Published December 9, 2011 - 9:03am
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The last moment that I felt really good about sports in general was on the night of November 5th, 2011. While some fans (I can barely even call them fans) were upset about the Alabama-LSU game resulting in a 9-6 score, I was thrilled. The game was incredible. The game clearly represented the greatest collection of talent in the game between the two rosters. The hitting on nearly every play was incredible; so much so that my bones ached after watching the game from the comfort of my couch.
Unfortunately, there have been few moments like the evening of November 5th since then. Yes, there has been some great games. I enjoyed Arkansas-LSU. I enjoyed even Georgia putting up a good fight for a half against LSU in the SECCG, but it seemed like every other game had politics surrounding it, or you couldn’t get through a single drive without the commentators reflecting on the “BCS implications” of such a game, or worse yet, the myriad of BCS scenarios that could unfold if X beat Y and Y beat Z. Enough already!
For four quarters (and an overtime) on November 5th, all that mattered were the players on the field and the bone-crunching hits that were being delivered each play. We knew we were watching the two best teams in college so all we wanted to do was see how it unfolded. It did not disappoint.
Since then, we had endless discussion about whether or not a rematch made sense. We had to listen to anti-SEC fans talk about how Oklahoma State should be in the game. Or, how we should have a playoff. Ugh, I’m tired of it. And that’s just the BCS…
Frankly, I’m tired of the coaches too. I’m tired of Urban Meyer and the drama surrounding his life that is put on display for college football fans. You want to take a year off (really two if you factor in that awful 2010 season at UF), and then run to the easy battlefields of the Big Ten? Fine. I don’t care. I know coaching is a job to you, just like us common folk don’t have a ton of emotional investment in our jobs. I’d prefer not to listen to the ridiculous babble about him being a different man, however. I’d prefer not to listen to how he signed a contract with his kids to what, not drive himself and his family into the ground by his coaching style? Hmmm, ok.
The Charlie Weis news yesterday was just as ridiculous. Honestly, I think both teams (Kansas and Florida) lost in this transaction. Florida now has to scramble to prevent recruits from bailing and find a new OC. Kansas now has to scramble to find the oversized clothing and equipment they had to special order for Mark Mangino and thought they’d never need again because surely they wouldn’t ever have a coach THAT big again. Think again. I’m thinking about how Charlie Weis went on and on about how he was moving to Ocala (just outside Gainesville) because his wife loved horses, and there was a great special needs school nearby for his special needs kid. The Florida job was the perfect fit for him. Maybe John Brantley ruined his taste for Gainesville. Or maybe he’s just full of crap.
Last night, the NBA decided to make the BCS look like the shining beacon of the sports world by nixing a trade between the Hornets and Lakers for superstar Chris Paul. The 29 (probably 28 actually) owners of the NBA teams not-named the Hornets decided that it was not fair for the Lakers to get Chris Paul since they each own 1/29th of the Hornets. If you didn’t know, the Hornets are so crappy that the NBA owns the franchise. How stupid is this? The Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert, who is still bitter about Lebron James leaving that crappy city, was one of the most vocal saying the following in an email:
Commissioner,
It would be a travesty to allow the Lakers to acquire Chris Paul in the apparent trade being discussed.
This trade should go to a vote of the 29 owners of the Hornets.Over the next three seasons this deal would save the Lakers approximately $20 million in salaries and approximately $21 million in luxury taxes. That $21 million goes to non-taxpaying teams and to fund revenue sharing.
I cannot remember ever seeing a trade where a team got by far the best player in the trade and saved over $40 million in the process. And it doesn’t appear that they would give up any draft picks, which might allow to later make a trade for Dwight Howard. (They would also get a large trade exception that would help them improve their team and/or eventually trade for Howard.) When the Lakers got Pau Gasol (at the time considered an extremely lopsided trade) they took on tens of millions in additional salary and luxury tax and they gave up a number of prospects (one in Marc Gasol who may become a max-salary player).
I just don’t see how we can allow this trade to happen.
I know the vast majority of owners feel the same way that I do.
What a loser. No wonder Lebron wanted out. Yes, the Lakers are getting a great player. They’re also giving up Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, two big time players. The Lakers are trading two big men left with Bynum who has a long history of injuries. They are risking much for Chris Paul and there’s no guarantee this makes them better. This is so ridiculous that it makes me hate the NBA. This coming from a fan of the Orlando Magic who are likely to lose Dwight Howard to a “big market” team.
In the world of baseball, it just so happens that I’m a Cardinal fan. The team which just lost the best player of our generation yesterday. Albert Pujols is signing with the Angels. Honestly, I’m not upset. If they want to pay him $25mil a year when he’s 41, then so be it. He had a great decade with the Cardinals that I enjoyed thoroughly.
Maybe I’m just fed up with the nonsense of sports. It’s likely a function of the 24/7 news-cycle, the world of Twitter, where we have to talk about sports all day long and as a result, we endlessly debate year after year the playoff vs BCS argument.
I long for the upcoming BCS National Championship Game between Alabama and LSU. I long to see Trent Richardson plow into the beast-of-a-defensive-front of LSU. I long to see Saban and Miles gameplan against eachother. Until then, however, we’re stuck with the nonsense of sports that seems to be hurled at us fans with ever increasing frequency and intensity. I’m considering turning off my television and twitter feed for the next month.
Wow, I had almost forgotten the sound of the voice of reason…
Good column Kevin. And spot on. I’m also a bit of a cardinals fan. Hey, maybe at 41 he’ll be worth 25 mil as a DH. That wouldn’t do the cards any good, though.
You’re also right about the broadcasts of the football games being filled with everything but football. But I sometimes think that’s a result of the fact that most announcers are basically devoid of any football knowledge or intellect. They got to have something to ramble about. They’re already wrong about 50 times per game about football stuff – what if that was all they talked about?
Great article but I have to disagree on one thing. The last time I thoroughly enjoyed a game of football was November 26th at around 10:30 pm when we were celebrating in the student section our first 10 win season in 30 years with the team, and passing around the Hardee’s trophy after opening a can of WHOOP*** ON THE ACC CHAMPS better known as clemsux!!!!
Hey Great Article but the problem i had is, yes i agree Alabama and LSU are the two best teams in the country, but the BCS sucks. I hate it, i would welcome a playoff, i mean every level of football uses the playoff system. Div III through Div I-AA uses it, High school leagues use it, and the Pros uses it so why is college different. All the BCS is is an attempt to make money. That’s it. And to The Real USC Go Cocks! But think of it this way i love the SEC as a whole i like eorgia more then most teams and i’m a Carolina fan. But if we had a playoff system right now. LSU, Bama, Arkansas, South Carolina and Georgia(because they won their div. and a 10-3 record) would be in the playoffs. the Pac would have two (Standford and Oregon) the Big-12 would have 2 OSU & OU Big Ten would have one or two maybe three ACC Clemson and VT(who both suck and for VT to get a BCS bowl over USC or Boise is bull) Mountain West one, C-USA one and big east one. I don’t really consider any WAC, MAC or Sun Belt teams other then Arkansas State(10-2) eligible. But the likelihood of a sun belt team in there is slim. so in total thats 16 at most teams in the playoffs 5 from the SEC. Thats why they don’t want a playoff system the SEC would dominate. Just Saying the SEC should welcome a playoff system.
I really like how you brought up the issue of great defensive play making a game exciting and thrilling. I think this really serves as a testament as the to the rest of the nations football philosophy and their lack of a national champion in the last 6 years. Watching a back and forth game being fought out in the trenches is one of the most satisfying parts of watching college football. I can remember the point during the season ( I’m a Georgia fan) where I actually began to look forward to the defense taking the field and it was a glorious moment. I think that is most indicative of a team’s defensive prowess and is a good indicator of the future success of the SEC. While the rest of the nation has hired offense oriented coaches the SEC heavyweights ( with the exception of Arkansas and Auburn ) have stuck with a strong defensive game plan to win games. This is why I think that it is paramount that Georgia, South Carolina and LSU place contract extensions on their defensive coordinators. With all of the coaching transitions it’s easy to go from the top of the SEC to the middle with the loss of a good defensive coordinator (see Georgia post Brian Van Gorder).