Quite a few years ago there was a dinner theater in Bloomington, MN called The Carlton Dinner Theater. My wife and I saw The Spinners and The Temptations there. We saw Roy Orbison there. The food was great and the seats were awesome. Another act we saw there was Leon Russell. Had to go twice to catch Leon. The first night we went to see him we arrived only to find the doors locked and chained with a notice that Leon had cancelled the scheduled performance but that it would be rescheduled. Turns out Leon couldn't make this performance because he was in a detox center in South Dakota. When we finally got to see him perform it was quickly apparent that detox didn't work. After stumbling through the standard "it is really great to be here" line it was obvious that Leon had no idea of where "here" was. A roadie finally told him he was in Bloomington. Leon thought he was in Indiana. Simple mistake...I guess. Aside from this Leon Russell had quite a few songs I enjoyed and a line from one of them clearly defines how I find myself thinking about what is going on in the sports world lately. "I'm up on a tightrope...one side hate and the other side hope."

I can't stand Jose Canseco. The self proclaimed savior of MLB dropping names and insinuations about certain players and leaving his comments to trail in the wind with no real support. Only to claim that he is always right and that eventually all will work out and we will see that he is an honest and truthful man whose only concern is for righting the wayward actions of the players in his sport. I'm up on a tightrope hating that people actually read and listen to this buffoon as he spews accusations without proof. I'm up on a tightrope hoping that the media quits giving this #### air time and print space to feed his enormous ego and hoping he will simply talk himself into oblivion.

While I find them entertaining I don't really understand the "Coaches on the Hot Seat" menality or what prompts people to write this stuff. I understand that opinions are just that...opinions and that we are all intitled to our opinions. And maybe they would be more acceptable to me if they were written from an X's and O's perspective instead of from the "this coach is on the hotseat because he can't control his players" perspective. I'm up on a tightrope hating that there are people out there who think Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis is on the hotseat because he is the head coach of the NFL's version of Alcatraz and he can't control the players. He's a football coach...not a prison warden. On the heels of WR Chris Henry being released last week after being arrested on assault charges comes news that RB Quincy Wilson was waived yesterday. Wilson is another player with an arrest record for failing to disperse when requested by law enforcement officials after a wedding party last June and was charged with disorderly conduct. I'm up on a tightrope hoping that some semblence of common sense enters into this and people quit holding Lewis responsible for being a subpar babysitter and try giving him some credit for doing what he was hired to do...coach football. On the hope side of the tightrope would be hoping that at some time in the immediate future the Bengals quit drafting wanna-be thugs and mental midgets (no offense to short people intended) who don't know what accepted appropriate social behavior is, or simply choose to ignore it.

To that end I am having a harder and harder time accepting the concept that NCAA College Football Coach's ( or any sports coaches) should be saddled with the responsibility of disciplining student athletes who get arrested by law enforcement officials for any kind of reason. In order to maintain control of their programs coach's have to have a certain degree of power of discipline. I don't think you need to remove that from them. But when it comes to handing down discipline in situations of arrest I think the coach needs some help and guidance. I'm up on a tightrope hating that we are asking these coach's to be prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, jury and hangman...along with trying to coach a competitive football team and maintain the integrity and character of the institution, themselves, and the program. I understand that they make a lot of money and should therefore accept the lions share of the responsibility for their program. But this is a different day and age and the student athletes aren't from the "Sir, yes, sir!" school anymore. Nope...a lot of these guys are from the "I'm entitled to be here and do whatever I damn well please" school. I'm up on a tightrope hoping that sometime soon the ineptitude of the NCAA's disciplinary policies will become obsolete and that a system devoted solely to assisting institutions and coaching staffs in dealing with runaway behavioral issues ending in arrest or incarceration for student athletes is created. I'm hoping that this system will allow the coach to maintain control of his program while keeping him/her from the old "hotseat for lack of control" situation. I'm hoping this system will determine levels of inappropriate behavior that allow for the coach to discipline and then include an increasing gradient where different infractions are dealt with appropriately BY THE INSTITUTION. Put it on the system and the institution to deal with student athletes who break the law and are A.) accused of breaking some law, B.) arrested and charged with a criminal offense, and C.) acquitted or convicted. And make it as BLACK and WHITE as it can possibly be made by eliminating the hidden outs of an inappropriate action from consequences. Basically...you do the crime (student athletes) you do the time...and the coach is removed from the equation for disciplining said student athlete. You want your coach to have the final say...or any say in the disciplinary process if you do something wrong. Then you better skip class or a team meeting because if you get drunk after curfew, punch someone in the face and get arrested for assault...the institution you are attending based on recommendations of the system will determine your fate. Sound a little like Big Brother is watching you? Probably! But who brought it to this? Must be the coaches, eh! NOT!!!

Speaking of Black and White...racism is in our face now more than ever. I'm up on a tightrope hating that if it isn't then there is surely someone who will bring it there. Its no freakin' wonder we continually slip backwards in regard to race in this country. Does the media treat white players differently than black players? Do black students have better opportunities for scholarships to college than the middle class white student? Am I a better hockey player than Grant Fuhr was because I'm white and he is black? While racism is not something that can, or should, be ignored...I often find myself  wondering why it is raised in such insignificant arena's. Who is the better defensive lineman...the white guy or the black guy? What? In what context? Who is the better hitter, the white guy, the black guy, the hispanic guy or the asian guy leading off? In what context? Skin color, power, speed, contact potential, literacy? I'm up on a tightrope hoping that context is included in the question the next time someone asks who is treated better, white athletes or black athletes. In other words I'm hoping that the question is based on a little more specific criteria than the color of skin or the generalized cultural background of those in question. At least then I won't feel like my intelligence is being called into question if I respond appropriately. Fuhr played in the NHL...I did not...enough said!

The Olympics are coming up and the host country, China, is giving itself a bad reputation. So much so that protestors world wide are out in force condemning their actions regarding how they treat their citizens and those of Tibet. I'm up on a tight rope hating that the Olympics have become much more than the intended sporting events between nations and different cultures and that so much venom is being spewed into this situation that will change...absolutely nothing. Of course, political stands and the Olympics have become bedfellows with each other...since 1936...at least. I'm up on a tight rope hoping that at some time, hopefully in my lifetime, we can actually watch an entire Olympic Games without someone, or some organization, turning them into a venue to spout their rhetoric and political platforms on. Can anyone answer me this. Do World Leader's outside of those from the host country, attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games? I guess I have never really payed any attention to this but I don't recall ever seeing Queen Elizabeth or Margaret Thatcher or Idi Amin at the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games. And if they don't generally do this...then why is it such a big deal if our fearless leader doesn't attend them...as protest over China...if he isn't expected to be there anyway. And if they do...well...like I told someone else...some politician I would be, eh?

Local Focal

Did failure to hit key free throws do in Memphis? Probably as much as falling apart in the OT did. Kansas wins the National Championship by elevating their level of play and taking advantage of key mistakes by Memphis. Kansas handled adversity better than Memphis did and therefore won the National Championship in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The last time Kansas won this Championship was in 1988 when Danny Manning was their star. They beat Oklahoma in that game largely because they handled adversity better than OU...that and OU coach Billy Tubbs took his star, Stacey King, out of the game...not literally...but physically and mentally. King never saw the ball in the second half of that game while Manning was taking control. Tubbs didn't have an answer for whatever Kansas was doing and in that context King was never a factor after halftime. Players never even tried to get him the ball. This year missed free throws, a strong Jayhawk rally, a crucial 3-pointer and a lot of standing around in OT led to Memphis' demise. Congratulations to Kansas... AND to Memphis. There are a lot of teams who would have given anything just to be there.

If the Minnesota Twins are going to compete this year it is generally agreed that their bullpen, which is given credit as being one of the best in baseball, needs to be extremely effective all year. Well, they took last night off. Without Tori Hunter and with Michael Cuddyer out of the lineup this team may score less runs than it did last year and they showed some of that last night by leaving runners in scoring position all night. This prompted Manager Ron Gardenhire to comment that they need to learn to close teams out. Leading 3-2 against the White Sox going into the seventh reliever Matt Guerrier walked Jim Thome and allowed a single to Paul Konerko. Pat Neshek came on and allowed a single to Jermaine Dye that scored Thome and moved Konerko to second. He struck out A.J. Pierzynski but Carlos Quentin singled to center. Bases loaded. Next batter...Joe Crede. Bases empty. Grand Slam...Twins lose! This will happen but with their offense it better not happen often. Also last night...Tori Hunter...2 HR's and the last one was a walk-off Grand Slam. Painfull, eh!

Nick Schultz, Minnesota Wild defenseman, will miss at least the first round of the playoffs due to an emergency appendectomy performed yesterday. Schultz is considered a stalwart (love that word) on the Wild blueline and his absence could prove crucial to their playoff hopes against Colorado who move the puck extremely well in the offensive zone. So, now who cares if Derek Boogaard or Chris Simon have Ian Laperriere in their sights for his chippy, 4 shots to the head act on Marion Gaborik...AFTER the final buzzer on Sunday. The Wild now need to find a way to get past an explosive Colorado Avalanche team without arguably their best defensive defenseman. Still, I'm back up on that tightrope hating that guy's like Laperriere pull this #### and think they can get away with it. The unwritten rule about not attacking the other teams star has all but been erased and it is not at all like it used to be. Big bruiser goes after big bruiser. Wayne Gretzky had one fight in his NHL career and it was against Neal Broten of the Minnesota North Stars who mighht have had the one and a roughing penalty. It was like a cat fight with the claws trimmed to nothing. And I'm back up on the tightrope hoping that Chris Simon or Todd Fedoruk take this smarmy little turd on and smack him around a little. He already said he won't fight Derek Boogaard. "I won't fight Boogaard and he knows that," said Laperriere, 34, a 14 year veteran with 161 fights under his breezers. "The guy is 6'7" and 270 lbs. I don't want anything to do with that." Yet, he'll rain punches on Gaborik's head AFTER the game is over and chop him and whack him repeatedly whistle after whistle during the game. Getting and edge is one thing and being a cheapshot hack is another. He thinks Gaborik had it coming. "Go back to the March 17 game in Minnesota, they played Peter (Forsberg) that way," Laperriere said. "OK, they might not have punched Peter in the face 4 times like I did to Gaborik, but overall, Peter had a much tougher night than Gaborik had." Hey, dipstick, at least Forsberg didn't have to protect himself from an all out assault... AFTER the game was over. This is the bush league #### the NHL has to deal with quickly...not the regular heat of the battle fighting that has been an inherent part of the game forever. Yep, I'm on that tightrope hoping that...say...Chris Simon...pummles this little creep.

And that from a non-violent man such as myself...imagine!

And that's the bottom line...

Boomer Sooner!!!

OK...so I go to Mazatlan for Spring Break and I leave the world behind for a week. Had a great time doing...absolutely nothing. Sat on the balcony of the condo we rented...on the beach...read a book or two and got a great tan. Absolutely fantastic. Now I'm wondering if I can go back...not for a week...not for a month...maybe for an extended period of time. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN" ME! I get home and nothing is any different in the sports world. Of course I didn't expect the morons to go away. I just kind of hoped they would take a break like I did. Lay low and stay out of the spotlight. Lay low and stay out of trouble. Lay low and act like you have been there before and know how to handle yourself. No such luck.

MLB opened another season this week and so far the most prolific thing I have read or heard is...complaining about the umpires. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? The season is not a week old and I have read blogs complaining about umpires, I have listened to broadcasters complain about umpires, from local broadcasts to National broadcasts, to people at work complaining about the umpires. Alright already. Every umpire working a MLB game this season is going to suck at some point in time this year. I hardly think they are holding personal grudges against teams or players. I don't think they are intentionally trying to mess up Joe Blows (arbitrary name for the normal fan in the stands) night at the ball park. And I don't think they are purposely trying to be bad at what they do. Actually I would think they take pride in doing what they do just as most of us...if we are lucky...take pride in what we do. All I can say is this. How long do you think the MLB season is going to be if all we get to listen to is how this umpire or that umpire screwed our favorite team or player on any given night. As much as I couldn't stand the whole steroid thing...I'll be looking forward to a discussion about it by the end of the year if this is what I get to listen to all year. Especially if it is like this after LESS than one week of the season has been played.

Speaking of MLB. I read today where Brian McNamee has autographed baseball paraphenalia from Roger Clemens that he, McNamee, has decided to autograph as well and then sell. Are the proceeds going to some kind of steroids awareness program or to some other viable charity? At least 80% of the profits are going to McNamee. Seems he so despises his former client now that he wants nothing to do with any of the paraphenalia Clemens signed for him. He said he doesn't want the gifts anymore. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? This is the #### who held on to syringes for years so that he would be able to supply evidence of Clemens' steroid usage if it ever came to that. This is a guy who received, as gifts from Clemens, autographed baseball paraphenalia all the while dating syringes of every supposed steroid shot he ever gave Clemens, or Rogers wife Debbie, for the purpose of...hanging Clemens out to dry when the time came. And now he has the audacity to sell said gifts for his profit. Honestly, I really don't care if he sells this stuff off. But give the proceeds to some other charity other than the Brian McNamee Fund. This smells so bad on so many levels. I'm having a really hard time giving any credence to his testimony now that he has done this. I questioned his motives before when I heard he saved syringes and stuff but this has removed all questions for me. He is all about him and his integrity and character are now as much in question as Clemens ever were. Given the opportunity to sit next to Clemens or McNamee in any situation...I'd pick Clemens.

On to the NFL. Matt Leinart is a party boy and we have pictures to prove it. He is a father and he is a professional football player and he got chastized by his head coach and some people have questioned the coach for doing that. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Leinart is acting like the coddled and spoiled rich kid he has probably been all of his life (OK, this line might get me in trouble), at least in college. He's 24 years old, with a ton of money, and a very interesting lifestyle to be sure. And, in all honesty, at least he isn't out there shooting someone, or getting shot. At least he isn't taking his behavior out in the streets and going to strip clubs and busting up patrons or employees...and continually going back for more...regardless of the attempts at discipline. But his coach has every right to call his future QB out on this. Signing the contract, whether anyone else agrees or not, put Leinart in a situation where he is representing a community and is most likely the future face of the organization. Frankly, I couldn't care less if Leinart spins around in a hot-tub with a bevy of beauties. And it was in his home. But that doesn't remove the responsibility he has to the Arizona Cardinals and the community. Matt, at the very least, when you are being responsible enough to take the car keys from your guests who will be drinking in the presented style...take their cell-phones so that you can act like a teenager in your home and nobody else will be any the wiser. And Coach...keep up the good work. 

Hey, everybody...have you heard? Tony Romo, the Cowboys QB finished 34th in a golf tournament. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME?  I'm not sure what tournament and I couldn't care less. I don't care if it was for some kind of charity. Here is my question. Why is this newsworthy in any way shape or form? Tony, did you know that a lot of NHL players travel with their golf clubs and when they go to places like Florida and California they play a ton of golf. I know several myself that are outstanding golfers who have won a few local tournaments now and then and they didn't get any press for that. And they wouldn't want it. Let me guess...Jessica Simpson was with and she was reporting the scores for you. That or our sports press is so hard up for any story that this is what got in for news. Bet all Cowboys fans are happy to hear you play golf. Do you think they wonder if you can get them to the Super Bowl? As the tournament you played probably wasn't a pro-am (as I didn't really recognize any names) and you did finish...34th...why would anyone care? Just curious.

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooner Head Football Coach, read an article wherein the fact that West Virgina "WANTED" last years Fiesta Bowl win more than the Sooners did and was prompted to act. He has hung the article up in the Sooner locker room as inspiration for the upcoming season. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Right now OU is going through Spring Football with many of their key performers not participating while they recover from injuries. DeMarco Murray is still not over the kneecap injury that shortened his season. Chris Brown is not participating. Several key defections and graduations from the defense must be addressed as well not to mention Malcolm Kelly's departure for the NFL has left you with a need to find another wideout. Especially with Adron Tennell not practicing yet, either. If I get stuck watching many more games of the Bradford to Iglesias pitch and catch show I may kick a hole in my television. The good news is that all the young kids who will need to step up are getting quality reps and time. But maybe the focus at this point in time should be on filling holes with capable bodies. Then we can get on to cliche moves like holding up newspaper articles that question your teams initiative. And, Coach Stoops, I love the job you've done at OU but...maybe you should read the article as well. The last few BCS games haven't really been played up to expectations by the players...or the coaching staff.

The college football season is what...6 months away? How many people or publications are doing predictions now...and why? ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? Look at the paragraph immediately preceding this one. This is about the OKlahoma Sooners who I care about almost as much as I care about my family. This team has been mentioned anywhere from Number 1 in the country to Number 3 in the country. They lost Malcolm Kelly, Allen Patrick, Curtis Lofton and Reggie Smith to NFL and secondary and linebacker corp  was blasted with graduations. Besides Lofton at linebacker Lewis is gone now as well. Mike Reed was released from the team and Ryan Reynolds and Austin Box are hopefully ready to step in. QB and offensive line will be the strong point this year going in. Where Murray and Brown will be is, hopefully, ready to play but...who knows. Iglesiais had an awesome year last year...how much of that was because he was generally lined up opposite Kelly who was getting double covered most of the time. Am I saying the Sooners shouldn't be considered the #1 , #2, or #3 team in the country when the season opens up? NO! What I am saying is that early predictions when every team has issues like these are a waste of time, effort and print.

Jacques Lemaire, the Minnesota Wild coach is one victory away from his 500th in the NHL. This will tie him with his first coach in Montreal, the legendary Toe Blake. Who else did Lemaire play for in Montreal? Let's see...hmmmm...got it right here in the old memory file...Scotty Bowman. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME? No wonder this guy knows how to coach. He learned from two of the best. Good luck against Calgary tomorrow night in your quest Jacques.

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!!

I'm getting cranky as I get older. Things that weren't a big deal to me at one time seem to bother the hell out of me now. I'm not talking about being bothered by the greater than thou mentality of over paid professional athletes. I'm not talking about GM's, Commissioner's, Coach's or Sports Officials who think their way is the only way...regardless of what the right thing should be. I'm not talking about "Sportswriters and Broadcast Buffoons" who think they know everything when in all actuality they may be the least informed and less knowing than their egos can admit. NO...these kinds of people have bothered me FOREVER! So it isn't these kinds of people and things that are making me cranky as I get older. They always have made me cranky. No, I'm getting cranky as I get older and I know exactly what it is. That is why I can say I'm getting cranky and I don't wonder why.

I am a teacher who has worked in general education and in special education. I have coached a variety of sports over the past 30 years or so after my goals and dreams as a player ended on a surgeons table. I have worked with America's youth (and all of their diverse backgrounds) for most of my life. I have seen great kids come and go and have seen the not so great ones come and go as well. I have seen kids struggle in their youth and turn into successful adults and I have seen the popular kids in school struggle with drug abuse and never truly realize their potential. Hell, I'm not sure I've realized my potential yet! Through all of this I think I have maintained a pretty calm demeanor and attitude throughout my life and my experiences. I have had success with kids and failures with kids. I have suffered great personal tragedies and had great personal success. And throughout all of this I never really felt any sense of entitlement to anything. You get what you have worked hard for and you shouldn't have anything handed to you. Well, what have I earned in this period of time? I had to have an experience that bothered me to reflect on what I have earned and what I think I am entitled to.

Last weekend was the MN Boy's High School Hockey Tournament and it ws held at the Excel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, MN. This is the facility where the Minnesota Wild play their home games. The team I coach did not make it as a participant in this years tournament. In the past we have had access on a first come basis as a coaching staff to tickets to this event in case we didn't make it as a participating team. Last year the Excel Energy Center screwed up and didn't send us our tickets that were ordered by our Blueline club. This year they did but they put us at the bottom of the ladder so to speak. For years we had seats in a level of the Ex that ALL of the coaches sat in. This year the Excel sent us tickets, which each of us pays $72.00 for, behind a goal with student sections and the bands all around us. I've worked with this population for 30 years, right! What could be the problem? Well...there are a couple and they are these.

1.) Tickets that I pay good money for have me sitting with students and bands from other schools.

2.) I have to sit and ATTEMPT to watch a hockey game through students who stand up during play and sit down between periods.

3.) I have to sit behind the drums of a band, watch the gme through the drums and then receive pounding headache as I am forced to endure their pounding at almost every TV timeout and goal scored. Not that I got to see the goal being scored.

4.) And on the last day I arrived at my seat to find the staff at the Excel had re-sold my seat to the band and that I would have to wait for the second game (Championship Game in Class 2A) to get my seat back. How did I find thi out? From the drummer with the green hair and the white and green paint on his face.

5.) An announcement is made prior to every game requesting that people respect others around them and to please not move up and down the isles until there is a stoppage of play. Guess what?

If I wanted to sit with the student section and the band I would have become a band instructor. Then I would relish the opportunity to take my kids to a venue that they couldn't care less about (except for the opportunity to be out of school) to let them #### their drums and screech their horns all day long. This would also mean that number 3 wouldn't bother me at all. I paid $72.00 for my weekend tickets and had to sit next to student sections that the majority of the students didn't pay for. Granted, their parents had to up some dough but they had no intention of attending the game. Much like, I'm sure, their offspring had no intention of watching said game. This was social period for these kids and they couldn't care less who was around them. This also was problematic from a #5 point of view. Constantly, while play was going on these kids were up and down the isle in front of us and some even decided to carry on conversations in the isles...while play was going on. Sadly, it wasn't only students. The parental units of some of these kids found it necessary to bound down the isles and give their kids money or tell them where they were meeting after the game or to make sure they were acting responsibly and respecting the people around them. Yea, like they were pefect examples of being able to follow a request by the PA announcer. And after checking my ticket to make sure I had a seat in that section, why didn't the Excel staffer tell me there was a problem with my seat and that the band had been sold my seat. Why did I have to hear it from the Little Drummer Boy? So...what exactly do I think I am entitled to?

Decent seats where I have sat for years for this tournament. After all the years we have put in I think we have earned at least that. I have earned the right to NOT be forced to sit with the band, especially from a school I have no affiliation with. If I am going to go home deaf for the remainder of the evening I have earned the right for it to be my choice. I have earned the right to be able to pay $72.00 for tickets to an event...and to be able to sit and watch it without having to bob and weave like a prize fighter looking for the next great shot at my opponent...just to watch a power play. I have earned the right to watch a hockey game and not have to be interrupted by Mr. Johnny Comeondown as he gives his kid money and instruction while disregarding the request of the PA announcer and disregarding plain old respect for those around you.. Do it before you say good-bye to the child in the concourse.

I know exactly what is making me cranky as I get older and it is lack of respect for other people around you. It is the self-important attitude that is pervasive in society and mocks respect of our fellow man. It is being instilled in children at an early age and you can see where it comes from in situations like this. I have encountered things like this in other venues like college and professional sporting events. There have been quite a few posts on here lately about people accepting personal responsibility for what they do. Does that only count for professional athletes who used performance enhancing drugs in their careers? Does it only count for bloggers who manipulate a computer to alter their appearance and become someone they aren't? I don't think so. Accepting responsibility for behaviors should go beyond the public realm. It has to happen in everyday life. I wanted my experience at the tournament to be about enjoying hockey. The highlight of my tournament experience was this. Four students decided to stand in the isle in front of us (not at a seat) and carry on a conversation. After five minutes of listening to this and asking them to sit own and NOT being able to see the game I got up out of my seat and stepped up to the four students. When I inquired if they were at their seats I was told that only one of them had a seat there. The other three told me their seats were in another section. My response, "Then go to your seats and quit standing in my way." They promptly left. Why should that have been the highlight of the tournament for me? It shouldn't have. But, I'm getting cranky as I get older. At least I know why.

And that's the bottom line...

Boomer Sooner!!!

I haven't posted anything but comments on other posts for awhile because I've been very busy with hockey season and new responsibilities at work. Also, there hasn't been much going on that I felt like writing about. But lately tings are getting heated in a few areas and I can't hold my tongue any longer. Those of you who have been enjoying my absence will probably wonder why I had to come back. Those of you who have missed me...well...at least you can give a guy his delusions. Anyway...

...Clemens vs. McNamee and the need for Congress to be involved. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? Doesn't our government have more important things to do? Isn't there anything they can do about gas prices, health care costs, social security, the budget or troop movement in Iraq? Well, obviously, they have either done all they can do, or all they are going to do, about those issues so they now need a new issue to work on until after the election. Frankly, I couldn't care less what Roger Clemens had injected into his hind quarters, why he had it injected, who injected it, if his wife did it, with or without his consent or if all of his kid's names start with a K. Really! Has this become so huge that it needs government attention? Why do we really care if Clemens did HGH or steroids or lidocaine or B-12 or shot saline solution into his rump. Because we feel like we, as baseball fans, are being cheated? Who is being cheated? Baseball fans or students who don't have the necessary tools and teachers to help them get a decent education because money is mis-spent in education. Or pulled from education for other things. Who is being cheated? Baseball fans or the elderly whose health care costs are so high that any kind of retirement income they worked all their lives for is taken from them so they can live out their lives living in assisted living centers or nursing homes with inadequate health care and services that don't supply them with what they rightfully earned during their lives. Well, of course it is the baseball fan. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? I couldn't care less if Roger Clemens is guity or innocent as long as any family members I have fighting in a war most of the nation doesn't believe in are home safe and sound. I would rather see the elected officials that I put in office work on something meaningful and helpful to this country. Worrying about what Roger Clemens or Barry Bonds or Chuck Knoblauch (Chuck Knoblauch for cryin' out loud???) had shot into their bodies or who shot it. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?

Speaking of the strong work our politicians are doing! Thank you Senator Arlen Spector ( if I spelled it wrong...so what?) for making sure you get all over the Commissioner of the NFL for destroying taping evidence of New England Patriot's coach Bill Belichik...after he fined him and the team. AE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? The Commissioner caught the team and the coach and disciplined them. Why is this still an issue? Move on and do what you should be doing. My guess is the glorious senator at one time or another lost money because of this practice by Belichik. In the meantime your little investigation is costing money. Whose money? Well, Mr. Senator, I'm once again going to guess that it is me and my fellow countrymen who are footing the bill for this wasted, a$$inine investigation. I can't sell my house for what it is worth right now Mr.Senator because the economic situation in this country is not conducive to buying a house...or selling one. Why might that be? I'm sure I will be told it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that our elected officials are spending way too much of thier creative resources on HGH/Steroids and cheating in major sports leagues. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?

Back to baseball for a second. Bud Selig and George Mitchell got together and did their own investigation about performance enhancing drug usage in their sport which is MLB. When they conspired to do this they included Selig's predecessor, Faye Vincent, in order to get his support. Vincent is on record as saying he supported the investigation under certain conditions. One of those conditions was that the need for an investigation was to determine how wide spread the use of performance enhancing drugs were in MLB but, it was not to identify those who had used them. I wonder how Faye Vincent feels today about the state of his sport which is MLB. Pressured by the infamous Court of Public Opinion and virtually every sportswriter (I'll try not to waiver and remind you of what I think of them) in the free world names started flying out of this investigation at a record pace. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? In my humble opinion, Selig didn't need to take any pressure from anyone because it was his intention all along to make sure that the names of the players involved was public knowledge. His legacy to his sport will always be that he ruled the game during the steroid era. Coming on the heels of contraction, embezzlement, cancelled season, no World Series and a tie in an All-Star game one would think things couldn't get much worse for Bud. Knowing that the two guys who revitalized your sport for the public by swatting record numbers of HR's, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, may have been using performance enhancing drugs wasn't much of a concern. Until Barry Bonds starting getting close to the coveted all time HR crown the performance enhancing drug usage was only whispered about in the private recesses of conference rooms across MLB. When it broke and it was Bonds then Selig had a fawn to blame. Bonds is not well liked and apparently doesn't like too many people anyway. Bonds became Selig's crutch to limp into the steroid age on. He is using the Mitchell Report and the player's who weren't supposed to be identified to scream through it under the radar. Problem is that his ego won't let him keep quiet. He now claims, again, that MLB can police itself. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? Obviously it can't. See, United States Congress. I will always wonder if Bud had stayed within the guidelines Faye Vincent suggested if this would have been handled effectively and quietly. Now you have players who, right or wrong, are compelled to lie to protect their legacy in their sport. Now you have slime balls creeping out of the woodwork who, while knowing they were wrong, still supplied and injected performance enhancing drugs into professional athletes. Now you have a situation where MLB and the MLBPA bicker and argue about who is at fault and cannot come together on a cohesive plan to monitor and eliminate the use of performance enhancing drugs in this sport which is MLB. You have a Commisssioner whose legacy won't be record revenues, expansion and great new stadiums to play in but will be that he ruled the sport in arguably it's darkest days. I often think Bud is alright with that.

Bloggers are a strange breed, aren't they? We have on our site here a contributing writer to Fox Sports who kind of built a major following by being a woman and writing, rather knowingly, about college football. Often times we agree with what she writes and there are times when we don't agree with what she writes. She is a huge and very passionate fan of the USC Trojans. I, on the other hand, am a huge and passionate fan of the Oklahoma Sooners. She, we, have written things that we do agree on and that we don't agree on in the context of our passions for these teams. She likes to stir the pot now and then and she will get me going when she lets Sooner coach Bob Stoops have it for one thing or another. She recently wrote a post about Bob's brother Mike the head coach at Arizona. I responded as I generally do and asked he if she would perhaps be able to rip Papa Stoops (meaning Bob and Mike's dad) to which she responded as she generally does. Making her point and moving on. As usual I was willing to let it go and did. A few days later I went back to that post and couldn't believe the personal assaults on her character and suggestions that she remove certain things from her mouth. The majority of these were from proclaimed Sooner fans. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? Most of the Sooner fans I know carry themselves with class and have some kind of evident dignity. Some of these people did nothing but give the rest of us a bad name. It's a freakin' blog people! While you may feel it is a venue to express your opinions and feelings that is fine. When you feel it appropriate to assault someone's character and suggest she take certain parts of anatomy from her mouth you look ridiculous and ignorant. No wonder people llike kellyscott (not trying to offend you kellyscott just making a point) can't get past OU-UO game a couple of seasons ago. People like the ignorant OU fans that make comments here give him ample reason to carry on. Blog here all you wish...just have a little class and act like you didn't come from the gutter or the back room aat some sleazy stripper joint. Oh, and Lisa, while I respect you as well...comments about the Sooners or the Stoops boys, particulary Bob, will generate a response from gcoach. No matter how you spin it. AWAYS!

Viking head coach Brad Childress just reassured every Viking fan that rookie phenom Adrian Peterson can still get better. Thanks, Brad! ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? Of course he can still get better. He was a rookie. Hey, Brad, why don't you worry about your QB situation and leave the RB's to Eric Bienemy, the guy you hired to do that job. And after making that fantastic comment make sure you keep him surrounded by big, fast linemen who will help him get better. Hey, Brad, would you get upset if Peterson told the media not to be too hard on you because, "Coach Childress can still get better." Coach your football team and quit talking to the media. So far you have told us that all the player's can get better. Is it all on them or can their coach get better as well? Just curious.

Richard Zednik almost lost his life in a National League Hockey game last week when he was accidently cut in the throat, through his carotid artery (not completely or doctors said it would most probably have been fatal), by a skate. Fortunately, after surgery it sounds like he will survive. A report last night was that he is awake and alert. This is fantastic news. Where am I going with this? Right after the incident the calls for new rules on equipment went way over the top. Based on this incident people all over the place are talking about new neck wear to protect player's throats. ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME? This game of hockey, the great game of hockey, has been played on skates for longer than any of us has been around to watch it. It is fast and wreckless and that is the pull for many who play it. It is physical and demands great skill. Other reasons why people play it. Injuries like this are rare in the grand scheme of the game. While frightening it is again...rare! Why do we feel the need to change the world and re-invent the wheel whenever we see an injury like this? And it isn't even that we change the wheel...we demand that it be changed. Why don't we just let those that feel threatened make accommodations to protecting their throats. I have to wear a helmet now when I coach kids in our youth program because some guy got a wild hair up his #### and pitched to USA Hockey that 6 coaches in some outlandish period of time had either been seriously injured or killed during practice of their youth teams. We're talking lke 20 years or so...across North America. While hockey may not be the most prominant sport in North America that is still a significant number of youth programs and hockey playing communities. No mention of the skill level of the 6 coaches in question. Like were they parents with no experience or skilled skaters. See what I mean. There was no real support for his argument. Now, I wear a helmet when I play because the level at which I play is conducive to protecting my dome. In practice...not so much. So, having skated for roughly 45 of my 50 years...why should I wear, or be forced to wear, a helmet while I coach? When playing I understand the need. In coaching I find it uncomfortable and confining. Why can't I just sign a waiver stating that I understand the risks of skating without a helmet and will hold no one responsible for any injury, or death, that I may suffer because I don't want to wear a helmet when I coach.

Could it be that we don't trust anyone anymore? Could it be that some people need to feel like they are the great creators of change and couldn't care less about what they are a changing. Could it be that their way has just got to be better than the way it has always been...even if they aren't always right? Change isn't always a good thing just like it isn't always a bad thing. I don't have all the answers but I think I know who does...especially for things like this. Just let me call my congressman...they'll get to the bottom of it all.

And that's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!

I'm trying really hard here to keep it clean but I'm finding it a bit difficult. What is happening in the world of MLB? They just have to keep finding ways to keep in the limelight when...in all actuality...they need to pull back from the front page. Gimme' a freakin' break here!

Steroids schmeroids. George Mitchell talked to several active players about performance enhancing drugs. Most notably...at least from what I know now...Jason Giambi. But according to the players union he spoke to quite a few others. OK...fine! MLB has said that when the report is completed they will release it...names included...of those who cooperated and those who are believed to have used performance enhancing drugs...STEROIDS!!! This goes completely the other way of former commissioner Faye Vincent...who was sought out by Bud Selig for his advice on an investigation...in stating the purpose of an investigation. Vincent stated on more than one occasion that the purpose of an investigation was to determine the number of players involved with the usage of performance enhancing drugs...NOT in publicly naming who they were. So Selig and Mitchell take it upon themselves to name names. Selig couldn't possibly do anything else to tarnish his legacy as a self important hypocrite...could he? Stay tuned...he ain't done yet. Gimme a freakin' break here.

And now...in the face of a tragedy wherein a minor league base coach was killed when struck by a foul ball...MLB General Managers have determined that all base coaches will wear helmets during games this upcoming season. I will grant you that the young mans death was indeed a tragedy but aren't we going just a wee bit too far here. Two years ago...based on the research presented to USA Hockey by the Minnkota District Coach-in-Chief...this organizational body passed a rule making it mandatory for every coach involved in youth hockey at every level to have to wear a helmet when involved in on ice activities. Six cases where a coach died in a short span of time was the research cited and given to the organization. Not one word about the thousands of practices or games that have occured in that time span wherein NO COACH or anyone died in relationship to what happened on the ice. Based on the evidence he provided a youth coach doesn't even get a choice in the matter. Much as it sounds like MLB base coaches don't. Gimme a freakin' break here.

I completely understand the effort to protect the peope involved and the fans from having to ever have to see that kind of tragedy. But there are other people involved here. Like the ones who are being forced to wear this ear. Here me out.

I have coached for a very long time a variety of different sports...most notably hockey and soccer. I have never worn a helmet when coaching at the high school level or the youth level (until I was forced to last year) because I am comfortable without one when I am coaching(I wear one when I play). It also makes it easier to communicate with my players without it. They can see what I am saying as well as hear it when I don't have  helmet on. I have had my nose broken at least a half a dozen times on the ice and I took a deflected puck over my left eye that opened me up to the bone and required 18 stitches to close during a game I was coaching. It is all a part of the game. It's been that way since before I ever started to play it or coach it. Am I kind of old school then? Oh, hell yea!!! And while I can still appreciate the effort these people are making...I want my choice. I would gladly sign a waiver (the NHL used to require players who didn't wear helmets to sign them) absolving the organization I work for...the team I coach...and any building/rink I am in of any responsibility in the event that I were a victim of some horrible tragedy while I was coaching. Just let me have the choice and don't cram the new rules down my throat without letting me voice my opinion...which is basically what happened in USA Hockey. Gimme a freakin' break here.

Basically...quit telling me what I have to do to make the game more respectable to the fans or the participants when it comes to my safety. There are so many other issues with both of these games that it really seems like a stick and cover effort to get our attention off of the other things that are really hurting the game. Like the leadership in MLB and the hypocrisy we see daily from Bud and the boys and from selecting elite Mite aged teams and putting them in traveling programs where they don't practice but twice and then they play 35 games a year. Or people hounding high school aged players to leave high school and go to Juniors so you can get a big career out of hockey. Forego the high school experience and everything that is important to social development and education in those years. Oh, yea...well you can go to school later if you want.  There are so many other issues out there that forcing coaches to wear helmets...when the lack of wearing them HAS NEVER been an issue before...in all of the years these games have been played...seems a bit of a dodge the real deal effort. At least let us have a voice and a choice. Or is sports going the way of real world politics when the people are so often neglected by those we vote into office. Gimme a freakin' break here!!!

Yea! Gimme a freakin' break here! Quit forcing new rules down our throats...deal with the real...issues at hand!

***Ahhhh...another rant concluded*** I feel better already!

It's been a while since I actually posted anything other than some random comments here and there. But a few things have happened recently that have left me thinking. And lately that can be a very scary proposition. But what the heck...I'm in a sharing mood today.

ME THINKS...that going into this weekend the Oregon Ducks are the best team in college football...consistently...on both sides of the ball. Dixon and Stewart are lighting it up and the defense is making huge plays when they need to. And that's what it's all about...ain't it?

ME THINKS...that Boston College is NOT the second best team in college football whether they are undefeated or not. When they lose they will fall almost as fast as South Florida did. I do think they have a pretty good QB but...it won't last.

ME THINKS...that the Ohio State Buckeyes have a great BIG TEN defense and an offense that is conducive to BIG TEN defenses. I think they will have problems when speed teams and quicker teams appear before them. The offense...while coming along to support that great defense hasn't faced a quality defense playing well yet this year. Don't misunderstand. This is a quality college football team whose quality of oppnent has been suited to their style of play. Same story as last year? We'll see.

ME THINKS...that the Oklahoma Sooner football team needs a huge effort on both sides of the ball this weekend. They can't afford another peformance like the one they gave us in Ames, IA a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't at the Colorado game when the Sooners lost but I was at the Iowa State game and some of the Sooner fans there made the trip to Colorado and said they looked exactly like they did against the Buffaloes. They can win out...but if they are barely getting by and everyone ends up with one loss...they will be out of the National Championship picture because quality of wins is important in the BCS and polling picture. That said...They should win out at home but the Texas Tech game in Lubbock looms very large. Can the Sooners play on the road? A questionable proposition so far this year. But...what the heck...I love my Sooners! BOOMER SOONER!!!

ME THINKS...the goalie on the Women's USA soccer team that left the team and made such a commotion when she didn't start based on the coach's gut feeling...is a spoiled brat and the concept of teamwork has never occured to her. Yea, I know this was a while ago but...like I said...it has been awhile since I posted. Argue all you want on her motivation but coaches in every sport make changes all the time based on their "gut feelings." If I'm not mistaking this team and coach only lost one or two games in his tenure and he got fired for losing this one. The prima donna goalkeeper didn't help matters. Oh I long for the days when a coach could make a decision and not get chastized or ridiculed in the press and by his own players in public. Me also thinks those days are gone forever. And people wonder where quality coaches have disappeared to and why they disappear.

ME THINKS...the Minnesota Wild need to monitor their strength and conditioning program or personnel a bit better. At one time this year they had up to 5 players out with groin issues including...again...Marion Gaborik. If this guy ever plays a full season at this pace it will be considered miraculous. Take the numbers he has posted in the games he has played and only Dany Heatley has a better goals per game ratio than Gaborik. Last year he would have totalled something like 53 goals and 97 assists in a full schedule. How can you have this guy getting hurt all the time? His stride or his change of direction pace or his core strength...whatever...they need to figure out a way to keep this guy on the ice.

ME THINKS...in this age of performance enhancing drugs...Martina Hingis is accused of using cocaine. What is the song..."Champagne don't make me lazy and cocaine don't make me crazy...and it's nobody else's business but my own." It ain't nobody else's business. But in this day and age...aparently it's everybody else's business. Retire Martina...you did it before. Only this won't go away until the vultures have been satisfied.

ME THINKS...Barry Bonds is acting like the only mature person in his latest public comments. He is absolutely right when he says the HOF should NOT display his 756th HR bal with an asterisk on it...or anything else with an asterisk on it as well. What a freakin' joke. I said before that I would quit watching MLB and would never set foot in the HOF if they took the ball with an asterisk on it...regardless of the votes of the public that some wealthy #### put up. I'm boycotting MLB and the HOF alng with Bonds. The saddest part of that is that I am the paying public and this is just further evidence that the actions of the loud affect the enjoyment of the quiet. Go Barry!!!

ME THINKS...that the Japanese photographer who took "secret" photos of Maria Sharapova's #### is a ####. But "secret" photos? What was he supposed to do...whisper to her #### that he was going to be taking pictures of it. The guy is pathetic. And now Maria will probably be wearing jeans or sweatpants in every photo shoot. Of course...it ain't like she dressed like Anna Kournikova anyway!

ME THINKS...that Brad Childress is NOT head coaching material in the NFL. Any coach who has someone like Adrian Peterson on their roster...and has to write himself a note to make sure you get him the ball 25 times a game is...well...to be blunt...a total ####. So far he continues to prove this on a game to game basis.

ME THINKS...running the score up on everybody or not...the New England Patriots will beat Indianapolis this weekend and will then run the table and we will have another team join the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated teams IN NFL history. Belichek is like a woman scorned...as in "Hell hath no fury like..."

ME THINKS...that all of this is moot when you get down to real life and death stuff. Like a young man who I have known since he was 8 years old. Who played hockey for me. Who dealt with adversity in athletics all his life. Who worked hard and never showed his teammates the disappointment he felt at times when things were hard for him. Who came to the rink and went to class to be the best he could be. Who would work my goalie camps and had EVERY kid in those camps wanting him to work with them and hanging their heads when he wasn't at camp for a session. A kid who everybody loves because he thinks about others first and foremost. A kid who at 21 years of age...when things are supposed to be getting going for him...was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Who has had surgery to remove a couple of walnut sized tumors and is just finishing up his last round of chemotherapy which drains him and fatigues him to the point that whenever I talk to him it saddens me and often brings me to tears. A kid who said to me...after his first surgery..."It's nothing, Coach...just another obstacle I'll get over like we have in the past." A kid who wants to continue to work in the sports world in an adminstrative position who looks on-line and applies for jobs on-line fully expecting to beat this opponent like he has less dangerous ones. The prayers and thoughts of those who love him coun't much more than any of this other stuff. I love this kid and the smiles from his face and the faces of his teammates that project themselves from pictures on my walls help me to remember when things were fun for him and not so dangerous. They remind me of those that love him like I do and how we have talked about him and those times since he was diagnosed. I want more of those types of pictures with him and these friends...I wouldn't even mind a new one say...twenty years from now. I love Sooner football and hope they play in the BCS National Championship game. But I have more important things to pray for right now. Like the opportunity to get that picture twenty years down the road.

And tha's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!

Since Barry Bonds hit the 756th home run of his career I think the baseball coverage, at least on television,  is starting to become normal again. Whatever game I'm watching is not interrupted every 15 minutes to 1/2 hour to comment on the homerun chase or to see Bonds standing in left field or in the dugout spitting seeds. They don't cut away from a Michael Cuddyer at bat to show me Bonds being walked intentionally. In that regard this Bonds thing is starting to calm down and I'm glad to see it. But it is not going away and the one place it isn't going away from is right here...in our blogosphere! I expected some ramblings of discontent from the same people who were vocal before against Bonds after he hit the homerun. No problem. Some of them, even though they have issues with him, whatever they may be, have even given him credit for the accomplishment. And like him or not I respect their opinion. After all, we are here to share our opinions and ideas and comments and that is fine. But some people are going too far.

When Maurice "the Rocket" Richard set scoring records it was generally assumed that they would be broken. When Phil Esposito shattered some of Richard's records it was assumed that they would eventually be broken by someone. When Gordie Howe retired with the most goals in NHL history it was assumed that someone may one day break the record. When Wayne Gretzky shattered every scoring record in the NHL I remember people thinking those records would never be broken. Along came Mario Lemieux and people weren't so sure anymore. Lemieux could break them. But health issues limited his career...and now we have Sydney Crosby who is being proclaimed as the "next" Wayne Gretzky. Kind of tells you people think this kid will break Gretzky's records, eh!

When Ken Rosewall and Pancho Gonzales were winning every tennis tournament surely they expected someone to come along and take over. Rod Laver had to know he wasn't going to be the greatest forever. Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe took over and carried the next generation of great tennis players to Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras who have now given way to Roger Federer. Surely Sampras had an idea that someone would come along to challenge his career major titles.

 Bronko Nagurski was the greatest football player in the world...for a while. Hugh McElhenny was called the "King" when he was running the football in the NFL but he wasn't a record holder like Jim Brown was. Or the record holder that Walter Payton was or that Emmit Smith is or was. Who is going to shatter these records...someone will. "Crazy Legs" Hirsch to Fred Bilitnikoff to Gene Washington to Jerry Rice or Johnny Unitas to Fran Tarkenton to Dan Marino to Joe Montana all held records at one time or another that were broken by someone who came along later. And if these people still hold records...someone will inevitably break them ( even though Gretzky my not have all of his broken...he holds so many of them). BUT NOWHERE IN THE HISTORY OF BROKEN RECORDS IS THERE SUCH AN ASSININE DEBATE OVER WHO THE REAL OR BEST OR GREATEST IS THAN IN MLB...now that Bonds has passed Hank Aaron.

ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDIN' ME!!! Put it in it's proper perspective and move on. Bonds, as of tonight, has 758 career homeruns. Hammerin' Henry Aaron has 755 career homeruns. Babe Ruth has 714 career homeruns. All of the comparing of when they played, what size field they played on, what kind of pitchers or what other positons they played are trivial to the bottom line.

Babe Ruth was the greatest hitter of his time. He changed the way the game was played. He made power important. An impact player...obviously!!! I don't care if the people who pitched against him had dead arms or pitched with hangovers on three days rest or had sagging nut sacks that they tripped over when following through on their deliveries. I don't care if Ruth went to the plate hammered, over stuffed or with a girl on each arm...he hit the #### out of the ball. And he hit 714 career homeruns regardless of his playing conditions. That is a special player.

Hank Aaron became the next record holder of "the most hallowed record in sports" as I have heard it called. I don't care if he was the mildest and quietest of men. I don't care if he used amphetamines or smoked or drank or fornicated with wild women or didn't fornicate with wild women or didn't drink or smoke but just went out there and played his heart out every freakin' day. I am more than a bit perturbed at the death threats and the racial harrassment he received as he was closing in on Ruth's record...but...sadly, that was a sick sign of the times in that era. It was getting a little better than before but not anywhere near where it needs to be...even by today's standards. But through it all Aaron proved one thing that Ruth proved...he could hit the #### out of the ball. He did it so well that he retired with the record of 755 career homeruns. Didn't matter what parks, who was pitching, etc., etc. he just flat out hit the ball. And he changed the game...more for social reasons I think than for athletic reasons...and yes, I suppose that equates to racism in the eye of those who think it illustrated that a black man could be successful in a white man's world. An impact player...obviously!!!

And now along comes Barry Bonds. Thirty something years after Hank Aaron set the new standard to measure homerun hitters a guy that is arguably the most reviled personality in the history of MLB comes along and breaks the record. He is hated and reviled because he is said to not be a very decent guy. He doesn't appreciate the press and his attitude shows it. He has had issues with teammates. He is guilty in the court of public opinion because most people believe he used steroids of some kind in an era that is quickly being labeled just that, the "steroid era", in MLB history. But for the sake of this argument we hear about stronger pitchers with livlier arms, closers in later innings instead of a tired pitcher, livlier balls and bats and steroids. We hear about intentional walks, walks period, or number of career at bats.  And now Bonds holds the record with 758 career homeruns and counting. It doesn't matter what people say about him, what they think about him, or how they think he should be perceived. He has career HOF numbers just like Ruth and Aaron. And he has shown us the same thing that they showed us...he can hit the #### out of a baseball.

I will, for the sake of all arguments I've heard here, throw in the guy who has more career homeruns that Barry Bonds.  Sadaharu (?) Oh. Played professional baseball in Japan. Never played MLB as we view it here. He hit over 800 homeruns in his career. Should he be considered in this argument??? I think not and the reason is that he didn't play MLB. If the majority of arguments are between Ruth, Aaron and Bonds then Oh is just another minor factor in the equation that is, really, for arguments sake on this subject, irrelevant. I'm not saying that he or his career is irrelevant. But it is if you are arguing MLB history and the standard that career homerun hitters are measured by. Therefore, I eliminate Oh from the argument but another blogger did not so I felt it fair to mention him.

What is the bottom line for this? Guy's like Ruth and Aaron and Bonds, like Unitas, Tarkenton and Marino or Brown, Payton and Smith are the standard that greatness, or the "best", is measured by. I deny none of them their greatness or their "best" status because that would mean I would have to deny the greatness of every generation of ballplayer or athlete that eventually will tie or set a new standard to measure greatness or "best" by. I couldn't, and shouldn't, care less if Babe Ruth had greater advantages or disadvantages then either Aaron or Bonds. What I should do is appreciate their skill, their determination to be the best, their ability to play the game they loved long enough and well enough to become the standard bearer of greatness or "bestness" for the times in which they played. I should give them credit for their accomplishments and thank them for setting the bar high enough that others had something to shoot for in an effort to improve the games we love to watch. And just as I enjoyed watching Wayne Gretzky play hockey, Pete Sampras play tennis, Walter Payton play football, Hank Aaron hit number 715 or Barry Bonds hit number 756...I hope my enjoyment of their exploits will help me to appreciate the next generation of record setters...who ever they may be.

And that's the bottom line...

I have always been a bit jealous of my brothers.

Everytime we were old enough to play sports they took to them like they had been doing them forever. Baseball - they could both hit the #### out of the ball right away. They could both run and field and throw. Like naturals at everything. Football - if you could catch either of them you played hell tackling them. Older brother stud running back, younger brother more than adequate QB at every age level that he played through. Hockey - the first time they were on skates it was like they had been skating forever. Shoot hard, good hands. Me - football, slow, lumbering, yea, but he likes to hit. Baseball - an elephant was faster and could hit better too. But, quick and can field, arm strength questionable. Hockey - my brothers took to it like they had played it forever, they threw me in the middle of the ice, thhhhwwwuummmppp splat. Put him in front of the net and he'll make a fine goalie. But I worked hard at it and eventually I outlasted them in that I am still involved in some way, as a coach of high school hockey players, while they drifted off to other things. And I appreciated it a little more than they did because I put so much hard work into it. But there were some embarrassing moments along the way.

Baseball - high school game. Ever been hit by a pitch, right in the middle of your left butt cheek? Yea, I didn't get out of the way of an inside heater but turned the other cheek so to speak. Nailed me right in the butt. Extra meat, more muscle, walk it off, yea sure, you betcha! At the moment I figured he hit me with a bazooka. I hobbled to first. Next hitter gets a hit and I hobble into second base. Leg going numb now. Toes burn and my butt cheek is throbbing like it is going to explode. Take my lead, too far, shortstop getting to the bag, I dive, leg falls off, butt burns because it has exploded and I am out by a foot. Like the guy in Major League tagging out Willie Mays Hayes when he comes up a foot short. I swear, p.o.'ed, pick up my leg and hobble off the field. Next guy up hits a bomb, 2 run dinger. The bruise that went black, blue, green, yellow, orange and a color never seen before, or since, couldn't get me out of being called a lame #### by my teammates for the rest of the year.

Football - playing the number one ranked team in the state and playing them tough. Second quarter their all planet fullback breaks into the secondary with the ball. Short and squat and strong and fast. He's been eating teams up all year. I line him up and freakin' drill him. Hit him with everything I had. No way he was getting up from that hit. I mean I know how it felt to hit him and it felt great...right up to the minute of impact. When I came to, because I know I went out for a second ot two, could have been longer, must have been longer because, when I came to he was raising the ball in the air in the end zone celebrating another of his 40 touchdowns that year. And I watched him do it through the ear hole in my helmet as I slowly pulled mud and grass from the face mask where my face was some unknown period of time before. Yea, I lined him up good. I couldn't get my shoulders to straighten out for a week.

Hockey - I learned from these and tell them to my young goalies all the time. Be prepared for the shot the second they gain center ice with possession of the puck. High school game, nothing past me all night. Of course, we were dominating them and were up like 9-0 when their best player cradles the puck and comes out of their zone. As he gets between his blue line and the red line one of my defensemen is stepping toward him to take his space away. The guy winds up and shoots. From the red line. I am in no way ready for him to shoot the puck. The thought hasn't even crossed my mind. And now I have to make a save. Out of position, not set at all and he actually got some heat on it. I sprawl, kick out my left leg and my glove hand, the puck hits my glove and the place goes crazy. I'm thinking, wow, I made a helluva save. Until I got up and the puck wasn't in my glove, no, it was in the back of the net. My best friend and defenseman skates by me and goes, "Hey, that was one helluva save, you freakin' sieve!"  What friends, eh!

Never set the puck right up against the boards. In the rink we played in when I was in high school the Zamboni came out right behind one of the nets. The doors are never really level with the playing surface setting almost an inch or so higher than the ice. One night the other team dumps the puck and I go behind the net to set it. I didn't pay attention to where I set it but I knew in a couple of seconds. One of my defensemen was coming back with a little bit of pressure on him. He had some speed and I knew he was going to use the net to cut off the guy pressuring him. Well, he WAS going to do that. Instead as he went to get the puck the blade of his stick went under the doors and he kind of became a human shish-kabob on skates. Well, actually off of his skates. The oooooffffff sound that he emitted from the bowels of his mid-section told me something was wrong. Or it could have been seeing his feet swinging in the air behind me. OK, actually it was him yelling at me while he was swinging through air with the greatest of ease, "Not on the wall you dumb----, not on the wall!" Oops, sorry about that.

These are only a few of the embarrassing moments of my athletic career in which I had to work much harder than others to compete, let alone just play. I have a couple of questions for you. Have you ever had an embarrassing moment in an athletic event where you were participating? Has it haunted you forever or can you laugh about it, or them, now and get along alright? Can you, or would you, be willing to share them with the rest of us? C'mon, lets hear them. Don't be like the Robin Williams character in that obscure football movie with Kurt Russell where he has never gotten over the dropped pass and has to actually re-play the game before he can move on with his life. Lets have a little fun, lets laugh a little!

I hope some of you join in!

 

And thats the bottom line...

 

Tubby, Gabby and Pavol, and thinking before you ramble.

 

 

The University of Minnesota finally got it right when they hired Tubby Smith to run their Men’s Basketball program. At least that is what everyone in Minnesota seems to think. As I have mentioned before I am not a basketball guy. But even I know about Tubby and what he accomplished at Kentucky. You know, I really hope it works out for the Gophers because he didn’t come cheap. His base salary per year will be $1.75 million guaranteed for 7 years plus a 2 year joint option. After the 4th year he will receive an additional retirement stipend of $250,000.00 in 4 installments. For incentives he will receive the following. For an NCAA title - $500,000.00, for the Final Four - $250,000.00, for the Elite Eight - $75,000.00, and for the Sweet 16 - $50,000.00. If they win the NCAA title he would receive $975,000.00. In the Big Ten he receives $250,000.00 for the title, $100,000.00 for second place (so much for that 2nd place is the first loser thing, eh!), and for the Big Ten Tournament title - $100,000.00. And, lest we forget, the academic payout (numbers not yet determined) he will receive $100,000.00 broken down as so, APR>930 = $25,000.00, APR>940 = $50,000.00, and APR>950 = $100,000.00. Hey, at least they are going to hold him financially responsible for graduating his student athletes. But with all of the other money on the table, well…at least something is in there. Oh, I almost forgot, he gets 30 season tickets to Men’s Basketball games ($17,100.00), 8 season tickets to Football games ($1,800.00), and 4 season tickets to Men’s Hockey games ($2,680.00). This is the richest contract the University of Minnesota has ever given a Head Coach, or, employee of the University. So says the Star Tribune. Hey, it’s good to be the King, the Head Gopher, or simply Tubby.

 

Speaking of the Gophers (Men’s Hockey now).

 

A 3 goal outburst in the 3rd period allowed the Golden Gophers to survive Air Force in their NCAA Regional game today. This prevented the Gophers from having their season ended by a number 4 seed for the second year in a row. Last weekend they looked like the team that dominated in the first half of the season. Blake Wheeler was a difference maker last weekend with 4 goals which included the game winner against North Dakota in the championship game on an outstanding hustle play. I didn’t even notice him today. Kellen Briggs gave up too many soft goals today. He didn’t look ready to play, and he’s a senior. If Kyle Okposo would ever hit the net with a shot the Gophers might cruise. The good thing for the Gophers is that the young guys stepped up for them. If they continue to play inconsistently and with lackluster efforts from key personnel it may be over tomorrow. I wish they would play with the intensity they showed last weekend. When they do that they are one helluva hockey team. When the don’t they are infuriating.

 

I’m watching the Minnesota Wild as I tap keys here.

 

 

The Wild are riding a club record 8 game winning streak. They are up 1-0 and just went on a power play. Brian Rolston leads the Wild with 30 goals. He can be a pretty dynamic player. But you want to talk dynamic then mention the names Gabby and Pavol (oops, Rolston has 31 now, Wild up 2-0). Marion Gaborik and Pavol Demitra have been outstanding this year when both have been healthy. In the last 24 games they have scored 31 goals and have 66 points. Gaborik leads the NHL in goals per game scoring .68 goals per games he has played in. Demitra has assisted on 20 of Gaborik’s 28 goals. Gaborik leads the team with 7 game winners. Demitra leads the Wild in assists with 39 and points with 64. The other night against St. Louis they scored a goal that was all one timers. Gaborik skated the puck in and passed it to Demitra who immediately one-timed it back to Gaborik who one-timed it into the net. The Blues goaltender was caught in mid move – to Demitra, that is how fast these two move the puck with each other. They have been incredibly fun to watch. I think they are even fun for stoic coach Jacques Lemaire to watch as well. At his post game news conference following the Blues game a reporter asked him how he would have felt if the Blues would have scored on a chance when Gaborik and Demitra were floating out in the neutral zone. He shrugged his shoulders and cocked his head, waited a second and then said “these things happen.”

 

Speaking of Jacques Lemaire.

 

 

This story was relayed to members of the Minnesota High School Hockey Coaches Association by one of the Wild’s Senior Executives prior to their first game ever. It is about how Doug Riseborough, the Wild’s GM, landed Lemaire as his coach. Lemaire was in retirement and fishing in Florida and was perfectly content to spend his days fishing. As a courtesy to a former teammate and friend he said he would listen to Riseborough but that Doug shouldn’t expect much. So Riseborough went to Florida and convinced Lemaire to come to Minnesota and take a look. The Wild wined him and dined him, toured the state of the art facility known as the Excel Energy Center where the Wild play (it wasn’t completed at this point), showed him the interest in the Wild by the community (business leaders, high school and youth hockey coaches) at a big luncheon and virtually begged and pleaded with him. At the end of his day in Minnesota Lemaire asked Riseborough if he could see the team sweater (jersey). The Wild had passed so many of them out in marketing the team that they didn’t have even one available for Lemaire to see. Riseborough promised to get him one the following day. Lemaire basically said whatever, caught his flight and went home to fish. True to his word Riseborough had one made up and Federal Expressed it to Lemaire. He opened the box, pulled out the sweater, saw the colors, felt it in his hands, called up Riseborough and told him he had a coach. That sweater got them a good coach, eh!

 

From the stands.

 

 

I have coached youth sports, hockey and soccer, and high school sports, boy’s hockey, for over 20 years. When I was a youth and in high school I played baseball, football, and hockey. I have dealt with parents from a coaching perspective and I vaguely remember comments from the stands when I was playing. I have heard about some parental comments and behaviors from my wife and from others. After today I have decided that I must either stay on the bench, or sideline depending on the season, and stay out of the stands. I now have grandchildren and made a promise to my wife and myself that no matter how busy I am coaching other people’s children I will make a point of getting to as many of my grandchildren’s events, athletic or otherwise, as I possibly can. This morning I dropped in on an indoor/ boarded soccer game that one of my granddaughters was playing in. I got there late but just in time to watch her score a goal. The game was close and I was enjoying the efforts of both teams until my granddaughter was chasing down a ball and was being pressured by s player from the other team. As they got close to the wall this guy behind me was yelling at the girl pressuring my granddaughter to “hit her” and “give her one.” As they closed in on the wall the girl shoved my granddaughter with both hands from behind. Fortunately my granddaughter had just enough time to get her hands up and prevent her from going face first into the wall. On the shove the guy behind me yelled out, “Yea, that’s it, great hit.” I turned to him and gave him the raised eyebrow and a look of disdain but said nothing. That is until he said, “What? That team plays dirty” in reference to my granddaughter’s team. I am wiser than I was in my youth but there are certain things that still get my blood boiling. I resemble the man in my avatar with the exception of being 2 inches shorter and 10 pounds lighter and I had fun with my size today. I told him that was some lesson he is teaching the kid sitting next to him. He started to respond but I cut him off. I told him he is an #### and that it is parents like him that shouldn’t be allowed at their kids athletic events. And then I told him he is also an #### because he should think before he speaks because he is not only approving cheap shots and intentionally attempting to injure opposing players to the kids around him, but that #3, the girl who got shoved into the wall, is my granddaughter and a few years back, if she had gotten hurt, he would have too! I told him he better watch what he says and where he says it because one day someone is not just going to call him an #### but they may take his scrawny little #### out side and beat the #### out of him. I was so freakin’ mad!  His next comment was to the kid with him a couple of minutes later. “Look how the black and gold team (my granddaughters team) passes the ball and supports the ball.” He said. Maybe he’ll think twice before he speaks the fool again. At any rate my wife, who used to worry about what might happen in situations like this in the past, told me I handled it pretty well. I have, apparently, mellowed with age. But I really wanted to put a four knuckle tattoo on his forehead. Oh, well. To the bench or the sidelines for me!!!

 

Hey, Nooch!

 

I’m hoping the Ducks do some ferocious waddling on the Gators tomorrow! GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

 

And t