So much anger....

Hello all. This morning I messaged my buddy, Johnny Biscuits, of scaleofonetogusjohnson.com, and ranted, just a little about my latest fixation. The subsequent reproduced conversation is the result. Thought I'd post this and let you guys enjoy the humor. While I enjoyed reading this, I hoe you don't forget about the disturbing Brett Favre problem that is afflicting our nation. Enjoy and check back tomorrow for my NFL playoffs musings.
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This morning, PedrioaTheDestroyah and I had a little debate via email. It all started with a simple question, "why do people like Brett Favre?" We've seen the Sports Guy post similar online conversations on the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network website, so we thought it would be fun to post ours on our websites. Enjoy…or don't, really doesn't matter.

PtD: Why do people like Brett Favre? Packer fans shouldn't anymore, and god knows Jets fans shouldn't. I guess Dolphins fans have a reason, though.

JB: Who likes Brett Favre?

PtD: The media, and apparently middle America. Someone must like him or he wouldn't be on TV all the damn time.

JB: Just because he's a story doesn't necessarily mean people like him. I think people used to like him, I know I used to love watching him play. I'm sort of ambivalent towards him now. But, he's still one of the greatest QB's ever, so he's news.

PtD: Yeah, but the story is that he is now terrible, but people keep saying he is good. People say he started the season strong, but that's not really true. He was never playing very well. For instance, his first touchdown of the year may as well have been a punt. He literally just threw it straight in the air with no idea what jet might catch it.

The Jets played well at times, only that was when he wasn't allowed to throw like a jackass because Mangina said he needed to work within the offense. Then they got to 8-3, and Favre decided he could do whatever he wanted, and then their season went to hell.

JB: I'm sensing you have strong feelings about this.

PtD: Oh yes, this summer Brett became my most hated of all athletes...and he took it to a new level on Sunday. No one (except Steven A. Smith, preach on) calls this loser out.

JB: Ok, I look at it like this. Brett Favre is like George Carlin at the end of his career. Back in the day, Carlin was one of the funniest comedians around, a transcendent talent. But, once he got older, he stopped being funny. Only no one acknowledged this. People kept buying his CD's, going to his shows, and laughing at his "jokes". But, it wasn't because he was funny, it was because he was George Carlin. He kept trading on the Carlin name that he had built up earlier. That's the stage that Favre's at in his career. He's not a quarterback anymore, he's Brett Favre.

PtD: I'm fine with there being idiots who continue to like him, there will always be those idiots. My problem is that every time Jaws is asked about Brett Favre he should say the following..."Brett Favre is not capable of being a quarterback in the National Football League."

JB: Really? Not capable? He may not be capable of being an elite QB, or even a good one for that matter. But, I think Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyler Thigpen, Dan Orlovsky, Ken Dorsey, and J.T O'Shaun-Hill all started several games this year.

I think that's one of the big myths about NFL QBs. There really aren't that many good ones. Anytime Tony Romo is anywhere near a discussion of who the best QBs in the league are, you're in trouble.

PtD: Oh, I completely agree (although Thigpen actually looked promising at the end of the year), I just don't think Favre can get a team in the playoffs. And it's not just that Brett gets credited as being good, but he's considered one of the best. He's made the Pro Bowl! Do you know how crazy that is? I get the feeling Brett is going to fake an injury and not go, but he should get up in front of all those cameras and say…hey, I had a very bad season, and therefore I cannot accept an invitation to the Pro Bowl.

And it's inexcusable that ESPN didn't bash the Favre pick. This kid gloves shit needs to stop. The guy is still playing, he's not a retired legend yet. At one point on Sunday, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms were blaming an interception on an injury that occurred after the pick had happened. And I'm sure Brett came out with this shoulder thing to the media knowing full well there was a good chance he would lose...and this way its the arms fault. I want to punch him.

JB: I think you're being a little overdramatic. Plus, he has a torn muscle.

PtD: Meh, it's partially torn. Big Ben and Tom Brady have both won Super Bowls with separated throwing shoulders. What I'm saying is...throwing a two yard pass directly to a 300 pound D lineman is not caused by an injury, it's caused by being terrible. And, that was honestly the worst TAINT I've seen in years.

JB: Or maybe the best? That was a hell of a run by the big guy. Plus, those kinds of int's on screens happen all the time. I think Jarrett Lee (LSU's QB) threw 2 of them this year.

PtD: 1. The LSU QB is a joke. 2. Brett stared down that lineman, then threw it to him. The lineman didn't step in front, he was standing there. Brett threw it right to the Dolphin player.

JB: I don't think that's true. Favre faked the screen to the left, then whipped around and threw the ball. He probably could have avoided the throw, but I wouldn't say he stared the receiver down. You're way too emotional about this.

PtD: Best case, he threw the ball without looking. My view may be extreme, but my conclusion that the media and the Jets should hate him more than they do is very accurate. The Jets came out yesterday and said they would give Brett as long as he needed to decide if he wants to play next year. Why in the hell would they want him? Brett sucked down the stretch…what was it, 1 TD and 9 ints his last 4? But he's a gunslinger. Apparently, gunslinger also means terrible quarterback.

JB: I'm not even sure what we're arguing about anymore.

PtD: That the Jets are crazy to want him back, and Brett Favre needs to be ridiculed in public by members of the media.

JB: Ha, that's never going to happen, he's a legend. It's like when Jerry Rice was at the end of his career but wouldn't stop playing. He was awful, but everyone still talked about him like he was Jerry Rice. I guess nobody really noticed though because he didn't have the ball every play.

PtD: I agree with you on that, I'm just saying it's wrong, it's always wrong.

JB: Cool, I just like comparing things. So far I've compared Favre to George Carlin and Jerry Rice.

PtD: And I've compared Favre to a terrible quarterback. If more people did that, I'd be happy. I must once again give props to Steven A., though. On Sports Reporters this Sunday, he called Favre "an interception waiting to happen." I liked that.

JB: Ha, you like Steven A. Smith.

What Would Jesus Watch?

So as Christmas morning ends and gives way to the realization that the day we have all waited so long for is almost over i find myself far more excited by the Lakers-Celtics match up later today than I am at looking at any of the shiny new toys I got today. As we near the end of 2008 I have begun to look back at the year that was in sports and I have decided on what my 10 favorite events were. These are events, that whether or not I was happy with the outcome, lived up to, or vastly surpassed the hype. So here they are, my top ten moments in sports for 2008.

#11 (Honorable Mention) - Euro Cup 2008

Yes, i know...soccer. But if you aren't a fan and didn't watch this tournament, then you simply can't understand. If soccer always looked like this, not only would it more popular in America, it'd be considered one of the major sports. Spain's offensive explosion, along with the cardiac Turks NUMEROUS miraculous comeback's and some truly amazing endings made this, quite possibly the best soccer tournament I have ever seen played. I know most of my readers will look at this and think I've lost my mind, but I'm telling you, right through the final and Spain's beautiful game against the hated Germans, this tournament was sport at its finest. Here's to hoping the 2010 World Cup can be as good.

#10 - Sharks v. Stars - Game 6 -2007/08 Stanley Cup Playoffs

I had to put hockey in here. I had to. God I hope hockey makes a comeback. The league has two rising stars in Crosby and Ovechkin, it is by far the best game to see live and the playoffs show a level of intensity rarely achieved in any other sport. This game proved the last of those points beautifully. I rarely watch hockey anymore and only watched this game because the NBA was off entirely on this particular night, but boy am I glad that I did. The sharks faced elimination against a stars team that was not expected to give them much trouble. The game was a see-saw affair and was tied at the end of regulation. There are few things more exciting than playoff hockey. Even fewer more exciting than a potential elimination game, but when it goes to sudden death overtime, then you have seen what hockey is all about. One overtime wasn't enough for these teams though. I watched this game until well past 3 A.M. when finally in the 4th overtime Dallas scored to win the game and the series. Over the course of this overtime there were incredible saves, slapshots that I still don't know how they were not game winners and some of the best, fast paced hockey I've seen since Devils and Rangers in 94. Nobody, unfortunately, seems to have seen this game though, and so the NHL continues to languish on the brink of extinction. This spring and summer, when playoff hockey is in full swing, make sure you catch some games. I promise you will not be disappointed.

#9 - Superbowl XLII

This one hurts just to think about. My beloved patriots were mere minutes away from a perfect 19-0 season, that would cement them as one of the greatest franchises in league history, and would finally free all football fans from the menace that is Mercury Morris. Unfortunately it was not meant to be. This game made the list less for the quality of the game itself, and more for the build up and sheer shock that came from its outcome. I would be surprised if even the entire Giants team thought they had a chance in this game. They played a masterful defensive game and out executed the Pats across the board. Even after what seemed like patented last second magic by Brady, "My Brother" Eli marched the Giants down the field and took the ring with less than a minute to play. I think we will always remember the image of David Tyree dragging down that ball, and the first thought we all had....David Tyree?? In the end, as painful as it was for me, I must admit this was one for the ages.

#8 - John Lester's No Hitter

Yes, it was early in the season. Yes, it was against the lowly Royals. Yes, I'm a total homer. But all this aside, this very much belongs on the list. Not just because throwing a no hitter is no small feat. Not only because John Lester went on to prove he is an elite pitcher this year. The reason this makes the list is because this 24 year old man overcame cancer just a year and half earlier. Since coming back from cancer John Lester has won the deciding game of a world series and thrown a no hitter. Maybe I'm alone, but I find that incredibly inspiring. Since battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma John Lester has not only come back to form as a pitcher but he has worked with and served as an inspiration to cancer patients and survivors in New England and throughout the country. His triumph over such a horrible disease serves as a reminder that hope is not lost and great things can be accomplished. So, maybe I'm a homer, but you go ahead and argue this isn't one of the best moments someone could have playing a game.

#7- Rafael Nadal v. Roger Federer - 2008 Wimbledon Final

This my friends, is why tennis is on TV. This was, without a doubt, the greatest tennis match I have ever seen. And from what I hear it may have been the greatest ever played. 5 Sets, tiebreakers, rain delays, and most importantly, the two best players in the world. By the time they finished it was nearly too dark to play, but finally Rafa made it over the mountain and seized his first Wimbledon. This match was amazing beginning to end, and the delays and darkness only added to the suspense. Most importantly, these two men are the BEST in the world at what they do and they were at their BEST that day. This was what tennis should look like.

#6 - Memphis v. Kansas - 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game

This game was terrific. Tons of stars and lottery picks. A back and forth struggle. A late comeback. A couple buzzer beating shots and an overtime in a national championship game. This game lived up to the hype and was a perfect microcosm of what is great about march madness. Terrfically entertaining from the opening whitsle to the final buzzer and, perhaps more importantly, they were the two teams I predicted in the finals....had Kansas winning too. I know, I'm a genius.

#5 - USA Basketball - 2008 Olympic Games

FINALLY, The US has come back to basketball. How refreshing was it to see our Olympic team filled with stars finally live up to their billing. It truly had a feel almost akin to the 92 Dream team. You expected a 30 point win, and you almost always got it. While I still believe the 92 team was the greatest ever assembled, a strong argument could be made that the 08 team achieved a greater accomplishment as the level of talent on the opposing teams has risen so significantly in the last 16 years. Regardless, this team, Coached by Coach K, was a thrill to watch. And we got an early showing of the return of Dwayne Wade. Cap it all off with some gold and once again, all is right in the basketball world.

#4 - Texas v. Texas Tech

#1 team, on the road, gets behind by a bunch early, then comes all the way back...only to lose on a last second touchdown by the best college football player in the country. Tell me it gets any better than that. This was a great game. After Tech got up by several scores in the first half at home it seemed they would turn this game into a blowout...like seemingly every big time college football game ends up being. Instead they failed to go for the jugular and Texas slowly climbed their way back in and took the lead late in the 4th Quarter with only a few minutes left to play. Texas Tech took an amazingly long time to move up the field and it appeared their efforts would be too little too late, but then, Michael Crabtree showed everyone in the nation what all the fuss was about. Amazing route, great throw, better catch, and then the power to stay on his feet and find the end zone. Game, Set, Match. AWESOME.

#3 - Tiger Woods v. Rocco Mediate - 2008 US Open of Golf

72 holes wasn't enough to decide this one. Through the first three rounds Tiger made some simply unbelievable shots just to stay near the top and then struggled through Sunday needing a final putt to force another round. Of course, with the pressure on, Tiger nailed a very long putt (complete with signature fist pump) to force the US Open to fifth round. There he would face Rocco Mediate who was surprisingly game. Even 18 extra holes wasn't enough. It was not until the 19th hole of the day, and the 91st of the tournament that Tiger was finally able to claim the championship.

As amazing as the tournament was on its face it is what we learned shortly afterwards that makes this moment so high on the list. Not only had Tiger turned in a great performance...he had done it on one leg. After the Open Tiger underwent a serious knee surgery and has not played since. He was in excruciating pain for all 91 holes and still managed to beat the best golfers the world has to offer. What seemed like just another Tiger victory may well have been the greatest and gutsiest performance in the history of golf.

#2 - Celtics v. Lakers - 2007/08 NBA Finals

The rivalry is renewed. OH how bad the Celtcs had been. 15 wins, are you serious. Danny Ainge not fired? Really? Doc Rivers is getting another year? Come on! Oh how quickly things change. Trade for Ray Allen and get a gift of KG from an old friend and suddenly your team finds itself with 66 wins.

Across the country an offseason rife with controversey and trade demands gave way to a terrific start. And after a gift from an old friend from Memphis the Lakers found themselves as the #1 seed in the West.

We all hoped (except those with another horse in the race, of course) that Boston and LA would meet, but few really thought it would happen. Especially after Boston's struggles against the Hawks in round one, and the hated Spurs still alive in the West. But lo and behold there we were. The two greatest franchises in the league's history meeting once more with a championship at stake. Six games later Boston's defense had allowed them to once again claim their throne as the ruling monarchy of the NBA. Now with the finals behind us the rivalry is reaching fever pitch and everyone is hoping to see a rematch in this year's finals. It's great for Boston, great for LA and frankly great for the NBA. Here's to hoping the latest iteration of this rivalry can last for a few good years.

#1 - Michael Phelps - 2008 Olympic Games

8 Events, 8 Golds....I'm gonna let that sink in for a second. We all talk about Jordan and Tiger dominating their sports. They don't have anything on Michael Phelps in terms of dominance. This man beats everyone in every discipline. He is a physical freak and workout monster. Going in we all wondered whether he could possibly have the stamina to make it through all 8 events. We wondered how he could get every single one with such a huge bull's eye on his back. And we wondered if he would get the help he needed from his teammates in the relays. All of these questions were answered with a resounding "YES!". Early on Phelps gold hopes were kept alive when Jason Lezak swam the leg of his life and snatched victory away from the trash talking French. Then Phelps captured his seventh gold by out reaching Serbia's Milorad Cavic to win the 100-meter butterfly by an astonishing .01 seconds. Phelps' quest for 8 golds was rife with excitement and was simply amazing to watch as the sheer dominance of his performance became apparent. Say what you will about whether or not Mark Spitz was a better swimmer, what Michael Phelps did at the Olympics in 2008 (and 2004 for that matter) is one of the most amazing feats I've seen in my 25 years on this Earth. There is no doubt its the top moment, of 2008.

The AFC East Wasn't Bad Last Year...The Pats Were Just That Good!

On the advice of one of my many fans I've decided to take a moment to muse on the roller coaster that has been the AFC East. A division where the Miami Dolphins, a year removed from a 1-15 season control their own destiny in their pursuit of a division crown. Where the defending conference champs lost their big gun in week one and a virtual unknown has led them to a 10-5 start and has them on the cusp of post season play. And where the Jets have reminded us yet again, why, before last year everyone knew that it was time for Brett Favre to hang it up.

I'm gonna break it down team by team. So here we go.

Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills

Unfortunately for the Bills, wagon circling is not particularly helpful when trying to win football games. Everyone was all about this team early on, and I will admit their 4-0 start almost had me believing the hype, but then we were all reminded of the 1 undeniable truth in the NFL. If you don't have at least a decent quarterback you are not a good team....PERIOD. The Bills have two halves of a QB, and they will not ever get better until they find a better option. I will give Trent Edwards one more year before I say he can't cut it, but the window is closing. J.P. Losman on the other hand is terrible, and should probably retire following his showing last week against the Jets....take the sack you idiot. In short, the Bills need to realize they have a decent defense and a great young running back. Find a QB, get rid of Dick Jaron (that play against NY alone is grounds for dismissal) and give Lynch the ball on every play and hope like hell you can get to 9 wins. Better luck next year Buffalo, but probably the same result.

J-E-T-S SUCK, SUCK, SUCK!

God I love writing that. Here's the thing. The Jets D has some serious talent, but even with the great seasons turned in by Kris Jenkins and Derelle Revis they have been inconsistent. Speaking of inconsistent, why does Brett Favre want to make us all forget about when he was good. His election to the probowl is a joke, and from watching yesterday's game its obvious that he is not giving his team a chance to win. Worse than that, there is a good chance that if he comes back next year that he will get Eric Mangini fired. You could tell yesterday as he shook his head on the sideline after another interception this is not how he wants to run his offense. The experiment has failed, and will not get better. Of course, now that I say this they will find a way into the playoffs and win a couple games.

They're Mammals, Not Fish.

I want to make fun of the Dolphins, I really do. I wanna tell you how the weakling at QB has been lucky and its just a matter of time till he is exposed. I wanna tell you how their coach is more like Bill Parcells' lapdog than an NFL coach and I want to make a joke about how its only a matter of time before Bill Parcels calls Ted Ginn Jr. a girl. But I can't, bravo Miami, one hell of a turn around. Maybe someday you will even challenge for a Superbowl ring. Not likely, but maybe.

Matt Cassell, Shopping For Homes in Detroit.

The New England Patriots season has been a very strange to say the least. Coming off an 18-1 year and losing the best QB in the NFL in quarter 1 is the end of the season right? Apparently not, as Matt Cassell has stepped in and led this team potentially into January football. Now I've already weighed in on how I believe people are giving Matt just a little too much credit, but it would be unfair to say that taking this team to 10-5 is not one hell of an accomplishment. They don't quite control their own destiny, but just to have a chance at the post season in week 17 is a heck of thing for a team that is led by a QB who hadn't started a game since the mid nineties...in high school.

What Does It All Mean?

So what should we take from this year in the AFC East. Well several things. One, parity means you don't need to be very good to be a playoff team. Two, Bill Parcells knows what he is doing. Three, the AFC is falling off. Four, the Patriots have more talent on offense than most teams have in their entire organization and Five, Brett Favre is done...

In the end, i think the Pats come out on top, if only because they have been there before and the Bills suck. In any event it should be a fun end to the season and hopefully this is just the start of a real competitive division.

Hey, Is His Headband on Upside Down?

OK, Chris Sheridan did a great piece on Rondo on today's Daily Dime on espn.com. You should read it. But this kid needs more press. He is way too good. So, at the request of a fellow blogger I have decided to weigh in on the start to the season that this third year point guard has had for the defending champion Celtics.

It seems like just yesterday that the recently assembled Big 3 had the NBA world abuzz with speculation over whether or not their egos could coexist, and even if they could...can Rajon Rondo find a way to pass that ball around enough to keep everyone happy. Rondo, coming off a successful rookie season had more pressure on him than perhaps any other point guard in the league. He didn't just need to continue to improve, he had to lead a team with 3 future hall of famers to a championship.

There were reasons to question whether or not Rondo could do it, and it was not just his lack of experience. While he is incredibly athletic there were legitimate concerns about his ability to hit jumpshots (honestly this is still a concern) and his ability to consistently make good decisions with the ball in his hand. Suffice it to say, Doc Rivers, and indeed any fan of the Celtics no longer have any concerns about this kid.

After a very serviceable year last year, in a seemingly impossible situation, and a nearly unbelievable run through the playoffs Rajon Rondo has improved so much over the course of this new season that he barely resembles the player he was as a rookie. Rajon Rondo runs this team on the floor. He calls the plays and when all three of the Big 3 get major attention from opposing defenses Rondo keeps them honest by breaking down defenses and taking the ball to the rim with impunity. His shooting is still questionable, but to be honest, on this team he rarely needs to hit a jumpshot.

Last night against the Knicks Rondo showed exactly what makes him such a dangerous player. In the third quarter after the Celtics slowly let the Knicks climb back into the game after the Celtics had a 23 point lead Rondo took over. He went 9 for 9 from the floor. He went to the rim whenever he felt like it and consistently made the perfect decision about whether to take it for the score, pass to an open teammate or dribble it back out the other side and reset.

That, my friends, is what has made Rondo so much better. He has always been a physical freak. Fast as lightning, long arms, big hands, and an amazing vertical leap. What has made him a true standout point guard, however, is the improvement in his decision making. Not only is he making the right choices, HE BELIEVES he is making the right choices. He is not afraid that he will piss off the big three by taking more shots. He isn't worried that he will lose his job or be the reason the Celtics lose a game. And that confidence has made him the dangerous player he is today. And this is without mentioning his strong defensive abilities.

The Celtics are a very good team with anyone at point guard. No doubt about it. But Rajon Rondo is the real reason for the 18 game winning streak. Right now he is the difference between good and great. And I can assure you, if he plays like this through June, the Celtics may have rings on both hands.

CC, and Manny, and T.O., OH MY!!

Oh what a couple of weeks it been. In my short absence the sports gods have given us even more little stocking stuffers after the Plaxico present. I decided because I haven't posted in awhile and there are so many deserving topics that I would write down some quick hits on a bunch of subjects. So enjoy my musings and ramblings and expect more regular updates to the site in the future.

The Hot Stove, Surprisingly Cool?

Baseball's winter meetings have come and gone. The Mets added two, count em two, closers and I believe have had the most productive offseason thus far. The Yankees signed CC Sabathia to a ridiculously large contract and then went on to sign a smaller, but much more ridiculous contract with A.J. Burnett. Other than that there were not many splashes.

Some of the biggest names, most notably, Mark Texiera remains unsigned and there were not huge blockbuster trades anywhere near the magnitude of the Detroit and Florida swap last December. Many have mused that this is due to a strange economic climate and teams unwilling to be aggressive, but whatever is causing it, its ruining one of my favorite times of the year. The baseball season is long enough and the hot stove period can get very dragged out, but to basically accomplish nothing as a league at the winter meetings is simply unacceptable. How much longer do the Red Sox expect me to check the latest rumors every ten minutes....make some damn deals.

In any event, with so much still left to be determined I will give my thoughts on what has happened and what will happen going forward.

The Yankees have definitely improved their rotation. CC has been a horse and has more wins in the last few seasons than anyone else. He proved he has heart with his heroic run late last year with the Brew Crew and he is clearly already the Yankees #1. The question remains though, can he beat Boston, and can he win in October. CC is a big dude, and I have to wonder if the last two years and his struggles in the playoffs aren't due to the obscene number of innings he throws. Its not out of the realm of possibilities that CC's weight and his inning eating nature is gonna lead to him breaking down well before the end of his 7 year deal. A.J. Burnett is a good pitcher who has had two truly solid years, both contract years. He has electric stuff and his strike out numbers when healthy are fantastic...but really, this guy is gonna stay healthy? Nuh-uh. 82.5 Mill is crazy, enjoy him New York.

The Mets did an amazing job addressing their biggest weakness without creating any new holes. The Mets still need to find another power bat I believe, but they have shored up their biggest problem. If their starting pitching has a decent year they could finally get back to playing October baseball.

The Red Sox, while quiet so far this off season, may have actually made the best move. They locked up their MVP at an nearly unbelievable price. The 6 year 40 million dollar deal only pays Pedroia 1.5 million dollars for the 2009 season, and with Manny's contract coming off the books the Red Sox now find themselves with heir committed payroll just under 100 million dollars. This makes the Red Sox a perfect place for Mark Texiera to sign, and they could easily still sign Varitek and Lowe. Make a deal for another catcher. And if they don't sign Lowe, don't be surprised to see John Smoltz try to make it back to the majors in a Red Sox uniform.

The Angels are in some trouble. If they can't find a way to resign Texiera then their offseason will be marked by losing their best offensive player and their all-star closer. There isn't a lot out there in terms of power. I can't see Pat Burrell fitting in with Anaheim's small ball approach and Manny and Mike Socia doesn't exactly scream match made in heaven to me.

Those are just my initial thoughts, as things become more settled I will give my opinion on the entire league and let y'all know who is looking the best on paper.

He's Gonna Play for Manny, Manny More Years

Oh Manny, it had been almost 5 months since you had "been Manny". I'm so excited to see you back. Manny Ramirez reportedly has been so upset because their appears to be almost no market for his services that he is apparently contemplating retirement. Oh Manny.

Then, after saying this, he said that he was gonna stick around until he hits 700 HRs and would definitely play next year. The man is not crazy folks...just incredibly dumb.







TOtally TOo much T.O.

OK, i know T.O. has not made a habit of breaking the law like Pac-Man and isn't accused of any serious, potentially prison worthy offenses like Plax, but can't the NFL just suspend him indefinitely anyway? Please?

Honestly when I heard about the latest T.O. drama I realized something...T.O. might be the worst person ever. OK, maybe that's a bit overboard, but my god. How selfish can one man be. He has been thrown to more times, and has fewer catches (meaning more drops, more than likely) than the man he is complaining about.

I call on anyone who is so inclined to send emails to ESPN, or the Cowboys or the NFL calling for a complete boycott of this jackass.

The Beasts of the East

OH MY. Folks, circle January 9th on your brand new calenders. Celtics and Cavs, playing for the first time since opening night and right now looking like far and away the best teams in the league. (No, I haven't forgotten LA, its just that they are soft until proven otherwise)

Obviously I am biased, but I think the Celtics still have the edge. During their 14 game win streak they have beat several quality teams, and have run up a franchise best start. In addition, the offense that has been slow to start for the Celtics has improved by leaps and bounds the last few weeks. Rajon Rondo is playing out of his mind and Ray Allen has found his stroke. The bench gets better and better and they are beating teams by double digit scores nightly.

The Cavs have been playing phenomenally, don't get me wrong. Lebron truly is the King and the whole team is playing inspired ball. They play great defense, run smart offense, and frankly, when you have Lebron, you're hard to beat. But Mo Williams still gives me a little pause, and the champs are the champs til i see a reason to declare otherwise. Regardless, after the Finals rematch on Christmas day January 9th is the day to look out for.

Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up

Lastly I would like to be a little bit more serious than usual. This past week was Jimmy V week on ESPN. I love Jimmy V week because they re-air his amazing ESPY speech and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. (If you haven't seen it, please find it on youtube.) As we head towards the holidays I think its important to remember how lucky most of us are. We have our health, great educations and most of us (not me of course) have great careers beginning. At this time in our country where so many people are hurting because of joblessness and harsh economic conditions I think we should all try to do whatever we can to try to make someone else's holiday a little better. Whether that means a small charitable donation, or bringing clothes to the Salvation Army, or giving to Toys for Tots, or volunteering at a soup kitchen I think all of us who read this blog can each do at least one thing to help someone else this time a year.

I hope you will all join me in doing something extra this holiday season when so many people are in need.

In any event, I've run out of ramblings, be on the look out for more entries this week and as we approach Christmas.

Applebee's Is No Longer Safe!!!!

So this holiday weekend gave us an early Christmas present as Plaxico Burress has created the best news story of the year. I will admit, I LOVE stupid criminals and clearly from the rapidly emerging details Plax is stupider than most. First off, the man shot himself in the leg with his own gun. He wasn't even trying to draw it, or use it. Just sitting there and BAM... Classic. Second, he was only mere inches away from giving us the funniest news story or all time by becoming the first NFL player to give himself a sex change operation.

Jokes aside, however, this is a truly amazing story. Not only did Plax bring a gun to a club. Not only did he shoot himself with it. But he broke the law by doing so, and then, when he realized the trouble he was in, he compounded it by lying to the hospital and then to police. Plax actually told the hospital that he was shot at an Applebee's....a frikken Applebee's. What? They wouldn't report it?...What kind of Applebee's do they have in NYC. At least he was smart enough to give a fake name, the unfortunately unfunny Harris Smith. Its no Ron Mexico, I'll tell ya that.

This event, as stupid and fun to make fun of as it is, points to a very serious problem in sports. As i started to talk about with my Pac-Man post last week, all sports, especially the NFL, need to do something to make it clear to troubled players that there will be real world consequences to their actions. Pac-Man has made mistake, after mistake, after mistake and still he pulls down an NFL paycheck and gets to play on Sundays. This cannot continue.

If we look at Plaxico's situation it becomes clear that this type of behavior can not be tolerated. Not only did Plaxico break the law, but he endangered the lives of others. This isn't the first time Plaxico has made bad decisions, but there is a huge difference between the immature and selfish things Plax has done in the past and the dangerous and criminal acts he is accused of committing this weekend. The point is, however, with his past discipline problems and his huge new contract (including an $11 million signing bonus) Plaxico knew that he could not afford any missteps. And still he put himself in this situation.

I know some out there will say that we expect too much of young athletes. And while I recognize that many of the young athletes who end up in trouble didn't grow up under the best circumstances, and didn't get the best of education, I don't think that can be an excuse any more. Yes some of these players have faced disadvantages, but they also have huge advantages. Plaxico Burress just signed a $35 million dollar contract. The man can afford to pay for private security. As a matter of fact if he is so concerned that he will be shot out at a club, maybe he should just rent out the club. Or better yet, what any normal human being would do...If you think you will get shot at a particular place then don't go to that place. I'll pause while you let that brilliance wash over you.....got it?...alright good.

Perhaps the most troubling part is seeing how Plaxico and his attorney have reacted to this. My favorite quote... "He is standing tall. He is a mature adult," Brafman said. "I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned." He may be standing tall, (and probably limping) but he is not a mature adult. This is the problem. He should be one, but he isn't and continuing to let him skate by without facing any real punishment will do nothing to change that fact.

I understand that rich athletes and entertainers are targets in the club scene for people who wanna act tough and compensate for the fact that they don't have a great life, but the fact of the matter is part of the price of having incredible wealth and being famous is that you have to avoid those situations. Frankly I don't think there are many people who wouldn't gladly trade their ability to go to a nightclub for 35 million dollars. Plaxico, it appears just seems to think he is some sort of gangster. And no, this isn't because of rap music, or The Wire or anything else. Its because Plaxico Burress is a childish, selfish, careless MORON.

My point in writing all this is that there is no excuse for this type of behavior. Plaxico didn't just hurt himself with his actions. He hurt his team and he hurt his organization. He put lives in danger, he broke the law and it appears that he has involved Antonio Pierce in his crimes enough that Pierce will likely face charges. With what we saw from Michael Vick and Pac-Man Jones it is clear that many athletes seem to think they are above the law. And with the number of second and third chances given out by teams and the NFL its no wonder they do. Its time that we as a society stop making excuses for these young men just because they can play a sport.

Imagine if it was you who did this at a club this weekend. Do you think your employer would be so quick to forgive. Of course not, and why would you not deserve the same treatment as Plaxico. More likely than not you don't have a record of disrespect and disregard for others. Obviously athletes lead very different lives from us "normal" people, but they aren't better, or more deserving of extra slack.

So I hope that Mayor Bloomberg follows through and makes an example out of Plaxico. Frankly, Plax deserves to have the book thrown at him, there is nothing he has done in his career that indicates otherwise. Maybe if Plax goes to jail for a few years athletes in all sports will realize that just because you are rich doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want.

Either Plaxico is a man who has not grown up enough to be trusted with his freedom, or he is a bad man who does not, and will not respect the rules of law. Either way, he is not someone who should be allowed to make huge sums of money and be idolized by kids for his on-field abilities.

Mr. Goodell, New York Giants, football watching public... FIRE PLAXICO BURRESS.

Oh, and New York prosecutors....put him away. Do it for Applebee's.