PRE-SUPER BOWL HODGE-PODGE PLUS A SALUTE TO BRIAN WATERS
Let's get the dismal news out of the way early in this post, I want to finish on a very positive note. This has been 'the worst week ever' for the NFL Network. First Michael Irvin is sued in civil court for an alleged sexual assault in 2007. Word is the plaintiff & her attorney asked for a million dollars to make this go away, then after they got no response, they lowered their sights to $800K. No response to that offer brought about the civil suit. Irvin's legal team counter sued for $100 million. The whole thing stinks, I doubt we'll ever find out what really happened. The NFL Network continues to utilize Irvin since he was never charged criminally. But ESPN Radio in Dallas dropped Irvin's daily show Friday in a move executives said was already in the works because of low ratings. Then on Saturday, NFL Network analyst, Warren Sapp, was arrested & charged with battery on a woman in a Miami hotel. He was released on $1,500 bond. The network said they were removing Sapp from their Super Bowl telecasts Saturday, Sunday & Monday until they had time to review the charges against Sapp. The police arrested Sapp after observing bruises around the woman's throat & arm. Sapp claimed the woman fell trying to get off a couch. Once again I have no idea if either of these allegations are true, I know I've dealt with Sapp on several occasions in Las Vegas & found him to be a real decent guy, but I wasn't in that room so I can't say what happened.
Terrell Owens is spouting off the last 3 days about going to Cincinnati & playing with Chad Ochocinco. Chad's been Tweeting about the possibility as well. T.O. claims if the Bengals trade for his rights, he'll change his name to Terrell Ochouno, that's 81 to you non-Spanish speaking folks. This falls into my "Who Really Gives Sh*t" category.
T.O. was also winning more friends around the league by throwing the quarterbacks he's played with under the bus. When asked about Jerry Rice's election to the Hall of Fame, this selfish, obnoxious narcissist couldn't even give Rice congratulations or for that matter much respect. Owens said "I know hands-down I'd be close to Jerry Rice's records if I had been with quality quarterbacks like he had. He had Joe Montana & he finished with Steve Young(not true, he finished with the Raiders & Seahawks). That wasn't a dropoff. Say I had been with a guy like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees my career, are you kidding me?"
What a guy.
USC head coach Lane Kiffin continues to amaze me, continues to do things that will keep him at the bottom of my list of college coaches with any integrity. Friday Kiffin asked for & received a verbal commitment from quarterback David Sills. No big deal you say? The kid is thirteen years old, that's a one with a three, you know 13? The bizarre behavior of Kiffin may not shock me anymore. That time may come sooner rather than later.
If you live in New Orleans & don't live & die with the Saints, life can be less than rosy. Many of the public schools thruout Louisiana gave their teachers & students a chance to support their team on Thursday by wearing team gear. Brandon Frost, a 17-year old high school senior wore a Colts' jersey to school & was sent home by the principal. Frost, an Indianapolis native who moved to Nawlins 3 years ago, claimed the principal said "if you like Indiana so much, why don't you move back?" Frost's father called the ACLU & they demanded the school expunge any record of this incident. No word yet on the outcome. A side note: Frost was wearing a Joseph Addai jersey, he played his college ball at LSU in Baton Rouge.
A little follow-up on my Hall of Fame post from last night. Jason Whitlock of The Kansas City Star said in his column this morning if you let Floyd Little into the Hall, what about Larry Johnson? They have almost identical career stats & Johnson will surpass Little if he plays another year or two. Little ran for more than 1,000 yards only once in his career, 1,133 in 1971, Johnson ran for over 1,750 twice & his 4.5 yards-per-carry average far surpasses Little's 3.9. Before the Denver people start calling me names, please understand I think Little had a good career, he's a stalwart in the Denver community to this day & was never trouble on or off the field. I just have a hard time seeing him get in while others are more deserving in my eyes. As far as Cris Carter, Shannon Sharpe, Charles Haley & Tim Brown not receiving enough votes to be elected, don't count on them being in the 2011 class either. With Deion Sanders, Willie Roaf, Jerome Bettis, Curtis Martin & Marshall Faulk becoming eligible next year, the path to Canton could be blocked yet again.
NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith & NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell agree on two things, the current players deserve more guaranteed money & retired players need increased retirement benefits. Smith scolded current players & management, saying their treatment of the "men who built this game, made it what it is, deserve a bigger piece of the pie. The way they're being treated by both sides is immoral." Amen Brother Smith. Unfortunately, that's about all they agree on, so this may become quite contentious before a new collective bargaining agreement is hammered out, whenever that is.
LaDanian Tomlinson appears to be headed out the door in San Diego & he knows it. Tomlinson had stated he wanted to play for the Chargers next season, but as the season progressed it became pretty clear he just doesn't have enough left in the tank to be a starting runner in this league anymore. At $8 million a year, his fate was sealed. He might catch on with another team, but I question whether he can be satisfied being a 6-8 carry-a-game back.
Speaking of $8 million, Reggie Bush might be playing for that much cash in about 3 hours. Bush is due an $8 million roster bonus in March. If he can't make an impact on the game's biggest stage I wonder if owner Tom Benson is going to reward Bush for less.
For those of you who can't get enough of all the erectile dysfunction & male enhancement commercials, ExtenZe has signed a big name to promote their version of "size does matter." Jimmy Johnson will become their new pitchman. I wish he'd gone with Cialis, seeing JJ sitting outdoors in a clawfoot bath tub in the middle of a field would certainly make men pick up the phone wouldn't it? These are amongst the lamest, most intellectually insulting commercials on television. Anyone watching today's game while sitting in a bath tub outdoors? I didn't think so.
A quick Mizzou note. The Tigers received a verbal commitment from Anthony Pierson of Gateway Tech High School in St. Louis. The 2-way player ran for 4,200 yards & 52 touchdowns while at Tech. He also plays cornerback & he told Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel that's where he wants to play. "I'm a real shutdown corner, for real" Pierson said Friday. But having a 12.2, 8.9 & 12..5 yards-per-carry average might make it impossible to play him anywhere but running back.
The new Meadowlands stadium of the Giants & Jets is being considered for the 2014 Super Bowl. It is not a domed stadium, what if it snows? What about golf all week in New Jersey? Let the complaining begin even tho I have little problem with it.
And finally, the best part of this post. The Chiefs' Brian Waters has won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. It's given for off-field community involvement & charitable work as well as excellence playing the game. Thru the Brian Waters 54 Foundation 82 kids have gotten college scholarships. The foundation also provides for at-risk & under-privileged kids, giving them book bags, school supplies, shoes, haircuts, vaccinations & dental care. Brian Waters is the definition of "making a difference." He follows in the footsteps of 4 other Chiefs' players to receive the award since it's inception in 1970. Willie Lanier('72), Len Dawson('73), Derrick Thomas('93) & Will Shields('03) preceded Waters as winners from the Kansas City franchise. The Chiefs' five winners are the most for any franchise in the NFL & Waters is certainly most deserving of this recognition.
Linda & I won't be going out or having anyone over to watch the game as we are expecting what is forecast to be heavy snow beginning in a few hours. We went out last night into Laurie, had a few beers & listened to a decent blues guitarist. We'll have brats, ranch/bacon pasta salad, some chili cheese dip, venison summer sausage with sharp cheddar & a cold beverage or two. It's your typical Super Bowl heart attack food. Back to healthy living tomorrow. Enjoy the game with whomever you're watching it with, hope you win a bet or a pot too.
Terrell Owens is spouting off the last 3 days about going to Cincinnati & playing with Chad Ochocinco. Chad's been Tweeting about the possibility as well. T.O. claims if the Bengals trade for his rights, he'll change his name to Terrell Ochouno, that's 81 to you non-Spanish speaking folks. This falls into my "Who Really Gives Sh*t" category.
T.O. was also winning more friends around the league by throwing the quarterbacks he's played with under the bus. When asked about Jerry Rice's election to the Hall of Fame, this selfish, obnoxious narcissist couldn't even give Rice congratulations or for that matter much respect. Owens said "I know hands-down I'd be close to Jerry Rice's records if I had been with quality quarterbacks like he had. He had Joe Montana & he finished with Steve Young(not true, he finished with the Raiders & Seahawks). That wasn't a dropoff. Say I had been with a guy like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees my career, are you kidding me?"
What a guy.
USC head coach Lane Kiffin continues to amaze me, continues to do things that will keep him at the bottom of my list of college coaches with any integrity. Friday Kiffin asked for & received a verbal commitment from quarterback David Sills. No big deal you say? The kid is thirteen years old, that's a one with a three, you know 13? The bizarre behavior of Kiffin may not shock me anymore. That time may come sooner rather than later.
If you live in New Orleans & don't live & die with the Saints, life can be less than rosy. Many of the public schools thruout Louisiana gave their teachers & students a chance to support their team on Thursday by wearing team gear. Brandon Frost, a 17-year old high school senior wore a Colts' jersey to school & was sent home by the principal. Frost, an Indianapolis native who moved to Nawlins 3 years ago, claimed the principal said "if you like Indiana so much, why don't you move back?" Frost's father called the ACLU & they demanded the school expunge any record of this incident. No word yet on the outcome. A side note: Frost was wearing a Joseph Addai jersey, he played his college ball at LSU in Baton Rouge.
A little follow-up on my Hall of Fame post from last night. Jason Whitlock of The Kansas City Star said in his column this morning if you let Floyd Little into the Hall, what about Larry Johnson? They have almost identical career stats & Johnson will surpass Little if he plays another year or two. Little ran for more than 1,000 yards only once in his career, 1,133 in 1971, Johnson ran for over 1,750 twice & his 4.5 yards-per-carry average far surpasses Little's 3.9. Before the Denver people start calling me names, please understand I think Little had a good career, he's a stalwart in the Denver community to this day & was never trouble on or off the field. I just have a hard time seeing him get in while others are more deserving in my eyes. As far as Cris Carter, Shannon Sharpe, Charles Haley & Tim Brown not receiving enough votes to be elected, don't count on them being in the 2011 class either. With Deion Sanders, Willie Roaf, Jerome Bettis, Curtis Martin & Marshall Faulk becoming eligible next year, the path to Canton could be blocked yet again.
NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith & NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell agree on two things, the current players deserve more guaranteed money & retired players need increased retirement benefits. Smith scolded current players & management, saying their treatment of the "men who built this game, made it what it is, deserve a bigger piece of the pie. The way they're being treated by both sides is immoral." Amen Brother Smith. Unfortunately, that's about all they agree on, so this may become quite contentious before a new collective bargaining agreement is hammered out, whenever that is.
LaDanian Tomlinson appears to be headed out the door in San Diego & he knows it. Tomlinson had stated he wanted to play for the Chargers next season, but as the season progressed it became pretty clear he just doesn't have enough left in the tank to be a starting runner in this league anymore. At $8 million a year, his fate was sealed. He might catch on with another team, but I question whether he can be satisfied being a 6-8 carry-a-game back.
Speaking of $8 million, Reggie Bush might be playing for that much cash in about 3 hours. Bush is due an $8 million roster bonus in March. If he can't make an impact on the game's biggest stage I wonder if owner Tom Benson is going to reward Bush for less.
For those of you who can't get enough of all the erectile dysfunction & male enhancement commercials, ExtenZe has signed a big name to promote their version of "size does matter." Jimmy Johnson will become their new pitchman. I wish he'd gone with Cialis, seeing JJ sitting outdoors in a clawfoot bath tub in the middle of a field would certainly make men pick up the phone wouldn't it? These are amongst the lamest, most intellectually insulting commercials on television. Anyone watching today's game while sitting in a bath tub outdoors? I didn't think so.
A quick Mizzou note. The Tigers received a verbal commitment from Anthony Pierson of Gateway Tech High School in St. Louis. The 2-way player ran for 4,200 yards & 52 touchdowns while at Tech. He also plays cornerback & he told Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel that's where he wants to play. "I'm a real shutdown corner, for real" Pierson said Friday. But having a 12.2, 8.9 & 12..5 yards-per-carry average might make it impossible to play him anywhere but running back.
The new Meadowlands stadium of the Giants & Jets is being considered for the 2014 Super Bowl. It is not a domed stadium, what if it snows? What about golf all week in New Jersey? Let the complaining begin even tho I have little problem with it.
And finally, the best part of this post. The Chiefs' Brian Waters has won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. It's given for off-field community involvement & charitable work as well as excellence playing the game. Thru the Brian Waters 54 Foundation 82 kids have gotten college scholarships. The foundation also provides for at-risk & under-privileged kids, giving them book bags, school supplies, shoes, haircuts, vaccinations & dental care. Brian Waters is the definition of "making a difference." He follows in the footsteps of 4 other Chiefs' players to receive the award since it's inception in 1970. Willie Lanier('72), Len Dawson('73), Derrick Thomas('93) & Will Shields('03) preceded Waters as winners from the Kansas City franchise. The Chiefs' five winners are the most for any franchise in the NFL & Waters is certainly most deserving of this recognition.
Linda & I won't be going out or having anyone over to watch the game as we are expecting what is forecast to be heavy snow beginning in a few hours. We went out last night into Laurie, had a few beers & listened to a decent blues guitarist. We'll have brats, ranch/bacon pasta salad, some chili cheese dip, venison summer sausage with sharp cheddar & a cold beverage or two. It's your typical Super Bowl heart attack food. Back to healthy living tomorrow. Enjoy the game with whomever you're watching it with, hope you win a bet or a pot too.
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