We, The Fans

I want to start this column by saying, I am a Brian Urlacher fan. I consider him a defensive mastermind, as well as one of the greatest leaders on the field of all time. That being said, I do take issue with his recent remarks.

This week in response to a booing crowd, Brian Urlacher said ''Two of the people I don't care about: fans or media"... He also sarcastically continued, ''Our crowd was pretty good for the most part, they were loud for a minute there, the boos were really loud, which is always nice. The only team in our division that gets booed at home is us. It's incredible to me.''

This season, a frustrated fan base has seen their beloved Chicago Bears implode. After a hot 7-1 start, the Bears find themselves at 8-6, and on the cusp of watching the playoffs from home. So understandably, the fans in Chicago are getting restless. Especially, in a town with a history of teams falling short.

Mr, Urlacher,
Yes, you are an athlete. Yes, you are doing your job. But remember you are an entertainer. Booing and heckling is part of the game. Do I agree with it? No. I don't boo my own teams, but I do understand it happens.

You also understand that you live and play in a town with arguably the most passionate fans in the country. And whether they boo you or not, they are paying an average of $110 to be there. These fans are the ones working shift-work, and 50-60 hour work weeks, and choose to spend their hard-earned money to come see you play on Sunday. We, The Fans. We, The Media. WE are the reason you've had a chance to play the game you love for the past 13 years. If I'm not mistaken, you make a pretty good living doing so. Teaching gym doesn't pay as much.

With a background in standup comedy. I understand the frustrations that come with heckling. But it comes with the territory. You deal with it, and move on. Lucky for you, your hecklers aren't seated 6 inches in front of the stage, rather held behind a wall 100ft from the field.

We all understand there is stress that comes with your job. But we all endure that same stress. We have stress meeting quotas and deadlines. Our fire-fighters, police officers, and soldiers, see stress everyday, putting their life on the line. Maybe look at the memorial out front of your "office" that says SOLDIER FIELD next time you pull into work. I bet some of those men and women fighting for your country, are proud to call themselves Bears Fans. I'm sure they are all pleased to know you "don't care".

Now with all that said, I think this team owes the city of Chicago a playoff run. Believe it or not, this awful fan base of yours still has your back. So good luck on the rest of the season. WE wish you a speedy recovery, and hope to see you back on the field soon, and dare I say, in time for the playoffs!

We, the Fans & We, the Media

Thank you for reading.

Under 6 ft & Under the Radar

As far as rookie quarterbacks go, the 2012 season has been like none other. With the accomplishments of Andrew Luck in Indianapolis, and Robert Griffin III in D.C., it is easy to overlook the 5'11" Russell Wilson and what he has done in Seattle.

Bears, Packers, 49ers; a list of games the Seahawks are SUPPOSED to lose... Not this year.

Coming off the losing 7-9, 2011 season, the Seahawks have come to play. Run by an effective quarterback, and one if the most dynamic running-backs in the league; the 2012 Seahawks are not a team to be taken lightly. Although they are not playoff tested, they are going into the post-season as arguably, the hottest team in the NFL. After last week's 50-17 win over Buffalo, and a 58-0 demolition of Arizona in week 14; this team is flexing their muscles as they roll into the playoffs.  And all this behind an undersized, inexperienced quarterback.

In 2010, I watched this kid and his Wolfpack, show up my Florida State Seminoles on a national stage. As I was in shock at a loss at the hands of NC State, (not so surprising given recent history, ugh!) I couldn't help but think; Who is this guy? And now, the rest of the NFL is asking that same question.

Not even tall enough to see over the offensive line protecting him, Wilson's ability to "see the field" is perhaps the most impressive quality he possesses.  With 21 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, he has been more than just a model of consistency, (a term not used for rookie QB's).   He has been a play maker; athletic enough to move outside the pocket, with the arm strength to throw the long-ball, and cool and calm enough to make the right decisions in the clutch, these are things a player develops over time. This guy just walks into the league equipt with these intangibles, playing like he was a "sure thing" all along.

I'm going to go out on a limb and accredit the success and growth of Russell Wilson directly to the stout defense of these Seahawks. Ranking 3rd in the league, they have been able to give Wilson the confidence he needs to run the offense. Knowing your defense will get you the ball back, will give you that security you need to go out there, man up, and make a play.

Not to mention he has played minor league baseball as well. And as a baseball player, he has that critical thinking head on his shoulders and can bring that level of thinking to his game. This is why you don't see the bad decisions in his play. And as technical as baseball is, he brings that attention to detail to the field with him. After every drive he is sure to be studying on the sidelines, preparing and learning the game everyday. I think we are going to see a great deal of growth from this kid, and this past draft class could prove to be one of the most accomplished the league has ever seen.

Thank you for reading.

A New York Nightmare

New York Jets at the Tennessee Titans; doesn't exactly scream "Prime Time". However, in keeping with tradition, I take my dinner to the sofa to enjoy one of my favorite past times. But something happens this Monday night, unlike any other December Monday in my past. With 9 minutes on the clock in the 3rd quarter, a sudden panic comes over me when I lose track of the remote. Once I find that it had fallen between the cushions, a feeling of relief releases the tension from my shoulders. Instantly thankful for every one of the 126 channels provided by my cable company, it hit me what had just happened....

These Jets have become UNWATCHABLE! With a horror story for a quarterback situation, an illusion of an offensive coordinator, and a head coach too stubborn to admit he's made a mistake; this team has very little reason to feel hopeful. Could there be some silver lining somewhere?

Unfortunately, this is one of those situations where the only place left for them to go is up. And in order to get this franchise on that trend, is to "unplug" and "reboot". But we all know that simply "restarting" doesn't get rid of all the problems you have in your system. You have to "uninstall" in order to do it right. As much of a Rex Ryan fan as I am, he's got to go; and if there's room in the cab, throw Sparano in there with him!

Whatever test Tony Sparano had to take to get the title of "Offensive Genius", ought to have its certification revoked. The guy had a miracle season in Miami, where he turned a 1-win team in to an 11 win team. Ever since, this feat has proven to be an outlier. His offensive "genius" was tested this season in the pick-up of Tim Tebow, and between his lack of knowledge of how and when to use him; and Rex's protective, fatherly love for Sanchez, it has been a recipe for disaster.

Perhaps the best investment the Jets can make this off-season is the 8.25 million they should give to Mark Sanchez to play for somebody else. Sanchez's regression has been unlike anything we've seen in the NFL. When your "Franchise Quarterback" leads the league in turnovers and has a QBR of 25 (ranked 36 of 37 qualifying QB's); it doesn't say much for your franchise.

With the potential onslaught of coaches to become available on the market at the close of the regular season, the Jets could make a case to make a move for anyone of them. Lovie Smith, Norv Turner, Andy Reid, are just a small sample of coaches that could find themselves looking for employment. At this point, I've got to believe that any change, is good change in New York.

Thank you for reading.

Leather Helmets: The answer for Roger Goodell?

  Concussions.  They seem to be a plague these days for NFL quarterbacks.  But perhaps the real "headache" comes for the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell.  With the NFL now facing a lawsuit from more than 3000 players for not producing the "facts" about concussions to the players, the Commissioner has found himself in a tough predicament.  Coming up with ways to make the game safer has been unpopular with players and the public.  Some of the things to come up with so far: Strict fines and suspensions for "illegal hits" (Launching, and helmet-to-helmet contact).  They have moved the kick off up 5 yards, meant to decrease the amount of returns (Successful).  And the latest move is to take out the Kickoff all together.  Which is a wildly unpopular idea in the eyes of this writer.

  

  In a recent interview on "The Dan Patrick Show", Hines Ward indicated that if we took away helmets, we would eliminate the major injuries to the head.

 “If you want to prevent concussions, take the helmet off.  Play old-school football with the leather helmets, no facemask.  When you put a helmet on you’re going to use it as a weapon, just like you use shoulder pads as a weapon.” - Hines Ward

  This brings up an interesting argument.  If a player doesn't have a helmet on, he won't lead with his head because of the injury that may be caused to himself.  Take rugby for example.  Rugby which although is not as popular here in The States as it is in other areas of the world.  Rugby may be one of the most vicious and physical sports around, however there is far less injury.  This is attributed to the fact that they do not where "protective equipment".  

  The next argument: 

  Let's say we take the helmets away from the NFL, and we go back to the leather caps.  We are going to see far less big hits, and it will really tone the game down.  So I ask: Will you watch?, or will you have been accustomed to seeing the game how it's currently played, and not want to waste your time with a "watered down" version of today's American Football.  I look at it another way as well.  If you take away the helmets, you are also going to see far less running up the middle.  So those hard-nose 3rd & goal plays are now a new animal.  You'll see more running on the outside, more players in space making big plays.  That might be exciting to watch.

  This is something that has been debated in the past, but I think should be taken more seriously.  Maybe this isn't the ideal solution, but something should be done.  Right now football is evolving, whether we like it or not.  Every year we have new rules and changes.  Let's make a change that will end the debate, and move on.  I don't have an answer for this, merely a topic that I think should be discussed by people who have more at stake than deciding between watching the "PrimeTime Game" and HBO on Sunday night.

Thanks for reading.

  

2013: A Royal Year?

  For quite some time the Kansas City Royals have given their fans a reason to look forward.  With an outstanding farm system, they always have a top prospect in the works.  Seasons happen, and it seems that the Royals just can't get over the hump.  I predict that 2013 will be a year when not only KC-MO buys in, but the entire nation will take notice of what's ahead in the AL Central.

  With all of the noise that the Los Angeles Dodgers are making, it seems that Kansas City may have made the most well-played deal so far this off-season.  Buy dealing Will Myers, the top 4 prospect in the country right now, to the Rays for James Shields; in my opinion, just increased their chances at a winning season by a long shot.  

  

  I know that the devoted Royal-nation is unhappy about the pawn of their prize prospect, but I am loving the idea that management is now in "WIN NOW" mode.  The royals are always looking to the future.  Then, by the time the future gets here, they can't afford to hang on to the "future" of old.  

  As a pitcher, when you look at the Royals Lineup, you don't exactly have your work cut out for you.  Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakes; these are some names that can give a pitcher a hard time (UNDERSTATEMENT).  Now add to that offense, a pitcher who can consistently go deep into games and come out with W's, you have yourself a contender.  It's a simple formula!

  I know there are going to be a lot of comparisons to last year, and I just don't think it's relevant.  In 2011, this same offense was number 10 in the country in run production.  If they can get back to hitting the ball the way they're capable, I don't see how you can make an argument against them.  

  Now this is baseball, and nothing comes easy.  They will have their work cut out for them, being in the AL Central with the potent offense of the Tigers.  But with the 2-Wild Card playoff format, who knows what can happen!  I just want to provide some realistic optimism for Royal-nation.  A hitter will win you some games along the way, but in October; pitching is everything.

Thanks for Reading.

Fresh Marlin! Get'em While Their Hot!

   Dear Commissioner Bud Selig,  

 "Unsuccessful" is perhaps the biggest understatement when describing the 2011-12 Miami Marlins season.  Jeffrey Loria came into South Florida with a promise to the public to breathe fresh air into a dying club.  With all of the post-championship radical roster changes, this club has proven time and time again, that it has no interest in any sort of dynasty.  Even after the Marlins early success, they could not hold on to their fan base due to the fire-sale of all the players we had all grown to love.

 However, we bought this new change! (Literally, as Loria's new playground was paid for by taxpayers).  We bought the new jerseys!  The new hats!  We even overlooked that hideous pink dolphin thing in center-field!  (What were they thinking with that?)  And yes, we were let down once more.  With all of 2011 off-season free agency moves and pick-ups, we immediately accepted these ball players.  Mark Buerhle and Jose Reyes proved to be instant fan favorites.  Then after the mid-season export of Hanley Ramirez, the city of Miami knew exactly what was in store.  Sadly enough, we were right, and in the wake of a $160 million dollar dump this off-season  Loria has proved to fans that there is no reason to EVER have faith in Marlins baseball.

  As far as this writer is concerned, Major League Baseball needs to get involved.  In order to save the face of baseball in South Florida, we need an owner who understands his, or her (yes, I'm open-minded), responsibility to the public.

  We saw the Los Angeles Dodgers face a similar situation with a corrupt owner.  Then after being auctioned off to a local hero and a collection of competitive minded investors, look at the franchise now!  With new energy into an already great brand, new ownership is proving to the public they want to win.  That's all the public wants in Miami.  A realistic effort to win.  They showed it last off-season, but a short four months later abandoned their vision.  

  Under current management, no player in their right mind will want to play in Miami.  The players now don't want to play here.  Current players such as Giancarlo Stanton, as well as Ricky Nolasco have publicly voiced their distaste for the current state and direction of the club.  This proves that not only are players jobs unstable in Miami, but current management can't even keep the players they have happy.  How bad do your club operations have to be when you can't keep your talent happy in Miami Beach!...In Air Conditioning!

  Longevity.  Legacy.  Dynasty...  This is what Miami needs.  As a relatively young state, and a transient state at that, we need to set up tradition in our ball clubs.  The Miami Heat are proving that fans do exist in South Florida, so long as the front office works to put out a product people can be proud of.  Dismantling teams in their early years will always drive fans away, in any market. 

  We need "New Deal" type of action to take place in Miami, or lose Marlin baseball forever.  We need the Commissioner to step in for the sake of his own MLB brand, and get Loria and his goons out of their fancy new offices, and find a properly vetted owner who will manage this team competitively and responsibly. 

Thank you for reading.