Sports Sense

I’m worried like I always am before an Indianapolis Colts playoff game. Somehow I’ve come to think that the New York Jets can actually beat the once undefeated Colts. I don’t really believe that do I? Still the last time the Jets played the Colts in a playoff game the score was 41 to nothing – Jets win. And even though that game was seven years ago, for a worrier like me it might as well have been last week.

Those of us who come from Indianapolis are used to being disappointed. I grew up in a city that never seemed quite worthy of, or comfortable with, top tier status. As such we natives have historically both derisively and proudly called the city Naptown, a place where not much happens, but is nonetheless a great place to raise a family. But its kind of like having to kiss your sister – not much joy in that.

But things have changed quite a bit in my hometown over the years and so has my perspective and reality. So now as a grown man I’ve spent a lot of time defending the Circle City (the better nickname) and extolling its virtues.

This is as good as it gets in Indianapolis. It is a city that remade itself by meticulously developing an enviable reputation as an international sports capital. And as a bonus Indianapolis now has one of the NFL’s best teams, it’s best quarterback, and a beautiful retractable roof stadium to play in. But perhaps the best and scariest fact of all is that the Colts are again the favorite to win the Super Bowl. The Colts help make Indianapolis mean something.

The rational me believes that if the Colts play their best game Sunday they should easily beat the Jets, who ironically thanks to the Colts, backed their way into the playoffs. But like many of the folks back home – the skeptical me is unduly focused on the fact that it was the Jets who a couple of weeks ago ended the Colt’s improbable bid for an undefeated season.

So will the Colts beat the Jets on Sunday and advance to the Super Bowl? I certainly hope so but I’m not sure yet. I’m from Indianapolis and I’m still worried.

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He leads one of the NFL’s best teams. But we barely know who he is.
What does this brother have to do to get some love?

His team remains undefeated which means he’s now 14 and 0 – the best record ever for a first-year NFL head coach. But all we seem to know is that he’s the guy who replaced the noble legend Tony Dungy.

He apparently blends in so well that the commentators never give him his due for his leadership and knowledge.

Even though he’s not publicly complaining, it’s got to be tough being virtually anonymous despite so much success. No one is calling him a genius even though he replaced an icon and actually improved on his team’s brand. One game at a time is the way he looks at it. But don’t lose sight of the fact that every win means he’s extending his own record breaking victory streak.

He’s on the road to 19 – 0 and the Super Bowl. One day the masses will notice he’s a very good coach, maybe they’ll notice in February.

Who is this unassuming, under-appreciated man? His name is Jim Caldwell, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.

The way I see it he’s the NFL’s coach of the year. He deserves the love.

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The Drive now belongs to the Tennessee Titans’ Vince Young.

With the clock running out on Sunday, Vince Young drove his Titans down the field 99 yards in 18 plays, overcoming three 4th downs, and won the game against the Arizona Cardinals. Final score, Tennessee 20, Arizona 17.

The play that ended it was a touchdown pass in the end zone as time expired. It does not get any more dramatic than that.

The drive is a defining moment for Vince Young who less than a year ago was considered by some at best immature and quite possibly unstable. A run-first quarterback who glowed briefly but quickly flamed out. While yesterday’s remarkable game winning march down the field is a statement for Young it is also a parable about patience and redemption.

Tennessee which began the season 0 – 6, has now won five games in a row, and is not ruling out the playoffs anymore. And off the bench after reflecting on his mistakes and learning the finer points of team leadership, Vince Young has won all five of those games.

And now he is starting to look like the player he was in college, when he led Texas to a national championship with what may be the greatest performance in college football history.

Like that game nearly four years ago, or yesterday’s final drive, most of us watch football hoping that we will see a Vince Young dazzle us at his best.

There is nothing like seeing a player give his all and do it in an unforgettable way.

That is what Vince Young is capable of. But unrealized potential is why he has disappointed so many of us until now.

Perhaps the lesson we can learn from Vince Young’s saga, is that sometimes we must be willing to wait awhile for those who still need to mature and grow. Some of them deserve our patience and understanding, which if given can be generously rewarded.

I’m sure the Titans and their fans are glad now that they didn’t give up on Vince Young.

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Remember this – the Tennessee Titans have now won four games in a row. The winning streak was extended Monday night with an impressive victory in the Titans’ original hometown of Houston.

The streak started just over a month ago after a humiliating loss to the New England Patriots, 59 – 0.

At that point the Titans were winless on the season. Six straight losses. Nowhere to go, but up. At least that’s what they always say when it looks like there is no hope.

But apparently hope springs eternal for 86 year-old Titans owner Bud Adams, who called for Vince Young to return to the starting line-up after the Patriots loss.

Titans’ coach Jeff Fisher apparently agreed with the owner and benched veteran quarterback Kerry Collins. For tarnished star Vince Young it was now or never.

But clearly it is Now, as the return of Vince Young is propelling a once floundering team.

Monday night’s 20 -17 win over the Houston Texans is actually making it possible for Tennessee fans to think about the playoffs…

Well okay, if not this year, most certainly it looks like there are big games ahead for the Titans in the near future, if they keep playing like this.

The resurgence of the Titans of course coincides with the return of Vince Young, who is looking more and more like the guy who was simply unstoppable at the University of Texas, the guy who won the national championship over USC. Against the Texans, Young passed efficiently and ran effectively when called on and when he had to. At times Houston’s defense didn’t seem to know how to defend against him.

Vince Young’s return to relevance seemed unlikely a year ago when there was good reason to think that he had just about lost his mind. After the opening game of last season Young seemed to come apart emotionally when he was injured and benched in favor of Kerry Collins.

There were rumors of a suicide attempt after that game. Although Young has strongly denied trying to take his own life, his reputation was badly harmed. Making matters worse, the Titans went on to have the league’s best record last season with a troubled Young on the sidelines and many wondering if he was finished as a player. But that was then.

Of course the new Vince Young is helped greatly by the spectacular running of blazingly fast tailback, Chris Johnson, who has been timed at 4.24 in the 40 yard dash. Johnson is leading the NFL in rushing and looks like he might make a run at a two thousand yard season.

With Johnson, Young and an improving defense, Tennessee is keeping faint hope alive for the faithful in Nashville.

And right now it looks like whether they actually make the playoffs or not, Vince Young and his re-energized teammates will make it hard to forget these Titans.

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It’s as bad as its ever been here in Washington. I’m not talking about the health care debate, but football. The real glue in this transient city has long been the Redskins. But its been nearly 20 years since the Redskins have fielded a consistently good team.

Making matters worse is that not only is the team mediocre, the Redskins are no longer a respected franchise. And now it appears, the next nail is being hammered – the fans are turning off. The same fans who have technically sold out every home game since the sixties. The same fans who used to watch in big numbers on TV at home.

The man who usually takes most of the blame for Redskins’ woes is Dan Snyder, a hands-on owner, whose only experience in football was when he bought the team ten years ago. Surprisingly I don’t think Synder is the biggest problem anymore. The real threat to the team is apathy.

I was at the game Sunday. Another horrendous loss to a no-win team. Previously 0-5 Kansas City came into Washington’s FedEx Field and shocked the falling Redskins 14 – 6. The Redskins are floundering with a 2 – 4 record on the season.

There were a lot of empty seats as thousands stayed at home. While there was a good measure of booing from those who were there, I got the distinct impression that many of them didn’t really care, and were booing out of habit. For some of them going to the game now is just a ritual.

And sadly many of the young Redskins fans have no idea what a good team wearing burgundy and gold actually looks like.

The Redskins have not scored more than 20 points in a game in two years.

Last week the team brought in an old bingo caller (really) as an offensive consultant, to make recommendations to head coach Jim Zorn. One of a series of desperate moves the team is now making.

But the man they should have called is in Tampa right now – Doug Williams. The former Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl hero is a player personnel executive for the Buccaneers. But he should be here in Washington in some capacity.

Doug won nearly 80 percent of his games as the head coach of his alma mater, legendary Grambling State. He has worked as an NFL assistant coach as well as in the front office.

Doug, who proved at Grambling as both a player and a coach, that he has a creative offensive mind, would bring football savvy to a floundering team, give the Redskin’s fan base the positive jolt it needs and serve as a mentor to the guy who now wears number 17, Jason Campbell.

Memo to Dan Snyder: You seem to be able to find room for just about everyone else, find room for Doug Williams. He could be your general manager or your coach or advisor.

I’m pretty sure he will take your call.

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On Wednesday controversial broadcaster Rush Limbaugh was knocked out of the ownership group that is hoping to buy the St. Louis Rams. Thank goodness!!!

But on Thursday Limbaugh got up and came out swinging. He loudly blamed everyone but himself for what happened to his potential ownership share.

Limbaugh also took a swing at his former partner in the deal, Dave Checketts, who dropped him from the group. Limbaugh says it was Checketts who sought him out to join the ownership group and assured him that there would be no problems with the NFL about his involvement. Now Limbaugh suggests that Checketts betrayed him in order to keep the deal alive.

But it shouldn’t end there. Ironically, I too have a problem with Dave Checketts.

If in fact Checketts approached Limbaugh, why did he do it? If Limbaugh asked Checketts if he could join the ownership group I wonder why did Checketts say yes? In either case I question Checketts’ judgement, and I now wonder whether Checketts is fit to own the Rams even without Rush Limbaugh.

Limbaugh is a polarizing personality who seems intent on not just advancing his own conservative political views, which is his right, but to demonize, demean and ridicule anyone who dares disagree with him. And that is wrong. Although I am not a conservative, I believe strongly that you can nonetheless be a conservative without being intolerant and cruel.

If and when Limbaugh ever learns this and takes it to heart, then perhaps he can own an NFL team. The same can be said for Dave Checketts, who like his former partner, Limbaugh, also might never own an NFL team. Checketts should have known better than to team up with a loudmouth bigot.

Let’s consider the knockout of Limbaugh and perhaps Dave Checketts a victory for civility.

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Another blow to the pro football ownership hopes of Rush Limbaugh.

Now an NFL owner says he doesn’t want to see the conservative broadcaster in the owners box.

Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Irsay said Tuesday that there is no way that he would vote to approve the controversial Rush Limbaugh as an owner of an NFL team.

Limbaugh is reportedly a key part of an ownership group seeking to buy the St. Louis Rams.

According to a report from the Associated Press, Jim Irsay said, “I, myself, couldn’t even consider voting for him. When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive … our words do damage, and it’s something that we don’t need.”

Irsay has earned the credibility to speak out against Limbaugh. He has proudly hired two African-American head coaches in this decade. And Irsay who won the Super Bowl three years ago with the revered Tony Dungy at the helm, now has a high-powered, undefeated team under new head coach Jim Caldwell this season. Some football insiders believe this could be the Colts best team yet.

But Irsay will need at least another 8 owners to join him in opposition to Limbaugh. NFL bylaws require that at least 24 of the league’s 32 owners must vote in favor of an ownership change.

Several NFL players have spoken out against Rush Limbaugh, and they have been joined by the NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith who indicated the other day that he also strongly opposes Limbaugh’s bid.

Sports have long been the place where America has tested its appetite for tolerance. But changes on the playing fields and on the courts did not come without many disappointments, hurts and shame. But more than 60 years ago several significant racial barriers were hurdled.

Joe Louis won the heavyweight championship of the world in the 1930s. Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin in front of Adolph Hitler. And of course Jackie Robinson integrated Major League Baseball in 1947. Those three athletes transcended their sports and helped change the way America viewed and treated all African-Americans.

Here’s hoping a united front of NFL owners, players and fans speak up strongly against Rush Limbaugh and send an even more powerful message about the kind of progress we’ve made as a nation.

UPDATE

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We learned this week that Rush Limbaugh is part of an ownership group trying to buy the St. Louis Rams. But a couple of NFL players are making clear that they are having none of it. Saying they would never play for a team owned by Limbaugh.

Let’s deal with facts. Limbaugh is a race-baiter. His history for fostering racial division is long and distressing. But he is also an extremely well-paid, highly-skilled, professional broadcaster. Which means Limbaugh knows exactly what he is saying on his number-one rated radio show. That makes him especially dangerous.

While I’m not a conservative, I do not for one minute believe that most conservatives are racists. But where are the decent conservatives to straighten out the Limbaugh’s of the world when their discourse turns ugly? Does their silence make them complicit in Limbaugh’s and others’ demeaning rants? I believe it does.

Rush Limbaugh is famous for criticizing what he calls “the drive-by media” or as they are also known – “the mainstream” media.

But the irony is that some of those very same mainstream media companies own many of the radio stations that carry Limbaugh’s show. And not one of them has repudiated the hateful things that Limbaugh has often said, and why should they? Limbaugh is making millions for them.

So why might it fall on the NFL to decide if Rush is acceptable or not. Sadly, millions of Americans think he’s just fine – the ratings certainly say so – and so too do the broadcast companies that profit from him.

This is a deeply polarized time in this country.

It’s a time when President Obama who is bi-racial can be called a racist with very little in the way of protest from anyone. Glenn Beck, the TV host who stupidly called the president a racist, is still allowed to spew his ignorance on the air. And Beck’s network, Fox News Channel, has done nothing so far to reign Beck in. Fox officials simply point to his ratings, which continue to go up.

So while I applaud the players for speaking out against Limbaugh, I am appalled that too many other Americans and corporations for way, way too long have been willing to sit in silence and do virtually nothing about racial hatred broadcast over the air.

I don’t think this is really about the NFL or Rush Limbaugh at all.
It’s really about us and what we are willing to put up with.

UPDATE

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Record ratings! Lots of people watched Brett Favre’s revenge game with the Minnesota Vikings against his former team the Green Bay Packers.

An estimated 21.8 million people tuned in. That’s 3 million more people than have ever watched any cable TV program in history.

Such is the power of Brett Favre. It certainly didn’t hurt that Favre played well and the game was competitive.

This is what ESPN had hoped would happen when it acquired Monday Night Football.

Maybe now ESPN can make its case to televise the Super Bowl one day.

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Okay I admit it. Brett Favre really did defy time. Quick release, pinpoint accuracy, almost all of his passes at just the right moment.

That is how Brett Favre used to play in his prime. That’s how he played last night on Monday Night Football.

Thanks largely to Favre, Minnesota won at home 30 to 23.

Favre wanted to put a hurt on Green Bay, and he did. Publicly he said the game was not about revenge. But the fact is he had a great game in a Minnesota uniform against his old team. Favre proved without a doubt that he can still play. Revenge enough.

But I praise Favre reluctantly. The last few years I’ve found it really hard to support this guy. Honestly, I’m way past tired of his yearly drama agonizing about whether he wants to play or not.

But what do I know? Maybe Favre really did want to retire those three or four times, but changed his mind. But does the past really matter? Not after last night. The hollywood ending actually happened. And best of all Favre gets to do it again later this season when he and his Vikings travel to Green Bay. It will be really interesting to see how Packer fans will respond to Favre.

A couple of points. Do note that Favre’s replacement in Green Bay Aaron Rodgers had nearly 400 yards passing. But Rodgers was sacked multiple times. He didn’t have a lot of time to throw but he threw anyway. And Rodgers threw it pretty well. Aaron Rodgers is a first tier quarterback – even if for now he is known mostly as the guy who replaced Brett Favre.

As an added bonus, the Minnesota/Green Bay game is expected to go down as the most watched cable TV program of all-time.

Brett Favre is Mr. Monday Night once again.

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Nike is now backing away from statements suggesting that Michael Vick has an endorsement deal. Nike said today that there is no contract between the company and Vick.

The sports apparel company issued a statement saying that it is only supplying Vick with shoes and other gear. Company officials emphasize that this is no more than it does with other NFL players not under contract with Nike.

It appears to me that Nike was testing the waters on a deal with Vick.

And it looks like the reception may not have been what Nike expected or was prepared to weather.

Vick endorsing products is more than a touchy subject. The dog-fighting charges Vick pled guilty to and spent nearly two years in prison for, have subjected him to unprecedented scrutiny and scorn.

Clearly Vick will have to wait awhile longer before he gets any extras.

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I assume that a lot of thought went into the decision by Nike to re-sign Michael Vick to an endorsement deal.

Two years ago the world’s top sports apparel company dropped Vick after he was indicted and pled guilty on dog-fighting charges.

It’s always interesting how the sponsor thing works out when sports stars get in trouble. There is a lot of hypocrisy involved.

Sponsors make the real decisions where sports are concerned. And clearly Nike is betting millions that the pressure is finally easing on Vick and that it is okay to do deals with him again.

His agent Joel Segal said – “Mike has a long-standing, great relationship with Nike, and he looks forward to continuing that relationship.”

This is a down economy right now and Vick in good times and bad is still big business. His Atlanta Falcons jersey was always a huge seller. Now his Philadelphia jersey exceeds the sales of the Eagles’ injured starting quarterback Donovan McNabb.

No matter what the so-called experts said about his ability to play quarterback, Vick was far and away one of the leagues most popular players. And he was certainly the most explosive and dynamic.

What the NIke deal may also suggest is that the image makeover that Vick is undertaking, by speaking out against dog-fighting and animal abuse wherever and whenever he can, is working. Either that or we have misjudged just how much the public cares about this issue.

A couple of things to watch for:

Let’s see if Nike gets hurt by this decision. (I think Nike will be fine)

It’ll also be interesting to find out whether other sponsors will sign Vick to endorsement deals.

As it stands now, Michael Vick is proving that the court of public opinion will certainly judge, but will not always convict.

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Michael Vick didn’t start and he didn’t play for very long last night in his debut with the Philadelphia Eagles. But it seems that the six plays he was on the field may have been a few too many for Donovan McNabb. After the game McNabb said that inserting Vick into the game so early disrupted the team’s rhythm.

Memo to McNabb: It was just a preseason game!

McNabb’s complaints about interrupting the flow of the game to accommodate Vick are a far cry from the welcome mat that McNabb said he laid down in welcoming Vick to the Eagles a couple of weeks ago.

Some expected boos for Michael Vick when he entered the game but instead there were mostly cheers and there were no major protests outside the stadium either. Vick said he appreciated the reception he received from the fans.

So why couldn’t Donovan McNabb, the Eagles franchise quarterback for the last ten years, keep quiet and be happy for Vick as well? McNabb’s early reaction could mean bad news ahead for those hoping for harmony in Philadelphia.

Could it be that McNabb sees that a re-energized Michael Vick could press him for playing time down the line? Could McNabb be wishing that he wasn’t so gracious in his initial support of a man he believes deserves a second chance?

I’m hoping McNabb, who not so long ago claimed to be the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles’ support group for Michael Vick, can be more accommodating to his new backup in the future.

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Watching the full interview of Plaxico Burress on ESPN provides another, much needed, perspective on the night that his gun accidentally discharged, injuring his leg in a New York City nightclub. As Burress, the former New York Giant wide-receiver, explained what his mindset was last November when the incident occurred, it certainly gave me a much fuller picture of why he felt the need to carry a weapon. It is also makes it a lot easier to understand why Burress, who lived in New Jersey, may not have been aware of New York City’s strict gun law. This does not excuse Burress for not having proper and up to date registration of his gun, but the interview does put his situation in a clearer light.

I do not own a gun, and will never buy or use one. But I do respect others’ rights to own them. Still, this is not the wild west of more than 100 years ago. Today we can’t have people carrying guns with them wherever they go – especially in public places, although I’m sure the National Rifle Association (NRA) will argue with me on that.

Some have called Burress “stupid” for carrying his loaded gun into a nightclub and for having it in the waistband of his pants rather than properly secured on his person in a holster. But if Burress is stupid then he is most certainly not alone in his stupidity. He has plenty of company.

Statistically, the number of people who’ve accidently shot themselves or others because they had a gun – far, far, far outnumber those who’ve actually successfully used a gun in self-defense.

Unfortunately, too many people believe a gun will provide them with security. A month from now Plaxico Burress will begin a prison term of up to two years for that mistaken belief.

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“Two years in prison is a long time for being stupid..“ – ESPN Legal Analyst Roger Cossack to the point about Plaxico Burress’ guilty plea on gun charges.

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