All things Tiger and Vick

First let me apologize to those of you that are not totally enamored with my sports posts, I realize this is three in a row and I owe you something more insightful soon :).

Tiger, Tiger, Tiger I am so glad you lost. Unlike the scores of people who were saying that yesterday and this morning for a myriad of ignorant and socially incorrect reasons I was glad to see that you were HUMAN! As you may know, I am a HUGE Tiger fan and of course I want him to win and make history, but yesterday there was something poetic in watching him be human and at the same time watching a relative unknown step up and perform under pressure. Today I have read about Tiger choking and even that his career is over. Journalism today has become so full of hyperbole and nonsense. It is what it is. Tiger is human, he suffers from the same frailties as us, how refreshing. Why go off the deep end and suggest his career is over? Phil Mickleson blows leads and tournaments on a regular basis, I have never heard word one that his career was over let along on the decline. I look forward to the day Tiger wins his 19th Major along with his 87th overall tournament (I think that's the record) but yesterday was a refreshing departure from the script.

Speaking of departing from the script, you have the Michael Vick 60 Minutes interview last night. I want so badly to still hate Mike. What he did was deplorable and the extent of the lying makes it even worse, but watching last night I believed him. I know I very well be naive and as one of my closest friends asked me, "Would you feel the same way if he wasn't going to play for your team?". I can't answer that question because he is. Someone also wanted me to compare it to Terrell Owens leaving Philly for Dallas and the fact that I despise T.O. to this day. I thought about the difference. I have no idea who either of these guys are as people though they have given us more than glimpses. What I can say is I think someone can learn from errors in judgement and poor societal moral choices. I don't think someone can change their internal make up and how they view others as human beings. Mike Vick committed atrocious acts, no doubt, but if is no longer doing those things and recognizes he can't isn't it over once he paid his penalty? Owens on the other hand continues in his selfish ways from city to city. He holds himself accountable to no one. Me personally, I'd rather go to battle with Mike, who has shown he can be a teammate, than T.O. who doesn't know what that word means.

America is a place built on second chances. I hope Vick not only gets his second chance but that he fulfills the promise of what a second chance means. If he does he might change the way we look at athletes. If he doesn't then he goes into the pile with the rest of the liars.

It's time to start talking FOOTBALL

Last night I walked in the door from travel day from hell just in time for HBO's latest series, Hard Knocks, NFL Training Camp: The Dallas Cowboys. Now, if you don't know me, let me accentuate this point:

I HATE THE DALLAS FREAKING COWBOYS!!!!

As a kid growing up in Philadelphia there was no ifs, ands or buts about this point. This hatred grew and festered as I watched Da Boys win multiple Super Bowls. When we moved to Florida my loyalty to my hometown never left. The early 80's were pretty good to Philly sports fans and South Florida at that time only had the Dolphins. Additionally all my friends were transplants as well, mostly from New York, so they were predominantly Jets and Giants fans and in those days Philly had the upper hand. All except for Scotty, who despite his New York upbringing was and still is a dyed in the wool Cowboy fan. I am glad to say that Scotty is still one of 4 guys I would lay down my life for and vice versa but all that goes by the wayside when we talk NFL football. He loves to remind me of the ZERO Super Bowls, and all I can respond with is, you aren't even from Dallas (insert expletive)...
In 1997, we moved to Dallas. My best friend in Dallas is a life long Cowboy fan with family season tickets on the 40 yard line. For 6 years I enjoyed going to games with him and his Dad. We even had sideline passes for the day T.O. raced out onto the star at midfield to celebrate a TD. Let me tell you, the smile on my face at that was PRICELESS. Every time the Eagles came to town I would don my McNabb #5 and deal with the Cowboy fans. I love being the underdog and I certainly enjoy instigating some good natured ribbing.

Sorry for the sidetrack, but there is some background...back to last night:

The show was phenomenal! Now that I am in the production world I watch things differently and the folks at HBO do just a great job. As a football geek it was great to see the behind the scenes stuff, the practices, the rookie hazing, etc...but best of all was to get to see what I know will be a very formidable team on the field this year develop.

Let me reiterate my opening point:

I HATE THE DALLAS COWBOYS!!!!!!!


However, and I hope the guys from my league don't read this blog, I would LOVE the Romo-Owens 'bam bam' that should happen at least 15 times this year, and say what you want about Adam 'Pacman' Jones, that kid is one of the sickest athletes I have ever seen.

In other news, can you believe Brett Favre is now a New York J-E-T Jet? I know some guys that are doing backflips right now!

Meanwhile, in addition to the Fantasy Football show we are producing and that I am hosting I will also be contributing op-ed pieces to the website in article form. I think my first one will be about the changes in fantasy football over the last 10 years and how drastically changes in the NFL force new thinking with Fantasy Football.