TRESSEL MAY BE IN A JAM, CHASE DOES A GOOD THING, SABOL IN K.C. HOSPITAL & KEVIN ROSS SPEAKS OUT ON LAMAR HUNT
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel could be in some hot water according to Yahoo Sports. After a two-month investigation of the Buckeye "Tattoo-Gate" their is evidence Coach Tressel knew of the "memorabilia for tattoos" exchange several of his players were involved in as long as 8-months before it became public. At the news conference when his players apologized, Tressel claimed to know nothing of the deal that broke NCAA rules. Five starters, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, admitted their guilt & were suspended for the 1st five games of the 2011 season. There were however, allowed to play in the Buckeyes' Sugar Bowl victory, which was questioned from coast to coast. If Tressel had even an inkling his players were swapping Big-Ten Conference Championship rings & bowl jerseys for tats, things could get very in Columbus. The reporters, Dan Wetzel & Charlie Robinson, stand by their story "100%." Stay tuned, things could develop quickly in this story.
From the "who did the scheduling for this" department, Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett & Auburn Heisman winner Cam Newton will both have their on-campus pro day tomorrow at 1:30 PM. Nice. For the teams in the 1st round considering a quarterback in next month's draft, this boondoggle of a schedule makes it impossible for head coaches or GM's to see both work out in person. Mizzou's Blaine Gabbert will put on his show for the pros on Thursday the 17th. No other QB's on that date. That's how it's done.
Iowa & Nebraska will now finish their Big-Ten regular seasons playing each other the day after Thanksgiving, at least for the next four years.
Saints' back-up quarterback Chase Daniel has done a really good thing. The former Mizzou star announced Saturday he was starting the "Chase Daniel Lone Star Scholarship" at the University of Missouri. It will be awarded yearly to a Texas high schooler who is playing for the Tiger football program, earning a high GPA & is in good standing within the community. Daniel said "it's not a 5, 10, 12-year deal, it's a 20, 30, 50-year deal giving back to the university that made me what I am today. I want to start something special here." Anyone can contribute to the fund, maybe Daniel's friend Warren Buffett can pump up this scholarship quickly. Regardless, Daniel did a great thing. It's nice to see athletes give back, Ndamakong Suh has already given Nebraska $2 million since he signed his first pro contract. With state budget being what they are in this economy, more athletes need to kick back some money to their alma maters.
Plaxico Burress will be released from a New York State prison on June 6th. Convicted of possessing a loaded, unregistered handgun in a Manhattan night club, Burress got himself arrested by shooting himself in the leg while in the club & then lying to police when they came to the hospital. That happened in November of 2008, his sentence was for 20-months. Don't be surprised if the Giants don't resign Burress, he'll be 34-years old & has one last shot at making NFL-type money. His focus should be razor sharp.
On the labor front, both sides met again this afternoon & evening. They will continue to meet right up until the Friday 5Pm deadline or until an agreement is reached. Patriots owner Robert Kraft got worked up during Friday's talks, yelling at one point "if it weren't for some of you lawyers, we could get a deal done." His angst was directed at an outside lawyer working with the NFLPA. That lawyer wasn't present at today's negotiations. I think there are a small core of owners creating just enough ill will to keep a deal from getting done. It takes 24 votes to pass anything amongst ownership. Word is the negative number is sitting at 9 right now, meaning there are nine owners who are in no hurry to get an agreement, they're more intent on wreaking havoc on the players' union. There is also a similar size ownership group who want to show the union enough transparency finance-wise, to gain the players' trust & hopefully get a handshake deal.
The federal mediator, George Cohen, comes with a high recommendation, he rode herd on the MLS-players' union mediation that resulted in a deal both sides were happy with. MLS Commissioner Don garber said Cohen had a "calming demeanor on the proceedings, his patience was a blessing. He took points from both sides & made a case for all arguments, always moving to the middle until a deal was done." Get busy George, let's git-r-done.
Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films, was in Kansas City over the weekend for the 101 Dinner. Afterward, he suffered a seizure & is still hospitalized. Very little else is known about Sabol's condition. Get well soon from every NFL fan who has enjoyed your work over the years.
Gambling parasite Art Schilchter has apologized from jail....yet again. The former Ohio State quarterback & #4 overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft finds himself behind bars again for not being able to control his urge to gamble. This time he's charged with bilking several Ohio residents out of $1.2 million. One of the alleged victims is 68-year old Anita Barney, widow of former Wendy's CEO Robert Barney. Schlichter told The Columbus Dispatch "I want to make amends to the people that I have harmed in some way. I'm embarrassed that I have hurt anyone & I would give anything to make it right." Bullcrap, what he's really thinking is "if I can get someone to post my bail then catch a good hand of craps & bang 5-6 long shots at Pimlico, I'd have a decent bankroll to bet March Madness, then everybody would get their money back." That's the way this guy thinks, believe me, I've seen him in action too many times to believe anything else. Exactly how does a guy facing prison time, owing millions, "make amends?" I'm amazed he's still alive, with all the people he's burned, it's surprising some hasn't put out a hit on him. There are guys out there who don't take kindly to being taken for a coupla hundred thousand dollars.
The newest member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame is Kevin Ross. He spoke at the 101 Dinner Saturday night. Ross talked about living in Kansas City, playing for the Chiefs, what it meant to be in the franchise's Hall of Fame. But when Ross mentioned the week before the 1992 Chiefs-Chargers playoff game. His mother passed away on Monday & he went back to New Jersey to be with family. Ross said Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt called him & said "take your time, if you can't play, so be it, take care of your family." On the day of the funeral, Ross said limos showed up at the family home to take mourners to the church. he hadn't ordered limos, Hunt had. When they arrived at the church, beautiful, big floral arrangements flanked his mother's casket, also sent by Hunt. As Ross sat thru the service, he looked around the church & there was Lamar Hunt, the only white person at the service. As the people filed out, Ross spotted Hunt shaking hands & offering his condolences to members of his family. Folks, there are many stories like this about Lamar Hunt you've never heard, hopefully someday more of them are made public, even tho this was never Mr. Hunt's way.
From the "who did the scheduling for this" department, Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett & Auburn Heisman winner Cam Newton will both have their on-campus pro day tomorrow at 1:30 PM. Nice. For the teams in the 1st round considering a quarterback in next month's draft, this boondoggle of a schedule makes it impossible for head coaches or GM's to see both work out in person. Mizzou's Blaine Gabbert will put on his show for the pros on Thursday the 17th. No other QB's on that date. That's how it's done.
Iowa & Nebraska will now finish their Big-Ten regular seasons playing each other the day after Thanksgiving, at least for the next four years.
Saints' back-up quarterback Chase Daniel has done a really good thing. The former Mizzou star announced Saturday he was starting the "Chase Daniel Lone Star Scholarship" at the University of Missouri. It will be awarded yearly to a Texas high schooler who is playing for the Tiger football program, earning a high GPA & is in good standing within the community. Daniel said "it's not a 5, 10, 12-year deal, it's a 20, 30, 50-year deal giving back to the university that made me what I am today. I want to start something special here." Anyone can contribute to the fund, maybe Daniel's friend Warren Buffett can pump up this scholarship quickly. Regardless, Daniel did a great thing. It's nice to see athletes give back, Ndamakong Suh has already given Nebraska $2 million since he signed his first pro contract. With state budget being what they are in this economy, more athletes need to kick back some money to their alma maters.
Plaxico Burress will be released from a New York State prison on June 6th. Convicted of possessing a loaded, unregistered handgun in a Manhattan night club, Burress got himself arrested by shooting himself in the leg while in the club & then lying to police when they came to the hospital. That happened in November of 2008, his sentence was for 20-months. Don't be surprised if the Giants don't resign Burress, he'll be 34-years old & has one last shot at making NFL-type money. His focus should be razor sharp.
On the labor front, both sides met again this afternoon & evening. They will continue to meet right up until the Friday 5Pm deadline or until an agreement is reached. Patriots owner Robert Kraft got worked up during Friday's talks, yelling at one point "if it weren't for some of you lawyers, we could get a deal done." His angst was directed at an outside lawyer working with the NFLPA. That lawyer wasn't present at today's negotiations. I think there are a small core of owners creating just enough ill will to keep a deal from getting done. It takes 24 votes to pass anything amongst ownership. Word is the negative number is sitting at 9 right now, meaning there are nine owners who are in no hurry to get an agreement, they're more intent on wreaking havoc on the players' union. There is also a similar size ownership group who want to show the union enough transparency finance-wise, to gain the players' trust & hopefully get a handshake deal.
The federal mediator, George Cohen, comes with a high recommendation, he rode herd on the MLS-players' union mediation that resulted in a deal both sides were happy with. MLS Commissioner Don garber said Cohen had a "calming demeanor on the proceedings, his patience was a blessing. He took points from both sides & made a case for all arguments, always moving to the middle until a deal was done." Get busy George, let's git-r-done.
Steve Sabol, President of NFL Films, was in Kansas City over the weekend for the 101 Dinner. Afterward, he suffered a seizure & is still hospitalized. Very little else is known about Sabol's condition. Get well soon from every NFL fan who has enjoyed your work over the years.
Gambling parasite Art Schilchter has apologized from jail....yet again. The former Ohio State quarterback & #4 overall pick in the 1982 NFL Draft finds himself behind bars again for not being able to control his urge to gamble. This time he's charged with bilking several Ohio residents out of $1.2 million. One of the alleged victims is 68-year old Anita Barney, widow of former Wendy's CEO Robert Barney. Schlichter told The Columbus Dispatch "I want to make amends to the people that I have harmed in some way. I'm embarrassed that I have hurt anyone & I would give anything to make it right." Bullcrap, what he's really thinking is "if I can get someone to post my bail then catch a good hand of craps & bang 5-6 long shots at Pimlico, I'd have a decent bankroll to bet March Madness, then everybody would get their money back." That's the way this guy thinks, believe me, I've seen him in action too many times to believe anything else. Exactly how does a guy facing prison time, owing millions, "make amends?" I'm amazed he's still alive, with all the people he's burned, it's surprising some hasn't put out a hit on him. There are guys out there who don't take kindly to being taken for a coupla hundred thousand dollars.
The newest member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame is Kevin Ross. He spoke at the 101 Dinner Saturday night. Ross talked about living in Kansas City, playing for the Chiefs, what it meant to be in the franchise's Hall of Fame. But when Ross mentioned the week before the 1992 Chiefs-Chargers playoff game. His mother passed away on Monday & he went back to New Jersey to be with family. Ross said Chiefs' owner Lamar Hunt called him & said "take your time, if you can't play, so be it, take care of your family." On the day of the funeral, Ross said limos showed up at the family home to take mourners to the church. he hadn't ordered limos, Hunt had. When they arrived at the church, beautiful, big floral arrangements flanked his mother's casket, also sent by Hunt. As Ross sat thru the service, he looked around the church & there was Lamar Hunt, the only white person at the service. As the people filed out, Ross spotted Hunt shaking hands & offering his condolences to members of his family. Folks, there are many stories like this about Lamar Hunt you've never heard, hopefully someday more of them are made public, even tho this was never Mr. Hunt's way.
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