.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Safety and Discipline in the National Football League
How much longer is this league even going to be watchable?
Seriously though, with the way the league has tightened its grip on the game over the past few years I know I'm not alone in wondering that. We might be one or two seasons away from just dressing up all the players in those fat sumo suits and just playing that way. Better yet, lets take out the artificial turf and just have those guys play in giant ass ball pits.
Fans of this game have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of safety oriented rules and policies in the NFL as part of a push by the governing body to reduce injuries to players. These actions come on the heels of the puzzling early deaths of several former players through self inflicted wounds. These deaths, as well as an all around general increase in nasty injuries, has got the league in panic mode, and so the commissioner turned to the one true friend he could count on; more rules.
Now I'm not saying I'm a fan on terrible injuries, and I certainly don't support the suicides of former players. It is very unfortunate that they passed and further still that people must, in a way, argue against these new rules and, in a way, against these fallen players.
However, the integrity of the game DOES NOT need to suffer simply because of these recent deaths and injuries. Recent rule changes have directly changed how players hit, how they play the game, and even what they wear. And we are still not done, as leg and knee pads appear to be on the way as well. (Insert my earlier proposition about the sumo suits)
So how can the game be made safer? Players are getting stronger, bigger and faster every year and we keep pushing the limits of what is "typical" size in all levels of football. You can't keep them from getting faster, thats something that most players are born with. You could theoretically try and control the amount of lifting and other training that players do, but that is also pretty flimsy at best. No, I would say the best bet is looking to restrict player size in the NFL, dependent on position.
Think about it for a second. Do we really need linemen to be pushing 350, 400? If a lineman ends up being smaller, then would we NEED a 215 pound quarterback? How about a 200 pound "jackhammer" back? Guys did not weight this much in the NFL of the olden days, and they got along just fine. Also, they were some of the toughest sons a bitches you would've known. There were hard hits, little to no pads or protection and it was, by all accounts, entertaining. Slowly but surely the weights of players has grown across the board and it is what I would say is the first and foremost reason for increased injuries.
Football can be played perfectly fine by 200 pound linemen, 180 pound backs and with a scrawny little guy with a big arm under center. With more room on the field not occupied by big bodies, it would force players to rely on their general athleticism more than cutoff angles. The game would focus less on pure power and more on agility, quickness and decision making. I, for one, think it would be highly entertaining.
So lets shift our focus to the other half of this equation. If players continue to play aggressively and hit in ways the league frowns upon, they will get fined. Probably a good $5,000-$75,000, for a first time offense, and the sky is the limit after that. Wear the wrong color helmet strap, per league rules? $5,000. Wear different shoes than the NFL rules mandate (even if they match team colors impeccably) $10,000.
And last but not least, if you are accused of putting bounties on other players during games, how about you sit the whole season. Think these punishments are fair? Maybe, maybe not. But if you would see this list, know that it stretches out in other equally ridiculous places and have an issue with that, then let me buy you a beer, we're gonna be friends.
The NFL has made it clear that the current focus of the league is player safety, and as such, they are penalizing what they call "dangerous" plays, which in turn has greatly enraged some defensive players (I'm speaking about you, James Harrison) and has got them up in arms about how they are able to play in the current NFL. Frankly, I'm tempted to agree with them, given the current rules. The NFL has instituted what is sometimes referred to as a "hotfix" in the video game world and I'm gonna apply it here. It is a small, quick fix but not a long term solution. The league champions player safety yet the current safety rules protect only offensive players such as the quarterback, defenseless receivers and returners. Meanwhile, instead of determining how to make things even, they have instead focused on penalizing fashion, social media use and attendance at nightclubs.
Which brings me to my next point. Who here knows Dez Bryant? Are you raising your hand? You shouldn't be, because you probably look weird raising your hand at a computer for no reason. For anyone who doesn't know my man Dez, they should know that he is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, one of the more wealthy, symbolic and, as of late, carnival like teams in the NFL.
Well, suffice it to say, Dez didn't have a wonderful childhood. This has in turn led him to engage in some questionable behaviors since joining the NFL, and that has got the Cowboys worried. So they did what any sports parent organization would do, and they grounded Dez Bryant. Well, they didn't use that term exactly, but they did release a list of rules that Dez must follow while he is a member of the organization. While on the proverbial "leash", Dez cannot drink alcohol, attend strip clubs and essentially walks around with at least one babysitting security guard at all times. I'm gonna be honest, that sounds like probation.
In addition to be hilariously funny to me, it also got me thinking about where the line is drawn on team discipline. Now, word is, Dez is intent on following the rules, but if he weren't, then what? He is getting paid well and the team has obviously invested heavily in him, but this raises a clear question of how much are NFL teams willing to take from their players before its so long sucka, have fun in the Canadian Sumo Football League.
Seriously though, with the way the league has tightened its grip on the game over the past few years I know I'm not alone in wondering that. We might be one or two seasons away from just dressing up all the players in those fat sumo suits and just playing that way. Better yet, lets take out the artificial turf and just have those guys play in giant ass ball pits.
Fans of this game have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of safety oriented rules and policies in the NFL as part of a push by the governing body to reduce injuries to players. These actions come on the heels of the puzzling early deaths of several former players through self inflicted wounds. These deaths, as well as an all around general increase in nasty injuries, has got the league in panic mode, and so the commissioner turned to the one true friend he could count on; more rules.
Now I'm not saying I'm a fan on terrible injuries, and I certainly don't support the suicides of former players. It is very unfortunate that they passed and further still that people must, in a way, argue against these new rules and, in a way, against these fallen players.
However, the integrity of the game DOES NOT need to suffer simply because of these recent deaths and injuries. Recent rule changes have directly changed how players hit, how they play the game, and even what they wear. And we are still not done, as leg and knee pads appear to be on the way as well. (Insert my earlier proposition about the sumo suits)
So how can the game be made safer? Players are getting stronger, bigger and faster every year and we keep pushing the limits of what is "typical" size in all levels of football. You can't keep them from getting faster, thats something that most players are born with. You could theoretically try and control the amount of lifting and other training that players do, but that is also pretty flimsy at best. No, I would say the best bet is looking to restrict player size in the NFL, dependent on position.
Think about it for a second. Do we really need linemen to be pushing 350, 400? If a lineman ends up being smaller, then would we NEED a 215 pound quarterback? How about a 200 pound "jackhammer" back? Guys did not weight this much in the NFL of the olden days, and they got along just fine. Also, they were some of the toughest sons a bitches you would've known. There were hard hits, little to no pads or protection and it was, by all accounts, entertaining. Slowly but surely the weights of players has grown across the board and it is what I would say is the first and foremost reason for increased injuries.
Football can be played perfectly fine by 200 pound linemen, 180 pound backs and with a scrawny little guy with a big arm under center. With more room on the field not occupied by big bodies, it would force players to rely on their general athleticism more than cutoff angles. The game would focus less on pure power and more on agility, quickness and decision making. I, for one, think it would be highly entertaining.
So lets shift our focus to the other half of this equation. If players continue to play aggressively and hit in ways the league frowns upon, they will get fined. Probably a good $5,000-$75,000, for a first time offense, and the sky is the limit after that. Wear the wrong color helmet strap, per league rules? $5,000. Wear different shoes than the NFL rules mandate (even if they match team colors impeccably) $10,000.
And last but not least, if you are accused of putting bounties on other players during games, how about you sit the whole season. Think these punishments are fair? Maybe, maybe not. But if you would see this list, know that it stretches out in other equally ridiculous places and have an issue with that, then let me buy you a beer, we're gonna be friends.
The NFL has made it clear that the current focus of the league is player safety, and as such, they are penalizing what they call "dangerous" plays, which in turn has greatly enraged some defensive players (I'm speaking about you, James Harrison) and has got them up in arms about how they are able to play in the current NFL. Frankly, I'm tempted to agree with them, given the current rules. The NFL has instituted what is sometimes referred to as a "hotfix" in the video game world and I'm gonna apply it here. It is a small, quick fix but not a long term solution. The league champions player safety yet the current safety rules protect only offensive players such as the quarterback, defenseless receivers and returners. Meanwhile, instead of determining how to make things even, they have instead focused on penalizing fashion, social media use and attendance at nightclubs.
Which brings me to my next point. Who here knows Dez Bryant? Are you raising your hand? You shouldn't be, because you probably look weird raising your hand at a computer for no reason. For anyone who doesn't know my man Dez, they should know that he is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, one of the more wealthy, symbolic and, as of late, carnival like teams in the NFL.
Well, suffice it to say, Dez didn't have a wonderful childhood. This has in turn led him to engage in some questionable behaviors since joining the NFL, and that has got the Cowboys worried. So they did what any sports parent organization would do, and they grounded Dez Bryant. Well, they didn't use that term exactly, but they did release a list of rules that Dez must follow while he is a member of the organization. While on the proverbial "leash", Dez cannot drink alcohol, attend strip clubs and essentially walks around with at least one babysitting security guard at all times. I'm gonna be honest, that sounds like probation.
In addition to be hilariously funny to me, it also got me thinking about where the line is drawn on team discipline. Now, word is, Dez is intent on following the rules, but if he weren't, then what? He is getting paid well and the team has obviously invested heavily in him, but this raises a clear question of how much are NFL teams willing to take from their players before its so long sucka, have fun in the Canadian Sumo Football League.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Why It's Now Time for the LeBron Hate to Stop
Sports fans have always polarized on big issues in sport, and so it comes as no surprise that when the topic is LeBron James, it basically stands that you either love him or you hate him. On polls of the public's least favorite athletes, he is a guaranteed lock in the top 10, and normally is in the top 5 as well. Is this okay? Has LeBron James really done that much bad that people have a valid reason to hate him after 9 seasons in the league?
No. He hasn't.
Think about the top reasons LeBron James is hated. "The Decision" is probably atop most people's lists of reasons he is hated. They say that by announcing his move to Miami he came off as arrogant, immature and self-absorbed in betraying the city of Cleveland. I can agree with some of those points, and I think later on down the road, he will agree that "The Decision" was not a good idea, and he *gasp! might even apologize for it. Regardless of whether he feels about it years from now, the point I'm trying to make is that it is no longer reasonable to hold that against him. Basketball fans in Cleveland, of all places, have even begun to forgive him because, guess what, they understand the concept of forgiving others for their mistakes. Here's a city that became the epicenter of hate for LeBron James. A city that took down, bowed up or threw out every reference to "the King" within a matter of weeks, and where citizens cursed his name in everyday conversation. I truly understood and sympathized with the way those fans lost their luster that day, but I could not fault LeBron, as some did, for wanting to leave.
It wasn't a matter of "they didn't try to help him" in Cleveland, because they did. He essentially had the run of the front office, had a suitable, not great, but suitable coach, and had an empire built on legions of inspired fans.
But it wasn't going to happen there.
LeBron saw it.
So he left. He announced his decision to leave Miami, and the sports world polarized in an instant, either you hated him or you didn't.
So why do you hate LeBron? You might say he's a bit cocky, or arrogant. Sure, I'll give you that. He's the best player in the league, you can't hate him for knowing that in his head. He still isn't the cockiest player in the league, he doesn't taunt his opponents (KG), or talk trash on the court. Do you hate him because you think he took a backseat in the Finals last year? It isn't behavior you want to see out of your star player, but it's not something you can hate somebody for. Do you hate him for assembling a super team in free agency to wipe the floor with everyone else and go undefeated like the media says they will?! Did that pan out how it sounded like it would?
Why is it still okay to hate a man who has done so little wrong? Are we as fans truly going to condemn him for "The Decision" but forgive and forget the countless players in all professional sports who have been found guilty of DUI's, gun charges, assaults and even rape?
On the court, Lebron is a leader and a team player. He gets teammates involved and many teammates have come out in support of him as a player and a leader. Off the court, he is unselfish as well, evidenced by his willingness to take a pay cut to make the Big Three happen in Miami.
So what possible reason could you have to hate LeBron?
He's a father of two young boys, married to his high school sweetheart. He was raised by his mother after his father walked out, and his success after a childhood like that is normally something society praises. He doesn't mess around at nightclubs or with other vices, and remains of the more well behaved high profile athletes in professional sports.
Whether you love him or hate him, I can't make you do anything. I can only encourage you to look at the reasons why you hate him and decide whether the energy you devote to hating him is really that deserved. The truth is, LeBron is not a bad individual, on or off the court, and the time for hating him for his past transgressions is over. Forgive his "Decision" and make your own.
No. He hasn't.
Think about the top reasons LeBron James is hated. "The Decision" is probably atop most people's lists of reasons he is hated. They say that by announcing his move to Miami he came off as arrogant, immature and self-absorbed in betraying the city of Cleveland. I can agree with some of those points, and I think later on down the road, he will agree that "The Decision" was not a good idea, and he *gasp! might even apologize for it. Regardless of whether he feels about it years from now, the point I'm trying to make is that it is no longer reasonable to hold that against him. Basketball fans in Cleveland, of all places, have even begun to forgive him because, guess what, they understand the concept of forgiving others for their mistakes. Here's a city that became the epicenter of hate for LeBron James. A city that took down, bowed up or threw out every reference to "the King" within a matter of weeks, and where citizens cursed his name in everyday conversation. I truly understood and sympathized with the way those fans lost their luster that day, but I could not fault LeBron, as some did, for wanting to leave.
It wasn't a matter of "they didn't try to help him" in Cleveland, because they did. He essentially had the run of the front office, had a suitable, not great, but suitable coach, and had an empire built on legions of inspired fans.
But it wasn't going to happen there.
LeBron saw it.
So he left. He announced his decision to leave Miami, and the sports world polarized in an instant, either you hated him or you didn't.
So why do you hate LeBron? You might say he's a bit cocky, or arrogant. Sure, I'll give you that. He's the best player in the league, you can't hate him for knowing that in his head. He still isn't the cockiest player in the league, he doesn't taunt his opponents (KG), or talk trash on the court. Do you hate him because you think he took a backseat in the Finals last year? It isn't behavior you want to see out of your star player, but it's not something you can hate somebody for. Do you hate him for assembling a super team in free agency to wipe the floor with everyone else and go undefeated like the media says they will?! Did that pan out how it sounded like it would?
Why is it still okay to hate a man who has done so little wrong? Are we as fans truly going to condemn him for "The Decision" but forgive and forget the countless players in all professional sports who have been found guilty of DUI's, gun charges, assaults and even rape?
On the court, Lebron is a leader and a team player. He gets teammates involved and many teammates have come out in support of him as a player and a leader. Off the court, he is unselfish as well, evidenced by his willingness to take a pay cut to make the Big Three happen in Miami.
So what possible reason could you have to hate LeBron?
He's a father of two young boys, married to his high school sweetheart. He was raised by his mother after his father walked out, and his success after a childhood like that is normally something society praises. He doesn't mess around at nightclubs or with other vices, and remains of the more well behaved high profile athletes in professional sports.
Whether you love him or hate him, I can't make you do anything. I can only encourage you to look at the reasons why you hate him and decide whether the energy you devote to hating him is really that deserved. The truth is, LeBron is not a bad individual, on or off the court, and the time for hating him for his past transgressions is over. Forgive his "Decision" and make your own.
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