Go Seahawks!!
First, The NFC championship game was once again one of the most fantastically fascinating feats of football ever seen. It was 55 minutes of the worst football I have seen out of them since the Dan McGuire years. 3 of the 4 INT's Russel Wilson threw were bounced off the WR's hands into the air and had a fun tip drill for the defense. The 4th was a terrible throw. Just trrable (said in a Charles Barkley voice). Kearse redeemed himself in catching a TD in OT to send the Packers ... well, packing.
I doubt anything in the Super Bowl can match that 5 minutes of football. Nobody is even talking about that though. Every one is concerned with the newest "cheating" scandal coming out from the Patriots organization. Deflategate is the latest thing to come out of Foxburough since Spygate of 2007. Even though they have appeared in 2 Super Bowls since getting caught spying on other teams practices, they haven't won since 2005. Not saying that it correlates (yes I am), I'm just saying that it should be acknowledged that coincidence.
That being said, is it really a big deal? Former NFL journeyman QB Jeff Blake did an interview saying that all teams do it. Before 2005, when the NFL mandated that the teams each provide their own 12 game balls and they would supply 8 K balls to each game, the NFL supplied 24 game balls to each game. Jeff Blake said that he would get a bag with the balls in it and the rest of the QB's and he would dump them out to check them. He said most of the time they were too hard, so they'd let a little air out and squeeze it to check them. They wouldn't check the PSI (pounds per square inch) or anything, just to make sure they felt right. There was no deceptive tactics involved, there was no malice involved. Just trying to make sure they felt right. I believe the same thing happened here.
The NFL ref's are also reported to give the balls a nice squeeze to make sure they feel right.
So no one except the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts really cares about this. Ironically, the losers of the last two games against the Pats.
Is this cheated? I don't know how to answer this. I would say, I guess. If you are driving 65 in a 60 MPH zone and get pulled over, you'll get a ticket. Even if you are getting passed in the next lane. However are you putting more people in danger than the idiot passing you? Is it something everyone else is doing as well? That's the crux of this. Everyone is doing it. It really isn't that big of a deal. However because it is from the Patriots and Bill Belicheat, they have a slight reputation doing anything to win. If you get pulled over for going 5 over the speed limit while also having 10 other speeding tickets, they may revoke your license. So is this a big deal, not really. Is this a big deal for the Patriots? Potentially.
I put more on the NFL for not actually checking the balls. They squeeze them before the games. They don't stick an air gauge into it and check the PSI. If they are holding someone responsible for doing the same thing, they need to check themselves.
This coming after the same season where they suspended Adrian Peterson for his off the field issues, reinstated him and within 24 hours suspended him indefinitely. Did he beat his child? Maybe, from the pictures I'd say yes. Did the NFL mishandle the situation? Yes. What about Ray Rice? There is video (click at your own risk) evidence where his then girlfriend, now wife, and he walks into an elevator and get into an argument and he knocks her out. Closed fisted decks her. Instead of showing any kind of remorse, he looks pissed she couldn't get up. When the elevator doors open, he pulls her out by her hair. Doesn't pick her up out of concern, or even try to revive her. Drags her out by her hair. TMZ released the video that the NFL said didn't exist. The NFL didn't discipline Ray Rice until the media released that video.
While this situation isn't nearly as sad nor as bad as those situations, they have still mishandled this situation and good ol' Roger Godell is looking worse and worse.
To top that off, they won't leave Marshawn Lynch's paycheck alone!! He is clearly talking to the media as per his contract. Yes that is a bit of sarcasm but the fact they fine him for his lack of participation and the brand of hat, HIS brand, is ridiculous. I get the participation is part of the deal, however the dude clearly has an issue with mobs of people in his face. When he gives an interview that is one on one or where he is in control, he gives great soundbites and is engaging and warm. I think the NFL needs to back off of him and leave him be. Quinton Gather, former Utes RB and current coach on the Weber State staff, is good friends with him from their childhood. He interviewed on a station that I accidentally came upon (which I won't mention because of their heresy) and mentioned many of these same facts. He even told a story of when the Utes were playing Washington in Seattle Marshawn Lynch came into the hotel where the team was staying and was engaging, warm, kind and inviting. Just don't inundate him stupid media types that get into the Super Bowl media week.
With all of that being said, I'm saying GO SEAHAWKS!!!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Let's get this over with
This holiday season has been a bit dramatic for fans of the University of Utah football program. A local radio station here in Utah, which I won't mention because the lack of professionalism from them (just an opinion blog, not a professional saying this), "reported" that Kyle Whittingham would most likely not return to the U. I've already mentioned this in a previous post and won't go back into that detail because of it. It is relevant here however.
First, I am not critical of a journalist who posts something shocking that proves to be wrong. It happens. Your job as a journalist, or as they are now called "media members", is to gather information from insiders that the public doesn't have access to. The good ones release this information before any one else does. A journalist fact checks, media members speculate. To fact check you need to gather as much information from as many sources as possible. It seems as though this did not happen in this case. It seems as though three specific media members have acted very irresponsibly and released speculation before confirming it from other sources.
I am very critical of sensational media who mistake themselves as journalists. I don't think it has a place in journalism. Sure, Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart are great entertainment, but they aren't journalists who report the news. They react to the news. It's a very important distinction. It has it's place and it works. Jim Rome seems to have found his niche doing similar things in the sports world. It's great and it's fun.
In this case it seems to be a case of mistaken identity with a media source. The radio station in question has several media members I respect because of their talent. Some of which I respect but don't enjoy their brand of entertainment. It happens. My issue, as well as many other peoples issues are this, the report is thus far unfounded. First it was the Tweet heard round Salt Lake, next it was the newspaper article based on said tweet, followed by the radio jockey confirming the reports. Next thing that happened was Dr Hill release a statement saying that these rumors "have no validity." Even if these rumors become true, it was released in a very unprofessional way.
I say this not because of the statement released by Dr Chris Hill, I say it because of the counter information coming out from every other media outlet in the SLC area. It seems as though the facts were not checked. Another media member, who used to work very closely with the original Tweeter, tweeted "My most reliable source told me today that @Utah_Football rumars are wildly overblown and they would be shocked to see Whitt resign or be fired." This was before Dr Hills statement. It was also one of several tweets/reports from other media sources outside of this one station.
Since the statement by Dr Hill, the radio station has done everything they can to perpetuate the rumors because they got lambasted by the Utah Faithful on twitter. I myself have been blocked by the media member who tweeted out The Tweet heard round Salt Lake. I find that humorous in many ways that I won't get into. If you can't say something nice....
The crux of all of this is that it's recruiting season. I watched the Army East West high school all star game today and USC, Georgia, Ohio State and several others received verbal commitments during the game. Two of the Utah High School athletes that participated in that game did not list Utah, Utah State or BYU as major options for schools. That's another issue that I won't get into here, but it needs to be fixed. Utah has a recruit from Texas that lit up twitterverse during his high school bowl game that follows closely what is going on. I can see the drama turning some kids and their parents off from Utah.
We also don't have either offensive or defensive coordinators in place. Recruits don't know what offense they would be in. This drama seems to have put the Head Coach position in question as well, which makes it worse. They don't know if the coach will be back next year. Unless they are die hard fans of the school and want to play there no matter what, the commits Utah already has may be rethinking. In fact, several have been reported to have visits to Oregon State ironically enough.
This could be put to end really quickly by someone who hates all things media related. I doubt he hates journalists, he just hates the sensational and social media aspects of his job. That is very well documented. In my opinion, Coach Kyle Whittingham needs to make those hires/promotions quickly. Not just to get the systems in place, but to also get his recruits on board. It would address these rumors without addressing them directly, which I think he would rather do. He seems to get chippy in press conferences when asked about things he deems irrelevant.
I say let him ignore this. Let him treat this as the nuisance it has become for him. Just make those hires/promotions quickly and announce them immediately. Even if it's just the defensive side and he wants to take his time on the offense to get it right for once, announce it. If he is staying at Utah.
The longer we wait for any word from the program outside of the AD, the more worried I am getting. I am not alone in this either, several Utah Faithful have expressed their sense of dread at the fact we may be looking at an entire new system coming off a 9-4 season and one of the best defensive performances we've seen in Utah since 2008.
Lets get this over with. Go Utes!!!
First, I am not critical of a journalist who posts something shocking that proves to be wrong. It happens. Your job as a journalist, or as they are now called "media members", is to gather information from insiders that the public doesn't have access to. The good ones release this information before any one else does. A journalist fact checks, media members speculate. To fact check you need to gather as much information from as many sources as possible. It seems as though this did not happen in this case. It seems as though three specific media members have acted very irresponsibly and released speculation before confirming it from other sources.
I am very critical of sensational media who mistake themselves as journalists. I don't think it has a place in journalism. Sure, Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart are great entertainment, but they aren't journalists who report the news. They react to the news. It's a very important distinction. It has it's place and it works. Jim Rome seems to have found his niche doing similar things in the sports world. It's great and it's fun.
In this case it seems to be a case of mistaken identity with a media source. The radio station in question has several media members I respect because of their talent. Some of which I respect but don't enjoy their brand of entertainment. It happens. My issue, as well as many other peoples issues are this, the report is thus far unfounded. First it was the Tweet heard round Salt Lake, next it was the newspaper article based on said tweet, followed by the radio jockey confirming the reports. Next thing that happened was Dr Hill release a statement saying that these rumors "have no validity." Even if these rumors become true, it was released in a very unprofessional way.
I say this not because of the statement released by Dr Chris Hill, I say it because of the counter information coming out from every other media outlet in the SLC area. It seems as though the facts were not checked. Another media member, who used to work very closely with the original Tweeter, tweeted "My most reliable source told me today that @Utah_Football rumars are wildly overblown and they would be shocked to see Whitt resign or be fired." This was before Dr Hills statement. It was also one of several tweets/reports from other media sources outside of this one station.
Since the statement by Dr Hill, the radio station has done everything they can to perpetuate the rumors because they got lambasted by the Utah Faithful on twitter. I myself have been blocked by the media member who tweeted out The Tweet heard round Salt Lake. I find that humorous in many ways that I won't get into. If you can't say something nice....
The crux of all of this is that it's recruiting season. I watched the Army East West high school all star game today and USC, Georgia, Ohio State and several others received verbal commitments during the game. Two of the Utah High School athletes that participated in that game did not list Utah, Utah State or BYU as major options for schools. That's another issue that I won't get into here, but it needs to be fixed. Utah has a recruit from Texas that lit up twitterverse during his high school bowl game that follows closely what is going on. I can see the drama turning some kids and their parents off from Utah.
We also don't have either offensive or defensive coordinators in place. Recruits don't know what offense they would be in. This drama seems to have put the Head Coach position in question as well, which makes it worse. They don't know if the coach will be back next year. Unless they are die hard fans of the school and want to play there no matter what, the commits Utah already has may be rethinking. In fact, several have been reported to have visits to Oregon State ironically enough.
This could be put to end really quickly by someone who hates all things media related. I doubt he hates journalists, he just hates the sensational and social media aspects of his job. That is very well documented. In my opinion, Coach Kyle Whittingham needs to make those hires/promotions quickly. Not just to get the systems in place, but to also get his recruits on board. It would address these rumors without addressing them directly, which I think he would rather do. He seems to get chippy in press conferences when asked about things he deems irrelevant.
I say let him ignore this. Let him treat this as the nuisance it has become for him. Just make those hires/promotions quickly and announce them immediately. Even if it's just the defensive side and he wants to take his time on the offense to get it right for once, announce it. If he is staying at Utah.
The longer we wait for any word from the program outside of the AD, the more worried I am getting. I am not alone in this either, several Utah Faithful have expressed their sense of dread at the fact we may be looking at an entire new system coming off a 9-4 season and one of the best defensive performances we've seen in Utah since 2008.
Lets get this over with. Go Utes!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)