Thoughts....

Say what you must...but Joe Paterno doesn't deserve to go out this way. And wasn't the Big 10 a little premature in taking his name off the championship trophy? The guy hasn't even had a chance to comment yet.

Brian Billick is a terrible color analyst for Fox TV. He makes the same points all game long and his language is garbled.

Indian Summer is sublime.....just don't get used to it. The blast of the hawk wind and chill of winter is right around the corner.

NFL players don't go the extra mile. Too many are worried about their next contract. Case in point Eagles WR Steve Smith falling down 1 yard short of a crucial first down.

Does anyone really miss the NBA?

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Crying Shame

I have no allegiance to Penn State.

I've been there only once, and did witness the incredible specatacle of a Nittany Lion football game with 100,000 plus all dressed in white in a foamy fervor supporting their team.

The face of that team, the town, and the University is Joe Paterno. But it goes much deeper that that. He was the beating heart, the blood, and the oxygen that made Happy Valley what it is, and kept it hale and alive.

Joe Paterno announced his retirement today, amidst a scandle that has not only put the world of college sports on it's ear, but has kicked all that admired what was once clean and pure smack in the teeth.

He reported what he saw to his boss, but said no more. He apparantly let his perverted lieutanant continue to have the run of the ship, even though he was no longer officially part of the PSU brass.

Coach Joe Paterno spent a career doing things the right way.....with one exception.

And now his glorious legacy is forever tarnished.

I guess even the best of fairy tales sometimes have inglorious endings.

Mighty Macs Mighty Good

I attended the world premier of the Tim Chambers film The Mighty Macs last night at the Kimmell Center in Philadelphia.

My suggestion is that you lace up your sneakers, load up on some hankies, and make a wind sprint down to your local theater on October 21st to see this groundbreaking film that chronicles the amazing story of tiny Immaculata College winning the 1972 NCAA Women's basketball championship.

This film stars Carla Cuggino as Cathy Rush, David Boreanaz as her husband (and former NBA referee) Ed Rush, and Ellen Burstyn as Mother Superior and takes you on a delightful journey back in time to the psychedelic days the early 70's when women's sports were hardly a blip on the radar screen. Cuggino, who plays a role similar to Gene Hackman in the epic hoops film Hoosiers, does an amazing job of capturing the frustration and passion that went along with the unenviable task of taking a cash strapped program with no facilities and turning it into a champion.

Chambers captures the essence of the emotion with his fast paced action and timely edits. The score (London Philharmonic) along with hits from the 70's provide an enjoyable backdrop to the G-rated action that any father would be comfortable taking his little girl to see.

Chambers has taken a stand and is taking on Hollywood to help bring the "family" back to family entertainment.

And to me...that's a slam dunk.

Political Nostradamus

Here is my theory. You tell me if it is plausible.

President Barack Obama is sinking like a stone. He announces he will not run for a second term which opens the door for Hillary Clinton. Forget Joe Biden...no how, no way he gets the nomination.

The Republicans, partially in response to this panic move, give the nomination to Herman Cain (an increasingly impressive choice, I might add).

A long shot? Just remember, you heard it here first.

One Of A Kind

Some people are just larger than life....and Al Davis was absolutely one of those people.

During his storied NFL football career, Al Davis held the positions of assistant coach, head coach, GM, owner, and league commissioner of the AFL. If there was a more qualified individual in his field of endeavor, or one who was more passionate and dedicated to his company or team, I would certainly like to meet him or her.

I had two brief encounters with Al Davis. The first was pregame at the 1980 Super Bowl. I noticed him a distance milling around the field pregame. Whirling with constant motion and enthusiasm, his hands were clapping with such great intensity I felt like offering him a pair of receivers gloves to save the skin on his palms. Entering that game, I was sure my Philadelphia Eagles were going to win, but after witnessing Davis and his demeanor prior to the game, I wasn't so sure. Unfortunately for us, my premonition was correct.

Many years later my ex-Stars teammate Chuck Fusina and I were the guests of Dick Vermeil and Carl Peterson for a Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders game at Arrowhead Stadium. While taking a tour of the press box and suites, a moody and tempermental Al Davis passed us in the hallway while being wheeled to his private box in a wheelchair. Davis was barking at his handlers, the Chiefs staff, and pretty much anyone within earshot. You see Al Davis wanted it his way, and for him there was no other way.

He was also a man of courage and conviction. Most people don't know that although he was the AFL commissioner in the late 60's when the leagues merged, he was AGAINST the merger because he felt eventually the AFL would be a superior league. And when the struggling USFL took on the NFL with their anti-trust lawsuit in 1986, Al Davis actually testified FOR the USFL. Davis loved backing the underdog, and standing up for what he believed regardless of the circumstances. For him, it was as clear as black and white.....OK, we'll fudge a little bit here and say black and silver. Regardless of the color scheme, right was right and politics be damned in his eyes.

So Al Davis now resides with George Halas, Vince Lombardi, and the other icons who helped make the NFL the mega giant it is today. And Raider Nation has lost it's leader and face of the franchise.

Let's hope whomever steps up and replaces him can (just) win, baby. It's what Al Davis would have wanted.

A Sunday to Remember

I usually wake up early on the first NFL Sunday of the year and get some coffee, read the sports page, and prepare for all day action starting at 1pm.

But this opening Sunday was much different.

My day started with reflection of that fateful day 10 years past. It started with a tolling bell asking for a moment of silence....with a tearful roll call of thousands of names forever lost to the lunacy of 19 men crashing planes into buildings that are our symbols of freedom and democracy.

They didn't know their acts would only strengthen our resolve to be tougher, better, and protect freedom with more fervor than ever before.

There was plenty of brave action on the football field today. But it paled in comparison to the remembrances of bravery shown by the passengers of Flight 93, and by the rescue workers that ventured into a towering inferno and the Pentagon to save their brothers and sisters in danger.

So I respectfully end my selfish football pleasure today by saying my own thank you to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

You are the true heroes......those on the gridiron are merely pretending.

Just watched the HBO documentary on baseball pioneer Curt Flood. It's an enigmatic tale of a talented, complicated, and tragic individual. I highly recommend it. (Nobody does sports documentaries as well as HBO.)

Speaking of baseball.....since when is it MANDATORY to take a set up man out (Sean Marshall of the Cubs) who just set the Marlins down in order in the eighth preserving a 2-0 lead to put in their CLOSER (The newest version of the Wild Thing Carlos Marmol) who walks the bases loaded and then gives up a bases clearing double without retiring a batter. Sometimes situational baseball lacks common sense.

Also lacking common sense was the Casey Anthony verdict.....but like OJ Simpson water has a tendency to find it's own level. Karma can be a bitch sometimes.