Sports Sense

The city of Indianapolis in particular, and the football world in general, is being torn apart about the future of one of the NFL’s greatest players, Peyton Manning.   Peyton Manning means everything to Indianapolis, and likely always will.   He has grown to be an even bigger icon for the Colts franchise than the legendary Johnny Unitas, who until now was team’s all-time standard bearer.

Peyton Manning

Fans are wondering how this will all play itself out.  Will the vaunted but injured quarterback who until this season never missed a game be able to co-exist with his probable replacement Stanford’s Andrew Luck?  Will the Colts attempt to trade Manning, or trade the draft pick, hoping for three or four more good years from Peyton?  Questions and more questions.  But for now no answers.  The bigger question that few want to consider though is whether Manning will even be able to play again, let alone be as good as he once was.

Some want to reduce this to asking and answering whether Peyton Manning is better than Andrew Luck.  Its a silly question, for which there is a simple answer.   Of course a healthy Peyton Manning is better than Andrew Luck.  A healthy Peyton Manning is better than just about anyone who has ever played quarterback.  But he is no longer healthy, or in his prime.  And he is struggling to overcome one of the most serious injuries a football player can have.

This is not like a knee injury for which there are predictable outcomes, it involves Manning’s neck. He has had three surgeries on it in less than two years.  This particular injury not only impacts his ability to throw the football, but his brings into question whether Manning will be able to withstand a hard hit, and more importantly whether he will be able to literally walk away from the game when he actually does call it quits.

This also isn’t about the money.  Not really.  Yes, there are 28 million reasons why the Indianapolis Colts need to think long and hard about whether to pay Manning the bonus he is due the first week of March.  The clock is ticking on that.  This is really more about honor and doing the right thing.

This is why in the end, it should come down to Peyton Manning truly understanding what the right thing to do is.

There are plenty of fans who believe the Colts “owe” Manning, and should pay him whatever he asks, for services rendered and for a career of great memories for the city and the team.   But the fact is he has already been paid many millions of dollars, far more than any Colts player has ever received.   He has never been taken for granted by owner Jim Irsay, who knows full well just how important Manning has been and what he still means.  Manning is universally recognized as one of the best to ever play quarterback.

But Peyton Manning can’t play right now.  And he may never be able to play at a high level again.  No one knows this better than Manning himself.  If he cares at all about the team, he will walk away with honor and dignity.

I believe he is a better person than someone who will back the owner into a corner and force him to make a decision that will make the Colts look villainous, or worse, foolishly generous.   If Peyton can play again, that will be a wonderful thing.  But time is running out for fans and the Colts to know this for sure.

Fortunately, the Colts have a fantastic insurance policy on the future.  Its the number one draft pick. 14 years ago, Peyton Manning was that first pick.   And soon after he joined the team he changed a city and the franchise for the better.  Now with the number one pick in hand again, Peyton unselfishly has a chance to help the Colts move positively on to a new era by stepping away.   I’m hoping he does it.

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I thought hard about one of sports most meaningful quotes as I watched the Indianapolis Colts improbable last second victory Thursday night over the Houston Texans.  Stuck in my head was former New York Jets coach Herman Edwards’ unforgettable mantra:  “you play to win the game.”  Playing to win is the very essence of sports.

Two years ago, the Colts were on the verge of an undefeated regular season.  But coaches and management opted to rest certain players so they would be healthy for the playoff run.  As a result the Colts lost the last two games to finish the regular season 14 – 2.  Indianapolis fans  have never forgiven Colts’ management for not trying to win every game in 2009.

The Colts did win two playoff games and went to the Super Bowl, but they would lose a close hard fought game to the New Orleans Saints.

Many have come to believe that the Colts are still suffering from the karmic consequences of a season spoiling decision.

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning’s career is in doubt because of three neck surgeries in 19 months.   Manning has not played a game this year and the Colts have had one of the worst seasons in team history.

But there was one ironically shining light in all of this.  Two weeks ago the Colts were 0 – 13 and were leading by a couple of laps in the race to get the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft.  Once rabid Colts fans have even been cheering for the team to lose in order to ensure the Colts get to draft first.

But some would say a remarkable thing happened this week, with two straight wins, the Colts are on a winning streak, yet may have run out of Luck.

Two wins in five days would normally be reason to celebrate, but many Colts fans now worry that the chance to secure Peyton Manning’s future replacement – Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck – has been jeopardized.  Draft experts say Luck is destined to be the NFL’s next great quarterback.  But things are not always what they seem.  Andrew Luck has not taken a snap in an NFL uniform or thrown an NFL touchdown pass.

Through the years, there is a long line of “can’t miss” players who have in fact missed badly.   But history also registers a fair number of formerly unheralded quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and Tom Brady, who defied the odds against them to become legendary NFL icons.

Yes, the Indianapolis Colts will soon have to make a decision about Peyton Manning’s future.  And it might be a painful one, that may force him to retire or move on to another team.  Or they may decide he still has great games left and keep him.   But that decision is for another day.  Sports are best enjoyed in the moment.   What I witnessed Thursday night during and after the game reinforces that opinion.

I saw an injured Peyton Manning on the sideline passionately encouraging his struggling teammates to persevere even though he could not be on the field with them.

I saw journeyman quarterback Dan Orlovsky execute the most important two-minute drive of his career, capped off by the game-winning touchdown.

I saw veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne, who may have suited up for his last home game for the Colts, play like the star he always has been and catch Orlovsky’s game clinching TD pass.

I saw players and fans joyously relieved to see that their team is not nearly as bad as the 2-13 record seems to indicate.

The Colts played with heart and effort to beat the Texans.   And their often motley defense actually looked strong throughout much of the game.

Playing to win is always the right thing to do, even if it risks injury to valued players, and even if it risks the loss of a top draft pick.  Winning and honest effort cures lots of ills.  Teams turn around quickly in the NFL.

The point is, resting players to try to keep them injury free is a almost always a bad strategy, just as fans hoping their team loses games to guarantee a chance at a top draft pick is equally bad form and probably bad karma.

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There was a time – a long time in fact – when David Stern was easily the smartest and best commissioner in sports.  He was the first to understand the NBA’s international popularity and wisely began taking advantage of league’s rapidly expanding global reach.  For years Stern’s vision for the NBA was much clearer and more focused than the commissioners of other sports.

NBA Commissioner David Stern

But this year Stern’s clumsy pronouncements during the lockout, and his even clumsier handling of the aborted trade of All-Pro guard Chris Paul, have exposed dangerous flaws in his leadership and for the first time suggest that the NBA might be better off without him.

David Stern is 69 years old, and he is not as magical in his moves as he was when he took over the league in 1984.  Time seems to be moving faster than he does these days.   And his near dictatorial stewardship no longer serves the NBA very well.

I say this with all due respect to Stern’s accomplishments.  When he became commissioner the NBA was perceived very poorly by much of the public.  But Stern’s leadership changed that, and helped create a climate that allowed players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to thrive and become icons.

What I’m saying is that since the league’s beginning over 60 years ago there have always been great players, but not all of those players had the benefit of David Stern’s shrewd leadership.  But still there are challenges ahead that must be overcome.

I believe that whoever is selected as the next commissioner must alter the dynamics of the league and find a way to promote to the public all 30 of the league’s teams and not solely rely on the pull of select stars who seem to be located only in the major markets.

The NBA’s current star system leaves the league open to wild speculation that games are fixed and that only certain teams have a chance to win a championship.

It also leads to inequities in TV ratings and interest.  The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, who’ve won more than 30 NBA championships collectively, draw strong ratings during the playoffs.  But smaller market teams like San Antonio, that have also been successful and won multiple titles, not so well.  That shouldn’t be.

Further, the recent lockout exposed the gross financial inequity among most of its teams.  Like baseball, revenue is not shared in a manner than insures financial success for most NBA teams.  That problem needs to be a top priority for a new commissioner.

While I think the time has come for David Stern to retire.  Whoever succeeds him will have some enormous shoes to fill, but that person will have even bigger challenges to overcome.

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Despite a new labor agreement, just ratified by owners and players, it appears the NBA has still not figured out that it is not in the league’s best interests to continue to promote stars over teams.

The league must find a way to raise the profile and prestige of smaller-market teams or risk even more devastating financial problems and conflicts in years to come.

News Thursday night that the NBA killed a deal that would have sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers to pair him with Kobe Bryant was as surprising as the proposed deal itself.  But it was the right thing to do.

The attempt to send Paul to the Lakers though angered several owners, particularly Cleveland’s Dan Gilbert, who saw this move as unfair to smaller markets and possibly orchestrated by the NBA itself.

Chris Paul

Complicating matters in the Chris Paul almost-trade is the fact that the NBA temporarily owns the Hornets.  Of course the league is looking for an owner to take over the New Orleans franchise, but to make that happen, the NBA had better find a way to ensure that the New Orleans Hornets are competitive and viable.

Trading Chris Paul to the Lakers or any other team at this time certainly undermines that.

Another of the top stars, Dwight Howard, wants to leave the Orlando Magic and move to a more attractive market.  According to reports, Howard now wants to go to the New Jersey Nets.

There is nothing wrong with fortifying the NBA’s largest markets, but what is the league doing to make the smaller markets more inviting to its stars?  So far, nothing.  It’s already looking like business as usual in the NBA, a league where in recent years, only a handful of franchises have made a profit.

If the NFL was run like the NBA it would not be nearly as successful or as highly regarded as it is today.  How is it that one of the top 5 franchises in the NFL can be located in America’s smallest sports market?

Green Bay, Wisconsin is a thriving NFL city with a population of only 100,000 people. But ironically, not far away, Milwaukee, is considered one of the NBA’s least attractive franchises.

If the NFL can successfully sell Green Bay to the public, a much smaller city than nearby Milwaukee, then it is obvious that the NBA has real work to do to ensure that all of its franchises are healthy.

The Colts’ Peyton Manning is a four-time MVP living and playing in Indianapolis.   For years he was also the NFL’s No. 1 product endorser.  The Indianapolis Colts have been a top 10 franchise in both value and prestige.

But just a couple of blocks away, the Indiana Pacers struggle for respectability and profitability.  The disparity between the Pacers and Colts is startling.   There are a number of other markets where this contrast between teams from the two leagues is startlingly true.

So as the the NBA finally gets set to kick off a new season, you would think that lessons were learned and that old unsuccessful habits would not take hold again.  But already there are signs that nothing has changed.

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Count me among those not very excited about Tiger Woods finally winning another golf tournament.

Okay it is news, good news, and Tiger was pumping his fist at the end, with a winning birdie put – like the Tiger of old.  I’ll give him that.   But if we are really set to usher in the next great Tiger Woods era, then we have to see him do it again.  Maybe I’m being a little harsh, and not celebrating the “struggle” he has obviously overcome – oh well.

Tiger Woods celebrates victory at Chevron World Challenge

Time for a little bubble bursting.   And please don’t call me a hater.  I am a Tiger fan.  But I also base my observations in fact, not fantasy.

First, the Chevron World Challenge is a glorified exhibition, with a small, elite field of golfers – only 18 participants.  It should also be noted, that the Chevron Challenge does not count as an official PGA Tour victory, so it doesn’t add to Tiger’s official win total which will remain at 71, the third most victories in PGA history, behind only Jack Nicklaus and Sam Snead.

Further, someone wins every week in the golf world. The key to greatness – and the Tiger we knew was indeed great – is winning again – soon.  Most golfers don’t.   That is why it is rare to see a golfer with multiple wins on the golf tour each year.  The old Tiger was the exception.  And was the reason so many of us tuned in to see him play.  We knew he wouldn’t  tease us with a rare victory, and then the expected long string of losses like the other guys.  The old Tiger actually won multiple tournaments every year.

During his heyday, Tiger won nearly 25% of the tournaments that he played in – no golfer in history ever won that often.  In the meantime, I will take Tiger’s victory Sunday for what it is – a win.   A single victory for a man who indeed has struggled with his swing and his putting for the better part of two years.   But I will not proclaim him “back” until he wins his next several tournaments.

For now, Tiger is still just another golfer.  But perhaps the victory will at least boost his sagging confidence, which seemed to take an even greater hit than his erratic golf swing and his disappointing putting.

But don’t get me wrong, as a longtime Tiger Woods watcher and fan, I am looking forward to his next win, I just hope it won’t take another two years to witness.

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I find myself torn by what’s become of Donovan McNabb, whose enigmatic career now appears to be on its last legs after being placed on waivers Thursday by the Minnesota Vikings.  This is the third time in two years that a team has given up on him.  It is not the way a former star quarterback wants to be remembered.

Donovan McNabb

McNabb went to the Vikings this season as essentially a placeholder for rookie quarterback Christian Ponder.   McNabb began the season as the starter but was benched after six mostly ineffective games, opening the door for Ponder to be inserted into the lineup.

McNabb’s short stint with Minnesota came after a painful, misunderstood year with the Washington Redskins in 2010.  It was a year in which Redskins coach Mike Shanahan demeaned McNabb by suggesting he was not in shape, and could not effectively run or understand the team’s two-minute offense.

McNabb was traded to Washington following 11 largely successful seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.   But the prevailing wisdom was that for McNabb to be traded within the division meant that Philadelphia felt he was done as a top tier quarterback – something that McNabb has tried but failed to disprove.

I always thought McNabb played it too safe, and unnecessarily went out of his way to prove that he could be a conventional pocket quarterback, at the expense of his natural ability.  There were many times he would have been more successful running the ball to make the play instead of opting to pass.  To my eyes these were squandered opportunities, which made it hard for me to root for him.

I did though admire the way McNabb comported himself away from the field – he almost always came across as a dignified, smart and honorable man, who you were never concerned might do something to embarrass himself or his team.

It should also be noted that McNabb took the Eagles to the NFC championship game 5 times, and to one Super Bowl – impressive accomplishments.  He was a 6-time Pro bowl selection, and has thrown more touchdown passes and fewer interceptions than revered Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.

Still, many of us wanted more from the 35-year old McNabb.   He should have won Super Bowls.  He should have been more daring.  He should be in the same conversation as Manning and Brady.  But unfortunately that will not be his legacy.

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With Sunday’s overtime victory over the San Diego Chargers, the Denver Broncos are now 5 – 1 this season with Tim Tebow leading the way and are now legitimately in the hunt for a playoff spot.  Perhaps victories will begin to quiet the skeptical team president who continues to have doubts about his quarterback.

Tim Tebow Prays for Overtime Victory

Still, I hope John Elway will finally acknowledge what is becoming apparent – something special is happening to the Denver Broncos now that Tim Tebow has taken the reigns.

Last week during an interview, Elway wasted no time pointing out Tebow’s shortcomings.  And he once again made no commitment to Tebow’s future in Denver.   Elway like many other NFL purists just can’t stomach the way Tebow plays the game – mediocre passing and lots of running.

And who can blame Elway for feeling this way.  He is one of the all time great quarterbacks.  But even Elway should keep an open mind.

Against the Chargers, Tebow ran the ball 22 times, the most carries for a quarterback in more than 60 years.   He completed just 50 percent of his passes for 143 yards which is mediocre to poor by NFL standards.

But somehow, this odd formula is working and even Denver head coach John Fox, who like Elway has his own set of doubts, is starting to drink the Kool-Aid.  Fox has now tailored the Denver offense to accommodate Tebow’s unique skill-set and he is reaping the rewards – while at the same time scratching his head.

Tebow’s approach to the game transcends the statistics or his style of play.   The fact is Denver is obviously better with him in the game.   His teammates seem to block and tackle better, run the ball better, and are clearly jelling as a team.  I can’t explain it, no one, not even the doubting experts or Tebow’s most fervent fans can.

Complicating the feelings about Tebow are his devout Christian beliefs.  He unapologetically wears his religion on his sleeve, praying on the sideline and quoting scripture during interviews.  These are blasphemous doings in an era of shout-outs and put-downs.

In a God-fearing nation like this, Tebow’s faithfulness should be a blessing, but the fact is far too many people are uncomfortable with Tebow’s public displays of Christianity, some fans and players have even cruelly mocked him for it.

But none of the “hate” appears to bother Tebow who earnestly seems to have a “forgive and forget” attitude about it all.   After he was critiqued by Elway last week, Tebow took it in stride and said he was grateful to play for and learn from a legend.

A lot can be learned from Tebow’s gloriously confounding and humble example.  Aren’t we supposed to be rooting for a young man like this?  I am.

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Football can be a brutal game.  We expect the violence, and most of the time we even appreciate it.   But even with football there is a line that should never be crossed.  The Detroit Lions’ Ndamukong Suh, a player whose viciousness I’ve enjoyed from time to time, clearly crossed that line on Thanksgiving.

Ndamukong Suh

“A lot of people are going to interpret it as, or create their own storylines for seeing what they want to interpret, but I know what I did, and the man upstairs knows what I did.   I understand in this world because of the type of player and the type of person I am, all eyes are on me. So why would I do something to jeopardize myself and jeopardize my team first and foremost?”

Not a hint of contrition.  No sense of self-reflection.   Ironically, I would feel better about all of this if he sounded as wild and crazy as his actions.  But Suh most times with his helmet off is articulate, insightful and engaging, which makes his behavior even more mystifying.

Is Suh an accomplished player? Is he one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL?  Yes he is.  He was last season’s defensive rookie of the year, and was named first team All-Pro.   Suh, has earned the accolades, but he has also earned increasing doubts about his character.

Suh has a history.   A body of work – filled with cheap shots – that he should be ashamed of.   Earlier this year he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss the fines he’s accumulated and his rough play.  It was a meeting that Suh asked for.  What was said is not known, but surely the commissioner conveyed that further questionable play on Suh’s part would be dealt with severely.   Suh’s Thanksgiving meltdown to my eyes far exceeded questionable.

A few years ago, many of us witnessed a psychotic episode similar to this when Tennessee Titans’ defensive tackle Albert  Haynesworth stomped on the face of one of his opponents.  It was one of the worst acts of stupidity and recklessness ever seen in sports.

Haynesworth was suspended, but he would later come back to resurrect his reputation and have several Pro Bowl seasons.  He would subsequently earn record millions in free agency when he signed with the Washington Redskins.

Albert Haynesworth

But it didn’t take long for Haynesworth to demonstrate that his innate character flaws made it nearly impossible for him to do the right things – like getting in shape, being a good teammate and justifying the money he was being paid.  Eventually the Redskins let him go.  Haynesworth went to New England this season, which also quickly parted ways with him.   Haynesworth is now playing out his career in Tampa Bay, a shell of the player he once was.  I doubt he will be in the NFL much longer.

Right now it looks like Ndamukong Suh may be headed down Haynesworth’s highway to nowhere.   Like Haynesworth, he is big and strong but perhaps irrational and delusional.  But before we confirm a diagnosis, Suh deserves a huge fine and a meaningful suspension and another chance at redemption.

Perhaps a stern rebuke from the commissioner and the football world will wake him up and ultimately save a career that is only two seasons old, but now is seemingly spiraling out of control.

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Okay, I admit it – Tim Tebow still has a long way to go to become an efficient passer.  But you’ve got to admit that he’s a winner.  Isn’t that how we are supposed to judge quarterbacks?

Tim Tebow

On Sunday once again Tebow proved that for now his legs are more valuable than his arm.  He only completed two of eight passes for 69 yards in Denver’s 17 – 10 win over Kansas City.   And while he completed only two passes, one of them went for a touchdown.   He also ran 9 times for 43 yards and rushed for a touchdown.  As a team Denver gained 244 yards on the ground.

Denver’s coaching staff has obviously made a conscious  decision to run the ball instead of risking what they believe could be game changing interceptions by Tebow.   But I believe they sell him short.  But oh well, I’m pretty sure they’ll take the wins.

So far Tebow’s record as a starter this season is 3 – 1.  Based on my understanding of math that’s a winning record.  And despite the lack of passes, Tebow’s running and his leadership are largely responsible for the victories.

Don’t you just love the dilemma that Denver’s in right now?  Head coach John Fox and executive vice-president/general manager, John Elway, must be going crazy with concerns about the direction of the team.   I’m sure they don’t know what to do.  Bottom line in Denver, even if management is unsure about him, the fans love Tebow.

Fox and Elway better learn to love him too, because it looks like the team responds better with Tebow in the lineup  – even though he is unpolished and as yet still unproven – than they might with a more traditional pocket passer, who has a much more “pure” throwing motion.

But it might be that Tebow, with all of his flaws is actually redefining the position of quarterback.  Or maybe he’s just a throwback to the days when the helmets were leather and passing was often an act of desperation.

Fits Tebow to a T

History shows us that quarterbacks didn’t always throw the ball very much.  The name quarterback, and the other backfield positions derive from where a player was positioned behind the offensive line.   The quarterback was often a quarter of the way back.   The halfback, now called running back, were usually  halfway back.   And the fullback, who generally blocks for the running back these days could sometimes be the furthest back in the backfield.

Depending on the formation, whether it was the old single wing, or the original “T” formation, any one of four players could run, block or pass the football.   That’s how it used to be.

Variations on the single wing formation have been used very effectively in the last few years.   The Miami Dolphins took a trip back in time by installing what they called the “Wildcat” offense.  This is where the running back (halfback) takes a direct snap from center and either runs or passes.  Other teams seeing the Dolphins’ success quickly copied.

The point I’m making is that football has been played lots of different ways over more than 100 years.   Nothing is really new.   But too often the great football minds of today seem to forget the rich history of the game and think that only a certain style or a certain type of player can turn out victories.  Well it just so happened that Denver, with a passing-challenged, former Heisman Trophy winner, running the show just won a game by completing only two passes.  Isn’t that something!

I say as long as Denver is winning, and as long as the players respond to Tebow, maybe just maybe he isn’t so bad after all.  And perhaps, he’s also changing the game and our view of it.

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I’ve been thinking about the plight of vulnerable children, Penn State University, and the firing of Joe Paterno for nearly a week, struggling with the complexity of this story and trying to find the right words to express myself.

But even as I take all of this in, I do know that the ironic benefit of this sad episode, if there can be one, is that the Penn State scandal can be one big, horrifying, teaching moment for all of us.

Joe Paterno

There are lessons to be learned from the tragic story of child sexual abuse connected to the Penn State campus.

*If you discover that a child is being abused you must report it to legal authorities or children’s services officials immediately.

*An institution’s image, your image, is secondary to a child’s safety and well-being.

*Family, friendships and business relationships cannot stand in the way of doing what is right.

While I hated to see the end come this way for a legendary 84 year-old coach, Joe Paterno had to be fired.  The university president had to go too. The people in charge had to be held accountable.

That said, those actions came much too late.  Only when this story became national news, did the Penn State Board of Trustees move to take appropriate action.  It should not have to taken indictments and arrests, and the glare of a stunned nation to shame the university into doing something.

Enough was known or suspected about the crimes of Jerry Sandusky many years before.  If protecting children had been a priority of the university, and even a priority of legal officials, Sandusky would have been put away a long time ago.

Jerry Sandusky

The assistant coach who witnessed that sexual assault in 2002 should have, and could have gone further than just reporting what he saw to the head coach.

A prosecutor and his team of investigators should have done a better job of examining suspicions about Sandusky in 1998.  Any number of people could have and should have done more.

We know that Joe Paterno should’ve spoken immediately and forcefully, not just to university officials, but to the police and child protective services once his assistant told him about Sandusky assaulting a child. That was his moral obligation.

Paterno is the highest paid state government employee in Pennsylvania, and he is certainly that state’s most important sports figure, who has power and influence some would say even greater than that of the state’s governor.

But when told about Sandusky’s heinous acts, Paterno cowardly chose to follow “chain of command” and report it only to his “superior”,  the athletic director.    He apparently did nothing to follow up his report and obviously did not push for legal action.  All Paterno apparently signed off on was making sure that Sandusky no longer brought children on university property.

Two wrongs were committed with that mistake.   The image of the university became more important than the fate of the boy who was assaulted.  And a cover-up, intended or not, was put in motion for one of Paterno’s closest associates and friends.  Again, child-welfare came second.

We should keep in mind that while we focus on Sandusky, Paterno, Penn State, and Sandusky’s victims, this terrible crime is happening everywhere. Right now.  Thousands upon thousands of children are being molested.  And many people continue to enable these terrible crimes with their silence and fear.

This has to stop.  Our first priority must be to stand up for the children, by reporting to authorities what we see, know and suspect.

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Perhaps in death Joe Frazier will finally get his due.

The former heavyweight champion of the world, who died at age 67, from liver cancer on Monday, will always be linked to his chief boxing nemesis and tormentor, Muhammad Ali, a man he fought three times.

Joe Frazier

That first fight against Ali, 40 years ago, remains boxing’s all-time classic – it was dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”

The 15-round war in New York’s Madison Square Garden saw Frazier knockdown Ali, and break his jaw to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.  It would be Frazier’s only victory over Ali.

It’s been 36 years since Joe Frazier last fought a meaningful fight.  And even that fight was against Muhammad Ali.

Another gem, it was called the Thrilla in Manila.  In the sweltering Philippines’ heat, Joe who fought valiantly, and courageously wanted to keep fighting, but mercifully his corner said enough, throwing in the towel in the 14^th round.

Smokin Joe was never the same after that fight, but neither was an equally battered Muhammad Ali.

Ironically even as I write this obituary, I too, have already mentioned Ali, too many times.  This was the fate Joe Frazier was too often defined by.

Joe never got over, or got past his Ali connection.

Let me speak for a moment about that. The hurt, the pain, and the indignities that Joe suffered from the insults hurled at him by Ali were inexcusable.  And all of us who were boxing fans at the time, should take some blame and feel ashamed.

Frazier Knocks Down Ali in 1971

The taunts were vicious, cruel and unjust.  Ali called him a gorilla, and an Uncle Tom, and most of us foolishly just laughed, saying nothing in Joe’s defense.  Not once calling Ali on the heartlessness of it.  And in the meantime, Joe Frazier never really got over it.   It’s a pain he surely has taken to his grave.

Often overlooked, is the fact that after Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title for refusing to be inducted into the Army during the Vietnam War, it was Joe Frazier, who many times loaned him money and provided him moral support.

On his own merit, Frazier really was a great fighter.  He was a Golden Gloves champion, and a gold medal winner in the 1964 Olympic Games.

Joe Frazier was short for heavyweight, about the size of Mike Tyson.  He was just as explosive.  His compact punches coming from an odd, crouching, swarming style were hard to defend against – just ask Ali.

Frazier’s post-boxing career saw him mentor his son Marvis, and other boxers.   For the most part he lived quietly behind the scenes in his adopted hometown of Philadelphia in virtual obscurity, coming out only occasionally to various boxing galas and events.

Joe Frazier was worthy of his own spotlight.  But in life it was usually reserved for someone else – Ali, most of the time.  Joe was only the co-star.  In death though we owe Joe a curtain call and a much-deserved standing ovation.

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I got another chance to see University of Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson on Saturday.  He starred in the Badgers’ 62-17 drubbing of Purdue.  Wilson continues to pass my “eyeball-test”.  There simply has not been a better college quarterback this year.   Based on what I’ve seen he’s been even better than Stanford’s Andrew Luck, who is considered by many to be college football’s top quarterback and the NFL’s next great passer.

Russell Wilson

But to my mind and more importantly to my eyes, on the college level, Luck has not out-played Russell Wilson.  Wilson does everything well.   He throws accurately, he stays composed, and he shines as a leader on the field.  Further, his glowing resume is enhanced by the fact that he can also run the ball pretty well when he wants to.

But there is a glaring problem for this excellent college quarterback.  Wilson is only 5’10“ tall – which is munchkin-size by NFL quarterback standards.  And it also means he will never be properly evaluated by the so-called football experts.  Meaning he will most likely not get a serious opportunity to play quarterback in the NFL.

According to the football geniuses, the prototypical future franchise quarterback must be well over 6 feet tall, ideally about 6’4” or taller with a rocket arm.  Their ideal quarterback is also smart and is most comfortable passing from the pocket.

Russell Wilson has been defying the skeptics for years.   Wilson, who is in his last year of college eligibility at Wisconsin, played his first three collegiate years at North Carolina State.  He was spectacular at a school not known for football excellence. During his time there he passed for more than 8000 yards and threw 76 touchdowns, earning All-ACC honors.

But Wilson was able to move on to quarterback-starved Wisconsin this season based on an obscure NCAA rule which allows players who’ve earned their degree, yet still have eligibility remaining, to play immediately at another school.

Wilson has been embraced at Wisconsin, which if not for two heartbreaking, last-second losses, earlier this season could have been in the argument for the national championship.  Still, despite those setbacks, Wilson has been the shining constant.

Sadly though that will likely not be enough for those who continue to insist that quarterbacks must look and play a certain way.   The size-challenged Wilson just doesn’t meet their profile.  Of course those same experts are wrong more often than not.

Last season, they said that Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert was the best quarterback not named Andrew Luck and that Gabbert would have a much easier time transitioning to the NFL than Auburn’s Cam Newton, who won a national championship and won the Heisman.

Of course the “experts” didn’t have it right, as Newton appears to be on track for a stellar career in Carolina, setting rookie passing marks, while Gabbert is struggling to just be competent in  Jacksonville.

That said, for my money Russell Wilson, despite his size, has all of the intangibles that will allow him to succeed in the NFL for years to come.  I just hope he gets a fair chance to prove it.

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It has been a charmed decade for the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL’s winningest team during that stretch, but fortunes can change in an instant.  This is one of those times.  The team that just a few short years ago won a Super Bowl and narrowly missed winning another, is now the worst team in the league.   These days the Colts appear inept and literally defenseless.

Peyton Manning

And to make matters worse, the aging superstar quarterback, Peyton Manning, who until this season never missed a game, might not play again.  His surgically repaired neck has kept him off the field this season, and may end a certain Hall of Fame career.  The most recent surgery in August, was the third on his neck.

Peyton Manning is the NFL’s highest paid player.  He will make an average of $23 million each of the next three years.  Make no mistake, based on his accomplishments, he deserves every penny.   He has thrown for more touchdowns and more yards than all but two quarterbacks in NFL history.

No one commands his team like Manning.  He is a virtual coach on the field, directing the actions of his teammates with a sort of frenzied precision.  But with Manning gone, the Colts look lost, and so too does the real coach, JIm Caldwell, whose job is clearly on the line.

But losing sometimes brings benefits.  At this rate the Colts will land the top pick in the draft, which many say should be Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.  Luck, according to most so-called experts, will be the best quarterback to come out of college since – Peyton Manning.

Andrew Luck

Even louder than the grumbling about a lousy team, is the speculation about what the Colts should do with the number one pick, should they get it.  Peyton Manning started his very first game in 1998 evolving into arguably the best quarterback of his generation, and winning a record setting four league MVP awards along the way.

If Andrew Luck is indeed the second coming of Manning, shouldn’t he play right away too?  I think it is foolish to expect a player of the presumed star quality of Luck to sit on the bench and bide his time waiting for a possibly healthy Manning to finally call it quits.  This is especially true since the top four quarterbacks picked in the most recent draft are all now starting for their teams this season.

Carolina’s Cam Newton has so far had the most productive year of any rookie quarterback in NFL history.  He’s playing even better than Manning did as a rookie. Andrew Luck and his “people” know this too and will not want Luck to sit and wait, possibly for years to play.

This is why the woeful Colts will soon have a decision to make.  Should Peyton Manning recover will the Colts simply hand him the ball and ask him to work miracles for what might be only a few more years at best?   Or should the Colts pick Luck and trade Manning while he still has perceived value?

This is tough stuff.  Green Bay faced this dilemma several years ago with an aging Brett Favre.  At first it was unpopular to get rid of Favre.  But Favre’s replacement Aaron Rodgers has already made fans forget about the unpleasant time when Favre was let go.   Rodgers won a Super Bowl last season and is leading the Packers to what might be yet another Super Bowl run.

But it may not be that simple in Indianapolis.  Peyton Manning is the city’s greatest ever player in any sport.   He made Indianapolis matter to the rest of the nation, he’s even bigger than the Indy 500.  Without Manning the Colts might be in Los Angeles, and the beautiful new domed stadium, which will host this season’s Super Bowl, might never have been built.  Do you kick Peyton Manning to the curb for the next possibly, maybe, great player?

In sports, if you are smart, yes you do.  That’s if you want to be successful.  Sentiment lasts only so long.  Losing can last a lot longer.   It hurts for a while when a great player is cast off, just ask the folks in Green Bay.  But if you play your hand right, like the Packers did, then another great player might be just around the corner.  At least you hope so.  Indianapolis might just Luck out.

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At first glance its pretty easy to understand why NBA owners resorted to a lockout.  Its about finding a way for team owners to protect themselves from their own actions.   The lockout is also a way to close the ever-widening financial gap between large and small market teams, a gap that could destroy the gains the league has made in TV ratings, public perception and quality of play.   But the truth is this lockout is much more complicated than one might think, and is not one that very easily can be blamed on well-paid players or their union.

Are players at fault for demanding multi-million dollar salaries?   I don’t blame them, especially since these now angry and hypocritical owners so easily paid up.   I ask you: if someone was willing to pay you millions per year to do your job, would you take the money?  Of course you would.

But because of this reckless extravagance, too many NBA teams are losing money.  Unlike the NFL, most NBA owners have balance sheets deep in the red.   There are a number of reasons for this.

Television revenue is not spread equally among teams in the NBA as it is in the NFL.  There needs to be a fix for that. The way things are set up now, big market teams are able to extract more from their local TV deals than smaller market teams, which provides the big guys with a significant advantage when trying to lure high profile free agents and key role players.

There is also a market size disparity in some cases when trying to get corporations to pay for glitzy luxury suites, which is another way that large market teams make extra money to spend and profit from.

Labor negotiations are often difficult to explain to those who’ve never experienced the process.  It can be messy, complex and brutal.  But the edge here goes to the owners.  Unions of all kinds these days are having a hard time gaining public sympathy, which means very few people will be concerned that the world’s highest paid union members, will go without a paycheck for a while.

The fact is there is a real chance there will be no professional basketball next season.  The lockout could last that long.  Seven years ago, the National Hockey League shut down for an entire season to change the way it did business.  Several NHL owners also own NBA teams.  They might be willing to do the same thing with their basketball franchises.

Owners are serious about changing the business model of the NBA and making it possible for most if not all teams to finally make a profit.  But players are equally adamant that they not give back too much to owners who they say gladly signed their contracts.

Of course this labor dispute could seriously damage the remarkable progress the NBA has made.  Right now the NBA is as popular as it was during the Michael Jordan era, which was a rich and bountiful time for professional hoops.

But now as players, and big and small market owners, take sides, the real strength of the NBA will be put to the test.  The only good thing about this is that there are four months to go before the new season starts, which means time is on the side of an agreement being made – for now.

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Years ago there were two great sports “Babes”.   The most prominent was George Herman “Babe” Ruth, arguably the greatest baseball player of all time.  Not a day goes by without someone somewhere, mentioning his name or extolling his legend.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

But the other “Babe” these days is too often overlooked.   Her name was Mildred “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias, who without debate is the greatest female athlete the world has ever known.  Do I know that for sure?  No, because I’m too young to definitively make the claim, but I do believe it.   I’ve seen the film clips, and I’ve read the stories, and based on this “research” I’m sold on her place in history – she is indeed number one.  Still, because she competed so long ago, coupled with the fact that we seldom, if ever, give female athletes their just due, this Babe is not mentioned nearly enough.

Today would have been Babe Didrikson Zaharias’ 100th birthday.  She died from cancer in 1956 at the age of 45.   Even though she died so young, she nonetheless was able to accumulate one of sports’ most significant resumes.  But in acquiring her bounty of medals, trophies, prize money and fame she also had to triumph over innuendo, and suspicion.   How could a woman be so good?   Underneath she just had to be a man – right?  For others she wasn’t pretty enough, or even pretty at all, which made the nasty gossip of the time even more vicious and cruel.

Still Babe played on.  And played better than anyone else.

Her credentials for greatness are unquestioned.  She won two gold medals at the 1932 Olympic Games.  She set a world record in the hurdles, and she also won gold throwing the javelin, and got a silver medal in the high jump.  There was seemingly no sport which presented her a serious challenge.

She also excelled in just about every other sport in which she competed: baseball, basketball, tennis, bowling and later golf.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

As a professional golfer, she was the LPGA’s first superstar. She won a total of 48 tournaments in her career, including a all-time professional golf record (men and women) of 14 consecutive victories.   She competed in a number of PGA events, and became the first woman to ever make the cut in a PGA event, a feat which she accomplished several times.

In 1953 she was diagnosed with colon cancer.   Fighting against the disease through surgeries and treatments, she was actually able to win several more tournaments.   But cancer is the one competitor she wasn’t able to defeat, and she died September 27, 1956.   The sports world lost one of its greatest champions.   Let’s hope though that her sports legacy will never be forgotten and will no longer be ignored.

Happy 100th Babe, you are the greatest.

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