Thursday, July 17, 2014

Johnny Drama

Each day on the drive to and from work I often find myself indulged in ESPN radio (mike & mike, the Herd, the Blitz) listening to the endless gossip of what goes on in the sports world. Unfortunately we still have half a baseball season to talk about, but the one thing that really keeps coming full circle is Mr. Johnathan Football himself, Johnny Manziel. According to ESPN reporters, the guy is a regular in Vegas where he spends his off-season getting hammered drunk by the pool and raging with Drake and Bieber in the club at night. All the speculation is that this kid is ruining his career before it even started. I would argue that being is Cleveland is what is going to kill his career or that fact that he plays on a mediocre team with a receiver who is addicted to pot, which I'm not sure is even considered medically possible. To be perfectly honest, I couldn't give a shit about this guy, the fact he went to A&M is nauseating in the first place (and I'm not even a UT fan), but it's like people want this guy to fail so bad just to say that he couldn't cut it, and I ask why? Have you seen this guy on a field? Regardless of how I feel about him, there is no doubt he was the most electrifying player in college football for the past 2 years. I can't grasp why viewers wouldn't want to see that happen in the NFL. Is it fun watching Peyton Manning audible on the line for 35 seconds only so he can hit his tight end on a five yard dump pass? Or watching the Texans go three-and-out on every offensive drive because they haven't quite figured out that run, run, pass, punt isn't quite working. I mean honestly, the only two guys in the NFL who were truly exciting to watch them on each down was pre-dog fighting Michael Vick and Barry Sanders. They did things differently, they ran around; it was like watching street football. No plays, just pure athleticism and a natural gift to play the game, even it was different.

Quick side note, I am not saying I think Manziel is going to be the next Sanders or Vick, but he certainly has the capability to achieve that sort of excitement.

The next thing people keep talking about is what most people are talking about; his extracurricular activities. One thing I find funny is that people like Manziel and Gronkowski get ripped for partying, but guys like Antonio Cromartie, Willis Mcgahee, and Ray Lewis who have roughly 25 kids among the 3 with about 18 women, rarely every get reported! but a guy hits the club one night and is crucified for his antics. There are allegations the dude is snorting coke in the bathroom, smoking, and drinking. It's the fucking off-season! and even if he is supposed to be studying the Cleveland Browns shitty playbook (I hear they just took the plays from the Backyard Football Games, Pablo was a legend!) let's ask guys like Dion Sanders, Michael Irvin, and Lawrence Taylor how that went for them, oh? all 3 in the Hall of Fame? Ya don't say, hmmm, what did those three do in their spare time, oh that's right Lawrence Taylor snorted blow instead of drinking water on the sideline, and Prime Time and Irving were just 2 of almost the entire degenerate Dallas Cowboys team that dominated in the 90's. Guys did drugs all the time, gambled, paid for hookers, and anything else you could imagine that would now be considered "unprofessional". Jimmy Johnson was probably right next to them...okay that's a lie, but the truth is they got the job done when it mattered. At the time of these reports came out, Manziel was 3 months away from taking his first pre-season snap. My biggest thing is leave the guy alone. If you think he looks like a jackass then that's your thing, but how in the world can you predict someone's future career based on what they're doing three months before they even play. You can predict his failures on his size, team, mental capability, arm strength, but drinking in Las Vegas 3 months before he has to be doing anything will have zero outcome of his performances. I just think that for a guy that is supposed to start off as a backup people sure do expect a lot from him.  

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

World Cup Wrap Up for the USA

The United States have finally been halted in their World Cup 2014 run with a 2-1 loss over Belgium. I was going to give it a little longer to digest, but there is so much ignorance floating around all of media, it’s disgusting. Let me just start off by saying, for all of those who are upset by our 1-2-1 (W-L-D) record showing, claiming that we have taken a step back since 2002 where we made the quarter-finals, you know nothing about the game of soccer. The 2002 World Cup first and foremost is considered one of the most corrupt and controversial WC of all-time. Secondly, both the 02’ and 14’ squad were 1-1-1 going into the quarter-final. Thirdly, we got to play Mexico in the quarter-final, a team we have played 1000 times, a team that we know their style, players, etc…and not to discredit this year’s squad from not doing their research, but the comfort level is there, the tactics have been played out in a real game several times, and not to mention, even a young Belgium team is would be considered favorites over any Mexican side (no offense, they just have more qualities players playing in higher level leagues, and to be honest that could be a whole different blog). Lastly, we had 2 kids (what up Donovan and Beasley) leading our team with the help of Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride, the chances or replicating something like that is equivalent to the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series, the run that the US went on is considered one of the greatest runs of all time because it was so unexpected. So please stop comparing apples to oranges, it makes no sense, it is a whole different squad with a different scenario.
As for the players performances there was a lot of interesting things. Turns out I was both very right and very wrong on some of my earlier predictions. I also want to touch on the Michael Bradley bashing people, and let me start by saying, just shut the hell up. Michael Bradley did have a rough tournament, but only because he was inconsistent. It seemed when he made a mistake it was very visible, but he was also responsible for building a lot of our goals up in which I don’t think he received enough credit for. There is no one else on the team that you can play there, prior to this he was Captain America for our team, but typical American fans, just bury him the first chance when things didn’t go his way. Also, please people stop comparing him to all the other great midfielders that were here. Yes, he is not Xavi, Pirlo, Gerrard, or any of those guys, but even at his best no one compared him to that. The guy didn’t crumble or step up to the spot light in which he was under, which is unfortunate but I wouldn’t have ever second guessed my decision to start him every game.
Some things I’m proud of:
DeAndre Yedlin: I liked this guy when he was a Akron, I wrote before that I wanted to see this guy on the WC roster because of the qualities he brings as an outside back/outside mid and I think he proved himself. I expect DeAndre Yedlin as a major contributor on the national for possibly the next decade pending he doesn’t get injured.
Fabian Johnson and Mix Diskerud: Another guy I loved, who for me, was top 3 performers on the team this WC, it’s a shame he got injured so early on in the Belgium game. As for Mix it’s too bad he didn’t see the field but he is still young and I think he has a lot to offer.  
Chris Wondolowski: I’m not actually proud of this, but it’s the case of “I hate to say I told you so”. Guy gets subbed on, a forward who is known for one thing, finishing. He’s never been recognized for his speed, skill, passing, or defending. No, this guy was known for lurking around in the box and putting opportunities away when they matter most. Not only did he have a chance to send the US through to the next round (the most important one), not only did he have an opportunity to silence his critics (me being a huge one), and not only did he almost make Klinsmann look like a god damn genius, but he an opportunity to stake his name in World Cup history with the most dramatic of finishes in a WC game. Instead, Wondo probably would have felt better getting shot in the knee caps at that moment. So as much as I feel for the guy, you got put on the team to do one fucking job and you blew it. Never again…

Where I was completely wrong:
Jermaine Jones: This one is tough for me because truthfully JJ was awful for a lot of games going into this WC which made me awfully concerned about whether or not he should start or not. But my god did he prove me wrong, and I happily admit I was wrong on that. He was an animal out there. A true definition of a box-to-box midfielder he was incredible despite a broken nose. So apologies to you sir, because you have drastically changed my mind, in only 4 games, of what you’re capable of.
Kyle Beckerman: Again this one is tough because I have always admitted that I love this guy, but the last time I wrote about the team I stated I thought Beckerman was just outside the bubble of making the team, but he was also brilliant in his own way. Beckerman is the equivalent of a Claude Makalele’ or Roy Keane (not saying he is on their level by any means, but same style of play). Guy gets stuck in everywhere, couldn’t give less of a shit about going into the attack, and just holds down the midfield in order to be the bridge between the forwards and defenders. JK’s biggest mistake, in my opinion, had to be sitting him again Belgium.


Last couple of things, it is clear to me that the US is heading in the right direction. We are a couple guys short of being dangerous. We have some young guys that have not fully developed but are showing potential, and we have a coach that seems more determined than ever to not only grow the team, but to grow the sport in general. Oh, and did I mention that Tim Howard is God and the US should consider building a gold statue of him right next to the statue of liberty.