Treatise on Changing Allegiance

Following the post by Dan about considering changing football teams here are a few guidelines that helped me change teams (from the 49ers to the Giants) in 2006.

First of all, here are some reasons when it is NOT a mortal sin to drop your team:

a) The team leaves your city. (i.e. Hartford Whalers to Carolina)

b) The team is really bad and it doesn't even seem it they are trying to win. (i.e. the Pittsburgh Pirates or Kansas City Royals)

c) The team becomes difficult to follow because of your geographical location. (This issue was more of a problem about 10 years ago but even today it is tough to follow a West Coast team in the Northeast)

d) The owner is incompetent. ( i.e. Washington Redskins or Oakland Raiders)

Here are a few rules that need to be followed:

1) You cannot abandon a team if they have won a championship within the past five years

2) You should take a mourning period of half the period of time you were a fan of the team. ( I liked the 49ers from the age of 7 to 17 so that is 10 years of fandom then I waited 5 years before starting to support the Giants.) It is important to clear your head.

3) If you move to a new city you can adopt their team.

4) You can never change your allegiance to a rival of your 1st team. (If you like the Sox you can NEVER cheer for the Yanks) Dan if you decide to leave the Skins you have to leave the NFC East FOREVER.

5) You cannot hop on a bandwagon. (In my defense started to like the Giants in 2006 and they won a completely unexpected Superbowl in 2007 and the Giants were only 10-6 that year.

6) You must commit a minimum of 5 years once you decide to support a new team.

It will probably happen to most fans at least once in their lives and I believe you shouldn't be penalized your entire adult life for a decision you made when you were 7 or 8 years old. The important thing is to consider your opinions and make a choice you will be proud of for many years to come.

Court Rules 'Skins Can Keep Moniker

As It was reported earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled that the Washington Redskins can keep their nickname after a 20 year long battle with a Native American group who deemed the nickname offensive. More precisely, the Justices won't review a lower court ruling allowing the same.

When I decided that Washington was my favorite team, I was probably 9 or 10. These issues never entered my thinking. As an adult, I can understand why some Native Americans are offended by the name. My attitude about these types of things is; if a person is offended then it's offensive. The intent is important, but not as important as how it makes the offended party feel. The Redskins' assertion that the name is honorific and pays tribute to their coach in 1933 William "Loan Star" Dietz, a Native American, doesn't seem to hold water to me. They were already called the Braves at the time.

If there's a right way to do it, the Florida State Seminoles are the example to follow. The university has a close relationship with the Seminole people. It also requires students to take coursework educating them on the tribe. That is paying tribute and being respectful.

Quite frankly, the nickname has given me pause to even wearing my Redskins garb in public. As an adult, I find it a little embarrassing. (To be honest, I'm not a big sports paraphernalia guy anyway.) I've even been considering changing team loyalty, . I know that's a mortal sin among sports fans, especially at 31 years old, but am giving it serious thought. The main reason won't change the name is pure and simple, money. It would cost too much to change everything now. But we live in a new age. Just because something has been one way for a long time doesn't make it right.

Sale of the Century

We should have pooled our money and bought this for the new Brothers at Arms LLC offices. Seriously, I feel bad for everyone in Michigan.

NFL Hyperbolic Statements-Week 10

Perennial doormat makes a statement. An absolutely soporific late Sunday match up. And the most important game in the history of history.

The Big Fat Brass Ones Award: Cincinnati Bengals. They are the Bungles no more. At least for now. In a defensive struggle with reigning champ Pittsburgh, the Bengals won and took control of the AFC North. What they have done this season is staggering, considering where they once were. They are 7-2 with the tie breaker over both the Steelers and Ravens having swept both. Their record is 5-0 in the division. The win total for all of 2008 was a mere four games. After going 11-5 in '05, the Bengals followed two mediocre seasons with the fugly performance that was last year. Presently there are eight games remaining. Beware the second half yack, but the striped-ones' schedule from here consists of such compost heaps as the Browns, Lions, Raiders and Chiefs. Except for a December 13th game against the Vikings they would be favored in just about every remaining game. Don't look now, but Cincinnati could end up with a first round bye.

Are You Still Awake?: Packers 17, Cowboys 7. There have been many memorable match ups between these teams throughout the years. The Ice Bowl of course comes to mind, as does a few hotly contested playoff games in the '90's. This was not one. The game was 3-0 Pack through three quarters. This was not because of a hard-hitting defensive battle on a cold day in Lambeau. This was because of penalties, turnovers, and downright sloppiness. No other game to turn to. Heeelp!

The Most Titanical Clash of the Titans...in History: After trading three-and-outs, Manning and Brady traded quick touch downs. Running game? We don't need no F-ing running game (the biggest misconception in sports in the necessity for a power running game in the NFL). Screw that! We're here to see the quarterbacks, you know, the guys who bag girls who wouldn't even spit on you if you were on fire. This game had everything. But the one thing people can't stop talking about is Belichick's fourth down call on his own 28. What precipitated this inexplicable decision? Arrogance? Absolute faith in Brady? Absolute fear of Manning? No confidence in the defense? Or something else? I think Belichick just wanted to put an end to it. Pick up two yards and the game is over. These Colts/Pats match ups are so physically and emotionally taxing that he just wanted to go all-in. For once, he acted on emotion instead of intellect. For the record, I think he was wrong. As Dwight Freeney said, I would have punted even if I were playing Madden. There are only a few regular season games that ever get remembered for the ages; Brett Favre's Monday Nighter after his father died, Giants 7, 49ers 3 in 1990. This one should be right up there. Side Note: Reggie Wayne is one of the best receivers in football. He does everything well. He runs good routs. He can burn past anybody, and has hands like velcro. I would choose him over just about anyone in the league right now.

File This One Under WTF: Titans Owner, Bud Adams. You are too hilarious for me to be outraged.

Jeter and Tex Bring Home Gold

The trophies just keep coming for the Yankees. This time it is in the shape of a glove, as Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter each won the Gold Glove at their respective positions. For Jeter it is his fourth and Teixeira his third. Jeter should honestly give his to Teixeira too. I mean anyone who watched the Yankees this year noticed Jeter's improved range, but it is a lot easier for him to win the Gold Glove when you consider the fact he is throwing to a Gold Glove first baseman.

And honestly why do pitchers have a Gold Glove category too. Yea some of them are much better at fielding their position than others, but still, They have some many fewer opportunities to be judged on it that bias slips in deeper there than anywhere else. That's part of the reason that of the 104 Gold Gloves in both leagues there have only been 26 different winners among pitchers... the fewest of any position.

Think about that.

NFL Hyperbolic Statements-Week 9

Ugly uni's inspire a win. From heroes to zeros. A piece of human garbage gets what he deserves. And I have a better chance of playing a 16 game NFL schedule than this guy...

Most Useless Player Ever: Bob Sanders, Colts. Don't get me wrong. I love the way this guy plays. He's a human missile and a real difference maker... on the rare occasion that he's actually on the field. After missing five games with a knee injury, Sanders tore his bicep against the 49ers in the seventh. He's even more useless than the 52nd guy on the team. At least you know he isn't going to play and no one really cares. It's not going to effect anything. When an integral piece like Sanders is in and out, in and out, it creates havoc. I actually think his injuries have been a distraction. The Colts build their defense around him, and his absence seems to effect the Colts D psychologically at times. Sanders games played over the years: 6, 14, 4, 15, 6, 2. In 2007, when he played 15 games, he won Defensive Player of the Year. Shame.

The Universe Finds Balance: Wearing their old orange eyesore uni's in which they once lost 26 straight, the Tampa Bay Bucs broke their seven game losing streak that started this season. I'm sure there's some cosmic significance to this. I just don't know what... yet.

intimidating.

Worst Slide Ever: New York Football Giants (just in case you confused them with the New York Kickball Giants). Once upon a time (30 days ago) the Giants were rolling along, taking care of business and sitting pretty at 5-0. Four games later, they're 5-4, ahead only of the Deadskins in the NFC East. Now they must likely go 5-2 the rest of the way to even consider the playoffs. And what's worse, since the Eagles laid an egg Sunday (rim shot), the #@!* Cowboys are first in the division. Thanks a bunch (superfluous use of parenthesis).

Restoring My Faith In Humanity: Kansas City Chiefs. In a season when everything is wrong, they finally did something right. They cut woman-abusing cretin Larry Johnson. I know in reality Johnson's release is more because of his 2.7 yard average and off-color comments regarding the Chiefs and the fans, but I can't stand any sub-human who would lay his hands on a woman, least of all a 250 pound pro football player. You're a real winner, Larry. I hope you never see a football field again. What's even more satisfying is that the Chiefs cut Johnson just 75 yards short of Priest Holmes' team rushing record.

File This One Under WTF: Sammy Sosa, what the crap is this?!

So Long Jason: The Red Sox declined Jason Varitek's option and it appears that this is the last we've seen of Jason in Boston. It's been a great career for Varitek, which included two rings. He is also the only man to catch four no-hitters. It is time; however, as it is clear that 'Tek's skills have abandoned him. It will be very strange not to see him out there. I wish him all the best.

Some Parade Photos

So here are a couple of shots I took while taking in the ticker-tape parade down Broadway. I might have gotten more except it is difficult to take a good shot when you are only 5'5" tall and in a sea of three million people. Here are some of the better ones including some of what might be the overzealous moron who actually tossed real documents and paperwork out of his office window when he ran out of shredded paper.