So Long, Sarcastiball ...

So, the NFL caves in to the regular refs and they come to an agreement that will put the regulars on the field for tonight's Thursday Night Football game.  It took the hilarious mess from Monday night to push them to the realization that something had to be done.

I don't like Green Bay.  I don't like Seattle, since they beat the beloved Cowboys a couple of games ago.  So, I was an impartial observer to Monday Night's drama.  I must say, it was very entertaining, unless you are a Green Bay fan, or a bookie that lost his shorts on the bad call.

The whole replacement ref story was in fact entertaining - like watching a train wreck or an auto accident in progress, you just couldn't look away.  As long as the bad calls, or lack of calls didn't hurt 'your team', it was pretty funny to watch.  Coaches turning red, players looking stunned, other players getting their clocks cleaned on illegal hits that drew no penalties ... a far cry from the 'Sarcastiball' that the NFL was pushing on us.

I am anxiously awaiting the response from all the sports talking head experts to the first blown call by the regular refs ...

For those of you who long for the lost days of fun and chaos that we've experienced in the first 3 weeks of the season, follow NE quarterback Tom Brady's example - just down a quart of Butter's Creamy Sports Drink, and all will be well.

For those of you who don't follow Southpark, the above references won't mean a damn thing.  Last night's season premier on Comedy Central was so timely, hilarious, and outrageous that I nearly busted a gut laughing ... 

The NFL Ought To Be Embarrassed

Yesterday's NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii ought to be the last one the league puts on. What a disgrace. I can't believe the NFL has the audacity to lay a prime time turd like this and call it a football game.

For those few who actually tuned in, this was essentially a half speed friendly scrimmage. They could have been wearing shorts and playing two handed touch and it would have been more exciting. Watching the plays, you see the lines on both sides of the ball essentially stand up and visit with each other for a few seconds after the ball was snapped. Tackling - what's that?

It was so bad, the announcers spent a lot of the game talking about the lack of effort, and how they expected the game to get more realistic as it went on. It didn't.

The AFC won 59-41, but who cares?

The highlight of the game seemed to be the fact that computers had been placed on each sideline so that 'players' could tweet live to all their fans during the game. If I was an advertiser who bought time from the network during this 3 hour 'extravaganza', I would be asking for my money back. If I was one of the few who paid for a ticket to sit in the stands, I'd demand a refund.

All star games typically suck when it comes to the actual game, but this was a new low as far as I am concerned. If the NFL can't find a way to get the players to actually play a game, then there is no reason for them to continue to put this mess on the air.

Update - I read Roger Goodell's comments from the Super Bowel concerning the Pro Bowl embarrassment. He has clearly regonized it for what it was, andcame out and stated to reporters that the 'game' has to be improved, or done away with. Good for him - that's a strong statement for the head of the NFL to make about his own product. He3 said he has already contacted the NFLPA about it (no changes can be made to any game or format without the Player's Union agreeing to it).

Ice Bowl 2011

The past few days have seen a real mess creep across most of the country. Here in the DFW area, ice, frigid temps, and now snow have made a real mess of Superbowl week. The game itself won't be affected, but all the workup, all the parties, all the celebration has been muzzled. It has been very funny seeing the ESPN clowns do their live show each night from Sundance Square in Ft. Worth, with frozen snot hanging off their faces! Hundreds of cancelled flights along with airport closures have made it difficult for the people coming in to see the game to actually get here.

There has been a lot of national coverage about the rolling blackouts that have hit Texas due to the cold. Well, here's the scoop. Several power plants were knocked offline when the cold hit, due to water pipes freezing and breaking. This caused a shortage of generating power, just at a time where we saw record demands for energy. Rolling blackouts were instituted to make sure the power grid didn't collapse in an uncontrolled fashion.

A bunch of Yankees have crapped all over Texas on TV about this. Here is the plain truth about the root cause of this - no new power plants have been built in Texas for almost 30 years. In spite of the tremendous industrial and population growth in this state, the Federal Government has made it so difficult, if not impossible, for power plants to get licenses that no one even tries to build new ones. Our power grid is not sufficient to handle out of the ordinary circumstances, like this freeze. Don't blame Texas ... don't believe this crap on TV. It is the fault of the eco-nazis who have and continue to block any rational energy production means.

The rolling blackouts have caused some valid controversy. Cowboys' stadium, the team hotels, and the Dallas Convention center (the NFL Experience is there) were exempted from the blackouts, and never lost power. Business', hospitals, schools, homes, traffic lights all got hit with multiple unannounced power cuts, but Jerry World and the NFL got a pass.

There is a lot of fear in this area about the NFL not coming back to DFW for another Superbowl due to this freakish weather. That isn't without merit - Atlanta got hit with a showstorm when they hosted the game, and the NFL hasn't been back. If the NFL is that petty, that shortsighted, then they can just stay the hell away. The fear of weather hasn't stopped them from having Superbowls up north a few times, and didn't stop them from scheduling one in New Jersey (in an open stadium).

For local business, especially the smaller business owners, who were expecting the promised money boom from the game, this week has been a bust. I really feel sorry for them.

According to Algore (really, he said this), the cause of all of this is Global Warming. (Thank God this moron didn't win the 2000 election!).

Personally, I think it is God's revenge. Having the Packers and Steelers playing the Superbowl in Cowboys' stadium is against the natural order of things. It is a crime against humanity.

Jerry's Super Scam

Jerry Jones's infatuation with hosting the Super game in a couple of weeks is getting ridiculous. Those of you not in the DFW area may not have heard this.

Jones is bound and determined to have this Super game set records for attendance, and anything else he can get hold of. He wants it to be the biggest, to help justify Jerry World. Now, I understand that, but it is reaching a really stupid level now.

Tickets are going to be sold for $200 each. These tickets will allow you to stand in the parking lot outside of the stadium during the game. You won't get in. You won't get a seat. You won't even get a program.

Jerry's folks and the NFL are going to count these tickets as part of the official game attendance.

What a scam! Talk about a record that needs an asterick beside of it!

Notice I said Super game. The actual words S.B. are copyrighted by the NFL. If you don't pay to be the official something of the S.B., you risk prosecution for infringement if you use the words.

Update - A prayer, if I may ...

Oh Lord, please let Green Bay beat Chicago this weekend.

It's not that I care for the Packers.

I just don't want Obama to come here with the Bears.

The Cowgirls' Season Is Over

You know, it says a lot about the Dallas Cowboy's season that they beat their hated rivals, the Iggles, 14-13 in the season ending game, in Philly, and hardly anyone really cares.

This season was supposed to be Jerry Jones ascension to royalty. The 50th Anniversary season of the franchise. The second season in Jerry World. The first Super Bowl held in Dallas. Everything was set, and promoted as, the first time in NFL history that a team would be hosting a Super Bowl in its own stadium.

Oops ...

Not that anyone in the Cowboy's organization will ever seek me out for advice, but here are some tips for Jerry ... things he must address in the off season.

1) Head coach. Should be Jason Garrett, if all reports are correct. News organizations have been trying to pin him down on this decision since the day Wade Phillips was fired. Problem is, Jerry can't announce that decision, due to NFL rules. He MUST interview at least one qualified minority candidate for the head coaching position. If he comes out and announces Garrett has the job before said interview takes place, he'd be in for the biggest fine ever levied by the NFL.

Garrett is certainly the natural choice. He is touted as an offensive genius, very smart man. Well, he was a genius for the first couple of years he spent as an offensive coordinator. His last 21/2 years in that position have been, well, offensive. The offense has sucked for a couple of years. It is probably the most predictable one in the NFL. I could predict 75% of the plays being called before they ran - and if I can do that through a TV screen, imagine what the opposition could do in person. I don't think Garrett is God's gift to Cowboys fans in the coaching position - but I don't know of anyone else I'd prefer. Bill Couwer maybe ... but he's pretty much washed up.

2) Please forbid anone in the offensive team/coaching staff from calling 3rd down plays that do not get enough yardage for a first down even if the play works. I can't tell you how many times I saw a 2 yard 3rd down pass executed perfectly - except it was 3rd down and 5 to go. Absolutely stupid ...

3) Please teach your players that the other team are not their buddies. Tashard Choice's stupid example of asking for Mike Vick's autograph after a loss to the hated Iggles (on the field, on live national TV) was a gut wrenching slap in the face of anyone who has been a Cowboy fan for more than 2 years. I am sick and tired of seeing our players making buddy buddy with people they are supposed to be knocking on their asses. Saw it again in yesterday's Iggles game - members of the defensive secondary shaking hands and yacking with Iggles receivers during an Iggles drive that would decide the game. Disgusting. Offensive.

4) Fire the entire starting defensive secondary, except for Terrance Newman - and demote him to second string, where he would be a capable backup. The rest of them are completely useless.

5) Fire the entire offensive line, except for the center. They couldn't block a tackling dummy. Horrible performance all year.

6) Fire Marion Barber. Hurts to say that, I like the guy. But, he's injury prone, and has been an easy to bring down underachiever ever since he got his big contract. You've got 3 running backs - that don't work, get rid of the #24 baggage.

7) Fire Roy Williams. Very nice guy, and a consumate professional in public. But, a horrible underperformer, who constantly drops balls and just flat fails to make the big play. Way too big a contract for such small results.

8) Do something to make Tony Romo take his job seriously. Maybe he does inside, but watching him grin while losing is just irritating. Maybe settling down with a wife will get him in line. Like most everyone else given a fat contract, he pretty much sucked after getting it.

9) Fire Jerry Jones. Jerry, you are a great owner, and a poor GM. Hire a good football person to manage the team, please.

10) Find an accurate kicker. Your current one can boom the ball, and he's one of the best tacklers on the coverage team, but his accuracy is really not very good. It was a good idea using him to kick field goals and saving the roster spot, but it didn't turn out very well.

11) Don't volunteer to host anymore Super Bowls at Jerry World.

12) Miles Austin ... breakout year last year, sets all kinds of records, gets the huge contract, ends up porking a Kardashian ... and has a bad year. Must have set a record for dropped balls by a Cowboy receiver. Got his big contract, and started cruisin' ... Slap this man about the head and shoulders, and knock him out of his money induced funk!

13) You've got the 9th choice int he draft this year, courtesy of that wonderful record. Don't blow it. The Cowboys have a history of throwing away first round draft choices on long shots that end up rcut or riding the bench. You need a blue chip, can't miss defensive back or offensive lineman - go get him!

There's so much more, but I've used up my daily allotment of electrons.

Superbowl XLV - Discrimination?

Superbowl XLV will be held at Jerry World in Arlington, TX in 347 days. Preparations are well under way. Part of that preparation has me scratching my head.

The NFL has a program it calls Emerging Business Development. It's been around since 1994. It was created to help promote minority and female owned companies' participation in Superbowl activities. This program is holding three workshops in the DFW area, to show small developing companies the rules of the game when it comes to landing contracts related to the Superbowl. OK, that sounds good ...

Except, that the workshops are limited to minority and female owned companies. Companies owned by white males are apparently not welcome. Isn't that discrimination?

Exclusion because of one's sex or race is the very definition of discrimination, isn't it?

If the NFL is concerned about being fair to all, shouldn't the workshops and program itself be open to ALL business owners, regardless of sex or race? Seems to me that would be the definition of fair ...

News coverage of these events has been heavy in the local DFW area - nothing but positive news coverage. I sure would like to see some enterprising investigative white male reporter go to this event and try to register his company - would love to see how the NFL reps react.

Now, I have absolutely nothing against business owners of any race or sex participating in the first North Texas Superbowl. I feel that the best company for the work at the best price should win the contract - regardless of the skin color or plumbing of the owner. Shouldn't these events be open to ALL small business owners?

Here is some official video promoting these events.

How 'Bout Dem Who Dat 'Aints?

The results of the NFC Championship Game this past Sunday were outstanding. First, a great game, exciting all the way through. Second, a gutsy performance by Favre - even though I don't like him, you have to respect him, his accomplishments, and his age. Third, sending the Vikings home with their heads hanging after they spit in the Cowboys' faces the previous week.

But most of all, the City of New Orleans deserves it. I don't care for the Saints themselves, but the City needs this. Having put up with a trash team for decades, their fans deserve a winner. Still suffering from Katrina, the City needs something big to cheer for. Having seen the horror that was the Superdome in the days after the Hurricane, seeing it in all of its glory this past Sunday was a tribute to the City and the residents who have fought so hard to bring it back.

I've spent a lot of time in Nawlins over the years on business. Although its always been dirty, poor, overrun with corruption, and its main claim to fame is a street where you can get snot faced drunk and show your naught bits to the crowd, it has a charm and a spirit to admire.

During one visit last year, I had a cab driver swear to me that he personally saw Army soldiers planting explosives on one of the dikes during Katrina (and I'm not talking about residents of the northern French Quarter). How can you not love a city where Mayor Nagin comes out and proclaims it is 'chocolate'?

Anyway, I hope the 'Aints win the 'Bowl.

Random NFL Thoughts

A few random musings about the NFL, for no particular reason ...

There is too much money being thrown around in the NFL. The Cowboys signed Demarcus Ware, a defensive lineman, to a six year, $78 Million contract yesterday. Demarcus is one of the best linemen in the league, young, and should have a very productive future ... but $78 Million? $40 Million is guaranteed, which means if he blows out a knee on the first play of this coming weekend's game and never plays another down, Jerry Jones will have to pay him that $40 Million. The contract makes him the team's highest paid player, which means Romo and a few others will be wanting to restructure their contracts accordingly.

The Cowboy's top paid players, with guaranteed/signing bonus in paranthesis: Ware, $78,000,000 ($40,000,000); Tony Romo, $67,000,000 ($30,000,000); Terrence Newman, $50,000,000 ($22,500,000); Leonard Davis, $49,000,000 ($18,700,000); Roy Williams, $45,000,000 ($9,000,000); Marion Barber, $45,000,000 ($16,000,000); Flozell Adams, $43,800,000 ($15,000,000); Ken Hamlin, $39,000,000 ($9,000,000); Andre Gurode, $30,000,000 ($10,000,000); Jason Witten, $29,000,000 ($12,000,000); Jay Ratliff, $20,000,000 ($8,000,000); Bradie James, $20,000,000 ($8,000,000) .... A whole lot of money for 12 players, each with an average contract length of six years. Then you have to add up the salaries for the other 41 players on the roster, plus coaches, staff, etc, etc, etc .... the NFL is a rich man's game, for certain.

Jerry World, the Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington, cost over $1 Billion. It is a mammoth structure, and an architectural wonder. Is it far more than is necessary to play a football game in - certainly. Is it bigger than Jones' ego - not a chance......

Atlanta's coach, during this past weekend's game against Dallas, called a timeout early in the second half. The purpose - to complain to the referee that the sun was in his quarterback's eyes ... The construction of the new stadium allows sunlight to hit the field from the stadium ends, and this dufus thought it was unfair. I have never seen such a thing - sunlight deemed an unfair advantage for the home team? What a wuss ....

When were quarterbacks deemed off limits to the defense? You can't touch their helmets ... you can't hit them below the knees ... if they slide, you can't touch them ... if they are on their way out of bounds running, you can't touch them ... If you took today's best quarterbacks, like Brady, and teleported them back to the days of Bart Starr, would they still be the best?

Why is it a terrible foul for a defensive player to grab a facemask (15 yard penalty), but perfectly fine for an offensive player with the ball to grab a defender's facemask and use it to push the defender away (called stiffarming) ...?

There have got to be more good players in this country than we see every Sunday. You have 30 teams, with 53 players each. These are supposed to be the absolute best in the country. Yet, how many teams suck, how many players look like inept trash, how few players are considered 'great'? I don't believe that there are so few people who can play the game well at a professional level.

Sam Bradford, OU's Heismann winning quarterback ... could have declared for the NFL draft after his sophmore year, and would have been the top QB chosen - millions of dollars ... however, he goes back to school for his junior year, stating he wants to remain with his teamates and the program. Stand up guy ... Injures his shoulder in the first game this season, reinjured it, and now will have season ending shoulder surgery. He has stated he will declare for the draft, and he hopes he can recover enough to pull down a top draft position. His dedication to his college has probably cost him $10-15,000,000 in starting salary.

It hurts me to see the Washington Redskins doing so poorly this year ... NOT!

I enjoy seeing New Orleans doing so well ... that city has suffered so much, and had such a crappy football team for so long, they deserve something to cheer about.