Oh what a great idea this seemed like back in 1998 when all the NCAA presidents and the six big conferences got together to start a system that would determine a true college football champion. After many years of having split national champions, thanks to various bowls ties with other conferences that could not be broken thanks to some kind of binding contract, and of course the greed that is never publicized. So the big honchos atop the NCAA came up with the BCS instead of a real playoff system, what a genius idea lets throw some numbers at a computer and let it decide who should be playing for a championship. After all the NCAA has a tournament implemented for the college basketball season, and everyone knows just how much madness goes on in March. So why not a playoff, its not because the student athlete will miss class time, just look at their basketball counterparts playing all over the United States as far as Hawaii and Alaska missing countless class time and then the tournament last a whole month, so that cant be the big excuse. Yes I know that the bowls games are important for the little schools like north Texas and the schools that have at least 6 wins they should get rewarded as well. So why not keep the lesser bowls that always start out bowl week with a dud and a bang. You change the other bowls games and make them playoff games, you will still bring in the same number of fans if not more. These games will add excitement in the building knowing that someone has a chance to move forward. Keep the names keep the sponsors but make them worth so much more for the fans and the players.
The excitement of the season is just taken away when you only have three teams that are in true contention. This year you have Florida, Alabama, and Texas they are good teams but they are not the only undefeated teams in the nation. They are followed by Tcu, Cincinnati, and Boise St respectively these teams are undefeated and have showed that they can play with the big conferences. But the BCS has already penciled in the big three since Florida and Alabama play each other in the SEC championship game later this year by default Texas will play the winner and the rest of college football can take a backseat, not ever knowing if the three behind them can shock the world.
Controversy will always be a part in sports, in college basketball everybody cries about who is in and who is left out. But at the end everyone is satisfied because a true champion earned his trophy by playing for it on the field, or on the court, and not by a computer that gets fed numbers, never seeing the teams play on the field. To me this is the closet one gets to a communist system the computer spits out the two teams and we have to take as that, no ones opinion matter, facts do not matter, even rank position by coaches and media don't matter. How else do your explain Iowa (before they were defeated) the pollsters had them ranked No. 7, but yet the BCS computers had them ranked No. 4 explain that to me, I have been picking my brain apart trying to figure that one for the last four weeks. In reality we will never see Tcu or Boise St. play for a national championship in football. They are playing for respect, and in my opinion they have earned it. Then you have a one loss team like Georgia Tech yea they stumbled earlier in the season against Miami but now they have come on like barn burners, but for what to just sit there and hope for a miracle. Why a miracle because the computers say so, not in words but in beeps.
As fans all we ask for is a chance to see probably the greatest most talked about playoff system ever. Really what is the reason we watch college football, to be disappointed at the end of the season, when the wrong teams are playing in the championship game. How many times has the BCS been tweaked because of flaws in the system. The BCS should just be eliminated, done with, this system just does not work. I know this discussion has been going on for years, and unfortunately we might never see a playoff system for a long time. To much money involved with all the conferences and the bowl sights. T.V. deals are also affecting the change from the BCS. But as fans we can always dream of a clear cut champion. To bad it will only be a dream and the reality that we are stuck with is "what if".
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Take the Skirts Off
Oh how times have changed in the world of professional football. A sport so violent that some parents wouldn't let their kids watch. The players are gladiators that walk amongst us, playing in coliseums and arenas across the country. Giants with great speed and athletic abilities that entertain the masses. In the old days the players wore very little protection, injuries were most common and more often then not players played through them. The money was not great but the recognition was the same as a movie star. They took hits and they didn't wine about them. As the years have gone by the game of football has evolved into something that is not quite as fitting. Now its all about protecting the players or shall I say the investment (Tom Brady). But the great thing about the NFL is that it is not a player driven league. Sure you have superstars but that's not the real reason fans go to the game. They go to the games to see that team that represents their city. They root for the uniform, not just the player. Even when the NFL lost top players to injuries like Joe Montana, and Dan Marino the NFL did not suffer, sure the teams did as far as winning and losing goes. The bottom line is that the league will make more money then most sports in the united states. Basketball is a player driven league. Baseball seems long to most fans outside of the New York or Boston area, and well hockey that's just a mess of its own.
These are the new rules that are changing the game, I am telling you folks get ready for flag football. 1)No blindside block to an opponents head or neck using your helmet, shoulder, or forearm. 2)Contact to the head of a defenseless receiver will draw a 15 yard penalty. 3)A defensive player on the ground may no longer lunge or dive at a quarterbacks lower legs. My problem is the way the officials are interpreting the new rules. They might have well put some skirts on and play touch football because defenses across the league are paying the price. You cannot hit the quarterback the wrong way, you cannot touch a receiver. What happens if a players ducks is that a penalty because he ducked into your forearm, really.
In the 70s and 80s they played with so much violence and pain. Now the players have so much protection around them, special padding's and equipment that protect them from hard hits. Now every offensive player is being protected by the new rules, and defensive players are getting fined around the league. Hard fought games are turning into shootouts, more offense less defense. Yes as fans we love seeing the amazing catches and the great throws. But we love the NFL for the hard hitting that makes us cringe, because we feel the same pain as that wide
receiver who just went down the middle of the field to make a great catch only to be knock into next week by a waiting defensive back.
I understand the pain that players go through after football, but in life everything has a price. A player joining the league knows what to expect coming in. They know the dangers because they have been playing their whole life. But you know their are other jobs out their that we the fans do that are as dangerous as a 300 pound lineman falling on you. We know the risk and we continue doing it for various reason. The NFL wants excitement, thinking that high scoring games will keep people motivated to show up even in this tough economy. How exciting is it to see defenses kept on a leash and old offensive records being broken every game. How unfair would it be to the players of the modern era that were true gladiators and earned every single record with blood, sweat, and tears.
Former Miami Dolphin great Mark Duper posted a question on his facebook page, how do we the fans feel about protecting the offensive players and seeing the defensive players get fined? Well as a fan it makes me sick, it takes away from what the NFL stands for. Play flag football if you don't want to be hit. In football men are men and children look up to players as heroes. So rules committee let them play the game the way football was intended to be played. Stop trying to protect them, when you didn't care about them ten years ago.
These are the new rules that are changing the game, I am telling you folks get ready for flag football. 1)No blindside block to an opponents head or neck using your helmet, shoulder, or forearm. 2)Contact to the head of a defenseless receiver will draw a 15 yard penalty. 3)A defensive player on the ground may no longer lunge or dive at a quarterbacks lower legs. My problem is the way the officials are interpreting the new rules. They might have well put some skirts on and play touch football because defenses across the league are paying the price. You cannot hit the quarterback the wrong way, you cannot touch a receiver. What happens if a players ducks is that a penalty because he ducked into your forearm, really.
In the 70s and 80s they played with so much violence and pain. Now the players have so much protection around them, special padding's and equipment that protect them from hard hits. Now every offensive player is being protected by the new rules, and defensive players are getting fined around the league. Hard fought games are turning into shootouts, more offense less defense. Yes as fans we love seeing the amazing catches and the great throws. But we love the NFL for the hard hitting that makes us cringe, because we feel the same pain as that wide
receiver who just went down the middle of the field to make a great catch only to be knock into next week by a waiting defensive back.
I understand the pain that players go through after football, but in life everything has a price. A player joining the league knows what to expect coming in. They know the dangers because they have been playing their whole life. But you know their are other jobs out their that we the fans do that are as dangerous as a 300 pound lineman falling on you. We know the risk and we continue doing it for various reason. The NFL wants excitement, thinking that high scoring games will keep people motivated to show up even in this tough economy. How exciting is it to see defenses kept on a leash and old offensive records being broken every game. How unfair would it be to the players of the modern era that were true gladiators and earned every single record with blood, sweat, and tears.
Former Miami Dolphin great Mark Duper posted a question on his facebook page, how do we the fans feel about protecting the offensive players and seeing the defensive players get fined? Well as a fan it makes me sick, it takes away from what the NFL stands for. Play flag football if you don't want to be hit. In football men are men and children look up to players as heroes. So rules committee let them play the game the way football was intended to be played. Stop trying to protect them, when you didn't care about them ten years ago.
Monday, August 10, 2009
It Started in 1991
A sports dynasty is a team that dominates their sport or league for multiple seasons or years. The New York Yankees have won many titles in the 90's. But this article is not about them, it's about one team did something amazing. We are talking about a team that won 14 straight division pennants. A team that ended last in their league from 1988 to 1990. A team known for losing., with their own national cable station, that's right the Atlanta Braves led by players name Bream, Gant, Justice, Smith, Pendleton, Nixon and a pitching staff that was young and unhittable. The Braves were the first team to go from last to first since 1890 Louisville Colonels of the American Association (Minnesota Twins joined the Braves in 1991). As a kid growing up I got to experience this team. I have been watching Braves baseball since Dale Murphy was a hero in Atlanta. To some thats not very long ago to others they never saw Murphy play. But many saw the Braves play from 1991 to 2005 (1994 season was cancelled due to players strike), now that was a dynasty. Players came and players went but the winning continued in Atlanta. They became America's team, people from North Dakota to Maine watch the Braves on T.V. No other team had that benefit. Whats amazing about this team was that no one saw this coming. In 1991 they surprised the world, they where blue collar players on this team. Led by skipper Bobby Cox, who never hid his emotion.
Who can forget on August 21, 1991 with the Braves trailing the Cinncinnati Reds 9-6 in the ninth, little used backup catcher Francisco Cabrera's three run shot off Ron Dibble to tie the game, which the Braves won in the 13th inning. Players say, that moment defied their season, after that blast, they ended the season 29-12 and won the division by one game over the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games in the NLCS, but were defeated by the Minnesota Twins in an epic 7 game series that went to extra innings in game 7. To this day many say that was the greats World Series ever. Pitching was the teams strength led by Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smotlz together they won six Cy Young Award and Hitters like Chipper Jones, Ron Gant, David justice. But the biggest reason for the Braves success was when they lured GM John Schuerholz away from the Kansas City Royals. He built this dynasty making all the right trades and signing key free agents. Signing Chipper Jones number one overall in 1991 draft. Keeping the nucleus of this team together for years.
This is a feat that will never be duplicated, yes they only won one world series, but 14 straight pennants. True the New York Yankees will always be able to sign the top free agents. but that doesn't guarantee wins, as proven in the last 5 years, and in this day and age it is very hard to keep the same team intact for years. The Braves were a team of destiny.
2009 the Braves are in a pennant chase with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Florida Marlins. It has been 4 years since the last division win, the players of new know this. They have a chip on their shoulder and a never give up attitude. One thing this team doesn't lack is toughness. They are built the same as the old Braves with strong pitching and timely hitting i wouldn't be surprise if this team makes a run in the near future. I may not be a Braves fan but I can see this team on the up and up. So people in Atlanta get those tomahawks chopping the Braves are back in town ,root for your team, and lets see if destiny repeats itself.
Who can forget on August 21, 1991 with the Braves trailing the Cinncinnati Reds 9-6 in the ninth, little used backup catcher Francisco Cabrera's three run shot off Ron Dibble to tie the game, which the Braves won in the 13th inning. Players say, that moment defied their season, after that blast, they ended the season 29-12 and won the division by one game over the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games in the NLCS, but were defeated by the Minnesota Twins in an epic 7 game series that went to extra innings in game 7. To this day many say that was the greats World Series ever. Pitching was the teams strength led by Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smotlz together they won six Cy Young Award and Hitters like Chipper Jones, Ron Gant, David justice. But the biggest reason for the Braves success was when they lured GM John Schuerholz away from the Kansas City Royals. He built this dynasty making all the right trades and signing key free agents. Signing Chipper Jones number one overall in 1991 draft. Keeping the nucleus of this team together for years.
This is a feat that will never be duplicated, yes they only won one world series, but 14 straight pennants. True the New York Yankees will always be able to sign the top free agents. but that doesn't guarantee wins, as proven in the last 5 years, and in this day and age it is very hard to keep the same team intact for years. The Braves were a team of destiny.
2009 the Braves are in a pennant chase with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Florida Marlins. It has been 4 years since the last division win, the players of new know this. They have a chip on their shoulder and a never give up attitude. One thing this team doesn't lack is toughness. They are built the same as the old Braves with strong pitching and timely hitting i wouldn't be surprise if this team makes a run in the near future. I may not be a Braves fan but I can see this team on the up and up. So people in Atlanta get those tomahawks chopping the Braves are back in town ,root for your team, and lets see if destiny repeats itself.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Quiet Storm
A team that has faced many off the field problems, is now staring a new season fresh from issues that has brought this team down. The 2009 Miami Hurricanes, yeah i know I am biased, an article about Miami. But I am not, this team led by Randy Shannon has come a long way. In the eighties Miami was a team that won but yet the nation hated them. Their plays were electric, big plays after big plays. They used their team speed to their advantage and won five national title, the first one coming in 1983 against Nebraska. During the title runs their image took a hit. Reports after reports of criminal activities, began destroying this team. Players drinking in the dorm having sex with women that were drunk or passed out, while other players peeped. Coaches drinking with players, university secretary's smoking marijuana with players. One of the biggest Pell Grant scandals in history. Failed Drug test that were being ignored by coaches. Dennis Erickson was used as a scapegoat when he coached them, but under Jimmy Johnson things were almost the same. In 1987 before the national championship game in Tempe, Arizona, players arrived at the airport in combat fatigues. Then at the dinner with the opponents, the whole team walked out from the Steak Fry. Years after years new players come in but the attitude was always the same, the problems got worse and Miami football was heading to an end. Sports Illustrated ran an article on why Miami should shut the football program down. It has happened before In 1939 Chicago University dropped their football team, a member of the Big Ten Conference. The football program was bring the university down. The SI article has many good points except one, the football program can be repaired. In 1995 Butch Davis became the next hurricanes coach. He was given the job at the same time that the NCAA placed Miami on probation banning them from one bowl appearance and taking away 31 scholarships. This was not a simple task but coach Davis succeeded, leading Miami to a #2 ranking in 2000, his final year as coach. The next year his offensive coach became the head coach at Miami and led them to the title with players that Davis recruited. But coach Coker was not Butch Davis, and he was losing control of the players. Some questioned his toughness. Off the field issue came back to Miami, two deaths in the program and a brawl not to mention no conference championships led to Larry Cokers firing. Who would be the next UM coach, a team that was being called "Thug U" by the national media. Miami needed a disciplinarian, someone who would teach his players how to respect themselves and others. Enter coach Randy Shannon, he was an ex player in the 1987 team and he played the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. But his true calling was being a coach, he was part of Dennis Erickson staff as a graduate assistant. Then in 2000 he became linebacker coach for the Miami Dolphins. Larry Coker hired him as defensive coordinator in 2001, that year he received the Broyles Award given annually to the best assistant coach in college football. He began his first year as head coach with a strict code of conduct. Players were being suspended left and right and coach was showing who was the boss. The team didn't fare to well on the field, missing out on a bowl game. The following year there were no off the field issues many players were behaving themselves while other universities were having problem. Miami is trying to get to a place where they haven't been in a long time, respectability, and they have found their man. I hope that the administration is patient with Coach Shannon, he has stated that he was to coach Miami until they throw him out, that is something Miami has never had, a coach that wants to stay. I say let him, they will win with Randy maybe sooner rather then later. This year with many young players returning from last years team, Miami has a chance to surprise team in the ACC and maybe even a team from Norman, Oklahoma, we will have to wait and see. Coach this is your team, this is a perfect fit to a once uncontrollable team.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Hall of Famer
To inspire it to motivate. Dedication is to give your all, even through all your pain. These are some characteristics of being a leader. These are ways to describe the late Derrick Thomas, a warrior. Number 58 for the Kansas City Chiefs will be inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame. He will not be present in body, but his spirit will be felt, hovering over Canton, Ohio on Saturday August 8, 2009. Derrick Thomas everything he could to his team and his community.
I can say how fortunate I was to see this warrior play. He was a nightmare to quarterbacks in the NFL. He recorded 7 sacks in a single game, a record that still stands to this day. Seven pro bowl appearances. a rookie of the year. and a humanitarian winning the Walter Payton award in 1994.
Derrick Thomas was born in Miami, he attend and played football for South Miami Senior High School. I know that area well, it's not the greatest area, but it's far from being the worst. But Miami is Miami and temptation was in every corner. After high school he received a scholarship to play at the University of Alabama and boy did he play. A man amongst boys he dominated the opposition. In 1989 the Kansas City Chiefs made him their first round selection, number four overall in the NFL Draft. Kansas City found out they had someone special the moment he stepped on the field. Derrick was a man that put others in front of him. Today we have the Derrick Thomas Academy. An Academy that is free of charge and has a curriculum based on high academics and social standards, located in Kansas City, MO. Derrick gave to his community the same commitment he gave his team.
But yet everyone has their faults, his was temptation and carelessness. A car accident on the way to Kansas City airport to catch a playoff game, led to his passing. He was the driver and he had two passengers with him when he was driving wildly down an icy road when he lost control, causing him and one passengers to go flying out the car killing the passenger instantly and paralyzing Derrick. The second passenger was able to walk away from the accident with no injuries, he was the only one with a seat belt. This led to his mother, with the help of professional football players, community leaders, and entertainers formed an organization to educate kids on the safety of wearing seat belts, children's health, and sports safety, for inner city its was named Mom2Mom58.
Derrick was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl. He was paralyzed from his chest down. Although confine to his wheel chair progress was being made. But then his condition changed for the worst, very unexpectedly on February 8, 2000 at 10:00AM (EST)
Derrick Thomas was pronounced dead. Doctors reported that the cause of death was a blood clot around his lower extremities.
He was survived by his seven children but he never made a will, another of life's lesson. Always be ready, you never know when your time will come that is why you must always have everything in order so that the ones you love are well taken care of. One day in perfect health the next day you are buried six feet.
People wonder why it took this long for Derrick to be inducted into the Hall. It might have been because of his personal life. His seven children were from five different women. Its kind of ironic you see, when Derrick was 5 he wished and dreamed that his father was coming home, but his father never did. Robert Thomas was killed in an Air Force bomber over Vietnam in 1972 when Derrick was 5. Growing up he was always searching for that father figure, he found five men to which he called dad one them was Chiefs GM Carl Peterson. The mothers of Derricks children spoke for the first time. They talked about a man that was at times careless, irresponsible, but not a deadbeat father. They talked about how Derrick would visit his kids every time he could. Taking them to Chucky Cheese and reading bedtime stories. Even though he couldn't be with them all the time he tried to share his time with them as best he could. When they were older he would take them to Disney World, and Hawaii but with one exemption, no mommies can come along and they could have whatever they wanted as long as they could carry it themselves.
Yes he was not perfect, and if he would have survived he could be facing manslaughter charges for reckless driving. But instead of running away from a bad situation. He faced it head on trying to be the best father he could, because he knew what it felt like to be without someone to call dad. The one sad thing is that Mr. Derrick Thomas will miss out on some wonderful children, he loved his kids, and Derrick the Hall of Fame welcomes you into their family. Congratulations and welcome to your new home.
I can say how fortunate I was to see this warrior play. He was a nightmare to quarterbacks in the NFL. He recorded 7 sacks in a single game, a record that still stands to this day. Seven pro bowl appearances. a rookie of the year. and a humanitarian winning the Walter Payton award in 1994.
Derrick Thomas was born in Miami, he attend and played football for South Miami Senior High School. I know that area well, it's not the greatest area, but it's far from being the worst. But Miami is Miami and temptation was in every corner. After high school he received a scholarship to play at the University of Alabama and boy did he play. A man amongst boys he dominated the opposition. In 1989 the Kansas City Chiefs made him their first round selection, number four overall in the NFL Draft. Kansas City found out they had someone special the moment he stepped on the field. Derrick was a man that put others in front of him. Today we have the Derrick Thomas Academy. An Academy that is free of charge and has a curriculum based on high academics and social standards, located in Kansas City, MO. Derrick gave to his community the same commitment he gave his team.
But yet everyone has their faults, his was temptation and carelessness. A car accident on the way to Kansas City airport to catch a playoff game, led to his passing. He was the driver and he had two passengers with him when he was driving wildly down an icy road when he lost control, causing him and one passengers to go flying out the car killing the passenger instantly and paralyzing Derrick. The second passenger was able to walk away from the accident with no injuries, he was the only one with a seat belt. This led to his mother, with the help of professional football players, community leaders, and entertainers formed an organization to educate kids on the safety of wearing seat belts, children's health, and sports safety, for inner city its was named Mom2Mom58.
Derrick was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fl. He was paralyzed from his chest down. Although confine to his wheel chair progress was being made. But then his condition changed for the worst, very unexpectedly on February 8, 2000 at 10:00AM (EST)
Derrick Thomas was pronounced dead. Doctors reported that the cause of death was a blood clot around his lower extremities.
He was survived by his seven children but he never made a will, another of life's lesson. Always be ready, you never know when your time will come that is why you must always have everything in order so that the ones you love are well taken care of. One day in perfect health the next day you are buried six feet.
People wonder why it took this long for Derrick to be inducted into the Hall. It might have been because of his personal life. His seven children were from five different women. Its kind of ironic you see, when Derrick was 5 he wished and dreamed that his father was coming home, but his father never did. Robert Thomas was killed in an Air Force bomber over Vietnam in 1972 when Derrick was 5. Growing up he was always searching for that father figure, he found five men to which he called dad one them was Chiefs GM Carl Peterson. The mothers of Derricks children spoke for the first time. They talked about a man that was at times careless, irresponsible, but not a deadbeat father. They talked about how Derrick would visit his kids every time he could. Taking them to Chucky Cheese and reading bedtime stories. Even though he couldn't be with them all the time he tried to share his time with them as best he could. When they were older he would take them to Disney World, and Hawaii but with one exemption, no mommies can come along and they could have whatever they wanted as long as they could carry it themselves.
Yes he was not perfect, and if he would have survived he could be facing manslaughter charges for reckless driving. But instead of running away from a bad situation. He faced it head on trying to be the best father he could, because he knew what it felt like to be without someone to call dad. The one sad thing is that Mr. Derrick Thomas will miss out on some wonderful children, he loved his kids, and Derrick the Hall of Fame welcomes you into their family. Congratulations and welcome to your new home.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Breaking the Unbreakable Bank
Sportsbook gambling it destroys careers, families, people, and lives. But it's also one of the biggest thrills in life, riding the high, spending all day Saturday watching college football placing parleys sweating it out trying to break the bank. But what happens when the bank breaks you. When you wake up Sunday morning and say "what have I done." Most gamblers if not all get right back up, watch all the NFL reports and try to break even, only to fall into a deeper abyss. The rush, the promise of never to bet again only to come right back the following week and doing it all over again.
There are those that look at gamblers that look at gamblers with a bad eye, but really we all gamble in life. From the foods we eat to the stock market we play. I do not condone sports betting but it is here and it will stay in our society forever. The sport leagues say they are against sportsbook betting, but then why release a last minute injury report to the media and the fans. Why does the media release up to the minute weather report on all the games. These observations are very important to the betting public, they offset the way the betting line changes, an impact injury can move a line dramatically. We have trends that show how many teams fare in certain conditions. All this information is out there for us to gather to make our choices to break the bank, even if the leagues don't want it to happen, but they make it happen, and football whether pro or college is one of the most bet on sports in the United States. This has led to a bad effect in college sports from student athletes point shaving as was the case at Toledo University. In the fall of 2004 the FBI began investigating Toledo's athletics department. Their findings discovered that eight players took part in an elaborate point shaving scheme in both basketball and football programs, all eight players were charged. That is the domino effect of sport betting were student athletics receive scholarships and not cash. The case in Toledo is just an example, there are more cases that we know off, and others that we may never know. As for me, yeah, i have dipped into the sports betting scene, but always with a limit. Know what you can spend but do not bet what you don't have.
Sports betting will never come to an end, and yes football is not the only sport suffering from fixed games. The NBA has had a share of problems recently. How can we forget the Tim Donaghy fiasco. There we learned that its not only the players that throw games but referees can be bought as well especially when they run up a large debt, where making a couple of calls the other way can take you out of debt.
But the one that really loses is the actual gambler. Even when he wins a couple of thousands, Vegas will always make a million times that amount. No matter how good you think you are at handicapping games, you will never be able to break a bank that is unbreakable.
There are those that look at gamblers that look at gamblers with a bad eye, but really we all gamble in life. From the foods we eat to the stock market we play. I do not condone sports betting but it is here and it will stay in our society forever. The sport leagues say they are against sportsbook betting, but then why release a last minute injury report to the media and the fans. Why does the media release up to the minute weather report on all the games. These observations are very important to the betting public, they offset the way the betting line changes, an impact injury can move a line dramatically. We have trends that show how many teams fare in certain conditions. All this information is out there for us to gather to make our choices to break the bank, even if the leagues don't want it to happen, but they make it happen, and football whether pro or college is one of the most bet on sports in the United States. This has led to a bad effect in college sports from student athletes point shaving as was the case at Toledo University. In the fall of 2004 the FBI began investigating Toledo's athletics department. Their findings discovered that eight players took part in an elaborate point shaving scheme in both basketball and football programs, all eight players were charged. That is the domino effect of sport betting were student athletics receive scholarships and not cash. The case in Toledo is just an example, there are more cases that we know off, and others that we may never know. As for me, yeah, i have dipped into the sports betting scene, but always with a limit. Know what you can spend but do not bet what you don't have.
Sports betting will never come to an end, and yes football is not the only sport suffering from fixed games. The NBA has had a share of problems recently. How can we forget the Tim Donaghy fiasco. There we learned that its not only the players that throw games but referees can be bought as well especially when they run up a large debt, where making a couple of calls the other way can take you out of debt.
But the one that really loses is the actual gambler. Even when he wins a couple of thousands, Vegas will always make a million times that amount. No matter how good you think you are at handicapping games, you will never be able to break a bank that is unbreakable.
The Misadventures of a Man named Vick
Mr. Michael Vick who are you now, what is your next step in your roller coaster life. I see you have a great mentor in Tony Dungy by your side. I saw that you told the bankruptcy court that you are close to signing with a team, but you didn't mention which league. You recently told NFL commissioner that you were sorry, and he grant you permission to sign with a team, but you can't play in the regular season until week 6. To me that was very harsh especially since you spent almost two years in prison. But Mike now you will have a chance to prove that you have changed. That you are not a troublemaker like your brother Marcus. That you made some huge mistakes in life and you are ready to move on. That you no longer associate yourself with thugs and low lives that took your life to the bottom.
Mr. Vick I saw you in college playing for Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. What an electrifying athlete, we marveled when you made plays after plays against Florida St. in the 1999 national title game almost willing your team in a game that was looking very much like a blowout. A media darling so valuable you were that the Atlanta Falcons made a move to make you the number one pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. You went to a franchise that never had back to back playoff appearances. A team that was two years removed from a Super Bowl loss, but also had its share of Public Relation problems. You were going to be their savior and in the beginning you didn't disappoint.
In 2002 your first full season as the staring quarterback, you led the Falcons into the playoffs and handed the Green Bay Packers their first playoff loss at historic Lambeau Field, only to lose in the divisional playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2003 you suffered a fractured right fibula in a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. This led to the end of the Falcons season and a long road to recovery. You healed nicely and in 2004 you were back and much improved, leading your team to another division title. But once again it ended with a loss against the Eagles, this time in the conference championship game. But off the field your problems began. Stopped by the airport police because of a bottle with a hidden compartment that smelled of marijuana, then more issues begin to surface about your entourage. You had many suspicious characters by your side. The Falcons Public Relations kept covering up for you and your friends.
On the field in 2005 your team underachieved losing 3 out of the 4 games and missing the playoffs. 2006 was another repeat performance as the year before, back to back losing seasons. your accuracy was being questioned below 55% completion percentage. But as I watch your games receivers were dropping catchable balls. In 2007 your world your world was turned upside down, dog fighting allegations that led to your arrest. Yes Mike these were horrible acts you committed on these poor animal, dogs that trusted you as their master and yet you betrayed them. You financed the whole operation and the Feds took you in. But now you are here again with a chance to show that a person no matter what they did in the past deserves another chance.
If and when you find a team, no matter how good or bad you do on the field, people will always look at what you do off the field. I believe that your reckless days are over. Prison will do that to a man. In there you find out who your real friends are. I wish the best for you Mr. Vick, and I expect you to be a professional both on and off the field.
Mr. Vick I saw you in college playing for Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech. What an electrifying athlete, we marveled when you made plays after plays against Florida St. in the 1999 national title game almost willing your team in a game that was looking very much like a blowout. A media darling so valuable you were that the Atlanta Falcons made a move to make you the number one pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. You went to a franchise that never had back to back playoff appearances. A team that was two years removed from a Super Bowl loss, but also had its share of Public Relation problems. You were going to be their savior and in the beginning you didn't disappoint.
In 2002 your first full season as the staring quarterback, you led the Falcons into the playoffs and handed the Green Bay Packers their first playoff loss at historic Lambeau Field, only to lose in the divisional playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2003 you suffered a fractured right fibula in a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. This led to the end of the Falcons season and a long road to recovery. You healed nicely and in 2004 you were back and much improved, leading your team to another division title. But once again it ended with a loss against the Eagles, this time in the conference championship game. But off the field your problems began. Stopped by the airport police because of a bottle with a hidden compartment that smelled of marijuana, then more issues begin to surface about your entourage. You had many suspicious characters by your side. The Falcons Public Relations kept covering up for you and your friends.
On the field in 2005 your team underachieved losing 3 out of the 4 games and missing the playoffs. 2006 was another repeat performance as the year before, back to back losing seasons. your accuracy was being questioned below 55% completion percentage. But as I watch your games receivers were dropping catchable balls. In 2007 your world your world was turned upside down, dog fighting allegations that led to your arrest. Yes Mike these were horrible acts you committed on these poor animal, dogs that trusted you as their master and yet you betrayed them. You financed the whole operation and the Feds took you in. But now you are here again with a chance to show that a person no matter what they did in the past deserves another chance.
If and when you find a team, no matter how good or bad you do on the field, people will always look at what you do off the field. I believe that your reckless days are over. Prison will do that to a man. In there you find out who your real friends are. I wish the best for you Mr. Vick, and I expect you to be a professional both on and off the field.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Tainted American Pastime
My first baseball memory was the 1986 World Series featuring the New York Mets vs the Boston Red Sox. These were great games, with great players. Roger Clemens in his prime pitching for the Red Sox, and Dwight Gooden pitching lights out for the Mets. It didn't stop there, great hitters like Wade Boggs, and Jim Rice, Darryl Strawberry and a first baseman who became infamous in a world series that will never be forgotten at least not by me.
To me that was some great baseball games, but something happened along the way something that will always be remembered, the steroid era. When it started, that question may never be answered did the great Bambino take an extra substance. Probably not, those guys didn't have the physic that these baseball players have now. Maybe a man named Jose Canseco led the steroid revolution. Baseball Fans were introduced to this beast of a man in 1986 his first full season with Oakland A's. He made quite a splash hitting 31 homeruns and 117 RBIs. This man was inhuman, or was he a cheater. Well we all know the answer to that since he now calls himself the godfather of steroids in baseball. He may have not introduced steroids to baseball but he did make it into an art.
Almost 24 years later since Canseco's first MLB game, steroids has become front and center in the sports world. Instead of people talking about pennant races, we are talking about cheaters that have disgraced a sport that is known as our national pastime. Sure baseball has never been a pure sport we have our number of cheaters in the past. Pitchers that doctored baseballs to a Black Sox scandal in 1919, baseball has had many black eyes but steroids has dominated them all. Steroids gave baseball one of the greatest homerun races ever. Sammy Sosa vs Mark McGwire they both broke the single season homerun record, they were also users. That homerun record then broken by Barry Bonds also a user. Then the floodgates opened up thanks to that Canseco guy, he turned out to be very honest or very desperate for money, and so he decided to write a book about how he injected all his friends (baseball heros to us) with steroids. The heads started rolling from Alex Rodriquez, and Roger Clemens, to Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz and many more players that we know off and many more to come, maybe even a slugger named Pujols.
The question I have is, why? Why risk it. Manny has natural talent and so does Alex, so why throw everything you work so hard for away. Is it for the money after all big numbers equal big contracts. But who pays these contracts is it the team owners or is it the hard working fans. The ones that sweat all day for a meager check at the end of the week, the ones that work hard to make an honest buck. The ones that pay for tickets to baseball games even though we know we can't afford but always sacrifice something just to see our heros play. Yea we pay so that these cheaters can make millions.
I say boycott these cheaters, boo them in every game, even if they play for your team. Root for your team but boo these cheaters that wear the same uniform you love to see win. They make millions the dishonest way and if they are caught they get suspended for 50 games. If we do something dishonest we end up doing 5 to 10 in a state prison. Atheletes are looked up as role models whether they embrace the role or not. To kids these are their heros, what a disappointment to find out that your heros were cheaters.
Rumor has it that Bud Selig was well informed about this steroid mess, but he did nothing. 1994 was a bad year in baseball a labor deal counld not be reached between the players association and owners. On August 12, 1994 a work stoppage occurred, the rest of the season was cancelled including playoffs and world series. The following year fans were fed up with the rich baseball players and rich owners. The fans united to boycott games, attendance began to drop, tv ratings were at an all time low. This lasted until the infamous homerun race, sure Cal Ripken Jr's history making was great for baseball he was the games purest player and a great role model. But after the consecutive games played streak was broken and after the great Ripken retired, baseball needed another boost to keep the fans interested. The homerun race brought fans back to baseball and attendance went up, and continue to rise. But not without a price, the price of tradition. Which ball player will make it to the hall of fame from this era. It will not be the great homerun sluggers, most of them have failed drug test. Bob Gibson stated in an interview that these players should be allowed in the hall of fame but with an asterisk. I say no, these players should never be remembered everything they did on the field was a lie. There was no natural skill involved, only a drug that gave these players the strength of a power hitting freak. inhumans that broke homerun records that had stood for a long time by players that loved the purity of the game. Batting titles that were won with dishonesty and world series that were won with players that used.
I agree with Tori Hunter release all the names or destroy list. Baseball is being held hostage by this list, they will never be able to move forward from this as long as players names are released every three months, the rest of the season will take a backseat to steroids. Now, while writing this blog, I ran into an article. Mr. Jose Canseco was interviewed about Manny Ramirez's and David Ortiz's failing drug test. Canseco stated that he was not surprised but boy he sure didn't stop there now he has implicated what could be baseballs biggest nightmare, a recent hall of famer might be included in the list of 104 players. Sport blogs are running stories of who it might be and alot of the sport sites are pointing to the great Cal Ripken Jr. Yes I am shocked, to even have his name associated with a performance enhancing drug. But as Mr. Canseco states I am also not surprised as well. Were we surprised when Sammy Sosa failed a drug test, no we weren't. Then Mark McGwire pleading the fifth in Congress, yea that did shake us a bit. What about Barry Bonds he kept breaking records even when everyone knew he was using. He broke the career homerun record now that should have a very big asterisk next to it, or just be erased entirely. Then the knight in shining armor came into town riding on a white horse he was hitting homeruns at a record pace. Oh but this horse was tainted, as we found out. Alex "the savior" Rodriguez failed a drug test and a savior he was no more. Now who do fans trust and what do we do to these records should we act like they never existed. I don't respect these records they were very undeserving. And the question still looms who is this hall of famer. if Canseco is telling the truth and why lie when it comes to steroids he is the one riding the white horse to save the purity of baseball. Who would have thought that, certainly not me and surely not Bud Selig he told the media not to believe Mr. Canseco, yes he is slimy, self centered and a selfish human being, but to the fans he has brought out the truth even if we couldn't handle it.
To me that was some great baseball games, but something happened along the way something that will always be remembered, the steroid era. When it started, that question may never be answered did the great Bambino take an extra substance. Probably not, those guys didn't have the physic that these baseball players have now. Maybe a man named Jose Canseco led the steroid revolution. Baseball Fans were introduced to this beast of a man in 1986 his first full season with Oakland A's. He made quite a splash hitting 31 homeruns and 117 RBIs. This man was inhuman, or was he a cheater. Well we all know the answer to that since he now calls himself the godfather of steroids in baseball. He may have not introduced steroids to baseball but he did make it into an art.
Almost 24 years later since Canseco's first MLB game, steroids has become front and center in the sports world. Instead of people talking about pennant races, we are talking about cheaters that have disgraced a sport that is known as our national pastime. Sure baseball has never been a pure sport we have our number of cheaters in the past. Pitchers that doctored baseballs to a Black Sox scandal in 1919, baseball has had many black eyes but steroids has dominated them all. Steroids gave baseball one of the greatest homerun races ever. Sammy Sosa vs Mark McGwire they both broke the single season homerun record, they were also users. That homerun record then broken by Barry Bonds also a user. Then the floodgates opened up thanks to that Canseco guy, he turned out to be very honest or very desperate for money, and so he decided to write a book about how he injected all his friends (baseball heros to us) with steroids. The heads started rolling from Alex Rodriquez, and Roger Clemens, to Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz and many more players that we know off and many more to come, maybe even a slugger named Pujols.
The question I have is, why? Why risk it. Manny has natural talent and so does Alex, so why throw everything you work so hard for away. Is it for the money after all big numbers equal big contracts. But who pays these contracts is it the team owners or is it the hard working fans. The ones that sweat all day for a meager check at the end of the week, the ones that work hard to make an honest buck. The ones that pay for tickets to baseball games even though we know we can't afford but always sacrifice something just to see our heros play. Yea we pay so that these cheaters can make millions.
I say boycott these cheaters, boo them in every game, even if they play for your team. Root for your team but boo these cheaters that wear the same uniform you love to see win. They make millions the dishonest way and if they are caught they get suspended for 50 games. If we do something dishonest we end up doing 5 to 10 in a state prison. Atheletes are looked up as role models whether they embrace the role or not. To kids these are their heros, what a disappointment to find out that your heros were cheaters.
Rumor has it that Bud Selig was well informed about this steroid mess, but he did nothing. 1994 was a bad year in baseball a labor deal counld not be reached between the players association and owners. On August 12, 1994 a work stoppage occurred, the rest of the season was cancelled including playoffs and world series. The following year fans were fed up with the rich baseball players and rich owners. The fans united to boycott games, attendance began to drop, tv ratings were at an all time low. This lasted until the infamous homerun race, sure Cal Ripken Jr's history making was great for baseball he was the games purest player and a great role model. But after the consecutive games played streak was broken and after the great Ripken retired, baseball needed another boost to keep the fans interested. The homerun race brought fans back to baseball and attendance went up, and continue to rise. But not without a price, the price of tradition. Which ball player will make it to the hall of fame from this era. It will not be the great homerun sluggers, most of them have failed drug test. Bob Gibson stated in an interview that these players should be allowed in the hall of fame but with an asterisk. I say no, these players should never be remembered everything they did on the field was a lie. There was no natural skill involved, only a drug that gave these players the strength of a power hitting freak. inhumans that broke homerun records that had stood for a long time by players that loved the purity of the game. Batting titles that were won with dishonesty and world series that were won with players that used.
I agree with Tori Hunter release all the names or destroy list. Baseball is being held hostage by this list, they will never be able to move forward from this as long as players names are released every three months, the rest of the season will take a backseat to steroids. Now, while writing this blog, I ran into an article. Mr. Jose Canseco was interviewed about Manny Ramirez's and David Ortiz's failing drug test. Canseco stated that he was not surprised but boy he sure didn't stop there now he has implicated what could be baseballs biggest nightmare, a recent hall of famer might be included in the list of 104 players. Sport blogs are running stories of who it might be and alot of the sport sites are pointing to the great Cal Ripken Jr. Yes I am shocked, to even have his name associated with a performance enhancing drug. But as Mr. Canseco states I am also not surprised as well. Were we surprised when Sammy Sosa failed a drug test, no we weren't. Then Mark McGwire pleading the fifth in Congress, yea that did shake us a bit. What about Barry Bonds he kept breaking records even when everyone knew he was using. He broke the career homerun record now that should have a very big asterisk next to it, or just be erased entirely. Then the knight in shining armor came into town riding on a white horse he was hitting homeruns at a record pace. Oh but this horse was tainted, as we found out. Alex "the savior" Rodriguez failed a drug test and a savior he was no more. Now who do fans trust and what do we do to these records should we act like they never existed. I don't respect these records they were very undeserving. And the question still looms who is this hall of famer. if Canseco is telling the truth and why lie when it comes to steroids he is the one riding the white horse to save the purity of baseball. Who would have thought that, certainly not me and surely not Bud Selig he told the media not to believe Mr. Canseco, yes he is slimy, self centered and a selfish human being, but to the fans he has brought out the truth even if we couldn't handle it.
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