The Best Game of THIS Weekend Debate – Cal Trying To Stop Stanford From Seeing Roses, and Harbaugh From Seeing Maize and Blue

November 20, 2009

Read the arguments from Bleacher Fan and Loyal Homer about what they believe is the best game or sporting event this weekend.



For all of the SEC, Big XII, and Big Ten talk I hear – and I hear quite a bit of each – it is amazing how the Pac-10 always seems to fly under the college football radar. How quickly fans seem to forget that it was not any of those conferences that went undefeated in the bowl season in 2008. It was the Pac-10. It is the Pac-10 that boasts six teams with a record of 6-3 or better. It is also the PAC-10 that features the weekend’s best game between the California Golden Bears and the Stanford Cardinal.

Obviously, this game is important in the race to win the Pac-10. Stanford has the best opportunity to snag the top spot in the conference from Oregon and Arizona which, as of this writing, both control their destiny in conference. Should Oregon lose in one of its last two games – a distinct possibility with matchups against a resurgent Arizona and an always strong Oregon State (at least the Beavers are always strong at the end of a season) – Stanford owns the tiebreak over the Ducks. With a win over rival Cal, Stanford has an excellent chance of winning the conference. Cal has the chance to disrupt the Cardinal’s Rose colored dreams, but will have to do so without star running back Jahvid Best.

Best has 12 touchdowns on the season with 6.1 yards per carry, and is sorely missed by the Cal offense. With Best out the offense has managed just 38 points in two games. Best was one of the best running backs in the country before going down to injury. His replacements, Shane Vereen and CoVaughn DeBoskie-Johnson have been good, but not as great as Best. An underrated aspect of Best’s game was his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He is third on the team with 22 receptions and second on the team with four receiving touchdowns. Best’s absence changes the offense and the preparation of opposing defenses, and the Golden Bears have not fully adjusted.
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While Best is out, Stanford’s sudden Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Toby Gerhart, is very much in. Gerhart, who has scored 19 touchdowns on the season in just 10 games, averages over five yards per carry and nearly 140 yards per game. He has a bruising style and runs behind an excellent offensive line. Quarterback Andrew Luck has been impressive in his freshman season, too. Thirteen touchdowns against just three interceptions is quite impressive, but his 2,220 passing yards are good enough for second in the conference.

Ironically, the more Stanford wins, the greater – it seems – the chance that the team will lose its coach. Jim Harbaugh, who has done a credible job of turning the Cardinal football program around, graduated from Michigan. Michigan, we all know, has a coach whose time seems to be running out. Should Rich Rodriguez be jettisoned from Michigan, it is understandable if the athletic director’s first call is to Jim Harbaugh. The rumors first started early this month, then Harbaugh refused to address them, then he finally gave the standard coach’s comment where he did not deny the possibility of moving on to Michigan but kept the interview focused on the current situation. Kudos. But, fans have seen this game a million times before.

This is a game that Stanford must win. This is a game that Stanford should win. This is a game that, if the team wins, it may lose a coach where every win adds to an already impressive resumé. If the team loses, this game may be the reason why the coach stays around next season.

Oh, and there is that whole rivalry thing. These two teams genuinely dislike each other, and have for decades. Not only is this a compelling game in a compelling conference, it is an example of what makes college rivalries great.

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The Most Important Player on the Hot Stove Debate – Adrian Gonzalez is Ready To Breakout

November 19, 2009

Read the arguments from Bleacher Fan and Loyal Homer about which player they believe is the most important on this off-season’s MLB Hot Stove.



If you are a Chicago Cubs fan like me, you live for Hot Stove and Spring Training every year. Sure, there is a lot of poetic mumbo jumbo about the Spring season and how just as flowers are coming into full bloom and a seemingly relentless Winter is subsiding baseball teams are again taking the diamond and setting out on their yearlong adventure for supremacy. It seems like every baseball story in the Spring has some element of hackneyed seasonal drivel. Real baseball fans do not need the empty hype. Real baseball fans know that the Hot Stove and Spring Training are the best times for baseball because of one reason: unrelenting and perfectly rational expectations.

Hot Stove is a great time of year because it gives diehard baseballs fans the chance to discover really impressive players who have been stuck in obscurity and are ready to break out. Obscure players are not obscure because they lack great stats. Rather, they lack notoriety on a national scale. They may not be on the tip of every fans tongue, or the “hot” player that every GM is salivating over. Generally they are reliable, consistent, and playing in a ballpark that hides their true potential. For me, these are the characteristics of players that are the most important, whether they are free agents or valuable and tradable players making the rounds on the rumor mill. No player fits these characteristics better than San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez has had an interesting career. Once a prospect in the Texas Rangers system that was believed to never pan out, Gonzalez was let go in free agency to the San Diego Padres and has toiled away in Petco Park’s spacious surroundings for the last four seasons. His first year in San Diego was okay, but he led the National League in GDPs. Still a work in progress, considering he was just 24 years of age.

Fast forward to an established 27 year-old who just completed the 2009 season where he earned his second All-Star appearance and second consecutive Gold Glove at first base. After two consecutive seasons at the beginning of his tenure with San Diego where he had 140+ strike outs, he led the Major Leagues in walks in 2009. While his batting average has come down since the 2006 season when he hit .304, his OBP has increased every season and he put up a career high .407 in 2009. Speaking of increasing totals, Gonzalez also hit 40 home runs this season, a mark he has improved every season he has been a member of the Padres. Despite his 40 homers in 2009, he failed to crack 100 RBI. Yep, San Diego was that bad in 2009. Overall, Gonzalez has put up impressive numbers in San Diego. He appears to be ready to break out.

Like a muscular dude in an oversized suit, Petco Park has hidden the greatness of Gonzalez’s game. While he uses all parts of the field when hitting, his main power comes in the right field power alley at Petco… you know, the deepest power alley in baseball at 411 feet. Imagine that same power in Boston where all Gonzalez has to do is wrap those pitches around Pesky Pole.

Gonzalez is a left-handed power hitter that definitely hits right handed pitching well, with a career .298 batting average. Here is another fun stat – he is a .408 hitter in October over his career. I think he is ready to jump to the next level. He plays a capable first base when on defense with two Gold Gloves and is a middle of the order asset.

Gonzalez is a hot commodity now not in the Alfonso Soriano way but in the Victor Martinez way. If Martinez were on the open market, his consistency, poise, and overall ability make him a valued asset, and the type of player that can push a team from good to great.

As a Cubs fan, as much as I like Derrek Lee, I would love to have Gonzalez. He is a young, powerful left handed bat and consistently performs. Despite the fact that my team has an established, though aging, first baseman, I would be comfortable with Gonzalez displacing him. All 30 teams are forced to consider Gonzalez for exactly that reason. I, for one, am extremely curious about where he lands. That team will be the front runner.

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The Most Important Player on the Hot Stove Debate – The Man of the Year is the Man of the Offseason!

November 19, 2009

Read Sports Geek’s argument and Loyal Homer’s arguments about who will be the most important player on the hot stove during this MLB offseason.

Following the historic collapse of the Detroit Tigers during the final weeks of the 2009 baseball season, change is inevitable for the Motor City. For a team to be THAT close to playing October baseball – only to have the opportunity snatched away in extra innings of an extra game – it is foolish to assume that the Tigers’ front offices will be content to just leave things alone. Instead, general manager David Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland will be spending the next few months trying to determine exactly what went wrong, and who are the best people to help fix those problems.

Additionally, there are several key players from the Tigers who become free agents this offseason. With several very expensive contracts already on their books (such as $10M in 2009 for the disappointing Dontrelle Willis and $19M for Magglio Ordonez), the Tigers are facing the prospect of a very costly next few seasons.

With the inevitable winds of change blowing on the horizon, the Tigers must look for any way possible to add talent to the team without adding to the payroll. One option considered, an option that could have a very large impact on the league, is to shop around All-Star centerfielder Curtis Granderson. After publicly acknowledging that Dombrowski was willing to make a trade with Granderson, several teams immediately began to express an interest in dealing for the 2009 Man of the Year.

Granderson is a rare talent in baseball. Although his 2009 batting average of .249 was low by his standards, he has been one of the top leadoff hitters in the American League over the past four seasons. Despite the lower than normal batting average last season, Granderson still managed to hit a career-high 30 home runs along with eight triples and 23 doubles. On the base paths Granderson also accounted for 20 stolen bases last season.

It is his unique combination of speed and power that make Granderson so appealing. Helping to sweeten the deal is the fact that the Tigers seem desperate to reload the roster on the cheap. Because the relative cost in order to get Granderson into their lineup is low (he will likely be dealt for a handful of prospects), Granderson could become the steal of the offseason.

One such team that has seemed very excited about the possibility of bringing Granderson on board is the Chicago Cubs, who are currently paying more than $12M a year to Kosuke Fukudome to play center field. Fukudome was a very highly sought after free agent from Japan, and the Cubs were quick to sign him to their roster for a $48M deal over a four year period. Halfway through that contract, however, Fukudome has not performed nearly as well as Granderson, but makes nearly four times the salary. Granderson would bring better hitting and fielding to the Cubs in the center field position at a fraction of the cost.

Two other teams that could be in the market for Granderson are the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels. The Yankees face the likelihood of losing Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon to free agency during the offseason, and will be in need of an outfielder. Because the World Series champs are ALWAYS interested in making a deal, it would not be a surprise at all to see Granderson in pinstripes by the time April rolls around. As for the Angels, there is some question as to where he would fit in because they already have a marquis centerfielder in Torii Hunter. Nevertheless, the Angels organization has expressed an immediate interest in dealing for Granderson.

No matter where he ends up, Curtis Granderson is a difference maker both on and off the field. With so many teams seemingly interested in him, the Tigers will have plenty of offers to chew on over the next few months. Whether the Tigers ultimately deal him away or not, his reported availability should have a huge impact on the league. With so many big-market teams apparently interested in him, Curtis Granderson could make for the blockbuster trade of the year!

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The Most Important Player on the Hot Stove Debate – Holliday Can Change Your Lineup… Just Ask St. Louis

November 19, 2009

Read the arguments from Sports Geek and Bleacher Fan about which players they believe are the most important during the Hot Stove season.



Hot Stove season is one of my favorite times of the year. It is really going to start kicking into high gear soon since tomorrow is the first day free agents can sign contracts with new teams. With the economy the way it is, and with many teams trimming payroll, it is going to be an especially active offseason. The poor economy affected the off-season last year with many teams failing to offer arbitration to players… and I think you might see more of the same this year. That possibly means there could be some bargains out there for your favorite team. However, there’s one player out there who probably will not be a bargain because of his money-loving egotistical evil agent (Scott Boras). That player is Matt Holliday.

Now, I wrote back in July that Holliday was the guy your team needed to go get if you wanted to make a run to the postseason. I think it is safe to say the Cardinals chose wisely when acquiring Mr. Holliday. Granted, the Cards were swept in the division series by the Dodgers. And yes, he possibly cost the Cardinals game two of the series with his misplay of a fly ball. That mistake basically eliminated any chance of the Cardinals making a run this past postseason. However, that boo-boo does not overshadow the impact he had for the Cardinals. He finished the season hitting .313 with 24 home runs and 109 RBI. Even more impressive is the fact that in 63 games with the Cardinals he hit a robust .353 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI and helped the team break away from the pack in the NL Central. He provided more than adequate protection for that Pujols guy and at the same time he dismissed critics who said his previous success was because of the time he spent hitting at hitter friendly Coors Field.

As I stated earlier, Scott Boras, unfortunately, is the agent for Holliday. So he isn’t going to come cheap. He is going to do his best to cash in for his client, poor economy or not. To me Holliday is the best hitter on the free agent market so chances are good that he will succeed in getting an excessive contract. But if you have the cash flow available and have the need for a middle of the lineup bat, then Holliday is your guy. The same free spenders every year (Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, etc.) are the teams that will give him a good look. Do not rule out the Cardinals, though. He has said he enjoyed his time in St. Louis, and who wouldn’t want to hit in the same lineup with Albert Pujols?

Holliday is still young (he doesn’t turn 30 until January 15) and in the prime of his career. He is a controversy-free guy, and he is a bonafide slugger. What more could a team ask for? Hopefully, your favorite team has a chance to go after this guy. Your team will be greatly improved if it gets him The numbers back that up.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Is John Fox Done Debate – Fox Shoulders Too Much Misplaced Blame

November 19, 2009

Read the debate intro and the arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer about whether or not Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox should lose his job.



For me, these coaching debates are always the most fun to have. No argument is REALLY ever wrong. It is a misconception that most fans eager to jettison their team’s coach are shortsighted. Rather, sometimes coaches really ARE bad and they need to be let go for the good of the team and organization. Ask Bleacher Fan how he feels about Eric Mangini. But, a warning – the response will not be safe for work.

There are Carolina Panthers fans that truly believe John Fox’s ability to coach and motivate his team are compromised. Babe Ruthless did a wonderful job of bringing together each of those arguments in a very entertaining way. Fans become frustrated with conservative coaches, conservative offense, and misplaced loyalty.

Argument by fan argument, though, the counter-thought proves that John Fox should keep his job, and the debate win is awarded to Loyal Homer.

Conservative coaches are frustrating for fans. But, for coaches it is a smart strategy. It is very hard to get fired as a conservative coach. However, coaches that take risks – even in the name of winning – appear reckless and out of control. They look dumb. John Fox is smart. Conservatism fits a defensive centered team.

It is, however, easier for conservative offensive coordinators to get fired. And, Babe Ruthless is correct that the Panthers’ offense does lack imagination and spark. But, from Babe Ruthless’ argument it appears the Panthers need a new offensive coordinator, not a new head coach.

It is fair to question Fox’s loyalty to quarterback Jake Delhomme. Delhomme’s inconsistency makes Fox’s loyalty frustrating and difficult to understand. But, it is impossible to argue that Fox should be disloyal to Delhomme on one hand and then point out that no good options exist to replace him on the other. Fox is in a difficult spot, sure. But he does not deserve blame for forced loyalty. He certainly should not be fired for it.<br

Also, though John Fox is the most visible leader of the Panthers entire organization, he is not the final decision maker. That responsibility belongs to Marty Hurney, the team’s general manager. Sure Fox consults on important decisions, but he did not design the offensive scheme nor does he call the offensive plays. Therefore it is difficult to hold Fox alone accountable for the obvious failures of the offense. Similarly, it is hard to hold the head coach responsible for the special teams not scoring any touchdowns. That is like blaming the CEO when a low level analyst makes a mistake.

John Fox is wrongly bearing the brunt of questionable front office decision making. As Loyal Homer pointed out, Fox coached a 12-4 team last season that lost to the Arizona Cardinals in the playoffs. The Panthers’ schedule does open the door for a turnaround in the 2009 season, even if the path is not easy. But hey, “nothing sharpens the mind like a hangman’s noose.” Pressure is on now, Coach Fox. Make it happen.

A real question that emerges from this compelling debate is how much slack should a successful coach get? Yes, Fox should be allowed to finish the season and return next season. But, if the team starts 0-4 and fails to win a preseason game again, is he then deemed done and the Panthers need a makeover? Fox has earned the right to fail, and he has not failed yet. Yet.

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The Is John Fox Done Debate – Can the Perpetually Embattled Coach Save His Job?

November 18, 2009

Read the arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer about whether or not Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox should lose his job.



In my last debate argument I joked that the NFL stands for the “No Fun League.” Today it stands for “Not For Long” as former Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons head coach Jerry Glanville once joked on NFL Films. The statement, though made in the late 1980s, rings true today. Ask Dick Jauron. He woke up yesterday as the Buffalo Bills head coach, and went to bed last night unemployed.

John Fox has endured rumors about his coaching future nonstop since the season began. There were rumors about his demise from the head coaching job in Carolina in 2009 on August 28, September 8, September 13, September 30… plenty in October… and even some in November.

The persistent rumors are as valid as the reasons that fuel them. The Panthers failed to win a preseason game. While we all know preseason does not matter, losing four straight times does build a culture of losing.

But, while Fox’s teams do appear to struggle early in the season, they have an uncanny knack for finishing strong. The 2009 iteration of the Carolina Panthers appear to be no exception. The team, after beginning the season 0-3, has scratched and clawed its way back into the dim light of a murky NFC wild card picture. Despite the bad record, and the seemingly counterproductive efforts from quarterback Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Steve Smith, the team is showing fight.

The Sports Debates exists to settle coaching conundrums like this: Should Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox be dismissed at the end of the 2009 season?

Our newest contributor, Babe Ruthless, will argue that the roller coaster nature of John Fox teams has created fan and player fatigue and the time is right for the coach to move on to another team. Loyal Homer will argue that patience is a virtue and John Fox teams may start slow but they finish strong, and 2009 will be no exception.

Loyal Homer has revealed a bias toward the Atlanta Falcons on many, many occasions. For me, it will be interesting to read Loyal Homer’s defense of a rival coach. Objectivity makes for the best arguments.

Is John Fox, once the hot coaching prospect who was a former defensive coordinator on the 2000 New York Giants Super Bowl team, done in Carolina? Only time, and The Sports Debates, will tell.

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The Is John Fox Done Debate – The Season is Not Lost

November 18, 2009

Read the debate intro and the argument by Babe Ruthless.



Sports Geek’s intro states a curiosity about how objective I can be toward Carolina Panther head coach John Fox, since I show an obvious bias towards the Atlanta Falcons (I might be changing some opinions on that in Friday’s debate). And while I do not particularly care for some of the Panthers’ players – namely Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme – I really do not have a problem with Fox. There are definitely coaches I do not particularly care for, and for objective purposes, I will leave those names out. But Fox is not on that list.

He is, however, definitely taking some heat this season. If you go to Google and type in “john fox” and “hot seat” you will get nearly 10,000 results. We all know the NFL is a “What Have You Done For Me Lately” league. Even in saying that, he should not be on the hot seat and he most definitely should return as head coach of the Panthers in 2010.

Fox, he of the constant gum chewing, enters tomorrow night’s game against the Miami Dolphins with a career record of 67-53. That includes two division titles and a berth in Super Bowl XXXVIII (by the way, that game is one of the most entertaining Super Bowls ever… even SI.com writer Peter King agreed at the time.). Last season’s Panthers team went 12-4 and won the NFC South before being upset by the Arizona Cardinals. This is not 4-12. It is 12-4. It is not as if Fox is coming off of a bad 2008 campaign.

It is true that Carolina is a notorious slow starter almost every year, it seems. Maybe it is because the cold weather months are set up for defensive-minded, physical teams like those under Fox (yes, I can hear you Northerners yelling, “It doesn’t get that cold in Charlotte!” But, I am sure you get my point.). The Panthers began 1-7 in 2004 but rallied to win six of the final eight games and just barely missed the playoffs.

This season, the Panthers are currently 4-5. This is after starting 0-3 and looking terrible early on in the season. However, the Panthers are playing better now, and if you look at the schedule, you realize there is a decent shot at being 7-5 with upcoming games at home against the Dolphins, on the road against the 4-5 Jets, and then back home against the 1-8 Buccaneers. A 7-5 record puts the team back in a favorable position to make the postseason. Granted, the last four games of the schedule are absolutely brutal, as the four teams (Patriots, Vikings, Giants, and Saints) currently have a combined record of 28-8. Ouch! But the opportunity is there.

Fox is a gritty, proven winner. His teams are never flashy and they never seem to be offensive juggernauts. But they are hard-nosed and play a tough, physical brand of football. That is probably influenced by Fox’s days as a defensive coordinator earlier in his coaching career. Panthers’ fans should have patience. I know many fans are calling for a new coach, possibly a big coaching name like Bill Cowher. Cowher, after all, played college ball at North Carolina State and currently lives in Raleigh. But this current season is far from over. At 4-5, the season is not lost. The NFC wild card picture is still very murky and the Panthers are right there in the thick of it.

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Posted by Loyal Homer

The Is John Fox Done Debate – The Cardiac Cats Need A Heart Transplant

November 18, 2009

Read the debate intro and the argument from Loyal Homer about whether or not Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox should lose his job.



During the 2003 season the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South Division, the NFC Championship, and traveled to its first Super Bowl in franchise history. That season the Panthers won seven of the 11 victories in nail biting fashion – with those games decided by three points or less – thus earning the team the moniker “The Cardiac Cats.” Now the team that once seemed like it would be a perennial powerhouse of the NFC seems to have veered off course. The Panthers are quickly becoming one of those teams that must settle for boasting about potential instead of accolades. The Cardiac Cats are in need of a heart transplant – an operation that will bring with it new life to a failing organization. The figuratively defective heart in need of replacement belongs to head coach John Fox.

Fox’s conservative approach is no longer winning games. The Panthers often use a run first offense that wears down defenses in order to open up the big play on a play action pass. They also run a lot of “smoke routes” (short screen passes) to Steve Smith hoping to catch the defense napping or set up a fly route to Smith late in the game. The problem with all of this is that if the average fan can explain the Panther’s offense in two sentences, how well will it do against teams that watch hours of game footage in preparation to defend against it?

NFL teams are constantly bringing new strategies to the field. From the scrambling quarterback to the wild cat formation, ingenuity is apparent around the league. But when was the last time Carolina tried something new? When was the last time they scored off of flea flicker, a halfback pass, or a fake punt? In fact, when was the last time Carolina’s special teams scored? If the answer is, “it has been awhile,” then John Fox is to blame.

Another major flaw with Fox is that he is loyal to a fault. He stands behind his players through the good, the bad, the really bad, and even the ridiculous… yes, I am talking about you, Jake Delhomme. When it comes to Jake Delhomme Fox brings new meaning to the song “Stand by Your Man.” In fact, I would venture to say that Fox’s bromance with Delhomme has shown more undeserved faithfulness to him than most marriages. John Fox’s undying loyalty to his starting quarterback has started to undermine his coaching ability and become a hindrance to the team’s future success.

Who could blame him for liking Delhomme? Delhomme’s rise from bench warmer to prolific passing field general was a feel good story for the ages. The fact that Delhomme seemingly stepped up at the right time and led his team to the Super bowl would make a believer out of most people, but all things change with time. It is like that hot cheerleader you drooled over in high school. Sure, she was smoking hot back in the day, but after 10 years, four husbands, three kids, and two stints in rehab she is not so hot anymore. Jake Delhomme has become that girl.

Jake’s interception woes have revealed a glaring weakness in the Fox regime – loyalty has prohibited the team from having any other options. With Carolina’s rushing game Delhomme does not need to air it out. All that is necessary is maintaining possession of the ball until one of his running backs breaks off a big run. Time and time again Delhomme has proven to be ineffective (e.g. Jake’s five interception games). The problem is not that Fox does not bench Jake, but rather that he CANNOT bench him because he has no other legit options. Fox could have encouraged the team to draft a young quarterback (i.e. Pat White or Josh Freeman) to groom for the future… but he did not. Fox could have implored that the team acquire an experienced free agent quarterback (i.e. Jeff Garcia or Michael Vick) to spark some competition… but he did not. Fox could have forced a trade for quarterback (i.e. Matt Leinart, or Brady Quinn) to mix things up, but he did not. John Fox put all of his proverbial eggs into the ragin’ Cajun’s basket, and now that those eggs are broken. Carolina is left with one nasty looking omelet.

The biggest and most important reason John Fox should no longer coach the Carolina Panthers is that he has mortgaged his team’s future for contemporary relevance. It appears that Fox’s team management skills are akin to the financial management skills of Michael Jackson. (What!? Too soon?)

Fox has developed a team with minimal depth at any position other than running back. His roster can boast of virtually no depth at vital positions. Over the past two off-seasons Fox has traded away the following year’s first round draft pick in order to acquire a target player. Sure, Fox lucked up in landing Jeff Otah in the 2008 draft, but in the 2009 draft Carolina surrendered the team’s 2010 first round pick for second round pick defensive end Everett Brown and fourth round pick Mike Goodson. This move was largely motivated by the fear of replacing a disgruntled Julius Peppers, but these moves weaken the Panthers in the long run. The Panther’s would have been better served by trading Peppers for draft considerations and a serviceable quarterback, but once again Fox missed out on an opportunity to build for the future. The teams’ lack of involvement in the free agency is another testament to the poor leadership of Fox. When a coach becomes this destructive to his teams future, a change must be made.

The Panthers have to face the facts – better options for head coach are out there. Former Super Bowl winning coach Bill Cowher seems ready and willing to take John Fox’s job should it become available. Now it seems that it is more a matter of when, rather than if, the Panthers move in a new direction.

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Posted by Babe Ruthless

The Selling the End Zone Debate – Leave the Advertising for the Commercial Breaks!

November 18, 2009

Read the debate intro, Sports Geek’s, and Loyal Homer’s arguments about whether or not the NFL should allow players to sell their end zone celebrations as opportunities for commercial marketing.



Just because an idea is clever, that does not mean it is good.

I give credit to Captain Morgan for a very clever and innovative approach to the marketing of their product. The idea of having a player strike the Captain Morgan pose after scoring a touchdown was unique, it DEFINITELY generated buzz for their product, AND it drew some attention to the Gridiron Greats organization. By those accounts, the strategy was a complete success… for Captain Morgan.

Since when did the marketing goals of Captain Morgan help to define the policies of the NFL, though? The NFL must first protect ITS OWN product before concerning itself with whether or not something is good for OTHER products. The allowance of players within the NFL to sell their end zone celebrations would detract from the on-field product of football. It would diminish the game by making the post touchdown celebration a greater spectacle than the touchdown itself.

Sports Geek’s argument provided ample reasoning for why “touchdownvertising” might be good for sponsors, good for players, and good for ‘Sports Geeks’ who appreciate clever advertising. Where the argument failed, though, is that it did not convince me of any benefits for the NFL. The simple fact that it may be ‘fun’ does not add enough value to the league to warrant that change. It would also be fun to watch the players try to compete blindfolded… that does not mean it is good for the game. On the other hand, as pointed out by Loyal Homer, the NFL does risk losing in several different aspects of their business. As a result, I am awarding the debate to Loyal Homer.

Impossible to Regulate

Despite the protestations of Sports Geek, this DOES become a slippery slope. Any time interests outside an organization influences a player’s behavior DURING the game, it is ALWAYS on a slippery slope.

Imagine that a player, on their way into the end zone, pulls a Cadillac hood ornament from their pocket, places it on the football, and pretends to drive the football into the end zone, all because they would get paid $25,000 from Cadillac for the stunt. Now imagine, as the player is driving his ‘Caddy’ into the end zone a player comes from behind, knocks the ‘steering wheel’ out of his hand, picks up the fumble, and runs it back the other way for a touchdown. Can you imagine the backlash from this? The sale of a touchdown celebration has just directly influenced the outcome of the game.

Likewise, what is to stop a player from miming the “Five-Dollar Foot-Long” song after a first down, or sacking the quarterback? Like a touchdown celebration, this action is coming AFTER a play, not during a play. Would it cause a problem then? What if that celebration (regardless of when it happened) resulted in an excessive celebration penalty? The celebration, which may have profited the individual player, has negatively impacted the team. What if the excessive celebration penalty, which put the opposition in better field position, resulted in losing the game? There are just too many opportunities for sponsorship such as this to have a direct (and usually negative) impact on the game.

Conflicts of Interest

Loyal Homer brings up the fact that Coors Light, an official sponsor for the NFL, may take issue with a player promoting another alcoholic beverage like Captain Morgan. That is just one example of the many possible conflicts of interest that could result from this type of advertising technique.

Consider the Baltimore Ravens running back corps of Ray Rice, LeRon McClain, and Willis McGahee, all of whom have a strong likelihood of finding the end zone during a game. What if Rice was sponsored by Budweiser, McClain was sponsored by Coors Light, and McGahee was sponsored by Miller Lite? Do you think that Miller Lite or Budweiser would be happy if McClain scored the touchdown and did his Coors Light dance?

Just imagine if Rice accounted for 55 yards of a 60 yard drive, but on first and goal from the two-yard line Rice is pulled for a breather and replaced by McGahee. Now, when McGahee scores the touchdown (rather than Rice), Miller Lite gets all the sponsorship glory even though it was Budweiser’s Rice who did all the work. Likewise, McGahee gets the sponsorship bonus when it was Rice who got the ball into scoring range. Once again, a very ugly conflict could arise.

Within the locker room, players would begin resenting each other. Instead of being happy because the TEAM just scored a touchdown, individual players would get upset because THEY did not get the bonus check. That kind of dissent among players is never healthy for a team-oriented sport.

Equally as dangerous is the possibility of external entities trying to influence the game for their private marketing purposes. Obviously, competing organizations would want THEIR brand to be advertised, not the competitors. In the interest of ensuring it is their ad that gets seen, what would stop Schooner Tuna from offering money to a coach every time one of his players strikes their touchdown pose? Now, the coach, like the player, is being motivated by something OTHER than winning the game. Instead of calling the play that may work best for a situation, or calling upon the player with the best opportunity to score, he could instead call the play that would win him the biggest paycheck. The impact here is no different than if a player were shaving points because of gambling wagers they made. Both are instances where a player is allowing personal financial gain to influence the outcome of the game.

The NFL was absolutely right to ban this practice. As mentioned in the debate introduction, football is a game. While the NFL may be a business, it is vital that the GAME be left untainted by business driven motivation. To keep the game honest, and entertaining, it must be free of external influence. While on the field, players should be motivated by one thing only – winning the game!

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The Selling the End Zone Dance Debate – Should the NFL Allow In-Game Marketing?

November 17, 2009

Read Sports Geek’s argument that the NFL should allow players to ‘sell’ their touchdown celebrations as advertisement opportunities, and Loyal Homer’s argument that guerilla advertising such as sponsored touchdown celebrations should not be permitted.



“He’s at the 20-yard line… the ten… the five… TOUCHDOWN! And here comes the Energizer Bunny Dance!”

Football may be a game, but the NFL is a business. Between sponsorship opportunities, the sale of team merchandise, advertising revenues, and the sale of tickets and concessions, the NFL is constantly on the lookout for ways to make a buck. In support of its players, the league has also been very generous in allowing them the private opportunity to use their name, image and likeness for personal gain. From Gatorade to Sony Televisions, it is easy find the face of NFL players in many different magazine and television ads, all in the interest of selling more products.

One line that the NFL seems reluctant to cross, though, is the allowance of corporate sponsorship during the actual play of the game.

One example is the NFL’s policy regarding corporate sponsorship of team jerseys. It is true that there are a several teams in the league who have sponsored patches on their uniforms, but those sponsorships are limited strictly to use on the practice field during training camps. The NFL does not yet seem willing to follow the lead of organizations such as NASCAR in allowing corporate sponsorships to permeate the action on the field.

The fact remains that the profitability and exposure of the NFL has made it a very appealing avenue for marketing. Corporations are always on the lookout for ways to capitalize on the game, and will often look to exploit new opportunities that take advantage of the league’s reach and marketing influence. The latest chapter in this marketing tug-of-war began during the recent game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys during an end zone celebration.

Brent Celek, tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles, caught a touchdown pass during the third quarter of the Sunday Night matchup. After catching the pass, Celek positioned himself in front of a nearby camera, and struck the “Captain Morgan” pose. It was later confirmed that Celek was participating in a promotional scheme for Captain Morgan Rum, which had reportedly pledged to make a donation to the Gridiron Greats charity (an organization designed around supporting retired NFL players) every time a player struck the same pose after a touchdown.

The NFL immediately bristled at this marketing tactic, labeling it as guerilla advertising, and banned players from participating in future stunts. With that in mind, the question posed at The Sports Debates today is: Is it good or bad for the NFL allow corporate sponsorship and celebrity endorsement of end-zone celebrations?

End zone celebrations have been going on for a long time. From the Lambeau Leap and the Ickey Shuffle to Deion Sanders’ touchdown dance, players have made a spectacle of the post-touchdown celebration. Some, such as Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco may take it a bit too far at times, but fans are always on the lookout for what celebration may unfold after a touchdown is scored.

In addition, the NFL already permits some in-game sponsorships, so long as they are transparent and do not draw focus away from the game itself. As mentioned by Josh Alper of Fanhouse.com, Adrian Peterson receives sponsorship money from Nike every time he touches the ball in a Nike uniform during the game.

Loyal Homer will argue that it is not a good idea for endorsements to become intermingled with the play of the game, while Sports Geek will argue that it is a wise decision for the NFL to allow this type of advertising during games.

The marriage of in-game sponsorships and end-zone celebrations seems a sure-fire way to generate sales through “touchdown marketing.” But, is it good for football, and for the NFL?

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