Time Served

I am not sure if you heard but Michael Vick was granted his release from prison today.  He will be held in house arrest, usually would be a half-way house but there is no available space, until July when he will be released for good.  In the NFL Vick is already being labeled goods.  Oh yeah some teams are showing some interest,  but are hesitant to sign him.  It seems that PETA has labeled Michael Vick public enemy number one and has vowed to boycott, protest, and generally raise hell for, any team that attempts to sign him.  I actually have a huge problem with this stance by PETA.   But we will get at that in just one second.  Today I will ask and answer the question, does Mike deserve to be reinstated by the NFL?

On many occasions we all have discussed and expressed disdain for the delinquents in the NFL.  Professional athletes seem to live on this fantasy plane where the law does not apply to them.  When they are spitting in women's faces and "allegedly" ordering hits on human beings we are upset but not pissed off.  Michael Vick did a disgusting and indefensible crime.  I, in no way, think that what he did is acceptable.  I am about to say something that will be highly controversial so I want all of my readers to prepare themselves.  Michael Vick should be immediately reinstated by the NFL.  He broke the law and was punished harshly for it.  I did the research and most of the sickos that are bagged for these same offenses rarely get prison time.  Usually they get off with a hefty fine and a lot of probation, but very rarely get prison time.  Michael Vick was a patsy.  PETA wanted a hangman and they got one.  Mike fucked up but PETA drowned him.   PETA, I believe, is an extremist organization full of wackos.  Vick was taken down because of his standing in pop culture, not solely because of the crimes he committed.  That my friends is injustice. 

"Why", you ask, "should Vick be immediately reinstated?"  There are so many open cases against guys that are actively participating in the NFL that is ridiculous.  None of them are currently serving suspensions, or served very short suspensions.  These are guys that assaulted women, endangered lives by driving drunk, carried unlicensed guns, and generally acted like assholes.  No one is asking for their heads.   In this country men are sent to prison as a means of rehabilitation.  We want bad guys to go to prison to learn their lesson but when they get out we don't want to believe that the job is done.  We, as Americans, cannot have it both ways.  We want people like Vick to pay for what he has done, then when they pay their penance we want them to be subject to further punishment.  Doesn't make any sense to me.  There are hundreds of guys in the NFL who have payed no price for their crimes.  I say let Vick play and leave him alone.  He has payed for his crimes and seems as sorry as anyone that he did it, or got caught. 

  I would like to spend a whole small paragraph in my sports blog being political.  I can do that because it is my blog.  PETA is garbage.  Good intentions often lead to bad ideas.  The idea behind PETA is commendable.  Protecting the small animals without a voice of there own.  I have a question; where is the PETH.  That's right People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans.  We are quicker to stand up for animals than people.  PETA gets more accomplished than any civil rights movement ever did.  I am all for treating animals kindly, but until there is ethical treatment for all human beings, PETA should take a back seat. 

So the answer to the question is yes, reinstate Vick immediately.  He messed up huge.  But he payed for it, and not by a lame statement from his publicists or a press conference apology, but by a real life prison term.  Vick is a disgusting and repugnant individual, but he payed his price so we should let him off with his time served.  Live like no one is watching but don't do anything that you don't want someone to see you do. 

Advice Column: Feminism Killed Chivalry

The link to the Advice column is in the profile yall.

Freedom Of Leach

No college football program wants to be a "jumping off point".  Take the Boston College situation for example.  They fired their coach, Jeff Jagodzinski, after a great season for simply interviewing for another coaching position.  The same fate seemed to be waiting for Texas Tech coach, Mike Leach.  Leach's name is mentioned almost every year for open coaching jobs.   So when it came time to lock Leach down you would think that Tech would pull out all the stops.  But they didn't.  Instead they tried to increase his buy-out clause and make him run all his job offers by the University first.  These all seem pretty reasonable but it was the way they were introduced into the extension that upset Leach.  After what seemed to be an agreement the Tech tried to slip these clauses in right before it was signed.  Seems shady, but all they wanted was to keep Leach around and why not he is an offensive genius.   After Leach said no it seemed he was on his way to the unemployment line and bot sides agreed that the it wasn't the money.  But what was it about?

Coach Leach swears up and down that he doesn't want to leave Tech and that his family loves Lubbock.  But no one wants a contract to tie them down.  You read that right.  Every one knows that no sports contract means anything.  And Leach wanted an out.  I mean it is Lubbock.  The two clauses that Leach wanted to get under control where the buy-out and the interview clause.  The buy-out had to be lowered so that another school would be more willing to help Leach pay it if he got another job and the interview clause had to be changed because if Leach had to ask permission to talk to other schools he would never get it.  When Leach said it wasn't about the money you have to believe him because the 5 year 12.7 million dollar extension was similar in number to the previous extension but the terms had been modified.  The buy-out would stay the same as it was in his original contract, which is about 500,000 dollars, instead of the proposed 1.5 million in the rejected extension.  In the agreed extension Leach would only have to contact the University  before he interviewed for another position, not request permission.  Seems to me that Mike Leach wanted to make sure he could leave Lubbock if the right job was out there.

As I said in the opening paragraph, no school wants to be a career stepping stone, but it seems that's exactly what Tech may be for Leach.  Leach looks like he may love Lubbock, but only because it could lead to his next stop on the coaching carousel.  Ya'll continue to live like no one is watching and always leave yourself a way out.  Also stay tuned for my new advice column.  I will continue to write the sports blog here and I am also working on a fun weekly advice column.  I will post the link soon.  Also stay tuned for pictures of my lovely new daughter!

Above The Influence

America focus's on its sports stars far too much.  We watch them with extreme awe as they perform great feats of strength and athleticism.  But why do we focus on high school kids and their process for choosing a college?  I mean these are kids making one of the biggest decisions of their young life, do we really need cameras and t.v. specials adding even more pressure?  Believe me, I am one of the first to watch the signing day specials to see where the big recruits are going.  But do the kids need press conferences and full media coverage.  It is a stressful point in a young persons life and to add national media coverage is absolutely ridiculous.  

I have a case in point.  His name is Bryce Brown.  Bryce Brown is the number one rated running back in the ESPN 150 and the 8th ranked recruit over all.  He is getting some bad advice and I believe it all has to do with dollar signs.  Bryce Brown has an advisor.  People have been reluctant to name him but I will.  The cocksucker's name is Bryan Butler.  But we will get to him.  Bryce has verbally committed to the University of Miami like his older brother.  He has decided to postpone the actual signing of a letter of intent.  Some of the reports coming out of his "camp" are that he is still considering his options.  Apparently one of his options is going to play in the CFL.  Butler says, and I quote, "if the right number is out there we would consider it".  The "right number" is around 5 million a year.  These numbers are proof that someone needs to go to college because a CFL team has an average salary cap of 4+ million a year, FOR THE WHOLE FUCKING TEAM!  Now lets get back to Butler.  You are an idiot.  Get this kid into school before the opportunity is passed and he becomes a cautionary tale.  If you are this kid's voice of reason you are the one that needs to grow up.  Shut-up, sit back, and let this kid get into school.  This is not a contract negotiation, it is an opportunity for a young man to better himself.  You, Butler, are a moron.  I hope you find this blog in your musings and contact me.  I wish I had your email address so I could get ahold of you and tell you what a fucking dumbass you are.  And Bryce, please, drop this fool.  Don't let him brand you with the "problem" label this early in your career.  You are a great talent with tremendous upside.  I have watched your videos and highlights and you have the ability to be great.  However it takes a lot of actual guidance, not money mongering, to reach your true potential.  

I think that it is a shame that the media has access to these kids.  However I am one of those who takes the time to participate in this over exposure.  I hope that Bryce figures this all out and fulfills his dreams, no matter what they are.  Live like no one is watching, especially if your whole life is in front of you! 

America The Beautiful!

America has always been the "land of opportunity".  It is evident in our current political situation.  It is also evident in the sporting world.  They always say that sports imitate life, or is that art?  Well whatever.  All I know is that it has been brought to my attention that there have been some strange happenings in sports recently that prove everything in America is relative to the situation.  Relativity, I believe, is the key to sanity.  So let's take a look at these recent developments and see how relative they are to the current situation.  

My first beef is actually with the media.  That's right British tabloids, American media, your all the same.  You want to take a shot at anyone you feel deserves it.  But really a 23 year old kid smoking pot in a dorm room?  I was more shocked when I found out that baseball players were using steroids, and that didn't exactly throw me for a loop.  Let me tell you, Michael Phelps is a kid, no matter how good he is at swimming, he is still a kid.  He goes to college and he makes millions of dollars.  If you gave me millions of dollars while I was in college I would've smoked better weed.  Listen America if we want perfect super stars create them in a  comic book, don't exalt a 23 year old kid who is good at a sport.  That goes for all the stars in sports.  They are kids with money do not be surprised if they fuck up every now and again.  That doesn't mean they shouldn't be reprimanded and punished. Anyone who is in the public eye needs to be more conscience of their actions and if they are not they should accept whatever consequences are handed down.  So here is my official stance on the Michael Phelps issue.  He is an idiot, but what can you expect from a 23 year old millionaire?  I think that the real problem here is who we put in the national spotlight.  The guy who took this picture and sold it is a douche bag and should be punched in the taint.  But Michael Phelps this is ultimately your fault.   I give you the same advice I would give any pro athlete, smoke all the weed you want but do it in your house with no one around.  If it is not fun then Mr. Phelps, you should think about why you are smoking pot in the first place.

I am going to describe someone real quick and you the reader try to guess who he is.  Sounds like fun right.  This person was arrested on marijuana charges less than a year ago.  He has continually been in trouble at his job for what we will refer to as "behavioral problems".  He also has a high school state championship and a NCAA national championship.  And last but not least during the biggest week of his career he has admitted to selling drugs.  I know what your thinking, he is an expendable member of the workforce and probably doesn't have a job anymore.  Nope he is the Super bowl MVP, Santonio Holmes, and he has been forgiven.  Apparently 9 receptions for 131 yards erases your sins.  Look I don't have a problem with Holmes winning the MVP.  I actually think it is great.  But if Michael Phelps is a jack ass then so is this kid.  Here is my official decision on Holmes.  He may be an idiot, but at least he is honest.  Most NFL players want us to believe they are saints and when they drop the ball we are all appalled.  This kid admitted to dealing drugs, and when he gets caught with marijuana we will all just write it off as a submission to old demons.  I think he deserves to be the Super Bowl MVP.  That is an on the field accolade and he earned it.  But a Disney Parade with a former drug dealer as the main attraction is a little much.

I am actually going to end this blog on a sad note.  There is a side to professional football that few fans know about.  Older players, the one's that built this game, are living and dying in poverty and pain.  They didn't make a whole lot of money.  These old players built the game on passion and pride.  They are the reason that the stars of today are millionaires 100 times over.  But the current players, like the rest of my disrespectful generation, don't seem to grasp this idea.  The newest debacle, in a long line of debacles, comes in the form of a failure to pay money that is owed.  Mike Ditka, along with current player Matt Birk, and former player Michael Irvin, has pushed to get players to donate to the Gridiron Greats Association Funds.  There are 1,696 players in the NFL that collected a check on December 21st, the one that the activists for the fund asked players to donate from.  As of today there were approximately 15 players who donated.  It is sad.  But it ultimately represents the lack of respect my generation has for the people who led the way for our successes.  My final decision on the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is this.  I believe that it is on the current players, most of which make plenty of money, to at least help with the finances of the older players.  Suck it up super stars.  It is time that we showed a little appreciation for the one's who paved our way.

These are a few of the stories that have graced the sports shows.   I would like to thank John for bringing them all to my attention.  My mind has been clouded with the upcoming birth of my daughter and I can always count on him to blow me, hmm I mean show me the opportunities to write something good.  Thanks John.  Live like no one is watching and listen to your big brother he is usually right, except when he roots for strange amphibians!  

SUPER!

Well I would be totally inept at this sports writing stuff if I didn't mention today's big game.  Football in America is the most watched sport, and this is it's biggest stage.  I chose not to do a whole week of coverage because I am sure ya'll are drowning in analysis.  Every channel it seems is showering us with insides and keys to the game, except of course Gol TV.  I do however have some opinions on the Super bowl.

The game tonight features the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Cardinals have a great offense and a mediocre defense.  Arizona wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, is in the midst of having the greatest post season performance in history.  Not to mention Kurt Warner is having a lights out year.  With Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston as the other wide outs this offense is dynamic.  The two backs, Hightower, and the re-emergent James, share a light running load are peaking in the post season.  This offense is phenomenal but will have trouble moving the ball against the Steelers lock down defense.  In all of the hype of the Super Bowl it seems everyone has forgotten that this is the number one defense in the NFL.  The defensive player of the year, Harrison, and Troy Polamalu lead a defensive core that is proud and tough.  Ben Rothlisberger and the offense are not great but they always seem to get the job done.      This might be a good game.  I am picking the Cardinals because they are playing the best and I love the underdog.

Well that is it for my Super Bowl coverage.  I hope you all enjoy the football game and don't ignore the pageantry it is part of it.  IF your reading this in Deerfield come down to the bar we are having a big party.  Live like no one is watching, and if in case you were wondering Gol TV has been showing the Latin America's under 20 championships.  That's right I know everything.