Yesterday Michael Vick was reinstated to the NFL by Commissioner Roger Goodell after serving less than 2 years in prison for brutalizing and killing dogs in the dog fighting ring that he operated. The NFL is now worse off for having this loser back in the league. Vick has shown that he is a complete lowlife even before he was arrested for his treatment of dogs.
Vick was one of those guys who would taunt his opponents whenever he had the opportunity. Additionally I recall one incident in October 2006 when Antonio Pierce of the Giants leveled Vick almost simultaneously as he was ducking out of bounds. Pierece was flagged for a personal foul and Vick had to be restrained from going after Pierce. Vick's overreaction showed how much of a thug he was. Vick's thuggish reaction almost made me forget they were playing football where hitting is part of the game.
Vick's lack of character was displayed later in the 2006 season when he saluted his hometown Falcons fans by extending both of his middle fingers to the crowd. Vick was upset that he was being booed and he showed his respect for the crowd by giving them the double middle finger salute. In January of 2007, Vick was stopped by airport security when he was carrying a water bottle that smelled like marijuana. The bottle showed no traces of marijuana, but it is not a coincidence that Vick had been in possession of a bottle smelling of drugs. Later that year while awaiting trial for the dog fighting case he failed a drug test. I will spare the details of Vick's actions in the dog fighting operation that led to his incarceration, but it was obviously brutal and gutless. When news of the dog fighting operation had spread to Commissioner Goodell, he met with Vick to speak about the allegations. Vick lied to Goodell's face, denying any involvement in the dog fighting ring that was being operated out of his Virginia house.
Michael Vick is a guy that has shown no regard for decency or the law. He is supposedly "remorseful" and "sorry" for what he has done. Of course he is going to appear that way, when he is bankrupt and desperate for a chance to play football again. Let's call a spade a spade or in this case, call a dirtbag a dirtbag. Vick has had countless chances to rehabilitate himself, but he has never done so. Commissioner Goodell should not have reinstated Vick, especially given the fact that Vick abused his trust and lied to his face about the dog fighting when Goodell was trying to help Vick through his troubles. I think it is laughable that some NFL players have been critical of Goodell for being too harsh on Vick. Especially outrageous were the comments by Terrell Owens who said that "the commissioner needs to go sit in jail for 23 months." I realize that Terrell Owens is a clown who should not be taken seriously but I still find that to be such an offensive statement. Owens is under the impression that Vick is a victim who was unfairly forced to go to jail for 2 years.
I found it interesting that an ESPN.com poll this week found that 55% of NFL fans would want their favorite team to sign Vick to play for their team. There were over 70,000 respondents to this unscientific ESPN.com poll. These poll results do not reflect well on American society. The fact that the majority of football fans would want to root for a guy of Vick's character if it meant helping their team win is depressing. It just shows the win at all costs mentality that has permeated most professional sports in the 21st century. Never mind the issue of Vick's character; Vick the football player is not a player that was at the peak of his game prior to his suspension and incarceration. Vick's completion percentage is under 54% for his career and his passer rating in his last 3 years prior to his suspension ranked 20th, 25th, and 21st in the NFL in each respective year. Vick has a great ability as a running quarterback, but in today's NFL the quarterback needs to be a strong and accurate passer. Take a look at Vince Young and how he has lost his starting job with the Tennessee Titans. Michael Vick the football player just does not have much use anymore, save for a cameo role in the Wildcat offensive package. Also throw in the fact that Vick has been out of football for 2 years and he might have difficulties regaining the peak fitness and skills needed for an NFL quarterback. I know that I don't want my favorite team, the New York Jets, to even contemplate signing Michael Vick. Hopefully no team will sign Michael Vick and he can live the rest of his pathetic life away from football.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Most Annoying Types of Pick-Up Basketball Players
Having played countless pick-up basketball games since my high school days, I have come across a lot of different types of players. Chances are if you frequent any gym or playground in America, you will find at least some of these player types. Here are the 10 most annoying pick-up players, in no particular order.
1. Handchecker/Rider: This player has never been taught how to play defense with his feet or maybe he is just incapable of playing good legal defense, because this guy has his hands on you all over the court. He think good defense consists of riding you any time you put the ball on the floor, illegally impeding your progress. He defends your hard off-the-ball cuts by grabbing you. If the pick-up games would be officiated by a referee, this player would be whistled for a blocking or holding foul every time down the court.
2. The Black Hole : This guy serves as a black hole for the basketball, as there is a slim chance that you will ever see the ball again for the rest of the possession if you give it to this guy. This player will either turn the ball over or chuck up a shot. He has no interest in passing the ball back to you and on the rare occassions that he is forced to try to pass to you, he will have trouble completing that pass. This guy is usually one of the least skilled guys on the court and is not to be confused with the Chucker.
3. The Profuse Sweater: After only a few possessions up and down the court this player is drenched in sweat. Anyone who comes in contact with this guy gets wet as well. This is a guy that you usually want on your team so you don't have the assignment of boxing him out or running through his extra debilitating screens.
4. Guy Who Doesn't Get Back on Defense: This guy often puts your team at a disadvantage because of his laziness, poor conditioning, or lack of toughness. He needs to understand that getting back on defense is a minimum requirement of any basketball player.
5. The Chucker: This guy has some talent, but he takes way too many shots. This guy doesn't care about ball movement; if he has an open look at a 3, he will chuck it up. The Chucker might make a few shots, but he is not a fun guy to play with.
6. Guy Who Calls Too Many Fouls: This player often drives into multiple defenders, loses the ball or misses his shot, and bails himself out by calling a foul. He will also be charging like a kamikaze on a fast break only to call a foul on the defense. The guy fails to realize that he initiated the contact and the defense did nothing but stand in his way.
7. The Arguer: The Arguer will dispute almost every close call, whether it be an out of bounds call, a foul call, or a traveling violation. This guy is particularly sensitive to the traveling and double dribbles that are called against him. He thinks that extra step is within the rules because he saw Lebron James make a similar move. The stubbornness of the Arguer is unparalleled; his opponents better get used to playing the odds and evens game to settle disputes because this guy rarely gives in.
8. The Hot Dog: The Hot Dog eschews the simple pass on a 3 on 1 fast break and instead has to showboat and use a behind-the-back pass that often leads to a turnover. This guy also loves the exotic dribble moves. You can usually spot this guy by looking for the shorts that go down close to the ankles.
9. Guy Who Messes Up the Score: This guy is always shaving points off his opponent's score and adding points to his own team's score. Sometimes this is done on purpose, but oftentimes he does this subconsciously. You can call it wishful thinking or just forgetfulness. This guy forces you to keep close tabs on what the real score is.
10. Guy Who Has No Idea What the Score Is: This guy never keeps track of the score himself so he is constantly asking what the score is and who is winning. He will continue to ask what the score is even though we just told him a few minutes ago.
1. Handchecker/Rider: This player has never been taught how to play defense with his feet or maybe he is just incapable of playing good legal defense, because this guy has his hands on you all over the court. He think good defense consists of riding you any time you put the ball on the floor, illegally impeding your progress. He defends your hard off-the-ball cuts by grabbing you. If the pick-up games would be officiated by a referee, this player would be whistled for a blocking or holding foul every time down the court.
2. The Black Hole : This guy serves as a black hole for the basketball, as there is a slim chance that you will ever see the ball again for the rest of the possession if you give it to this guy. This player will either turn the ball over or chuck up a shot. He has no interest in passing the ball back to you and on the rare occassions that he is forced to try to pass to you, he will have trouble completing that pass. This guy is usually one of the least skilled guys on the court and is not to be confused with the Chucker.
3. The Profuse Sweater: After only a few possessions up and down the court this player is drenched in sweat. Anyone who comes in contact with this guy gets wet as well. This is a guy that you usually want on your team so you don't have the assignment of boxing him out or running through his extra debilitating screens.
4. Guy Who Doesn't Get Back on Defense: This guy often puts your team at a disadvantage because of his laziness, poor conditioning, or lack of toughness. He needs to understand that getting back on defense is a minimum requirement of any basketball player.
5. The Chucker: This guy has some talent, but he takes way too many shots. This guy doesn't care about ball movement; if he has an open look at a 3, he will chuck it up. The Chucker might make a few shots, but he is not a fun guy to play with.
6. Guy Who Calls Too Many Fouls: This player often drives into multiple defenders, loses the ball or misses his shot, and bails himself out by calling a foul. He will also be charging like a kamikaze on a fast break only to call a foul on the defense. The guy fails to realize that he initiated the contact and the defense did nothing but stand in his way.
7. The Arguer: The Arguer will dispute almost every close call, whether it be an out of bounds call, a foul call, or a traveling violation. This guy is particularly sensitive to the traveling and double dribbles that are called against him. He thinks that extra step is within the rules because he saw Lebron James make a similar move. The stubbornness of the Arguer is unparalleled; his opponents better get used to playing the odds and evens game to settle disputes because this guy rarely gives in.
8. The Hot Dog: The Hot Dog eschews the simple pass on a 3 on 1 fast break and instead has to showboat and use a behind-the-back pass that often leads to a turnover. This guy also loves the exotic dribble moves. You can usually spot this guy by looking for the shorts that go down close to the ankles.
9. Guy Who Messes Up the Score: This guy is always shaving points off his opponent's score and adding points to his own team's score. Sometimes this is done on purpose, but oftentimes he does this subconsciously. You can call it wishful thinking or just forgetfulness. This guy forces you to keep close tabs on what the real score is.
10. Guy Who Has No Idea What the Score Is: This guy never keeps track of the score himself so he is constantly asking what the score is and who is winning. He will continue to ask what the score is even though we just told him a few minutes ago.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
10 Things I Hate About You Stuart Scott
1. I hate the Booyah phrase that he overuses.
2. I hate how he uses hip-hop language when doing highlights. Stuart, please use real English like any professional newscaster does.
3. I hate his lazy eye, it is disconcerting.
4. I hate the stupid jokes he used when saying goodbye to a contestant on Stump the Schwab. For example, he told one contestant that there were test tubes backstage as a parting gift.
5. I hate how he kisses the rear ends of the superstar athletes; he seems particularly smitten with the superstar black athletes.
6. I hate the stupid Poetry Jam segment he used to do on Sportscenter, although it was so pathetic that it turned out to be quite amusing:
7. I hate how he tries to make whatever show he is on about him. People tune in for the sports not for Stuart Scott.
8. I hate how he references the University of North Carolina whenever he possibly can. Yea Stuart, we know that you went to UNC and they have a good basketball program, just shut up.
9. I hate how he tries to push his hip lingo onto the people he's working with, whether it be his fellow news anchors or the sports figure he is interviewing.
10. I hate how he has made Sportscenter unwatchable when he is on.
2. I hate how he uses hip-hop language when doing highlights. Stuart, please use real English like any professional newscaster does.
3. I hate his lazy eye, it is disconcerting.
4. I hate the stupid jokes he used when saying goodbye to a contestant on Stump the Schwab. For example, he told one contestant that there were test tubes backstage as a parting gift.
5. I hate how he kisses the rear ends of the superstar athletes; he seems particularly smitten with the superstar black athletes.
6. I hate the stupid Poetry Jam segment he used to do on Sportscenter, although it was so pathetic that it turned out to be quite amusing:
7. I hate how he tries to make whatever show he is on about him. People tune in for the sports not for Stuart Scott.
8. I hate how he references the University of North Carolina whenever he possibly can. Yea Stuart, we know that you went to UNC and they have a good basketball program, just shut up.
9. I hate how he tries to push his hip lingo onto the people he's working with, whether it be his fellow news anchors or the sports figure he is interviewing.
10. I hate how he has made Sportscenter unwatchable when he is on.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wimbledon Thoughts
This year's Wimbledon has lacked a little bit of luster with defending champion and #1 ranked player Rafael Nadal withdrawing prior to the start of the tournament with a knee injury. But as we come upon the championship match, there is buzz growing as we are left with quite an intriguing finale. Roger Federer will be vying for his 15th grand slam title which would break the all-time record he shares with Pete Sampras. Federer will oppose Andy Roddick who will be trying to win his first grand slam title since 2003. Roddick reached the final by playing a masterful semifinal match against Britain's hometown player Andy Murray. Roddick played a great all-around game against Murray, combining his trademark powerful serve with a nice array of serve and volleying and baseline play. Roddick improved on his stellar tiebreaker record for 2009, winning both the 3rd and 4th sets in a tiebreaker. Roddick is now 26-4 in tiebreakers this year, which has to be a big psychological advantage for him whenever he finds himself in a tiebreaker.
Speaking of psychological advantages, Roger Federer has to be feeling very confident for the championship match against Roddick as he has an 18-2 career record against Roddick. In grand slam meetings Federer has a 7-0 record against Roddick. Those 7 grand slam victories include 3 wins in finals and another 3 victories in semifinals. Without Federer around, Andy Roddick would have won several more grand slam titles and may very well be recognized as the best player of his generation. Nonetheless Roddick has a chance on Sunday to spoil Federer's chance at history and claim a monumental victory of his own. Roddick has worked tirelessly on his fitness level and his all around game this past year, and a 2nd grand slam title would be so gratifying and emotional for him. For Roddick to pull of the big upset, he has to continue to get his 1st serves in at a high percentage and serve upwards of 35 aces for the match. I don't care how many grand slam titles Federer has, 140 mph serves are difficult to handle. I also think Roddick's mental toughness has improved so much this year and that will help him stay in the match if he gets behind. Roddick's grand slam results this year have been the best in his career, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open for the 2nd time, the 4th round at Roland Garros for the 1st time, and reaching the finals of Wimbledon for the 3rd time. These results give Roddick the confidence and mental fortitude necessary to beat Federer.
However, Roger Federer is playing at a place that he has dominated for the past 7 years, going 47-1 at Wimbledon since 2003. Federer is by far the greatest player of my generation and he will not let this opportunity at history slip away. I predict that Federer will beat Roddick in 4 sets and will win his record breaking 15th grand slam title.
Speaking of psychological advantages, Roger Federer has to be feeling very confident for the championship match against Roddick as he has an 18-2 career record against Roddick. In grand slam meetings Federer has a 7-0 record against Roddick. Those 7 grand slam victories include 3 wins in finals and another 3 victories in semifinals. Without Federer around, Andy Roddick would have won several more grand slam titles and may very well be recognized as the best player of his generation. Nonetheless Roddick has a chance on Sunday to spoil Federer's chance at history and claim a monumental victory of his own. Roddick has worked tirelessly on his fitness level and his all around game this past year, and a 2nd grand slam title would be so gratifying and emotional for him. For Roddick to pull of the big upset, he has to continue to get his 1st serves in at a high percentage and serve upwards of 35 aces for the match. I don't care how many grand slam titles Federer has, 140 mph serves are difficult to handle. I also think Roddick's mental toughness has improved so much this year and that will help him stay in the match if he gets behind. Roddick's grand slam results this year have been the best in his career, reaching the semifinals at the Australian Open for the 2nd time, the 4th round at Roland Garros for the 1st time, and reaching the finals of Wimbledon for the 3rd time. These results give Roddick the confidence and mental fortitude necessary to beat Federer.
However, Roger Federer is playing at a place that he has dominated for the past 7 years, going 47-1 at Wimbledon since 2003. Federer is by far the greatest player of my generation and he will not let this opportunity at history slip away. I predict that Federer will beat Roddick in 4 sets and will win his record breaking 15th grand slam title.
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