Jim Everett, Please Visit Rome Again

Some of you may remember that night in 1994 when NFL Quarterback Jim Everett was a guest on the ESPN show “Talk2” hosted by Jim Rome.  After being repeatedly taunted by Rome for anticipating sacks by calling his manhood into question, Everett put Rome on the ground on national television.  Those who don’t recall or have never seen it, just Google “Jim Rome gets ass beat”, I’m sure about thirty-seven hundred hits will pop up.

Today on Rome’s current ESPN program, “Jim Rome Is Burning”, the host broke into a five-minute self-righteous rant against Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Steve Johnson.  During yesterday’s game against the New York Jets Johnson caught a touchdown pass, then proceeded to execute an unorthodox, premeditated celebration in which he began dancing to imaginary music before accidentally shooting himself in the leg, which was followed by some limping; An obvious reference to the shooting incident that led to Jets Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress serving twenty months in prison.  But that wasn’t the end of the celebration.  After limping around for a few steps Johnson began flying around with his arms spread out like a jet, then he fell to the ground to depict a crash landing.  According to NFL rules, a player cannot leave their feet during the celebration of a touchdown, which is enforced by a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff.  As a result of Johnson falling to the ground, The Bills had to kickoff from their own 20-yard line (which was then botched by David Rayner), giving the Jets excellent field position to score a touchdown on that drive.

This celebration was all over ESPN all day long.  From Mike and Mike in the Morning, to First Take, To SportsCenter, to Around The Horn, to Pardon The Interruption, and yes – to Jim Rome Is Burning.  During his entire rant, Rome did not once mention Johnson’s act of falling to the ground, but instead kept harping on how he felt “Johnson crossed the line” by mocking Burress and that he costed his team a touchdown by the Jets on the following possession.  The whole time he was talking about it I kept thinking to myself that he had the wrong cause/effect, and I was hoping one of his producers would scream into his earbud that he’s an idiot.  To someone who doesn’t watch football or know the rules, based on the way Rome was depicting the events of yesterday one would think Johnson’s mocking of Burress was the reason for the 15-yard penalty, and that it was the reason the Bills ended up giving up a touchdown.  The fact of the matter is that had Johnson simply trotted back to the bench after “shooting his leg”, no flag would have been thrown and maybe the Jets wouldn’t have scored on their next possession.  Johnson would still face a fine, because rules state that a player cannot simulate weapons during a game, but at least he would not have costed his team an excessive celebration penalty.

Let me lay this out there right now.  Stevie Johnson did NOT cross any line.  on November 28, 2008 Plaxico Burress walked into a busy New York City nightclub with a Glock tucked into the waistband of his pants.  No holster, no New York license to carry a gun of ANY kind.  The one license he had for it was for Florida, and even that was expired.  Plaxico Burress is a moron.  No matter what he’s done in his career or what he’ll do in the future, that incident will be his legacy.  He may have served his time, but that certainly doesn’t absolve him from being made fun of for it until the Apocalypse is upon us.  When I saw Johnson’s celebration I laughed my rear end off – it was funny.  If Plaxico had injured somebody else in the nightclub, I could understand the outrage.  Plaxico shot himself in the leg.  That by itself is funny!  It’s funny because nobody else got hurt, Mr. Burress made a full recovery, served his time, and has resumed making millions.

Watching Rome go on and on about how wrong it was for Johnson to mock the incident got me wondering what kind of moral ground he has to stand on.  He got embarrassed by an athlete twice his size in front of millions of viewers for repeatedly calling him – a grown man – by a woman’s name (Chris Evert, female tennis player).  And if you go back and watch the video, he did not do it in a joking manor.  It is clear that Rome was trying to instigate a confrontation as he ignored warnings my Everett to stop.  Seventeen years later we can watch the video and still laugh, because Jim Rome is a punk.

So Jim – Get off your soap box, get your facts right on the NFL rules, and stop trying to demonize Steve Johnson for making light of a hilarious situation.  And Steve – Don’t be an idiot.  You costed your team 7 points, then you dropped a pass that hit you square in the hands, which you would have run in for a touchdown.  Had you scored that touchdown, we might not be here discussing your AWESOME touchdown celebration!

Bud Selig: A Man of Performing-Enhancing-History

Alan “Bud” Selig, when you read any brief bio on him, seems like a guy I could pull up a chair next to and chat the day away.  Graduating from the University of Wisconsin- Madison with dual B.A. degrees in History and Political Science, he is not only an intelligent man but well-versed in how society and people behave and react through the annals of time.  To understand politics and history (on top of business)  gives you a leg up how to handle “crisis” situations and more so than most.  More often than not, this understanding positions you in the best standing point for success.  Remember this point for the end of the post.

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We all know what steroids did to Major League Baseball.  Every player who wore a professional uniform from 1994 until 2010 has been branded by fans, sportswriters and the entire country as “Cheaters” in a guilty-until-proven-innocent system. Players have endured the worst for potentially lying about their use, like Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, losing the last bit of hope in their Hall-Of-Fame careers.  Others have been suspected and have admitted their mistakes  like Alex Rodriguez and Mark McGuire.  There here are countless more who were never caught and may never be.  With all the bad publicity that the MLB has endured with steroids and the Mitchell Report, people forget one factor: If it was not for Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa and steroids, MLB may have taken a very long time to return to its pre-strike fan support, and thus financial profiting.  Dare I say that Bud Selig ALLOWED steroids to create a more fan-friendly game?  Absolutely not.  However, Bud Selig used steroids to his advantage, as well as every owner in Major League Baseball for the value of a dollar.

Without giving a history lesson to you, here is how Selig came to power. Prior owner to the Milwaukee Brewers transferred owner to his daughter in the late 1980’s after some collective bargaining/MLB violations.  Selig was acting commission from 1992 to 1998 after Commissioner Fay Vincent stepped down.  He was given a 2-1 no confidence vote by ownership based on the fact that Commission Fay was not protecting MLB owners.  Selig became the representative of ownership that was sought.   For six years, Selig served as acting Commissioner until ownership gave up trying to find a replacement.  At that point, Selig was officially declared Commissioner.

From 1992-2003, Bud Selig had the opportunity to fight the MLBPA, during collective bargaining agreements along with attempted mandates, to regulate steroids.  I find the basis that the MLBPA was so opposed to the health and safety of its players at nonsense.  Selig claims through multiple accounts that in 1994 and 2002 labor negotiations, Selig proposed a steroid policy he wanted the union to endorse in the contract.  The 1994 proposal was backed off due to the long-standing labor strike in baseball.  In 2002, Selig feared another strike under his watch would be poor leadership and did not think the sport could reconcile lost games again with the same generations of fans.   Again, he put his policy to the side.

Before moving forward, let us analyze this.  Selig knew of the steroid issue in baseball.  If he did not know about it, why would he propose a testing/compliance code for players.  If the players turned it down, the costs of this testing was to be coming out of the players union’s pockets in a majority or significant fashion. Selig may have wanted such testing or rules but never made a firm commitment to this.  If he had, that would have created and developed a plan for success that the MLBPA would have endorsed.

Returning to the argument at-hand: Selig becomes defensive when reporters or leaders say “Bud Selig should have taken more responsibility to for the steroid era in Major League Baseball”.  Case in point: In a 2009 interview, ESPN reporter Jayson Stark posed such a statement which, again, was met with a fierce and passionate comeback from Bud Selig.

““I don’t want to hear the commissioner turned a blind eye to this or he didn’t care about it,” Selig told Newsday in a Monday phone interview. “That annoys the you-know-what out of me. You bet I’m sensitive to the criticism.Jayson Stark would like Bud Selig to take more responsibility for the proliferation of the steroids era that’s occurred on his watch.

“The reason I’m so frustrated is, if you look at our whole body of work, I think we’ve come farther than anyone ever dreamed possible,” he said, adding, “I honestly don’t know how anyone could have done more than we’ve already done.””

Spoken like a true American leader. Take credit for all the success and defer blame to what is failure.

For those who have never managed anything in their lives, the responsibility of success falls on the operating manager.  Teamwork and goals are set so the workforce can understand and achieve them but the overall responsibility of success and the workforce falls on the manager. If things are wrong, you fix them.  Your boss does not want to hear or see problems, just results.  Your boss entrusts you to do the right thing as to not embarrass your company or him.  Just because Bud Selig runs Major League Baseball and has no true boss does not mean that he does not have to answer to the news media and their customers.  Those customers are the ticket and apparel paying fans who keep this massive sporting industry intact.

Bud Selig plans to retire following the 2012 season.  At that time, the league will take on a new face for the first time in almost twenty years.   Many will regard Bud Selig as one of the most influential leaders in American sports history.  He will find himself in the Cooperstown as a founding owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.  I agree he has accomplished a great deal. However, how is it that Bud Selig will see the Hall of Fame and many others will not due to a common denominator: steroids.

Bud Selig mortgaged his soul for the overall success and profitability of the MLB.  He did what was necessary for his sport and not what was the moral or ethical correct decision.  He wanted steroids to be banned but did not do what was necessary ethically to get that done.  Arbitration in a federal circuit court, during the time of labor negotiations, would have supported Major League Baseball’s commissioner IF the financial absorption of cost was not unfair to the MLBPA.  Simply put: If Bud Selig truly believed he did all he could, why would he get upset over a question that has no base for truth?

Allow me to make one last point:  In writing this, I know that Major League Baseball will probably never hire me.  I have applied for positions in the past on an administrative level and writing a blog entry like this would probably put me on a DO NOT HIRE LIST (if one should exist). I would love to work for Major League Baseball.  I also am not a huge fan of many unions in sports not because I believe unions are evil but because of the poor management as a primary factor (see NBA strike).  If I am defending the MLBPA, there must be a really good reason.   This is that reason.

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To understand politics and history (on top of business)  gives you a leg up how to handle “crisis” situations and more so than most.  More often than not, this understanding positions you in the best standing point for success.

Congratulations Bud on retirement.  Retreat to your office and write your memoirs.  We will see you in the Hall of Fame in a few years.  If that is not be best standing point for success, I don’t know what is.

If It Ain’t Broke…

In an attempt to get themselves over the hump, the Texas Rangers have made their first move of the post season by acquiring right-handed closer Joe Nathan from the Minnesota Twins at the tune of $14.5 million for two years, with a player option for a third year.  No problem, Neftali Feliz must’ve been awful in the closer role the last two years.  Nope.  In 2010 he posted a 2.73 ERA and set the rookie “saves” record at 40 (3rd in the AL) en route to winning the 2010 AL Rookie Of The Year Award.  What did he follow that up with?  32 saves in 2011 (5th in the AL) with a 2.74 ERA.  Feliz musti’ve been too expensive.  Nope.  In 2010 he was paid $402,000 before proving his ability as a full-time closer.  After setting the rookie record, the Rangers gave him a whopping $55,000 raise just before the start of the 2011 Spring Training season.  Feliz must be getting old and broken down, so the Rangers wanted to go younger at the position.  Nope.  Feliz is at the ripe age of 23 with no signs yet of being fragile.  Nathan, on the other hand, just turned 37, and lost his position as closer with the Twins while experiencing the worst year of his career after having sat out an entire season to recover from Tommy John surgery.  The Rangers pitching must’ve been so bad in 2011 that they had no choice but to promote Feliz.  Nope.  The Rangers ranked 5th in the league in starting pitching in 2011.  So, what gives?

That is exactly what I would like to ask Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels.  The general opinion is that the Rangers won’t be able to re-sign C.J. Wilson – reportedly asking for a $100 million deal in free agency – and so needed to replace the arm in the rotation.  This is a rotation that is already guaranteed to have Colby Lewis, Alexi Ogando, Derek Holland, and Matt Harrison.  This may not be a stud cast of names, like those in the Philadelphia or New York (Yankees) rotations, but they are formidable and it did work for the Rangers this past year.  And let’s be honest, the addition of Feliz as the #5 to this rotation does not improve it anymore than it would if (fill-in any name from the farm system here) were to fill the position.  The rotation may need an upgrade to get over the hump, but that upgrade needs to come in the form of a solid #1 ace.  It’s currently filled with a bunch of #2 and #3 guys, and Feliz – even if he has a good year – will still be a downgrade from C.J. Wilson.

While several pitchers have been quite successful going from being a starter to a closer, few have been successful going the other way.  In fact, it took me quite a bit of time doing some research to come up with a list.  I finally found an article that was of some use, and it only provided a list of 16 names (for the complete list and criteria, visit http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/does-this-conversion-thing-work-joakim-soria-part-two/).  The most recent “conversions” of this nature were starters that got moved to the closer role, then reinstated as starters (John Smoltz, Ryan Dempster, Bret Meyers).  The last true transition from what I can tell was Danny Graves making the transition from 2002 to 2003.  It was not a successful transition, as he posted a 5.33 ERA and a 4-15 record in 2003.  Before being converted to a starter, Graves enjoyed the best statistical years of his career.  Between 1999 and 2002 he averaged a 3.25 ERA and 30 saves, which earned him an average NL rank of 8th in saves during that time frame.

The Rangers are taking a chance on a guy who did not have a successful return from the most feared surgery for any major league pitcher.  Guaranteeing him $7.25 million each year for a minimum of 2 years seems a bit irresponsible.  Before surgery Joe Nathan was one of the best, most consistent closers in baseball since earning the job in 2004.  The results of Tommy John Surgery can be unpredictable, and so far we have not seen the pre-operation Joe Nathan.  After this type of surgery the most common concern is a pitchers loss of velocity, and a closer’s best friend is his velocity.  $14.5 million is a lot of money to pay a guy that still has not proven himself worthy of that kind of paycheck.  So now the Rangers are paying more money to a closer who may not even be able to keep the job through 2012, when they could have one of the games best at a bargain price to close out games.

Bottom line – The Rangers have not made themselves better with this acquisition.  They put a question mark in the closer role, and took a sure thing from the closer role to insert him as a question mark in the rotation.  There is no established track record of this type of transition being successful, and it’s going to cost the team a lot of money and possibly some wins.  If they didn’t want to go get a #1 starter to improve their team, Texas could have saved the money and just promoted a guy from the minors who has been starting games his whole career.  That way they would still have their proven closer and at least a guy with starting experience in their rotation.  Texas, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.  Enjoy searching for a starter in the hours leading up to the 2012 trade deadline.

2011 NFL Playoff Predictions

With six full weeks again in the NFL season remaining, the playoff picture is not even closed to defined in either conference.  I figured it would be fun to outline my choices for the playoffs so we can celebrate my football genius or laugh at the comedic tragedy that is the NFL.

 

AFC East

The Bills are playing hurt and the Jets are inspiring Jets fans to question why Mark “Sanch-ise” and “Sexy Rexy” are driving the ship (or where the ship is going to towards Mike Tannenbaum for his salary-cap personnel decisions and not putting the leadership necessary/quality player on the field).  It would take a devastating injury of Tom Brady and misfortunes to derail the Patriots for the division.  New England Patriots

AFC North

This is tough.  Cleveland turns into the most important team in their division because they get to play the role of spoiler.  Playing Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice and Cincinatti once, Cleveland can make a strong statement for the confidence of their ballclub and shape the AFC North.  I give Pittsburgh the edge due to the hot hand of Roethlisberger and my ability to have faith in the Steelers’ offense over Baltimore’s inconsistencies and the youth of the Bengals. Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South

Call me nuts, but if Peyton Manning can suit up for week 13…

It is easy to say Houston.  They run the ball well, Andre Johnson returns and the defense is playing great. Even with Schaub out for the season, Houston can game plan Matt Leinart’s participation effectively to win. The strength of schedule is lighter for the Texans and they have a two game lead.  Houston Texans

AFC West

This division is just a mess.  The team with the best chances based on talent level is the San Diego Chargers, the worst team in the division. It looks like the luck (that’s right- LUCK) of Norv Turner is expiring. Kansas City plans uninspired football offensively and will be playing with an untested QB who played decent football for the University of Pittsburgh…5 years ago. That leaves Denver and Oakland. With the return of McFadden, Carson Palmer playing great football and the rest of the Raiders looking very productive, the answer seems obvious…expect for two factors:

•  The Raiders have one hell of a schedule ahead (Bears, Dolphins, Packers, Lions, Kansas City, San Diego) where the Broncos do not have as many challenges.
• Tim Tebow

This will go down to the wire but by pure football logic, I must take the Oakland Raiders.  If Tim Tebow proves me wrong and wins the division…I will never question that man again.  Oakland Raiders

NFC East

The Cowboys are firing on all cylinders.  Minus a big injury, it is almost safe to say that both teams will be tied at 9-6 at season’s end.  I will give the edge to the Cowboys due to the fact that I trust Rob Ryan’s defense over the Giants’ defense and Perry Fewell.  The Giants will be engaging in some shootout offensive games ahead to win.  The Cowboys have a more practical schedule and a healthy impact running back in DeMarco Murray where Ahmad Bradshaw’s health is in question. Dallas Cowboys

NFC North

Green Bay Packers

…next!

NFC South

Atlanta is inconsistent.Drew Brees has been throwing a lot of interceptions based on his past years performance but he also is chasing the single season passing record for yardage. Saints hold the NFC North crown before it is said and done. New Orleans Saints

 

NFC West

Jim Harbaugh has done an outstanding job in San Francisco.  San Francisco 49ers

 

Wildcard Teams

AFC

Baltimore Ravens & Cincinatti Bengals (I so badly want to put Denver here.  If only Tebow could throw the football)

NFC

New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons (The Bears losing Cutler and the Lions having a difficult schedule lets Atlanta jump ahead of them)

 

These are all just educated guesses.  Six weeks in the NFL is an eternity.  Let’s see how this turns out.

 

 

Thoughts of the Moment…

Thoughts of the Moment is a segment where I give my random input of the stories of the day.  It is my brutally honest take on the sports stories of today.  Is it right? Is it wrong?  Who am I to say?  The point is if you find yourself thinking about it driving or mentioning the topic to your friend, I must be making an impact (one way or another).

 

• Eli Manning, if healthy, sets a career-high in 2011 for completions, passing yards and QB rating.  His prediction to be in the class level of Tom Brady and the Elite will be reflected upon but his performance in the 2011 post-season, in a year without Peyton Manning, will be his barometer if he passes the test of his critics.  Look at Eli’s career stats.  If it was not for a poor completion percentage in the early stages of his career, his numbers match well with many of the greats in this league.
• Mark Sanchez (also see Aaron’s post on Mark Sanchez: The System Quarterback) is not getting the job done for the New York Jets.  Blame the rascal-kid all you want, he has tools but RAW tools.  He will make mistakes unless coached and molded.  Sanchez played as a starter for one-full year at USC.  He had 487 passing attempts in college under an established Pete Carrol system.  The kid is basically playing like a 4 year starter in the NFL (mentally).  Statistically, he is on pace for a career highs for passer-rating, completion %, yardage, and TDs.  Is he a bonehead at times? Yes.  However, that is the character of Mark Sanchez.  He is a fun and goofy guy who wants to win but is still putting it together at 25 years old.  If you want the Jets to get better, the upper management needs to improve the offensive line and allow the younger elements of the defense to step up and contribute more over the under-performing veteran staff.  The Jets formula for success IS running the football and defense, like Aaron has mentioned in his post (I’m plugging  your post man haha).  If the Jets want to win, they will let Joe McKnight run the ball tonight.  If they do so, and it pans out the success of the 2011 playoffs may ride on his contributions.
• I love DeMarco Murray.  Last time I said that about a Cowboys player was Emmitt Smith.  It doesn’t happen much.  This kid has the tools to put it all together.  He has speed, strength, athleticism and the ability to make the big play.  Felix Jones comes off of another injury and back into a minimal time-share with Murray.  Expect Felix Jones, in the weeks ahead, to attempt to maximize his opportunities.  If he does not, he will lose all credibility to be a formidable option for backfield success on the Cowboys and the NFL.  Jones has all the tools but cannot put them together.  If he can showcase them well (even just as a receiving running back), the Cowboys will be able to secure a playoff berth and compete to the very end of the season for the division.
• Coach Sandusky, listen to Mike Ditka’s segment on NFL Countdown: Stop it.
• If Tim Tebow makes it through 2011 without concussion issues, he will need to learn how to throw the ball.  If he does not throw the ball tonight against the Jets and make a positive impact, he will suffer a concussion and not make it all four quarters.  I love the passion of Tim Tebow but this Week 11 match-up will test ability and not just heart.
• I think the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement leaders are fools.  I think the NBA is a joke.  The leaders of the NBA Player’s Union is run by Billy Hunter, Derek Fisher (no power what-so-ever) and the ranking members of “Occupy Insert Any American City Here“. Stupid to lose 2 billion dollars in player’s salaries over a 1-2% points of profit-sharing.  In January of 2011, before the NBA strike, a poll for the Sports Business Daily Journal showed that the NBA was the fifth-most watched sports organization in America.  At the top the NFL, MLB, NCAA College Football and NASCAR.  The NBA is now America’s fourth favorite sport and behind college football. Makes sense to lockout a season and piss off your fan base (or what is left of it from the Jordan years).  Very few care about the NBA and it will be more apparent when it returns and people aren’t showing up to the mid-market stadiums. The NFL Playoffs, NASCAR, the MLB season and playoffs and the start of the NFL regular season bridge the calendar year for sports fanatics.  People are losing time and patience with a sport that doesn’t offer the entertainment to its fans.  That, my friends, is truly a cost of the price of passion…

Mark Sanchez, the “System Quarterback”

Jake Delhomme.  Joe Flacco.  Alex Smith.  Rex Grossman.  Mark Sanchez.  Hall of Fame quarterbacks?  No.  This unimpressive group of QBs is certainly not a list of the league’s best, but they aren’t necessarily the bottom of the pile, either.  The last of those names has been in the New York media the last few days after his coach – the always obnoxious Rex Ryan – didn’t exactly come to the aid of his third-year quarterback after a poor week 10 performance against the arch rival New England Patriots.

Late in the first half, with the Jets in scoring territory, Sanchez signaled for a timeout long before he actually needed to.  As a result, the Patriots had some extra time to score a touchdown before halftime.  Going into the tunnel at halftime Rex told NBC’s Michelle Tafoya that Sanchez calling the timeout when he did was “the stupidest thing in football history.”  It’s not uncommon for the New York City media to jump all over their sports stars after sub par performances – just ask Alex Rodriguez.  Many have questioned Mark’s ability to lead this team to the Superbowl.  In his rookie and sophomore years the Jets made it all the way to the AFC Championship, only to see their Superbowl hopes vanish.  There are games when Sanchez looks like the first round pick the Jets expected him to be, and there are games when you can’t help but wonder whether or not the waterboy threw on a Sanchez jersey and took his place.

The fact is Mark Sanchez, like the others mentioned in the intro, is a system quarterback.  He does not have the talents and skill sets of Drew Brees, Tom Brady, or Aaron Rodgers, but under a specific set of circumstances he can see the same success.  Sanchez’s formula for success is to have a strong running game, coupled with a superior defense.  In 2009 the New York Jets finished the regular season 9-7 (after a slow start), first in overall defense, and first in rushing offense.  That year Sanchez attempted 364 passes.  In 2010 the Jets finished the regular season 11-5, third in overall defense and fourth in rushing offense.  Sanchez attempted 507 passes.  So far this year the Jets are 5-4, eighth in overall defense, twenty-fourth in rushing offense, and Sanchez is on pace for a career-high in pass attempts.  In 2009 the team gave up only 252 yards per game, and 15 points per game.  In 2010 they gave up 292 yards per games and 19 points per game.  This year the New York Jets are giving up a whopping 327 yards per game and 22 points per game.  With the team’s defense giving up so much offense to opposing teams, it’s no wonder why the Jets are turning more to Sanchez to climb out of holes more than he needed to his first two seasons.

The problem is that Sanchez simply isn’t built to be able to do that.  Give Tom Brady a 21-point deficit and 5 minutes on the clock, he’ll get you a win.  Give Mark Sanchez a 21-point deficit and 5 minutes on the clock, he’ll get you 37 interceptions and an embarrassing loss.  As a Carolina Panther fan, I am quite familiar with this type of quarterback.  Jake Delhomme’s most successful seasons (2003, 2005, 2008) came when the team had a great rushing attack (7th in 2003, 3rd in 2008) or a great defense (3rd in 2005).  When both defense and the running game were mediocre at best, Delhomme led the team to more below-.500 seasons than I care to remember.

My point is that the great quarterbacks can overcome their team’s deficiencies with their superior passing abilities.  The Patriots are dead-last in the NFL in team defense, yet they are 6-3 and have control of their division.  Mark Sanchez will never be that quarterback.  It is unfair to question his ability to do his job for the team when they lose, because you know exactly what you are going to get from him.  The Jets are having a tough time this year, primarily because their running game has been non-existent.  Shonn Greene is not a feature back in this league.  in ’09 and ’10 the Jets had a successful rushing attack because Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson carried the load.  Now Jones has been shipped off, and Tomlinson is at the end of his career.  Greene has been ineffective, and the defense has been very non-inspiring.  Sanchez is still the same guy he was on draft day, and he’s still the same guy that led the team to the last two AFC Title games.

The New York media needs to refocus its attention.  Mark Sanchez is the perfect quarterback for this team, in this system.  Management needs to wake up this off-season and realize they need to acquire a feature running back (*cough* Michael Bush will be a free agent *cough*).  Unfortunately for Sanchez when a team does well, the quarterback gets all the glory; When a team fails, the quarterback gets all the blame.  It’s not fair, but hey – neither is the world we live in.

How Can Some NFL Teams Be SO BAD

Every September, the fans of the NFL are ready charge through a wall in anticipation for their team’s season opener.  Many have their fantasy football rosters up on their computer editing their rosters at 12:30PM and by 1PM following the stat-tracker as if you were waiting the winning numbers of the lottery to appear.  Many also have their jerseys, paraphernalia as well as a spread of food.  Some have parties.  Some decorate their house.  Some spend a pretty penny to sit field level, 50-yard line just to be there. Even more extreme fans are using their season tickets to ensure their attendance for every home game.  This is the very many versions of the NFL fan.  They all have one thing in common: Fanaticism.  They love their team.

NFL Owners, restricted by the new Collective-Bargaining Agreement has some financial challenges.  The new CBA  had the owners slated to uphold a $120 million salary cap and a tricky stipulation of a salary floor that the new CBA demands that 99%  of the cap be spent this 2011 & 2012 seasons season and then a reduction to 95% mandatory spending league wide with no team going below 89% of the cap spent (Notes from NFLPA: New 2011 Deal)  In summation, owners will no longer be allowed to not spend money on players.  This should make teams more competitive.  Yet, how come some teams are so bad?  I think the answer clearly doesn’t come from the players but it comes from ownership and coaching staff.

Prime Example: The San Francisco 49ers and Coach Jim Harbaugh

Since 2003, the San Francisco 49ers have not been better than 8-8.  They have not seen the playoffs since 2002.   From 2003-2010 (8 seasons), after a poor decision to fire Steve Mariucci over an ego battle with the GM, the 49ers compiled a 45-83 record.  With Mariucci for six seasons, the 49ers were 60-43.

You could give argument that the defense played poorly and that after Jeff Garcia left the 49ers after a bad year under a new coach but let’s get the facts straight: That only speaks up to 2005.

Enter: Alex Smith.  Management tried to bring in a top QB.  That was a failure up through the recent past.

Enter: Mike Nolan, Mike Singletary.  They are great football minds but did not have a team to play with they believed could win.

Now let’s look at 2011. Jim Harbaugh comes on the scene from his successful tenure at Stanford.  His draft class includes Aldon Smith and Kendall Hunter.  Also, Harbaugh brings in veteran free agents who have achieved outside success on an individual and team levels.  He cleans house of some of the “old mentality”.  He builds HIS system that revolves around his players fighting and working for everything. He fights like George S. Patton, standing right along with his soldiers and leading them into battle.  Harbaugh preaches the influence of fundamentals, special teams and gives his vote of confidence to a QB with all the tools in the world except one: Confidence. The 49ers are 8-1.  Why now?

It is a very simple answer.  Success starts as an attitude.  You can take average players, place a few team-oriented stars in the mix and develop a mentality and game plan that is true and reflective of the coaching staff that preaches it.  Now it is no longer a game plan but  it is a culture.  Look at teams like New England, Pittsburgh and even Indianapolis (with Peyton Manning).  There are some stars on those teams but many of the starters are solid NFL players made by the stars of their quarterbacks and others leadership qualities.  Success is not just something you achieve but it is something you must embody.  That is why so many teams are bad.

Owners, GMs, coaches and players all go out on the field to earn a generous living (regardless of the mental and physical demands), perform the tasks they are skilled in and to win.  These individuals understand that winning brings legacies, contracts and endorsements but it is truly amazing how many people never take the time out to learn what it is to be truly successful.  That is why so many people play in professional sports to try to win every game. The consummate professionals and stars of the athletic player and coaching world never attempt to try.  They never attempt to run their mouth to the media to create a story line that builds suspense, drama and a fan base growth unless that is what is truly needed.  People like the Jets’ Rex Ryan and the Marlins’ Ozzie Guillen can keep their antics as I am sure some fans will go to the game more because of the ego-center mentality. The real winners just perform.  The people who know success speak when they must speak, say what is needed to be said (nothing more or inflated) and get back to work at their job- winning games.   I would rather have a team filled with Peyton Mannings, Derek Jeters and Bill Belichicks in my locker room or clubhouse than Michael Vicks, Alex Rodriguezs and Rex Ryans because regardless of success, there is a professionalism that comes with the first set of individuals that inherently lacks in the latter.

Success is a mentality.  Perhaps if we all were as committed to our dreams and goals, we could achieve our own definitions of greatness.

It’s Not The “Most Valuable Pitcher’s” Award

Every season there seems to be at least one pitcher that makes you sit back and say “Wow!”  Every pitch they throw seems to be better than the last, and hitters are left standing at the plate wondering what the heck just flew by them.  When those pitchers are locked in like that, they can make even the league’s best hitters look like high school junior varsity third string outfielders hacking away, just trying to get a piece of the ball.  Among the many: Roger Clemens, CC Sabathia, Tim Lincicum, Felix Hernandez, Cliff Lee, Zack Greinke, Randy Johnson, and Roy Halladay have all had this type of year at some point in their careers.

In 2011 Justin Verlander fit into that category.  His astounding 2.40 ERA, 24-5 record, .192 BAA, and 250/57 strikeout to walk ratio all helped him earn his first career Cy Young award, announced earlier today.  He threw his second career no-hitter, and did his part to help the Detroit Tigers get into the playoffs as the American League Central Division Champions with a very comfortable 15-game lead.  Let’s face it…those stats are eye-popping.  If anybody else got the AL Cy Young Award a grave injustice would have been committed, and the voters must have seen it the same way since the decision was unanimous for just the ninth time in the award’s history.  Now that the announcement has been made, I have started hearing murmurs among analysts that he could become the first pitcher since Dennis Eckersley in 1992 to win both the Cy Young Award and the MVP Award in the same year.  In all honesty I had another topic planned to discuss today, but the prospect of this happening got my blood boiling.

Let’s say, hypothetically speaking, that Verlander was better than the stats he produced in 2011.  For argument’s sake, let’s say he was literally perfect.  He started 34 games, went 34-0, and had a 0.00 ERA.  It’s never been done by any pitcher outside of fantasyland, but if it had the Tigers would only have been guaranteed 34 wins out of a 162-game season.  That’s only 21% of the total season that Justin Verlander could  personally affect.  A team that only wins 34 games is epically bad.  My point is this: Justin Verlander – or any pitcher for that matter – can only affect a very small percentage of an entire season, since they only play in one out of every five games.

Don’t get me wrong – pitchers work very hard at what they do.  The great pitchers earn every cent of what they get paid.  When we are talking about most valuable player in the league, however, how can you not give the award to players that contribute to their team’s success on a DAILY basis?  I can even make the argument that Verlander wasn’t even the most valuable player on his own team (Miguel Cabrera).  Even if he did have that “perfect” season, how could you give a guy an MVP award who played in only 34 games out of 162, instead of a player who played in 161?  Cabrera hit for an outrageous .344 batting average, and backed that up with 30 HR, 105 RBI, and a 1.033 OPS (Second in MLB) – and I’ll say it one more time – HE PLAYED IN ALL BUT ONE GAME IN 2011!  Yes Justin Verlander led the league in most pitching stats, but Cabrera led the league in most hitting stats; I’ts a wash.  My point simply put: Cabrera helped his team win more games than Verlander did, therefore making him the most valuable.

If the Cy Young did not exist, I could halfway understand considering a pitcher for the MVP award.  The accomplishments of the league’s best pitcher have already been recognized.  I cannot be convinced that a player who only plays in 21% of the games can be the best reason a team reaches the playoffs.  If that were possible then Felix Hernandez would have won the Seattle Mariners about five World Series Championships by now.  Let’s leave the MVP award to the players that contribute every day for six months.

Matt Leinart: One Last Chance

I remember that cool and cloudy fall afternoon.  The brisk and blustery wind whipped off of Lake Ontario and slapped you in the face as a pleasant reminder of the harsh winter to come.  But for now, it was October 15th and on that day in 2005, I saw something that I will never forget.  The #1 ranked, 5-0 USC Trojans were slated to play the #9 ranked, 4-1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish which was hyped to be the greatest game of the early 21st century.

USC, under Coach Pete Carroll entered the contest as defending National Champions, #1 in the country for the 2005 season and filled with stars all over their roster.  Notre Dame, headed by coach Charlie Weis, featured Brady Quinn, who at that time was the highest ranked QB in all of college football by many NFL scouts and teams.  This game was so hyped going into the contest…and lived up to every bit of the hype.

The fourth quarter was a see-sawing contest for both teams. With just over two minutes left, USC received the ball following a long Notre Dame drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown down by Brady Quinn putting the Green and Gold (for that given day) the 31-28 lead.  Enter: Matt Leinart.  A check-down pass to Reggie Bush, a blow coverage streaking pass to Dwayne Jarrett and now USC finds themselves in the red-zone with a minute remaining.  After a fumble on the one-yard line, Matt Leinart and the “Bush Push” led the USC into the end zone in one of the most gut-dropping silences you will ever hear at a college football stadium.  The packed Notre Dame Stadium dropped from a roar of insanity to silence. Heartbreak.   Matt Leinart and company escaped South Bend, IN- victorious.

After the game, an ESPN reporter got this quote from Matt Leinart:

” “I just saw it, I thought it was there and I just wanted to get in,” Leinart said. “I didn’t want to spike the ball so I made the choice and they were looking down from up above and we got in. That was all that mattered.” “

Matt Leinart’s scandal-filled tenure with USC (more with his surrounding staff in Bush and Jarrett) was decorated as one of the finest showing in college football history. Here are some stats and accolades:

Heisman Voting: 6th in 2003, 1st in 2004 and 3rd in 2005:

2003-2005 Career

Southern California

807

1245

64.8%

10693yds.

8.6ypa

99TD

23INT

159.5 Rating

Not impressed?  Now let’s compare those stats to Peyton Manning’s FOUR YEAR career.

Heisman Voting: 6th in 1995, 8th in 1996 and 2nd in 1997:

1994-1997 Career

Tennessee

863

1381

62.5%

11201yds.

8.1ypa

89TD

33INT

147.1 Rating

Leinart had more TDs, less interceptions, a higher QB rating, a higher completion percentage and only 500 less yards than Peyton Manning in one less year played! There is no denying the star power Leinart attracted when he was drafted 10th overall in the 2006 NFL draft by Arizona.

Now, I know very well that college performance means nothing once your put the NFL jersey on.  From that point forward, performance is the name of the game and Matt Leinart has either been suffering from injuries or under-performing. Now 5 years pro and rarely seeing the field after Kurt Warner took over for him in Arizona, Matt Leinart has one last chance.  One last chance to summon Oct 15, 2005 and the swagger that he had at 20 years old. Age brings wisdom and experience.

After a BYE week in week 11 to prepare, Leinart takes the helm on Houston’s well-oiled machine that features Arian Foster, one of the premiere running backs in the game and the return of a healthy Andre Johnson.  With Houston’s 7-3 record, Matt Leinart has a chance to taste his own bit of glory and perhaps revitalize a career that otherwise stopped the day he left the Southern California over 5 years ago. It will start Week 12 against the Jaguars

Sometimes in life, we all need second chances.  Some of us make mistakes and some of us just never choose to grow up and assume responsibility for our lives and dreams we pursue. Imagine if you could have your fairy godmother come and grant you that wish for a second chance?  What would you do?  Well Mr. Leinart, this your chance…and Dwayne Jarrett and Reggie Bush will be replaced with Andre Johnson and Arian Foster. So if you don’t want to spike the ball, don’t.  This is your time. Make sure you land in the end-zone.

Are the Florida…I mean, MIAMI Marlins serious?

Valued at a $360 million dollar franchise and growing, the new Miami Marlins are looking to make a bid for respect in Major League Baseball for the 2012 season and beyond.  Since their establishment in 1993, the Marlins have developed a very interesting plan for success: Put together a winning team then break it apart.  After winning the 1997 and 2003 World Series, the Marlins took a wrecking ball to their franchise.  Every marketable player in their major championships were either allowed to walk as a free agent or traded (Most Notably: Josh Beckett, Miguel Cabrera, Gary Sheffield, Edgar Renteria, Moises Alou Livan Hernandez…and the list goes on….).  Since their 2003 win, the Marlins have been a team playing small ball with.  Competing with the more-developed teams and markets that the Braves, Mets and Marlins came from, the Marlins managed to run a cost-effective means of generating revenue off of minimal payroll and income.

Now arrives the 2011 Offseason.  The newly renamed Miami Marlins with their new stadium, new logo, new jerseys, new coach (the priceless Ozzie Guillen), now have an offseason that promises to be, if nothing else, interesting.

As of today, Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes, Mark Beuhrle  and Ryan Madson were offed contracts to create the potential of one amazing offseason for the Marlins- and a nightmare for some many others.

Now the question of the day: Are they for real?

One way or another, I think they are.  Here is why:

1. The Marlins want Jose Reyes.  They have offered him a contract a want to make him the centerpiece of the offense and defense.  The addition of Reyes to the young and developing lineup builds a core of players that can bring success. Providing a major offer from a team like the Tigers, Reyes will be Miami-bound.
2. Madson is a good arm that can help the bullpen as a closer or a set up guy.  With all the great arms the Marlins have, infusing a guy who has been around success for a few years is not a bad presence for the clubhouse
3. Pujols and Beuhrle are all players that could prospectively go to other rosters based on the needs of other teams that can afford to spend $10-25 million on a player other than Reyes.  Pujols is a world-class player but Gaby Hernandez Sanchez is a serviceable-to-rising-star first-baseman.  He plays slightly above average defense at this point in his career and frankly, the Marlins service more in entertaining Pujols and inflating the price of him for the competition than to actually acquire him.  Beuhrle would bring a veteran presence for any prospective playoff team but a team like the Red Sox or Yankees would overpay for his veteran services.  Again, the Marlins seem like they are bidding to raise the market value of the player.  Also with these players, just offering a contract shows a commitment to their fans towards winning which that alone sells tickets and merchandise.

The Phillies do not have to worry for 2012.  The Braves may not have to either.  but come 2013, The Phillies should be preparing for the change in the guard.  The Nationals, Marlins and Braves will be knocking on the door with their developing youth movements and established players that could affect another championship run.

It is nice to see a team looking to compete.  As a Mets fan, I almost forget what that is like…