I’m just ax-in

Posted on November 29, 2011 by jimberrysports

    I had no idea that two questions I posed to UM football coach Al Golden would cause such a stir. Monday, Golden was waxing poetic about the state of his football program. 

    So I asked how tough would it be to sell a 6-6 team to recruits, especially with a cloud of possible sanctions still hanging overhead.  Golden bristled about how this year’s team never lost by much, that UM’s tradition and South Florida’s beauty make the Canes an easy sell.  He also sounded mighty confident that the school’s self-sanctions over the Nevin Shapiro scandal would be enough to satisfy the NCAA.  Either he’s being presumptious, or knows something that we all don’t.   

    He then went on to talk about stability, which prompted me to ask about his contract extension. The one that was revealed during the 4th quarter of UM’s season-ending loss to Boston College. I asked Golden if given a 6-6 season he was surprised by getting an extension. ( I know more than a few people who were).

    That REALLY seemed to get his goat.  He said that the deal was more about the university than it was him. More about stability for the program.  He explained that the Canes went through historically tough times last season, but still never quit. Golden then said “If 6-6 isn’t good enough for you, its not good enough for me either, and I’m here to fix it. “

     Sports talk radio I guess blew up about this.  Unbeknownst to me, I was getting pats on the back.

Frankly, I’m surprised no one had asked Golden those questions before I did. 

   Golden’s passion is refreshing.  I was actually glad to see him a little peeved. I hope it translates into wins to justify that extension. I wouldn’t want to be asking the same questions down the road to UM President Donna Shalala.

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If I’m lyin’..I’m flyin’

Posted on November 28, 2011 by jimberrysports

     Urban Meyer was asked all manner of questions when he was introduced as the new head football coach at Ohio State.  The one question which didn’t come up was “Why did you lie ?”

    Just last week, Meyer vehemently denied  he had anything cooking with the Buckeyes.  Next thing you know, he takes the gig. Surely, a deal of this magnitude didn’t come together overnight. Obviously, some clandestine negotiating had to have gone on for some time.

 No one seems particularly outraged or surprised that Meyer lied about his Ohio State courtship before actually taking the job.  After all, isn’t that just what coaches do ?

    From Nick Saban to Butch Davis, coaches passing through the state of Florida  have had a nasty habit of denying their next move before MAKING their next move.  Why ? Isn’t it better to say nothing at all than to tell an outright tale ?

    Coaches hold themselves up to be pillars of honesty and dignity. They brag about doing things “the right way”, and recruiting players with the best talent and character.  How are those players expected to be honest when the men they play for are not ? 

   I’m happy for Meyer. He’s clearly a great coach, who is taking advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go home.  Maybe he will add to his “Urban” legend.

  However, the minute I hear him deny that he’s going to the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, I will be awaiting the press conference to introduce him as their next coach.

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Reality check

Posted on November 24, 2011 by jimberrysports

   The Dolphin fantasy was nice while it lasted.  The Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas proves that when it comes to playing the better teams, the Dolphins are still just a really good sparring partner.

  They hit the Cowboys on the chin several times, but couldn’t knock ‘em out.  Dallas shrugged off two early turnovers, and still led the Dolphins at halftime.  Even when the Fins rallied to regain the lead twice,  Dallas bullied its way down the field when it mattered to kick the winning field goal, leaving the upset-minded Dolphins no time for another rally.  

The Dolphins deserve mucho credit for playing inspired football after starting 0 and 7, but beating up on the Chiefs, Redskins, and Bills is not the same as trying to beat a good football team on its home field.  To do that, the Dolphins need more difference-makers who can dominate their positions.  Receivers who catch passes in stride and take them to the house. Defenders who will sack Tony Romo when they get a hand on him. Offensive linemen who will bulldoze tacklers so that the Dolphins are the team running out the clock, instead of handing it back to Dallas after what felt like an inevitable three and out.

Playing with heart makes you commendable.  Playing with talent makes you dangerous. Dolphin owner Stephen Ross knows the difference. In a few weeks, we’ll see what he does about it.

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No Bowl..No problem

Posted on November 21, 2011 by jimberrysports

           Can anybody really be disapointed the University of Miami is NOT going to a Bowl Game this season ? Other than a few seniors on the team, nobody gets hurt.   UM announcing that it is banning itself from some second-tier bowl game this season is just another way the school is trying to manage chaos from the Nevin Shapiro scandal.

         UM mis-managed it early..especially with those poorly produced Donna Shalala videos that made her look spooky and appear that the school was hiding something. Now that the Canes have gotten their arms around this, the “death” penalty that Shapiro predicted to me hardly seems likely.  

        Football coach Al Golden says he didn’t know this was coming. C’mon. UM’s strategy has been transparent from day one. Punish yourself so that the NCAA won’t have to once its investigation is done. Golden can’t admit to knowing this was in the works without acknowledging that he kept his players in the dark.

How can you motivate a team to become bowl eligible if you tell them up front that they are not going to play in one ? Golden said the Canes won’t lose any football recruits over this, a telling statement that indicates UM feels it is almost in the clear.  I also doubt he will bolt to Penn State.

If I’m Golden, I’d much rather deal with Nevin Shapiro’s hot air than Jerry Sandusky’s stench.  By the way Nevin, if you get this post….it appears U-M football WILL live on…no thanks to you.

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Poor man..Rich man

Posted on November 15, 2011 by jimberrysports

          The Marlins not only have a new look. They apparently have some new money. A team that was crying poor for years is suddenly trying to spend money like the Yankees.  An offer to Mark Buerhle.

Another offer to Jose Reyes. And a “competitive” offer to Albert Pujols.  That’s Albert “can stay in St. Louis for $200 million” Pujols. All this, after they spent a bundle to get Ozzie Guillen to manage.  Where did they get all this cash ?

    I thought they were so broke they needed help to build this new ballpark. So broke that Major league baseball ORDERED them to beef up their payroll.  Now, it seems the Marlins were playing possum all the time.  Jeffrey Loria had the money. He just didn’t want to spend it….until now.

    It proves the Marlins were content to be mediocre until it made financial sense to be better. Good business..but bad baseball.   I suppose the Marlins felt they could not afford to be honest.  People are more likely to rally behind a poor franchise trying to compete than a rich dude sitting on his cash.

I would have respected them more if they had just told it like it is.  However, my memory is short.  I’ll get over it on Opening Day 2012 if Reyes leads off with a walk  and scores on a Pujols home run. After Buerhle gets the final out in his no hitter,  I’ll be calling Loria savvy.  But I still won’t trust him.

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Rule of 72

Posted on November 10, 2011 by jimberrysports

 The rule of 72 is a financial equation which tells you how long it takes your money to double.

I think the sordid saga at Penn State which led to Joe Paterno’s justifiable firing means there should be a rule of 72 in college sports. When you turn 72, it should be time to retire.  Despite his obvious failure in this case, I still want to believe that Joe Paterno is a good man.

I can’t help but think that when he was told point blank about a sexual assault going on in a Penn State shower back in 2002, his 70-something instincts just didn’t click in.  He passed the buck, and as we know the unspeakable acts of child sex abuse allegedly continued for years.

Penn State propped up Joe Pa for years just like Florida State did Bobby Bowden. Both icons, they were surrounded by a slew of assistants who were doing the heavy lifting  because they no longer could.

Bowden had to be pushed out in Tallahassee. It took this epic scandal to shove Paterno to the curb, and even then he tried to manage his own exit until the school’s Board of Trustees wisely gave him the immediate boot.

These old coaches should take a cue from the late CBS Newsman Walter Cronkite. Mr. “that’s the way it is ” retired and lived out his life sailing and chillin’ out.  The same should apply to these coaches.

Make it a college rule of 72.   Happy Birthday….and See ya’ later.

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Moore than a backup ?

Posted on November 7, 2011 by jimberrysports

He may not be a franchise quarterback, but the more I see Matt Moore, the more I think he’s a STARTING quarterback.   The guy makes plays with his legs, spreads the ball around, and is accurate with his throws.  He looks like a gamer, and doesn’t seem nearly as robotic as Chad Henne.

Yes, the Dolphins should clearly still draft a quarterback. They have been woefully understocked at this position for years.  But pair the QB of the future with Moore, and the Dolphins should no longer be so embarrasingly thin at the most critical position.

Don’t Suck for Luck….try to get more out of Moore.

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A league of their own ?

Posted on November 5, 2011 by jimberrysports

Imagine a pro hoops league where Lebron James makes $40 million.  It won’t happen in the current NBA, since his salary is capped. But could it happen in a new league that would be formed and run by the players ?  Before you say these players are not organized or sophisticated enough to pull this off, think again. Many players are quite business-minded. Forming their own league would create exactly what the NBA needs..competition. Owners then wouldn’t be able to play hardball, and play take-it-or-leave it with the players. If this new league only had a few teams..great. Are you as a fan really excited about watching MOST NBA teams ? I would much rather see a super league with super talent that plays fewer games.   The last time the NBA acted as though it were the only game in town, the ABA sprouted up and gave us the likes of Doctor J and George Gervin.  The new league quickly proved it was on par, and the best teams were absorbed into the NBA.   If the players are smart, they put this thought into action.  Stars could earn their true worth. Slugs wouldn’t be overpaid.  And fans would be quite happy.

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The Spin cycle

Posted on November 1, 2011 by jimberrysports

The views expressed here are absolutely mine !

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