2008-09-08T19:00:04Z http://juuustabitoutside.com/atom.aspx Quick Blog tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-09-08:a73b94e9-e550-4c22-bb29-e00a82870f5e Chris 2008-09-08T09:18:55Z 2008-09-08T09:16:00Z
Sunday, the Bills honored Everett before the game, as he was awarded the George Halas Award, given to the player who overcame the most adversity to succeed the season before.  Then, the team went out and did what they couldn't do the day Everett was injured, or the game he came back to see, the home finale against the New York Giants:  dominate a game and garner a win.

The Bills shook off a slow start, and hammered the Seattle Seahawks 34-10 before a sellout crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  The first half was played in a driving rain, and both teams struggled to get even one first down in the first quarter.  Late in the first quarter, Trent Edwards hit Lee Evans with a touch pass down the sideline, and then Marshawn Lynch jaunted for a 21 yard TD run on third down, as the Seahawks were caught in a run blitz and blown out of the way.

Roscoe Parrish did his trademark magic, juking the Seahawks punt coverage team out of their jockstraps on a scintillating 63 yard return in the second quarter, his third punt return for touchdown in his career and first since opening day last season.  He also set a Bills record with 120 punt return yards in the contest.  Rian Lindell added a pair of field goals, from 35 and 38 yards, in the final minute of the half, to give the Bills a 20-7 advantage at the break.

The Seahawks would bang through a 45 yard field goal off the foot of Olindo Mare to cut the lead to 20-10 when the back breaking plays hit.  On fourth down from the 19, the Bills lined up for a field goal.  Ryan Denney slipped outside and was completely unnoticed by the Seahawks.  One would have thought he had a cloaking device on or something.  Punter/holder Brian Moorman took the snap, stood up, tossed the ball out to Denney, and the defensive end rumbled in for the score, making it 27-10 and leaving the Seahawks befuddled. 

On the ensuing kickoff, the ball was coughed up, and kicker Lindell recovered.  On the next play, Edwards hooked up with tight end Robert Royal for a 30 yard touchdown pass to conclude the scoring and drive the nail in the coffin.  Edwards finished 19 of 30 for 215 yards and that touchdown pass, while Marshawn Lynch had 76 yards rushing and a TD.  Evans caught four balls for 102 yards, while Royal had a team high six grabs, for 47 yards and the TD. 

More importantly, the Bills patchwork offensive line bottled up the Seahawks feared pass rush.  They only allowed one sack and that was early on in the game.  Edwards had time to throw, the line opened up holes to run, and the offense made plays.  Special teams play was key, and the Bills showed why they have one of the most feared units in the league.  Defensively, Marcus Stroud was a force, shutting down the Seahawks run game (at one point late in the third quarter, Julius Jones had 7 carries for 1 yard), and the team registered five sacks, including one and a half by Kyle Williams.  The Seahawks were a paltry 3 of 16 on third down conversions, and had to punt eleven times.  Matt Hasselbeck was 17 of 41 for 190 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the dying seconds.

All in all, it was a dominating win for the Bills as they beat a team they should have beaten.  Next up is a trip to steamy Jacksonville for a date with the Jaguars next Sunday at 1 pm ET.  Can the Bills keep the momentum going?  Can the Jags come back from a disappointing defeat at the hands of the Titans?  We'll talk more about the game as the week progresses.
]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-09-07:e3cc4fce-2601-43ea-87c9-679457d206e2 Chris 2008-09-07T11:43:00Z 2008-09-07T11:40:00Z

If you decide to do that on your own, I recommend some form of counseling, be it Gamblers Anonymous, or maybe DNA testing to try and find the root of the problem, betting on games with so much uncertainty here in week one. That said, let's take a look at the games on tap:

Cincinnati (-2) at Baltimore:  The Bengals will turn over a new leaf at running back, as Rudi Johnson was let go.  That said, they still have the potent WR combo of Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and a veteran quarterback in Carson Palmer.  The Ravens start rookie QB Joe Flacco, so their offense will most likely be Willis McGahee left, Willis McGahee right and Willis McGahee up the middle.  Flacco may be good, but I don't see him getting this one.

New York Jets (-3) at Miami:  The Jets are an improved team, with future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre calling the signals.  The Jets added quite a bit during free agency, and hope that those acquisitions can turn around what was a moribund 4-12 team a season ago.  The Dolphins made changes too, trying to erase a single win campaign from memories of their team and staff.  Ex Jet Chad Pennington will be at quarterback with Ricky Williams slated to be the starting running back.  Take the Jets.

Kansas City at New England (-15.5):  Not much to be said here.  The Pats are a dominant team, the Chiefs are a wreck.

Houston at Pittsburgh (-6.5):  The Texans were an improved team last year, but lack enough pass rush outside of Mario Williams to really bother Ben Roethlisberger.  Look for the Steelers to have a successful season opener, especially at Heinz Field, behind the two headed running combo of Willie Parker and rookie Rashard Mendenhall, plus the weaponry downfield of Hines Ward, Heath Miller and Santonio Holmes. 

Jacksonville (-3) at Tennessee:  The Titans offensive weaponry is sputtering just like last season, which could prove fatal if they cannot stop the run.  David Garrard is in his second year as the starter for Jacksonville, and their key will be finding competent wide receivers to handle the ball when he throws it.  Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are a dominant tandem in the backfield that can make life difficult for any defense.  I am just not convinced of Tennessee's offensive capability.

Detroit (-3) at Atlanta:  The Lions have plenty of weapons offensively should they throw the ball, while the Falcons are another team trying to emerge from the shambles of a season ago where everything that could go wrong, did.  Now rookie Matt Ryan is under center, and while he will show flashes of brilliance, I'm not sure that he and Michael Turner can do enough to get a win here.

Seattle at Buffalo (-1):  The Bills breathed a sigh of relief when All Pro tackle Jason Peters reported to camp Saturday, meaning that in the next couple weeks, Trent Edwards will have his normal offensive line blocking for him.  The Seahawks have a tremendous pass rush, but also are lacking in WRs, as Bobby Engram, Deion Branch and now Ben Obomanu are all hurt.  It makes one wonder who can step up for the Seahawks in the pass game.  If Marcus Stroud can blow up the line on run plays, it could make things difficult.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans (-3):  The Saints look to rebound from a rough 2007 and it starts with a game against the defending NFC South champions.  The Bucs are an aging team, especially in skill positions like quarterback and wide receiver.  The last time a hurricane blew through New Orleans, they went to the NFC title game.  Will this be a return visit?

St. Louis at Philadelphia (-8.5):  The Rams were an abysmal 3-13 last season, and then had to deal with the prolonged holdout of running back Stephen Jackson.  Isaac Bruce is gone from the wide receiver group, meaning that Drew Bennett steps in to the role opposite Torry Holt.  The Eagles have a great back in Brian Westbrook, and if Donovan McNabb can get some receiving threats, the team will be dominant.  Expect a big win here today, especially at home, or else the fans will turn on them.

Dallas (-6) at Cleveland:  The Cowboys look to get the sour taste of an early exit from the playoffs last season, and it starts in Cleveland, where the Browns look to improve and make the postseason.  Tony Romo, Marion Barber III, Terrell Owens, Jason Witten and others look to thrive against the soft Cleveland defense of a year ago, while the Browns will rely on Derek Anderson, Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr.  This has all the makings of being a good old fashioned barnburner.

Carolina at San Diego (-9)

Arizona (-2.5) at San Francisco

Chicago at Indianapolis (-9.5)

Minnesota (+2) at Green Bay

Denver at Oakland (+3)


]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-09-04:baaddd40-75bc-4021-9d06-924b3111d23f Chris 2008-09-04T15:29:11Z 2008-09-04T15:27:00Z
No fewer than seven starters are gone from that team, and former starting quarterback Rex Grossman has been benched for a resurgent, if only for a brief moment, Kyle Orton.  The offense was toothless in 2007, and they have since parted ways with Cedric Benson, whose off season, off the field issues made him a liability.  In his place, the Bears will do the dreaded running back by committee, with rookie Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson (no, not THAT Adrian Peterson) and Lions castoff Kevin Jones, who, while showing flashes of brilliance, is known to be injury prone. 

The Bears suffered through the second worst rushing season in the storied history of the franchise last season, and despite the veteran, talented offensive line, the backs are not top of the line.  For all intents and purposes, though aging, the line is like a BMW, while the backs, and for that matter, Orton, are the equivalent of two Gremlins, a Yugo, and a Pinto.

Unfortunately for the Bears, their WR corps is nothing to write home about either.  Muhsin Muhammad is gone, and Bernard Berrian packed his bags to go to Minnesota in the offseason.  That leaves the Bears with Devin Hester, an electrifying return man, but who didn't really adapt well to being a WR, Rashied Davis, Mark Bradley, and then went dumpster diving to get two veterans cut by other teams, in Brandon Lloyd and former Bear Marty Booker.  With the inability to run, and the fact that the Bears play two good pass defense teams the first two weeks of the season in the Colts and Buccaneers, they could be 0-2 in a hurry, and have the fan base howling for changes.

Defensively, the Bears will have to rely on their linebacking corps of Brian Urlacher, who recently redid a deal during the offseason, Lance Briggs and Hunter Hillenmeyer to make plays from sideline to sideline.  Tommie Harris needs to stay healthy, as injuries have racked the former first round pick, and he will be a key cog on the inside.  Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown will have to pressure the opposing quarterback as the Bears were anemic in the field of pass rush last season.  Mike Brown, another injury laced Nebraska first round pick of the past, returns to play free safety, but one has to wonder what kind of durability he has left.

With a tough schedule on tap (11th toughest in the league, opponents have a combined .531 winning percentage), it could be a long season for Bears fans, and one has to wonder if that long season could lead to the demise of Lovie Smith as head coach.  How quickly and how far can one fall? 

Ask Rex Grossman.
]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-09-01:222736d9-0d43-44a5-b438-b49ac164b11f Chris 2008-09-01T13:48:34Z 2008-09-01T13:46:00Z
Brewers to appeal scorer's decision in Sabathia one hitter:  The Milwaukee Brewers, shocked that a chopper by the Pirates Andy LaRoche was ruled a single in the fifth inning and not an error, are going to file an appeal to get the call overturned.  As it turned out, it was the only hit Sabathia allowed in his complete game shutout win, as the Pirates were skunked 7-0.  The win moved the Brewers within 4.5 games of the division leading Cubs, who fell 5-3 to Philadelphia.

Here's a hint Milwaukee:  WORRY ABOUT THE GAMES.  You wonder why you haven't been to the playoffs since 1982?  You wonder why you melted down last season like an ice cream cone in Phoenix at high noon in July?  You think about the twelve straight losing seasons in recent history?  Focusing on the TASK AT HAND might help you.  No one cares about a one hitter that might be changed to a no hitter.  The Pirates are in the tank already, do you think the scorrer mailed it in too?  Come on now.

Chad Johnson legally changes name to Ocho Cinco:  The flamboyant Bengals receiver changed his name legally last week in Florida to Chad Javon Ocho Cinco.  Just because you like showing off that you know that ocho cinco means 85 in Spanish, doesn't mean you should change the name.  Furthermore, for it to truly be 85 and not the numbers 8 and 5 sitting next to each other, it would be ochenta y cinco. 

I guess Johnson needed to do something to try and distract the media from the shoulder injury he sustained during the preseason.  The best answer?  Go out and catch some passes, score some touchdowns and go to the Pro Bowl.  If he comes out tentative and the Bengals are flat, not only will it be a wasted season, it could cost Marvin Lewis his job.

East Carolina stuns Virginia Tech:  Score one for irony in this battle.  Virginia Tech, a team known for special teams prowess, and kick blocking abilities, were stung by the Pirates late in this one.  Senior T.J. Lee blocked a Tech punt and returned it 27 yards for the winning score in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter to give East Carolina a shocking 27-22 win over the Hokies in a turnover plagued contest Saturday.

Both teams had two turnovers, both missed PATs, though the East Carolina one was blocked and returned 98 yards for two points, giving the Hokies a 16-13 lead going to the fourth quarter, and neither team ran the ball with much authority.  It was classic week one college football.

Warriors not buying explanation of Ellis injury:  Monta Ellis, who signed a six year, $66 million contract earlier this summer, making him the highest paid player on the Warriors, sustained an ankle injury, tearing the deltoid ligament, which will put him out of action for three months.   Ellis claims he injured his ankle during a pickup game and speculation is that he won't play until at least December with the injury.

The Warriors seem a bit skeptical of the report of how it was sustained, and are expected to dispatch a team trainer to Mississippi once he returns from South Africa for the Basketball without Borders program.  The Warriors are reeling as it is, after Baron Davis bailed out to go to the Clippers of all teams, and to be nailed with an injury of this magnitude will dampen their potential in the extremely competitive Western Conference.

Sakic resigns with Avalanche:  The Avalanche captain decided to come back for a 20th season in the NHL, signing a one year, six million dollar deal to play one more year at the age of 39.  Sakic had the potential to go anywhere after the season, as he was an unrestricted free agent, but told his agent from the start, that he would play for Colorado or retire. 

One has to wonder if this is merely a swan song for Sakic.  He missed 38 games last year with hernia surgery, and had a terrible statistical season.  However, he is a consummate professional and top shelf leader, both of which can benefit a team like the Avalanche, who play in the Western Conference with tough teams like Anaheim and Detroit.  He put up 13 goals and 40 points in 44 games last season and has 623 career goals to his credit.

So there you have it, a quick look at a few things that caught my eye this weekend in sports.  Stay tuned later this week for more on the opening week of the NFL, including picks, a look at upcoming major league baseball action, and of course, college football.



]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-08-30:345c32c9-cf27-4d11-9317-eed009b9a413 Chris 2008-08-30T14:43:20Z 2008-08-30T14:41:00Z
You see, today is the NFL cut down day, where by 6 pm ET, they are mandated to get their rosters down to 53 players in order to get ready for the regular season, which kicks off Thursday, with the first full slate of games Sunday.  It means a potential end of the road for veteran players who were trying to get one more year, or that a rookie will have to catch on somewhere else to make waves.  It means that guys that tried so hard to make an impact may have simply run out of time or opportunity, be it due to depth chart issues, injuries, a combination of the two, or one of many other reasons.

Some teams have already announced some of their cuts.  The Houston Texans let go 21 players, including long time linebacker Rosevelt Colvin.  They also let go corner Jamar Fletcher and former Notre Dame running back Darius Walker.  The Eagles finally gave up on kick returner/backup running back Ryan Moats.  The Rams dumped ten players, including Marques Hagans and Jerome Carter.  New Orleans parted ways with long term safety Lance Schulters, who has had some good years in the league. 

One has to hate hearing the words from someone in the organization:  "Coach wants to see you, and bring your playbook."  When those words are uttered in your direction, you know that your time with the team is at an end.  Then there is the gut check of deciding what to do next as you clean out your locker:  try to catch on somewhere else, go into broadcasting, try to make a living selling life insurance quotes, or any of a myriad of choices. The one true certainty is that as the saying goes: "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."

Every year this goes on, and every year,  it never gets easier.  Relative unknowns supplant fan favorites, backups step in for injured or ineffective starters, and players retire, are traded or go elsewhere via free agency.  What never changes is the fact that we, the fans, watch the games, and root for the teams that we've grown to know and love.  Through good times and bad, we are there lending our support to them.  Sure, the players change, the logos change now and again, the stadiums change, but the heart and soul is the same.

So when you settle in to watch that game next time your team is on TV, remember those guys who gave it their all, only not to be good enough to play on Sundays.  The guys who we saw through preseason making plays, or in some cases, not making plays, wearing strange jersey numbers, who were chasing a dream.  Remember the victims of cut down day, and never forget that without them, the guys that we root for, might not seem quite so special.
]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-08-26:e39d5622-d432-49ed-b6bf-bd412aac3054 Chris 2008-08-30T14:46:14Z 2008-08-26T15:29:00Z
These are all things we hear as kids in organized team sports growing up.   However, that has suddenly failed to ring true in one Little League in New Haven, Connecticut.

In a sign of just how ridiculous the times have become in the world, where insulating the feelings of failure and the stigma of defeat are washed away in the mentality that every player is as good as the next, nine year old Jericho Scott was told that he couldn't pitch in the New Haven Little League anymore because he was clocked at nearly 40 miles per hour on a pitch.   Let's be realistic, the kid hasn't even had his first kiss, his first date most likely, or his first set of acne treatments, and now he can't play Little League either. The league has stated that it will disband Scott's team and refund the $50 sign up for any members of his team due to the decision.

So suddenly, an organization that opened itself up to any range of players from the talented to the talentless, has suddenly shuttered itself from something as simple as a rare find, a diamond in the rough.  Now, I myself played little league and Babe Ruth baseball through the age of fifteen, and while I wasn't the greatest of players, I certainly was not scraping the bottom of the barrel either.  We had one kid who was so scared he closed his eyes and looked to be flailing at the ball in the batter's box.  One other was known to dig potholes in right field with his foot, while a third was prone to picking dandelions out of the grass. 

Now, I also played with and against some great players, a couple of whom were drafted in the MLB draft, though never getting anywhere near the majors.  Still, the potential was there, the drive was there, and the motivation to succeed was there.  The same drive and motivation that coursed through the veins of Jericho Scott when he took the mound in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Regarding the situation, league attorney Peter Noble had the following to say: 

"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower.   There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."

So now, promoting the sport includes the removal of players who can thrive and succeed to prevent the inevitable feeling of failure and the sinking feeling of not being the best out there?  Promoting the sport has come to the point where rational thought and realistic thinking has gone out the window, and we look at the proverbial needs of the many over the needs of the few argument so often seen in court cases?  What kind of example does this set for leagues across the country when faced with a potential similar situation? 

More importantly, what kind of example does this set to the children?  Skate by, doing the minimum and stay in the game?  Don't give it everything you have?  Do what it takes to get by?

It is things like this that permanently leaves a mark on the psyche of youth.  One can only hope that there is a revisiting of this topic and a reversal of fortunes, before it is too late.
]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-08-24:20a1761d-1658-42c4-87eb-23fbc0407d78 Chris 2008-08-30T14:48:41Z 2008-08-24T11:06:00Z
Now, I know some of you are saying, "Well, let's not forget about the Kickoff Game on the Thursday before that..."  Really, I know all about it.  It's one game.  Give me the couch, plenty of good snacks and beverages and a full slate of games that I can flip back and forth on the channels (or the computer if need be) and leave me alone.  I tend to ignore the phone, the door, the world imploding on itself, and everything else when there is a game I want to see on TV.  That's how it's supposed to be right?  I mean, even God himself rested on the seventh day, so why should I be bothered when the NFL is on?

Speaking of the NFL, here in St. Louis the big to do was that Stephen Jackson finally reported to camp and signed a new deal.  Supposedly, the deal is not that different than the one offered nearly a month ago, but suddenly he had a change of heart and came to camp.  Six years and $44 million are the numbers being bandied about.  All well and good, but will Jackson quit on this team the way he did last season at times when the Rams struggled?  He has nothing to play for really at this stage but the bucks.  He held out too long for the year to count against his time for free agency (rules state you have to report 30 days before a team's first game) and now he has a big fat contract.  Will he get complacent and soft, or will he try to turn this team back around?

Meanwhile, back in Buffalo, the same issue is going on with All Pro tackle Jason Peters.  Sources within the organization have stated that there has been no discussion with Peters or his agent Eugene Parker.  Peters is the third highest paid lineman on the Bills line, behind free agent signings Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker.   Peters had sports hernia surgery in the offseason and one wonders if this a ploy to get more money while still not being 100 percent.  The bottom line here is that Peters hasn't lost a lot...yet.  Starting with week one of the regular season, if he still has not reported, Peters would be forfeiting his game checks, which translate to roughly $191,176 a week for the seventeen weeks.  I suppose that Peters could turn to being a pizza delivery guy, or sell dog supplies to make ends meet should he decide not to report.

What's worse for Peters is his leverage is shrinking with each solid performance in preseason by the Bills makeshift line as well.  He'll need to cut his losses and get in shape in a hurry if he expects anything from owner Ralph Wilson, who is one of the feistiest, in touch owners in the NFL.

Then of course, there are the injuries.  Harry Williams of the Texans underwent spinal surgery after fracturing a vertebrae in a head on collision with a teammate similar to the Kevin Everett incident a year ago.  Jason Taylor and Osi Umenyiora both need MRIs after sustaining knee injuries yesterday.  Taylor has a sprain, Umenyiora is undetermined, though X rays were negative.  Shawne Merriman has a torn PCL and LCL, and has been told by doctors if he doesn't have surgery, his career could be in jeopardy.  He's only 24, and has plenty left in the tank.  Let's hope that common sense takes precedent and that he goes the smart route.

All that said, I look forward to this time of year as a sports fan.  The start of the NFL season, pennant races in baseball are at their boiling points, hockey and basketball are getting ready to get underway, and of course, college and even high school football are in full swing.  We can be bombarded with a slew of different athletes, different teams, different sports, on any given day on any given channel.

Is there really anything more that a sports fan can ask for?
]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-08-22:161136dc-29af-42ae-85ab-a452cede98aa Chris 2008-08-23T11:43:09Z 2008-08-22T14:59:00Z
Upshaw played for the Oakland Raiders for fifteen years, from 1967 to 1982, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987 for his work.  Upshaw also is the only player to play in Super Bowls in three different decades with the same club.  He was an eleven time All Pro and selected to seven Pro Bowl contests as well.  He was a ferocious blocker, a tenacious player, and gave everything he could from whistle to gun.

After retiring from the NFL, Upshaw took the reins as the executive director of the NFLPA.  Players salaries were lagging behind baseball and pro hoops, mainly due to the ability for players to change teams via free agency.  This was not an option in the NFL during Upshaw's time.  You basically were an indentured servant to the team that drafted you unless they traded or cut you.  Upshaw saw the money being thrown around in other sports and wanted to try and bring that to his brethren. 

Upshaw's final season in the league was the strike shortened 1982 campaign, when the players walked out for 57 days in an attempt to get a bigger chunk of the gross revenue, reportedly 55 percent.  That merely cut the schedule from 16 games to nine and led to an expansion of the playoffs from eight teams to sixteen.  Upshaw was then at the forefront with the union in 1987 when the NFLPA attempted to go on strike.  That backfired when the owners set up replacement players, or scabs, to play, and only one week of the season was lost.

That strike was poorly planned.  The NFLPA hadn't set aside any cash for the players striking to make up for the lost wages, and it led to a split between factions of the union.  Several dozen players crossed the picket line and after a month, the players went back to work without a collective bargaining agreement.  They did file an antitrust suit in an attempt to get free agency opened, but it was denied by the Court of Appeals.  This prompted them to change to a professional organization instead of a union and filed a second antitrust lawsuit stating that the rules were a "unlawful restraint of trade."

Upshaw and the players association would ultimately prevail, gaining free agency at the cost of a salary cap tied to revenues.

However, not everything was all roses and candy for Upshaw.  He had his fair share of critics, myself included, regarding his stance on older players, of his generation and before.  When asked about former players who had spoken out about the receiving of minimal benefits, Upshaw stated:  "I don't work for them. They are not union members and they have no vote."

That statement infuriated many, including fellow Hall of Famers Mike Ditka, Joe DeLamielleure, and Gale Sayers.  Ditka's foundation, Gridiron Greats, has worked to help some of these players in need, but it spawned a cauldron of controversy between Upshaw and other respected individuals.  Matt Stover, the Ravens kicker, had circulated a plan via email to try and force Upshaw out next season.

It is always a disturbing thing when anyone dies.  It gets magnified more so when it is one in the public eye.  In the case of a former professional athlete, one that people identify with, whether good or bad, things can be viewed in a myriad of ways.  From a strictly business perspective, Gene Upshaw was a genius.  He turned a failing organization (the NFLPA was 4 million plus in the hole when he took over, to over $220 million in the black now) into a profitable one.  He did what he could to make things better and more conducive for his charges, the current crop of players.  However, in the eyes of the older generation, he failed to deliver on things for them.  Too many players still suffer from subpar retirement plans, which pale in comparison to what major league baseball pays out, in a far less physically jarring sport. 

Gene Upshaw, a visionary, a pioneer, a leader, a competitor, a warrior, gone at the age of 63.
]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-08-20:b5d8c061-94ff-4c67-9ec0-fcb3971b153a Chris 2008-08-20T15:33:33Z 2008-08-20T15:33:00Z Tina might oblige on her blog.  By the way, if you do read her blog, wish her a happy birthday, she turned 28 on Sunday.

That said, let's talk about a seemingly new trend hitting MLB.  No, I am not talking about the potential instant replay that has been milled about and has the umpires in a frenzy, to the point that they boycotted a conference call slated for today.  I'm not talking about people trying to bill guys who haven't been in their respective league for more than a month and a half, clamoring that they should be the MVP.  I mean really, sure, CC Sabathia has been great for the Brewers.  However, the Crew is 3-5 in Ben Sheets' starts since the deal, and Milwaukee is still 6.5 games behind the Cubs for the division lead with just 37 games to go.  Sabathia is not in the lineup every day, and as it stands right now, the Brewers are still having to fight off the Cardinals for the wild card position.

Mailing in the season is not a new trend.  Washington has dropped 11 straight.  San Diego just dealt future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux to the Dodgers for two players to be named later.  The Reds dealt Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox at the trade deadline, then shipped Adam Dunn to Arizona for prospects, the best of whom is recovering from Tommy John surgery.  Reports were later amended to say that Micah Owings would go to Cincinatti, but he would have to clear waivers if he was to be moved before the year came to a close.  Seattle seemed to give up by the time the calendar flipped to May, and there are several other teams that bottomed out as well.

Small market teams continue to surprise and contend.  The Minnesota Twins are just a game behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central despite losing center fielder Torii Hunter and ace Johan Santana during the offseason.  The Florida Marlins are continuing to contend despite a youth ridden team, mainly on the strength of the long ball.  Without it, they are merely an afterthought.  Tampa Bay dropped the Devil from the Devil Rays name to become the Rays, and they are in first place going into the homestretch in the AL East, already setting a franchise record for wins in a season.

The trend that I was referring to?  Managers actually removing or benching players for lack of hustle.  How many times have you seen a guy loaf down the line on a ground ball to second?  How many times have you seen a guy admire a long fly ball, thinking it was a homer, only to watch it hit the wall and have to sprint to be safe at second, or even worse, gunned down?  Gone are the days of the workmanlike ballplayer, the one who goes nose to the grindstone whether it be a comebacker to the mound, a shot in the gap, a swinging bunt, or one yanked down in the corner.

Charlie Manuel of the Phillies benched shortstop and 2007 MVP Jimmy Rollins for failing to run out a pop up against Washington earlier this season.  In typical Nats fashion, the ball was dropped, and Rollins, who could have been on second, had to bust it just to avoid being thrown out...at first.  Eric Wedge of Cleveland benched Ryan Garko for not running out a check swing grounder to first.  For that matter, Garko never got out of the box.  His excuse was he was thinking it would go foul.  It didn't. 

Then there is talented young superstar B.J. Upton of the Rays.  Manager Joe Maddon, a no nonsense sort of guy if there ever was one, has benched Upton not once, not twice, but THREE times, within the last month or so.  Included in that stretch was a ground ball back to the mound that he didn't run out with one out and a runner on base, setting up an easy double play.  Upton's weak excuse?  He thought there were two outs.  This string of benchings doesn't include his admiring of a drive that he thought was gone, only to one hop off the wall.  He tried loping into second, since the base was uncovered, only to find out, much to his disdain, that Mark Teixeira, *GASP*, played the game right, and went to take the throw.  He tagged Upton out as he was preparing to pull into second base.  Maddon did not bench him for this issue.

I personally applaud the actions of Maddon, Manuel and Wedge.  Someone needs to remind the prima donnas of sport that while it is a game, they are getting paid for hustling and playing the game right.  Like it or not, they are role models for the up and coming youth of today, and their actions on the field are mimicked and emulated on playgrounds, ball fields, and courts across the globe.

Gone are the days of Charlie Hustle, of let's play two, and other things that made baseball America's Pastime.  Now all we see are overpaid, oversensitive grown men playing a game and getting paid obscene amounts of money for a definitive lack of production.  This is what we have to show our children as our shining example:  playing a game, yet not at full speed, while still managing to whine about how much they're worth. 

Such a galling sight it is.
]]> tag:juuustabitoutside.com,2008-08-16:8da128b4-10c0-46a3-a8cb-2f9a49cd951f Chris 2008-08-24T10:11:53Z 2008-08-16T15:46:00Z
From a football perspective, the Bills were extremely successful, knocking off the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21 Thursday evening.  Even better, the offense was sharp, as Trent Edwards hit on 9 of 11 balls for 104 yards and a pair of touchdown strikes to Robert Royal.  He opened the game with a 33 yard hit to Lee Evans, showing that he was willing to stretch the field a bit.  The run game was sharp, and even Edwards added a 22 yard scramble on a 3rd and 11 play.  The line was solid, and the defense kept Pittsburgh's run game in check.  Throw out a 47 yard run by Dennis Dixon late in the fourth quarter against the reserves, and the defense was vastly improved over what we saw last season.

Rookie corner Leodis McKelvin put a charge in the return game as he ran a kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to put the final Buffalo points on the board.  If the Bills can click on all cylinders like that in the regular season, they could put a jolt in a lot of teams.

The disappointment was more on the other side of things, as the game was not a sellout, falling some 5000 seats short of capacity.  Word has it that scalpers were taking a beating, with the top tickets of $575 were going for as low as $90 before the game.  There was a small protest by CFL fans who were selling Bills shirts with the logo crossed out in their attempt to show solidarity for the CFL and the hometown Toronto Argonauts.

Will the game get better reviews when a potential playoff spot hangs in the balance in a bitter rivalry game that Bills fans are howling about?  I'm speaking of December 7th, as Bills fans feel Pearl Harbored by the NFL, taking the Miami Dolphins game and moving it into a domed venue.  You know the weather will be bitter in Buffalo that day, and if ticket sales do not play up to expectations, expect a deluge of angry letters to Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding his choice of games to move north of the border.  At the moment, I wouldn't be trying to call and line up moving services just yet. We'll have to see if future contests are better received.

Either way, this is an investment opportunity.  Whether it pans out like Microsoft or goes belly up like Enron will be determined in the coming years.  However, for die hard Bills fans, it will be decided by that game in December.
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