Last week after Michael Vick ran an offensive clinic against the Green Bay Packers, almost overcoming a 17 point deficit, Andy Reid insisted to the media that once Kevin Kolb became healthy again he would be the starter. Cut to this week after Vick torched the Detroit Lions for 284 yards passing with 2 touchdowns, no picks and 37 more rushing yards leading the Eagles to their first win of the 2010 season. After the game once again Reid insists that Kolb will be the quarterback next week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
OK now its Tuesday, two days later September 21st and a huge announcement is made that Michael Vick, not Kevin Kolb, will be the Eagles starting quarterback against Jacksonville. SAY WHAT? I sense an instance of team management stepping in.
Kevin Kolb got hurt against the Packers because he couldn't escape the pressure. The Eagles offensive line cannot protect him. Even Vick has been sacked and knocked down way too much. In fact, the tables will probably turn again in Kolb's favor once Vick takes one too many hits. But as I was saying, the offensive line is not good enough to allow Kolb to succeed whereas Vick's elusiveness and his new-found accurracy make him the perfect weapon for this Eagles offense. Vick has always been able to escape the rush, except now he has found his passing touch allowing him to rack up yards and thereby winning himself the starting job.
Clearly Andy Reid was going to stick to his guns. Afterall, this is the coach who insists on passing the ball 70 percent of the time and running the ball only when the Eagles have a big lead. His coaching style and leadership has produced the best regular season record in the NFL since his tenor began. However, Reid playoff failures in the big games are well documented. It seems when the pressure is on in the big moments of the biggest games Andy Reid screws up. And it's not just in the big games, every now and then Reid will call a stupid time-out or make a terrible play call. Well Marty Morninghweg is calling the plays now, but Reid still has the say to make judgement calls and throw in a play or 2 of his own.
Bottom Line: Finally Eagles management has stepped in, pulled back the reigns and said, 'This is our team Andy, not yours.' The Eagles should have manned-up and fired Reid when his contract was up like every Eagle fan thought they would. Instead they went against their gut and went with the numbers. How can you fire a coach who wins 10 games every year. It's easy. You look in the mirror and ask yourselves, should we have won more? With the talent we've had, could we have won more? Andy Reid should be a general manager or a coordinator, not a head coach. Mike Holmgrem he is not. Bill Walsh he is not. George Seifert he is not. All these guys Reid worked under but he attained none of their capabilities when it comes to the number one thing: WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Reggie Bush forfeits his Heisman
This story is a joke, therefore it's very easy to write about.
Reggie Bush was a star running-back in college at the University of Southern California. In 2005 his final year, he won the acclaimed Heisman trophy over Vince Young and his teammates Matt Leinart and Lendale White. The subsequent investigations into Bush's dealings with professional sports agents procured findings that Bush received moneys nearing $200,000 for himself and his family. These reports surfaced shortly after Bush's final season at USC, but the credibility of the story didn't become official until recently.
Now the NCAA is in an uproar, an NFL running back is having to explain the mistakes of his college days and the sports world is having a hey day calling for Bush to give back his Heisman. Well, Reggie finally gave in to the NCAA's and the National Media pressure. He 'forfeit' the prestigious trophy today, September 14, 2010.
In the grand scheme of world stories and happenings, this is not a tragedy nor a important historic event. However, it is the first time ever that a Heisman trophy winner has officially forfeit the award. The important issue at the heart of this story is the idea of college athletes being paid. For almost 10 years now, the NCAA has been in litigation with various factions, including former UCLA Basketball star Ed O'Bannon, for the usage of college athlete's names and likenesses in everything from jersey's in campus stores to video games sold around the world.
Presently, Reggie Bush is a highly paid star running back and kick returner for the current Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. But back at USC, Reggie was just another college kid struggling to make a few dollars, get his school work done and fulfill his duty as a student athlete. OK he wasn't a typical college kid. He wasn't paying tuition, he probably wasn't having trouble with his school work and I'm sure his plate was never lacking in size or quantity(Have you seen the modern college athlete. They weigh 200 to 300 lbs. Do you know how much you have to eat to get that big?).
So what are the facts and determining circumstances of this story. We know Reggie took money. Is that a crime? No. Does it violate current NCAA regulations? Yes. Is the NCAA a joke? Yes. Do college athletes deserve some compensation for their work as athletes? If their work as athletes contributes in any way to the financial betterment of their institution, then HELL YES they do.
Reggie Bush did nothing wrong or different than most other logical human beings would do in the exact same situation. He and his family were struggling to make ends meet so a couple of sports agents lured them in, knowing that eventually Reggie would be a Pro Athlete of high accord. They gave them some money probably for the promise of future agent and promoting services that would occur once Reggie was drafted into the NFL.
Did taking money affect Reggie's play on the field? Of course not. I'm sure it improved his piece of mind and his families' living conditions though. AND WHO WOULDN'T DO THAT FOR LOVED ONES??? I wouldn't like anyone whom would choose to not better their families lives.
The Bottom Line is Reggie Bush is the 2005 Heisman Trophy Winner and he always will be. The fact that the NCAA are an organization of hypocrites make them the losers in this story. They take all the money that these "college athletes" earn on the fields and then they say it is unethical for a student-athlete to receive money. That in itself is laughable. If I were Reggie Bush, I would be all over the news saying things like, "Yeah I took money. So What? Did I take drugs? No. Did I cheat? No. All I did was improve the lives of my family in a time of need and for that I am being looked at and reported as a criminal. I am and always will be a Heisman trophy winner. And I know that I am not the only college kid who ever took money from an agent. I am just the only one who's won the Heisman and got caught.
Reggie Bush was a star running-back in college at the University of Southern California. In 2005 his final year, he won the acclaimed Heisman trophy over Vince Young and his teammates Matt Leinart and Lendale White. The subsequent investigations into Bush's dealings with professional sports agents procured findings that Bush received moneys nearing $200,000 for himself and his family. These reports surfaced shortly after Bush's final season at USC, but the credibility of the story didn't become official until recently.
Now the NCAA is in an uproar, an NFL running back is having to explain the mistakes of his college days and the sports world is having a hey day calling for Bush to give back his Heisman. Well, Reggie finally gave in to the NCAA's and the National Media pressure. He 'forfeit' the prestigious trophy today, September 14, 2010.
In the grand scheme of world stories and happenings, this is not a tragedy nor a important historic event. However, it is the first time ever that a Heisman trophy winner has officially forfeit the award. The important issue at the heart of this story is the idea of college athletes being paid. For almost 10 years now, the NCAA has been in litigation with various factions, including former UCLA Basketball star Ed O'Bannon, for the usage of college athlete's names and likenesses in everything from jersey's in campus stores to video games sold around the world.
Presently, Reggie Bush is a highly paid star running back and kick returner for the current Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. But back at USC, Reggie was just another college kid struggling to make a few dollars, get his school work done and fulfill his duty as a student athlete. OK he wasn't a typical college kid. He wasn't paying tuition, he probably wasn't having trouble with his school work and I'm sure his plate was never lacking in size or quantity(Have you seen the modern college athlete. They weigh 200 to 300 lbs. Do you know how much you have to eat to get that big?).
So what are the facts and determining circumstances of this story. We know Reggie took money. Is that a crime? No. Does it violate current NCAA regulations? Yes. Is the NCAA a joke? Yes. Do college athletes deserve some compensation for their work as athletes? If their work as athletes contributes in any way to the financial betterment of their institution, then HELL YES they do.
Reggie Bush did nothing wrong or different than most other logical human beings would do in the exact same situation. He and his family were struggling to make ends meet so a couple of sports agents lured them in, knowing that eventually Reggie would be a Pro Athlete of high accord. They gave them some money probably for the promise of future agent and promoting services that would occur once Reggie was drafted into the NFL.
Did taking money affect Reggie's play on the field? Of course not. I'm sure it improved his piece of mind and his families' living conditions though. AND WHO WOULDN'T DO THAT FOR LOVED ONES??? I wouldn't like anyone whom would choose to not better their families lives.
The Bottom Line is Reggie Bush is the 2005 Heisman Trophy Winner and he always will be. The fact that the NCAA are an organization of hypocrites make them the losers in this story. They take all the money that these "college athletes" earn on the fields and then they say it is unethical for a student-athlete to receive money. That in itself is laughable. If I were Reggie Bush, I would be all over the news saying things like, "Yeah I took money. So What? Did I take drugs? No. Did I cheat? No. All I did was improve the lives of my family in a time of need and for that I am being looked at and reported as a criminal. I am and always will be a Heisman trophy winner. And I know that I am not the only college kid who ever took money from an agent. I am just the only one who's won the Heisman and got caught.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Derek Jeter wants A-Rod money?
I don't know if it's true, but it's been reported that Derek Jeter wants his upcoming contract to equal or top that of Alex Rodriguez'. Considering Jeter is 36 years old, having the worst year of his career and is clearly on the decline, most fans and media find this matter laughable. However, a closer look at the situation offers quite a reasonable yet sad explanation.
Assuming the report is true, if Derek Jeter played for any other team in the world his demands would be absolutely preposterous. Jeter and his agent, Creative Artists Agency's Casey Close(gimme a break), would be laughed out of the room. But we're talking New York here. The team with unlimited funds; the Yankees. They basically control the MLB free agent market. They can out-bid every other team as well as sell every player on the idea of playing with 5 to 10 all star teammates annually.
This is why Jeter is demanding top dollar. Derek Jeter knows he's not worth 25 or 30 million a year. Hell, he knows he ain't worth 5 million a year at this point. But the town and the team are of a different ilk. It's fitting that Jeter is represented by a marketing firm geared toward the celebrity rock star or hot model-actor. He will be negotiating this contract based on his star-power, not his hitting power. His argument for the dollars is completely contingent upon his marketability and his meaning to the Yankees franchise. The perspective and insight into the Yankees franchise is completely on display here. It is the perfect picture to explain why the Yankees are one of the few things wrong with baseball. Jeter will make his case for his contract not on baseball skills and talent, but on his marketing prowess and celebrity status. The funny thing about the whole deal is Derek Jeter will be 100 percent RIGHT!!!!!
In New York, he is worth 30 million a year. In New York, he is a rockstar/model/actor/ballplayer. For the Yankees Jeter is a money maker, heart breaker and seat filler. For any other team Jeter would be either on the bench, DH'ing or platooning. He would be a starter on a last place team with no winning prospects. But the New York Yankees don't operate on MLB's market, they function on a market all their own.
It is worth mentioning Derek Jeter's lifetime stats and historic impact on baseball. Jeter has a .314 lifetime batting average. He is an 11-time all star and a 4-time gold glove winner. Next year barring injury Jeter will surpass 3000 hits. He has 234 homeruns and 320 stolen bases. And what so many people point out, Jeter has 5 championship rings so he is a winner. His post season performances are also very good. He has basically played 1 extra full season of baseball in post season play. Those numbers are as follows. Hits: 175 BA: .313 HR: 20 Runs: 99 RBI: 55. Jeter also has contributed as a key defensive player in his team's championship runs. He has quite a few highlight reel plays in the most important pressure-packed games.
Assuming the report is true, if Derek Jeter played for any other team in the world his demands would be absolutely preposterous. Jeter and his agent, Creative Artists Agency's Casey Close(gimme a break), would be laughed out of the room. But we're talking New York here. The team with unlimited funds; the Yankees. They basically control the MLB free agent market. They can out-bid every other team as well as sell every player on the idea of playing with 5 to 10 all star teammates annually.
This is why Jeter is demanding top dollar. Derek Jeter knows he's not worth 25 or 30 million a year. Hell, he knows he ain't worth 5 million a year at this point. But the town and the team are of a different ilk. It's fitting that Jeter is represented by a marketing firm geared toward the celebrity rock star or hot model-actor. He will be negotiating this contract based on his star-power, not his hitting power. His argument for the dollars is completely contingent upon his marketability and his meaning to the Yankees franchise. The perspective and insight into the Yankees franchise is completely on display here. It is the perfect picture to explain why the Yankees are one of the few things wrong with baseball. Jeter will make his case for his contract not on baseball skills and talent, but on his marketing prowess and celebrity status. The funny thing about the whole deal is Derek Jeter will be 100 percent RIGHT!!!!!
In New York, he is worth 30 million a year. In New York, he is a rockstar/model/actor/ballplayer. For the Yankees Jeter is a money maker, heart breaker and seat filler. For any other team Jeter would be either on the bench, DH'ing or platooning. He would be a starter on a last place team with no winning prospects. But the New York Yankees don't operate on MLB's market, they function on a market all their own.
It is worth mentioning Derek Jeter's lifetime stats and historic impact on baseball. Jeter has a .314 lifetime batting average. He is an 11-time all star and a 4-time gold glove winner. Next year barring injury Jeter will surpass 3000 hits. He has 234 homeruns and 320 stolen bases. And what so many people point out, Jeter has 5 championship rings so he is a winner. His post season performances are also very good. He has basically played 1 extra full season of baseball in post season play. Those numbers are as follows. Hits: 175 BA: .313 HR: 20 Runs: 99 RBI: 55. Jeter also has contributed as a key defensive player in his team's championship runs. He has quite a few highlight reel plays in the most important pressure-packed games.
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