The Is Phil Mickelson a Cheater Debate – There may be a Cheater in Golf, and it is NOT Tiger?!

February 9, 2010

Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer about whether or not Phil Mickelson should be perceived as having cheated in golf.



If I asked you what one word BEST described Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, and Alex Rodriguez, what word comes to mind? Most people would say, “Cheater.” Yet, when McGwire, Canseco, A-Rod – and a host of other so-called “cheaters” – used steroids there was no penalty for the use of those particular substances. Still, they violated the spirit of the rules prohibiting the use of illegal substances in baseball, and are perceived as cheaters.

So if I asked you for one word to now describe one of golf’s favorite sons, does the same word come to mind? Well, it does if we are talking about Tiger (HEY-OH!), but he is not who I am referring to today. I am actually talking about Phil Mickelson, and there is at least one person out there who HAS accused Mickelson of cheating in the game of golf.

Twenty years ago, the United States Golf Association (USGA) passed a rule banning the use of certain wedges because of the groove pattern they used. The ruling, which was adopted by the PGA, was created because the groove pattern on these wedges produced a greater amount of spin that what was considered acceptable in competition play.

A caveat to this rule, though, was the grandfathering in of clubs that were manufactured before April 1, 1990. Because the USGA and the PGA feared negative backlash from major manufacturers of clubs (and the players who used them), they applied the rule only to those clubs produced after the rule was in place. If a player was using a club manufactured BEFORE April of 1990, they would be allowed to continue using that club, despite the newly banned groove pattern.

Phil Mickelson’s Ping Eye2 wedge is one of those clubs.

Several players on the PGA Tour have voiced concerns about the use of clubs such as Mickelson’s Ping Eye2, but it was not until last week, when fellow Tour member Scott McCarron boldly referred to it as “cheating,” that it became a heated topic.

Although McCarron has since apologized for his accusations, under the threat of legal action from Mickelson for slanderous statements, the words are out there. Enter, The Sports Debates.

Under the current rule structure, is Phil Mickelson cheating if he continues to use his Ping Eye2 wedge?

Mickelson is technically not breaking any rules with the use of the wedge, but many feel that he is violating the spirit of the rule which bans that groove pattern, and is unfairly taking advantage of a loophole in the system in order to give himself a competitive edge that his opponents do not take advantage of.

Loyal Homer will argue that Mickelson is cheating, despite the loophole in the rules which technically permits the use of his wedge, while Babe Ruthless will argue that he is not.

As for Bleacher Fan, I will be contemplating the sad state of current affairs for the PGA Tour which, without Tiger’s storied feats on (and apparently off) the course to talk about, has nothing better to focus on than the groove pattern of Mickelson’s wedges. Is that REALLY the biggest story that the PGA has to offer now? What’s next – a scandal about Padraig Harrington, dimple counts, and repairing divots?!

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Posted by Bleacher Fan

The Is Phil Mickelson a Cheater Debate – Lefty Is Right

February 9, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Loyal Homer.

When NASCAR teams put illegal engines in cars and remove restrictor plates they are engaged in cheating. When MLB players use corked bats during games they are engaged in cheating. When Phil Mickelson uses a wedge that complies with USGA rules that is not cheating.

In the wake of Tiger Woods’ complete character makeover (I think he must have hired Charlie Sheen and John Gosselin as life coaches), the PGA must have been praying for a story that did not involve text messages, cheating, or exotic dancers. Well they got one… and I bet they are thinking that two out of three isn’t half bad.

Phil Mickelson was recently slandered by fellow pro Scott McCarron, who claims that Mickelson is “cheating.” What dubious tactic did Lefty employ to gain his unfair advantage, you ask? He is using a wedge which contains grooves that do not conform to current USGA rules. So he is cheating. Case closed award the victory to Loyal Homer, right?

Not so fast! Although Lefty’s wedge has grooves that do not comply with USGA regulations, they are indeed legal. There is a special provision to the groove regulation – a grandfather clause – that allows players to use any wedge produced before April 1, 1990. Mickelson’s wedge, the Ping Eye2, was indeed produced before this date, so he is actually using a legal club. A LEGAL CLUB. Case closed award the victory to Babe Ruthless.

For those not ready to immediately award me the debate victory, let’s continue to explore the case against Mickelson.

McCarron mistakenly declared Mickelson a cheater, probably because the perception exists that the grooves of the older wedge provide a great deal more spin than other contemporary wedges, but this is really an exaggeration at best. Tim Finchem, PGA Tour commissioner, acknowledged that the wedge only provides a minimal amount of extra spin (approximately 10 percent more spin) than other wedges with grooves that comply with the rule. Really, there is no edge. The rule allows anyone to use one of the grandfathered clubs, so where is the edge in that? (Maybe some of the other golfers might be too drunk to find the club on EBay… I’m talking to you, John Daly.)

Still others are upset that the use of the Ping Eye2 wedge violates the spirit of the rule. The “spirit” of the rule… are you kidding me? That is like complaining that bunting violates the spirit of hitting in baseball, or that faking a punt in football somehow violates the spirit of competitive play because not every team chooses to attempt trick plays. Maybe once those golfers who are worried about the spirit of the rule are done braiding each other’s hair and talking about their feelings, we can get back to taking about sports. It sounds to me that the competition in the PGA wants to try to create ticky-tack rules to handicap Mickelson (handicap… that’s pun-tastic).

For those who are still not convinced, check out this statement by the PGA:

“Under the Rules of Golf and the 2010 Condition of Competition for Groove Specifications promulgated by the USGA, pre-1990 Ping Eye2 irons are permitted for play and any player who uses them in PGA TOUR sanctioned events taking place in jurisdictions of the USGA is not in violation of the Rules of Golf; and Because the use of pre-1990 Ping Eye2 irons is permitted for play, public comments or criticisms characterizing their use as a violation of the Rules of Golf as promulgated by the USGA are inappropriate at best.”

Lefty is definitely not cheating. In fact, he is such a stand-up guy he has agreed to remove the club from his arsenal – for the time being. While that alone does not prove that he is not a cheater, it does prove that he is not a jerk – which is more than I can say for losers who accuse him of cheating in the first place.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The Is Phil Mickelson a Cheater Debate – Phil Failed in His Cheating Attempt

February 9, 2010

Read the opposing argument from Babe Ruthless.



This cannot be what the PGA Tour wanted in light of the absence of Tiger Woods.

Phil Mickelson, who is arguably the face of the PGA Tour with Woods missing in action, has been involved in a recent controversy and it is something that has provoked commentary amongst all sports fans, hence the debate on this website.

Here is a link to the story, but leave it to me to give you the basic rundown. A new USGA rule that took effect at the beginning of the year outlines that grooves on irons be shallower with more rounded edges. In theory, the idea is to reduce spin and make hitting the ball in the fairway more important. However, the Ping 2 wedges (gosh, Ping is really getting some free press the past two weeks) are approved despite not conforming to the rules due to a legal settlement years ago.

Essentially, the Ping 2 wedge that Mickelson was using earlier in the year WAS cheating based on how the Tour intended on setting things up for 2010. Some technicality from several years ago does not all of a sudden make it right. Fellow PGA Tour player Scott McCarron recently said Mickelson was “cheating” by using the Ping 2. To be fair, Mickelson is not the only player using the club. He is one of five players, but he is obviously the most prominent. McCarron and Mickelson have since kissed and made up.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has gone on record saying that the Ping 2 wedges spin about 10 percent more than the wedges APPROVED for play this year. That is a distinct advantage and could provide the difference between making birdie or par. Let me simplify it for you. Let’s say Mickelson drives his tee shot into the rough. The shot calls for Phil the Thrill to pull out a wedge. The grooves on a Ping 2 wedge allow him to get more spin and more control of his shot into the green. Using a regular wedge, one that is approved by rule by the PGA Tour, would make it more difficult to not only to get it on the green but to keep it on the green as well. In short, a player is penalized more when they fail to keep the ball in the short stuff when using the regulated wedge.

Keep in mind that golf is a gentleman’s game. It is not corporate business where shady activity often goes on to get the upper hand. It is golf. Golf is a sport enriched in tradition and morality (on the course at least). It is, after all, a sport where golfers often call penalties on themselves if they feel a rules violation has occurred.

The bottom line is Mickelson got an unfair advantage by using the Ping 2 wedge, and I share the original opinion of McCarron that using the club is cheating. Mickelson has since stated he will not use the club… for now, at least… due to any advantage it might give him. I am still not sure why Phil thinks he needs an advantage since he is one of the most gifted players on Tour.

Maybe the groove controversy is getting to Mickelson. In his first week since saying he would not use the Ping 2, where did he finish? He finished tied for 45th place last weekend at the Northern Trust Open.

The Tour is hoping this controversy just goes away. It needs some positive PR, obviously. This was not what Tim Finchem wanted. But there is no place in golf for cheating. By saying he would not use the club anymore, Mickelson basically admitted he was cheating. That is all I need to know!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Biggest 2010 NFL Offseason Debate – Bear Down, Lovie

February 8, 2010

Read opposing arguments from Loyal Homer and Bleacher Fan.



It all started in the first half of the first game of the 2009 season. Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher – the cornerstone of the Bears’ defense and hopes for the season – left the game against the Green Bay Packers with a wrist injury. It seemed impossible that on a fairly innocuous play early in the season a player of such importance to a team can be lost for an entire season, but that is exactly what happened. Next, each element of the team began to crumble without the foundation on which it was built able to take the field. In essence, the 2010 offseason began for the Chicago Bears on a still warm Fall Sunday night in September.

And, that early offseason got off to a rocky start since head coach Lovie Smith did not appear able to right the ship after losing Urlacher so early. Without Urlacher’s fast and versatile game, and the coach/defensive coordinator’s inability to gather the defense and mount a consistent effort, the Bears season derailed beyond recovery. The negative perception that formed about Smith – which was augmented thanks to general manager Jerry Angelo’s vocal lack of confidence in the coach when Smith was stripped of defensive coordinator duties – resulted in difficulties when trying to fill out the coaching staff after the predictable firings at season’s end. After offensive coordinator Ron Turner was fired as soon as humanly possible after the final game of the season, the search began for a replacement. Because Smith is viewed by the majority of the league as a lame duck coach, few coaches are willing to step out on a limb and risk a career move that could leave them jobless again after another poor campaign in the 2010 season.

Faced with a crucial offseason where the Bears must turn their fortunes around or search for a new head coach, Smith turned to friend Mike Martz to run the Chicago offense. Martz is a controversial character in his own right, and considered a failure at his most recent employer, the Detroit Lions. Nevertheless, Smith is willing to tie his future to Martz, and the pressure on Martz is to successfully install his offense during the upcoming offense and get the personnel he needs in Chicago to make his offense successful. In one offseason. Or else.

The personnel issues are particularly challenging for Martz and Chicago. Virtually the only solid aspect of the team’s offense in 2009 was the consistent performance of tight end Greg Olsen. The only problem is that new offensive coordinator Martz is not exactly Mr. Tight End. Martz prefers to chuck the ball downfield early and often. Martz’s offense demands a great offensive line because so many of the plays either require lineman to hold blocks for a long time while players get open downfield or to get out in front blocking on screen plays. In short, Martz prefers a solid blocker capping the line, not a pass catcher. Changing the personnel around on offense is as challenging as it is vital this offseason.

Also on offense is the issue presented by Jay Cutler’s rather inauspicious start under center in Chicago… after sky high expectations and plenty of pressure from a general manager that staked his career and reputation on the acquisition of Cutler.

While the Urlacher injury hurt the team because Urlacher is such a special player, it also exposed a lack of depth on the Bears that Angelo is mostly responsible for. Trading several draft picks for several years has left the team without young talent on both sides of the ball. The Bears are currently on a path that is difficult to sustain with the stars getting older and few young players capable of stepping up and filling big shoes. The Bears have a lot of holes to fill on the team and few options. Oh, and all that pressure to succeed for Angelo and Smith and his revamped coaching staff.

The team aging is also a problem especially at the all-important linebacker position. The Tampa 2 defense requires linebackers to cover a great deal of ground. Urlacher’s aging, and a lack of depth, drastically diminishes the effectiveness of this defense.

Cutler unfairly took a lot of fire for the team’s offensive struggles this season. In his defense – though the turnovers in the red zone cannot be explained away – it is difficult to throw from the ground… a place he spent a great deal of time in 2009 due to repeated failures from both tackles, including future hall of fame left tackle Orlando Pace. Sure, Cutler needs to get better. But that starts with the offensive line, so Cutler does not feel pressure to throw the ball into places he should not because he does not have enough time for his receivers to get open.

The Bears have a lot of questions and few options to answer them. Without a doubt, the Chicago Bears are facing the most important and difficult offseason of any team in the NFL.

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The Biggest 2010 NFL Offseason Debate – Trouble in the Nation’s Capital

February 8, 2010

Read opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer.



We get it, the Saints won the Super Bowl… but that is SOOOO last night! For the 31 other teams in the league, Super Bowl XLIV is ancient history. So, while the Black and Gold continue their partying on Bourbon Street, the rest of the NFL is already looking ahead to what needs to be done in 2010.

Some teams have already made changes in their coaching personnel, while others are getting ready for free agency and the draft. Then there is the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins may not have had the worst record in the NFL, but I still believe they were the worst team in the NFL. Of their 4-12 record, they only managed to beat ONE team with a better record than them, the 8-8 Denver Broncos. Their remaining three wins came against the 1-15 Rams (whom they BARELY beat by a score of 9-7), the 3-13 Buccaneers (in another nailbiter – 16-13), and the 4-12 Raiders. Among their losses were teams like the 4-12 Kansas City Chiefs and the 2-14 Detroit Lions (which, by the way, snapped a Lions’ losing streak that spanned into three different NFL seasons).

No team underwhelmed quite like the Redskins did in 2009. As a result of the lackluster showing, their (former) head coach, Jim Zorn, was stripped of all play calling responsibilities only six weeks into the season. Everyone knew it would be just a matter of time before Zorn was fired, and the only question was to try and guess just how bad the state of the team would be when the axe finally fell.

Allow me to answer that question for newly appointed head coach Mike Shanahan – the state of the team is TERRIBLE! The laundry-list of problems Shanahan must solve before the 2010 season gets underway is extremely daunting. Unfortunately, there is not a single issue that can be EASILY remedied!

For his part, Shanahan has been to the promised-land as a head coach, and has two Super Bowl rings already to his credit. It should be noted, though, that was with a Denver Broncos team that included John Elway, Rod Smith, Terrell Davis, Shannon Sharpe, and a host of other outstanding athletes. This Redskins organization that he is inheriting is a completely different monster, and it will be an arduous uphill battle for Shanahan if fans in our nation’s capital expect to see ANY results.

To begin with, Shanahan must first build his coaching staff. He has gotten a jump on this particular assignment, including the hiring of his own son, Kyle, as the new offensive coordinator. His biggest problem, however, is going to be in deciding the direction he wants to take his team with regard to the players in his locker-room, including a MAJOR deficiency at the quarterback position.

I will say it again – Jason Campbell is NOT a solid quarterback in the NFL. Do not let his numbers fool you. With 3,618 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 64.5 percent accuracy, it appears that Campbell is a good passer. When you break down those numbers a bit further, though they it tell a much different story. To begin with, the only stat that he was among the top-10 quarterbacks in the league in during 2009 was interceptions, of which he threw 15.

The Redskins spent much of 2009 playing from behind. As such, they saw a lot of soft coverage in the defenses they faced, and even the prevent. It is not surprising, then, to find out that Campbell’s only REAL effectiveness came in situations when the ‘Skins trailed by at least two scores. During those games when the Redskins were behind by at least nine points, Campbell threw for a combined total of five touchdowns and only one interception. When the scoring margin was +/- 8 points (which usually brings tighter pass coverage on the defensive side of the ball), Campbell was good for only eight touchdowns, but he threw TEN interceptions.

Likewise, he only had two games in the season where he threw for more than 300-yards, both of which came in losses. To counter those totals, he had six games with LESS THAN 200-yards passing. In the game against the Kansas City Chiefs he threw the ball only 16 times for 89 yards and an interception before finally being benched for backup quarterback Todd Collins.

Compounding the problems that come from lacking a reliable quarterback are the locker-room issues that stem from a losing mentality. Running back Clinton Portis, who is no stranger to controversy, once again made headlines for his locker-room antics… which included an incident where Portis admittedly approached the Redskins coaches during a game and requested they bench one of his teammates, fullback Mike Sellers.

After the season ended, Portis was at it again. Only this time it was in a war of words with Jason Campbell. During an interview, Portis criticized Campbell for not being a leader, which evoked a very quick and harsh response from Campbell.

These are just some of the examples of the mess that Shanahan has been tasked with trying to clean up. The Washington Redskins (who are already in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles) have a LOT to fix this offseason, and they do not have much time to get it done.

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The Biggest 2010 NFL Offseason Debate – Can Pete Carroll Get It Done?

February 8, 2010

Read opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan.



It is a sad day for me. I am upset because seemingly for the twentieth straight year, I did not win anything in Super Bowl Squares. I am also upset because after last night’s entertaining Super Bowl, it means we have to go MONTHS with no football! What is a single guy supposed to do during that time? Well for starters, the NFL Draft is not that far away… and if you did not know that, you do now after watching the promo for it during the Super Bowl. And to whet your appetites until then, The Sports Debates is already looking forward to the 2010 campaign and taking an in-depth look at which team has the most to fix. Obviously, many teams have things to fix, even the defending champion New Orleans Saints, but I think the team with the biggest offseason coming up is the Seattle Seahawks.

First and foremost, we all know who is in charge up in the Northwest now. Head coach Pete Carroll makes his long anticipated return to the NFL and he has decided to make that return in Seattle. Big Pete had built a dynasty at Southern Cal, and now he comes to a team not all that far from a Super Bowl appearance, with that game taking place only four years ago. A lot has changed since then, though. Former coach Mike Holmgren now works in the Cleveland front office, and the most recent coach, Jim Mora, has joined millions of Americans on the unemployment line.

One of the first things Carroll and rookie general manager John Schneider have to do is decide what to do with the offense. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is seemingly older than the 34 years he actually is, and that is because he seemingly has suffered some type of injury every year since that Super Bowl run. Will the Seahawks spend their first round pick, the sixth overall, on a quarterback? Sam Bradford and Jimmy Clausen could be available.

My personal opinion is that running back needs to be addressed first, either through the draft or through free agency. Can you name the leading rusher for the Seahawks last year? It was Julius Jones. Is he a running back capable of handling the full load? Is Justin Forsett that answer? Carroll has brought renowned offensive-line coach Alex Gibbs and his sometimes controversial cut-blocking schemes to town. This new approach will surely improve the run game. But do the Seahawks currently have the personnel to run behind cut blocks? However it happens, the Seahawks definitely need to improve on offense, as scoring 280 points in 16 games is not going to win a lot of games in the NFL.

Fans in Seattle have high expectations for Pete Carroll and his bunch. Perhaps they are a little too high. There is a lot of work to be done to improve that team and get Qwest Field, home of the NFL’s 12th Man, rocking. Whether or not Carroll can work his magic remains to be seen. But all football fans will definitely be watching!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Biggest Winner of the Super Bowl Debate – Peyton Manning: The Greatest Player Who Ever Lived

February 5, 2010

Read the arguments by Bleacher Fan and Loyal Homer.

 

If children dream of being NFL players, then what do NFL players dream of being? I’ll tell you. They dream of being Peyton Manning.  This year’s Super Bowl only further cements his legacy as the greatest NFL player of all time.

For those who doubt my assertion that Peyton Manning is the best football player ever, I suggest you take a look at his credentials. Most of Manning’s detractors point to his lack of Super Bowl championships as their entire case against his greatness (“Rings? Rings!? He don’t need no stinking rings!”), even though Peyton Manning already has one Super Bowl ring from 2007. He is ranked among the top in every quarterback statistic that matters (passing yards, touchdowns, wins, etc.) and has an unprecedented four league MVP awards as well. While even the biggest Manning-haters will at least admit he is among the best quarterbacks today, I say that he is making a campaign for the greatest player of all time, and I’m not alone. Sports Illustrated writer Ross Tucker points out that Peyton’s accomplishments exceed those of Dan Marino, John Elway, Brett Farve,  Joe Montana, and Tom Brady…and I could not agree with him more. Marino never won a Super Bowl - This Sunday Manning attempts to win his second. Two Super Bowl victories would tie those of Elway, and would surpass Farve.

Tucker also makes the argument that Montana played for a stacked 49ers team that preceded the days of free agency, and that Brady benefited from the genius of Bill Billichick’s defenses and strategies. On top of all this, Tucker points out something I covered here on TSD last month, Peyton Manning’s success this year came without the assistance of his usual all-star supporting cast. Manning carried his team to the Super Bowl and he did it without Tony Dungy’s brilliant leadership, or Marvin Harrison’s seemingly ageless hands. Few would doubt the fact that Manning is the brains behind his own success, because his tireless hours of film breakdown and an ability to read defenses and play call at the line of scrimmage are unparalleled. While each of aforementioned quarterbacks are legends in their own right, Manning’s resume boasts superior accolades.  

This year’s Super Bowl puts him Over The Top like Lincoln Hawk (don’t tell me you don’t remember the 1980s arm wrestling movie staring Sylvester Stallone, who played a trucker competing for a new big rig and his son’s love).

 His greatness transcends the game. Some celebrities’ fame makes them the national face of their city, but Mr. Manning’s relationship the city of Indianapolis even exceeds the wildest of expectations. Like a benevolent Mussolini he controls the education system and makes the buses run on time. Seriously! Peyton Manning controls the opening and closing of schools Indianapolis, a power usually reserved for the weather and natural disasters. Want proof? In 2007 the Indianapolis Public School system actually had to cancel school because of the celebrations of Peyton’s first Super Bowl ring. Apparently the raucous celebrations left the bus drivers so wiped out they could not even drive their routes that day. This year the school district is on a two hour delay. I think all the elementary school students should have to write thank you cards for their extra two hours of Manning Break. 

His celebrity is not embraced just regionally, but around the country. As Rod Tidwell might say, “he is an Ambassador of Quan”. He has the love, respect, community, and the dollars too…the Quan. Manning continues to become a cultural icon, but better. He is like Ellen DeGeneres - He makes us laugh and cry, but instead of giving away free stuff he gives away unforgettable moments. The next memorable gift is scheduled for delivery this Sunday during the Super Bowl.

This game holds exceptional meaning and value for the legacy of Peyton Manning. New Orleans is in many respects Manning’s home, and it holds special meaning to the Manning family.

The Manning family, which appears to pass on a genetically enhanced football gene (some have even suggest that Archie Manning be cryogenically frozen in order to produce enhanced players in the future…true story) continue to have a profound connection to New Orleans. It was the stomping grounds for Peyton’s father, Archie Manning, when he played for the Saints. Peyton and his brother Eli have stayed invested in the area as evidence by their assistance with Hurricane Katrina relief. Now so many years later, New Orleans seeks to defeat one of its favorite sons, and in the Super Bowl no less. This is sure to be a big, emotionally charged game for Peyton Manning, to which he usually responds with big outings. Who can forget his decimation of the Saints at the Superdome in 2003 where he put up 6 scores in just 3 quarters, just one shy of the NFL record. He was certainly motivated then by all the attention of a nationally televised game against his father’s old team in his old home town. I think this year’s Super Bowl will just be another benchmark in the storied history of the greatest player the game has ever known.

This debate is supposed to be about the Super Bowl’s biggest winner, and it is abundantly clear that the marquee story is Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning’s legacy will shine that much brighter, not if, but when he leads his Colts to a victory over his father’s Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.

But I think at least on some level, the Super Bowl itself wins because it can feature the greatest player the NFL has to offer—Peyton Manning.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The Biggest Winner of the Super Bowl Debate – Reggie Bush Can Take That Next Step

February 5, 2010

Read the arguments by Bleacher Fan and Babe Ruthless.

Hopefully by now you’ve gotten an invitation to a Super Bowl party. Surely, you have your Super Bowl squares all lined up (unless you’re Bleacher Fan, who seemingly can’t find enough participants in Ohio).

As for the game itself, it should be an excellent, high-scoring affair. Outside of the winner (and hopefully me in my Super Bowl squares contest), the biggest winner Sunday night could the legitimacy of Reggie Bush’s career.

I met some USC fans from California over the New Years holiday and let me tell you, they think their Trojans hung the moon. Of course, they also had bad things to say about Lane Kiffin at the time (this was before Kiffin’s hire). But they really believe Reggie Bush is the greatest thing since sliced bread. This is despite the trouble that Bush might eventually get USC into, and despite the fact that, for the better part of his professional career, he has quite simply been a bust. Some may say that’s harsh, but I don’t.

As a number two pick back in 2006, much was expected of him after a record-breaking collegiate career. Still, he has yet to have that breakout year with the Saints. This past regular season, he had only 70 carries for the Saints, and he’s a player I will likely never touch in fantasy football. But he’s fit into a nice role down in New Orleans. He compliments that team well and has become a Dave Meggett-like back. He is still a force returning punts when given the opportunity, and if I’m a defensive coordinator, I would still shiver at the thought of Bush running free in the open field.

He has shown signs of breaking out this postseason. He had perhaps his best game as a pro in the divisional round against the Arizona Cardinals, rushing for 84 yards on just 5 carries and returning a punt 83 yards for a touchdown. Watching the game that afternoon, I thought to myself, “This is the Reggie of old.” That’s certainly the type of performance that Saints fans are hoping for on Sunday night. A big game on Sunday, and the hype for #25 will build all over again. I think the opportunity is certainly there for him Sunday, as the game is expected to be a high scoring shootout.

Let’s be real folks. He is beginning to be known as the guy who dates Kim Kardashian, and that’s not a good thing if you are a football player. You want to establish yourself as a professional, and Bush has not yet fully managed that. Quite simply, he is still getting by on the things he accomplished as a USC Trojan.

A big game Sunday could elevate him, though. He would be forever worshipped in the Big Easy, and his reputation around the league would improve dramatically.

The stage is yours, Reggie. You’ve played in big games before. Let’s see what you’ve got!

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Biggest Winner of the Super Bowl Debate – Big Win for the Big Easy

February 5, 2010

Read Babe Ruthless’ and Loyal Homer’s arguments about who they feel the biggest winner of the Super Bowl is.

It is every football fan’s dream to one day get their hands on a pair of Super Bowl tickets. After all, who wouldn’t want to be in Miami on Sunday evening as the Colts battle the Saints for the Super Bowl Championship? I’ll tell you who – ME (but only this year).

As exciting as it would be to actually have the opportunity to attend a Super Bowl game, there is one place THIS year that I would much rather be – New Orleans! In a city already known for their ability to have a great time, just imagine the excitement and the atmosphere as the fervor of support for the New Orleans Saints mingles with the already abundant party-goers on Bourbon St. It will be the perfect party storm.

Obviously, a win on Sunday night will raise the citizens of NOLA to fever pitch, but even a loss by the Saints will still mean a BIG win for the city.

New Orleans has hosted the Super Bowl before, and reaped the economic benefits of being a host city. In those years, though, the circus left town on Monday morning, and all the money left with it. Things will be slightly different for the ‘Who Dat?’ nation this year, however. The after-effects of having their own beloved Saints actually reach the NFL’s championship game will be felt in that city long after the clock ticks to 00:00.

I have witnessed first hand the benefit that a successful sports team can have on a struggling city. Cleveland transforms on game night for the Cavaliers from an industrial ghost town into an overcrowded mecca of #23 jerseys, #33 jerseys, and even a few #11’s thrown into the mix. Likewise, the city was flooded with tailgaters and bar-crawlers during the 2007 Browns season, and THAT was just because the Browns won 10 games that year (they didn’t even make the playoffs). From the sale of merchandise in the stores to the turn out at local bars and eateries throughout the city, people are always happy to spend money in support of a successful team.

Casinos, restaurants, and bars alike will be packed to the hilt in New Orleans on Sunday night, and for many Sundays to come. The thrill of having reached their first ever Super Bowl will not die down after the game ends. Instead, it will feed a contagious buzz that will fester and grow throughout the entire offseason. Having finally received a taste of the good life, the city of New Orleans will be giddy with anticipation for more. That excitement will spill over into summer time training camp, and will carry throughout the 2010 football season.

If the Saints are fortunate enough to continue their success into next season, the excitement (and corresponding benefit) will be amplified exponentially.

Whether or not the Saints are able to cap off their season with a championship on the field, the city of New Orleans will be shining like gold on Sunday night!

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The NCAAF Signing Day Debate – Supply and Demand

February 5, 2010

Read the debate intro, Sports Geek’s, and Loyal Homer’s arguments about whether or not the media puts too much stock into college recruiting.

There are a lot of things that I feel are wrong about National Signing Day. I got another reminder just this week on how out of control the entire recruiting process is when I read the story of David Sills, one of Lane Kiffin’s newest recruits at USC.

What’s the big deal about David Sills? Only the fact that he is a 13 YEAR OLD SEVENTH GRADER!

That’s right, Lane Kiffin, the poster boy of everything that is wrong with coaching in college football, has decided to hand out a scholarship for the year 2015. What’s the point?! He’s not even gonna be there in 2015!

As for Sills, a lot can change between the ages of 13 and 18, both physically and mentally. When I was 13 I thought I was going to be an astronaut. Of course, that was back when my biggest concern was whether or not Optimus Prime’s Autobots could stop Megatron and the rest of the Decepticon horde – Wait a minute, I guess not THAT much has changed for me mentally. Physically, though, the changes that a boy will go through can be drastic, and that’s assuming that Sills doesn’t suffer some injury while playing football in High School, or while skateboarding, or doing any other number of stupid things that KIDS do.

How are kids who haven’t graduated from high school supposed to cope with the pressures of being a national sports star before they have even taken their SATs?!

Unfortunately, it appears that my distaste for the circus of college recruiting is not shared by all (although our good friend ‘Mr. Doots’ is on my side, accurately referring to the idea of scouting 13 and 14-year olds “Creepy”). Sports Geek wins this debate for pointing out that so much attention is heaped onto the college recruiting process because so many people out there care very deeply about it. Simply put, this obsession with recruiting is not a product of media overhype. Instead, it is a product of the media feeding the needs of those so-called “diehard fans”.

Let’s face it, as much as I may complain about the role the media can play as a hype-machine, there is clearly a market for it in this case. It is a simple law of supply and demand. The media wouldn’t focus so heavily on recruiting if people out there didn’t care about it (which is why you never see the professional Jai Alai draft covered on ESPN, I suppose).

Loyal Homer is absolutely correct in pointing out that there is no guarantee that a Five Star recruit will amount to anything in college. That problem, though, is secondary to the real issue. Nobody denies the fact that these decisions are based purely on projections and potential. However, speculation is a very powerful moving force. From Wall Street to the iPad, potential drives a great deal of our life today.

The fact is that head coaches in college football are expected to do two things – win on the field, and build a successful program. The first step to building a successful program is finding the most talented kids and getting them into your school. Although the process of recruiting is purely speculative, it serves as a standard by which all coaches are held at least partially accountable.

Fans and boosters expect strong recruiting from their coaches. It is for that reason that such a big deal is made about recruiting. The media does not place too much stock in recruiting, they are simply enabling an addiction suffered by many across the nation, called ‘collegefootballaholism’.

I may not agree with the excessive, almost worshipful attention given to these boys who just learned how to drive a car last year, but that does not mean that the media is to blame for having overblown the process and making it out to be something that it is not. The media’s focus on the recruiting process is valuable because very large portions of the fan base, as well as the university athletic programs of the NCAA, all perceive it as being valuable. It is the information they crave, and the media is simply giving them what they want.

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