monday morning quarterback

WE HAVE MOVED!

2008-09-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

Please join us at our new address: http://mondayamquarterback.com/
Can't wait to see you there!!

Goodbye Yankee Stadium

2008-09-22T00:29:00.000-07:00

Last night Yankee Stadium held its final NY Yankee game and sadly I couldn’t be there to witness it in person. Yankee Stadium has meant so much for so many people and not only because it is home to the Yankees who are 26 time World Champions. (Don’t worry Sox fans you only have 19 more to go!) Over the years Yankee Stadium has played host to numerous events, but more importantly Yankee Stadium has played a significant role in my own family growing up.
My brother, sister and I were raised in New York and between the three of us; we attended the majority of Catholic High Schools on Long Island. Since December 2000 my brother has been a member of the FDNY, my sister and mother are both elementary school teachers on Long Island and my father is a basketball coach at Queens College. People would be hard pressed to find a family that is more willing to give back to the citizens of New York. Several things have remained constant in our lives over the years; our family loyalty and bond, our love for New York and supporting the Yankees.
My father grew up in St. Albans, NY where everyone was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. Nuns at his Catholic school would turn the radio on during school hours for the duration of the Dodgers’ playoffs. Millions of hearts broke when the Dodgers left New York and fans were forced to align their loyalties with another team. Eventually my father ended up a reluctant Yankee fan, but his kids grew up die hard Yankee fans. Ironically my father’s first experience at Yankee Stadium was a New York Giant football game against the Cleveland Browns and the great Jim Brown.
Years later we wanted to give my father Yankee season tickets for his birthday, but who the heck could afford them? We settled on a package for all Saturday home games with seats in the bleachers. All I can say is thank God alcohol had already been banned from the bleacher creatures, as my father rarely drinks and my mother has never uttered a curse word in the 34 years I have been alive. At some point that season all of us attended a game with my father and participated in Roll Call with the rest of the creatures out in Section 39.
My brother is still trying to recover from a broken nose suffered at the hands of his best friend Eddie, when the Yankees played the Mets in October 2000. (First subway series since 1956). The Yankees won that night, so of course Eddie had no choice but to lock Pat out of the house. Undaunted Pat attempted to climb in his bedroom window, where Eddie promptly slammed the window on his head. Team loyalty knows no bounds.
My sister once spent $400 for two tickets (second to last row in the stadium) to take my dad to a Yankee/ Red Sox game to celebrate his birthday. She and my dad got a lot more then they ever imagined after all this was July 1, 2004, the game that Derek Jeter dove into the stands for a foul ball by Trot Nixon in the 12th inning. Thirteen innings and a win later, my dad and sister walked into the late summer night with a memory for the ages.
When my future husband flew into New York in May 2005 to meet my family, we enjoyed a wonderful day with enough family interaction to last him forever. Fortunately he was saved from any other family torture because we had tickets to the Yankee- Red Sox game. Unfortunately the Yankees lost 7-2 that night, but at least he got to experience his first Yankee game with the love of his life.
For so many people it is hard to rationalize tearing down a stadium that signifies the history of baseball. So much greatness is housed within the confines of Yankee stadium that it can not be appropriately described, but the old stadium will always be the House that Ruth built and that can never be altered. What we have to understand is that records are made to broken, history is intended to be made and it is time for current players and coaches to be given the opportunity to create new magic for future generations.

For now since I couldn’t be home in New York to witness the final game at Yankee Stadium the following verse comes to mind: “We’ll I’m NYC born and raised, but now a days I’m lost between two shores, L.A.’s fine but it ain’t home, New York’s home but it ain’t mine no more” from I AM I SAID Neil Diamond

End of An Error?!

2008-09-18T19:32:00.001-07:00

The NY Times is reporting that the Knicks are getting ready to waive PG Stephon Marbury. Last season I didn’t even watch one Knicks game because I had better things to do with my time, such as watching the grass grow in our front yard. Growing up a NY Knicks fan, the past 7 dysfunctional, losing seasons have been absolutely torturous.

The only good resulting from this debacle is that it has eased the pain from the night of June 2, 1993. I can recall sitting in my seat at Madison Square Garden, feeling as if the E train to Jamaica just ran me over, absolutely stunned at what had just occurred. If you weren’t there or can’t remember the game, it was Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls; Charles Smith missed 4 put backs in the final seconds of a game when the Knicks were down by one point.

Fifteen years later and I am actually yearning for that June night because at least those NY Knicks were hardnosed and in the playoffs. The downward spiral of the Knicks was set in motion before the hiring of Isiah Thomas as team president, however once Isiah was on board the Knicks quickly became a runaway train headed for disaster. The owner of the NY Knicks, James Dolan thought hiring a man who had run the CBA into the ground, killed the Raptors and couldn’t get the Indiana Pacers past the first round of the playoffs would actually be a quality hire. Perhaps Dolan should have conducted some basic due diligence before hiring Thomas (just a suggestion) since a Hall of Fame playing career doesn’t necessarily translate into good management skills. This chaos was only compounded when Stephon Marbury was signed in 2004, bringing a total lack of commitment, chemistry and selfishness to an already struggling team. I have to believe that the Knicks were receiving payback for not allowing Patrick Ewing to finish his career in a NY Knicks uniform.

I have friends who have not been able to give tickets away to Knicks games, but hold onto their season tickets and eat thousands of dollars a year, because they believe that change is inevitable. (Save me a ticket to opening night Mainland!) This is NY after all, the city that has the largest payroll for sports, millions of devoted fans and illustrious history. I am hopeful that as Stephon Marbury laces up his Starbury sneakers and heads out of New York, that he takes the last remaining pieces of this catastrophe with him. Please let this be the end of an error because there is only so much one fan can handle.

Perhaps if Coach Mike D’Antonio and team President Donnie Walsh don’t get the job done, then the people of NY can petition for James Dolan to be waived.

For now I am wishing that Isiah and Stephon had handled their adversity with the grace and dignity that Charles Smith possessed.

Dumb and Dumber

2008-09-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

I know I am supposed to be mature and set a good example, especially since I have a daughter, but it appears I just can’t help myself. This week the world of athletics is asking for sarcastic remarks and comments on the lack of common sense that appears to be plaguing athletes. Clearly it is my duty to hand out awards to those athletes who have the least amount of common sense. (I wanted to call them idiots, but in my attempt to be mature, I won’t).
The first award goes to Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks. The great rapper, Los took video of Josh at Allen Iverson’s celebrity football game, during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, which eventually made its way onto… You Tube. What a surprise! (Glad to see you were paying attention during the anthem as well Los). In this video clip Josh tells the world, “Star-Spangled Banner going on right now, I don’t celebrate that (expletive). I’m black.” Josh let me be the first to say I am so proud that you learned your colors in first grade. Good thing people fought to abolish slavery, gain civil rights and fight for freedom, so that you could establish that you are indeed black. I believe you are the guy who admitted during an interview to smoking pot… and they say smoking pot doesn’t cause brain damage. Fortunately Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban explained to Josh that “cellphone cameras are not your friend.” I have to say Mark, those are harsh words, but I think you are really helping a young player develop the mental skills he needs to be a leader and a role model. Please David Stern, just send Josh and Mark to the European League. In all reality this isn’t Josh’s fault; most public schools don’t even allow the pledge of allegiance before the start of class each day. I have to thank all the brave men and women in the armed forces for defending America and protecting Josh Howard’s right to free speech. Glad you are risking your life so this guy can express his innermost thoughts so eloquently. In the meantime Josh, you are so stupid you needed a haircut and went to the Clippers game.
My second award hands down, (I mean pants down) goes to Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins. He enjoys studying his playbook in the nude (already too much information) but in this case snapped a picture of his quiz for the Saints to post on his blog. Unfortunately studying, not wearing pants and picture taking is never a good combination. Is it asking too much for Chris to have learned from the incident where he posted his check routing number on his blog. For this I say you are so stupid you thought a Quarterback was a refund.
Next up is the elusive Mark Ingram, formerly of the NY Giants, who was sentenced to 7 years for money laundering. Since it will be his third term behind bars, I am guessing the rehabilitation part of jail is not working out so well for him. Mark did say, “It hurts me to my core. This is not who I am.” Great Mark, if you don’t know who you are, we certainly don’t either. You thought you were actually a head of state, enjoying diplomatic immunity and immune from prosecution. And I am Heidi Klum. For this I say you are so stupid that when the judge said “Order in the Court” you said, “I’ll have a hamburger and a Coke.”
Lane Kiffin, Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders makes the list just for being stupid enough to take a job working for Al Davis. People ask how anyone could turn down a head coaching job in the NFL; but there are good jobs, bad jobs and jobs you have to be insane to accept. A number of years ago I was offered my first head coaching job at the collegiate level. Several people called to inform me that the school president was a loose cannon and that I should not take the job. I thought I can make anything work. Lesson learned, when the person in charge is not in touch with reality it doesn’t matter how hard you work, you will hit the pavement sooner or later. After all isn’t Al Davis the guy that sent Mike Shanahan on his way? So Lane, no matter what you do, you will eventually be kicked out the door. For even taking the job with the Raiders, I say you are so stupid when your contract said sign here, you put Libra.
Kim Willoughby, Olympic Silver Medalist in Volleyball was charged with first degree assault, for an incident outside the Pipeline Café in Honolulu in September of 2006. Her attorney said, “Anyone that knows Kim, knows that she is not a trouble maker.” Now I do not know Kim, so I can’t vouch for her status as a “non-trouble maker” but I am guessing her attorney missed her 3rd degree assault charge from June 8, 2001, for abuse of a family or household member. The 25 hours of community service, the mental health assessment and treatment doesn’t really seem to have had the desired effect. At least she can wear her silver medal around jail, if she is convicted. For learning absolutely nothing from your past actions, I say you are so stupid you thought a lawsuit was something you wear to work.
Sadly this list could go on and on, but I am 8 months pregnant and have Oreos and ice cream to eat.

For now I am teaching my daughter the value of possessing common sense.

Vince Young and His Mommy

2008-09-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

Everyone stand up and give Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans a resounding round of applause, but make sure it only contains cheers and no boos. After all he has announced that his heart is in playing football and his mommy asked nicely that we pray for Vince and support him.

Felicia Young said her son has grown weary of all the negativity he faces as an NFL star. On Monday, he indicated to those around him he didn't want to play football anymore. "Vince has gone through a whole lot as a young person,'' Felicia Young said.”And I think he has done pretty well up to this point. But it is hard, all he is going through right now. He's hurting inside and out. But he will be fine if people are prayerful and help my baby boy out. He is a young man. He just needs a lot of love and support.''

At what point do you stop referring to your son in public as your baby boy? After he wins a National Championship at Texas? After he becomes an NFL football player? After he carries a gun in his glove compartment? You will have to excuse me if I reserve my prayers for the people that need them; the sick, dying, elderly and soldiers that are deployed in harm’s way. Somehow, I just don’t think I need to take the time to ask the good Lord to help Vince make it through a football game without the fans booing him. Can you even imagine what Vince would be facing if he was playing in a New York media market as opposed to Nashville?

When the decision is made to pursue collegiate football at a major BCS school and sign an NFL contract for mega money, the choice is made to place your athletic abilities in the public eye every week for the entire football season. Play great and you will have an entire state supporting you, play poorly and feel the wrath of the fan paying your multi-million dollar salary. Have today’s professional athletes reached such a level of codling that mothers are actually appealing to the public for support of their baby boys? Let your child fight his or her own battles in public, especially when they are 24 years old, a professional NFL player and no longer in kindergarten. If they are old enough to vote and be drafted to fight in war then they should be old enough to handle getting booed on a football field.

In all reality if and when Vince Young returns from his knee injury, will his teammates welcome him back? As a player and coach, is this the quarterback I want leading my team? Perhaps the mental health issues, as well as the knee injury suffered by Vince Young will provide Kerry Collins with an opportunity to reestablish himself as a starting quarterback. After all, opportunity is what you make of it and the 14 for 21 passing performance this weekend has Collins headed in the correct direction. Hopefully, the Titans will continue to treat Young’s mental issues just as seriously as they treat rehabbing his injured knee and provide him the support he needs.

Finally, when the desire to quit NFL football strikes Vince Young, will his mom be dropping off his $51 million signing bonus? Perhaps she can return the check with the orange slices she brings for the team at half time? Or is this all just a ploy for Felicia Young to steal the Chunky Soup Commercial from Donovan McNabb’s mother Wilma?

For now I am wondering if the Titans would have been better off signing Bobby and Mama Boucher…

LANCE RIDES AGAIN!

2008-09-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

It’s true Lance Armstrong is coming out of retirement! He announced to Vanity Fair that he wants a shot to win an eighth Tour de France in 2009. If that doesn’t get the cycling world and fans excited they can just crawl back into their summers of Major League Baseball. Can Lance single handedly return the Tour de France to the prominence of years past when Armstrong won?

Age for many elite athletes is now simply a number to be pushed to the side. Lance Armstrong, Dara Torres, Barry Bonds and Constantina Romescu-Dita have shown the world that you are truly as young as you choose. Ironically Lance, Dara and Barry have all faced accusations of performance enhancing drug use and the rumors of Lance’s supposed drug use are right on the forefront yet again. Amazingly none of these athletes have ever failed a drug test for steroids and yet are constantly forced to defend themselves. Lance and Dara have faced numerous drug tests and passed time and again. Lance even refers to himself as the most “drug tested athlete” in the world. I won’t go down the road of Major League Baseball’s drug testing policy, but Bond’s never failed a steroid drug test, although he did fail one for amphetamines. (Benzedrine, Ephedrine, Dexedrine, Benzedrine, Adderall and Ritalin all fall under the category for amphetamine). Perhaps it is time to give these athletes their due and recognize that they are not only genetically blessed, but possess an obsessive desire to be the greatest at their sport. All of them are known for being first in and last out of their respective training grounds.

Lance Armstrong has a VO2 max of 83.8, which means nothing to the average person until you know that your range is between 40-50. This means Armstrong’s body processes oxygen at a much more efficient rate than many, although not all elite athletes. Armstrong’s greatest physical attribute is the fact that his body has an absurdly high lactate threshold, meaning it takes a longer period of time for lactic acid to accumulate in his blood system. Perhaps you can recall waking up in the middle of the night after a rough and strenuous game of ultimate frisbee, with your calf knotted in a ball causing you to cry out, as your spouse wonders why you can’t just let the dream go. You can thank lactic acid for your midnight wake up call.

It is important to realize that elite athletes not only have the genetics and desire, but also employ tremendous support teams to help them attain the highest levels of success. Age can simply be a number when you have an entourage that includes a masseuse, strength coach, nutritionist, sprint coach, personal stretchers and doctors. For the average weekend warrior it is easy to assume performance enhancing drugs are the reason for success when we can’t truly comprehend what it means to possess genetics, compulsive dedication and an “entourage”. Until a failed drug test (not a rumor, or jilted former employees so called testimony) proves me wrong, I am a supporter of Lance Armstrong and thrilled that he is returning to cycling.

Finally, please congratulate Lance as he joined another elite group of athletes when he announced the end of his retirement. He immediately joined Michael Jordan, Brett Favre, Nancy Lieberman and Roger Clemens in the elite club of those that can’t stay retired.

For now I am eagerly awaiting next summer!

Help! It's 1945 and Mr. St. Denis can't get out!

2008-09-09T00:08:00.000-07:00

Apparently Mr. Hank St. Denis the Executive Chairman of the Georgia Football League, drank too many gallons of sweet tea while sitting in his rocking chair on his front porch last week. The sugar caused his brain to short circuit and faster than greased lightning, he decided that no female would play football in his league this year. New Creation High School a member of the G.F.L. had already granted Kacy Stuart, a 14-year old female a spot on their football team as a place-kicker.

Kacy Stewart was named to the team, spent two months working out with New Creation and even participated in a scrimmage. This is a varsity athletics team and the Head Coach named Kacy to the team because she is good enough and better then her male competition for that particular position. A coach’s tenure is based on wins and losses and no coach is going to award a spot to a player who isn’t going to place the team in a better position to win.

Perhaps someone should alert Mr. St. Denis that in 1999 Middle Georgia Junior College named Tonya Parker as their place kicker. Can you imagine Mr. St. Denis, a female place kicker in your own state? How did this happen? And almost ten years ago to boot! Not only did the NJCAA allow a female on the football team, the NCAA did as well. Katie Hnida made the team at the University of Colorado and the University of New Mexico.

There are always individuals that argue boys should be allowed to play on girl’s teams and of course they should! If you are a male student athlete who loves a sport that isn’t fielded for your gender, you should be given the opportunity to try out for the girl’s team. This is just what Adam Izzicupo of Saugus, Massachusetts did several years ago when he suited up for their girl’s field hockey team. Just make darn sure you are good enough to make it, because no one wants to be “the guy” that was cut from the girl’s team.

Mr. St. Denis this is a formal invitation requesting that you join this millennium. You are a perfect example of why Title IX must remain intact for future generations. Unfortunately private schools often sacrifice some of their First Amendment rights and in this case it allows you to yield your simple minded gavel. Is it safe to assume when you sit down for dinner each night you are not looking into the faces of daughters but only sons? Or perhaps you have daughters and crush their dreams as well, even when they are capable enough to be successful in the pursuit of their dream.

What is next? A female as the Secretary of State? A woman running for the Presidential nomination? Or a woman as our next Vice President?

For now I am going to be like the old lady who fell out of the wagon…

Billie Jean King-The Queen of Women's Athletics

2008-09-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

Everyone on Long Island knows summer is coming to an end when traffic on the Grand Central Parkway is worse than ever (is that even possible?) and it’s not because there is a New York Mets game. The US Open, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York draws thousands of people from all over the world. It is an opportunity for Long Island teenagers to earn extra cash as ball girls and boys, Hagen Daz and t-shirt vendors and for off duty FDNY to work concessions. The U.S. Open even provides an all day venue for those “academic types” not inclined to spend the day at school, but rather soaking up the sunny rays of the final days of summer. The U.S. Open never fails to provide something for every sports enthusiast.

Perhaps the quarterfinal matchup of Serena beating Venus (how great is that no last names needed) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (7) should have been the finals, but not every seeding can be made for television and audiences. As the 35th Anniversary of the Women’s Tennis Association is celebrated, female athletes need to reflect on their achievements and the opportunities that they have been afforded. Where would women’s tennis be today without the people who met 35 years ago in a London hotel room to form the Women’s Tennis Association? Billie Jean King was one of the people in that hotel room and she deserves the thanks and appreciation of female athletes all over the United States of America.

Billie Jean King didn’t just help start the W.T.A. she picked it up and carried it on her shoulders, using its greatest asset (herself) to promote the sport and the association. In 1973, 50 million people tuned in to watch her defeat Bobby Riggs in the battle of the sexes. This is long before every household had four televisions with ESPN running continuously. By 1990 the W.T.A. offered $23 million dollars in prize money and held 60 events in 18 countries. In 2003, Kim Clijsters became the first woman to earn $4 million in one season and by 2007 Wimbledon was awarding equal prize money. This journey took 30 years, but do you think 20 years from now members of the WNBA will have equivalent salaries of the NBA?

Billie Jean King continues to possess a passionate desire to help women succeed, thrive and develop through the arena of sport. The Women’s Sports Foundation, which she founded in 1974, continues to make strides in helping the female athlete on a daily basis. The Women’s Sports Foundation shapes public attitude about women’s sports and athletes, builds capacities for organizations that get girls active, provides equal opportunities for girls and women, and supports physically and emotionally healthy lifestyles.[1] It is imperative that all female athletes, professional, amateur and scholastic continue to push forward in the quest for equality in women’s athletics. If you have a daughter, sister or wife you owe it to them to participate in their pursuit for equality. What have you done to help foster their athletic prospects? As this generation of female athletes comes of age they can’t recall a time when a team didn’t exist for them to play on and that is because people long before them had the guts and fortitude to carry the burden. Honor Billie Jean King’s vision and dedication by remaining motivated, not becoming complacent, getting involved (http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/) and valuing the opportunities that sport provides females.

In the meantime my husband and I are trying to find out if 20 months is too young to enroll our daughter in junior tennis. After all we need to fund our retirement.

For now I am an extremely grateful female athlete.

[1] Women’s Sports Foundation http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/About-Us.aspx

Armchair Coaches Unite

2008-09-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again, fans across America are breaking out their coolers and armchair coaches are stretching out for college football season. Opening weekend was exciting for those of us who live to second guess coaches who actually receive monetary compensation for their expertise and knowledge. However, it is the armchair coaches who must utilize their television remote control to its utmost capacity, flipping through channels during every injury, time out, commercial and stoppage of play. It is the quick trigger finger that allows us to impress our friends, family and unsuspecting seat mates on our daily commute (who have no place to run) with our abundance of useless knowledge.

Hands down the most exciting game of the weekend was Virginia Tech vs. East Carolina University. Two critical mistakes by ECU in the first half found the Pirates going into the locker room down 14-7, but they came storming back in the second half. ECU went on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter, capped off by a blocked VT punt and T.J. Lee running it in for a touchdown! (Final score 27-22). Will the loss for Virginia Tech stir up the critics of 5th year quarterback Sean Glennon, who threw no touchdowns but had two interceptions? Well of course it will, but leave him alone, he is a 5th year senior who has started more games than not in the past three years. In the final 8 games of the season last year, he threw for 11 touchdowns, only 3 interceptions and completed 61.7 % of his passes. Glennon even managed to be named MVP of the ACC title game, although why anyone would want people to know they participate in ACC football is beyond me. Leadership and experience has to count for something in the game of football, especially for the quarterback who is the coach on the field. Tyrod Taylor (sophomore quarterback) is going to be a great quarterback in time, but right now Coach Beamer has said he is going to redshirt, so place your support behind Glennon and stop second guessing. (Sure you will). Of course the redshirt announcement would be more convincing if Tyrod wasn’t dressed in his uniform, looking like he was ready to check himself into the game. If you are a Hookie, I mean Hokie, fan wouldn’t you rather have Tyrod Taylor as your starting quarterback for three full seasons, then a few games this year?

Is that the million dollar man, nope it’s the $5 million dollar coach and it appears the investment the University of Alabama made in Nick Saban is already paying dividends. Saban had the Tide ready to roll right through those Clemson Tigers, who couldn’t even manage a growl that sort of sounded like it belonged to Tony the Tiger. Clemson is supposed to be the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference, if this is the case it is going to be a long year for every member of ACC football. The Alabama Tide simply manhandled the Tigers up, down, across and all around the field. Some suggestions that Coach Bowden of the Clemson Tigers may want to institute for the remainder of the season- invest in a new strength coach, let defensive coordinator Vic Koenning have a few Escalades to hand out on the recruiting trail and allow V.P. Candidate Gov. Sarah Palin to take your the team hunting and teach them a few hockey mom moves. Finally I need to get to New York, can someone call Coach Saban and ask if I can borrow the University plane that he is allotted 25 hours for personal use? Roll Tide Roll.

Does anyone have the phone number for the business department for the University of Michigan athletics? It is imperative that they add a clause into their “money game” contracts. Perhaps something along these lines…If said team beats the University of Michigan, on opening weekend, at the University of Michigan, said team must refund their $800,000 guarantee check immediately. Go Utes, take that 27-24 win and run right to the bank. Two years in a row, the University of Michigan has paid a total of over $1.6 million dollars to lose. Hmmm, perhaps they are taking advice from the politicians who are “balancing” the budget in California.

Coach Neuheisel could you hear Robin Roberts saying, “Get on with your bad self” as you led UCLA to a 27-24 win over the University of Tennessee? Who cares if your QB was third on the depth chart in spring ball and threw four interceptions in the first half of this game? Not a problem, Mr. I Thrive Off of Adversity. Critics of your hire? What critics? Nowhere to be found now are they? Enjoy the win!

Ahh the lure of Touchdown Jesus and the Golden Dome of Notre Dame. If only Tyrone Willingham had paid attention to the tenth commandment all those years ago when he was the Coach at Stanford 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.' Had he simply remained as the successful Coach at Stanford, turned away from those shiny gold helmets, he wouldn’t be stuck in football never-never land at the University of Washington. Willingham will have to contemplate his future at the University of Washington after suffering a 44-10 loss to the Ducks of Oregon. Quack, quack.

What weekend review would be complete without congratulating Coach Joe Paterno of Penn State for tying Bobby Bowden for most career wins. The big question now is will either of them ever retire, or will the quest for most wins continue on and on and on…Perhaps Paterno and Bowden could both retire right now and go out on top together. Just a suggestion. In any case, two great coaches will certainly fight on!

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, its… two very confused parachutists. The game ball for the UNC football game was supposed to be delivered via the parachutists, sadly it never arrived and UNC and McNeese State are still out on the field waiting to start the game. Apparently the parachutists got confused and landed at Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium. You can’t make this stuff up…
“Are you ready to jump Joe, we have to get that ball delivered right away”. “Yep I’m almost ready, just trying to read these Map Blast directions before we jump, do you think its 8 more miles? Oh hey that looks like a stadium down there, let’s go”.
Do you honestly think that the Golden Knights of Army have ever accidentally landed at the Marist football stadium while delivering a game ball? The only logical explanation is that these two fine parachutists must be graduates of UNC and not Duke. Oh what fun the Cameron Crazies are going to have with this one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axbq6UaUOfE (just in case you want to see for yourself).

For now I am an armchair football coach.

The Joy of Childhood

2008-08-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

The enjoyment of being a child occurs for only a brief moment in life. Childhood is the only time when one should be able to enjoy freedom from the pressures and stress of the real world. The biggest issue should be choking down broccoli quickly enough to get back outside to play before the sun sets. In the past decade childhood has been snatched from our young, aspiring athletes and I'm not talking about the super-stars. It is the sisters and daughters who are being denied the opportunity of true childhood enjoyment.

Long gone are the days of two or three sport little girls. Every parent appears to be guiding their child toward being a specific sport specialist. At AAU games around the country, parents can be found huddling, conversing and taking note of college coaches that are in attendance; plotting the path for their child to get a scholarship. Irrelevant are the facts that the child is ten years old and the ball is bigger than her head. God forbid little Sally isn't getting enough playing time - her parents will fix that by starting their own AAU team and allowing super Sally to shoot the ball 27 times. No worries if she can't walk and chew gum, she is going to be a SUPERSTAR! This way, by the time players are 16 years old they have spent every single summer of their young lives on the AAU circuit and participated in thousands of games - unfortunately only basketball games.

The truth is that a very small percentage of the total number of high school athletes go on to play college sports at any level. The Division I level has 338 women's basketball teams. With approximately 15 players per team, there are approximately 5,070 DI women's basketball players. To put this number into perspective, the New York City public school system alone has 1,200 public schools and educates one million students a year. In reality less than 4% of female high school players will make it to the college level. (Take that percentage even lower when you evaluate college wrestling and lacrosse, who field less then half that amount of intercollegiate teams) These numbers are not meant to discourage participation in athletics, but to encourage parents to allow children to be well rounded athletes. School athletics are extremely important in the development of young females. It teaches them discipline, hard work, dedication, teamwork and most importantly self confidence. Why not allow a child to experience these intangibles from several sports? As a young woman matures, reaches high school and shows true signs of gifted athleticism, (not to be determined by her proud momma and poppa) then allow her to specialize in a specific sport. Sue Bird is a perfect example of an outstanding basketball player. How many people know that Bird was a tremendous soccer player, who didn't give up soccer until her junior year of high school when she transferred to Christ the King? Bird became National Player of the Year in college, won NCAA titles, was drafted by the WNBA, named to the National Team and participated in the Olympics. Clearly Bird's multi-sport background hindered her development.

Recently, National High School Player of the Year, Elena Delle Donne, left the University of Connecticut after two days of summer workouts. She then enrolled at the University of Delaware as a non-scholarship athlete where she will play volleyball this season. (I'm sure the volleyball coach hasn't stopped jumping for joy yet!) Much speculation has surrounded this young woman and her departure from UConn. Kara Wolters, a former All American out of UConn who finished her playing career a decade ago, felt the need to issue this statement:

She was so good. What a waste. It's the most bizarre thing I've ever heard. To have an opportunity like that to play, obviously at the best college women's program in the world...and she threw it away. It's like an engaged couple. You are glad they broke up before they got married and had to get a divorce. Better now to have her quit, than affect the team negatively and be like a cancer because she is whacked. So maybe it's for the best.

Who knew that Kara Wolters has a doctorate in psychology and can diagnose an 18 year old as "whacked?" It couldn't possibly be that Delle Donne was home sick or attached to her 23 year old sister who has cerebral palsy and is blind and deaf? Or perhaps, is it just possible that this kid is simply burned out on basketball? Yep clear as day, she must be certifiable - call the loony bin.

Delle Donne is a perfect example of why children need balance in their lives. If a child wants to play two or three sports or join the chess club and play the flute, allow them that luxury. Let them know the enjoyment of diving on the hard wood of a basketball court to save a ball, let them smell the grass of a soccer field on a spring day, or hear the crack of the bat as they hit a double. Allow your child to enjoy childhood, it only comes once. Life is short, but childhood is even shorter.

USA-NIKE AD

2008-08-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to make sure everyone got to see this! Thought you would enjoy it!
Marvin Gaye
http://www.thebasketballjones.net/2008/08/07/usa-ad-featuring-the-wonderful-marvin-gaye/

vs Whitney Houston (pre Bobby Brown I believe.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qciWEufZ2xA#

Gold Medal Thoughts

2008-08-22T02:28:00.003-07:00

On the Final Day of the Olympics, let's reflect on the good, the bad and the totally absurd. China satisfied the absurd category immediately, when they deemed a 7 year old child not pretty enough to sing during opening ceremonies and instead had a 9 year old lip-sync. The 9 year old was much cuter, so it's ok to damage the confidence of a young girl, when a nation's best interests are at heart.

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to baseball and softball as an Olympic sport. Please thank M.L.B. Commissioner Bud Selig and the players union for making sure that our best possible players represented the U.S.A. in Olympic Baseball. Thank you Derek and A-Rod (yes he is a U.S. citizen) for demanding that a clause be placed in your contracts permitting you to represent the United States once every four years for two weeks. Oh wait, none of that happened did it?

For the women of the US Softball team, it was a bitter sweet ending to what has been an outstanding run since softball became an Olympic Sport in 1996. USA Softball set an amazing standard winning 3 of the 4 possible gold medals and riding a 21 game win streak into this Gold Medal game. What a travesty that little girls won't get to dream of playing softball in the Olympics and their daddies won't get to cheer for Jennie Finch. Fortunately, in the 2012 Olympics I will have trampoline, synchronized diving and rhythmic gymnastics to keep me entertained.

How about that outstanding television coverage U.S.A. Women's Basketball received? Is it possible that it was easier for me to catch a game of table tennis and badminton, then it was USA Women's Basketball? I was able to catch the gold medal game, where Australia lost 92-65. Lisa Leslie wrapped up a 19 year career with USA Basketball, winning her fourth gold medal. A round of applause is due the WNBA for suspending their season for several weeks, so that players could participate in the Olympics and represent their respective countries. (Might want to take some notes Bud...).

USA Men's Basketball saved the best for last, as they pulled out a thrilling 118-107 win against Spain. Coach K shared his love for country with his players and guided them back to the USA Basketball of old. Somehow, he got Kobe to share the ball. Perhaps Coach K should be leading the charge for world peace. Hopefully the hard work, team building and selfless play that he has established will carry on to future USA Basketball Teams. Jason Kidd is leaving USA Basketball with a 56-0 record (He didn't play on the 2004 team).

Gymnastics took home 10 medals, the most in a non-boycotted Olympics. Of course it wouldn't be the Olympics if there wasn't some controversy. The Chinese are offended that 3 of their gymnasts age are being questioned as legit. Odd that the question would be brought up since He Kexin's date of birth was reported in March 06 by the PRC General Administration of Sport as Jan 1, 1994. I guess the top government office in charge of sports was confused and couldn't get their dates correct. For future reference, if you are going to cheat, try not to publish their real age before hand. Of course He Kexin has her "official" passport with a different date of birth, making her of age to participate in these Olympics. I am sure the Chinese could never arrange for a passport to be forged? By the way has anyone seen those 4 protesters that were arrested over a week ago? I didn't think so.

Fortunately each year China receives $1.2 billion from the World Bank since they are a developing country(one-tenth of the population still lives on $1 a day). If China runs through that billion too quickly in the fiscal year, they can call upon the services of 79 year old Wu Dianyuan and 77 year old Wang Xiuying. These two women have been ordered to spend a year in a Chinese labor camp, so that they might be re-educated. Maybe the Chinese will re-educate them on possessing common sense when it comes to filing applications to hold a protest in China. At least the Chinese Government can get some good, solid, productive labor hours out of these two women as they approach their 80th birthdays. When China won the bid to host the Olympics, the Vice Premier issued this statement, "The winning of the 2008 Olympic bid is an example of the international recognition of China's social stability, economic progress and the healthy life of the Chinese people." If he thinks I believe one word of that statement he can start advertising Tiananmen Square as Disney World.

Thanks to Mark Spitz for setting the original record for gold medals and supporting and inspiring Michael Phelps, in his pursuit of greatness. Recently, a nutritionist took Michael Phelps to task for signing a contract with Frosted Flakes instead of Wheaties. Instead of placing blame with the parents of the obese children in America, lets blame it on Michael Phelps, a human specimen of perfection. Or maybe as a parent we should turn off the tv, take our kid out to play, empty the house of soda, ice cream, cookies and cake. Force your offspring to do what we had to do as kids; hop the fence and run to our neighbor's house for Devil Dogs or Hostess cupcakes. At least we burned some calories on our quest for sugar.

The members of the Men's and Women's 4x100 relay team should not run again without taking a drink from my daughter's sippy cup. One drink out of this cup and their fingers will stick to anything, including a track baton.

Watching the Beijing Olympics on television was quite an experience. I was the kid who unwrapped and re-wrapped all of her Christmas presents weeks before Christmas. It's only in recent years that I stopped reading the first and last chapters of books and then the middle part. Living on the west coast, there was no way I wasn't going to check ESPN and Fox Sports for results, while trying to figure out how the heck I could see a Women's Basketball game.

In Taekwondo, Cuba's Angel Matos pushed a judge, then pushed and kicked Swedish referee, Chakir Chelbat in the face. Talk about a rough day at the office. Apparently Matos didn't like the fact that he was disqualified in a bronze-medal match. Perhaps he can share stories with Swedish wrestler Ara Abrahamian, who left his bronze medal on the mat. Sure you won bronze in the 2008 Olympics Dad. "No really I did son, we can visit it in the vault of left behind medals."

USA Women's Soccer reclaimed gold, perhaps unexpectedly. Years ago, I played basketball against Christie Rampone when she was at Monmouth University and she blew by me every time (It may have been because I was on the bench at the time). In any case what a great turn around for Women's Soccer. (In no small part due to Christie Rampone's consistent leadership, as she just completed her tenth year with the National Team).

By the way who's your daddy? Much was made of the fact that WNBA superstar Becky Hammon went to play basketball for Russia. However, the U.S. had no problem naming 33 foreign born athletes to its various rosters. We also have Jenny Lang Ping, from China coaching our women's volleyball team, but it's o.k. because we gave China Jim Lefebre to manage their baseball team and Michael Bastian to coach their softball team. I guess its time to acknowledge and admit that the Olympics is just like everything else, a business.

The Olympics have have always been about breaking down barriers and uniting different cultures through sport. I can only hope that China's hosting of the Olympics shone more light on the hardship and human rights struggles their people face every day. They are not a free people. Those of us lucky enough to be born in the U.S.A. , can't imagine not possessing the freedom to criticize, praise, protest or applaud whomever we want, whenever we want. All of these thoughts can only lead me to one place, how much of the closing ceremony was real?

Living the American Dream-The Road Not Taken

2008-08-21T18:50:00.000-07:00

How many of us are truly living the American Dream? Are we simply passing through each day, instead of living it to its fullest? Do we take our US Citizenship for granted? Perhaps the reality of fighting to survive each day forces certain individuals to grow hungry for success. Does the secret of success for some people stem from their upbringing, knowing what their parent(s) sacrificed so they might have opportunity?

Leroy Alitz, a member of the U.S. Wrestling Hall of Fame once said, “ To be a wrestler you have to have the speed of a sprinter, the agility of an acrobat, the strength of a weightlifter, and the strategic mind of a chess player.” These are traits U.S. wrestler Henry Cejudo embodies. He is the only US Wrestler to win gold at the Beijing Olympics, doing so at 55 kilograms (121 lbs). A sport that we have dominated in the past, winning 125 medals, 50 of them gold, saw the U.S. struggle to even medal at the Beijing Olympics. Henry’s success comes at an especially young age (21) and brings important topics to light.

He is the son of illegal immigrants from Mexico, one of seven children born to his mother. His father played no role in his upbringing. Henry's mother served as the provider, working numerous jobs to make sure her family was housed, clothed and fed. “Housed” could have been anywhere depending upon the day, month or year. However, the sense of family that she fostered resulted in her sons’ success.

I say sons’ because it was Henry’s older brother Angel who paved the way for him. Angel won four state championships in Arizona, compiling a record of 150-0. Recognized for his potential by National Freestyle Coach Dave Bennett, the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs offered Angel the opportunity to come train. He accepted, asking if he could bring his brother Henry along, who was a rising high school junior. It was at the OTC where Henry began training in earnest for international competition and the Olympics. While in Colorado, he added two state championships to go along with the two he won in Arizona. He also collected the Asics National HS wrestler of the year title and the US National Senior Championship in freestyle.

How many of us raised in the United States with every middle class advantage, can even contemplate competing at the Olympic level or at the highest level available for our passion or discipline? Do we grow complacent because we have a roof over our heads and two cars in the garage? Somehow a family with no money, no house in their name, no U.S. athletic history and a single mom found a way to inspire two sons to become world class wrestlers. Cejudo stated, “I’m proud of my Mexican heritage. But I’m American. It’s the best country in the world. They call it the land of opportunity and it is.” Many people argue that Birthright Citizenship should be abolished, that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been misinterpreted. No matter how illegal the parents’ initial entrance was into the United States, this is one family living the American Dream and taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded them via the 14th Amendment. (Correct or incorrect interpretation, depending on to whom you are speaking) Of course Stephen Abas who was the 2004 Silver Medalist in Athens and finished second to Cejudo at the U.S. Trials, may be wishing the Supreme Court had made a ruling on this topic years ago...

It is important to note that Henry and Angel took, as Robert Frost said, "the road not taken” almost ever by traditional American wrestlers. The majority of elite high school wrestlers continue on to college, where they participate in collegiate or folk-style wrestling. Collegiate wrestling is considerably different then the freestyle wrestling found at the international level. Henry’s belief, that forgoing college athletics would help him better prepare for the U.S. Olympic team, appears to have been right on the money. Is Henry’s success a one in a million chance or did the preparation for international wrestling at the OTC prepare him for what is considered the greatest stage in wrestling? (Kick WWF out of your head please!) What kind of precedent does this set for young elite wrestlers coming up the ranks? Will it cause them to forgo traditional college wrestling, pinning their hopes on Olympic and international success? Olympic opportunity only comes once every four years, you must win numerous qualifying matches just to get to the U.S. Olympic trials and if you don’t make the team you must wait another four years. At least in college there is an opportunity to win an NCAA title every year for four years. Although it's not an easy path, you can also attempt to qualify for the Olympics at the same time.

Wrestlers that forgo collegiate wrestling are not going to garner the millions of dollars that Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Tiger Woods gained by going straight to the "pros". According to U.S. National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, the financial breakdown for an Olympic Training Center participant are as follows:
Room and Board $24,000, Club Sponsorship $600 to $1,000 and a 6 month training stipend of $500 to $1,000. A member of the OTC Wrestling team can take home $34,000 to $42,000 for the year and if they are fortunate enough to win an Olympic Gold Medal, they receive a bonus of $65,000. That is all well and good if you are single without a family to support.

Will these elite wrestlers be denying themselves important opportunities and relationships that can only be found at the collegiate level? (It is important to note that a wrestler training at OTC is offered the opportunity to attend college, at cost to the OTC program). Or will they be facing world class competition day in and day out instead? Already the trickle down affect is occurring.
Young Jake Deitchler, an 18 year old who just participated in the Beijing Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling, announced to the New York Times that he will be heading to the Olympic Training Center. Originally Jake committed to the University of Minnesota and time will tell if his decision was the correct one for his personal success. In the meantime it leaves the University of Minnesota team and coaches with a hole in their roster for this upcoming season. Hopefully, future recruits will decide earlier in the recruiting process so they aren’t affecting a college team two weeks before classes begin.

At the end of the day, Henry Cejudo's performance is especially humbling to those of us who are provided every opportunity for success, but perhaps stuck in the American groove. Henry deserves congratulations for making the most out of opportunities that may never have presented themselves had his parents not illegally entered the United States in search of the American dream. Only the individual can make the choice that he feels is best for him and clearly Henry Cejudo “took the road less traveled and it has made all the difference”.

*special thanks to our inhouse resident wrestling expert, Justin Gorkowski, former West Point wrestling team captain, for all his valuable insight and expertise on wrestling.

Caleb Campbell-Hurry Up and Wait...

2008-08-18T21:56:00.001-07:00

Certainly by now the majority of sports fans are familiar with Caleb Campbell, the USMA graduate who was drafted by the NFL Detroit Lions. Who can forget ESPN following him on draft day, as the crowd chanted USA! USA! What fan at home wasn't eagerly awaiting for this player who represented hard work, dedication and patriotism to be drafted? Someone that represented all that is right with college sports, that children could look up to, aspire to be and perhaps even be inspired to serve their country through the military.

Unfortunately, Caleb Campbell and several former USMA baseball players had their dreams cut short, when the U.S. Army revised their policy on July 8th. Sadly for Caleb Campbell, the US Army had absolutely no way to inform him about their policy change, until the night before training camp began. The greatest Army in the world, couldn't find a way to communicate to him, about the policy change; apparently all phones, media outlets, email and even the BAT SIGNAL were not available for use. He has since been ordered to return to West Point, to serve as a graduate assistant football coach for the 2008 season. Common sense here seems to lead me to believe he could have at least played this season for the Detroit Lions and then reported for training, as he will do once the West Point season concludes.

But I digress. Many people will argue that a Military Academy cadet should not have the opportunity to play professional sports, that they are receiving an education, with the intent to serve in the greatest Army in the world. However, this was a policy that was signed, advertised and sold to potential athletic recruits, then snatched away from them, in what can certainly be labeled as misrepresentation. The Army could have avoided this entire mess by amending their policy, but grandfathering in all cadets who have already started their junior year. After your sophomore year at West Point, you are free to leave without penalty, as Caleb Campbell could have done, once his athletic potential was realized. However, this policy gave him the option to be an officer and a professional athlete. How many current student athletes, musicians, or those who have uniquely possessed talents made the decision to stay at U.S.M.A. based on this policy and now have no recourse?

In April 2005, Army Secretary Francis Harvey approved a policy that allowed soldiers to apply for release from active duty, if they "possessed unique talent and abilities" to pursue an alternative service policy. Perhaps the public has already forgotten why this policy was written into affect. At the time the U.S. Army was 7,000 recruits behind in its goal for 80,000 recruits. It was meant to boost recruiting efforts, place the Army in a positive light and provide opportunity. Lt. Col Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon, in April 2005 said, "the new program is a win-win situation. The soldier continues to serve, does something he loves and helps us man the force." I can only assume that the U.S. Army has reached its maximum number of recruits, that they are no longer short 3,000 mid-level officers and can simply rely on ARMY STRONG commercials to boost the interest of potential recruits.

Since the Army appears to be so desperate for bodies, is it safe to assume, that all cadets will now have to serve at least two years on true Active Duty, before being allowed to pursue Master's Degrees? Are all Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Churchill, Gates, Fulbright, Truman and East-West award winners on a plane back to their respective units? Or are we to infer that it is okay to delay your service by two years, if you are pursuing an academic degree? Will all WCAP and ALL ARMY athletes be pulled out of their programs as well? I find it hard to believe that a school which values "the athlete" as much as U.S.M.A. would place their athletes on unequal ground, not providing them with the same opportunity afforded to individuals pursuing a higher level of education. After all it was General Douglas MacArthur who stated, "On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruit of victory." Perhaps herein lies the truth about why U.S.M.A. and the U.S. Army needs its former athletes immediately in their ranks, and can afford the "scholars" the chance to continue their schooling after graduation.

Recently, Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk stated, "Our coaches are now operating under a significant handicap when recruiting head-to-head with Army. It may not be reflected on the playing field today, but I can guarantee you that it will result in a competitive disadvantage down the road." Well Mr. Gladchuk, you got your wish, all academies are now on "equal footing."
I am sure you have forwarded a memo to all your coaches, that they should not point out to a potential recruit, that if they attend U.S.N.A. their chances for deployment are significantly less then if they attend U.S.M.A. Also, please feel free to instruct your coaches not to mention David Robinson, as that would provide you with an unfair advantage, even though he is perhaps your most well known "recruiter". All is fair in love, war and of course recruiting.

I'm sure only true fans of college basketball and the United States Military Academy can tell you who led the country in scoring, at a different service academy, at the same time that David Robinson was playing, matching up against each other five times. Kevin Houston, a 5'11 guard for the United States Military Academy led the nation during the 1986-1987 in scoring, at 32.9 ppg, with a personal high of 53 points. Unfortunately, he never grew to be over 6'8, therefore couldn't be excused from his Army commitment at the time. Imagine the publicity he could have provided the ARMY, if he could have made a go of a career in the NBA. THE GENERAL vs THE ADMIRAL.

In any case, wouldn't the practical solution be for all the Academies to adopt the original policy drafted in April 2005. That way at the end of the day, the athletic departments of U.S.M.A., U.S.N.A. and U.S.A.F.A can utilize this policy to help attract a higher level of potential athletes to attend their school, who may not have originally considered an Academy. Clearly, not every athlete attracted will be drafted and the Army, Navy and Air Force would have a higher caliber of service person in their ranks. We are fortunate enough to live in the greatest country in the world, served by the greatest Armed Forces in the World. Together they should be united in their pursuit of greatness.