VY till I die

Ed. Note: This is a cross-post from my UT Sports blog Hash Marks.

Boy, is VY having a tough time of it. I’ll admit, when I heard he left the season opener with an injury, part of me hoped it would keep him out a few weeks so he could take a deep breath and reset. Little did I know a media manifested mental meltdown was in the works. But sure enough, next thing you know Jeff Fisher is calling the cops to hunt him down and a crisis negotiator tags along just in case.
Now speculation is rampant. Is he losing it? Does he want to play football? Is he a coddled mamma’s boy?
I know media members have to speculate to some degree. Columnists wouldn’t be worth their salt if they don’t offer insight, ideas and possibilities. But when you’re coming out with theories on the mental health of an individual, you’re moving on to some shaky ground.

Good Move For Vick?

As soon as 2009 Michael Vick might find himself in a football uniform and playing professional football. Team? Unknown. League? Most likely not the NFL. Another new football league is on it’s way in. This one, the United Football League touts itself as home to the “stars of tomorrow”. I thought college football was the home of those guys, but what do I know? I guess I don’t keep up with the Vick situation that much because I didn’t think there was even an outside shot of Vick playing in the NFL in 2009.

Favre Favre Favre Favre Favre Favre Favre Favre

How are you doing on this Favre situation? Have you got your recommended daily does of Favre coverage yet? Does it bother you that I’m feeding the beast by making a Favre post? How many times can you read/hear/say the name Favre before your head explodes?

Me, I’ve already turned off the TV twice because of this “developing story.” Breaking news is overrated. Tell me what has happened once anything has actually happened and I’ll be fine.

For now, I’m going to give the Golf Channel another try. At least it’s less boring.

Something About Brett

If you haven’t noticed, Brett Favre is reprising his role in Something About Mary.

Think about it. In the 1998 film, Favre was the ideal. He represented the perfect man—all that is good and decent. In the end, when he makes his move on Mary though, he is rejected.

Now, 10 years later. Favre retires a hero in Green Bay. Once again, he was the ideal. And once again, he attempted to return. And the Packers are doing their damned best to reject him.

Delicious irony.

ESPN’s blogging network represents a medium’s coming of age

As a resident of the blogosphere, I know it’s against the rules to ever compliment The Four Letters. I’m a rule-breaker though, so watch out.

I’m sure you’ve heard that ESPN launched a blog network to cover both the NFL and (relevant) college football. They’ve taken a bit of grief for it, because giving them grief is the cool and easy thing to do. Overall, the initial reaction could be deemed as skeptical.

We Must Protect This Nest?

The Arizona Cardinals have come up with a ticket plan called the “Protect the Nest Plan”. Because of this plan any person who wants to buy tickets to the Cardinals/Cowboys game must also buy tickets to the Cardinals preseason game against New Orleans. That immediately strikes me as stupid. Plus it seems like they’re saying “Whoa! When the Coyboys come here it’s almost like an away game! Those Cowboys are so amazing… What can we do to change that?” I feel like they’re making total fools of themselves with this plan and they’re showing no faith in their fans.
I mean, you didn’t see the Rays taking measure like this to prevent their home games against Boston and New York from turning into away(ish) games. Instead they played amazing baseball and suddenly all of their home games feel like home games. Arizona should learn from that instead of making total fools of them selves and disappointing their fans.

How can an online store like this even exist?

Let me introduce you to http://www.stungunking.net . Apparently someone wanted to sell stun guns and other gizmos like that and they decided to sell autographs of famous sports athletes on top of everything else. I have no idea how legitimate the electronics side of the business, but get this. They are selling autographed cards of Barry Sanders, Jerome Bettis, Albert Pujols, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and Mark McGwire for only $5.00. An Eli Manning signed card is only $7.00. $2.00 will get you a signed card of David Wright and for a dollar you could get an autographed card of Paul Konerko, Luis Matos, Paul Sorrento, David Robinson, Ryan Leaf… The list goes on.