Wednesday, July 23, 2008

What Was Brett Favre Thinking?

The Brett Favre Green Bay Packer story continues to unfold taking a new twist. begging the question, Brett what were you thinking?

As you recall Green Bay has filed a complaint with the NFL accusing the Minnesota Vikings of having inappropriate talks with Brett Favre.

The inside sources thought proving these charges would be an uphill battle almost impossible to prove. Green Bay would need a smoking gun.

I now appears The Pack may very well have that smoking gun, a Green Bay cell phone issued to none other than Brett Favre.

According to inside sources the phone records report repeated calls from Brett to head coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

Brett what were you thinking? This is James Bond 101, get a non traceable disposable cell phone. You can afford it, you are rich.

These cell phone records take me back, circa 1970's to former President Richard Nixon and Water Gate.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune Reports

July 22nd, 2008 – 2:05 PM by Judd Zulgad
As we await the NFL’s decision on the tampering charges filed by the Packers against the Vikings for “inappropriate dialogue” with Brett Favre, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel had an interesting bit of information in a piece he wrote about the quarterback today.

McGinn writes that a source said Favre had continued to use a Packers-issued cell phone and that when the team checked the phone records it found “repeated calls to coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.”

The possibility of Favre having used a phone issued by the Packers had been speculated on last week after the Associated Press reported that Green Bay informed the NFL it felt “an investigation of the phone records would show more than ‘normal contact’ between the Vikings and Favre, even before he formally asked for his release to play for another team.”

Bevell served as Favre’s quarterbacks coach in Green Bay from 2003-05 and the two have remained close. That relationship made it difficult to believe the Packers could prove much by simply pointing to conversations between Bevell and Favre. However, if Favre’s phone records also point to conversations with Childress that could be a different story.

The Vikings have remained mostly quiet on this subject since news broke nearly a week ago that tampering charges had been filed. Minnesota issued a statement last Thursday, saying the Vikings “are not commenting on this issue. These types of matters are handled by the league.”

The Vikings, if found guilty, could face penalties that include loss of draft picks and/or fines.

Should all these new issues prove out, sadly a great quarterback's legacy will be tarnished.

The Vikings will be found guilty of stupidity. Remember the 49ers were found guilty of the same thing and fines aside had to surrender draft choices to the Chicago Bears in this springs draft.

Hopefully we will see Brett back in uniform, any uniform gracing America's gridirons, doing what he does best, playing football and torching the defense.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

The Continuing Saga: As the Packers $ Favre Turn

Last summer we had the shameful saga of Micheal Vick and his dog fighting.

This summer we have Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers saga. Far more entertaining and thank God no cruelty to animals.

The latest twist has Packers management allegedly filing a complaint to the NFL against non other than arch rival, the Minnesota Vikings. Alleging that the Vikings have had illegal contact with Favre.

Naturally the Vikings are saying no comment regarding the allegations that they have had inappropriate contact with Brett Favre during this 3 month period that Favre has attempted to return to pro football.

At the heart of this newest installment of the Favre - packer drama is an unamed source who claims to be close to the Packer organization and familiar with the alleged filed complaint.

The undisclosed source informed The Associated Press Weds. night that The Packers had filed the complaint against the Vikings for tampering.

The source supposedly went on to say The Packers suspect the inappropriate discussions took place between Favre and Viking offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

I love these unnamed sources, reminds me of the Watergate Days with " Deep Throat. "

Favre and Bevell have been long time friends, dating back to Bevell's days as an assistant at Green Bay.

The Pack believes Favre's sudden request for release supports their theory of Bevell and The Vikes having some sort of deal in place with Brett.

It is now being claimed that The Pack has requested a league investigation and that a check of the phone records will support their claims.

Phone records alone, probably would not prove the allegations. However the NFL has been more diligent in these kind of issues.

The San Francisco 49ers were disciplined for just such an infraction. Forced to give up their 5th round draft pick and trade 3rd third rounders with the Chicago Bears in the April draft.

The continuing soap opera of Brett and The Packers drags on, giving no evidence it will be resolved before the start of the 2008 season

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Players And Coaches Tired Of Dropped Passes? Great Catch: Product Review

Players and coaches, tired of dropped passes? That is the question asked by the makers of Great Catch.

Great Catch is football training equipment, targeting receivers, running backs, linebackers and defensive backs, anyone required to catch or intercept the ball.

The makers of Great Catch call it the catching clinic you wear. It consists of two elastic bands that fit over the center of the hand. Each band has a miniature tennis ball that fits in the center of the palm of the hand.
The purpose of the tennis balls is to prevent the receivers from catching the ball with the palms of the hands, training them to catch the football with the fingers and thumbs, the way a football should be caught.

The inventor of the product is a football coach and tried it out with many local
high school athletes.

Over all the reports were very positive.
Some receivers have said when they first tried Great Catch they felt awkward and clumsy, having trouble adjusting to the ball in the center of the hand. However once they adjusted to Great Catch they felt their catching skills were improving.

Does Great Catch work, yes it does, helping receivers develop stronger fingers, soft hands and improved catching skills.

The next best thing to trying them yourself is click on the link, http://scoretouchdowns.com/pro1369101.html view the video and decide for yourself if Great Catch can help you develop better catching skills.

An complimentary training aid is the PassBack Football, http://scoretouchdowns.com/pro1364193.html
receivers can take up to 20 catches per minute training with the PassBack Football.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

The Summer Saga, "The Days Of Our Lives Of The Green Bay Packers"

While we all anxiously await the upcoming football season, in Green Bay the Brett Favre saga continues to unfold. Nail biting drama at its finest.

For those of you that are unaware, Favre has decided his retirement was premature and at age 38 he believes he can still play and contribute to his team.

I would agree, even though there be snow on the roof, there is still fire in the belly. Mr. Favre has plenty to offer a team and should be allowed to play.

However as in the Joe Montana/Steve Young San Francisco 49ers saga of the 1990's, the business side of the sport has entered into the unfolding drama. Certainly different circumstances but the same drama.

For those of you that are too young to recall the 49r dilemma, Joe Montana had a severe injury that took him out of football for one season. His back up Steve Young took the helm and had a successful year as the starter.

Neither Joe or Steve had done anything to lose the starters job. both wanted it and rightfully so. As in the current situation, Brett's back up, Aaron Rodgers is the younger protege, the future, as Steve Young was to Joe Montana.

Constant bickering took place in the press then as it is now. Joe finally settled with playing for and ending his magnificent career, in Kansas City as a Chief.

Steve Young went on to lead his 49ers to the 1995 Super Bowl, defeating the San Diego Chargers to become the first team to have 5 Super Bowl wins.

Then like now this one is setting up as a tennis match.

Friday's installment of the drama had Favre telling the Packers he wanted to start or give him an unconditional release. Advantage Brett Favre.

Saturday the Packers countered with, we want you back in the role of back up and mentor to Aaron Rodgers, advantage Packers.

Solution, let these two quarterbacks battle it out on the gridiron, winner takes all. That is how the game is played and starting roles are determined. But alas I don't think we have read the last of the Green Bay Brett Favre saga. Stay tuned for more while we take an intermission from pro football's newest soap opera.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Air Engine

As we see gas prices continue to rise, no relief in site , Friday had Obama saying, no to drilling and that we can expect gas prices to hit $12.00 per gallon. Opec's president says we Americans should be paying what Europe pays per gallon, currently Londoners are paying around $15.00 per gallon.

Many of us have seen the Boone T. Pickens commercials, saying this time we cannot drill our way of trouble. Is he right? I don't know, I do think he is sincere and is putting his money where his mouth is building a wind farm in Pampa, Texas.

As football fans, will we even be able to drive to the games and support our teams? How many schools with small budgets will be forced to drop football if not all sports.

There seems to be as many solutions as there are opinions on the subject. Special interests groups vying for control of what to do. Are these solutions viable? I think not, it appears in both Australia and in France two different men have developed a functional and affordable solution. One I had never heard of before.

Their answer to the energy crisis, the air motor. Yes a motor driven by air, one that currently can haul heavy loads, runs up to 200 miles and can go over 80 miles per hour.

Use the following links and see for yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztFDqcu8oJ4&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq8aZVLpf-c

The French company believes they can make a generator that will make the car self sufficient, not needing refills of air.

So what is the solution. For me it is to email all of my elected Federal Officials the links, telling them I want this car and motor here and I want it now.

I have already accepted the power of talk radio and email the links to both Dennis Miller and Sean Hannity asking they view the video, research it and bring to their listening audience.

Miller's website is : http://www.dennismillerradio.com/ Sean Hannity's is :http://www.hannity.com/

If you share my feelings and think the air car is a viable solution, email this article to all your friends and be relentless in emailing those air car links to your elected officials. Demand they investigate the air car, see if it can work here. With our American know and, think of all the applications for such a motor.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Beware of the Bait and Switch

ABC NEWS has run a story about gas stations doing a bait and switch at the gas pump.

What they are doing, is using their billboards advertising the price per gallon. However once the credit card is swiped the price goes up considerably. One station was caught charging and additional 50 cents per gallon.

Visa charges the merchant a 2% discount rate on all purchases. For gasoline at $4.11 per gallon that means a additional 8 cents or 4.19 a gallon of gas.

However many stations are exceeding the discount rates the credit card companies are charging them.

Solution, carry the amount of cash you need to get home or to the station you know doesn't practice the bait and switch. Also before you start pumping gas, make sure the price on the meter matches the price on the bill board.

For those of you traveling this summer, another way to protect yourself from these robbers is to take cash in the form of American Express or travelers checks. They can be replaced if lost or stolen and are accepted everywhere. Your bank should provide them to you with little or no charge.

Stations involved in the bait and switch are breaking the law and should be turned into the authorities.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Kansas City Chief's Tony Gonzales A Modest Hero

Today we so often read of pro and collegiate athletes behaving badly breaking laws and seemingly getting away with it.

Tony Gonzales, Kansas City Chief's tight end and 9 time pro bowler breaks the mold.

Last Thursday evening, while dinning at Capone's Restaurant in Huntington Beach, Ca. Gonzales saved a mans life while fellow guests and employees looked on unable to react them selves.

Mr. Gonzales was dining with his wife, 5 year old daughter and his brother. Seated at the neighboring table was a local shipping clerk manager Ken Hunter and his girlfriend. A piece of meat lodged in Mr. Hunters throat.

Hunter is quoted as saying he tried drinking some water and couldn't swallow, followed by the inability to breathe and that point he thinks he started to panic. His girl friend began screaming, he can't breathe, he can't breathe.

Fellow diners and restaurant staff looked on in terror and did nothing. Tony Gonzales hearing the screaming turned seeing Mr. Hunter turning blue, jumped from his chair and pulled Hunter from his chair and began applying the Heimlich maneuver dislodging the meat, saving the man's life.

Diana Martin a restaurant employee said, " no one seemed to know what to do. "

In a phone interview with the press, Gonzales said he had no formal training for applying the Heimlich maneuver, he had just seen it done before and remembered what to do. He was also quoted as saying he preferred the incident not be made public.

Hunter a life long San Diego Charger fan , now says he is the number one fan of Tony Gonzales and plans to attend the game when the Chiefs visit the Chargers on Nov. 9th.

Tony Gonzales is known off the field for his charity and community service work, nice to read about and athlete being in the right spot at the right time and able to do the right thing........saving a mans life.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Terrence Keil Tragedy

Former San Diego Charger Terrence Keil has died at age 27.

Mr. Keil who had left a party Saturday evening was ejected from his car around 10:15 pm Saturday night and died after his car flipped over while going down the wrong side of the road.

Keil had been a stand out player for the Texas A&M Aggies and was drafted as a second round safety by the Chargers in 2003. Sadly his career was checkered with run ins with the law. By 2007 the Chargers released Terrence Keil after he plead guilty to a drug charge. No other teams picked him up.

How sad a young man's life is finished. Sad that it was marked by drug an alcohol issues, sad for his family that will always be left with the questions of what if.

Having lost a sister 3 weeks before her 22 nd birthday and a younger brother one month after his 29 th b-day I can appreciate the heart ache felt by the Keil family.

When ever we lose some one that young the world becomes a smaller place. Our heart felt condolences go out the surviving family of Terrence Keil.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Football: Obsession Or Sport?

Here we are on the anniversary of our nations birthday and fall camp is just 3 short weeks away.


Hard to believe football players across the nation are just winding down their summer programs. By mid July some with have concluded their strength and conditioning programs, taking a two week break before fall camp.

By August 30th, college ball will have started the 2008 season. The pros will be winding up the preseason games, and high school and middle schools will have teed it up for their season openers.

When I was a boy back in the 50's our Pop Warner league didn't start till after Labor Day, of course school didn't resume till after Labor Day.

During my high school years we didn't have summer camps, strength training programs let alone all the modern football training equipment. We started practice a few days after school started. Just suiting up and banging each other around for a couple weeks then the season started.

In the 60's laser beams were something out of a James Bond movie. Today they can be used by receivers and running backs for eye training

Obviously our passion for football has changed all that. The internet can provide us our off season fixes. Speculating on the new recruits, the letter of intent day, and the NFL draft. Message boards and chat rooms are alive with thoughts of the previous season and up coming schedules.

At Boise State as with many universities, the players stay in town for the summer, running their own practices and work out programs. Anxiously awaiting the fall camp and the new campaign.

Is football a sport or an obsession? Both, it is the sport we all obsess about. Is it game day yet?