Following the New England Patriots’ complete destruction of the Buffalo Bills’ defense, we learned two things: Andrea Kremer would totally go out with Tom Brady, and the Patriots are offensive (pun!!1!) simply by taking the field and playing the game they’re paid to play.
It wasn’t the first time the Patriots have beaten an opponent as
severely as they beat the Bills, and, not surprisingly, it wasn’t the
first time they’ve been accused of “running up the score.”
24, 24, 31, 21, 17, 21, 45, 4, and 46. Those are the Patriots’
margins of victory in their ten games this season. That’s an average
margin of victory of over 23 points.
The latest wails of “running up the score” came after the Patriots
twice went for the touchdown on fourth down instead of settling for a
field goal in the Bills game. The oft-cited “unwritten rules” were
brought up, that it is unethical to go for it on fourth down if you’re
enjoying a comfortable lead.
This rule applies to almost any team sport, especially baseball,
where, if you’re up by about 8 runs or so, it becomes unethical to
steal bases, bunt, bring in your better pitchers, and try trick plays.
It’s just an example of how no one can be offended anymore in this
country. On this blog, as well as in many other venues, I’ve made what
some consider extremely liberal claims (e.g. drugs should be
legalized), but one liberal issue I completely abhor is political
correctness. It’s often hypocritical and almost always an infringement
on First Amendment rights. The Patriots didn’t even speak — they simply
played a game well.
Here’s a list of people you can’t offend in this country:
Homosexuals
Bisexuals
Transgenders
Christians
Jews
African-Americans
Women
Anyone who knows anyone who knows anyone who is in the armed forces
The Bush administration, and the government in general
The disabled (note: not referring to the Bush administration)
People who are squeamish when it comes to violence or “foul” language
NEW: Bad sports teams, or otherwise good teams simply getting demolished
It’s politically correct to not run up the score. It’s politically correct to not brag and to modestly acknowledge your success.
It’s politically incorrect to humorously reference a movie about
homosexuality — still a fine source of humor for many in the comedy
industry — and analogize it to basketball, as Phil Jackson did.
Back to the Patriots — what did the P.C. people want Belichick to do
instead? Kick a field goal and tack on more points? At least if he goes
for it on fourth down, he gives the Bills defense a chance to step it
up and prevent them from scoring any points. At that point, with the
Patriots leading as emphatically as they were, the difference between a
touchdown and a field goal (four points) was moot anyway.
Isn’t it more insulting to “play down” to your opponent after you
get out to a sizable lead? It says, at least to me, “I’m so good, I
don’t even need to try hard to beat you. I can take out all of our best
players and play second- and third-stringers.”
Don’t want the Patriots to run up the score? Keep them out of the end zone. That was the response Leon Grant of the Seattle Seahawks gave to reporters
when asked about Chad Johnson’s touchdown celebrations (another thing
you’re not allowed to do when the P.C. police are around):
And though none of the Seahawks wants to witness
one of Johnson’s elaborate celebrations, they are more concerned with
the reason it would occur rather than the act itself.
“My mentality is that if you don’t want a guy to do all of that on you, just keep him out of the end zone,” Grant said.
The Patriots will continue to win by at least three touchdowns, and
will kick sand in the face of their opponents as they go for the fourth
on fourth down.
It’s almost time for regular season football, and you know what that
means. Predictions. These are my “incredibly genius now, incredibly
stupid later” picks (note: I’m pretty sure the records add up to
256-256). +/- of last season’s record in parentheses.
As far as pointless awards go, the Male Athlete of the Year award, handed out by the Associated Press, is arguably king. Originating in 1931, the award has singled out one male athlete among all others in competitive sporting events. Lance Armstrong owned the award four years in a row from 2002-2005 before Tiger Woods took home the crown for the fourth time in his career, finishing the year 2006 on a high note.
Hey, at least they didn't put a mirror on the cover in naming everybody ("Yes, you!") as the recipients of the award, as TIME Magazine is guilty of doing with their annual Person of the Year award. They could have, as the average American is as comparable an athlete as Tiger Woods. There is no doubt that Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers ever, but are golfers athletes? This writer doesn't think so.
Like chess, golf is a cerebral game. Physical stature is hardly a factor, as is evidenced by Woods' competitor and colleague John Daly. The 220-pound man stands 5'11" and is no stranger to the toxic nature of cigarettes and alcohol, yet that hasn't stopped him from having an extremely successful career, winning five PGA Tour events, two of which were major championships (PGA Championship in 1991, and the British Open in 1995).
An "Athlete of the Year" award should never, ever go to a golfer. They're not athletes. Well, according to the dictionary's definition of "athlete," golfers do qualify, but there must be a standard. The physical exertion necessary to play golf is minimal at best. The sport is more mechanical than anything. You can hit the ball as hard as you want but if you don't have the mental part of the game down, you may as well be at the batting cages.
LaDanian Tomlinson is easily a more deserving recipient, although his season is not yet over. He shattered Shaun Alexander's record of 28 touchdowns, set last year, on December 10 (Week 14), and currently sits on 31 with a week to go. After all, Tomlinson did finish just 30 votes behind Woods for this year's award (260 to 230), and he's exponentially a much better athlete.
In any case, the award is pointless. It doesn't add anything of value to the recipient's resume aside from aesthetics. Just as baseball's Gold Glove award needs to be buried, so too must these frivolous nominations.
Tiger Woods, athlete of the year? May as well have named me.
"I honestly believe that I'm supposed to do everything that I can do to the best of my ability, and God takes care of the rest. How can you worry if your Father's taking care of everything? The God that created the world says, 'I got you; just give Me the best you got.'"
These are the words of the 2005 NFL Most Valuable Player award, Shaun Alexander, running back for the Seattle Seahawks. "My life scripture is Psalms 37:4, 'Delight yourself in the Lord, and He'll give you the desires of your heart.'"
Alexander, following a 42-30 victory over the New York Giants, found out his foot had a slight fracture. It is no secret, then, that he desired his foot to be healed. He delighted himself in the Lord with cross-continental prayer with his family, but the Lord did not give him the desires of his heart, as Alexander will not play on October 1 against the Chicago Bears.
The Seahawks running back, who lost the rushing title in 2004 by one yard to Curtis Martin of the New York Jets, heeded scientific advice from team doctors and agreed with coach Mike Holmgren that sitting out is the best decision.
"I believe in the power of prayer, let me put it that way," Holmgren said.
But he doesn't believe in prayer over science, apparently. "In Shaun's situation, you have another very devout guy who believes in the power of prayer. But we did see a crack in his bone."
For the fourth straight year, the Colorado Rockies will finish at or near the bottom of the NL West. They did show promise by holding first place of the division in early May, but not even the underappreciated performances of Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins could keep the team out of the cellar. They did all they could.
They even held prayer meetings before each game. The Scripture is quoted upon entrance to the weight room. Tuesdays are for prayer and fellowship groups; Sundays are for chapel service. They've tried to reach the Lord, but could only get His voicemail.
"I don't want to offend anyone, but I think character-wise we're stronger than anyone in baseball," says Rockies chairman and CEO Charlie Monfort.
Well, at least the Rockies won't be totally dormant during the offseason, they can always go to church on Sunday, a precursor to watching two of their division rivals -- the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers -- duke it out on the playoffs.
Visit my new website -- Crashburn Alley!>
Crashburn Alley is a fusion of the phrase "crash and burn" with Ashburn Alley, which is beyond the center field fence at Citizens Bank Park. You can read more about Crashburn Alley here.>
I'm a diehard Phillies fan who is still reeling from the 1993 World Series and Joe Carter's three-run homerun in Game 6.
