GKatt Sports » Coach’s Corner

WHY I STILL DON’T LIKE…OR WANT TO BE LIKE MIKE

Gus — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:30:43 +0000

It’s the second the weekend of September. Football is back! However, my mind is not on the pigskin. I’m actually thinking about basketball…particularly the NBA Hall of Fame. This fellow named Jordan is officially heading to Springfield this weekend. You may have heard of him.

He’ll be alongside other NBA legends like Oscar, Wilt, Russell, (Bill, not Cazzie nor Bryon), “The Pistol”, Abdul-Jabbar and of course, Bird and “Magic”. Of course they won’t be able to get too close to his Airness for fear of drawing a foul.

Anyone who knows me knows I am not Michael Jordan’s biggest fan. I hated Jordan’s Bulls. Perhaps the only person tormented more by Jordan than myself would be Craig Ehlo. My guess Gerald, the so-called “Jordan stopper”, Wilkins would be a close second. When the original airness, David Thompson, inducts Jordan and ESPN rolls all the incredible highlights of his 15 NBA seasons, chances are I won’t be watching. It’ll simply be too painful to endure.

My love-hate, respect-disdain for Michael Jordan began in March 1982. It was the NCAA Men’s National Championship. North Carolina vs. Georgetown. I remember the refs calling Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing for goaltending four times in the first half of that contest. Despite those four miscarriages of hoops justice, the Hoyas were still ahead at halftime. What if the Tar Heels didn’t have those eight undeserved points in the bag when Jordan sank that 17-footer with 15 seconds remaining? What if Hoya guard Fred Brown looked for one more second before making that errant pass to North Carolina’s James Worthy? I guess the refs can’t be blamed for that.

Then there’s June 1991. Jordan and company finally disposed of the Pistons and advance to the NBA Finals against “Magic” and the Lakers. I’m confident. The Lakers won game one. Unfortunately, the Bulls won the next four. I still want to barf every time I hear Oh, What a spectacular move by Michael Jordan!

But no Jordan moment enrages me more than the greatest push-off that was never called. I wonder if MJ will finally come clean and admit what we all know is true. HE PUSHED OFF…IT WASN’T CALLED! I’m quite sure two of Jordan’s fellow 2009 inductees, Jerry Sloan and John Stockton won’t be holding their breaths in anticipation of that. True, Bryon Russell may have been guilty of hand-checking, but he didn’t fall three feet backwards because Jordan twisted his ankles with a wicked cross-over. It’s called charging.

All kidding and Jordan-hating aside, he was an amazing player to watch and his place in the hall is certainly deserved. He has six world championship rings, as well as six playoff MVP’s, five league MVP’s, 10 scoring titles and more than 32,000 points. He probably hung around a few years more than he should have. It’s hard to believe it has only been six years since we last saw Michael Jordan charge, travel or crab-dribble through defenders without being whistled. But that’s what happens when you’re the best basketball player ever. Congrats MJ.

I still don’t like you.

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Coach BT: FAVRE’S BACK…..AGAIN

Gus — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:15:26 +0000

I know Brett Favre may have spent some time in New York last season, but as far as I’m concerned, his “second” return to the NFL is the one that counts. Despite a good start, he never really looked good in a Jets uniform. Favre’s not New York…he’s not AFC, he’s NFC…he’s the black-and-blue division and as of Tuesday, August 18, Brett Favre is a Minnesota Viking.

No doubt many of you reacted much the same way two of my colleagues reacted when hearing the news.

“Why, Brett…why?”, asked one co-worker.

“You’re (expletive) kidding me,” said another.

While most football and Favre fans are saying why. I’m asking why not?

This was the move Favre wanted to make last season after the Packers said farewell. Last season Favre played despite not being at 100 percent and for a brief minute the Jets looked like a contender. However, asking him to turn the Jets into giants was perhaps a bit too much. At best, the Jets were average and this season they won’t fly out of bottom of that division. Tom Brady’s back in New England, and along with Miami and Buffalo have far more firepower than Mark Sanchez can match.

The Vikings, on the other hand, have something Favre can work with….a dominant defensive line, a familiar playbook, one Favre said he could run in his sleep, and this guy Adrian Peterson.

Now there are those who argue that at 39, Favre’s too old. Others will argue that based on the last half of last season, Favre’s too erratic and will fade down the stretch. All Favre really has to do in Minnesota is manage the offense….throw short passes and screens and the occasional deep bomb to Bernard Berrian and former Gopher, Percy Harvin. Brett Favre can manage an offense. The reason why the Vikings pulled the trigger on this deal is because Tavaris Jackson can’t. The Vikings are simply better with Favre as the starter and Sage Rosenfels as the backup. Okay, okay, I too, saw Rosenfels fumble twice and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in that Texans-Colts game last October. Let’s just assume Vikings fans are praying Favre stays healthy all season.

That’s possible. Exclude games at Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the Vikings won’t be tested by the time November 1^st comes. They could conceivably be 5-2, or maybe 7-0 when Favre steps back on Lambeau field. After that they have the Bears twice, Lions, Seahawks, Cardinals, Jaguars, Panthers and Giants. Assuming the team stays healthy and plays the way it should, Minnesota should win the NFC North. They’ll probably get a first-round bye. Of course, everyone in the Twin Cities hopes for a lot more, as does Brett Favre. That’s why he came out of retirement, again. If he’s hoisting a trophy in Miami come February 2010, we’ll probably see him retire, again….for good.

Get over it! Vick’s human

Gus — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:03:24 +0000

Coach BT
GKS Contributer

I can forgive Michael Vick.

I’ve never been a Vick fan but National Football League commissioner, Roger Goodell did a smart thing by reinstating Michael Vick. Vick paid his debt to the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Based on my limited knowledge of the law, once someone pays the “debt”, he or she is indeed free to enjoy life, certain liberties and pursue happiness. He doesn’t need to become a pawn or spokesman for the animal-rights crowd.

Besides, would you really take him seriously? Michael Vick, like ‘Pac-Man’ Jones, like the rapper, T.I., like Bernie Madoff, like Boston Police Officer, Justin Barrett, like Justin -wardrobe malfunction- Timberlake, is probably not all that sorry for what he did. He’s probably a bit remorseful about being caught. He’s definitely remorseful that his actions have left him bankrupt.

However it is his right to pursue a career in the NFL. Ultimately, the team owner that offers Vick a contract will decide whether he will play but the former Atlanta Falcon should be allowed to at least attempt a comeback. I think he’ll fail unless he truly reinvents himself.

Goodell has already received some flack from the PETA pushers and their ilk about Vick’s unfitness as a human being and how Vick should not be allowed to play again. Take a read of the sports blogosphere and you’ll find any number of individuals claiming they’ll never watch the NFL or demand reimbursement for season tickets if Vick steps onto the gridiron. The PETA pushers and the Vick-haters have that right, but so what? Vick’s actions are not on the level of say, Donte’ Stallworth or Rae Carruth. His actions didn’t leave anyone paralyzed..or dead.

I am, and I suspect many of you, are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of cows, chicken and fish on a weekly basis. I’m comfortable with that, as are many of you. I am also looking forward to the day I bust a cap in the side of a buck or a bull moose. So I can forgive Michael Vick.

Well, I could if I actually cared about the demise of a few mutts. Many of you will forgive him as well. America does that. Americans have an ability to forgive and forget…especially if “our” team is winning or benefiting…especially if through some miracle, Vick actually begins playing anything close to the level of a Peyton Manning or a Tom Brady. This is how Vick can reinvent himself.

In eight pro seasons, Vick has earned a 75.7 passer rating, thrown 62 picks, and more importantly, helped the Falcons maintain the up and down mediocrity that has defined that team for 43 years. Eliminate that one lucky playoff win at Green Bay, Vick has done nothing of any major significance. Neither did his coach, Jim Mora Jr. That’s why they’re both ex-Falcons.

One might argue that Michael Vick has far more physical ability than say, Tom Brady or Peyton Manning but who would you really want leading your team. Vick is definitely a more exciting player to watch, but I’ll take Ben Roethlisberger or Donovan McNabb over Michael Vick. Michael Vick’s biggest problem is not that he’s responsible for the death of some dogs. It’s that he actually believes he’s an NFL quarterback. He stands a much better chance of landing a contract if he considers switching to wide receiver or perhaps special teams. Vick’s speed and running ability could make him a perennial all-pro return man. If not this season perhaps down the line.

So far no team has come forward to express a serious interest in Michael Vick’s talents. That’s too bad, He has pro football talent. I’ll be watching to see who eventually gets the balls to hire him. I might even buy a ticket and buy a Vick jersey and wave a middle finger at the horde of PETA pushers who’ll be at the stadium to protest. I’m willing to forgive him. The PETA people ought to as well. He deserves a chance to resume his career. After all, outside of football….this fool apparently only has one other skill, and that skill got him in trouble in the first place.