What a weekend! It started early as Titan’s owner Bud Adams realized that Vince Young is not what is needed in Nashville. Now wrap your brain around the following scenario; most experts think that defensive players will dominate the early draft picks. The Titan’s select Cam Newton with the eight choice, then pick up Donovan McNabb as a free agent, and let Newton learn from the closest thing to a Steve McNair type there is in the league. McNabb would do well under Fisher’s type of leadership. He is not the egomaniac that Andy Reed and Shanahan are. Newton would learn from a good example both on and off the field. Get the job done and get McNabb.
Moving on to the NFL playoffs, what a great Saturday it was! The Seahawks defeat the Saints, and Peyton Poo’s Colts have their season ended by the Jets. Seattle came into the game with nothing to lose, and walked away with the win. Rex Ryan and the Jets once again proved that more often than not Manning will lose a game when the pressure is on. If you doubt me look it up, pressure games and Peyton more often than not losses. The Ravens take care of the Chiefs, but beware KC is a team on the rise and will be heard from for years to come. Then, Aaron Rodgers and the Pack take care of the Eagles and we can finally put an end to the non stop Vick lovefest. Doesn’t anyone remember how inconsistent he was in Atlanta? I said it when he was drafted, and will continue to say it, MICHAEL VICK is a great athlete but you will never see him lift a Lombardi Trophy as a quarterback. He is not consistent, and not a leader. The Falcons have now put three consecutive winning seasons in the books and it was with Matt Ryan as the signal caller, not Vick. It is time for the Falcons and Ryan to get the respect they deserve.
Now we move on to the divisional rounds, look for wins by the Pats, Steelers, Bears, and Falcons.
The BCS Championship once again goes to an SEC member. Auburn takes the crystal trophy after a game winning field goal as time runs out. The expected fireworks between two high powered offenses did not materialize, the game became and old fashioned hard nosed match up. I wonder if I am the only one that thought ESPN was heavily biased toward Oregon. Musburger and Herbstreet continually heaped praised on the garishly uniformed Ducks. Yes, I said garish which simply put means repulsive. Yellow socks? ESPN did have the good sense to bring Nick Saban and Urban Meyer to the big show. Only a coach from the SEC can lend intelligence to the conversation when there are Corso’s around. Granted, Oregon has good athletes, but remember one thing, they are playing Pac 10 football, not SEC. Les Miles has removed all doubt as to the dominance of the conference by again turning down a job at his alma mater Michigan.
Now we get to listen to the TCU fans wine and cry that they should be able to lay claim to a portion of the championship. Look at the top SEC teams and think to yourself could the Frogs best Auburn? No. Alabama? No. LSU? No. Mississippi State? No. LSU? No. Florida? Doubtful. South Carolina? Perhaps. They would not be able to even compete with the top four SEC teams. They do not have the speed or the size to handle a full sixty minutes of football. Oregon couldn’t!
Ron Hall aka Red Zone Ron
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Hall of Fame Day
Today is always a special day in sports as we await the announcement of who will be inducted in Cooperstown this year. After years of being shunned Bert Blyleven should finally get what he truly deserves, enshrinement in sports most respected hall of fame. We are now at the time where those implicated in the steroid scandals start appearing on the ballot of the BBWA which is the body responsible for the selection to the most prestigious of all sports halls of fame. The Baseball Hall of Fame is the ultimate recognition of a professional athlete’s career. The NFL will induct those that had only a few good years, and will also allow in those of questionable character, such as Lawrence Taylor and Michael Irvin just to mention two. The list is long of possible Canton inductees that have failed to live their professional and personal lives as they should and the hall does not include those that have brought shame to the game.
The NFL for some reason does not take character in the equation for induction. Taylor and Irvin (among many Dallas Cowboys of the Jimmy Johnson era) have well documented arrest records before and during their NFL career. Can you say O.J. Simpson? When was the last time you heard a Cooperstown plaque holder have such issues? Steve Garvey is just one example of a baseball player that deserves enshrinement, but due to questionable personal conduct during and after his career has been denied entry into the hall. The most obvious absentees Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson are easily the two most notorious that brought shame upon the game and do not deserve induction.
Those that argue for Pete say only his stats matter. He was indeed one of the greatest of all time, but he admitted he gambled while playing and managing. He knew it was wrong, but continued to do so. He failed to realize or just ignored what fate had dealt Jackson, and his arrogance cost him the sports ultimate prize. Many will say when Terrell Owens gets his name hall of fame ballot that his attitude will keep him out. For that I say HOGWASH! Owens does not have a string of drug arrests (Irvin and Taylor) nor does he conduct is personal life in a manner that would embarrass his family. Does he have attitude? Yes! Was he a show off? Yes! However, he was not a regular on COPS, or TMZ.
We are now starting to see the steroid users in baseball appear on the ballot for Cooperstown. None of them deserve entry into the hallowed halls. McGwire, Palmero, and Roger THE ROID HEAD all lied to Congress, and should go to prison. A Rod and Barry Bonds should never be considered for induction, they both admitted to using steroids. It is just that simple, you all brought shame to the national pastime and no matter your accomplishments, there is not a place for you in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Moving to the first weekend of the NFL playoffs, your winners will be: Packers over the Eagles, Saints over the Seahawks, Ravens put an arrow in the Chiefs, and the Jets will dispatch Peyton Poo to Thunder Farms for the winter.
The NFL for some reason does not take character in the equation for induction. Taylor and Irvin (among many Dallas Cowboys of the Jimmy Johnson era) have well documented arrest records before and during their NFL career. Can you say O.J. Simpson? When was the last time you heard a Cooperstown plaque holder have such issues? Steve Garvey is just one example of a baseball player that deserves enshrinement, but due to questionable personal conduct during and after his career has been denied entry into the hall. The most obvious absentees Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson are easily the two most notorious that brought shame upon the game and do not deserve induction.
Those that argue for Pete say only his stats matter. He was indeed one of the greatest of all time, but he admitted he gambled while playing and managing. He knew it was wrong, but continued to do so. He failed to realize or just ignored what fate had dealt Jackson, and his arrogance cost him the sports ultimate prize. Many will say when Terrell Owens gets his name hall of fame ballot that his attitude will keep him out. For that I say HOGWASH! Owens does not have a string of drug arrests (Irvin and Taylor) nor does he conduct is personal life in a manner that would embarrass his family. Does he have attitude? Yes! Was he a show off? Yes! However, he was not a regular on COPS, or TMZ.
We are now starting to see the steroid users in baseball appear on the ballot for Cooperstown. None of them deserve entry into the hallowed halls. McGwire, Palmero, and Roger THE ROID HEAD all lied to Congress, and should go to prison. A Rod and Barry Bonds should never be considered for induction, they both admitted to using steroids. It is just that simple, you all brought shame to the national pastime and no matter your accomplishments, there is not a place for you in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Moving to the first weekend of the NFL playoffs, your winners will be: Packers over the Eagles, Saints over the Seahawks, Ravens put an arrow in the Chiefs, and the Jets will dispatch Peyton Poo to Thunder Farms for the winter.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Weekend rant
The long holiday weekend is over, and so many things to comment on but so little space.
I realize I have harped on this to no end, but the outcome of the bowl games involving Tennessee and Georgia are proof that teams which do not possess a winning do not deserve a bowl game. Say what you will about a bad call, the bottom line is TENNESSEE LOST. I am in shock at the arrogance of the Georgia fans that believe the Liberty Bowl loss was a new low for the Dawgs. Let us examine these two facts. First, UCF is a MUCH LARGER school than UGA, with an enrollment of 45,000 students compared to Georgia’s paltry 33,000. Second, the Knights were ranked and the puppy dogs weren’t, a fact that the local Georgia beat writer failed to mention in his whining over the loss. The UCF athletic program is on the rise, the basketball team is ranked, and their baseball program is one of the best in the NCAA, so give them some respect, and quit crying! You lost to a better team and probably a better university. Not to be outdone in arrogance, Tennessee is selling tickets to a signing day party! Are you going to pay twenty five dollars for this? Good grief, give it a rest Vols!
Alabama, Mississippi State, and Florida, show why the SEC is the best conference hands down. The Tide and Bulldogs open two huge cans on Michigan State and Michigan; and Florida dispatches Penn State in Urban’s final game. It goes to show that top to bottom the SEC is the best in the nation, even if Tennessee and Georgia are playing, and will add their FIFTH BCS championship when Auburn takes care of Oregon. In the Rose Bowl, TCU beat Wisconsin, and the worldwide leader would have you believe it was the championship game. Have you wondered why TCU is going to the Big East? Simple, there is no way they can compete in the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 or Pac Ten, so they go to the home of U Conn. Television ratings for the game were very low, and the worldwide leader taking almost total control of the bowl games is the reason. Growing up I knew four certain things would happen on January 1, the day would start with the Sugar Bowl from old Tulane Stadium on ABC, then to the Cotton Bowl on CBS with the legendary Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung, followed by the Rose Bowl and then the Orange Bowl on NBC. Now if you don’t have cable or dish you will not see most of the games.
The NFL regular season is over, and much like college ball, there are losers getting rewarded. Seattle is going to the playoffs with a losing record, and the Giants and Bucs are sitting home with their 10-6 season marks, which is disgraceful. The national media continues to show the Falcons very little respect, preferring to kiss up to the Eagles, Packers, or Saints. Atlanta has the best record in the NFC and yet you would think they have no prayer in the playoffs. CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN all give out props to the Saints, the same Saints that lost yesterday! The Packers who barely survived against the Bears and the Eagles are all being spoken of as the favorites with the boys from Atlanta being afterthoughts. GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! While we are at it, give all this Vick for MVP talk a rest. He has had a great season, but yet it does not compare to Tom Brady’s. Would the Eagles be where they are without Vick? Probably not; but he is not the MVP, Tom Brady is.
Is Brett “bigger diva than Cher” finally gone for good? Let’s hope so. A great quarterback that has become a joke, refuses to cooperate with the NFL investigation, his reputation is forever tarnished.
Have we seen the final game of Jeff Fisher in Nashville? A local writer seems to think Fisher should just walk away and let Bud and Vince continue their love affair. Does this guy not have a clue? This is just as ESPN’s Tom Jackson said a case where the players are in charge and not the coach. Much like Brett “The Diva” led to the demise of Brad Childress in Minnesota, VY is using his relationship with Adams to force Fisher out. This is wrong! Coaches are in charge, not the players and it is indeed sad that spoiled, unappreciative athletes have so much control. On the flipside though it was very refreshing to see the interview with Rams signal caller Sam Bradford and when asked what his first big purchase with the biggest contract in the league, he was humble when he talked about a ping pong table being the only big ticket item he has bought. Hey Vince, you should have one quarter of the class of Bradford. Heck Diva Favre should take a few seconds and watch so he can see what humility means.
Finally, my only resolution for the new years is this: TO BE MORE OPINIONATED THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN, and if you disagree with me, then tell me why, but remember you are coming to a gunfight unarmed.
I realize I have harped on this to no end, but the outcome of the bowl games involving Tennessee and Georgia are proof that teams which do not possess a winning do not deserve a bowl game. Say what you will about a bad call, the bottom line is TENNESSEE LOST. I am in shock at the arrogance of the Georgia fans that believe the Liberty Bowl loss was a new low for the Dawgs. Let us examine these two facts. First, UCF is a MUCH LARGER school than UGA, with an enrollment of 45,000 students compared to Georgia’s paltry 33,000. Second, the Knights were ranked and the puppy dogs weren’t, a fact that the local Georgia beat writer failed to mention in his whining over the loss. The UCF athletic program is on the rise, the basketball team is ranked, and their baseball program is one of the best in the NCAA, so give them some respect, and quit crying! You lost to a better team and probably a better university. Not to be outdone in arrogance, Tennessee is selling tickets to a signing day party! Are you going to pay twenty five dollars for this? Good grief, give it a rest Vols!
Alabama, Mississippi State, and Florida, show why the SEC is the best conference hands down. The Tide and Bulldogs open two huge cans on Michigan State and Michigan; and Florida dispatches Penn State in Urban’s final game. It goes to show that top to bottom the SEC is the best in the nation, even if Tennessee and Georgia are playing, and will add their FIFTH BCS championship when Auburn takes care of Oregon. In the Rose Bowl, TCU beat Wisconsin, and the worldwide leader would have you believe it was the championship game. Have you wondered why TCU is going to the Big East? Simple, there is no way they can compete in the SEC, Big 10, Big 12 or Pac Ten, so they go to the home of U Conn. Television ratings for the game were very low, and the worldwide leader taking almost total control of the bowl games is the reason. Growing up I knew four certain things would happen on January 1, the day would start with the Sugar Bowl from old Tulane Stadium on ABC, then to the Cotton Bowl on CBS with the legendary Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung, followed by the Rose Bowl and then the Orange Bowl on NBC. Now if you don’t have cable or dish you will not see most of the games.
The NFL regular season is over, and much like college ball, there are losers getting rewarded. Seattle is going to the playoffs with a losing record, and the Giants and Bucs are sitting home with their 10-6 season marks, which is disgraceful. The national media continues to show the Falcons very little respect, preferring to kiss up to the Eagles, Packers, or Saints. Atlanta has the best record in the NFC and yet you would think they have no prayer in the playoffs. CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN all give out props to the Saints, the same Saints that lost yesterday! The Packers who barely survived against the Bears and the Eagles are all being spoken of as the favorites with the boys from Atlanta being afterthoughts. GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! While we are at it, give all this Vick for MVP talk a rest. He has had a great season, but yet it does not compare to Tom Brady’s. Would the Eagles be where they are without Vick? Probably not; but he is not the MVP, Tom Brady is.
Is Brett “bigger diva than Cher” finally gone for good? Let’s hope so. A great quarterback that has become a joke, refuses to cooperate with the NFL investigation, his reputation is forever tarnished.
Have we seen the final game of Jeff Fisher in Nashville? A local writer seems to think Fisher should just walk away and let Bud and Vince continue their love affair. Does this guy not have a clue? This is just as ESPN’s Tom Jackson said a case where the players are in charge and not the coach. Much like Brett “The Diva” led to the demise of Brad Childress in Minnesota, VY is using his relationship with Adams to force Fisher out. This is wrong! Coaches are in charge, not the players and it is indeed sad that spoiled, unappreciative athletes have so much control. On the flipside though it was very refreshing to see the interview with Rams signal caller Sam Bradford and when asked what his first big purchase with the biggest contract in the league, he was humble when he talked about a ping pong table being the only big ticket item he has bought. Hey Vince, you should have one quarter of the class of Bradford. Heck Diva Favre should take a few seconds and watch so he can see what humility means.
Finally, my only resolution for the new years is this: TO BE MORE OPINIONATED THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN, and if you disagree with me, then tell me why, but remember you are coming to a gunfight unarmed.
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