If I have to turn on one more sport talk show and hear how Mike Trout is more deserving of the MVP in Major League Baseball this year than Miguel Cabrera I might just swear off fish forever.
Keep in mind that I am from Michigan so I may be accused of being a bit biased but it seems pretty clear to me who the choice should be. I don't care if you are from California, Michigan, or somewhere inbetween... unless you are completely blind to how the game of baseball is played there should be no other player mentioned in the American League other than that of Miguel Cabrera.
All the baseball "experts" want to point to the latest and greatest WAR stat to point out that Mike Trout is worth X number more games to the Angels than Miguel Cabrera is to the Tigers. I find this new WAR stat to be hypothetical at best and for the baseball "experts" to use it as the main basis for the arguement in favor of Trout only points out how much many of the "experts" are nothing more than flavor of the month jock sniffers that could not be unbiased if their lives depended on it. The intent to use a completely hypothetical stat to determine the MVP is ludicrous (current players other then Trout with a higher WAR than Cabrera include Ryan Braun, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, and David Wright... oh and Chase Headley is .1 lower). Who is to say that the avg replacement player they use for the WAR stat could not come into the lineup and have a breakout season. This is why we play the games people! If baseball were played based on hypothetical stats then the Tigers would be leading the White Sox by 10 games and cruising into the playoffs. Let's look at the stats that are concrete and are computed by things that have actually happened on the baseball field and not based on if avg player A as determined by formula B gives us rating C.
As of this morning 9/23/2012
Avg
Cabrera .332 Trout .325 (Cabrera +.007)
HR
Cabrera 42 Trout 28 (Cabrera +14)
RBI
Cabrera 131 Trout 78 (Cabrera +53)
OBP
Cabrera .398 Trout .395 (Cabrera +.003)
R
Cabrera 104 Trout 121 (Trout +17)
BB
Cabrera 64 Trout 60 (Cabrera +4)
SO
Cabrera 90 Trout 126 (In favor of Cabrera +36)
SB
Cabrera 4 Trout 46 (Trout +42)
SLG
Cabrera .616 Trout .558 (Cabrera +.058)
OPS
Cabrera 1.014 Trout .953 (Cabrera +.061)
Looking at these stats it seems pretty clear to me who the choice should be. Trout may have more stolen bases and been on Sportscenter more times for making spectacular playes but his stats simply do not translate into the MVP this season. Has he had a spectacular season? Sure. Is he the one who should be given the MVP? NO!
The stats are not the only barometer however. If you look at the stats for September, which marks the playoff push, Trout's performance has declined while Cabrera's has surged even higher. Is it not the mark of the MVP to play his best when his team needs him and the playoffs are on the line. This is another huge check mark on the Cabrera column. Let's also take into account how much better the player makes those around him. Cabrera hitting 3rd in front of relative unknowns like And Dirks and Quniton Berry have propelled them to have fantastic years. Also factor in that Prince Fielder is hitting 4th behind Cabrera and he is having a fantastic season hitting over .300 and driving in over 100 runs. Those around him thrive because of Cabrera. The table setters in front of him see better pitches and the hitters behind him reap the benefits of him getting on base so often. In my opinion this is another check that falls on the Cabrera column. Oh, did I mention that he is a very realistic bet to win the first triple crown in recent history? Check!
The stats and the realistic intangibles would seem to make it pretty clear who the choice should be. Miguel Cabrera should be the hands down clear cut winner of the award. There should be no arguement. Trout is a great centerfielder and has had a great year. That should cleary get him the Rookie of the Year and most likely the Gold Glove. Should it get him the MVP? No way in hell.
The writers and "experts" can look to their non-results based hypothetical statistics all they want. It does not matter that Cabrera plays in a smaller baseball market or that Justin Verlander own the MVP last season. All that matters is what happens between the lines and that clearly shows that Miguel Cabrera has clearly been the MVP of this baseball season.
If you cannot see it you are clearly out fishing... maybe that's the problem.
See you next time
From the Cheap Seats
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Friday, November 11, 2011
OMG make the Penn State talk STOP!!!
It has been about a year since I wrote on this Blog but this topic and the associated media coverage have me so spun up it makes me sick. Had to dust off the Blog and weigh in on the topic.
First and foremost this whole issue is about the victims. Despite what many people seem to think and several have lost sight of, the KIDS are the victims in this story. Penn State, Joe Paterno, the University AD or President, and most certainly Mike McQuery are not the victims. Anyone who does what Sandusky did to those kids deserves to burn in the worst part of Hell. Let me say it again just to be clear... The kids are the victims!
With that being said let's move on to who is, or should be, the villain of this story. Sandusky is clearly the person who committed these horrible acts and HE is the one that needs to be held most responsible. If other people knew or failed to act, they deserve some blame but they were not the ones committing the acts. Since the story broke there has been almost no mention on the day to day overblown coverage of this mess about Sandusky. His name is mentioned here and there but for the most part it is just a prelude to a story about Penn State University or Joe Paterno. Let me say it again just to be clear... Sandusky is the villain!
Before I go any further... and because many people are probably already reading this and thinking that I am letting people off the hook... I believe that if indeed people knew about this and failed to act or act in a manner that would have stopped this sooner then they need to be held in some way responsible for their failures.
Here is the timeline as I know it.
In 1998 Sandusky was investigated for having showered and having sexual contact with a young boy. At that time he all but admitted guilt while on the phone with the Mother of the victim. When he made this admission two police detectives were listening on the line. The case was taken to the prosecutor who did not file charges. The fate of the prosecutor since then has come up but is completely unimportant to things now. What was important was his decision not to press charges then.
In 2002 Sandusky was discovered having sexual contact with a young boy while in a Penn State building by a graduate assistant of the University. That graduate assistant was the 28 year old Mike McQuery. He states that he saw the act in progress. He did not attempt to stop it but instead went home where he told his father. He and his father then told Joe Paterno the next day. Paterno then told his superiors, one of who was the direct supervisor for the campus police. There has been little to no news on what those individuals did with the information. Apparently at some point Sandusky was banned from bringing children on campus property following the incident.
Several reports state that Sandusky has been on campus since then, even up to days before his arrest.
Here are the players in the story.
Sandusky. Villain. Scum. Vile piece of trash. It is pretty obvious that he did the things he was arrested for and as I said earlier I hope he one day burns in the worst part of Hell. Between now and then I hope he is made to suffer for the things he did.
The Second Mile Organization. An organization founded by Sandusky to help troubled youths. The Organization that he was active in, holding camps and fund raisers.
Mike McQuery. The graduate assistant who was 28 at the time he saw Sandusky with the boy. He has gone on to become a valued coach at Penn State and the star witness for the Grand Jury.
Joe Paterno. The head football coach at Penn State and possibly the face of the University. He is now out of a job.
Penn State University.
Now to connect the dots so to speak. These are my opinions. Like them. Don't like them. They are as valid as anything I have seen droning on and on for the last several days.
In 1998 if the police and the prosecutor had done their job then there is a good chance we would not even be talking about this today. It seems obvious to me that at the very least there should have been a warrant sworn out and charges should have been brought against Sandusky. If he was found innocent then perhaps we would still be talking about it but what if... what if he had been convicted... and been labeled a sex offender... and been removed from the Second Mile Organization... and not been allowed near schools, such as Penn State. What if THOSE people had made the effort that everyone keeps pointing out that Paterno and Penn State should have made. There is a good chance that several children would have been saved from Sandusky.
In 2002 why did the 28 year old McQuery not do anything to save the child when he clearly saw what Sandusky was doing to him, by his own admission in the Grand Jury testimony. I find it hard to believe that he was so traumatized that his gut reaction was to run home to his father and observe what he felt was his chain of command. At the time Sandusky was not even a part of the football staff. It was not a football program issue, it was a criminal issue. McQuery should have at the very least called campus security or the police. He should have gone into the room and grabbed the child and removed him from the assault. At the very least he should have yelled out and attempted to make Sandusky stop. What is easier to believe is that McQuery was concerned that if he acted he would lose any chance he had to be involved in the Penn State football program. He was more concerned with his future than he was for a poor victimized little boy being raped by a grown man. He seems to always be looking out for his best interest over that of others. Strange that he is the star witness for the Grand Jury which grants him apparent immunity from any prosecution in this case. He could have acted and he DID NOT. He did not make any attempt to stop it, physically or otherwise, when he saw it and he failed to report it to police. Sadly, he is the one person at Penn State who has yet to lose his job. Hell, he was scheduled to be coaching on the sidelines up until Friday afternoon. The reason he was removed from the sidelines was reportedly because he was receiving threats. Later in the evening it was stated that he was placed on administrative leave. I imagine Penn State did this as they were being hammered for him being left nearly untouched in this for so long. McQuery is as guilty as anyone at Penn State.
From the start of this media storm it seems as though Joe Paterno was painted as the villain. His witch hunt came to an end with his being let go by the University. Could he have done more when he was told about the incident in 2002, sure. Does he know more about Sandusky than we will probably ever find out, sure. He could have done more. He was the face of the University and a man of great integrity. The University cleaned house, as they probably needed to, to save whatever face they had left. Strange they took so long with McQuery.
I am sure A LOT of people know more than they are admitting or ever will admit. I am sure people within the football program or people within the University know more than they will ever say. I am sure that people involved with the Second Mile Organization know more than they will ever say. To make a comparison, they left an alcoholic in charge of the liquor store. They supplied him with an endless supply of young boys to abuse. If anyone involved with the Organization knew they need to be burned at the stake as well. Why, after he was investigated in 1998 was he still allowed to be a part of the Organization. I understand he founded it but I have to say that if he was even being investigated for it he should have been removed from any and all contact with the children.
So many times this horrible story could have been stopped. Due to the lack of action by some it was allowed to go on. It all should have been stopped in 1998. It should have been stopped in 2002. How many more kids had to suffer at the hands of the monster. The police and prosecutor FAILED those children in 1998. McQuery FAILED those children in 2002 along with Paterno and Penn State to a lesser degree.
So many people FAILED those kids. They are the victims. They are the one who were wronged. They are the ones who were violated.
The media continues in the long line of people to FAIL the kids. So much of the reporting being done almost makes it sound like there are other victims here. McQuery, Paterno, Penn State, and the list goes on and on. None of those people or institutions are victims. Let's not lose sight of who the victims are... THE KIDS.
First and foremost this whole issue is about the victims. Despite what many people seem to think and several have lost sight of, the KIDS are the victims in this story. Penn State, Joe Paterno, the University AD or President, and most certainly Mike McQuery are not the victims. Anyone who does what Sandusky did to those kids deserves to burn in the worst part of Hell. Let me say it again just to be clear... The kids are the victims!
With that being said let's move on to who is, or should be, the villain of this story. Sandusky is clearly the person who committed these horrible acts and HE is the one that needs to be held most responsible. If other people knew or failed to act, they deserve some blame but they were not the ones committing the acts. Since the story broke there has been almost no mention on the day to day overblown coverage of this mess about Sandusky. His name is mentioned here and there but for the most part it is just a prelude to a story about Penn State University or Joe Paterno. Let me say it again just to be clear... Sandusky is the villain!
Before I go any further... and because many people are probably already reading this and thinking that I am letting people off the hook... I believe that if indeed people knew about this and failed to act or act in a manner that would have stopped this sooner then they need to be held in some way responsible for their failures.
Here is the timeline as I know it.
In 1998 Sandusky was investigated for having showered and having sexual contact with a young boy. At that time he all but admitted guilt while on the phone with the Mother of the victim. When he made this admission two police detectives were listening on the line. The case was taken to the prosecutor who did not file charges. The fate of the prosecutor since then has come up but is completely unimportant to things now. What was important was his decision not to press charges then.
In 2002 Sandusky was discovered having sexual contact with a young boy while in a Penn State building by a graduate assistant of the University. That graduate assistant was the 28 year old Mike McQuery. He states that he saw the act in progress. He did not attempt to stop it but instead went home where he told his father. He and his father then told Joe Paterno the next day. Paterno then told his superiors, one of who was the direct supervisor for the campus police. There has been little to no news on what those individuals did with the information. Apparently at some point Sandusky was banned from bringing children on campus property following the incident.
Several reports state that Sandusky has been on campus since then, even up to days before his arrest.
Here are the players in the story.
Sandusky. Villain. Scum. Vile piece of trash. It is pretty obvious that he did the things he was arrested for and as I said earlier I hope he one day burns in the worst part of Hell. Between now and then I hope he is made to suffer for the things he did.
The Second Mile Organization. An organization founded by Sandusky to help troubled youths. The Organization that he was active in, holding camps and fund raisers.
Mike McQuery. The graduate assistant who was 28 at the time he saw Sandusky with the boy. He has gone on to become a valued coach at Penn State and the star witness for the Grand Jury.
Joe Paterno. The head football coach at Penn State and possibly the face of the University. He is now out of a job.
Penn State University.
Now to connect the dots so to speak. These are my opinions. Like them. Don't like them. They are as valid as anything I have seen droning on and on for the last several days.
In 1998 if the police and the prosecutor had done their job then there is a good chance we would not even be talking about this today. It seems obvious to me that at the very least there should have been a warrant sworn out and charges should have been brought against Sandusky. If he was found innocent then perhaps we would still be talking about it but what if... what if he had been convicted... and been labeled a sex offender... and been removed from the Second Mile Organization... and not been allowed near schools, such as Penn State. What if THOSE people had made the effort that everyone keeps pointing out that Paterno and Penn State should have made. There is a good chance that several children would have been saved from Sandusky.
In 2002 why did the 28 year old McQuery not do anything to save the child when he clearly saw what Sandusky was doing to him, by his own admission in the Grand Jury testimony. I find it hard to believe that he was so traumatized that his gut reaction was to run home to his father and observe what he felt was his chain of command. At the time Sandusky was not even a part of the football staff. It was not a football program issue, it was a criminal issue. McQuery should have at the very least called campus security or the police. He should have gone into the room and grabbed the child and removed him from the assault. At the very least he should have yelled out and attempted to make Sandusky stop. What is easier to believe is that McQuery was concerned that if he acted he would lose any chance he had to be involved in the Penn State football program. He was more concerned with his future than he was for a poor victimized little boy being raped by a grown man. He seems to always be looking out for his best interest over that of others. Strange that he is the star witness for the Grand Jury which grants him apparent immunity from any prosecution in this case. He could have acted and he DID NOT. He did not make any attempt to stop it, physically or otherwise, when he saw it and he failed to report it to police. Sadly, he is the one person at Penn State who has yet to lose his job. Hell, he was scheduled to be coaching on the sidelines up until Friday afternoon. The reason he was removed from the sidelines was reportedly because he was receiving threats. Later in the evening it was stated that he was placed on administrative leave. I imagine Penn State did this as they were being hammered for him being left nearly untouched in this for so long. McQuery is as guilty as anyone at Penn State.
From the start of this media storm it seems as though Joe Paterno was painted as the villain. His witch hunt came to an end with his being let go by the University. Could he have done more when he was told about the incident in 2002, sure. Does he know more about Sandusky than we will probably ever find out, sure. He could have done more. He was the face of the University and a man of great integrity. The University cleaned house, as they probably needed to, to save whatever face they had left. Strange they took so long with McQuery.
I am sure A LOT of people know more than they are admitting or ever will admit. I am sure people within the football program or people within the University know more than they will ever say. I am sure that people involved with the Second Mile Organization know more than they will ever say. To make a comparison, they left an alcoholic in charge of the liquor store. They supplied him with an endless supply of young boys to abuse. If anyone involved with the Organization knew they need to be burned at the stake as well. Why, after he was investigated in 1998 was he still allowed to be a part of the Organization. I understand he founded it but I have to say that if he was even being investigated for it he should have been removed from any and all contact with the children.
So many times this horrible story could have been stopped. Due to the lack of action by some it was allowed to go on. It all should have been stopped in 1998. It should have been stopped in 2002. How many more kids had to suffer at the hands of the monster. The police and prosecutor FAILED those children in 1998. McQuery FAILED those children in 2002 along with Paterno and Penn State to a lesser degree.
So many people FAILED those kids. They are the victims. They are the one who were wronged. They are the ones who were violated.
The media continues in the long line of people to FAIL the kids. So much of the reporting being done almost makes it sound like there are other victims here. McQuery, Paterno, Penn State, and the list goes on and on. None of those people or institutions are victims. Let's not lose sight of who the victims are... THE KIDS.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Athletes as role models and parents as parents
I must say this Blog has been banging around in my head for quite some time but it seems more and more that athletes are being portrayed in the media as monsters, as tidbits about their personal lives hit the television, radio, and newspapers. I will touch on the sports media largely being nothing more than a bunch of tabloid hacks in another article but today I want to dig into the way they portray these athletes as people and sports figures.
Let's review some of the more recent poo flinging scandals. Brett Favre accused of sending "racy" text messages and photos to a team employee when he was a member of the NY Jets. Braylon Edwards getting a DWI. Ben Rothlisberger having inappropriate relations with a young "lady" in a club bathroom. Tiger Woods cheating on his wife with multiple women.
Now for some not so recent. Barry Bonds and the rest of the media drubbed "steroid era" players being vilified for cheating. Pete Rose and his gambling problem. Kobe Bryant being accused of rape. Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley and their gambling issues.
All these things both recent and not so recent have several things in common but the two things that stand out most are that they got HUGE media attention and the players involved were slammed by media outlets, fellow professionals, and fans. Don't get me wrong, in every instance I mentioned the player involved made a giant error in judgement and did something that I think we can all agree on was morally wrong. Did everyone read that right? I said MORALLY WRONG. These professional athletes were morally wrong but people by and large want to condemn them as scum and even go so far as to blast them as athletes. What they did wrong may make them bad people but it in NO WAY makes them a bad athlete.
Pete Rose gambled on baseball. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he was one of the best players ever to swing a bat. Michael Jordan had a gambling problem. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he may be the best player ever to pick up a basketball. Brett Favre is accused of flirting with a team employee while he was married. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he may be the best quarterback ever to throw a pass. Tiger Woods had affairs with numerous women while married. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he is one of the best golfers ever to swing a club.
I think you see my point. So many times it seems like the media and even fans want to connect the players personal lives with their accomplishments on the field. This seems ridiculous to me. I watch all these players and think to myself... these are some of the best players in the history of sports but they sure do lack a strong sense of morals and in some cases integrity. Believe it or not, you can appreciate an athlete for his play on the field, rink, course, etc while disagreeing with his morals and beliefs as a person. It can be done people. I stand as a living testimonial of this ground breaking fact. So much is made of the professional athlete as a role model or lack there of. Yes, countless years ago, players were looked to as role models for kids and adults alike. Lots of little boys grew up wanting to be just like their favorite pro hero. That was realistic then because the media did not report the players personal baggage. It was easy to idolize a player because all you had to base it on was his or her performance on their filed of choice. Now however, as unfortunate is it is, you must separate the player from the person. Don't get me wrong there are some athletes, a good majority I would venture to say, that are great people and they gladly take on the mantle of role model. There are some however that do not want this title and do not believe that it should be forced upon them. I must say that I agree with them in this day and age. The world has changed and so have the people who live in it. It does not make the moral and personal indiscretions right it just means that people should not view them as both good people and good athletes.
Long road to tie in the title of this article but here it is. Parents. You need to wake up and realize that your kids can like and idolize an athlete for being great even if he is one of the people I mentioned above or another athlete that has done similar things. It is YOUR JOB as a parent to make them see the separation that has to exist between what they do on the field and then off the field. I would want my kids to idolize every athlete I mentioned in this article... for their play on the field. It is my responsibility, not those athletes, to make them strong moral people.
A note to all the adults who cannot make the separation. Those who stop being a fan of a player that has done great things in sports but has made personal mistakes. Those that bash them as being horrible in general based on those types of things... get over yourself. Get off your moral high horse and realize that you can be a great athlete and still be a horrible person. "Normal" people do it in their lives every day. You can be a great doctor, lawyer, teacher or any other profession and still be a complete and utter poor excuse for a human being personally.
The ultimate point here is that adults and kids alike seem to be losing their love of sports based on the kinds of things mentioned above. Sports was a HUGE part of my life and was very instrumental in making me the person I am today. I think I am a pretty good person. Not perfect by any means but I do the best I can. I was taught a solid sense or morals and the difference between right and wrong by good parents. Sports can help kids in so many ways and the love of sports needs to be fostered and encouraged.
Shame on the athletes for doing things that or morally wrong and sometimes worse...
But shame on the adults and parents for not being able to separate on the field from off the field to try to keep the love of sports alive.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Let's review some of the more recent poo flinging scandals. Brett Favre accused of sending "racy" text messages and photos to a team employee when he was a member of the NY Jets. Braylon Edwards getting a DWI. Ben Rothlisberger having inappropriate relations with a young "lady" in a club bathroom. Tiger Woods cheating on his wife with multiple women.
Now for some not so recent. Barry Bonds and the rest of the media drubbed "steroid era" players being vilified for cheating. Pete Rose and his gambling problem. Kobe Bryant being accused of rape. Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley and their gambling issues.
All these things both recent and not so recent have several things in common but the two things that stand out most are that they got HUGE media attention and the players involved were slammed by media outlets, fellow professionals, and fans. Don't get me wrong, in every instance I mentioned the player involved made a giant error in judgement and did something that I think we can all agree on was morally wrong. Did everyone read that right? I said MORALLY WRONG. These professional athletes were morally wrong but people by and large want to condemn them as scum and even go so far as to blast them as athletes. What they did wrong may make them bad people but it in NO WAY makes them a bad athlete.
Pete Rose gambled on baseball. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he was one of the best players ever to swing a bat. Michael Jordan had a gambling problem. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he may be the best player ever to pick up a basketball. Brett Favre is accused of flirting with a team employee while he was married. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he may be the best quarterback ever to throw a pass. Tiger Woods had affairs with numerous women while married. You can question his morals but you cannot question that he is one of the best golfers ever to swing a club.
I think you see my point. So many times it seems like the media and even fans want to connect the players personal lives with their accomplishments on the field. This seems ridiculous to me. I watch all these players and think to myself... these are some of the best players in the history of sports but they sure do lack a strong sense of morals and in some cases integrity. Believe it or not, you can appreciate an athlete for his play on the field, rink, course, etc while disagreeing with his morals and beliefs as a person. It can be done people. I stand as a living testimonial of this ground breaking fact. So much is made of the professional athlete as a role model or lack there of. Yes, countless years ago, players were looked to as role models for kids and adults alike. Lots of little boys grew up wanting to be just like their favorite pro hero. That was realistic then because the media did not report the players personal baggage. It was easy to idolize a player because all you had to base it on was his or her performance on their filed of choice. Now however, as unfortunate is it is, you must separate the player from the person. Don't get me wrong there are some athletes, a good majority I would venture to say, that are great people and they gladly take on the mantle of role model. There are some however that do not want this title and do not believe that it should be forced upon them. I must say that I agree with them in this day and age. The world has changed and so have the people who live in it. It does not make the moral and personal indiscretions right it just means that people should not view them as both good people and good athletes.
Long road to tie in the title of this article but here it is. Parents. You need to wake up and realize that your kids can like and idolize an athlete for being great even if he is one of the people I mentioned above or another athlete that has done similar things. It is YOUR JOB as a parent to make them see the separation that has to exist between what they do on the field and then off the field. I would want my kids to idolize every athlete I mentioned in this article... for their play on the field. It is my responsibility, not those athletes, to make them strong moral people.
A note to all the adults who cannot make the separation. Those who stop being a fan of a player that has done great things in sports but has made personal mistakes. Those that bash them as being horrible in general based on those types of things... get over yourself. Get off your moral high horse and realize that you can be a great athlete and still be a horrible person. "Normal" people do it in their lives every day. You can be a great doctor, lawyer, teacher or any other profession and still be a complete and utter poor excuse for a human being personally.
The ultimate point here is that adults and kids alike seem to be losing their love of sports based on the kinds of things mentioned above. Sports was a HUGE part of my life and was very instrumental in making me the person I am today. I think I am a pretty good person. Not perfect by any means but I do the best I can. I was taught a solid sense or morals and the difference between right and wrong by good parents. Sports can help kids in so many ways and the love of sports needs to be fostered and encouraged.
Shame on the athletes for doing things that or morally wrong and sometimes worse...
But shame on the adults and parents for not being able to separate on the field from off the field to try to keep the love of sports alive.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Scandal as an NFL pre-game tactic?
Being from Michigan, the U of M vs MSU game would have been too easy to comment on so here we go...
Earlier this week it came out that Brett Favre may have sent "racy" messages to a NY Jets employee when he was with the team. The allegations naturally made national news and I am sure interfered with the weekly prep of the Vikings. Being asked about the statements has to have an affect on Favre and the rest of the team. If nothing else it is a distraction that professional athletes do not need. The game of professional football is hard enough to play without having your focus pulled away to deal with something non-football related.
That being said.
Does anyone find it a coincidence that this weeks opponent for the Vikings is... The Jets? You have got to be kidding me. If the allegations prove to be true they have been true for over 2 years. They could have come out at any time during those two years. It just seems way to convenient to me that they came out the week prior to the Vikings vs Jets game.
That raises the question...
Did the Jets in some way have something to do with this coming out now. As I previously noted, this could have come out at any time over the last 2 years. Suspicious is probably an understatement in my opinion. Perhaps it is all just a happy coincidence but I think not. What better way to get the QB of the team you are playing off his game than to present him with a huge distraction during his prep week. Whether the allegations are true or not this would prove to be a HUGELY unprofessional move on the part of the Jets. Could I see them doing it... sure. Going into the season I thought the Jets were a down to earth, gritty, talented, working man's team that had a real chance of getting deep into the playoffs and possibly playing in the Super Bowl. I still believe they are all those things but there are some additions. I now also believe that they are a sometimes unprofessional team that thinks because they got a lot of press and were on HBO that they somehow have the right to do and say whatever they want and that they are untouchable. Coaches and players continuously run their mouths which is a part of the game to a point but to hear it daily is a bit over the top. The run in with the female reporter earlier this season speaks volumes. Braylon Edwards DWI and then joke of a suspension by the team speaks volumes. They call it professional football for a reason. Despite all the violence and fierce competition things must remain professional. Would a team do something like let slip accusations that their upcoming opponent's QB may have had some scandalous things happen years ago? I imagine some teams may have thought about it but it appears one may have gone and done it.
All the talk is that Brett Favre is being investigated and could even face a possible suspension. If he is going to be investigated I believe that the Jets should be investigated as well and if it is determined that they had anything to do with this getting out they should be penalized and penalized heavily. Draft picks being forfeit would be just a start. Competition is sometimes mean and nasty but it in end it must remain professional.
I do like the Jets and would much rather see them win rather than say the Cowboys, Patriots, or Raiders but winning should be done the right way... and if the Jets are involved in this scandal, not this way.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Earlier this week it came out that Brett Favre may have sent "racy" messages to a NY Jets employee when he was with the team. The allegations naturally made national news and I am sure interfered with the weekly prep of the Vikings. Being asked about the statements has to have an affect on Favre and the rest of the team. If nothing else it is a distraction that professional athletes do not need. The game of professional football is hard enough to play without having your focus pulled away to deal with something non-football related.
That being said.
Does anyone find it a coincidence that this weeks opponent for the Vikings is... The Jets? You have got to be kidding me. If the allegations prove to be true they have been true for over 2 years. They could have come out at any time during those two years. It just seems way to convenient to me that they came out the week prior to the Vikings vs Jets game.
That raises the question...
Did the Jets in some way have something to do with this coming out now. As I previously noted, this could have come out at any time over the last 2 years. Suspicious is probably an understatement in my opinion. Perhaps it is all just a happy coincidence but I think not. What better way to get the QB of the team you are playing off his game than to present him with a huge distraction during his prep week. Whether the allegations are true or not this would prove to be a HUGELY unprofessional move on the part of the Jets. Could I see them doing it... sure. Going into the season I thought the Jets were a down to earth, gritty, talented, working man's team that had a real chance of getting deep into the playoffs and possibly playing in the Super Bowl. I still believe they are all those things but there are some additions. I now also believe that they are a sometimes unprofessional team that thinks because they got a lot of press and were on HBO that they somehow have the right to do and say whatever they want and that they are untouchable. Coaches and players continuously run their mouths which is a part of the game to a point but to hear it daily is a bit over the top. The run in with the female reporter earlier this season speaks volumes. Braylon Edwards DWI and then joke of a suspension by the team speaks volumes. They call it professional football for a reason. Despite all the violence and fierce competition things must remain professional. Would a team do something like let slip accusations that their upcoming opponent's QB may have had some scandalous things happen years ago? I imagine some teams may have thought about it but it appears one may have gone and done it.
All the talk is that Brett Favre is being investigated and could even face a possible suspension. If he is going to be investigated I believe that the Jets should be investigated as well and if it is determined that they had anything to do with this getting out they should be penalized and penalized heavily. Draft picks being forfeit would be just a start. Competition is sometimes mean and nasty but it in end it must remain professional.
I do like the Jets and would much rather see them win rather than say the Cowboys, Patriots, or Raiders but winning should be done the right way... and if the Jets are involved in this scandal, not this way.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Red Wings Opener
Final score 4-0 Wings... nice opening night win.
Modano scores in his first game with the Wings... nice touch.
Howard gets a shutout and plays solid in net... goal tending is a key to the cup.
But... can someone explain to me... WHY THE HELL IS DATSYUK FIGHTING!
Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that he was willing to come to blows with a bigger player from the Ducks in defense of his team. He shows the kind of heart that is commendable, especially in a highly skilled two way player that normally would not drop the gloves. The point is he never should have been put in that position in the first place. The top talents in the league do not fight for a reason and that reason is that they are WAY to important to their team to risk possible injury doing something that other players on their team should be in place to do. It has been an ongoing theme with the Red Wings for years now. Other teams take liberties with their star players because they do not fear any type of retaliation. Last nights game was a hack and slash fest on the part of the Ducks, especially when the game was out of reach. Yes, there were fights earlier in the game and in one of them an Anaheim player broke his thumb which only drives home my point further. The Wings have possibly the deepest offense in the NHL this year but all that offense means nothing if those players are taking a beating every night and then missing games due to injury. It has been happening for far too long. They lose games due to injury which ultimately costs them wins, playoff positioning (last year especially), and potentially a chance to play for the Stanley Cup.
At the point when the hacking and slashing got out of control there should have been someone on the Wings roster that grabbed a Duck player and pounded on him to send a message to them that that type of play will not be tolerated. This in turn sends a message to other teams that they can take less liberties with the Wings star players. Instead NO ONE mans up and Datsyuk is forced to fight and risk himself and the best interest of the team. Even if someone was not willing to take the lead and do the "dirty work", there should have been someone as the third man in to peel the player off Datsyuk and take the third man in penalty. The game was already 4-0 and at that point taking the penalty would have meant nothing... other than possibly keeping the Wings best player from being hurt and missing time. Probert, Kocur, and dare I say it even Darren Mac would never have let Yzerman fight even if he had wanted to. They would have made a streak to the opposing player and taken care of business.
I love the Wings but this is a weakness that cannot be overlooked. It has been a problem for years and apparently times are not going to change any time soon. I applaud Datsyuk for his heart. He did well and held his own in the fight but it never should have come to that.
Great game Wings but shame on you for your lack of toughness... shame on you for allowing your star players to be abused night after night... shame on you for not realizing that Datsyuk fighting is not in the best interest of the team... and most of all shame on you for doing NOTHING about it.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Modano scores in his first game with the Wings... nice touch.
Howard gets a shutout and plays solid in net... goal tending is a key to the cup.
But... can someone explain to me... WHY THE HELL IS DATSYUK FIGHTING!
Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that he was willing to come to blows with a bigger player from the Ducks in defense of his team. He shows the kind of heart that is commendable, especially in a highly skilled two way player that normally would not drop the gloves. The point is he never should have been put in that position in the first place. The top talents in the league do not fight for a reason and that reason is that they are WAY to important to their team to risk possible injury doing something that other players on their team should be in place to do. It has been an ongoing theme with the Red Wings for years now. Other teams take liberties with their star players because they do not fear any type of retaliation. Last nights game was a hack and slash fest on the part of the Ducks, especially when the game was out of reach. Yes, there were fights earlier in the game and in one of them an Anaheim player broke his thumb which only drives home my point further. The Wings have possibly the deepest offense in the NHL this year but all that offense means nothing if those players are taking a beating every night and then missing games due to injury. It has been happening for far too long. They lose games due to injury which ultimately costs them wins, playoff positioning (last year especially), and potentially a chance to play for the Stanley Cup.
At the point when the hacking and slashing got out of control there should have been someone on the Wings roster that grabbed a Duck player and pounded on him to send a message to them that that type of play will not be tolerated. This in turn sends a message to other teams that they can take less liberties with the Wings star players. Instead NO ONE mans up and Datsyuk is forced to fight and risk himself and the best interest of the team. Even if someone was not willing to take the lead and do the "dirty work", there should have been someone as the third man in to peel the player off Datsyuk and take the third man in penalty. The game was already 4-0 and at that point taking the penalty would have meant nothing... other than possibly keeping the Wings best player from being hurt and missing time. Probert, Kocur, and dare I say it even Darren Mac would never have let Yzerman fight even if he had wanted to. They would have made a streak to the opposing player and taken care of business.
I love the Wings but this is a weakness that cannot be overlooked. It has been a problem for years and apparently times are not going to change any time soon. I applaud Datsyuk for his heart. He did well and held his own in the fight but it never should have come to that.
Great game Wings but shame on you for your lack of toughness... shame on you for allowing your star players to be abused night after night... shame on you for not realizing that Datsyuk fighting is not in the best interest of the team... and most of all shame on you for doing NOTHING about it.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Friday, October 8, 2010
Day One...
OK, so here we are at day 1 of my new Blog, View From the Cheap Seats. I hope to post here daily on something in the world of sports that has caught my eye or ear. Having been passionate about sports my whole life I generally have an opinion on most things sports related. You may agree with me, you may not but in the end we all have an opinion.
Again, let me be clear... this Blog comes from my love of sports and the views expressed are my opinions. Please feel free to comment often with your agreements or disagreements. Talking about sports is one of my favorite things to do so follow the blog, participate, have fun, and by all means spread the word to all your friends that love sports.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Again, let me be clear... this Blog comes from my love of sports and the views expressed are my opinions. Please feel free to comment often with your agreements or disagreements. Talking about sports is one of my favorite things to do so follow the blog, participate, have fun, and by all means spread the word to all your friends that love sports.
See you soon from the cheap seats
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)