Entries Tagged as 'Football'

Shining Example Part Two

I wrote earlier about a stick swinging, church going, dad who swung a stick at a Jared Aulin in a non-contact hockey league. Now, according to the linked article, Aulin will give up the game of hockey for good.

All because of a dad, who is supposed to set a good example of sportsmanship, couldn’t hold it together during a recreational league where the Stanley Cup is no where to be found. Of course, I wouldn’t exactly think that stick swinging behavior is appropriate any time, even when the Stanley Cup is on the line, but acting like an idiot in a recreational league doesn’t set a good standard for building a foundation in young athletes.

Here is another example, and this time it’s from the world of pee-wee football. These football players are five and six years old, and they had to witness a parent losing it on the field as he assaulted a referee. Inside the clip, there is also an instance where he wrestled with someone else, but I’m not sure if it was the referee here too.

What disturbs me about this clip is at the end where the parent “defends” himself. Why doesn’t he take responsibility for his actions and take the consequences. Instead, he blames the other guy and states that if he didn’t throw the punch, the other person would have.

Nice going – good analysis – I completely believe you!

What strikes me about the clip overall though is the shots of the young kids just standing around. All they want to do is play football. Their body language says to me that they are very confused as to why the people are fighting. That’s the rough part to see.

Carnage and Celebration

Arizona Cardinals 9 Oakland Raiders 22

The Arizona Cardinals dropped their sixth straight game losing to the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders put up 22 points to the Cardinals 9. Matt Leinert showed us that he is still indeed a rookie as the Raiders defense exploited his current weaknesses.

Yep, firing the offensive coordinator sure made the difference.

Pittsburgh Steelers 38 Atlanta Falcons 41 (OT)

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost in OT from an Atlanta Falcons field goal.

Michael Vick wanted to answer his critics regarding his earlier comments to Inside the NFL and had an amazing game.

The Steelers played well, the Falcons played well, and the only issue I had with the game was Phil Simms’s commentary. I wonder if Simms and Michael Vick are dating? On one of Vick’s touchdown passes, Alge Crumpler ran an inside post pattern and the coverage allowed him too much space. Vick fired a bullet to Crumpler and Simms exclained, “What an amazing pass! Very few quarterbacks can make that throw, like John Elway, and Michael Vick made an excellent pass!”

Okay, so Vick is just as good as Elway? Right. Other quarterbacks can make that throw – almost all of them can. Crumpler was wide open.

Another issue I have is with the Atlanta Falcons fans. The Falcons are a solid team, and I am surprised they are not supported that well. I saw just as many Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys in the stands as Atlanta Falcons fans. Phil Simms thought seeing the Steelers fans in attendance was “just great to see!” I thought that it was pretty sad that the “enemy’s fans” helped fill the house.

Green Bay Packers 34 Miami Dolphins 24

The Green Bay Packers won their second game of the season beating the Miami Dolphins.

Philadelphia Eagles 21 Tampa Buccaneers 23

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the best come-from-behind win on Sunday as they won with the second longest field goal in NFL history, a 62-yard blast from Matt Bryant, who just a year or two ago worked in a pawn shop before coming to the NFL.

The Buccaneers seemed to have the number of the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the defensive issues that have plagued the Tampa Bay Buccaneers all season came back and haunted them, as the Eagles took the lead late in the fourth quarter as Donovan McNabb threw a strike to Brian Westbrook. There was not one missed tackle or two or even three missed tackles. There were four missed tackles as Westbrook scampered to the end zone.

The defensive secondary had better take Bryant out to a nice dinner – he saved the victory for them.

So, now with my football picks, I am now even. I’m glad I didn’t make that trip to Vegas after all.

I’m also not sure about this week’s Pam Oliver Effect either since I had issues with my DVR…I missed the pre-game. :-(

If anyone saw the FOX NFL Pregame show, and knows who she featured this week, comment below. :-)

What’s on My TV This Week

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons

The Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons (3-2).

One player from the Falcons squad was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Starting Guard Matt Lehr serves a four-game suspension because he tested positive for Ephedrine, a banned substance according the regulations of the NFL. He took a supplement that had the banned ingredient and will sit.

Another distraction for the Atlanta Falcons is Michael Vick as he sounded off to HBO’s Inside the NFL. I thought Vick was happier this year? When a player wishes for other receivers to be on his team, he insults the current receiving corps he plays with each week. Just give Vick the ball, coach?

Okay then.

Michael Vick’s Quarterback rating for the past five years is a 72.9. His QB rating this season is 66. He only completed 52.16% of his passes within those five years, and has completed only 50.4% this year.

But he’s a rushing quarterback, right?

Fine. He only has been in the top 15 of rushing yards twice in his career, and this season is in the top 25.

Peyton Manning he is not. How can Vick wish for “better receivers” when he can’t get the ball there? When he does rush for yardage, his energy level is shot for the next series of downs and if the offense falls apart before then, the Falcons usually punt.

Give him the ball coach – Vick is just another long list of whiners in the NFL, which I getting mighty tired of hearing. It’s worse this season than in previous seasons.

Pittsburgh will win this game and by a touchdown.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Oakland Raiders

The struggling Arizona Cardinals travel to Oakland to take on the hapless Raiders.

Much is wrong with the Silver and Black and the change in offensive coordinator for the Cardinals could spark the team to a win this week.

The Cardinals will win by a field goal (provided that Rackers can get his technique back).