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.

Coaching With The Best…Well, Until It Counts

Trivia Question and of course, the winner gets nothing: Who was the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 1995?

You know, I'd bet some of you would call me a soothsayer or maybe even psychic if Blogger hadn't messed up two days ago. I wrote a very interesting piece about the blunders of certain coaches and how they seem to doom the teams and sometimes the organizations they work with. I discussed Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy's stupid decision to bench point guard Rafer Alston in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers due to Alston merely barking back at him during a time out…a very under-represented turning point of the series that is hardly discussed by the major media outlets. It seems that Shaquille O'Neal was right about Van Gundy as being 'the master of panic'. I wrote in that post about how the Lakers will come into Game 5 and apply the same pressure as they did in the second half of Game 4 and we can all sit back and watch the Magic fold up shop and show us all what a real 'magic' disappearing act is supposed to look like. But painfully, it was all for naught and many of you are sitting back saying…Phillip is so full of sh**, whereas I sit back and yell out…DAMN YOU BLOGGER, DAMN YOU!!! Yeah, it may be time to hasten my process of converting this to a full-fledged website and call it a day. But then I think, 'when you are living in the basement of your father's house, sleeping on an army cot and working an internship with no pay within an economic meltdown, it's best to count your blessings and keep writing.' With that, I will…while damning blogger for taking away a potential moment of glory.

Moving on, I wrote about several coaches from several different professional sports leagues that have been notorious for not getting their teams to the top despite their all world coaching credentials and supposed reputation. But before I get into that, I'd like to take some time to congratulate the target of many black women's ire, one Kobe Bryant for winning his fourth NBA title this evening. I wish I could say that he had to work for it in the Finals (which he would have had to if the Cavaliers had been the opponent) but nonetheless, he is writing a nice piece of history for himself. Also, the walking mummy himself, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, won his NBA record 10^th title as a head coach. Now, I respect all that he's done as a coach but…something is telling me that he does not deserve as much due as he is taking from the ABC's and ESPN's of the world. He never really had to put together a really good team himself; he merely had a all world superstar player guzzle his tall, heaping glass of Zen Kool-Aid and put him in a domineering position within a team full of capable role players who are scared to death to let him down…or else be banished to the Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder or whatever garbage pail team is out there.

The Lakers, if all stays relatively the same, you know, with Kobe diagramming the plays, Jim Cleamons falling asleep behind the bench, Kurt Rambis trying to look cool in search of his first head coaching job (despite his former appearance) and a hungry group of former first round draft pick flame outs (Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown) on the bench, big things may be on the horizon. As for Orlando, I am not sure the outlook is so rosy. Van Gundy is fast developing a reputation of not being able to push his teams over the top through expert coaching. This is the same guy who coached the 2006 Miami Heat for half the season and general manager Pat Riley, sensing that the moment and stage was too big for Van Gundy to handle (or too big for Riley not be in the spotlight) took over as head coach and pushed them past the soft butt Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA Finals. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds in the following season, but keep this in mind: Dwight Howard has already criticized the coaching of the team and if he and other players feel that Van Gundy's personality will only allow the team to go so far, expect the pink slip to arrive soon after a slow start to the 2009-10 NBA regular season.

Watching 'The Master' Van Gundy conjures up many memories of all of my favorite whipping boy coaches who even when given teams ripe for winning a title, failed to deliver. The first head coach would be former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Now don't get me wrong, Marty was a great coach who inspired his teams to perform beautifully…until when it counted the most. If it wasn't for poor Marty of the NFL's greatest comebacks (or collapses) would not have happened. Anybody remember Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway's famous 'Drive' in the 1986 AFC Championship Game against Marty's Cleveland Browns? Before this game, he delivered a stirring speech to the players that inspires me to laugh off of a chair…it's called 'The Gleam' please click here for a sample of the audio. If anyone had a chance to see the footage of this on the field speech, or has a chance to look it up, please look at the players faces as he speaks…you can see several of them saying 'what the f*** is coach talking about?' 'He never gave a speech like this before any other game this season and he waits until now to give it?' 'What the heck is a gleam anyways?' Well, whatever the gleam was, it obviously was firmly seated on the opponent's side of the field and enabled them to not only pull off 'The Drive' but also helped them win the game in overtime on the strength of a Rich Karlis kick that was obviously wide left and no good click here to view. Marty's wizardry (another Magic reference, ha-ha) didn't stop there either. He coached the dominating and top seeded Kansas City Chiefs team to a quick exit in their first playoff game in 1995 at home no less, and against a lesser opponent. Apparently, place kicker Lin Elliot, who missed three attempts in the game, didn't feel 'the gleam'. New England Patriots fans may remember the 15-1 San Diego Chargers team in 2006-07 that hosted a playoff game against a wild card Patriots team that had no business winning…until Marty's team lost 'the gleam' and the game…again. Sadly, Marty was forced out of the Chargers organization after this game and in my opinion, is stuck with the stigma of being a horrible big game coach…which is something I feel Stan Van Gundy is well on his way to becoming.

I also touched upon another coach whose resume out performed his coaching ability, NHL coach/general manager/president/PR nightmare, Mike Keenan. When I researched him on Wikipedia.org of all places, this one of the opening headlines in his profile states 'His inability to maintain working relationships with players and team organizations has resulted in a lack of long term coaching positions. His coaching resume includes abrupt terminations or resignations from coaching or general manager positions, sometimes at bafflingly inopportune, or peak, moments of his career.' Keenan alienated many of his best players during his NHL odyssey and amazingly his teams accomplished what happens when any polarizing coaching personality does when they leave a team, they got better. Want proof? The Florida Panthers were 5-8-2 in 2003-04 when he was fired and after the 2004-05 lockout season, the team finished with a 37-34 record in the 2005-06 season. Okay, maybe a reach. How about the 1996-97 St. Louis Blues who sported a 15-17-1 record when he left and rallied to make the playoffs with a 36-35-11record. More you ask? How about the 2000-01 Boston Bruins? He led the team to a 33-26-7 non playoff record that season before abruptly resigning. In the 2002-03 season, the team posted a 43-24-6 record which was good enough for a playoff appearance. He was recently fired by the Calgary Flames after the 2008-09 season, when the team lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. So according to the percentages, I expect the Flames to be right in the thick of things next season especially in light of a potentially large free agent market due to the projected lowering of the salary cap for NHL teams next season (more on that at another time). Now, Keenan did win a Stanley Cup, coaching the 1994 New York Rangers to the title, but I attribute most of the credit to a great all around playoff performance by Mark Messier.

Answer to today's trivia. Remember, the winner gets nothing: Vinny Testaverde. Kudos to those who got it right. Now a follow up question: who was his back up?

A)Todd Philcox
B) Eric Zier
C) Brady Quinn

Please send your answers by either responding with a comment or send an email to alphaleticarticles@gmail.com

Mike's Con-Vicktion Should Be Change

I am sitting here mentally refreshing myself from a very hard first year of law school. Just thinking about how much home has changed…or did I? I think about all of the things that made Boston, MA also made me and at times, I reflected the worst of my hometown while at other times, I displayed many of the positive things. The whole goal in life is to get better and recover from the mistakes we made and if we do something well, to continue doing it. I was far from a choir boy in my formative years and I still made some serious gaffes in my young adult years. However, through it all, I maintained a positive view of the future and took the words of the more experienced elders to heart. Believe it or not, I ended up in the place where I always wanted to be: law school. I also have put forth the dedication of providing readers with informative nuggets of my personal insight on the world of sports. To all of my readers, you are an inspiration for me to continue to do this and get better at it the more I put my fingertips to the keys. Despite the challenges to my will this past law school year, I believe I have come to realize what is important to me and how I can utilize my newfound knowledge of the law for the betterment of not only myself, but the community at large.

While on the subject of my personal growth, I cannot gloss over the hot button topic of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick and his journey back to his profession despite public outcries to bar him from his chief source of employment. Yes, what he participated in was egregious to say the least and his actions in regards to his forthrightness in response to questions of his knowledge of dog-fighting on his private property did not inspire faith in his character. As a result of his actions, he spent over a year in federal prison, which in my opinion was way too excessive. Leonard Little, a defensive lineman for the St. Louis Rams killed a woman in a car accident years ago and did less time in prison than Vick. Former NFL running back Lamar Smith (pictured on far left) was impaired while driving which led to an accident and the permanent paralysis of a teammate, yet he was allowed to come back to the NFL and play another day after serving time in prison. In 1984, former NHL player Craig Mac Tavish (pictured on the left) was involved in a fatal car accident after leaving a Boston area nightclub that killed a woman. He spent a year in prison and was allowed to return to the league and play with the Edmonton Oilers. Now, I understand the PETA side of the argument in regards to Vick, which predicates its argument on the cruelty of defenseless animals and making an example of those who participate in such activities. It is no question that Vick became the face of animal cruelty, but is this enough to keep him from earning a living? Does the public at large have the right to deprive one of pursuing their happiness even after he has served his debt to society in prison?

I firmly believe that the life of a human being is worth more than an animal based on the one thing that separates us: the potential to change the world. Any individual has the potential to alter the lives of others at any time while animals, which can provide happiness and are sources of unconditional love on a level that even humans at times cannot match, still cannot change the world. Why would anyone feel that Vick should be deprived of his right to make a living based on his mistakes in regards to dogs while others who kill humans can return to society and take advantage of gainful employment? Some may say he can work as a painter or in construction; he can bag groceries or drive trucks across the United States right? However, why should he be forced to do so? Is making money based on a physical talent punishable a privilege that should be taken away based on mistakes not related to what one does in their line of work? An elementary teacher who gets caught in a sex sting operation with a school aged child being used as bait is understandably a good reason to keep that individual out of the classroom; but what does dog fighting or killing dogs have to do with playing quarterback in the NFL? Are people of the belief that because he made a large amount of money playing professionally, he should be punished by not being able to do so based on his mistakes? If so, that is a poor reason. If these people understand anything about the elements that make this country different from others is one always has a chance to redeem themselves; they have a change to make something out of nothing and can change their lives based on the work they do for themselves and others. Although there are portions of American society that take on the distinctions of a caste system, the positive elements of the Constitution still lay out a classical view of American life…life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. It is not meant to be construed as life and liberty if the public at large allows and pursuit of happiness being conditional on how one is perceived.

I see our society moving towards a culture of taking away rather than providing…we are living in tough times where funding towards education, retirement and care for the mentally/physically impaired are being cut by governmental entities in all states and federal levels. It is not a good precedent to bar a person no matter what their socioeconomic or celebrity status from being able to earn money based on their talents. Michael Vick needs to play football as that is his skill, just as another person is a horseshoe maker and another is an auto mechanic. It is not fair, nor feasible to force him to do something else based on his mistakes. There also appears to be a little jealously abound because there are many of us who will never make the money Vick has made in a year during their lifetimes who love to see another knocked off the pedestal of wealth and cast down into the tax brackets of the ‘commoner’.

I believe that a trash collector who is convicted of a death of another human being or animal should not be forced to sweep floors in a warehouse after serving his time in prison and has adequately showed his/her positive changes. I hope Vick has a chance to resume his career in the NFL and has made the necessary improvements as a man in order to ensure he does not put himself in a similar position in the future. I would hope that any of my law school colleagues, if they make mistakes in their professional career that are not serious enough to disbar them will have the opportunity to redeem themselves. That is what it is all about…that is what’s fair. Good luck Mike.

The Importance of Sports in 'The City'

I just finished watching the athletic phenom himself, LeBron James, win a game in the last second on the brightest stage of his career. This made me reflect on the effect on people's emotion that sports has and how it effects lives. How many times have you been at the office or at school the day after the home team won or lost a big game? Being on either side, you will notice that the environments can be very positive or very moribund. I remember the day after the New England Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl in 2002, the boss in the office was more aloof than the the employees. We didn't get anything done on that day. On the flip-side, when the Pats lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, man we got so much work done on that day, it was unbelievable. I mean, people did not want to talk about the game and would have rather gotten lost in work than discuss the disappointment of a beloved team losing a big game.

In regards to Game 2 of the 2008-09 Eastern Conference Finals, I cannot help but think about the effect of James on the city of Cleveland. The Cavaliers franchise is located in an area of the United States commonly referred to as the 'Rust Belt', where in the early parts of the 20th Century, the steel manufacturing industry kept cities afloat. As the industry waned in the latter parts of the century, the cities declined and interestingly, so did the fortunes of the sports teams in the area. The Cavaliers were atrocious in the 90s as were the Browns in Cleveland, which was moved and re-named in 1995; the Detroit Lions still are affected by the crumbling economy that is interwoven into the day to day operations of the organization; the Cincinnati Bengals haven't even sniffed any semblance of true relevance since 1989. The Detroit Pistons and Pittsburgh Steelers are pretty much the only organizations who have relatively sustained themselves throughout the changes of society. The Steelers have done so due to a commitment to a manner of business that is deeply rooted through family lineage while the Pistons learned to adapt and change with the times without adhering to the same business paradigm that brought success in the past.

Getting back to the subject of this entry, I am very happy for the people of Cleveland. I had a chance to visit there during a research project in 1998 and I saw a ghost town in Downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Browns Stadium was still under construction, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Jacobs Field were pretty much the only attractions for the out of towner. As I walked about the burned out remnants of a city that boasted the dubious distinction of having a lake so polluted (Erie) that it caught on fire, I thought if there was something positive and transcending, it would bind the people. If I were to visit Cleveland today, the downtown area that I saw ten years ago all but abandoned would have life...thanks to LeBron James. The city is now in the epicenter of the sports world and the city has money coming in via the NBA coverage and increased tourism. Even though the city is divided at its core due to it's history, the fans are united under the success of a common interest. However, what happens to the city if James leaves for literally 'greener pastures' when he opts out of his current contract in 2010? The rumors of Nike paying him extra money to join a large market team are false and impractical in these economic times, so his staying where he is will be motivated by his desire to continue the transformation of his 'hometown', which will not only have a tremendous impact on the fortunes of the team, but the city as well. If Eric Mangini can turn around the Browns and James leaves, then maybe it would lessen the blow, but Cleveland's resurgence was built by James and could hollow out without him. The unity under the thin veneer of a winning team led by an iconic figure disappears and the positivity and economic growth associated with it likewise disintegrates.

The fans of Cleveland sports should enjoy this moment. The reason being is that it is easy to be spoiled by greatness when it is around on a year to year basis...just ask the fans of the Patriots, the Chicago Bulls or Montreal Canadiens. I constantly remind my friends that victory and success can be fleeting and things never remain the same in the sports world; ACLs tear. Players age. Overrated player are bums. Coaches get tuned out. Ownership changes. It all connects with us on so many levels as we work, study and live. Sports gives us a creative outlet and inspires us all. I know we all remember the camera shot of the young fan sporting the James jersey incredulously holding his head after Hedo Turkaglu hit that potential game winning shot tonight. That same kid's emotions swung 180 degrees after the winning shot by James. Imagine going into a holiday weekend on the losing end of the stick and now think about how many bars are breaking the bank as people celebrate. Cab drivers are making a killing and I bet Trojans are making thousands of 'entries' this evening. Winning changes everything and everyone is happy. That is why in these trying times, sports fans located in the 'Rust Belt' deserve to taste winning on the same level as those in Boston, Los Angeles and New York. Congrats, folks...enjoy it while it lasts.

Revisionist History Post---Part I

Hello all. Since I have been studying for final exams and writing papers, I've not had the time to write articles for the blog. So, in order to provide new material and to fool myself into thinking that I have actually been writing for the blog, I have decided to pull out a new idea...'why not re-package some old blogs and pass them off as new?' Well, I got the idea from one of my readers who expressed the need for an update as I still have the 'will Cutler be traded?' article up on my facebook status. However, the revisionist idea may be good as it gives insight as to how a team has changed over the past year.

So I have decided to post one on the Jacksonville Jaguars which discussed the relevance of the re-signing of quarterback David Garrard and head coach Jack Del Rio to new contracts. As you read, you will see that I was quasi-on point with some observations and woefully off target with others...but hey, it's the NFL and anything can happen, right? I still believe the Jags are on track for winning in the long term and will recover from a disappointing 2008 regular season. The moves made by the organization in the wake of a bad season include: firing the GM who signed Porter and Williamson(which gives Del Rio more say in personnel matters), letting Taylor go via free agency, re-signing Jones-Drew and making him the 3rd highest paid running back in the game while also getting rid of two other first-round bust receivers in Matt Jones and Reggie Williams (the dead wood).

BTW, notice my first question? With Matt Cassell cashing in for last season's performance for the New England Patriots, yes, all it takes is one year of efficient ball to demand big dollars as a starting quarterback in the NFL. I have posted numerous blogs on myspace dealing with football (which is rarely used these days). I am under the name Phil-Matic if you choose to read others. Enjoy.

The David Garrard Contract...Good or Bad?

Tuesday, April 08, 2008, 9:00pm

Who knew that it only takes one efficient season as the starting QB of an NFL franchise in order to cash in to the tune of a reported $60 million over seven years? David Garrard (pictured) passed for 3,543 yards over five seasons previous to his statistically monstrous season of 2007. During those previous five seasons his total for touchdowns was 18 and his interception total was 13. By looking at the simple statistics and comparing them to the 2007 season (2,509 yds,18 tds, 3 ints), I can see why Wayne Weaver and Jacksonville Jaguars brain-trust would invest in this player. Garrard has shown that he can be a capable long term investment at the most critical position on the football field because he is efficient (career 59.8 completion percentage), can create throwing space with his legs in the face of a rush and more importantly, he does not turn the ball over. If you combine his numbers over the six seasons he’s been in the NFL, 36 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions would compare favorably to the best QB’s in the league. The front office had to be salivating as Garrard did this with two first round busts as starting wide receivers and an underachieving TE that also was picked rather high in an NFL Draft.

When I saw Garrard escape from the Pittsburgh Steelers rush during the AFC Divisional Playoff game, darting and dashing down the field in order to position the Jaguars to win, I knew Garrard could be special. It is what a QB does during the most pressing times that define their true value to a team; the Jags blew a lead on the road to a tough team, the momentum was on the other side of the field and losing was a real possibility…to everyone else except Garrard and the Jags. The Jags went on to lose the following week in New England, but if it weren’t for a dropped pass by Dennis Northcutt (a perfect pass, mind you), the outcome may have been different. Garrard paid his dues behind a highly touted QB of the future in Byron Leftwich and when given the opportunity, he shined. He shined so much the organizational philosophy may have been influenced.

In my previous article, I mentioned that NFL franchises are moving away from the hire coach fire coach, hire GM fire GM approach to building teams. They are now moving towards the college type of system programs are built. Owners want continuity and stability as this can be cost effective in the long run; the hire/fire approach leads to paying more to hire new coaching staffs, sacrificing sound cap management by paying more for the appropriate players to fit the revolving door of systems, releasing good players who may not fit in the new coach’s plans (then deal with the cap hit), and finally endure with the on-field struggles of players constantly having to adapt to different ways of playing the game philosophically. In this atmosphere, fans become disconnected from the on the field product which affects revenue streams at the gate and in merchandising. Basically, what I am getting at is the Jags signed head coach Jack Del Rio (pictured) to a five year contract extension and followed up by ponying up big bucks to his QB. This is a clear example of program building and the fact that Del Rio made Garrard his choice in leading the team, he probably will have earned more say in personnel matters. Garrard was also given two new receivers, one of which is proven (Jerry Porter) and the other in the mold of the dead wood they already have on the roster (Troy Williamson). Although it is up for debate how these two players will do, it is clear that the organization is committed to giving Garrard the tools in order to be successful.

There is definite hope in Jacksonville and as long as the QB-coach tandem is in place, I see the team being competitive. The contract Garrard signed is more than likely designed to enable financially flexibility for the first three seasons, which should be enough time to see Maurice Jones-Drew (pictured) grow into a force, Fred Taylor continue to amaze us with his durability in the final years of his career and for smash-mouth football fans to witness a tough defensive match-up week in and week out. The Jags made two huge team building maneuvers over the past couple of days; they made a decision on who will lead this team how it will be done in the foreseeable future, which is a place many other teams wish they could be right now. Although many people my give this move a thumbs down, I believe this is a sound investment that will improve this organization on the field and off it.

Denver Prepping The 'Cutler'-y for Jay?

Over the past few days the airwaves, Internet and water-cooler topic concerning the NFL is not the upcoming draft and the free agent buzz has seemed to have dissipated. The issue many are talking about is Denver Broncos quarterback, Jay Cutler, feeling rebuffed by trade talks concerning him supposedly initiated by new head coach, Josh McDaniels. Cutler feels alienated to the point of selling his real estate in the Denver area, and subsequent talks via teleconference and a face to face meeting have pretty much gone nowhere. What exactly is the big deal here, you ask? For Cutler, it is a respect factor based on his accomplishments thus far in his career as a starting quarterback for a high profile organization in the NFL. For McDaniels, it is putting his stamp on a high profile team in the mold of his former organization, the New England Patriots. Both competing interests appear to be butting heads rather than working together in order to promote the overall improvement of the team.

According to numerous sources the Broncos, shortly after the free agent period began, initiated trade proposals with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots which would have sent Cutler (pictured) to Tampa Bay, Matt Cassel to the Denver and draft picks to New England. The alleged plan back-fired when New England sent Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second round pick in this years draft which left McDaniels, and Broncos owner, Pat Bowlen in full spin control when Cutler got wind of the news. It is critical to remember that Cutler was a Pro-Bowl invitee (haha, torts) this past season in which he threw for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns; we are not exactly talking about a substandard player here. Secondly, the Broncos' downfall last season where they choked up a sure division title by submarining in the final weeks was mainly attributable to a porous defense. I mean, the defense was so bad, when a playoff spot was on the line in week 17 in a 'winner takes all' affair against division rival, San Diego Chargers, they were soundly beat by the score of 52-21. One question that was asked by many pundits shortly after McDaniels took over was 'why start revamping the offense when the defense was the problem?'

This is what leads us down the road we are looking at today. Cutler has officially requested a trade, the potential trade market has dwindled to 2-3 teams and the Broncos have no leverage whatsoever in their trade demands as they have no proven quarterback on the roster that has a full season's worth of effective play under his belt. The parties have reached an impasse and Cutler has every right to be miffed as he said that he was told by Bowlen (pictured during the glory days) after Mike Shanahan was fired that the offensive staff will stay intact and that he was not shopped by the team to others in hopes of consummating a trade. He feels lied to and has no trust factor in his dealings with McDaniels as during a meeting with his new head coach, that anyone can be traded. If it were me in those shoes, I'd be a little perturbed to say the least, but Cutler has to realize that he is employed in an industry where everyone is replaceable and as we have seen from Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, one hit can alter a career. If Cutler believed that he would spend his entire career with the Broncos, I am glad that he now (hopefully) understands his mortality especially in the shadow of 'the business'. Cutler recently no-showed an involuntary organized team activity (OTA) earlier this week and seems dead set on forcing the Broncos' hand in resolving a situation (via trade) that conceivably should have never been.

McDaniels (pictured) is a 32 year old head coach that spent his entire professional career with the Patriots, which has set up a coach manufacturing factory in Foxboro, MA. In his time, he has seen players such as Drew Bledsoe and Deion Branch who were mainstays on the team be traded as soon as the organization identified an individual who could fill his spot at a lower price and with equal to more compatibility with the team's system. It is understandable for him to want to bring 'his guys' to Denver in order to make his transition from offensive coordinator to head coach smoother. However, what gets many people scratching their heads is the fact that McDaniels allegedly never gave Cutler a chance to at least learn his offensive system and determine whether his skill set would fit into what he wanted to accomplish. If the player did not fit after year 1, trade the guy and rebuild the position during a conceivable uncapped 2010 season. If he wanted to make the big splash, I would have thought he would have done it on the defensive side, starting with cornerback Champ Bailey, who is still an elite player but may be declining and could have a good market via trade. The breakdown on Bailey's remaining years under the 7 year, $63 million contract signed in 2004:

2009: $6.5 million (+ $2 million roster bonus due 3/3/09), 2010: $9.5 million, 2011: Free Agent. *Cap charge: $13.669 million (2009).

I cannot see how the Broncos could have thought saving a substantial amount of cap dollars by trading Bailey rather than irritate a notoriously thin skinned Cutler, was not a viable option. Cutler is one of the better young quarterbacks in the NFL; he was drafted behind Vince Young who lost his starting job with the Tennessee Titans and Matt Leinart of the Arizona Cardinals who suffers the same situation as Young. I am not making a case for Cutler and nor am I excusing the behavior of the Bronco brain-trust; however, I am questioning the lack of foresight on both sides which if used, could have prevented a bad situation from getting worse. Cutler must realize that if he will make good on all of the potential he has, he must find a way to make this situation work and position himself into the holder of power down the line. Right now, the Broncos have the power and they also have the ammunition on draft day to either trade for a replacement or draft a player that can be developed under Cutler while Cutler takes the pounding and hits while the coach implements new players into a new system. McDaniels has learned (hopefully) the cardinal rule in any walk of life for any manager or CEO: never walk into a room and alienate those who have been there before you. If you do not carry a big stick and reputation to back it up, it is best to come in, let people know what you expect of them and weed out the misfits later.

I hope both McDaniels and Cutler find a way to work through this as they are both talented at what they do. However, the discontent in reference to McDaniels among the Broncos faithful is beginning to peak before he has even coached a game. I would expect something like this to occur after he guided the team to a 4-12 finish in 2009 rather than in the off season. If McDaniels is able to get Cutler back into the fold and on the same page, this will be an interesting team this year; all they have to do is fill in youthful depth on defense and win the games they are supposed to. If a trade is made, Cutler will need to adapt his attitude to different culture and also become proficient in a new offense with sub par personnel as any team that has the assets the Broncos want for him, will be a bad one. These two parties need each other in order to succeed and I hope this mess is sorted out before training camp as no player wants to be traded during this time and no team that expects to contend wants a question mark at the most critical position.

Re-'cap'ping Some Issues

Amazing how time flies when one is having fun (sarcasm)...while in the midst of my second semester of writing papers and studying, I had to prioritize my duties in regards to alphaleticarticles and make time for it during a full spring 'break', which features more paper writing and preparations for my final exams. It is refreshing to be back in the swing of things as I am alone in the library, on a Friday night no less, trying to make good on the promises I made to myself and the readers of this blog. I appreciate the emails from a couple of readers asking for another entry (Doris) and suggestions on potential articles (Puente). Rest assured, I will be putting in maximum effort to get this thing going for my...I guess it's called spring edition. So lets go in on it....

Many tidbits of news over the past few months have hit the sports pages and airwaves from basketball, football, baseball and soccer. We are now preparing for the NCAA's 'Selection Sunday' which will bracket 65 college basketball teams for an annual tournament crown a new National Champion. I have to admit, that this is an exciting deal which generates attention to many smaller schools who feature teams with talent we have not been exposed to. Just think of last year...I mean, did anyone even fathom Stephen Curry of Davidson College would be considered a potential first round pick in the NBA draft if he didn't get hot during the 2008 tournament? I have to look at it this way as my bracket is always garbage and 4th seed that I pick to win gets knocked off by a better, but lower seeded squad. A classmate of mine (Quintero) just came by and lobbied for his alma mater, Texas A&M, to get into the tournament and expressed his displeasure with the smaller schools playing to gain access to it. It still must be noted how exciting it is for basketball players at smaller schools to even get a chance to 'go dancing'...these players bring an exuberance that cannot be measured and provide interesting stories (personal and program-wise) to all of the games they play in which many people can relate to. Reminds me of 'caste system meets capitalism' in a strange way where all is equalized for a very short time and anything can happen...then it's back to normal. However, it is a far cry from the 'could he drafted?' question that is largely applied to standouts at more prominent basketball programs. It is also enough to keep people such as myself tuned into their games, provided they are not blitzkrieged within the first five minutes.

In a nutshell, I believe that the games will be compelling this year and there will be a few upsets, just like every other year. At the end of the day however, the impressive collection of talent coupled with superior coaching will reign as the Final Four will more than likely feature noticeable names such as Duke and UConn rather than Northern Iowa or Stony Brook.

Another issue that has been spoken of over the past month or two is the issue of free agency in the NFL. Albert Haynesworth is now a Washington Redskins member, Matt Cassel was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and Terrell Owens was very wisely released the Dallas Cowboys, and subsequently found able employment with the Buffalo Bills shortly thereafter. Here is my take on the Owens saga; I believe that he needed to be let go by the 'boys not just due to the locker room disruptions and the demands he placed upon a quarterback who is still trying to find his way in the NFL. Many people seem to ignore his age and the salary cap number he was carrying going into 2009. I have not seen 35 year old receivers dominate on the NFL scene in my life much less get paid on par with one who is younger and does so. He was incompetently signed to a 4 year $34 million contract extension last year by the Cowboys who had to at least have knowledge that even Jerry Rice or Chris Carter for that matter, was not dominating at that age. He is still a good receiver, but due to his age and penchant for drawing needless attention to himself, the Dallas brain-trust, if they intended to keep him, should have given him at 2 year extension and front-loaded it as much as possible in order to lessen the salary cap hit if they decided to part ways in the subsequent off-season.

It seems as if Buffalo got it right with Owens, giving him a one year deal as they knew that he usually provides maximum performance in his first year with a new team. Look at the stats:

Philadelphia Eagles (2004): 77 catches, 1,200 yards, 14 touchdowns
Dallas Cowboys (2006): 85 catches 1,180 yards, 13 touchdowns

I expect a good season out of him, but he went to a division where every coach bases their defense on pressuring quarterbacks and taking away things that the opposition does best. If Trent Edwards is in obvious passing situations more often than not, Owens will be rendered ineffective as coverage will be rolled over to him and Lee Evans, although a good player and underrated in my opinion, has yet to prove that he can take take over a game and be a superstar. Edwards seems to be the type of quarterback that can play very well as long as the offensive game plan is dictated successfully and he can use is skills to improvise when plays break down. The biggest benefit of Owens' arrival will be for slot receiver Roscoe Parrish (pictured). He will be matched up against slower safeties or less physical corners and will have room to display his speed in space after the catch. Running back Marshawn Lynch should have a better season as a result as well as the passing game will keep teams from loading 8 men in 'the box' to defense the running game. Just having Owens on the team is good for about 2-3 more wins for the Bills; being that they finished 7-9 last season, I fully expect at least 10 wins out of them this year, which may still not be good enough as every other team in the AFC East has reloaded on defense.

The second side of this move is that the Bills are in financial peril. They reside in a small market that was gutted by the fall of industry in the latter stages of the 20th Century. The owner, Ralph Wilson is testing the lucrative waters of Canada (Toronto) with his team in order to get things turned around and will probably make a move there if things continue to go the way they have been. What better way to get a sudden influx of cash than bringing in a high profile player such as Owens? If he does well, the Bills get exposure, if he acts like a jerk, the Bills get exposure. There will a spike in sponsorships and the jersey sales will pick up. They may even get some prime time games which adds more to the signing. Good move on both sides as far as I am concerned. Both need each other equally.

The steroid era has apparently not ended in Major League Baseball. Apparently as long as the league features sluggers from that historical statistical era (1994-2005), there will be sufficient ink dedicated to the issue by all major publications and small time blog writers such as myself. The newest addition to the 'Juice Crew' is Alex Rodriguez, once touted as a boy wonder drafted out high school by the Seattle Mariners. I had suspicions about him especially when he was hitting 50 home runs as a shortstop; however, my scrutiny means nothing as the news is out and it is easy to say it now that the man has admitted to doing steroids. However, my main issue is this...why is it a big deal? Why must the U.S. Government be involved in all the appearances on Capitol Hill before committees? The use of steroids (in my opinion) is not for hitting home runs, but rather for recovery after long and tenuous exercise. Yes, the player gets bulked up at times, but does he give the fans what they want? Even Greg Maddux put it succinctly in a commercial from years back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ltD21rYWVw I look at it like this...if I am working in an environment where in order to garner a contract to guarantee the future of generations of little Cooks' kids, I need to get an extra edge, serious consideration may need to be put into doing so. Especially if the means to that end is encouraged by the lack of policing by my employer (intentional blind eye) while it openly celebrates ones who reap the benefits of it's usage. Shoot, I am not standing around in 120 degree heat for a hometown discount and peanuts.

I feel that Rodriguez owed nobody an apology; who did he hurt except himself and his reputation? The people who paid for tickets? Not so. They got what they wanted which is a long ball, a strikeout, an acrobatic catch, a stolen base or the occasional brawl (the experience). The owners? No. They continue to reap huge profits (well in some cities) and are still handing out $100 million contracts like candy. Fellow baseball players? Once again, no-no. Contracts that are so high and in the case of Rodriguez, $200 million plus, drive the market upwards. Even a marginal player who goes out of his mind in his walk year can cash in better than he could have 5-10 years ago. What Rodriguez does with his body does not adversely affect me or any other follower of MLB; he will have to pay the price when he looks back in time after retirement and thinks of his personal legacy...then he can look at his bank statement and take a private jet anywhere he wishes to relax for a day or two, which is something many of us will NEVER be able to do whether we take steroids or not. However, it appears that the wear and tear is beginning for Rodriguez as he just underwent hip surgery; is it related to steroids? Who knows? I just wish him the best in his recovery and hopefully he will be back to form soon.

Another issue that has been widely discussed is Albert Haynesworth and the free agent contract he signed with the Redskins. It was widely reported that the contract is for 7 years, $115 million and believe me, I heard the outcry from the public, from friends and classmates alike about how he is not worth that much money especially in these days and times. Well, in the NFL the public is correct, he is not worth that much money. In the NFL the contracts are not guaranteed and agents, players and front office personnel alike spend allot of time trying to figure out creative ways of structuring contract that will lessen detriment on both sides. For instance, a player wants to equal or exceed their market value when they are a free agent, but there are limits in case of injury or ineffectiveness, which teams will argue over. A team may want to protect their salary cap flexibility within the foreseeable future and have an interest in keeping the numbers reasonable within a certain period of years while the player argues his skills are worth stretching that reasonableness. The interests of the player and the team make for interesting contracts and Haynesworth's is no different. Here is the breakdown, thanks to XtremeSkins.com and CNNSI.com:

2009: $5 million (signing bonus) $6 million (base) 2010: $21 million (option bonus) $3.6 million (base), *2011: $5.4 million, 2012: $7.2 million
Total: 4 years, $48.2 million.

The asterisk is for an additional $1 million he may earn in the form of an off-season workout bonus.

The remaining years of the deal calls for Haynesworth to earn $29 million in 2013, $10.8 million in 2014 and $12 million in 2015. Now tell me folks, if Haynesworth is 29 right now, who in their right mind will pay him $29 mill in 2013 at the tender age of 34, which in football years, may as well be 50 doing what he does? That's right, nobody. The $100 million issue is nothing but window dressing to to show how much a team is willing to go numbers-wise with a player in bidding for his services. Even in the NBA, which has guaranteed contracts, if a player is 34 and making $29 million, he will be traded around the league like Karrin Stephans in hip hop circles in order to create salary cap space. Or even perhaps he can be bought out of that contract for quarters on the dollar. There is no market for anyone outside of a 30 year old Michael Jordan or a 26 year old Lebron James perhaps, to make that kind of money...well, except maybe A-Rod, but we already covered that issue. So I tell fans out there, don't believe the hype. In the middle of every belief, there is a lie, so be careful when looking at an NFL contract. Except....

when looking at Matt Cassel's one-year $14.65 million deal he signed as a franchise player with New England Patriots before being traded to the Chiefs two weeks ago. Being a franchise player guarantees Cassel the entire balance during 2009. As I read through the articles devoted to the trade and the fans' reaction to why the Patriots were only able to garner a 2nd round pick for him while also giving up a well respected, veteran defensive player, I looked primarily at two issues: 1) Cassel was a 2005 7th round pick that carried no risk and the organization was able to parlay that into a 2nd round selection. That is a testament to the system the team runs and how they view value. If one can turn electroplate into a solid 10 carats, I'd have to say they did a good job of either knowing how to manipulate gold or finding a sucker who will pay a 10 carat price for the same old electroplate. We will see in 2009. 2) The pick that was garnered, #34, is two spots out of the first round. In essence, it is a player with a first round grade and value; he will drop into their laps at a price that is very palatable which helps salary cap wise. Alternately, the pick can be used as a bargaining chip to move up or down in the draft. Flexibility is the thing any organization wants, which is why a bad team dreads being No.1 as nobody wants to trade for the pick. The team this season, the (sigh) Detroit Lions, will be forced to pay top of the market money to a player who has not done a thing in the NFL. The Patriots have done well in creating flexibility for themselves.

What else has gone on in the sports world eh? Ah...David Beckham tried to back out of his Major League Soccer deal but was not allowed to. My question on that issue is: Whether the deal didn't go down not so much because Beckham relented as MLS had lined up so many sponsors as a result of his arrival and the fear losing them could further expose it to the economic crisis? Besides, I firmly believe that the contract is a hybrid of international and traditional U.S. contract law and that all parties, when reviewing it, said 'thanks but no thanks' when it came down to any potential revisions or ways to get out of it's obligations. Remember, consideration is a must in that situation and both sides don't want to give back any piece of what they've gotten thusfar.

Well, I am pretty much done. I will add a new addition later next week. Thanks for tuning in and please feel free to offer suggestions or give questions in my Ben Stabler inspired 'Mail Bag'....TMSL students only know that.

Super Bowl XXLIII: Cardinals Steel Belted

Finally it is Friday, so I can take a few minutes out to discuss some sports. Of course those of you reading have been exposed to the 'hype' surrounding Super Bowl XXLIII, which will take place on February 1st, in Tampa, FL. I have to admit, it is hard to get up for this one, but I still believe we may be seeing a good game in that we will be seeing a very good offensive squad in the Arizona Cardinals matching up against the dominating Pittsburgh Steelers defense. However, there is a certain quality missing that I just can't put my finger on (perhaps that the Patriots missed the playoffs, the Colts choked again, the Giants could not could not make another run and the Chargers can never seem to close the deal when given the chance).

The Steelers are very deserving of this chance and from the few people I've spoken to, it appears to be a foregone conclusion that they will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy the end of the game. However, isn't the act of conceding the game to what we perceive to be the better team what we (well, those outside of the New York City metro area) thought about last year's game? What about Kurt Warner's last Super Bowl appearance with the Rams in 2001? In this posting, I will discuss my thoughts on how the participants in this year's Super Bowl match up with each other. I will not be name dropping too much, just going over how I feel each squad's scheme of playing will open up opportunities or expose their weaknesses. Then I will do the corny and geeky 'I told you so' score prediction.

There is no doubt about it, the Steelers D is going to be hard to contend with as Arizona's attack is so predicated on the pass. However after careful consideration, I have begun to feel that if running backs Edgerrin James and J.J. Arrington are major components of the game plan early, they may be able to control the clock and keep the Steelers offense off of the field. The obvious peril in holding onto the ball against a team that is as disciplined on defense as the Steelers is that sooner or later they will find a way to create a turnover or the offensive players will have difficulty in maintaining focus during prolonged drives. Just imagine, Arizona starts from its own 25 yard line, meticulously drives all the way down to the Steeler's 15 yard line only to lose a fumble, thrown an interception or victimize themselves with drive killing penalties.

The aforementioned scenarios deflate any offensive unit in the regular season much less one that is playing the Super Bowl. The alternative to 'matriculating the ball down the field', in the words of the great Hank Stram, would be for the Cards to employ the ol' heave ho to Larry Fitzgerald, which worked for them throughout the playoffs against some quality defensive units. However, it is a literally painful fact that the Steelers are different animals when it comes to measuring defensive prowess. The defense has only allowed 12 touchdown passes and has picked off 20 errant or poorly thrown balls. In analyzing the Steelers defense, the operative word is pressure. Pressure is something Kurt Warner has had problems dealing with throughout his career, so it no secret that Pittsburgh will try to rattle him early (hence, the need to lean on the running backs). The Cards will be at their best if they can keep the Steelers off balance and thus, make them predictable in terms of how they plan to defend their offensive attack.

The Steelers yielded 3.3 yards/carry during the regular season, which if one listens to the professional analysts, would seem pretty meager; however, if the Cards even get 3.0 per carry, their playbook could expand to include screen plays, reverses, flea-flickers, throw backs and direct snaps as they could conceivably face 3rd and 4 or 5 if they stay par for the course consistently. Three yards per carry does not spell doomsday for the Cardinals. If they are averaging 2 yards or below per carry, their may be problems; if they are facing in 3rd & 6 or 7 more often than not, they are playing into the Steelers' hands as this is what their defense relies on: enforcing predictability from its opposition. These are the downs where you will see safeties and linebackers such as James Harrison (left) hugging the line of scrimmage and zone-blitz schemes (defensive linemen dropping into coverage) being called by Steelers defensive coordinator, Dick Lebeau in order to counter potential 'hot routes' run by receivers. The Steelers want the Cardinals to account for blitzes by max protecting (i.e. keeping a running back and tight end from releasing into pass routes during the play to block potential blitzers in pass situations) as it will hinder what they do best, which is pass the ball.

Now, as far as the Cardinal defense is concerned, I feel that they may be able to compete with the Steelers so long as they are able to match the physical intensity in the trenches and on the peripheries of play. Although they are a little small up front, they may be able utilize speed in order to gain penetration and limit the Pittsburgh ground attack. If I were in Mike Tomlin's shoes, I'd immediately attempt to test the stoutness of the Cards' defensive line in order to find out how they intend to scheme against my offense. I would like to see the Steelers come out ready to pass the ball as it is more than likely, eight Cardinal defenders will be in 'the box' to defend against the run early. The major ace 'card' in Arizona's favor is that their head coach, Ken Whisenhunt and assistant head coach, Russ Grimm are well steeped in how the Steelers play offense as they were on their staff for a number of years: Whisenhunt (2001-2006) and Grimm (2000-2006). These coaches know the Steelers' personnel and can push the buttons that need to be pushed in order force quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into errors of judgement when confronted by certain defenses. The Cardinals' secondary is also playing very well and with loads of confidence, but the Steelers receivers (notably, Hines Ward) are notoriously physical blockers; will the corners and safeties be able to get off of blocks in order pursue plays? Blitzing Roethlisberger is a very hard thing for a team to do as he is very adept at keeping broken plays alive and turning them into positive gains. The Cards will need to hold coverage as long as they can when defensing pass plays. If Big Ben wants to run, they should let as that will not beat them...losing assignments while he is scrambling often does however.

Keys: When the Steelers have the ball:

The number one key for the Cardinals on defense is to make sure they stop the run early and do not allow Willie Parker to get outside on running plays; if they are able to keep the play in front of them, safeties such as the under-appreciated Adrian Wilson can support the run. Secondly, they have to be willing to give Roethlisberger those scrambling yards; if he is surrounded by three men before he has committing to running for yardage, that is bad news. The secondary has been playing exceptionally well and they must not only continue their string of effective play, but also step it up. They will have to be physical as TE Heath Miller is a favorite downfield target in Pittsburgh's offense.

The Steelers' number one key on offense is establish the run. So, as I said earlier, I will not be surprised to see Pittsburgh try to spread Arizona's defense out with multiple receiver sets in order to soften them up for the run, which if administered by the Steelers, is done late rather than early (especially when playing with a lead). Willie Parker is the type of running back that cannot be held for an entire game without him making a play or two. It is critical that the Steelers set up the Cardinals with the pass in order to get the running game going provided they are able to get an early lead. Number two, get physical in the passing game. Hines Ward wears out opposing players whether he is blocking them or they are tackling him; as games wear on, those hard don't seem so hard. Get the ball the receivers in space so they can utilize effective blocking in order to turn modest gains into big ones.

Keys: When the Cardinals have the ball

For the Steelers, the first key is simple and many teams have done it before: get to Kurt Warner early. Bringing that extra pass rusher at will throw off his timing and thus cause interceptions or strip sacks. It is imperative to note that the more Warner is hit, the worse he gets (but that's just about any QB). Based on the manner in which the Cardinals worst losses were this season, if they get down or demoralized early, they generally do not recover. The offense, which is primarily one dimensional cannot sustain comebacks as their can be disrupted easily by teams that follow their keys. Secondly, as for dealing with a receiving corps that features three 1,000 yard gainers, the Steelers have to select one player they can live with having a good game. I would suggest that this player is NOT Larry Fitzgerald. If Fitzgerald is neutralized, the opportunity for instant offense via the 'jump-ball' is greatly decreased. I am not scared of Steve Breaston beating me if I am the Steelers. Anquan Boldin is still suffering from a hamstring and in light of the recent dust up with offensive coordinator and his character being questioned, he may have something to prove. We also have not seen how these receivers react to being hit in manner in which the Steelers hit opposing players; I am unsure what the response from Fitzgerald et al will be as I've not seen cornerbacks get physical with him off the line of scrimmage too often. I still think he will be 'Cover 2'd' all day with saftey coverage being rolled over to Fitzgerald's side of the field to assist the cornerback who will be covering him. Boldin can be dealt with via single coverage...heck, if Warner is under duress, he won't have time to get the ball to Boldin.

The Cards' first key is to show no consistency when dealing with Pittsburgh. All of the tendencies they displayed during the regular season and playoffs need to be scrapped. This is why I say that they need to come out and try to run the ball. If it is not the run, short passes such as screens or direct snaps would be sufficient; it would not surprise me to see a little 'Wildcat' being utilized as has been successful for several teams during the regular season. One thing that I would not do if I were Ken Whisenhunt is come out trying to spread the Steeelers defense out...many have tried and few have succeeded; doing so only gives the Steelers more space in which to bring a free pass rusher. Get James involved early and since he is relatively fresh, why not put the ball in his hands? I would not trust Tim Hightower to tote the rock too much as he is a rookie and his style of running exposes the ball, enabling him to be stripped by defenders. He could be utilized in short yardage situations and perhaps in blocking for max protect situations if they should arise. Secondly, get Arrington(pictured) involved in all aspects of the offense similar to how the Philadelphia Eagles use Brian Westbrook. If he is effective, his presence on the field alone will open up opportunities for Fitzgerald to victimize single coverage; if this happens, the entire offensive game plan can be dictated to the defense.

In predicting this game, I cannot overlook the physicality of the Steelers defense, especially in big games. This team answered blow for blow against a hardened Baltimore Raven team I have doubts the Cardinals would even be able to contend with. I have yet to see the Cardinals in a fight for their life as they have gotten their opponents in the playoffs down by many points early and then held on to win. They will be in a serious fight come next Sunday and I do not believe they can go the distance against a well seasoned, playoff tested team. For these reasons, I believe the game may be close early, but turnovers will play a huge role in the Cardinals demise...they should have listened to me. I will take Pittsburgh 27-13. MVP? Who cares?