Marion Barber, III: Consistent, Hard Working, TOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When Brad Johnson stepped in for injured Tony Romo, no one put him on blast for being inadequate. When Tony Romo failed to score from one yard out in a playoff game, no one put him on blast. When Demarcus Ware kept jumping off sides in the Tampa Bay game like a jack rabbit, no one put him on blast. Since Terrell Owens has been in a Dallas Cowboys uniform, no one, but the media has put him on blast. For all the stupid shit Adam Jones has done before and to date, no one, but the media has put him on blast. After throwing two interceptions, no one put Tony Romo on blast. Jason Whitten tried to defend him and insult our intelligence at the same time by indicating that somehow he was at fault. I don't know how he could say this when Tony Romo threw the ball in the Steelers' receiver's hands.

I say all this to say that if the Dallas Cowboys are still in the "playoff conversation", it is because of the consistent play and team work of Marion Barber, III. Marion is quiet, consistent, hard working and tough. If he was not in the game on Sunday, I believe it was because he was unable to be. To be singled out, scapegoated and put on blast by the owner and GM was thoughtless and cruel.

Marion Barber, III is the least of the Dallas Cowboys problems. First, Tony Romo is no Troy Aikman or Roger Staubach. Since week one, it has been difficult to distinguish the head coach from the support staff. The Dallas Cowboys have alot of good players who don't play well together. Again, Brad Johnson was an inadequate replacement for Tony Romo. The Cowboys should have taken a three week vacation if he was the best they had.

As Mr. Jones so eloquently put it, "I own the team, and I can't be fired." I say to Mr. Jones take responsibility for the team "you" put together. If anyone is to blame for the Dallas Cowboys' failure, it is you! You sir are smart, tough and to be respected. Take the necessary steps to return your team to glory whatever it takes. Remeber, you're the boss. Attitude is always reflective of leadership.

If you don’t know, you better ask somebody. Me.

Can somebody tell me why the University of Spoiled Children Alum (Carson Palmer) is bad mouthing Ohio State University? Doesn’t he know that Jim Tressel is a God, an institution, and the man who has kicked Michigan’s ass four years in a row? Okay.

Ohio State University got it going on. In fact, the Big Ten Conference is the premier conference in college football. Okay. Forget the SEC, and the hell with Notre Dame. By the by, when is USC going on probation for all the NCAA violations they have committed. People who live or lived in glass houses should not throw stones.

Speaking of Mr. Palmer personally, what the hell has he done for the Cincinnati Bengals outside look as bad as the other members of the roster in that horror they call a uniform. When I read his bio on the Internet, it indicated that he was the first quarterback draft number one since Vinnie Testaverde in 1987. Well, I wouldn’t bet the farm if that is the quarterback lineage he is following.

When USC come to the horseshoe in 2010 or whenever he mentioned, they are going to get their asses kicked like everybody else. They too will have memories to tell their children, like Palmer, of an Ohio State Buckeye ass kickin’.

Super Bowl or Bust?

I saw Deion on the Internet last week in an interview with Rich discussing the coming season. I miss not having the NFL Network. Time Warner Cable is still playing hardball. Until such time I can get the NFL Network, I must watch Deion via NFL Network website. I hate not having Prime Time in real time. Holla, if you hear me.

I do have to disagree with Deion in his assessment of the Dallas Cowboys. It's a bust baby. You heard it here first. The Washington Redskins are going to the Super Bowl. The Hogs are back! I know what you saying. The Dallas Cowboys, like Deion mentioned, is deep at every position, but so was the England Patriots, and you saw what happened.

Last year I told people the Packers were going to the Super Bowl and nobody believed me. The Giants put it on a silver platter for them by beating Dallas in Dallas. People were bothered by Brett Farve's interception. That interception became a moot point when Charles Woodson and Al Harris could not stop Plaxico Buress (Go Green!). It was curtains, and you know the rest of the story.

However, I saw in the Redskins at the end of this season what I was in the Packers in their previous season, not to mention the acquisition of twinkle toes (Jason Taylor), and it is on.

NFL Draft 2008

Can you imagine the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll tootsie pop? Now, you can see why the owl unashamedly and impatiently takes a bite. That’s how slow Jake Long (former Wolverine as of Saturday) is. The Miami Dolphins need a quarterback, a running back and a new secondary. I can’t believe they are making a very slow offensive lineman their franchise player.

I never tripped about the money athletes make. My motto is: “Get all you can get while you can get it.” They’ll need it to pay for a new set of legs in the future…. (to be continued)

Best Damn Sports Clinic Period (continued)

As the NBA playoffs vastly approached, everyone thought that the wild, wild, west would put on a show for the ages. Let me tell you, they have not disappointed the fans. I’ll get to the east momentarily. Most people were chopping at the bits for a Kobe v. Shaq championship series. I just wanted people to take me serious when I said that Utah had a chance. While I don’t think they’ll be laughing in the end, Utah is a good team, but a championship series is not in the cards, yet.

As for Phoenix, all I can say is the coach of this team, the Denver Nuggets and poor Avery Johnson will probably be searching for employment. I like Avery Johnson. I like Jason Kidd, but the trade for Kidd was the wrong number. Jason Kidd had nothing in his body of work to suggest he could lead a team to a championship much less shared in the sweet success of one. As a Spartan (MSU) alumnus, I take issue with the constant comparison to Magic. I am Cal alum also, but Kidd is no Magic. Michael Jordan isn’t either, but that is a nugget for another conversation.

Speaking of Nuggets, the Denver Nuggets is a really good team with really good players who are currently underachieving. As much as I like Tracey McGrady, I’ll just pay him respect with the mentioning of his name. Frankly, I am sick of San Antonio. I haven’t forgiven Ginobli for all the 3-point shots against Detroit in their series three years ago. You see were this is headed.

The wild, wild, west is culminating into the best damn sports clinic period. I can’t wait until the Lakers play New Orleans. I love Chris Paul, but Kobe is getting ready to take this brother to school. It may hurt to watch, and it may also hurt Kobe more than Chris Paul, but it will be a lesson well learned for the future(typical parental psychological mumbo jumbo). Look out Kobe, Chris Paul has officially put the NBA on notice. After the Lakers and New Orleans, everything else is anti-climatic.

As far as the Boston Celtics, they look flawless. If were not from Detroit, I would be rooting for them. Kevin Garnett in my opinion is the NBA MVP. I know it is a season by season award, but his body of work and currently season accomplishments make him most worthy.

After Chris and Kobe, LaBron will be an after thought. Now let’s get to DEE-TROIT Basketball. I see Detroit handled their business last evening. The 76ers, too, will soon be a memory. The eastern conference championship will not be as exciting as the west, but I suspect Detroit and Boston will do us proud. In the end, the smart play and early season use of the Detroit bench will tell the story. Boston has a great sixth man at best, but this will not be enough. This series requires a bench. Boston is lacking in this category.

Best Damn Sports Clinic Period

The NBA's wild, wild west. To be continued.....

Can somebody tell me…?

I said I was done writing for the year, which did not allow me until now to express my concern about Tim Tebow winning the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore when in the past there were awesome, more awesome sophomores than Tebow, like Hershel Walker and Bo Jackson to name a few who could have been awarded that trophy who were not specifically because they were sophomores.

I let that concern slide. Today, I was presented with a bigger fight. Can somebody tell me why the hell Charles Woodson is not in the Pro Bowl? How many times does a brother have to show up and show out? Now, no average citizen hooped and holla’d over Sean Taylor’s senseless killing more than me, but with all due respect to his Family, Girlfriend and baby daughter, Mr. Taylor will not be showing up for the Pro Bowl, okay. I feel the gesture was great, but a moment of silence in his memory would have been more appropriate.

As far as the Minnesota Vikings receiving seven slots, I say, “WHY?” Did not the Green Bay Packers beat the Vikings twice convincingly? And pardon me if I am wrong, but the only Viking name I have heard this season with any real regularity was Adrian Peterson. I can name the Purple People Eaters faster than I can name the current roster's defensive or offensive line.

Sports announcers from Jaws to Deion Sanders have referred to Charles Woodson and Al Harris as the best DB tandem in the NFL. Webster’s Dictionary defines tandem as one following or behind the other like Fred and Ginger, Sonny and Cher, Gayle and Oprah. Not to throw salt on Al‘s parade, but that tandem couldn't exist without Charles Woodson.

Charles Woodson has been disrespected two years in a row. I am still trying to figure out why the hell his #2 jersey has not been retired at the University of Michigan. Shawn Crable or Clark Gable have no business wearing the jersey of the only defensive back in the history of college football to win the Heisman Trophy. Charles Woodson is the "Big Cheese" among college football players. He stands alone.

I heard Ron Jaworski just yesterday mention something about a player having a comeback year. Well in order to comeback, one would have had to have a career worth mentioning in the first place. Charles Woodson is such a player. I am mad as hell, and I could care less who knows it.