How about THAT Cowboy!?

It is amazing what 7 days can do for your perspective.

A week ago, the Dallas Cowboy fan base and media where ringing their hands about Tony Romo.

He had literally thrown away a victory in Week 1 against the Jets.

Fast forward to Week 2 and here are the Boys.. Down two scores with 7 minutes to go staring at the prospects of being 0-2.

To compound matters, Romo had left the game in San Francisco with cracked ribs.

Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, raised some eyebrows after the loss to Jets calling Romo a “winner.” Well, Romo proved Jones right and then some.

With a punctured lung and busted ribs, Romo came back on the field and lead Dallas to tie and eventually win the game in overtime, 27-24.

Folks, if this were a playoff game, Tony Romo would be lauded as a God walking among mortals. That’s how good and clutch he was on Sunday.

I’m not saying this comeback saved Dallas’ season but it sure shut a lot of people up about Tony Romo and his fortitude in clutch moments.

Cowboys could have even more problems entering their Monday Night versus the 2-0 Washington Redskins.

Running back, Felix Jones, separated his shoulder and receiver. Miles Austin tweaked a hamstring. Both appear to be out for the Monday Night match up.

But Dallas can enjoy the bird back to Valley Ranch with a satisfying win. The huns were beaten back for one day at least.

Let’s see what the next 7 days bring for Tony Romo.

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For Entertainment Purposes Only.. Week 2

Week 1 was a push of sorts. I couldn’t have been more wrong thinking Indianapolis and 75 year old Kerry Collins could run with the young fellas in Houston. I will say this, if you’re gonna miss.. Miss bad. Mission Accomplished.

I did redeem myself nicely taking the Raiders on Monday Night. Geez.. How bad are the Broncos?

So here are your winners for Week 2 and remember.. For Entertainment Purposes Only!

Seattle @ Pittsburgh. PIT -14
Mike Tomlin is gonna make the Seahawks pay for what the Ravens did to Big Ben and company. Plus Seattle banged up on the offensive side of the ball

Oakland @ Buffalo. OAK +3
Can you believe one of these two teams is going to be 2-0!?!?
I think its the Raiders. Really. I think they cover and win the game. Darren McFadden’s running game opens up Oakland vertical game. A September game in Buffalo should bring nice weather and some points.

Arizona @ Washington. AZ+3
I like the Cards. If they are that good…if they are suppose to win the west… If they are suppose to make a run in the NFC.. They need to win this game.

Baltimore @ Tennessee. BAL -5.5
Ravens looked REAL good last week. Tennessee was stymied by Jacksonville. Maybe Matt Hasselbeck will have the Titans clicking better offensively Week 2. (Hasselbeck and Kenny Britt were clicking Sunday). But I see too much Baltimore.. even as the road team.

Jacksonville @ NY Jets. NYJ -8.5
The number that intrigued me more was the total at 39 but you never know with these offenses. The Jags are missing pieces at receiver and tight end. Gonna be a tough one but the Jets get the cover.. Barely

Chicago @ New Orleans. Over 47
Bears are +6.5.. But its the Saints! There will be points. If Jay Cutler and the Bears can bring another 30 point offensive performance like they did Week 1 against a defense that gave up 42 in Green Bay.. Should be an easy over.

Tampa Bay @ Minnesota. MIN -2.5
Bucs can score ( I think). But I like Minny and Adrian Peterson. Gonna need more from Donovan McNabb though.

Green Bay @ Carolina. CAR +10
Just can’t go against a double digit home dog. Can’t do it! Interesting to see how Cam Newton fares against Dom Capers defense. We’ll see if Newton is legit on Sunday.

Kansas City @ Detroit. DET -7.5
Lions are good. Chiefs are not.

Cleveland @ Indianapolis. INDY +2
Colts aren’t THAT bad right? Gulp. Browns should have beaten Cincy last week. I think the Colts will adjust. If not.. Paging Andrew Luck

Dallas @ San Francisco. DAL -3
The Cowboys did have the Jets down two scores. Jets are better than SF. I think the ‘Boys make statement in this one.

San Diego @ New England. Over 53
Pats are a touchdown favorite. San Diego has won in Foxborough. I think this is gonna be a track meet.

Cincinnati @ Denver. CIN +3
Could be the ugliest game of the week. Andy Dalton will play despite a hurt wrist. Denver is a mess. John Fox will turn it around.. Just not this week

Houston @ Miami. HOU -3
So are we really drinking the kool aid on the Texans?! Arian Foster is back. Defense is real good. Miami will make it a fight but will wilt in the end.

Philadelphia @ Atlanta. PHI -2
I think the Eagles are better than Falcons period. Lots of distractions with Michael Vick coming back to the Georgia Dome. Still like Philly.

St. Louis @ NY Giants. NYG -6
Rams offense is all busted up. Giants can and will cover.

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The Audacity of Redemption

Michael Vick has been through hell and back and has come out of it with a check for a 100 million dollars.  36 million of which are guaranteed in his new contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

 Sure, there are folks that will never forgive what Vick did to those dogs.  Frankly, they shouldn’t.

In fact, Vick should be reminded of his ill will towards the canine class and humanity in general every day. 

Vick’s new-found fortune proves two things:   One , we live in the most forgiving society in the world.  For that we should be applauded.  It makes me sleep better at night.  It also reminds me that we live in the most capitalistic society in the world.   In essence, if you can provide goods or service,  you can pretty much do what ever you want.  Yes, even murder dogs.

Vick has paid his debt to society and now he can to his creditors.  That gives him the right to earn a living.   Luckily for him, his “living” can garner 100 million bucks.   Now,  the true redemption of the anti-dog whisperer begins.

Up until now,  Vick has been trying to climb the mountain…  get out of jail, resurrect his football career, become a contributor to a team, become a starting quarterback again, a long-term contract.

He has reached the top of the mountain.  Now comes the temptation that satisfaction brings.  All the “hanger-ons” and “yes men” will slowly gravitate to number 7.   The next quarter of Vick’s game of life should be interesting. 

–

The movie “Moneyball”, based on the book by Michael Lewis of the same name,  is set to be released September 23rd.   

Brad Pitt plays Oakland Athletics general manager, Billy Beane.   It is the story of how Beane, fresh from losing most his best players to free agency;  tried to rebuild the perennial playoff contender through “non traditional”  baseball ways.  AKA: on the cheap.

He used stats not scouts to determine a player’s ability.  On base percentage became the true measuring stick in this new world order known as Sabermetrics.

Did it work?   Well the A’s in the years since the publishing of “Moneyball” in 2003, made the plaoyffs twice.   They also haven’t had a winning seasn since 2006.  

But teams all around baseball started to adopt this baseball by the numbers philosphy.     So it clearly has redefined the game.   I bring up the movie because this will undoubtedly give Beane some more exposure.   The A’s are in terrible baseball market and the time has come for him to take his laptop elsewhere. 

The San Francisco Chronicle  agrees with me in saying Beane might find a home in Los Angeles.  The Dodgers current GM, Ned Colletti,  is a Chicago guy who grew up watching the Cubs.  That team has a similar opening. 

I say Colletti takes the Cubs gig leaving  Beane a short flight down the coast with a chance to rebuild one of the Game’s most important franchises.   

With the Dodgers in a deep financial and public relations mess, the job is akin to the guy who walks behind the horses with a shovel in the parade…  but nonetheless it is the Dodgers. 

He will have to do something that he never did in Oakland though.. get to the World Series.  The last time Dodgers played in the Fall Classic.. 1988. 

Their opponent.. The Oakland A’s.  

That had a Hollywood ending if I do recall….

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My Headline of the Day 7-10-11

U.S. waxes Brazil

The “Settlement”

Part 1

The McCourts agree to let a judge decide if the Dodgers are owned solely by Frank or if the team is community property and Jamie gets 50 percent.

If the judge says Frank is the sole owner, Jamie gets a check for a 100 million dollars, the couple’s homes and no tax liability.

If the judge says the McCourts are 50/50 owners, in all likelihood, they will sell the team and split the money. Unless, one party can buy the other out.

Part 2:

This is all contingent on MLB approving Frank’s TV deal with FOX. Jamie agrees to not challenge the contract Frank entered with the network.

If MLB rejects the TV deal ( which they will) it is likely Frank will be unable to make the June 30 payroll.

Frank will essentially “default” allowing MLB to seize the team.

If this happens, part 1 of the McCourt settlement is void and the parties go back to court to figure it out.

Always Be Closing

Opening Day has finally arrived.

Another season full of hopes, dreams and for Dodger closer, Jonathan Broxton… Redemption.

Seems like that has been the big righthander’s theme the past few seasons.

A great 2008 campaign soured for Broxton in the post season. In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series; pinch-hitter, Matt Stairs turned on a Broxton fastball, sending it deep into the Dodger Stadium night.

That broke a 5-5 tie capping a Phillies come from behind victory. Philadelphia would take a 3-1 series lead. They wrapped up the pennant in five games. They were World Series Champions a few weeks later.

2009 also ended badly for Broxton with Stairs once again in the mix.

Maybe the reverberation of that mammoth home run still in his head, Stairs drew a four pitch walk in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 2009 NLCS. There was one out and no one on base at the time.

When the dust had settled Philadelphia would score twice turning a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 walk-off win. Jimmy Rollins the hero that night crushing a Broxton fastball up the alley in right centerfield. Philly took a 3-1 series lead. They wrapped it up in five games for another trip to the World Series.

Neither Broxton or the Dodgers would be back to the 2010 post season.

After an All-Star first half, Broxton had a miserable second half. He had an earned run average over seven in his final 31 games last season.

He had an eight inning stretch where he gave up 10 runs and walked 11 batters. He was summarily ripped of his closer role with the team.

So here we are again. 26-year old Jonathan Broxton trying to pick up the pieces.

Joe Torre, who may have been as much a culprit in the demise of Broxton in 2010 is gone. New skipper, Don Mattingly says the big guy is his closer. Let’s hope Donny Baseball doesn’t believe in two inning saves.

Game on.

The Dodgers have way too many offensive deficiencies (No power at first, third, left and catcher). So pitching is paramount to any success this team may have in 2011. In other words, what few runs this team will score.. need to be preserved.

The arms are there both starting and in the pen. So the spotlight is squarely on the broad shoulders of Broxton. As he goes, so do the Dodgers.

It is telling though that Mattingly has constructed a bullpen with three potential replacements for number 51. Hong-Chih Kuo, Kenley Jansen and Mike MacDougal (remember him?!) all made the squad. So while Mattingly is behind Broxton; the leash is short.

The question is how far will Broxton take the Dodgers.

Closers are suppose to have short memories. “Last year was last year” Broxton said.

He is a man of a few words. The Dodgers hope he’s right.

Follow me on Twitter: @mediarodriguez

A teachable moment

USC head basketball coach, Kevin O’Neill is passionate.  He is also a pretty damn good coach.  Unfortunately for him and the university, that passion got in the way of doing his job.

After knocking off Cal in the quarterfinals of the Pac 10 Tournament, O’Neill got into some sort of altercation in a hotel with University of Arizona booster, Paul Weitman.

What makes the incident juicy and some might even say understandable, is the back story.  O’Neill was an assistant coach at Arizona and in line to take over as head coach for Lute Olson.  Some believe it was Weitman who kept O’Neill from getting the gig, hence the ill will.

Back to the scrum in the hotel lobby.

O’Neill was coming out of an elevator with his wife when they ran into the booster.  Words were exchanged and some say the altercation was verbal.  Others say it was physical.   Either way, O’Neill and Weitman got into it in the public space of a hotel  lobby.  Security was called .  O’Neill was escorted out of the building.

It is a brave new world at SC.  Athletic Director, Pat Haden, swiftly suspended O’Neill for the rest of the Pac 10 Tournament.  The Trojans losing to top seed, yes.. Arizona 67-62 in the semifinals.

That loss may have cost USC a trip to the NCAA Tournament.  It will have deeper ramification for O’Neill.

His nickname is KO.  That could now best describe his coaching days at SC.  “I should be held to a higher standard of conduct of anyone on our team,” O’Neill told The Los Angeles Times. “I totally agree with the decision.”

He’s right.

Even in a moment of weakness O’Neill was still coaching his team.  Today’s lesson: Discipline is something you need to have off the court.  That might just be his most important message.

Each one of those student athletes now sees that every action has a reaction.  No one is above reproach.  Not even the leader of a team.  Not even the coach who led the Trojans out of the wilderness to a 19-game win season.

This will ripple throughout the University too.  The football team is soon getting out from under mandated sanctions.  Pat Haden is gonna run a tight ship, no matter what.

I hope O’Neill survives this, but I don’t think he will.  SC is on parole.  That last thing they need or want is to have wild cards among the ranks.

A coach is above all a teacher.  This lesson should resonate for years to come.

Update:  USC made the NCAA Tournament as part of the “First Four” play in games.  O’Neill has been reinstated and will coach the Trojans.

Follow me on Twitter: @rodriguez_post

The Kings “other” Speech

Here’s an update on the Maloof Family and the prospects of moving the Sacramento Kings.

The owners sat down with Sacramento mayor, Kevin Johnson. Ironically enough, Johnson played in the NBA.

While there is still no official word if the Kings are packing up and leaving, Johnson is readying the city for life after basketball:

“I appreciate the Maloofs for meeting with me tonight. We had a candid and productive conversation about our mutual goals and interests.
 
I made clear that our community wants the Kings to stay, but we are fully aware that this is ultimately their decision.
 
The Maloofs understand that regardless of what they choose, I will join with other leaders across the region to fight for what’s best for our community. This includes developing a new entertainment and sports complex, with or without the Kings. 
 
I fully expect to continue an open, direct and proactive dialogue with the Maloofs as we all move forward.”
 
Pretty good politics by the Mayor. He has literally put the ball in the Maloof’s court. They will take that ball out of town.

Not really buying that the city is developing a new entertainment and sports complex. The team has needed that for over a decade. Too little too late I’m afraid for Sacramento.

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Movers and Shakers

Apparently the NFL owners are on drugs. That drug is called Charlie Sheen!

Tiger blood and Adonis DNA aside, the owners felt pretty invincible in their labor talks with the Players Association.  Unlike Sheen, the owners have been slapped with a cold dose of reality thanks to the justice system.

In an attempt to lock out the players for the upcoming season, the owners were counting on four billion dollars in television revenue.  You see the fat cats cut a side deal with their TV partners (Fox, CBS, ESPN, DirecTV) that would pay them the four billion this year even if there were no games played this season.  The NFL bosses were planning on getting through this season with the cash leaving the players with no salaries and no health benefits. 

A pretty good idea until the Players Association got wind and called shenanigans.  The NLFPA then took the owners to court and won.

A U.S. District Court judge,  David Doty, said the owners could not use the television money as a war chest if there is a lockout.  The shady deal peeled back the curtain on the owners to reveal they are in favor of locking the players out.   Why else would they have made this side deal with their TV partners?

That was never more evident than when news broke that the owners turned down more money form one of their broadcast partners, DirecTV. 

The broadcaster offered the league more money in order to get out of paying the NFL this season if there was no football.  The owners declined.  Why?  They would have to share the new windfall of cash and more importantly; they would lose their leverage over the players.  Essentially, the owners were guaranteed money during a work stoppage while the players were not.

“The record shows that the NFL undertook contract negotiations to advance its own interests and harm the interests of the players,” Doty wrote in his ruling.  Doty also said there will be a hearing to determine what to do with the $4 billion in revenue the owners are set to get this year.

Maybe this will force the owners to actually negotiate with the players.  After March 3rd, the current labor agreement expires.

Speaking of owners, The Maloof Family is in the process of moving the Sacramento Kings.   A move that has the full support of NBA commissioner, David Stern.  Stern has gone on record saying the Kings have spoken with Anaheim officials about moving the team to southern California.

Stern really loves the Maloofs.  He brought the All-Star Game to Las Vegas.  The Maloofs also own the Palms Hotel and Casino in Sin City.  Not coincidentally, The Palms  was the league’s home base during All-Star weekend. 

In another move to help them get their way, Stern gave the Maloofs more time to decide if they are indeed moving the Kings. March 1st was the deadline to file an application to relocate.  Now the Maloofs have until April 18th.   Clearly,  the move to Orange County has received the league’s blessing.

Not that the city of Sacramento isn’t to blame either. The Kings have been in California’s capital for over a quarter century.  The play in an old arena that is not capable of handling the modern streams of revenue, i.e luxury suites. The city isn’t building a new arena.  Neither is the Maloof family.

Anaheim is the pretty girl at the dance because of their gem, Honda Center. It is one of the finest arenas in the country.  Something that Seattle, Las Vegas or San Diego can’t bring to the table. 

Anaheim is all for the move.  A rep from the Mayor’s office said the city couldn’t officially comment on the matter.  However, the Mayor’s Public Information  Officer did remind me that the arena was built to  accommodate two professional sports team.

Look like the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks are about to get some roommates.

Time will tell if the Kings will work in Orange County.  The NBA would have three teams (Lakers, Clippers and Kings) playing within a 30-mile radius.  Time Warner Cable’s new 20-year contract with the Lakers does open up a TV spot for the OC Kings.  I just hope there are plenty of limos and groupies to go around.

Anaheim has been on the NBA’s radar for years.  Stern all but begged Clippers’ owner, Donald Sterling to  move his team there but to no avail.   Sterling would rather be the third tenant at Staples Center in order to keep the mystique of being in Los Angeles. You can see how well that has worked.  Sterling: not winning,

The Clippers. as usual, will be the biggest loser if the Kings come south.  The Lakers have carved out their fan base.  Hint Mr. Sterling, winning does that.  The Kings will have plenty of territory to win over.  Even more pressure for Sterling to sign Blake Griffin to a long-term deal. Sadly, I got a feeling how this story will end: Griffin in a Oklahoma City Thunder uniform.

The Kings in Orange County makes perfect sense.  They had a heated rivalry with the Lakers in the early part of this century.   Playing in Orange County fuels that even more. LA and OC are as different as night and day. The Dodgers and Angels are enjoying a healthy rivalry because of it.  The NBA knows that.  The NBA is counting on that. 

This leaves the Clippers out of the sports landscape in southern California.  Can you say contraction?   We know David Stern can.

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Addiction

It’s been a rough start to 2011 for Tigers slugger, Miguel Cabrera. You know the story:  Three days before Detroit opened their full squad spring workouts in Florida, Cabrera (their best player) was arrested for DUI. 

What makes this alarming and sad is that Cabrera has once again succumb to addiction. In this case, alcohol. 

In the final weeks of the 2009 season, with the Tigers in the middle of a pennant race, Cabrera came home with  a blood alcohol content of 0.26 (over three times the legal limit) and raised hell with his wife to the point were the cops had to drop by the home.

Cabrera wasn’t charged, said he was quitting the sauce, got some counseling and things seemingly were back on track.  A monster 2010 season with 38 home runs, a league leading 126 RBI and .328 batting average seemed to back that up.

Then came the scotch fueled bender this month that landed him on everyone’s radar for all the wrong reasons.

The Tigers as an organization have said all the right things.  Major League Baseball has got him into a treatment program. Both are looking after the human being and not the guy who is blasting his way into Cooperstown putting together Hall of Fame numbers at the plate.  This is good. 

Now it is up to Cabrera to do what he does best.. hit a home run.

Addiction is not an easy beast to tame.  It is a daily struggle.  A daily fight that carves you up from the inside.  A broken leg heals.  Addiction does not.  You manage it.

Cabrera has  plenty of reasons to fight the good fight: his wife, his kids, a $153 million dollar contract, the accolades that come from being one of the fiercest sluggers in the game today.  But until he does it for himself,  he will never win.

You see until you want to quit for you, it simply will not work.  A friend  of mine is sober of drugs and alcohol for nearly two decades. Yet he thinks about drinking every day.  EVERY DAY. 

It is ok to fall.  He already has.That is what a support group is for.   But until he truly wants to stop,  we will see this again.   So the treatment program, therapy, counseling, sponsors are all great.  But even the best house with all the bells and whistles is nothing without a foundation. 

I hope Miguel gets it back.  He’s only 27 and has plenty of life left.  But like we’ve seen with Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen; the best programs don’t work unless the addict is ready to face that daunting road.

Now batting, Miguel Cabrera…..

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