THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS

The 2-0 Oakland Raiders had their first home preseason game against their crosstown rival San Francisco.

The Raiders should continue to feel good about the play of Jason Campbell, who started 6 of 8 for 93 yards. Yet in the second quarter, a sack on Campbell left him on the ground for several minutes. He was carted off the field, although it seemed he merely had a stinger.

A bigger concern is that running back Michael Bush left the game with a broken thumb. He might not b ready for the regular season opener. His return to the field is critical.

At quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski came in for the first time this preseason, and he picked up where he left last regular season. He threw for a pair of touchdown passes.

While Jason Campbell is a significant upgrade over JaMarcus “Purple Drang” Russell, I still wanted Gradkowski to be given a chance to compete for the starting job this year. He did not get that. Campbell is obviously the starter. However, Gradkowski must be solidly entrenched as the backup. He showed fiery leadership last year in several impressive wins, including on the road. If Campbell gets hurt, the quarterback play will not drop off. Whatever it takes, Gradkowski must be signed to a deal that keeps him in Oakland.

The game got off to a perfect start for the Raiders. Campbell led an 81 yard drive that included a 22 yard completion to Darrius Heyward Bey followed by a 34 yard completion to Reese. This was Al Davis football. On 3rd and 2 from the San Francisco 7, Michael Bush was stopped for no gain. However, defensive offsides gave Oakland a 1st down. Bush banged it in from a yard out and the Raiders led 7-0 after the 5 1/2 minute drive.

The Silver and Black have been solid on defense this preseason, but they did have a breakdown in the second quarter when Frank Gore ripped off a 49 yard gain. Yet on 2nd and 1 from the Oakland 11, Alex Smith fumbled. The 49ers held on, but settled for a short field goal attempt. From 37 yards out, Joe Nedney was no good as the 49ers remained without points. The defenses then clamped down, and the teams exchanged punts.

The 49ers finally got a drive going, but the much improved Raiders run defense was impressive in the red zone. From the Oakland 16, runs up the middle on 2nd and 1 and 3rd and 1 were stuffed. On 4th and 1 Mike Singletary decided to go for it. Smith threw incomplete, but standout Nahmdi Asomugha was called for defensive holding. Yet from the 11, the 49ers went nowhere. This time Nedney connected and the 49ers were within 7-3.

5 minutes into the second quarter, Shale Lechler boomed a 57 yard punt. However, a major special teams breakdown had Adams return the punt 83 yards for a score. Just like that the 49es led 10-7. After Campbell got injured, Smith led the 49ers on a 60 yard, 10 play, 7 minute drive. This time the defense did not get the stop as Smith hit Morgan for a 16 yard touchdown and a 17-7 San Francisco lead with just over a minute left in the half.

Yet Al Davis had to smile widely again after that. Gradkowski came in and fired a 74 yard touchdown bomb to speedster Louis Murphy. Just like that the Raiders were within 17-14.

The problem was not that the deep ball is passe. The problem is that the players were not executing it. These Raiders executed it perfectly.

In the third quarter, the Raiders began at their own 28 after a San Francisco punt. Gradkowki continued to dazzle. He hit Michael Bush for 11 yards. On 3rd and 4 from the 45, an incomplete pass was nullified by defensive offsides. Gradkowski had the free play and just went incomplete to Zach Miller deep. On 3rd and 15 from the 45, Gradkowki hit Heywar Bey for 17 to the San Francisco 38. Heyward Bey has been fairly criticized in the past, but Gradkowski was bringing out the best in everyone.

Then there was a Darren McFadden sighting. He picked up 9 yards, and 2 more for a 1st down. Gradkowski then went deep to Zach Miller for a 27 yard touchdown as Al Davis partied like it was 1969. The Raiders were back on top 21-17.

David Carr came in for Smith and fired incomplete on 3rd and 2 from the Oakland 40. Singletary again gambled (after all this is preseason) and an incomplete pass was nullified when defensive pass interference had the 49ers at the Oakland 20. The defense held, and Nedney connected to get the 49ers within 21-20.

On the next drive Gradkowski completed a 3rd and 9 pass for a 24 yard gain to Cartwright at the Oakland 47. The 5 minute drive stalled, but Tom Cable decided to have Sebastian Janikowski try a 57 (hey, why not in preseason) yard field goal. Seabass drilled the thing, and the Raiders were back up 24-20.

In the fourth quarter both teams moved to about midfield before being forced to punt. With 10:15 left, David Carr led a staggering 16 play, 8 1/2 minute, 80 yard drive. Yes the backups were in, but after 2 games of getting it done, the guys on the buble finally saw the bubble burst. Dixon ran it in from one yard out at the 2 minute warning. For some reason Singletary called for a 2 point conversion, which was successful as the 49ers led 28-24.

A 33 yard pass interference penalty had the Raiders at the San Francisco 40. Yet despite being a brilliant 14 of 18 for over 200 yards up to that point, Gradkowski finally threw 4 straight incompletions. The defense did hold for the Raiders, but only 6 seconds remained. For some bizarre reason the punt was fair caught, never giving Gradkowski one last chance. The 49ers had the win.

The main thing is that after 3 preseason games, I can clearly say that the Raiders are improved.

The punt return for a touchdown cannot happen, and the Raiders defense gave up a long first half drive. The running game did not do much, but part of that was the near total success of the passing game. Campbell was good and Gradkowski was brilliant.

There is not a quarterback controversy in Oakland. However, the team clearly seems to have a pair of capable quarterbacks. The players are responding in ways they did not do last year.

While the Raiders “lost” the game on paper, this team is competitive, and I can say that the cautious optimism of the Raider Nation is now justified.

eric

The Oakland Raiders played the Chicago Bears in their second preseason game.

Again the Raiders were on the road, and this was three different games in one.

In the first quarter with the starters in Jason Campbell was very impressive. The Raiders initially bumbled on offense, as their first drive set up a 3rd and 17 at their own 12. Yet Jason Campbell hit Michael Bush on a short pass that went for 24 yards and a first down to keep the drive going. Campbell then hit Johnny Lee Higgins for 18 yards and Zach Miller for 13 more. From the Chicago 29 Campbell went deep to Louis Murphy for 27 yards down to the 2. Michael Bush ran twice into Julius Peppers, but on 3rd and goal from the 1 Campbell took it in himself. 81 yards on 10 p-lays in 6 1/2 minutes had the Raiders up 7-0 and any reasonable fan optimistic.

The defense of the Raiders continues to play well this preseason. After 5 early sacks last week, the defense added 5 more this week. 4 of them were by Kameron Wembley alone, as Jay Cutler got knocked around. The Bears punted on 4th and 28 from their own 5, giving the Raiders the ball at the Chicago 39 to start their next drive. Michael Bush ran for 15 yards, but this time the offense went no further. Sebastian Janikowski was good from 43 yards out and the Raiders led 10-0.

The Bears punted again, and the Raiders took over at their own 20. On 3rd and 8 from the 22, Campbell hit Murphy for 12 yards. On the next play a short pass to Reece picked up 40 yards to the Chicago 26. Al Davis loves the big play, but these were not bombs. They were yards after catch runs.

The Raiders totally dominated the opening quarter, but 2 plays changed the game. First, Campbell went for all the marbles and was intercepted. He had been playing near flawlessly, but the Bears took over at their own 11. Then Matt Forte ran around the end for a stunning 89 yard touchdown and the Bears were within 10-6. This was not Bo Jackson going into the tunnel, but it really was a big play.For some reason the Bears went for 2, and it failed.

In the second quarter the Raiders went nowhere on offense and punted. Jay Cutler drove the Bears from their own 20 to the Oakland 19. The drive went no further, and a fumbled snap on the kickoff turned disastrous. This wa snot Garo Yepremian, but an attempted pass by kicker Robbie Gould was incomplete deep and ruled intentional grounding for a 14 yard loss and turnover on downs.

With starters Campbell and Cutler both still in the game, the teams exchanged punts and the Raiders took over at midfield. On 3rd and 10, Campbell, whose passing had cooled off since the opening quarter, scrambled for the 10 yards and the 1st down. On 3rd and 9 from the Chicago 39, Campbell hit Murphy for 14 yards. The drive stalled, and Seabass again connected from 43 yards out to complete the 10 play drive and put the Raiders up 13-6.

The Bears offense was lifeless, and the Raiders defense was playing well overall. However, a fumbled snap out of the shotgun for the Raiders offense with just over 2 minutes left in the half had the Bears at the Raiders 25. On 4th and 7 from the 22, Lovie Smith decided to go for it rather than kick the field goal. Cutler went deep to Johnny Knox for the touchdown. The 2 point conversion was good. The Raiders had manhandled the Bears all half, yet 2 big plays had the Bears up by a point.

There are so many ways to look at the first half. Campbell was very sharp for most of the half. The Bears would not have gone for 2 the first time, and would have kicked the field goal in a regular season game rather than gamble. So a real game would have the Raiders up 13-10. Yet overlooking 2 defensive breakdowns is not possible.

The starters were replaced at halftime for both teams, and special teams dictated the game. One could say the Raiders were lucky, but they did take advantage. A fellow named Slade Norris is now known to Raiders fans. He recovered a muffed punt for a touchdown to put the Raiders up 20-14 early in the third quarter.

After the teams exchanged punts again, Kyle Boller led the Raiders from just shy of midfield. He hit Bennett for 14 yards to start the drive. On 3rd and 7 he hit Ford for 13 yards. On 3rd and 3 from the 14 Bennett picked up the 3 yards. After Bennett ran a couple more times, Boller took it in himself for the final 2 yards to make it 27-14 Raiders.

The Bears had backup quarterback Lefevour lead a 6 minute drive in the 4th quarterback, but the Oakland defense stiffened at the 7 yard line. A short field goal had the Bears within 27-17. The RAiders punted, but on the next Chicago Drive Lefevour was intercepted by Brown at the Oakland 45. Brown returned it all the way to the Chicago 9 yard line. Colt Brennan came in for Boller in a relatively no pressure situation, but 3 plays and -1 yard led to a field goal. Tom Cable could have had Boller finish the drive, but this is preseason, and Brennan was given his chance. Seabass had the Raiders up 30-17.

The Bears went nowhere again, and this time Slade Norris had more special teams points when a blocked punt became a safety for the Raiders. After the free kick, the Raiders took over at their own 34. Bennett rambled for 44 yards. On 2nd and 11 from the Chicago 17, Brennan hit Moline for 14 yards down to the 3. Bush was stopped short of the goal line, but the clock wound down as neither side decided to stop it.

The Raiders are 2-0 in preseason after winning twice on the road. This win was substantive, especially given the first quarter.

The Bears did lose Brian Urlacher early on, and Julius Peppers got hurt during the game, but the Raiders lacked Darren McFadde, Bruce Gradkowski, and Charlie Frye.

Overall, the Raiders seem to be an improved team. I am very reluctant to give them their due until I see positives during the regular season, but as far down as they were, this team seems to be competitive.

The Raiders are better than they have been in some time. There is cautious hope for optimism.

eric

The religion of football often conflicts with actual religion.

Before getting to actual religion, Favrewatch 2010 has now concluded. The grizzled 40 year old veteran looked in the mirror, saw his (bearded stubbly) shadow, and now he is playing six more months of winter football. Thank the (football) heavens.

http://www.nfl.com/trainingcamp/story/09000d5d819d7d11/article/favre-not-100-percent-healthy-but-hes-fully-committed-to-vikes

Now that # 4 is back, new religious football conflicts abound.

There is an old joke about a Christian minister who goes golfing on Sunday and skips church. He gets a hole in one, but an observer wryly points out “who can he tell?”

A song by the late Jerry Reed called “The preacher and the bear” involves a minister who goes hunting on the sabbath when he should be preaching as well. A bear chases him up a tree. The minister says to God, “If you can’t help me, at least don’t help that bear.”

For Jews and Muslims, September of 2010 brings the holiest days of our calendar.

For the Israelites (also known as Hebrews, the descendants of Jacob), the Jewish new year of Rosh Hashanah begins at Sundown on September 8th, goes through the 9th and 10th, and ends at Sundown on the 10th.

For the Mohammedans (the sons and daughters of Ishmael), the holiest day is the end of Ramadan. Due to certain calculations, Muslims are not yet completely sure if that day falls on the 9th, 10th, or 11th.

While there is much conflict between various people of different religions, one thing that can unite people across all strata and stripes is the National Football League. I don’t care what God you believe in, even if the answer is none. If you are a good person, you are welcome in my home on an NFL Sunday.

Being an NFL player can often be difficult for deeply religious players. Some religious Christians walked away from lucrative NFL contracts because they did not want to play football on their holy Sabbath Sunday. The Reverend Billy Graham has lamented that the Super Bowl is played on Sunday.

Glen Coffee is only 23 years old, and was entering his second season with the 49ers. Out of nowhere, he just quit football. He said that he felt that God wants him to spend his Sundays engaged in Christian activities. Raiders running back Napoleon Kaufman left the game in the prime of his career to focus on his ministry work.

This is not crazy. People putting God first are not being hypocrites. They are being the exact opposite.

For deeply religious Christians, every Sunday is a holy day. The decision to play or watch football can be a sincere spiritual struggle.

(Although to the best of my limited knowledge, nothing in Christianity specifically prevents such activities.)

Christianity tends to be more faith based, while Judaism and Islam are more legalistic. Specific issues are often explicitly spelled out, whether we like it or not.

Islam has the holy month of Ramadan. One Muslim player on the Minnesota Vikings is balancing Ramadan with playing in the NFL.

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Abdullah-Awaits-Ramadan-Fast/61f6b6cb-6275-40c5-93bb-61ca8a5dc270

Husain Abdullah plays safety for the Vikings. During Ramadan, which falls early in the NFL season this year, he will not be eating any food or drinking any water from sunup to sundown. He can eat breakfast around 5am, and then have dinner around 8pm. Every day for 30 days, he will fast for 15 hours.

He will also be playing football. Like other religions, Islam would allow an exception if his life was at risk. He and the Vikings are working with team nutritionists and doctors to prevent this.

I truly admire Mr. Abdullah’s devotion to his faith and his profession.

Judaism is a little more complex than Islam because on the Sabbath Saturday, work is explicitly prohibited. Religious Orthodox Jews would most likely never make it to the NFL. The games are on Sundays, which is fine. However, the years of preparation would be prevented because high school games are played on Friday nights and college games are played on Saturdays.

One Orthodox Jewish person does have a Super Bowl ring from his playing days, but Alan “Shlomo” Veingrad did not become religious until he stopped playing. His journey is also inspiring.

http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com/2010/02/meeting-alan-veingrad/

So many people have had to balance their religious faith with sports. While the athletes have the real hard decisions, it is tough for fans as well.

Many Christians have to decide whether to go to church or watch their favorite NFL team on Sundays. Some people try to sneak walkmans into the services. It is tough.

The late Larry Miller used to own the NBA Utah Jazz. He was a devout Mormon, and even when his team was in the NBA Finals with a chance at a championship, he would skip their games that fell on Sundays. For a man to miss his own team play is tough, but his religion came first.

The late New York Jets owner Leon Hess had to miss a game against the rival Giants because of Yom Kippur.

Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders is Jewish, as are some other owners. They all have varying stances.

For me as a fan, balancing the NFL and my Jewish holy days is always a struggle.

In college, The Raiders played the hated Kansas City Chiefs on Yom Kippur. I taped the game, and 24 hours later, after avoiding all people and newspapers, just as I was about to watch the game, somebody ruined it for me. No good deed goes unpunished.

The spirit of the law in Judaism says that on holy days, activities such as football should not be partaken. The letter of the law prevents turning the television on. Those obeying the letter but not the spirit of the law can just leave the television on the whole time.

My grandfather was an Orthodox Rabbi and a New York Mets fan. After services, I would be the heretic grandson who would “forget” and “accidentally” turn the tv on. My grandmother would admonish me all the while knowing that I knew, and was taking heat for grandpa. My attitude was that he has suffered enough. He was Jewish and a Mets fan. Let him watch. My grandmother took a more literal interpretation of the Old Testament, which did not allow exemptions for bad teams.

One year the Raiders were at the Steelers, and Yom Kippur fell during halftime. On Yom Kippur we fast for 24 hours. My friends and I stuffed ourselves silly in the first half. Since the tv was already on, we watched the second half, and then raced to synagogue.

People who do not understand football can minimize this struggle as selfishness, but most good people want to do the right thing. They want to be good before God, but simply care about their sports. The argument of “nobody is getting hurt” falls flat to religious people who point out that disobeying God is hurtful in itself.

On September 9th, 2010, I have a tough decision to make. The 2010 NFL Season kicks off with a spectacular Thursday night extravaganza. The game is a rematch of last year’s NFC Title Game. The Minnesota Vikings travel to play the New Orleans Saints. Brett Favre will be playing quarterback for the Vikings.

Favre agonized for months on whether to play in this game. I will be agonizing for weeks on whether to watch the game.

The game falls on Rosh Hashanah. The laws of Judaism are very clear.

I could be a phony and have somebody else turn on the tv for me. The problem is that asking somebody to do this is prohibited. They have to somehow guess. Many homes have non-Jewish helpers to work the electricity so the family does not have to do so. I do not have one.

I know how Favre feels. Everybody is insisting that he knew all along what he was going to do, even as he insisted that he really did deliberate long and hard.

Everybody who knows me insists that my mind is already made up, but it is not.

One year when the NFL opener fell on Rosh Hashanah, I figured out that Maloney’s Sportsbar was across the street from the local synagogue. I calculated months in advance when the breaks in the games and the services were. I ran back and forth like Mrs. Doubtfire, switching my Yamulkah (Jewish skullcap) for my Raiders baseball cap. I occasionally got confused about whether I was in the sportsbar or the synagogue. The letter of the law was obeyed, but the spirit of the law was bent severely if not completely broken.

As September 9th rolls around, I really want to see # 4 the Gunslinger make the Vikings game against the Saints a spectacular event. I also do not want the lord to shove a flamethrower up my hide for watching the game on Rosh Hashanah.

Yet is just showing up in synagogue good enough if I am thinking about the game anyway? I know the game would enter my mind. So in a sense I would still be violating the spirit of the law because I would be distracted from the whole purpose of going to synagogue, even if I am physically in the building.

Of course, some could see that as a rationalization to stay home.

For those wondering, yes, Jews on occasion really do analyze everything to death. As a kid I worried that my violating the religious laws would cause my team to lose, although it now seems that God likes the teams with the bigger and better players.

If Brett Favre were Jewish, maybe he could convince the NFL Commissioner to reschedule the game. I am going to take a great leap of faith and guess that Favre’s home of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is not a hotbed of Jewish activity.

I have a tough decision to make. I honestly do not know what I am going to do.

I will figure it out, and life will go on. Judaism has thrived for thousands of years, and the NFL has been around for over a century.

They are both older than me, but perhaps an ounce of wisdom will allow me to find a creative solution.

To those who place their religion above sports, I applaud you.

As much as I love navel gazing, it is time to put my thought process with this issue on lockdown.

I am a Jewish football fan. Something has to…and will…give.

eric

After 6 months, NFL Football has returned, at least in preseason form.

Screw hyperbole. I am already in midseason form. Let’s play some football.

The Oakland Raiders went to play the Dallas Cowboys at the Jerry Jones metropolis.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010081253/2010/PRE1/raiders@cowboys

On paper this would appear to be a complete mismatch in the regular season. A bad team on the road playing a team with Super Bowl aspirations. It has all the makings of a Dallas blowout. So as tempted as I am to keep reminding people that preseason means nothing, I will try to gleam some information from a game that had positives and negatives for the Silver and Black.

Over the last several years the Raiders have had a decent defense but a pathetic offense. Even an average offense would make this team a .500 team, but the offense has been awful, with few if any black and silver linings. The defense would get exhausted from having no help, and the Raiders would collapse in the fourth quarter of winnable games.

One analysis of this game would say that the trend continued.

Jason Campbell had the Raiders going three and out, a couple of deep balls failed, Jim Plunkett and Tom Flores recalled the glory days while praising Shane Lechler, and Tony Romo moved Dallas down the field with ease.

Another analysis was that the Raiders hung tough, and the defense did look impressive with 5 sacks in the first half. Back to back sacks on Romo kept the Cowboys out of the end zone for the entire game.

By the time both teams pulled their starters on offense, the Cowboys led 3-0. It is impossible to say for certain of the Cowboys would have won a blowout had they stayed in, or if the Raiders still would have hung around.

Darren McFadden was held out of the game as a precaution due to injury. Michael Bush ran well, but we need to see McFadden. Backup quarterbacks Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye were also injured, allowing Kyle Boller to get plenty of playing time.

The backup quarterback for Dallas is John Kitna, so technically when Romo left the game they still had a veteran leader on the field. Only when the 3rd string quarterback came in did the Cowboys truly have a backup playing.

The Raiders did give up chunks of yardage, but in the red zone they clamped down. Despite having no offense, they only trailed 9-0 with 10:40 left in the entire game.The Raiders brought in a back up kicker to try a makeable field goal, which was no good. Sebastian Janikowski is a great kicker, and he will not be replaced.

Coach Tom Cable has very respected Hue Jackson as his offensive coordinator. Yet one play call still has me scratching my head. Campbell had moved the Raiders to a 4th and 1 at the Dallas 30. Cable decided to go for it, which was fine. Yet rather than bang Michael Bush up the middle, Campbell lined up in the shotgun and fired an incomplete pass.

Again, the Oakland defense deserves some credit. One particularly dysfunctional offensive drive followed by a bad punt in the second quarter had Dallas starting at the Oakland 32 late in the first half. On 4th and 1 from the 13, Kitna fired complete, but a perfect tackle led to no gain and the Raiders stopping Dallas cold. In the second half a muffed punt turnover inside their own red zone had Dallas starting at the Oakland 11, but the defense held.

Some would say that since the Cowboys led 9-0 late, the game was effectively over. Even if the Raiders were to come back, it would be meaningless since only backups were playing. Yet the Raiders used to brag about Pride and Poise, which they have lacked in recent years.

Despite trailing 9-0 and having little to zero offense, Boller finally got the team going late. After the third Dallas field goal, the Raiders took over at their own 20. Boller fired 20 yards to Cartwright to begin a 14 play, 5 1/2 minute, 80 yard drive. Bennett than ran for 14 more yards. On 3rd and 10 from the Dallas 46, Boller hit Figurs for 18 yards. On 3rd and 9 from the 15, Boller hit Cartwright for 8 yards. On 4th and 1 from the 7, Boller picked up 2 yards. Boller hit Miller from 4 yards out. The play was initially called incomplete, but reversed on review and called a touchdown. With 5 minutes remaining in the game, the Raiders were within 9-7. It was up to the defense.

The defense did not disappoint. A 3 and out took only 30 seconds and the Raiders had the ball back at their own 36 with 4 1/2 minutes to go. Boller hit Johnny Lee Higgins for 9 yards, and the Bennett picked up 4 yards and a first down. Just shy of midfield, Boller fired a short screen pass to Bennett that he took for 33 yards to the Dallas 18. On 3rd and 2 from the 10, Boller fired incomplete. Cable took no chances this time, with the decision or the person to execute it. Seabass naield the chip shot field goal and the Raiders led 10-9 with 2:24 left. A penalty on the ensuing kickoff had the Cowboys in a deep hole starting at their own 6 yard line.

The Cowboys faced 4th and 1 at their own 30 with 1:21 left. Nicholson hit Johnson for 5 yards. 2 plays later, Nichols fired for Johnson again. The pass was tipped and intercepted by Jerome Boyd, who raced 48 yards for a defensive touchdown. The Raiders led by 8 points with only 37 seconds left.

Dallas took over at their own 20, and on 2nd down Nichols fired deep to Hudgins for 40 yards to the Raiders 40 with 16 seconds left. With 4 seconds left from the 45, Nichols fired deep to the end zone and was intercepted again.

An odd statistic has the Raiders going to the AFC Title Game in 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000. Yet implying they will get there in 2010 is ludicrous. However, if the team breaks the losing streak and is a significantly improved team, maybe this game will matter as a turning point. If the 2010 season is awful, then this comeback meant nothing.

Yes, it was backups. However, the Raiders did show a lot of heart. They did win the game, and that should not be minimized. The Raiders had their 4th string quarterback in there, although he is a former 1st round draft pick.

There is plenty of room to improve, but the Raiders started their preseason on the road with a win. It is a good start. As for the Cowboys, Wade Phillips is already on the hot seat because that is what it means to coach the Cowboys. They have no offensive touchdowns in two preseason games.

As for the Raiders, they got it done in the fourth quarter.

17-9 Raiders

eric

I am on a plane today from Los Angeles to Greensboro, North Carolina.

Here are some of my opinions entering the 2010 NFL preseason. Many of you may disagree, but that is why I refer to them as opinions.

The Denver Broncos are in big trouble. They were already shaky after falling from 6-0 to 8-8 and missing the playoffs last year. Josh McDaniels either becomes a hero this year or Pat Bowlen blows everything up. He still may regret losing Shanahan, and I would not be surprised to see Shanahan come back at some point in the future, perhaps as a team president ala Holmgren or Parcells. For now, losing Elvis Dumervil for the season with a torn pectoral muscle is a blow. Dumervil is an emotional leader.

The Oakland Raiders have been pathetic for 7 straight years, and many commentators are saying this is the year they will at least become respectable. I am not so convinced. I am simply not sold on Jason Campbell, and hope that Bruce Gradkowski gets plenty of playing time. I know that the team paid money for Campbell, but this logic is why Steve Beuerlein was benched in favor of Jay Schroeder. I will absolutely give Al Davis credit for the pickup of Rolando McClain. An improved run defense gives us hope, especially if Darren McFadden stays healthy and Michael Bush continues battering teams on the ground.

The San Diego Chargers will not win anything with Norvelous Norv Turner. Bank it.

The Philadelphia Eagles are about to get a reality check of the worst kind. Donovan McNabb was thrown under the bus for an untested backup. Kevin Kolb may turn out to be great, but McNabb was never given his due for 5 NFC Title Games. The Eagles may finish last in the division.

The Washington Redskins gained what Philly lost. McNabb is too classy to publicly talk about revenge, but he is playing for a coach who thrives on it. Shanahan likes to urn the football, which will extend McNabb’s career. Yes Albert Haynesworth is a distraction, but Shanahan is going to win that battle. With or without Haynesworth, the Redskins will be improved.

The Dallas Cowboys are loaded, and Jerry Jones in channeling the ghost of George Steinbrenner in terms of bloodlust for winning. If the Cowboys go 14-2 and don’t reach the Sup[er Bowl, Wade Phillips may face a worse fate than General Custer.

The New York Jets are a trendy Super Bowl pick but too many people are losing perspective. Yes they reached the AFC Title Game last year, but they were only 9-7. I am less concerned about the volatile mix of talented but troubled players they added. Rex Ryan will handle the egos fine. I am more concerned with what the Jets lost. We will find out how important guard Alan Faneca and running back Thomas Jones were at the end of this year. Jone was not sexy, but he picked up the hard yards, none harder than the 4th and 1 he banged through in the playoff shocker at San Diego last year.

I think the Colts have everything they need to get back to the Super Bowl. A healthy Bob Sanders is now a bonus rather than a necessity. I also think the Saints are one and done. The Dolphins are overrated in terms of talent, while New England may win another division by default, especially if the Jets implode.

The Bengals will not get back to the playoffs. Forget the clash of egos and all the arrest records. The fact is that the Bengals have not put together consecutive winning seasons in a long time. Even if T.O. and Ocho don’t blow everything up for Marvin Lewis, they play in a tough division.

The Steelers are done for this year, especially if Big Ben sits out 6 games instead of 4. The Browns will be improved, but not enough this year. Jake Delhomme will be a good edition. The Baltimore Ravens are talking Super Bowl. They may not be just all talk. It will be interesting to see if Ed Reed can get healthy again.

The Buccaneers should rehire Jon Gruden, and the Lions are blessed to have Ndomakung Suh in camp. The Rams can say the same about Sam Bradford. The Cardinals will most likely flop under Matt Leinart, but perhaps he will redeem himself. The Titans will be fascinating because they are one team I cannot get any kind of handle on.

The Packers are being talked about as a Super Bowl contender. I don’t buy it. The Bears might be fun, especially if Mike Martz can work his mad scientist magic with Jay Cutler. I hope Lovie Smith lets Devon Hester go back to returning punts and kicks. Brian Urlacher should lead a defense that has suffered recently but is ready to rebound.

Lastly, the Minnesota Vikings…I love Favre-watch!

I hope # 4 comes back. His detractors simply have no appreciation for how tough the game of football is, and how tough it is to walk away. I retired a 2 time champion from my coed touch football league, and if # 4 comes back I will contemplate unretiring again. For now, even though I am 2 years younger than Brett, I am the same age as Kurt Warner. I am retired.

If Favre looks in the mirror in Kiln, Mississippi, and sees his (5 o’clock) shadow, that means 4 more months of winter football. So far the tractor loving version of the groundhog has not failed to see his shadow in February or August.

Prepare the sounds of Eric Clapton singing “4-Ever Man” and get ready to see if a certain fuzzy creature pops out of the hole. I love Favre, and the only thing better than Favre-Watch in the Summer is watching Favre in the winter. I will say it again. I’ll trade my starting 45 for their # 4.

If he returns, Minnesota is an elite contender, despite the loss of Chester Taylor. The key to that team (besides Favre) is Percy Harvin. He is a game breaker.

Preseason is upon us, with September 9th kicking off the regular season.

Are you ready for some football!?!?!

Let’s get it on!

eric

Last night I flew from South Florida to Los Angeles through the most God forsaken city in America. My stopover in Detroit was due to problems in Atlanta. Today I drive from Los Angeles to San Diego. Just before 2pm I am speaking at a ginormous rally put on by Doctors Against Obamacare. Then in the evening in San Diego I am the undercard for Evan Sayet and his Right to Laugh comedy series. The tomorrow I am off to North Carolina.

Yet today is about a city I am sadly not in, Canton, Ohio. Canton remains the greatest city in America, especially today. Today is the 2010 NFL Hall of Fame weekend. After 6 months, the National Football League returns.

(This post will be updated with links after the inductees give their enshrinement speeches.)

http://tbfiles.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/when-all-you-want-is-football/

The greatest receiver, Jerry Rice, enters the Hall. So does the leading running back of all time, Emmitt Smith. Bygone era running back Floyd Little enters, and I highly recommend the Sports Illustrated article about Little and his biggest fan. It is one of the finest football articles I have ever read, and that says a lot given my contempt for all that is Denver.

Russ Grimm was a part of one of the greatest offensive lines in history, the Hogs. Rickey Jackson played on one of the best defensive lines of all time. Dick Lebeau brought the NFL the Zone Blitz Defense. He is going in as a player but he easily could go in as a defensive coordinator.

Yet for pure fun, I am thrilled for John “Big Dog” Randle. Football is a game, and he made it entertaining. He was a great player and one of the all time great characters. If not for a broken leg in the NFC Title Game, the 1998 Vikings may have had Super Bowl rings at the end of the season.

All football players start out as young puppies. Hall of Fame weekend is about my favorite quote from John Randall.

“This is when the big dogs come out.”

Congratulations Mr. Randall. You’re one of the biggest dogs now. Thank you for combining great play with great commentary.

Speaking of great commentary, my favorite induction speech in terms of inspiration comes from Michael Irvin.

My favorite comment comes from…who else…the greatest commentator…John Madden.

“I don’t plan on making a whole hell of a lot of sense and I don’t care.”

Hall of Fame weekend is special because it does not cater to casual fans. The Super Bowl tries to appeal to people with commercials and halftime shows.

This weekend is for leatherheads who simply love the game of football.

The NFL is the best sports league, and this weekend celebrates the very best players of the very best game.

I made it to Canton in 2006 with a friend of mine. I went to see Madden. He as a Giants fan went to see Harry Carson, the godfather of the Gatorade dumping.

I cannot say much more since I will get faclempt in the ghanecticazoid.

I will just quote the title and subtitle of John Gruden’s book.

“Do you love football!?!”

Well? Do you?!”

Hell yes I do.

At 8pm Eastern time the Bengals play the Dallas Cowboys. Terrell Owens goes against his old team. He and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson will play sparingly if at all, but it will still be fun.

Are you ready for some football!?!?!

NFL 2010 Hall of Fame weekend is here.

Let’s get it on!

eric

The Oakland Raiders flag is at half staff today with the loss of Jack “Assassin” Tatum. He played the game on defense as it should be played. The game of football is brutal, and the hit that made him infamous (unfairly) led to shortened life spans for the receiver and himself. Farewell Mr. Tatum.

Continuing with football, ESPN recently ran an outstanding column of 32 National Football League stars who should be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/tag/_/name/2010-hall-of-fame-debate

The goal was to name one player from each team. The list was not flawless. For instance, Kurt Warner is listed with the Cardinals even though any induction of him should be with the Rams.

Nevertheless, I shall continue the conversation by adding at least 32 more names. I am avoiding completely obvious names such as Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Ray Lewis.  Let the discussions begin!

Oakland Raiders: Ray Guy is the greatest punter of all time, This bias against special teams is insane. Special teams is a major part of the game. Shane Lechler is the best punter in the game today, and perhaps the best since Ray Guy. Regarding the Raiders of the 1970s, they already have 9 players in the HOF, equal to Pittsburgh. Given that the Raiders only won one Super Bowl, there is hesitation to put any more players in the Hall ahead of Pittsburgh. Coach Tom Flores won two Super Bowls but gets overlooked as a mere “maintainer” of a great team. Left tackle Steve Wizniewski went to 11 Pro Bowls.

Chargers: Don Coryell should have been inducted a long time ago. His recent death should not be a factor. The work of his football life merits inclusion. He was one of the greatest offensive coaches of all time. Lack of a Super Bowl ring should have zero baring in football.

Broncos: Terrell Davis—He should get in under the Gale Sayers exemption. Davis only played running back for six years, but the bottom line is that the Broncos do not win any Super Bowls without him. John Elway needed him, and his courage in playing in Super Bowl with migraines was epic.

Chiefs: Joe Delaney—This is a tough one because the HOF should be about heroism on the field. Yet sometimes off the field achievements are so great that exceptions should be made. Delaney was a promising running back in his 3rd year when he drowned on July 4th, 1983. Despite not knowing how to swim, he dove in the water, and saved one of three children. The other two died with him. He died a hero, and the Hall should somehow reflect that.

Rams: The Greatest Show on Turf could send several people to the HOF. Quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk, tackle Orlando Pace, and receiver Isaac Bruce all have legitimate shots. Yet the Mad Scientist of it all was offensive coordinator Mike Martz. He absolutely should get in one day, although there is an anti-Martz bias due to his perceived arrogance. His offenses back it up. He did not fix Detroit, but nobody has. His stint in Chicago will be a boost to his chances if he succeeds there.

49ers: So many great players and coaches have come and gone through this organization, especially during the dynasty of the 1980s and early 1990s. Yet the architects of the dynasty should be given a large share of the credit. Owner Eddie DeBartolo and President Carmen Policy should both get in. Debartolo may be denied due to his connections to a gambling sting involving former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards. Yet as long as Debartolo did not bet illegally on football, he should get in. The late offensive line coach Bob McKittrick is praised as one of the very best.

Seahawks: While the team never won it all, the defenses of the 1980s had a standout front four including Jacob Green and Joe Nash. Neither of them alone may get in, but as a duo they wreaked havoc. In the current era, Walter Jones might be the greatest left tackle of all time.

Cardinals: In another example of off the field heroism, defensive standout Pat Tillman died serving his country in Afghanistan. He already has a special exhibit in the HOF, which may be enough. He only played four years in the NFL, and was very good. On the quarterback front, Neil Lomax and Jim Hart both had some great seasons, and being trapped on very bad teams should not be their fault. Hart benefited form being coached by Coryell, and the team suffered when Air Coryell left.

Dolphins: Dan Marino is the reason that a Super Bowl ring is not the determining factor. His receivers from the 1980s Mark Duper and Mark Clayton should be looked at.

Bills: With Ralph Wilson, Jim Kelly, and Thurman Thomas already in, Andre Reed should get in soon enough. With so many great receivers from Tim Brown to Cris Carter ahead of him, it may take longer than it should. Coach Marv Levy is a Hall of Famer.

Jets: Curtis Martin was a tireless workhorse in good times and bad. He was the heart and soul of the Jets for many years, and one of the best running backs of his era.

Patriots: Tedy Bruschi—This is another example where heart and desire should trump statistics. Bruschi was a great football player on a dynasty. Yet if his numbers alone did not seal the deal, his becoming the first NFL player to come back from a stroke to play football should be an inspiration to us all. The first collision he was in during his first game back was a routine, normal uneventful play. Yet it mattered. His three Super Bowl rings help his case.

Giants: Bill Parcells—If the Tuna would ever retire, he would get in. Football is his narcotic. The man has gone to five teams, and succeeded with all five of them in two seasons or less. His two rings with the Giants are good, but his legacy is his coaching tree that includes five more rings between Bill Bellichick, Tom Coughlin, and Sean Payton. Lawrence Taylor had his football skills enhanced by Parcells

Cowboys: Owner Jerry Jones has three rings, but even some Cowboys fans will never forgive him for firing Tom Landry. Nevertheless, he built the Cowboys into winners, and continues to set the standard for NFL owners in terms of marketing innovations, including his billion dollar stadium. Old school cowboys root for former President Tex Schramm. Besides, a Cowboys man named Tex…just feels right.

Redskins: The late owner Jack Kent Cooke turned the Redskins into the premiere entertainment event in Washington, DC. Politicians answered to him. With Joe Gibbs in, his players should be looked at, John Riggins ran the team to a Super Bowl. Also, with Russ Grimm in, Joe Jacoby and Jim Lachey should be looked at. Joe Theismann probably falls short due to all the help he had.

Eagles: A pair of coaches did not always have the best players. Andy Reid and Dick Vermeil both took over losers and turned them into winners. Neither of them won a Super Bowl in Philly, but they both did more with less.

Steelers: Coach Bill Cowher won one Super Bowl, but his team was virtually always in the hunt. Mike Tomlin won another Super Bowl mostly with Cowher’s team. While the entire Steeler family mourns the recent loss of his wife Kaye Cowher due to skin cancer, this is not about sympathy. She and her husband were a team, and he won many games with her at his side. Cowher is a winner.

Ravens: Ozzie Newsome is one of the best executives in the game. While he was a great tight end, his drafting of players has been superb. From a diversity standpoint, he has opened the door for many other minority executives, and he did it on merit. Left tackle Jonathan Ogden was one of the best.

Browns: I could get stoned to death for mentioning former owner Art Modell. Yes, his name is a curseword, and he should always have an asterisk next to his name for what he did to the city of Cleveland. Also, his stubborness led Jim Brown to retire while he was at the top of his game. Yet his nearly half a century of service as an NFL Owner is every bit as important as his fellow owners, many of who from that era are already in.

Bengals: The Bengals were so bad for so long that many people forget that this team had some good years in the 1980s. Quarterback Boomer Esiason and offensive lineman Anthony Munoz merit at least a look.

Vikings: Despite four losses in the big game, Bud Grant should be in the HOF. He coached the team that dominated the conference for an entire decade.

Packers: Vince ombardi is the Green Bay figure who towers over everybody, and rightfully so. Yet Bart Starr was no slouch. Guard Jerry Kramer made the most famous block in Pro Football history in the Ice Bowl, which merits some discussion. All the championships help matters. At some point, the Walrus, also known as Coach Mike Holmgren, should get in. His Super Bowl win is followed by a fabulous coaching tree consisting of Jon Gruden, Andy Reid, and several others. The late defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur should be looked at.

Bears: Chicago means defense, and defense means the 46. Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan was one of the best ever at his position,  He was not bad as a head coach, better than average. This is one reason that the HOF should go beyond head coaches and look at coordinators and other assistant coaches. Devon Hester should continue to be allowed to return kickoffs and punts. It is mystifying that the Bears have reduced this electric playmaker for some wide receiver catches. He could get in if special team ever gets looked at again.

Lions: Special teams, again and again and again, must be looked at. Mel Gray was one of the best, and this was before the kickoff line was moved back. He was a game changer as a return man.

Colts: Peyton Manning is phenomenal, but he has been very lucky to have had  several rocks of consistency around him. Most quarterbacks do not get an entire career with the same center in Jeff Saturday, the same left tackle in Tarik Glenn, and the same offensive coordinator in Tom Moore. Moore is another example of an assistant coach who must get in despite not being a head coach. Offensive line coach Howard Mudd is among the best. President Bill Polian built the team. He is one of the best executives in the history of the NFL. His election should be a certainty.

Titans: While the tragic death of Steve McNair should not play any role in his selection, his career alone should get him in. However, pure heart and muscle should allow running back Eddie George in as well, Jeff Fisher is a Buddy Ryan disciple, and one of the best coaches in the NFL today. He should get in one day. For pure entertainment value, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson (of the Houston Oilers) should get in. Yes, he is the father of the modern NFL touchdown dance. Yet you don’t get to shake and bake if you are not scoring touchdowns. He was the best return man of his era, and the precursor to the modern return man. He was Dancing with the stars” before it ever aired.

Texans: It is hard to select anybody outside the obvious Andre Johnson on an organization that has never made the playoffs, and just had their first winning season. Yet owner Bob McNair can be looked at because he he borught football back to Houston when the entire football world thought Los Angeles had it locked up. Let’s see where he is in a decade.

Jaguars: Despite not winning a Super Bowl in Jacksonville, Tom Coughlin coached a great team that he built from the ground up, Wide receiver Keenan McCardell is a long shot, and quarterback Mark Brunell an even longer one, Yet old reliable running back Fred Taylor would be in every conversation if he played in a larger market. Owner Wayne Weaver merits a look, but it all starts with Taylor. Left tackle Tony Boselli was outstanding, but a career cut short by injuries places him just outside other tackles of his era.

Saints: Willie Roaf was a great offensive tackle, through all the losing years and some brief winning ones. The Saints had decades of frustration, but Roaf was a stalwart.

Buccaneers: While Tony Dungy was all about defense, he also had one of the best defensive coordinators in the game. Monte Kiffin built a defensive masterpiece around Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch. Buc Ball was ugly, but it won a Super Bowl. All of these guys should get in. On offense, Mike Alstott can be considered at fullback.

Panthers: Owner Jerry Richardson built a team from scratch, and success came right away, As a defensive coordinator, Dom Capers was one of the best. Yet as head coach he had short term success but not enough. Jake Delhomme was run out of town, but his most recent miserable season should not obscure some very solid seasons in the huddle. Another name that may cause some to laugh is Kerry Collins. The guy has so many detractors, yet all he does is win when he has talent around him. He is not a game manager. He is a leader.

Falcons: Deion “Prime Time” Sanders won Super Bowls with San Francisco and Dallas, but he became a household name playing with Atlanta. He was perhaps the best cover corner of all time. Playing on some very bad Atlanta teams only enhances how great he was. If not for a bad toe, he would have danced and scored for many more years.

Contributors: Commissioner Paul Tagliabue presided over 20 years of labor peace and saw the game reach exponential highs. Commissioner Roger Goodell is cleaning up the sport with a tough conduct policy. If the league can avoid a labor crisis in 2011, Goodell will be well on his way. Tagliabue left big shoes to fill, but so did Pete Rozelle before him.

John Madden is rightfully praised as one of the best if not the best color commentator of all time. He is in as a coach, but could easily have gone in as a commentator. Yet his sidekick Pat Summerall deserves in as well as a play by play man. He kept Madden from going totally off the rails, Al Michaels might be the best play by play guy of all time, the consummate professional.,

Red “First Down” Cashen was a fun referee who kept the game going cleanly and smoothly. Before him was Jerry “Smiley Ref” Seeman, who went on to become head of officiating.

If we have to eventually elect a mascot, Sir Purr from the Carolina Panthers should get in for mistakenly fielding a live punt in a critical game. The ref scolded him while opposing coach Cowher laughed. Sir Purr fell on it for a touchback, ending his statistics at one return for 0 yards.

As for cheerleaders, the Carolina Panthers cheerleaders made the most noise, the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders are the most famous, but they should all get in for looking so stunning.

If fans get in, we can start with the Violator from the Raiders, and Fireman Ed from the Jets, in addition to the Hogettes from the Redskins, and the two men who argue at every meeting between the Cowboys and Redskins, one from each team. The “Aints” who wore bags on their heads deserve loyalty awards.

eric

336 hours to go until kickoff.

I can’t take it any more.

Every NFL offseason is tougher and tougher.

If I see one more thing about baseball or soccer I will lose my marbles.

Not even a world class sex scandal could make golf worth watching.

Tennis is tolerable.

Hockey and basketball are adequate.

There is only one king of sports, and it is not played by college kids or in an Arena league. It is not done by Australian rules.

On Sunday, August 8th, the Cincinnati Bengals play the Dallas Cowboys in the 2010 Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. On August 12th through the 16th, the rest of the league plays their first preseason games.

While the games are meaningless until September, at least it is something.

No more watching the Draft and pretending it is a game. No more watching the release of the schedule and pretending it is a game. Enough of the NFL “America’s Game” series and pretending the games are current.

I only have one hobby, and it has been a long six months.

It is time to get ready to eat raw red meat right off the bone.

The regular season Thursday night kickoff features the rematch of the NFC Title Game from the 2009 season as the Minnesota Vikings are again at the New Orleans Saints. Brett Favre will be playing. Count on it. I am ready for # 4. He will be ready for New Orleans as they defend their Super Bowl crown.

It all starts with the Hall of Fame Game.

Start the season already.

336 hours to go.

eric

As the basketball world waited, Lebron James decided to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and join the Miami Heat.

On an intellectual level I completely agreed with his decision, but on an emotional level it troubles me.

The other teams in the mix would have been awful choices. Going to the Chicago Bulls would have been insane. Winning 5 championships would still place him one behind the 6 Michael Jordan legacy. Anybody going to Chicago is forever chasing MJ.

The New York Knicks are so pathetic that reports had them sending Isaiah Thomas making the final sales pitch. Yes, those are the Knicks.

The New Jersey Nets still fail to realize that New Jersey is not a state. It is a province of New York, with a part of it belonging to Philadelphia. The Devils were winners for years, and still had to deal with Flyers and Rangers fans. If the Nets move to Brooklyn, that changes the equation drastically, although the Knicks will still have top billing despite being cellar dwellars.

This left Cleveland and Miami.

Everything on paper suggested Miami.

Lebron James is a young, single man will million of dollars. What better place to be for fun than Miami? South Beach is made for guys like him (and me for that matter).

As somebody myself  who is dating a hot woman with Miami ties, I know of what I speak.

Cleveland has some of the worst weather in the country while Miami has 75 degrees at midnight, with the clubs open until 5am.

The biggest selling point for the city of Cleveland is their unofficial slogan of “hey, at least we’re not Detroit.”

Then throw in the financial angle. Doing business in Cleveland is miserable. Ohio has been decimated by the recession, although regulations have strangled businesses out of existence. People are leaving in droves. Miami is business friendly. It has no state income tax. This is something to seriously consider when millions of future dollars are at stake.

Every sound business decision suggests Miami. Before going further, a brief tangent should be indulged.

The article in Sports Illustrated describing how the deal came together was outstanding. It was journalism at its most brilliant.

One issue dealt with the fact that Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh had been planning something like this since 2006. They all entered the NBA together in 2003, and in 2006 all agreed to take contract extensions with their respective teams that would leave them as free agents in 2010, allowing them to maximize their leverage in negotiations before the 2011 collective bargaining agreement.

If owners and management had done this, it would be called collusion, which is illegal. Yet players colluding is perfectly legal. NBA Commissioner David Stern has said he will not in any way move to look further at this issue. The players will remain completely free to do this.

Yet the real maestro in all of this is the man who is a cross between Don Corleone and a vampire, that being Pat Riley.

Riley has 7 rings, and 3 copies of each. One set is gold, one silver, and one platinum. This allows him to match them with his outfits. He tossed the bag of rings on the table and suggested that Lebron try one on.

Some will complain that too many stars on one team is bad for the league. This is nonsense. The games still have to be played. The 2004 Lakers had Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone. They got shellacked in the finals by the Detroit Pistons, who supposedly had no superstars. Great players do not always make a great team. The 2007 Celtics won because Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce all put their egos aside and put the team first. Doc Rivers provided stability.

An overload of talent does not bring stability. The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s had Michael Jordan running roughshod to keep more temperamental players like Dennis Rodman in line. Pat Riley should be able to do that in Miami.

So every indicator intellectually still favors Lebron going to Miami. Those who claim that his victories will be tainted are insane. Jordan never won anything without Scottie Pippen. Shaq went to Miami and won a ring with Wade. His ring is just as valid as his first three championships.

The goal is to win. Fighting over who gets the credit is what destroys dynasties. Just ask the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s about what happens when some people want more credit than others.

So despite everything rational, why should he have stayed in Cleveland?

Emotionally, he could have been a God in that city the way Jordan is in Chicago. The city is desperate to win. They are tired of being the joke of America. They are tired of hearing about John Elway and the drive and the fumble. Even their athletes who come up shot but bleed for the city are revered. Just ask Bernie Kosar and Brian Sipe. They were Cleveland to the core.

Lebron was the hometown kid from Akron. He could have owned the town. Now he is going to Miami where Wade has already led the team to a championship and playing for an owner who has won seven times.

I left New York for Los Angeles 20 years ago for a better quality of life. Yet even now I refer to myself as a New Yorker living in Los Angeles, not an Angeleno. I would never move back to New York. The weather is miserable. Yet it is still in my blood. The bond of where people are raised is often unbreakable.

Emotionally Lebron could have stayed, but at times one has to move on, especially when the current life is bleak (as bleak as a multimillionaire celebrity can be anyway) and the pastures elsewhere truly are greener.

I am not in Lebron’s shoes. Heck, I probably cannot afford to buy a pair in stores. Yet in my head I understand why he did what he did. He did the right thing.

Cleveland will never be Miami, but if it wants to keep talent like Lebron, it has to do more than merely not be Detroit.

Good luck Lebron. You have been given a potential championship on a platinum platter. Now you, Mr. Wade, and Mr. Bosh have to deliver. Anything less would be a debacle.

eric

I never thought I would be writing about George Steinbrenner.

For one thing, I hate baseball. I find it colossally boring. I really can’t stand the Yankees, and hope that anybody except them wins. To me they are the evil empire of baseball. One of the main reasons I dislike them so much is because of George Steinbrenner.

Yet over the years my dislike of him turned to a grudging admiration. The game of baseball is worse off for his passing.

Like many people, he was complex. He did many good and bad things.

His bad deeds got him suspended from baseball twice. Yet he served his time and returned under the rules that baseball allowed.

He had a gracious side. Despite former Commissioner Bart Giammatti pursuing a suspension against him (Giammatti had a fatal heart attack and his successor Fay Vincent imposed the suspension), Steinbrenner had very kind words about Giammatti following his death.

Steinbrenner had a bloodlust for winning, sometimes to the point of lunacy. He would fire managers practically every year, with Billy Martin coming and going five times.

As Steinbrenner aged, he mellowed, albeit barely. Joe Torre managed the team for over a decade until being forced out.

One quality Steinbrenner had that must be praised is self-deprecation. His stint hosting Saturday Night Live was hilarious. One skit had him managing a grocery store. He was told that one of his subordinates was stealing and needed to be fired. Steinbrenner was too soft to do it, insisting on leniency. “What kind of bonehead would I be if I just kept hiring and firing people?”

An even better skit that episode showed that Saddam Hussein, Joseph Stalin, Idi Amin, and George Steinbrenner all lost weight with Ultra Slim Fast. Steinbrenner asked “Why am I being compared to these ruthless dictators? Idi Amin used to eat people. I just run a baseball team.” It was explained that “George, you are the antithesis of all these people. You represent the common man.” Then the four men shared a group hug photo.

Yet the main association between Steinbrenner and the Yankees was winning championships. The Yankees won seven titles during his reign that began in 1973.

Steinbrenner would spend into the stratosphere to sign the best players. A player in a smaller city with talent would have a player leave because Steinbrenner would raise his salary from one million to twenty million. I used to think that Steinbrenner was destroying baseball due to the disparity in team salaries. A few years ago the Yankees had a payroll of 200 million dollars while the now defunct Expos (currently the Nationals) had a 9 million dollar payroll.

Yet this was not Steinbrenner’s fault. This goes to deep problems with the structure of baseball itself. Steinbrenner played within the rules of capitalism, and used his advantage accordingly.

(Another reason I support socialism in professional sports)

Yes, Steinbrenner is controversial, but what great leader isn’t?

When Joe Tore was forced out of the Yankees and joined the Dodgers, I rooted for the Dodgers to win so Torre could watch Steinbrenner choke on it. Yet it was Steinbrenner who had the last laugh, as replacement Joe Girardi brought the Yankees another championship.

Steinbrenner was born on July 4th, and died days after turning 80 years old. While his physical health was declining, his mental state was sharp. Up until his dying day, he wanted his team to win.

He used to be a shipping magnate, but as he told me, even the wealthiest shipping magnate is less prestigious than owning the Yankees.

He bought them for 8 million dollars, and saw his investment grow several hundred fold into the wealthiest name in sports.

He angered many people along the way, but every day of his life as an owner was dedicated to helping the Yankees win. The Yankees being in the world series brought out the Yankee lovers and haters, and that was good for baseball.

Whether it be Al Davis, Jerry Jones, or George Steinbrenner, leagues need renegades. Renegades when successful increase the storylines and the interest in the sport.

I may never find baseball interesting, but George Steinbrenner was never boring.

I will miss rooting against him.

Now he is in heaven with the Angels. I hope he does not end up owning them because he may try to fire them all.

Farewell Mr. Steinbrenner. You will be missed.

eric