A Quote
This is a bit dated, but here is what Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell had to say when the week 16 Eagles v. Vikings game was postponed due to a blizzard:
"We've become a nation of wussies. The Chinese are kicking our butts in everything. If this was in China do you think the Chinese would have called off the game? He's right... (he is Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Daily News)...the people would have been marching down to the game. They would have walked and they would have been doing calculus on the way down."
Governor Rendell also commented that Vince Lombardi would be disgusted at the decision. Numerous writers have focused on that particular claim and noted its shortcomings (example: but wouldn't Lombardi also object to free agency?). People have also focused on the "nation of wussies" comment, either agreeing or disagreeing with him. But let me stop you at, "If this game was in China..."
If this game was in China? The NFL is the embodiment of American consumerism. There is no "if this game was in China," because the macho, manly issues of money and toughness that were up for debate are distinctly our own (for better or worse). From a politician, this comment, or the passing on of this comment, is offensively stupid. And that's not even mentioning the calculus part...
A Video
Courtesy of ESPN.com, Blake Griffin's best dunks. The guy is an absolute beast, but what makes this that much more of a good story for the NBA is Griffin's success in returning from injury and the fact he has done so with such a calm, mature demeanor. It is ideal that there is a player for fans to get excited about who is not a "me! me! me!" guy. Any time the Clippers are the late game of a TNT or ESPN doubleheader, we would all be wise to tune in to see Mr. Griffin.
A Photo
Check out this gallery of SI.com's X-factors for the upcoming wild card weekend. The two I find the most intriguing are running backs Reggie Bush and Joseph Addai. They both were largely forgotten during the regular season but will be relied upon heavily if either team hopes to win. Actually that's true of the Colts against the Jets but not the Saints. The Saints would house the Seattle Seahawks if Bush lined up at linebacker.
A Tweet
@Jay_Glazer: I gotta say, the way Miami is going about this is wrong. You don't interview other candidates when a HC is still there. just bad biz
Fox sport's Glazer is referring to the Miami Dolphins courting Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh while their current coach Tony Sparano is still in place. This is not the first offseason there has been a hot coaching candidate, but hasn't the interest in Harbaugh gotten a bit out of hand? There is talk that he may be one of the highest paid head coaches in the league, and now the Dolphins are doing this. Did everybody forget that he has not yet coached in the NFL? I understand the thinking that he will be a smash hit in the league, but here's hoping our Denver Broncos don't get as crazy as these other teams in their pursuit of him.
An Interesting and Wholly Unsurprising Rumor
Courtesy of Fanhouse, the NFL will consider changing it's playoff seeding format.
A Suggestion
Enjoy wildcard weekend. It is one of the great weekends to settle in and watch sports on television.
Links
SI's Joe Lemire writes about the baseball Hall of Fame's new "international flavor:" http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/joe_lemire/01/06/blyleven.alomar.hall/index.html?eref=sihp
Tracy Ringolsby writes about MLB managers and GM's who might already be on the hot seat http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-managers-general-managers-already-on-hot-seat-for-2011-122910
Rick Reilly on TCU's Rose Bowl victory and the need for a college football playoff http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=5984364
Finally, in a very entertaining article, SI.com's Richard Deitsch gives his 2010 sports media awards http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/richard_deitsch/12/27/2010media.awards/index.html
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