Sunday, March 28, 2010

This is March Madness

The rumors are swirling that the NCAA college basketball tournament is gonna go from 65 to 96 teams. Does this make a difference? Yes it does. And in a good way.

Every year in the tournament, it is Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse, Kansas, and so on and so on.

But this year is a little different. Yes, Duke made it to the final four as the exception, not the rule. Michigan State, West Virginia, and Butler, yes Butler, are in the final four.

This year was the closest we had to having Baylor or St. Mary's or Cornell.
Expanding the field is going to allow for more upsets, and I am all for that. I like seeing teams that don't normally get in the spotlight play big. I am already asking people on the Butler bandwagon to move over. This is a great story.

Small school teams don't have much of a chance in college basketball, and even less of a chance in college football. But part of the reason they don't have a chance in football is because there is no playoff.

College football presidents don't want a playoff because they are scared to death that a team like TCU from a smaller conference is going to run the table and be national champs. Not possible.

It is possible in college basketball. Just in the last few years, there has been Valparaiso, Davidson, and now Butler. They have a chance because it is set up right. Every man for himself.
Every sport on any day can have an underdog win. That is what makes sports great. This year, Butler is taking full advantage of this, and I wish them nothing but the best.

This is why I love March Madness. You never really know what is going to happen.

Play hard.

Thanks,
John Conner
john@bigbadsportsdaddy.com

Sunday, March 21, 2010

You have been sniffed out Ron

Ron Washington, manager of the Texas Rangers, did cocaine. He admits it. He is sorry. We all feel bad for him.

Who am I kidding? I don't feel sorry for him at all. He is in the spotlight in the town , at this time of year, for all the wrong reasons.
But the more I look into this, the more I understand the Rangers off season.
Why did Clint Hurdle get the hitting coach's job? Of coarse he is qualified, but he also has managing experience in case the current manager gets canned. I don't know if that was the thinking, but it is what I am thinking.
Do I think Washington should have been fired? Hell Yes.
Not only has he taken over the focus of this team, but if the team struggles, questions will come out about Washington. He was probably on the shortest leash in Major League Baseball already. But now, if the team gets off to a slow start, he is gone.

I understand that is most jobs, if you come to your boss and say, "I have a drug problem," then they will do what it takes to help you out. It also stays private. In MLB, that is not the case. It is supposed to stay private, but never does. Just ask the people who failed steroid tests in 2003.
Do I think the Rangers should help Washington out? Of coarse. But they can also do it without him being the manager.

What gets me the most is the fact that he did it when his team was in a pennant race. Was the pressure getting to him? I don't know, but at the same time, we don't know why he did it.

Would he have come out on his own and admitted it? Nope.
So why are we praising him?
If any athlete, coach or manager comes out and says, "I did drugs," are we gonna throw a parade for him or her? I hope not.

This team is on the brink of being a contender for a while, and I do think Washington has something to do with that. At the same time, I think he doesn't need to be around when this team starts winning divisions.

Here we are 2 weeks away from Opening Day, and the story around the Rangers is Washington. Not Chris Davis hitting, or Rich Harden pitching. It is Ron "f'ing" Washington and drug talk. The team got bored with it two years ago, and again last year with Josh Hamilton.
This team deserves better than that, and if the manager is going to throw them under the bus, then he needs to get the hell out of here. I have no use for him anymore.

It is official. I am restarting the "Fire Ron Washington" campaign. Who is with me?

Thanks again, and any feedback can be sent to
John@bibadsportsdaddy.com.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Wake up Jerry

Alright. I have stood by long enough.

Can I please call the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and ask him to go wake up the general manager? This is becoming insane.

Jerry Jones. I am talking to you. I am talking to the owner, and I am especially talking to the general manager.

I understand that the Cowboys are being patient, and letting the market come to them, but for goodness sake, do something. Go sign a backup punter, just so we know the team is on your mind.

I get it. You had a major boxing promotion at your stadium last night. You had the NBA all-star game there too. The Super Bowl will be there in about 10 months. Wouldn't it be really cool to be the first team to play at home for the Super Bowl?

I think so, but the way the team sets up right now, that is not happening.

I am not saying to go out and sign people just to sign them, but at least put your name out there as looking at players. You can go and look at rumors on a number of different websites, and all they say is that the Cowboys may cut Flozell Adams and Roy Williams.

Really? As a fan, I already knew that. But what is the plan? All you hear from Jerry is that he is trying to lock up Miles Austin. Ok, I like that, but we need help from outside the organization.

Jerry, who is playing safety next year? Who is our back up left tackle? Who is our kicker?
Are we going to address all this in the draft? I hope not. My hope would be to address a few of those now, and then just take the best available player in the draft.

I understand that I am overreacting and not being patient, but with everything else Jerry is doing, I just want confirmation that he is still focusing on the Cowboys.

Right now, as a fan, it seems like he is everywhere, and is not focusing. Can I get a hold of Stephen? Is he doing anything? I don't know.

Next week may be different, but right now 3 teams have not signed anyone, and the Cowboys are one of them.

JERRY, please wake up. And can you wake up the general manager while your at it.

Thanks,
John Conner

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Oh...Big Ben

I get it. I understand.

Professional athletes, for the most part, believe they are untouchable.

What I don't understand, is why would you put yourself in a position to wear your credibility is questioned.

Ben Roethlisberger, can you please explain this to me.

I get it. You are a young guy that just wants to hang out with friends and have a good time. No foul in that whatsoever. You like to party, you like the sight of a pretty girl, and you hope if one thing leads to another, then...

But, look at this realistic, Ben. You are the quarterback of a Super Bowl winning team. You are in the cross hairs of everyone.
Men want to hang out with you, get an autograph, while women want to hang out with you, and well you know...

How cool would it be for a man to say, " I slept with Scarlett Johansan." We would do it in a heartbeat. On the flip side, a woman can say, " I slept with Ben Roethlisberger", or they say " Ben Roethlisberger made me sleep with him."

It is a lose, lose situation for Big Ben.

My advice...stop being such a moron and putting yourself in those situations. You are a grown man. What are you doing at a college bar to begin with.

It obviously has more to it, but if you come out and say you have a sex problem and you need help, I am personally going to kick your ass. We are all guys. We would like to sleep with the pretty ones, but you are putting yourself in a position to get girl after girl against you.

You have money, and you may think to just pay them off and it will go away. That would have been true if you would have stopped at your first mess-up. I had forgotten about it, until this one came up.

Now you are building a reputation that you don't want.

You are obviously a smart guy on the football field, so use some of those brains off the football field. If that is not possible, use some of your money to hire a guy that makes better decisions for you.

Either way, you better come up with something quick, because right now, you look like a total d-bag.

Do you get it now Ben?


Thanks as always,

John Conner
jpconner9@yahoo.com