Death of a Sports Fan
Bonehead of the Week Archives
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I am sad to report that I will no longer be publishing a bonehead of the week. However, here you can read the classics (all 7 of them, including the 2005 bonehead of the year). I think it's better to devote my time to the blog because stupid things happen in sports everyday and it was getting difficult to find the biggest bonehead each week. Theoretically, it could have always been Terrell Owens or Frank McCourt but where's the excitement in that. Enjoy the archives. Thanks for reading.
I could not have predicted that USC would destroy Oklahoma 55-19 in the Orange Bowl to determine the national champion (sorry Auburn but you could not have given USC a game either) but the team Larry Birdine called "average" gave it to the Sooners. Saying that USC had "one and a half good players" and that Matt Leinart was "definitely overrated" and "not a Heisman-winning quarterback probably gave USC some fuel to overrun the obviously overrated Sooners. Seems to me Leinart thoroughly outplayed last year's Heisman Trophy winner and threw 5 touchdown passes, none of which went to Reggie Bush, the "one great player" USC had. Bush had no touchdowns but did play expectionally well. Birdine also had the nerve closer to gametime to say, "We saw the UCLA game: UCLA played those boys good, and we're a lot better than UCLA." I was at the USC-UCLA game and he's right about one thing, UCLA did play USC good. That was the only thing he was right about. To my recollection USC only beat UCLA 29-24 and thumped Oklahoma 55-19. Oklahoma may be better but they certainly didn't prove it. He also said earlier in the week that, "if our offense don't turn the ball over and their offense can't score, then we're gonna win." He is smart, you can't win unless you score. He got that right. So I guess the 5 turnovers and 7 USC touchdowns weren't part of Birdine's gameplan. Next time a nobody such as this even attempts to open his mouth the week before the biggest game of the season his teammates and coaches should find the nearest towel and put it inside his big mouth. I do give him credit for speaking before the game but he should have known better. There's a reason USC has been to and won 3 straight BCS bowl games and 2 national championships in a row. BECAUSE THEY'RE THE BETTER TEAM.
There are so many entertainment options nowadays that I don't think anyone really cares that the NHL canceled its season. My guess is that Canada is sad about the cancelation of the season because they have one NBA team left and one MLB team left but they do have the all so popular CFL. I emailed the NHL telling them that I hope they fold because this is the last straw. How can we feel sympathetic to people who cannot figure out how to divide millions of dollars? If I made 5 million a season I think I could manage, unless of course I'm Latrell Sprewell who can't feed his family on his meager salary of $12.4 million. Poor guy, what is he feeding his family? But I digress. The NHL made the mistake of expanding way too much. Only an idiot puts any kind of sports team into Atlanta. They are the most fairweather city in the country and they can't even sell out the Braves' playoff games even though they've won 13 straight division titles (but only one World Series title). Has anyone seen a Hawks crowd lately? I didn't even know they had fans. I'm digressing again. Scoring in the NHL has been way down because they allow too much holding, grabbing, tripping, etc. They would have been better off keeping fighting as part of the game. I have attended 2 NHL games in my life, one a Kings' playoff game which I paid face value for the ticket and the other one I attended for free as part of a sports PR class. I would never spend a cent on a regular season game and it's very difficult to watch it on TV. I will admit to being a Kings fan when they had Gretzky but he exemplified the true NHL player. One who used his hands for scoring and passing rather than fighting and holding. I would rather spend my money on a ten dollar movie ticket, 5 dollar popcorn, 5 dollar soda and 4 dollar box of licorice than ever spend one single cent or minute of my time watching an NHL game. I sincerely hope this is the first major professional sports league to fold (I don't count the USFL, ABA, or XFL). I hope "He Don't Hate Me" don't hate me because I said that. Even if the NHL actually manages to salvage next season I hope people will stay away. In fact, I'd be willing to organize a particular day where an entire arena is empty for a particular game. I'm sure Atlanta would oblige. Let's hope the NBA sees that they cannot afford a situation like the NHL when they negotiate a new deal after this season otherwise we will be regulated to watching juiced-up baseball players and overweight football stars.
2005 Bonehead of the Year Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens did everything within his powers to become the 2005 Bonehead of the Year. Only one year after signing a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with the Eagles he tried to get out of the contract to renegotiate. I guess he figured that he was the only reason that the Eagles made the Super Bowl, after all, they had faltered in the NFC Championship Game the previous three seasons. I guess Terrell Owens doesn’t know the meaning of the word contract. I’m surprised he even knows the meaning of the word renegotiate, but probably his puppet, er, agent taught him what it means. Let’s look at the facts of his contract. He signed a 7 year, 49 million dollar deal to play with Philadelphia. This is the same Terrell Owens who is infamous for his classless touchdown dances while playing for the 49ers. The same Terrell Owens who did not want to play for Baltimore when he was traded to them before the deal had to be canceled. He should be grateful that the Eagles even gave him a long-term deal. They took a risk and look what happened. Sure, they made the Super Bowl, but then he wanted more money. I’m sorry but 7 million dollars per year to catch a football seems like enough money to me. It’s not like the Eagles held a gun to his head and forced him to sign the contract. He could have tried to get more but he didn’t. He signed a contract and he should have honored it. I’m surprised the Eagles even allowed him to begin the 2005 season on their roster after all the things they put him through in the off season. The Eagles did stay firm in their stance not to renegotiate and Owens probably was “willing” to begin the season without a different contract because he wouldn’t get paid. That’s what a contract is, if you don’t abide by it then you won’t get what’s stated in the deal. Only after the Eagles rightfully suspended him for the rest of the season did he offer an apology. Why? Because of $. He obviously does not care about football (and I don’t want to hear about how he played hurt in the Super Bowl) or his teammates, or the organization. If he did, he would have played the 2005 season without opening his big mouth. I do have some career advice for Owens. Try to sign with the Traders, er, Raiders. They’ll take anybody. After all, they took in Randy Moss and look at how well they did this year. A whopping 4-12 record and another fired coach. But what does Owens care? All he sees are dollar signs and not victories. I hope he’s smart enough to realize that nobody will offer him a deal anywhere close to the $49 million he was given by the Eagles. He’ll be lucky to get another contract that doesn’t include the words “gag order” in the deal because we all know he won’t keep his mouth shut. Terrell Owens is a prime example of what’s wrong with professional sports. It’s no longer about the team, it’s about him, and him only. Let’s hope the next uniform he puts on says McDonald’s on it because that will send a message that we won’t put up with boneheads like him in the professional sports world anymore.
2006
Ok, I know Antonio Davis' reasons for going into the crowd. He thought his wife was falling back due to a heckling fan and he had to be the man of the house.. I will give him credit for going up the aisle in a calm manner and not losing his head once he got there. For this he should be commended. However, I don't agree with him going into the stands. In no way will I compare what he did to what Ron Artest did because Artest went in swinging. However, with what happened last year he should have in no circumstances gone up into the crowd. Just because that was his wife does not give him the right to go up there. What if everytime and athlete felt his family was being threatened he walked into the stands? He is lucky that the Bulls fans were as cool as they were because if that had happened in some other city (you know which one I mean), something would have been thrown. I am not a fan of "what ifs" but in this case it is necessary. What if somebody had thrown a punch, a beer, or even some peanuts as he walked up the stairs? You think he would have stayed cool? You think his teammates would have just stood around? I doubt it. This is a situation that security is trained to handle and would have handled if given the chance. I also want to know what Davis was doing in a tight game looking into the stands during a timeout. Shouldn't he have been watching the coach? Is this the only time a player's family has been heckled during a game? Highly unlikely. Did other athletes go into the crowd to help their families? No. In some kind of other environment he has every right to take matters into his own hands but not in this controlled environment. Now this situation won't go away because the guy who allegedly harassed his wife said he did nothing wrong and was going to sue for $1 million. That's a joke. No he says he'll drop the suit if Davis issues an apology. Give me a break. The only reason he would sue for $1 million dollars is because Davis actually has that kind of money. I can't see any judge in his right mind allowing this case in his courtroom. It will be best for everyone for Davis to just serve his five games, the kid drops his lawsuit, and everyone moves on. Thanks for reading.
I don't see how scoring 81 points in a single game could be a bad thing. Maybe if the Lakers had lost you could make that argument but the majority of those points were necessary. His team was down by 17, they were playing like garbage, and he decided to take control. He scored his 81 by shooting 61%. Pat Riley said anyone could score 81 if they take 70 shots, but Kobe took 46. I did the math, had he taken 70 and made the same percentage of shots he would have scored about 133. Pat Riley shouldn’t really have a problem with math but if he does, here’s a simple equation that he should understand. Pat Riley - Lakers Organization = 0 Championships. Lakers Organization - Pat Riley when he left the team in 1990 = 3. Is that so complicated? Ok, I admit, that was kind of stupid, but why are there people trying to downplay his accomplishment? Vince Carter said he is setting a bad example to children because now they will want to concentrate more on scoring than playing team ball. Isn’t this the same Vince Carter who admitted to not playing at full speed because he wanted a trade? The same Vince Carter who couldn’t coexist on the same team WITH HIS OWN COUSIN? He needs to worry about his own team. I bet had he scored 81 Kobe would have kept his mouth shut. If Dwayne Wade scored 81 Antoine Walker and Pat Riley wouldn’t have said a word. But because it’s Kobe, who really only made one mistake, people are taking their shots. Of course, it’s completely Kobe’s fault that Shaq demanded a trade. Shaq was the one who consistently came into camp overweight and out of shape. Shaq is the one who in preseason yelled at Jerry Buss to pay him the money because apparently 18 million/ year wasn’t enough. I’m sorry Shaq, but you are not Jordan, Magic, Bird, Jerry West, etc. They played hard EVERY game. If Shaq had scored 81 points, Miami would have been renamed Shaqville and nobody would have said a negative word. I think people complain about Kobe because they know he’s that good. He is far and away the best player in the game right now and anyone who wants to debate me on that better have a good argument. It’s not his fault that Mitch Kupchak surrounded him with a non-existent supporting cast. It’s not his fault that after 5 years for Kwame, and 7 years for Odom, that we are still waiting for them to develop into something special. People need to leave the man alone and give him credit where credit is due. He’s only 27 and if he gets some decent players around him the Lakers will be back in contention in no time. Thanks for reading.
February 5th: The Lakers, Mike Shanahan, and NFL Referees
Nobody really stood out this week, however I did have a few things on my mind this week. Let’s start with the Lakers. What is the deal? Sometimes it looks as though they might be able to move up a couple spots in the playoff race and others it looks like they’re going back to the lottery. I have a message for the Lakers, KOBE CAN’T DO IT ALL. Other guys need to play defense, hit shots, rebound, pass the ball, etc. How come Odom commits so many turnovers? What is Mitch Kupchak going to do before the trade deadline passes? This team has the best coach and best player in the game and it is unacceptable to lose to the Pacers, who had lost six in a row, and then follow that up with a loss to the Bobcats, who had lost thirteen in a row. Not to mention Jermaine O’Neal was injured for the Pacers and a few of the key Bobcats were also injured. I don’t understand this team. They need to put forth an effort EVERY NIGHT. We pay their salaries, they need to perform. 24-23 at this point in the season is pathetic. They’re 1-4 on the road trip and best case scenario they go 3-4. Unfortunately the next game of the trip is against the Mavericks, who has won 11 straight. Maybe the Lakers can help teams break their losing streaks and break the winnings streaks of others. You never know with this team. I don’t want to miss the playoffs again. I don’t expect them to win the championship but they have the potential to at least make some noise come playoff time. Ok, next topic. Why would Mike Shanahan want to give Terrell Owens a chance? Did he not see what he did to the 49ers and Eagles? Does he really think he’s going to change? I’ve wasted enough of my time this year on T.O. so I’ll move on. Last topic, what happened to the referees in the NFL playoffs, and particularly the Super Bowl. Now I’m not saying that Pittsburgh won because of the refs because they played solid defense and made the plays when it counted. However, I thought the offensive pass interference call that negated a Seattle touchdown was very weak. I don’t know what tape the head ref was watching when they reviewed Roethlisberger’s touchdown but it did not look like he crossed the goal line. Third call wasn’t that important but it should be noted. They called Hasselbeck for an illegal chop block WHILE HE WAS TACKLING SOMEONE. I’ve never seen a penalty called on a block for a team that DIDN’T HAVE THE BALL. The “penalty” they called happened after the interception when Matt was now the tackler. Are you kidding me? Were Pac 10 refs doing this game? Anyway, that’s all for now. Thanks for reading.
February 12th: Beaver Hills High School
I found this week’s topic while scrolling through espn.com. Apparently a student in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania wore a John Elway jersey two days before the Steelers played the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. Now, according to the student, his teacher, a Steelers fan, made him sit on the floor during an exam and encouraged other students to throw papers at him. Is this what the world is coming to? I remember when I was in 7th grade and the Lakers played the Bulls in the NBA Finals. About half the kids in the school were going for the Bulls which I found absurd because I went to junior high in LOS ANGELES. However, there were no incidents like the one mentioned above.”But Josh, L.A. fans are not passionate, that’s why the kids got away with it.”
You can be passionate without going overboard, which, in this case, the teacher did. I highly doubt the kid made up the story because that would be ridiculous. Are there really people that much into their team that they would make a student sit on the floor for wearing a John Elway jersey? I admit to being passionate for my teams, everyone who knows me knows how much I care. I admit to going overboard sometimes, often “chatting” with other fans or berating them for wearing a Patrick Ewing jersey to a Lakers-Clippers game shortly after the NBA lockout. But letting something like that carry over into a school? Aren’t teachers supposed to be more professional? And to encourage the students to throw things at the kid. If this was in fact true the teacher should be fired and lose any pension that may have come his way. This is just another form of discrimination. He was outcast for being different. While it might not have been the smartest thing to wear to school that day the kid had every right to wear that jersey. In fact, that’s something I would have done. My team is my team, no matter where I am. I didn’t know it was a teacher’s job to decide what sports team a child roots for. I have news for the teacher, not everybody roots for the home team. That teacher is lucky I wasn’t the kid discriminated against because this case would be going to the state court. Who does he think he is? I read that the kid left the school district because he “didn’t feel wanted,” and when he went to the new school he had an escort. An escort because he wore a Broncos jersey in Pennsylvania. What is the world coming to? Thanks for reading.
