Sport Shorts Saturday-Advent to Football; Stripes not Solid

Before I get into my sports commentary, I would like to make two quick addendums to previous posts and occurrences.

MUNCH!!

In my story on candy’s hits and misses, I did fail to mention one of my favorite choices- one that is often hard to find. It’s called Munch, and it is a peanut brittle bar, but it has a sweet glaze over it that makes it stand-out from the Planters’ alternative. They make it in bars and in bites. It is in the local CVS. Thank you South Carolina. Thank you Andrew for the reminder.

COME ON UP

I did not elaborate much on this week’s headlines, but yesterday, Bob Barker passed away at the age of 99. Lots of creative send-offs, and as always, summaries of his life had to include some scandal, but he was professional onstage and as quick as any host I have ever seen. The Price is Right was like visual comfort food, and he was an wonderful chef. Who will ever forget him pummeling Happy Gilmore? A national treasure.

P.S. One other loss this week. Windham Rotunda (wrestling under the name Bray Wyatt) passed at the too young age of 36. Professional wrestling is a dangerous profession in and out of the ring, but that is tragic.

SPORTS

IF HE CAN MAKE IT THERE

There was significant press this week about Aaron Rodgers throwing his first TD pass as a Jet. He is a skilled quarterback, and the Jets are making a concerted effort to surround him with talent. Garrett WIlson is a rising star and picking up Dalvin Cook was a savvy move.

I am rooting for the Jets as Robert Saleh (although he looks like Xerxes from the 300) is from Connecticut, and they are due for some success. I just don’t want to hear about everything Aaron Rodgers does in the Big Apple. Rodgers has his first slice of pizza. Rodgers takes his first dump. He is now playing in one of the deepest divisions in football, and I hope he realizes that his next four day darkness retreat may come, not from his tantric center, but a weakside blitz.

STABLE IS FULL

More NFL news. Josh Jacobs signed a contract with the Raiders ending his holdout. Now, the only elite running back without true job satisfaction is Jonathan Taylor. As a fan, of course I want all of the best players on the field, but I also am not a fan of the holdout. I am not sure I could not show up on the first day of school, and get paid more.

I don’t blame Taylor. Often it is the Arizona Cardinals who earn the dubious distinction of being the worst franchise in the NFL, but with Dan Snyder out of D.C., Jim Irsay and the Colts are making their move toward the…bottom.

Zeke in New England. I am glad the Patriots shored up their backfield, and that Zeke is getting another chance in the league, but have they done enough to keep themselves out of the cellar in the AFC East. Living with a die-hard Patriots fan, I am hoping Bill O’Brien makes a difference, and Bill Belichick stops pining for TB12.

SCHOOL’S IN SESSION

Yesterday, there were two marquee D-1 college games that actually counted. Two teams in the top 15 beat two teams that were not, handily. As a BC alum, I can never truly be happy for any Notre Dame success. I recall a grad speaker at ND calling BC the Fredo of Catholic schools. My fantasy team is Fredo’s Boatride. I get the slight.

I have never been a huge college football fan, but something about moving to the south has made me more interested this year. The season starts full bore on Saturday and there are lots of storylines: Caleb Williams, Harbaugh, Prime Time, etc. I will take the field over Georgia as national champs, but it may not be a great bet.

Lastly, the UMass Minutemen (Probably is going to be changed to the Foliage) won their first game yesterday as well. The reason this is news is that UMass was ranked as the worst team in Division-I football, but they are 1-0. Also, a friend of mine’s son (a former NH high school player of the year) just transferred there from Buffalo. Good luck to Jackson and the rest of the team.

WINDY CITY WOES

You already know I do not follow baseball, especially with the advent of football season so near, but it is compelling when two fans are shot while watching a game in a MLB stadium. Two women were wounded while sitting in the left field bleachers at Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox. The rate is guaranteed but not your safety. Don’ think the nets are tight enough to keep bullets out of the crowd.

This is mind-boggling. The investigation is ongoing, but the organization can still not determine whether the, “shots were fired from inside or outside the ballpark” (NBC Chicago). I’m pretty sure this is important. By the way, the Chicago White Sox are currently 51-79 including 10 games below .500 at home. Take me out to the ball game. No thanks.

NFL CONSPIRACY – PART II OFFICIALLY AWFUL

The NFL is rigged. Two weeks ago, I discussed the history behind my theory and called out some of the play on the field, and the sketchy circumstances surrounding two separate Super Bowls between the Steelers and the Cowboys, two of the league’s most storied and recognizable franchises. How recognizable? The two most popular teams in South Carolina are the Cowboys and the Steelers.

In order to have a conspiracy, not everyone has to be involved. This is the major concession I have to make about my theory. How could something so widespread and involve so many entities not have leaked by now? My answer is simple, but not simplistic. Only key members are involved with the fix. Some of those key members are the men in stripes.

I have coached football for over 20 years, and I realize that a penalty could be called on every play. With the size, strength and speed of current players, there is bound to be a need for getting an edge. There is holding in the line on every play. There is bumping and holding in the secondary on every play. There are illegal motions and blocks in the back that are missed on a routine basis.

Last year, we lost a game, when our All-State offensive tackle was called for a hold on a successful 4th and 10 sweep play. With the ten yards added, we had to pass, and it fell incomplete. Nate was devastated. We, as coaches, were incensed. Clearly, it was a hold, but the crew had not called a single penalty, not one, during the course of the game. We could have put out pylons with black shorts and got the same officiating.

The point is that, officials can make correct calls or incorrect calls, but it is not the nature of the offense but the timing of the calls that is fishy.

Saints/Rams – Running back runs a wheel route, Brees lobs it to him for an easy TD, the Rams defensive back tackles the running back. No illegal contact, no interference. Nothing. The Rams win the 2019 NFC Championship and many Saints’ fans sue the NFL.

The response. All calls of this nature are now subject to instant replay. Okay, but the production crew determines what angles you see, and how often it is replayed. I will address this in detail in the coming weeks.

During last year’s Super Bowl, James Bradberry barely altered the path of JuJu Smith-Schuster, but was flagged for a holding penalty that sealed the fate of the Eagles. Less than two-minutes. Ticky-tack. Chiefs win. Mahomes is king, again. Subway deals. State Farm.

Even the make-up and status of the officials is disconcerting. Life-long referees, nepotism, and these men (and a few women) hold down lucrative jobs in the offseason as the prepare to throw flags. Once again, I will further discuss how the referees are involved in the production aspect, but let me just look at two specific examples.

TWO TEST CASES

Jerome Bogar. He and his crew are notorious for not having complete control of the game. His rating is normally the lowest in the league with the missteps bringing editorial response from Roger Goodell. What’s the commish supposed to say? The aforementioned Aaron Rodgers has purported that the league does not care about quality officiating, but Goodell says that the officiating is better than ever. Not from where I sit. Jerome Bogar retired after last year. Was this due to him doing a poor job, or him doing a “great” job. You be the judge.

Speaking of referees and the commissioner. Let’s talk Gene Steratore. Staratore has been involved in some of the most controversial calls in the scope of his career. The Calvin Johnson overturned catch, perpetuating the “tuck rule,” which still is hard to officiate and understand. Intended? He was also involved with the farcical index card scenario. During a Raiders/Cowboys game, Steratore used an index card to prove his down and distance call was correct. Once again, this generated outrage and ire.

I have heard Steratore was in Roger Goodell’s wedding party. Please confirm if this is true. I have friends from work, but this seems like a conflict of interest. Steratore was also an official in the NBA, and there has been no murky behavior in that league. That’s called sarcasm. Lastly, he nows sits in the booth, “interpreting” rules for the NFL. He has a net worth of over $5 million, and he owns a sanitary supply company with his brother in Pennsylvania (wikipedia). That’s called irony. Time to come clean, Gene.

In the coming weeks, I will be discussing the role of the coaches, the television production and the role of the league, itself.

Stay tuned.

Love, laughter and fair play,

Coach P.

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