Endings and Beginnings...

As we bring 2007 to a close and embark on yet another promising year in 2008, the sports world continues to spin, bringing us constantly to the edge of unpredictability. For example, as the NFL concluded its regular season (and cost me 2 fantasy championships), teams that didn't make the playoffs began their postseason evaluations, sending some into the new year looking for other forms of employment. For example, the Baltimore Ravens went ahead and fired head coach Brian Billick after he confidently told reporters that he would be back a few weeks ago(http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3150074). He then proceeded to lose to the then-winless Dolphins via poor playcalling the very next week, after which he should've been immediately booted, but oh well- at least he didn't pull a Bobby Petrino (it's amazing how one person can become the butt of so many jokes in such a short period of time).
Speaking of those same Dolphins, I don't think anyone expected new executive VP of football ops Bill Parcells to sit very quietly once the 'Fins lost yesterday to cap a miserable 1-15 season. He began his housecleaning by first firing GM Randy Mueller (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3174839), who, based on his previous track record, shouldn't have been hired in the first place. Next on the firing line- head coach Cam Cameron, who had this to say in the same article: "There's going to be an opportunity in the next few days to sit down and talk with Bill," Cameron said. "We'll treat it as an exchange between two guys who want to see the Miami Dolphins be successful, and what it's going to take to do that." As brilliant an offensive mind as Cameron has been perceived to be, what it's going to take for the Dolphins to get back to any sort of respectability is probably getting rid of him and bringing in someone like Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett or Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and seeing what they can do. Not many people are giving Cameron a chance (including myself), but some of his players seem to be a little more optimistic. "God willing," running back Jesse Chatman said. "Coach Cameron is better than people think he is. He needs a chance to show what a good coach he is." He'll get his chance, but it probably won't be on South Beach. If Parcells does let him go, he'll be back as an offensive coordinator somewhere next season.
Being a Chiefs fan, I have to go homer on this next one. Team president and general manager Carl Peterson has decided to return to the organization for a twentieth season despite the team just finishing a disappointing 4-12 season. I'm always optimistic when rooting for my teams (Braves, Chiefs, Seminoles, Stars), but it was awfully difficult this season with RB Larry Johnson being injured more often than not, the retirements of offensive linemen Willie Roaf and Will Shields before the season, and the lack of a solid QB after Trent Green was traded to the Dolphins. It's reassuring to know that someone who has a put a lot of energy into keeping a franchise performing at a high level year after year can continue to stick by the franchise during years like this one. After team owner (and NFL legend) Lamar Hunt passed away last year, Peterson made it his mission to see it all the way through, so I know that Kansas Citians can rest comfortably going into 2008 knowing that the architect who built past Chiefs teams with players like Okoye, Thomas, Neil Smith, and Willie Davis will continue to mold the franchise and turn it around after an off year.
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. We've witnessed many unpredictable events this past year, which have impacted us in some way, shape or form. Let's resolve to make 2008 a wonderful year, one full of promise, enrichment, and optimism. Until next year...

(Bad) Sign of the Times

So I'm on my computer reading the online edition of the Hartford Courant today (for those of you scoring at home, that's http://www.courant.com) and the following headline catches my eye on my way to the sports section: "Civic's Out: Now It's The XL Center." At first I was puzzled, but when I put it all together a few seconds later, I was hoping it wasn't about one of my favorite hometown landmarks, the Hartford Civic Center, selling out to a corporate bigwig like so many other sports venues across the country. After the first two sentences, however, I was saddened by this unfortunate circumstance: "XL is no longer just a jersey size in Hartford sports.The two letters will anchor a new name for the Hartford Civic Center under an agreement to sell the naming rights of the landmark venue to XL Insurance." The Civic Center, to me, was one of the last regional holdouts of my childhood to not give in to corporate greed, with Giants Stadium, Yankee Stadium, and Fenway Park standing by its side. I can't even fathom walking in there for a Wolf Pack or Huskies game and calling it the "XL Center." I'm too old school, bleeding Whalers green and blue through and through, to sell out and not call it the Civic Center. It's sad that, in this day and age, our major sports have resorted to soliciting high-priced stadium naming deals from corporate America. What happened to the days of Foxboro Stadium, Joe Robbie Stadium, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and Candlestick Park?? Oh, and I almost forgot the Boston Garden!! Stadium names like these are legendary, names that sports fans around my age and older can appreciate, so if I sound curmudgeonly old school, that's because I am!! Those of you who appreciate old school sports- join me in celebrating the venues of days past- places like the Kingdome, Mile High Stadium, Maple Leaf Gardens, and the ol' Aud in Buffalo. LONG LIVE THE HARTFORD CIVIC CENTER!! Until next time...

Something To Think About...

I happened to come across a link to an editorial on the Baltimore Sun website (http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.steele09dec09,0,7135582.column) after reading a baseball blog on ESPN.com, and it definitely opened my eyes a little. David Steele posed a good point in the wake of the recent Sean Taylor slaying and the court cases of Barry Bonds and Michael Vick, among others. "Strange how a certain worldwide-leading sports network brings out its "legal analysts" when an athlete (Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, Adam "Pacman" Jones, Tank Johnson) is accused of a crime but not when an athlete (Sean Taylor) is the victim," he said. Before I read that, I never really paid attention to when the "legal analysts" showed up on said network programs, but now that he mentioned it, it's actually fairly true. Unless an athlete is somehow involved in some type of criminal activity, those "legal analysts" probably continue doing their real jobs, even when an athlete is the unfortunate victim. If I remember correctly, when Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was gunned down last New Year's Eve, said network sent reporters out to the Denver area to cover the story, but those "legal analysts" seemed to be nowhere to be found. It's amazing what a network will or won't do for ratings, even if they're branded as the "worldwide leader." This point won't stop me from watching said network, but it did persuade me to watch it a little bit differently now. Until next time...