The 'Why' List

A weekly look at things that make no sense in the world of sports.

-          Why is it not a bigger deal that the NHL Executive VP, who mind you is in charge of suspensions and fines, openly blasts Bruins center Mark Savard as a faker and never punished Matt Cooke, (a repeat cheap-shot offender) when he knocked Savard out for the season last year?  Imagine if Roger Goodell had called James Harrison a no-good thug before fining the bejesus out of him for questionable hits.  It would be the lead story on SportCenter for weeks.  Where is the outrage?

-          Why are NBA players such cry-babies?  First they complain about every foul call.  Then they protest about how they aren’t allowed to get in officials faces anymore.  Then some are going to Twitter to whine about other players calling them bad names.  Just man-up and play the damn game. For a collection of enormous, athletic dudes they act like a bunch of nancies.

-          Why wouldn’t an NFL team carry two placekickers?  It is the single most specialized position on the field and has a direct impact on your game plan.  Without a kicker you can’t settle for a field goal.  It’s TD or nothing. One would think you could at least teach your punter to chip in a few extra points so a wide receiver or defensive lineman doesn't have to make a fool of himself and cost their team the game.  I’m talking to you Detroit!

-          Why are the Steelers not being criticized more for claiming Hines Ward had a “neck injury” during Sunday night’s game? The only reason they would say that is to hide a concussion and maybe get him back on the field.  That goes against everything the NFL is trying to do to protect players.  It spits right in the eye of the NFL and says “If Ward can’t play with a concussion, fine, we’ll call it something else.”   Shame on the Steelers and shame on the NFL for letting those antics go unnoticed.

-          Why doesn’t some NHL team go ‘old-time-hockey’, Slapshot  style on Sean Avery.  Bring back Olgy Oglethorpe and beat the living daylights out of him for being the cheapest player in the league.  He is an embarrassment to the game and if the league won’t step in…call Olgy! No one outside of New York will miss him.

-          Why wouldn’t the Red Sox make a ridiculous bid to sign free-agent Derek Jeter.  Offer him $30 million a year! Whatever it takes.  It’s a win-win. Either The Yankees pony up way too much in return to keep him, or the Red Sox steal the greatest Yankee since Mickey Mantle.  For Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon, and of course The Great Bambino you owe us this one Red Sox. 

Tim Tebow: Unfortunate Expectations

Tebow-mania is rearing its annoying, ugly head in Denver.  After week 10’s 2 TD performance, many Tebow-loving, football-ignorant fans are clamoring for their savior to replace Kyle Orton as quarterback and touting Tim Tebow as the superstar QB of the future. There is just one problem with that.   He’s just not that good.

First, giving Tebow credit where credit is due, let’s put aside his college years.   He was a great college player.  He may be the greatest college QB of all time.  He earned the first Heisman for an underclassman and led his team to multiple championships. He should be in the NCAA Hall-of-Fame with blinking lights around his name.   But, simple put, college is OVER!  It’s time to move on.   You don’t hear people in the office saying, “I know my sales numbers are way down, but back in college I graduated Suma Cum Laude.”   Just like the rest of us, Tebow’s college days are something fun to remember over a few too many beers and a melancholy laugh.  If college meant anything in the professional game Ron Dayne and Eric Crouch would have their busts displayed next to Joe Montana in Canton.

Now little Timmy Tebow is in the NFL. He entered as the most flabbergasting 1^st round pick in recent memory when Denver dropped a 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th rounder for a back-up QB with a weak arm and bad mechanics, but I digress…

What I see here is Josh McDaniels having a Darth Vader-like rebellion from his training.

Bill Belichick: Josh, my young pad wan, stay the course. Trade the high, over-rated picks to stock up for later rounds. Don’t go to the dark side!”

McDaniels: “But master, Tebow possesses powers I can only dream of. He sells jerseys without ever playing.  He is loved by all and can score me free Rascal Flatts tickets!”

Belichick: “You don’t need his powers. You need linemen to help your pathetic running game.”

McDaniels: “You’re not the boss of me! You can’t tell me what to do.  I’m picking TEBOW!”

And from then on the Denver Broncos have been killing themselves to perpetuate Tebow-mania and that, like the Deathstar, will ultimately blow to pieces.   Here’s why:

1.        Tebow, without ever playing a game sells more jerseys than anyone in the NFL, lands advertisement deals, and is writing an “inspirational” memoir.   This will lead to the “who the heck do you think you are” complex from the veteran players.   Tebow has not proved anything and yet he’s big time.  You don’t see Sam Bradford on TV unless he’s resurrecting a Rams team that was as good as dead after Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner skipped town.  Ndamukong Suh  hasn’t started his great memoirs yet because he’s busy running away with Defensive ROY.  Tim Tebow needs to prove himself on the field before he markets himself off the field. Otherwise he’ll eventually be more trouble than Denver ever expected.

2.       I know what the ‘Te-boneheads’ are saying now, “He has proved himself.  He has 4 TDs already!”

To that I simple say, shut up.  He has three rushing TDs which came from a total of 3 yards rushing.  He has 1 throwing TD that came on a 1 yard bomb in a game that was already decided.  In a true football perspective, he has done nothing.  Yup, I said it.  Nothing!    Has he shown he can drive a team down the field with any success? Nope. Has he proved he can throw down the field with enough arm strength and accuracy to avoid a ball-hawking safety? Not yet. Has he proved anything more than he won’t fumble a 1 yard play designed specifically for him to score A cheap TD? No.  You can keep your 1 yard TDs.  See me when you’ve done something that matters.

3.       Worst of all, I feel Denver is in a Tebow-trap.  Kyle Orton has proved himself as a top 10 NFL QB this season.  If he stays healthy, Tebow doesn’t play. If he plays well next season you have to think Denver would resign him beyond 2011.   When they do, Tebow will continue to not play. So if Tebow doesn’t play then he will not re-sign after his 5 year, multi-million dollar contract is up.  That would mean the Broncos will have traded 3 draft picks and paid over $30 million for a mediocre goal-line back who added no real value to the team.  Nice move. The Broncos are in a lose-lose situation.  The Tebow Trap

So in the wake of Tim Tebow’s magical 2 TD game (2 total yards gained), let’s turn our expectations off of eleven and realize that he may have been a great college QB, but a few goal-line touchdowns does not a career make.  Considering he has never run a “pro-style” offense, his arm strength is questionable, and even in college his mechanics were iffy he is a long shot to even make it on the field for anything other than goal-line situations.  He’s not an NFL quarterback.  He’s a Brian Bosworth-like novelty.

My personal expectations are much lower than most.  I expect that once Denver grows tired of Tebow the TD vulture they will seek out a better back-up option costing much less. Tim Tebow in the NFL will go the way of Ryan Leaf and we’ll find him back in Florida recounting his good ole days with the Gators. 

Tim Tebow is a good person and a great role model for young people, but he is not an NFL Quarterback and even the most fanatical fans need to realize that because that expectation will only lead to disappointment.