The Republic of Sport

jrscott

jrscott's Comments

Posted Thursday October 08, 2009, About: Poll: America's Team is...

Of course, if you ask "Who is America's favorite football team?" people are going to respond "Cowboys". That is because we have been told this over and over and over. The poll should be "Who is YOUR favorite team?". Take this question to every town in America and then see if it comes up Cowboys. I doubt it. It will be the Giants or Bears or 49ers because of the size of their markets. The exact wording of your question can favor a specific outcome, and this is the perfect example.

Posted Friday October 02, 2009, About: Gruden thought Favre would be a Buc

Snowbirds!! They keep the economy down there flowing, so you gotta tolerate them, no matter how many times they cut you off in traffic. Besides, the Bucs were highly regarded until their 4-12 season a few years back. Now all of a sudden they get thrown under the bus.

I have to say that the Steelers are the best organization. They are the only NFL organization that has patience and loyalty to those that bring them greatness. They do more with less year in and year out. I used to hate them just because I loved losers like the 1980s Bucs, but now that I am older and mature, I see the Steelers for what they are. Class.

Back on topic, this story was run the day after the Jets signed Favre. What triggered the reprint of OLD NEWS?

Posted Thursday October 01, 2009, About: Terrell Owens: 'I'm in a no-win situation'

No. We call that alligator arms. ;)

Posted Wednesday September 23, 2009, About: Giants LB rips new Cowboys Stadium

First, I know that was meant as a rhetorical question and should have had a question mark afterwards. I agree with all of your points but this. Jerry Jones probably pays millions of dollars to shady accountants who figure out how to save him millions of dollars in taxes, just like every other rich person.

But yeah, a new stadium generates a lot of local jobs, both during construction and afterwards.

Posted Wednesday September 16, 2009, About: Urlacher era over in Chicago?

Urlacher era over? When did it ever really begin? I missed it, along with the Lavar Arrington era in Washington. He's been an excellent linebacker when he is in the game, but has not been dominant. Let's can the hype.

Posted Monday September 14, 2009, About: Drastic changes in Bucs offense?

450 total yards one week after canning the OC. Gotta like that. At least we won't be snoozing while we're losing.

Posted Friday September 04, 2009, About: Inside Jagodzinski's struggles

Let's not pile on "old man Brooks". He was hurt the entire year but played because even hurt he was still preferable to his backup.

Miss Gruden? You always have Monday Nights. :)

Spot on about Leftwich. His release is too slow which combined with a lack of footspeed spells big trouble. The only hope the offense has is that the offensive line comes together and plays well. From what I could see of the preseason, the pass blocking seemed good.

I'm not sure I am buying this 4-12 gloom and doom being peddled everywhere. There are too many good players on this team for them to go that low. But firing the OC one week before the season begins makes me think 6-10 could be possible.

Posted Thursday September 03, 2009, About: NFL's least valuable franchise is...

Put down the liberal Kool Aid. We did not *steal* anything from anybody. Texas wanted to be part of the US, as did most of the people living in the territories we liberated from the Mexicans. If we were the imperialistic conquerors we are painted as by liberals, why did we stop at the Rio Grande? Why not take all of North America?

Posted Thursday August 27, 2009, About: Bucs shopping quarterbacks

Based on what? They obviously had some issues at the end of the year (coaching, injury, and morale), and lost their final 4. They still finished 9-7 two years in a row when expected to fail. I think the expectations of failure are the flukes, not the 9-7 records. In 2007, they rested starters to barely lose their last two games, so they very well may have been as good as 11-5. I just don't see where they lost enough talent to justify a 4-12 record this year.

I will admit their schedule scares the heck out of me, and the loss of Derrick Brooks from his early season form last year hurts as well. The addition of a very good catching TE to bail out whoever the QB is was a good move, and the young OL is only going to get better at protecting him. The Bucs are DEEP at RB, and have a stud at WR. QB will be the only thing that *could* hold them back. But I like what I see in McCown. Given starting reps he will become a solid player and will occasionally hang up some big numbers like he did against the Saints two years ago.

I'll go 7-9 or 8-8 due to the schedule and weakened defense, but the offense will put up over 370 points this year.

Posted Saturday August 08, 2009, About: Jesse Jackson: NFL colluding against Vick?

Yeah, the NFL is colluding to keep one more black guy out of the league. I guess they hit their quota on black dudes or something.

Let's make a deal with Jesse on this. If he is willing to say that all black people support dog-fighting and animal cruelty, then we can call this a racial issue. If not, he should do as he always should: SHUT UP!!

Posted Saturday July 25, 2009, About: Mystery surrounding Bucs guard continues

I'm actually impressed the majority of the posting so far has been supportive, and not like #1. I've battled depression all of my life and can tell you it is not something that you have control over. You can suppress it with helpful drugs like prozac, but sometimes you cannot cure it. It is a physical condition, not a choice. And now we find out that having concussions is linked to depression and wow, it makes sense for a lot of ex-players. It may not be the lack of still playing their sports after all that causes depression. It could be all of the knocks in the head they took. I had 4 serious concussions, so it makes me wonder.

Posted Tuesday July 14, 2009, About: Czech star Neved considering MLS

Ok, so Tatu was not old...but you get the point.

Posted Tuesday July 14, 2009, About: Czech star Neved considering MLS

I grew up soccer-wise in the 1978-1984 era of the NASL in Tampa, which was arguably one of the top two or three teams supportwise until the NASL imploded. We did not care that our "stars" were old foreigners. We loved guys like Rodney Marsh, Steve Wegerle, Oscar Fabbiani, Tatu, Neill Roberts, etc... And New York certainly did not mind Pele, Beckenbauer, Chinaglia, Alberto, etc... It was entertaining soccer that was well marketed and that was the key. The problem was that one team had deep pockets and the rest bankrupted themselves keeping up.

The MLS learned well from the NASL that you cannot have one team spending wildly while others broke the bank to try and match the talent, which is why they have all kinds of restrictions on team owners. As long as they keep the league competitively balanced, I say bring in all the name players you can. Fill the stands with happy kids who then love the game and become the next generation by emulating their heroes, whether or not their name is Smith, Beckham, or Messi. It's about how fun the product on the field is, and how well you market it.

As far as making the rest of the world respect us, I say screw it. I don't need their approval to enjoy myself, why should anybody else?

Posted Monday July 13, 2009, About: Beckham fires back at Donovan

I'm sorry Becks, you have no credibility here. Do your talking on the field.

Posted Monday July 13, 2009, About: Obama's promise irks U.S. coach

It would be nice for him to be this positive about our nation as a whole instead of apologizing all the time. Perhaps he is turning a new leaf?

Posted Saturday July 04, 2009, About: Brooks linked to two teams

Outside of the age remark, that's what the critics said about him coming out of college regarding playing linebacker in the NFL. They look pretty darn stupid right about now, and will look even more stupid when he gets his Yellow Blazer in Canton.

Brooks played hurt all year last year which made him look like he lost a step. He gave his body up to stay on the field just like Gruden demands of all his players whether they are alive or not, and look where it got him? Cut and called old. The hypocrisy of the NFL and its fans never cease to surprise me.

Posted Saturday July 04, 2009, About: Brooks linked to two teams

The guy is a true student of the game. He would not miss a step.

Posted Wednesday June 17, 2009, About: A second MLS team in Toronto?

I always wondered how the Mutiny failed in Tampa. When the Cosmos were averaging 40k fans per game in 1979/1980, the Rowdies and the Vancouver Whitecaps were battling for #2 around 30k per game. If the MLS cannot make soccer work in Tampa or Vancouver, they have serious marketing issues, IMO.

I think one reason for the lack of interest in Tampa was the name of the team. MLS should have made a stronger effort to acquire the rights to the "Rowdies" name. When I went to a Mutiny game, the bulk of the fans were non-English speaking Hispanics.

I have no issue with non-English speaking Hispanics, but to me this points to a lack of interest from former fans of the Rowdies. Would simply using the same name have helped? To some degree. But the other problem in Tampa was that the old fans of the Rowdies remembered cheerleaders, colorful players (the Mutiny did have Valderamma to their credit), and of course the rivalries with the Cosmos, Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, and San Diego Sockers. The piano music of the 70s and 80s was replaced by beating drums in the stands. The talent level of the early MLS was atrocious, and obvious to Rowdies fans. It wasn't what Tampa remembered. Since more time has passed, maybe Tampa has forgotten the Rowdies and the MLS should try again.

I'd like to see Tampa, Vancouver, Montreal, Atlanta, Portland, St Louis, Tulsa, and San Diego get teams at some point. With the exception of St Louis, those cities seemed to have brief success back in the heyday of the NASL. After those cities, maybe we can start talking about doubling up in Toronto?

Posted Tuesday June 09, 2009, About: Favres book hotel rooms for Vikings-Packers

The French did not have nuclear weapons in the late 40s. Unless you are thinking they would white flag us to death.

Posted Thursday May 28, 2009, About: Tarkenton: Favre's despicable

Thanks Tkane, for reminding me it was 3 Superbowls he played in, not 4.

Posted Thursday May 28, 2009, About: Tarkenton: Favre's despicable

Had Fran Tarkenton played during today's pass happy NFL, Favre would still be chasing HIS records. It's a lot easier putting up 60,000 yards when you get to throw the ball 550 times a year. Tarkenton was lucky to get 400 throws a year. And he did not get 16 game seasons to do it either (just one). He also ran for twice as many yards as Favre, instead of putting the ball up for grabs or getting sacked and fumbling 6 times a game. His teams made the Super Bowl four times versus Favre's twice. So please, stop with the childish "Who is she?" BS.