Bottom of Bird Cage 6/12
It’s the 163rd day of the year.
On this day in 1939, the Baseball Hall of Fame opens in Cooperstown, New York. On June 12, 1942, Anne Frank received a diary for her 13th birthday. Living in Amsterdam at the time, she and her family went into hiding in July 1942 because of persecutions of the Jewish population by the occupying Nazi forces. They lived undiscovered for two years until they were betrayed and sent to concentration camps. Anne Frank died in early March 1945 in the Bergen-Belsen camp. She was not yet 15 years old.
On June 12, 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers was murdered in front of his home in Jackson, Mississippi by Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the Klu Klux Klan. On June 12, 1964, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison in South Africa. He would be imprisoned for 27 years.
And it was on this day in 1978, David Berkowitz (right), otherwise known as the “Son of Sam” killer was sentenced to six life sentences or 365 years for killing six people from July 1976 through July 1977. It was a crime spree that left New Yorkers even more paranoid and afraid than normal. It became the subject of various books and a Spike Lee movie Summer of Sam. It also served as a backdrop to the ESPN mini-series The Bronx is Burning about the New York Yankees of that time.
From the Miami Herald: All Dolphins fans should monitor the situation between the Kansas City Chiefs and Brian Waters. We all know the Dolphins are lately not in the business of being interested in 30-year-old-plus veteran players who are unhappy on other teams. But there are exceptions to every rule and, while nothing is imminent or certain, the Waters situation might eventually qualify as such an exception.
Waters is the 32-year-old veteran guard for the Chiefs. Acting as his own agent and in his own best-interest, he has requested the Chiefs trade him. The Chiefs, acting in their best business interest, have told Waters they will consider that option as long as the right opportunity to upgrade their team (read acceptable compensation) becomes available.
Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli, who happens to be son-in-law to Miami football czar Bill Parcells, shares this philosophical mantra with his father-in-law: Everybody’s available for the right price. Kansas City is in full-fledged reconstruction mode with a new coach, new general manager, new quarterback, new offensive and defensive system, and new way of doing things. This new day brought about the trade of tight end Tony Gonzalez. And it promises much, much more change that could include Waters.
I’m not sure there’s anything to this angle of the Waters-Chiefs situation, but there’s no question this writer spent a lot of time and energy putting this piece together. If Pioli can get something for Waters, there’s a chance a trade may happen. I believe an unhappy Waters will be in River Falls for the start of training camp.
From Philadelphia Daily News columnist Rich Hoffman: Andy Reid is about to enter his 11th season as the Eagles’ coach. The last coach or manager to get 11 years in this town was Connie Mack; no, seriously. Mack got 50 years as the Athletics’ manager, from 1901 to 1950. Then again, he owned the team.
Last year was as rough a year as there has been for Reid, if you measure by anecdotal public opinion. I remember writing something last year about how I had never seen newspaper columnists fire Reid before last season, and that I had never remembered such a negative tone in e-mails and comments appended to stories and personal interactions with people while standing in line at Best Buy. The next day, Eagles president Joe Banner called.
It wasn’t a contentious call (we’ve had those, too). It came across as more of an attempt to understand this vibe I was getting. He said that the Eagles do internal polling that showed the opposite. He mentioned that internal polling again after the season in an on-the-record setting. I made fun of the notion then that they were doing popularity polling on their players and coaches, as if it mattered in the end. Banner said they were just trying to get a handle on all of this stuff.
All of this came up again the other day, when three Daily News reporters - Les Bowen, Paul Domowitch and I - sat down for an hour with Reid and Banner. I threw the Connie Mack stat at him and everybody laughed. I asked about last year, and my perception of the rough ride he got from the fans, and that maybe it was as simple as a decade of time and familiarity working against him, and this whole business of perceptions came up again.
Perception vs. reality, more and more it’s becoming harder to tell the two apart. That the Eagles would do opinion polls rather than listen to sports talk radio or newspaper columnist makes more sense than anything I’ve heard in some time. We hear somebody yell “fire the coach” on the radio and supposedly that represents the feelings of the fans. No, it represents the feelings of one fan.
From the Sacramento Bee:
He was his rock. His deflector. His father figure. And now, he’s gone. Ray Russell, uncle to Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, passed away at 42 years young April 17 of congestive heart failure.
He was everything to the face of the Raiders franchise, trying to keep temptation at bay for a youngster with $60 million in his pocket and wanting to keep his nephew grounded. With JaMarcus entering the pivotal third year of his professional career after Oakland used a No. 1 overall pick on him, no doubt Uncle Ray’s advice would have been needed this season.
Ray did not pussyfoot around with his blood; when JaMarcus blew off a production meeting with ESPN before the Raiders’ game at San Diego last December, the elder was furious. So now that Uncle Ray’s physical presence is no longer here, how does his passing affect the youngster? Remember, Uncle Ray, as he was popularly known to the people of Mobile, Ala., as a morning radio show host, moved to California at the behest of his sister, JaMarcus’ mother Zina, to keep an eye on the man-child and serve as his manager, of sorts.
Does a heavy-hearted JaMarcus go wild and act out, the binds of a protective family member broken? Or does he hear Uncle Ray’s voice of reason when temptation rears its head? It’s a bigger challenge for JaMarcus than any posed by Jeff Garcia.
Keep this in mind: The reputation is growing; that being the one that says JaMarcus is lazy, doesn’t really care about getting better on the field or about his image.
There is a lot on the plate of JaMarcus Russell this year. Al Davis is expecting a payoff to all the money he invested in this young man. Hopefully, Russell realizes this. Losing an adviser and father figure isn’t going to help matters for this young man.
An unhappy Waters is still far better than the “any 22″ pipe dreams of the everyday housewife nee coach a la ‘check’.
Wade Smith; Rudy Niswanger; Brian De La Puente… any other “22′r” you please, vomit bag - please.
Brian Waters deserves better and if he wants to go elsewhere more power to him…as long as he’s here in Kaycee the not so dynamic duo ’search’ & ‘check’ will not have what they’re looking for: automotons.
Best of luck to you BW!
Rin Tin Tin says:
“Brian Waters deserves better…”
No, he doesn’t. He deserves to do his job and cash his paycheck. Nothing more…nothing less. And as of right now, the Kansas City Chiefs are signing that paycheck.
I’m getting tired of hearing about it, personally. If he doesn’t want to be here…then send his ass on down the road. And Vrabel, too. I want guys who are willing to do the extra work, and bust their asses to make this a winning team. You don’t want to be a Chief? Then get the F outta’ here…and we’ll go with the guys that DO.
Amen, Scott.
I am tired of hearing about all these babies who make millions of dollars, whether it be Ocho “Stinko”, Brian Waters, Larry Johnson. Making all the money they make especially now with the economy and saying they need more money. You don’t deserve a paycheck you earn a paycheck. You go out on the field and play your a** off. You are only worth what someone will pay for you. If there is anyone wanting to take an aging veteran who is more worried about themselves and not the “team” and we can get something back for them even if it be a second rounder for 2010, good riddance. If you stay on the team as you are now you would only be a cancer and a hinderance.
“If there is anyone wanting to take an aging veteran who is more worried about themselves and not the “team” and we can get something back for them even if it be a second rounder for 2010, good riddance.”
Is this market value on the guy? Gonzo was barely good for a 2nd rounder next year.
Trent called it a day on his career boys, he’s retiring.
Good Luck Trent, time to go spend some Q time with the family, Dude.
I think Rin and David Berkowitz might be one in the same. Even if he’s not the “Son of Sam”, He’s still the son of something.
I’m going with Bob on this one. Brian Waters will be a Chief in 2009.
I also agree with Scott, unhappy, snot nosed crybabies make me want to spit.
Look, I’m not thrilled to have BW on our team this year. But, he is a professional and a businessman and a very good football player.
He will act & behave as a pro & will help this team, most importantly on the o-line protecting our QB & opening a lane for a RB.
He will be OK. We will forget all this nonsense about him come September. Go Chiefs!
Bob, I thought there was OTA today???
“He will be OK.”
That line will be improved moderately overall with him there (and upgrade to Goff, one full off-season for Albert). That should help the run game. We’ll have to see who becomes the Deion Branch, David Givens type guy for this team.
Wanna get a little fire in your gut about Haley?
Take about 30 minuets some time this weekend when you have time, and listen to this series of interviews that Twibell did with beat reporters that covered the teams Haley worked for in the past.
It’s good stuff! Got me kinda fired up.
But of course you’ll have to hear one of the five who takes the motherly approach. LOL sounds like conehead and rin/sg’s stance to me. (”he’s to tough on the boys they need to be loved on” or the “you can’t yell at them, you’ll give them a complex” crap) anyway it’s worth about 30 minutes if ya have the time.
https://www.610sports.com/pages/4563661.php?
hey bob its friday wheres the ota update for today, just curious.
If you feel like commenting on stuff, Bob, any rumors about signing draft picks? I am still used to Carl version of dealing with draft picks. Hopefully Pioli will be a little faster in this arena.
JASONWHITLOCK SAID: “rin/sg’s stance to me. (”he’s to tough on the boys they need to be loved on” or the “you can’t yell at them, you’ll give them a complex” crap) anyway it’s worth about 30 minutes if ya have the time.”
Mr. Whitlock (or whatever your name/handle actually is),
Should you actually read more of my posts, you might know my positions more accurately. The current coaching staff’s approach discipline-wise reminds me of Marty Schottenheimer - which is a good comparison. That being said - I’m not simply a lemming who blindly goes along with every word just because they said so. I watch the games - but my brain doesn’t get set down by the door. Remember what Missouri’s state motto is? (the Show-me state?)
They can lead by example and demonstrate to us the fans by wins and losses that this team is better. I’ll watch and root for my Chiefs every week with the new team - just as I did when Herm (who DESERVED to be FIRED along with CP) was coach. I will also reserve the right to call into question the wisdom or lack thereof when the new staff decides to trade one of my all-time favorite Chiefs for a 2nd round pick next year…or does anything else questionable.
Respectfully submitted - and still waiting for that message you promised,
SG
Scott says:
“Rin Tin Tin”
- yes, what is it now nee ‘this’ time my shadow faithful who swore ne’er return my blogs, any?
“says”
- you, reiterates me…
“No, he doesn’t.”
- yes, He does…and so does Brian.
“He deserves to do his job and cash his paycheck.”
- He has been retired for many years now, and His paychecks are direct deposited into my bank…
“Nothing more…nothing less.”
- as it should be…I’ve earned it.
“And as of right now, the Kansas City Chiefs are signing that paycheck.”
- no, but they should be based on my impeccable knowledge they since 1963…
“I’m getting tired of hearing about it, personally.”
- sounds like a personal problem, Scottie; we’ve several possible solutions that are in your area limited capability:
a) earmuffs
b) Hyperacusis surgery
c) hari kari
“If he doesn’t want to be here…then send his ass on down the road. And Vrabel, too.”
- au contraire; ‘check’ said he could get ANY 22 guys and do better than two wins - remember? You ‘member, Waters and Vrabel and ‘any’ others too.
Famous last words to be engraved on his epitaph nee swan song 2009…FIRED. He’s already proven he isn’t a man his word by trading or releasing several players… a qualified fraud.
“I want guys”
- well, to each their own… feller?
“who are willing to do the extra work, and bust their asses to make this a winning team.”
- no; who’s on first, what is on second and I don’t know is on third…
“You don’t want to be a Chief?”
- not particularly, no…not until they get a real Head Coach & GM and get those two cereal boxtops back they sent in for these 2 current ‘prizes’.
“Then”
- well ‘then’ comes the Coup de grâce/final exit.
What shouldst we tell ’search’ & ‘check’ if they question our decision annulment?
“get the F outta’ here”
- I quite agree…and tell them they’ll need an appointment afore they can reenter the facility and put all their effluvium in a box…
“and we’ll go with the guys”
- no, Rin shant but you certainly can & should… they’ll need a broad set of shoulders to cry on - so what time does your sis get home from her job the meat lugging plant?
“that DO.”
- she’s strong as an ox alright…well, least her shoulders/your intellect share the same last part the simile…
True Red & Gold says:
“I think Rin”
- you do seem happier…
“and David Berkowitz”
- now you’ve relapsed…
“might be one in the same.”
- by your bludgeoned use the English language, perhaps; alas, not “one and the same”…
“Even if he’s not the “Son of Sam”, He’s still the son of something.”
- Gunther’s son…of a gun.
” :)”
- where’s your nose, visiting ‘check’ again?
Rin Tin Tin says:
“Rin”
- yes…I’m an idiot.
“Tin”
- I’m an idiot.
“Tin”
- Damnit…I told you that I was an idiot, already. Don’t you get it?
‘Search’ it, and ‘check’ it…and you’ll see, without a doubt that I’m an idiot.
Oh yeah…and Herm’s the man. Don’t let his 6 big wins in the last two years fool you. He’s da man! Go Raiders…er, Broncos…….um, I mean…Chiefs?
Scott says:
“yes…I’m an idiot.”
- agreed, and you’re not even a savant at that…
“I’m an idiot.”
- https://www.stuttering.org Scottie; best of luck deux you…
“Damnit…I told you that I was an idiot, already. Don’t you get it?”
- not really; we leave you to your now thrice affirmed area of expertise…
“Search’ it, and ‘check’ it…and you’ll see, without a doubt that I’m an idiot.”
- tis as clear as the point there atop your pate… crystal.
“Oh yeah…and Herm’s the man.”
- it’s a MIRACLE! You’re HEALED!
“Don’t let his 6 big wins in the last two years fool you. He’s da man!”
- YES!
“Go Raiders…er, Broncos…….um, I mean…Chiefs?”
- you forgot Chargers; a not totally unexpected setback; R.I.P. Scottie … Rin just killed you again.