TODD REESING MOVES NORTH, PELINI LOBBY'S FOR ARROWHEAD & MY WISH ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY
Former Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, pretty much ignored by the NFL since his senior season, has landed a job in pro football. Unfortunately, the native Texan, will have to move north, way north. He signed a deal with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. The 5' 11" QB was discounted by NFL scouts as "too small" & his arm is somewhat suspect. He's a pretty accurate passer, just a little down on deep strength, which could be a problem on the CFL fields which are 13-yards wider & 10-yards longer plus the endzones are 10-yards deeper than American fields. Reesing has great "escapability" & is tougher than nails, he'll need both qualities to excel in the CFL. Playing up north isn't what you might call a financial bonanza, the CFL, which allows a 42-man roster, has a $4.2 million salary cap. The NFL's cap last season was $112 million.
The Ben Roethlisberger football camp, costing $249 per child, has decided to change it's name. Big Ben asked Steeler head coach Mike Tomlin to run the camp. The fact the camp promoters wanted Roethlisberger out shouldn't surprise anyone, who wants their child exposed to someone with Ben's recent history? The fact that Tomlin stepped in despite his busy schedule, is a credit to Pittsburgh's coach, helping some local kids live a 3-day dream. So now it's the Mike Tomlin Football Camp just around the corner on June 21st.
The NCAA decision on their investigation of the USC football & basketball programs will be released on Friday. Part of the football inquiry centered on alleged compensation paid to Reggie Bush & his family. The results could be anything from an innocent verdict to sanctions against both programs to forfeiture of every game Bush played in including the 2004 BCS Championship. If he is ruled ineligible, it's very likely the Downtown Athletic Club in New York will revoke Bush's Heisman Trophy Award.
The Colts' Reggie Wayne is apparently the latest athlete, celebrity or politician to decide it's O.K. to cheat on their wife with a mistress. Unfortunately for Wayne, the relationship is now public. Natasha McKenzie has been questioned by Chicago Police after one of her 333 credit card transactions on Reggie's account was questioned by a store. Her tab on this card since last fall is over $93,000. She claims he gave her the card, he claims she's an ex-girlfriend who stole it from him. One has to wonder how you don't see $93K in charges on your bill. I think Reggie's been busted & he's going to throw Ms. McKenzie under the bus with law enforcement. Will there ever be a time when men & women understand the consequences of such actions? I doubt it.
Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini is lobbying for Arrowhead Stadium as an alternate sight for the Big-12 Championship game. The power of the conference is Texas, Oklahoma, A&M & Oklahoma State, all in the South Division & they want to make Dallas' "Jones Mahal" the permanent sight for the game. But Pelini says the game should be alternated between South & North neutral sites. Bo said Arrowhead is the perfect site, a good compromise geographically & since it's renovation, it is a very desirable facility for the game. The game was played in Dallas last year & is scheduled there again this season. The conference has decided to begin negotiations for an extension & possibly a deal for making the site permanent for this game. Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne says "not so fast." This is typical of the way the major players in the South Division attempt to throw their weight around, seemingly like the other members of the league aren't worth consideration. Is there any question why Mizzou & Nebraska are open to overtures from the Big-10.
I mentioned the other day the Patriots & Ravens were going to feed the NFL's Redzone Channel into their stadiums during games. Now the league has said it will allow all 31 stadiums to televise the channel in-house. So now whether you're standing in line to buy another beer or waiting your turn to get rid of one, you'll be able to keep up with your fantasy team or your 3-team parlay thanks to the Redzone Channel.
Today is Memorial Day. I have but one wish regarding what was once a very solemn observance & is now a marketing bonanza for selling everything from chairs to Toyota's. The holiday was originally observed as "Decoration Day" in remembrance of Civil War dead. Since 1865, our servicemen & women have fought & died all over the globe in defense of our freedom. The respect for those Americans who have given the ultimate sacrifice has evolved into red, white & blue streamers all over 15-20 newspaper inserts touting deals on patio furniture. This is how we respect the over 1 million Americans killed in battle? Oh the networks throw in a 30-second filler at the end of the evening news showing a lone bugler playing taps or the Vets "Rolling Thunder" bike caravan. These are followed by 4 minutes of commercials for end tables & a truck sale. I'm a veteran, one that didn't get as much as a scratch in service to my country. But it really rubs me the wrong way when those men & women are used to sell crap or given lip service by people who have absolutely no concept of what real sacrifice is. The blanket quote "we support our troops" is the catch-all for everything past, present or future regarding our military. This saying is not only fashionable these days, but helps to provide a clear conscience to the clueless. Please don't get me wrong, many people do understand the sacrifice every military person & family has made but for those who don't or simply don't care, you're way overdue to dislodge your head from you-know-where. The fact that tens of thousands of men & women step forward every single year to take an oath to defend this country is amazing. Everyone, whether they agree with our foreign policy or not, should understand these people defend your right to do about everything you might take for granted on this Memorial Day. Are there furniture sales on Thanksgiving? On Christmas? Wouldn't it be nice to recognize those who have fallen in service to their country with a day of remembrance, reflection & respect? We can buy a new barbeque grill or plasma TV the other 362 days OK? Otherwise, how long will it be before we see a 9/11 sale? If you consider this unthinkable, people from "The Greatest Generation" tell me having an appliance sale on Decoration Day was unthinkable 50 years ago. That's my wish on this Memorial Day, stop marketing Pepsi & lawnmowers on this day, give those 1 million-plus the respect they deserve for just 24 hours, that's not too much to ask considering what they've done for this country.
The Ben Roethlisberger football camp, costing $249 per child, has decided to change it's name. Big Ben asked Steeler head coach Mike Tomlin to run the camp. The fact the camp promoters wanted Roethlisberger out shouldn't surprise anyone, who wants their child exposed to someone with Ben's recent history? The fact that Tomlin stepped in despite his busy schedule, is a credit to Pittsburgh's coach, helping some local kids live a 3-day dream. So now it's the Mike Tomlin Football Camp just around the corner on June 21st.
The NCAA decision on their investigation of the USC football & basketball programs will be released on Friday. Part of the football inquiry centered on alleged compensation paid to Reggie Bush & his family. The results could be anything from an innocent verdict to sanctions against both programs to forfeiture of every game Bush played in including the 2004 BCS Championship. If he is ruled ineligible, it's very likely the Downtown Athletic Club in New York will revoke Bush's Heisman Trophy Award.
The Colts' Reggie Wayne is apparently the latest athlete, celebrity or politician to decide it's O.K. to cheat on their wife with a mistress. Unfortunately for Wayne, the relationship is now public. Natasha McKenzie has been questioned by Chicago Police after one of her 333 credit card transactions on Reggie's account was questioned by a store. Her tab on this card since last fall is over $93,000. She claims he gave her the card, he claims she's an ex-girlfriend who stole it from him. One has to wonder how you don't see $93K in charges on your bill. I think Reggie's been busted & he's going to throw Ms. McKenzie under the bus with law enforcement. Will there ever be a time when men & women understand the consequences of such actions? I doubt it.
Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini is lobbying for Arrowhead Stadium as an alternate sight for the Big-12 Championship game. The power of the conference is Texas, Oklahoma, A&M & Oklahoma State, all in the South Division & they want to make Dallas' "Jones Mahal" the permanent sight for the game. But Pelini says the game should be alternated between South & North neutral sites. Bo said Arrowhead is the perfect site, a good compromise geographically & since it's renovation, it is a very desirable facility for the game. The game was played in Dallas last year & is scheduled there again this season. The conference has decided to begin negotiations for an extension & possibly a deal for making the site permanent for this game. Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne says "not so fast." This is typical of the way the major players in the South Division attempt to throw their weight around, seemingly like the other members of the league aren't worth consideration. Is there any question why Mizzou & Nebraska are open to overtures from the Big-10.
I mentioned the other day the Patriots & Ravens were going to feed the NFL's Redzone Channel into their stadiums during games. Now the league has said it will allow all 31 stadiums to televise the channel in-house. So now whether you're standing in line to buy another beer or waiting your turn to get rid of one, you'll be able to keep up with your fantasy team or your 3-team parlay thanks to the Redzone Channel.
Today is Memorial Day. I have but one wish regarding what was once a very solemn observance & is now a marketing bonanza for selling everything from chairs to Toyota's. The holiday was originally observed as "Decoration Day" in remembrance of Civil War dead. Since 1865, our servicemen & women have fought & died all over the globe in defense of our freedom. The respect for those Americans who have given the ultimate sacrifice has evolved into red, white & blue streamers all over 15-20 newspaper inserts touting deals on patio furniture. This is how we respect the over 1 million Americans killed in battle? Oh the networks throw in a 30-second filler at the end of the evening news showing a lone bugler playing taps or the Vets "Rolling Thunder" bike caravan. These are followed by 4 minutes of commercials for end tables & a truck sale. I'm a veteran, one that didn't get as much as a scratch in service to my country. But it really rubs me the wrong way when those men & women are used to sell crap or given lip service by people who have absolutely no concept of what real sacrifice is. The blanket quote "we support our troops" is the catch-all for everything past, present or future regarding our military. This saying is not only fashionable these days, but helps to provide a clear conscience to the clueless. Please don't get me wrong, many people do understand the sacrifice every military person & family has made but for those who don't or simply don't care, you're way overdue to dislodge your head from you-know-where. The fact that tens of thousands of men & women step forward every single year to take an oath to defend this country is amazing. Everyone, whether they agree with our foreign policy or not, should understand these people defend your right to do about everything you might take for granted on this Memorial Day. Are there furniture sales on Thanksgiving? On Christmas? Wouldn't it be nice to recognize those who have fallen in service to their country with a day of remembrance, reflection & respect? We can buy a new barbeque grill or plasma TV the other 362 days OK? Otherwise, how long will it be before we see a 9/11 sale? If you consider this unthinkable, people from "The Greatest Generation" tell me having an appliance sale on Decoration Day was unthinkable 50 years ago. That's my wish on this Memorial Day, stop marketing Pepsi & lawnmowers on this day, give those 1 million-plus the respect they deserve for just 24 hours, that's not too much to ask considering what they've done for this country.
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