Megalomania (according to Wikipedia) is defined as a psychopathological condition characterized by delusions of wealth, power, genius, or omnipotence. This term is also defined as delusions of grandeur. Those who are megalomanics are often manic and paranoid. Well, what does this have to do with sports you might ask? This week we have seen two owners in the National Football League display their megalomaniac ways at the expense of their teams.
The Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has basically destroyed whatever continuity his franchise has had, and considering that these are men who pulled together in times of grieving to lead their City to the playoffs, I find what he has done to be disgusting. Greg Williams and Al Saunders were what the players wanted and needed. Williams was the engineer of a ferocious defense, and Saunders is the tutor that young Quarterback Jason Campbell needs. Campbell had four different offensive coordinators during his time at Auburn, and to now undergo the same treatment in the harsh here today gone tomorrow world that is the the NFL can seriously impact his career. To subject this team to a new offense, and although new coordinator Blatche served under Williams he might want to tweak the defense, and ask this team to go out and win a division with a strong Dallas, an Eagles team that can rebound from a tough season, and the NFC representative New York Giants is insane. Then again it's just the paranoia that has impacted Washington since Snyder bought the franchise. It's his show and he'll run it anyway he can.
Which I am sure is a mantra he borrowed from the Committment to Excellence, Just Win Guru himself Al Davis. How many times does Al feel the need to bring in coaches and then just cut them when it suits his fancy? Shannahan, Gruden, Callahan, Turner, Shell and now Kiffin. Young guys brought in by Al who either will be fired or got out just in time because he is obviously the lunatic in charge of the asylum. He doesn't even give his team a chance to get used to the coaches around them. Bonus baby JaMarcus Russell, the future of the Raiders we presume, could possibly be getting a new offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, and head coach before he even starts his first full season with the Raiders. Yes, Al you need that control but at what cost? Are you so blinded by former Raider glory that you will just keep hacking away at the limbs until you can regenerate the glory days? Such a delusional attitude will continue to keep the Raiders where they want to belong: at the bottom of the AFC West, and the laughing stock of the National Football League.
Megalomania. Delusions of grandeur, excess of power and wealth. Al Davis and Dan Snyder have both, but at the expenses of their franchises. I'm not a fan of the Redskins or Raiders but if I was this would leave me manic and depressed.
As always, thanks for reading.
Faces at the U.S. Open
Comments (21)
Excellent blog J.
Couldn't agree more. Davis is now acting like Steinbrenner of the 80s, keep firing coaches no matter the cost and Snyder has no clue how to run a football team.
rstowe - The NMI Emperor | 01/27/08, 12:23 PM
Report Offensive CommentThanks. I was just sitting here reading about Kiffin and then I read some more about Williams and it just came to me.
The Steinbrenner analogy is a great one. He is George in Football form.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 01/27/08, 12:24 PM
Report Offensive CommentNice job William and saunders will make a huge differnce where ever they go
indycolts:isback | 01/27/08, 12:26 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe game passed Davis by about 6 years ago...he needs to do what Stein did this offseason, let someone else make the decisions. Still own the team, but realize you can't make any good decisions anymore. Only then will the Raiders start the move back to the glory days. The only good thing to come out of all the changes Davis is making is the high number of high draft picks the team will have playing in a couple of years.
rstowe - The NMI Emperor | 01/27/08, 12:32 PM
Report Offensive CommentGreat blog, J! Though I have loathed the Raiders since the Seahawks lost to Bo Jackson, I feel embarassed for their fans, watching the blatant ineptitude of Al "I wanna be the Don King of the NFL" Davis. What a joke he is.
It's All Mine! | 01/27/08, 12:36 PM
Report Offensive CommentNot to hack Dallas fans off at all, although a few would agree with me, Jerry is the epitome of megalomania.
What other owners in the NFL have to spread their mug all over television with Pepsi and Ford truck commercials? Really though?
While Jerry didn't go to extremes like Al or Danny, think about what he's done to his coaching staff:
1) Hired an OC before he had a HC in place to choose his own staff.
2) Resigned this OC and is paying him more than the HC.
This essentially was the next to final step in Phillips getting ready to interview for a coordinator's position somewhere else.
It won't be this season, but anything short of a SB win in 2009 will be Wade's walking papers.
Phillips is for all intents and purposes *the* Head Junior Assistant Coach of Defense. He doesn't touch the offense and has professed to knowing little about what happens to his QB, among other things.
It's just not good for business, which is shocking in a way considering Jerry's keen business acumen.
Oso's back-Sort of | 01/27/08, 02:13 PM
Report Offensive CommentJerry is bad. He has Jason Garrett hanging over Wade Phillips. If Wade even messes up once, he'll go to Garrett.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 01/27/08, 03:36 PM
Report Offensive CommentManic and depressed. Yep that pretty much sums it up for me. I just hope Davis has someone already lined up to fill the position, otherwise it will be yet another long wait to see who will buy his broken promises of control.
LoveItHateIt | 01/27/08, 03:53 PM
Report Offensive CommentGreat read Hova, and I agree with everything you said. I thought Kiffin was doing a pretty decent job this year with what he had to work with. It's a shame he's another victim of Al's.
Tracy00214-Is back! | 01/27/08, 05:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentSnyder is a businessman, not a fan. The reason he keeps donig these stupid stunts is because he doesn't know football. Davis epitomizes the condition. He wants to hire a coach and then run things from behind the scenes. This gives him a front for his mistakes. Unfortunately this is what Redskin fans and Raider fans have to look forward to--more shenanigans and poor quality football.
Hllywd: Old Schoolin' | 01/27/08, 05:46 PM
Report Offensive CommentEVIL shenanigans!
It's All Mine! | 01/27/08, 06:21 PM
Report Offensive CommentLoveItHateIt: Supposedly it's Dennis Green's job. However, he is going to interview Al Saunders and James Lofton this week. If he fires Kiffin it would be a mistake.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 01/27/08, 07:45 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood job J. Hova.When I saw Snyder fired Saunders I was just like,WHAT!Davis and Snyder are two bone-headed owners.
(Cincy) Eddie Vedder | 01/27/08, 09:10 PM
Report Offensive CommentFor the record, I wanted Al Saunders to STAY. But, hiring Jim Zorn made that moot.
As for Gregg Williams, you'll recall I was the ONLY Skins fan on here who saw the truth in him--that he's just NOT head coach material. I was proven right on that count.
Having said that, Fassel should've been given the job when they offered it to him. Snyder "kittyed" out to the fans on THAT. (Gotta work with the censors here.) Now we gotta wait ANOTHER week, and see how Danny Boy effs THIS up.
I don't know what to tell you about the Raiders, J. Believe me, that's a BIGGER mess there. Sad, man. It really is. You said everything Raider and Skins fans couldn't (or wouldn't) say.
I don't think Dennis Green wants the gig working for Al. He MIGHT have had his fill of coaching...but, wasn't that what they said about Joe Gibbs 4 years ago??
DC Sports Nut: good Zorning!!! | 01/27/08, 09:28 PM
Report Offensive CommentI guess this is what happens when one person can own a team, he does what he likes because it's his money.
I like the way GB is owned, by the fans for the fans.
I would love just to have one normal offseason, is that too much to ask AL!!
Aussie Raider | 01/28/08, 12:14 AM
Report Offensive CommentGood Blog!
TheJuice | 01/28/08, 09:00 AM
Report Offensive CommentI predict Al Davis will pass away in the next couple of years and then and only then,The Raiders WILL return to Greatness.I respect what Al has do with the franchise,AFL and the NFL in the past,but his time is up!Kiffen stay strong man!Al is on his death bed and it won't be long......
Rada4life | 01/28/08, 09:55 AM
Report Offensive CommentHate to say this but either Al needs to go (by that I mean death) or he needs to do what Steinbrenner was forced to do and give up total control. As long as Al controls the Raiders the situation can only get worse.
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 01/28/08, 12:30 PM
Report Offensive CommentI agree with the above Raider fans. Its seems kind of morbid, but we all realize we have a Senile old man in charge. To say, "I hope he dies soon" is kind of a bad thing to say about another human being just because we don't like the way he runs our favorite football team, but no Raider fan can help but think that.
Thugmeister | 01/28/08, 01:17 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood point. I felt a little ashamed to even suggest that he has to "go".
J. HOVA: BROOKLYN'S OWN | 01/28/08, 04:33 PM
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