NFL Fans Can Show Guts The League Lacks

I watched the extended video of Ray Rice knocking his then fiance out cold, Monday, like most people, disgusted and shocked.  Not that the initial video of him dragging his now wife Janay’s lifeless body from the elevator left much doubt as to what happened, but seeing exactly what did was nauseating.

Ray Rice is a coward.  He likely will never play in the NFL again.  The incident also has left a black eye on the league where he was once one of its promising, young stars.

Commissioner Roger Goodell has proven utter incompetence with his weak, initial two game suspension of Rice and ill pursuit of the full video; and the Ravens organization appears to be equally inept in its lack of due diligence investigating one of its franchise’s best players.

Rice, Goodell, and the Ravens all dropped the ball.  If there was a playbook on exactly how not to handle the situation, each could author a new chapter.

But, as a fan and a man, it doesn't take much guts to say Ray Rice is spineless.  It doesn’t take guts to say Roger Goodell should be fired.   Both are obvious.

Those are just words.  Having guts requires action.

If NFL fans, myself included, are so appalled at how the league responded to a woman being beaten by a man whose body is trained to be weapon then we need to act.

I love football as much as anyone.  Just this weekend, I almost threw a childlike fit in front of my fiancé and soon-to-be sister in law because Chicago traffic was delaying me from seeing the first two minutes of the Michigan State v. Oregon game.  I literally missed two minutes of a 60 minute game and you would have thought I was racing to the hospital to see the birth of my first child.  Nope, just wanted to make sure I heard Gus Johnson call a play action completion for six yards.  Mature.

Sadly, I am not alone in my football obsession.  Weekends in America are centered around kickoffs.  Weekdays are centered on setting fantasy lineups.  The average team is worth $1.43 billion.  The NFL is a monster and it knows its power.

Tweeting and ranting and raving about how bad the NFL and Rice messed up is like a bee stinging an elephant.  It may cause temporary discomfort, but it won’t take long before the elephant is back to normal.

Every NFL fan has a mother, wife, sister, or girlfriend.  A large percentage of fans are women, many of whom I’m sure have been victims of abuse in one way or another.

To really send the NFL a message that fans are disgusted with the league’s outlook on women, specifically domestic violence, the NFL needs to get hit where it hurts - the pockets.

As long as a ratings continue to soar and the money keeps rolling in, Roger Goodell will likely have a job.  He reports to the NFL’s 32 owners and if they can give him a little slap on the wrist, but keep the checks flowing, please believe Goodell isn’t going anywhere.

We need to walk away.  Maybe it’s a week, maybe it’s two, maybe it’s the season, but if NFL fans truly want to express anger toward how the NFL handled the brutal beating of a woman, we need to walk away.

When the league sees ratings, jersey sales, and overall revenue drop, changes will be made and the NFL will have no choice but to listen to its customers.  It will serve as the perfect platform to say 'your organization has a problem with how it views and treats women, here's what you can do to change it.' 

The League has been criticized for not being leaders or proactive in speaking up and acting against domestic violence.

But, fans have a chance to send the loudest message and  respond in a way the NFL hasn’t.     

Walk away from a league whose leadership has proven it doesn't value women.  Not only Ray Rice, but players like T.J Ward, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald, and Darly Washington have also abused or acted violently toward women and are still on the field while making millions of dollars a year.

Not everyone in the NFL is a misogynist or abuser. In fact, the percentage of those who are is quite minute.  But, after watching the gruesome video and seeing the flaccid response by the league's "leadership" to get to the bottom of what happened and act appropriately, there needs to be a drastic change.

It takes guts to stand up to someone you love.  Love is a hard thing to walk away from.  I love the NFL.  America loves the NFL.

But, the health and well-being of women trumps any game, touchdown, or superstar.

It’s time for fans to show we have the guts the NFL's "leaders" have proven they don't have.

It's time to walk away from the NFL until Roger Goodell is gone and the league proves it cares about not just its on field product, but also what is happening off of it.

Purdue: A Spirit Unbroken

My heart sank when I heard of the shooting at Purdue University that took the life of a Boilermaker in another senseless act of violence.

These incidents have become far too common.

Yet, when it hits so close to home, there is a different level of emotion.

Purdue was my home for almost three years.  I worked there as a reporter at WBAA Public Radio.  The shooting occurred within walking distance of my old office.  I have spent countless hours covering stories and events in the Electrical Engineering building where the shooting happened.

That part of campus is legendary.  A statue of one of the world’s greatest icons, Neil Armstrong, sits there.

It’s an area of elite learning, a place where dreams transform into opportunities.  Students who study there leave ready to build the future of this country.

So, to have some monster come in and try to tear down the fabric and peace of the University and a place I used to call home is maddening.  It’s gut wrenching.

But, there is something I learned during my time at Purdue - Boilermakers are a family.  That doesn't mean it’s perfect, but there is a unique sense of unity in West Lafayette that is hard to match.

Gold and Black is worn as a badge of pride.

Generations of Boilermakers wake up at the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings in the fall before football games to honor a tradition of costumes, merriment. 

Go to a basketball game at Mackey Arena. For opposing fans, it is brutal.  You don’t want to mess with a fired up Paint Crew.  It is deafeningly loud.  They want you to know very clearly, this is their house and it is not to be disturbed.

That’s a microcosm of the University and around noon, Tuesday, someone tried to disrupt the house.

Purdue is a place you grow to love.  I have.

I am technically not a Boilermaker.  I didn't attend Purdue, but was embraced by the University and

community through my work at WBAA which is housed in Elliot Hall of Music.

I have amazing friends who still live in West Lafayette.  I met my girlfriend there and have experienced some of the greatest memories of my life on campus.

A cloud may hang over campus temporarily.  The shooting has left Boilermakers, and the nation, with heavy hearts. 

The life lost and the mental and emotional scars can't be replaced and repaired.

But, when you hurt one member of the Purdue family, you hurt them all.  The tragedy will only create a stronger, more united Boilermaker nation. 

You can’t break the Purdue spirit.  You can’t break Purdue’s heart.

Boilermakers can’t be derailed.

Boiler Up, Hammer Down.  Hail Purdue!

Sherman's Rant Isn't The Problem, Judgment Is

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.

After a 14-month hiatus - in part because of a new job, dog, and nervous break downs of Michigan State’s tear jerking, joyous Rose Bowl season - I have decided to FINALLLLLLY make my return back to the blogosphere.  Or is it blogoworld? It’s been awhile, so I don’t know what the kids are into these days.

Oh wait, yes I do.  It’s this stupid dance...

....and I want no part of it. (Seriously, what is this?!)

But, you know what I do want a part of? This Richard Sherman debate.

To recap, the Seahawks cornerback made the game winning play in the NFC Championship game that helped secure the franchise’s second trip to the Super Bowl.  He then went all Pete Weber on Erin Andrews during a post game rant that can be described as epic, among other adjectives.

The fall out has sparked a national debate, issues in Syria and South Sudan be damned.  AMERICA IS LOCKED IN ON RICHARD SHERMAN.

Here’s the deal.

Richard Sherman is not a thug.  He is not an example of society’s greater deterioration.  He is simply an athlete who was fired up after the biggest play of his career and was given a platform to go absolutely insane.  Ill advised, maybe.  The end of civilization, as it’s being made out to be by some, hardly.

It’s easy for people to look at his post game rant and label him as villain.  That argument doesn't require true thought.

Richard Sherman has beef with Michael Crabtree.  He legitimately doesn't like him, went and outplayed him, and then let him know about it.

The greatest athletes of all-time are also some of the biggest smack talkers.  Muhammad Ali.  Michael Jordan. Usain Bolt. Nolan Ryan. Willie Beamen.

Talking smack is part of their persona.  It helps them get into the heads of their opponents and, at the same time, is used to fuel their own play.

I've covered hundreds of sporting events from grade school level to the pros.  Everyone jaws.  Go to a high school basketball game.  At times it sounds no different than being court side watching Kevin Garnett in the fourth quarter.

Athletes talk smack.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it comes across as stupid, sometimes it’s just hilarious.

Talking smack isn’t just designated to on the playing field, either.  We all do it.  My friends and I talk smack to each other daily.  We say stuff to each other on an hourly basis that would probably get us labeled as certifiably insane.  I love them like brothers, but that doesn't mean I’m not going to mercilessly ridicule them for something they did or said that was moronic. 

And we are probably no different than the rest of society.

For those arguing that Richard Sherman should set an example for our youth on how to handle winning and respect others, here’s this…

…before lofting that stone of judgment from the comforts of your couch and behind the protection of your computer screen, ask yourself…did Richard Sherman really do something so absurd?  Don’t I do the same almost every day?

If the answers are no -  1. You are a liar.  And,  2. You are a liar, can throw the stone, but will then be a liar
who committed assault.

We are a society of gossiping.  Tabloids are billion dollar industries.  Twitter.  Facebook. The water cooler at work.  The text you sent your friend about that time you saw so-and-so at the bar with that not so good looking date. 

That is all smack talk.  It happens happens every. Single. Day.

The average person doesn't do it on national TV, but nonetheless, it's smack talk.

If you want to label Richard Sherman – who is working on Masters Degree from Stanford, may I add - as a thug or degenerate or loser, go for it.  But, the next time you talk smack about someone else, more than likely behind their back, make sure you pick up that stone and hit yourself over the head with it.

Maybe it’ll knock some sense into you.

It feels good to be back.

KLEMbardi?: Campaigning to be Purdue's next Head Football Coach

Election season is over; No more political ads, Nate Silver's time as the Electoral College Mel Kiper has gone on hiatus, and CNN now can only bust out its Minority Report-style technology to break down whether or not Tickle Me Elmo dolls will sell more or less than previous holiday seasons. (In light of recent developments, Tickle Me Elmo probably needs to be renamed, just a thought.)

While November 6th is long gone, I picked up some valuable insight along the way and am now ready to launch a campaign of my own.

I.  Samuel Aaron Klemet officially announce my candidacy for Head Football Coach at Purdue University!

You read that correctly.  My headset is in the ring.  I want to lead the Boilermakers back to prominence.

Now, I know what the majority of you are thinking - my dad probably isn't thinking yet because he hasn't been able to compose himself from laughing so hard at the mere thought of me leading anything - but, for the rest of you who are composed enough to think this is a bizarre idea, let me do my do my best Don Draper impersonation and sell you on why I would, in fact, be a great hire to replace Danny Hope.

Earlier today, I came across the job posting for the Head Football Coach position on Purdue's website.  You can see it here.

As I read through the description, I was shocked and excited at the realization that I actually meet the criteria.

Right off the bat, I easily qualify for several requirements.

Bachelor's degree - Check.  Michigan State University Journalism program is top five nationally.

Knowledge of sport-specific fundamentals, techniques, and safety rules and regulations - Check. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.

Ability to analyze, interpret, communicate and adhere to University, Big Ten Conference, and NCAA policies, procedures - I will do a better job than Jim Tressel, a fellow rumored candidate.

Proven winner

Excellent communication (oral and written, interpersonal, presentation and facilitation), planning, organizational, interviewing, strength training and counseling skills - I don't mean to brag, but those THREE Indiana Society of Professional Journalism Awards didn't just fall out of thin air.

Personal computer and related software skills, e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, data query, Internet - I am blogging right now, correct?

I meet those benchmarks with no problem.  Really, my resume falls in line with the bulk of the job description.

The one area that I'm sure Athletics Director Morgan Burke and the rest of the Purdue community will point to as a reason for my disqualification is this....

Five years coaching or playing football at the collegiate level or above.

At this point you would think my resume would be getting the Gary Danielson treatment and being thrown deep into the trash.  *Insert Lee Corso* Not so fast my friend.

I am a journalist.  Details are the centerpiece of my profession.  Nowhere in that line do I read anything of Intramural experience being excluded.

Proof I played!

At Michigan State, I played for three years on I.M teams. I like to think of myself as a Deion Sanders/Charles Woodson-type.  I was a shutdown corner who could occasionally make a game changing play in the passing game or on special teams.  Plus, I was a showman. 

Since coming to Purdue to work at WBAA, I have used my faculty status to play for two years on I.M teams on campus.

I'm no math major, but three plus two usually equals five.  That means I meet the "Five years coaching or playing football at the collegiate level or above" criteria.  COUNT IT!

Now that we've established that my resume at least deserves to be kept on the pile, let's delve into what I can bring to the Purdue football program.

First: In the press conference to announce Hope's firing,  Morgan Burke said one of his top characteristics in the next coach needs to be an understanding of the long, storied history of successful Boilermakers quarterbacks.  In West Lafayette, they call it the "Cradle of Quarterbacks," that includes Drew Brees, Danielson, Curtis Painter, Kyle Orton, Jim Everett, and Bob Griese.

Burke and interim head coach Patrick Higgins

I understand.  

My offense would pass more than LeBron James in the fourth quarter and that includes my punter.  Cody Webster, who on Twitter highlighted his running back skills, would also need to fine tune his arm, because I don't believe in punting, either.  Anytime he stepped on to the field would be to execute a fake punt pass or serve as a decoy.  

The Boilers offense under Sam Klemet would make the Colt Brennan/Kliff Kingsbury offenses from Hawaii and Texas Tech look like Georgia Tech of the 1970s.  We would throw as much as Jack Taylor shoots.

So, no worries there Morgan, I bring an exciting offense to the table.

Second: Burke mentioned one of the reasons Hope was let go was because of a drop in attendance.  Ross-Ade Stadium was often half empty or more by halftime.  With Sam Klemet as head coach, attendance will be a non-issue.

I was raised in Detroit.  The birth place of Motown.  No other genre knows how to put on a real show better than Motown.  That's what a game at Ross-Ade Stadium would be like under the Klemet-regime.  It would be a spectacle that people would want to see.


My third quarter tradition to rival Wisconsin's "Jump Around" would be to play James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thang" and all the cheerleaders would put capes around my players' shoulders before they went back on the field for the final 15 minutes.  

Because, like James Brown, we would be "The Hardest Working Team in Show Business." (By business, I mean intercollegiate athletics, where ACADEMICS come first.)

And, for pregame introductions, I would take a page out of the great CEO Vince McMahon's playbook.

WWE style entrances.  

Could you imagine Ricardo Allen, Raheem Mostart, and Ryan Russell walking onto the field under the lights, while "The Graveyard Symphony" is playing, with Paul Bearer by their side holding an urn containing what would be our opponent's "ashes" inside?  That would be EPIC. 

 
And we would switch it up every week.  We are a team of the people, so one game we may do a "Ladies Special" and emulate Val Venis' entrance or on "Family Weekend" come in like the Dudley Boys.

You would want to see that.  You would NEED to see that and because it would be done at the beginning of the game, the issue of late or no attendance is immediately solved!

Third:  Ties to the Big Ten are important.  I understand that.  Again, I grew up and went to college in the Big Ten.  I learned exactly what NOT to do by going to Michigan State during the John L. Smith-era. I'm pretty sure if I do everything the opposite of what "ole slappy face" did, Purdue will have no problem competing and recruiting in the Big 14 with me on the sidelines.

Fourth: While this wasn't mentioned for hiring, there could be some serious history in tapping me as the next coach.

Just like Barack Obama became the first biracial President in the United States, I could be the first biracial head coach in Purdue History.  Is it too cliche to have my slogan be "A Change from Hope?"

Fifth: Burke said having connections to Purdue is not a prerequisite, but would be a tie breaker.  Well, call me Adam Vinatieri because I just broke that tie. 

For the past two-and-a-half years I have secured a nice corner cubicle in the basement of Elliot Hall of Music, one of the premier buildings on the West Lafayette campus.  During that time, I have covered just about every aspect of the university, including the football program for three seasons.  I have current ties to Purdue tighter than those in a scene in Fifty Shades of Grey.

Sixth: Obviously finances play a role in any hire.  Purdue is said to have a $4.5-million package in place for the next coaching staff.  Picking me as head coach comes with significant savings.  I would work for no more than $150,000.  A big raise for me, cost savings for the university. Win, Win!

If the athletic department wants to give me bonuses, I would accept, but only based on performance.  I would use the rest of that money to hire a top tier assistant coaching staff.  I have already put out a call to Wayne Fontes to serve as an adviser.  I'm pretty sure he is in. 

I would then recruit Nubie from the Little Giants, also known as the mastermind behind "The Annexation of Puerto Rico." Could you possibly hire a more offensive genius than him? (Rhetorical).

For my defensive coordinator, it was a no-brainer. Terry Tate "Office Linebacker" will lead that side of the ball.  He brings the perfect balance of professionalism and intensity not seen since the days of Ronnie Lott.

Coaching staff set. Check!

I would do it for Purdue

Finally, and probably most challenging, is the history of Purdue coaches sporting strong mustaches.  More important than the "Cradle of Quarterbacks" is the "Cradle of 'Stache." 

Joe Tiller had a great upper lip blanket and Danny Hope's nose neighbor made Sam Elliot's look like one of a teenager who just hit puberty.

I currently do not sport a mustache.  My girlfriend locked that down real quick for MOvember and I grow one slower than Antonio Cromartie trying to recite the names of his kids.  But, if hired as head coach, I would be fully committed to growing a Mouth Brow.  I may have to negotiate the hair equivalent of "Chia Pet" products as part of my contract to get that done, but, I think we can all agree that would be a good allocation of funds.

So, there you have it.  That is my case for becoming Purdue's next football coach.  There may be other, more polished candidates out there, but come on, after reading this can you really argue there would be a more intriguing hire?

Boiler Up. Hammer Down. Klemet 2012!

Red, White, Honolulu Blue. America

It's hard to sell the Detroit Lions as America's team.  That designation is traditionally bestowed upon the Packers, Steelers, or Cowboys (Jerry Jones' ego resembles American cholesterol levels).

But, no team may represent where our country stands today better than the boys from Motown.

Tuesday, the country re-elected Barack Obama as President.  Obama came to Washington promoting a powerful message of hope and change.  He set high expectations for complex problems.  In his first four years he won some battles and lost others.  But in that time, for various reasons both logical and illogical, the country split quicker than a pair of Phillip Banks trousers after eating a carton of Haagen Dazs.

America became truly divided.  Civility went out the window on both sides of the aisle and that halted progress.  Politicians made it their mission to prove they were right regardless of what that meant for the nation, as a whole.  Agendas were pushed more than progress and because of that, while things are statistically getting better, specifically regarding the economy, we as a nation are still battered and bruised.

Today, we get to hit the reset button, not necessarily on specific legislation, but more so on philosophy.

Unseating President Obama can no longer be the top priority for Republicans and true bipartisanship needs to be the main focus of Democrats.

There needs to be some give and take on both sides.

Enter football.

The Detroit Lions also get to hit the reset button of sorts.

Like President Obama, the Lions entered the year with expectations sky high. Coming off its first playoff appearance in more than a decade, Detroit appeared headed in the right direction as a franchise.

But, off-season arrests, an unbalanced offense, and lack of on-field discipline led to the Lions limping out of the gate to a 1-3 start.

Then, the team changed.  Are there still penalties? Yes.  Is the secondary still inconsistent? Yes.  But, since the passionless, putrid beginning to the season, the Lions have become a more complete offense, establishing a solid running game.  They also have started to get elite performances out of the highly touted defensive line.  And at times, even, dare I say it, playing smart (only at times).  Those efforts have led to the team winning three of its past four and working back into the playoff mix.

Barack Obama is back in charge.  He has another four years to take an economy that is picking up three or four yards per carry to one that busts through the hole for 40 and 50 yard gains.  In his elegant and poignant victory speech, Tuesday, in Chicago, the President said "Despite all the hardship we've been through, despite all the frustrations of Washington, I've never been more hopeful about our future."

The President is vowing to move forward.  The Lions must as well.

To do this both must learn from the mistakes of their first term - or half of the season - build on the best parts, and mesh those two aspects together to create something truly special.

There is nothing better than a comeback story. President Obama can author America's and the Lions can be the NFL's.

The Detroit Lions may not be America's team, but it can represent the nation's rebuilding story.

Red, White, and Honolulu Blue.  America.

Detroit Should Emulate Cabrera's Crowning

I don't know if a city needs a superstar athlete more than Detroit needs Miguel Cabrera.

The newest member of baseball's elite Triple Crown family represents transformation, sacrifice, and excellence.  He may never be honored with a Joe Louis fist-type statue, but if the Motor City follows his lead, the impact may be even more powerful.

Cabrera's talent has never been in question. Any baseball expert will tell you he's always had the potential to be MLB's most feared hitter, but it took him awhile to understand how to elevate his game to that level.

Miggy exploded on to the baseball scene about a decade ago as a central piece of the Florida Marlins 2003 World Series championship run.  He became a perennial All-Star and one of the highest paid players in the game.  But, as impressive as he was, Cabrera left many desiring more.

He was often criticized for being out of shape.  You know what, let's not pull any punches, Cabrera was fat. After signing with the Tigers, he was arrested several times as he battled problems with alcohol and, subsequently, anger issues.

He is even good at mugshots!

Cabrera's off-field problems were an embarrassment to him, the franchise, and city and held him back as a player from turning the corner from good to great.

At some point, he said 'enough' and decided to get out of his own way. Cabrera changed his life.  Miggy stopped drinking, got in shape, and is now the deadliest player to step to the plate.

Less than two years after his last legal run-in, Cabrera became the first player in 45 years to capture the Triple Crown. He did so in a season in which he switched positions.  Cabrera moved from first to third base this spring to make room for the Tigers to bring in $250-million man Prince Fielder.  Miggy knew the value of having another power hitter in the line up and sacrificed his role for the greater good of the team.

He slimmed down and dedicated himself to become a solid defender on the hot corner, while not loosing focus of his job at the plate.  The combo of Cabrera and Fielder is a big reason why the Tigers won back-to-back division championships, something the franchise hadn't done since the mid 1930s.

Not only has Cabrera become a GREAT baseball player and teammate, he has become a great man.  Earlier this week, Major League Baseball awarded the Tigers' slugger with the Roberto Clemente Award which is given to the the player who best represents baseball through positive on and off field contributions, including sportsmanship and community involvement.

Miguel Cabrera is a perfect, vivid example of checking himself, correcting himself, and now enjoying the fruits of his transformation.

You would think the city he plays in and represents so proudly would take notice and follow his lead.  You would think....but, sadly, that's not the case.

This week, Miguel's smiling face covered the front pages of the Detroit Free Press and News.   His accomplishments are certainly reasons to celebrate.  Unfortunately, he shared the front pages with "leaders" who are submerged in scandal and embarrassment.

May Godbee with you...

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing placed police chief Ralph Godbee Jr. on a 30-day leave for a sex scandal involving another officer who isn't his wife.  (Side note: fellas, if you are cheating on your wife with a woman who takes pictures like THIS?! you need to re-evaluate what you are looking for in a woman, but I digress.)  Oh, and not to mention, Godbee is a pastor.  Amen.

So, on one side of the front page we have a historic achievement, on the other we have a playboy police chief, and then if you look down a few lines you will see another gem, the corruption trial of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.  The Hip Hop Mayor already spent time behind bars and appears likely to be on his way back.

Kwame...oh, Kwame

Between Godbee, Kwame, and the on going "efforts" of the circus that is the Detroit City Council, it's not a surprise the city, my hometown, continues to be a punchline and struggles to get back on its feet.

While there has been progress to rebuild one of the cities hit hardest by the recession, Detroit still has a long way to go.

There is no clear cut solution.  It takes a collective effort, but it starts with realizing the current path isn't leading to one of true prosperity.  It may be good, but not great.  It's not Triple Crown worthy.

The city needs to continue to commit to educating its youth and make sure all students leave high school not only with a diploma, but with a solid educational foundation where they can be a valuable member of the community.  Allowing more than a third of Detroit Public School students to drop out ends poorly for those children, their families, and the community as a whole.  In short, no one benefits.

Detroit needs to demolish its dilapidated homes. Take pride in the city's appearance or no one else will.

And most importantly, Detroit needs real leaders.  That means those who care about the overall health of the city, now and in the future, and not their personal notoriety and satisfactions.

Those who lead Detroit have proven selfish and not committed to the greater good of the city.  And as Detroit goes, so does the entire state of Michigan, and in many ways, the United States.

Instead of being fat, out of shape, and lazy, Detroit's leadership needs to look at the city's current brightest star and commit to the same transformation made by Miguel Cabrera.

The resulting change will be fit for kings, the kind with three crowns.

Too Big To Fail, Fails

The National Football League doesn't have an officiating problem, it has a culture problem....OK, OK. It does have an officiating problem, but that's not the league's MAIN problem.

The travesty that happened in Seattle, Monday night, is less a reflection on the replacement referees as it is on an organization that has become too big to fail.

I can't add much to what has already been said about Russell Wilson's game winning interception.  Golden Tate clearly pushed off and never had control of the football.  M.D Jennings picked the pass off.  The Packers should have won. They didn't.  They were robbed.  And such is life.

This game may come back to haunt Green Bay or unfairly help Seattle in their quests for playoff spots.  But, it's also just a Week Three game and there is a ton of football to play.  Both teams will have plenty of opportunities to overcome this officiating blunder.

The question is why are we here in the first place?  Why is America's favorite sport being labeled a joke?

I place little blame on the replacement referees.  I believe they are trying their best, but simply aren't cut out to officiate at this level.  I tried my best to be a great basketball player, but sadly my meager stature and non-existent vertical jump put a wrinkle in those plans.  Sometimes you just don't have it.  These refs don't.

The real problem is greed.

The NFL is slated to pull in about $9-billion this year alone.  The referees on strike are asking for changes to their retirement plan and a pay increase.  The officials are definitely paid handsomely already.  They make an average of about $150,000 for calling games on Sundays. That's a ridiculously good rate for part-time employees. The requested raise would bring that figure up to about $200,000 over the next seven years.

But, the collective bargaining deal that recently expired was constructed in 2006.  Believe it or not, the NFL has grown in popularity and financially by leaps and bounds since.  In fact, according to the referee's union, NFL revenue is up 50-percent in that time frame and is expected to grow even more when new TV contracts take effect in 2014.

Players are getting paid more.  Owners are raking in the more.  It seems appropriate that referees should, as well.  They are a part of the game and, from what we learned Monday night, a very critical part of the game.

Yet, it comes as no surprise to me that the NFL is playing it cheap, because it can.

Professional football in this country has transformed from a game to an obsession.  Struggling families find ways to justify shelling out $50 to park at a game they paid $100 per ticket for to sit in the nosebleed section.

Fans waste hours throughout the day analyzing and adjusting their fantasy rosters.  Television networks call it "breaking news" when a starting quarterback throws a pass that hits a backup quarterback in the head.

We are obsessed with football.  I'm no exception and it's disgusting.

It's also the reason Roger Gooddell and 31 of the league's owners (Green Bay excluded, because they are publicly owned) can continue to be cheap and diminish their own product and brand.

They know we football fans will tune in anyway.  We will gripe and complain about bad calls all week, but come Sunday, you better believe we will be at the stadium, or bar, or on the couch wearing our $80 jerseys, tracking our parlay bets, hoping a third-string tight end can manage a touchdown to help our fantasy team and, oh yea, even our real teams win.

We need the NFL. It's too big to fail.

Reform is needed.

Fans and players are being forced to accept an inferior product.  With the replacement referees, that's what is being rolled out on Sundays.  (Well, also Thursdays, Wednesdays, Mondays, and later in the season Saturdays, but you get the point.)

The league has compromised quality and its integrity to save a minute percentage of revenue. 

That's what happens when the powerful become too powerful.  They pull the strings and those below them dance.  But, if the show is unwatchable, is it worth it?

The NFL flexed its power muscle with its sanctions on the Saints Bounty Gate.  I actually didn't have a problem with these, because the league is pushing for more safety, so it had to come down with penalties that punish those making the game less safe.

But, at the same time it pushes for safety and quality, the NFL contradicts itself by proposing longer seasons, exposing players to more chances of getting hurt.  It also has been slow to assist those who built the league with post-career health care.  And now, it is opening players to danger with officials who don't have a firm understanding of the rules and are determining outcomes of games.

Despite the public outcry to end the referees lockout, the NFL has little incentive to do so.  Why? Because fans keep coming to the games and the money continues to flow in.  (Apparently, the final play Monday shifted as much as $250-million in bets in Vegas, WOW!)

Change needs to come from the bottom, because it clearly won't come from the top.  Players aren't going to hold out because of officials.  I don't blame them.  I wouldn't give up that kind of game check either.

The NFL has proven it doesn't have much regard for the quality of its product. It has us sucked in.  The NFL experience is not to benefit the fans, its to feed the pockets of those who run the show.

If change is to happen, it may be time to tune out until the league and Roger Goodell get the message that being too big to fail, fails.

I Don't Want to Be Like Mike

In many ways, Michael Jordan is the face of athletic greatness.  Not just in basketball, but the iconic status that he created is duplicated by no one in modern sports.  The only other athlete that I can think of who is equally legendary is Babe Ruth.

Jordan not only transformed the way basketball is played, but he influenced pop culture like he was the fifth Beatle.

But, I don't want to be like Mike.

For everything he accomplished on the 94 feet of hardwood, including six titles, five MVPs, six finals MVPs, and Olympic gold medals, MJ's shortcomings off the court should be what ultimately define 'His Airness.'

Today, Sports Illustrated published an article outlining how Jordan has failed to reach out to his former high school coach who has fallen on hard times.  After suffering from a disease, Pop Herring took to abusing alcohol and ultimately ended up behind bars.  He is now on the complete opposite end of the fiscal and social spectrum from the man whose career he helped mold.  Yet, Jordan has refused to lend a hand.

Is it Jordan's responsibility to help everyone who is struggling in life? No.  But as author Thomas Lake points out, Herring could use even the most basic assistance from a man who has things only imaginable in your wildest dreams, dreams Herring had a part in helping come true.

It's well documented that Michael Jordan wasn't an ideal teammate.  He was ruthless, demanding, and self absorbed.  To be fair, these qualities are probably what made him arguably the greatest competitor of all-time.

But, Jordan has not been able to leave his on-court persona where it should stay, on the court.

His Airness is not a leader.  Jordan is a coward and a bully.

More than a decade after capturing his sixth NBA Title on one of the most iconic shots in history, Jordan still has been slow to turn his success into something of substance.

He gives millions of dollars to charities.  Financially, he has tremendous influence.  But, monetary impact perils in comparison to leading from the front and Jordan leads from nowhere.

Jordan has taken a Charmin soft stance on social issues throughout his life.  I understand that he also is businessman and taking social stances can often hurt sales, but whether he wants the status or not, MJ is a role model and has a responsibility to be an example.

Bill Gates and Magic Johnson are both on the front lines of addressing very serious, world-changing causes.  It hasn't lessened their success or made them less business-minded.

Showering money at causes isn't taking a stand.  His face is all over commercials for Nike, Gatorade, and Hanes (the collar really is awesome), yet won't put his face on issues that truly mean something.

In 2009, David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune quoted a response from Jordan after it was found that Nike, the company that makes his highly popular shoes, was manufacturing their products in sweatshops.

Jordan, the company's most famous spokesperson, responded to the issue with this... "I think that's Nike's decision to do what they can to make sure everything is correctly done.  I don't know the complete situation.  Why should I?  I'm trying to do my job."

Why should you? Because you are one of the biggest beneficiaries of the allegedly inhumane treatment of people.

You know who else failed to take a stand like man? Joe Paterno....

Plus, those shoes that were being made by underpaid and overworked people in Indonesia, are selling in America for $100, $200, and sometimes more on Ebay.  They are a hot commodity.  So hot, that kids, mostly in inner cities are killing, literally, to wear a pair.  Why? Because they want to be like Mike, but Mike has proven he doesn't care about anyone but Mike.

He has been absent from the front lines in speaking out against violence for his shoes and in general.  In the city that erected a statue to honor Jordan's playing career, he sits back and watches it turn into a war zone. Actually, worse.

In no way am I suggesting that Jordan is responsible for the killings, but he has a platform to inspire change.  Change that is more meaningful than any check His Airness can write.

MJ has the ability to influence multiple generations.  He is still idolized and his moves on the basketball court are mimicked by those in the NBA all the way down to pickup games on blacktops across the world.

If MJ were a real man, he would strongly voice his concern over violence for his shoes.  Commercials, billboards, public speaking engagements.  He does all that to push his products, so why can't he do it to make society better?

He is the most popular athlete on the planet despite not playing in about a decade.  He is that iconic.  People would listen to his message.  Changes could be made.  But still, MJ offers practically nothing.

Jordan has made become a brand.  Yet, to me, the brand represents being arrogant, selfish, and a bully.  MJ has proven his success is all about him and we are all supposed to marvel and praise his rise to the top.

There is no better example of this than his completely off-putting Hall-of-Fame induction speech.  Usually a time reserved to thank those who help you find success, Jordan cut down just about everyone along his journey and made it clear that his achievements were to be shared with no one.

Michael Jordan has proven time and time again that he is not concerned with a world outside his own.  No matter how much of a positive impact he could have, if it's not on MJ's time, there is no time for it.

Instead, he'd rather smoke cigars, play 36 holes of golf daily, and gamble like his next professional conquest is on the World Series of Poker Tour.

So while Jordan enjoys a life that may not have even been possible without the influence of a man like Pop Herring,  Herring and the communities where kids are getting killed over his shoes are trying desperately just to keep his together.

Money isn't the answer.  Being present is.

Jordan may be the greatest basketball player of all time.  At this point, that's hard to debate.  But, it's also hard to debate that when it comes to aspects in life that truly matter he is nothing more than a bench player, because that's where he always sits...away from the action.

I don't want to be like Mike.