I'm convinced that the only thing separating Jerry Jones from being one of those crazy, homeless panhandlers who wines about the government taking everything from him is the fact that Jerry Jones is wealthy. Very wealthy. That doesn't lessen his total insanity, though. To-wit: None of his coaches are allowed to speak with the media during the offseason, not even head coach Wade Phillips. The only person allowed to speak is Jones himself (and, I guess, his players). I can understand assistants not being allowed to talk to the media (Parcells and Belicheat have similar rules), but not allowing your head coach to speak to the media? Crazy much?
There was a lot of talk this season about how Phillips lost control of the locker room. There was a lot of talk about how the players stopped respecting Romo over his bromance with Jason Whitten. We saw what happened to the Cowboys. To say they fell apart doesn't begin to tell the story. So, Jerry, explain to me how it is that the team will respect their head coach, how will he be able to regain control of the locker room, if he isn't even allowed to speak to the media? Isn't it more likely that the players, when they have a problem, will say to themselves, "This chump ain't the boss, I ain't going to listen to him. I'll go talk to Jerry, he's the boss." And, you know what, they'd be right.
If I were Wade Phillips, I'd tell Jerry where he could stick it and bolt. But, as you can imagine, Wade didn't lose control of the locker room because he took charge and stood up for himself. The team didn't fall apart because Wade made it clear what was expected of the players. This ought to be a fun year in Dallas, to say the least.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Peter Gammons Was Awful
I took the time to watch the full Peter Gammons interview. All I can say is that he would make a terrible lawyer. Ever hear of a follow-up question, Peter? Christ, it was awful. Just watch.
When Peter asks the steroids timeline, A-Rod says "Pretty accurate." Well, did you use steroids for a longer or shorter period? When Peter asks what substances, A-Rod says he had no idea. And Peter doesn't even ask a follow-up! When A-Rod keeps saying, "Today you'd get in a lot of trouble," Peter doesn't say "But what you were taking was banned then, right?" Further, how could Peter let A-Rod use the weather in Texas as an excuse without asking a follow-up? Ever heard of hydration, A-Rod?
Why is it that no one, other Tom Verducci, is calling Gammons out for doing such a terrible job? ESPN should be embarrassed, absolutely embarrassed.
When Peter asks the steroids timeline, A-Rod says "Pretty accurate." Well, did you use steroids for a longer or shorter period? When Peter asks what substances, A-Rod says he had no idea. And Peter doesn't even ask a follow-up! When A-Rod keeps saying, "Today you'd get in a lot of trouble," Peter doesn't say "But what you were taking was banned then, right?" Further, how could Peter let A-Rod use the weather in Texas as an excuse without asking a follow-up? Ever heard of hydration, A-Rod?
Why is it that no one, other Tom Verducci, is calling Gammons out for doing such a terrible job? ESPN should be embarrassed, absolutely embarrassed.
Monday, February 9, 2009
What Is Still Sacred?
With the news that A-Rod, the man who was supposed to take back the most sacred number in all of sports, 755, tested positive for steroids, it has become clear that every offensive number since 1997 on is tainted. All the HRs, all the RBI, all the runs, all the increased batting averages, they are all meaningless. In my mind, the last decade should be taken out of the record book, none of the numbers should count. More should probably be taken out. Canseco's numbers certainly can't count.
That being said, what number remains sacred? Home runs can't count, the stat has been ruined. Total bases is perhaps the most important number for an all-around hitter, hitting for power won't get you to the top, you have to hit for doubles, singles, everything. Unfortunately, Bonds and Palmeiro are each in the top ten, so that number may well be tainted, especially with Sosa, A-Rod, and Sheffield in the top 50. As for slugging, it's kind of a bullshit statistic, so it can't count. Runs, perhaps? Nope, Bonds is ahead of both Aaron and Ruth. When it comes to RBI, Bonds is in the top five and A-Rod is poised to move to the top soon. Further, Sosa and Sheffield are also high on the list. While Aaron is still on top, thank God, I can't see that as the most important number in sports. Also, RBI depends heavily on the team you play for. If you don't have good players in front of you, you won't knock in a lot of runs. RBI, then, doesn't measure your ability as a player.
After considering all of those numbers, total bases has to be the most important of all. It is the natural choice to take over for home runs. Unlike RBI, it measures your ability as a hitter, it is not necessarily a reflection of those around you like RBI is. Even if no one good is on your team, players still put up good offensive numbers other than RBI. More important, despite all the steroids and all the cheating, Bonds, A-Rod, McGwire, Sosa, and the other scum couldn't take it away from Aaron. That number shows that playing good baseball, well-rounded baseball, and not focusing solely home runs, will still keep you at the top of the stat that recognizes the best all-around hitter. In my mind, 6856 is the new most important number in sports.
What do you think?
That being said, what number remains sacred? Home runs can't count, the stat has been ruined. Total bases is perhaps the most important number for an all-around hitter, hitting for power won't get you to the top, you have to hit for doubles, singles, everything. Unfortunately, Bonds and Palmeiro are each in the top ten, so that number may well be tainted, especially with Sosa, A-Rod, and Sheffield in the top 50. As for slugging, it's kind of a bullshit statistic, so it can't count. Runs, perhaps? Nope, Bonds is ahead of both Aaron and Ruth. When it comes to RBI, Bonds is in the top five and A-Rod is poised to move to the top soon. Further, Sosa and Sheffield are also high on the list. While Aaron is still on top, thank God, I can't see that as the most important number in sports. Also, RBI depends heavily on the team you play for. If you don't have good players in front of you, you won't knock in a lot of runs. RBI, then, doesn't measure your ability as a player.
After considering all of those numbers, total bases has to be the most important of all. It is the natural choice to take over for home runs. Unlike RBI, it measures your ability as a hitter, it is not necessarily a reflection of those around you like RBI is. Even if no one good is on your team, players still put up good offensive numbers other than RBI. More important, despite all the steroids and all the cheating, Bonds, A-Rod, McGwire, Sosa, and the other scum couldn't take it away from Aaron. That number shows that playing good baseball, well-rounded baseball, and not focusing solely home runs, will still keep you at the top of the stat that recognizes the best all-around hitter. In my mind, 6856 is the new most important number in sports.
What do you think?
Sunday, February 1, 2009
What In The Hell?
Can someone explain to me just how in the hell the following two athletes are left out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- Cris Carter and Shannon Sharpe? When invitations to Canton are handed out, how can you not include these two gentlemen? Let me give you the names again -- Cris Carter and Shannon Sharpe. They are not in the Hall of Fame? Really? How can that be?
Let's take Cris Carter. Eight straight 1,000 yard seasons. Third all-time in receptions (retired second in receptions). Seventh in receiving yards (since his retirement, he's been passed by Isaac Bruce, Marvin Harrison, and T.O.). Fourth in receiving touchdowns (since been passed by T.O. and Randy Moss). When he retired, he clearly had established himself as one of the top receivers in the game. He's been passed by people who are clear Hall of Famers (with the exception of Bruce, who benefited from being in a pass-happy offense and ran up a lot of numbers). Without question, he was one of the top receivers in his era. And being the best in your era makes you a Hall of Famer. Him not being in is a disgrace.
Same for Shannon Sharpe. When he retired, he had the most receiving yards for a tight end. Not only that, but since he broke onto the scene, the tight end has become a more important position. Faster people play tight end because of what Sharpe did, stretching defenses and putting pressure on the linebackers. He helped change the position, and he should be recognized for it. I mean, he blocked for two 2,000 yard rushers and won THREE Super Bowls. Yet neither he nor Cris Carter are in the Hall of Fame.
Canton -- what a joke.
Let's take Cris Carter. Eight straight 1,000 yard seasons. Third all-time in receptions (retired second in receptions). Seventh in receiving yards (since his retirement, he's been passed by Isaac Bruce, Marvin Harrison, and T.O.). Fourth in receiving touchdowns (since been passed by T.O. and Randy Moss). When he retired, he clearly had established himself as one of the top receivers in the game. He's been passed by people who are clear Hall of Famers (with the exception of Bruce, who benefited from being in a pass-happy offense and ran up a lot of numbers). Without question, he was one of the top receivers in his era. And being the best in your era makes you a Hall of Famer. Him not being in is a disgrace.
Same for Shannon Sharpe. When he retired, he had the most receiving yards for a tight end. Not only that, but since he broke onto the scene, the tight end has become a more important position. Faster people play tight end because of what Sharpe did, stretching defenses and putting pressure on the linebackers. He helped change the position, and he should be recognized for it. I mean, he blocked for two 2,000 yard rushers and won THREE Super Bowls. Yet neither he nor Cris Carter are in the Hall of Fame.
Canton -- what a joke.
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