Bottom of the Bird Cage 5/7
It’s day No. 127 of the year 2008.
It was on this day in 1718 that the City of New Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the governor of French Louisiana. Apparently the next day the Hurricane was invented and by the next day, all the town’s people were sleeping one off.
On May 7, 1946, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering was founded with 20 employees. We know it today as Sony.
Born on this day in 1901 was actor Gary Cooper, who played many roles but his most famous turn in the world of sports was as Lou Gehrig in Pride of the Yankees. Cooper had never swung a bat before filming this movie.
And born on this day in 1933 in Pittsburgh was one of the greatest players in pro football history, the quarterback with the scrub brush hair, Johnny Unitas. During his career, Unitas went to 10 Pro Bowls and was three times named the league’s MVP. Johnny U played 18 seasons in the NFL, 17 of those with the Colts and then one season, five games actually, with San Diego at the age of 40 in 1973.
John Constantine Unitas died on September 11, 2002 at the age of 69.
From the Green Bay Press-Gazette columnist Mike Vandermause:
Asked last weekend if he cared whether Favre plays for the Vikings, Packers coach Mike McCarthy replied: “If Brett wants to play football, he should play football, and that’s really my stance on it. If he still wants to play, he should take advantage of his opportunities.” Favre doesn’t deserve to be called a traitor. Even if his primary motivation for returning is to stick it to Packers General Manager Ted Thompson, so what? Favre not only has the right to play as long as a team is willing to employ him, but he is entitled to use any legal motivation he needs.
If Favre is having trouble walking away from the game he loves, so be it. If he thinks he can finish with a flourish with the Vikings, let him give it his best shot. Sure, he risks the possibility of going out on a sour note similar to over-the-hill quarterbacks Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath, both of whom overstayed their welcome in the NFL. But since when has the fear of failure stopped Favre? That’s not how he rolls.
Favre is addicted to football and believes he still has what it takes to succeed. If the quarterback-challenged Vikings agree, then nothing other than the lingering bicep injury in Favre’s throwing arm will stop this union from taking place. The sight of Favre in a purple jersey would create high drama, and the hype surrounding Packers-Vikings games this season would be unmatched.
As much as Favre and his inability to retire aggravates/entertains us, Mike McCarthy is right: if he wants to play, he should play, for whatever the reason. Mike Vandermause makes several mentions of former Packers greats who finished up their careers wearing something other than the green and gold, so the Cheeseheads should get over the fact Favre may soon be wearing Vikings horns.
From CBSSports.com columnist Clark Judge: When NFL owners voted in late March to allow clubs to opt out of league-run pension, retirement and 401(k) plans for employees and coaches, it didn’t seem like a big deal. But it is now that nine teams have notified the league –- and their coaches –- that they intend to break with its policy.
According to a memo circulated Wednesday among the coaches, the teams that will change retirement plans are San Francisco, Arizona, New Orleans, Buffalo, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and New England. Seventeen have agreed to stay put, while seven others — Miami, Minnesota, Seattle, Jacksonville, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay — are mulling their next moves. However, Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com reports that the Jaguars have decided to opt out, too, bringing the number of teams that will break with the league-run pension to nine.
So what? So coaches are outraged, with one assistant telling me Wednesday he heard that one staff is threatening to quit en masse while another has talked about a one-day walkout. I don’t think that happens, but I do think coaches are ticked. In fact, I know so, and they’ve already been affected by the change.
This is a situation to watch in the NFL. Right now, it sounds like the Colts could lose both offensive coordinator Tom Moore and offensive line coach Howard Mudd, two of the architects of that Indianapolis offense that’s run so well by Peyton Manning. One of the reasons coaches on the pro level put up with getting fired every few years and moving their families around the country was the league’s pension plan. If that “perk” is taken out of the equation because of an economic downturn that could be gone in 12 to 18 months, that’s sad testimony to the fact that NFL ownership is no longer about the game, but the billions of dollars wrought from the action.
From the New York Times:
The N.C.A.A. released its academic reform data Wednesday, and for the first time issued postseason bans for poor academic performance. The association penalized the Centenary men’s basketball team and the Jacksonville State and Tennessee-Chattanooga football teams. Jacksonville State is appealing its ban. A total of 85 Division I teams were punished in football and men’s basketball, but only 10 came from the six Bowl Championship Series conferences.
“It’s an expensive ordeal,” Myles Brand, the N.C.A.A. president, said of providing adequate academic support. “Those schools who can’t afford it are more likely to run into trouble.”
Brand called the organization’s bans a “watershed.” Chattanooga was 1-11 last season and Centenary 8-23, so it is improbable that the bans will have any impact other than stigmatizing the programs. Both must improve their academic performances this year or face Division I membership restrictions.
This story reminds me of an old Jerry Tarkanian line: “Oh the NCAA caught Kentucky cheating, they are going to come down hard on Cleveland State.” Centenary, Jacksonville State, Tennessee-Chattanooga all face bans, but we are to assume that the major powers in college football and basketball are getting the job done with academics? According to this story, Minnesota and Mississippi football programs and the Indiana basketball program are getting slaps on the wrist; when programs like that start getting banned from post-season play for poor academic standings, then it will be time to take notice. This isn’t a problem that gets solved unless the member schools of the NCAA decide to pass meaningful legislation with punishment teeth.
Where have you gone Johnny ‘High Tops’ U our nation turns its pigskin eyes eyes to you…boo hoo hoo.
Unitas - Dawson - Starr - Graham - Baugh - Luckman; they don’t build em like those guys anymore. These poor substitutes over these last 35+ years are not only less filling but lacking in great taste, any.
Rene Been 10 says: “These poor substitutes over these last 35+ years are not only less filling but lacking in great taste, any”
Sounds like a man errr person err someone, damn! something who would know. A Connoisseur of men perhaps.
“An Ode To ‘a’ Nut” nee ‘The Christmas song’
Green eyes roasting on an open forum
‘a’s angst nipping at Rin’s toes. . .
Has a woody would use it if but could he
“It’s stuck!” cries he “HELP!” key of C
Cries out unto thee from corner basement mom’s does he - “what is this ‘glow’ come over me?”
Yellow tint of his skin - jaundiced be -
More red cells lost than brain cells he.
‘a’ knows more Rin is on the way, with more insightful blogging sure to ruin his day,
when readers this take pause their laughter they will say no better argument euthanatize than ‘a’
And so we offer caution’ary tale
Observe IQ ‘his’ ninety-two,
Don’t be like he - concentrate - DON’T BE A TOOL!
Play it cool stay, in school…