First of all, it was never about a handshake. It was about 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh clapping Lions' head coach Jim Schwartz on the back. This happened almost a year ago, after San Fran had waltzed into Ford Field, home of the then 5-0 Lions, and beaten them in the closing minutes of the game.
For whatever reason, Schwartz appeared to come unglued. Perhaps after the heady 5-0 start to the Lions' season, Schwartz wasn't accustomed to losing, and didn't know how to act. He should have. After all, before the 2011 season started, his record was an abysmal 8-24 during his tenure with the team. Granted, it was an improvement on the 0-16 all-time record setting season of futility that preceded him, which had made the Lions world-wide punch line fodder, but still -- a pitiful .250 winning percentage after 2 years is normally a recipe for getting a coach fired. Many other proud NFL franchises simply wouldn't have tolerated that, but for the Lions, the standard of "success" had become so low, that a win, ANY win, was cause to celebrate and dream of what may someday be. If nothing else, their fans remained loyal. Hey, when one is starving, even moldy bread starts to look good. At least it's SOMETHING.
When the on-field incident happened last year, Schwartz was properly restrained by security personnel that stepped in and prevented the situation from becoming even worse. Just for fun, consider what would have happened if Schwartz had been allowed to continue his rampage and ultimately got involved in a physical altercation (fight) with Harbaugh. Though we'll thankfully never know, here's my looking back prediction -----
Harbaugh = tornado.
Schwartz = trailer park
How does that normally work out?
Jimbo S. should be thankful the security personnel were there, or he might be on the disabled list to this day.
Regardless, that was a year ago. History. It shouldn't matter, and probably doesn't to Schwartz and Harbaugh. They're professionals, and both have a big game to get their teams ready for. While the media is up to their usual stirring the pot shenanigans, trying to create a controversy where there isn't one, yours truly suspects both Jims are way too busy studying film to get caught up in the clown act. They're probing for weaknesses and tendencies of their upcoming opponents to hopefully exploit. A game plan has to be figured out. Everything from calling offensive plays to defensive schemes, given a myriad of game-time possibilities have to be considered. Might a certain "trick" play work?
The reality is both coaches are trying to figure out ways to maximize their team's chances at victory this Sunday night, and likely couldn't care less about what happened a year ago. Good grief, NFL teams don't care about last WEEK. Whatever happened, it's over. Time to look ahead to the next game. Different team, different preparations, and different strategies will be involved. Such is the nature of the game.
Nevertheless, if the Niners beat the Lions again, as the odds-makers think they will, here's hoping the same post-game scenario doesn't repeat itself. This time it will be in San Fran. If Schwartz goes berserk again, and charges Harbaugh, who knows what their security personnel may or may not do? San Fran's a pretty liberal town. Maybe they'd take a hands-off approach and let the situation play itself out, while the crowd roared.
At long last, Schwartz and his team have experienced some success. He should enjoy it, but not get carried away just yet and do something stupid.
While ruby-red slippers would be very interesting, there's no sense running headlong into a tornado if he doesn't have to. He'll be in San Fran, not the Emerald City, and clicking his heels together 3 times won't bring him back home to Kansas into the loving arms of Auntie Em.
Quite the contrary. It might very well land him on the CUP (Coaches Unable to Perform) list.
Schwartz would be well advised to give that Wicked Witch of the West Jim Harbaugh a wide berth. It's not like Harbaugh would melt if the sweat started flying. Win or lose, a Wolverine under attack is, pound for pound, the most dangerous animal on the planet. Great bodily harm can result in a hurry to those that would put it in that position.
Here's hoping Schwartz coaches the game, shakes hands afterwards, and even if his team got whupped -- lets it go at that. The alternative could get painful.
No sense tempting fate twice.
Idle thought -- I wonder what would happen if instead of a handshake and clap on the back -- Harbaugh gave Schwartz a big old wet sloppy kiss right on his lips? Now THAT would get interesting.
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