A TRUE AMERICAN HERO, July 24, 2008
Yesterday, the US Army announced that it had reversed its decision to allow recent graduate, 2nd Lt. Caleb Campbell to play professional football while at the same time serving as a recruiter for the Army on his days off. The Army believed that the public relations gained by Campbell would offset some of his service. He would be given the option to buy out his final three years of service for about $120,000 and also have to serve six years in the reserves. The army allowed him to participate in the NFL Combine early this year and allowed him to appear at this past year’s NFL Draft in New York in uniform and get interviewed by both the NFL Network and ESPN. The crowd started chanting, “USA” following the Detroit Lions choice of Campbell in the seventh round. During the interviews, Campbell showed why he is a hero. He stated his desire to continue his service to his country as an officer in the Army, but also his excitement at the opportunity to play professional football for the Lions.
The Army had an opportunity to have Campbell serve as a public relations machine for the Army. His ability to recruit young men and women into the Army as a member of the Detroit Lions would be a huge advantage to the Army. The biggest problem with this decision is the timing of it. If the Army preferred that he serve his country in combat overseas, then they should not have allowed him to go to the combine, the draft, and participate in the Lions off season team activities. The fact that the decision came the opening day of training camp for the Lions and among wispers that both the Air Force and Navy were upset at the publicity he was gaining and would continue to gain and the benefit the army would get by having the “alternative service option” shows how effective the program could be. In a city like Detroit, where football is still king and the economy is the worst in the country, having a recruiter like Campbell might have dramatically increased the number of recruits from the metropolitan Detroit area.
Following the Army’s decision yesterday, Campbell has not complained. According to some media reports, he had said that, “he was has gotten his orders, and he is ready to report and go.” A true American hero who has put his country above himself and by his actions, allows each and everyone of us to go about our days as we normally do. The Army lost a huge media advantage it potentially could have had if Campbell made the team, just the type of advocate that we all lost when former NFL player Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in 2005.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
ENOUGH ALREADY
ENOUGH ALREADY, July 21, 2008
This morning on ESPN, they showed a clip of IRL “star” Danica Patrick getting upset with Milka Duno. Apparently, Patrick who likes to believe she is the world’s best driver got upset that Duno got too close to her in a turn.
Patrick marched over to Duno’s pit with sunglasses on, hair perfectly in place, and likely a pr staffer on her hip and a TV camera following her. She is a media creation that since 2005 has won a total of 1 race, earlier this year in Japan. She is a figment of the media’s creation that happens to be slightly attractive but can’t drive. Earlier this year there was a lot of discussion that she might make the switch from IRL to NASCAR. I would love to see her go after Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, or Tony Stewart the way she went after Duno. First though she would have to get somewhat close to those guys and that isn’t likely to happen except for when they are passing her.
Patrick gets more attention than any other driver in the IRL. Patrick is not even close to being one of the top drivers in terms of points, but she seems to be the only marketable driver that the IRL and the TV networks focus on. This is the second time that I am aware of this year that she has marched towards another drivers pit area. She also did it in Indianapolis following a slight crash coming out of the pits. That time she kept her helmet on; I guess she was going for the Darth Vader look. This time after a few seconds of Danica questioning her, Milka just threw a towel in her face. After this didn’t shut her up, Milka threw it a second time and then her crew basically turned their backs on her. Danica then questions the TV camera as to why they won’t answer her question? Is she kidding? This type of staged pr comes off as petty, childish and the equivalent of third graders. I guess that Danica believes all the hype about her and that whenever she is driving, everyone else should just get out of her way and try and let her win the race. She has let the fact that she is the only TV face of the IRL get to her. Her head seems to be the size of a watermelon and it looks like she believes everything that has shown up in print about her. Of course, ESPN had her as one of the presenters at last nights ESPY Awards that no one watched. I saw a picture of her in a grey snake skin like dress with an ugly yellowish snake skin belt and bright yellow heels. She looked like a box, since her thighs were as wide as her shoulders and her hair. Not a good look.
Let’s just remember what she is – a focus group tested, marketing guru picked pseudo athlete that is more in the league of the Anna Kournacova’s Natalie Gulbis’ of the world who have never really done anything worth while in their sports but are marketing gems.
This morning on ESPN, they showed a clip of IRL “star” Danica Patrick getting upset with Milka Duno. Apparently, Patrick who likes to believe she is the world’s best driver got upset that Duno got too close to her in a turn.
Patrick marched over to Duno’s pit with sunglasses on, hair perfectly in place, and likely a pr staffer on her hip and a TV camera following her. She is a media creation that since 2005 has won a total of 1 race, earlier this year in Japan. She is a figment of the media’s creation that happens to be slightly attractive but can’t drive. Earlier this year there was a lot of discussion that she might make the switch from IRL to NASCAR. I would love to see her go after Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, or Tony Stewart the way she went after Duno. First though she would have to get somewhat close to those guys and that isn’t likely to happen except for when they are passing her.
Patrick gets more attention than any other driver in the IRL. Patrick is not even close to being one of the top drivers in terms of points, but she seems to be the only marketable driver that the IRL and the TV networks focus on. This is the second time that I am aware of this year that she has marched towards another drivers pit area. She also did it in Indianapolis following a slight crash coming out of the pits. That time she kept her helmet on; I guess she was going for the Darth Vader look. This time after a few seconds of Danica questioning her, Milka just threw a towel in her face. After this didn’t shut her up, Milka threw it a second time and then her crew basically turned their backs on her. Danica then questions the TV camera as to why they won’t answer her question? Is she kidding? This type of staged pr comes off as petty, childish and the equivalent of third graders. I guess that Danica believes all the hype about her and that whenever she is driving, everyone else should just get out of her way and try and let her win the race. She has let the fact that she is the only TV face of the IRL get to her. Her head seems to be the size of a watermelon and it looks like she believes everything that has shown up in print about her. Of course, ESPN had her as one of the presenters at last nights ESPY Awards that no one watched. I saw a picture of her in a grey snake skin like dress with an ugly yellowish snake skin belt and bright yellow heels. She looked like a box, since her thighs were as wide as her shoulders and her hair. Not a good look.
Let’s just remember what she is – a focus group tested, marketing guru picked pseudo athlete that is more in the league of the Anna Kournacova’s Natalie Gulbis’ of the world who have never really done anything worth while in their sports but are marketing gems.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
ESPN
ESPN, July 20, 2008
Tonight, ESPN will broadcast its annual awards program, the ESPYs. The show is not a live event, rather the show was taped this past Wednesday. On Wednesday, there were not many live sport events that would pre-empt the broadcast if the network choose. Baseball was in the midst of its All-Star break, the NFL pre-season has not yet started, both the NBA and NHL regular and post seasons had finished. The only real live sports that occurred on Wednesday were NBA rookie league games in Orlando and Las Vegas, Major League Soccer, and the WNBA. None of those leagues would have events that would gain better ratings than the ESPYs.
Why would ESPN give up a live broadcast of its award show? Were they worried that host Justin Timberlake would pull “incident” like he did at the Super Bowl with Janet Jackson? If this was a concern, isn’t that more an indictment of the ESPY producer and ESPN itself in terms of it choice of hosts? Were they concerned that there might be an inappropriate word spoken on air? That’s why they have a 10 second delay in the broadcast. Or did they just assume that their own awards show wasn’t all that important to show live? It probably has to do with the fact that they think they would get better ratings on Sunday as opposed to Wednesday.
However, tonight the broadcast will go against a new episode of HBO’s Generation Kill, NBC’s Dateline, FOX’s Family Guy, ABC’s, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and CBS’s Cold Case. Also, what happens if ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels goes into extra innings and pushes back the start of the ESPY’s? There seem to be too many reasons not to have the show air tonight, but I guess that is why I am not running the network. But they will nto get me to watch the show tonight, instead I’ll be watching HBO…
Another rather interesting episode took place yesterday. Michelle Wei, the “next great hype” of Nike was disqualified from the State Farm Classic in Springfield, IL for failing to sign her score card following Friday’s round. Wie played Saturday’s round while the LPGA determined her fate.. The problem for Wie is that she was playing well and in fact was leading the tournament for part of Saturday. She finished the round only one shot behind the leader. Since she has never won a tournament, yet Nike and the LPGA forced her alleged greatness down our throats, it is too bad that she screwed something so basic up. A lot has been made of Wie’s career path. She has tried to play on the men’s tour and skipped the traditional method of preparation in terms of junior golf and college golf. Other young players such as Morgan Tressell and Paula Creemer took a more traditional course and have won on the LPGA tour and seem to be much more competitive golfers. A lot is typically made about signing an incorrect scorecard, but I have never heard of a problem for not signing the scorecard. One would think that this simple thing would never be overlooked, but I guess that would be a mistake. Someone with so much hype has seemed to fade into oblivion sooner than expected without ever winning anything other than a load of cash from Nike. She is not the best young golfer in the world, nor event the best young female golfer in the world. It's too bad that so much was expected from someone who doesn't seem to deliver. I just wish Nike, the LPGA tour, and ESPN would have paid more attention to some of the other young golfers that were actually winning.
Tonight, ESPN will broadcast its annual awards program, the ESPYs. The show is not a live event, rather the show was taped this past Wednesday. On Wednesday, there were not many live sport events that would pre-empt the broadcast if the network choose. Baseball was in the midst of its All-Star break, the NFL pre-season has not yet started, both the NBA and NHL regular and post seasons had finished. The only real live sports that occurred on Wednesday were NBA rookie league games in Orlando and Las Vegas, Major League Soccer, and the WNBA. None of those leagues would have events that would gain better ratings than the ESPYs.
Why would ESPN give up a live broadcast of its award show? Were they worried that host Justin Timberlake would pull “incident” like he did at the Super Bowl with Janet Jackson? If this was a concern, isn’t that more an indictment of the ESPY producer and ESPN itself in terms of it choice of hosts? Were they concerned that there might be an inappropriate word spoken on air? That’s why they have a 10 second delay in the broadcast. Or did they just assume that their own awards show wasn’t all that important to show live? It probably has to do with the fact that they think they would get better ratings on Sunday as opposed to Wednesday.
However, tonight the broadcast will go against a new episode of HBO’s Generation Kill, NBC’s Dateline, FOX’s Family Guy, ABC’s, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and CBS’s Cold Case. Also, what happens if ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels goes into extra innings and pushes back the start of the ESPY’s? There seem to be too many reasons not to have the show air tonight, but I guess that is why I am not running the network. But they will nto get me to watch the show tonight, instead I’ll be watching HBO…
Another rather interesting episode took place yesterday. Michelle Wei, the “next great hype” of Nike was disqualified from the State Farm Classic in Springfield, IL for failing to sign her score card following Friday’s round. Wie played Saturday’s round while the LPGA determined her fate.. The problem for Wie is that she was playing well and in fact was leading the tournament for part of Saturday. She finished the round only one shot behind the leader. Since she has never won a tournament, yet Nike and the LPGA forced her alleged greatness down our throats, it is too bad that she screwed something so basic up. A lot has been made of Wie’s career path. She has tried to play on the men’s tour and skipped the traditional method of preparation in terms of junior golf and college golf. Other young players such as Morgan Tressell and Paula Creemer took a more traditional course and have won on the LPGA tour and seem to be much more competitive golfers. A lot is typically made about signing an incorrect scorecard, but I have never heard of a problem for not signing the scorecard. One would think that this simple thing would never be overlooked, but I guess that would be a mistake. Someone with so much hype has seemed to fade into oblivion sooner than expected without ever winning anything other than a load of cash from Nike. She is not the best young golfer in the world, nor event the best young female golfer in the world. It's too bad that so much was expected from someone who doesn't seem to deliver. I just wish Nike, the LPGA tour, and ESPN would have paid more attention to some of the other young golfers that were actually winning.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
RANDOM THOUGHTS...
RANDOM THOUGHTS… July 17, 2008
A number of issues came to my attention this week and instead of getting too in depth with each of them, I figured I would put down a few thoughts on some of these issues.
*The All-Star game in New York the other night lasted for almost 5 hours and 15 innings before the American League won once again. The game was scheduled to start at 8:00pm est. When I turned on the game a few minutes after 8:00pm, they were just starting to announce the players. These introductions took 45 minutes. While it was kind of cool to see former All-Stars at each position as the two starters were announced, the fact that the “introductions” took 45 minutes is ridiculous. It was almost 9:00pm before the first pitch was thrown. How does starting the game so late help baseball? While I live on the east coast and don’t want to stay up too late watching tv, I understand that the west coast is likely still at work when the game starts. However, baseball basically lost at least half the country before the game ended, since it was so late. I have the same problem with the NBA during the playoffs. The professional sports leagues need to understand that by starting games so late at night, most of the country is not going to watch the game.
*At the All-Star celebration in New York this week, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton won the Home Run Contest. Well, not really since Justin Morneau took home the trophy, but Hamilton hit the most home runs including 28 during his first round. The 28 he hit got the crowd behind him and basically made sure that he would hit the most over the course of the contest. Much has been made about Hamilton, the former #1 overall draft pick in 1999 of the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hamilton got involved in drugs and missed three seasons battling his addiction. Last year, Hamilton was chosen by the Chicago Cubs and then traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the Rule 5 draft. This off season, the Reds traded him to Texas for another young all star pitcher, Edinson Volquez. Hamilton is currently a triple-crown threat, batting .310, with 21 home runs and 95 rbi’s. It is a great story that he has overcome his demons and is now a productive member of society. Hopefully, he will continue his play on the field and continue his sobriety off the field as well.
*A lot was made of the All-Star game being played at Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium, or the House that Ruth built, is in its last season as home of the Yankees. Words such as shrine, legend, hallowed hall, temple, and others were used to describe the stadium. I have never been to Yankee stadium. However, at the same time all the gushing over Yankee Stadium was going on, another old ball park was seeing its last few days. Detroit’s Tiger Stadium has started to be demolished this past week. The Tigers, who moved into Comerica Park a number of years ago, have moved on, but unfortunately some, such as former Tigers radio announcer Ernie Harwell refuse to allow the stadium at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull to be destroyed for new development. The Detroit City Council seems to be too afraid to officially end the life of Tiger Stadium. Over the past years, ideas such as making it a minor league stadium, making it a museum, turning it into condos have all been floated. Something needs to be done with it and something needs to be done soon. The old stadium has been falling apart over the past several years and has turned into more of an eye sore than anything else. Hopefully, a final decision will be made sooner rather than later on the future use of the corner.
*The Brett Favre saga continues. He has been on Greta Van Susteren’s program on Fox News the past four nights. He has basically been saying that he was forced to retire and has now come out firing against Packer GM Ted Thompson. He has basically called him a liar and it looks like he is trying to get the Packers to release him. However, the Packers in turn filed a tampering charge against the Minnesota Vikings, claiming that Favre has spoken with former Packer qb coach and now the Vikings offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell. This situation is getting worse each day and while Favre has the right to change his mind, he has to understand the position he has put the Packers in and their desire to move on with Aaron Rodgers.
A number of issues came to my attention this week and instead of getting too in depth with each of them, I figured I would put down a few thoughts on some of these issues.
*The All-Star game in New York the other night lasted for almost 5 hours and 15 innings before the American League won once again. The game was scheduled to start at 8:00pm est. When I turned on the game a few minutes after 8:00pm, they were just starting to announce the players. These introductions took 45 minutes. While it was kind of cool to see former All-Stars at each position as the two starters were announced, the fact that the “introductions” took 45 minutes is ridiculous. It was almost 9:00pm before the first pitch was thrown. How does starting the game so late help baseball? While I live on the east coast and don’t want to stay up too late watching tv, I understand that the west coast is likely still at work when the game starts. However, baseball basically lost at least half the country before the game ended, since it was so late. I have the same problem with the NBA during the playoffs. The professional sports leagues need to understand that by starting games so late at night, most of the country is not going to watch the game.
*At the All-Star celebration in New York this week, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton won the Home Run Contest. Well, not really since Justin Morneau took home the trophy, but Hamilton hit the most home runs including 28 during his first round. The 28 he hit got the crowd behind him and basically made sure that he would hit the most over the course of the contest. Much has been made about Hamilton, the former #1 overall draft pick in 1999 of the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hamilton got involved in drugs and missed three seasons battling his addiction. Last year, Hamilton was chosen by the Chicago Cubs and then traded to the Cincinnati Reds during the Rule 5 draft. This off season, the Reds traded him to Texas for another young all star pitcher, Edinson Volquez. Hamilton is currently a triple-crown threat, batting .310, with 21 home runs and 95 rbi’s. It is a great story that he has overcome his demons and is now a productive member of society. Hopefully, he will continue his play on the field and continue his sobriety off the field as well.
*A lot was made of the All-Star game being played at Yankee Stadium. Yankee Stadium, or the House that Ruth built, is in its last season as home of the Yankees. Words such as shrine, legend, hallowed hall, temple, and others were used to describe the stadium. I have never been to Yankee stadium. However, at the same time all the gushing over Yankee Stadium was going on, another old ball park was seeing its last few days. Detroit’s Tiger Stadium has started to be demolished this past week. The Tigers, who moved into Comerica Park a number of years ago, have moved on, but unfortunately some, such as former Tigers radio announcer Ernie Harwell refuse to allow the stadium at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull to be destroyed for new development. The Detroit City Council seems to be too afraid to officially end the life of Tiger Stadium. Over the past years, ideas such as making it a minor league stadium, making it a museum, turning it into condos have all been floated. Something needs to be done with it and something needs to be done soon. The old stadium has been falling apart over the past several years and has turned into more of an eye sore than anything else. Hopefully, a final decision will be made sooner rather than later on the future use of the corner.
*The Brett Favre saga continues. He has been on Greta Van Susteren’s program on Fox News the past four nights. He has basically been saying that he was forced to retire and has now come out firing against Packer GM Ted Thompson. He has basically called him a liar and it looks like he is trying to get the Packers to release him. However, the Packers in turn filed a tampering charge against the Minnesota Vikings, claiming that Favre has spoken with former Packer qb coach and now the Vikings offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell. This situation is getting worse each day and while Favre has the right to change his mind, he has to understand the position he has put the Packers in and their desire to move on with Aaron Rodgers.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
BRETT FAVRE
BRETT FAVRE, July 15, 2008
Much has been made over the past few weeks about the potential return to the NFL of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Over the past few years during the off season, the Packers and Favre have had to determine whether or not Favre would return to the Packers and play the next season. This off season, Favre announced that he had enough and retired from the NFL. The Packers took the resignation and moved forward with former first round draft pick Aaron Rodgers as their new starting quarterback.
Favre spent 17 of his 18 NFL seasons in Green Bay and led the Packers to a Super Bowl Championship in 1997 and a Super Bowl runner up spot in 1998. He has been the face of the team and one of the NFL’s brightest and most marketable stars. Since Favre announced his retirement, the team announced that Rodgers would be the team’s starting quarterback. Rodgers led the Packers this off season at team mini-camps and off season training sessions. Favre, on the other hand, did not show up for any of these team related events, instead settled in his Mississippi farm and tried to enjoy his retirement.
Last week it came out that Favre sent a text message to Packers General manager, Ted Thompson expressing his interest in returning to the team. He said this week that at the time of his retirement he felt pressured by the Packers to make a decision. The Packers, having grown tired of the yearly will he or won’t he play this year dilemma, asked Favre to make a decision so that the Packers could plan for the upcoming year. Favre announced his decision in March and the Packers moved forward with the Aaron Rodgers era and even drafted two additional quarterbacks in this year’s draft. If the Packers anticipated Favre coming back, I doubt that they would have spent two draft choices on his position, particularly when they were so close to making the Super Bowl this past season. The team, in a weak NFC North division, would have been one of the favorites to be in next year’s Super Bowl had Favre returned. But as is the norm in sports, when a team loses its super-star, they must play with the players on its roster. Like the Lions had to struggle without Barry Sanders following his last minute retirement, the Packers had to prepare for the 2008 season under the assumption that Aaron Rodgers was going to be their starting quarterback.
We don’t really know how good Rodgers will be this year. The most that we remember of Rodgers was his draft day fall three years ago where he was the last player in the green room in New York on draft day. The Packers drafted him 24th overall in the 2005 draft. He has been an understudy to Favre the past hew years learning the system. The Packers felt that he was now ready to start and once Favre made his decision, the Packers turned to Rodgers to lead the team.
With Favre’s now decision to try and return to the NFL this year puts the Packers in a tough spot. Obviously, the Packers are better with Favre as their starting quarterback. However, if they allow Favre to come back and start, what does that mean for Rodgers? Does Rodgers stay for the next few years after being proclaimed the starting quarterback and then losing the starting job without doing anything? Also, what does Favre’s coming back do to team morale? Do other players feel that Favre got away without having to show up for any off season workouts? If Favre was able to do it, shouldn’t they also be able to not have to show up? Should the Packers trade Favre? According to GM Thompson, no team has contacted the Packers about trading for Favre, so that likely means that other NFL teams are either anticipating that the Packers will have to release Favre or they will play Favre. Either way, most teams are likely not willing to give up a lot in order to trade for Favre. If the Packers were to release Favre would any team be interested in signing him? Of course, teams like the Bears and the Vikings would likely jump at the opportunity to have the future Hall of Famer join and lead their team. The problem with this scenario is that both of those teams are in the Packers division. Why would the Packers want to help make their competition stronger? They don’t want to and probably will do everything in their power to make sure that Favre doesn’t play for a division rival.
We all make decisions we wish we could take back after. Did the Packers force Favre to retire? Did they put too much pressure on him to make a decision too soon after the season finished? The only ones that know the answer to those questions are the Packers and Favre. The Packers would be crazy to allow Favre to become a free agent and sign with whomever he wants. Favre though wants to play and is still one of the top quarterbacks in the league. If he changed his mind and would like to continue his career, he should be able to. What does this mean? In all likelihood, it means that the Packers will have Brett Favre as their starting quarterback this year. Favre still has 3 years and $39 million left on his contract with the Packers. This is really an easy decision; the Packers must take back Favre and have him be their starting quarterback. He is a Packer legend and he should not be allowed to wear any other team’s jersey. This might suck for Aaron Rodgers, but Aaron Rodgers is no Brett Favre...
Much has been made over the past few weeks about the potential return to the NFL of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Over the past few years during the off season, the Packers and Favre have had to determine whether or not Favre would return to the Packers and play the next season. This off season, Favre announced that he had enough and retired from the NFL. The Packers took the resignation and moved forward with former first round draft pick Aaron Rodgers as their new starting quarterback.
Favre spent 17 of his 18 NFL seasons in Green Bay and led the Packers to a Super Bowl Championship in 1997 and a Super Bowl runner up spot in 1998. He has been the face of the team and one of the NFL’s brightest and most marketable stars. Since Favre announced his retirement, the team announced that Rodgers would be the team’s starting quarterback. Rodgers led the Packers this off season at team mini-camps and off season training sessions. Favre, on the other hand, did not show up for any of these team related events, instead settled in his Mississippi farm and tried to enjoy his retirement.
Last week it came out that Favre sent a text message to Packers General manager, Ted Thompson expressing his interest in returning to the team. He said this week that at the time of his retirement he felt pressured by the Packers to make a decision. The Packers, having grown tired of the yearly will he or won’t he play this year dilemma, asked Favre to make a decision so that the Packers could plan for the upcoming year. Favre announced his decision in March and the Packers moved forward with the Aaron Rodgers era and even drafted two additional quarterbacks in this year’s draft. If the Packers anticipated Favre coming back, I doubt that they would have spent two draft choices on his position, particularly when they were so close to making the Super Bowl this past season. The team, in a weak NFC North division, would have been one of the favorites to be in next year’s Super Bowl had Favre returned. But as is the norm in sports, when a team loses its super-star, they must play with the players on its roster. Like the Lions had to struggle without Barry Sanders following his last minute retirement, the Packers had to prepare for the 2008 season under the assumption that Aaron Rodgers was going to be their starting quarterback.
We don’t really know how good Rodgers will be this year. The most that we remember of Rodgers was his draft day fall three years ago where he was the last player in the green room in New York on draft day. The Packers drafted him 24th overall in the 2005 draft. He has been an understudy to Favre the past hew years learning the system. The Packers felt that he was now ready to start and once Favre made his decision, the Packers turned to Rodgers to lead the team.
With Favre’s now decision to try and return to the NFL this year puts the Packers in a tough spot. Obviously, the Packers are better with Favre as their starting quarterback. However, if they allow Favre to come back and start, what does that mean for Rodgers? Does Rodgers stay for the next few years after being proclaimed the starting quarterback and then losing the starting job without doing anything? Also, what does Favre’s coming back do to team morale? Do other players feel that Favre got away without having to show up for any off season workouts? If Favre was able to do it, shouldn’t they also be able to not have to show up? Should the Packers trade Favre? According to GM Thompson, no team has contacted the Packers about trading for Favre, so that likely means that other NFL teams are either anticipating that the Packers will have to release Favre or they will play Favre. Either way, most teams are likely not willing to give up a lot in order to trade for Favre. If the Packers were to release Favre would any team be interested in signing him? Of course, teams like the Bears and the Vikings would likely jump at the opportunity to have the future Hall of Famer join and lead their team. The problem with this scenario is that both of those teams are in the Packers division. Why would the Packers want to help make their competition stronger? They don’t want to and probably will do everything in their power to make sure that Favre doesn’t play for a division rival.
We all make decisions we wish we could take back after. Did the Packers force Favre to retire? Did they put too much pressure on him to make a decision too soon after the season finished? The only ones that know the answer to those questions are the Packers and Favre. The Packers would be crazy to allow Favre to become a free agent and sign with whomever he wants. Favre though wants to play and is still one of the top quarterbacks in the league. If he changed his mind and would like to continue his career, he should be able to. What does this mean? In all likelihood, it means that the Packers will have Brett Favre as their starting quarterback this year. Favre still has 3 years and $39 million left on his contract with the Packers. This is really an easy decision; the Packers must take back Favre and have him be their starting quarterback. He is a Packer legend and he should not be allowed to wear any other team’s jersey. This might suck for Aaron Rodgers, but Aaron Rodgers is no Brett Favre...
Monday, July 14, 2008
PARTING THOUGHTS...
PARTING THOUGHTS… July 14, 2008
Early Saturday morning, former White House Press Secretary and Fox News host Tony Snow died after a long battle with cancer. Tony was an articulate conservative, always able to best present the conservative point of view in a concise, eloquent couple of sentences.
Tony went to the White House after the failure of Scott McClellan’s tenure as White House Press Secretary. The White House needed an articulate spokesman who understood the media, and could easily express the Administration’s policy positions in a way that played to the cameras in the White House Briefing Room. At the time of his arrival, the situation in Iraq was not going as well as the Administration had hoped and the country believed that it was a mistake and we should get out as soon as possible. While the public still holds this position, it would have been even stronger had someone else been at the podium.
Tony’s briefings were not just a quick statement of Administration policy. Rather they were, in a lot of cases, policy discussions. Tony did not always agree with the premise of the questions or statements from reporters and he often challenged the reporters to prove what they were sating. He typically knew more about the issue than the reporter and it was rather interesting seeing the reporters squirm after pontificating for the camera’s only to be shot down based upon faulty assumptions. However, Tony didn’t shoot them down maliciously; rather he did it with the facts and with humor.
Tony’s tenure at the White House was short. He had a recurrence of colon cancer that forced him to miss some time and following his return, he left to make some money on the public speaking circuit in order to take care of his family. A lot of us grew up reading Tony Snow’s columns in newspapers ranging from the Detroit News, Washington Times, and USA Today. We watched him as he hosted Fox News Sunday, and listened to his Fox radio show. We also listened to the speeches of former President Bush, where Snow ran his speechwriting efforts. He also was a long time fill-in for Rush Limbaugh’s radio show. Tony was able to express the conservative beliefs in a manner that everyone understood.
America lost a public servant this weekend. While you might not agree with his politics, one must respect the effort he put forth and his service to the country. He believed that there were certain things of more importance – family and service to our country. These are traits that we should all live by.
Early Saturday morning, former White House Press Secretary and Fox News host Tony Snow died after a long battle with cancer. Tony was an articulate conservative, always able to best present the conservative point of view in a concise, eloquent couple of sentences.
Tony went to the White House after the failure of Scott McClellan’s tenure as White House Press Secretary. The White House needed an articulate spokesman who understood the media, and could easily express the Administration’s policy positions in a way that played to the cameras in the White House Briefing Room. At the time of his arrival, the situation in Iraq was not going as well as the Administration had hoped and the country believed that it was a mistake and we should get out as soon as possible. While the public still holds this position, it would have been even stronger had someone else been at the podium.
Tony’s briefings were not just a quick statement of Administration policy. Rather they were, in a lot of cases, policy discussions. Tony did not always agree with the premise of the questions or statements from reporters and he often challenged the reporters to prove what they were sating. He typically knew more about the issue than the reporter and it was rather interesting seeing the reporters squirm after pontificating for the camera’s only to be shot down based upon faulty assumptions. However, Tony didn’t shoot them down maliciously; rather he did it with the facts and with humor.
Tony’s tenure at the White House was short. He had a recurrence of colon cancer that forced him to miss some time and following his return, he left to make some money on the public speaking circuit in order to take care of his family. A lot of us grew up reading Tony Snow’s columns in newspapers ranging from the Detroit News, Washington Times, and USA Today. We watched him as he hosted Fox News Sunday, and listened to his Fox radio show. We also listened to the speeches of former President Bush, where Snow ran his speechwriting efforts. He also was a long time fill-in for Rush Limbaugh’s radio show. Tony was able to express the conservative beliefs in a manner that everyone understood.
America lost a public servant this weekend. While you might not agree with his politics, one must respect the effort he put forth and his service to the country. He believed that there were certain things of more importance – family and service to our country. These are traits that we should all live by.
Friday, July 11, 2008
TEAM USA
TEAM USA, July 11, 2008
Last week, NBC and USA networks broadcast the US Olympic trials for both swimming and track and field. A number of spectacular performances were put forth by our Olympic team and we should all be excited about the Olympics when they start August 8, 2008.
Most of the attention at the swimming trials in Omaha, NE originally focused on Club Wolverine’s Michael Phelps and his quest for seven or eight gold medals in Beijing. Phelps did not disappoint. He won all five of his individual events while setting two world records. He will also participate in three relays in Beijing. Katie Hoff of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club also secured spots in Beijing in five individual events, while breaking world and American records. The other major point of discussion prior to the trials was that of the Speedo LZR Racer swim suit. A number of world records have been broken this year, 38 of the 42 records, by wearers of the suit. Speedo developed the suit with the help of NASA and debuted the suit earlier this year. California based TYR filed an anti-trust suit against Speedo, USA Swimming, national team coach Mark Schubert and Olympian Eric Vendt. The suit claims that Speedo and USA Swimming are encouraging athletes to use the Speedo suit over the TYR suits. Since Schubert is a paid consultant to Speedo, TYR believes he can exert too much influence over USA Swimming and participating athletes. Vendt, a former TYR endorser, switched to the Speedo suit. He has countersued TYR. A California court delayed the lawsuit until September, which effectively eliminates any opportunity for TYR to get relief prior to the Olympics. Other apparel companies such as Nike have given its athletes permission to wear the Speedo suit if they believe it will enhance their performance.
At the meet, the best story turned out to be the return to the Olympics for 41 year old Dara Torres. Torres, who first competed in the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, won the trials in both the 50 meter and 10 meter freestyles. She will also represent the US in relays. Torres, who has a two year old daughter, will be making her fifth Olympic appearance in Beijing. She is old enough that she could be the mother of a number of Olympians. The rumor at the pool was that her goggles were older than some participants. Another veteran qualifier for the Olympics is Amanda Beard, who qualified for her fourth Olympics in the 200 meter breaststroke.
There were a number of big stories at the track and field trials. From my point of view, the biggest was the running of 16 year old prep star Jordan Hasay. Hasay qualified for the finals of the 1,500 meters by setting a US high school record of 4:14.5 in the semifinals. While she did not make the Olympic team, she showed that she could in fact compete at the highest levels. The crowd in Eugene, sensing the magnitude of her run, started chanting, “Come to Oregon” following her semi-finals race. Another major story of the trials was that of Justin Gay, who set the American record and won the 100 meters but fell in the semi-finals of the 200 meters. Gay suffered a mild strain of his hamstring. He believes that he will be ready for Beijing. Another interesting story was that of Runners World cover story athletes, Kara and Adam Goucher. World class distance runners, Kara qualified for Beijing in the 10,000 meters for finishing second to Shalane Flanagan and then won the 5,000 meters. Following her 5,000 meter win, she was on the track as her husband competed in the finals of the men’s 5,000. Unfortunately for Goucher, he failed to make the Olympic team. A final interesting story from the trials was the men’s 1500 meters, where all three US participants in Beijing are immigrants. This story represents everything that is good with this country. Bernard LAgat, who won the trials came to this country to go to Washington State. He participated in two previous Olympics representing Kenya, but became a US citizen in 2004. Second place finisher, Leonel Manzano was born in Mexico and came to the US when he was four. He is currently a senior at the University of Texas. Third place finisher, Lopez Lomong has perhaps the most amazing personal story. Born in Kimotong, Sudan, Lomong, at the age of six, fled his hometown and spent ten years in a refugee camp in Kenya. In 2001, he wrote an essay on what he would try and accomplish if he were to live in the US. The essay drew attention and he was able to move in with a foster family in northern New York. He was one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” He went on to Northern Arizona University and became a US citizen last year. The fact that all three Olympic athletes are immigrants who came to this country looking for a better life, represent everything that is good about the US. Through hard work, each will represent our country at the largest athletic event in the world and we all should be proud to call them countrymen.
Last week, NBC and USA networks broadcast the US Olympic trials for both swimming and track and field. A number of spectacular performances were put forth by our Olympic team and we should all be excited about the Olympics when they start August 8, 2008.
Most of the attention at the swimming trials in Omaha, NE originally focused on Club Wolverine’s Michael Phelps and his quest for seven or eight gold medals in Beijing. Phelps did not disappoint. He won all five of his individual events while setting two world records. He will also participate in three relays in Beijing. Katie Hoff of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club also secured spots in Beijing in five individual events, while breaking world and American records. The other major point of discussion prior to the trials was that of the Speedo LZR Racer swim suit. A number of world records have been broken this year, 38 of the 42 records, by wearers of the suit. Speedo developed the suit with the help of NASA and debuted the suit earlier this year. California based TYR filed an anti-trust suit against Speedo, USA Swimming, national team coach Mark Schubert and Olympian Eric Vendt. The suit claims that Speedo and USA Swimming are encouraging athletes to use the Speedo suit over the TYR suits. Since Schubert is a paid consultant to Speedo, TYR believes he can exert too much influence over USA Swimming and participating athletes. Vendt, a former TYR endorser, switched to the Speedo suit. He has countersued TYR. A California court delayed the lawsuit until September, which effectively eliminates any opportunity for TYR to get relief prior to the Olympics. Other apparel companies such as Nike have given its athletes permission to wear the Speedo suit if they believe it will enhance their performance.
At the meet, the best story turned out to be the return to the Olympics for 41 year old Dara Torres. Torres, who first competed in the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984, won the trials in both the 50 meter and 10 meter freestyles. She will also represent the US in relays. Torres, who has a two year old daughter, will be making her fifth Olympic appearance in Beijing. She is old enough that she could be the mother of a number of Olympians. The rumor at the pool was that her goggles were older than some participants. Another veteran qualifier for the Olympics is Amanda Beard, who qualified for her fourth Olympics in the 200 meter breaststroke.
There were a number of big stories at the track and field trials. From my point of view, the biggest was the running of 16 year old prep star Jordan Hasay. Hasay qualified for the finals of the 1,500 meters by setting a US high school record of 4:14.5 in the semifinals. While she did not make the Olympic team, she showed that she could in fact compete at the highest levels. The crowd in Eugene, sensing the magnitude of her run, started chanting, “Come to Oregon” following her semi-finals race. Another major story of the trials was that of Justin Gay, who set the American record and won the 100 meters but fell in the semi-finals of the 200 meters. Gay suffered a mild strain of his hamstring. He believes that he will be ready for Beijing. Another interesting story was that of Runners World cover story athletes, Kara and Adam Goucher. World class distance runners, Kara qualified for Beijing in the 10,000 meters for finishing second to Shalane Flanagan and then won the 5,000 meters. Following her 5,000 meter win, she was on the track as her husband competed in the finals of the men’s 5,000. Unfortunately for Goucher, he failed to make the Olympic team. A final interesting story from the trials was the men’s 1500 meters, where all three US participants in Beijing are immigrants. This story represents everything that is good with this country. Bernard LAgat, who won the trials came to this country to go to Washington State. He participated in two previous Olympics representing Kenya, but became a US citizen in 2004. Second place finisher, Leonel Manzano was born in Mexico and came to the US when he was four. He is currently a senior at the University of Texas. Third place finisher, Lopez Lomong has perhaps the most amazing personal story. Born in Kimotong, Sudan, Lomong, at the age of six, fled his hometown and spent ten years in a refugee camp in Kenya. In 2001, he wrote an essay on what he would try and accomplish if he were to live in the US. The essay drew attention and he was able to move in with a foster family in northern New York. He was one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” He went on to Northern Arizona University and became a US citizen last year. The fact that all three Olympic athletes are immigrants who came to this country looking for a better life, represent everything that is good about the US. Through hard work, each will represent our country at the largest athletic event in the world and we all should be proud to call them countrymen.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE, ROOK...
WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE, ROOK…July 1, 2008
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this weekend had some interesting comments relating to rookie salaries. Specifically, he was commenting on the contract signed by Jake Long, the first overall draft pick of the Miami Dolphins out of the University of Michigan. Long’s five year contract includes up to $57.75 million in salary, with $30 million guaranteed. With this contract, Long becomes one of the highest paid offensive lineman in the league. This is without ever playing a down. Is this fair to the veterans who have shown their ability to be productive players in the NFL against NFL competition?
I think Long is going to be a great player. I feel that he will be in the league for at least 10 years protecting the blind side of his college teammate and quarterback, Chad Henne, the soon to be starter in Miami. But is Long better than Chris Samuels in Washington, or even Jeff Bachus in Detroit? We don’t know. Obviously, the Dolphins feel he is as good, if not better than those two lineman. They are basing this evaluation on his play at Michigan, but not against NFL caliber players. They are taking a huge chance on the fact that his play at Michigan will translate into a similar level of play in the NHL. Michigan has a history of sending good offensive lineman to the NFL. Steve Hutchison, Jon Jansen, Maurice Williams, Jeff Bachus, John Runyan are just some of the Michigan grads currently lining up for NFL teams.
Wouldn’t you think that the NFL Players Association would prefer to have established NFL players make more money than a rookie? What other business pays employees fresh out of college more than someone who has been doing the job for four to ten years? With the veteran, you know what you are getting and therefore probably can pay him his proper value. Each year, the paychecks for the top picked rookies goes up. If Commissioner Goodell is serious about reducing the initial contracts for the top picks each year, he should stipulate that the money be paid to established veterans. He should not allow teams to pocket that money, but should instead make sure that the teams use the “savings” on its experienced veterans. When the collective bargaining agreement expires in a few years, I would imagine that this issue is one that gets a lot of publicity. I would imagine that veteran players and the majority of the general public agree that you need to earn your contract. In other words, sign an initial contract for three to five years and then get the big money if you have proven that you are as good as your draft value. Don’t you think that the 49ners might be hesitant to pick Vernon Davis #6 overall based upon his performance the past two years? Don’t you think that they would rather have CB Antonio Cromartie or WR Santonio Holmes both of whom were first round picks? Or maybe the NFL just likes to punish those teams like the Lions and Cardinals who are usually at their normal spot at the top of the draft?
"He doesn't have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money," Goodell said. "Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don't evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money. ... And that money is not going to players that are performing. It's going to a player that never makes it in the NFL. And I think that's ridiculous." Pretty strong opinion and probably an issue that is not going to go away, especially since rookies, when they are drafted are not members of the Players Association who negotiates the collective bargaining agreement with the league.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this weekend had some interesting comments relating to rookie salaries. Specifically, he was commenting on the contract signed by Jake Long, the first overall draft pick of the Miami Dolphins out of the University of Michigan. Long’s five year contract includes up to $57.75 million in salary, with $30 million guaranteed. With this contract, Long becomes one of the highest paid offensive lineman in the league. This is without ever playing a down. Is this fair to the veterans who have shown their ability to be productive players in the NFL against NFL competition?
I think Long is going to be a great player. I feel that he will be in the league for at least 10 years protecting the blind side of his college teammate and quarterback, Chad Henne, the soon to be starter in Miami. But is Long better than Chris Samuels in Washington, or even Jeff Bachus in Detroit? We don’t know. Obviously, the Dolphins feel he is as good, if not better than those two lineman. They are basing this evaluation on his play at Michigan, but not against NFL caliber players. They are taking a huge chance on the fact that his play at Michigan will translate into a similar level of play in the NHL. Michigan has a history of sending good offensive lineman to the NFL. Steve Hutchison, Jon Jansen, Maurice Williams, Jeff Bachus, John Runyan are just some of the Michigan grads currently lining up for NFL teams.
Wouldn’t you think that the NFL Players Association would prefer to have established NFL players make more money than a rookie? What other business pays employees fresh out of college more than someone who has been doing the job for four to ten years? With the veteran, you know what you are getting and therefore probably can pay him his proper value. Each year, the paychecks for the top picked rookies goes up. If Commissioner Goodell is serious about reducing the initial contracts for the top picks each year, he should stipulate that the money be paid to established veterans. He should not allow teams to pocket that money, but should instead make sure that the teams use the “savings” on its experienced veterans. When the collective bargaining agreement expires in a few years, I would imagine that this issue is one that gets a lot of publicity. I would imagine that veteran players and the majority of the general public agree that you need to earn your contract. In other words, sign an initial contract for three to five years and then get the big money if you have proven that you are as good as your draft value. Don’t you think that the 49ners might be hesitant to pick Vernon Davis #6 overall based upon his performance the past two years? Don’t you think that they would rather have CB Antonio Cromartie or WR Santonio Holmes both of whom were first round picks? Or maybe the NFL just likes to punish those teams like the Lions and Cardinals who are usually at their normal spot at the top of the draft?
"He doesn't have to play a down in the NFL and he already has his money," Goodell said. "Now, with the economics where they are, the consequences if you don't evaluate that player, you can lose a significant amount of money. ... And that money is not going to players that are performing. It's going to a player that never makes it in the NFL. And I think that's ridiculous." Pretty strong opinion and probably an issue that is not going to go away, especially since rookies, when they are drafted are not members of the Players Association who negotiates the collective bargaining agreement with the league.
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