Let The Suffering Begin

After being jail sexed by the Green Bay Packers on a nationally televised Sunday night game 45-7, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that "people will suffer and suffer consequences". Players and coaches. Well, Jones has started wielding his mighty hammer by firing head coach Wade Phillips and naming Associate head coach and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett coach for the remainder of the year.

Wise choice, Jerry. Too bad you can't get fire the whole roster. I know you wish you could take back the trade in which the normally inept Detroit Lions front office fleeced you for a first round pick for receiver Roy Williams. Not that it could make a difference, especially how they've performed this year.

As far as naming Garrett coach, this was something that eventually was going to happen. It had to happen now since you're paying the guy millions to be an overpaid assistant. You might as well see what you have and get a feel if you want him around or not. If not I think he'll throw a ton of money at Bill Cowher to lure him out of retirement. Truth is, I don't think Jones can handle a will and personality as strong as his

I expect some more heads to roll once this nightmare of a season is over. He is the defacto GM, so I expect some players to be gone and some new ones coming in. In a way I feel sorry for Wade. It seemed that he was always in over his head. I'm not trying to be funny or rip on the guy, but it was like a country bumpkin sherriff going to takeover a police force in the city. He was a puppet and everyone knew it.

Goodbye Wade aka Bum's son. I'm sure you'll land on your feet somewhere.

Is He Nuts?

With two recent Detroit Lions castoffs (insert laugh here) on their team, it seems that being delusional or saying something farfetched still hasn't gotten out of their system.

This team it wasn't Jon Kitna with a 10 win or playoff boast. It was Roy Williams saying that the Cowboys could rally and run off nine straight and get to the playoffs. Here's Roy to the Dallas Morning News:"You know me. I think we can go nine in a row, if you ask me. People can call me stupid or whatever, but this football team has the corps of players and the supporting cast of players to win nine in a row. We just got to get it started."

Roy, the eternal optimist hasn't been thinking of the bad football Dallas has been playing this year. Also, with Tony Romo out they might as well start playing out the string. If last week's game against Jacksonville was any indicator they'll be picking in the top five of the NFL draft.

With that kind of confidence, I'll take whatever Roy is smoking.   

Quote Of The Week: Kevin Iole

This comes from Yahoo! boxing analyst/writer Kevin Iole, when talking about WBA heavyweight champion David Haye and his upcoming fight against fellow Brit Audley Harrison.

Haye says he's going to "close the door on the joke known as the Audley Harrison show.

Iole wrote,   "Big deal if he does. Haye’s reign has about as much legitimacy as those Rolex knockoffs you can buy for $20 on a New York street corner. I’d say he’s disgracing the belt, but given how despicable the WBA is, that’s not possible to do. Still, Haye is deluding himself if he believes anyone regards him as a champion."

Haye does need to crap or get off the pot regarding the Klitschko brothers. He's been popping off a whole lot since moving to heavyweight and hasn't backed it up.


   

Rest In Peace George "Sparky" Anderson

I had to pay my respects to former Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson. He made baseball matter in Detroit again. He will bw missed.

Sports And Politics

There were a number of former athletes and sports personalities running for public office last night. Here's a quick rundown of the results.

Former New Jersey Nets and Portland Trailblazers center Chris Dudley was locked in a tight race for the position of governor of Oregon. The resuluts are still unknown.

Former Philadelhia 76er Shawn Bradley was defeated in his bid for a spot in the Utah Legislature by Rep. Tim Cosgrove, a Democrat.

Former WWE CEO Linda McMahon lost her bid for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Heath Shuler, formerly of the NFL's Saints and Redskins won his re-election bid for his seat in Congress,representing North Carolina.

Jon Runyan, who has University of Michigan ties won his election to the U.S. House in the State of New Jersey.

Former BYU kicker Jason Chaffetz was re-elected to Congress in Utah.

Hall of Famer and ex-Minnesota Viking Alan Page kept his seat in the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky retired and Milwaukee Bucks owner Herb Kohl wasn't up for election.

The great grandson of the legendary Connie Mack, Connie Mack was re-elected to Congress in Florida. Also in Florida, Kendrick Meek, formerly a Florida A&M Rattler was defeated in a Senate race. Miami Dolphins rookie Nolan Carroll has some bragging to do about his mother Jennifer, who along with Rick Scott won the governorship of Florida.

Former Furman basketball player lost a spot in the Senate in Indiana. Ex Washington Huskie Norm Dicks won a spot in the U.S. House in the State of Washington.

Last but not least, was the race in the Tennessee Legislature which former MLB umpire Dale Ford won. He ran unopposed.

Buffalo Claims Merriman

The Buffalo Bills claimed former San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman off waivers. Merriman has five days to report and says he plans to. He's not expected to play in Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.

Even though the Bills are 0-7, this could be good pickup. Especially since they haven't gotten anything from former first round pick Aaron Maybin. I just wouldn't expect Merriman to stick around past the rest of this season.  

Ugly Saturday

Both Michigan and Michigan State, to put it mildly, had a lousy Saturday. Let me start with the mighty Spartans. I can't really say too much negative about State since they are having an exceptional season. I won't let the loss to Iowa ruin what they've accomplished thus far. Unless they somehow blow any of the last three games.

You see, at the start of the year I didn't figure that State would be in this position. Iowa is a better team and proved it Saturday. They were coming off a loss to Wisconsin and were fighting for a BCS spot. I  just didn't expect a performance where they would be down 23-0 in the span of time it took me to make a sandwich. They couldn't stop the Hawkeyes if their life depended on it. Kirk Cousins picked the wrong time to go in the tank. Every time it seemed the Spartans would start moving and show some signs of life, there was an interception that cost them points on the board. I don't have much else to say. The Spartans need to regroup against Minnesota. This is a winnable game as are the games against Purdue and Penn State. If they can get a little help they can still land in the Rose Bowl.

Now i can get to Michigan. For the second straight year we get to see a fast start go down in flames. Two of the three losses are somewhat forgivable. Iowa and Michigan State are better and more physical teams. But Penn State?! That was shades of Purdue and Justin Siller. They let a walk on stater kick their tails. McLoin, McLovin, whatever the hell his name is. That's a game the Wolverines should've won. The Nittany Lions offense had been anemic for most of the year and they let them march up and down the field on them. They just had their heads handed to the by Illinois. And they couldn't beat them.

The defense just doesn't work. That Big East style 3-3-5 scheme just doesn't cut it in the Big Ten. They're too light in the ass and not physical enough. Hell, that scheme wasn't good enough to stop UMass. How do you think it would work in the Big Ten? The Wolverines couldn't come up with a stop if they took the field with baseball bats. The offense performs when they're behind. So spare me the fake comeback excuse. This team hasn't showed the kind of improvement that is needed to tough some games out. I just don't see it in them. Where's Mike freakin Barwis? He was the greatest strength and conditioning coach of all time and they look tired all the damn time. Greg Robinson's schemes don't work. And for all the offensive improvement, it's basically a one man game.

Rodriguez has to go and take Robinson with him. Hell, bring back Gary Moeller, since it's no guarantee they can't get anyone else at this point. Since that statement seems so true right now we might be stuck with the guy. In that case, get some bigger players and scrap that damn 3-3-5 and play some real football. Rich Rod can talk all he wants about being positive. What is there to be postive about. Being a home underdog? Yeah, real positive. How about the defense getting shredded week after week. That's also positive. Rich, whose eyes are you trying to pull the wool over? The offense looks good and all the problems are on defense and it doesn't get any better with JT Floyd going down for the rest of the year. Hey, that's also positive. It's looking real bad. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase hasn't passed so good this year, but he'll look like Dan Fouts come Saturday.