Thursday, August 8, 2013

If You Sign, Don't Be Asinine...



The Johnny Manziel case continues to be all over the sports news universe. I suppose it will be until the final verdict is rendered. Did he get paid for signing his autograph on hundreds of items? If he did, he is violation of NCAA regulations, and his college football career could be all but over. But today we aren't talking about the player Manziel in particular, but the system itself overall. Colleges make millions of dollars from the names of their athletes, as well as the individual numbers these amateur athletes wear on their uniforms. Yet, in spite of that fact, the athlete himself is not allowed to benefit from his fame at all, at least not monetarily. Is this right? No. Could it be challenged, and perhaps changed? Yes. Will it be? Not anytime soon. In the meantime, college athletes better be aware of the perils that await them. Their sea is full of money hungry sharks ready to lure them in. With the rules as they are, the athlete can't make a dime, so he/she just better play the game on the field. Anything beyond that has to be charity.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Bryce Harper: Get Over It...

Bryce Harper made a diving, run saving catch in the third inning Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves.  Then the Washington Nationals' slugger homered in the bottom of that inning to post the first run of the night. In the bottom of the fifth, Harper was plunked in the leg by a Julio Teheran 94 MPH heater. After a few expletives directed at Teheran, and an umpire assisted escape from Braves catcher Brian McCann, Harper fumed his way to first base. He homered, showcased his free trot around the bases, and then paid the price with a shot to the thigh. Just the way baseball used to be played. The over-rated Nationals went on to lose the game 2-1 and fall 14 1/2 games behind the Braves in the National League Eastern Division. The desperate situation the Nats find themselves in was perhaps more the cause of Harper's frustration than the shot to the 
leg. Just sayin'...

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The Manning Brothers: Football On Your Phone!



What won't guys do for the love of the almighty dollar? Check out the video below of Peyton and Eli Manning and you'll have the answer. (Dad even gets in on the act). Directv is pulling out all the stops!

Friday, August 2, 2013

Riley Cooper: Is He Really Such A Bad Guy...



Riley Cooper made a huge mistake. He knows it, we know it , the entire nation knows it. He regrets it, we regret it, the entire nation regrets it. But he did it. He uttered a racial slur. He spoke the infamous and unspeakable "N" word. That just can't be done in today's society. As a country, we're supposed to have progressed beyond such things racially, whether in actuality we have or not.  Nevertheless Cooper said that word,  and as we all know, once something is out of the mouth, it can't be crammed back in. Now that we have established the guilt of Riley Cooper, let's talk about the punishment. He didn't sell any drugs, nor take any banned substances. He committed no crime, nor physical harm to anyone. Thus, no one is dealing with a crime scene or murder investigation. No pornography and no sexual abuse or misconduct is Cooper guilty of.   There are no robbery, nor any other felony or even misdemeanor charges. So why is Riley Cooper being treated like the lowest form of human life on the planet? He opened his mouth and said the wrong thing, but this week he opened his mouth and tried to say all the right things. He apologized. He is genuinely sorry. He is sick to his stomach at himself. Why can't we forgive the guy? Why can't we accept his apology? Why can't society let him get on with his life as a professional football player? He made a mistake and he is in the midst of suffering the consequences of that mistake. I'm not condoning his slur, but neither am I condoning the relentless punishment. His punishment is bordering on exceeding the crime. I don't believe Riley Cooper is such a bad person, and his own teammates have said as much. Let's forgive the guy and allow him to show us what a good guy he really is.