BEARS SUFFER THRU LIGHTS OUT, OCHOCINCO BUNKS WITH A FAN, A CHIEFS' FAN CONTINUES TO SICKEN ME & SCOTT RADECIC...WHERE IS HE NOW?
Last Saturday evening, the Chicago Bears planned their annual "Family Fest" training camp practice for Soldier Field. The newly sodded playing surface had been neglected by City workers, it hadn't been watered & was ruled unplayable. The evening was cancelled & disgruntled fans were sent packin' to get refunds on their tickets & parking. Last night at their training camp in Bourbonais, a large crowd of fans assembled for an 8PM practice. Just after it began, the lights went out. After standing around in the dark for 45-minutes, the players boarded buses & were transported to Bradley Bourbonais High School where the practice resumed. Most of the fans went home. The final irony in the Bears' continuing field & light issues was the stadium at Bourbonais H.S. is equipped with Field Turf, the exact surface Chicago players want in Soldier Field but the McCaskey family, team owners, refuse to install. A high school can afford it, but one of the most valuable NFL franchises cannot? Don't be shocked if the league puts the proverbial "gun to the head" to force Bear ownership to change playing surfaces.
Bill Parcells has joined Jerry Rice as new analysts at ESPN. Parcells will be a part of the Monday Night Countdown crew. I hope the Tuna's addition will allow for Matt Millen's subtraction from the network. He's one of the lamest football analysts on television.
I've given you numerous examples of why Titan wide receiver Kenny Britt is a complete knucklehead. He hasn't been in the spotlight for about a month. No more. In a radio interview Britt was asked if he got lonesome for teammates & coaches during the lockout. His response, "no man, I heard from coach Ragone all spring & summer, we talked all the time." I'm sure the Titans were pleased with Britt's candor, all contact between coaches & players was strictly forbidden during the lockout. What's next for this mental giant? How about the old standby, "my words were taken out of context?" Won't work, it was on a live radio show. If the league fines Ragone & or the Titans, they ought make this birdbrain pay his share.
Patriots' guard Logan Mankins, one of the players who sued the NFL after the union de-certified, signed a 6-year deal with New England. Owner Robert Kraft promised to make Mankins a "Patriot for life" & he did just that.
Chad Ochocinco promised when he was traded to New England, he wouldn't shine the light on himself, he wanted to do everything "The Patriot Way." Didn't take him long to get right back under that very bright spotlight. He told reporters at training camp he was "moving in with a New England fan for the first month of the season" so he could learn how to get around the city & become familiar with his new surroundings. Very low profile there Chad, excellent restraint. Very Patriot-like.
For you fantasy football fans, San Diego cornerback Antoine Cason will become the Chargers' punt returner replacing the departed Darren Sproles. If you're a fantasy owner, I have to recommend FantasyFootballMastermind, it's the best website of it's kind on the internet. Find it, use it, win.
The Eagles "Dream Team" took another hit on Wednesday when safety Marlin Jackson had to undergo surgery for a sports hernia. He will miss 6-8 weeks. Jackson missed all of last season after rupturing an Achilles tendon. Former Chief Jarrad Page looks to be an odds-on favorite to make the roster now.
Nate Sanders Auctions announced Wednesday they had sold all three of Ray Guy's Super Bowl rings for $96,216. The bankrupt punter was forced to surrender the rings for auction to help satisfy his creditors. Packer great Fuzzy Thurston recently was forced to do the same.
The Chiefs made a really bizarre signing on Wednesday. Wide receiver Keary Colbert became a Chief. A 2nd round choice of the Carolina Panthers in 2004, Colbert had been coaching at Southern Cal, his alma mater, the past two seasons. That's correct, he hasn't played since 2008, when he was traded, cut, signed, traded, cut. In five full seasons, Colbert caught 162 passes & scored 8 touchdowns. When he left USC, he was the school record holder for receptions. I don't get this at all. The Chiefs also signed placekicker Todd Carter. I was surprised when the Chiefs went to camp with only one kicker & punter, so this was expected. Carter was a high school & college teammate of Kansas City corner Brandon Carr.
Detroit signed former Chiefs center Rudy Niswanger on Wednesday.
Terrelle Pryor has called off his Pro Day originally scheduled for Friday. The former Ohio State quarterback is still in limbo as to his status for the NFL's supplemental draft. It's scheduled to go with one eligible player, Georgia running back Caleb King, next Wednesday. I expect the NFL to rule on Pryor's eligibility by Friday. The University said on Wednesday, their tab for the NCAA investigation into former coach Jim Tressel's cover-up of "Tattoo-Gate" is $800,000 & the meter is still running. Wednesday, ESPN's Pat Forde reported another, separate NCAA investigation into Pryor, sweetheart deals from a Columbus car dealer & a parasitic local businessman taking several Buckeye players to the golf course on numerous occasions. The University goes before the NCAA again on Friday, but it won't involve any part of the new investigation, just the Tressel mess.
A few months ago I told you about a particularly disturbing court case in San Diego. A Chiefs' fan, Jason Ensign, was acquitted of misdemeanor assault. Let me lay this out for you. Ensign began flipping off Charger fans in the 4th quarter of a 2009 43-16 San Diego drubbing. The lopsided S.D. win incited Ensign to stand on his chair, wearing his Chiefs' T-shirt & cap, and begin flipping the bird with both hands to the fans seated around him. Stadium security approached Ensign & began to remove him from the building. Ensign began swinging wildly at the security personnel & then he bit one of them several times. During the original trial last spring, Judge Gale Kaneshiro ruled Ensign was within his 1st amendment rights & security had no legal standing to attempt his eviction. This eliminated the assault charges since he had done nothing wrong, it was the security personnel that had violated his rights. Judge Kaneshiro ruled "Ensign was not a physical threat to either the fans or the private security personnel at the time of this incident." San Diego City attorney Jan Goldsmith argued Ensign was in fact a danger to himself as well as the fans in his section. How many times have you seen a drunk or unruly fan from the visiting team get escorted out for his own protection after doing something truly stupid to some hometown fans? This has always been the NFL's code of conduct that has been enforced for decades. Apparently Judge Kaneshiro feels Ensign should be allowed to violate the league's policy, no matter how offensive it is to other fans. California, that's all I'm gonna say. Well one more thing, everyone involved in this case will be back in court next month for the beginning of Ensign's lawsuit against the City of San Diego, the Chargers & the private security firm. I guess they should have just let some of the larger Charger fans beat the snot out of Ensign. That would've been better right Judge? Why couldn't this sleaze be a Raider or Bronco fan?
I was a guest speaker Wednesday at a Rotary Club luncheon. It was a nice experience, attentive crowd, who asked some excellent questions. One of the questions I got was "where is Scott Radecic?" The former Chiefs, Bills & Colts linebacker who came out of Penn State in 1984. The gentleman said Radecic was his next door neighbor for a few years & had moved on, but he wondered to where? Apparently Radecic is still in the Kansas City area, he is a principle(an owner or board member) in POPULOUS, the sports architectural firm. The company was founded in Kansas City in the 80's & has designed numerous sports' venues around the world from Kansas City's Sprint Center to FedEx Field in Washington D.C. They also designed the new Yankee Stadium, AT&T Park in San Francisco, Browns Stadium, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Target Field in Minneapolis along with TCF Bank field at the University of Minnesota. Reliant Field in Houston, Pepsi Center in Denver, Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro & the United Center in Chicago. The list goes on with Olympic & soccer venues on 5 continents. POPULOUS is quite a company with offices around the world, but headquartered in Kansas City. He oversees all collegiate projects. If you want to reconnect with your old neighbor, contacting the company would be a good start.
Scott Radecic then Scott Radecic now
Questions or comments? Leave them at the end of any post or email me at:
rich@richsfootballreport.com
Bill Parcells has joined Jerry Rice as new analysts at ESPN. Parcells will be a part of the Monday Night Countdown crew. I hope the Tuna's addition will allow for Matt Millen's subtraction from the network. He's one of the lamest football analysts on television.
I've given you numerous examples of why Titan wide receiver Kenny Britt is a complete knucklehead. He hasn't been in the spotlight for about a month. No more. In a radio interview Britt was asked if he got lonesome for teammates & coaches during the lockout. His response, "no man, I heard from coach Ragone all spring & summer, we talked all the time." I'm sure the Titans were pleased with Britt's candor, all contact between coaches & players was strictly forbidden during the lockout. What's next for this mental giant? How about the old standby, "my words were taken out of context?" Won't work, it was on a live radio show. If the league fines Ragone & or the Titans, they ought make this birdbrain pay his share.
Patriots' guard Logan Mankins, one of the players who sued the NFL after the union de-certified, signed a 6-year deal with New England. Owner Robert Kraft promised to make Mankins a "Patriot for life" & he did just that.
Chad Ochocinco promised when he was traded to New England, he wouldn't shine the light on himself, he wanted to do everything "The Patriot Way." Didn't take him long to get right back under that very bright spotlight. He told reporters at training camp he was "moving in with a New England fan for the first month of the season" so he could learn how to get around the city & become familiar with his new surroundings. Very low profile there Chad, excellent restraint. Very Patriot-like.
For you fantasy football fans, San Diego cornerback Antoine Cason will become the Chargers' punt returner replacing the departed Darren Sproles. If you're a fantasy owner, I have to recommend FantasyFootballMastermind, it's the best website of it's kind on the internet. Find it, use it, win.
The Eagles "Dream Team" took another hit on Wednesday when safety Marlin Jackson had to undergo surgery for a sports hernia. He will miss 6-8 weeks. Jackson missed all of last season after rupturing an Achilles tendon. Former Chief Jarrad Page looks to be an odds-on favorite to make the roster now.
Nate Sanders Auctions announced Wednesday they had sold all three of Ray Guy's Super Bowl rings for $96,216. The bankrupt punter was forced to surrender the rings for auction to help satisfy his creditors. Packer great Fuzzy Thurston recently was forced to do the same.
The Chiefs made a really bizarre signing on Wednesday. Wide receiver Keary Colbert became a Chief. A 2nd round choice of the Carolina Panthers in 2004, Colbert had been coaching at Southern Cal, his alma mater, the past two seasons. That's correct, he hasn't played since 2008, when he was traded, cut, signed, traded, cut. In five full seasons, Colbert caught 162 passes & scored 8 touchdowns. When he left USC, he was the school record holder for receptions. I don't get this at all. The Chiefs also signed placekicker Todd Carter. I was surprised when the Chiefs went to camp with only one kicker & punter, so this was expected. Carter was a high school & college teammate of Kansas City corner Brandon Carr.
Detroit signed former Chiefs center Rudy Niswanger on Wednesday.
Terrelle Pryor has called off his Pro Day originally scheduled for Friday. The former Ohio State quarterback is still in limbo as to his status for the NFL's supplemental draft. It's scheduled to go with one eligible player, Georgia running back Caleb King, next Wednesday. I expect the NFL to rule on Pryor's eligibility by Friday. The University said on Wednesday, their tab for the NCAA investigation into former coach Jim Tressel's cover-up of "Tattoo-Gate" is $800,000 & the meter is still running. Wednesday, ESPN's Pat Forde reported another, separate NCAA investigation into Pryor, sweetheart deals from a Columbus car dealer & a parasitic local businessman taking several Buckeye players to the golf course on numerous occasions. The University goes before the NCAA again on Friday, but it won't involve any part of the new investigation, just the Tressel mess.
A few months ago I told you about a particularly disturbing court case in San Diego. A Chiefs' fan, Jason Ensign, was acquitted of misdemeanor assault. Let me lay this out for you. Ensign began flipping off Charger fans in the 4th quarter of a 2009 43-16 San Diego drubbing. The lopsided S.D. win incited Ensign to stand on his chair, wearing his Chiefs' T-shirt & cap, and begin flipping the bird with both hands to the fans seated around him. Stadium security approached Ensign & began to remove him from the building. Ensign began swinging wildly at the security personnel & then he bit one of them several times. During the original trial last spring, Judge Gale Kaneshiro ruled Ensign was within his 1st amendment rights & security had no legal standing to attempt his eviction. This eliminated the assault charges since he had done nothing wrong, it was the security personnel that had violated his rights. Judge Kaneshiro ruled "Ensign was not a physical threat to either the fans or the private security personnel at the time of this incident." San Diego City attorney Jan Goldsmith argued Ensign was in fact a danger to himself as well as the fans in his section. How many times have you seen a drunk or unruly fan from the visiting team get escorted out for his own protection after doing something truly stupid to some hometown fans? This has always been the NFL's code of conduct that has been enforced for decades. Apparently Judge Kaneshiro feels Ensign should be allowed to violate the league's policy, no matter how offensive it is to other fans. California, that's all I'm gonna say. Well one more thing, everyone involved in this case will be back in court next month for the beginning of Ensign's lawsuit against the City of San Diego, the Chargers & the private security firm. I guess they should have just let some of the larger Charger fans beat the snot out of Ensign. That would've been better right Judge? Why couldn't this sleaze be a Raider or Bronco fan?
I was a guest speaker Wednesday at a Rotary Club luncheon. It was a nice experience, attentive crowd, who asked some excellent questions. One of the questions I got was "where is Scott Radecic?" The former Chiefs, Bills & Colts linebacker who came out of Penn State in 1984. The gentleman said Radecic was his next door neighbor for a few years & had moved on, but he wondered to where? Apparently Radecic is still in the Kansas City area, he is a principle(an owner or board member) in POPULOUS, the sports architectural firm. The company was founded in Kansas City in the 80's & has designed numerous sports' venues around the world from Kansas City's Sprint Center to FedEx Field in Washington D.C. They also designed the new Yankee Stadium, AT&T Park in San Francisco, Browns Stadium, Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Target Field in Minneapolis along with TCF Bank field at the University of Minnesota. Reliant Field in Houston, Pepsi Center in Denver, Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro & the United Center in Chicago. The list goes on with Olympic & soccer venues on 5 continents. POPULOUS is quite a company with offices around the world, but headquartered in Kansas City. He oversees all collegiate projects. If you want to reconnect with your old neighbor, contacting the company would be a good start.
Scott Radecic then Scott Radecic now
Questions or comments? Leave them at the end of any post or email me at:
rich@richsfootballreport.com
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