Saturday, May 14, 2011

Rashard Mendenhall

So much for getting this blog off to a roaring start. It only took four months to publish my second post. I did write one earlier but forgot to publish it which is probably for the best as I was previewing the NFL playoffs and was wrong on every game but one. With that out of the way here we go again.

While this isn't the most timely take on this issue as it took place over a week ago but  I felt it was necessary. Now let me start by offering full disclosure and say that I am a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan and I believe they would have won the Super Bowl this year had Mendenhall not fumbled in the second half of that game.

Rashard found himself in the middle of a major controversy last week by posting statements on his Twitter account in reaction to the events surrounding Osama Bin Laden's death. Rashard offered up two items that got the bulk of the attention. One had to do with Bin Laden's death itself and Rashard's puzzlement as to why people were taking to the streets in celebration. The second had to do with the event that Bin Laden is credited with masterminding, the tragedy of 9/11, and allusions to a possible conspiracy theory that he might or might not believe in.

Let me first say that I do not believe in the conspiracy theories surrounding the events of 9/11 that the government had something to do with the buildings coming down and that it was not solely the result of terrorists. That said, I do not begrudge anyone for having that opinion. We are all entitled to our opinions and expressing those opinions. His statement about 9/11 really isn't that much different than those who think we may not have actually sent someone to the moon or that JFK's assassination was not a solo effort by Lee Harvey Oswald and there are plenty of people who believe in one or several other conspiracies.

While I was glued to the tv like 56 million other Americans to watch the announcement and was relieved to know he had been caught and killed I did not feel the urge to go outside into the cul-de-sac and shout out pro-American chants. I believe I gave a simple fist pump while sitting in my cushy oversized chair. Again, I don't begrudge those who felt compelled to do just that though. I do find it odd that of all the celebrations I can remember taking place in this country over my 40 years none have been the result of a death. I think it is an interesting  social phenomenon that took place that night to see how the pain and tragedy of 9/11 and the fear and frustration that have been in place since then released itself in those demonstrations as a result of the death of the symbolic figurehead of 9/11. Rashard was simply observing the reaction as being strange to him and not in line with his beliefs.

In the immediacy of that night and the corresponding high running emotion,s Rashard's views were taken as being un-American and sympathizing with a monster. Upon a closer review of Rashard's comments I don't really see anything he says that reflects that. As a result, Champion has dropped him as a sponsor. That is their right to do just as it was Rashard's right to say what he said. Now while I am a strong believer in the First Amendment right to free speech I also believe that you then have to be willing to deal with any consequences that are a result of that free speech.

While I am disappointed with the initial reaction to Rashard's comments I am pleased to see that after being able to reflect on what happened more people are respecting Rashard's right to say what he said and praising him for not backing down in his beliefs. I fall into this camp as well and am glad he didn't back down. At the same time, I understand Champion letting him go as they have a brand to maintain and this is the downside of those consequences mentioned earlier. What I don't understand at all was the talk I heard about him apologizing to his teammates or being in jeopardy of losing his job as a football player. Have we really gotten to the place as a society where we go after someone who has a religious stance that tries to find some value in life no matter who that person is?  I think we all need to just slow down at times and wait for some of the immediate emotion to subside before we pass judgement.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

BCS system or playoff?

Tomorrow night is the culmination of the NCAA football season unless there is one more worthless bowl game yet to be played I am unaware of. This seems like a perfect time for my first true post and an opportunity to spout off about the single biggest issue that needs to be rectified in the world of sports and that is the fact we don't have a major college football playoff.

I will give the BCS credit for the fact that for the most part they do get the top two teams matched up in the final game. There has  been plenty of controversy about this in the past and that includes this year where a still undefeated TCU team and their fans can only grow old wondering "what if". That said I think the match up tomorrow night is the right match up but there is that slight doubt in all our heads. Now wouldn't this all just be easier if we had a playoff that left no doubt in any one's mind?

Let's address the issues that are commonly brought up as why this wouldn't work:
1. A playoff would interfere with the kids school work. Not buying it. Kids seem to make it through their classes just fine the rest of the season. What is so special about the extra couple of weeks that would be needed for a playoff? Also, how are the FCS, D2 and D3 kids able to do it and these are the kids that school is actually important to as they most likely do not have a professional future.

2. A playoff would ruin the special mystique of the bowl games. REALLY!? I am mean REALLY!?!?!? Now the BCS games (Orange, Sugar and Rose especially) have a rich tradition of top teams, conference alignments and star players which should continue if possible. But let's not kid ourselves that the following games are beloved traditions where families across the country make a holiday season tradition of gathering in front of the tv to enjoy the pomp and pageantry:
  • New Mexico Bowl
  • uDrove Huminatarian Bowl
  • R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
  • Beef O'Brady's
  • Maaco Bowl
  • San Diego County Credit Union Poinsetta Bowl
  • Little Caesar's Bowl
  • Insight bowl
  • Military Bowl
  • Texas Bowl
  • Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
  • Pinstripe Bowl
  • Meineke Car Care Bowl
  • TicketCity Bowl
  • GoDaddy.com Bowl
  • And something called the BBVA Compass Bowl
Now I am a big college football fan as is my wife so I generally don't get too much push back when suggesting that a college football game is the viewing selection for the evening. That said, not one of these games could I argue was a must watch over a rerun of House Hunters on HGTV much less a new episode of 'Selling New York'.

This year there were 35 bowl games, just 10 years ago there were 25 and 20 years ago there were only 19. That means that 10 of these tradition rich games haven't even been around for a decade which I don't think counts for much of a tradition and one of the new games is the BCS Title Game.

And here is the most ludicrous part of this argument. Not one person has ever said that these other bowl games still can't be played in conjunction with a playoff system. No one is saying if we institute an eight team playoff that a 6-6 Louisville and their fans can't travel in mass to cheer on their team in the Beef O'Brady's annual classic. Just don't fool yourselves into thinking that the importance of the Beef O'Brady's Bowl is diminished with a playoff. No offense to the schools playing, the fans, the families of the players and the community hosting the event who do their best to make these games a memorable event in these young men's lives and everyone else involved, but the cold fact is in the overall picture these games already are of little or no importance to anyone outside the groups mentioned above. Again, I am all for these kids continuing to enjoy the Beef O'Brady's Bowl game and events but there is no way that a playoff hurts the game at all.

3. Money. Again, the only response that comes to my mind is REALLY?! While there no doubt is a good amount of money spread around thanks to the bowls this would be dwarfed by the amount of money that would be generated by a playoff system. All of the other bowls could continue to exist and their money would still be there. While the BCS games would have a different look and feel as there would be seven playoff games in an eight team format (my personal bias is that this is the best option)  compared to the five that exist today and every single game would have huge implications driving a larger viewing audience. Today, while there might be compelling match ups that people want to watch with the BCS there is only game that has to be watched and that is the title game.  

4. The regular season becomes less important. This one might have some slight truth but how much can the regular season mean when TCU doesn't lose a game but can't get a shot? In past seasons Boise St., Utah and Auburn have all been denied a shot at the title in an undefeated season and let's not even get into the debate on who the most desrving one loss team is in those seasons. In This is why you limit the playoff to 8 teams. This will keep the participants most likely limited to undefeated and one loss teams. Expanding to 16 brings too many two loss teams into the picture and I think that should be avoided if possible. I am not a huge proponent of the TCU's and Boise's of the world getting into the existing BCS title game as they don't play the same level of difficult schedule week after week which takes a toll on teams as the season goes on. This is a major factor from teams from the major power conferences to get through their schedules undefeated while battling injuries and hostile crowds to a greater extent than what non-AQ schools do. But, I have no problem giving then a chance in a playoff and see how they do. TCU was very impressive in the Rose Bowl and I would love to see how they would do one week later in a semi-final against Auburn or Oregon.

In the past 10 years we have been robbed of the chance to see matchups of heavyweights like Florida-USC, Florida-Texas, Alabama-Oklahoma, LSU-USC, not to mention giving Utah, Boise St and TCU their chance to see how they measure up. I don't care how they schedule it, either have the quarterfinals on New Years day to bring back the prominence of that day, which by the way is a tradition that has fallen by the wayside, or have the title game be played that day. Make it eight teams and you can still use the BCS process to determine the teams with some small changes. The top 8 are in, no automatic conference qualifying, no dumb limits on teams per conference, just the top 8 teams in the country squaring off to figure out who is best. That would spare us the indignity of having UConn as part of the process this year along with the ACC representative until they get their act together again.

This year could have featured quarterfinal matchups of Auburn-Arkansas, Oregon-Oklahoma, TCU-Ohio St and Stanford-Wisconsin. You could tweak it if needed so that teams from the same conference didn't play first round giving us Auburn-Oklahoma and Oregon-Arkansas instead. Also, if you do the New Years thing these games can be played using the current BCS Bowl games.

The bottom line is that the University Presidents, AD's and conference heads can't get together and figure this out and they need to. There should be plenty of brain power involved in these groups to get this done. It seems like it gets a little closer every year, maybe Obama will make good on his promise to get involved or Mark Cuban can make his scheme work. Regardless, please, someone get this done.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Getting started

So 2011 has started and I have decided to start a blog. It is something I have always to do. My passion is sports and since I don't have a job that relates to it whatsoever I figured this is the next best thing for me to share my opinions on what is going on in the world of sports.

I am just an average guy with no more insight into sports than anyone else who watches games and catches Sports Center several times a week. I don't know anyone in the industry or have any contacts with any teams or athletes. I have a job and a family so this is not my life. I am doing this simply as what will hopefully be a fun outlet. Everything you will read, that is, if anyone actually reads this, is just my take. 

I live in Minnesota but will not focus heavily on the local teams. I am more interested in the overall sports scene though there will be occasions where I do focus a post on a local story if it calls for it. My favorite sport is baseball followed by football, both NFL and NCAA, and I assume the posts will follow that. I do enjoy and follow the other sports and will comment periodically on those as well. 

Feel free to leave comments and tell me if I am off my rocker or if on the rare chance you think I nailed a situation. The good thing with this media is that it will be permanently recorded so we can see who was right or not as time goes by. With that, welcome and I hope there will be something out here you enjoy.