Shop Online
Archive for March, 2009
The Thought of an Uncapped NFL
Newly elected head of the players union, DeMaurice Smith, has begun his plan for peace talks with the NFL players association and hopes to stay committed to the fan’s enjoyment of the game.
In bargain negotiations Smith undoubtedly states his respect for players and what they represent but also knows, ‘this game is bigger than them’, given the number of game-day workers that are depend on each of their 8 checks. In becoming more and more familiar with the situation since the passing of former NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw, DeMaurice Smith has plenty on his plate to consider.
‘Talks of things like a lockout—it hurts (players), but it also hurts a larger group of people.’
Stated numerous times before by Upshaw, DeMaurice Smith will likely face the removal of the NFL’s current salary cap and agreed, ‘If we move to an uncapped scenario, we will not go back.’ But much would have to be considered should negotiations with NFL players come to this.
Lefty Griffey at Left Field
Griffey was a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner at center field during his first career with the Mariners but didn’t the team bring him back for his hitting? Griffey will be played at left field a position he hasn’t played that much but he will get acclimated to it. Griffey stated, “you just got to where you think the ball’s going to come down.”
Completing three weeks of Spring Training he says his surgically repaired left knee feels good but feels it is about 75 to 85 percent, strength-wise. The Seattle Mariners are hoping it will be 100 percent by the time the regular season opens. How long will it take for him to be comfortable in his new position?
Griffey committed eight errors in 302 total chances the most errors he had made since 1999, his final season of his first time with the Mariners. The Mariners need him driving in runs and contributing to the offense that ranked lowest in the American League last season. He is improving this spring so what do the Mariners fans feel Ken Griffey Jr. will really do in this position for their team, they will be there with the jersey’s they dug out of the attic.
The NFL Faces a Sponsorship Domino Effect
As the annual spring meetings grow closer NFL owners ready themselves for is set to be prolonged negotiations that could easily put the 2011 NFL season in jeopardy.
Among these negotiations include the licensing contract with Westwood One, NFL’s radio syndicate, now pushing the NFL towards talks with other networks including ESPN Radio, Sporting News Radio, Sports USA Radio and The Content Factory after the continued demise of Westwood Ones financial’s.
Other agreements reaching their close also include Sirius Satellite Radio, Direct TV’s Sunday ticket and Sprints wireless pay-by-play games. With the NFL continuing to rake in more TV advertising dollars these contracts could not have ended at a worse time with such unstable economic conditions. And with so many advertising dollars at stake every viewer is that much more of a bargaining chip for the NFL to utilize in the negotiations it faces. But at the end of April the NFL faces another 2 million viewer base loss with the conclusion of the Comcast contract as well.
The Amazing Arizona Cardinals
In 2008, the Arizona Cardinals, a team that has never been spectacular, showed that it was a top competitor for best football team in the world. With veteran quarterback Kurt Warner and a nigh unstoppable offensive arsenal including receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the Arizona Cardinals near defeated Pittsburgh in the 2008 Super Bowl. While the loss could be attributed more to a single offensive error than poor play by the Cardinals, Arizona returned home as a team with amazing potential to dominate in 2009. When the team landed at the airport, hundreds of fans in Cardinals jerseys surrounded them and cheered for their achievement.
2009 will be a year to watch the Cardinals who are seldom given a second glance, and perhaps the Super Bowl in 2010 will mark the day when the Cardinals are recognized as a true NFL contender.
A-Fraud Synonyms Abound
MLB.com has decidedly banned the Alex Rodriguez nickname, A-Fraud, from it’s personalization feature on replica MLB jerseys.
An MLB spokesmen told CNBC that MLB.com does not allow fans to personalize products in a way that it deems inappropriate, derogatory or profane. So in the name of censorship you just won’t be able to say you got your jersey from MLB.com, they are taking a stand.
You can thank Joe Torre’s book, ‘The Yankee Years,’ for first mention of the nickname A-Fraud.
A Little Fun On A-Rod
I never though that a simple image would cause so much racial taunting among comments.
The premis is simple. MLB fans taunting Alex Rodriguez during the third inning of the New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays game, Saturday July 12th.
Even in all seriousness smiles turned into a calm stare as the front fan is caught awaiting Alex’s reaction.
Pretty simple, and humorous right?
Evidently some readers got bitter.
Is the UFL here for the Right Reasons?
With the United Football League officially stating that they are going to try and work with the NFL. I doubt that this statement meant snatching up ex-NFL head coaches but where you may fail another opportunity may just present itself. A league that lives by anything but a modest modo, “Where The Future Stars Come to Play!” just so happens to be formulating in the worst economic times in 70 years.
Set with a 3 year plan and set to strive against the signs of the times, a motivational factor may very well be the allstar list of investors willing to gamble.
But to me this gamble really does ask the question of whether or not the NFL needed such a change. From my couch the NFL does not seem to be chalk full of MLB scandals, or loosing the appeal of the foul drawing NBA.
Salary Cap for Major League Baseball?
Basketball, hockey and football all utilize salary caps in some fashion, why not baseball?
Don Fehr, the executive director of the Players Association thinks a hard salary cap would be a non-starter for the negotiations when the Basic Agreement expires at the end of 2011. Fehr said, “We’ve been down this road before and we saw where this led us,” Fehr said during a 25-minute interview with about a half-dozen members of the media. “We spent an awful lot of time after the strike and again in 2002 and 2006, tying revenue sharing to the competitive balance tax and the free-agency system.
Baseball and apple pie, why not make baseball more affordable to average American families? Are these players really that valuable or is filling the stadium an idea?
New York Mets Pagan Has a Visit With the Operating Room
Mets outfielder Angel Pagan will be out until May with a bone spur in his right elbow, doctors will remove the bone spur Wednesday.
One of the best overall athletes on the New York Mets, Pagan was hitting a career-best .275 with four steals last year before crashing into the stands at Dodger Stadium in May as he attempted to catch a foul ball. Batling with Jeremy Reed and others for the fifth and final outfielder’s spot with the Mets. After a full recovery from a first surgery the possibility increased that he would gain this spot after he hit seven in his first 15 Grapefruit League at bats but soreness and test results led to a recommendation for this surgery.
“The good thing about it is that it’s early,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. A recovery time of six to eight weeks means that Pagan could return to the team by mid May, no assurance of a job if he does.
Mariner Magic Curiosity
Seattle’s top pick in the 2008 Fist-Year Player Draft, Josh Fields signed in mid-February. The media is flocking to the Spring Training complex of the Seattle Mariners to watch Fields face live batters for the first time since last June’s College World Series.
The 23 year old right handed pitcher went to work in a simulated game with a lineup of Griffey Mike Sweeney and Yuniesky Betancourt. He had Griffey looking at a first strike and the rest of his one inning went pretty much just like that. He made an estimated 25-30 pitches, the three Major League veterans only hit three into fair territory.
The Mariners traded their closer, J.J. Putz to the New York Mets and it was apparent that Fields can face the vetrans showing a good, live fastball and hard breaking ball. Wakamatsu plans to have Fields show his stuff in one os Seattle’s games in Tucson.
Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS).
The views, opinions and information are unofficial, independent and are not otherwise affiliated or represent the views or opinions of Custom Authentic Jerseys not any team, league or organization.
Recent Comments