RE:think

The Super Bowl, Hines Ward, Health Insurance and Too Much Money

I could really care less about the two teams in this Super Bowl. I despise the Steelers and all their jerks and am totally apathetic about the Packers. However, there have been some interesting stories out in Dallas this week. Most of these stories revolve around money, and lots of it.

You may or may not know, but the players and owners are headed for a showdown after the big game. It’s going to be another battle between billionaires and millionaires and of course the battle is about money and how it should be divided “fairly”. Honestly, I could care less who wins. I just hope they are smart enough to realize that we love their game and would like to see them play next season.

The rhetoric leading up this showdown, if not fascinating, is very amusing. I heard an interview that Hines Ward gave get replayed on ESPN Radio yesterday. He was talking about how this Super Bowl could be the last game ever for some players. And he wasn’t talking about retirement.

He was making the point that the players really don’t want to get a serious injury because they won’t have health insurance after the middle of March if the owners lock out them out. They won’t have any coverage for surgeries or rehab and that could end their careers.

ARE YOU KIDDDING ME!!!!

That’s one of the cards you are going to play to get the fans on your side? You mock the people who work hard, day in day out, in dangerous situations with little or no healthcare and no money of their own to pay for health care. Many of these same people are your fans! Hines, buddy, you guys get paid an obscene amount of money to play a game. If you get injured, at least you will have the money to take care of it. Oh, except for all of the guys who spend it all on ridiculous items and have nothing left.

I do hope the players get treated fairly. They provide lots of entertainment and enjoyment for the fans. But I will not feel sorry for the guys as long as I hear the kind of drivel that Hines Ward let drip from his mouth this week. This possible lockout will hurt lots of people. Janitors, concession workers, locker room staff, and all those that make things run in the NFL but make very little. Those are the people we should worry about. The players should too. But it should not hurt the players as long as they have been responsible. If they haven’t, they will get no pity from me.

One more thing Hines, you have a habit of dropping the F-bomb when speaking against the things that you don’t like. It makes most of us stop listening when you do that. If you are going to be leader and stand out in front, make us believe you have a little civility.

Technorati Tags: NFL,Super Bowl,Hines Ward

The Weirdness of the Titans/Colts Fan

Here in East Tennessee we have one of those situations that really doesn’t make sense. Well, at least not on the surface. I can almost understand it, but still, if you are a real NFL fan and a fan who is going to be consistent with your favorite team, then this just can’t happen can it?

You know from the title what I am talking about. Here in Tennessee, most people are big fans of the “home state team”. I am not and my reasons have been well documented here on the blog. We have lots of Titans fans but many of them do something very strange. They also root for the Colts.

This is of course because our favorite adopted Tennessean, Peyton Manning, quarterbacks the Colts. That’s all well and good. I can understand wanting to pull for a guy that meant so much to Tennessee Volunteer football. But it does make much sense to me.

Not only do these two teams play in the same conference, but they are in the same division and have a bit of a rivalry. I’m as big a Peyton Manning fan as there is, but if the Denver Broncos had somehow been able to draft him, there is no way as a Raiders fan I could ever pull for the Broncos. I realize the situation isn’t the same because a home team is not involved in my situation, but still, I don’t understand.

I think I may have it figured out though. We went so long in Tennessee without a pro-team, that the fandom is a little bit softer than other parts of the country. It’s easier for us to “cheat on” the home team with a rival because our favorite son plays for them.

Or could it be that unconsciously the people in East TN who don’t mind rooting for the enemy know that this team is not really our team at all?

Technorati Tags: Titans,Colts,NFL

Thoughts on what E. Gordon Gee, Ohio State Prez, said about Boise St./TCU

Too much to say to throw a tweet/status update out there.

Here is a snippet:

"Well, I don't know enough about the X's and O's of college football," said Gee, formerly the president at West Virginia, Colorado, Brown and Vanderbilt universities. "I do know, having been both a Southeastern Conference president and a Big Ten president, that it's like murderer's row every week for these schools. We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor. We play very fine schools on any given day.

"So I think until a university runs through that gantlet that there's some reason to believe that they not be the best teams to [be] in the big ballgame."

The main thing I take exception to is the “murder’s row” comment. Let’s look at some of the teams on OSU’s “murder’s row”:

Marshall?

Miami (OH)?

Ohio?

Eastern Michigan?

Indiana?

Minnesota?

That is half their games, and the first four are the games they started the season with.

Just last week Alabama tuned up for the Auburn game with powerhouse Georgia St. Seems a little late in the year to be playing a team in their first year of competitive football.

I’m sorry, that comment was absolutely ridiculous. There are plenty of “Little Sisters of the Poor” on these guys schedules. Your schedule was not a consistent gauntlet sir. I really hope one of these teams gets you in a BCS game and flogs your team.

Not everyone will agree, but I say give these upstarts their shot.

Monday Morning Sports Report

Colts defeat Jets

In spite of every ESPN talking head out there playing this one up as a possible close game or even Jets win, it's no surprise that the Colts not only won, but dominated. the Colts had twice as many first downs, more total yardage, more rushing yards and more passing yards. Take away a gadget play touchdown and the margin of victory is nearly 3 touchdowns. The Jets were dominated.

Even down 17-6 just before the half, it never really felt like they were in trouble. I had a one moment where I thought maybe destiny was guiding the Jets and then Manning does his thing gets them a TD just before half time. At that point, I knew the game was over.

Games like these bug me the week before they are played. I understand ESPN has to fill programming 24/7 and needs to have the tension of opposing views, but it's just annoying when you know that one team is so much better than the other. I'd hate to be those ESPN guys who had to take one for the team and act like the Jets were something to worry about.

Saints in First Super Bowl Ever!

I'm very happy for the Saints. The city of New Orleans really deserves this. It's been a tough few years for them and this is a celebration I know they enjoyed. Add to it the fact they've never been to the dance and they're leader, Drew Brees, is as good a human being as he is quarterback, it's hard not to be happy for them.

That said, if the Colts roll up 500 yards of offense on them like the Vikes did, it will not be pretty. If the Vikings hold on to the ball, they get blown out. So, there is lots of work for Payton and crew if this is to be a competitive Super Bowl. Anything short of a Peyton Manning voodoo doll probably will not be enough.

Bret Favre

I hated to see him go out like this. Especially in a game where he was beaten and battered and kept getting up and coming back out to play. Say what you want about Favre, but he is one of the players that comes closest to earning every penny of the ridiculous paychecks these guys get. He's 40 years old, plays every play, and plays every one of them hard. I respect that. You can blame the loss on him if you wish. But if those 3 fumbles don't happen, and the penalty just before his final interception, we'd probably have seen a different outcome. That's not to even mention the illegal shot he took to the legs on the first INT.(it's the rule, like it or not)

He's had an amazing career and should probably call it quits. But if he decides to come back, I ain't mad at him and you shouldn't be either. Once he actually retires, that is it. He never gets to do the thing he loves ever again. Imagine losing the thing you love to do most at the age of 40 or younger.

All that said, unless you are a die hard Packer fan who bleeds green and yellow, your hate for the guy is irrational but I expect it will continue to flow in his direction.

UT Men's Basketball

I said last week they were due a loss and Georgia took them to the woodshed. Coming off an emotional home stand down 3 players and knocking off #1 to start that run, it's not surprising a road game at Georgia got them. The Bulldogs played a great game and that crowd was really into it.

I think they'll be fine, but ultimately, the loss of Tyler Smith is going to cost them a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

NFL Local Coverage in East Tennessee

I am convinced I live in the worst area of the country for NFL football. The local games here on a Sunday afternoon always include the Tennessee Oilers, er Titans (not a fan) and the Carolina Panthers (really not a fan). Not only am I not a fan, these are two of the MOST BORING teams in the league to watch. And to endure them week in and week out is just plain horrible.

I can't wait till the Oilers get ticked off and move again.

Still Can't Believe It...

18-1*

I have to say that I enjoyed last nights game as much as any Super Bowl I've ever watched. Seeing the "Mighty" Patriots perfect season ended by a Manning seemed like justice for some reason. And that fourth quarter was just awesome.

As a Dad, I kept thinking of Archie Manning. Can you imagine the pride that man has in his kids? His sons win the Super in consecutive years AND are the MVP's of their games.

And I loved the shot of Peyton when the Giants had the victory in hand. He was so happy for his little brother. For all of you Manning haters, there's one more reason to like him. :)

So here's to Eli and the boys in blue. Thank you for sparing us all the lofty talk we'd have to endure had the Patriots, their surly coach, and their pretty boy QB won the game. For that reason and that reason alone, I will forever root for the Giants when they are not playing one of my teams.

Technorati Tags: Super Bowl XLII,New York Giants,New England Patriots,Eli Manning,Archie Manning,Peyton Manning,NFL

Help Decide the Fate of #756

Fashion designer Mark Ecko bought Barry Bonds 756th home run ball and is now letting the world decide it's fate. There are 3 options.

1. Send it to Cooperstown

2. Brand it with an asterisk and send to Cooperstown

3. Blast it into space

Click below and vote! 

For The Record...

Technorati Tags: Barry Bonds, 756

Sports Scandals: Why Are We So Surprised?

I haven’t said anything about the numerous scandals in sports, but I finally decided to break my silence. As a life long sports fan, I have been disgusted by what we’ve seen recently in the world of Pro sports. For those who haven’t heard or have forgotten…

• Barry Bonds and baseball’s steroid scandal.
• Michael Vick’s federal indictment on dog fighting charges.
• The NBA Referee/Gambling scandal.
• Doping in the Tour De France.
• Doping in Track and Field.

These are the big ones, but there are others. It’s very disheartening and extremely sad. But here is where I am going to come down on it: Why are we surprised? I remember the first time an athlete that I adored fell. My Brother and I were huge Dwight Gooden fans. The first time he got busted for drug use broke my heart. So the stuff going on now is not new.

For some reason, we tend to think that those who are famous, have lots of money, and are in the public eye will somehow rise above and not have the same kinds of problems that rest of have. Money does not change who a person is. Fame does not either. We are all capable of ugly stuff. Given the opportunity, lots of us would lie, cheat or steal to get ahead or to gratify ourselves and feed our egos.

On sports talk radio you hear questions like this: How could a guy throw away a 130 million dollar contract that way? I respond to this with a question or two of my own. When has money ever cured a person of their sinful nature? When has fame made them a better person all by itself?

So while I mourn the fall of professional sports recently, I am at least aware that these guys and gals are not immune to bad things simply because they stand a little higher than the rest of us in money and social stature.

Here’s hoping and praying all these leagues and organizations come through this dark time.

My Boy's First Baseball Game

Last night was a big night for the Wagner's as Ricky took the field for his first real game. I think I was more nervous for him than I ever was for myself. It went very well. Ricky batted led off and his box score looked like this...

AB R H RBI

3    3  3  2

Not bad. Not bad at all. I was really proud and it was fun hearing Evette being a loud, cheering, supporting Momma. They won their game 12-10 to start the season. And as any self respecting father would, I have pictures. Enjoy.