Essay: Michael Vick is Back Where He Belongs

Essay: Michael Vick is Back Where He Belongs

By Matthew Philbin (Bio | Archive)
August 18, 2009 - 11:51 ET

So Michael Vick is an Eagle now. That’s ok with me. I’m a Giants fan. Or I was a Giants fan, when I could stand to follow pro football. For a long time now, I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch more than a few games a season. These days, I feel nearly as out-of-place at a Super Bowl party as I would at an Oscar party.

Here in the DC area, the Redskins religion has begun its sacramental advent count-down to opening Sunday. I wish I could share the excitement. Part of the problem is that I’m a natural contrarian. Everybody loves football, so I don’t. Also, I’m a baseball fan (in a town largely devoid of them). The end of summer means my season’s running down, while theirs is pumping up.

But the problem is more involved. See, I love the game of football. But I loathe how and by whom it is played at the professional level. I don’t like the hype and the spectacle and the production – the computer generated “Transformers”-type robots Fox uses in commercial bumpers. And I can’t believe I’m the only one who thinks Hank Jr.’s “Monday Night” theme song gets a little more embarrassing every year.

Part and parcel to the whole “bread and circuses” vibe that accompanies the season is that the league and the teams no longer just tolerate poor sportsmanship – they encourage it. A couple of seasons ago I watched in disbelief as a new threshold was reached: on a broken field return or run, a player began blowing kisses to his teammates on the sideline at the 40-yard line. And he was a rookie. If cosmic justice applied to something as inconsequential as sports, some defender would have turned on the afterburners and given him a painful, humiliating comeuppance. But the rookie scored, his hubris was rewarded, and he learned nothing.

Contrast that with baseball. Perhaps that same year, a rookie named Lastings Milledge was dressed down by Mets manager Willie Randolph for running over to celebrate a home run with the crowd at Shea. To this day, the worst you’ll see in a baseball game is a hitter posing for a second as he watches his ball clear the fence. Heaven knows baseball has its share of miscreants and dopers and pampered slugs that won’t run out grounders, but compared with football, its on-field codes of behavior are almost touching.

It’s telling that the networks agonize over whether to show football players in post-game prayer groups, but they can’t get enough dancing and clowning in the end zone. Rewarding that bumping and grinding has led to players celebrating doing the job they’re paid to do, play after play. Remember the trend that took hold back in the ’90s, in which players would take off their helmets after a good play so the camera could drink in their beauty? Football is fundamentally about team effort. Personal athleticism is far less important to sustained success than is iron discipline – especially at the pro level, where everyone is a great athlete. Except maybe the kickers.

Make a goal line stand, jump in the air, pump your fist. Score a touchdown? High-five your teammates and get off the field. Chest-thumping and gyrating between plays is anathema. Football is not about self-expression.

Football and other sports have the great power to lift some young men out of the poverty and dysfunction. But football allows itself to be dragged down there by others. For all the monstrous sadism of his crimes, Michael Vick hardly makes an FBI most-wanted list of current NFL players. The Internet is rife with “All-Criminal NFL Fantasy” teams and running lists of current and former all-pro offenders. For many of those players, nobody’s ever demanded they be anything else. Beginning when they’re “student athletes,” football and basketball players are courted, coddled and made to understand that the rules don’t apply to them. (Perhaps one reason Major League Baseball looks like a troop of Eagle Scouts by comparison is that left fielders make lousy “Big Men on Campus,” and the minor leagues offer guys ample chance to screw up their lives before they become famous.)

The notoriously liberal sports media (Keith Olbermann came from ESPN) fans the hype and shrugs at the thugs. The job of color announcers and beat writers is not to do serious criminal reporting, and certainly not to target ball players like they’re Bush administration officials. Yet it’s hard not to get the sense that, as long as the players entertain, it’s impolite to mention their felonies.

But there’s a 6’5”, 350-lb elephant in the room. It’s got a 40”vertical leap, a rap sheet to match, and the moral maturity of a five-year-old. It plays linebacker, or wide receiver, or tight end, or offensive guard. It’s got plenty of money, plenty of yes-men, and a fawning public. All it hears are the cheers.

The truth is, if you’re really scandalized by Michael Vick’s return to football, you don’t understand that it’s exactly where he belongs.

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You're right on about

August 18, 2009 - 12:08 ET by mattm

You're right on about this. But in addition to all that, another thing that bugs me about the NFL is how manipulated it all seems (dare I say rigged?).

I don't believe it's choreographed, like the WWF, but I do believe that through the officiating and possibly the play-calling, the outcomes of certain games are pre-determined in order to serve the needs of the league. Whether it be setting up a good matchup for national TV or keeping also-rans viable for post season, it doesn't matter. Whatever brings in the cash....

(I could give plenty of examples, but that would be a violation of copyright laws - unless I get express, written consent....)

mattm---

August 18, 2009 - 12:27 ET by misterbill

I think "rigged" is too strong. The rules are changed and they are changed because of decisions that they are satisfying fan wishes and making the game more exciting. The attempt is to make the game more interesting and get more TV revenues. Fans do not like 0-0 ties.

I do not agree with all the changes.

And yes, ...whatever brings in the cash.......

But I love it. I am a season ticket holder for 31 years. One year I sold my first born to pay for my NY GIants tix. It was a good investment!!!

PS To address the V of K post below--yes there are thugs and thuggery and you picked one of the worst.(Philly) In Giants Stadium , some years back, some young fellows were getting out of hand. I walked up to the top of the aisle, spoke to security and within 5 minutes all was peaceful again.
Life time bans are enforced in NY.

All of this back-and-forth

August 18, 2009 - 20:26 ET by steve2526

All of this back-and-forth about the NFL, NBA & MLB is why first and foremost I am a hockey fan. I'll save my feelings for Bettman and what he's done to the NHL for elsewhere, but I will say that hockey players are much closer to "normal" that the pampered, egotistical clowns in the NFL and NBA.

Yes, there are miscreants in the hockey world (Todd Bertuzzi is probably the biggest example and Patrick Kane the latest example) but it's rare to hear of a hockey player shooting himself in the butt with a gun tucked into his sweat suit when he's hangin' with his peeps at a night club!

A member of the right-wing media

"You're right on about

August 18, 2009 - 12:46 ET by ckc1227

"You're right on about this. But in addition to all that, another thing
that bugs me about the NFL is how manipulated it all seems (dare I say
rigged?)"

I've said for years the NFL is controlled by the mob, lol.

Laugh at me if you want.

August 18, 2009 - 13:49 ET by mattm

Laugh at me if you want. But the NFL is primarily an entertainment business and they make more money if more teams are in the playoff picture as late into the season as possible and if they can get good matchups for TV. It is easy to officiate the outcome of any game.

Example: Back in the 80s, Green Bay (an NFL Favorite franchise) would have been out of the playoffs if they had lost to Tampa Bay with two games left. But if they win, it makes the last game of the season (Sunday night at Minnesota) a defacto playoff game.

With less than a minute left, GB failed twice on 4th downs, but got favorable defensive holding calls, putting them in field goal range. They missed the kick, but a 5 yard off-side call gave them a second chance and VOILA! It's goooood! and the NFL makes 3 times the cash on the last game of the regular season than they otherwise would have.

There are countless examples of this...the NFL doesn't need to be run by the Mob, they are their own Mob.

I've said the same thing

August 18, 2009 - 14:57 ET by Chris Norman

I've said the same thing about the NBA playoffs. It's funny how so many of them, through a miraculous come-from-behind win, go out the full series of games.

The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.

The Juice

August 19, 2009 - 02:37 ET by easygoer

OJ Simpson

For Blonde, erstwhile Dolphin fan:

"Miami's got the oranges, but Buffalo's got the Juice"

Love Football, Hate the NFL

August 18, 2009 - 12:17 ET by V the K

Professional sports in general has just become gaudy, and the players are common thugs. Philadelphia's fans are the worst... you can't take your kids to a game because of the non-stop profanity in the stands.

I only watch college and high school sports now. The pros have just become too ugly.

Crap

August 18, 2009 - 12:57 ET by Timothy H

Honestly, this is the most bias sports article I have ever read. It's absolute crap. I am a sports fan in general. I watch football (Bears Fan), Baseball (Cubs and Tigers Fan), Hockey (Wings fan), Basketball (Pistons fan) and a lot of college sporting events (I live 5 miles from Notre Dame, so imagine that). To take baseball and put it on some artificial pedestal is ridiculous and down right honest.

The sport has more bench clearing brawls than any, pitchers playing bean ball, rude batters giving fans the bird (occasionally on national TV), batters rushing the mounds, the greatest modern stars doping up, Angry batters trying to rush into the opposing locker room after the game, constant drug and sex scandals, and just so happen to be the most overpaid, coddled, courted, rule breakers of the generation (with the possible exception of the NBA's finest).

To treat football players as if they were somehow worse is just dishonest. They get more press, because nobody watches baseball anymore (which is why I have to pay extra to watch the Cubs on comcast while the Bears games are always available for free.) But the media is as biased on athletes as it is on anything else. For every poorly acting athlete (in any sport) there are a hugely disproportionate amount of really good people who give much of their time and money up, and provide great role models for kids, if you believe that should be necessary.

For every Micheal Vick, Dante Stallworth or Adam Jones, there are plenty more Warrick Dunns, Brian Urlachers, Devin Hesters and Kurt Warners.

As far as sportsmanship goes, you almost can't let your children watch baseball any more. Seriously, you think it's worse for a player to showboat than it is for pitchers to intentionally bean batters, batters to rush the mound, benches to clear, managers to act like spoiled children when an ump's call goes against his team, players to rush locker rooms, batters breaking timeless records while juicing up and the league looking the other way.

Equate this to football. The real difference between the MLB and the NFL, is that the NFL actually tries to police the poor behavior. The MLB tries , instead, to police it's image.

Stallworth was all over the news. A decent NFL receiver who hit and killed a man while drinking and driving. Ever heard of Ambiorix Burgos? He was a decent reliever for the Mets and previouly the Royals, who was convicted of assault and battery on his girlfriend in March, and was indicted in October for murdering two women in a hit and run . Didn't see much on that. I can provide plenty more if needed. Just let me know.

You have bad eggs in all the major cartons. Pointing out baseball as being somehow above the fray is just silly.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

Timothy

August 18, 2009 - 13:07 ET by Blonde

I gave up on the NFL and the 'Olphins years and years ago...as everyone here knows, I am a college football fanatic.

We have many fine young leaders in the game, none better than (of course) Tim Tebow....I could post countless articles, etc. But the point is, the young man is the real deal, and gives me much hope for our future (outside of sports, truly).

The best part is at about 2:20 for those of you who are not Gator fans...how could anyone watch the last 40 seconds of this and be unmoved by amateur athletics?

GO GATORS!!!!!

Oh yeah, and a new thing I found today while looking for new Gator Gear...."Bob Stoops wears Tebow pajamas".

I hope he fails, too.

Blonde ;-)

August 18, 2009 - 13:18 ET by Timothy H

I can understand why. Poor Marino......(sighs)....;-)

Again, I gotta say that I think there are a lot of great people in pro sports, too. The biggest problem is that just like every other unionized force, eventually the union goes too far in protecting it's members, and they end up moving the moral scale entirely because of it.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

and just for Blonde:

Some day's it's just not worth chewing through the restraints. - Timothy H

Timothy....

August 18, 2009 - 13:27 ET by Blonde

This is not quite what I had in mind for the restraints....but I was just looking up something for a friend and found this!

FYI, Danny Marino is none too bright. I met him years ago, when he was attempting to do his first big celeb event here in south Fla....after having lived here for years and years....he'd never even started his own charity. We ran it through our books (at the time I worked for a non-profit). Clare Marino is definitely the brains in that family. But I digress.

There are wonderful people in all walks of life, sports is nothing special in that regard. But, because of the prominence....they get the glory...and the universal disdain (Vick). My point was that it takes the rare individual to maintain equlibrium throughout the fawning acclaim...and "make a difference".

Thanks for the tag, Tim....it always makes my day to see that.

I hope he fails, too.

Blonde..

August 18, 2009 - 13:35 ET by Timothy H

Thanks for the Photo, I'm linking it as my avatar for several other sights I frequent.

I agree with you on the all walks of life thing. My point is that, much like this article, the media does a great job of vilifying athletes in a sweeping model, while the reality is that the real problem with the Pro sports image (and society as a whole) is the that instead of evenly reporting on the issues, they spent years building up these athletes to be role models, and then once they had them on pedestals, turned to the logical cycle of knocking them off.

But what really got my goat was the horrible bias of the article in the first place.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

Vick

August 18, 2009 - 13:56 ET by Blonde

I just haven't made up my mind. He's a horrible creep for having done such vile things to dogs (and his own damn pets for cryin' out loud)....OTO, he fessed up, did his time...and perhaps he deserves a second chance.

I'd never trust him farther than I can throw him, however.

So I guess I'll put on my pragmatic personna and wait.

I prefer my Sports Idols to be like Timmy Tebow and Roger Federer, though.

P.S. Glad you liked the pic...it needs a picture of a big Quarter Horse gnawing at his reins, tho...(this one was my Pecho's grandaddy, fine animal).

I hope he fails, too.

Vick....

August 18, 2009 - 14:14 ET by Timothy H

The things Vick did were disgusting. I do believe in giving second chances, within reason, to people who have done what society expects them to after conviction. Given his crime, I wouldn't leave him with my dog, but I don't see why he should be kept out of his profession. Does that happen to other, lower profile, criminals after release? Does a computer programmer get banned from EDS for dog-fighting? probably not.

But that by no means says that he should immediately be considered man of the year. The only way I see that he truly redeems himself is years and years of work to counter the damage he has done and prevent further abuse. It's not my job to judge him, though.

My point was actually that for every Vick, there are a whole lot of Warrick Dunns and Kurt Warners, not that Vick deserves anything.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

It's an op-ed...

August 18, 2009 - 15:12 ET by Matthew Philbin

...as in "opinion." Of course it's biased. And yep, there are plenty of bad guys in baseball. I never said otherwise. But I watch at least 50 baseball games a season and I can't recall the last bench-clearing brawl I saw. Heck, I don't remember the last time I saw somebody charge the mound.

But even if that happened last night, beanball and charging the mound and all-out brawls have been there for at least 100 years. Obviously, that doesn't make them right, but they're almost built-in flaws. When I was a kid, football players didn't behave the way they do now, whereas, besides posing after a home run, baseball player behave exactly the same on the field. And I agree that plenty of other things are very wrong with baseball (and I mentioned some of them, if only in passing).

But I can get through watching the average game with my kid and never have to tell him "That's an example of how not to behave on an athletic field, in a profession or in public -- ever."

But I watch at least 50

August 18, 2009 - 15:36 ET by Another Dead Kennedy

But I watch at least 50 baseball games a season and I can't recall the last bench-clearing brawl I saw. Heck, I don't remember the last time I saw somebody charge the mound.

If you search all the way back to last week at Fenway, Kevin Youkilis charged the mound and threw his helmet at the pitcher, inciting a bench clearing brawl after being hit by a pitch. There's 2 in one for you! Youk was suspended 5 games, but no charges were filed for assault.

"If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen." Ronald Reagan

Matthew P....

August 18, 2009 - 17:38 ET by Timothy H

I get that it's an op-ed. So is half of what is reported on in this sight, yet the point is the bias, is it not?

I won't answer the "last time it happened argument, as I would just be rehashing another commenter's argument, and that isn't necessary. But You were making a point on sportsmanship, and "built in flaw" or not, the sportmanship in baseball stinks, from the Managers to the players. I illustrated that previously. Posing isn't even close to the only sportsmanship problem out there, but seems to be the only one anyone has to talk about when it comes to football. You don't see fights often (and, humorously enough, seem to happen more in training camp between players from the same team). And besides posing, little has changed in football as far as how the players act on field. Clowning on field vs throwing helmets at people, kicking dirt on authority figures, throwing 80+mph objects intentionally at people. I've watched exactly two games in the past couple weeks. Detroit v Boston (and as a Detroit fan...ouch) and Milwaukee v LA Dodgers. Beanball was present in both games, erupting a bench clearing brawl in the Detroit game and in Fielder trying to get into the Dodgers locker room after the game. Both games also included Managers acting like children. Posing and blowing kisses hardly seem bad compared to this behavior. The last time I saw something worse than posing at a football game was during the Super Bowl, so relatively recently as well, but amounted to simple pushing. (oops, I guess I kinda did rehash that argument. Doh!!!)

Dislike the sport, that's fine. Complain about the thugs, cool by me, too. But comparing football to baseball in a negative light based on sportsmanship and thuggery is unfair. Especially considering the light that's been shined on baseball in the cheating department ('roids) and the fact that it's biggest stars over the last few decades have been "juicers". Football has had a few of those, too, don't get me wrong. But for the most party, the biggest stars haven't been the offenders (except for Shaun Merriman). I understand giving your opinion, but at least be fair in analyzing the situation on a site that's purpose is to expose media bias.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

Sorry Timothy H

August 18, 2009 - 16:36 ET by ahusser

Pro football is slow, boring and thugged up and race dominated like the NBA with too many infantile prima donnas. So full of rules it is like watching lawyers arguing in court. How many slo mos of knees touching to determine the fumble or of a quarterbacks arms going forward to determine the sack/fumble or incompletion is enough. 10 thousand commercial breaks and inane play by play by inane commentators. Most watch the superbowl for the commercials that's how bad pro ball has gotten.

"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'

"Race dominated"? What does

August 18, 2009 - 16:44 ET by balboa

"Race dominated"? What does that mean? You want more Hispanics? More Asians?

Balboa

August 18, 2009 - 17:16 ET by ahusser

Take it any way you want it 90 percent of the players in the NFL and NBA are black If they don't dominate the sport then nobody does. I guess that is the elephant in the room. I am not a fan of the thug lifestyle and the continuing stream of criminal behavior that the lifestyle and attitude produces.

Race aside. I think Michael Vick should have been banned from playing football aside from the illegal activity of dog fighting and the gambling aspect the cruelty displayed by him towards the dogs even purportedly killing some and injuring others IMO is a mental attribute that a few months in jail wont wash away no matter how rehabilitated and contrite he says he is. His only regret is that he got caught. And that the activity nearly ruined him. A couple of 5 million dollar contracts and he will be as good as new and in the pink (or is that racist).

"Somehow, I told you so, just doesn't quite say it." Will Smith in 'I, Robot.'

ahusser....

August 18, 2009 - 17:47 ET by Timothy H

Ummm, so now you believe that pro-sports need white affirmative action? lol.

All kidding aside, You can't possibly know what is in Michael Vick's heart any more than I do. Last time I checked, our justice system was based on a model of punishment and forgiveness. Explain to me how a man who treated dogs inhumanely (and to be honest, I hope that during his punishment phase the "crying at night" that he spoke of was accompanied by beating from cellmates) shouldn't be allowed to work in his field after he finishes his punishment. I don't get that reasoning. If that was the way we dealt with things in this country, welfare would be tripled or worse.

I am not one of those people who think he didn't do anything wrong. I thought he got off light. WAY LIGHT. But that wasn't my decision, and he served the time required. why does he need to be punished further? And how does that allow for true change of heart. I'll stick with letting God judge a man's soul, cause I ain't qualified.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

"So full of rules it is

August 18, 2009 - 17:23 ET by QueenMum

"So full of rules it is like watching lawyers arguing in court."

Ha. I thought I was the only one who felt this way. I used to enjoy watching professional football. Now I just get frustrated over all the stupid rules. The games could be over in half the time if they didn't have to interrupt every time a player looks like they may have disrespected the opposition in some way. Of course, it doesn't help that I live in Ohio where we're burdened with the Cleveland Clowns and Cincinnati Ben-gals.

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

On a side note, though...

August 18, 2009 - 13:12 ET by Timothy H

Just a thought, but a serious one.

The biggest problem I see in all of the major sporting outlets is something that the NCAA doesn't have. Player Unions. If you look at every dip further into the abyss for all of the big 4 (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL), or into every drag against the leagues trying to reign in the problems, You will find the Players Unions behind the problems. Funny how much like average life that seems to be.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein

Touche!

August 18, 2009 - 13:34 ET by Blonde

When it's a competitive situation (i.e. college players "earning" scholarships, and working hard to become the best to ensure their future careers, be it in the NFL or in private industry)....everyone works hard and does their best.

But when the unions enter the picture....it always gets ugly.

I hope he fails, too.

Many, MANY sports

August 18, 2009 - 13:31 ET by balboa

Many, MANY sports broadcasters think all the show-boating is ridiculous, and many of those broadcasters are even of the dreaded liberal persuasion. Do you have an example of Olbermann shrugging at thugs?

Remember when Buck went off on T.O. for autographing that football or was it when he mimed mooning the crowd? Most broadcasters hate that stuff, too. But the NFL has a problem in trying to tone down everything, making ridiculous rules bordering on making the athletes into soulless robots. They can't find a middle ground.

Now, believe me, I hate it when some linebacker struts after tackling a guy, even though the guy gained 10 yards on the play. Shut up, go back to your huddle, the guy got 10 yards on you.

And baseball is far from perfect. It's got a host of its own problems. And you shouldn't compare the two. Even Deion Sanders, a notorious show-boater in football, would completely tone it down for baseball, recognizing a difference between the two sports' cultures.

You have some good points, but this column is woefully near-sighted.

Don't Exempt College Sports

August 18, 2009 - 13:43 ET by BeanMan

I like the Big Three: NFL, NBA, MLB (sorry, just not a hockey fan) and I like NCAA sports. Let's not exempt NCAA Football from the mix either. The BCS has made a mockery of College football. If we must have a national champion in football (I personally don't see the need for one) just put all of the division champs into a big bracket and let them play each week starting two weeks after the end of regular season.

Enough of this BCS crap with computers and voters and power rankings. The BCS simply ensures that all of the "Major" conferences and teams remain so year after year. Since the inception of the BCS there hasn't been one really exciting Championship game. It is usually one team beating the tar out of the other one because it's been six or eight weeks since they last played. A few years ago there was Florida and Ohio State with OSU being undefeated in regular season. In the championship game they looked like a mediocre high shcool team because they hadn't played for weeks on end and FSU beat the dickens out of them.

It's all about $$ anyway. If a team can put people in the seats then they will have a leg up in the BCS rankings and this includes the local night life too. Will fans in town hit the bars and restuaunts and stay in the big hotels or will they stay with friends and stay in and play cards and eat pizza? How much hype can one stand for six weeks as two supposed big teams play two weeks after New Years Day and most of the people are watching College basketball now?

Hooray for Utah last year for going undefeated and actually making it to #2 and not being from a BCS conference. They played Alabama, who is from a BCS conference and expected to win and were soundly thrashed by Utah on national TV. Alas that Utah wasn't able to play for the National Championship because they weren't from a precious BCS conference.

This was sort of off topic but I wanted to rant anyway

Since government is coercion, politics is largely the exercise of deception regarding the intended use of coercion - George Orwell

Excuse me here

August 18, 2009 - 14:13 ET by Blonde

If you are going to rant....do it properly, K? FSU didn't beat OSU....Florida did. Free Shoes University, puhleease!

Twice in a row for my Gators over the always over rated Ohio State, in 2006/07. First time ever a school repeated in basketball with a football championship sandwiched in there....also the first time a college won both titles in one year.

Utah once again had a fabulous season (I love the Utes!) ....but...they don't play in a regular conference....if they want to play with the big boys, they need to play there all season, not just on Bowl days.

I would love to see a playoff in college ball...it would truly separate the wheat from the chaff. What you are totally ignoring here, though...is the money. Bowl games are a huge source of revenue for the schools involved. And the revenue from these big games enables the top tier schools to fund all sorts of student activities.

The very last thing I want to see is Congress involved, though. If the NCAA and its member schools can find a way to have a football tournament, I'd be all for it. But I don't want to see any socialistic "revenue sharing" for the lame and the lazy.

GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope he fails, too.

Sorry about the FSU thing

August 18, 2009 - 14:51 ET by BeanMan

I meant to say Florida but goofed. I specifically did meniton the big $$ though. That is what is is all about in the end. As you said "top tier schools..." The BCS enables the to remain the Top Tier Schools and the resto of the schools get the droppings and remain bottom tier schools because of the BCS. Utah played three ranked teams last year and beat them all.

It's fine and dandy that you root for Florida (in Gainsville) and you are justifibly proud of a good team but being in a BCS conference ensures that, to an extent, with the expansion of the stadium and such and building superb facilities the young men who are interested are wowed. Other conferences do not have these assets and it shows when it comes time to field a team. That's my point. Besides if Florida plays a Div II team and loses what does it matter if the other team only plays other Div II teams.

Since government is coercion, politics is largely the exercise of deception regarding the intended use of coercion - George Orwell

The formerly independents

August 18, 2009 - 14:59 ET by Blonde

are joining conferences.

The days of independents competing are over....it is what it is.

And it's not as easy to stay atop in the conferences as one would think....ask a Bama fan. It also takes years and years to build a program, and the requisite facilities. My dog team of choice, the Tennesee Vols (aka Lame Kitten & the Girls) plays in one of the biggest college stadiums in the country....not that it will help them this year, or the next...perhaps it never will.

No worries...I kind of figured you didn't mean to rag on my Gators....I can't keep the other conference records straight without looking it up, either.

3 weeks and life begins again, I can't wait!

I hope he fails, too.

"Utah played three ranked

August 18, 2009 - 17:53 ET by ckc1227

"Utah played three ranked teams last year and beat them all."

2 of which were fellow conference members, BYU and TCU, who also played nobody...well, except for TCU, who did step out and play Oklahoma. Oklahoma whooped em'.....Utah...not so much. They eeked out a 3 point win over TCU....at home. BYU, meanwhile, didn't play a ranked team all season...until they played Utah at the end.

Heck, Boise State was 12-0 on the season too, and they got stuck in the freakin' Poinsetta Bowl. I guess it should have been Boise St. and Utah playing for the National Championship, lol.

You want respect, you have to earn it. Get back to us when Utah steps out of conference and plays an Oklahoma, or a Florida, or a Penn State, or some other decent football power.

""Alas that Utah wasn't

August 18, 2009 - 17:33 ET by ckc1227

""Alas that Utah wasn't able to play for the National Championship because they weren't from a precious BCS conference."

They didn't play for a national championship because they played no one along the way. Piling up wins in the mighty Mountain West doesn't mean you should play for national championship.

I'm just curious as to what

August 18, 2009 - 13:53 ET by kevcad

I'm just curious as to what happens when Vick has to face the Dog Pound when the Eagles go to Cleveland! ;-)

I'm surprised Vick didn't go to someplace where he'd feel at home, like the Raiders.

Start each day with a smile, then get it over with. - W.C. Fields

The elephant in the room.

August 18, 2009 - 13:58 ET by bcrgus

I find it interesting that there is no discussion about the one activity in which Mr. Vick was engaged that has earned each and every other culprit a one-way ticket home. How about operating an illegal gambling ring?

Has there ever been a major league sports star who stayed in the business after that offense? I think not.

Nice! Any bets on how long it will be before he throws his first game?

And Favre is back where he DOESN'T belong

August 18, 2009 - 14:09 ET by SickofLibs

Gets off the plane, puts on Vikings practice jersey and reports to practice field.

Ha ha!

August 18, 2009 - 14:16 ET by Blonde

Go Vikings!

Sorry Bud Grant...your team hasn't been the same w/o you!

I hope he fails, too.

I have always truly loved

August 18, 2009 - 14:37 ET by SickofLibs

I have always truly loved the guy, but the drama queen schtick is getting old.

The Queens think they are

August 18, 2009 - 14:47 ET by mattm

The Queens think they are gaining fans and will sell a bunch of number 4 jerseys. It will probably work...but it won't help them win games - but then it's all about the money anyway, so who cares? - I'll be out fishing on Sundays anyway....

Packer Fan

August 18, 2009 - 14:57 ET by BeanMan

I have been a Packer fan for decades (I'm from MD) and was proud of Favre when he was there but now it isn't about football, it's about him.

It's sort of like a great concert by your favorite band. You clap and clap and they come out for an encore and then maybe one more but then when the clapping stops they keep coming back out and you start looking at your watch and thinking about the traffic and how tired you'll be at work the next day. Or sort of like reading about a Rolling Stones concert in the paper, shaking your head, and then turning to the funny pages.

Since government is coercion, politics is largely the exercise of deception regarding the intended use of coercion - George Orwell

Favre

August 18, 2009 - 15:03 ET by Blonde

I hate to see him screw up his legacy this way....he had it going on to be one of the all time greats....but now?

He's on his way to being best known for a cameo in Something About Mary. How sad is that?

I hope he fails, too.

Beanman:

August 18, 2009 - 15:21 ET by SickofLibs

Yeah, the first time you catch yourself thinking "God, please don't let them do a second encore" you'll know you are officially middle-aged!

Bean... Couldn't have put

August 18, 2009 - 15:43 ET by bigtimer

Bean...

Couldn't have put my sentiments any better than you did here regarding this matter...you said it all.

Obama's a Community Agitator, a walking, talking destroyer. ~ Rush Limbaugh

PURPLE PRIDE...

August 18, 2009 - 22:24 ET by danybhoy

Blonde, I gotta tell you a couple of things...

1.You are right, the Vikes have not been the same since Bud left.

2.Being in the TwinCities, I am not alone in saying that I got sick of the Favre story. At least the Vikes got their man after 2 years.

3.As an old Bears fan, I hope they crush both the Vikes & the Pack. I can only hope that Cutler has/can grow up enough to take the next step & lead the Bears to the Super Bowl.

"...How blind can you be, don't you see...

...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."

Nightwish

Vick

August 18, 2009 - 19:21 ET by Baaboo

Vick BELONGS in HELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!

A COUPLE OF THINGS...

August 18, 2009 - 22:37 ET by danybhoy

Vick was/is an overrated QB, & his idiocy is the best thing that has happened to the Falcons in years. They were able to get out from under his GIGANTIC $100million plus contract, & then they bring in Micheal Turner at RB, did very well to draft Matt Ryan at QB, & on top of their great young defence, they brought in TE Tony Gonzalez. Plus they locked up WR Roddy White to a long term deal. The Falcons will be tough for a number of years.

As bad as Vick is & as a dog lover, I cannot stand the guy & what he did sucks, but he does not compare to Donte Stallworth. The former New England Patriot who was with Cleveland last season, who killed 59 year old Mario Reyes while driving drunk. Stallworth served 30 days & paid an undisclosed settlement to Reyes family.

Vick might be a dirtbag, but Stallworth is worse, but in fairness, he is no worse the Ted Kennedy or Rick Sanchez. They seem to have moved on with their lives nicely.

"...How blind can you be, don't you see...

...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."

Nightwish