Brett Favre, before playing in an actual game for the New York Jets, has been named the captain for the team. He says that he has not earned it. Sports commentators that I have heard say he should be captain because who else on the team should get it. Favre is their best player. It should be noted that the players voted on this, and the last captain, Chad Pennington, was released when Favre came in. Since this is my blog, here is what I think.
I agree with Favre in that he has not earned the title of captain. Simply put, he has not had time to do anything. He has only been with the team for around a month. I have not looked at the Jets roster, but I am pretty certain that someone on the roster has been with the team longer than Favre has. Surely, someone else has leadership ability. But of course, the players did vote for this. I just find it very self-depricating.
I completely disagree that the best player on the team should be captain. Yes, in many instances the best player on the team is the leader in the clubhouse, and therefore the captain, but this does not have to be the case. Jason Veritek is the captain of the Boston Red Sox, but he is not their best player. However, he is the leader of the team. It takes the respect of the team and ability to lead to be captain, not skill on the playing field.
I would not call it wrong that Favre is the captain, just not entirely right. I am sure Favre has the respect of the Jets players from his time in the league, but this does seem like more of a marketing decision.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Chad Johnson No More
Chad Johnson changes his name.
I do not know what to say. Chad Ocho Cinco might have replaced The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as the dumbest name in sports. I am sure this will be listed as just another distraction for the Bengals if they have the type of season people are predicting they well.
I do not know what to say. Chad Ocho Cinco might have replaced The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as the dumbest name in sports. I am sure this will be listed as just another distraction for the Bengals if they have the type of season people are predicting they well.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
UofL vs. UK: 2008 Football Edition
Wow. I was not expecting UofL's offense to just not show up today. Granted, they did lose the starting quarterback, their top 3 wide receivers, and 2 of their top 3 running backs, so it should not be that big of a surprise. Cantwell did not have a good game, and with the exception of Beaumont, the receivers did not help him out at all. The last time UofL was shutout was Sept. 23, 2000 at Florida State. I know that they were not technically shut out here, it might as well have been.
The offense lost this game. If someone had told me that the deffense was only going to give up 6 points today, I would have been ecstatic. (I do not blame the defense for a rushing touchdown given up immediately after a turnover.) I was really pleased with how the defense played today. They were able to contain UK's rushing attack, which is what I was worried about heading into today. If they play like that for the rest of the season, this team will have chances to win, if the offense shows up.
I can hear the calls for Jurich to fire Kragthorpe coming from the message boards, which I do not read anymore. I say, not so fast. Yes, Petrino was winning, but he did not leave the program in good shape. There were numerous disiplinary issues that Petrino ignored, and Kragthorpe would not. I would imagine that Kragthorpe will have one more year, regardless of how this season goes. This is a rebuilding process, and it does not happen immediately. To bad people have no idea what patience is.
The offense lost this game. If someone had told me that the deffense was only going to give up 6 points today, I would have been ecstatic. (I do not blame the defense for a rushing touchdown given up immediately after a turnover.) I was really pleased with how the defense played today. They were able to contain UK's rushing attack, which is what I was worried about heading into today. If they play like that for the rest of the season, this team will have chances to win, if the offense shows up.
I can hear the calls for Jurich to fire Kragthorpe coming from the message boards, which I do not read anymore. I say, not so fast. Yes, Petrino was winning, but he did not leave the program in good shape. There were numerous disiplinary issues that Petrino ignored, and Kragthorpe would not. I would imagine that Kragthorpe will have one more year, regardless of how this season goes. This is a rebuilding process, and it does not happen immediately. To bad people have no idea what patience is.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
News Items
This article about the LPGA caught my attention. Basically, it says that all players on the tour have to be able to speak English starting next year. Not a lot of time for those that do not speak English. Bob Harig on ESPN.com has a good opinion piece on this topic.
Baseball will start using instant replays on some plays starting Thursday. To recap, the plan went from testing it a little in Fall ball, and in Arizona during Spring Training to being implemented before September. I like it, but if only Major League Baseball moved this fast on all issues.
The college football season starts this week. I would do a preview, but that requires effort. Also, I generally do not like preseason previews or predictions. I believe they fall into the the "useless things in sports" category.
Baseball will start using instant replays on some plays starting Thursday. To recap, the plan went from testing it a little in Fall ball, and in Arizona during Spring Training to being implemented before September. I like it, but if only Major League Baseball moved this fast on all issues.
The college football season starts this week. I would do a preview, but that requires effort. Also, I generally do not like preseason previews or predictions. I believe they fall into the the "useless things in sports" category.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Live Blog: 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremonies
7:57 P.M. - Well, here is my blog about the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. I am prepared for a weird showing. Dignitaries coming to their seats, including our honorable President and his wife. A discussion on the debate on if he should have boycotted the Olympics. I agree with him being there.
8:00 - Cool light drum thingys. A lot of them. A whole lot of them. This is going to be weird.
8:02 - Neat countdown with the lit drums.
8:03 - Wow, awesome opening. It looked like the stadium exploded.
8:05 - This is an amazingly precise performance to open things. Reciting words, followed by a drumbeat. I cannot even estimate how many people are on the field doing this.
8:07 - And now they have sticks. Where the hell did they get sticks. Announcers made a comment that the performers were told to smile more, so it would not be intimidating. And the lights on the drums and stadium went off, to only show the sticks glowing. That was an amazing opening. Announcers said that there were 2,008 performers. Heh...clever.
8:13 - And now we have flying people.
8:14 - I wish the announcers would shut up.
8:16 - It has just been invaded by ethnic kids. Seriously. 56 kids dressed as each of the 56 ethnic groups in China. And oh look, Bush is talking to Putin. Uhg. Please do not show him again. This is about the Olympics, not politics, and announcers, please do not analyze meanings.
8:19 - Ummm...NBC, this is a taped event. Why are you cutting off fireworks to go to a commercial?
8:22 - Dancers painting on a large sheet of paper by dancing. Neat.
8:24 - The floor they are performing on is an LED screen?! Damn!
8:30 - They are going through some of Confusous' teachings. I wish I could describe it.
8:32 - There are these blocks moving in intricate patterns. Then sometimes forming Chinese symbols.
8:35 - Holy shit! There were people moving the blocks. The precision of this show has been amazing. I know they have headsets on, but that is still a lot of people to get together.
8:39 - Dancer being carried out on the paper that was printed on earlier, then lifted into the sky. We're going through Chinese history. We are at the period when China would trade with everyone. Silk roads, that sort of thing.
8:41 - A lot of people waving around large paddles that make images of boats on them. Did I mention that this is amazingly precise? Just said 15,000 performers. No one does more than one thing. Director was asked if they could have this many, and he joked that they had enough people in China.
8:43 - We are getting way too many commercials.
8:51 - Okay, NBCs commercial breaks are pissing me off now. They are cutting stuff off. It is a previously recorded thing. There is no need to do that. Now things have gotten weird. People in green jumpsuits. Wait, green jumpsuits with lights on them.
8:53 - The guy playing piano is pretty good. Some star in China whose name I did not catch.
8:54 - I know marching bands that would sell their souls to Satan for this kind of precision.
8:55 - Little girl flying through the stadium, flying a kite. Nifty.
8:59 - Now we have Tai Chi demonstrators.
9:02 - Now 2,008 Tai Chi masters performing a demonstration together surrounding kids. Wow, they are in a perfect circle, without floor markings.
9:04 - Damn. If you are not watching this, I pity you.
9:06 - I like the touch of having all the performers wave to the crowd before they leave. Even the people inside the boxes earlier got to wave.
9;11 - This is a trippy sequence recognizing Chinese astronauts. A globe rose up from the ground, and it has people running around on it. Some are sideways, and others are on the bottom.
9:13 - I seriously do not understand how they are projecting images onto all of the things that they are. It is just mind boggling.
9:16 - There are fireworks all over the city going off.
9:20 - And now we have the parade of athletes.
11:30 - Not surprised Yao Ming is carrying the Chinese flag. The kid walking beside him, an earthquake survivor, is a sweet touch. I am happy that Yao was able to return from his injury in time for the Olympics. He is the biggest (no pun intended) Chinese athlete, known around the world. Also wanted to note that having the athletes step on a color and walk across the painting from earlier was a wonderful idea.
11:42 - Cute. Yao is holding the kid that walked in with him so he can see what is going on.
11:52 - Holy shit! They lifted the final torch bearer and he is running around the top rim of the stadium. This is utterly amazing.
11:55 - Wow. How the hell did they put the torch there? It has not been there the entire time. I am happy that I decided to watch the ceremony this year. It was incredible.
8:00 - Cool light drum thingys. A lot of them. A whole lot of them. This is going to be weird.
8:02 - Neat countdown with the lit drums.
8:03 - Wow, awesome opening. It looked like the stadium exploded.
8:05 - This is an amazingly precise performance to open things. Reciting words, followed by a drumbeat. I cannot even estimate how many people are on the field doing this.
8:07 - And now they have sticks. Where the hell did they get sticks. Announcers made a comment that the performers were told to smile more, so it would not be intimidating. And the lights on the drums and stadium went off, to only show the sticks glowing. That was an amazing opening. Announcers said that there were 2,008 performers. Heh...clever.
8:13 - And now we have flying people.
8:14 - I wish the announcers would shut up.
8:16 - It has just been invaded by ethnic kids. Seriously. 56 kids dressed as each of the 56 ethnic groups in China. And oh look, Bush is talking to Putin. Uhg. Please do not show him again. This is about the Olympics, not politics, and announcers, please do not analyze meanings.
8:19 - Ummm...NBC, this is a taped event. Why are you cutting off fireworks to go to a commercial?
8:22 - Dancers painting on a large sheet of paper by dancing. Neat.
8:24 - The floor they are performing on is an LED screen?! Damn!
8:30 - They are going through some of Confusous' teachings. I wish I could describe it.
8:32 - There are these blocks moving in intricate patterns. Then sometimes forming Chinese symbols.
8:35 - Holy shit! There were people moving the blocks. The precision of this show has been amazing. I know they have headsets on, but that is still a lot of people to get together.
8:39 - Dancer being carried out on the paper that was printed on earlier, then lifted into the sky. We're going through Chinese history. We are at the period when China would trade with everyone. Silk roads, that sort of thing.
8:41 - A lot of people waving around large paddles that make images of boats on them. Did I mention that this is amazingly precise? Just said 15,000 performers. No one does more than one thing. Director was asked if they could have this many, and he joked that they had enough people in China.
8:43 - We are getting way too many commercials.
8:51 - Okay, NBCs commercial breaks are pissing me off now. They are cutting stuff off. It is a previously recorded thing. There is no need to do that. Now things have gotten weird. People in green jumpsuits. Wait, green jumpsuits with lights on them.
8:53 - The guy playing piano is pretty good. Some star in China whose name I did not catch.
8:54 - I know marching bands that would sell their souls to Satan for this kind of precision.
8:55 - Little girl flying through the stadium, flying a kite. Nifty.
8:59 - Now we have Tai Chi demonstrators.
9:02 - Now 2,008 Tai Chi masters performing a demonstration together surrounding kids. Wow, they are in a perfect circle, without floor markings.
9:04 - Damn. If you are not watching this, I pity you.
9:06 - I like the touch of having all the performers wave to the crowd before they leave. Even the people inside the boxes earlier got to wave.
9;11 - This is a trippy sequence recognizing Chinese astronauts. A globe rose up from the ground, and it has people running around on it. Some are sideways, and others are on the bottom.
9:13 - I seriously do not understand how they are projecting images onto all of the things that they are. It is just mind boggling.
9:16 - There are fireworks all over the city going off.
9:20 - And now we have the parade of athletes.
11:30 - Not surprised Yao Ming is carrying the Chinese flag. The kid walking beside him, an earthquake survivor, is a sweet touch. I am happy that Yao was able to return from his injury in time for the Olympics. He is the biggest (no pun intended) Chinese athlete, known around the world. Also wanted to note that having the athletes step on a color and walk across the painting from earlier was a wonderful idea.
11:42 - Cute. Yao is holding the kid that walked in with him so he can see what is going on.
11:52 - Holy shit! They lifted the final torch bearer and he is running around the top rim of the stadium. This is utterly amazing.
11:55 - Wow. How the hell did they put the torch there? It has not been there the entire time. I am happy that I decided to watch the ceremony this year. It was incredible.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Thank You Favre
Thank you, Favre, for showing that you are still the same quarterback we have come to know and love. I admit, after last season, I was worried. Last season, you played very unlike yourself. You appeared to actually be thinking and making decisions on the field instead of just throwing caution to the wind, except for the NFC Championship game. However, this past month has shown that you are still the same reckless decision maker that you have always been.
I admit, I was fooled by your tear-filled retirement. I thought you were actually going to retire. I should have known better, my roommate did. I should have known that after years of being wishy-washy on the topic, you could not have possibly come to a finite decision now. You are not the type that will bow out gracefully.
So, now you have been reinstated, and are reporting to training camp to "compete" for the starting job. Does anyone actually think there will be a competition for the starting job? It cannot happen. Even if Aaron Rodgers wins the starting job, there is no way he can suceed. He was already getting booed at home during a preseason game. In order to get and keep fan support, he would have to set every single season record, and go undefeated. Anything less, and he will forever be labeled as "not Brett Favre." Thanks Brett.
Here are Rick Reilly's thoughts on the matter.
I admit, I was fooled by your tear-filled retirement. I thought you were actually going to retire. I should have known better, my roommate did. I should have known that after years of being wishy-washy on the topic, you could not have possibly come to a finite decision now. You are not the type that will bow out gracefully.
So, now you have been reinstated, and are reporting to training camp to "compete" for the starting job. Does anyone actually think there will be a competition for the starting job? It cannot happen. Even if Aaron Rodgers wins the starting job, there is no way he can suceed. He was already getting booed at home during a preseason game. In order to get and keep fan support, he would have to set every single season record, and go undefeated. Anything less, and he will forever be labeled as "not Brett Favre." Thanks Brett.
Here are Rick Reilly's thoughts on the matter.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Trade Deadline
That's All You Can Get?
Well, the Reds traded Griffey to the White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar. Do not be ashamed if you have no idea who these players are, I did not either. Nick Masset has appeared in 32 games this season with a 4.63 ERA. Nick Masset is hitting .262 in Triple-A Charlotte. Also, the Reds will split Griffey's remaining salary and the buyout on next year's option with the White Sox. So, to recap the deal, in return for a future Hall of Famer, the Reds get a mediocre relief pitcher, a mediocre minor league infielder, and have to pay half of his remaining salary. This deal does not look good. Even if they wanted to just get rid of his salary, surely they could have gotten more. Also, will what they save in payroll offset a possible drop in revenue from ticket sales and merchandise.
Manny's Out Of Boston
Manny Ramierez has been traded to the Dodgers in a 3 team deal that also includes the Pirates. The Dodgers get Manny, Boston gets Jason Bay from the Pirates, and the Pirates get four prospects.
Well, the Reds traded Griffey to the White Sox for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar. Do not be ashamed if you have no idea who these players are, I did not either. Nick Masset has appeared in 32 games this season with a 4.63 ERA. Nick Masset is hitting .262 in Triple-A Charlotte. Also, the Reds will split Griffey's remaining salary and the buyout on next year's option with the White Sox. So, to recap the deal, in return for a future Hall of Famer, the Reds get a mediocre relief pitcher, a mediocre minor league infielder, and have to pay half of his remaining salary. This deal does not look good. Even if they wanted to just get rid of his salary, surely they could have gotten more. Also, will what they save in payroll offset a possible drop in revenue from ticket sales and merchandise.
Manny's Out Of Boston
Manny Ramierez has been traded to the Dodgers in a 3 team deal that also includes the Pirates. The Dodgers get Manny, Boston gets Jason Bay from the Pirates, and the Pirates get four prospects.
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