In this edition of my Sunday Socal Rants, I want to discuss the hosing of OJ Simpson. Sure he may be guilty of murder, but that doesn't mean he is guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping. OJ was tried, found guilty, and now will go to prison solely because of what he may or may not have done 13 years ago. I am not saying he is innocent of murder, but I do think you should go to jail for the crimes for which you are tried. In this case, OJ is going to jail for a crime in which he was acquitted. In this trial, the judge, the prosecuting attorney, and the jurors all have made a mockery of our judicial system.
How long before Marvin Lewis is fired? I think he is out before Halloween. When the Bengals lose to Dallas today, the Jets next week, then have to face the Steelers, Texans, and Jaguars, the Orange and Black will have a new head coach going into All Hallows Eve. Add to that list, the injuries to Carson Palmer, the signing of Cedric the Incarcerated Benson to the roster, activating Chris Henry, and the antics of Ocho Cinco, Marvin Lewis never had a chance. Cincinnati will be lucky to win 3 games this year. The only thing uglier than those costumes the Bengals call uniforms will be losing 9 straight games and blaming racism on the firing of Marvin.
Speaking of Halloween, is anyone else ready for Al Davis to take off the mask he wears of being an NFL owner? Really, he should stop pretending to be an owner, and put on the hat of being a coach. He wants to call the plays, he wants to draft the players, and he wants to run the team so why not be the coach. Who else will take this team? Davis has single handedly destroyed this once proud franchise. If an owner could be fired, this is the one that needs to go.
Bill Walsh passed away today at the age of 75. He was a legend in football both for his offensive schemes and for his front office management of the 49'ers. He won two more Super Bowls as the GM of San Francisco.
Words can not express the admiration I have for Bill Walsh. He was one of the greatest football coaches ever in the NFL. His legacy of winning and his three Super Bowl wins is impressive, but the impact he had on the game is astounding. Over 29 coaches were influenced by Bill Walsh either directly or indirectly. (I wanted to put a picture of his coaching tree on here, but the names are not legible when it is inserted. Please follow the link above to see all of the coaches Bill Walsh influenced in his very short but successful career.)
Bill Walsh is possibly best known for his innovative West Coast Style offense. It has been emulated by dozens of coaches around the league, but none of them has been as successful with it as the master coach. Walsh was a genius in the football world, and a wonderful coach.
I have never heard a disparaging word about Bill Walsh. He was a man who coached players in a way to get the best out of them without having to rant and rave. As ESPN will start running the endless amount of footage of Walsh today, watch as the players will come out of the woodwork to sing his praises.
Today he lost his battle with leukemia and while his soul may have departed this earthly world, it will never leave the NFL.
It appears Donovan has had a change of heart and is staying in Gainesville. Just when the SEC was taking a collective sigh of relief, the Gators are back in business. Rumor has that these are some of the reasons he may have changed his mind:
His wife said no to all the travel.
His kids want him to stay at home.
Jeremy Foley will double the Magic's offer.
Donovan finally realized his mentor was no longer coaching in the NBA and had returned to the NCAA.
Money can't buy happiness.
He would not be able to stand seeing Urban Meyer tie his two national championships so now he can win his third.
He just realized the Orlando Magic were going to renew Grant Hill's contract.
Lastly, he watched King James single handedly defeat the Pistons and decided he should stay in the college game.
Those are the rumors I have heard, but maybe you have a few to add to my list.
I just finished reading a book called Who Moved My Cheese, written by Spencer Johnson. In this short but great read, Johnson talks about four characters that live in a maze searching for cheese. All is well when Hem, Haw, Sniff, and Scurry find a boatload of cheese. They set up camp and plan on never leaving Cheese Station C. But then one day someone moves it to a new location and their lives are forever changed. Sniff and Scurry quickly move out in search of new cheese while Hem and Haw remain at Station C waiting for someone to bring their cheese back. Eventually, Haw figures out that the cheese is never coming back and moves out of his comfort zone in search of “new” cheese. Hem never leaves. How these four deal with their changes reminds me of how some bloggers and Gator fans are dealing with the changes at UF. Donovan is their “cheese”. When he moves, they lose their joy. Their happiness depends on what coaches and players do, and they do not adapt to change.
Donovan has moved on and so should everyone else. I like the guy so I am rooting for him to succeed. He may not. The odds are against him. But that is exactly why guys like him bolt for these types of changes. It is a challenge and Donovan thrives on challenges. Guys like Pitino, Larry Brown, and Billy Donovan need new challenges to keep them going. Eventually he may settle down back in the college ranks like his mentor Rick Pitino, but then again he may have so much success he decides to stay in the NBA. It is highly unlikely he will stay in Orlando because very few coaches stay in one location beyond five years.
Some have argued that Donovan had it made at Florida and should have stayed. They argue that he will find failure in the NBA as do all college coaches that leave for the pros. I would say to them that all NBA coaches tend to fail. It is the nature of the beast and it has nothing to do with coming from the college ranks or coming from the NBA ranks. Sure Lon Kruger, Tim Floyd, and Hamilton did not fare well, but has any of the other recycled coaches really fared much better? How long should any team keep rehiring the likes of Jim O’Brien, Jeff Van Gundy, Brian Hill, or Mike Fratello. None of those guys have produced an NBA champion and winning it all is all that matters. I contend it has much more to do with good GM’s who bring in the talent to win than any coach. There are a few elite coaches that get more out of their talent than others, but they are the exception to the rule. I would also contend that Donovan has proved that he can get more out of his talent than others have in the NCAA.
Then there are those bloggers who think Billy went back on his word by opting out of his contract to go to the NBA. This is so not true. How many times do NCAA programs cut coaches with years left on their contracts? Talk to Larry Coker, Ty Willingham, Mike Davis, Bobby Knight, or even Tubby Smith and tell me that colleges don’t “renig” on their word every day. Contracts were meant to be broken and renegotiated. Florida was trying to renegotiate with Donovan because they knew after the KY offer they needed to resign him to a long term deal. He did not sign a new contract because in the back of his mind he knew he might be leaving. Rev also alluded to this when he said Donovan would not make promises to new recruits this year that he would be around. Universities, Boosters, and Athletic Directors are only loyal to coaches as long as they win. Does anyone really believe that Bobby Knight would have been fired if he had just recently won a national championship? Brand fired Knight because IU was in decline at Knight’s helm. Even stalwarts like Paterno and Bowden have come under fire in recent years and those guys are legends in NCAA Football. Donovan had every right to void that contract with Florida and strike a new deal or leave. In fact, I have not heard rumblings from AD Jeremy Foley. To the contrary, most are wishing him well and most are just glad he is leaving the NCAA where they will not have to face the “Kid” again for some time.
Lastly, what is so terrible about leaving for the NBA? What is the worst that can happen to Billy if he should lose? He gets fired after a huge paycheck for a few years? If and when that happens, does anyone really think he can not come back to the NCAA and have his choice of schools? Rick Pitino has Louisville playing well. Lon Kruger returned UNLV’s Running Rebels back into a respectable program this year, and Tim Floyd is doing a great job at USC. College coaches can come back to the game and be successful again.
So like the characters in the maze, you can either put on your running shoes and start over in the maze looking for new cheese, or you can stay put hoping someone will return and put cheese in your station. Happiness is not in anyone person or thing but in how we adapt to change.
A long time ago, there was a famous priest named Father Flannigan. His parish was not the largest or the most important, but it was his. He had toiled countless hours over his parishioners and he wanted what was best for them. His work was so noble and so prominent that the bishops back in Rome heard of his fame.
After many years the Pope passed away and the archbishops had the laborious task of finding the successor to the throne. After listening to the advice of many , the archbishops selected Father Flannigan to be the next rock of the church. Of course what the church was offering Father Flannigan was riches beyond his wildess dreams, fame beyond compare, and the most prestigous position he could ever obtain in his religios order, and yet he turned them down.
Now you have to understand that no one turns down the position of the "Pope" to the church. It is unheard of. Not one of the father's parishioners would be angry with him if he left. They would understand this great offer and would wish him well. Yet to Father Flannigan, his most important work was the little flock he started years ago. He was well taken care of and the only happiness he wanted was to serve his people well.
While this story may seem absurd, this is exactly what happened today. You see, Father Flannigan is really Billy Donovan and Rome is Kentucky. Donovan could have been the Pope, but he rejected the Blue Grass state for greener pastures in Gainesville. Yet as I read stories written about Billy the Kid, many people have said that he did the right thing by turning Kentucky down and if he took that position they would have looked down on him. Well who is to say it is right or wrong? I can't. Would you or anyone else turn down becoming the Pope? What if you were offered the highest position in your field of work; would you turn it down to stay right where you are? Most people I know would jump at a better offer in their line of work. I don't fault Donovan for staying. I am truly happy for him and for Florida, but had he left, I would have not thought any less of him nor should I. Coaching is a very transient line of work. Colleges have no loyalty to their employees and most will fire a coach in two to three years if he doesn't win. For all of those who say they would have thought less of Donovan had he left, would you have thought less of the University of FLorida had they fired Billy if he had lost in the first round like Stan Heath?
Reading the thread on Lisa's recent post on Not Being Green Enough, started the wheels turning in my brain and has caused me to formulate several questions I need answered. If not, I will lose sleep tonight. If you think you are smart enough and have all the answers, then certainly feel free to post them here.
1. If flying planes into buildings and killing thousands of people is courageous, just because the pilots believed in something very strongly, then was the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima courageous?
2. Is it courageous to shoot medical doctors who abort thousands of babies each year? Certainly people who have murdered or attempted to murder these doctors have argued in court that they were defending a life and claimed self defense for the unborn. It could be argued these men and or women believe in a principle just as strongly as the Muslim community and yet the people who defend the Muslim terrorists do not defend the Abortionist terrorist.
3. At what point did America officially become the bad guy? Was it right after we saved France, Belgium, and the rest of Europe in WWI, or after we saved France, Belgium, and the rest of Europe in WWII? Maybe it was after we saved South Korea from North Korea? I know the two Koreans girls that live in my home certainly love America as do their families. Maybe it was right after Ronald Reagen's policies led to the end of the Cold War?
4. Will Billy Donovan go to KY?
5. Lastly, will Florida win it all?
Now I will briefly give my answers and await your responses.
1. The dropping of the bomb was not a courageous act especially the second one on Nagasaki. That was probably the biggest atrocity America has ever committed, but then again we lived in a different era when Pearl Harbor was still fresh in our minds.
2. Both are terrorists in my book. People who attack Abortion doctors or clinics are terrorists and people who fly planes into building with the deliberate attempt to kill the passengers on the plane and people in the building are terrorists and cowards.
3. America became the official bad guy sometime during the Viet Nam war.
Sure I am going through NFL withdrawals, but like a heroin addict searching for a methadone clinic, March Madness will keep me going for awhile. I love this time of year because the NBA begins to mean something after the All-Star Game; March Madness is just around the corner as is MLB spring training. The Masters is in April and Nascar is gearing up for a new season. There is a veritable smorgasbord of sporting activities to follow.
Last year I started a NCAA Blogger Pick’em league for Fox and I will be setting that up again very soon. As I follow the college games each weekend I am more convinced this year’s tournament will be even better than last. There is no clear cut winner emerging. Sure either UCLA or Florida should be in the title game, but watching the WV Mountaineers dismantle UCLA yesterday just proves anyone can win in college on any given day. Duke, a perennial Sweet Sixteen finalist, is struggling within the ACC losing to Virginia Tech and Florida State both of which might make a run in the tournament. Kansas, North Carolina, and Wisconsin better not be overlooked either as they are making strong showings as is Ohio State.
Be sure and look for the bracket challenge on Fox. Last year I took second place behind Smoke the blowfish.
New NBA Basketball: It was a stupid decision to switch balls without consulting the players and I hope the league realizes this and just switches back. It is beyond me to think that the NFL or MLB would switch balls without getting input from its players, but yet David Stern and his minions decided to do this without input. It must be about money, but I am not sure how Spalding is making more money on this ball or its advertising. I know we all played with all kinds of balls in pick up games, but as long as I can remember we used a leather ball in every organized league and it was always a thrill to get to use a game ball to shoot around. Synthetic was fine for the pick up games on the play ground, but real leather was special.
BCS: To be honest, I would like a play off system, but the BCS has done a fair job of getting the right two teams each year. USC vs. Texas was the right match up last year and with the exception of by passing Auburn a few years back, I have had very few quarrels with the eventual champion. Sure a case could be made that one team should have a shot at the title, but even with a play off there will always be a team on the outside looking in that might deserve a spot. If you take four teams, it is the number five team out, and if you take eight teams, it is the ninth one that was considered that will have a beef. How many one loss teams deserve a shot at this title game? Boise State is undefeated and they will not even get a look at the title game or a BCS berth.
NBA: The Lakers are looking pretty good out in the west. Is it suddenly because Kobe is sharing the ball more or is it because of Phil Jackson? If it were up to me, I would say that both of those are contributing factors, but the biggest turn around is that Lamar Odom has become much more aggressive at looking for his shots. Odom is finding ways to score and he is not passing up on his shots. As long as Odom continues to be aggressive the Lakers have a shot at going deep into the play offs this year.
NFL: Look out for the Seahawks. With the return of Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks have a shot at the Super Bowl again. He was flawless last week against Green Bay and he looked to be in perfect form. If he continues to run for 100+ yards per game, the Seahawks will come out on top in the NFC. Hopefully everyone will not start saying the NFC is all that weak if they do win out because Dallas has played pretty well this year and so have the Bears and Saints.
MLB: The Red Sox are idiots for paying 51 million just to talk to a player. It’s that simple. The Cubs are making the best moves in MLB to become a real contender. Bonds will play somewhere next year and it looks more and more like it will be in Oakland every day. Big Mac deserves to be in the HOF on his first ballot. Being number 7 in home runs is enough in my book.
Florida vs. Michigan: Florida deserves the national title game and I believe the BCS will get it right. Michigan did not win its own conference. Michigan beat Wisconsin and Notre Dame while Florida beat LSU, Arkansas, TN, and Florida State in Tallahassee. Say whatever you want, but Florida has found a way to win. Last year no one gave Texas a shot at beating USC. USC was the best team in the history of NCAA football, that is if you listened to all of the sports analysts, and then Texas came out and beat them. Florida might do the same thing to OSU. In fact, I would pick Florida to win that game. By the way, Urban Meyer should get coach of the year.
There you have it. Just a few of my random thoughts on this Sunday morning.
In a day and age where the freedom of speech is so highly valued, especially by those on the left, why punish the students of the state university system of South Carolina.For those that do not know, the NCAA is continuing a ban that prevents championship basketball games and cross country from being held anywhere in the state of SC. They are now considering making the ban even wider so that it encompasses football and baseball.
For me, someone who grew up in the Deep South, I can see how the Confederate flag has come to be a symbol of hatred by many.I also think that it is also a part of the heritage of those states and as such is an important part of history.The real question is why the state would want to continue to fly the flag.The #### swastika is a part of German history, but if the capital buildings in Berlin were to fly flags bearing this symbol everyone would be aghast.
Even though I understand why the NCAA is appalled by the state’s choice of flying the Confederate flag, I do think they are punishing the wrong crowd.The students of South Carolina do not deserve to be kept from post season play in their home state.If you want to punish anyone, go after the legislators who are afraid to take a stand.Once again, the NCAA has stretched over its already far reaching boundaries.
In this edition of my Sunday Socal Rants, I want to discuss the hosing of OJ Simpson. Sure he may be guilty of murder, but that doesn't mean he is guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping. OJ was tried, found guilty, and now will go to prison solely because of what he may or may not have done 13 years ago. I am not saying he is innocent of murder, but I do think you should go to jail for the crimes for which you are tried. In this case, OJ is going to jail for a crime in which he was acquitted. In this trial, the judge, the prosecuting attorney, and the jurors all have made a mockery of our judicial system. 
How long before Marvin Lewis is fired? I think he is out before Halloween. When the Bengals lose to Dallas today, the Jets next week, then have to face the Steelers, Texans, and Jaguars, the Orange and Black will have a new head coach going into All Hallows Eve. Add to that list, the injuries to Carson Palmer, the signing of Cedric the Incarcerated Benson to the roster, activating Chris Henry, and the antics of Ocho Cinco, Marvin Lewis never had a chance. Cincinnati will be lucky to win 3 games this year. The only thing uglier than those costumes the Bengals call uniforms will be losing 9 straight games and blaming racism on the firing of Marvin. 
He was a legend in football both for his offensive schemes and for his front office management of the 49'ers. He won two more Super Bowls as the GM of San Francisco. 
I just finished reading a book called Who Moved My Cheese, written by Spencer Johnson. In this short but great read, Johnson talks about four characters that live in a maze searching for cheese. All is well when Hem, Haw, Sniff, and Scurry find a boatload of cheese. They set up camp and plan on never leaving Cheese Station C. But then one day someone moves it to a new location and their lives are forever changed. Sniff and Scurry quickly move out in search of new cheese while Hem and Haw remain at Station C waiting for someone to bring their cheese back. Eventually, Haw figures out that the cheese is never coming back and moves out of his comfort zone in search of “new” cheese. Hem never leaves. How these four deal with their changes reminds me of how some bloggers and Gator fans are dealing with the changes at UF. Donovan is their “cheese”. When he moves, they lose their joy. Their happiness depends on what coaches and players do, and they do not adapt to change. 
Donovan has moved on and so should everyone else. I like the guy so I am rooting for him to succeed. He may not. The odds are against him. But that is exactly why guys like him bolt for these types of changes. It is a challenge and Donovan thrives on challenges. Guys like Pitino, Larry Brown, and Billy Donovan need new challenges to keep them going. Eventually he may settle down back in the college ranks like his mentor Rick Pitino, but then again he may have so much success he decides to stay in the NBA. It is highly unlikely he will stay in Orlando because very few coaches stay in one location beyond five years. 
Lastly, what is so terrible about leaving for the NBA? What is the worst that can happen to Billy if he should lose? He gets fired after a huge paycheck for a few years? If and when that happens, does anyone really think he can not come back to the NCAA and have his choice of schools? Rick Pitino has Louisville playing well. Lon Kruger returned UNLV’s Running Rebels back into a respectable program this year, and Tim Floyd is doing a great job at USC. College coaches can come back to the game and be successful again. 
