So what was all the fuss about the frozen, icy field in Minnesota for? Many just wrote it off as part of football, myself included. I didn’t know what the big deal was. Hell, I’ve played on icy fields before.
One of the most famous games in NFL history was played on a Frozen Tundra after all. And the Vikings played outdoors for two decades.
But those were all natural surfaces. Not field turf.
We assume there’s going to be big hits in football, which was the players argument against the steep fines and suspensions the NFL is issuing to make the game safer. But the game has changed, so it’s best the rules change.
We also assume there are going to be frozen fields in late December, and that it’s just part of football like big collisions. But the players felt it was a bit hypocritical to subject them to these field conditions if the league is so concerned about safety.
After players inspected the field, the loudest and longest complaint came from a punter, of course, who set punters and kickers back another 10 years. But it appears the players had a gripe.
Unfortunately this change in venue was due to a difficult situation, not like the rule changes involving every-game occurrences. Bringing in a new layer of turf or tracks of sod was not an option in the conditions that had been going on there for the past week. Going too far out of Minnesota was not really fair or desirable either.
Favre’s head injury could have happened on a warm sunny field in California, but it adds to the likelihood of a concussion when you hit up against a harder surface.
This wasn’t so much the Ice Bowl as much as it was like 49er Joe Montana being driven to the turf in the old Meadowlands... or Joe Montana the Chief being swung down on the rock-hard Astroturf of Rich Stadium in Buffalo.
It was a tough situation, leaving the NFL between a rock and frozen field turf. Unlike the Saints predicament in New Orleans after Katrina, the city of Minneapolis was not decimated. Vacating to another city would have been a bit extreme.
*I was surprised the Vikings thought there would be a problem with stadium size discrepancy. Really? The team’s eliminated, it’s freezing out, you’re not serving alcohol, you tell people it will be first come first serve, and you were expecting a log jam for seats?
They were even more fortunate that Brett Favre was questionable to avoid this problem. I wonder if they’re was a late rush for tickets when fans learned Favre was starting?
Favre’s pre-game comment the cameras caught before taking the field suggests he’s done. He paused before he said it, the camera zoomed in, and he asked his teammates to help an old man to go out in style.
*Phil Krinkie of the Minnesota Taxpayers League said replacing the Metrodome because of storm damage makes about as much sense as replacing the New Orleans Superdome because it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina. And because the last time the roof collapsed was in 1983, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the roof design.
Please, you’ve got to be kidding me. Have you seen the Metrodome?
I don’t much about you, Mr. Krinkie, nor am I from Minnesota, but If you didn’t know the big trash bag needed replacing before this roof collapse, I would question whether you’re a real Minnesotan or Minne... Minneapolean? Minneaplolian? Minneapoline? I’m going with Minneapoline. Correct me if I’m wrong.
You and the San Diegans can wonder if your team is bolting for Los Angeles together.
*It was a beautiful site seeing football outdoors in Minnesota. Domes allow more functions to occur there year round, which is great for the city.
But for the sporting events of their main tenants, it ruins the atmosphere and experience. A .500 team will sell out an outdoor football stadium in Minneapolis. Perhaps something in a retractable model would be a nice compromise?
The Metrodome was a 1980s second generation model of the cookie-cutter, multi-sport stadiums of the 1960s. Multi-sport stadiums were a great idea, but the geometries just don’t work for crossing football and baseball.
And I found myself rooting for the Vikes last night. That didn’t work out so well.
My old St. Louis connections with the Bears coaches were trumped by my Raider-induced dislike of Jay Cutler. I went with the over-dramatic QB rather than the over-rated one. Oh well.
*Speaking of the Raiders, Rolondo McClain made his presence felt this past week. Sure it was against the sorry Broncos who were without Knowshon Moreno, but it still counts.
McClain hadn’t made as many plays as a lot of Raider fans wanted early on in the season. In his absence, it become apparent the progress the rookie had made. In the two games without him, the Raiders run defense regressed to the form of the previous seven seasons.
*And Greg Lloyd had a good game Sunday in Oakland. He can make spectacular, diving, leaping, one-handed grabs, but drops the routine ones. Lloyd’s been known as a bad-ball catcher in his career. If that reputation continues, he should really excel playing with Tim Tebow.
Not a bad debut for Tebow though. This QB thing might work out for him yet.
*Lastly, I missed my chance to vote for the pro-bowl again this year. And I don’t feel bad this time. Unlike a mid-season game in other sports, I’d rather the guys just go home than play in the Pro Bowl. I should have worn out my mouse clicking Darren McFadden’s name, but I’d rather he just rest.
If players and coaches can’t realize what type of player he is after the fan vote, then that’s an indictment on the people around the league, and it will give me another blog entry to write that indictment.
Happy Holidays everyone! Safe travels to you all!
www.twitter.com/timfitz76
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Covering Vick, and Big Ben Makes Me Sick
I feel I have to start with this disclaimer when talking about moving on from further shaming Michael Vick for his past:
I’m an avid dog lover. I treat mine as if he were my son. Parent and pack leader aren’t that different after all. I have owned over a dozen dogs in my life, and have treated them all like family.
I donate to the SPCA and The Humane Society. My mother and aunt are serous animal rights activist. My aunt has created and sponsored legislation in California to further animal rights, and I fully support her.
I helped get prop B in Missouri to regulate dog breeders and stop puppy mills passed by writing pieces to inform the public of the special provisions the new laws would provide.
Plus, I haven’t eaten a fellow mammal in over 10 years.
AND I think Michael Vick should be allowed to play in the NFL.
Sure, I wanted Vick to serve his full 24-month sentence instead of being released after 18 months. When he first got out of prison, I wanted an eight-game (half-season) suspension. I definitely didn’t want him signing with the two NFL teams I love, and the cities I represent, Oakland and St. Louis.
If I were a GM or coach immediately after his release, I wouldn’t have wanted him to play QB. He’d have to learn another position. Hell, I didn’t think I’d be able to look him in the eye if I saw him in person.
He would have to prove himself to me. And he has.
I don’t claim to be able to see someone’s aura or peer into their soul when looking into their eyes. But there is a different vibe about Vick now from his dog-fighting days.
You can see the simple, humbleness. You can see the shame. You can see change in the way he speaks and acts.
Even the sight of him in his green Eagles jersey is more psychologically soothing than clips of him in his Falcons uniform. Knowing what was going on in his life then attaches a blood-on-his-hands connotation in that blood-red jersey.
But playing football is his job. If more felons were allowed to return to work after passing a series of tests and receiving approval from a commissioner-type figure, we’d have a lot less repeat offenders. I mean, corporate criminals are often allowed to re-enter their field, so fair is fair.
He could have been banned by the NFL or suspended a full season, and thus played in a lesser league. But being a big fish in a small pond wouldn’t have finished his transformation on and off the field. He may have never fixed some bad habits in his footwork and reads. Nor Would he have been as humbled.
Being a relatively broke, back-up QB on a winning team with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb was critical. Having to struggle for his next pay would be good for him, and would continue the process of learning from his mistakes.
He had to have his status as a starting QB taken away from as well as his freedom. And immediately getting a big contract may have lead to him keeping other bad habits.
It’s best he slowly earns his money for his improved performance. And it is best he eventually does get a big pay day again.
The more he makes, the more that can be funneled to his creditors, to the care for the dogs he killed and psychologically damaged, and for future funds allocated to animal rights causes. And I guess his lawyers should get their cut too.
I am still looking for quotes or an interview from Vick about how his view of dogs and animals has changed since his incarceration for my own personal feelings to be truly clear on Michael Vick.
But as far as covering him as a football player, and inquiring into whether or not he’s reformed as a human being, I think the sports media has done a good job. I feel they address his past properly when covering the present.
I would prefer the rest of the mainstream media cover dog fighting stings and prosecutions as vigorously when a famous athlete isn’t involved as they did with Vick.
I don’t blame the NFL for wanting Vick to remain in their league. Him playing the UFL or an Arena league would not only take attention and revenue away from them, but I do feel they actually cared about how his life turned out. If he failed, it would look bad on the league, and they wanted to get him under their now stricter supervision.
I realize some can’t forgive Vick for not thinking he was doing anything wrong while involved in dog fighting. But it’s a different world where he’s from.
Newport News Virginia is country and ghetto. That’s a bad combo, and a breeding ground for dog fighting, literally.
And honestly, though I love dogs and animals, I do feel there are current players in the NFL who have gotten away with worse. And that’s just the ones we know of, and I’m sure plenty there’s plenty that we don’t.
From Leonard Little, to Dante Stallworth, to Lawerence Phillips, to Lawerence Taylor, to well... Big Ben Roethlisberger (who, by the way, said the most phony-sounding “God is good” in his post-game interview after beating the Baltimore Ravens) there have been plenty of less-than reputable characters allowed to play in the NFL.
The same fuss is not made over them. Which shows how far animal rights have come, but also shows a double standard.
Which on a side note creates more confusion for me on how some these guys are still playing and out of jail, while Plaxico Burress gets more time for shooting himself? I guess I’ll never get that one.
So it’s okay to root for Vick. Believing in reform over banishment does not make you a bad person. Oh, and I almost forgot, God is good.
http://twitter.com/Timfitz76
I’m an avid dog lover. I treat mine as if he were my son. Parent and pack leader aren’t that different after all. I have owned over a dozen dogs in my life, and have treated them all like family.
I donate to the SPCA and The Humane Society. My mother and aunt are serous animal rights activist. My aunt has created and sponsored legislation in California to further animal rights, and I fully support her.
I helped get prop B in Missouri to regulate dog breeders and stop puppy mills passed by writing pieces to inform the public of the special provisions the new laws would provide.
Plus, I haven’t eaten a fellow mammal in over 10 years.
AND I think Michael Vick should be allowed to play in the NFL.
Sure, I wanted Vick to serve his full 24-month sentence instead of being released after 18 months. When he first got out of prison, I wanted an eight-game (half-season) suspension. I definitely didn’t want him signing with the two NFL teams I love, and the cities I represent, Oakland and St. Louis.
If I were a GM or coach immediately after his release, I wouldn’t have wanted him to play QB. He’d have to learn another position. Hell, I didn’t think I’d be able to look him in the eye if I saw him in person.
He would have to prove himself to me. And he has.
I don’t claim to be able to see someone’s aura or peer into their soul when looking into their eyes. But there is a different vibe about Vick now from his dog-fighting days.
You can see the simple, humbleness. You can see the shame. You can see change in the way he speaks and acts.
Even the sight of him in his green Eagles jersey is more psychologically soothing than clips of him in his Falcons uniform. Knowing what was going on in his life then attaches a blood-on-his-hands connotation in that blood-red jersey.
But playing football is his job. If more felons were allowed to return to work after passing a series of tests and receiving approval from a commissioner-type figure, we’d have a lot less repeat offenders. I mean, corporate criminals are often allowed to re-enter their field, so fair is fair.
He could have been banned by the NFL or suspended a full season, and thus played in a lesser league. But being a big fish in a small pond wouldn’t have finished his transformation on and off the field. He may have never fixed some bad habits in his footwork and reads. Nor Would he have been as humbled.
Being a relatively broke, back-up QB on a winning team with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb was critical. Having to struggle for his next pay would be good for him, and would continue the process of learning from his mistakes.
He had to have his status as a starting QB taken away from as well as his freedom. And immediately getting a big contract may have lead to him keeping other bad habits.
It’s best he slowly earns his money for his improved performance. And it is best he eventually does get a big pay day again.
The more he makes, the more that can be funneled to his creditors, to the care for the dogs he killed and psychologically damaged, and for future funds allocated to animal rights causes. And I guess his lawyers should get their cut too.
I am still looking for quotes or an interview from Vick about how his view of dogs and animals has changed since his incarceration for my own personal feelings to be truly clear on Michael Vick.
But as far as covering him as a football player, and inquiring into whether or not he’s reformed as a human being, I think the sports media has done a good job. I feel they address his past properly when covering the present.
I would prefer the rest of the mainstream media cover dog fighting stings and prosecutions as vigorously when a famous athlete isn’t involved as they did with Vick.
I don’t blame the NFL for wanting Vick to remain in their league. Him playing the UFL or an Arena league would not only take attention and revenue away from them, but I do feel they actually cared about how his life turned out. If he failed, it would look bad on the league, and they wanted to get him under their now stricter supervision.
I realize some can’t forgive Vick for not thinking he was doing anything wrong while involved in dog fighting. But it’s a different world where he’s from.
Newport News Virginia is country and ghetto. That’s a bad combo, and a breeding ground for dog fighting, literally.
And honestly, though I love dogs and animals, I do feel there are current players in the NFL who have gotten away with worse. And that’s just the ones we know of, and I’m sure plenty there’s plenty that we don’t.
From Leonard Little, to Dante Stallworth, to Lawerence Phillips, to Lawerence Taylor, to well... Big Ben Roethlisberger (who, by the way, said the most phony-sounding “God is good” in his post-game interview after beating the Baltimore Ravens) there have been plenty of less-than reputable characters allowed to play in the NFL.
The same fuss is not made over them. Which shows how far animal rights have come, but also shows a double standard.
Which on a side note creates more confusion for me on how some these guys are still playing and out of jail, while Plaxico Burress gets more time for shooting himself? I guess I’ll never get that one.
So it’s okay to root for Vick. Believing in reform over banishment does not make you a bad person. Oh, and I almost forgot, God is good.
http://twitter.com/Timfitz76
Keeping Brendan Ryan Not the Worst Option for the St. Louis Cardinals
When the Cardinals acquired Ryan Theriot from the Dodgers, and proclaimed him their staring shortstop, the question arose of what to do with former starting shortstop Brendan Ryan.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, has explored trade options for Ryan to get either a big leaguer or depth for the minors. Teams that were looking for shortstop help like the Orioles, Padres, and Pirates filled their needs through other acquisitions of more established players.
The other option is keeping Ryan as utility infielder for the 2011 team.
Ryan’s play has lead to me yelling out loud at my television on a number of occasions. Often in awe. Just as often in anger.
So many times I’ve wanted Ryan to just put the ball in his pocket instead of trying a difficult, unnecessary throw. He has great range and a strong arm, but is erratic.
For too long his default throwing motion was a sidearm, slinging action. His thinking was if his throw was off, he’d be better off missing to the side rather than throwing over the first baseman. I never liked that theory, as it incorporates planning to fail.
Last year he took his troubles at the plate into the field. He searched for the proper feel at plate instead of sticking with an approach and just locking in on the ball.
Much has been made of how his quirky, hyperactive personality blends in the clubhouse. I’m personality more bothered how personality leads to his unfocused play on the field.
I would think he’s probably a great guy and fun to hang out with, though it may be difficult to be around that kind of personality 162-plus days in your workplace. I’d most likely be one of his teammates that has told him to sit down and shut up at some point.
Tony La Russa says his personality and maturity level is not the reason for him being on the trade block, and that he’s matured. And I believe him. Ryan has grown up quite a bit, and has mellowed out. It just takes a while to come down from a sugar buzz of Ryan’s magnitude.
But his game hasn’t fully matured either, as he’s slowly grown as a player.
That, however, is part of his upside. He’s still a young player. It’s one of the reasons him being a Cardinal in 2011 isn’t a bad option at all.
The parts of his game he needs to fix, such as plate discipline, smarter decisions in field, and base running, are things a young, part-time player usually improves on if he becomes a regular.
He has the range and strong arm, good speed and has hit well every other season in the bigs. And he’s most likely going to remain inexpensive this season.
If Skip Schumaker or Theriot struggles during the season, he’s there to fill in. Schumaker is a clubhouse and La Russa favorite. He’s a hard worker and smart player who normally gets on base and makes good contact.
But he’s still new to second base. He needs to shuffle his feet more on his throws instead of planting and throwing like and outfielder and he must improve on bending down to get grounders.
Though I like the acquisition of Theriot, he had his worst year at plate last season, and doesn’t have the defensive range of Ryan. So there’s a need for a back-up plan at both of these positions.
Spring performances can’t be ignored either if one of the starting middle infielder struggles mightily and Ryan plays well.
He would also be very helpful to a Cardinal team that had an uncharacteristically poor year in the field last season. Based on the reputations of the players added during the winter meetings and the positions they will be playing, the Cardinals have downgraded defensively.
Picture a La Russa-style, late-inning defensive change while ahead by a couple runs. Ryan can come in to play short, with Theriot moving to 2nd, and Skip heading out to RF for the newly acquired Lance Berkman. It’s a lot better than bringing in Aaron Miles, right?
I felt shortstop was the higher priority for an upgrade this offseason. Schumaker has at least hit consistently at the major league level. Last year was his worst full season in the big leagues, and was probably an aberration.
Schumaker can play second base and all of the outfield positions. He also and makes more money, so it wasn’t as important or as feasible to jettison Skip.
I’ve been pretty hard on Brendan Ryan in the past. He’s frustrated me with his inconsistent play and poor decisions. But he can bring value for the Cardinals as a player on the 2011 team, and I’m certainly in favor of him sticking around -- as many Cards fans probably are.
This relegation to a utility role could be just the motivation, and kick in the pants he needs, which makes Ryan a nice option for the Cards to keep in their pocket.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, has explored trade options for Ryan to get either a big leaguer or depth for the minors. Teams that were looking for shortstop help like the Orioles, Padres, and Pirates filled their needs through other acquisitions of more established players.
The other option is keeping Ryan as utility infielder for the 2011 team.
Ryan’s play has lead to me yelling out loud at my television on a number of occasions. Often in awe. Just as often in anger.
So many times I’ve wanted Ryan to just put the ball in his pocket instead of trying a difficult, unnecessary throw. He has great range and a strong arm, but is erratic.
For too long his default throwing motion was a sidearm, slinging action. His thinking was if his throw was off, he’d be better off missing to the side rather than throwing over the first baseman. I never liked that theory, as it incorporates planning to fail.
Last year he took his troubles at the plate into the field. He searched for the proper feel at plate instead of sticking with an approach and just locking in on the ball.
Much has been made of how his quirky, hyperactive personality blends in the clubhouse. I’m personality more bothered how personality leads to his unfocused play on the field.
I would think he’s probably a great guy and fun to hang out with, though it may be difficult to be around that kind of personality 162-plus days in your workplace. I’d most likely be one of his teammates that has told him to sit down and shut up at some point.
Tony La Russa says his personality and maturity level is not the reason for him being on the trade block, and that he’s matured. And I believe him. Ryan has grown up quite a bit, and has mellowed out. It just takes a while to come down from a sugar buzz of Ryan’s magnitude.
But his game hasn’t fully matured either, as he’s slowly grown as a player.
That, however, is part of his upside. He’s still a young player. It’s one of the reasons him being a Cardinal in 2011 isn’t a bad option at all.
The parts of his game he needs to fix, such as plate discipline, smarter decisions in field, and base running, are things a young, part-time player usually improves on if he becomes a regular.
He has the range and strong arm, good speed and has hit well every other season in the bigs. And he’s most likely going to remain inexpensive this season.
If Skip Schumaker or Theriot struggles during the season, he’s there to fill in. Schumaker is a clubhouse and La Russa favorite. He’s a hard worker and smart player who normally gets on base and makes good contact.
But he’s still new to second base. He needs to shuffle his feet more on his throws instead of planting and throwing like and outfielder and he must improve on bending down to get grounders.
Though I like the acquisition of Theriot, he had his worst year at plate last season, and doesn’t have the defensive range of Ryan. So there’s a need for a back-up plan at both of these positions.
Spring performances can’t be ignored either if one of the starting middle infielder struggles mightily and Ryan plays well.
He would also be very helpful to a Cardinal team that had an uncharacteristically poor year in the field last season. Based on the reputations of the players added during the winter meetings and the positions they will be playing, the Cardinals have downgraded defensively.
Picture a La Russa-style, late-inning defensive change while ahead by a couple runs. Ryan can come in to play short, with Theriot moving to 2nd, and Skip heading out to RF for the newly acquired Lance Berkman. It’s a lot better than bringing in Aaron Miles, right?
I felt shortstop was the higher priority for an upgrade this offseason. Schumaker has at least hit consistently at the major league level. Last year was his worst full season in the big leagues, and was probably an aberration.
Schumaker can play second base and all of the outfield positions. He also and makes more money, so it wasn’t as important or as feasible to jettison Skip.
I’ve been pretty hard on Brendan Ryan in the past. He’s frustrated me with his inconsistent play and poor decisions. But he can bring value for the Cardinals as a player on the 2011 team, and I’m certainly in favor of him sticking around -- as many Cards fans probably are.
This relegation to a utility role could be just the motivation, and kick in the pants he needs, which makes Ryan a nice option for the Cards to keep in their pocket.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)