DE SMITH GETS THE "GOODELL TREATMENT", LOCKED OUT PLAYERS BORROWING BIG $$$ & KILIMANJARO CONQUERED
The former president of the de-certified player's union, formerly known as the NFLPA, DeMaurice Smith, got the opportunity to feel as awkward as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell felt on the first night of the draft. The commish was subjected to boos & chants of "we want football" every time he went onstage to announce a first round selection. Smith was a commencement speaker at the University of Maryland today & as he steeped up to the podium, he was greeted with loud chants of "we want football." He replied exactly as the Commissioner had three weeks ago, "I do too." He then went into a semi-confusing rant about doing the right thing & staying true to your convictions. I know that sounds plausible, but hearing it wasn't. For an being attorney, he didn't ad-lib very effectively. He did say "we knew what we were signing on for 2 years ago(when Smith was elected President of the NFLPA) & we're still committed to that belief. It's not about 'shut up & play.'" Honestly, I wonder how many players who voted for Smith over former All-Pro cornerback Troy Vincent realized Smith was willing to drive the union bus off a cliff. Did they sign on for missed paychecks, backlash from angry fans & possibly wrecking the game they profess to love? IMO, I question just how many players thought it would go this far? A lot of players, especially the younger ones with new found wealth, have limited attention spans when it comes to anything serious. They don't make many plans further in the future than the next day, especially when it comes to financial planning. Think I'm talking out of my ass? I got this from veteran & retired players. Deion Sanders dropped Dez Bryant, no longer able to communicate with someone spending most of their salary on gold, platinum & diamonds. Sanders said when he told players he mentored & trained for the NFL Scouting Combine "there's going to be a famine & you have to be prepared for it," he said the rookies paid little attention. Former Eagles' tight end Chad Lewis said before he began his ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro, "if you want to live like a rock star, you better be paid like one. Unfortunately most of them aren't & they run out of money very quickly."
I'm going to make a prediction, one I feel very confident about, one we'll know about in about 4-5 weeks. If the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals hands down a decision in favor of the NFL, I predict we'll see major cracks within the ranks of the players. Too many "rock stars" operating on less than rock star incomes. Smith's public distortion of the facts, his arrogance in not offering a counter-proposal to the owners & the desperation he's now showing, makes me think a number of players are going to break ranks soon if things don't go their way in court. The scariest part of all this is I honestly believe Smith will indeed drive his members over a cliff, intent on making good on his promises of two years ago when he was campaigning for the job. Is Smith, as is rumored, fighting this fight in order to campaign for public office down the road? Regardless of how this all shakes out, Smith can always earn a handsome living as an attorney. How much can the people he represents make if this goes wrong? These thoughts will creep into player's minds soon if they haven't already.
How insane is this lockout? Try this on for size. New Forty-Niners' coach Jim Harbaugh had to ask permission from the league office to go to the hospital & bring flowers to QB Alex Smith & his wife Elizabeth after she gave birth to their first child on Monday. Really sad.
With some players missing out on workout bonuses & roster bonuses because of the lockout, a few have had to make other arrangements to bolster their sagging finances. They are taking out short term, unsecured, high-interest loans. AGR Sprts Funding said they had closed "about 25 loans ranging from $30,000 to $250,00." AGR loans money at interest rates varying from 23 to 30%. Thirty friggin' percent? That's like borrowing money from a loanshark! Sure Sports Lending, another short term loan company that specializes in loaning quick cash to athletes, revealed Wednesday they had made a number of loans, including one for $500,000. This is how close to the edge some athletes play it when it comes to their finances. Think these guys are going to sit back while the league cancels games?
Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez took the ride of his life yesterday when he joined NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Aric Almirola in the cockpit roaring around the Charlotte Motor Speedway. He also participated in a couple of pit stops as the fuel man. Sanchez said he was thrilled by the adrenalin rush & terrified traveling at speeds approaching 180-mph all at the same time. From the video taken by the in-car camera, I'd say he wasn't lying, his face showed that fear.
The group of 4 disabled veterans & an NFL trio of coach Jeff Fisher, former Eagle Chad Lewis & ESPN's Teddy Bruschi reached the summit of Kenya's Mount Kilimanjaro this morning. The climb took just under three days to scale the 19,314-foot peak. The 6-man & one woman team battled freezing rain the last 24-hours of their climb. They undertook this endeavor to bring attention to the Wounded Warrior Project that aids disabled veterans from the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Truly a noble endeavor, glad they made it to the top, now let's hope their descent is just as safe.
The 7 Wounded Warrior climbers & their guide
at the summit on Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya.
I'm going to make a prediction, one I feel very confident about, one we'll know about in about 4-5 weeks. If the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals hands down a decision in favor of the NFL, I predict we'll see major cracks within the ranks of the players. Too many "rock stars" operating on less than rock star incomes. Smith's public distortion of the facts, his arrogance in not offering a counter-proposal to the owners & the desperation he's now showing, makes me think a number of players are going to break ranks soon if things don't go their way in court. The scariest part of all this is I honestly believe Smith will indeed drive his members over a cliff, intent on making good on his promises of two years ago when he was campaigning for the job. Is Smith, as is rumored, fighting this fight in order to campaign for public office down the road? Regardless of how this all shakes out, Smith can always earn a handsome living as an attorney. How much can the people he represents make if this goes wrong? These thoughts will creep into player's minds soon if they haven't already.
How insane is this lockout? Try this on for size. New Forty-Niners' coach Jim Harbaugh had to ask permission from the league office to go to the hospital & bring flowers to QB Alex Smith & his wife Elizabeth after she gave birth to their first child on Monday. Really sad.
With some players missing out on workout bonuses & roster bonuses because of the lockout, a few have had to make other arrangements to bolster their sagging finances. They are taking out short term, unsecured, high-interest loans. AGR Sprts Funding said they had closed "about 25 loans ranging from $30,000 to $250,00." AGR loans money at interest rates varying from 23 to 30%. Thirty friggin' percent? That's like borrowing money from a loanshark! Sure Sports Lending, another short term loan company that specializes in loaning quick cash to athletes, revealed Wednesday they had made a number of loans, including one for $500,000. This is how close to the edge some athletes play it when it comes to their finances. Think these guys are going to sit back while the league cancels games?
Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez took the ride of his life yesterday when he joined NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Aric Almirola in the cockpit roaring around the Charlotte Motor Speedway. He also participated in a couple of pit stops as the fuel man. Sanchez said he was thrilled by the adrenalin rush & terrified traveling at speeds approaching 180-mph all at the same time. From the video taken by the in-car camera, I'd say he wasn't lying, his face showed that fear.
The group of 4 disabled veterans & an NFL trio of coach Jeff Fisher, former Eagle Chad Lewis & ESPN's Teddy Bruschi reached the summit of Kenya's Mount Kilimanjaro this morning. The climb took just under three days to scale the 19,314-foot peak. The 6-man & one woman team battled freezing rain the last 24-hours of their climb. They undertook this endeavor to bring attention to the Wounded Warrior Project that aids disabled veterans from the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Truly a noble endeavor, glad they made it to the top, now let's hope their descent is just as safe.
The 7 Wounded Warrior climbers & their guide
at the summit on Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya.
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