COACH DUNGY AND "QUIET STRENGTH"

ONE OF THESE COACHES IS A WINNER - AND ONE IS A LOSER - ANY QUESTIONS???

This story really illustrates what is wrong with the MSM, talk radio mentality we have today in sports and politics as well. The part of the story that received the most attention, the most airplay was Coach Dungy's closing remarks as reported below:

Then someone asked if anything happened last season that he wished he could include in the book. What followed was vintage Dungy. He seized the opening. He brought up the videotaping scandal with the New England Patriots.

"We talk about how important it is to do things the right way and have integrity so that when you do win, people can never ask that question," he said. "That's the great thing that I'm happy about with our team.

"Yes, we won. But no one is really going to ask, 'Did they cheat? Did they do things the right way?' I think our record speaks for itself and if you're a true champion, that's the way you'd like it to be."

Now as I read it, he did not mention the Patriots directly, but I agree with his message entirely. I think it is a joke how virtually every mouthpiece and talking head has put the whitewash to the Matt Walsh tapes saying they didn't reveal anything new, they didn't have any impact on the Patriots Super Bowl, etc. etc.

Well, there was new information in that they were taping the offensive signals as well. That was new information. They taped a team before an AFC Championship Game. The argument that it had no impact begs the question posed by those who do not accept the "steroids don't help you hit HR's" argument, "Then why did they do it?"

I suppose they did it because "everybody else was doing it". I'm not sure why everyone else was doing it if it didn't work though. I'm still having trouble reconciling those two arguments. Besides, like my Mom used to say, "If everyone else was jumping off a bridge, would you jump off too?" You gotta love a Mom's wisdom.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

The Patriots and Belli-cheat must have thought it would help or he would not have committed valuable team time and resources in doing it. THEY CLEARLY THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP. They weren't taping these signals for posterity. Or if the opposing coaches all forgot their own signals they could just requisition the Patriot for their tapes and they could re-learn them.

I think it's time that we institute the same types of disclosure rules that we impose on analysts and CEO's when they go before the media and talk about a particular stock or company. They have to completely disclose any relationships they have with the company that could cloud or impact the information being dispensed.

So before these talking heads pontificate and editorialize about these issues they would have to disclose that "my station is a corporate partner of the NFL". Instead, we get the nonsense that these ass-clowns are legitimate reporters who would never let buckets of money cloud their stated opinions. Or that of their bosses. Give me a break. I believe the relevant phrase that describes the situation is "You don't shit where you eat". You might as well refer to ESPN News as the ESPN Spin and Promote our Corporate Partners Department. Those boys can spin a story like a top.

But don't listen to just my opinion. Here is the opinion of former Sports Illustrated journalist and author Rick Reilly before he jumped over to the dark-side that is ESPN. I'm guessing you won't hear nearly the same opinions from Mr. Reilly in the future. A $12 million dollar salary (hush-money) buys a shitload of silence:


RICK REILLY RELEASING HIS INNER NOAM CHOMSKY

After listening to that, every time I see Mr. Reilly on ESPN, I'm sure I'll be reminded of that joke that ends "....we know what you are, we're just deciding on the price."
(for those who are old-joke handicapped, it rhymes with bore, only with the H-sound instead of the B-)

And to the idiot ex-players on ESPN who say it makes no difference that the Pats taped (cheated): Why then when you played did you have signals and audibles in the first place? Why didn't you just go up to the line and, instead of barking out signals or pointing like spasmodic idiots, just yell at the defense "We're going to run a toss sweep to left and you can't stop us, you pansies." And then the middle linebacker could yell back, "That's fine bucket-head, we have a run blitz called, we're going to stuff your toss sweep right back up your butt."

It doesn't work that way because there is a large advantage in disguising coverages and blitzes, etc.

Oh and I love how the fall back argument is "Well who cares? Everybody was doing it."

I just love how these hypocritical idiots pick and choose how and where to apply their ethics. Great lesson for the kids. Luckily for us adults, it seems as if the kids from Jefferson High School see through the mixed messages they're getting. They should be applauded for that.

What gets lost in the story is the impact that Coach Dungy still has among Tampa's youth and he's not even the current football coach of the local team. The impact his book has had on that group makes Dungy a Hall of Fame coach and a HOF human being. That's why he'll always be a better coach, unless you only look at wins/losses, Super Bowl rings. And even that metric can be deceiving.

I'm glad to see the book get it's just due as well. I've mentioned the book before here and it's listed as one of my favorite books, I would give it high marks. It is one of the best books I've ever read by a coach. Like a John Wooden, Dungy doesn't just teach the sport, he doesn't just build the skills of the players he coaches, he builds the inner strength and character of the individual.

That's what great coaches do. It's clear that he and Coach Bellicheat move in different circles and operate from opposite ends of the spectrum ethically and morally.

Of one of the two, you can say great coach, great person, great character, WINNER. Only one. The other one will be defined using the exact opposite word.
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http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/09/sp-dungys-quiet-strength-gets-jefferson-students-f/?sports-columns

Dungy's 'Quiet Strength' Fires Up Jefferson Students
By JOE HENDERSON
Published: May 9, 2008

TAMPA - Both sides of the Jefferson High gymnasium were packed with stomping, cheering, chattering students early Thursday afternoon. They weren't there for a pep rally or a big game, although you couldn't have guessed that by how excited everyone seemed.

They were there because of a book.

Tony Dungy's book.

"This is a little hard to believe here," he said with a look that suggested he wasn't quite ready for how big this had become. "When we wrote the book, you hoped it might get into the hands of young people and maybe have an impact for good, but to hear how the whole school here read it and how it turned out - it's overwhelming."

(click on the link above to read the entire article)

SUPER BOWL XLII PREVIEW

Perhaps not since the Christians faced off against the Lions in ancient Rome has there been a more one-sided match up of foes as we will see in Super Bowl XLII.

Interesting that since the days of the Roman Empire, there has been a need for societies rulers to keep the masses in tow and their attention diverted from the important issues of the day (sound familiar?). The premise was that you could give people some relatively cheap entertainment so that they would--at least temporarily-- forget their grievances against the collective shortcomings of their rulers or political system.

It just seems as if it will all come together so perfectly tomorrow. The Super Bowl is the ultimate TV event. The ultimate "opiate of the masses" if you will. And with all the other side issues circling over the event, yet to be resolved, it makes for both perfect theater as well as a perfect teaching and learning moment for the country.

Arlen Specter may or may not be able to call Commissar Goodell on the carpet to explain the inexplicable. Why he punished the Patriots for wrongdoing and then destroyed the evidence of the wrongdoing, which smacks of a cover-up (remember, it's not the crime, it's the cover-up) I just can not explain. But he has multiple billions of reasons (measured in dollars of revenue) to protect the NFL's image at all costs.

At first blush, his explanation that any advantage Bellicheat and the Pats may have gained from the illegal videotaping was "limited." I'm sure the Nixon Administration tried to sail similar logic past the public when the initial details of the Watergate break-in and cover-up were uncovered, and look what it did for Nixon.

After the Super Bowl, it seems that Congress will attempt in earnest to determine what most already suspect. Bill Belichick is a cheater, albeit an equal opportunity cheater. He cheats on the field as well as off the field. And Congress will do this if only to show they can come together on certain select issues like this and steroids in baseball, but continue to fail to come together on issues that make real differences in real peoples lives. Amazing.

As far as defining Coach Bellicheats character--I would just like to know from Pats apologists--how do you respond to the following questions?:

How do you explain the reports that Coach Bellicheat was the "other man" who helped break up his secretary's marriage by chasing her around the desk too much?

FROM SPORTSBYBROOKS.COM
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/both-of-new-england-coachs-beli-chicks-at-sb-15755

How do you explain Spygate? Just a one-time thing, like Andy Pettitte's dalliances with HGH? It was just to prepare for the Jets that week? The 4-12 Jets you had to skirt the rules to try and beat?

What's that? The media told you not to worry, Spygate was nothing. Just a one-time thing, right? It doesn't have any effect or in any way tarnish any of their Super Bowl victories, correct? HAHAHAHAHA.

All the talking heads on ESPN who continue to spit that logic, as well as the one about the NFL having the toughest PED policy and NO PROBLEM WITH PED USE ought to be writing fairy tales. Just don't read them to kids.

Tell me, how do we explain away the recent reports that indicate the Patriots taped the Rams walk-through prior to their very first Super Bowl XXXVI victory six years ago? You remember, back when they were supposedly David and the Rams were Goliath.

FROM THE BOSTON HERALD:
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1070762&srvc=sports&position=0

The one where "team unity" banded together to overcome the mighty Rams offense. Well, I guess if you knew in advance what they planned to focus on offensively either through having their signs or effectively, their game plan, it's easy to acquire the label of defensive genius that it now appears Bellicheat does not deserve.

It all made for a cute story for the media to serve up and salivate over, but it now is beginning to appear more and more like it was a story built upon a lie and a cheat. And for the story to be promoted as it was by the media, who are supposed to be the guardians of fairness and integrity in sports. What say you now, fellas?

The media missed the boat on the steroid story that grew right under their own eyes.
Now it appears as if they missed out on the Spygate story, even though it also appeared to grow and flourish right under their own eyes. That's a big oh-for-two if you're scoring at home, or even if you're all by yourself. HAHAHAHAHA.

And yet the media wants to continue to be the arbiters of righteousness and fairness and integrity in sports? Give me a break.

I know, I'll make it easy on you to cut through all this bullshit once and for all. So you can get things right for a change, right from the get go. Just imagine how quickly you would jump on this story, how rapidly you would turn it into the biggest issue the country faces, if it were noted Christian and man of character Tony Dungy who was suspected of cheating and wrongdoing.

You would have thrown him to the lions quicker than the Romans. You would have strung him up and brought up on charges in the court of public opinion.

In my opinion, Dungy and his legacy are harmed the most by this. Imagine how many rings he might have now if everyone was playing on a "level playing field".

Maybe Peyton Manning would be the one hanging and banging with multiple Super Models and multiple Super Bowl rings and God knows what else instead of little Tommy Brady.

Nah, Peyton has too much class and character. And so does Dungy. That's why the media will never fight or dig for guys like that. They wouldn't know class and character if it punched most of them right in the face.

And how about Dick Vermeil? The Patriots cheated and still barely beat 'em? Yeah Bellicheat's a real genius all-right. Another Super Bowl victory makes him an all-time great coach, right?

Tomorrow, the Giants will be served up as a foe against the Patriots and like the Christians of yore, will seemingly only have their faith in each other to give them any chance at victory. That and the collective spirit of those who would rather not see cheaters continue to prosper.

I hate to make it as serious as a clash of good vs. evil, but in this case, I think I will. The Giants simply must win, and I believe they will win. God help us if they don't. What will we tell the children when such blatant cheaters are allowed to prosper? I guess I could do the Roger Goodell thing and try to cover it all up. Nah, not a good choice there.

The Giants faith in each other will propel them to victory.

"Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." Revelations 2:10

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=church&book=lions&story=lions
From the book: To the Lions, A Tale of the Early Christians, by Professor Alfred J. Church

"HE HATH SHUT THE LION'S MOUTH."

The Patriots want to join the Dolphins in as a part of football immortality as the only undefeated teams in history, but as much as they and their lackeys in the media and the NFL executive suite want to cover it up, they know in their heart and soul that they do not deserve it. They are not worthy of the honor and they have not earned it. They will fail under the collective weight of their organizational guilt.

AND THE LION'S MOUTH SHALL BE SHUT

It will be the Giants who are granted their slice of football immortality, since they have endured much this season and continued to keep the faith when others of lesser strength gave up on them. They will have earned and deserved the praise that is given to them. Call it karma, call it faith, call it what you will.

GIANTS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLII.

HAVE YOU GOT CHEATING ON YOUR MIND??

Rick Ankiel?
Troy Glaus?
Jay Gibbons?
Bill Belichick?

Cheating, in the context of a game or sport, is "violating accepted standards or rules". Period, it should be simple enough to understand.

Interesting how now that the feel-good story of major league baseball this season and now the genius coach of the NFL have fallen into the abyss of cheating, the Court of Public Opinion is issuing some softer rulings on the subject.

The same guys who come down hard on baseball have just gone flaccid now that football is placed under the moral microscope.

It's gamesmanship. Mangini is a snitch. He violated the "code". The same "code" Canseco was lauded for violating. The code being another way of saying "accepted standards or rules" whether they are written or unwritten.

We don't really know if what Ankiel was doing to rehab a pitching injury helped him as a hitter.

The Pats Super Bowls aren't tarnished one bit.

Yeah, because then we have to start rethinking the budding legend that is Tom Brady. Does his star shine as bright with one or two Super Bowls erased from his resume. Or asterisked. Not saying Brady cheated, but he and his team clearly benefited from said cheating. And we don't want to knock down the legend that is Tom Brady, yet now do we?

It's good to see the Court of Public Opinion put away the hanging noose and start thinking a little more liberally. Would the opinions expressed about Belichick be the same if the coach under the gun were Dennis Green or Ray Rhodes?

As far as the baseball side, regarding this recent tendency to explain away HGH use as some sort of recovery from injury, some modern form of therapy--be advised that this is not recommended by any therapeutic modalities I'm aware of, not recommended by any reputable surgeons that I'm aware of, and you certainly would not need a years supply anyway when typical therapy sessions to recover from injury or surgery do not last more than six to eight weeks in most cases. Certainly not in the cases cited above.

How long will it be before baseball does something about both the Cardinals and Orioles organizations? Both seem to have been in the middle of too many of these bad-news stories regarding steroid-HGH-alcohol abuse. Maybe some sort of NCAA-style, lack of institutional control penalty might be in order. Especially for the Cardinals, who seem to be very belligerent in defense of their behavior (see LaRussa and GM Walt Jocketty), which only increases their level of culpability in my mind.

I have to wonder if the Patriots have been doing this as well as some of the other nefarious methods they've been accused of doing to win games lately, one has to wonder if the the number of Super Bowl rings for Tom Brady (3) vs. Peyton Manning (1)
could conceivably be reversed if they were playing on a "level playing field".

And who would be considered more of a coaching "genius" if the results of past Colts-Patriots matchups leading up to a couple of Super Bowls were reversed. Wouldn't Tony Dungy be the "genius", possibly one of the greatest coaches of all-time?