Foto Friday

Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz kneels at the edge of the dugout after striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Sanctity of "Whoof"

(This post will be somewhat controversial and is for a more mature audience)

While riding into work this morning at 5:40 AM, I was listening to Fox Sports, 700 AM on your radio dial and was intrigued by a segment that was running called "I'm so fed up with". People call in and complain about anything and everything from Kobe Smobe Bryant, to steroids, and whatever else is on their mind. The one caller's complaint that caught my attention was this "I'm so sick of NFL players who murdered people and get away with it."

I have a little summary below of 3 NFL players, who have been proven rich innocent of killing a total of 5 people. And the total sentence is 30 days in jail, all of which are attributed to Donte Stallworth who took the easy way out and told the truth pleaded guilty.

The O. J. Simpson murder case has been described as the most publicized criminal trial in history, in which he was brought to trial for the 1994 murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Simpson was acquitted in 1995 after a lengthy trial—the longest jury trial in California history. (O.J. Simpson will serve at least nine years in prison for his role in an armed confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers. Simpson was sentenced to a maximum of 33 years with the possibility of parole after nine. Yes, you heard right. He gets off scott free for killing his wife, yet might spend 33 years in the slammer for stealing some trophies????)

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is going to serve 30 days in jail after pleading guilty in Florida to a DUI manslaughter charge.
The plea deal announced Tuesday calls for the 28-year-old Stallworth to also serve 10 years' probation and do 1,000 community service hours for killing a pedestrian he hit with his car. Stallworth had faced up to 15 years in prison.
Police say Stallworth was drinking at a hotel bar before the March 14 crash that killed 59-year-old construction worker Mario Reyes. Tests showed Stallworth's blood-alcohol content was .126.
Stallworth also reached a confidential financial settlement with the Reyes' family.

Ray Lewis was implicated in the murders of two men at a party for Super Bowl. Lewis and his friends were allegedly involved. Lewis was indicted for assault and murder. Lewis agreed to plead guilty on a lesser charge of obstruction of justice. Lewis was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $250,000 by NFL, (at the time the highest fine ever imposed on a player), but was not suspended by the league. Notice the SI cover with the title "The Gospel According to Ray Lewis: God's Linebacker" Are you kidding me? As one reader commented when this issue came out, "If Ray Lewis is God's Linebacker, then OJ Simpson is God's running back."

Michael Vick was sentenced to prison Monday for running a dogfighting operation and will stay there 23 months. John Goodwin of the Humane Society of the United States called Vick's sentence appropriate."People that are involved in this blood sport are on notice. You can throw your life away by being involved in this," he said. Along with the prison term, Vick was fined $5,000 and will serve three years' probation after his release.

Is this a sad commentary on the sanctity of a human life? Vick, who killed dogs (and I know it was more than that but...I'm trying to prove MY point) gets 23 months. 22 months MORE than 3 men who "allegedly" killed 5 HUMAN BEINGS!!! We're at the point now that fido, scout, tweety, and sylvester are treated as gods and worshipped, while the missing mary's, the murdered mom's, and the raped rachel's are overlooked as their perpetrators are dismissed with a plea deal and a slap on the wrist.

Jim Brown talks about Ernie Davis

If you are a sports fan this is a must see movie.

Ernie Davis was the first black player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Receiving congratulations from Pres. Kennedy.

Gyro-ball revealed

The best part is the pitcher's celebration.

Tribute to Troy

Let's be honest...Canton, Ohio's NFL Hall of Fame is, for the most part, a place for superstars who care about the stats and put themselves first. The NFL has a lot of proud, overpaid pre-madonnas who are too good to be disciplined. You won't find the situational player who plays when the coach tells him to. You find the whiner who doesn't get the #&@* ball. And you won't find the player who busts his butt in practice, you find the guy who had turf toe all week so he couldn't practice, but of course played Sunday's game. You find the specialized monsters who have perfected their skills, you won't find the player who plays 4 positions. I would love to see this jersey hanging in the Hall of Fame one day, but it's just not going to happen. Or is it?

Troy Brown is everything most NFL players aren't. He's unselfish, humble, a team player, willing to listen to his coach, versatile, grateful. And what has that got him? Just check out his fingers, the man has three Super Bowl rings. He's the player every NFL coach would love to have, because he doesn't have to be on the field all the time--but if you need him to be, he will. He'll play WR, he'll be used as a RB, he'll return punts, he'll return kickoffs, he'll be on special teams coverage, he'll even play DB when your secondary is pummelled by injury(he was also on the depth chart as QB during the preseason one year). An NBA coach recently was asked about the chances his team has this year. He said "Well, if my players are worried about how many minutes they are getting, this will be a tough year. If they are here to win, then we will in great shape". I'm sure Troy Brown could play point if needed.

The thing I love about Troy Brown is he's the smallest guy on the field. I was always worried someone was going to break him. Yet, he always did his job and whenever the Pats needed a big play, he made it. How many times did he return a punt for a TD in the playoffs? Seems like more than once. And how about that play against the Chargers in '06 during the playoffs when Brady got picked and then Brown forced the fumble and the Pats recovered the ball! Amazing. Big players step up in big games.

But listen to this. Patriots all time leader in receptions with 557. Three-time Super Bowl Champion. Over 6,300 receiving yards. One of the faces of the Patriots franchise that has carried the NFL for the last 10 years. In 2000, 83 rec...2001, 101 rec...2002, 97 rec...that's 281 catches in 3 years! Not only did he put up amazing numbers, he overcame all the odds. Troy Brown is a black man's Rudy--but better. He was drafted in the 8th round of the 1993 draft, 198th pick out of 224. He was subsequently cut in the preseason but then signed later that year. He continually had to prove himself.

I would never have classified Troy as physically big, man, I always thought he looked so skinny with those pads on, but look at him without pads.

The dude is ripped!

Listen, I get, I get it. He's not a sexy player. When he retired, ESPN was nice enough to mention it in passing. He is not the story that sells. And that is exactly why are society is going to pot. We give all the air time to fools who have no morals, no dignity, no respect, no gratitude, and we leave the Troy Browns of the world hanging out to dry.

Troy Brown, I am going to miss you. You were a breath of fresh air. A player who wasn't cocky, who actually cared about the team, who never said I, it was always "we" or "us". He would do anything, at any time, in any position on the field. He turned down more money as a free agent to stay with him team--a true novelty these days. He was the symbol of the Patriot franchise--and will remain so for a long time. Forget Tom Brady--give me another Troy Brown(well, I'll take Brady back too).

What do you think? Express your opinion in our poll on the sidebar. Should Troy Brown receive Hall of Fame consideration?

B...Y...U...Cougars

We came to crash the party!

Belichick deserves an Oscar

This one goes out to all the Patriot fans who for some reason are in mourning. I know, I know. You had to suffer through the death of Brady 2008, only to see a pillar of light in a 2-0 start to the campaign with hopes of hooking the Dolphins in week 3, and then...after 45 minutes of football your season was destroyed for the second time this year. You have all given up. Cassel sucks. The defense is old and weak. We can't throw deep to Moss. I know, I know...but there is also something I know that you don't. Trust me, you don't need to worry.

For starters, don't think that we can start winning again because Belichick is going to cheat again. He is not peeking anymore. I have proof. See the picture below. But listen, I know what Belichick is doing, and I am surprised I am the only one. People, we are talking about Bill Belichick, Master Yoda of the pigskin, the Tanya Harding of gameplanning!!! Do you honestly think he could get beat by the lowly Dolphins, at home, by 25 points--when he was trying?


I have it on a good source that the Pats blew Sunday's game on purpose. Think of it. If they kept rolling along and beating everybody on their schedule again, when would the pressure get to Cassel? How much can he handle? Each Patriots opponent would get all pumped up for the game and try to be THE TEAM that stopped the Pats regular season winning streak. Now, after one home loss to the 'fins, the whole league thinks the Patriots are done. They aren't worried anymore. Their guards are down. They don't have to dethrone the king anymore. Nobody does. It's already been done. DO YOU SEE HOW BRILLIANT BELICHICK IS??? Forget the zen of Phil Jackson, THIS is GOOD STUFF!!!

Here Matt Cassel is getting attacked by the Dolphins. Did he question Belichick's pregame talk of "Men, give me 10%!". Let's hear what Matt had to say. "Well, I realized coach was right. Either I get beat to death in one game, or get pounded every week for the rest of the season. I think we all knew which was the better option. I'm pretty sure I would have cracked under the pressure. Whenever I get praised, I blush and can't think straight. I mean, all those girls at Leinhart's house giving me compliments...anyway. So, I needed to be brought down to earth. Now we are the lowly Patriots, and there are no expectations. I can just get back to being the all-state high school quarterback that I am".

Poor offensive line play--was it just an off day? I don't think so.

Cassel's call for help in the 3rd quarter didn't fall on deaf ears

Although Belichick took the week off from gameplanning, he was there to back up Cassel when he needed him.

Belichick spoke to me in a private interview after the game and I asked him what the hardest part of this week was. He told me "Praising Tony Sparano for that game plan was hard, real hard. I think they ran the same play to Ronnie Brown 6 times, but my players did a great job of missing tackles. They really put on a good show tonight. We did a good job of acting, but the Dolphins made it hard. I mean, they really suck".

There you have it New England. Lift up your chin. There is hope. Week 5 in San Francisco will be a beat down. We might not have Brady, but we have the next best thing--a high school quarterback and Master Yoda on the sidelines.