Congratulations A.J., you got the head coach you wanted. You wanted a pushover coach who would not challenge your authority and that's what you got. But if you seriously think that Norv Turner is the one coach who can elevate the Chargers to Super Bowl level, then you're dead wrong. How did he do in Oakland again?
Norv is a great offensive coordinator, look at what he did with Frank Gore and Alex Smith last year, but the man has failed many a times at head coach. What I can't understand is how the Chargers fired a guy who turned them around in one year, for a coach who has a 58-82-1 record. I know A.J. is a great GM, he's drafted stars in the past couple of years and pulled off a brilliant trade to get Philip Rivers, Shawn Merriman, and Nate Keilding, but this has to be the dumbest move he's made. Norv Turner is an offensive coordinator, not a head coach. San Diego was on its way to being a Super Bowl caliber team, but this move is a set back to their ultimate goal.
The next one, who really cares?
As fans, we are fascinated in finding the next one. Be it the next Michael Jordan, the next Bill Russell, the next Willie Mays, the next Wayne Grezty, or even the next Joe Montana. My question is, why does it matter?
Why do the fans and the media always want to label a player as the next great star? Why do we have to compare Lebron James to Michael Jordan or Greg Oden to Bill Russell? Why can’t we just celebrate players for being who they are and not who they aren’t? Lebron James will never be Michael Jordan and Greg Oden will never be Bill Russell. Why? Because only Michael Jordan is Michael Jordan and Bill Russell is only Bill Russell. I know that logic is very simple, but many people don’t use it. They just want to find the next great thing. The media is always looking for the next great thing to hype up and the fans are always looking for the next great thing to lead their team to a championship. Not before long, that player will retire and the only memory the fans and the media will have of him is that he was supposed to be the next Michael Jordan and he wasn’t. He failed in their eyes because he did not meet their level of expectation and that’s wrong. Not every player can reach that magical level, that level where you become legendary.
Another thing I can’t stand is labeling someone the next great star when he has yet to play a single game on the pro level. Maybe that’s why I don’t like Reggie Bush, all the talk of him being the next Gale Sayers before stepping on a pro field annoyed me. I thought it was disrespectful towards Sayers, how could someone be compared to a legend like Sayers without playing one game. Let his career play out and after it’s over, compare all you want.
Dice-K Matsuzaka is another player I'm annoyed by. Not that he’s done anything to me, but people are labeling him the savior of the Red Soxs pitching rotation without him pitching one single inning. He has no experience in the pro game, but yet the Red Soxs spent over 100 million dollars to get him. You’re probably saying, “Well Santini, how can you say he has 0 MLB experience when he was the MVP of the World Baseball Classic.’ Yes, Dice-K won the MVP, but did you see the teams he pitched against? Mexico, Cuba, South Korea. Jorge Cantu and the shortstop from Cuba on the Mariners (forgot his name) are the only ones who play in the big leagues. How’s that for experience. If he were to dominate the Domican lineup, then I might be sold on Dice-k, but he didn’t.
What dose this mini rant that I just had really mean? Stop comparing players and just enjoy them for being who they are. Enjoy watching them because they don’t play forever.
I'm sick of player comparisons too...I can remember everyone saying Darius Miles would be the next Kevin Garnett...and Tom Brady is compared to Joe Montana as often as a new baby is born in the world it seems.
The Chargers are now on their way to traveling down the same path as Tampa Bay did after they stabbed Tony Dungy in the Back.There are many successful Head Coaches out there that are PROVEN winners.I love Norv Turner as a PERSON but he is a PROVEN loser.A great offensive Coach---YES--a Head Coach? NO.One must wonder when teams are going to really dedicate themselves to WINNING and stop creating "sweet heart" deals with RECYCLED losing Coaches? Gruden is a better Coach than Turner but has been unable to maintain the winning teams that Dungy built.Remember---Turner was with a very talented Red Skins team and did nothing with it.He went to a well talented--winning Raiders team and did nothing with it.San Diego Fans will have MUCH to be unhappy about if Turner ruins The Chargers as he did The RedSkins and Raiders.This was a "SWEETHEART" deal.NO team will EVER become a consistent winner when UPPER managment wont stay OUT of the Coaches way.
Norv was a excellant coach for the Niners, but they all crave to be the man, he 's a very good coach but your right San Diego blew it, shoulda kept the coach they had and got rid of the GM!!
Thanks vearlthepearl for a very intelligent and polite response.Most of the time on these net message boards you are inundated with lot of name calling---false accusations and vehement anger directed at people they have ever seen or known when they disagree.It's so sad that some people allow their emotions to get so out of control that way.You read and analyze very well what's before you.I say once more--Norv is a fine man and great Coordinator.In so far as the personal aspect.I can't say enough about what a fine man he is.You take care.Be blessed my friend.By the way---I don't like to see anyone doing bad.With that said--I sincerly hope Norv will turn it around this time but he has his hands full much more than some may realize.There definitley is a morale problem there now and the teams chemistry is going to need a lot of work after all this messy mess initiated by upper management of all things
Turner is not a great coach. He is a good OC only. He will not take the Chargers to the Super Bowl. It's too bad because they are on the cusp of great things.
Comparisons are inevitable. I compare you to another blogger named GBrent.
socalspotsfan:
Since you did not make rude remarks I will reply to your post as it seems to be directed at me.YOU have an OPINION."I" have an opinion that does NOT have to coincide with yours and it's impossible to compare me with ANYONE when you don't know me OR has ever been around me.YOU have an opinion in which YOU believe.I do not have to agree with you beause in YOUR mind you have made it so obvious that EVERYONE must agree with YOU they are automatically wrong by default.I notice you ignored the personal things I said about Norv.Do you ALWAYS take things personal that are NOT? There are many--in the game and nation wide that disagrees with YOU.Just because you have an opinion does not mean it's RIGHT.I sense you fall into the group I described to vearlthepearl---thinking with your EMOTIONS instead of your God given common sense.I might add---in America--as long as the rights of others is respected and the law of the land is obeyed--You can do what ever you wish which is NOT trying to dictate YOUR thoughts and beliefs to others.NOW---"I compare YOU to the millions that think THEY have the right to say no one else has ANY including OPINIONS unless---they agree with YOU.I have dealt with this for years and know HOW to deal with it as I just did.I discern you are a "LEGEND" in your OWN mind as the fellow said.The whole world is wrong--and YOU are right.You remind me of a snot nosed bully spoiling for a fight.If not--you would have simply stated YOUR opinion and let it go.I also strongly suspect you are someone from other boards with a new screen name.
Last edited by fleetstream on February 19th at 10:05 PM.
socalsportsfan:
You WILL be wasting your precious and invaluable time responding because I will NOT be here and in the out side chance I will---I WONT read OR reply.I KNOW you have an axe to grind.Take it else where.NOT this time.I will suggest that when you get mad at who or what ever in your life where you live.Grow a back bone and address your animosity towards THEM.I know your types all to well--"Im pizzed off at the world so since I am to cowardly to direct my anger at who stirred it--I will go where "It's safe" and spew my venom on people I have never seen or known and NOT responsible for what I am spaced out about".I also compare YOU with someone that has emotional problems.
Last edited by fleetstream on February 19th at 10:15 PM.
