PLAXICO OUT, DEZ CONFUSED, USC STRIPPED OF NATIONAL TITLE & IT'S ROYALS VS. CORNHUSKERS FOR TOP PROSPECT
Plaxico Burress was released from jail this morning after serving 21-months of a two-year sentence. He was convicted for possessing an unregistered handgun in New York & then having that gun discharge in his waistband while in a crowded Manhattan night spot. It blew a hole in his leg, so the evidence in the case was about as solid as it gets. Burress will now try to resurrect his career, he will turn 34 in August. For the right price, I think Burress would be a good gamble. This is his last shot at any NFL dollars & I believe he knows the gravity of his situation. His family has been without any revenue for more than 2-years, this is very important to him. A contrite, refreshed & highly motivated Burress could make a major impact this season. I think you'll see him sign with a team back east.
I told you sometime ago about Dez Bryant's legal woes, he had three lawsuits filed against him in less than two months. The three suits totaled over $800,000. The plaintiffs claimed Bryant owed them for back rent, concert & game tickets & one helluva lot of bling. last Friday Bryant announced he had "settled his debts & was looking toward the future." Unfortunately, settling two of the suits out of court didn't clear up the third, the biggest one. Attorney Beth Ann Blackwood, representing custom jeweler & ticket broker Eleow Hunt, said today her client is still owed over $600,00. She stated Bryant & her client had a written agreement that called for Bryant to repay Hunt as soon as he signed either an endorsement or NFL contract. She said Bryant had 17 purchases between January 2009 & July 2010 that created the 6-figure tab. She stated Bryant had both an endorsement & NFL contract but he hadn't made a single payment toward his gaudy total bill. Now people in "Big D" are questioning if Bryant can be counted on to stay in line & be a big contributor on this team.
Daniel Kaplan of The Sports Business Journal revealed an ugly possibility today. He said the NFL has plans for every single scenario after the lockout is lifted & a new CBA is signed. The worst one calls for an 8-game season beginning in mid-November complete with a 3-week training camp & a single exhibition game. That is ugly.
I mentioned a couple of journalists had singled out Chiefs' owner Clark Hunt for cutting the pay of office workers at One Arrowhead Drive while his team led the entire league in new ticket sales. These are about the only middle class employees the Chiefs have & Hunt was cutting their pay even before any games have been cancelled. Today Peter King of Sports Illustrated made the same point without naming Hunt by name. He was critical of "an NFL owner cutting staff pay when they lead the league in new ticket sales & have yet to experience any cancelled games."
A tragedy struck the Northwest Missouri State football program over the weekend. New head coach Scott Bostwick, a 17-year Bearcat assistant, died suddenly Saturday evening after suffering a heart attack while mowing his lawn. The football team, student body & administration was stunned by the popular coaches death. Bostwick was promoted after Mel Tjeerdsma(pronounced church-ma, honest) retired. Tjeerdsma led the Bearcats to 7 Division II national title games, winning three. When I first heard of Bostwick's death I wondered if Tjeerdsma would return for one season to stabilize the program, but I learned tonight he is coaching the U.S. Senior football team competing in the world championship in Austria later this summer. Really sad for Bostwick's family & the NWMS community.
I told you almost two years ago about the BCS crystal trophy literally falling apart in the USC trophy case. I said at the time it was bad karma. They no longer have to worry about the fragile award, the BCS has revoked their 2004 championship. Executive director Bill Hancock issued their decision this morning, the Trojans cleared out the case later this afternoon. The Football Writers Association of America had already revoked their version of the national championship last year after the NCAA levied severe sanctions against the school for allowing Reggie Bush to compete that season. Bush has also forfeited his Heisman Trophy from the same year. The Trojans also lost 30 scholarships & still have 1-year to serve in a 2-year post season ban.
2004 BCS trophy after it fell apart at USC
The battle line was drawn on Monday, it's the Nebraska Cornhuskers versus the Kansas City Royals. The fight? Bubba Starling of Gardner-Edgerton High School was drafted number 5 overall by the Royals. The power hitting outfielder has already signed a national letter of intent to play quarterback at Nebraska. The problem for Nebraska is of the million-dollar variety. As the 5th overall selection, Starling should get a $5-$7 million dollar signing bonus offer from Kansas City. If Starling plays football & is injured all that money goes away. If Starling signs with the Royals & it doesn't work out, he can return to the gridiron with all his eligibility intact. Numerous prospects have dual draft status & most have signed baseball contracts just for the security in it. Starling must sign with the Royals by August 15th or he goes back into the draft pool for next season. His agent, Steve Boras, is known for being difficult to deal with, but just 3 years ago the Royals drafted Eric Hosmer with the 3rd overall pick, he too is represented by Boras. Hosmer, 21-years old, is already playing in the major leagues with Kansas City & has made a major impact with the big club as the starting first baseman & batting third in the lineup.
Two-sport star Bubba Starling of Gardner-Edgerton High School
I want to publicly thank John Cooney from FantasyFootballmastermind & Donny Sidell for their support. Thank you gentlemen, I sincerely appreciate it.
I told you sometime ago about Dez Bryant's legal woes, he had three lawsuits filed against him in less than two months. The three suits totaled over $800,000. The plaintiffs claimed Bryant owed them for back rent, concert & game tickets & one helluva lot of bling. last Friday Bryant announced he had "settled his debts & was looking toward the future." Unfortunately, settling two of the suits out of court didn't clear up the third, the biggest one. Attorney Beth Ann Blackwood, representing custom jeweler & ticket broker Eleow Hunt, said today her client is still owed over $600,00. She stated Bryant & her client had a written agreement that called for Bryant to repay Hunt as soon as he signed either an endorsement or NFL contract. She said Bryant had 17 purchases between January 2009 & July 2010 that created the 6-figure tab. She stated Bryant had both an endorsement & NFL contract but he hadn't made a single payment toward his gaudy total bill. Now people in "Big D" are questioning if Bryant can be counted on to stay in line & be a big contributor on this team.
Daniel Kaplan of The Sports Business Journal revealed an ugly possibility today. He said the NFL has plans for every single scenario after the lockout is lifted & a new CBA is signed. The worst one calls for an 8-game season beginning in mid-November complete with a 3-week training camp & a single exhibition game. That is ugly.
I mentioned a couple of journalists had singled out Chiefs' owner Clark Hunt for cutting the pay of office workers at One Arrowhead Drive while his team led the entire league in new ticket sales. These are about the only middle class employees the Chiefs have & Hunt was cutting their pay even before any games have been cancelled. Today Peter King of Sports Illustrated made the same point without naming Hunt by name. He was critical of "an NFL owner cutting staff pay when they lead the league in new ticket sales & have yet to experience any cancelled games."
A tragedy struck the Northwest Missouri State football program over the weekend. New head coach Scott Bostwick, a 17-year Bearcat assistant, died suddenly Saturday evening after suffering a heart attack while mowing his lawn. The football team, student body & administration was stunned by the popular coaches death. Bostwick was promoted after Mel Tjeerdsma(pronounced church-ma, honest) retired. Tjeerdsma led the Bearcats to 7 Division II national title games, winning three. When I first heard of Bostwick's death I wondered if Tjeerdsma would return for one season to stabilize the program, but I learned tonight he is coaching the U.S. Senior football team competing in the world championship in Austria later this summer. Really sad for Bostwick's family & the NWMS community.
I told you almost two years ago about the BCS crystal trophy literally falling apart in the USC trophy case. I said at the time it was bad karma. They no longer have to worry about the fragile award, the BCS has revoked their 2004 championship. Executive director Bill Hancock issued their decision this morning, the Trojans cleared out the case later this afternoon. The Football Writers Association of America had already revoked their version of the national championship last year after the NCAA levied severe sanctions against the school for allowing Reggie Bush to compete that season. Bush has also forfeited his Heisman Trophy from the same year. The Trojans also lost 30 scholarships & still have 1-year to serve in a 2-year post season ban.
2004 BCS trophy after it fell apart at USC
The battle line was drawn on Monday, it's the Nebraska Cornhuskers versus the Kansas City Royals. The fight? Bubba Starling of Gardner-Edgerton High School was drafted number 5 overall by the Royals. The power hitting outfielder has already signed a national letter of intent to play quarterback at Nebraska. The problem for Nebraska is of the million-dollar variety. As the 5th overall selection, Starling should get a $5-$7 million dollar signing bonus offer from Kansas City. If Starling plays football & is injured all that money goes away. If Starling signs with the Royals & it doesn't work out, he can return to the gridiron with all his eligibility intact. Numerous prospects have dual draft status & most have signed baseball contracts just for the security in it. Starling must sign with the Royals by August 15th or he goes back into the draft pool for next season. His agent, Steve Boras, is known for being difficult to deal with, but just 3 years ago the Royals drafted Eric Hosmer with the 3rd overall pick, he too is represented by Boras. Hosmer, 21-years old, is already playing in the major leagues with Kansas City & has made a major impact with the big club as the starting first baseman & batting third in the lineup.
Two-sport star Bubba Starling of Gardner-Edgerton High School
I want to publicly thank John Cooney from FantasyFootballmastermind & Donny Sidell for their support. Thank you gentlemen, I sincerely appreciate it.
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