It appears the former Michigan State point guard could be in a heap of trouble. If found guilty of the charges against him, Mr. Cleaves will go bye-bye for a long time.
In today's politically correct world, the very language we speak has undergone a remarkable transformation. Certain ethnic, racial, and religious terms from the past have been deleted like they never existed. In addition, there are no more cripples, nor bald, short, fat, or retarded people. They all still exist, of course, but are referred to by kinder, gentler names, so as not to -- horrors!! -- offend someone. Yet one is left to wonder whether the truly stupid ones can appreciate, much less comprehend the difference.
Even lawmakers and prosecutors have invented a new language. Though it still happens, nobody gets charged with "rape" anymore. This has been changed into varying degrees of "criminal sexual conduct". It can be first, second, or third degree but, in the end, laypeople (no pun intended) don't understand what the exact allegation(s) are. They just know somebody supposedly did something very bad in a sexual way.
The Mateen Cleaves case is shaking out much the same way in its early stages. He's been charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct (rape), though that seems odd given only one incident allegedly occurred. Also with one count of assault with "intent" to commit criminal sexual penetration -- there's that pesky "rape" word again. If true, the "assault" word translates into beating somebody up before having their way with them. But the very word "intent" mentioned above somewhat clouds the whole scenario. Did he "intend" to do it, actually do it, or not do it at all? I mean c'mon. In cases like this, "intent" is a stupid word. If a rape occurred, it's a virtual certainly it didn't happen by accident. You don't just fall into these things. Ahem.
But prosecutors these days love to pile on charges that few outside the legal profession can fully comprehend. This has become a typical ploy as they look down the road at a "plea bargain". They'll charge a "perp" (another word we don't hear anymore) a variety of different ways for the same alleged crime. The media eats it up and regurgitates it to the public in sensational fashion, which is exactly what they want. Nothing like tainting a potential jury pool. If they can just get the defendant to plead guilty to one charge, they'll typically dismiss all the others and chalk it up as a win.
Cleaves has also been charged with "unlawful imprisonment". That's sort of like "kidnapping" (when's the last time you heard that word?) an adult. But a definite no-no.
Maybe Cleaves did these bad things and maybe he did not. Hopefully, as all the evidence, or lack thereof, are thoroughly analyzed by objective, unbiased minds, justice will be done. Of course, such neutrality in the legal system long ago went the same way as former "shrews" and "brats". They too both still exist, but one is now an overly concerned mate and the other merely a misunderstood child.
We have evolved into a jurisprudence system where the truth has ceased to matter. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys care about only one thing. Winning. And they will use every dirty trick they can to accomplish it. Sometimes justice is eventually done, and sometimes not. Guilty people go free on technicalities. Innocent ones spend years behind bars. Some have even been wrongfully executed for crimes they didn't commit.
What is somewhat sadly comical in this case are the early statements of Cleaves' defense attorney. [The charges are an outrage, my client is totally innocent, looks forward to his day in court, and will be fully exonerated], says counsel. Maybe. But haven't we heard that line before a few times? We'll see.
That in itself isn't so funny, but his next statement was. [This has been catastrophic to my client's career. Where does he go to get his reputation back?]
Well then. The logical question might then be -- WHAT reputation?
Sure, Mateen Cleaves was a star player on the Michigan State Spartans' basketball team, even a national champion way back in 2000. Then a first round draft choice by his home state Detroit Pistons. He was a bust. For 6 seasons Cleaves bounced around the NBA on different teams, never lasting long. Throw in a stint in the D-league, playing for a Russian and a Greek team -- ANYTHING to collect a roundball paycheck. THAT reputation?
Cleaves has since fancied himself as some sort of musical talent scout. To boot, he's even done some basketball commentary as an "analyst" on some obscure cable station. Anything but going out and getting a REAL job after he crashed and burned at professional hoops. THIS is the reputation yon learned defense counsel is staunchly trying to resurrect in all its glory? Really? And his point is?
Nevertheless, here's hoping Mateen Cleaves didn't do these bad things. Maybe it will turn out to be another case of a false accusation -- with the "victim" hoping for a private settlement (see cha-ching) to make it all go away. But if Cleaves indeed did the crime(s) with which he is currently charged, then by all means throw his butt in the slammer for a decade or two.
Still, yours truly smells a plea bargain waiting to happen. Some money changes hands, the prosecutor gets a watered down "win", the typical couple years "probation" is ordered by the court, and Cleaves is back out there trying to find and sign up the next Bieber.
Isn't true justice wonderful?
Friday, March 18, 2016
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Detroit. Slip-sliding away?
No, not the city itself. That became a hopeless cause long ago. Violent crime, blight, gangs, drugs, crooked politicians/corruption, and other factors collided over the years to turn it into the mess it is today.
Rather, this is about their professional sports teams. Let's look at them.
The Detroit Tigers. As the late Ernie Harwell was fond of saying, "hope springs eternal". Indeed it does at this time of year -- every year. But last time I looked, the Tigers finished in the basement of their own division last year. Sure, they went out and made a few moves in the off season hoping to shore up certain deficiencies. But it's not like they operate in a vacuum. So did every other team. The ever-faithful Tiger glass half-fullers (with the local scribes spewing the usual propaganda) always assume the optimum scenario. Players that had an off year in 2015 will bounce back to peak form. Those that were injury prone will remain healthy. With another year of experience under their belts, the "rosy prospects" will be even better. Every free agent is going to come to town and have an All-Star year. But we know it usually doesn't work out quite that way. Not long ago, the Tigers had the "best starting pitching staff in all of baseball", and a regular "murderer's row" batting line-up. Or so the fans were told. What could go wrong? Evidently, something did, and has for over 30 years. The Tigers haven't won a World Series since Ronald Reagan was campaigning for his second term as Prez way back in 1984. It's almost Orwellian. Sorry. There is little reason to think they'll pull it off in 2016 either. Much more likely is the Tigers (despite their enormous player payroll) will be a mediocre team. Maybe not wind up in the cellar again, but does anybody really think they'll improve enough to roar into the post-season? Highly doubtful.
The Detroit Pistons. They don't even play in Detroit. Haven't for forty years. Currently the Pistons are on the bubble of making the playoffs. Maybe they squeak in as an 8 seed in the rather weak Eastern conference of the NBA -- and maybe they don't. Even if they do, what will be their reward? Two things. They'll get a couple home games in the first round of the playoffs. These are major cha-chings for the owner and franchise. That's the upside. The downside is they'd be unceremoniously broomed out of the playoffs by the #1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. Bottom line is the Pistons are at best a mediocre team and, given their current structure, don't have much of an upside in the near future either.
The Detroit Red Wings. Yep, they've made the NHL playoffs 24 years in a row -- a record. They even won a few Stanley Cups along the way. But that streak is in danger of being broken. The Wings have been slumping, the Philly Flyers have been hot as of late, and the Detroiters currently find themselves in 9th place in the East, with only 8 spots available. Upside? Like the Tigers, it's always about young prospects. Finding young Dylan Larkin in their own backyard was a terrific break. But after a hot start, he's cooled off some. Same with their goalie Petr Mrazek. For a while, he was almost unbeatable, but lately the other teams have figured him out and he's giving up goals at a rate more in line with his original resume. Their two best players, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are in their middle 30s and likely won't be around much longer. Outlook for the future? Somewhere between average and bleak. On that note consider -- nobody much calls Detroit "Hockeytown" any more. Though once considered a prime destination, in recent years star free agents have been willing to accept less money to play elsewhere. Definitely a bad omen.
The Detroit Lions. James Michener could have probably penned his longest novel of all in a documentary of the Lions' foibles over the decades. From top to bottom, this has arguably been the most pathetic franchise in the history of American professional sports. The Lions last won a game of note way back in 1957, when a guy named Eisenhower was President. Ironically enough, this was about the same time the Edsel was about to be put into production and start rolling off Ford assembly lines. True, William Clay Ford didn't buy a controlling interest in the team until a few years later. Yet history reveals an even more astounding piece of irony. Guess what day WCF officially sealed the deal to take over the Lions? The very same day, Nov. 22, 1963, that Prez John F. Kennedy was fatally shot in Dallas. DEFINITELY a bad omen. Everybody knows there have been 50 Super Bowls played and the Lions have never made it to a single one. And they also know the puddy-tats have won a grand total of one -- ONE -- playoff game over all that time. Countless generations of players have come and gone. A variety of sometimes bizarre head coaches have hit town with high hopes and limped out in shame a few years later. Out of all of them, NO head coach ever employed by the Lions has ever gone on to become a head coach again elsewhere in the NFL. Given the good-ole-boys coaching carousel that is still prevalent around the league, only one logical conclusion can be drawn. Detroit is where head coaches go to initially get rich, but eventually die. Jim Caldwell will be no different. One Bob Quinn is supposed to be their latest savior as a GM because he came from the Patriots. Seems to me, once upon a time, a guy named Matt Millen came riding into town to great fanfare. How did that work out? Bottom line? The Lions remain pretty much a mess. They don't even know who's who on their O-line. Still no decent running back, nor reliable tight end. They've got a Ziggy on the D-line who's pretty good, but the rest consists of cast-offs from other teams and a few -- there's that word again -- prospects. They've got one good linebacker, if he can stay healthy, and the secondary remains Keystone Koppish. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has put up some gaudy passing stats over the years, but never won a single playoff game. His primary target was one Calvin Johnson, who also put up good personal stats. When in doubt -- heave it in the general direction of the former Megatron. It worked a lot, but CJ took a continual beating over the years. You can't throw to a guy in double or triple coverage and not expect him to get pounded a millisecond after he catches the ball. The last couple years Johnson has rarely been able to even practice. To his credit, he showed up on game days and remained effective. Yet who can blame the guy for retiring? He's got plenty of dough. Better to get out now with his faculties still somewhat intact. The Lions' biggest weapon just took a hike and the rest of the team is underwhelming at best. Forget 2016, Lions fans might still be waiting for a Super Bowl appearance in 2026, or 2036, or 2086. But in the foreseeable future, these guys are going nowhere. The truly sad part is how the Lions and their faithful scribes will convince the latest generation of suckers that this just might be the magical year. Three words. No -- it -- won't.
All in all, things aren't looking good for the former (they don't build many cars there any more) Motown. And the outlook for the professional sports teams that still bear their name doesn't appear too rosy either.
Tis a shame. Once such a proud, thriving, prosperous city, only to see it all slip-slide away. Alas.
Rather, this is about their professional sports teams. Let's look at them.
The Detroit Tigers. As the late Ernie Harwell was fond of saying, "hope springs eternal". Indeed it does at this time of year -- every year. But last time I looked, the Tigers finished in the basement of their own division last year. Sure, they went out and made a few moves in the off season hoping to shore up certain deficiencies. But it's not like they operate in a vacuum. So did every other team. The ever-faithful Tiger glass half-fullers (with the local scribes spewing the usual propaganda) always assume the optimum scenario. Players that had an off year in 2015 will bounce back to peak form. Those that were injury prone will remain healthy. With another year of experience under their belts, the "rosy prospects" will be even better. Every free agent is going to come to town and have an All-Star year. But we know it usually doesn't work out quite that way. Not long ago, the Tigers had the "best starting pitching staff in all of baseball", and a regular "murderer's row" batting line-up. Or so the fans were told. What could go wrong? Evidently, something did, and has for over 30 years. The Tigers haven't won a World Series since Ronald Reagan was campaigning for his second term as Prez way back in 1984. It's almost Orwellian. Sorry. There is little reason to think they'll pull it off in 2016 either. Much more likely is the Tigers (despite their enormous player payroll) will be a mediocre team. Maybe not wind up in the cellar again, but does anybody really think they'll improve enough to roar into the post-season? Highly doubtful.
The Detroit Pistons. They don't even play in Detroit. Haven't for forty years. Currently the Pistons are on the bubble of making the playoffs. Maybe they squeak in as an 8 seed in the rather weak Eastern conference of the NBA -- and maybe they don't. Even if they do, what will be their reward? Two things. They'll get a couple home games in the first round of the playoffs. These are major cha-chings for the owner and franchise. That's the upside. The downside is they'd be unceremoniously broomed out of the playoffs by the #1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. Bottom line is the Pistons are at best a mediocre team and, given their current structure, don't have much of an upside in the near future either.
The Detroit Red Wings. Yep, they've made the NHL playoffs 24 years in a row -- a record. They even won a few Stanley Cups along the way. But that streak is in danger of being broken. The Wings have been slumping, the Philly Flyers have been hot as of late, and the Detroiters currently find themselves in 9th place in the East, with only 8 spots available. Upside? Like the Tigers, it's always about young prospects. Finding young Dylan Larkin in their own backyard was a terrific break. But after a hot start, he's cooled off some. Same with their goalie Petr Mrazek. For a while, he was almost unbeatable, but lately the other teams have figured him out and he's giving up goals at a rate more in line with his original resume. Their two best players, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are in their middle 30s and likely won't be around much longer. Outlook for the future? Somewhere between average and bleak. On that note consider -- nobody much calls Detroit "Hockeytown" any more. Though once considered a prime destination, in recent years star free agents have been willing to accept less money to play elsewhere. Definitely a bad omen.
The Detroit Lions. James Michener could have probably penned his longest novel of all in a documentary of the Lions' foibles over the decades. From top to bottom, this has arguably been the most pathetic franchise in the history of American professional sports. The Lions last won a game of note way back in 1957, when a guy named Eisenhower was President. Ironically enough, this was about the same time the Edsel was about to be put into production and start rolling off Ford assembly lines. True, William Clay Ford didn't buy a controlling interest in the team until a few years later. Yet history reveals an even more astounding piece of irony. Guess what day WCF officially sealed the deal to take over the Lions? The very same day, Nov. 22, 1963, that Prez John F. Kennedy was fatally shot in Dallas. DEFINITELY a bad omen. Everybody knows there have been 50 Super Bowls played and the Lions have never made it to a single one. And they also know the puddy-tats have won a grand total of one -- ONE -- playoff game over all that time. Countless generations of players have come and gone. A variety of sometimes bizarre head coaches have hit town with high hopes and limped out in shame a few years later. Out of all of them, NO head coach ever employed by the Lions has ever gone on to become a head coach again elsewhere in the NFL. Given the good-ole-boys coaching carousel that is still prevalent around the league, only one logical conclusion can be drawn. Detroit is where head coaches go to initially get rich, but eventually die. Jim Caldwell will be no different. One Bob Quinn is supposed to be their latest savior as a GM because he came from the Patriots. Seems to me, once upon a time, a guy named Matt Millen came riding into town to great fanfare. How did that work out? Bottom line? The Lions remain pretty much a mess. They don't even know who's who on their O-line. Still no decent running back, nor reliable tight end. They've got a Ziggy on the D-line who's pretty good, but the rest consists of cast-offs from other teams and a few -- there's that word again -- prospects. They've got one good linebacker, if he can stay healthy, and the secondary remains Keystone Koppish. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has put up some gaudy passing stats over the years, but never won a single playoff game. His primary target was one Calvin Johnson, who also put up good personal stats. When in doubt -- heave it in the general direction of the former Megatron. It worked a lot, but CJ took a continual beating over the years. You can't throw to a guy in double or triple coverage and not expect him to get pounded a millisecond after he catches the ball. The last couple years Johnson has rarely been able to even practice. To his credit, he showed up on game days and remained effective. Yet who can blame the guy for retiring? He's got plenty of dough. Better to get out now with his faculties still somewhat intact. The Lions' biggest weapon just took a hike and the rest of the team is underwhelming at best. Forget 2016, Lions fans might still be waiting for a Super Bowl appearance in 2026, or 2036, or 2086. But in the foreseeable future, these guys are going nowhere. The truly sad part is how the Lions and their faithful scribes will convince the latest generation of suckers that this just might be the magical year. Three words. No -- it -- won't.
All in all, things aren't looking good for the former (they don't build many cars there any more) Motown. And the outlook for the professional sports teams that still bear their name doesn't appear too rosy either.
Tis a shame. Once such a proud, thriving, prosperous city, only to see it all slip-slide away. Alas.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Golden State and the trap games
To date, the Golden State Warriors remain on pace to break the Chicago Bulls' all time best single season record of 72-10, which was set back in 1995-96.
Now at 60-6, an astounding winning percentage of .909, they need only go 13-3 in their remaining 16 games to eclipse the former mark. Still, that requires a winning percentage of .812. Guess how many other teams in the entire NBA have played over .800 ball, or even .750 this year? One. Yep, the San Antonio Spurs. They just improved to 57-10 which equates to .850 ball. Also very impressive, but they remain 3.5 games back of the Warriors.
In their one and only meeting so far this year, at home the Warriors drilled the Spurs by 30 points. A blow out. But the final few weeks of the regular season offer up some interesting scenarios, and it starts in just a few days for the Warriors.
Assuming they trash the lowly NY Knicks at home, GS then has to fly to Dallas for a meeting with the Mavs on Friday. Let's not forget that one of their 6 losses came against that very team earlier this year, and it wasn't really even close.
Though it's a short plane flight, the very next night (Saturday) GS will be in San Antonio. The Spurs haven't lost at home all year and they'll be catching the Warriors on the tail end of back to back road games. Plus the Spurs are now fully healthy and typically go at least ten deep in their roster. No doubt, this will be a must-watch game. Likely the most anticipated game of the entire season so far. Can coach Pop and the Spurs stay perfect at home and close the gap a bit with the Warriors by knocking them off? Maybe. Then again, if Steph and Co. get on one of their rolls, what could be more of a "statement" than waltzing into Alamoland and coming out with a victory? We shall see. But it might very well be a trap game for GS.
Even more interesting is what transpires over 3 days starting on April 7. The Warriors host the Spurs again, have a day off, then fly to Memphis for a game against the Grizzlies. The very next day, GS is right back in San Antonio taking on the Spurs again. More air miles, more jet lag, another back end of a road "two-fer", and another clash with Pop's machine in their backyard. And make no mistake, the Spurs have been playing fantastic team basketball, particularly of late (winning 12 of their last 13). This could easily be another trap game for the Warriors.
Thing is, if one looks closely at the schedule, the Spurs have a decided advantage. Before all 3 of their remaining games against the Warriors -- they have a rest day. While GS is playing elsewhere on the road, Coach Pop and the Spurs can watch it on TV and game plan. A quirk in the schedule, but it is what it is, and it definitely favors San Antonio.
Does all this matter in the whole scheme of things? Yes and no. Yes, the Warriors certainly want to break the Bulls' old record, and both teams would love to finish the regular season undefeated at home. No NBA team has ever done it before. How cool would it be to see two of them do it in the same year? It's possible.
But no -- when the playoffs start, everything is reset to zero and the regular season goes out the window -- save for home court advantage.
Many think it's a given San Antonio and Golden State will meet in the Western conference finals, with the winner likely going on to be world champions. Also given that with 80% of the regular season already played and both these teams head and shoulders above everybody else, it would be difficult to argue that assumption. Who coming out of the East could defeat either of them? Lebron and the Cavs have the best record in the much weaker Eastern conference, but still lag far behind the records of GS or SA. As in double digits. Not even a close call. And whoever comes out of the East would be faced with the daunting prospect of ceding home court advantage to a team that might not have lost at home ALL YEAR. Good luck with that.
But that's getting ahead of things. For now, the rest of the regular season offers up some very intriguing games to watch, and certainly a few "all-time" scenarios to keep tabs on as they play out.
Hmmm. Come to think it, the date mentioned above, April 7th, rings a bell. Isn't that the same day all the world class linksters get together at some high-falootin joint called Augusta National to club it out in the Masters for the proverbial green jacket? You know, replete with the hushed reverent tones, pool table fast greens, say amen brother corner, and some in the gallery eating allergy pills like M&Ms while being exposed to all the flora that has come into bloom? With any luck, there might even be a Tiger sighting. Eldrick's gotta come out of hibernation eventually. And you just know he'll show up for this gig. His chances of winning it? Zero. Even making the cut? Mighty slim. His time has come and gone. Even if he's not self-destructing, the young studs these days are way too good, and will beat his brains out. But good gawd-a-mighty, we'll be force fed a few thousand Tiger highlights from years past when the annual royal event starts up. All the more reason to ignore the first two days of the tournament. Eldrick won't be playing on the weekend, so the viewing public will get far better TV coverage of the other more worthy golfers.
Nevertheless, that should be quite the couch tater weekend indeed.
Now at 60-6, an astounding winning percentage of .909, they need only go 13-3 in their remaining 16 games to eclipse the former mark. Still, that requires a winning percentage of .812. Guess how many other teams in the entire NBA have played over .800 ball, or even .750 this year? One. Yep, the San Antonio Spurs. They just improved to 57-10 which equates to .850 ball. Also very impressive, but they remain 3.5 games back of the Warriors.
In their one and only meeting so far this year, at home the Warriors drilled the Spurs by 30 points. A blow out. But the final few weeks of the regular season offer up some interesting scenarios, and it starts in just a few days for the Warriors.
Assuming they trash the lowly NY Knicks at home, GS then has to fly to Dallas for a meeting with the Mavs on Friday. Let's not forget that one of their 6 losses came against that very team earlier this year, and it wasn't really even close.
Though it's a short plane flight, the very next night (Saturday) GS will be in San Antonio. The Spurs haven't lost at home all year and they'll be catching the Warriors on the tail end of back to back road games. Plus the Spurs are now fully healthy and typically go at least ten deep in their roster. No doubt, this will be a must-watch game. Likely the most anticipated game of the entire season so far. Can coach Pop and the Spurs stay perfect at home and close the gap a bit with the Warriors by knocking them off? Maybe. Then again, if Steph and Co. get on one of their rolls, what could be more of a "statement" than waltzing into Alamoland and coming out with a victory? We shall see. But it might very well be a trap game for GS.
Even more interesting is what transpires over 3 days starting on April 7. The Warriors host the Spurs again, have a day off, then fly to Memphis for a game against the Grizzlies. The very next day, GS is right back in San Antonio taking on the Spurs again. More air miles, more jet lag, another back end of a road "two-fer", and another clash with Pop's machine in their backyard. And make no mistake, the Spurs have been playing fantastic team basketball, particularly of late (winning 12 of their last 13). This could easily be another trap game for the Warriors.
Thing is, if one looks closely at the schedule, the Spurs have a decided advantage. Before all 3 of their remaining games against the Warriors -- they have a rest day. While GS is playing elsewhere on the road, Coach Pop and the Spurs can watch it on TV and game plan. A quirk in the schedule, but it is what it is, and it definitely favors San Antonio.
Does all this matter in the whole scheme of things? Yes and no. Yes, the Warriors certainly want to break the Bulls' old record, and both teams would love to finish the regular season undefeated at home. No NBA team has ever done it before. How cool would it be to see two of them do it in the same year? It's possible.
But no -- when the playoffs start, everything is reset to zero and the regular season goes out the window -- save for home court advantage.
Many think it's a given San Antonio and Golden State will meet in the Western conference finals, with the winner likely going on to be world champions. Also given that with 80% of the regular season already played and both these teams head and shoulders above everybody else, it would be difficult to argue that assumption. Who coming out of the East could defeat either of them? Lebron and the Cavs have the best record in the much weaker Eastern conference, but still lag far behind the records of GS or SA. As in double digits. Not even a close call. And whoever comes out of the East would be faced with the daunting prospect of ceding home court advantage to a team that might not have lost at home ALL YEAR. Good luck with that.
But that's getting ahead of things. For now, the rest of the regular season offers up some very intriguing games to watch, and certainly a few "all-time" scenarios to keep tabs on as they play out.
Hmmm. Come to think it, the date mentioned above, April 7th, rings a bell. Isn't that the same day all the world class linksters get together at some high-falootin joint called Augusta National to club it out in the Masters for the proverbial green jacket? You know, replete with the hushed reverent tones, pool table fast greens, say amen brother corner, and some in the gallery eating allergy pills like M&Ms while being exposed to all the flora that has come into bloom? With any luck, there might even be a Tiger sighting. Eldrick's gotta come out of hibernation eventually. And you just know he'll show up for this gig. His chances of winning it? Zero. Even making the cut? Mighty slim. His time has come and gone. Even if he's not self-destructing, the young studs these days are way too good, and will beat his brains out. But good gawd-a-mighty, we'll be force fed a few thousand Tiger highlights from years past when the annual royal event starts up. All the more reason to ignore the first two days of the tournament. Eldrick won't be playing on the weekend, so the viewing public will get far better TV coverage of the other more worthy golfers.
Nevertheless, that should be quite the couch tater weekend indeed.
Monday, March 14, 2016
The talking head explosion
In a way, it's a good thing. That being so many more cable channels for your average couch tater to choose from. Name the topic, from politics, to religion, to food, to movies, to comedy and drama, and even game shows, cartoons, music and much more -- and there's a lot of options available with a few clicks. All in all, thousands of them.
And of course, sports. As they say in the business, this has been taken to a whole new level. The original 4-letter sports network was a brilliant idea. So were pet rocks, cabbage patch dolls, lava lamps, bean bags, and black lights back in their days. Smart people got rich offering up such products to the gullible masses. But their time would come and go. Seen a bong lately? Or a waterbed store?
Yet sports have an eternal air about them. Americans never could and still just can't seem to get enough of them. They'll watch anything that showcases some form of athletic competition. How else to explain the X-Games, the NASCAR truck series, Major League Baseball's spring training games, or -- horrors!! -- a "friendly" between two soccer teams from different countries that matters not one whit? And don't get me started on the NFL, NHL, and NBA preseason yawn fests.
But somewhere along the line it all exploded into what we have today. The 4-letter network now features several different channels to choose from. Though yet to be medically proven, there are rumors they can live-stream videos via IVs into people in comas, and the afflicted will suddenly sit up and scream "BOO-YA!!" If true, amazing technology, that.
Yet to staff all these extra cable stations the cable folks obviously needed a lot more bodies -- heretofore known as talking heads. It just wouldn't do to show -- say -- Tiger Woods highlights from the 2002 Masters tournament without current day announcers virtually going orgasmic with the accompanying dialogue.
These people can and will blow the most trivial thing that has happened thousands of times before into some sort of earth-shaking event. They act like they've never seen a basketball dunked. Or a slugger hit a long home run. Or a puck rattle off a goalpost. Or a long touchdown pass on the gridiron. It's like they wake up in a new world every day. Everything is OMG, DID YOU SEE THAT? Freaking incredible -- and on they'll go. For minutes, sometimes hours, with their pesky staff of stat geeks steadily feeding them a trove of worthless information.
Does any sane person really care that Joe Jock is the first left-handed player with a little sister named Gertrude that made five free-throws in a row? "OMG, it's now six. A new all-time record has been set and the sky's the limit", they will rant. "We're seeing history unfold before our very eyes". One word. Please.
It is interesting, if not laughable, to note who the sports channels have hired to fill out their staff, given the explosion of exposure. There are a few ex-coaches that attempt to spout their expertise. Some come off as credible, others not so much. Hey, there's a reason they're EX-coaches.
Certainly a variety of ex-jocks that have gone through the rigors of talking head school 101 before ever being allowed on the stage when the cameras are rolling. Occasionally one or two can actually seem cerebral when discussing a particular topic. But far more often, they remain the dumb oafs they were as players.
What is more comical yet is how the shows change, but really not. They may shuffle from one particular channel to another under the same umbrella, but the talking heads just move maybe 30 feet to a "new" studio for another show. The same cameramen take a short stroll, the techs in the booth push a few buttons -- and away we go with another "exclusive" of breaking sports news. Most times it's just a rehash of what we just saw with a new shift of a breathless ranter probing even MORE dumb jocks or supposed "experts" regarding the latest and greatest sports news.
One thing seems to be beyond reproach. These folks are trying their best to comply with Title IX. As in, women have to have equal exposure and access. They are certainly plentiful on the myriad of talking head sports shows, and usually the ones asking the questions as "anchors". Is this because they suffer from the Anderson Cooper/Rachel Maddow/Wolf Blitzer syndrome? You know, folks that always ask tough questions but are never put in the spot where they might have to answer any?
At that, the ladies on these shows typically evoke a yuk. See their hair perfectly coiffed. Never see them in slacks, but always in short tight dresses attempting to show off their legs. See them in high heels which tighten up whatever leg muscles they have. See them oh so casually continually cross and uncross their legs. It's almost a sexual subliminal come-on, but it's always there. Do they teach them that in talking head school?
See them take charge of the jocks (dumb or not) that -- you know -- actually played the game and know what the hell they're talking about. Sometimes. The same big oafs that wear boring suits, have wash and wear hair and could cruise through the make-up room backstage in 15 seconds. There just ain't no prettying-up some things.
Here's an idea. Once, just ONCE, I want to see a talking head sports show with the woman wearing a frumpy Hillary suit while the guys are dressed like the Chippendales and shaking THEIR booties.
And who knows? Maybe it could start a trend. How great would it be to see the men in Congress all show up in red "power suits" like the ladies always do with their dresses? Just once would be enough.
The above always has been about projecting an "image" to the masses and continues to be so. And sure, the smart people in TV land and politics rightly understand the vast majority of their viewers and constituents are basically idiots. How else to explain why some folks will watch a re-run over and over again, and keep re-electing the same crooks that have been ripping them off all along?
Yep, bring on one of the sharp-tongued (and mostly clueless) stick girls dressed up like an Amish woman, and have her pose questions to -- say -- Mike Ditka and Herman Edwards, who are both decked out in nothing but a bunch of bling and a thong.
Now THAT would be a show worth watching.
Once.
And of course, sports. As they say in the business, this has been taken to a whole new level. The original 4-letter sports network was a brilliant idea. So were pet rocks, cabbage patch dolls, lava lamps, bean bags, and black lights back in their days. Smart people got rich offering up such products to the gullible masses. But their time would come and go. Seen a bong lately? Or a waterbed store?
Yet sports have an eternal air about them. Americans never could and still just can't seem to get enough of them. They'll watch anything that showcases some form of athletic competition. How else to explain the X-Games, the NASCAR truck series, Major League Baseball's spring training games, or -- horrors!! -- a "friendly" between two soccer teams from different countries that matters not one whit? And don't get me started on the NFL, NHL, and NBA preseason yawn fests.
But somewhere along the line it all exploded into what we have today. The 4-letter network now features several different channels to choose from. Though yet to be medically proven, there are rumors they can live-stream videos via IVs into people in comas, and the afflicted will suddenly sit up and scream "BOO-YA!!" If true, amazing technology, that.
Yet to staff all these extra cable stations the cable folks obviously needed a lot more bodies -- heretofore known as talking heads. It just wouldn't do to show -- say -- Tiger Woods highlights from the 2002 Masters tournament without current day announcers virtually going orgasmic with the accompanying dialogue.
These people can and will blow the most trivial thing that has happened thousands of times before into some sort of earth-shaking event. They act like they've never seen a basketball dunked. Or a slugger hit a long home run. Or a puck rattle off a goalpost. Or a long touchdown pass on the gridiron. It's like they wake up in a new world every day. Everything is OMG, DID YOU SEE THAT? Freaking incredible -- and on they'll go. For minutes, sometimes hours, with their pesky staff of stat geeks steadily feeding them a trove of worthless information.
Does any sane person really care that Joe Jock is the first left-handed player with a little sister named Gertrude that made five free-throws in a row? "OMG, it's now six. A new all-time record has been set and the sky's the limit", they will rant. "We're seeing history unfold before our very eyes". One word. Please.
It is interesting, if not laughable, to note who the sports channels have hired to fill out their staff, given the explosion of exposure. There are a few ex-coaches that attempt to spout their expertise. Some come off as credible, others not so much. Hey, there's a reason they're EX-coaches.
Certainly a variety of ex-jocks that have gone through the rigors of talking head school 101 before ever being allowed on the stage when the cameras are rolling. Occasionally one or two can actually seem cerebral when discussing a particular topic. But far more often, they remain the dumb oafs they were as players.
What is more comical yet is how the shows change, but really not. They may shuffle from one particular channel to another under the same umbrella, but the talking heads just move maybe 30 feet to a "new" studio for another show. The same cameramen take a short stroll, the techs in the booth push a few buttons -- and away we go with another "exclusive" of breaking sports news. Most times it's just a rehash of what we just saw with a new shift of a breathless ranter probing even MORE dumb jocks or supposed "experts" regarding the latest and greatest sports news.
One thing seems to be beyond reproach. These folks are trying their best to comply with Title IX. As in, women have to have equal exposure and access. They are certainly plentiful on the myriad of talking head sports shows, and usually the ones asking the questions as "anchors". Is this because they suffer from the Anderson Cooper/Rachel Maddow/Wolf Blitzer syndrome? You know, folks that always ask tough questions but are never put in the spot where they might have to answer any?
At that, the ladies on these shows typically evoke a yuk. See their hair perfectly coiffed. Never see them in slacks, but always in short tight dresses attempting to show off their legs. See them in high heels which tighten up whatever leg muscles they have. See them oh so casually continually cross and uncross their legs. It's almost a sexual subliminal come-on, but it's always there. Do they teach them that in talking head school?
See them take charge of the jocks (dumb or not) that -- you know -- actually played the game and know what the hell they're talking about. Sometimes. The same big oafs that wear boring suits, have wash and wear hair and could cruise through the make-up room backstage in 15 seconds. There just ain't no prettying-up some things.
Here's an idea. Once, just ONCE, I want to see a talking head sports show with the woman wearing a frumpy Hillary suit while the guys are dressed like the Chippendales and shaking THEIR booties.
And who knows? Maybe it could start a trend. How great would it be to see the men in Congress all show up in red "power suits" like the ladies always do with their dresses? Just once would be enough.
The above always has been about projecting an "image" to the masses and continues to be so. And sure, the smart people in TV land and politics rightly understand the vast majority of their viewers and constituents are basically idiots. How else to explain why some folks will watch a re-run over and over again, and keep re-electing the same crooks that have been ripping them off all along?
Yep, bring on one of the sharp-tongued (and mostly clueless) stick girls dressed up like an Amish woman, and have her pose questions to -- say -- Mike Ditka and Herman Edwards, who are both decked out in nothing but a bunch of bling and a thong.
Now THAT would be a show worth watching.
Once.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
GS Warriors and the long walk
It's sort of like standing in front of Bally's in the middle of the Las Vegas strip and deciding to hoof it to another casino. Look to the left and one can see Mandalay Bay down the road and across the street. Glance right and you'll spot the super-tall Stratosphere. Neither looks all that far away. But you start walking, and walking, and walking some more, and like a mirage, they just never seem to get any closer.
Such would seem to be the plight of the Golden State Warriors chasing the Chicago Bulls' all-time best single regular season record of 72-10 set back in 1995-96.
After starting out the season an amazing 24-0, the Warriors finally got beat (by Milwaukee). That was in the seventh game of a seven game road trip. Quite understandable. No team in NBA history has every swept a seven game road trip. After umpteen thousand miles to and fro around the country, and likely considerable jet-lag, the Warriors were gassed. It was a "getaway" game and they just wanted to finally get home.
Then a lot more wins -- but also a few puzzling losses along the way. How in the world could a team like GS get beat by lowly Denver? Or pedestrian Detroit? The shocker was the Warriors losing to the sad-sack LA Lakers -- the worst team in the league not named Philadelphia. How in the hell did that happen?
This is the same team that had no problem against the likes of Cleveland, the LA Clips, Okla City Thunder -- you know -- GOOD teams. And in their first meeting with San Antonio, they crushed the Spurs by 30 points. Very strange.
Fast forward and see the Warriors sporting a 58-6 record. That's just shy of ten wins for every loss. Incredible stuff. But do the math. That means they had played 64 games with 18 remaining. To surpass the old Bulls' record, they would still need to go 15-3 to finish out the season. In other words, win 5 out of every 6. Like walking on the Vegas strip, the desired destination might have gotten a little closer, but it still seems far away. Going 15-3 would be winning at an .833 clip. A high bar to shoot for indeed. Most teams would be considered outstanding just to win at a .700 pace.
Crunching more numbers, the 95-96 Bulls won at an .878 pace to compile their 72-10 record. What's that? The Warriors just knocked off Phoenix to improve to 59-6? Do THAT math and one will discover GS has a .907 winning rate so far. So the odds just got a little better. Kind of like getting to the Monte Carlo had I turned left, or Treasure Island had I gone right. But there's still some serious real estate to cover either way before getting to the copper castle or that giant obelisk with the heart attack rides on top. And dammit, I'm tired and it's hot out here.
Several interesting subplots are in play. Both the Warriors and the Spurs remain undefeated at home so far this year. No NBA team has ever gone a full regular season with a perfect home record.
The Warriors have a home-friendly schedule for their remaining games and several of them are against "patsies" they should easily dispatch. Then again, as mentioned above, the only games they have lost this year are to teams that were not a little, but a LOT inferior.
Though the Warriors at home thumped them earlier, the game everybody will be watching is when GS visits San Antonio next Saturday. Will the Spurs keep their perfect home record intact? Maybe. If so, that would mean the Warriors used up one of their allotted 3 losses remaining in their chase of all-time regular season greatness. But if they win that game, it would not only send a "message" to the great but so far runner-up Spurs, but greatly enhance their chances at the record.
Better yet, a few weeks after that particular showdown, the Spurs and Warriors have to play each other twice more -- once in each city.
Here's a long shot -- but possible scenario. Theoretically, three firsts could happen in the NBA this year. Both Golden State and San Antonio could wind up with perfect home regular season records.
Even if San Antonio knocks off GS both times they visit Alamoland, the Warriors could still surpass the 95-96 Bulls. They are allowed 3 more losses. That would mean they have one to spare while beating everybody else down the stretch.
Could it all happen? Probably not, but who knows?
One thing is for sure. This is going to get very interesting as the regular season winds down. Those guys don't have the option of jumping into a cab to get where they want to go. They have to grind it out the old-fashioned way.
Something's gotta give.
Or does it?
Such would seem to be the plight of the Golden State Warriors chasing the Chicago Bulls' all-time best single regular season record of 72-10 set back in 1995-96.
After starting out the season an amazing 24-0, the Warriors finally got beat (by Milwaukee). That was in the seventh game of a seven game road trip. Quite understandable. No team in NBA history has every swept a seven game road trip. After umpteen thousand miles to and fro around the country, and likely considerable jet-lag, the Warriors were gassed. It was a "getaway" game and they just wanted to finally get home.
Then a lot more wins -- but also a few puzzling losses along the way. How in the world could a team like GS get beat by lowly Denver? Or pedestrian Detroit? The shocker was the Warriors losing to the sad-sack LA Lakers -- the worst team in the league not named Philadelphia. How in the hell did that happen?
This is the same team that had no problem against the likes of Cleveland, the LA Clips, Okla City Thunder -- you know -- GOOD teams. And in their first meeting with San Antonio, they crushed the Spurs by 30 points. Very strange.
Fast forward and see the Warriors sporting a 58-6 record. That's just shy of ten wins for every loss. Incredible stuff. But do the math. That means they had played 64 games with 18 remaining. To surpass the old Bulls' record, they would still need to go 15-3 to finish out the season. In other words, win 5 out of every 6. Like walking on the Vegas strip, the desired destination might have gotten a little closer, but it still seems far away. Going 15-3 would be winning at an .833 clip. A high bar to shoot for indeed. Most teams would be considered outstanding just to win at a .700 pace.
Crunching more numbers, the 95-96 Bulls won at an .878 pace to compile their 72-10 record. What's that? The Warriors just knocked off Phoenix to improve to 59-6? Do THAT math and one will discover GS has a .907 winning rate so far. So the odds just got a little better. Kind of like getting to the Monte Carlo had I turned left, or Treasure Island had I gone right. But there's still some serious real estate to cover either way before getting to the copper castle or that giant obelisk with the heart attack rides on top. And dammit, I'm tired and it's hot out here.
Several interesting subplots are in play. Both the Warriors and the Spurs remain undefeated at home so far this year. No NBA team has ever gone a full regular season with a perfect home record.
The Warriors have a home-friendly schedule for their remaining games and several of them are against "patsies" they should easily dispatch. Then again, as mentioned above, the only games they have lost this year are to teams that were not a little, but a LOT inferior.
Though the Warriors at home thumped them earlier, the game everybody will be watching is when GS visits San Antonio next Saturday. Will the Spurs keep their perfect home record intact? Maybe. If so, that would mean the Warriors used up one of their allotted 3 losses remaining in their chase of all-time regular season greatness. But if they win that game, it would not only send a "message" to the great but so far runner-up Spurs, but greatly enhance their chances at the record.
Better yet, a few weeks after that particular showdown, the Spurs and Warriors have to play each other twice more -- once in each city.
Here's a long shot -- but possible scenario. Theoretically, three firsts could happen in the NBA this year. Both Golden State and San Antonio could wind up with perfect home regular season records.
Even if San Antonio knocks off GS both times they visit Alamoland, the Warriors could still surpass the 95-96 Bulls. They are allowed 3 more losses. That would mean they have one to spare while beating everybody else down the stretch.
Could it all happen? Probably not, but who knows?
One thing is for sure. This is going to get very interesting as the regular season winds down. Those guys don't have the option of jumping into a cab to get where they want to go. They have to grind it out the old-fashioned way.
Something's gotta give.
Or does it?
Friday, March 11, 2016
Johnny Manziel vs the media
A few facts about Johnny Manziel are indisputable. He was born in Texas, and played both high school and college football there.
He's the only freshman EVER to win the Heisman trophy.
He's now the ripe old age of 23.
He's rich.
And he's out of a job -- at least for the time being.
Many would say it's his own fault, and perhaps they have a reasonable argument. But let's take a look with the proverbial hindsight.
Having already attained almost cult hero status during his prep and college years at Texas A&M, Manziel was one more thing. An arguably good looking red-blooded young American jock that liked to party when he wasn't playing football -- that would soon be a multimillionaire playing quarterback in the NFL. Let's just say he likely didn't have many problems getting dates and could pretty much gain admittance to any party -- anywhere.
Sure enough, the Cleveland Browns made Manziel the 22nd overall NFL draft choice just a couple years ago. Johnny Football signed a 4 year contract for over $8 million, over $7 million of which was guaranteed. He's already collected around 5 -- minus taxes of course -- and even though the Browns recently released him, they're still on the hook for over a million bucks a year for the next two years.
Some claim Johnny Manziel has been a "bust". His stats aren't all that and he can't seem to "keep his nose clean". There's another way of looking at it.
Given he was a first round NFL draft choice, and further given there are only 32 of them in most years, Manziel was in very select company. Put another way, add up every man, woman and child in this country, and roughly one out of every 10 MILLION of them each year gets such a nod. There are 10,000 of the "one-percenters" we hear some politicians railing about for every first round draft pick. Having attained that status, it's difficult to argue Manziel was a "bust". Who are the elite indeed?
And let's remember he was only 21 when thrust into the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, an historically bad team anyway. Peyton Manning was still at the Univ of Tenn and Tom Brady at Michigan at the same age. They eventually had the good fortune to be drafted by competent franchises that were trending up at the time. Not so with Manziel and the Browns. Collectively, they were and remain terrible. Plopping some wide-eyed Texas kid down in Cleveland and expecting him to be a miracle worker was asking the impossible.
Yet the media continues to crucify Manziel over his off-field "discrepancies". And the ever gullible public that long ago became foolishly addicted to "political correctness" also continues to worship at the altar of the talking heads and scribes.
Yeah, I get it. Manziel went to a frat party somewhere along the line. Who cares? Isn't this the same thing most young talented jocks do?
And he was recently allegedly spotted at a club in Hollywood. Again -- who cares? It's the NFL off-season. He's of legal age and, last time I looked, the United States was still pretty much a free country. So what's the big deal? It's not like he shot up a school or tried to plant a bomb on a plane. The dude's 23, got bucks, and is having a good time in his personal life. Yet somehow we are supposed to believe this makes him a bad person. Hey, what could possibly be more "normal"?
Oh wait. He was still in the concussion protocol and was supposed to report to team headquarters to be examined. Again, like a good little droid. Well, guess what? It's nothing that couldn't have waited a few days, or even weeks. It's not like Johnny Football was getting clocked by blitzing linebackers doing a little partying in LA-LA land. In fact, it may well have been therapeutic. Maybe the powers that be should commission some studies on THAT.
Of course, we have heard even more allegations that Manziel had an altercation with his girlfriend -- the dreaded "domestic dispute". Horrors, he might even have pulled her hair, some claim. Well, who knows? I wasn't there, neither were you, and the media is once again trying to connect dots that may or may not even exist.
No charges were filed in the original incident or non, but some Texas police department has re-opened their investigation looking for something -- anything -- to nail him with. Again, who knows? Maybe she pulled HIS hair (or ears), or kicked him in the shins (or nether regions), or tried to scratch his eyes out, all of which could be considered assaultive behavior -- and he was merely trying to defend himself. Or maybe nothing worth pursuing happened at all. Without a video, we don't know and likely never will. But the media hounds never dig trying to find a feel good story, do they? No, it always about whatever dirt, real or fabricated, they can come up with.
And SURPRISE, the Cleveland Browns are closely monitoring this latest "investigation". Now that they've released Johnny Manziel -- while still owing him a couple million bucks -- maybe the cops and hence Czar Goodell and his merry band of inquisitors can come up with something to justify suspending Manziel from the NFL.
On the surface, it would seem preposterous. How can you give a guy time off that doesn't even currently work for your company?
But other hanky-panky could be afoot. If the almighty NFL league office hands down a suspension to Manziel -- even in absentia -- the Browns might -- just MIGHT have cause to void the remainder of his contract terms. Goodbye the 2+ million they still owe Johnny Football. It's chump change for an NFL franchise, but Cleveland has long been a chump operation anyway.
Idle thought: What are the chances somebody in the Browns' front office is behind the Texas cops reopening the case to take another look at the Manziel/girlfriend affair, in the hope that they may find something -- anything -- to charge him with?
Would that be conniving cheap-shot dirty pool? You betcha. But it's an election year. In the whole scheme of things, such a low blow would be business as usual. It's not right -- but it's most certainly real.
Two words. Wotta country.
But again, Manziel's still only 23, full of piss, vinegar, ego, and has a penchant for going out and having a good time when he's not playing football. Of course he has some maturing to do. Just what about all that is so abnormal for someone of his age and talent? Throw a few million bucks into the equation and should this be a great surprise? It's just the proverbial wild oats.
He just might turn out to be a superstar for some NFL team in the future. Given the right team with the right system that can fully utilize his considerable talents, hard telling what he might accomplish.
Or maybe he'll wind up truly being a bust. But the media vultures continuing to prey on his every move (especially off the field) in search of whatever "dirt" they can drag up and sensationalize aren't exactly helpful to his future possible development.
Here's an idea. Give the kid a chance to get a few things out of his system, like most American males are in need of at his age, and let's see what happens.
Is that asking too much?
He's the only freshman EVER to win the Heisman trophy.
He's now the ripe old age of 23.
He's rich.
And he's out of a job -- at least for the time being.
Many would say it's his own fault, and perhaps they have a reasonable argument. But let's take a look with the proverbial hindsight.
Having already attained almost cult hero status during his prep and college years at Texas A&M, Manziel was one more thing. An arguably good looking red-blooded young American jock that liked to party when he wasn't playing football -- that would soon be a multimillionaire playing quarterback in the NFL. Let's just say he likely didn't have many problems getting dates and could pretty much gain admittance to any party -- anywhere.
Sure enough, the Cleveland Browns made Manziel the 22nd overall NFL draft choice just a couple years ago. Johnny Football signed a 4 year contract for over $8 million, over $7 million of which was guaranteed. He's already collected around 5 -- minus taxes of course -- and even though the Browns recently released him, they're still on the hook for over a million bucks a year for the next two years.
Some claim Johnny Manziel has been a "bust". His stats aren't all that and he can't seem to "keep his nose clean". There's another way of looking at it.
Given he was a first round NFL draft choice, and further given there are only 32 of them in most years, Manziel was in very select company. Put another way, add up every man, woman and child in this country, and roughly one out of every 10 MILLION of them each year gets such a nod. There are 10,000 of the "one-percenters" we hear some politicians railing about for every first round draft pick. Having attained that status, it's difficult to argue Manziel was a "bust". Who are the elite indeed?
And let's remember he was only 21 when thrust into the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, an historically bad team anyway. Peyton Manning was still at the Univ of Tenn and Tom Brady at Michigan at the same age. They eventually had the good fortune to be drafted by competent franchises that were trending up at the time. Not so with Manziel and the Browns. Collectively, they were and remain terrible. Plopping some wide-eyed Texas kid down in Cleveland and expecting him to be a miracle worker was asking the impossible.
Yet the media continues to crucify Manziel over his off-field "discrepancies". And the ever gullible public that long ago became foolishly addicted to "political correctness" also continues to worship at the altar of the talking heads and scribes.
Yeah, I get it. Manziel went to a frat party somewhere along the line. Who cares? Isn't this the same thing most young talented jocks do?
And he was recently allegedly spotted at a club in Hollywood. Again -- who cares? It's the NFL off-season. He's of legal age and, last time I looked, the United States was still pretty much a free country. So what's the big deal? It's not like he shot up a school or tried to plant a bomb on a plane. The dude's 23, got bucks, and is having a good time in his personal life. Yet somehow we are supposed to believe this makes him a bad person. Hey, what could possibly be more "normal"?
Oh wait. He was still in the concussion protocol and was supposed to report to team headquarters to be examined. Again, like a good little droid. Well, guess what? It's nothing that couldn't have waited a few days, or even weeks. It's not like Johnny Football was getting clocked by blitzing linebackers doing a little partying in LA-LA land. In fact, it may well have been therapeutic. Maybe the powers that be should commission some studies on THAT.
Of course, we have heard even more allegations that Manziel had an altercation with his girlfriend -- the dreaded "domestic dispute". Horrors, he might even have pulled her hair, some claim. Well, who knows? I wasn't there, neither were you, and the media is once again trying to connect dots that may or may not even exist.
No charges were filed in the original incident or non, but some Texas police department has re-opened their investigation looking for something -- anything -- to nail him with. Again, who knows? Maybe she pulled HIS hair (or ears), or kicked him in the shins (or nether regions), or tried to scratch his eyes out, all of which could be considered assaultive behavior -- and he was merely trying to defend himself. Or maybe nothing worth pursuing happened at all. Without a video, we don't know and likely never will. But the media hounds never dig trying to find a feel good story, do they? No, it always about whatever dirt, real or fabricated, they can come up with.
And SURPRISE, the Cleveland Browns are closely monitoring this latest "investigation". Now that they've released Johnny Manziel -- while still owing him a couple million bucks -- maybe the cops and hence Czar Goodell and his merry band of inquisitors can come up with something to justify suspending Manziel from the NFL.
On the surface, it would seem preposterous. How can you give a guy time off that doesn't even currently work for your company?
But other hanky-panky could be afoot. If the almighty NFL league office hands down a suspension to Manziel -- even in absentia -- the Browns might -- just MIGHT have cause to void the remainder of his contract terms. Goodbye the 2+ million they still owe Johnny Football. It's chump change for an NFL franchise, but Cleveland has long been a chump operation anyway.
Idle thought: What are the chances somebody in the Browns' front office is behind the Texas cops reopening the case to take another look at the Manziel/girlfriend affair, in the hope that they may find something -- anything -- to charge him with?
Would that be conniving cheap-shot dirty pool? You betcha. But it's an election year. In the whole scheme of things, such a low blow would be business as usual. It's not right -- but it's most certainly real.
Two words. Wotta country.
But again, Manziel's still only 23, full of piss, vinegar, ego, and has a penchant for going out and having a good time when he's not playing football. Of course he has some maturing to do. Just what about all that is so abnormal for someone of his age and talent? Throw a few million bucks into the equation and should this be a great surprise? It's just the proverbial wild oats.
He just might turn out to be a superstar for some NFL team in the future. Given the right team with the right system that can fully utilize his considerable talents, hard telling what he might accomplish.
Or maybe he'll wind up truly being a bust. But the media vultures continuing to prey on his every move (especially off the field) in search of whatever "dirt" they can drag up and sensationalize aren't exactly helpful to his future possible development.
Here's an idea. Give the kid a chance to get a few things out of his system, like most American males are in need of at his age, and let's see what happens.
Is that asking too much?
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Calvin Johnson. Plan B?
Calvin "Megatron" Johnson spent nine years toiling for the woeful Detroit Lions and just recently retired from the NFL. But might there have been a better way?
Born Sept. 29, 1985, Johnson is now 30 years old. Had he played in the 2016 season, obviously he would have turned 31 shortly after it began. Not exactly geezerish in the NFL world as a wide receiver, but his best years are likely behind him. There is no doubt Johnson had suffered through a range of injuries in recent years that limited his practice time, but he always seemed to show up on game day and play like a gladiator. And really -- what else mattered in the brutal world of the NFL? Coaches might care about practice, and it's surely important, but only the results of the games themselves truly count.
To his credit, Johnson got out with his body and brain pretty much intact. Plus enough money to provide him, his immediate family, and likely the next few generations of Johnsons a comfortable lifestyle. These are very good things well earned and deserved by a very good man.
But what if.....
Calvin had chosen a different tack? For the sake of hypothetical argument, consider the following scenario:
Much like Barry Sanders, Johnson surely knew he'd never get within Hail Mary distance of a Super Bowl while with the Detroit Lions. To continue playing for them would mean a lot more money and personal stats racked up, but the Promised Land would forever remain out of reach. Plus, Calvin had been dinged up in recent years.
Instead of outright retiring, as in forever, Calvin might have considered asking the Lions to void his contract, and the team likely would have agreed. The mega millions saved could be put to work elsewhere signing quality players. Few would doubt the Lions have many needs.
Then take the whole 2016-2017 season off to let his body fully regenerate and heal while continuing to work out on his own to stay in shape. One more year has clicked by and Calvin would then be 31 going on 32. A small chronological difference, but a full year off could do wonders for his body, psyche, and give him one last shot at glory.
At that point, he could be a total free agent, fully re-charged and raring to go. Somewhere. Anyplace but back to Detroit. Out of the other 31 NFL teams, tell me at least 25 of them wouldn't be interested in his services and I'll tell you I don't believe it. If CJ was willing to accept a more modest contract to play for a team that had a legitimate shot of going on to and winning the Super Bowl, it could be a win-win situation. Johnson could pick whatever team he wished. At that point, it wouldn't be about the money anymore, which he already has scads of, but rather one last shot at a ring.
Think the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, and especially Tom Brady, if he's still around, wouldn't dearly love to have Calvin Johnson to throw to? How about Big Ben in Pittsburgh? CJ could be the difference maker for a few already very good teams getting over the top to capture the Lombardi trophy in February of 2018. Good grief, the Lions had him under contract through 2019 (hence both sides thought he could play at least that long), but Johnson walked away and who could blame him?
Chances are very good Calvin Johnson still has a few more years of "dynamite" wide receiver left in him -- and it seems a pity he, a good team somewhere, and the viewing public will never get to experience them. And it would be great to see such a fine man finally play for a winner.
Alas, like Barry Sanders before him, the Lions and their incompetent losing ways just flat wore him out and he decided to retire. On that note, had Barry played a few more years (and he surely could have) he likely would have set the all-time NFL rushing record bar so high it would NEVER be approached again.
So chalk up a #20 and a #81, both fantastic players, as just two more guys the Lions drafted high, chewed up (physically and emotionally) and eventually spit out on to their huge scrap heap of players that never got a realistic chance of ever knowing what it felt like to at least be a legitimate contender -- let alone a champion.
It really is a shame -- but that pretty much sums up the Lions over the decades.
Shameful indeed.
Born Sept. 29, 1985, Johnson is now 30 years old. Had he played in the 2016 season, obviously he would have turned 31 shortly after it began. Not exactly geezerish in the NFL world as a wide receiver, but his best years are likely behind him. There is no doubt Johnson had suffered through a range of injuries in recent years that limited his practice time, but he always seemed to show up on game day and play like a gladiator. And really -- what else mattered in the brutal world of the NFL? Coaches might care about practice, and it's surely important, but only the results of the games themselves truly count.
To his credit, Johnson got out with his body and brain pretty much intact. Plus enough money to provide him, his immediate family, and likely the next few generations of Johnsons a comfortable lifestyle. These are very good things well earned and deserved by a very good man.
But what if.....
Calvin had chosen a different tack? For the sake of hypothetical argument, consider the following scenario:
Much like Barry Sanders, Johnson surely knew he'd never get within Hail Mary distance of a Super Bowl while with the Detroit Lions. To continue playing for them would mean a lot more money and personal stats racked up, but the Promised Land would forever remain out of reach. Plus, Calvin had been dinged up in recent years.
Instead of outright retiring, as in forever, Calvin might have considered asking the Lions to void his contract, and the team likely would have agreed. The mega millions saved could be put to work elsewhere signing quality players. Few would doubt the Lions have many needs.
Then take the whole 2016-2017 season off to let his body fully regenerate and heal while continuing to work out on his own to stay in shape. One more year has clicked by and Calvin would then be 31 going on 32. A small chronological difference, but a full year off could do wonders for his body, psyche, and give him one last shot at glory.
At that point, he could be a total free agent, fully re-charged and raring to go. Somewhere. Anyplace but back to Detroit. Out of the other 31 NFL teams, tell me at least 25 of them wouldn't be interested in his services and I'll tell you I don't believe it. If CJ was willing to accept a more modest contract to play for a team that had a legitimate shot of going on to and winning the Super Bowl, it could be a win-win situation. Johnson could pick whatever team he wished. At that point, it wouldn't be about the money anymore, which he already has scads of, but rather one last shot at a ring.
Think the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, and especially Tom Brady, if he's still around, wouldn't dearly love to have Calvin Johnson to throw to? How about Big Ben in Pittsburgh? CJ could be the difference maker for a few already very good teams getting over the top to capture the Lombardi trophy in February of 2018. Good grief, the Lions had him under contract through 2019 (hence both sides thought he could play at least that long), but Johnson walked away and who could blame him?
Chances are very good Calvin Johnson still has a few more years of "dynamite" wide receiver left in him -- and it seems a pity he, a good team somewhere, and the viewing public will never get to experience them. And it would be great to see such a fine man finally play for a winner.
Alas, like Barry Sanders before him, the Lions and their incompetent losing ways just flat wore him out and he decided to retire. On that note, had Barry played a few more years (and he surely could have) he likely would have set the all-time NFL rushing record bar so high it would NEVER be approached again.
So chalk up a #20 and a #81, both fantastic players, as just two more guys the Lions drafted high, chewed up (physically and emotionally) and eventually spit out on to their huge scrap heap of players that never got a realistic chance of ever knowing what it felt like to at least be a legitimate contender -- let alone a champion.
It really is a shame -- but that pretty much sums up the Lions over the decades.
Shameful indeed.
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