NFL envy
The owners meeting is tackling such tough issues as leaping over the center on kicks and whether the Raiders should be the latest tourist attraction to Sin City.
Of course we all know the Silver and Black is headed to the Vegas strip and the league has now outlawed the move of athletic defenders trying to time the snap and clear the snapper to block kicks. (We're all for the rule change, but the league saying it's because of player safety is downright insulting for anyone with an IQ over 60 or who has not had a dozen concussions. As for the Raiders, the latest move means that taxpayers across this great land have now committed more than $6.7 billion of public money so billionaire owners can have new stadiums. Chew on that for a while.)
In truth, the most telling story line out of these owner meetings may be this story. According to that report, other NFL owners are more likely to vote down a rule proposal pitched by New England.
Yes, the Patriots are so far ahead of the league that the rest of the folks running the rest of the teams in the most popular entertainment entity in the land believe that the Patriots are so far ahead, that most of their rules are some how designed to continue the competitive divide between Belichick, Brady and the bunch and the rest of the NFL.
That's telling, no?
UTC basketball coach Matt McCall questions a call during the Mocs' basketball game against the ETSU Buccaneers at McKenzie Arena on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC fell to 10-5 in the SoCon following their 65-51 loss to ETSU.On the move?
ESPN's Jeff Goodman is reporting that UTC coach Matt McCall is likely in line to be the next coach at UMass. Here's some more from TFP UTC beat ace Mean Gene Henley.
"I'd be surprised if it didn't happen," is what Goodman put on social media.
Interesting. And not all that surprising.
A year of lofty expectations were sidetrack by a painful preseason injury and some internal issues that left arguably the most talented team in the SoCon as a one-and-done casualty of the year-end tournament.
In some ways, a year that was supposed to be filled with 20-plus wins and another tournament trip, would have put McCall - a guy we have always been very impressed by, mind you - in a spot to jump to a power-five job. That the season unraveled certainly presents the thought of trying to get out while the getting is still possible.
Certainly with the recruits he has coming, McCall could do far worse than staying in Chattanooga and reshaping the roster in his image. Still, a raise in the neighborhood of doubling your salary and going to a place that could be a better springboard toward the land of milk and power five honey makes sense.
That's with the knowledge that a potential setback in 2017-18 seems likely considering the monster senior losses, and that would raise questions about what was accomplished with the roster left by Will Wade, who has now arrived in the seven-figure land of the SEC.
You think so doctor?
Here are a couple of interesting takes that we thought deserved some exploration.
First, the ever-legendary Doctor J says the issues with today's NBA games center on a lack of fundamentals.
That makes a fair amount of sense, all things considering. Players are younger entering the league than ever. But, the game also has catered its style to allow walks and and other fundamental sloppiness. Call it a little Kid Pro Quo if you want.
On the hot-take, hot-button issue that is the signing or lack thereof of free agent Colin Kaepernick, Baltimore coach John Harbaugh, whose brother Jim coached Kaepernick with the 49ers, says that Kaep will have a job on an NFL roster before training camp and that all of the talk of a potential blackball because of Kaepernick's protest of the anthem is "intellectually lazy."
To think that the anthem protest is not part of the decision making is simply silly, no matter how high-browed Harbaugh's insults may be. But to the coach's point, without known for sure what Kaepernick is asking for in terms of years, money and opportunity, all of those details are very pertinent.
Thoughts?
This and that
- Now this may be a real way to lure free agents. Here is a story of Dennis Hop, the famous owner of the brothel known as the Bunny Ranch making a commitment to all Raiders players for discounts and VIP privileges. Wonder if that will count against the salary cap?
- Speaking of Vegas, heavy action on UNC has shifted the vegas number to the Tar Heels being a 5-to-4 favorite to win it all. Gonzaga is next at 9-to-5, followed by Oregon (9-to-2) and South Carolina (8-to-1).
- If Law & Order reruns have taught us anything it's that if a person pleads the fifth amendment - refusing to testify in court for fear of self-incrimination - that person likely has some bones in the closet. So it goes with Phil Mickelson, who will not testify because he was going to use his rights of the fifth in the insider trading case against renowned gambler Billy Walters.
- Wow that escalated in a hurry. Here's the quote from Tim Walton, Florida softball coach who got into a dust-up with Auburn shortstop Haley Fagan after Monday's game: "I apologize to Haley. I just wanted to congratulate Auburn on the win – it was a good series. My intent was to give a high-five to each opposing player as we do after every game. Apparently, her hand wasn't up as I said 'good game' and I touched her shoulder. I should have paid closer attention and did not intend to upset her. I regret that this has taken attention away from the effort and sportsmanship both teams displayed all weekend." Here's Auburn AD Jay Jacobs' response to the ordeal.
Today's question
OK, we could do some one-word Wednesday.
We could even try on some of the following:
In six months Colin Kaepernick will be __________.
There is no professional sports coach better than ___________.
The NBA MVP is ____________.
If we need a Rushmore, let's go here. Today, if he were still kicking, Cy Young would be celebrating his 150th birthday. He is part of several Rushmores, considering his win total (511), loss total (316), career inning total (7,356), career starts for a pitcher (815) and most complete games (749) are all marks that will never be touched in baseball history. And that still may not be the most unbreakable mark Cy Young can stake at least a claim to. We're not sure if anyone else did - although that's possible - but ol' Cy led the American League in complete games (34) and saves (2) in 1903.
That's almost a more impossible feat for today's pitchers than winning 511 games. So, in honor of Cy Young, who make up the Rushmore of MLB pitchers of the last 35 years?
Go, and remember the mailbag.