Play defense. Don't have 12 men in the huddle. To a certain extent, I can understand why a lot of fans want the overtime rules to be changed, but don't complain just because your team got knocked out of the playoffs without a chance to even score on offense. Even though I do think that the overtime rule is fair, I have heard some interesting new theories.
What I think would be the best alternative plan would be to just play a full extra 15 minute quarter. Mainly because it is real football. The problem that I have with the college rule, is that you're not playing a true football game. Having to start playing at the 25 yard line? How many times in a game does either team start at the opponents 25? Not only that, after a few possessions if the game is still tied, you have to go for the 2-point conversion. Maybe it's alright for college, but not for the NFL.
Instead of the first one to score, make it, the first team to score 4 points. This means, a team that wins a coin flip, can't just win by moving up the field 30 yards to kick a 45 yard field goal. And if they do, there defense has to stop the other team from scoring a touchdown, and have to be able to do it again.
Either way, the only reason why Vikings' fans are upset over the overtime rule, is because they lost. Sometimes the game doesn't seem fair, but would that have anything to do outcome?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thank You Fergie Jenkins, But Not For Your Steroid Comments
It has been awhile since my last post, and I apologize, I have been busy with another writing project. But I would like to talk to you today about the Mark McGwire apology that happened last week. It has taken me some time to make a conclusion about what McGwire had said. First I thought that it was heartfelt apology, but then he said that he only used it to heal quicker from his injuries. He talked about how much of a relief for him to get this off his back and how bad he felt, but he never apologized to anyone it affected other than himself. Then I read an interview with former Cub pitcher, Fergie Jenkins, and it got me thinking, but about something else.
Jenkins came out this week calling out McGwire on what he did to those pitchers who gave up those home runs. He mentioned about pitchers who might have lost confidence in themselves, or maybe a manager or GM that lost confidence in them.
I agree with Jenkins, to a certain point. Singling out McGwire for causing the problems for a pitcher's confidence is I think is ridiculous. The problem is really about ALL the players who were taking steroids. Of course it is easy to target someone who broke single-season records of Roger Marris and Babe Ruth, but it's not all on him.
Then Jenkins did make a great point, but it wasn't even directly about steroids. Jenkins said, "in my era, Seaver, Gibson, Drysdale, Carlton, there were so many guys that would have probably knocked him on his butt. He wouldn't have hit home runs the way he did in that era". I guess I might be considered old school in my mentality, but I do think a pitcher should be allowed to go inside on batters, even if that means the batter gets hit every now and then. These days, if a batter gets hit, the umpires are giving warnings to both benches way too quickly. Jenkins mentioned that McGwire wouldn't have been able to hit like he did if he was playing in Jenkins' era. But pitchers like Gibson wouldn't be able to pitch like they wanted to if they were playing today.
In the NHL, the league leaves it up to the teams to "warn the other bench". All of the four major American sports used to be like that, but not anymore. I mentioned baseball earlier, but the NBA was at one point the same way. Try telling someone like Jerry Sloan that basketball is a non contact sport. Or try telling quarterbacks that had to face Dick Butkus or Ray Nitschke if they got protected like Tom Brady does, and they'll just laugh in your face.
It sometimes is odd, when someone says some criticism, but makes a more valid point in a seamlessly more innocent comment. So I say thank you Mr. Jenkins for opening my eyes, even if you opened my eyes for something completely different.
Jenkins came out this week calling out McGwire on what he did to those pitchers who gave up those home runs. He mentioned about pitchers who might have lost confidence in themselves, or maybe a manager or GM that lost confidence in them.
I agree with Jenkins, to a certain point. Singling out McGwire for causing the problems for a pitcher's confidence is I think is ridiculous. The problem is really about ALL the players who were taking steroids. Of course it is easy to target someone who broke single-season records of Roger Marris and Babe Ruth, but it's not all on him.
Then Jenkins did make a great point, but it wasn't even directly about steroids. Jenkins said, "in my era, Seaver, Gibson, Drysdale, Carlton, there were so many guys that would have probably knocked him on his butt. He wouldn't have hit home runs the way he did in that era". I guess I might be considered old school in my mentality, but I do think a pitcher should be allowed to go inside on batters, even if that means the batter gets hit every now and then. These days, if a batter gets hit, the umpires are giving warnings to both benches way too quickly. Jenkins mentioned that McGwire wouldn't have been able to hit like he did if he was playing in Jenkins' era. But pitchers like Gibson wouldn't be able to pitch like they wanted to if they were playing today.
In the NHL, the league leaves it up to the teams to "warn the other bench". All of the four major American sports used to be like that, but not anymore. I mentioned baseball earlier, but the NBA was at one point the same way. Try telling someone like Jerry Sloan that basketball is a non contact sport. Or try telling quarterbacks that had to face Dick Butkus or Ray Nitschke if they got protected like Tom Brady does, and they'll just laugh in your face.
It sometimes is odd, when someone says some criticism, but makes a more valid point in a seamlessly more innocent comment. So I say thank you Mr. Jenkins for opening my eyes, even if you opened my eyes for something completely different.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A Few Things On My Mind
Mark Cuban: Please keep your mouth shut. For those who have not heard, Cuban, who is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was upset with the NFL because they scheduled an Eagles - Cowboys game at the same time as a Mavericks game. He is concerned that there will be no-shows for his basketball game that night. I don't think that the NFL have to be too concerned with a meaningless January NBA game.
Gilbert Arenas and the rest of the Washington Wizards: What are you thinking? Gilbert Arenas earlier this year got into a little bit of a tiff with fellow teammate Javaris Crittenton, the tiff then escalated into pulling firearms on each other. Pretty stupid you say? It gets worse. Arenas has been suspended indefinitely by NBA commissioner David Stern, because he was joking about the whole situation and not understanding that this is a very serious offense. Pretty stupid you say? Seriously, it gets even worse. Before the game on Tuesday where the Wizards played against the 76ers, he was pointing at his teammates with his hand in the form of a gun, and his teammates were LAUGHING! I'm glad they find pulling guns out at a fight is hilarious. And I thought there couldn't be anything worse in D.C. than the Redskins.
Lovie Smith: So most of your coaching staff got canned, but you didn't. I can understand the decision (money), but there is only one thing I am going to ask of you, please hire someone that can tell you when to properly throw a challenge flag.
The Blackhawks: Just keep on doing what you're doing. Tonight they were down by two goals early in the game, and came back with four unanswered goals to win. There's absolutely no question that they have loads of talent, but what Joel Quenneville has done with this young Hawk team is just fabulous. What he has done with the goalie situation (last year too), the come-from-behind victories, changing the lines, and managing a team that has only a few players over the age of thirty has to put him in leading contention for the Jack Adams trophy. It hasn't been just the players and coaches, it's also been the management and owners. Rocky Wertz and the two GM's he's had have also done as good of a job with an organization as you can do. They have allowed us to watch every game of the year, brought in some fantastic young talent, and the young talent that they have brought in, for the most part have been signed for years to come. The other sports teams in Chicago can learn a lot from the guys on the ice.
Gilbert Arenas and the rest of the Washington Wizards: What are you thinking? Gilbert Arenas earlier this year got into a little bit of a tiff with fellow teammate Javaris Crittenton, the tiff then escalated into pulling firearms on each other. Pretty stupid you say? It gets worse. Arenas has been suspended indefinitely by NBA commissioner David Stern, because he was joking about the whole situation and not understanding that this is a very serious offense. Pretty stupid you say? Seriously, it gets even worse. Before the game on Tuesday where the Wizards played against the 76ers, he was pointing at his teammates with his hand in the form of a gun, and his teammates were LAUGHING! I'm glad they find pulling guns out at a fight is hilarious. And I thought there couldn't be anything worse in D.C. than the Redskins.
Lovie Smith: So most of your coaching staff got canned, but you didn't. I can understand the decision (money), but there is only one thing I am going to ask of you, please hire someone that can tell you when to properly throw a challenge flag.
The Blackhawks: Just keep on doing what you're doing. Tonight they were down by two goals early in the game, and came back with four unanswered goals to win. There's absolutely no question that they have loads of talent, but what Joel Quenneville has done with this young Hawk team is just fabulous. What he has done with the goalie situation (last year too), the come-from-behind victories, changing the lines, and managing a team that has only a few players over the age of thirty has to put him in leading contention for the Jack Adams trophy. It hasn't been just the players and coaches, it's also been the management and owners. Rocky Wertz and the two GM's he's had have also done as good of a job with an organization as you can do. They have allowed us to watch every game of the year, brought in some fantastic young talent, and the young talent that they have brought in, for the most part have been signed for years to come. The other sports teams in Chicago can learn a lot from the guys on the ice.
Friday, January 1, 2010
The Best New Years Day Tradition: The Winter Classic
Once again I set my alarm to Noon this morning so I can struggle to wake up and watch the annual NHL outdoor game. So far, the three games that have been dubbed "The Winter Classic" have been great games to watch.
The first year allowed us to watch Buffalo's Ryan Miller (who was just named the starting goalie for the U.S. Olympic team) losing in a shootout battle with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, arguable the most talented player in hockey. Last year we saw what I believe to be the best rivalry in hockey, in the Blackhawks and Red Wings, play in historic Wrigley Field. In today's game, Boston had a come from behind overtime victory over foe Philadelphia in another historic stadium, Fenway Park. So far the NHL is three-for-three in entertaining and memorable Winter Classic games.
It's fun to watch, even if you are not as avid of a hockey fan as I am. Seeing grown men playing a game that they love, in an environment like what they were used to playing in as a kid, is always enjoyable. For a lot of the players, especially in Canada, playing pond hockey is a major part of their childhood. And like when they were growing up, they were wearing their long-johns and hand warmers. Even a few of the players had put on some eye black to remove the glare from the lights.
There are plenty of reasons for the success of the Winter Classic, I think the main one is that the teams they have facing each other are not just good rivals, but are geographically close. That allows the fans of the visiting team to be able represent in large numbers. It also helps that all the games have been close too.
The only thing about this event that scares me, is that the NHL is pondering having a second outdoor game on New Years. Part of what makes this so special, is the hype that gets built around that ONE city. It's like the allstar game, everyone will have a shot at it at some point (even the warmer weather cities).
I believe when hockey starts becoming a more popular sport, the Winter Classic is going to be as a big of a deal as the Bowl games that it is competing against. That may take awhile, but I'll be there watching all of them.
The first year allowed us to watch Buffalo's Ryan Miller (who was just named the starting goalie for the U.S. Olympic team) losing in a shootout battle with Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, arguable the most talented player in hockey. Last year we saw what I believe to be the best rivalry in hockey, in the Blackhawks and Red Wings, play in historic Wrigley Field. In today's game, Boston had a come from behind overtime victory over foe Philadelphia in another historic stadium, Fenway Park. So far the NHL is three-for-three in entertaining and memorable Winter Classic games.
It's fun to watch, even if you are not as avid of a hockey fan as I am. Seeing grown men playing a game that they love, in an environment like what they were used to playing in as a kid, is always enjoyable. For a lot of the players, especially in Canada, playing pond hockey is a major part of their childhood. And like when they were growing up, they were wearing their long-johns and hand warmers. Even a few of the players had put on some eye black to remove the glare from the lights.
There are plenty of reasons for the success of the Winter Classic, I think the main one is that the teams they have facing each other are not just good rivals, but are geographically close. That allows the fans of the visiting team to be able represent in large numbers. It also helps that all the games have been close too.
The only thing about this event that scares me, is that the NHL is pondering having a second outdoor game on New Years. Part of what makes this so special, is the hype that gets built around that ONE city. It's like the allstar game, everyone will have a shot at it at some point (even the warmer weather cities).
I believe when hockey starts becoming a more popular sport, the Winter Classic is going to be as a big of a deal as the Bowl games that it is competing against. That may take awhile, but I'll be there watching all of them.
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