On a Happier Note.....

Plaxico Burress, the star wide receiver on the New York football Giants was shot in the leg at a nightclub on Friday......by himself. Let me say this again, he shot himself in the leg. It was accidental, geez, good to hear he was not on a death wish by shooting himself in the leg.Apparently his gun (which he did not have a license for a concealed weapon in New York, but that is neither here nor there right now) slipped below the waistband of his sweat pants and when he went to adjust it, the gun discharged a bullet into his leg. Now, there are like 10 hilarious things here to discuss. Lets start with this one and work our way forward. He is at a New York nightclub, where I couldnt get in with $100 bills stapled to my $1,000 suit, but he is getting in with sweat pants. Sweat Pants! Plaxico, I know you signed a large enough contract to play professional football that you can afford pants that dont stretch with you in all your movements when lifting weights. I cannot get over the fact the this professional football player, who plays for a New York team, goes to a club in sweat pants. Do we think they were the nice Russel Athletic sweat pants with the Giants logo on them or like really crummy ones he got from a second-hand store where the, wait for it, the waistband is losing its elasticity? Hmmm...maybe because of these second-hand store sweat pants with the weakening elastic the gun was able to slide down his pants. I am sure with more quality sweat pants that gun would have remaining firmly in place at waist level,Next, lets discuss now how the gun went from being in waistband to down his pants to being fired. Doesnt it have to be....gulp..cocked to fire. I hated that whole sequence of words, but something had to cock his gun...and the only thing down his pants that could have cocked his gun would be.....his hand through his pants. What else could it be? Hmm........If only there was a stigma for black men and somehow cocking a gun down that had falled below his waistband and needs something not small to cock the down and remove the safety. If only there was something else that could have cocked the gun. I will leave this for Robert Stack and the Unsolved Mysteries team, or send Gary Sinise and the CSI:NY team to dust for prints and solve this one.Lastly, can we discuss him with a gun in the first place? Are his bitches so difficult to deal with that he needs to cap a bullet in them? I wouldnt be able to look him in the face since I would be laughing too hysterically because of the sweat pants to be able to say anything too him. It just goes to show, if you are an athlete or a celebrity you can barely wear items that qualify as acceptable outdoor clothing and get away with it. If I wore sweat pants out of the house and my friends or family saw me they would either assume I am sick or also believe the voices in my head had finally gotten to me. They definitely would not be assuming that I was on my way to a club and packing heat in my waist band as well.Do we think that Plax will get frisked everytime he enters a club from now on? Especially if he is wearing sweat pants. Hey Plax, I am not saying you have to spend a lot of money, but once a year Gap has a denim sale, you should go buy a pair of jeans or two. They come in an assortment of colors. Or, if you really feel like going all out, but dont want to break your bank, you can always go to Mens Wearhouse and get a pair of trousers or a suit to wear when you go out. You could get one for $600 there...and that way you would not have to feel squeezed that your annual salary of just over $4 million could not cover it. I hear if you are nice, a salvation army may have a suit in your size. Or, with the holidays approaching maybe when you wake up on Christmas morning, and you run down the stairs (or saunter due to your current wound) to your Christmas tree, maybe, oh just maybe, Santa will have brought you some pants.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings in Sports #23

So I was correct in 2 of 3 choices yesterday in college football. I was correct in Ohio State (not a difficult choice), was wrong about Illinois, and was correct about Oklahoma. I figured with Northwestern already guaranteed a bowl bid and Illinois playing for one that Illinois would come out firing. Northwestern totally dominated the game, and you know NU coach Pat Fitzgerald loved every second of it considering Illinois rejected giving Fitzgerald a chance to play football. As for the OU-TTU, I was thoroughly disappointed. The game was just a total shellacking, and just embarrassing for TTU.

Another day of football has come and passed and another pathetic showing of my fantasy football squad. I am soon going to have professional football players pay me not to draft them.

The Detroit Lions may just be the worst football team I have seen play in the last 5 years....until I watched the Rams play against the Bears. They are an embarrassment to professional football and for the town of St. Louis. I could have rushed for 50 yards against that defensive line and I am slow. I am sure I can run a 40-yard dash in 15 seconds flat.

Andy Reid pulled Donovan McNabb for the second half of the game. after turning the ball over 2 more times, concluding a dreadful week for McNabb which he admitted to not knowing that an NFL football game ends in a tie if no points are scored in overtime. This patheic play of McNabb is helping Andy Reid hide the fact that he is an awful coach. Same goes for Norv Turner. Has one man not named O.J. gotten more chances than Norv Turner? He took a talented team and turned them into a team that struggles to do anything cohesive.

Standing applause to the hard work of Matt Cassel, Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels for Cassels abilities after not starting a game since high school. The system and his hard work have allowed a team who lost arguably the best QB in the NFL within the first few minutes of the season to possibly do some harm in the playoffs. Many people are saying the Jets are the best team in the AFC right now, and the Pats-Jets game was a high-scoring affair. If that game is played again in the playoffs, and Brett Favre has to lead the Jets in the last few minutes, I would bet against him....but it is leading to an interesting side-story.

So the NBA season has started to a thunk, but the NHL seems to be on the rise. There are some new good players in the NHL and big city teams like the Blackhawks are looking like real contenders again and the fans are attending games in droves. Which is great for all you white people north of the border.

Side note, a wife of a friend of mine, who we are in the same fantasy league together asked me today when fantasy football is over...my response, "Never!" Unfortunately this is very true....especially for those in keeper leagues.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings in Sports #22

Can we please ship Starbury to the island in the movie "Castaway" and just leave him there. For a guy who is a mediocre player at best, and a me-first small point guard, he has the ego of a Top 5 player in sports.

Roger Clemens son is practicing for his father and his future in getting away with a crime with charges against him being dropped for community service. Who will be the first athlete to commit murder and get off with community service? I mean, Ray Lewis got away with murder, O.J. got away with a double murder. But no one has gotten off of murder with Community Service....yet.

Big applause for Coach Paterno coming back in 2009. How can you not love this guy? Plus, he is coaching a real solid team.

Also in the news, like I was expecting yesterday, TO complained to the press about the production of the offense. TO, close your mouth and get back to work. Maybe your mouth running is hurting your team. Only TO would be complaining to the press during a week after a big win. If TO were a horse, we all would have begged for the opportunity to hang the curtain and turn him into glue. Unlike what happened at the Kentucky Derby, no women would be crying about TO....well, except for his baby mommas.

And P.J. Carlesimo and his 1976 glasses were fired after the Thunder have only won one time out of 13 times. It isnt a good team, but it is not simply P.J.'s fault. You might as well let him finish the year out and start over in the offseason. Oh, and with all the issues with the owner moving the team from basketball crazy Seattle to Oklahoma City, you may want to bring in some talent other than Kevin Durant.

Oh, and Ohio State over Michigan, Illinois over Northwestern, and Oklahoma over Texas Tech. Although personally I hope Texas Tech wins, no offense to Oklahoma, I just love watching Harrell and Crabtree work.

Tomorrow will mark a big loss for my Bears, and pretty much a quick unraveling of the season. I like Orton, and hope he can be the guy into the future. He will become better once he gets better receivers around him. This means an end to the Booker-era revisited, Brandon Lloyd, and hello to another high draft pick and, for the love of God, the signing of Anquan Boldin. But we know that wont happen.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings #21

I think it is time that I come back to this. It has been some time (2006) and I have the time. Seriously, nothing important happened in sports in 2007 and 98% of 2008, right? Right? Damn, so I fell off the wagon, or is it fall on the wagon? Do people really know? If I am a drug abuser, and I begin smoking weed again, does Ricky Williams get high? Does Shawn Merriman somehow get away with being a steroid abuser and still not get truly busted by the court of Public Opinion? Ok, I have veered way off course.

So, in a big announcement today, the New York Knickerbockers traded away almost 30% of the team for some new linoleum tiles that Home Depot couldnt give away in a deal with GM that is so desperate to unload the craptastically awful PT Cruiser for an extra $1.99. Sadly, that is no joke about the PT Cruiser. Buy one car, and get this PT Cruiser for an extra $1.99. And we wonder why Detroit automakers are asking for financial help from the government, you are selling a car for $1.99! You know where I thought I was getting a deal for $1.99 was at Boston Market when I spent $20 on dinner and bought a second chicken for $1.99. A second chicken for $1.99 is equal to a new car!

So the Knicks gave away two of the scorers on the team (Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford) and are keeping a guy that couldnt make it in the Bulls backcourt. Yipes! No, it was a good move for the Knicks since they are only on the hook for bad contracts for this season and next instead of for two more seasons beyond this year. Oh, and they got Cuttino Mobley whose biggest impact on television was his appearance on Bravos! Million Dollar Listing and we found out that in his pimped out home in Southern California he let the home fall to crap, and have major issues throughout and never called a repairman. Oh and they are getting beaten up by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Milwaukee Bucks!

Michael Vick agreed to a suspended sentence in Virginia and.....who cares Michael! No where you will ever play will ever like you, and I will ignore my Chicago Bears if they were to sign you, and we havent had a quarterback since Sid Luckman. Sid Luckman! I am not sure my father was even alive when Sid Luckman played football. But dont worry, we will draft Rex Grossman and Cade McNown. But they will finally lose the fan base if they were to sign the Dog Whisperer.

A Jets QB was in the news....and it wasnt Brett Favre. I am guessing the microphone couldnt get close enough to Favre. No, the news was that the fourth or fifth string QB, Erik "Dont call me Danny" Ainge got a four game suspension for use of an illegal substance (read steroids). This is making top-line news, yet he is already on Injured Reserve for the season. Does he get suspended for next seasons games? No. He is told he cannot participate with a team that he couldnt anyways because he is hurt. This is either a major flaw in the steroid use policy or a real slow news day....or both. Cant we get Terrell Owens to cry or complain about his contract or cry about his contract? Cant we just get news that George Steinbrenner is giving away the team to Hank.....oh, he did give the team away to Hank? No, to Hal? How pissed is Hank! What kinds of damn names did George give his kids? Hank and Hal? He should have just done the respectable thing for a man like Steinbrenner and name his two boys George II and George III. I am pissing someone off with a little grill in the middle of their fraternity house.

In some sad news, Annika Sorenstam, arguably the greatest female golfer ever, missed the cut in her final professional tournament. Everyone, please stand up and give this woman a standing applause. She is everything that is right about sports, and represented herself with class and style. I am looking at you Michelle Wei. Before failing on the men's tour, you should try to not fail on the women's tour.

Last note, our favorite porn-star mustache wearing congressman, Rep. Henry Waxman of California replaced Rep. John Dingell, who Slate.com called, "the tough, cantankerous eminence grise of the House Democratic caucus..." We of the sports world all remember Rep. Henry Waxman and his mustache at the hearings with Roger Clemens' retarded, insane cousin. What? That was Clemens? Ok....if you say so. Any who. Those who look at websites not only involving sports get to look at Rep. Waxman's awesome mustache and pig-like snout. But I hear he is smart. I feel like I have made a comment like that before, a back-handed compliment. I think it was when I was introduced to a friend of a friend who was trying to set me up with her. She was not attractive, nor slight of weight, nor funny, nor an enjoyable human-being. So when asked what I felt about her I said she looked like she had good skin. Although we were in a dark bar, so I could be wrong. Then she would have no positive attribute.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings in Sports #20

I do not want to talk about Chicago sports, really, I dont, but how can I not? The Bears just went twice to New Jersey for football and won both games, all but securing the NFC North Division. But that was but only a small piece of the news Chicago is providing the sports world on Sunday and into Monday. 8-years/$136 million. Thats what they are going to pay for Alfonso Soriano. This is unbelievable. They never do anything this smart, and possibly overpaying, for a star in his prime. They have a pretty stacked line-up now, now if they only could find a few healthy arms to throw the ball over the plate and away from other team's bats.

Ahhh...back to the real issues at hand.

Green Bay is officially a mess. Not only is Brett Favre hurt with a nerve problem in his arm, which seems pretty serious to me. But, Aaron Rodgers, the backup QB and 2005 #1 draft pick broke his foot playing in one half of football for the injured Favre. The great thing about this, here is Favre, having played in 200+ games in a row, which, in my mind, is infinitely more impressive than Cal Ripken's streak, and he gets hurt during the first half and his backup gets hurt and will miss multiple games. Favre - 200+, Rodgers 0

Ladainian Tomlinson broke the pace for the number of games it takes to get to 100 TDs beating out Emmitt Smith and Jim Brown. Smith and Brown did it each in 93 games where Tomlinson got to it in 89 games. Oh, and he got to 101, 102 in 89 games too, the fastest to them as well. That is pretty decent company.

The Colts lost. Griese (No, Bob not Brian) and the rest of the 1972 Dolphins can un-cork the champagne. But, please follow that with the fact that NONE OF US CARE THAT YOU ALL STILL GET TOGETHER TO UN-CORK CHAMPAGNE AND CELEBRATE! I dont. I really just dont care. Granted, it has been so long since it last happened that many of the players on the team have to be careful and not mix the champagne with Viagra otherwise they could have adverse effects, like a hard-on for 12 hours, granted if you drink enough champagne, that may not be a total concern.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings in Sports #19

I would love it if on of these times when I say that I am back, that I actually stay back, instead of acting like a college frat boy going over to the same girl's house at 2AM and for the eighth time saying that he is interested in a relationship but the timing just isnt right....

I need to start off this week's column with a mention of the Bears. My beloved Bears. They have been noted as the best team in the NFL one week and then everyone counts them out. You would think with the experts comments on the Bears that they were 6-3, not 8-1. The defense has been very solid again this year, although the pass rush has been absent the last few weeks. Oh, and if someone could slide some Smelling salts under the nose of Adewale Ogunleye to wake him up. That or introduce him to the opposing team's QB prior to the game so he would know who his objective it is to hit and tackle, well, that would be swell too.

Rex Grossman has taken a lot of criticism, but the O-Line has not been great the last few weeks and he has been taking much more of a beating. Not easy to play the QB position when you think you may get hit each time you go back. Grossman has kept his mouth shut with any criticisms. But, hopefully, this past week is a good omen for him. He and the rest of the offense started off very flat, in a hostile environment, on Prime Time, and then the Bears got a first down on a draw on 3rd and 22, momentum changed, Bears roll down the field, touchdown pass tp Mark Bradley (wonderful seeing him on the field again). Cue Hester's 108 touchdown run, Eli Manning having a more confused look on his face than normal, Bears win.

On to everything else...
$51 million dollars. Thats it. Oh, wait, that was just for the right to sign him to Scott Boras-as-my-agent money? Mixed move in my mind. Part of the reason the BoSox did this, apparently, was so the Yanks could not sign him. If I were the BoSox, I would let them. Everytime, since the A-Rod trade, that the Yanks have thrown their money around, the move has hit them in the face. Randy and his back, Jaret Wright and the list goes on. You may just want to let Yanks and Cashman continue his poor performance as a GM. Although what they got for Sheffield from the Tigers was a fantastic move. They have a weak minor league and just added what looks like 3 stud pitchers.

I got an email from a friend mentioning that the Mighty Ducks trade was awful and the Blackhawks should trade Khabilbulin mid-season was awful. My response, when did the NHL end its strike?

Bobby Bowden had to fire his son, the Offensive Coordinator who was simply offensive as a coordinator. But, they said that his son reported to another coach (who reported to Bowden) to avoid any nepotism. Well, its a good thing too. Maybe he can hire Terry Bowden so I dont have to look at his face any more during pre- and post- game shows.

Joe Pa is planning on being at the game again this Saturday and even told his players, "I'm not going anywhere". I love this guy. This guy has had to redevelop his whole theory on coaching multiple times in order to keep up with the times. Sometimes he was slower on the change than others, but he does and is Top 5 greatest college coaches ever. I would take him over Bobby Bowden any day of the week. And why you ask? Because Joe Pa still is wearing those same glasses from 1967, add a little tape to hold them together and it would make things perfect. Bowden? Those sunglasses that dont have any tint to them. Umm..why? Please, Bobby, why?

NBA is back. I love seeing these rich, prissy guys running around the court and when they commit a foul that rips a guy's head off, wonders why there is a call. Even, better, I cannot wait for one of the guys to purely explode after he gets a technical foul for giving that look this year (which is now illegal to do) and having him pull an Artest/Antonio Davis on the ref for giving him a technical.

Oh, and that ball, that damn new ball. I was not sure I was buying into the hype of how bad the new ball was. That was until I saw Vince Carter chuck up a shot from three-point land that even George Costanza would cringe at, it hit the back of the rim. Old school ball bounces 10 feet in the air and away from the basket. New ball? Falls dead and rolls into the hoop. The moment I saw that, one word popped into my head, AWFUL.

And I am all for the whole, if you are a starter in the NFL and you get hurt, you should have your job back. But with that comment should be an asterisk. Such as, if your back-up is playing great, see Damon Huard, get Green back into the thick of things. Have his dress, prepare again like a quarterback should, make sure there are no cobwebs or headaches coming from that first. Get him back on the field where he was one ounce away from being torn into two. This is Classic Herm Edwards. No practicality, just, lets throw Trent Green immediately back into the game now that he has been medically cleared by the doctors. Nevermind that they are 5-4, so a loss could make this season very difficult to make it to the postseason, just re-insert the man. The one thing Edwards could do to take some pressure off Green. Run the ball with Larry Johnson about 65 times in the game.

Great article by Bill Simmons on Espn.com's Page 2 about the Doc Rivers firing. Oh, excuse me, the soon to be firing of Doc Rivers from the Celtics.

Oh, and yes, I hate Kobe Bryant now more than ever. #8 won him how many championships, his own team, big contracts and rape charges, #24? A serious increase in jersey sales. He is making everyone go out and buy new jerseys of his. I would hate to be that person who bought a jersey for $50 the day before that announcement.

And last but, certainly, not least, Bob Knight. I agree with you that it is a non-issue. People complain how nowadays there is no discipline in sports like there was in the "Good Ole Days". Well, folks, this was a very soft way of discipline in the "Good Ole Days". There was just no Sportscenter back then to show it. If the kid's parents do not care, then it truly is a non-issue. Moving on.....

See you all next week.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings in Sports #19

I would love it if on of these times when I say that I am back, that I actually stay back, instead of acting like a college frat boy going over to the same girl's house at 2AM and for the eighth time saying that he is interested in a relationship but the timing just isnt right....

I need to start off this week's column with a mention of the Bears. My beloved Bears. They have been noted as the best team in the NFL one week and then everyone counts them out. You would think with the experts comments on the Bears that they were 6-3, not 8-1. The defense has been very solid again this year, although the pass rush has been absent the last few weeks. Oh, and if someone could slide some Smelling salts under the nose of Adewale Ogunleye to wake him up. That or introduce him to the opposing team's QB prior to the game so he would know who his objective it is to hit and tackle, well, that would be swell too.

Rex Grossman has taken a lot of criticism, but the O-Line has not been great the last few weeks and he has been taking much more of a beating. Not easy to play the QB position when you think you may get hit each time you go back. Grossman has kept his mouth shut with any criticisms. But, hopefully, this past week is a good omen for him. He and the rest of the offense started off very flat, in a hostile environment, on Prime Time, and then the Bears got a first down on a draw on 3rd and 22, momentum changed, Bears roll down the field, touchdown pass tp Mark Bradley (wonderful seeing him on the field again). Cue Hester's 108 touchdown run, Eli Manning having a more confused look on his face than normal, Bears win.

On to everything else...
$51 million dollars. Thats it. Oh, wait, that was just for the right to sign him to Scott Boras-as-my-agent money? Mixed move in my mind. Part of the reason the BoSox did this, apparently, was so the Yanks could not sign him. If I were the BoSox, I would let them. Everytime, since the A-Rod trade, that the Yanks have thrown their money around, the move has hit them in the face. Randy and his back, Jaret Wright and the list goes on. You may just want to let Yanks and Cashman continue his poor performance as a GM. Although what they got for Sheffield from the Tigers was a fantastic move. They have a weak minor league and just added what looks like 3 stud pitchers.

I got an email from a friend mentioning that the Mighty Ducks trade was awful and the Blackhawks should trade Khabilbulin mid-season was awful. My response, when did the NHL end its strike?

Bobby Bowden had to fire his son, the Offensive Coordinator who was simply offensive as a coordinator. But, they said that his son reported to another coach (who reported to Bowden) to avoid any nepotism. Well, its a good thing too. Maybe he can hire Terry Bowden so I dont have to look at his face any more during pre- and post- game shows.

Joe Pa is planning on being at the game again this Saturday and even told his players, "I'm not going anywhere". I love this guy. This guy has had to redevelop his whole theory on coaching multiple times in order to keep up with the times. Sometimes he was slower on the change than others, but he does and is Top 5 greatest college coaches ever. I would take him over Bobby Bowden any day of the week. And why you ask? Because Joe Pa still is wearing those same glasses from 1967, add a little tape to hold them together and it would make things perfect. Bowden? Those sunglasses that dont have any tint to them. Umm..why? Please, Bobby, why?

NBA is back. I love seeing these rich, prissy guys running around the court and when they commit a foul that rips a guy's head off, wonders why there is a call. Even, better, I cannot wait for one of the guys to purely explode after he gets a technical foul for giving that look this year (which is now illegal to do) and having him pull an Artest/Antonio Davis on the ref for giving him a technical.

Oh, and that ball, that damn new ball. I was not sure I was buying into the hype of how bad the new ball was. That was until I saw Vince Carter chuck up a shot from three-point land that even George Costanza would cringe at, it hit the back of the rim. Old school ball bounces 10 feet in the air and away from the basket. New ball? Falls dead and rolls into the hoop. The moment I saw that, one word popped into my head, AWFUL.

And I am all for the whole, if you are a starter in the NFL and you get hurt, you should have your job back. But with that comment should be an asterisk. Such as, if your back-up is playing great, see Damon Huard, get Green back into the thick of things. Have his dress, prepare again like a quarterback should, make sure there are no cobwebs or headaches coming from that first. Get him back on the field where he was one ounce away from being torn into two. This is Classic Herm Edwards. No practicality, just, lets throw Trent Green immediately back into the game now that he has been medically cleared by the doctors. Nevermind that they are 5-4, so a loss could make this season very difficult to make it to the postseason, just re-insert the man. The one thing Edwards could do to take some pressure off Green. Run the ball with Larry Johnson about 65 times in the game.

Great article by Bill Simmons on Espn.com's Page 2 about the Doc Rivers firing. Oh, excuse me, the soon to be firing of Doc Rivers from the Celtics.

Oh, and yes, I hate Kobe Bryant now more than ever. #8 won him how many championships, his own team, big contracts and rape charges, #24? A serious increase in jersey sales. He is making everyone go out and buy new jerseys of his. I would hate to be that person who bought a jersey for $50 the day before that announcement.

And last but, certainly, not least, Bob Knight. I agree with you that it is a non-issue. People complain how nowadays there is no discipline in sports like there was in the "Good Ole Days". Well, folks, this was a very soft way of discipline in the "Good Ole Days". There was just no Sportscenter back then to show it. If the kid's parents do not care, then it truly is a non-issue. Moving on.....

See you all next week.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings in Sports #19

I would love it if on of these times when I say that I am back, that I actually stay back, instead of acting like a college frat boy going over to the same girl's house at 2AM and for the eighth time saying that he is interested in a relationship but the timing just isnt right....

I need to start off this week's column with a mention of the Bears. My beloved Bears. They have been noted as the best team in the NFL one week and then everyone counts them out. You would think with the experts comments on the Bears that they were 6-3, not 8-1. The defense has been very solid again this year, although the pass rush has been absent the last few weeks. Oh, and if someone could slide some Smelling salts under the nose of Adewale Ogunleye to wake him up. That or introduce him to the opposing team's QB prior to the game so he would know who his objective it is to hit and tackle, well, that would be swell too.

Rex Grossman has taken a lot of critiscism, but the O-Line has not been great the last few weeks and he has been taking much more of a beating. Not easy to play the QB position when you think you may get hit each time you go back. Grossman has kept his mouth shut with any critisicms. But, hopefully, this past week is a good omen for him. He and the rest of the offense started off very flat, in a hostile environment, on Prime Time, and then the Bears got a first down on a draw on 3rd and 22, momentum changed, Bears roll down the field, touchdown pass tp Mark Bradley (wonderful seeing him on the field again). Cue Hester's 108 touchdown run, Eli Manning having a more confused look on his face than normal, Bears win.

On to everything else...
$51 million dollars. Thats it. Oh, wait, that was just for the right to sign him to Scott Boras-as-my-agent money? Mixed move in my mind. Part of the reason the BoSox did this, apparently, was so the Yanks could not sign him. If I were the BoSox, I would let them. Everytime, since the A-Rod trade, that the Yanks have thrown their money around, the move has hit them in the face. Randy and his back, Jaret Wright and the list goes on. You may just want to let Yanks and Cashman continue his poor performace as a GM. Although what they got for Sheffield from the Tigers was a fantastic move. They have a weak minor league and just added what looks like 3 stud pitchers.

I got an email from a friend mentioning that the Mighty Ducks trade was awful and the Blackhawks should trade Khabilbulin mid-season was awful. My response, when did the NHL end its strike?

Bobby Bowden had to fire his son, the Offensive Coordinator who was simply offensive as a coordinator. But, they said that his son reported to another coach (who reported to Bowden) to avoid any nepotism. Well, its a good thing too. Maybe he can hire Terry Bowden so I dont have to look at his face any more during pre- and post- game shows.

Joe Pa is planning on being at the game again this Saturday and even told his players, "I'm not going anywhere". I love this guy. This guy has had to redevelop his whole theory on coaching multiple times in order to keep up with the times. Sometimes he was slower on the change than others, but he does and is Top 5 greatest colege coaches ever. I would take him over Bobby Bowden any day of the week. And why you ask? Because Joe Pa still is wearing those same glasses from 1967, add a little tape to hold them together and it would make things perfect. Bowden? Those sunglasses that dont have any tint to them. Umm..why? Please, Bobby, why?

NBA is back. I love seeing these rich, prissy guys running around the court and when they commit a foul that rips a guy's head off, wonders why there is a call. Even, better, I cannot wait for one of the guys to purely explode after he gets a technical foul for giving that look this year (which is now illegal to do) and having him pull an Artest/Antonio Davis on the ref for giving him a technical.

Oh, and that ball, that damn new ball. I was not sure I was buying into the hype of how bad the new ball was. That was until I saw Vince Carter chuck up a shot from three-point land that even George Costanza would cringe at, it hit the back of the rim. Old school ball bounces 10 feet in the air and away from the basket. New ball? Falls dead and rolls into the hoop. The moment I saw that, one word popped into my head, AWFUL.

And I am all for the whole, if you are a starter in the NFL and you get hurt, you should have your job back. But with that comment should be an asterisk. Such as, if your back-up is playing great, see Damon Huard, get Green back into the thick of things. Have his dress, prepare again like a quarterback should, make sure there are no cobwebs or headaches coming from that first. Get him back on the field where he was one ounce away from being torn into two. This is Classic Herm Edwards. No practicality, just, lets throw Trent Green immediately back into the game now that he has been medically cleared by the doctors. Nevermind that they are 5-4, so a loss could make this season very difficult to make it to the postseason, just re-insert the man. The one thing Edwards could do to take some pressure off Green. Run the ball with Larry Johnson about 65 times in the game.

Great article by Bill Simmons on Espn.com's Page 2 about the Doc Rivers firing. Oh, excuse me, the soon to be firing of Doc Rivers from the Celtics.

Oh, and yes, I hate Kobe Bryant now more than ever. #8 won him how many championships, his own team, big contracts and rape charges, #24? A serious increase in jersey sales. He is making everyone go out and buy new jerseys of his. I would hate to be that person who bought a jersey for $50 the day before that announcement.

And last but, certainly, not least, Bob Knight. I agree with you that it is a non-issue. People complain how nowadays there is no discipline in sports like there was in the "Good Ole Days". Well, folks, this was a very soft way of discipline in the "Good Ole Days". There was just no Sportscenter back then to show it. If the kid's parents do not care, then it truly is a non-issue. Moving on.....

See you all next week.

Occasionally Coherent Ramblings in Sports #19

I would love it if on of these times when I say that I am back, that I actually stay back, instead of acting like a college frat boy going over to the same girl's house at 2AM and for the eighth time saying that he is interested in a relationship but the timing just isnt right....

I need to start off this week's column with a mention of the Bears. My beloved Bears. They have been noted as the best team in the NFL one week and then everyone counts them out. You would think with the experts comments on the Bears that they were 6-3, not 8-1. The defense has been very solid again this year, although the pass rush has been absent the last few weeks. Oh, and if someone could slide some Smelling salts under the nose of Adewale Ogunleye to wake him up. That or introduce him to the opposing team's QB prior to the game so he would know who his objective it is to hit and tackle, well, that would be swell too.

Rex Grossman has taken a lot of critiscism, but the O-Line has not been great the last few weeks and he has been taking much more of a beating. Not easy to play the QB position when you think you may get hit each time you go back. Grossman has kept his mouth shut with any critisicms. But, hopefully, this past week is a good omen for him. He and the rest of the offense started off very flat, in a hostile environment, on Prime Time, and then the Bears got a first down on a draw on 3rd and 22, momentum changed, Bears roll down the field, touchdown pass tp Mark Bradley (wonderful seeing him on the field again). Cue Hester's 108 touchdown run, Eli Manning having a more confused look on his face than normal, Bears win.

On to everything else...
$51 million dollars. Thats it. Oh, wait, that was just for the right to sign him to Scott Boras-as-my-agent money? Mixed move in my mind. Part of the reason the BoSox did this, apparently, was so the Yanks could not sign him. If I were the BoSox, I would let them. Everytime, since the A-Rod trade, that the Yanks have thrown their money around, the move has hit them in the face. Randy and his back, Jaret Wright and the list goes on. You may just want to let Yanks and Cashman continue his poor performace as a GM. Although what they got for Sheffield from the Tigers was a fantastic move. They have a weak minor league and just added what looks like 3 stud pitchers.

I got an email from a friend mentioning that the Mighty Ducks trade was awful and the Blackhawks should trade Khabilbulin mid-season was awful. My response, when did the NHL end its strike?

Bobby Bowden had to fire his son, the Offensive Coordinator who was simply offensive as a coordinator. But, they said that his son reported to another coach (who reported to Bowden) to avoid any nepotism. Well, its a good thing too. Maybe he can hire Terry Bowden so I dont have to look at his face any more during pre- and post- game shows.

Joe Pa is planning on being at the game again this Saturday and even told his players, "I'm not going anywhere". I love this guy. This guy has had to redevelop his whole theory on coaching multiple times in order to keep up with the times. Sometimes he was slower on the change than others, but he does and is Top 5 greatest colege coaches ever. I would take him over Bobby Bowden any day of the week. And why you ask? Because Joe Pa still is wearing those same glasses from 1967, add a little tape to hold them together and it would make things perfect. Bowden? Those sunglasses that dont have any tint to them. Umm..why? Please, Bobby, why?

NBA is back. I love seeing these rich, prissy guys running around the court and when they commit a foul that rips a guy's head off, wonders why there is a call. Even, better, I cannot wait for one of the guys to purely explode after he gets a technical foul for giving that look this year (which is now illegal to do) and having him pull an Artest/Antonio Davis on the ref for giving him a technical.

Oh, and that ball, that damn new ball. I was not sure I was buying into the hype of how bad the new ball was. That was until I saw Vince Carter chuck up a shot from three-point land that even George Costanza would cringe at, it hit the back of the rim. Old school ball bounces 10 feet in the air and away from the basket. New ball? Falls dead and rolls into the hoop. The moment I saw that, one word popped into my head, AWFUL.

And I am all for the whole, if you are a starter in the NFL and you get hurt, you should have your job back. But with that comment should be an asterisk. Such as, if your back-up is playing great, see Damon Huard, get Green back into the thick of things. Have his dress, prepare again like a quarterback should, make sure there are no cobwebs or headaches coming from that first. Get him back on the field where he was one ounce away from being torn into two. This is Classic Herm Edwards. No practicality, just, lets throw Trent Green immediately back into the game now that he has been medically cleared by the doctors. Nevermind that they are 5-4, so a loss could make this season very difficult to make it to the postseason, just re-insert the man. The one thing Edwards could do to take some pressure off Green. Run the ball with Larry Johnson about 65 times in the game.

Great article by Bill Simmons on Espn.com's Page 2 about the Doc Rivers firing. Oh, excuse me, the soon to be firing of Doc Rivers from the Celtics.

Oh, and yes, I hate Kobe Bryant now more than ever. #8 won him how many championships, his own team, big contracts and rape charges, #24? A serious increase in jersey sales. He is making everyone go out and buy new jerseys of his. I would hate to be that person who bought a jersey for $50 the day before that announcement.

And last but, certainly, not least, Bob Knight. I agree with you that it is a non-issue. People complain how nowadays there is no discipline in sports like there was in the "Good Ole Days". Well, folks, this was a very soft way of discipline in the "Good Ole Days". There was just no Sportscenter back then to show it. If the kid's parents do not care, then it truly is a non-issue. Moving on.....

See you all next week.