Goodell trying to clean up the NFL?

With the 2007 football season set to begin, its time to applaud Commissioner Goodell for his consistent message to the players that he will not tolerate misbehavior regardless of the talent level. In just his second season as Commissioner Goodell has made quite a statement by suspending "Pacman" Jones for the entire 2007 season. Goodell really let the players know how serious he was when he told Michael Vick not to show up to training camp until after they can conduct an internal investigation. Meanwhile, what Goodell should be telling him is to take off the year so you can get your life together and then we'll discuss it. There is of course still time for Goodell to say that, and would no doubt be contested by the NFLPA. Goodell has not wavered on the Pacman Jones situation at all though where he has just barred Jones from participating in training camp during his one year suspension. The Michael Vick situation will show just how serious Goodell is, but with some of the other decisions he has made, he is well on his way to trying to bring some dignity to the NFL. Maybe when he gets the Vick situation settled, I think NBA Commissioner David Stern could use some help trying to turn around that disaster of a league as well.

Paul Blackborow

NFL needs to promote the Good Guys

With New York Jets Running Back Curtis Martin set to announce his retirement, and New York Giants Running Back already announcing his, the NFL has let two of the great players and personalities slip by. With the NFL preferring to market players such as Terrell Owens, Ray Lewis and Michael Vick, the good guys in the league are able to go under the radar. Curtis Martin despite finishing his career fourth in league history in rushing yards, never seems to be compared to the likes of the top three. Martin will definitely be selected to the NFL Hall of Fame in his first chance. Barber meanwhile, without quite the resume of Curtis Martin, is on the outside looking in for the Hall of Fame. No question he's been Hall of Fame worthy the last five seasons putting up no less then 1216 yards during that time. With his second career as in broadcasting, Barber has shown that he is more then just a talented football player. With his experience in the broadcasting field starting before his career was over, Barber would've been a perfect candidate for the NFL to use in their marketing campaigns. He will still be working with the NFL as a broadcaster for Sunday Night Football, and the NFL would be missing out, if they did not start promoting him now. Fans are tired of the players that are just love reading their names in the paper for anything and everything. It's time for the NFL to show the country that there are some really good guys in the NFL. With the 2007 training camp set to begin, I look forward to hearing a lot less from Michael Vick, and hope the NFL can instead focus on the LaDainian Tomlinson's of the game. But with the recent track record of the NFL, I expect that this will not be the case.

Paul Blackborow

Will Beckham bring soccer to US?

With David Beckham starting his career with the Los Angeles Galaxy this past week, unfortunately I don't think his presence will be enough to bring the game across the pond. In the 1970's the New York Cosmos had brought Pele over, and as good a player as Beckham is, he is no Pele. Despite the presence of Pele, the game did not take off in the US. I do not see the game taking off in the country until we are able to produce an American player with the caliber of a Pele or a Beckham. In the short run there is no doubt though that Beckhams presence in the MLS will be huge for the league as there will definitely be some people who will check out the Galaxy's games just to see Beckham play. Beckham will be a star in the league and teaming up with Donovan probably makes them the favorites to win the MLS Cup despite the team being in second to last. Beckham is the type of player that can turn a team around by making his teammates better. As a soccer fan who has been hoping that the US can create a competitive league, I hope that Beckham can really help the league. However if the greatest player ever can not help with some other big name stars trying to help him, I think it may be unrealistic to ask David Beckham to do it on his own.

Paul Blackborow

MLB Awards predictions

With the baseball season now past the halfway point here is a good time to reflect on the regular season award winners.
Playoffs:
AL East-Yankees
AL Central-Tigers
AL West-Angels
AL Wildcard-Red Sox
NL East-Mets
NL Central-Brewers (by default)
NL West-Padres
NL Wildcard-Phillies

AL Champion-Tigers
NL Champion-Padres
I think the world series is going to be a great series, but in the end, with the 1-2 pitching of Jake Peavey and Chris Young, I think the Padres will take the series in six games.

AL Cy Young-Johan Santana
NL Cy Young-Jake Peavey
AL MVP-Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP-Prince Fielder
AL Rookie of the Year-Delmon Young
NL Rookie of the Year-Ryan Braun
AL Manager of the Year-Eric Wedge Cleveland Indians
NL Manager of the Year-Ned Yost Milwaukee Brewers

Paul Blackborow

NFL needs to get rid of Vick

If Commissioner Goodell wants to be taken seriously as a disciplinarian who is trying to clean up the image of the NFL then he must get rid of Michael Vick. He has already started the clean up process with suspension of Pacman Jones for the 2007 season, but if he wants to show all the superstars that he means business, then Vick should be out too. What Vick did was completely intolerable for anybody to do, and if this had been most other people, they would've already been fired. The Falcons quarterback has already made plenty of mistakes lately from giving the fans the finger to the water bottle accident in the Miami Airport. If this happened in a normal 9-5 job, you would be gone before this went to trial. Vick should be suspended without pay til the conclusion of the trial, and if found guilty should be given a life time ban. Any thing short of that and Goodell will just be sending a message to the rest of the league that the superstars can still get away with anything they want. Fans are tired of seeing athletes that think they are above the law, and what better way to show the fans and the league that he is serious by booting one of the leagues superstars, and putting the rest of the league on notice.

Paul Blackborow