18-1

Way to go Giants! I am a Dolphins fan dating back to 1971. So while I usually couldn't care less about the NY Giants, I was a huge fan this afternoon. I needed them to help protect the Miami Dolphin's undefeated season record.

My new favorite team, for at least 4 hours this afternoon, came through like gangbusters. The Giants upset the Patriots in Superbowl XLII, 17-14. Sure the Patriots won 18 games this season, but more importantly, they lost the one that really counted - the Superbowl.

Go Giants!!!!!

Reply to Bad Sportsmanship

On Saturday my alma mater, The university of Wyoming, played a football game against the University of Utah.

The game wasn't going well. UW was losing 0 - 40 a half-time. Then with 6 minutes and 30 seconds left in the third quarter Utah scored a field goal to take a 43-0 lead.

On the ensuing kick off the University of Utah attempted an on-side kick. Fortunately for UW the kick didn't go 10 yards and they recovered the ball.

Personally I consider a team attempting an onside kick against an opponent that you are beating by more than 6 touchdowns to be really low class. I would love to hear the Utah coach, Kyle Whittingham's explanation as to why he would make such a obviously bad sportsmanship call.

The announcers of the game in CSTV had this to say:

"They are going to onside kick it? You gotta be kidding me!"

"No. This is wrong."

"What is the point?"

"But this is classless in my mind."

"I disagree whole-heartedly with this."

So what did Joe Glenn the head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys think of that play?

Well, Joe didn't waste too many words. He just grabbed his shovel dug for a little while until he got down to the same level as the Utah Coaches and said:



Under normal circumstances I would never condone this kind of behavior. But in this case I think flipping a little bird may have been deserved. Probably not appropriate but definitely deserved. I just wish the coach had expressed his disgust with Coach Whittingham in person instead of on national television.

Later when questioned about his finger Coach Glenn said that "Football is an emotional game and he got caught up in the emotions of the moment and wasn't thinking."

The New Bearscast

Last year in a posting about the podcasts I like to listen to I mentioned the Bearscast. At the time I was very disillusioned about this podcast. But since it was only one of two podcasts that I could find about the Bears and the other one, Johnny James's podcast on My Sports radio used so many sound bumpers that they become annoying, I kept listening. But when the Superbowl came and went and there were no new Bearscasts. Then the draft came and went with no new Bearscasts I decided to punt. So I waited for the first episode of the new season and decided that if I tune into it and hear those same clowns, I was going to delete the Bearscast from my listening schedule.

When I finally got a new Bearscast episode I steeled myself for another sophomoric assault on my hearing. But when I tuned in I discovered that the Chicago Sports Network had replaced the hosts of this podcast with a couple other guys, Herman Coats and Gabe Dixon. The difference is amazing. There was no more annoying rap music playing in the background. There was no more people talking in the background. No more silly little boys blasting out my eardrums by giggling at their own jokes. And best of all - Gabe and Herman and their guests actually talk about the Chicago Bears football team.

Kudos to this change. The Bearscast podcast is enjoyable again. Granted the audio quality isn't the greatest. They could use a little better equipment or maybe some training on how to use what they have. But this podcast is back on my ipod and I'm looking forward to each new episode.

Now if the Bears would actually start playing like a superbowl caliber team again so the guys could start talking about good things instead of just how many turnovers Rex the Wonderdog commits.

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football is just Dungeon and Dragons for guys who used to beat up guys who played Dungeons and Dragons.

Dolphins Finally Wake Up?

I think that someone on the Dolphin's staff may have finally gotten their act together.

Last week news was released that Ricky Williams the Dolphin's persistant drug abuser failed his 4271st drug test.

Alright that may be a slight exageration, but the Dolphins have given Ricky Williams more than enough chances. It's time for this team to finally cut their losser running back loose and move on.

Today when asked about Ricky Williams' most recently failed drug test Coach Cameron replied:

"I will not allow our fans to be let down by people that are not on our roster -- not again,'' Cameron said. "It's my responsibility not to let that happen. We have the greatest fans in the game, and we've got men on our team that we're going to focus on.''

Maybe the Dolphins will finally send Ricky Williams on his pot smoking way and get down to the business of trying to rebuild their football team.

Schottenheimer Fired

Less than four weeks ago amidst lots of speculation that Marty Schottenheimer would be fired for losing a playoff game to New England Patriots Chargers President and CEO Dean Spanos made this statement:

“I have decided that Marty Schottenheimer is the best person to lead the Chargers in the 2007 season. General Manager A.J. Smith and I agree on this fundamental point. That is why we are pleased to welcome Marty and his coaching staff back for Marty’s sixth season as head coach of the San Diego Chargers.

“We are all bitterly disappointed how this season ended, but we can’t allow our disappointment to cloud the achievements of our franchise over the past few years. Only two teams have won more regular season games over the past three years than the Chargers. We have 24 key players under long-term contracts through at least 2009. This is a fine young team, with great chemistry, and right now stability is important for this team. I’m already looking forward to next season.

“That is why we are also offering one-year contract extensions for Coach Schottenheimer’s staff, through 2008. We also offered a one-year $4.5 million contract extension to Marty, with a team option buy-out of $1 million for the 2008 season. He decided not to accept this extension, and I respect his decision.

“Now it is time to put this issue behind us and move forward together. That is what I told both Marty and A.J. when I met with them this afternoon. The entire Chargers family will do whatever it takes to bring a championship to San Diego.”

Today Spanos is singing a much different tune:

"The process of dealing with these coaching changes convinced me that we simply could not move forward with such dysfunction between our head coach and general manager, in short, this entire process over the last month convinced me beyond any doubt that I had to act to change this untenable situation."

When the Chargers lost their offensive coordinator Cam Cameron to the Miami Dolphins and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips to the Dallas Cowboys Marty handled the news the way any experienced proffesional coach would, he simply said "Change is inevitable." However general manager A.J. Smith had a much different reaction to the loss of both coordinators: "Both in the same year — Wow."

It is common knowledge that Marty and A. J. Smith have not gotten along the last couple years. But I fail to understand how you mitigate the pending disaster of losing both coordinators and several other assistant coaches by getting rid of the head coach also. Marty Schottenheimer came into the Chargers Organization five years ago when they badly needed a savior. He has turned San Diego into a football powerhouse. But apparently the owners of the Chargers put more emphasis on the coordinators and a single playoff loss than they do the work Marty has done.

Personally I'm kind of relieved. I can move the Chargers from my favorites list firmly back onto to my I-couldn't-care-less list. But I'm also thinking of moving them a little lower to my hope-to-see-them fail list. After all they waited until all the head coaching vacancies in the NFL were filled and then fired Marty. That seems pretty chicken-shit to my way of thinking.

Whichever team Marty ends up working for is whatever position, they will be getting a great coach. I just hope it's not the Raiders or the Cowboys.

Colts 29 - Bears 17

The superbowl XLI is changing names it's going to be called the Fum-bowl.

As I mentioned before, I've been a Bears fan for many years. So this game didn't go the way I would have liked. But don't worry I'm not on suicide watch or anything drastic. At least my Bears lost to a team that I don't hate.

I'm really glad to see Tony Dungy win a Superbowl. He did all the work down in Tampa Bay several years ago and then they brought in John Gruden to take all the credit. So it was nice to see a guy like Coach Dungy finally come out on top.

Of course the media is gushing all over Peyton Manning and blamming Rex Grossman for the Bear's woes. From what I saw, the Colts owe most of their win to their running game and their defense's ability to stop Chicago's running game.

This was not one of Rex Grossman's better games. But he didn't lose this game all by himself. Granted there was that one play in the fourth quarter where he pump faked in order to give the defender time to get open. But other than that, I would have to say this was definately a team loss.

Fortunately for me one of my friends who came over to watch the game is a long time Cubs fan. He taught me how to say "Wait until next year."

The No Fun League Strikes Again

In an continuing effort to remove all the fun from proffesional football the NFL fired the latest shot in the battle against allowing fans to enjoy the sport they are paying to attend. The NFL has decided that there will be no tailgating allowed at the superbowl.

This is purely an NFL decision. The City of Miami and the Dolphins organization allow tailgating during the regular season.

I personally don't go to NFL games. I've been to two in my lifetime. Both because I was working with the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps who were performing at the halftime. So I have never had the option to do any tailgating. But it does look like fun. Why would anyone not want to hang out in the parking lot before the game, grill some meat and drink a brew, or two. It sounds like a great way to start a game. It sounds like even a better way to end a game. Grill some more meat, relax and wait for all the traffic to empty out. But then what do I know? I don't work for the NFL.

Bears and Colts

I've never seen or read about a knock down drag out fight between a bear and young horse where the horse won. Superbowl XLI isn't going to be much different.

Sunday afternoon was a little tense in our house. One of my favorite teams, the Bears were playing against my dear wife's favorite team, the Saints.

My dear wife is a long time aints fan. She has really enjoyed this year watching her favorite team transform from the aints into the Saints. I usually enjoy watching the Saints play, especially this year. I have on two different occasions sat and yelled at the television when the dolphins were passing up chances to pick up quarterback Drew Brees. It's good to see that on rare occassions my guesses as to who is going to be good QB material proves true.

While my dear wife was cheering on the Colts in the second game I really didn't care who won. In the end I succumbed to my dear wife's anxiousness and ended up cheering on the Colts also.

The best part of the evening was the red beans and rice my dear wife made for dinner. She wanted to cook something cajun just in case the Saints won.

Go Bears!

Coach Swapping?

The Miami Dolphins are interviewing Mike Shula for their open head coaching position.

If the Dolphins hire Shula it would mean that Miami and the University of Alabama will have traded coaches.

I like this idea. Mike seems to be a lot like his father - very smart and a good head for the game. More importantly, he seems like a real stand up guy. I also like the idea of a kid who was a ball boy when his Dad coached the Dolphins growing up to be the head coach himself.

The only guy out there right now that I would rather see in the Dolphins Head Coaching spot would be Marty Schottenheimer if the Chargers are stupid enough to fire him.

Nick Saban’s True Colors

Two weeks ago the press started asking Nick Saban the Miami Dolphin’s Head Coach about the rumors that he would be leaving the Dolphins to be the next coach at the University of Alabama. For two weeks Coach Saban emphatically replied:

"I'm not going to be the Alabama coach," he said last week.
Saban said he wouldn't comment on the Alabama opening anymore.
"I'm just making a rule to never comment on something like that again because every time you comment on it, it just makes for another story," Saban said. "So I'm not going to comment on it five years from now, and I'm not going to comment on it next week."
He reminded reporters of his stance after Miami's season-ending 27-22 loss to the Colts on Sunday, adding the Dolphins job is the one "I'm committed to doing well."

“I guess I have to say it,” Saban said. “I’m not going to be the Alabama coach.”

This answer was not enough for the media however and at every press conference they took every opportunity to ask him again about the Alabama job. Each time Nick Saban denied any interest in the Alabama job.

This morning, Nick Saban told the Dolphin’s owner, Wayne Huizenga, that he is leaving the Dolphins to take the Head Coaching job at the University of Alabama.

Good Luck Nick and good riddance. I liked Coach Saban when he was at LSU. As a Dolphin’s fan I was thrilled when he was hired two years ago as the new head coach. But that was before I discovered that the man in a hopeless liar. He stood up in front of several different podiums over several weeks and repeatedly lied his ass off to the entire sports world.

Congratulations to the University of Alabama you just agreed to pay a rumored 40 million dollars over 7 - 8 years to a man who will stand up and lie to you at the drop of a hat to further his own interests.

It is my understanding that the most important aspect of a college coach’s job is recruiting. How effective is Nick Saban going to be as a recruiter when prospective player's parents realize that this man is a liar. Will anyone at the University of Alabama, any alumnus, any prospective player, any current player at UA ever be able to believe anything their new head coach ever tells them. The man is a proven liar.

Good Luck over the next few years Alabama, you’re going to need it.

Boise State Fiesta Bowl

Boise State knocked off Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl this evening in single overtime. I missed the first half of the game because my daughter had volleyball practice this evening. But the final 90 seconds of the game, and the overtime was some of the best college ball I watched all season.

Boise State started the half with a 21 – 10 lead. They quickly ran that up to 28 – 10. Then they started making mistakes. Eventually Oklahoma tied the game up at 28 – 28. Then with only one minute on the clock Boise State’s quarterback threw an interception that Oklahoma ran back for a TD and a 7 point lead. Boise State was driving downfield trying to tie the game back up. When their drive eventually stalled they found themselves facing a 4th and 18. That’s when the Boise State coaching staff pulled out all the stops. They ran a perfect hook and lateral which scored the game tying touchdown with 7 seconds left in the game.

In overtime Oklahoma scored a TD on their first play. Boise State managed a first down and then once again their drive stalled. The scored a touch down on another trick play from the 3 yard line and decided to go for two to win the game. For the extra point they lined up with 4 players wide right. The QB faked the toss right, switched the ball into his left hand and held it out to the running back who was blocking for him. The RB scampered left into the end zone.

It was a fantastic finish. But for Boise State tail back Ian Johnson the excitement was just beginning. During the post game celebration Johnson was standing with his arm around his girlfriend, a Boise State Cheerleader. When the questions were over and with the camera still centered on the couple, he dropped to his knee and proposed.

She said yes.

Call me a romantic or stupidly sentimental but I thought it was a perfect end to a marvelous football game.

The only thing wrong with this game was that the 12-0 Boise State Broncos were not playing Ohio State for the national championship. But for that to happen division 1 college football is going to have to bite the bullet and admit that they would like to have a true championship game instead of all the money the bowl system brings in. I suspect that the money is going to keep winning for many more years. Even though Utah in 2004 and Boise State tonight showed that there are teams in the country who do not play in BCS conferences that deserve a shot at a title.

Virginia 13 - Wyoming 12

The University of Wyoming Cowboys traveled to Virginia to play a football game against the University of Virginia. This is the first time that the Wyoming Cowboys have ever traveled to Virginia.

I wasn’t able to watch the game since it wasn’t broadcast. So I had to follow the game with and internet game tracker.

In the end Virginia won the game in overtime 13-12. Wyoming pretty much outplayed Virginia in all categories. However the two categories that really stood out in this game were turnovers inside the red zone and missed extra points. In the first quarter after driving downfield Wyoming quarterback Jacob Doss threw an interception on the UVA four yard line that was run back to the UVA 33 yard line. Then in the 3rd quarter Wyoming Running back Wynel Sheldon fumbled away the ball on the UVA 1 yard line and Virginia recovered it in the end zone for a touchback.

Finally in overtime Wyoming was down 13-6 and had a 4th and 2 on the UVA 3 yard line. They scored the touchdown but missed the extra point that would have sent the game into a second overtime.

I’ve been watching Wyoming football since I was a freshman there in the fall of 1976. If I had to sum up the last 30 years as a Wyoming football fan I would have to say that I am really tired of watching my team beat themselves. Sure they occasionally get outplayed by a better football team. But more often than not the Wyoming Cowboys don’t lose football games – they beat themselves.

Image?

The sunday edition of the Daily Independent Sports Section ran an article about the re-emergence of the football program at Immanuel Christian School. I think this is a wonderful thing. Immanuel is the only real alternative to the single public high school here in Ridgecrest. They have not had a football program for a few years so it's nice to see them getting one going again.

What I have to question is the picture they ran with the article:



This picture shows the Immanuel Athletic director and their new head coach who is also an alumnus of Immanuel High school's football program. Granted this guy is a football coach, but is an "MGD - Guys Night Out" beer tee shirt really the best thing the new coach could find to wear for a newspaper picture that is going to introduce him to the City of Ridgecrest and the Baptist School where that he is going to be coaching?

I am probably the last guy to get on someone about the image they present. But even I have my limits. I wear jeans and polo shirts or causual button up shirts to work. Twice a year I wear a nice shirt and tie to work because it is mandated my boss. Other than that I only wear ties for weddings and funerals. At home I live in shorts and tee shirts most of the year and in sweatpants and sweatshirts during the winter. I have never been an advocate of the "clothes make the man" mantra. I believe what he says and does makes the man, not how he is dressed.

Three years ago I started coaching volleyball at my children's school. The other coach at the time always wore a tie to our games. I just couldn't bring myself to wear a tie, so I got a couple polo shirts and had them custom embroidered with a volleyball and the school's name and logo. Those shirts and a pair of khaki pants have become my volleyball coach's uniform. This is not because I'm worried in any way about my image, but because I do worry about the image of my players and the school I work for.

Maybe the Immanuel football players will like thier new coach's image. But I'm sure if I showed up to represent my volleyball teams dressed like that, even if my players didn't notice or say anything, some of thier parents would. I prefer that no one ever notices me on the sidelines of the volleyball court. I want people paying attention to those six student athletes who are on the court, doing all the hard work.

So what's next, a lacross team wearing flip flops to the white house?

Ricky Williams Suspended - Again!

Ricky Williams was suspended by the NFL yesterday for the entire 2006 season for his fourth failed drug test.

Everyone who is surprised that Ricky Williams has let his team down again raise your hand.

Those of you with your hands in the air, get out your wallets. I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

Terrell Owens in Dallas

OK, I'm a little behind the times with this posting.

On March 19th the Dallas Cowboys signed ex-Philadephia Eagle wide receiver Terrell Owens.

In the interest of fair disclosure I should point out that I am not a Dallas Cowboys fan. My favorite teams in the NFL are Dolphins, Bears, Broncos and anyone who is playing against the Raiders or Cowboys.

My dislike disgust hatred for the Cowboys has very little to do with the players, now that Deion Sanders is gone. My feelings are mostly directed at Jerry Jones the owner. I personally feel that Jerry Jones has been a truely bad influence on the NFL. I have hated Jerry Jones since the day he took over the Cowboys and his first official act as new owner was to fire Tom Landry.

So I really like seeing the Cowboys sign Terrell Owens. They deserve each other. Does Jerry Jones remember that Sunday afternoon in October 2000 when Terrell Owens in a 49ers uniform was doing a touchdown celebration dance on the Cowboy's Star on the 50 yard line of Texas Stadium?

I'll bet that if George Teague was the Cowboy's owner T.O. would not be putting on a Cowboy's helmet this fall.

Drew Brees in Miami?

I have been a Drew Brees fan since his days at Purdue. I was very pleased to see him turn into a really good NFL quarterback the last couple years.

Now there are rumors floating around that the Miami Dolphins are interested in talking to him once the free agent season starts, maybe on Thursday.

The Sports Fan .tv thinks

This is not big news, though. Everyone expected this. The two are a perfect fit.

I would just like to point out that in the 2001 draft Miami had the 26th pick of the first round. Drew Brees was still sitting there waiting to be picked. Instead Miami selected Jamar Fletcher, a defensive back out of Wisconsin. I remember spending several minutes screaming at the TV "Pick Drew Brees!" Then after the pick I spent several more minutes yelling more colorful things. (The kids and my dear wife were at her folks so I was able to express my disappointment without censoring myself.)

For 3 years with the Dolphins Jamar Fletcher played in 41 games, made 48 tackles had 2 interceptions and was eventually traded to San Diego for wide receiver David Boston who in the last 2 years has played in 5 games and caught 4 passes for 20 yards. But in David Boston's defense he has been injured.

Now suddenly the Dolphins are interested in Drew Brees.

Its about damned time! If they had listened to me in the first place they could have avoided all the interesting quarterback fiascos of the last 5 years. Does anyone remember Jay (I'm really a third stringer) Fielder or A. J. (I broke my butt) Feeley, who incedentally is on San Diego's roster right now.

Miami has been gutting their defense this last week so they should be able to afford Brees. They are going to need him. If they keep dumping defensive players they are going to need someone on offense who knows how to score points.

More Ricky Williams

From Jay Leno on the tonight show:

Miami Dolphin's running back Ricky Williams may be suspended for an entire year after he tested positive for marijuana again! Ricky has always marched to a different drummer -- apparently, now it's a reggae drummer.

Q - What do Ricky Williams and the Winter Olympics have in common?

A - They both do the half-pipe.

Miami Dolphins Running Back Ricky Williams may be suspended for an entire year after he failed a drug test - again. This is part of the NFL's strict 300 strikes and you are out clause.

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Yeah, I know that yesterday I said that I wasn't going to say anything about Ricky Williams until his protest of his failed drug test was complete. But what the heck, he's a pot-headed quitter that I have no respect for anyway.

Ricky Williams

According to ESPN's Hank Goldberg Miami Dolphin's Running Back Ricky Williams has failed another NFL drug test, his fourth.

I have written here and here before about my opinion of Ricky (Quiter) Williams. I'm not going to say much now because Ricky is protesting the results of the test. But I do have one comment. If this results of this test are upheld it will result in at least a one year suspension for Ricky. If that happens at least I will be able to cheer on my Dolphins next year without feeling guilty.

Steelers!

Congratulations to the Pittsburg Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks.

But the Steelers get to go home the winners and the Seahawks get to complain about the officiating.

Best memory of the suoerbowl? Watching Jerome Bettis stand there with the trophy in his hands and tell his fans that the bus made it's last stop in his home town of Detroit. Can it get any better than to have a career like Bettis had, play your last game in you home town, and have that win be for the superbowl. Thanks for all the years Jerome. You were a fun one to watch.

Class act of the night - Bill Cowher handing the trophy to team owner Dan Rooney and saying "This belongs to you Sir." Cowher has had some rough years with the Steelers and the Rooney family has stuck by him. The Rooney family has a reputation for loyalty and that feeling seems to be eched by their employees. That's a lesson that several other owner in the NFL should be paying attention to. Do you think anyone named Bidwell, Davis, Jones, Modell, or Irsay is listening?

Best play of the superbowl - Willie Parker's 75 yeard touchdown run just 22 seconds into the second half. I got to see Marcus Allen make his 74 yard run in superbowl 18 against the Redskins this one was almost as pretty. Willie Parker is no Marcus Allen, but for about 10 seconds today he was better.

Best Commercial. I liked the Fed-ex Caveman commercial. I think I used to work for that boss, and we've all had days like the caveman had.

We all loved the streaking lamb in the budweiser spot, and the dead fly in the hospital was hilarious. My sister in law who travels a lot said she could relate to the lady try to get out her airline seat past the two sleeping travelers. But she wouldn't go into anymore detail.

Our party was really low key. Not many folks showed up. Over the years our regular crowd has moved away or found better things to do. We're either going to have to find some more football fans to join us, or start teaching our kid's friends to like football.