The Republic of Sport

Splorch

Splorch's Comments

Posted Tuesday November 17, 2009, About: Grossman's dad rips Bears

One of Alonzo Spellman's poles is irate at the lack of support he got.

Posted Tuesday November 17, 2009, About: Three-team trade may include Gonzalez

Angels put Konerko's bat on the bench as insurance for the aging Guerrerro.

Posted Monday November 16, 2009, About: Top candidate to replace Charlie Weis is...

Notre Dame simply won't let its coaches recruit the kind of athletes that fill the rosters of Florida, Texas etc. Florida has had 25 arrests under Urban Meyer and 2 National Championships. In order to change the tide at Rocky Top, Kiffin fought Meyer over the armed and dangers Nu'keese Richardson.

Until Notre Dame allows its coach to go after guys with a shady rep, the roster will simply lack the athleticism and talent of these other schools.

Holtz won in 1988 b/c they relaxed the recruiting rules for him and he famously left because they tightened it up again.

They will always get top talent, but just not in the volume needed. Tradition will only take you so far these days. A kid from Pahokee Florida is watching Meyer go for 3, and their friends win up there in front of family. Hard sell to get that kid to go to Indiana with tradition and hopes of bringing back the glory.

Posted Friday October 30, 2009, About: NHL shuns stunned Gretzky

The idea that Bettman or his henchmen couldn't pick up the phone and deliver the news directly is hugely disrespectful of the man who is responsible for rescuing the franchise in question in the desert initially.

Gretzky is the games greatest ambassador, most popular player and a living legend. His coaching ability has nothing to do with Bettmans lack of class and the bankruptcy proceeding.

As much as I despise Selig, he absolutely adores the game of baseball and totally embraces its tradition and legends like Robinson, Clemente and Hank Aaron. Even if he had to deliver bad news, Selig would have been on the phone or sat across from the Great One.

This is disrespectful of everything Gretzky has done for hockey. And Bettman has to realize that his job is not just growing the NHL he is the steward for a sport. He doesn't seem to get that.

Posted Friday October 30, 2009, About: NHL shuns stunned Gretzky

The idea that the NHL wouldn't bother to pick up a phone and talk to the man directly is completely disrespectful.

This man is the greatest ambassador of the sport who is in large part successful for the existence of more than 1 franchise in California AND the franchise at the heart of the dispute in Arizona.

He always stepped up internationally, he is a great spokesman for the game.

As much as I despise Selig, he embraces Henry Aaron and other legends. He understands the importance Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemented played. Even if Selig had to get on the phone and give a guy bad news, you can bet Selig would have spoken directly to the Great One.

Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009, About: Shannon irks Miami coordinator

And of course that play was guaranteed to gain 10 to 15 yards.

Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009, About: Ex-Packers mad at Favre

With new teamates listening he could have actually said "we have a long way to go before we can be compared to the 96 champion team"

That would be leadership, motivating, rallying....as opposed to self promoting, kiss **** and tongue bathing teamates.

Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009, About: Harbaugh: My QB's better than Tebow, McCoy

I think we are in a golden age for the QB position. I am not just talking about talent. There may not be any more talented QBs then any other time. But......with the way the coaches play the marketing machine, and they arrival of big time recruiting services and the money being thrown around guys like Luck, who would otherwise never be mentioned by anyone but his mother are spoken about like they are the second coming. Tebow right now couldn't complete a pass to a chair from 2 feet, yet he is still the model of comparison. Pryor looks like he is ready for a Oliver McCall breakdown. Now coaches are on top of the marketing engine and now guys like Luck, Pike, Gabbert, Reesing get air time the likes only Elway, Marino would get.

Posted Wednesday October 21, 2009, About: Mark Cuban makes case for steroids

The issue for me is not the legality but the abuse. Does anyone remember James Woods portrayal of the team physician in Any Given Sunday and his rant about how these players have a finite lifespan, they want to get paid and who is he to prevent them from getting theirs?

The use of pain medication is already in rampant abuse in pro sports from pills to injections. I understand that steroids are legal under prescription and can play a great role in recovery. But the pressure an MD would be in to supervise and administer, when millions of personal dollars are on the line in a billion dollar industry is enormous. And even the most scrupulous of MDs woudl find themselves torn in pro sports.

Up to this point we are finding the MDs have often been the enablers for the athletes that are users. Not everyone gets their drugs from a cousin or the trainer's gym buddies. Often these are MD owned pharmacy's that are being implicated in the largest scandals.

This is the community players would trust?

Posted Wednesday October 21, 2009, About: Mark Cuban makes case for steroids

So far we are finding many of the players who have been caught using and cheating are receiving them from doctors. The same group of people we would trust to adiminister, oversee and guarantee no long term damage?

Then there is this situation. Ever see James Woods portrayal of the team doctor in Any Given Sunday and his rant about the pressure the players are under to perform and who is he to deny them the chance to get that big contract?

This opens a can of major controversy from the get go.

Posted Saturday October 03, 2009, About: Bettman not sold on Olympic hockey

So while the NFL, a league with almost nil penetration in Europe and elsewhere looks to have preseason and regular season and maybe a franchise over seas, Bettman sees no benefit in having the NHLs best players on display in a market that may be almost as rabid as Canada in some locales?

I understand the logistical problems and the scheduling issues and the insurance issues. But this guy stands on a soap box telling us why a team can survive in the desert but can't figure out that it just might be worthwhile to put the game in front of people who are already sold and ready to consume.

Posted Saturday October 03, 2009, About: Who's behind Jays clubhouse revolt?

when they were winning, nobody said a word. now they are losers, they speak up. bad baseball players who lose should keep their mouth shut.

Posted Thursday September 24, 2009, About: Coyotes destined for Kansas City?

KC had their chance when the Isle came, to show how much they want a team. If the NHL shows up and you don't, sorry....no dice. That is just a pathetic statement. I don't want to hear any "it is only preseason" garbage. That is a test in my eyes. If that game was in Winnipeg, Hamilton or Quebec the building would have been full. Probably Hartford too.

KC should be out. Vegas shouldn't be a consideration.

Posted Monday September 21, 2009, About: Rays to trade Upton or Crawford

BJ is to the Rays what Alex Rios was to the Jays. Overpaid, underachieved, terrible attitude, contrite with the fans yet all the talent in the world.

Posted Tuesday September 01, 2009, About: Why NHLPA head was fired

the NFL became the greatest pro sports league with a union leader's head shoved way up the commish's butt.

Posted Tuesday July 21, 2009, About: Pirates: Pitcher wants to stay in minors

Players don't even refuse to report to the Detroit Lions.

But to suggest they should trade him for prospects............how do you get anything in return for a guy who doesn't want to play for you, waits it out in the minors and obviously was in the minors for a reason to begin with.

Good prospects in return for this kid? How about tickets to a Broadway play?

Posted Tuesday July 14, 2009, About: Why Devils hired Lemaire

the game will never pass a defensive oriented coach. Lemaire is not the inventor of the trap, he is simply a counterpuncher. Defensive responsibility first and foremost.

That is how the current Wings have managed their success. Zetterberg, Datsyk and the boys worry about their own end, play smart hockey offensively and don't turn it over.

Has anyone noticed Datsyk is a perrenial Selke contributor and Draper has been a defensive checking forward and faceoff specialist for years?

Posted Tuesday July 14, 2009, About: Why Devils hired Lemaire

don't remember any negative comments about boring Devils hockey when they won the Cup with this guy in the heyday of the trap.

Which is how Bowman won in Montreal and Detroit as well.

If my team wins the cup playing boring hockey, what do I care?

Posted Saturday July 11, 2009, About: Cash-strapped Jays may package Wells with Halladay

Fans are hard on him? It took forever for the fans on T.O to even notice. These are the same fans that didn't boo a huge baserunning gaffe late in the game by McDonald.

If Wells is letting hockey fans get to him in Toronto, how could he manage anywhere else? The Jays fans are the most apathetic in major pro sports.

Posted Saturday May 30, 2009, About: Crosby hype irks Wings coach

no different than the Magic leading hte series and LeBron being plastered everywhere. You wouldn't even no Orlando was in the game. And this is a team with a dunk champion, Superman.

The NHL needs to understand marketing. Not just the marketers and execs, but the league. They had one of the greatest matchups in history with Ovie and Sid the Kid and it goes hardly noticed.

Nobody will care about your Stanley Cup if you don't promote. And hard to pronouce Euro stars don't sell.

Posted Tuesday May 12, 2009, About: Alvarez in Wisconsin power struggle

ha! guess what D1 uni? guess the profile covers that. not that it matters.