On Tuesday, March 27, 2007, ESPN announced that LeBron James and Jimmy Kimmel will host the 2007 ESPY Awards set to air July 15, 2007. I would like to make a case for Charles Woodson to be named the 2007 ESPY “Comeback Player of the Year.”
Before turf toe, “The Tuck Rule”, the shoulder injury, the broken leg and the beat down in Super Bowl XXXVII, Charles Woodson was drafted in the first round, 4th pick overall, in 1998 by the Oakland Raiders. In 1998 , he was name NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, selected to Pro Bowls 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, he should have been in 2007 but I digress, was named All-Pro 3 times (1998-2001 seasons) and the first Raider since 1971 to start in all 16 games.
On April 26, 2006, Charles Woodson signed with the Green Bay Packers, led the NFL with 8 interceptions, a career high, and returned punts and kickoffs.
No finer script could have been written for this Ohio native. From the Big Ten to the Heisman Trophy, the Pros, “Title Town” and yes, second ballot Canton? “You think?”
See you on the Red Carpet!
Friday, March 30, 2007
2007 ESPY AWARDS
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
About "Fair Game"
Hello. I’m Toni and welcome to “Fair Game.”
This is the beginning of a fun filled ride of commentary that will keep you on the edge of your seat, laughing, learning and begging for more, but first a few ground rules. Any sports story is considered “fair game”; however, I caution you that this blog’s theme centers on revenue generating sports at the collegiate level, the NFL and NBA. You are free to comment about other areas, but you will most likely not get a rise or response out of me. It isn’t that hockey, soccer, baseball and the rest are not important, but this is my blog, and I love football and basketball. Sure, I will entertain you from time to time with stories about other sports areas which may overlap, but that’s it.
Lastly, for those of you out there who love playing “devil’s advocate,” this site is for you. I may not agree with your position, but as long as the delivery is respectful, you may say whatever you like, but “beware” I, too, exercise this same authority.
Plan B
As I mourn the passing of Darryl Stingley, I smile as tears run unashamedly down my face when I think about the numerous conversations I’ve had over the years with my student athletes. I would ask them, “have you ever heard of Daryl Stingley?” The response 100% of the time would be no! Once I learned the answer that I already knew, I would make Darryl Stingley their homework assignment for the night.
I was happy to see that their curiosity motivated them to find out something about Darryl Stingley. The next day I would see them, and they would have the typical answer for me. They’d say Darryl Stingley was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He played Wide Receiver for Purdue University, they made sure to mention that to the Big Ten fanatic as I was called, and he played for the New England Patriots. No one ever mentioned “the play” on August 12, 1978 that left Darryl Stingley quadriplegic. So, they asked, “why do I need to know about him?” Why is Darryl Stingley important?
My response would be that the Darryl Stingley lecture is about dreams and the need for a Plan B. You see, all of my student athletes had dreams of going pro. It was what they ate, slept and dreamt about. While I never made light of my students or student athletes’ dreams, I felt as If I would have been an irresponsible educator if I didn’t educate them about the realities of going “pro” and the importance of an education. It was also important for me to illustrate an example to them of a person who realized that dream, and because of an injury needed a Plan B.
I once heard famed Sociologist, Dr. Harry Edwards say, “An African-American male had a better chance at being hit by a shooting star than becoming a star in the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA.” I don’t think Dr. Edwards was about killing dreams in making this statement either, but the reality of the situation is that there are only so many teams and too few opportunities.
I do salute my student athletes, who realized their dream (Reagan Upshaw, Tarik Glen, Lamond Murray), but I also salute those of my students, as the commercial says, “who have gone pro in something other than sports.”
Thanks Darryl! May your everlasting light continue to shine brightly upon others.
I was happy to see that their curiosity motivated them to find out something about Darryl Stingley. The next day I would see them, and they would have the typical answer for me. They’d say Darryl Stingley was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He played Wide Receiver for Purdue University, they made sure to mention that to the Big Ten fanatic as I was called, and he played for the New England Patriots. No one ever mentioned “the play” on August 12, 1978 that left Darryl Stingley quadriplegic. So, they asked, “why do I need to know about him?” Why is Darryl Stingley important?
My response would be that the Darryl Stingley lecture is about dreams and the need for a Plan B. You see, all of my student athletes had dreams of going pro. It was what they ate, slept and dreamt about. While I never made light of my students or student athletes’ dreams, I felt as If I would have been an irresponsible educator if I didn’t educate them about the realities of going “pro” and the importance of an education. It was also important for me to illustrate an example to them of a person who realized that dream, and because of an injury needed a Plan B.
I once heard famed Sociologist, Dr. Harry Edwards say, “An African-American male had a better chance at being hit by a shooting star than becoming a star in the NFL, Major League Baseball and the NBA.” I don’t think Dr. Edwards was about killing dreams in making this statement either, but the reality of the situation is that there are only so many teams and too few opportunities.
I do salute my student athletes, who realized their dream (Reagan Upshaw, Tarik Glen, Lamond Murray), but I also salute those of my students, as the commercial says, “who have gone pro in something other than sports.”
Thanks Darryl! May your everlasting light continue to shine brightly upon others.
Hard act to follow
Last week I read on the Internet that Deion Sander’s former wife or her family is accusing Deion of stealing his children’s money. Firstly, I happen to really like Deion Sanders. Not that his past is not festively filled with incident after incident I’m sure he looks back on not without some shame. Remember the time Deion poured ice on the man in the locker room to cool him down, and the time he… Well no matter, this commentary has a Deion Sanders slant.
Let me just tell you what I think. Besides coming in a strong fourth on my all time DB list with Ronnie Lott leading the way followed by “The Assassin” Jack Tatum and Mel Blount, ladies some men are hard acts to follow and Deion Sanders is one of them. His former wife just as we all has truly witnessed a transformation, on his part, for the better. Sometimes, as unfortunate as it is, the second wife gets the better man. I truly do not wish to make light of this subject because it is serious, but what is even more serious is the fact that the African-American men are constantly looking over their shoulders and in most cases with good reason in America. From my vantage point, Mr. Sanders does not appear to be the type man you can’t talk to over a cup of coffee. In the future, I would hope if not for the children’s sake that an issue such as this be kept private.
As for the former Mrs. Sanders, Deion was incapable of loving anyone at that time in his life because he didn’t love himself. I hope that you too will make a new life with someone who can reciprocate that mutual feeling of love because all women who want that deserve it. As he (God) would have it, it was not meant to be with “Prime Time.”
Remember, living well is the best revenge.
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