Dom's Dish - Friday, March 14, 2008
Aye! But not gone, Caesar!
Brett Favre of Gulfport, Mississippi has finally retired. After years of agonizing fans, owners and teammates with months of back and forth decision making, with teary eyes, he announced that he's too tired to come back. Never having been a Packers fan, I never have appreciated his career stats or the records he set out for and since achieved. The one we all know him for - 253 consecutive regular season starts as a QB (275 if you include playoff games) - spanning 17 seasons and 212 other different starting QB's. Seven time All-Pro, nine time Pro-Bowler, and most importantly Three time NFL MVP - the only to do it in consecutive seasons. Crunch these numbers: 160, 442, 61665, 5377, 8758, 63, 288 :: wins by a QB, Passing TD's, Career passing yards, Pass completions, Pass attempts, games with 3 TD passes, and the one he and every other Packer fan hates: Most Career INT's. Words always associated with him: gunslinger, grit, guts, Iron Man, fearless, come back wins, cheese head, Something about Mary, scruffy, doesn't shave, record holder, Super Bowl Champion. During his reign, the league expanded by 4 teams, free agency was born and contracts increased in an unimaginable way. Some more perspective: in 1992 - the Seahawks were in the AFC West, Los Angeles had 2 teams, the Cardinals were from Phoenix, the Oilers were in Houston and Tampa played "in the Old Sombrero". Oh yeah, last year's #1 pick JaMarcus Russell was 7 years old. Not a bad career for a second round pick. Limburger Cheese heads!
Well last week there was talk of Barry in NY - yes, that Barry, Barry Bonds. Media "outlets" were speculating that the Mets would need some help in the outfield. Well, over a week later and still no dice yet. I don't know how New York media would be able to handle it though. Some analysts on the sports talk shows said it wouldn't be a distraction. Really? I have a scene painted in my head that looks like a Florida/Georgia tailgating party in what's left of the Shea parking lot with satellite trucks and black SUV's ready to move on a moment's notice to track his every move. No, NY would not be a place for Barry - I don't even think HIS big head is ready for all that attention. You think that MacNamee guy trainer dude was weird with beer cans and syringes in his basement? There would be saran wrap on every toilet in the clubhouse waiting to collect "specimens". I don't think MLB needs Barry or Roger anymore. It's time to move on. Fans are running out of ways to sneak batteries into the ballpark and Photoshopping syringes into pictures.
March Madness is here, and I don't just mean the weird weather with the wind that brings downed trees. It's MADNESS!! Mayhem! Ridiculosity!! From Duke/UNC to Villanova and UCLA, the games mean more in this, "Championship Week" and the Bubble Teams and the bracket prep...oh my! Just some overall impressions from some games this week and the past few weeks: If you had a 7'2" 280 pounder on your team, you'd use him, right? Roy Hibbert of Georgetown, known for their big men (Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Allen Ivers-whoops) yet I see him very under-utilized. Yesterday against Villanova, he didn't score a point and fouled out after 14 minutes (and he's only averaging about 26 minutes on the season). Now I know it's college basketball and you have other players and you want him to last the season, etc. but Tyler Hansboro of UNC is averaging about 32 minutes. Yeah, yeah, Georgetown is winning, but Hibbert I am sure will be the first big man taken in the NBA draft and I'm not sure his collegiate resume is comparable to the aforementioned big men. I guess a NCAA Championship would cure that. Let's look for John Thompson III to utilize him a little better in the tournament. That being said, going out on a limb with some early predictions for a Final Four and their possible seeds: Georgetown(1), Memphis(1), UConn(3) and Butler(5).
Well with the first two weeks in the books of the 2008 NFL Free Agency period, things are slowing down. Asante Samuel in Philly, Randy Moss in New England, Lance Briggs in Chiago, Julius Jones in Seattle, Michael Turner is with the Falcons and there's not much left. The one I don't understand is Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals. A "classy" guy I called him - thinking his holdout would lead to a trade to Philly, but all he did was choke out the Free Agency period for the Cardinals. See the NFL cap isn't like the NBA or MLB where you can go over and pay a Luxury Tax like a "Chance" in Monopoly. It's a hard number. By freeing up about $8 million this year, the Cardinals could have signed other players, but they waited too long. They have something like only 16 players signed for next year for Defense! Anyway, his production is worth the money. Guess Philly and the rest of the NFL will need to wait until March 2012 when he becomes a free agent at 28 years old! (Hey, I have one question for you, why are all the NFL "experts" talking about the Eagles trading Lito Sheppard? If anyone, wouldn't you think the Eagles would get rid of their former #2 CB, Sheldon Brown? Just a thought.) As a final thought, hopefully they come to their senses in the next few years, but Lester Munson of ESPN wrote an excellent article detailing the reasons for a possible Lockout in 2011.
Well, with Free Agency slowing down, the NFL Draft buzz is amping up. Keep this in the back of your mind for about 9 months from now: Look for an SEC linebacker in the mid-first/early second round to make an impact again. In 2006, DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans), Inside Linebacker from Alabama was chosen with the 1st pick of the 2nd round (33rd overall), in 2007 it was Patrick Willis, ILB from Ole Miss (San Fran 49ers), chosen with the 11th pick of the 1st round. Both went on to win the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the year. Look for Jerod Mayo an Outside/Inside Linebacker from Tennessee to be that guy in 2008. Though he is an underclassman, I've seen him rated from mid 1st (19 to the Titans) to third-round pick. I've seen him listed as both inside and outside linebacker, but with his size (6-2, 242lbs) and athletic ability (proposed) (4.54 40-yd), I see him as a good ILB in a 3-4 scheme. I haven't seen too much game tape on this 2007 First Team All SEC LB, but his college stats list lots of tackles (140 total, 79 unassisted in the 2007 season) and an ability to scrape near the line of scrimmage. In the past years eight of eleven years the winner was a linebacker and they have been from the following conferences: SEC, SEC, ACC, Big East*, ACC, Pac-10, SEC, ACC. Those eight of the last eleven AP Defensive Rookies of the Year have been Linebackers (Jevon Kearse (Titans, 1999), Julius Peppers (Panthers, 2002) and Charles Woodson (Raiders, 1998) were the exceptions). It makes sense in this modern era where the Offensive Tackles are larger AND more agile, thus limiting rookie pass rushers like a Mario Williams (Texans, 2006); There hasn't been an outstanding Defensive Tackle prospect like this year's Glenn Dorsey (my #2 choice for this award); Wide Receivers and Tight Ends are taller and more physical, thus negating the play of highly touted (sub 6 foot) defensive corner and safety prospects like a "Pacman" Jones (Titans, 2005 - pre NBA All Star weekend trouble). Hopefully someone grabs him early though, as one mock draft has him going to the draft-pick-cant-miss-Giants at 32! Maybe that voodoo will wear off for this year. My only relevant side note is that this gentleman - Jerod Mayo - is from Hampton, VA - the same area Michael and Marcus Vick are from. I honestly hope this young man learns from his not-so-intelligent predecessors. One last side note, the Eagles are one of three teams to have *never* had a player win this award while wearing their uniform (though they acquired Kearse and Hugh Douglas who are former winners).
Some people ask, "Dominic - how do you have such a keen sense for humor?" Know how? I know what's the opposite of funny - a stomach virus. I thought, "hey, let me hang with people that had it last week so I get it and maybe I can lose some weight in the process!" Nope, no weight lost. Just sittin' and peein' out your butt while holding a trash can and puking at the same time. Don't laugh. It's not funny. But I did find out how you know you're all recovered: 3 plates of "Endless Enchiladas" and some chips, salsa and guacamole from Don Pablo's. I held that in for like 16 hours!
Around the balls:
Giant-orange- Hey did you hear, the NBA is heating up? The Celtics and Pistons clinched already, and the Rockets of Houston cannot be stopped it seems - 20 wins and counting. So while we all get sidetracked, like Pat Riley, with the NCAA brackets and the next big NBA players, there are still some exciting games going on in the NBA. Yeah, they're still way overpaid for putting a ball in a basket and wearing a business suit in public, but this is the entertaining time of year.
White-leather-stitched- Billy Crystal in Pinstripes? Yeah, a bit unusual, but hey, he got his dream. To be honest I was out of commission and missed this breaking news and didn't hear much commentary on it until after he played. Since he didn't play the field (I guess Hank Steinbrenner figured he was safer at bat), and waited patiently for some pitches earning a full count, I give his performance a "City Slickers 2" - it was no "Analyze This" but it wasn't a "Throw Momma from the Train" either. Crystal said he wanted to make contact, and did on a first pitch foul ball...before striking out. When asked what's next, he responded "Governor of New York...there's an opening." As long as he didn't slide spikes high into first base...
Big-brown-oblong- Trent Green is back with the St. Louis Rams - for THREE YEARS? The guy suffered a major concussion and missed a bunch of games just one season after getting shredded by a nasty hit. Does he have post-concussion syndrome already? He's 37! There was talk he was going to retire due to concussions and he signs for 3 years? The Rams don't have that good an offensive line either. Someone should be given power of attorney over him right now. The Rams...come on. As least sign with the Patriots, Colts or Giants and get a shot at backing up Brady or a Manning for a ring.
Tiny-white- So, you hear about Tripp Isenhour, the jerk golfer who killed a hawk with a golf shot because it squawked while he was filming? Down in Florida, the red-shouldered hawk was killed from about 75 yards in an attempt to "scare it away" in a "one in a million shot". Here's a way to guarantee you're not "the one" - move your damn money making video taping operation! Anyway, can Tiger go 4 for 4? (Can I go golfing on Sunday, Beth? You never answered me.) Tiger, seeking that elusive perfect season, is at the Arnold Palmer classic...somewhere. The surprising leader is Fred Couples! No seriously honey, can I go? I promise I won't break any clubs or drink too much or hit anyone with a ball...
Program Alerts:
NCAA Mens Patriot League Championship - Today 4:45pm on ESPN2 - Can American pull it out over Colgate?
Big East Championship - Saturday 9pm on ESPN - Can Georgetown win both the regular season and Tournament crowns?
Selection Sunday - Pick a channel - about 7pm. The brackets will be out Sunday - where will your team fall? East? Midwest? A 16 seed? The dreaded play-in game?
Lakers at Rockets - Sunday on "ESPN ON ABC" 3:30pm - Can the Rockets make it 22 in a row?
Notes:
* Johnathan Vilma's career was played while Miami University (FL) was still a member of the Big East. Miami(FL) pulled out of the Big East and jumped ship to the ACC in 2004, the year he was drafted. I wonder if the boost in conference was worth it? From 2000 thru 2003 (4 seasons): 46-4. Since (4 seasons): 30-19. Yikes!
Links:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3FGI7R0u3TQ - For a new video game coming out... some may call it "sexist" but it's funny if you like those kind of jokes ("Why are women's feet smaller than men's?"
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