Trading Moss-tique For Future Gains…That’s Business

In the words of the immortal Eric B. & Rakim, 'it's been a long time'…if you are one of the subscribers to this blog on Facebook, thank you very much for taking time out read about my take on NFL wide-receiver Randy Moss' trade from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings, which has apparently become a hot button topic over the past few hours not only in the New England area, but pretty much across the country. BTW, very quickly, I want to give a quick shout and congrats to 'Big Daddy' Craig Forde on the birth of his son, Kyle Jameson Forde today. Now, on to pressing matters for discussion…I have been away from writing about sports for a while now because I have grown discontented with the manner the subject is presented to the public. I decided to fall back and re-evaluate how to approach the subject and today, with the emotional responses I've read from the fans and numerous media outlets about the Moss trade, biased or unbiased it just hit me…that's just how it goes sometimes.

One thing that I learned over my past two years is to appreciate value…as a law student or any student or broke individual we learn how to cut corners and save a few bucks in order to move on to the next day. The questions range from Rib-Eye or cube steak? Cheetos or Jax? Value Brand clothing starch or Niagara?, 60 watts or 35 watts?...yes it all ranges and we all look to save a few bucks to even wash laundry (in the sink or go to the Laundromat? However, contrary to public belief, this Randy Moss trade today wasn't about those swashbuckling Patriots who are always looking to save a penny like Phillip does at EVERY WAKING HOUR, but more about the growth of the organization's overall on-field product. To me, the trade stems from fact that the Patriots are growing in another direction in terms of offensive football. They are evolving. The skills that Moss brought to the team had begun to hinder the growth that the organization wished to have on that side of the football. For those who don't watch entire Patriots' games, and haven't seen them over the past two seasons, you pretty much are only privy to the highlights shown post-game and they generally will show all these breathtaking catches No. 81 makes…one handed, over the defender, running after the catch, splitting double teams and corner of the end zone grabs while keeping both feet in. It looks all sweet and dandy from a distance, but when you watch the games, I mean really watch the games, you will see an offense attempting to force-feed Moss the ball in order to placate him and get him going in the offensive game plan. It was very frustrating to see the QB throwing deep to Moss so many times during a game knowing that any competent defensive coordinator has already game-planned that particular stratagem. This is the very reason why the Patriots have had so many difficulties with good defensive teams; they became very predictable on offense and Moss was used as a convenient excuse as to why we all knew what the Patriots were going to do and what would happen with Moss if he did not see the ball early…he would check out. Watching the Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, a game in which Moss had no receptions, his first catch-less game since 2006 when he was with the Oakland Raiders, he did not look as jovial as the rest of his teammates as they 'Beamerballed' their way to a resounding 41-14 victory. I had made up my mind on that night that Randy Moss…yes, that Randy Moss was a contributing factor in holding back the development of the team on offense.

Think of it this way… and bear with me…you have an employee; let's call them star employee. They are one of the best workers in your office. They dress well, are clearly talented and in many cases are heads and shoulders above the crowd of others who occupy their field. You paid them relatively well too; they came to you after some minor dust ups at their prior position in another company and you were able to get them at a significant discount…kind of a probation period. When you hired them, your sales and revenue went through the roof… because their masterful technique in what they did was well tested and successful throughout their career. They began to develop a mystique about them; everything they touched turned to gold and they could do no wrong. Heck, your company is now at the top of its industry!! You decided to keep them on and gave them an insane salary…at the same time you began to hire new employees to work alongside your star employee. They were just out of college, but they were talented. The next fiscal year, your sales and revenue dipped, but your star employee kept exceeding expectations. However, you did notice that the star has begun to rely strictly on their older methods which still worked, but you began to see that there was a plateau effect…it brought in money, but are you still at the top of the industry overall? You also have seen that your star employee is no longer that humble individual that came to your company a few years back. They carry a sense of entitlement and although they want to stay in the company and is a leader among their peers, resumes are found in the printer and they are complaining to you about how much they do and why have you not given a commitment redo their employment agreement.

As the younger employees begin to make significant contributions, and the contract that your star works under begins to become more and more of an issue, you have to start evaluating whether they are the best fit for you now. You've begun to do what all successful organizations do…you begin to change your philosophy by taking a fresh approach to your business. You begin to lean on the newer and younger employees who have the ability to bring something new to the table. You've reorganized areas of the company and handed responsibilities to people who may not have the pedigree, but have the desire and skills to get the job done. You understand that you may take losses here and there, but you KNOW you have a talented group. Meanwhile, the star employee is still relying on the older methods they have used…they have not changed. The managers defer to the star's whims because they've bought into the star's mystique: 'They did bring in record revenues…'in the past. The newer employees are now being featured on the bigger accounts and it was expected that your star employee would be able to mesh into the plan and mentor the younger, new employees with his experience so as to minimize mistakes and mitigate losses. However, the star has increasingly have become discontent and a distraction to what you are doing by airing their grievances with the company publicly. What do you do in this case? You know that the star is going to bring in money. They do things many people in their position throughout the industry cannot do, but they are becoming stale both professionally and personally. Their mystique is what makes them attractive in the industry; they have done (key word)…done excellent things, but their brand of excellence can be holding back a new development plan that could benefit everyone on the whole. Do you keep them on for short term success? Or do you make the decision to jettison them in order to take a risk on long term gains?

My analogy may be flawed in some areas, but hey…gimme a break; I'm trying to prove a point. The Patriots are committed to evolving their offense and featuring pass catching tight ends, speedy, smaller receivers and versatile running backs. With Moss in the offense, yes, he demands a double team, BUT the offense becomes limited when teams game plan around that double team commitment. The name of the game is to exploit matchups all over the field; in essence, flooding the zones with pass catchers within an offense run by a trigger-man QB that can get the ball to them in the right space, at the right time, so the receiver can make plays after the catch. With Moss, it was the same thing, pretty much every play…just like when I was a young wolf playing WR in football as a kid…GO DEEP. In essence, Moss has been relegated to a decoy for defenses so the offense can open up and put the ball into playmakers hands within the flow of the offense. Sometimes when I watched the Pats, I saw two offenses operating at once; you had the Randy Moss go deep plays and the rest of the guys playing within the flow of the offense. Moss is too talented to be a decoy, point blank. It would be unfair to ask him to do this over the course of the season. But it is a detriment to all of the other guys on the team if he must still be the focal point at the expense of the development of a new offensive stratagem and players who can make a difference. Thus, the best way to resolve the matter is to make a trade. Now, a case can be made that the Patriots brain trust could have colluded in order to make sure Moss did not see the ball and try to get some insight as to how things would work without him on the field. It was reported that the trade talks with the Vikings were a week deep by Tuesday evening. Therefore, I can see the Patriots keeping the ball away from him either to see how things would run without him or to prevent him from incurring an injury while playing. I am no Patriots-flavored Kool Aid drinker; it is not beyond this organization to make a business decision like that. This is an organization that traded a cornerstone player in Richard Seymour right after training camp broke in 2009; they took the pre-season time to see if he was physically sound and I guarantee that the trade was set up at least a month before it went down. We all saw what happened with Lawyer Milloy in 2003 and acrimonious ending of Asante Samuel's career in New England in 2006.

It is a little weird to see Moss get traded, but I never really bought into the mystique that he carried; this is mainly because a record setting receiver is only as good as the QB that throws the ball. The QB is only as good as the offensive line that protects him. Football is not a game for individuals. Any success is based upon a number of individuals who do their respective jobs and execute what has been taught. One breakdown causes that TD to Moss to become a strip sack, an interception or results in injury. Moss now is united with another guy who lives on the laurels of his past accomplishments in Brett Favre; they both will attempt to use their older techniques of winning games in order to get the Vikings to the Super Bowl, but Moss is entering a similar environment that he just left…there is an aging star employee on board that is playing to the detriment of younger players who we will never really know if they had what it took to lead the team. Why you ask? The coach is on the hot seat. That is the biggest difference between the two organizations. Bill Belichick is going nowhere folks. He in effect, IS the Patriot brand whereas Brad Childress is just a coach…get results or hit the bricks. And we all know what happens when people are insecure…they make rash decisions based on the short term outlook.

Lastly, the Patriots got value for the trade of Moss. In 2007 they traded a 4^th round pick to the Raiders for him. In 2010, they were able to get a 3^rd rounder for him. So basically, they got a player who was considered done by some prognosticators and were able to build his value back up for a small profit. Don't some of you wish you could get someone out of your life AND gain from it? In actuality we all do in one way or another, but that is a topic meant for Joyce Brothers or Dr. Phil…or maybe even Kat Stacks in some circles. That's all for now…thanks for reading.

 

Play or Sit? Not an Easy Question to Answer

It is amazing what a knee on an All-Pro wide receiver and the angst of an entire fan base with dashed visions of an undefeated regular season can do in order put certain practices that are commonplace in the NFL under the microscope before the playoffs begin. Last week, the Indianapolis Colts in essence allowed the New York Jets to win a game in which the Colts pulled its starters in order to protect them from injury, which also ended its bid for making history as the first Super Bowl Champion with an unblemished record. Yesterday, during the New England Patriots first drive of its game against a hungry Houston Texans squad seeking its first winning season in team history, and the Patriots essentially playing for nothing (already got into the post-season), Wes Welker reportedly blew out the ACL and MCL of his left knee while running after a catch. The NFL is looking into the practice of teams sitting their starters during regular season games because with the backups in the game, the affair turns into a glorified pre-season match-up with the fans paying big bucks to watch the Curtis Painters and Mark Brunells of the world. Are fans entitled to watch the players or the team they came to see? Are teams separate entities of themselves that reserve the right to use their employees in any matter they see fit? What are the rights of the player/employee in regards to whether they perform or not? I am not going to go too in-depth because that would equal a 20-30 page endeavor that I do not want to get into right now because the gym is calling. However, I here are my thoughts:

• If I am the coach or administrator of a team that clearly has accomplished the goal of making the playoffs, it is in the best interest to sit my starters if the team is playing well and it has not hit any form of wall as the season draws to a close. I would want my best players who may be nicked up to rest for the post-season and be ready when it counts. However, if my team has played poorly as it moves towards week 16 and it may need to get its collective rhythm back, it would be a good idea to leave the starters in for the majority of the game as I would want some carry-over into the playoffs…but at the same time, I risk potential season sinking injuries to my players. In his team's situation, Jim Caldwell, the head coach of the Colts made the decision to sit his guys despite the march towards history the team was making because of the 'Big Picture'. The 'Big Picture' is the view that every team, every year wants to get into the playoffs and have a chance to win the Super Bowl. Caldwell's team had already accomplished this goal and he felt that playing his stars was too big a risk when a team is seeking a Super Bowl. You know what? I agree there. The goal of winning the Super Bowl is bigger than an undefeated season and games played in January are provide no guarantees in the NFL. I'd rather be a 10-6 Super Bowl winner than a 16-0 Super Bowl loser. In the case of the New Orleans Saints, they needed to have ALL their guys on the field on Sunday because it is clear that the strength of the team (the offense), has lost its edge…nobody wants to go into the playoffs with high expectations saddled with a losing streak. That's a lethal concoction.
  
• If I am a player that has a chance to accomplish a goal that few others can brag about, I am all in to chase history. Remember back in 2007 when the Patriots played their starters in the regular season finale against the New York Giants? They accomplished something that not many players can say…I was undefeated. In response that, my gut also tells me that this game provided the template for how the Giants were to play the Patriots in the Super Bowl that season also…they showed them WAY TOO MUCH. But alas, they captured history. If I am a player in position to do the same and take it further, I want that chance. Think of it…over 250 guys per year are drafted into the NFL. Every year! Rarely does one have a chance…even as a lowly practice team guy, to accomplish something that will immortalize them in history. However, the players don't have the right to play when they want to (ask Brandon Marshall). If one wants to be etched in history, get that Lombardi Trophy and a chunky, iced-out bling thing called 'A Championship Ring'. Do that, and you are remembered.
  
• Finally and most importantly, the fan. Fans have been paying hefty prices to attend NFL games for quite a while now. When new stadiums go up, so does the price of admission. When a team captures lightning in a bottle and makes a run towards a Super Bowl, that $ 10 hot dog that could have been purchased at Wal-Mart for $5.00 (well, more like 3 packs of dogs, bread and industrial grade Catsup) taste like a medium-well rib-eye steak. The beer is like Andre Champagne. With Personal Seat Licenses (PSL's) becoming the norm in professional sports, combined with parking, drinks, time to travel, costs associated with travel, and tough economic times, is it too much to see the players whom the fans tickets help to pay their salary? Sports are and always will be a diversion for the public. It gets one's mind off that boss they want throw coffee (iced or piping hot) at, that empty gas tank, rent being due next week, and war abroad and at home. Are the fans not entitled to spend some time away from that world in order to see their favorite team win games? When the team lays down like the Colts did last week, the hot dog tastes like...um…a hot dog. That beer is not champagne, its bitter, overpriced malt liquor reserve and the team's actions probably will drive a person to the liquor aisle at Wal-Mart to purchase the cheapest alley wine to forget the game. Are fans deserving of seeing the players they paid to see or are they merely entitled to see the team? I would've had no problem with the Patriots benching their guys back in '07 against the Giants. In fact, I was praying for it, screaming at the television 'YOU'RE SHOWING THEM TOO MUCH!!!' Granted it was a road game, but still…the ticket prices skyrocketed when the chance to witness history presented itself. The NFL will be looking into sitting star players as potential public relations issue in relation to team decisions. With the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations between the players and owners still at a standstill and 2010 basically shaping up to be the last we will see of the NFL for a bit, the league has to make sure that the fans do not jump ship because the practice of sitting starters has an effect on the competitive balance of the league, which can be drastically altered as a result.
  

  Think about it: the Jets are in the playoffs and if the Colts hadn't laid down, the Jets would be at home making vacation reservations. Who knows how a Colts win would have changed the fortunes of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans. Like getting to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop, the world may never know. Could fans force the league to take away the rights of NFL franchises and make them play starters in games that do not mean anything? The first thing that comes into my mind is this: Team X, which has made the playoffs and has nothing to play for, finishes the regular season against Team Y, a team that either wants to finish on a positive note (i.e. pride) or is a fringe playoff team that needs a myriad of factors to fall in place in order to advance. If I am the coach for Team X, and I am forced to play my starters, I would send my QB out there and hand the rock to the third string RB all day. I may even run Wildcat a majority of the time with my QB flanked out and the play designed to go to his opposite side. How would that help the competitive balance? Would the game be entertaining? It would make for some interesting plays, but it would not assuage any concerns. The NFL needs to stay out of this one. Imagine the NFL forcing a player to play against his team's wishes and he gets injured? Then where does the responsibility lie? The team, depending on the role of the player can be disrupted and not be able to reach its potential at the right time. That's what backups are for right? Okay, you throw Charlie Frye in there against Pittsburgh and ask me that question again.
  

  Speaking of laying down, how many NBA teams do this every year? In order to get the No. 1 overall pick, many teams will gladly run out Popeye Jones, Tyrus Thomas and Mark Blount to chase that goal. No sanctions from the league there…AND the players are given guaranteed contracts, unlike the NFL.
  

  As much as I love the enthusiasm fans bring to sports in the form of energy and unconditional band-wagoning, one thing disturbs me the most…when a player gets injured, why is it that fans tend to think of the team's fortunes first rather than the man? In terms of Wes Welker's knee injury, I saw so many people thinking of his team and its fortunes instead of his pain, the impending journey from rehab back to the field and his contract status. He was in line to at least command top-5 receiver coin based on his production over the past three seasons. Now he will probably have little to no leverage at the negotiating table. Deion Branch, the player Welker in effect replaced, suffered a similar injury in 2006 and has not been the same since. The manner in which Welker plays is based on his precise route running and cutting….we will see how his impending ACL reconstruction responds to that.
  

  What the heck happened to the Giants? I said it before and will say it again, that Super Bowl win was the worst thing that could have happened to the Giants because they ended up being forced to tie the organization's fate to Eli Manning. I don't see it in him…what kind of quiet 'lead by example' QB wins? The defense and a great catch on a Hail Mary type pass got that trophy in '07, not Eli. The 2009 edition of the Giants was weird…dominant against some good teams, laid on their backs against really good teams and let teams with nothing to play for kick their heads in. The last two losses to Carolina and Minnesota equal some widespread changes in the organization. If you ask me, they fell into the dreaded 'began to think they were as good as people told them they were' mentality. Brandon Jacobs has morphed into Shaun Alexander after he got his big contract, star defensive end Osi Umenyiora was benched and the three big ticket free agent acquisitions in Rocky Bernard, Chris Canty and Michael Boley made little to no impact. Changes are a'comin' for the Giants as they move into a new stadium. The lesson here is: I have no idea. Eli may be Drew Bledsoe-lite in that he MUST have all-pros around him at every position in order to reach his potential.
  

  Is it that the San Diego Chargers backups are that good or the Washington Redskins starters are that bad? Either way, poor ol' hung out to dry head coach Jim Zorn should be fired soon. I hope the guy lands on his feet because he took all the shots from the firing squad and still stood up there week after week taking responsibility…while others resigned under cover of darkness. Why not hire Urban Meyer now? Any fan of the 'skins would not doubt that the call was at least thought about by owner Daniel Snyder.
  

  Oh yeah, watch out for the Jets. Teams generally play like it has a second life when opportunities that generally would never be available, is gift wrapped for them. It reminds me of a situation back in my youth where two of my friends had a double date set up with these girls. One of my boys was an idiot over the phone to the girl and blew off the date. My other boy needed a replacement, and called me. It was easy for me to captivate her because: 1) someone else looked so bad, anyone would have been in a good situation with her, and 2) I had no business being there and nothing to lose. Ladies and gents, your 2009 New York Jets.
  

  For all of those who read last week's article, click here for ESPN's take on the inequalities that exist in NCAA basketball programs…guess who the star of the show is? After watching this, you will notice that ESPN devoted little to no time addressing former University of Nebraska QB Sam Keller's class action lawsuit against EA Sports, and the NCAA over the usage of college player's images on video games with no compensation. It makes one ask the question…if am a University of Florida and Tim Tebow fan, am I buying the game because it's Florida or to play as Tebow? For those who say it's because of Florida, why are they not playing College Football 2004 or 2003? It's still Florida right? I will keep tabs on this case.
  

  Lastly, if anyone caught it, Boston's Fenway Park was the site of the NHL's Winter Classic on New Year's Day. I have to give credit where credit is due. Once again the NHL pulled off a great event at a venue nobody would have thought could be fitted for hockey much less look as good as it did.. To top it all off, the Bruins and Flyers played a great game. I am thinking that this outdoor hockey thing has cross-over appeal among sports fans. I would have loved to attend this game and any other one that will be held in the future…one never knows.

Coach Speak…Empty Words or Platform for Personal Success?

I wrote an article on my issues with coaches in the NCAA in early 2009 and have come to the point where I have to revisit this matter in the wake of the recent comments made by former college basketball coach Bobby Knight: "We've gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that's why I'm glad I'm not coaching," he said. "You see we've got a coach at Kentucky (John Calipari), who put two schools on probation and he's still coaching. I really don't understand that. "And very few people know this, but a kid can play the first semester as a freshman, pass six hours of anything and play in the NCAA tournament without ever attending a class in the second semester. I don't think that's right."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/12/17/knight.indiana.ap/index.html#ixzz0a1NrjxOu

Let me premise this article by stating that any coach in any sport has little to no job security; they can be fired by their employers for pretty much any reason which could stem from the inability to win, lack of communication with the employer, failure to provide deference to star athletes, failure to provide adequate discipline for star athletes, winning in an dishonest manner and indiscretions while off of the job. In other words, they live a tenuous lifestyle that in many ways is out of their control; those who are able to procure some sense of control are paid the most and are in the highest demand. Maybe these are reasons why NCAA coaches behave in such a manner when it comes to fulfilling career goals and personal achievement.

Last year, Boston College head football coach Jeff Jagodzinski under the cover of darkness, used his minimal success with a previous coach’s players and a certified star quarterback in Matt Ryan to attempt to hasten his career path towards an NFL head coaching gig. After it was discovered through the media, he then had no shame in the negative impact he was making his student athletes in interviewing for the head coaching job of the New York Jets. He was quickly fired after his flirtation with the NFL and the Boston College program has moved on without him. By the way karma hurts right? BC never missed a beat and Jags was hired as offensive coordinator by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was fired right after pre-season. It appeared that there were character flaws with this individual and that is what the premise of this article is…character. What are the coaches of college athletes teaching the highly impressionable youth they in affect are raising throughout their college lives? I touched upon this subject in last week’s “why” section when I mentioned Brian Kelly’s decision to coach Notre Dame. I wholeheartedly agree with Knight’s assessment regardless of how much Calipari has tried damage control through the media; the fact of the matter is that on two separate occasions in his college coaching career, he just happened to high-tail it out of town before the NCAA came with sanctions on him and the program he built. On the first occasion, he cut and run from the University of Massachusetts to the NBA’s New Jersey Nets right before the allegations of star Center Marcus Camby accepting money and jewelry broke. Approximately 14 years later, he left the University of Memphis amid concerns that Derrick Rose was an ineligible player on his 2008 Final Four squad. In both instances, the schools had to forfeit their most memorable moment in program history and thus had to suffer the consequences while the man who was supposed to be overseeing these programs was able to leave freely AND accept a more lucrative position elsewhere. Let me get this straight…NCAA coaches can shirk their responsibilities at will and land on their feet elsewhere with a hefty pay raise while the college athlete who no longer wants to play at a particular school has to sit out a year before lacing up their kicks to play again, which could threaten their prospects for a professional career. Anything wrong with this picture?

A large number of NCAA coaches are looked upon as nothing more than mercenaries who have the ability to use their current success to ditch their present employer whenever they feel it is worth their while. I’d have no problem with it if the guy was a lowly office worker being paid nowhere near his commensurate market value at his current job who leaves after accepting a better offer from a company that appreciates what he brings. Heck, even if it was a high ranking executive, I’d have no problem. Here, the issue is different; college coaches are charged with the duty to teach young men and women not only about sport, but life…you know, the typical song and dance ‘stick together, team first, integrity, honesty, fairness and appreciation’. However when a coach such as Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly bails out on the young men of the University of Cincinnati before the biggest game of their lives, what message is he sending? Does his message, which resonated with his players and played a large role in how they got to where they are now, mean anything at this point? Starting quarterback Tony Pike is quoted as saying ““He told us from the get-go that we’d be the first people to know whatever he decides”, “we’re going to keep him at his word. We’ve trusted him this far and we’re going to believe what he says.” Kelly notified his former team well after the news broke about him accepting his new job; what is the message there? Did he care about his players? Or was the job nothing more than a springboard for him to realize his goal? Wow, seems like corporate America at its finest.

The popular media celebrates NCAA coaches who leave smaller programs for bigger ones but the players they leave behind who traveled long distances away from home because they believed in his vision and commitment to the program are left with uncertain futures. I believe the NCAA must place some form of control over the coaches because they are sending the wrong message to college athletes…not hip hop music, agents, sneaker czars, Michael Jordan or Chad Ochocinco. As long as coaches have the kind of stroke they currently have, coach’s salaries will continue to go through the roof. Did you know the University of Texas pays its head football coach Mack Brown $5 million per season? UT is a state institution and state money goes to this one singular individual coach. Why? Because his program makes a boatload of cash for this said state university. The University of Alabama will be playing for the National Championship with head coach Nick Saban leading them onto the field in January, 2010. Many overlook the fact that he bailed out on LSU and all of the athletes he made promises to four years ago in his failed attempt to coach in the NFL. He came right back to college football to compete in the same conference and against the school he once coached. Some coaches are given contract extensions and jump ship before the ink is dry on the paper. Remember Bobby Petrino the current (for now) coach of the University of Arkansas? When he was the head guy at Louisville in 2006 he signed a 10- year contract extension in July. By January ‘07, he was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. It was reported that the contract was offered in order to persuade Petrino to stay and end his constant flirtations with other jobs…so much for that. What values are these men teaching? UMass, in 2005, upon the recommendation of former player Rick Pitino (they should have seen the warning signs there), hired his protégé, Travis Ford as head coach of its basketball program. By 2007, the program began showing signs of life and the team played in the NIT (National Invitation Tournament); shortly thereafter, he accepted the Oklahoma State head coaching job, leaving recruits and broken promises in his wake.

Schools walk a thin line between making money for the institution and educating all student athletes in the manner their parents or guardians were told they’d be taught. The schools always have slogans that make the layman believe they offer things that seem great if you are wearing your rose colored ‘Blu-Blockers’ such as: “Advancing Knowledge. Changing Lives” and “Where You’re A Name, Not A Number”. However, the messages that come with accountability, loyalty, commitment, integrity appear to have been thrown out of the window when it comes to football and basketball at major universities. It is a money and status grab that the coaches seem to believe that if not snatched, it may not be available later, regardless of their coaching acumen. Yet, in order to protect their precious job security, some will attempt to dissuade star players from going pro early such as the case of Jets rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez. USC’s head coach Pete Carroll was verbally against Sanchez’s decision to go pro citing that he wasn’t ready to make the leap. However, if Carroll is not ready to back to the NFL, would he be saying the same thing to himself with those seven to eight digit numbers dancing in his eyes? Many coaches fail to realize that maybe they have a good thing going where they are. Maybe they can build a culture of integrity that will last at the school well after they have departed. Maybe it isn’t all about national championships, but more about molding young adults, the majority of which will not be professional athletes. Maybe their job is more about coaching up walk-ons and fifth year seniors who play because they love the experience rather than the sure-fire pro prospects. Therein lies the dilemma…walk-ons, marginal recruits and fifth year seniors don’t insure bowl berths and NCAA Tournament invites. Rely on them to save your job and you will have a short shelf life at College Tech.

When I think of solutions, I believe a minimum number of years should be served to a university before a coach can explore leaving. The school should also be notified before the regular season begins that the coach has decided to explore other coaching opportunities, which should give the school a chance to keep a short list of candidates on hand. However, the inner lawyer in me is yelling “What about the school?!?!” “They can fire the coach whenever they want; is that fair!?!!” Well, most sports contracts, professional or college are one sided; it is the nature of the beast. My reasons for writing this article is so we all can watch the college bowl season with a little more thought into the inner mechanisms that make the system work. The schools get paid by the bowls; the higher profile the bowl, the bigger the score. Better players are recruited based on bowl wins. Jerseys are sold by the NCAA with popular player’s numbers on the back, but the players don’t get a piece. Video games that feature player’s likeness and skill are sold, but the players don’t see a penny. However, they are suspended and vilified by the school and the national press when they accept meals, rental cars or clothing from outside parties. Yup, another one sided contract…play by their rules or don’t play at all. All the while the coach can leave at anytime without consequence or responsibility towards those who took them at their word. No wonder players are fighting to be eligible for the pros after high school; it’s like the old adage, many people learn how to become criminals while in jail.

But what am I thinking right? Our society is all about who gets drafted, who gets the awards and has the best chance of getting a ton of money. Why should the coaches be any different?

Back in the Saddle…Again

First of all, I'd like to apologize to all of the readers for my prolonged absence. My second year of law school needed a solid start and all of my creative energies went into writing papers, doing re-writes and re-writes on the re-writes…get it right? So now that the first semester has ended and I have some time to work on my personal projects, I am back and will be providing my weird and sometimes mundane take on the sports world and how it relates to the American and global social atmosphere. I will try to stay on point and be concise since this is my first article back after a long layoff, so bear with me and enjoy. Once again, for those who have read these articles, I thank you greatly.

One of the more popular subjects that has been harped on, twittered about and blogged upon continually is the state of the 2009 New England Patriots. For those of you who follow me on facebook, I've tried to be short in discussing the matters concerning this team whether it be my premature prediction of a Bills victory in the season opener, the gloating high points of a 59-0 drubbing of Titans squad that looked to have no business on a Madden controller, much less an NFL field, the painful loss that made me eerily think back to how teams who played the Pats in 2007 (except the Giants of course), felt when they were spanked by the Saints and lastly, the disappointing 22-21 loss to the Dolphins (which I predicted, right Brian?) that had me feeling like I was watching the Patriots of 1992. The simple fact of the matter is that the team is in a 'rebuilding on the fly' mode where the best hope is a well coached team, despite its obvious holes in veteran leadership and experience on defense can be buttressed by a very good offense, can grow together as the season wore on and make some noise in the playoffs.

However, it seems as if that plan has gone hung-kung phooey because the team started out fairly well but cannot not finish games early, which leads to late game collapses (which teams with young defenses often are a victim of). Now with the news about former Pats Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour reportedly receiving texts from his ex-teammates about how he 'is missed' and 'the team could use him', and Defensive End Adalius Thomas popping off in the media about how he was treated after he was sent home after arriving late to a meeting, it looks like the fans of other less celebrated NFL teams smell blood in the water similar to how we all smelled the blood of those declining Dallas Cowboys teams of the 90's. We remember those days right? The cocaine, the hookers, the DUI's and poorly coached teams that barely resembled that dominating ones that won Super Bowls essentially with ease. There are four points that need to be considered when looking at the present state of the Patriots which can provide optimism or worry among the Patriot faithful.

1) With Scott Pioli in Kansas City, will Bill Belichick revert to the Cleveland Browns version of himself?: Let's make one thing clear here. Pioli was the only guy in the organization that could say no to Bill. Period. When Bill thought of impulsive ways to motivate his team or shape it in his philosophical image, Pioli could offer counterpoints to those thoughts and use his vested authority to veto certain moves pertaining to the roster. With players sniping him in press, will Belichick turn into the 'your our guy this week, but you will sit for the next five weeks even though your replacement is not as good as you' coach that practically turned the Browns upside down in the latter stages of the team's existence in Cleveland? (that's right people, the Browns we see in the NFL today are not those Browns…that team is in Baltimore.)

2) Can the younger players become championship caliber pieces of a championship team?: Let's be honest.The Pats have screwed up most of their drafts over the past 4-5 years. There are underachievers such as '06 first rounder Laurence Maroney and there are also shining spots such as '07 first rounder Brandon Meriwether and '08 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in Jerod Mayo. However, the team has done poorly in the areas where all good teams make their bread and save money: the middle rounds. So in the '09 Draft, the Patriots wheeled and got four second round players that could provide the bedrock of their defense in the future in Pat Chung, Darius Butler and Ron Brace along with an anchor on the offensive line in Sebastian Vollmer. They also acquired other lower round picks and dealt them into next year's draft.

We also cannot forget their find in the 7^th round this year in former University of Toledo quarterback, turned NFL wide receiver, Julian Edelman. In referencing the Richard Seymour trade this off-season, the Pats acquired a 1^st round pick in 2011 from the Oakland Raiders for a soon to be free agent defensive lineman that was going to be expensive and is also on the back-end of his career. The 2011 pick is premised around the possibility that there will be a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place between the NFLPA and the NFL owners, which will institute more prohibitive salary controls for newer players in the league. In other words, as long as Oakland keeps disfunctioning, the Pats may have recent Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in uniform in 2011 (provided there is no owner's lockout). I look at it this way: if a good coach has good players, it makes for a good team. So yes, the Patriots have the tools to develop young talent into championship caliber players.

3) Is Tom Brady still an elite quarterback?: As I sit back and watch Brady eyeball Wes Welker and Randy Moss the same way Drew Bledsoe did Ben Coates and Terry Glenn, I get a little concerned. However, since Brady is not easily rattled as Bledsoe and Welker and Moss are exceptional athletes, I can go to bed every night knowing Brady will give my fantasy team crazy points week to week and plus he…wait…sorry. Got into fantasy mode there. I have always stated that it is best to have an ACL injury earlier in a career than later because that type of injury is 2-3 years in terms of recovery time (getting back to normal). At Brady's age, his timing, aptitude and feel for the game may be eroded by the time he fully recovers from this injury, thereby making him a more susceptible to other injuries. Hopefully as a professional, he will not rest on his laurels and continue to get healthier, but the odds are against a consistent pre-injury Brady showing up again. The Pats have also failed to develop a backup before Matt Cassel was traded to Kansas City. Hey, if Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford is on the board when the Pats pick in '09, is it a bad investment?

4) Will the players begin to tune Belichick out?: I would like to say no because he along with other good coaches and administrators have put in place a culture that cultivates hard work and dedication to developing one's craft. However, Seymour made a good point when he alluded to Belichick perhaps relying on schemes over personnel. It is like asking what comes first, the chicken or the egg? If the scheme is designed around exploiting weaknesses in an opposing teams strategy, can anyone be plugged into the scheme and thus keep it successful? Or does a scheme's quality trace back to exceptional cerebral and athletic individuals who can make the scheme more effective based on their football IQ? Athletes can change games, but players make plays in my opinion. And when they feel expendable, it generally does not equate to a good relationship with a coach.

Although I agree with Seymour's assessment, one must take into account the financial ramifications of having superior athletes on the field; is the cost worth what they bring or can a lower profile player with similar traits bring the same thing to the field? It is obvious that Thomas did not turn out to be an adequate replacement for Mike Vrabel and there has been nobody that has even come close to the qualities the since departed Asante Samuel brought to the team at cornerback. With turnover in personnel comes turnover in personalities…it is a way of life. One player would willingly follow the coach over cliff while the next guy would question the logic of doing so. This will be the challenge for the coaching staff and scouting department…finding guys who fit into the culture of the organization seamlessly and will trust in what they are told to do. If this team cannot get more of these types of players, the Patriots will sink into mediocrity in the NFL.

Now to the juicy stuff for all you TMZ'ers and Bossipers…Tiger Woods and the bevy of mistresses who thought he presented too GRRRRR-EAT!!! of an opportunity to pass up and not get rich off of. He did the right thing in taking time out of the public eye to handle his family issues. Many people vilify this man for a human mistake based on what he supposedly represented: a squeaky clean image that made him accountable and held to a higher standard than the rest of us. I believe that is crap…a big, hot, steaming load of it. The kind that looks like chocolate soft serve ice cream. Why? Well, let's just say that his sponsors wanted to portray him in that manner in order to shill their shoddy, overrated cars, razor blades and sugary sports drinks. That's their job…to make him look so good, that an average couch jockey would say "hey, if Tiger uses Gillette Escalade Gator-juice, I guess it is a good product".

At no time did Woods come out and spout the ramblings of a bootleg preacher with a flask of scotch in his jacket pocket and Hustler magazines in the glove box of his car. He played the game. He changed the game. He won. He made a boat-load of money. Maybe all of the acrimony has more to with that than his extra-marital affairs. History tells us anybody who has done any of the above things just mentioned in any realm of society experiences a large share of jealousy and envy. So when they slip up…just like that couch jockey who forgot to pick up his wife from work because he was watching the Spice Channel commonly does, he is exempted from a normal person's status and automatically given a higher standard of conduct. Give me a break.

I just wonder what the sponsors for all those PGA events are going to do now that they have little to no prospects of relying on the spotlight Woods brings to their events. Perhaps a bailout of more than a few after next year may be in the works? I believe they will monitor the next season closely in order to find out what Woods' worth is to the Tour, then make the cut & run decision.

This is my section called WHY? (Please play Jadakiss' 'Why' when reading this):

1) Why did Iverson go back to the Sixers of all teams? He could have waited until March and signed with a contender, got his ring and retired to his vast Newport News Iverson Compound.

2) Why does the NCAA resemble pro sports more and more every day? With the way things are currently constituted, those players will need to be paid soon. Think of it…a player generates millions for the school and in return is given a $100,000 scholarship. He also goes out in public and sees people wearing jerseys bearing his number and doesn't get a piece of each sale. Someone needs to challenge the NCAA not on the court, but in court.

3) Why is Brian Kelly not coaching the University of Cincinnati football team in the Sugar Bowl after accepting the head coaching gig at Notre Dame? This guy led a group of young men to the cusp of a national title only to abandon them because he wanted to coach one of the most overrated, over-scrutinized, living in the past, hasn't been relevant since I was a child a** school. His former players openly criticized his decision to jump ship even after he told them a week before that he was going nowhere. Hey Coach, good way to teach young men about character, honesty and commitment. Why not accept the job after the game? Show some class. I hope he falls on his face just like his predecessors at that crap program. The New York Yankees of college football. Can a student please bring suit soon against the NCAA in order to prevent this kind of behavior?

4) Why is Shaquille O'Neal on the Cavaliers? The team obviously flows better offensively without him on the floor. Man, if they do not win the 'ship this year, I will lament O'Neal's legacy if he does not grab his '32' Vitamin Water, put Icy Hot on his head and call a press conference to announce his retirement. I am so tired of seeing these past their prime players who used to be great, living off of their legacy in order to stay in the spotlight. They end up hindering their teams because the game has passed them by; just ask James Worthy, Patrick Ewing, Shawn Kemp and even Michael Jordan. Yeah, I said it. Jordan. Stop drinking the media Kool-Aid…did ANYONE think those Jordan-led Washington Wizards were going to contend for a title? 'Nuff Said.

5) Why is Danica Patrick relevant? Win a race in a legit manner and maybe she can be a headliner. Is sports (although I highly question the qualifications of NASCAR as a sport, but oh well) about winning or gender equality? I can get a 6'11'' woman who can run fast and shoot a mean jump shot…does that mean she can play in the NBA? All I am saying is that is sports business, it's about winning and the only reason why Patrick has sponsors is because they want to be on the ground floor if and when she wins a race so they can clean up in profits. It reminds me of insurance…it only matters if I get sick or get into an auto accident. So I just pay and pay…all the while nothing happens. Know what normal people call that? A scam. She's got to win and win soon in order to validate all of the camera time and money she gets as the fraudulent 'barrier breaker' of car racing.

6) Why does anyone think the USA will truly make noise in Soccer's World Cup? There is a clear distinction between the US and most of the other countries who are elite when it comes to soccer (except Canada maybe)…the sport's culture on the national scene. For years the MLS has tried to pry its league into the national consciousness, but to no avail. They tried washed up international stars, too young for primetime stars and the tying up of the league's fortunes to oh yeah, another washed up international soccer star. Sorry. The international players are tougher, faster, more athletic and hungrier than players born and raised in the US…it's obvious. Many of the international players grew up in squalor and used rocks or other apparatus to play the game. They played on dirt and had to work their way up in status through the country's cut-throat training programs. Here, mom drops them off at practice and picks them up. They play on Field Turf spread fields and with regulation equipment. Who would you take to the World Cup? The kid with nothing to lose or the pedigreed kid that has had everything granted to them?

I will be writing again soon, now that I have the time. Once again feel free to leave comments on alphaleticarticles@gmail.com or on this page. Big shouts to Boston College facing USC in the Emerald Bowl. Even though the school is too cheap to send the band out there with you guys, I hope you guys score early and often so the administration feels like chumps for choosing the money they'll get from the bowl over the essence of college football…the band.

Free Agency Isn't That Free...Sometimes

Hello, readers. As popular media continues to hit the public with notifications of the deaths of well known individuals, I have a few words about the latest to pass: Steve McNair. This has all the earmarkings of one of those 'If I can't have you, nobody will' love affair endings. I always thought that many athletes led lives where they had a public front complete with wife and kids but privately enjoyed the spoils of their status fueled by alcohol, drugs, fast cars and many mistresses. It made me think a little deeper and I realized that this is something prevalent throughout all aspects of society, so why would it not affect the relatively small pool of individuals blessed with extreme wealth? When we read newspapers about a husband that killed a wife (or vice versa) over infidelities or a spurned lover that had promises made that were not kept who decided to make the decision easier for both parties, we become a bit desenitized by it.


That is why when the news reported that McNair had been shot four times and the other party, presumably, his scorned lover having a single gunshot wound to the side of her head, I came to the conclusion that this was an affair that extended well beyond a 'booty call' or 'part time lover' exploit. (Click here to see pics of McNair and Shahel Kazemi parasailing 0n vacation) This killing was up close and personal similar to the manner in which ex-pro footballer Rae Carruth ordered and witnessed the fatal driveby shooting of the mother of his yet to be born child back in 1999. In the larger scope of things, there are many commonalities that stem from this situation which pervade our world: children who are left fatherless, women who have lost a husband (or provider), promises made that were not kept, secrecy revealed, mistrust surfaced and houses divided...sounds like America in a nutshell huh?


Now, as Snoop Dogg would say, 'back to the lecture at hand'. As many of you know, free agency season has decended upon the NBA. Many teams that are looking for that missing piece of a championship puzzle will overpay a competent to effective player in order to outbid other potential suitors in order get to the NBA Finals. There is much logic that goes into this as a team that makes the playoffs makes more money because they are alloted more home games in which to sell not only tickets, but concession items (beer, hotdogs, banners) and it helps corporate sponsors continue engaging potential customers for their business.


The average lousy team, lets say, the Los Angeles Clippers, rarely sell out any of their alloted 41 home games during the regular season and are always in the Lottery (ie, the air ball generated chance game as to who will have the No. 1 pick in the annual college draft). If it wasn't for revenue sharing among all of the teams in the NBA, the Clips would have closed shop years ago. However, with the NBA having to cut back the purse strings a bit in the wake of the global economic crisis, many teams that have good players but are not good enough for the playoffs are looking to move on a free agent player that could push them towards the goal at hand. The only problem is that free agents (especially veterans) are not really willing to go to mediocre teams; they want a chance to win championships with teams that need a missing piece. Bad teams such as the Clippers not only garnered the No. 1 pick this year in Blake Griffin, they are sadly suffering from the free agency debacle from 2008 win which they signed an obviously declining player in Baron Davis to a large contract in hopes of luring another free agent, Elton Brand to the team. However, Brand reneged on his promise to sign with the Clips and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.


Now the Clippers are stuck in between phases...do they carry the large Davis contract and try to bolster the team through free agency? Do they trade Davis or another veteran player to another team in order to begin the rebuilding phase with Griffin? With teams not willing to spend the motherlode until 2010 (Lebron James, Dwayne Wade etc.), not many are willing to take on any more large contracts and the free agents they do sign, they give them what is called the mid-level exception, which gives a player approximately $5-6 million per year. Davis for instance, who signed a 5 year, $65 million contract last year and proceeded to have his worst statistical season, prevents teams from taking on such a high salary commitment. The Clips did manage to move PF Zach Randolph's contract off the books this season by trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies, so they may have room next season to go after one of the prized free agents of 2010. The only problem here is that it takes a person to have an incredibly diarreah-like brain fart to sign with them as the team has a history of woeful mismanagment. Therefore, the Clips will have to cross their fingers and hope the team they have presently constituted can be good enough for a playoff run as the money is needed...and the sponsors are praying. However, if a washed up Billy Crystal is the Clips' biggest fan, I feel for the fans and sponsors.


As you can see, free agnecy carries many financial ramifications for a team. There are also risks for the players. A great number of fans continue to ramble on about how players make too much money and they don't care about the game. Well, if these fans were offered 120% more money to jump ship from their present job to a competitor, would they do it? Well...the first thought is yes until one thinks about the monumental life shift that will take place; from a family man's viewpoint, if one already has a fair amount of money saved up, the kids are happy in school where they are and the wife is content why would one leave? From a single man's perspective, however if he has established a place on the social scene, has business interests in the area and is settled in a nice home, why leave? So many factors go into a decision involving a long distance move for a job; a plant manager for GM faced with relocating from Michigan to Alabama is posed the same question. Will you fit in the social scene? Will the kids get the same level of education? Will you be able to establish businesses in this new area? What about race relations?


A good case in point lies with former Orlando Magic F and new Toronto Raptor Hedo Turkoglu. He opted out of his contract with the Magic in order to broker a more lucrative deal with them; however, the Magic decided to trade for Nets F Vince Carter and Turkoglu had to shop his wares on the open market. Shortly after free agency commenced, reports stated that he was set to sign with the Portland Trailblazers, but he about faced and signed with the Raptors. Oh...typical athlete, he just got more money from the Raptors right? Fortunately, that answer is wrong and it is wrong for all the right reasons. When he and his family visited Portland, he did not feel it was a good fit on a social level; the money was right and the team was perfect, but he did not feel he could be the best player he could be without his life off the court in being in order. There was little to no Turkish community and he wanted to be around cultural hub...Toronto, being on the east coast and closer to Turkey was a good fit. He could take direct flights from Canada to his native land and the city offered an international flavor that made him and his family (namely, the wife) happy. In other words, he followed his heart and good sense when he made the move, not just the money...even though the Raptors will still be a crappy team.


Quick trivia question (the winner gets a $5 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts): Who was the first quarterback taken in the famed 1983 NFL Draft and who was the team that drafted him?


A. Tony Eason
B. Dan Marino
C. Peyton Manning
D. John Elway
*Please respond via aphaleticarticles@gmail.com

Mike & My Youth

Welcome back readers. I have decided to write a quick blog before the 2009 NBA Draft which should be taking place within the next hour or so. However, I must depart from sports for a minute and share my thoughts about the pop icon of the true '80's babies', Michael Jackson, who passed on today. I send condolences to his family and loved ones and I ask the fans who are reading this just go to youtube.com, put on the MP3, spin that CD or go waaaaay back in the day and run that cassette tape.

While on the subject, it made me think not only of my mortality, but also conjured up some of the memories from the past. Yes, I had the Thriller album poster on the wall and begged my mother for jheri curls as a snot nose. I remember the MTV world premier of the 'Thriller' video which was one of the most entertaining videos I've ever seen...to this day (pop stars of today, please take note). The thoughts of Mike defined my youth in many ways from the little kid listening to 'Off The Wall' to the 'Thrilller' era to my teenage years when I grew out of his sound. I am not stunned about this by any stretch because death is a part of life and is never a matter of if, but when for ALL OF US. Enjoy the memories and the music and in celebrating his life, you are indeed celebrating yours as well because many of us grew up with him. I started thinking about all of the things that went on in my life during this time...Jessie Jackson's run for the Presidency, space shuttle Challenger's explosion, the U.S.'s invasion of Grenada, a young hip hop culture emerging, Nancy Reagan's hollow 'Just Say No' campaign, the nasty rumor about 'killer clowns' that drive a white van and hunt kids during Holloween, the Iran Contra Affair, Larry v. Magic, heck, the New England Patriots were in the Super Bowl back in these days... As you can see, the music of Jackson binds into the memories of my youth. For instance, when the 'Thriller' single first dropped, my family was coincidentally on the way to Gary, Indiana (Mike's hometown), for the funeral of my uncle. I had the Fisher Price recorder (stop laughing), pressed to rear speakers of the car and made sure to tape the song as it played at least three times an hour on the radio.

Another quick memory from back in the day: I remember being the chubby 9 year old wearing the tight 'mom chosen' Sears & Roebuck brand 'Husky' jeans with holes in the knees patched up, running around Parkside Christian Academy on a rampage. In my 3rd grade class, there was a kid named 'Reggie' who was a quiet, constructive type of fellow who was the class representative for Michael Jackson. He would wear the high water, leather pants with white socks and well polished penny loafers. He even had the well sought after 'Beat It' and 'Thriller' leather jackets and was sporting white tee shirts before they became very popular. Whereas me and the rest guys, we weren't so fortunate; remember 'Members Only' folks? Zips, the suede Ralph Sampson Pumas w/ fat New York laces, Kangaroos and Izod shirts before they became $100? How about Nike when they were sold at Stride Rite before a gangly kid from North Carolina changed the way the youth viewed footwear? Shoot, I thought argyle was a brand name when I was young...yeah, that's how in touch with style my mother was back in the day. Anyways, Reggie's biggest talent however was his propensity of drawing photos of Mike ALL THE TIME. He studied his 'swag' and drew pictures from the Grammy Award ceremony photos, Mike's public appearances to his album covers. So what he always drew Mike with a huge square head and the body of a toothpick? Thinking back, it kind of looked like a cross between Razor Ramon and one of the Olsen twins. We would even have competitions in class as to who was the best singer: Michael Jackson or Prince? Yeah, these were the times that defined my youth.

Sadly, the Mike I grew up with, which captivated my generation, is not the same as the Mike we've seen over the past 15-20 years. Age had changed his appearance and his view of music/entertainment while many of us children that listened to him became hardened adults...some even fragile in response to the rapid changes of our world. Despite this, I have learned to accept that I too am no longer that young kid that was mezmorized by Mike's talent; my music tastes grew over the years and I am unable to think as I did when I was younger. All I can do now is enjoy the memories and think when Wu-Tang Clan, w/ Gladys Knight sample of course, asked 'Can It Be That It Was All So Simple Then?' it meant more than just the passage of time, it meant that our lives weren't so compartmentalized and complex; and if it was, did we stress it the same we do as adults? It just so happened that Mike provided the soundtrack for many people during that time. But alas, change is a part of life as much as death. It took me a time to realize this and whatever happened in Mike's personal life in recent times will not tarnish my memories of his music...it defined many aspects of the times I 'came up' in.

I hope. Somewhere. Today. At this time. Reggie is a healthy adult and happy with his life. I hope he understands that I along with all of our classmates are thankful he was able to show his love of Mike to all of us. I also hope that he is still not drawing those distorted Mike pics. It is truly sad that young people can so effortlessly show adoration with such genuine fervor while adults seem only to ride with what is the most popular opinion...in a very disingenuous manner. With that, I say to all of his fans, only YOU can keep him alive. I hope you use it as a porthole to examine your lives and understand the unique journey that life gives us all. Play that music and enjoy not only his talent, but your life.

***I will have exciting news available to all members of the AlphaleticArticles blog community soon. It will involve prizes, raffles and good times, so stay posted.

30 Days to Nowhere

Today's trivia question: Who was the last NBA player to average a triple double for an entire season?

I was just thinking about time…about a month to be exact. Like, in a month's time, I will be mentally preparing to go back to Houston and commence my second year of law school. It seemed like it took me a month to write a 'simple' summary judgment during my first year and yes, in the span of one month, I will STILL be sleeping on an army cot in my father's basement with two psychopathic cats. Within this seemingly short (or long, depending on your situation) amount of time, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will have probably flip flopped first place in of the American League East Division multiple times and several NBA players will have found a new place to call home complete with a trophy wife and a 'why should I work hard anymore, I've hit the jackpot' attitude via the spending frenzy that is free agency. Heck, within a month NFL players will be prepping for training camp, Iranians will still be protesting the recent presidential 'election' and we won't know truly, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop. Wonder where I'm going with this huh? Well, in order to get some perspective on my thought process, it may be in your best interest to read my entry, Mike's Con-Vicktion Should Be Change. In that article, I referenced the unusually long jail term (a year and change plus probation plus the complete destruction of his financial viability) former NFL quarterback Michael Vick had to serve in Federal Prison for animal cruelty.

According to various media outlets, NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth has reached a plea agreement in regards to the vehicular manslaughter charges levied against him in connection with the death of 59 year old father and husband, Mario Reyes on March 14^th. The plea agreement details his punishment for driving while drunk (double Florida's legal limit) and speeding on a Miami street, which is 30 days in jail, 10 years probation and he had to pay the family restitution for the death of Reyes. Now, I am all for good lawyering, but come on now. Vick was practically put under the jail and his life spread eagle for the American public to spit at him and scrutinize his very being. His employer (the NFL) turned its back, the team he played for, the Atlanta Falcons, bid him adieu, the legal system bankrupted him and finally, his creditors decided to cut bait and go after everything he owned. Makes me wonder…dogs and humans. Man's best friend verses a man who was quite possibly a friend to many other people including his family. Federal time for a dog and a short stint in State prison for a human. Is something wrong here? Is this a money issue or is this a dangerous precedent that can trickle down throughout the legal system allowing others to serve the same amount of time for a similar crime? In my opinion, it is a combination of both. Stallworth says in an official statement, "I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy" and further states "I will bear this burden for the rest of my life." It is fitting that he says that he will bear that cross for his entire life, but so will the family of Reyes. In Vick's case, what heirs or family members of the dogs he participated in killing will suffer?

Animal cruelty is a part of all of our lives at some point or another. Whether one participates in legal abuse such as horse racing (which only is legitimized by widespread coverage in the media and mummified millionaire horse owners who throw insane amount of money behind the process of breeding a quality 'stud', those who wear leather or fur clothing, sleep on goose down pillows, eat animal flesh as a part of their diet or love the feel of ivory on their skin as jewelry are connected to cruelty. However, there is commerce circulates behind those various industries and the infrastructure of our economy cannot sustain itself without it…so if dog fighting is not something that can line the pockets of the same elements that dictate the economy, go get Vick, lock him up and destroy his life!

I guess it is an entirely different story when we talk about the killing of another person. It is understandable if someone dies in an accident. It is not understandable when one drinks alcohol until legal inebriation, decides to cruise the streets of Miami at dawn beyond the speed limit and kills another human being. I cannot see the justification for how 30 days in jail and 10 years of probation (with a couple of bucks thrown in for the family to boot) can adequately replace a life of a man. In 'Mike's Con-Vicktion', I touched upon the fact that a dog does not have the capabilities to change the world. If that dog did gain this ability (we'll call him Underdog), it was from the training of a human. The value of a human is immeasurable as one can invent an apparatus that can change other's lives. One has the potential to cure disease, build shelters for others and provide peace and security for those around them. These are things that dogs cannot provide humans unless a dog carries a gene that can cure cancer or be the base for an HIV serum; a dog can only find shelter in what they may dig for themselves or what they find pre-existing in nature. Now dogs can provide security…however, it is only through the hand of a human being. There is no reason Stallworth would serve less jail time than Vick except the possibility that either Reyes' life is looked at as less than a dog, Stallworth greased palms in various places, he had a pit bull (pardon the expression) for a lawyer or maybe a combination of all three elements. Now, I am not saying that Vick should not have been punished at all; I do however believe a more reasonable sentence…like 30 days and probation, seems more appropriate.

Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL has a sterling opportunity to make his league come across a sterling example of management of its 'citizens', the players. Goodell can hand down a punishment that is even more severe than that of Florida courts and will be able to say the league is more intolerant of crimes by its employees than the States are of its citizens if the viability of the league wanes in the eyes of the government (see Major League Baseball Senate Hearings). The Stallworth punishment not only sets forth a slippery slope for high profile individuals but also citizens such as myself…wait…can I pay a family a large sum of money to make them go away? Would his lawyer even talk to me without my father putting up his house (with cot included) as a retainer? Better yet, I would probably be shuttled from my 2000 Mitsubishi Galant straight to prison. I admire the fact that Stallworth owned up to the killing and didn't come up with a 'Juiced-Up' story about how he didn't do it (listening O.J.?), as he comes across as a responsible person. However, in this case, when gets to prison, being a nice guy with a heart of gold will only get him so far. There are going to be guys in the prison he will be incarcerated with that were locked up for a long stretch due to a similar crime, who may resent him. I guess that's what Protective Custody is for eh? At any rate, I hope Vick has his chance to play professional football again. He was the big name in an investigation that included numerous people who were engaged in the same activity. Stallworth acted alone. I still wish him well, but it painfully apparent that a dog's life is worth years while Reyes' life was only worth 30 days. Something needs to change.

The answer to today's question: Oscar 'The Big O' Robertson, who during the 1961-62 regular season averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.