We are in the midst of perhaps one of the greatest sports years ever!
Tiger Woods plays the US open on one leg, goes into a tie breaker with one of the biggest underdogs of PGA tour history, and just comes out on top.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have what has been concidered my many, one of the greatest, if not the greatest tennis match of all time, with Nadal finally beating Faderer for the first time at Wimbledon.
The Detroit Redwings lead by the first European captain to win a stanley cup, beat out the Pitsburgh Penguins in what was one of the best all around performances by any team in the NHL’s history. (However I must note that Nicklas Lidstrom is NOT the first European born player to captain a team to a stanley cup win. In 1934 Goaltender Chuck Gardiner, born in Edinburgh Scottland, captained the Chicago Blackhawks to a stanley cup win. He was also the only goalie ever to do it. Also in 1938, Johnny Gottselig, born in Odessa Russia, captained the Chicago Blackhawks to their second stanley cup win. Both players were born over seas, but lived in Canada, so although they are not concidered Europeans, they were born there. (Much like Danny Heatley was born in Germany, but lived in Alberta)
The Boston Celtics ended a 22 year lapse between championships, as they beat the LA Lakers in this years NBA finals. They extend their NBA leading championships to 17.
Ryan Newman wins what many would concider Nascars best race at the Daytona 500, in what was the 50th running of the Great American Race.
Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an IRL race when she took the checkered flag at the Japan 300 on the twin ring Motegi oval raceway. Proving that women can race with the big boys too.
And then we have the NFL……………..
Ok sure the Superbowl was pretty darn exciting, and that catch was nothing less then spectacular, but the rest of what is going on trumps what happened in Feburary far far more.
We have DUIs, shootings, hit and runs, retirements followed by non retirements followed by name calling , we have holdouts, rediculous rookie signings, drug suspentions, robberies and kidnapping, and so on and so forth……
What, dare it say, is going on in the NFL????
I can take note of all of the off field issues that have plagued the NFL just this year alone (and we are only half way through it, so their could still be some dog fighting to report) and I would have to bet that there is more “junk” going on in the NFL then EVERY other professional sport combined! Heak, every other sport combined for the last 10 years compared to Just the first half of 2008 in the NFL. And I have to say that I just don’t get it!
What is so off with the players in the NFL that makes them do such stupid things?
What is it about this league that allows so many blatent acts of criminal behavior to happen?
What is wrong with the system?
Don’t get me wrong. I love the NFL. I am a diehard fan of what is quite possibly the best professional league in the world (I would have a hard time trumping Football over Hockey, but hey, I’m Canadian, Hockey is in my blood).
So lets debate STB members! Lets see if we can figure out what is going on in the NFL, and how it can be fixed. Or if it can be fixed.
Let the debate begin
Tremblay
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6 Responses to “What is up with the NFL???”
Posted: 07/14/08 at 6:16 pm
well to man bold personalities and that can make it hard to win if the dont swallow that and do whatever it takes to win………see the red wings and celtics in term of teams………
racing yes involves many people but if they driver doesnt do the right things on the track it doesnt mean much what the rest of the crew does.
golf and tennis are really a sport where you are really on your own.
Posted: 07/15/08 at 6:24 am
Problem with the NFL is plain and simple. You need super-human, violent monsters to succeed. These guys come with some flaws.
In the US, highschool football players are treated like gods in their hometown. The best of these go on to college where they are treated like gods in the state. Then the best of those go on to the NFL and are treated like gods by the country. All the while, you give these, already ego inflated, athletes millions of dollars at an early age and bammo…disaster!
There are certainly some that handle it well. If we were all honest with ourselves… what kind of trouble would you get in with $5M per year @ 23 years old? Not to mention that you are treated like a celebrity. My take is kind of different, I am surprised that as many athletes turn out as good as they do.
Posted: 07/15/08 at 9:07 am
i agree with james…imagine had brett favre been a tennis or golf player..retire..comeback..nah, stay retired, ok come bacjk..no big deal..here’s your clubs or racquet and lets go right?!
one word comes to mind…Accountability…
a stern, steady hand guiding the way and keeping everyone accountable is whats necessary.
cant say that this string of bad rap the NFL may be getting do to the DUIs, shootings, hit and runs, retirements followed by non retirements followed by name calling , holdouts, rookie signings, drug suspentions, robberies and kidnapping, and so on and so forth arent bruising the league a bit…but…lets say there’s a thousand and some guys in this league..and about 40 or so are making up this mess that is..thats like not even 4% of the population stirring the pot…
who knows..but accountability and respect go a long way..even in 2008….
Posted: 07/15/08 at 1:22 pm
It is definately to keep 53 men in check over a lot less, I most definately agree.
Posted: 07/15/08 at 1:26 pm
Great point Chris. It is hard to give a 23 year old millions and expect him not to go wild. I would however have to say that I saw the egos when I played competitive hockey, and baseball, so that sense of “arrogance” is in all sports. Maybe it helps that in the NFL they have a much longer offseason. What do you think?
Posted: 07/15/08 at 1:30 pm
Again, as with Chris, good point. If you break it down, the number of people misbehaving is not at a great percentage. But, it is still much higher then any other sport, I would guess. Although, 53 players on 32 teams, is much more then 25 players on 30 teans in the NHL, or 15 guys on 30 teans in the NBA (etc).
If you put your idea, Chris’s and James, we are definately getting to the bottom of it.
Thanks guys.