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Jim Trotter, one of my favorite writers strikes again. His pieces typically resonate with me very strongly and his latest article on Oakland Raiders’ Terrell Pryor is no different. Pryor was punished by the NCAA for selling his own Ohio State items and was vilified after the infraction was discovered including 5 game suspension in the NFL which I still think was extremely unfair and insulting and hypocritical. Pryor explains to Trotter why he did what he did and how confused he was about why he was being treated so harshly after making a mistake as a freshman.

Then he goes on to describe why he sold his pants:

Pryor says:

The reason why I did it was to pay my mother’s gas bill and some of her rent. She was four months behind in rent, and the [landlord] was so nice because he was an Ohio State fan. He gave her the benefit of the doubt and she said, ‘My son will pay you back sometime if you just let me pay you back during my work sessions.’ She ended up losing her job, and she and my sister lived there. Let me remind you it was freezing cold in November, December, and she’s using the oven as heat. That’s what I did as a kid. I was telling the NCAA, ‘Please, anything that you can do. I gave my mother this so my sister wouldn’t be cold, so my mother wouldn’t be cold.’ They didn’t have any sympathy for me. It’s not like I went there and bought new Jordans. It’s documented. Whenever I write my book the proof will be in there, the receipt that the money I gave my mother was to pay the electric and heat bill. The truth is going to come out one day when the time is right. I don’t think I deserved [being punished] in that way, because of the reason I was doing it. I felt like I was doing God’s work in a way, and I was getting driven into the ground.

Yesterday I tried to watch Buzz Bissinger and Malcolm Gladwell argue that college football should be banned. I lasted about 15 minutes. My mind kept wondering off to what REALLY bothers me about college football and that is the student-athlete thing that makes the adults involved able to treat the kids any way they want to and hold them to different standards. That will never ever sit right with me. And that paternalism players are groomed to accept in college sports extends right into professional sports where you have Commissioners like David Stern and Roger Goodell walking around like Daddy Warbucks…or worse, Daddy Grace!

I haven’t yet blogged about Jonathan Vilma’s suspension because my opinions are a little all over the place. But my primary thought was that suspending a 30 year old defensive player for a year is infinitely more harsh than suspending a coach for a year. Especially since Vilma plays linebacker which is a position that isn’t so easy to come back from after a year off. It’s not like he’s a QB or WR.

Regardless of position, suspending any player for a year is more than just a pay cut, it’s a knock at the rest of their career. Suspending a coach for a year is difficult on the team but the coach will come back and work 20 more years. That’s why Vilma’s suspension just feel fundamentally unfair.

Vilma obviously thinks so too. I doubt he would have appealed a 3 game suspension like current Cleveland Browns’ player Scott Fujita received.

Today a copy of Vilma’s lawyers’ request to the NFL was issued. And Vilma wants to see the evidence the NFL used to determine his level of involvement with the bounty program. And this is another thing…how can the NFL hand down all these punishments when we haven’t even seen the evidence. I know they’ve said there are thousands of pages or whatever and witness statements but I just feel like we at least deserve a synopsis of what that entails. In particular, since Roger Goodell has so much power when it comes to suspending folks. Vilma’s appeal of his suspension is going right back to the man who made the decision. And we know that Roger Goodell tends to agree with Roger Goodell. Closest thing he’s come to disagreeing with himself is reducing fines for illegal hits (on appeal, of course). Still, so far, we’ve gotten almost nothing in the way of understanding the NFL’s evidence in this case.

It sounds like Vilma hasn’t gotten anything either. The request is essentially an attempt to get copies of everything the NFL has on Vilma and the New Orleans Saints bounty program.

Excerpt:

1. All documents and communications evidencing a “pay-for-performance/bounty” program, including, but not limited to, any ledger, notebook, record or record book, payment slip, note or entry of any sort, or evidencing that no such “pay-for- performance/bounty” program existed and/or involved Mr. Vilma;

2. All documents and communications evidencing that Mr. Vilma established, or assisted in establishing, a “pay-for-performance/bounty” program or any other program in violation of NFL rules, or evidencing that Mr. Vilma did not have a role in establishing, or assisting in the establishment of, such “pay-for-performance/bounty” program;

3. All documents and communications evidencing that Mr. Vilma “pledged,” made or received payments of any kind resulting from an opposing player being carried off the field, i.e., “cart-offs,” including but not limited to any ledger, notebook, record or record book, payment slip, note or entry of any sort, or evidencing that Mr. Vilma did not “pledge,” make or receive payments resulting from an opposing player being carried off the field, i.e., “cart-offs”

Read the entire request here.

Update: I guess I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that jail-house snitch Nevin Shapiro implicated Vilma in participating in a bounty program at University of Miami in Yahoo’s detailed “expose” of U of M. I blogged about that story here.

Update 2: *sigh* I’m just not on the ball today. Forgot to mention that the NFLPA has filed a grievance against the NFL challenging their authority to suspend the players involved in the bounty case. Part of their argument is that the league hasn’t presented enough evidence. Fancy that.

The sports world is raving about Eli’s appearance on SNL. I thought it was overall okay. The bar was low for me cause I generally find Eli to be awkward and stiff. But he’s such a nice guy I figured he’d be game for whatever SNL  came up with. And it looks like that was true and it paid off.

Here’s my favorite skit from Eli’s appearance. Eli starts a charity called “Little Brother” where he helps boys get back at their obnoxious older brother. There’s one part where he’s stuffing an older brother in a trunk and he refers to the boy as Peyton. I screamed at that part. Hilarious.

Since I’m always late…by now you already know what the NY Post printed about Jay-z and the Brooklyn Nets but here it is for my fellow late brethren. Phil Mushnick wrote:

Nets on Jay-Z track

As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their marketing shots — what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new “urban” home — why not have him apply the full Jay-Z treatment?

Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N——s? The cheerleaders could be the Brooklyn B—-hes or Hoes. Team logo? A 9 mm with hollow-tip shell casings strewn beneath. Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the way!

Couple things come to mind.

When the NBA implemented its dress code years ago it was in response to the fact that the relative “urban-ness” of the NBA was off putting for the average avid fan. The average avid sports fan is a white dude from 30-55 years old and a lot of what sports leagues choose to do is in an effort to attract or, at least, not raise their hackles too much. And because of that we get uber “safe” choices for everything from performances to apparel.  The NFL’s ability to dig up every has been to perform during chip games and Super Bowl is proof.

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Deadspin is just not letting anyone live this week. I mean they never cut anyone any slack ever, but this week they’ve been particularly sharp taking down Sun Times Joe Cowley for his creepy condescending sexism and now exposing ESPN Playbook and Covers.com writer Sarah Phillips for being a complete fraud.

You can read the whole story here and here. It’s a long read, but I think it’s pretty worth it.

At first glance this is a story about two things: ESPN not properly vetting some freelance writer and the fact that a woman used her looks to get ahead. But it’s not that simple. This is really a story about how the ability to make money via social media (including getting hired by or getting more clicks for a popular site) creates a perfect environment for frauds to prosper.

First of all, I’m not all that bothered by ESPN’s decision to take Sarah Phillips on as a freelancer. [Update: Okay, I WASN'T bothered, but now I kinda am cause I went to her page on ESPN Playbook and she wrote nothing but terribly executed drivel about athlete twitter accounts. What a lucky b***h!!!] The fact is that precious 18-35 white male demographic is hard to reach and everyone from Tide to EA sports is trying desperately to do it. If you’re on twitter for 5 seconds you know that men love beautiful (or at least not ugly) women who talk about stupid guy shit like watching sports and scratching and whatever else men do in their free time. I’m a girl so I’m only guessing.

I’m going to guess that ESPN saw her twitter followers (upwards of 60K when I checked) and the fact that she writes on a popular betting site and figured she could bring those clicks to them. This is the reality of marketing right now. Doesn’t matter if you want to star in a movie, get hired as a writer, or get a book published–almost every employer/company wants you to already have a following that you can bring to them.

The problem with that is that followings can be purchased. You can purchase twitter followers (as Phillips apparently did), you can purchase twitter accounts with real followers (which is apparently what Phillips and her fellow con team did with the @Ohwonka account) and you can fabricate other social media things too like you tube views and all that.

Companies have caught up with the “bring your following” concept but haven’t yet caught up to vetting whether such a following actually exists. ESPN is not alone in that although I realize that their position as a leader in sports makes it fun to laugh at them when they get caught. Still, they’re definitely not alone. This is where the business of writing stands generally speaking.

The second part: a woman using her looks to get ahead is also inconsequential from my perspective. Obviously, Phillips isn’t acting alone she’s just a front person for an operation of some sort. This has nothing to do with women writers, women bloggers, or women period. This has to do with the ways and means in which a group of people can execute a scam. And this is done by playing on people’s sensibilities including the penchant men have for fetishizing women who are both attractive and knowledgeable about sports.

Parody accounts on twitter are another example of appealing to folks’ sensibilities as are the many accounts with “facts” as part of their handle or ‘models’ who post photoshopped photos and are probably often not women at all and certainly not who they pretend to be.

This is the underside of social media business that many people–as they trot along the web reading this site and that one and corresponding with online buddies–aren’t aware of because they don’t have to be.

I think this is a good information about how our presence and data on social media is used by people who see multiple ways to make money off our clicks. It also raises questions about how to conduct business with people you haven’t met or have no 3rd party connection to. Which, at this point, MOST of us have done at some time or another with the web being as vast as it is. Unfortunately in this case it resulted in Phillips and her crew stealing a sports site and facebook page and complete idea from its original owner.

By now you know that MettaWorldRonRon is suspended for a vicious elbow that gave James Harden a concussion. But what you may not know is that he has a cameo in the #1 movie in the country: Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. The movie is a romantic comedy but there’s a few scenes where the guys in the film are playing basketball and they run into MWRR and his crew. MWRR, in his scenes, is wearing purple from head to toe including little purple short shorts.

In an interview with the LA Times, MWRR says that he really wanted to show his ass during the film but they said no. I wish I could embed the video but the site won’t let me, you have to click to watch. If you’re too lazy to click, as I sometimes am, MWRR says that the only way he can be funny is to be himself and do something outrageous. He said he didn’t want to be in regular basketball shorts…if he’s going to be in a movie he wanted a good outfit.

“I had another outfit but they didn’t want me to wear it. The other outfit was crazy. The other outfit was pretty crazy like…I had my buttcheeks out. It was very exposing. Butt cheeks. The shirt was cut around the nipple….but it was like funny you know. Who cares?”

This might not be verbatim cause I had trouble understanding him.

After seeing this,  I’m assuming that since they wouldn’t let him show his ass in the movie he decided to do it on the court by foolishly knocking another player down.

I long for the days when we all understood (or at least didn’t pretend not to understand) the fact that shit happens in sports and wins and losses aren’t always involve circumstances that aren’t ideal. What am I getting at? I’m getting at the crowd, crop, people, folks whatever who are already saying that if the Heat win a championship this year it will have an asterisk cause Derrick Rose was knocked out in the first round.

The whole asterisk thing isn’t necessarily new. There are always people seeking to diminish a team or person’s accomplishments because they didn’t “beat the best” or because “the competition fell apart” or “the star got injured” or “so and so was out coached.”  The problem with that is that almost every circumstance that contributes to the outcome of a game or season involves one of those scenarios. So I’m ready to stop the qualifying. I totally understand explaining the dynamics or contributing factors in wins and losses but dismissing champions? I can’t do it.

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Just like to note that Shaq hasn’t gotten any better on Inside the NBA and I love that Bill Simmons brought this fact up again in his preview of NBA playoff story lines:

Hate to keep belaboring this … but can TNT trade Shaq before the playoffs so we can enjoyInside the NBA in peace? Can they send him to the NBC Sports Network for Mike Milbury? What about Shaq to ESPN along with two no. 1 picks, $2 million, and the rights to Season 4 of Franklin & Bash for Stephen A. Smith? Can they just amnesty him? Did TNT get an amnesty clause in the new labor agreement? Why isn’t this a bigger deal? IT’S THE PLAYOFFS! I NEED ME SOME CHUCK AND I NEED ME SOME KENNY! WE WERE DOING FINE! WE WERE DOING FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s the thing, Shaq admitted he’s not good months ago. He has promised to try to get better. But I don’t know that he can. Think about all the many things Shaq has tried to do that he hasn’t gotten noticeably better at — rapping, acting, staying faithful to his wife…I don’t even think he had a huge jump in ability in basketball. He was pretty much elite from day 1 up until he got old, fat and hobbled. I just have no proof that he has the ability to go from zero to 60. It seems to me that either Shaq is good at something or he’s not. And he’s not good at broadcast television.

Bigger point: It’s a shame that media execs don’t understand that broadcasting is about more than just being a “fun person.” This was the mistake that they made with Shaq. Over the years he’s had lots of fun moments and showed that he has a sense of humor. But he’s not engaging and I have no idea what he’s saying half the time.

When Shaq talks this is what I hear: *ogre voice* superman…superman…I’m superman…

I was VERY happy with the Eagles’ draft choices this year. That’s not something I can normally say. Usually, I just end up confused. Not necessarily disappointed but just unsure. This year I feel really comfortable with everyone they chose and I’m excited to see what these guys will bring to the table (more on that later). But by far the most touching story for me of any Eagles draftee was Vinny Curry and his history as an Eagle’s fan. This dude is die hard and will definitely understand those of us who make up the Eagles fan base unlike some of the current crop *scowls*:

“Most people, the draft is the best day of their life, but growing up an Eagle fan, being blessed with the opportunity of seeing Brian Dawkins retire and give a speech here, this has got to be the best day of my life here,” Curry said, eyes gleaming under a flat-brimmed Eagles hat. “To see his teammates come back, the way they embraced him, and the way they embraced me was really something special. It’s a moment I’ll never forget in my life.”

It’s a moment Curry said he dreamed of growing up in a Shore area town heavy with Giants fans. He couldn’t afford tickets to watch in person, but would rush home from Pop Warner games to catch the Eagles on TV, and spent the week trash-talking his friends.

“The Eagle defense at one point in time was sickening, you know, with Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Brian Dawkins, right there, Trot, d-line had Big Hugh (Douglas), it was crazy and I just used to picture myself on Sundays – that’s going to be me one day,” Curry said. “To see everything come through and fall through like this is, it’s so mind blowing.”

*screams*

When he started talking about Eagles D I felt all types of close to this guy.

This was an emotional weekend for all Eagles fans with future Hall of Famer and safety Brian Dawkins retiring. His presser was Saturday (which I unfortunately didn’t get to see live!) and he signed for one day so that he could retire an Eagle.

I have so many memories of Dawkins and that awesome Eagles D. They made me so proud to be an Eagles fan through all the ups and downs they played their hearts out. The team hasn’t had the kind of leadership on the field (on either side of the ball) since Dawk left. Football was better with that man in it. I hope he enjoys his retirement, he deserves it.

Bloggers, remember to update your press pages. I have slacked on mine for far too long. But let this page serve as the continually updated roundup of press on me and my blog.

J Danielle Around the Web 

Junior Seau’s death has affected everyone who loves football including myself. On HLNTV.com I wrote about how I couldn’t help but wonder whether Seau’s depression was linked to his football career. [Seau suicide linked to post-career trauma?]

Deadspin.com highlighted my experience with Joe Cowley Chicago Sun Times columnist and sexist creep.  Readers will remember Cowley has the one who wrote a crap piece on Matt Forte and let off a series of sexist remarks when I got his name wrong. Boo hoo. Well he apparently offended a baseball writer not even a month after he let loose on me. [Joe Cowley: The Best Sexist Around, Nothing's Gonna Ever Keep Him Down]

For Ebony.com I lamented the hysterical lead up to the NFL draft, during which players are unfairly attacked and generally dragged through the mud in the interest of drawing in readers and helping teams drive down player values. [TRIAL BY FIRE: The NFL Draft's Public Assault on Potential Players [OPINION] THE MEDIA HYPE AROUND THE DRAFT PROCESS HUMILIATES NFL HOPEFULS AND PLAYS ON STEREOTYPES AROUND BLACK ATHLETES, SAYS JESSICA DANIELLE. BUT WHY?]

For The Atlantic Ta-Nehisi Coates highlighted my comments on how athletes’ finances are affected by much more than simply overspending. [The Second Lives of Pro Football Players, Cont]

On LaMar Campbell’s Life After The Game we talked about players, love and finances on an episode called “Love After The Game.” Check my segment at the 34:45 mark. [Love After the Game]

CNN.com quoted me on the BCS and the LSU/Arkansas game. [For college football, mess of a BCS in the works]

For Jezebel I stood up for women sports fans and our right to watch sports without being quizzed or judged. [Female sports fans and the men who judge them]

Quick Hits

Bitch magazine put my female sports fan piece on their radar.

CNN quoted me on Joe Paterno.

Cowley creep was covered around the web. The Daily Mail and the Huffington Post.