March 2013 Archive

I couldn’t resist a chance to post on this glorious photo Sports Illustrated dug up for their post on famous alumni of March Madness schools. As you can see from the photo, Knight and his jheri curl played defensive end at University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Via Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard

Knight was good enough to make training camp for the LA Rams but was cut before he ever played a game. But apparently he returned as a replacement player during the strike of 1987. I wonder what year he cut that curl off though.

You can view SI’s complete ratings of famous alumni here. I was offended that Bob Sager, an alum of my my alma mater, Temple University didn’t rate higher. A few folks said Bill Cosby should have been chosen instead of Saget. If so, he deserved #1. Still Saget is pretty cool. He had us all thinking he was some dopey goody two shoes on Full House, but in reality he’s a caustic potty mouth. GO OWLS.

I know that the subject of paying college athletes has been talked about over and over again and by now, most people who care to study up on the topic have formed an opinion and those who haven’t probably can’t be appealed to. But I still wanted to weigh in on the part of the argument that irks me the most — the whole “it would be too complicated” spiel. 

The main point that folks against paying college athletes make is that it would be too costly and destroy the system. While it’s alarming to know that so many people believe  keeping their favorite tv show around in its current form is more important than treating young people fairly, the idea that people who spend all of their time figuring out ways to make money can’t figure out how to manage it in a way that benefits the athletes too bothers me the most. On top of that, it seems you can’t point out athletes should share in the pot of money they help produce without being asked to explain how you personally think it should be worked out. I don’t need to be a collegiate sports professional to know when young people are being hosed.

As Celebrity Hot Tub said:

Don’t believe for a second that an entire industry of business-minded people can’t figure out a way to give players some share of licensing revenue and keep teams running because it’s impossible. Realize that they won’t do it because nobody wants to make $500,000 a year when you could make a million.

He’s correct. This is not about “can’t” it’s about “want” and all the hemming and hawing about how hard it would be is nothing more than the usual pretend ignorance. What this comes down is what most modern corporate thinking is all about. Anything to make more money even if that means fairness and ethics are an afterthought. I’m exhausted by those practices not just in sports but in every facet of American life.

When Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said the Ravens wouldn’t break the bank repeat their Super Bowl win he wasn’t lying. Thus far, the Ravens have let multiple starters and key players to their run last season go: Anquan Boldin, Dannell Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Bernard Pollard, Cary Williams, and possibly now their most well known and beloved active veteran Ed Reed.

As I type this, Reed is back at the Houston Texans’ Reliant Stadium after spending most of yesterday with the Texans including a dinner that lasted well into the night. If he doesn’t sign with the Texans, the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts are still calling.

Yesterday, Reed told Comcast Houston the following:

“I think, as an organization, they kind of want things on their terms. Seeing how things have transpired over there right now, it’s like wow, I just kind of can’t believe how things are happening from a business standpoint when guys give you blood, sweat and tears and give you everything. And try to do the best for the team. Players definitely did that. Baltimore is a great organization over the years as we all know, and do the right things for the organization. You’ve got to respect that. Every organization does it.”

Reed is right, every organization wants things on their own terms and the Ravens’ refusal to extend Reed long before now seemed a clear sign that their commitment was waning. In fairness, Reed often publicly flip flopped on the possibility of retiring and thoroughly mishandled his off season last year. All in all, leaving the Ravens could be good for both parties despite the hurt feelings that are clear in Reed’s statement. If Reed leaves, the Ravens don’t have to face the likelihood that Reed pulls a Ray Lewis and angles to continue to play long after his effectiveness is gone and Reed gets to play for a likely contender with a great fan base the rest of his career (2  moreyears lol!).