Just Pull The Trigger Already

"I know the situation. I know how it went down and what was said and how it was said but even after that I never thought it would get to this point. Of course he is not going to play now. It is personal. You are going to have to trade him now. Rumors have persisted that Hamilton is a disruption and cancer for the team. He's heard the talk and doesn't like it".



Those were Ben Wallace's words after the Detroit Pistons beat the New Jersey Nets last night on Richard Hamilton's benching. Clearly Wallace isn't the only Piston that feels this way. I think the whole team feels Hamilton can help the team, but no matter what they say, there's nothing they can do about it. I'll stop short of saying conspiracy, but team president Joe Dumars must've sent this message to coach John Kuester from afar. Don't play him.

Hamilton was put on the inactive list for last night's game. A list for players that are injured. Rip's not injured or ill. He's just been benched and it hasn't been for the good of the team. I know Dumars wants this team to try and make an attempt to get to the playoffs. I don't agree with it but hey, he's the prez and I'm sitting at my kitchen table relaying my thoughts. If he wants to make a playoff push Hamilton wouldn't be doing woodwork on the sidelines. 

Wallace is right. It's a must they trade him now. All that means is if they do trade him they'll probably get a worse player in return with an equally bad contract. Those will be the only offers they get, unless a sweet three way deal comes along to ship Hamilton out of town. And I don't see any of those coming anytime soon, not with the way teams covet expiring contracts and young talent. That means they're stuck with each other for the forseeable future. By then there might be a full blown mutiny on this team, because they don't really like Kuester, nor do they respect him. I know the Pistons as an organization really can't move forward until they find a buyer for the team, so this situation as a whole will get a whole lot worse before it shows any signs of getting better.  

Favorite Moments From Super Bowl's Past

 My favorite moments from past Super Bowls.

Super Bowl XXV- New York Giants vs. Buffalo Bills. This game was tight throughout and came down to the foot of  Buffalo's Scott Norwood. I enjoyed it because my brother was killing me because I was a Miami Dolphins fan and they coudln't beat Buffalo. On the other hand I felt sorry for Norwood.




Super Bowl XXXIV- St. Louis Rams vs. Tennesse Titans. This game was a breath of fresh air as these two teams came out of nowhere. This game produced one of the most thrilling endings in Super Bowl history. Steve McNair led a brilliant comeback only to come up short, literally, in the end.

Don't Make A Big Deal Out Of Roethlisberger's Late Night

I know Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is thought of as a creep. He has some moral issues and he's trying to change what others think of him. With the black cloud over what happened in Georgia during the offseason, whatever he does, whether he's out having a few drinks or trash talking at the local gym is going to be scrutinized. In some instances, like the so-called late night at the piano bar with his offensive lineman, the media is making something out of nothing.

Everyone says "it's Super Bowl week and he's out past curfew", like it's a bad thing. First, coach Mike Tomlin says it's a non-issue. If he doesn't think it's a big deal then so what. If he did think it was a big deal he handled it internally. Secondly, it's Super Bowl week! Do you really think the players are going to eat and sleep football while they're in Dallas. I don't think so. I know Roethlisberger has his demons, but lay off for a minute. He was out enjoying some time with his teammates, not out acting a fool or breaking any laws. He wasn't running around chasing skirts either. Look, these players aren't choir boys. They're grown men doing what they want to do. Would you like someone scrutinizing your every move just because you were caught with a prostitute. I don't think so. And just because you may be of moral high ground or are a bad guy doesn't mean you'll be a success or a failure on the biggest stage.

Remember Eugene Robinson? I know I do. He was the Bart Starr award winner, which champions players with morals and all that jazz, I didn't invent the award so don't ask. The night before the game he gets arrested for soliciting a prostitute that was an undercover cop. He wanted to pay $40 for some action and got busted. Me and my friend had a field day with that one. My friend referred to him as "big" Eugene and it was going to be $2 an inch. Anyway, you don't have to be a jackass to get caught up in wrongdoing. Even players thought to be the most righteous slip. And don't give me the crap about how Robinson's escapade foiled the Atlanta Falcons. The Denver Broncos were simply the better team and weren't going to lose.

Let me take you back some. Super Bowl XV, Raiders vs. Eagles in New Orleans. Dick Vermeil had his players on a tight leash and they played that way. The Raiders were out being the Raiders and whooping it up in the French Quarter. The Raiders won 27-10. They were looser and played like it while the Eagles were uptight.

You see, it doesn't matter what you do or how late you stay out, because that has no bearing on the team's performance on Super Bowl Sunday. Unless it's a Barrett Robbins situation. That didn't turn out too well for the Raiders.              

If Momma's Not Happy, Nobody's Happy

When national signing day comes around for high school seniors to choose a school parents are normally happy to see their kid move on to the next phase of their life. Sometimes they'll choose a school close to home, go to where their parents went, or move far away as possible to see how it is at a place different from where they came from. Parents won't always agree, but are usually so proud they don't care. This past week there was a player whose name escapes me right now, his mom forged a letter of intent. Now we have the case of Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett is highly thought of in recruiting circles and a very talented athlete. He was called the best uncommitted quarterback and was being recruited by Florida, Miami (the U), Wisconsin, and North Carolina to play basketball. So you know he's good, at least at the high school level. He made his announcement during his senior night basketball ceremony. He chose Florida. And mama's not happy.  

Ellicia Brown, Brissett's mother, wanted him to go to Miami. Brissett won't send his letter of intent until Monday, so maybe mom figures she can "talk some sense into him". Brown isn't too thrilled about how Florida handled the process of Brissett's recruitment.

“Not my choice,” Brown said. “I’m very disappointed. I didn’t like the way Florida handled the process. I’ve never been able to meet the head coach … I’ve never met (Will Muschamp) face-to-face and I find that very disrespectful and I’m just hurt with the whole process with the Gators. I was hoping that he would respect me and go to ‘The U’ because ‘The U’ showed respect to his mom.”


“He knew I would be hurt and disappointed,” Brown said. “So he texted me.”

There was a mixture of boos and cheers from the crowd, some decked out in Hurricanes gear, left the game.

I see she realizes that it's his choice, but it is what it is. He's doing what he feels is in his best interest, since he wants to play both basketball and football in college. Florida has a better program in both sports than Miami at this point. Also, maybe if Randy Shannon was still coaching the Canes maybe Brissett would be "taking his talents to South Beach".  Just support his decision and give him the unconditional love only a mother can give her son.



  

Illegal Touching: Buckeye Recruit Arrested

Buckeye recruit Chris Carter was arrested when a girl filed a complaint against him for fondling her while he pretended to measure her for a ROTC uniform.

More Buckeye hijinks. First the Maurice Clarett scandal, then tattoogate, now this. Carter is a 6-4, 325 pound offensive lineman, so he truly was a big man on campus. He was expected to sign with Ohio State, so you know he didn't have to resort to such tactics to get a piece of chicken if you know what I mean.

A 15 year old girl told police that Carter came to one of her classes and told her to come with him to measure her for an ROTC uniform. They proceeed to a room behind the schools auditorium. He then went into action, alledgedly.

“Once inside the room, (Carter) asked the victim to take off her sweat shirt and shirt so he could take her measurements,” the police report said. “He cut off the lights … and stated `I need you to take your bra off.’ The arrested male than put his arms under her arms from behind and attempted to pull her bra up.”

The police are investigating whether he fondled at least eight other girls. Jim Tressel was giving this kid a scholarship? We all know Tressel recruits questionable players, but that usually surfaces when they get there, not before arrival.

“He is not guilty and we will proceed with it. I know that he’s innocent. He’s a nice kid.” said Harvey Bruner, Carter's attorney.

According to Bruner the scholarship is being held for Carter. Considering the clouds swirling around the Buckeyes, Tressel needs to pull the offer until further notice. If he's guilty, he's gotta go. I know every kid's not a saint but if he has problems now, he'll have them later.

O.J. Denied An Appeal

The Supreme Court justices that previously denied O.J. Simpson an appeal of his conviction hit him with two strong words. Rehearing denied.

O.J. still seems to think he's not guilty of any wrongdoing. You got caught trying to jack your own stuff, that;s kind of pathetic. Of course he doesn't have the money to obtain a high powered legal team like the famous murder trial in which he was acquitted. Simpson has to be feeling pretty low knowing that his co-defendant, Clarence Stewart had his conviction overturned. O.J. is convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery and other charges on two sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. Simpson ended up getting 9 to 33 years in prison.

I can't say I feel sorry for him, knowing he escaped a murder conviction and got hit with a lesser charge. Everyone knows he was guilty the first time and it finally caught up with him. I hope he serves all 33 years, even though he probably won't.

I'm not playing the race card but this is fact. The only reason us black people were happy when he got off the first time was because a black man had finally beat the system. Other than that we really didn't give a damn about O.J.

Favorite Moments From Super Bowls Past

More of my favorite moments of Super Bowls past.

Super Bowl XVIII-  Los Angeles Raiders vs. Washington Redskins. This is another that had more than one moment in it. The Raiders set the tone from the start and didn't letup.

The blocked punt by Derrick Jensen and Marcus Allen's touchdown run.



Jack Squirek's pick six is one of my all time favorites, especiallly since I pulled it off against my friend in Madden.



Super Bowl XXIII- San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals. This game was enterntaining just like their first meeting in Super Bowl XVI. It featured the gruesome Tim Krumrie injury and a great Joe Montana comeback.