As the Bret Favre / Green Bay Packers drama plays out, what is the most logical solution? From all appearances the Packers' management has resolved itself to accomplish two things pertaining to Bret... First, they have determined that it's time for Aaron Rodgers to take over the starting quarterback job. This was decided back a few months ago after Bret's tearful retirement speech. That was the logical thing to do since for all to see Bret was evidently done. Second, the Packers will simply not allow Bret to walk away with two years remaining on his contract. Even if he doesn't fit into their plans, they damn sure don't want to see him leading an opposing team against them. For this reason, they have been painted into a corner.
Following logic, the Packers will welcome Bret back into the fold once he petitions the NFL for reinstatement. Then, if the Packers' management is truly serious about Rodgers, and I think they are, they will begin shopping Bret's services around the league. Logically, this should mean a team the Packers won't face anytime soon. Who needs a quarterback that Bret will agree to hook up with that meets the Packers' criteria? Anyone?
Well, logically we are talking AFC teams. Who among the AFC teams could use a starting quarterback? Or, who in the AFC needs a quick fix at the quarterback position to get into the playoffs? I can't imagine Bret agreeing to become a member of a team that will not contend for the playoffs with him at quarterback... Does Bret have a preference between northern and southern teams? This is just my own thought, but I've gotta believe Favre would just as soon play for a team located in the warmer southern climes. I've often wondered what his career stats would have been if he had played in Miami like Marino. So let's say it's important to him to play out his career in a warm weather city. Who in the AFC fits the bill? Logically we're talking Miami, Jacksonville, Houston, and San Diego. Which of these teams needs a quick fix at quarterback? Which plays an offense similar to what Bret has been playing in Green Bay? The only one that fits the bill is actually the Houston Texans since Miami has repeatedly denied any interest in Bret. Do the Texans appear to be close to being a playoff team? Gary Kubiak coaches a version of the West Coast offense so that's a fit, but they play in arguably the most competitive division in the NFL and the team has never been in the playoffs. They are much improved, but I can't see Bret going there, even if they decide to take him. I just don't see any other possibilities in the AFC.
So the next question is, would the Packers agree to trade Bret to an NFC team that doesn't reside in the NFC North? We all know that both the Vikings and the Lions would most likely jump at the chance to bring Bret on board, but that ain't gonna happen... Who else in the NFC might be interested? I guess the question goes back to who needs a quick fix at quarterback to possibly make the playoffs? San Francisco? No. Anyone else?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers certainly fit the criteria in my opinion to suit Favre. A southern team about 8 hours driving time from Southern Mississippi. The Bucs won the NFC South last season with an older quarterback that was hurt part of the time. Tampa, under John Gruden, plays another variation on the West Coast offense. Gruden and Favre have a history between them when John coached under Mike Holmgren. Would the Packers go for a deal with the Bucs?
The only obvious roadblock beyond being an NFC team is that on Sunday, September 28th, this year the two teams play a regular season game. On the upside, the game is not played in Green Bay. Would the Pack go for that? The Bucs have an overabundance of players at the quarterback position, maybe they could package one of them back to the Packers. What would satisfy the Green Bay crew? Let's face it, there aren't too many potential trading partners that fit this scenario.
Logically speaking, I think we'll never see Bret Favre in a Green Bay Packers uniform again, there is just too much anamosity between Bret and the management team. Yes, the Packers' fans are going to have a hard time with this, but I'm afraid it's going to happen.
If I had anything to do with trying to get that team back into the hunt for the Super Bowl, I'd seriously consider Tampa if the Glaziers, Allen and Gruden are interested. I'd want to get something in return for Bret moving on...
The conclusion of the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball season took place June 25th in Omaha Nebraska. One of the most unlikely teams to ever win the championship came together and completed a run that will be talked about for years to come.
Fresno State University Bulldogs Win!!!
Bulldog Fans Celebrate in Fresno Pub Steve Detwiler is wired on right...
There were references during each broadcast of the games the Fresno State University Bulldogs played during the NCAA Regionals, Super-Regionals, and finally during the College World Series itself that tried to describe how low the Fresno State seeding into the tournament actually was. Fresno was compared to a thirteenth seed in terms of the NCAA National Championship Basketball Tournament regional of 16 teams, and then as the team continued to progress from one regional to another, they were finally said to be the lowest seeded team to ever reach the College World Series. The Bulldogs had a preseason ranking in the nation’s top 25, but a shaky start left this team scrambling the rest of the season to win their Western Athletic Conference championship. Winning the WAC championship was the only way the Bulldogs could make it into postseason play, where this unlikely championship run began 35 days and 18 games ago. They had to go undefeated in the WAC Championship Tournament, and they pulled it off. The newly crowned WAC champions sported a record of 37 wins and 27 losses (16-16 in non-conference games) as postseason regional play began. They found themselves as the fourth seed in the Long Beach Regional.
Georgia's Powerhitting Shortstop, Gordon Beckham
Fresno State's winning pitcher Justin Wilson
Fresno's College World Series Outstanding Player Tommy Mendonca receiving award
The team played and won 6 elimination games, including two against the eventual runner-up Georgia Bulldogs, as they ended by hoisting the NCAA National Championship Trophy.
I hope this helps to put what the Fresno State Bulldogs’ baseball team accomplished into perspective.
* * * * *
So what exactly is the beauty of all this? Well I’m here to tell you… This, my friends, is the beauty of a tournament. Just as we’ve seen the moniker of “Cinderella” laid on this FSU Bulldog team that would not quit, and just as we’ve seen that name applied to many different teams year after year in the NCAA National Basketball Tournament, this is the stuff of a playoff. The championship being won on the field of play in an equitably seeded tournament is the essence of sports. All of the major sports’ champions in the NCAA as well as in the various major professional team sports are determined on the field of play in a tournament format with one exception. Why must we, as sports fans in America, be submitted to the antiquated bowl system in Division I college football?
There is an elitist element in college football that has, over the years, wedged itself into place by waving bushels of dollars in front of the universities involved in supposedly amateur athletics. The National Collegiate Athletic Association spends thousands of hours and I suppose millions of dollars each year to insure the amateur nature of collegiate athletics, but they have allowed the bowl system to usurp their authority when it comes to Division I football. I also believe this system is supported by the “major” and “traditional” Division I football “powerhouses”. I liken this to nothing short of pure greed on their part as they continually attempt to corner the market on high school recruits while jealously excluding the so-called “minor conference” schools as they attempt to assemble competitive football teams. The bowl system, their elitist backers, and the elitist “powerhouse” teams in Division I have formed an alliance designed to be unfair and inequitable. The fact that the Bowl Championship Series has worked to exclude 51 schools in five Division I conferences and three schools not affiliated with a conference from eligibility in the national championship process is all you need to know. How in the world did we get here???
There won’t be any Cinderellas in Division I football this year or at anytime in the future so long as the current BcS system continues to line the pockets of the “major” schools and conferences in Division I…
Congratulations to the National Champion Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team. You have done something I hope to someday see in NCAA Division I football. Your team is a true champion as it won the right to be called champion on the field, not because some pollster thought they should be in the championship game. The Fresno State Bulldogs have given hope to all the schools around our country as any can point to what they did and say “Why not us?”
If a BcS type system had been used in NCAA Division I baseball, the Bulldogs, also now known as the “Wonderdogs”, wouldn’t have even been in the game and all of the sports fans around the country would have missed out on a truly wondrous occurrence.
In this time of ever increasing salaries among professional athletes, it’s time to take a look at the tactics being used in the money game that has become the 21st century in American sports.
In March 2005 Plaxico Burress agreed to a six-year, $25 million contract with the New York Giants that included an $8 million signing bonus. After four years under the terms of this contract it suddenly isn’t good enough… Plaxico has decided to not participate in the team’s mandatory mini-camp workouts this spring even though he was in attendance. I expect to hear requests for a trade shortly… Anyone interested?
Chad Johnson is entering only the third year of a six-year 35.1 million dollar contract with the Cincinnati Bengals… In April of this year, Chad was interviewed on the four letter network about his desire for a new contract that the Bengals had refused. He said: "I was labeled selfish and a cancer, and it hurt...Fingers were pointed at me this year. If the team and the organization wants to further itself (make the playoffs), I think you need to get rid of the problem...It hurt me. To do me that way and not to have my back. Things were said, and nobody came to my defense." This was just two weeks after Bengal QB Carson Palmer had been interviewed on the same program and he stated he wished the team would honor Johnson’s request for a new deal. Today, Chad is attending the Bengals’ mandatory spring camp, but not participating in any drills.
Tommie Harris, an All-Pro Defensive Tackle with the Chicago Bears, is entering the final year of his rookie contract this season and negotiations were begun to get Harris signed into the future. The Bears reportedly offered Harris a seven-year 50.5 million dollar contract with close to $20,000,000 guaranteed. This was not good enough and negotiations have broken down…
Lance Briggs, Outside Linebacker for the Chicago Bears, made a spectacle of himself after the Bears’ Super Bowl XLI appearance skipping mandatory meetings and the team’s mini-camp. Then he ran from an accident after crashing his multi-hundred thousand dollar Lamborghini sports car on Chicago’s Edens Expressway in August of 2007. He wanted a new deal. He was being disrespected. The Bears’ management held their ground and Briggs eventually came to training camp and played out the 2007 season. Last March the Bears buckled under and signed Briggs to a six-year, 36 million dollar contract…
Marion Barber, Running Back, Dallas Cowboys. Barber, who split time with Julius Jones last season, hit the jackpot as his agent negotiated a seven-year, $45 million contract with $16 million guaranteed. Not bad for a part-time running back getting LaDainian Tomlinson type money. Does Jerry Jones know what he's doing? I guess we'll find out shortly...
The common thread here? Mega-agent Drew Rosenhaus represents each of these players… Name sound familiar? Yes… This is the same man who represented Terrell Owens as he put two different teams through gut wrenching, mud slinging times…
The Barber Deal...
Who else is in the Rosenhaus stable that is currently raising hell with their NFL teams?
Anquan Boldin, Wide receiver with the Arizona Cardinals. After teammate Larry Fitzgerald convinced the Cardinals to cough up a four-year, $40 million contract extension, Anquan suddenly has become fidgety. The Cardinals were now disrespecting the other half of this premier receiving corps. Bolden’s agent Rosenhaus lets it be known that Anquon wants to be traded, setting off interest around the league, and the joust begins…
Earnest Graham, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Entering the final year of his current contract, Earnest is reportedly asking for a contract similar to Frank Gore’s five-year $28 million dollar deal. Earnest came on as a replacement for Cadillac Williams who suffered a season (and possibly career) ending knee injury. Graham’s situation is much more understandable than some of these players as he has been living off of a minimum NFL contract while initially serving as a special teamer on the Bucs.
Jeremy Shockey, Tight End, New York Giants. Entering the third year of a six-year, $26.38 million contract, Shockey, who missed all of the 2007 championship run made by the Giants, now wants to either renegotiate his contract or be traded. The Giants, who suddenly became unbeatable in the playoffs without having to listen to Shockey’s continual rant for the ball, have let Jeremy and his agent dangle in the breeze while his tirade continues…
Kellen Winslow, Jr. Tight end with the Cleveland Browns. Winslow is, in my humble opinion, a prima donna of the highest ilk. A first round draft pick in 2004, Kellen held out of training camp. In 2005 he tears himself up on a “super #### rocket” and then spends two seasons rehabilitating. He finally gets on the field last season and has a decent year. So what’s next? He skips the Browns OTA’s and the word is he expects the Browns to renegotiate his contract… Isn’t that something?
Players Rosenhaus represents that have recently signed as free agents with new teams include Bernard Berrian, Wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings (Chicago Bears) and Jevon Kearse, Defensive End with the Tennessee Titans (Philadelphia Eagles).
In 2007 Running Back Willis McGahee was traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Baltimore Ravens for draft picks. Although nothing came out publicly, if the truth was known, I’d be willing to wager that the Rosenhaus full court press was about to descend upon the small market Bills, so they traded him. The Ravens reportedly signed McGahee to a seven year, 40.12 million dollar contract making him one of the highest paid backs in the league. This for a running back having questionable stamina…
The only amicable signing this season was the Terrell Owens – Dallas Cowboys deal signed June 2nd. Terrell got a four year contract that reportedly will pay him 34 million dollars of which 13 million is guaranteed…
I find it interesting that the words “disrespect” and “hurtful” are liberally used when describing the treatment these poor guys have received. This when they busily pull every string possible to squeeze as much money out of their teams, even while a bona-fide contract is in effect…
How did we get here? Ask the men like Rosenhaus and the contract lawyers that they employ, all to the ultimate detriment of the game.
What can you say about this man? Here he is two months off of his third surgery on the left knee, the pain is registering on his face and demeanor shot after shot as he torques that knee again and again, he’s made more double bogeys in this U.S. Open than all of the other major title matches he’s played in, combined, and he’s made miracle shots to claim the lead on the final hole he played on the third round… The man is simply amazing as he limps toward his fourteenth major championship.
If you are an outdoorsman, then you know that an animal is most dangerous when it has been wounded, and it appears that this may just be the case when it comes to this type of Tiger too.
Woods will be paired with Englishman Lee Westwood as the last twosome to step off in the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines this afternoon. Can he pull off this unlikely win and add yet another epitaph to his ever growing legend?
I’m here to tell ya folks, this is the greatest golfer to ever come down the road, and we all get to watch him play!
The 140th running of the Belmont Stakes (Post time is 5:25 PM EDT this Saturday) at Belmont Park just outside of New York City, represents the biggest happening in thoroughbred horse racing since 2004 when Smarty Jones took a shot at history. He raced for the holy grail of American horse racing, the Triple Crown, but it wasn’t to be Smarty Jones’ day as a 36 to 1 long shot (Birdstone) overtook Smarty and won by a length. The last Triple Crown winner was thirty years ago. Since then there have been many wonderful horses win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes only to come up short in the Belmont Stakes. This race is the longest at a mile and a half, and those extra few yards can make all the difference. This is the endurance race...
Secretariat's Statue at Belmont Park Paddocks
Since 1905 there have been only eleven horses win the Triple Crown and now we have the pleasure of watching perhaps the best horse to come along in all these thirty years since Affirmed dueled Alydar to become the last winner of this storied title. Big Brown literally came out of nowhere to challenge for the title this year.
Big Brown working out this week.
Here is Big Brown’s auction and racing history:
Auction History
Year Sale Price
2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale $60,000
2007 Keeneland April Two-Year Olds in Training $190,000
Racing History
Date Race Name Distance Finish Earnings
05/17/08 Preakness (gr. I) 9.5 f 1 $600,000
05/03/08 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) 10f 1 $1,451,800
03/29/08 Florida Derby (gr. I) 9f 1 $600,000
03/05/08 Allowance 8f 1 $24,900
09/03/07 MSW 8.5f 1 $37,800
Record: 5 Starts, 5-0-0 | Total Earnings: $2,714,500
I’ll delve into where the real money will come from later in this article, but suffice to say, the race purses are only a drop in the old feed bag…
One Confidant Trainer
Trainer Rick Dutrow is making promises ala Joe Willie Namath or Muhammad Ali…
Dutrow has stated Big Brown’s winning of the Belmont Stakes is a “foregone conclusion”. In another interview the trainer was quoted as saying “These horses (the Belmont rivals) just cannot run with Big Brown…”
There are those who are not sold on Big Brown with some calling Dutrow’s words disrespectful, but in this day of media hype it’s just what is needed by this struggling industry to revitalize fan interest. Like one columnist writes; ‘Which would you rather have, the clichés coming at you like Crash Davis’ Bull Durham philosophy or Dutrow doing some trash talking?’ Trash talking every time!
In a pre Belmont race conference call for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Dutrow responded to a question about getting excited with the race approaching, "I know that when that day actually does come, and if our horse is in good shape, it will be the most exciting, thrilling moment of my life. So I just ... I know that that's coming, but right now I'm just staying involved with our horse and what we think is best to get him there the right way and it keeps us plenty busy."
In an interview with Jim Rome today Dutrow was asked if he could envision any scenario that Big Brown might lose under. Without hesitation the burley trainer stated, “There is no way in the world. He (Big Brown) will dominate all his rivals in this race.”
A Quarter Crack
There has been a lot of hullabaloo over a crack that appeared in Big Brown’s left foreleg hoof. This type of problem is not uncommon among horses and requires attention so that the hoof damage won’t open a wound above the hoof where infection creating an abscess is the real concern. Since the problem was noticed over a week ago, the hoof has been kept as clean as possible and the crack was sutured with stainless steel staples. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay has been involved with the treatment every step of the way. Friday the hoof will receive a protective acrylic patch covering which will stay in place until after the race. Tuesday, Big Brown was on the track for his first speed run since the injury was noticed. There was a huge sigh of relief from everyone involved with this colt as his workout was termed “flawless” with no problems foreseen as race day approaches. McKinlay was sure to say that Big Brown is in no pain whatsoever. Trainer Dutrow, oozing nothing but positive vibes stated of Big Brown, “He’s ready to do something. It’s time. He knows it. So, we’ll let him do it.”
Big Brown was supposed to only walk the barn on Wednesday, jog on Thursday and gallop of Friday…
The Loyal Opposition
So with all the attention given to Big Brown, it’s almost as if there won’t be any real competition for him come Saturday. Well, there will actually be nine other thoroughbreds that will line up against the favorite. Of these, the biggest threat to Big Brown is supposed to be Casino Drive who is currently has 7 – 2 odds to win. Here is a short biography on this challenger from Bloodhorse.com and equineline.com:
Casino Drive
Much has been made of Casino Drive since his Japanese connections decided a few months ago to ship the colt from the Orient specifically with the Belmont (gr. I) in mind. His one race in Japan was a ridiculously easy score at 1-5 against an overmatched group of maidens on Feb. 23. With two siblings, Jazil and Rags to Riches, winning the Belmont, he was brought to New York in an attempt to continue the streak. He looked sharp prepping in the Peter Pan (gr. II), winning easily in what was an admittedly weak renewal of the race. It will be a lot to ask for him to go the 12 furlongs in only his third lifetime start, especially facing the budding superstar Big Brown, but at the least his pedigree says he is not without hope.
Record: 2 Starts, 2-0-0 | Total Earnings: $185,282
The next closest competitor according to the experts is Denis of Cork with 12 – 1 odds. This horse finished third in the Kentucky Derby and has been working at Churchill Downs along with Macho Again (20 – 1), another horse that was in the Derby field. Denis of Cork’s Trainer David Carroll was beaming after his horse worked a solid half-mile to wrap up his serious preparation for the rematch with Big Brown. “I was very, very happy with what I saw today,” said Carroll. “Robby (exercise rider) was very careful not to go too fast early. He’s very deceiving. He can go fast because he covers a lot of ground, so he was under wraps the last eighth. He just let his head out and he just immediately accelerated, and it was a beautiful thing to watch. We’re excited.”
Tale of Ekati
Besides Macho Again, who was runner-up to Big Brown in the Derby, the Derby’s fourth place finisher, Tale of Ekati is also currently a 20 – 1 favorite to win the Belmont.
When asked about the rest of the Belmont field, Rick Dutrow spouted, “This horse has got good karma. No matter what you throw at him, he’s going to be ready.”
In the Derby, pre-race favorite Big Brown drew the 20th post. There hadn’t been a Kentucky Derby winner run from that post position in over 80 years until Big Brown won by over four lengths while running on the outside for the whole race. In the Preakness Stakes, Big Brown raced from the middle of the post positions, jumped to the lead and held the rail for the rest of the race. In Saturday’s third leg of the Triple Crown, Big Brown will start from the first post position, on the cherished rail as he attempts to become only the 12th horse to win the jewel of horse racing. Here are the post draws:
Horse (Jockey, Odds):
1. Big Brown (Kent Desormeaux, 2-5)
2. Guadalcanal (Javier Castellano, 50-1)
3. Macho Again (Garrett Gomez, 20-1)
4. Denis of Cork (Robby Albarado, 12-1)
5. Casino Drive (Edgar Prado, 7-2)
6. Da’Tara (Alan Garcia, 30-1)
7. Tale of Ekati (Eibar Coa, 20-1)
8. Anak Nakal (Julien Leparoux, 30-1)
9. Ready’s Echo (John Velazquez, 30-1)
10. Icabad Crane (Jeremy Rose, 20-1)
New Equine Hospital at Belmont Park
Ruffian
We were all very sorry about the misfortunate accident that claimed Eight Belles immediately following last month’s Kentucky Derby. It brought back memories to many long-time thoroughbred racing fans of another fantastic filly that met with a similar fate back in the 1970s. Ruffian was one of the fastest fillies to come along at that time. She raced with the same never give up ferocity we saw in Eight Belles. International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, Inc., otherwise known as IEAH Stables, one of the five owners of Big Brown, is funding the construction of the Ruffian Equine Medical Center at Belmont Park. This is in part being done as a tribute to Eight Belles as well. The 23,000 square foot facility will cost approximately $16 million. Hopefully the type of medical care available in a setting such as this will save horses in the future…
Will We See History? A Look Back
Only eleven horses have won all three of these coveted trophies…
Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes Trophies
In what is probably the most difficult task in a race horse’s career, they must master three races that occur over a five week period. Each race is held at a different track, in a different atmosphere and at longer distances than most have previously run. There have been 44 horses that have come close, winning the Derby and the Preakness only to have the longest of the three races #### glory from their grasp.
Birdstone runs past Smarty Jones in 2004
Secretariat by 31 lengths and Seattle Slew!
Here are the eleven that hold the title “Triple Crown Winner”:
YEAR NAME JOCKEY
1919 Sir Barton H.G. Bedwell
1930 Gallant Fox Earl Sande
1935 Omaha William Saunders
1937 War Admiral Charley Kurtsinger
1941 Whirlaway Eddie Arcaro
1943 Count Fleet John Longden
1946 Assault Warren Mehrtens
1948 Citation Eddie Arcaro
1973 Secretariat Ron Turcorte
1977 Seattle Slew Jean Cruguet
1978 Affirmed Steve Cauthen
A Look at the Real Money…
James Tagliaferri owns TAG Virgin Islands. This company is the real money behind Big Brown and his owner, International Equine Acquisitions Holdings. Although Tagliaferri stays in the background while I.E.A.H. co-president Michael Iavarone is the front man, it is Tagliaferri and his clients who have invested $25 million in I.E.A.H. in return for a 60 percent stake. If Big Brown wins on Saturday, his stud fees alone could amount to $120 million. Next we’ll see a merchandising blitz that will make the connection to United Parcel Service look miniscule. Don’t be surprised to see Big Brown Beanie Babies, ball caps and who knows what else… Maybe some of the most expensive garden manure the world has ever seen. A true accounting of the value of this horse when it’s all said and done will be astounding…
What about the Weather?
Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park is forecast to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of precipitation. The temperature should be in the high 80s at race time with 57% humidity and a slight southerly breeze. Sounds like fine conditions at this time!
* * * * *
In recent times, the duel between the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, and his nemesis, Alydar, is the stuff of legends. These two raced to a total of two full lengths difference in these three races. Affirmed’s largest victory was by a length and a half in the Kentucky Derby. He then defeated Alydar by a neck in both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes.
Will Big Brown, while attempting to become only the second undefeated horse to win the Triple Crown, find a genuine challenger in the 140th Belmont Stakes?
I'm sure most of you NFL fans heard that the New York Giants received their Super Bowl rings this past week. Being the curious type, I wanted to see how much bling the Giants got for winning the ultimate NFL prize in Super Bowl XLII (that's 42 for those of you from Jersey... lol).
Well once I got a good look at this amazing piece of jewelry (Michael Strahan said he was satisfied and happy that it was a "10 table" ring, meaning in a restaurant this ring can be seen from 10 tables away!), I realized that I have only seen a couple of these famous rings over the forty-two years of Super Bowls and championship rings... Look what I found in my search for more examples of these rings, here are all 42 of them!
NFL Super Bowl Championship Rings
Super Bowl XL 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLI 2006 Indianapolis Colts New York Giants 2007 New York Giants Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XXXVII 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVIII 2003 New England Patriots 2004 New England Patriots Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIV 1999 St. Louis Rams Super Bowl XXXV 2000 Baltimore Ravens 2001 New England Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI
1996 Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXII 1997 Denver Broncos 1998 Denver Broncos Super Bowl XXXIII 1995 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXVIIII 1993 Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXIX 1994 San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXV 1990 N.Y. Giants
Super Bowl XXVI 1991 Washington Redskins 1992 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXII 1987 Washington Redskins Super Bowl XXIII 1988 San Francisco 49ers 1989 San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XXIV
Super Bowl XIX 1984 San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XX 1985 Chicago Bears 1986 N.Y. Giants Super Bowl XXI
Super Bowl XVI 1981 San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl XVII 1982 Washington Redskins 1983 L.A. Raiders Super Bowl XVIII
Super BowlXIII 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XIV 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XV 1980 Oakland Raiders
Super Bowl X 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl XI 1976 Oakland Raiders 1977 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl VIII 1973 Miami Dolphins Super Bowl XI 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl VII 1972 Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl IV 1969 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl V 1970 Baltimore Colts 1971 Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl I 1966 Green Bay Packers Super Bowl II 1967 Green Bay Packers 1968 N.Y. Jets Super Bowl III
Seems like the gaudiness of the rings has increased as player salaries have become more and more gaudy over the years...
Addendum for Steve... How much are these rings valued at?
Super Bowls rings are given as awards to all the members of the winning team in the championship game of the league, which is the Super Bowl. They are awarded to them in commemoration of their victory. These valuable rings are usually made with white or yellow studded with diamonds. They would have the Super Bowl number, the team name and the team logo engraved on each ring.
The rings could also have bigger diamonds, as well as diamonds that have been designed to form a trophy. It represents how many Super Bowls the particular franchise has won. For instance, the 2005 Super Bowl ring of Pittsburgh has five trophies, which would represent the five championship games, or Super Bowls, that they have won.
A lot of people may not know that the NFL actually spends almost $5,000 for each ring, and usually gives almost 150 rings for each team. And the policy was if the cost of the rings goes over the limit of $5,000, then the team owner would be the one paying for the difference. A lot of the more recent rings have been appraised to have a value of over $20,000 but most manufacturers do not directly give this information.
The Super Bowl rings are usually made by the chosen company of the winning team. A lot of the Super Bowl rings are manufactured by a company named Josten's located in Denton. Texas.
So the league pays up to $5,000 per ring and it's up to the team owner if he or she wants to splurge... Then you have an accumulated value over the years...
Where's the money coming from in the future? This is the standard question being asked as business people strive to increase profits and stay out in front of the competition. Sports has become a huge business over the last few decades and this same question must be being asked here as well. What drives sports revenues? Well, we as fans do.
San Francisco's old Kezar Stadium
In the early days we paid admission to stadiums and arenas so we could watch and cheer for our favorite teams. We bought publications that kept us abreast of the daily fortunes of our teams, we listened to radio broadcasts and occasionally we even got to see our favorites on live television. Man, that was a great treat!
So the ticket prices began to rise. In the professional sports we were told that the advent of free agency forced these prices up… Then there was inflation. If it wasn’t one thing it was another. Next, we had to more closely identify with our favorites so it became important for us to wear the team colors. Sports apparel has grown from the days of simply wearing a ball cap or a tee shirt emblazoned with our team’s logo to some now wearing complete outfits in their team's sanctioned authentic apparel lines. Have you priced a ball cap or tee shirt these days? Next, the stadiums and arenas were more than happy to supply the fan's needs for food and beverages. Today we have to pay ridiculous prices if we want something to eat or drink. On top of this we are normally banned from bringing our own snacks inside the stadiums. Couple this with the cost of getting to the various sporting venues. Parking fees, something unheard of in the old days, were begun and have steadily increased to the point that they exceed what a set of two tickets used to cost. Today the cost of fuel has skyrocketed. It seems that now, everywhere a sports fan turns, there is someone standing there with their hand out expecting you to cross it with silver just so you can attend a sporting event.
All of these things have changed the fan's faces in the stands, as many just can't afford to attend these events anymore. Today we are seeing some sports beginning to suffer as their fans have stopped attending their events. The major professional sports, the NFL, NASCAR, MLB, the NBA and the NHL are seeing the effects of their exorbitant costs to the fans as many of the smaller market teams are now struggling to make ends meet. They simply don’t have a fan base large enough to include several thousands of fans willing and able to afford these expenses more than once or twice a season. The same effect is beginning to be seen in the collegiate sports and smaller time sporting enterprises like your local race tracks and minor league baseball. So where is the money going to come from in the future?
Through all of this there has been one shining star that kept fan interest high. In the 1950’s our nation, having won a world war with our citizen’s courage and our technological prowess, our industries developed and brought us wonderful new conveniences. One of the most significant was that we got wired into television. We had entered into the communication age and by the end of that decade, darn near every home had a television. The world had shrunk considerably. The sixties brought us color television and in the seventies the major television networks that had sprung up started getting competition from independent stations. Most of the country could receive television transmissions over the airwaves by antennae. You had to have electricity, but the programming was paid by advertiser’s dollars. The nation’s space program brought us satellite technology that in turn made the first “super stations” available. These came to us by satellite transmission and satellite receiving dishes became a common feature around many homes. Then another communication age phenomenon took place as cable television began following the lead of our country’s electrification and telephone wiring procedure. Another network of wires began to grow based upon the satellite technology. Today all of the country’s metropolitan areas have cable television and for a relatively low price, our citizens can enjoy all sorts of entertainment on television. The country’s sports fans have benefited greatly as we are able to see all kinds of sporting events on a twenty-four hour a day basis. For around $40.00 a month I have 6 ESPN channels, 4 Fox Sports channels, 2 local sports channels, Speed, Golf, Fishing, and more… The channels still bring me advertising while I cough up the monthly fee, but what the heck. Compared to personally going to a live big time sporting event, it’s nothing.
With this basically free television coverage to satisfy our sports appetite, all has been well, but there appear to be dark clouds gathering on the horizon as these business types continue to search for the money. In November of 2003, the NFL owners voted unanimously to fund a new television venture by devoting $100 million towards it’s start up. In 2006 this venture came to life and we know it today as the NFL Network. The problem is we can’t all get this new offering. If you subscribe to the satellite network, Direct TV, you’re in. Most of the cable TV networks haven’t been able to reach a satisfactory agreement with the NFL and so most of the country’s NFL fans are being left out. Then in 2006 a college athletic conference, the Mountain West, started their own sports television network. This is a joint venture between the conference, the Columbia Broadcasting System’s Sports Network and Comcast Cable Television. Known as “The MTN”, it features 24 hour a day of exclusive Mountain West Conference athletic events. Next, in 2007, the Big Ten Conference launched its own sports network as well. In another joint venture, “The Big Ten Network” came into being with the Big Ten Conference owning 51% while Fox Cable Networks operates the network and owns the minority 49%. So a new idea has come to life in the revenue stream… Today I read where the Southeastern Conference is now considering a television network of their own. Considering the conference’s recent successes in football and basketball, it might turn into a very lucrative deal as Fox and CBS would most certainly line up to bid for a partnership similar to the previously mentioned conferences. The trend is clear and I expect to see the other major collegiate conferences join in or they will lose a potential revenue source.
So if all of these new ventures prove to be successful, can we expect to see the other major sports in our country join in? I think we all know the answer to that. What then is the next step in this ongoing need to siphon dollars from the sports fans of America? It’s been around for awhile, it’s called pay per view. At first only the biggest events will go that route, but eventually it will become commonplace. Can NASCAR, MLB and all the others be far behind?
It’s not enough that most of us can’t afford to attend the sporting events in person on a regular basis anymore. It’s not enough that we now pay for our cable television and still have to listen to the advertisements to boot. Will it be enough when we not only pay for the cable television monthly subscription costs, while forced to watch the commercials, and also have to cough up a fee to watch each event?
each of these players… Name sound familiar? Yes… This is the same man who represented Terrell Owens as he put two different teams through gut wrenching, mud slinging times… 
knee, the pain is registering on his face and demeanor shot after shot as he torques that knee again and again, he’s made more double bogeys in this U.S. Open than all of the other major title matches he’s played in, combined, and he’s made miracle shots to claim the lead on the final hole he played on the third round… The man is simply amazing as he limps toward his fourteenth major championship. 
shot at history. He raced for the holy grail of American horse racing, the Triple Crown, but it wasn’t to be Smarty Jones’ day as a 36 to 1 long shot (Birdstone) overtook Smarty and won by a length. The last Triple Crown winner was thirty years ago. Since then there have been many wonderful horses win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes only to come up short in the Belmont Stakes. This race is the longest at a mile and a half, and those extra few yards can make all the difference. This is the endurance race... 
attention so that the hoof damage won’t open a wound above the hoof where infection creating an abscess is the real concern. Since the problem was noticed over a week ago, the hoof has been kept as clean as possible and the crack was sutured with stainless steel staples. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay has been involved with the treatment every step of the way. Friday the hoof will receive a protective acrylic patch covering which will stay in place until after the race. Tuesday, Big Brown was on the track for his first speed run since the injury was noticed. There was a huge sigh of relief from everyone involved with this colt as his workout was termed “flawless” with no problems foreseen as race day approaches. McKinlay was sure to say that Big Brown is in no pain whatsoever. Trainer Dutrow, oozing nothing but positive vibes stated of Big Brown, “He’s ready to do something. It’s time. He knows it. So, we’ll let him do it.”
Much has been made of Casino Drive since his Japanese connections decided a few months ago to ship the colt from the Orient specifically with the Belmont (gr. I) in mind. His one race in Japan was a ridiculously easy score at 1-5 against an overmatched group of maidens on Feb. 23. With two siblings, Jazil and Rags to Riches, winning the Belmont, he was brought to New York in an attempt to continue the streak. He looked sharp prepping in the Peter Pan (gr. II), winning easily in what was an admittedly weak renewal of the race. It will be a lot to ask for him to go the 12 furlongs in only his third lifetime start, especially facing the budding superstar Big Brown, but at the least his pedigree says he is not without hope. 
odds. This horse finished third in the Kentucky Derby and has been working at Churchill Downs along with Macho Again (20 – 1), another horse that was in the Derby field. Denis of Cork’s Trainer David Carroll was beaming after his horse worked a solid half-mile to wrap up his serious preparation for the rematch with Big Brown. “I was very, very happy with what I saw today,” said Carroll. “Robby (exercise rider) was very careful not to go too fast early. He’s very deceiving. He can go fast because he covers a lot of ground, so he was under wraps the last eighth. He just let his head out and he just immediately accelerated, and it was a beautiful thing to watch. We’re excited.” 
Besides Macho Again, who was runner-up to Big Brown in the Derby, the Derby’s fourth place finisher, Tale of Ekati is also currently a 20 – 1 favorite to win the Belmont. 
that it was a "10 table" ring, meaning in a restaurant this ring can be seen from 10 tables away!), I realized that I have only seen a couple of these famous rings over the forty-two years of Super Bowls and championship rings... Look what I found in my search for more examples of these rings, here are all 42 of them!
more closely identify with our favorites so it became important for us to wear the team colors. Sports apparel has grown from the days of simply wearing a ball cap or a tee shirt emblazoned with our team’s
logo to some now wearing complete outfits in their team's sanctioned authentic apparel lines. Have you priced a ball cap or tee shirt these days? Next, the stadiums and arenas were more than happy to supply the fan's needs for food and beverages. Today we have to pay ridiculous prices if we want something to eat or drink. On top of this we are normally banned from bringing 
our own snacks inside the stadiums. Couple this with the cost of getting to the various sporting venues. Parking fees, something unheard of in the old days, were begun and have steadily increased to the point that they exceed what a set of two tickets used to cost. Today the cost of fuel has skyrocketed. It seems that now, everywhere a sports fan turns, there is someone standing there with their hand out expecting you to cross it with silver just so you can attend a sporting event. 
venture between the conference, the Columbia Broadcasting System’s Sports Network and Comcast Cable Television. Known as “The MTN”, it features 24 hour a day of exclusive Mountain West Conference athletic events. Next, in 2007, the Big Ten Conference launched its own sports network as 
well. In another joint venture, “The Big Ten Network” came into being with the Big Ten Conference owning 51% while Fox Cable Networks operates the network and owns the minority 49%. So a new idea has come to life in the revenue stream… Today I read where the Southeastern Conference is now considering a television network of 
their own. Considering the conference’s recent successes in football and basketball, it might turn into a very lucrative deal as Fox and CBS would most certainly line up to bid for a partnership similar to the previously mentioned conferences. The trend is clear and I expect to see the other major collegiate conferences join in or they will lose a potential revenue source.
