My Views On Tim Tebow

Yes, I know Tim Tebow is 7-1 as a starter for the Broncos and I completely respect the fact that he DOES win, as well as the WAY that he wins. I really loved this guy in College, despite that I'm an Ohio State guy.

So, why am I not on the bandwagon?

I’ll tell ya. Look at who he’s beaten so far.

#1 Miami Dolphins - a team that was WINLESS when they played and actively searched out ways to lose at the time.

#2 Oakland Raiders - I don’t think the Raiders are particularly good, period. BUT, their starting QB was done for the year and this was Carson Palmers first start since 2010 and their star RB (McPhaden) did not play.

#3 KC Chiefs - We all agree the Chiefs suck, right? Oh yeah and their star RB (Charles) and SS (Berry) as well as a bunch of other defenders were out that game.

#4 NY Jets - Perhaps the best team they’ve beaten was 5-4 coming into this game. 5 AND 4. They were a .500 team after this game. Do you consider that good? And they’d just had their asses handed to them by New England.

#5 San Diego Chargers - Losers of FIVE IN ROW coming into this game. Yeah, the Chargers are a legitimate threat… Please.

#6 Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings are 2-11, need I write more?

#7 Chicago Bears - Finally a good team… Before they lost their starting QB (Cutler) and star RB (Forte). Do you really think the Bears score 10 points if those two guys play? Really?

Now, again, you still have to win the games and Tebow and his Broncos have accomplished that. Oh, wait a minute, that’s only 7 games. They did play one other.

#8 Detroit Lions - Though the Lions don’t look nearly as good now, they were playing great when they met up with Denver in week 8 and trounced them 45-10. This is the only good team Denver has played.

Yet despite this I see a very clear path for them to a Super Bowl win; almost as if it was preordained by a supreme being that I totally don't believe in. Here's why:

This Sunday it’s the Patriots. Yes, Tom Brady and his awesome Patriots… Who tote in the LAST RANKED defense in the league. I’m not saying Denver will win. I don’t think they will, but it would not totally surprise me. However, they will beat the crappy Bills the following week and the pathetic Chiefs again in the final Sunday.

They’ll be 10-6 (possibly 11-5 if they can take out New England), win the division and play a wild card team at home in the playoffs. At the moment I think they’d be playing the NY Jets in that game. A team they’ve already beaten. Could they beat them again. Of course. In which case Tebow will be lauded as a Superhero if he’s not already and hey if Denver wins a playoff game that would be a MAJOR accomplishment.

Second round. I have no idea how these match ups are made, but if they play Baltimore, they’d be playing against a team whose offense completely disappears at times. Could they defeat the Ravens if Tebows offense only needs to score 10 or 14 points? Hell yeah they could, especially if seven of them are supplied by a pick-six from Flacco (something Flacco does a lot).

Third Round would be a legitimately good team. If they could win against Pittsburgh, Houston, or New England in the playoffs, I think I’d finally have to tip my cap to Tim Tebow, but I don't think it'll happen. Of course if there's a key injury or two on any of those teams before Denver plays them... That would mean…

Denver would play Green Bay (guessing, of course) in the Super Bowl.
The Pack would have then won a whopping 24 straight games!!! Could they finally be due for a plain out horrible performance across the board? Hmmm. It’s not that far fetched.

So here we have a scenario where Tebow wins a Super Bowl in his rookie season; something that has never been done by a rookie QB. Yet, if the perfect storm occurs….

I don’t think it will, but even if it does, I’d still bet on Denver not even making the playoffs next year.

I have nothing against Tim Tebow (even though he’s a religious zealot, which kinda creeps me out). I simply don’t think he’s that good of a QB. But, I’m an open minded guy. He could change my mind. He DOES get a little better every game. But, really, even if he continues to be an average Quarterback at best (83.9 QBR (#14 of 32 basically middle of the pack)), does it really matter as long as he keeps on winning?

I’m not sure that it does….

Any way we can get him on my Browns????

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CP3, The Machine, My Continuing Disgust With Lebron Haters, And A Possible Fix To Free Agency

Like most basketball fans yesterday, I watched in fascination as the Chris Paul trade evolved, transpired, and finally dissolved in a League Veto. And I’ll admit, I was a bit shocked by the situation as I agree with many commentaries I’ve read in that the league owning the Hornets is clearly a conflict of interest. At least to my untrained eye (though I do fancy myself to be someone with a healthy dose of sports acumen) the Chris Paul trade seemed pretty fair all around. New Orleans, who the league is and should be trying to protect, got a rather nice haul of players as well as an extra draft choice for a single guy.

But what no one is mentioning at all is the fact that Chris Paul, much like Carmelo Anthony did last year and Dwight Howard is in the process of doing now, has completely hijacked his team and is forcing it to trade him where he wants regardless of what it gets in return or other consequences. How does this not bring down the wrath of societal morality in the same way it did on the head of Lebron James last year? Actually, there’s really no comparison between the two trios because Lebron (and Wade and Bosh) were free agents. Let me repeat that: Lebron James was an unrestricted free agent. In other words he had completely fulfilled his contract and had NO more obligations toward the team he’d formerly been signed by. He was free and unrestricted and therefore allowed to play WHEREVER he so chose.

That’s the way the system is set up and I see nothing wrong with that. Take it from a guy who sees his favorite players walk away EVERY off season in free agency to the Nets (Alonzo Mourning), Red Sox (Manny Ramirez), Phillies (Jim Thome). Pretty much every good player the Indians or Browns develop either leaves via free agency after three to five years (or is traded away before he gets the chance) to the best teams in their respective leagues every off season. That’s sports. Sure it sucks, but do I hate those players who decided to leave? Of course not, that’s freaking stupid. The only players I hate are the ones who did horrible things to my favorite teams on the field: John Elway (actually, I hate the Broncos altogether), Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, The ‘97 Marlins, and ‘95 Braves. But, I don’t really HATE these people or teams, I only hate them in respect to my teams that they beat in key games/series. So, why do people hate Lebron? They feel betrayed? Well, anyone outside of Cleveland is certainly not allowed to use that as an excuse, but honestly, its laughable for Clevelanders too. Hell, the only reason Lebron was even on the Cavs (despite the fact that he’s from Ohio and grew up a fan) was because Cleveland was lucky enough to not only SUCK the year Lebron came out, but also win the draft lottery and get the #1 pick. If they hadn’t, James would have gone to a different team, hometown Ohio hero or not. He played for the Cavs for money. I’m sure he was happy to be there and genuinely wanted to bring a title to Cleveland, but he was/is first and foremost an employee. He owes nothing to the city of Cleveland, the Cavaliers as a team, and most especially the Cleveland fans. Why should he? Please tell me why? Do you owe this loyalty to the place where you work? If you had a better opportunity elsewhere you’re telling me you wouldn’t go? Why do you Clevelanders and all Lebron haters feel this weird entitlement??? Which only leaves the decision show. If that’s your reason for hating Lebron James, you’re fooling yourself and I can prove it. Ask yourself this: if Lebron had made his ‘Decision’ and it was to “Keep his talents on Lake Erie” would you still hate him? That's right, you WOULDN'T. Thus, it wasn’t the show itself, but only the fact that he headed to Miami. If Lebron had used the show to inform us he was staying in Cleveland the only thing that would be remembered about it was that it raised a few hundred thousand for underprivileged kids.

Thus, if you liked Lebron before he went to Miami, (unless you’re a Cavs fan) you’re pretty stupid for suddenly hating him after. And to the Cavs fans, you kinda need to get over it. Take a page from the St. Louis Cardinals who just lost a player to free agency that critics are calling the best to have played in the last 50 years. I bet there won’t be any Cavs type backlash. I’d further bet that when Pujols returns to play a game against the Cards (interleague of course), that the fans give him a standing O for his wonderful time there. Even though his team was sure they would resign him right until the moment he blindsided them by heading elsewhere. Even though he was on a championship team and left for no reason other then money (and Lebron took less money to have his best shot at a title).

But, of course all this is beside the point because Pujols and James were unrestricted free agents with the ability to sigh wherever they desired. And they used that freedom. Chris Paul and Dwight Howard on the other hand have not played out their contracts yet. They are the property of their respective teams for one more year. However, they are manipulating the system in a far more devious and malicious manner (much like Carmelo did last year) and no one seems to have a problem with it. We even forget that despite the fact that James and Bosh were free agents they did sign-and-trades with their respective teams so that the Cavs and the Raptors got a bunch of draft choices. Yes, it allowed the Heat to get the players for an extra contract year, but they didn’t have to do that. They didn’t have to give those former teams a single thing. But, the players and the Heat are class acts. Howard, Melo, and CP3? Not so classy. Yet, no one has any problem with them. In fact, we feel bad for Chris Paul because the League vetoed his trade! Niether he nor the others will be booed when they come to town with their new team. They won’t be despised (probably not even by people in Denver, Orlando, or New Orleans). No one will burn their jerseys or make signs with language that can’t be displayed on TV. Actually, I think I should stop for a moment and ask “What is fucking wrong with people?”.

Does anyone even REMEMBER the above photo???

But, I’m not simply someone who will bitch about things without offering suggestions on how to fix them.

What if the only way a player can sign a max contract or even a near max (say anything over 12 million a year) is with the guarantee that he has to stay with the team he’s on and re-up every time his contract expires. If that player decides he wants to leave he has to inform the team during the off season before his last year and at that time the contract reverts to 40% of its value (but not in trade value (meaning that in a trade the other team would still have to give up the full value of the original contract)) and they’re allowed to become unrestricted free agents at years end. This way, the team knows a full year in advance that they have to make arrangements for either replacing him after that year or trading him AND the teams gets the 60% in cap space to use to help them out immediately. Star players will REALLY have to want to leave their team (which is fine) but owners are at least somewhat protected. Maybe the teams even get a sandwich draft choice (and cap allowance for signing) when those types of players leave as well? Perhaps not a perfect idea, but maybe a good start.

Ok, rant over…
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Strange Things Are Afoot In Happy Valley

I think about the outrage with which people are responding to the Sandusky-Penn State molestation scandal and am for the most part disgusted. I have always felt that most people go out of their way to find reasons to be outraged, heavy handed, and morally superior to those around them.

We want to see people we respect brought low; especially those in the entertainment industry of which any sport, even college sports belongs. Tiger Woods, Mel Gibson, Alex Rodriguez, and countless others.

Look, I’m not defending Sandusky in this even though he professes his innocence and there has been no trial yet. But, most of the articles I’m reading have nothing to do with him and instead are damning a school with a near flawless record and a beloved coach in Joe Paterno.

Check out this quote from an article I just read, “This isn’t about Sandusky“… “If the allegations are true, Joe Paterno should be instructed to take his 46 years and 409 wins and leave in disgrace.”

It isn’t about Sandusky? If a man Paterno KNEW committed a crime, he should be fired in disgrace? Now I suppose the central question is whether or not JoePa knew if Sandusky was/is a child molester. If he did, that’s pretty fucked up. No complaints there from me.

But, come on. Think for a minute. Just one fucking minute. Look past your moral outrage, cause god knows you (every one of you people reading this article (that’s right all three of you (if I’m lucky that many))) have every right to be outraged. Fucking please. Wasn’t there a line in the Bible about he who is above guilt should be the first one casting stones? Don’t get me wrong, guilty people should be punished, but enough with the being superior bullshit. What is this display for? Who benefits from you being outraged at terrible acts? Why are you outraged about this scandal, but don’t even think about genocide going on in other countries RIGHT THIS SECOND? Or if that’s too far away, about the other cases of child molestation that are in the paper, but weren’t perpetrated by someone as famous--- EXCUSE ME, not perpetrated by someone famous, but perpetrated by someone who WORKED for someone famous? Hey, I know when you hear about those things you say, "That's horrible" and really mean it, but then it's forgotten. There's none of this moral superiority.

But, back to my point. Let’s for a moment hypothesize about that day nine years ago when a ‘distraught’ and ‘traumatized’ grad student went to coach Joe Paterno’s house to inform him that he saw Sandusky rape a 10 year old in the football team shower.

“Are ya sure?” asks Joe. I don’t know the student’s answer, but most college kids know what fucking looks like and if one of the participants is a 10 year old, it’s rape no matter what.
“Ya, I’m sure.”

Now, I’m Joe Paterno. I’m gonna ask the kid why he didn’t go to the police, but instead came to me first. I’ll give the kid the benefit of the doubt. He’s confused. He just didn’t know what to do.

“Are you sure?” asks Joe again. Hey, he’s known this guy and been friends with him for like 40 YEARS. You can’t discount that. Imagine someone who is a friend of yours for 40 years. A good friend. A person who you would NEVER think could POSSIBLY be a pedophile.

Ok, look. Joe doesn’t want his college implicated whether it’s true about Sandusky or not and hey, I can’t fault him for thinking this. So he tells the student to go home and then calls his bosses. Now this is following PROPER CHAIN OF COMMAND for wrongdoings at a college.

What happened at THIS meeting? I mean, seriously, what do you think the President of the college told Paterno? Don’t worry Joe. I can’t believe it either. We’ll talk to Sandusky. We’ll talk to the grad student. Hell. We’ll talk to the kid. We’ll get to the bottom of this and by George if there was a crime committed we’ll go straight to the cops.

Good, thinks JoePa. Great. Gather all the facts and make a decision. That’s smart. I still don’t believe it’s true. It’s Sandusky for Christ sake. He’s not a pedophile!

Meanwhile, Joe’s an incredibly busy guy who goes back to his life. Trust me, he didn’t forget about this. Maybe a week or two passes. Maybe more before he asks the President what happened with that ‘incident’.

We talked to everyone involved. There was no rape. It was all a misunderstanding. Just to make sure that no more misunderstandings happen we’ve told Sandusky he can’t bring kids onto campus anymore.

Ah, ok. I KNEW it. I’ve known Sandusky for 40 YEARS!
You’re sure? There’s no need to go to the cops?

Positive! Trust me, if he’s molesting children I’d go straight to the authorities.

Would you have gone to the police to turn in your friend? With no evidence whatsoever? Maybe you’d even question the guy yourself. I have to assume he’d flatly deny it. Hell, he’d probably be morally outraged that you’d even think such a thing.

Meanwhile, six more years go by without incident.
Is Paterno to blame? Should be fired in disgrace?

Obviously, in this fictional dramatization the college President is somewhat of the bad guy, but that doesn’t have to be the case either. Maybe he really did question everyone involved and HONESTLY felt it was a misunderstanding and there was no reason to go to the police. I mean, what if that one episode had been the only one and it turned out to really not be any sort of crime. You’d drag his name, the college, and everyone else involved through the mud on a MAYBE.

Now, it’s looking like it’s way more then just a maybe at this point, but 9 years ago we couldn’t say that.

Could future crimes have been prevented if something had been done back then? Maybe. Possibly. Probably. Can you really blame people for not doing more? Do you REALLY think they knew Sandusky was raping children and they shielded him to protect the college? These are intelligent men. I kinda doubt they would do that. Perhaps these men, who also knew Sandusky as a person, probably couldn’t believe these allegations either. I know from having been personally accused of a crime I did not commit, it’s nice to know your friends will stand by you. And it’s terribly scary when people you’ve never met look at you as if you’re complete scum even though you’re innocent and they don’t know fact one about your case.

But it’s ok for them to be morally outraged…

If the guy is guilty he deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law, same as any other criminal. In the end this is about those alleged crimes that he committed against those young victims. It’s not about bringing down a famous person or institution because YOU decided he or it’s to blame because of association AND because, fuck it, we like seeing our heros abased.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Former-Penn-State-LB-Matt-Millen-gets-emotional-?urn=ncaaf-wp9465 (Sorry, couldn't figure out how to embed it)

I'm all for punishing ANYONE who is guilty, but check out this video of Matt Millen, a former Penn State linebacker (Sandusky was the linebackers coach) explain his thoughts. He's SPOT ON in my estimation.

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Soccer's Sad Lexicon

These are the saddest of possible words:
"Rapinoe, to Wambach, or Morgan”
Stonger then lions, and fleeter than birds,
“Rapinoe, to Wambach, or Morgan”
Ruthlessly pricking our hopes for a title,
Scoring with the precision of a dancing recital
Words that are heavy, scary, and vital:
“Rapinoe, to Wambach, or Morgan”