My Changing View On The NFL & Sports In General...

I was sitting and watching the NFL on Sunday, like any other fan. It was about 5 minutes after kickoff of the Cardinals/Bears game... aka before it had turned into a complete blowout. Neither team is a favorite of mine, but the game did have a good view at what Roger Goodell had turned the NFL into... an offensive minded game where defenders can do almost nothing. It's like the Arena Football League was, except while the AFL was family targeted, the NFL is just about taking your money.

They take your money and give it to rich, money-first owners and to players who increasingly are getting paid more and more to whine whenever a call doesn't go there way and in some cases are protected as if they are wearing skirts. (I don't mean to be sexist there, but that's pretty much what the term has become around the league.) It's football... it's about the hard hits and the defense. Yet, it's quickly becoming the 'No Fun League' (what in god's name was wrong with the random TD dances Chad Johnson... at the time... or Steve Smith had? They were... FUN!) where even looking at a QB (only if they're last name is Manning, Romo, Favre or Brady though) is enough to get you penalized. I mean, if they don't wanna get hit, go play flag football. I'm all for preventing injuries, but they're taking it too far. They claim to be making it fan friendly... yet all they're doing is getting rid of the defense to try and attract more fans. Sure, scoring is nice. But as someone who remembers when defenses were even just partially relevant (well, kinda remembers), the degradation of the game has been drastic. And quick. And annoying.

Anyhow, I was watching the game and came to realize 2 things. The first I mentioned above... the game has become a kinda bore to keep up with. Defense has gone to hell. And second... I wanted to watch a game that wasn't going to be on TV. Why? Because I live in Salt Lake, and they've decided that if I'm not a Broncos fan (which they couldn't air this week because the Broncos are on Monday Night Football), then I must be a bandwagon fan. So we got the Patriots. We got the Giants. We got the Cardinals. And that was that.

Sure, you can watch other teams. It just involves paying a ton of money to get DirectTV or the Red-Zone Channel or what-not. And it's annoying as hell. I, as a Panthers fan, have seen maybe 3 non-playoff Panthers games on TV here since their Super Bowl run a couple years back... 1 on Sunday Night Football and a couple that they switch too after the other game on FOX/CBS is over or turns into a major blowout. I don't have the money to pay for the channels. And I'm pretty sure that if I did, they wouldn't be very high up on my "want" list. And yet those are the only choices I have. They refuse to let the games air online for free. They won't even let radio stations broadcast them online, so you can't even listen to them. I guess, as they say, that money is king. And I hate it.

I get it... it's the "in" thing now. The NBA has been moving towards that, and the Jazz recently joined the crowd, meaning I can't watch Jazz games. I have NEVER seen a Pirates game on TV in Utah (there was one this past summer when we were in New York and they were playing the Mets). NEVER. I can follow on MLB.com, but they've started charging if you want to watch highlights that they post after they happen (somewhat live). But still...

I've never spent money on NFL gear. I've never bought a NFL ticket or been to a game (kinda hard in Utah, it is). I have no plans of doing it in the near future. (Same is true of the MLB, and I haven't been to a NBA game in like 6 years.) Charging me money isn't going to make me pay for the TV deal, and it isn't going to make me go buy a ticket. No. Instead, it's making it get to the point where I don't even care anymore.

I mean, sure I follow the Jazz. Via Yahoo! Sports' box-score (highly unreliable/ineffective and a pain in the ass, by the way). I follow the Pirates. Until about July/mid-August, when the lack of a salary cap in the game dooms them and they fall out to the point that following them is a pain. I try to follow the Panthers on Yahoo!'s box-score (see above complaints, they're the same here).

But increasingly, I'm realizing that I just don't care. For the NBA, it's a bit hard. They're my home team, so I still follow them... even as I get sick of the act. For the Pirates, things are looking up and I'm just hoping they'll make it to the playoffs before I give up.

But for the NFL... as I sat and watched the beginning of the game on Sunday, I realized that unlike previous weeks, where I had at least some interest & all that... I just didn't care. The game went on for a bit, I followed for a bit and then turned the TV off. I completely ignored the Panthers game this week (despite how important it was), choosing instead to do homework & take an afternoon nap. And in that span, I came to realize that I just don't care anymore. I'll finish the fantasy teams I have this season (maybe), but after that... I doubt it. Fantasy football is all but dead to me.

Roger Goodell can keep changing TV contracts to screw the current fans. They can keep charging more and more money to see bigger and bigger wimps. They can let the officiating go to hell. They can let cheaters get away with the cheating. They can trade in old fans for money.

I really just don't care anymore.

(Note, in the above... I am not talking about the NFL draft. While I hate the way it's going, it's still on my good side. For now.
...
Roger Goodell is trying hard to ruin that as well by screwing with the timings. And ESPN's lack of coverage after the 1st round is annoying too.)

Utes 22, Wyoming 10

This makes just the 2nd football game I've been to in my undergraduate years... the first coming early in my freshman year (when the Utes pummeled Utah State).

It was fun.

Things I learned/noticed...

1- It's much more fun to go in a group of 7 than alone.
2A- If I had more undergrad years, I'd consider joining the MUSS.
2B- Provided, of course, that UTA wasn't run by assholes. Which it is, so I couldn't.
2C- I mean, if I don't have a way home, that kinda makes it hard.
3- It can get really cold really quickly.
4A- The Utes offense is way too conservative at times.
4B- It was Wyoming... the Utes should've win running away.
5- Thank god for a friend in the MUSS, or we would've been standing way far back.
6- I was confident the Utes would win, and Wynn they did!
7A- For those that think no one in Utah swears/drinks, you're wrong.
7B- Should've seen/heard the people behind us.
8A- BLACKOUT BABY! 2-0 now. 2-0
8B- Last year it was TCU. This year, Wyoming. Slight drop-off, no?
9- Why does it always seem like the Utes play up/down to the competition?

The NFL Preseason

So, I'd put off connecting my TV to a converter box so far. Mostly because there hadn't really been anything I'd wanted to watch since the switch (just the Stanley Cup Finals... and those came the day after the switch or something). I figured I'd wait until the new seasons of Bones, House, Chuck, Big Bang Theory, etc. started up.

Then I realized that the NFL preseason started today. And just like that, I set up the converter box and I'm ready to go.

Football's back!

The Tom Brady Rule

Aka... quarterbacks are pansies, the Patriots are stupid, and Roger Goodell loves himself the Cheaters. Screw the league.

Seriously, you might as well put the bastards (QBs, that is) in skirts. And make it illegal to blitz.

Hell, forget blitzing... you might as well make it illegal to have a defender on the field.

Look... it's football. It's physical. People get hurt, it's life.

And it's not like the NFL would've made this rule if it was Jake Delhomme or Brooks Bollinger or someone... it's simply a by product of their love affair with the Cheaters and Tom Brady.

I hate it, absolutely hate it. Plus, they're not changing their OT rule. And it seems like the stupid TV contracts will stick.

The NFL... where ruining the "greatness that was" happens.


On the other hand, it's kinda cool that the sports are driving me away from watching them. It gives me time to do other things.

March Madness Thoughts

The politics of sports (March Madness, BCS, NBA, NFL, MLB, whatever) are just annoying.

March Madness & the pathetic love for 'power conferences'. (What they don't seem to get is that 1- small conferences schools can't just get up and go join a power conferences, and 2- power conference schools aren't always willing to play smaller schools, because it's a no-win for them.) That said, if you don't have 20 wins, there is no way you should even be considered for an at-large bid. Period. (In other words, screw Arizona.) SDSU, Creighton, St. Mary's... they all deserved bids over 'Zona & Wisconsin & the likes.

The BCS and their big-6 love. See above for the problems in going by schedule/conference. Utah a couple years back, Boise State after that, Utah again this season... they went undefeated, they deserve a shot at the NC. Especially, as was the case this year, when there is no other team that is undefeated.

Quite simply, it obviously just about the money, and nothing at all about letting the players play and the better team win. The NBA is a great example of this... 'star players' (as decided by the league) get preferential treatment (they get more calls, they get away with more stuff). The game has become totally about offense... rules have been instilled to make it near impossible to play defense. Oh, and the double-dribbles/up-and-downs that aren't (under the guise of being a "pro-hop"), and traveling that isn't (if you're LeBron or Wade or the rapist)... and the NBA seems to be encouraging the move away from a "team" game to that of an "individual" game. Oh, and the flopping.

The NFL is there too... all the recent rule changes have been made to make sure the quarterbacks guys in skirts don't get hit. Plus, rules have been made to make the defense totally unable to play the game. And the fact that teams (cough*Patriots*cough) can get away with cheating. And the "No Fun League" rules that have ruined the fun that came in watching. And the horrible, horrible TV contracts that prevent them from switching games... even in blowouts.

And the MLB... seriously... no salary cap? I understand that they want the Yankees to continue to grow because everyone hearts NY, but what about teams like Pittsburgh & Kansas City that don't even have a chance?

Seriously... this is pissing me off.
They might be getting more money... but at what expense? Is it really worth it?
Might be time to find a new interest/hobby.

Super Bowl XLIII

Ah... Super Bowl 43. Finally. After 2 long weeks of bickering about how the Cardinals are one of the worst SB teams ever and how the Steelers are gonna roll over them, we'll finally get to see what goes down in Tampa Bay.

The Cards are led by an explosive offense, anchored by the passing game (Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston) and complemented by a running game that has finally woken up in the playoffs (Edgerrin James, Tim Hightower). The defense wasn't very good during the regular season, but has also woken up in the playoffs, helped tremendously by the fact that the DL is getting pressure. That has made it a lot easier for the secondary. And the run D has been solid as well.

The Steelers are led by a very strong defense, running the 3-4 as well as any team out there and led by mastermind DC Dick LeBeau. Blitzburgh, anyone? Meanwhile, the offense is led by the running game (Willie Parker, Mewelde Moore) and complemented by their passing game (Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller).

So, it seems like it'll be a true test... offense or defense?

Truthfully, all I really want to see is a good game. No blowout (like we've seen with Tampa Bay over Oakland or Baltimore over the Giants in recent years), just a good, close game. Part of me wants the Cards to win (underdog pride!)... the other part wants the Steelers to just crush them (revenge for what they did to my Panthers).

Oh, and hopefully we have good commercials. Last year's weren't too good, and this year isn't looking too promising with no FedEx (remember the dinosaur/caveman one from a couple years back?) and the bad economy. Hopefully Audi can make better car commercials than your average Ford/GM/Chevy/etc. one. Hopefully Budweiser is still on top of their game. Oh, and 3D commercials... what?

Jake Delhomme

You fucking suck! What the hell was that?

I'm seriously depressed.

Football For Those That Don't Understand

Absolutely hilarious!

Kudos To John Feinstein

Someone that gets it!

I am writing to urge you -- no, implore you -- to cast your final ballot of the season with one team and one only team ranked No. 1: the University of Utah.

It just gets better after that.

Utes 31, Tide 17

Courtesy of hulu.com, here is the game.

13-0!!!

Hell yeah!!!

Utes 31, Tide 17

Congrats to Brian Johnson & the crew. The MOP, in my eyes, was easily the defense. 8 sacks, a couple of huge ints, a fumble recovery and not allowing any long drives by the Tide (TDs on a punt return and a short field after a fumble).

To the rest of the world... TAKE THAT!!!!

GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!

Shanahan Fired, Panthers 2009 Schedule

Wow. I didn't see that firing coming. More important NFL news though (at least in my opinion) is a look ahead to the Panthers schedule next year...

HOME: Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Washington, Buffalo, Miami, Minnesota

AWAY: Atlanta, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, N.Y. Jets, New England, Arizona

Yeah, you're reading that right... 1 sub-.500 team, in 7-9 Buffalo. Ouch.

Panthers Get #2 Seed!

It took another edition of the 'Cardiac Cats', but the Panthers held on to beat the Saints and clinch the NFC South division title, taking the #2 seed (and the first-round bye that comes with it) in the process.

As a result, they won't have to play this coming week, which will be huge as they rest the injured guys (Jeff Otah, Geoff Hangartner, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Damione Lewis) and prepare for one of the Vikings/Cardinals/Falcons.

And, another happy note... No Cowgirls! And No Cheaters! Yeah!

Update: Oh yeah... and no Brett Favre!

NFL = No Fun Leage

So, Roger Goodell & the No Fun League prove their worth stupidity yet again. Twice. Plus, they proved that in the end... they're just after the money.

First, you had fans in Seattle throwing snowballs at the Jets players during the game. Nothing came of it. But 1 throw by Shaun Ellis cost him cost him $10,000.

“It was all in fun,” he said.

Big mistake dude... they hate it when you have fun.

Secondly, and even stupider, is Wes Welker getting fined $10,000 (look at that, even the Cheaters get in trouble) for... you guessed it... making a snow angel after a TD! What the stupidity? You can't "go to the ground". You can't use "props". You can't celebrate a TD, yet all the celebrations after sacks and everything are fine? We're not there to watch a funeral procession... let the guys have fun. For some teams, it's all they have to look forward to (poor Bengals fans). Whatever happened to the awesomeness that was Steve Smith & Chad Johnson & all?

Stupid, I say.

Dictator Roger Goodell at your his service. Bastard.

Where's The Mercy Rule Now?

Fine, FOX doesn't have the best options for games right now...

'Aints 42, Lions 7... Blowout
Rams 16, Niners 3... It's the Rams/Niners, after all

But why the hell is the biggest of the blowouts (Cheaters 41, Cardinals 0) still on TV? That game was over before it started... the Cards all-out passing & no running game in the snow?... but seriously, it's time to pull the plug on the game. Of course, Roger Goodell & the NFL heart the Cheaters (see the "penalty" they got for cheating), so they probably won't change it.

Seriously, this is so fucking annoying. CBS changes a Panthers game where the Panthers are up 20, but FOX won't change a game where the Cheaters are up by 41... what the hell?

Oh, and the Cheaters have to be the least classiest team in the league. Of course, that surprises no one... we all know that Bill Belichick is a total ass.

Meet Your 2008 Heisman Trophy Winner

Congratulations, Sam Bradford!

Take that Tim Tebow! Sucker!

Me, The Panthers Fan

I would like to tell this guy to SUCK IT!

Easy pick. Tampa locks down Smith, probably with the physical Ronde Barber; and the combination of interior guys like Jovan Haye and Chris Hovan paired with Brooks and Barrett Ruud coming from the 'backer spots shuts down the Carolina run game, if only for one game. With a banged up backfield, I expect Garcia to attempt his fair share of shots downfield, but with Peppers on his trail he'll have his best luck working the short stuff to a talented set of tight ends. Tampa scores twice in the air and wins 20-10.

20-10? The Panthers rolled, 38-23! And the shutting down the running game? The Panthers had 299 yards... would've been 300 if Jake hadn't lost a yard on the knee to end the game.

Plaxico Burress

Okay, I'll admit... I'm not well versed in the law.
But from what I can gather, this much is known.

• Plax took a gun to a bar (which is illegal... at least in some places)
  
• Plax discharged the gun, and happened to hit himself in the thigh
  
• Plax had a friend hide the gun (in New Jersey, it seems) and didn't let the cops know
  
• The cops found out from the Giants organization
  
• Plax doesn't have a permit for the gun in NY, and his permit in Florida has expired
  

Given all that, how in the hell can he plead "not guilty". Unless he's arguing that he didn't fire the gun or something.

I'm interested in seeing how another "celebrity" figure gets out of something they did. And I'm interested in seeing how Roger Goodell manages to avoid giving the star WR on the best team in the NFL over the past 1.5 seasons (though they don't need him to win) ample punishment.

To note... in New York, the mandatory sentence for this type of "event" is 3.5 years.

Max Hall

Thank you very much.

Thankfully The Jets Found A Kicker

Now, I'm not a Jets fan or anything. But I do hate cheaters, and also have a grudge on a certain team for beating my Panthers in the Super Bowl a couple years back. But still, it's a good thing the Jets finally found a kicker. It was huge last night and saved the team from the guaranteed humiliation that would've come with a loss. Two things learned from the game...

1. The "prevent defense" is the stupidest thing ever. Why would you ever play that? The Jets were rolling, and then went to the prevent on the last possession. And it almost cost them the game. They shut down Randy Moss all game, and then switch coverage... on the last play!
   
   
2. The NFL is meant to be played on Sunday's and Monday's. What's up with all this Thursday night crap? (And the Saturday crap that'll soon follow.) I understand the Thanksgiving Day games, I guess. But the rest of them... what?
   

Totally unrelated to the Jets... go Panthers!