This years NFL season has been more like an episode of a crappy soap opera than grown men participating in battle on the football field. Let’s review the distractions that some of these overpaid primadonnas have caused this year.

Starting with the obvious, yup, like it or not, T.O. is in the news every day. I wish this thing would go away but not much chance of that anytime soon. On second thought, maybe I don’t want it to go away – makes for good fodder!

The latest is that apparently arbitrator Richard Bloch is expected to reduce the suspension of four games that the Eagles handed out to T.O. recently. Last Friday’s hearing lasted 14 hours. It has to make me wonder – is Bloch getting paid by the hour? The NFL player association was seeking to have the suspension reduced and wants the Eagles to cut Owens if they are not interested in playing him again this season. The apparent decision from Bloch involves cutting T.O. instead of deactivating him, which was the original plan of the Eagles top brass. If he is cut, then Owens could go through the NFL’s waiver system with the worst team getting the first shot of claiming him.

Worst team eh? – Guess that means he is headed to Texas or back to San Francisco – so in other words, Texans here he comes. There is no way that the 49ers would take him back. On ESPN recently that had an interesting analysis of who would most likely take T.O. (everything else being equal) and they came up with the Broncos who certainly could use his talents to take that next step towards the Super Bowl.

Now, the Vikings. Just a brief synopsis here, time and decency prevent a full “undressing� of this guy’s season.

Under the category of convenient segues, the funniest thing that some of the – seemingly lobotomized – individuals on this team have done was the infamous ‘love boat’ trip. Here is how the conversation might have gone:
Teammate 1 – “Hey dude, lets rent a couple boats, get a bunch of booze and women and have a sex fest�
Teammate 2 – “Great idea, what could possibly go wrong, its not like the media keeps and eye on NFL player activities�
Teammate 3 – “Exactly, we will just go have a quiet weekend of sex, drugs and booze and no one will be the wiser�
Teammate 4 – “Don’t invite Culpepper though, that guy is a square�

But the Vikings travails started much earlier in the season:
1. They traded Randy Moss to the Raiders, giving up their best, albeit controversial player.
2. Mike Tice was fined $100,000 for scalping Super Bowl tickets (he needed the money),
3. Their best running back was suspended for the entire season for substance abuse. (I bet he was on the boat though).

Now, Culpepper is out and even Tice got a knee injury just from standing on the sidelines.

Synopsis: The Eagles and Vikings won’t be appearing in the Super Bowl.

Who will be appearing in the Super Bowl? A tougher question but it can be easily narrowed down to a short list.

Colts, Broncos or Patriots from the AFC.

Seattle, Chicago (dark horse), or Atlanta from the NFC.

Once again, the AFC will win regardless of who makes it. More reasons why the above teams will be in the hunt later, but right now I have to go on EBAY and find a Terrell Owens bobble head doll…….

More on the Super Bowl at Sir Links Alot.

Some good ones from our readers!

From David: i tried it (andro) with outstanding success (in high school). my squat went from a soph. puny weight of 225lbs to an incredible 410lbs in 1-1/2 months. yea i was nasty. and i couldnt have done it without u mark! (McGwire)

Editor: Gee David, you are a super star! Using Andro in high school…what a freaking brain surgeon you are. I hear Darwin polishing up an award somewhere….

More from David: damn, pink is for girls. shit. can’t someone just come out and say it without worrying about looking bad. thats why i love this site. honest answers.

Editor: Thanks David, I actually agree with you about this one…..

But, more from David: F the rules. i thought there was none. i was all excited about this new website… if we truly want to have a free speech/thought site then we should be allowed to say wtf…… people who get pissed off be damned!

Editor: ……..Uhh, you can’t express your opinion without swearing? Actually, swear all you want, you should know where to draw the line. Although….how long has that Andro been in your system?

Now this is what we are talking about! Let’s have a little controversy….check out this response to our steriods report..

“Steroids should be required. Tht’s right required! Pro sports are entertainment that we pay well for. If a substance can improve the product, we have a right to the best product possible since we are paying for it. If steroids can help an athlete run a 3.9 40 or an 8.9 100m, we should be able to see it. It is not cheating. The athlete still has to perform. If steroids were available to Babe Ruth or Mickey Mantle, you bet your ass they would have used them to improve. Stop bitching about the influence on youth. If the parents can’t control their kids, neither can congress. Force all pro athletes to take steroids so we can have better entertainment.”

Hmmmmm……………….

Selig gets tougher steroid penalties – With the threat of federal legislation looming, MLB playes and owners agreed to increase the penalties for steroid use to a 50 game suspension for first offense, 100 games for a second and a lifetime ban for a third. Ok, all you ‘doctors’ out there, it is time to get to work to create an even better masking agent cause it ain’t cheating if you don’t get caught! And by the way, getting MLB to act and do something may actually be the first accomplishment of the Bush administration.

Andruw Jones gets robbed – I could have sworn that the MVP was supposed to be the player whom without, the team would have been sunk. Andruw Jones was that player this year. Andruw dude, you got robbed. On a team loaded with offense, Albert Pujols was just the best of the lot.

Steinbrenner throws out more money - The Yankees agreed to terms with Hideki Matsui on a four year $52 million contract once again proving that the Yankees think they can buy a championship. With their payroll, not only should they win the world series every year, they should go undefeated. Isn’t it great when they don’t!? – Oh, yeah, I HATE THE YANKEES!!

Kurt Busch, where art thou brain? – It has been a rough year for Busch. First he fails in his attempt to become the first back to back champion since Jeff Gordon. Then in May he cusses at NASCAR officials while racing in Darlington. Then (it keeps going!) he intentionally rams Jeff Gordon’s car at Martinsville. And now, the icing on the cake – he gets a criminall traffic citation for reckless driving and suspicion of driving under the influence. Ahhh, yes, another athlete who doesn’t know how good he has it and goes and screws things up. (We should have a whole category for these guys). Yes, Kurt, you are rich, drive a race car for a living, and have the IQ of a dirt clod.

McNabb out against the Giants – After single handedly losing the game against the Cowboys, insult has truly been added to injury as Donovan McNabb is unlikely to play against the Giants next week. His ego – uhh groin – is bruised! Oh,how I would love to have a tape recorder on T.O. right now…that would be fun to hear!

So, the other night, I am watching ESPN and sports center has a five minute piece on the pink locker room saga at the University of Iowa. For those of you who don’t know about this, quite a few years back, former coach Hayden Fry had the visitors locker room painted pink in an attempt to “take the competive edge of the opposing team”. For quite some time it went along and became somewhat of a tradition there. Interestingly enough, and as was pointed out on ESPN, their home record improved significantly AFTER the painting of the locker room. (coincidence or not?)

This year however, critics have taken the university to task for an activity they say is homophobic and actually fostered homophobia because the color pink is associated with girls and gay people. The orginal complaint maker has had her life threatened and this has mushroomed into quite a big issue on campus and in our culture.

A couple of questions; has this had the effect that the critics say over time, or is it having an effect now that it has been pointed out? What comes first, the chicken or the egg?

Are “macho” football players always going to have a certain attitude about things whether or not a locker room is painted pink? In other words, does the painting of the locker room instill certain beliefs, or were they there anyway because of parental issues/societal issues from a much earlier time?

Are we as a society making to much of this? Why wasn’t it brought up much earlier when the locker room was originally painted over?

I don’t know the anwers, I know what I think……the question is what do you think? Is this a critical socitetal issue or a bunch of tough guys messing with each others heads?

Ah yes, the finger wag – a sure sign of innocence – or is that guilt?

Steriods in Sports – A symptom of a sickness

Today, we were offered the first public explanation by Rafael Palmeiro on his failed drug test. This comes on the eve of a congressional hearing to determine whether he lied under oath when he denied using steroids.

I think I can save the taxpayers of America some money – cancel the hearing, of course he lied! They all lied. Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro, Canseco…the lot of them. They all did it and they know it.

The bigger question is why did they do it? Lets present some points for arguments sake.

- Is it societies fault? Have we become so addicted to the big moment in sports – the long ball, the 99 yard touchdown, the slam dunk – that we have created this monster that is the steroids scandal?

- Is is the lure of big money? The pressure to win, the pressure to get the big contract?

- Is it simply insecurity on the part of the athletes? Almost like anorexia, the athletes take a look at themselves and see someone who could be bigger, stronger, faster…if only they had some help.

Of course, the overall answer is that it is all of these things….and steroids is just a symptom of what is wrong in sports, society and our culture. More on this later, but tell us what you think about the steroids scandal and stay tuned for more on this topic as we get Journal of Sports off the ground!

Let the discussion begin….watch out 1972 Dolphins, here come the 8-0 Colts. Fresh off their convincing 40-21 victory of the previously unbeatable New England Patriots, Peyton Manning and the Colts are flying high as they head into their next game against the hapless Texans.

This of course sets up as potential for a huge upset next week, all the classic ingredients are there. A bad team with not much to play for against a team with pressure of remaining undefeated. The ever stalwart Tony Dungy was of course assaulted with questions about the super bowl, the 1972 Dolphins etc…after Monday nights big win. True to form, he responded, “We have to do what we did last week and that is to focus on the opponent you’re playing and that game,” he said. “What’s happened in the past, what could happen in the future, we have to block all that stuff out. I think we have some guys on this team that will help us do that”

As a football fan, I would love to see it come down to the last couple weeks with the Colts still undefeated. Do I think it will happen….NO. They have a tough schedule ahead, with games against the suprising Bengals, followed by a Monday night game against Pittsburgh.

If they have any chance at all, it will not be up to Peyton Manning. We already know that the offense can’t be stopped. No, the key is the defense, a defense that is much improved over last year and has to keep playing well. Yes, as odd as it sounds, Peyton Manning will not be the reason the Colts go undefeated (if they do). It will be Dwight Freeney and the rest of the defensive unit – the single biggest change over last year.

Hey 72 Dolphins…don’t put that champagne on ice quite yet – these guys do have a (slim) chance……..

T.O. tries to appear contrite as he “apologizes” to the media and his team on Tuesday

I am not buying it!

Shall I just start by summarizing this guy’s behavior? And, I will be nice and keep it to the last few months only otherwise I would be writing a proverbial novel.

Beginning of the season – Terrell whines because he only makes 7 some odd million a year and he needs more money to “properly support his family�. Are you kidding me with this? That was the start of the true spoiled little insecure brat offending people everywhere. Hey Terrell, guess what, there are millions of people supporting families on 20, 30, 40 thousand dollars a year. I don’t care if someone makes more than you and don’t give me this supply and demand BS. You signed a contract, be a man and live up to it – period. And by the way, those same people supporting their families are the ones paying to come watch you play.

And now, we come to the last couple of weeks. First, he scores his 100th touchdown to make him only the sixth person in NFL history to do so. Ok, this is a great achievement and the guy can play, there is no doubt about that. Ah, but that wasn’t enough for TO, he had to complain because he wasn’t publicly recognized for his feat. This is what he had to say, “That right there just shows you the type of class and integrity that they claim not to be, and they claim to be first class and the best organization. It’s an embarrassment. It just shows a lack of class they have. My publicist talked to the head PR guy, and they made an excuse they didn’t recognize that was coming up. But that was a blatant lie. Had it been somebody else, they probably would have popped fireworks around the stadium.”

No, TO, you are the embarrassment.

But wait, it gets worse. He also goes on that rant about Donavan McNabb and Brett Favre. Then he says on his radio show that he would prefer to play with Peyton Manning or any other quarterback besides McNabb. On and on it goes….

But there is some justice!! Now the Eagles have suspended Terrell Owens for “conduct detrimental to the team� Uhh, really? Detrimental? How about poison?

Remember Keyshawn Johnson and his situation in Tampa Bay? Terrell’s attitude is like Johnson’s on steroids.

He has officially only been suspended for the Sunday night game in Washington. Both teams are 4-3 and this is an important game for both clubs, so I give Andy Reid and the Eagles organization high praise for taking this action. As I said earlier, the guy can play, and not having him in the line-up should be harmful to their chances of winning. UPDATE: Well, they lost this game and shortly afterwards the Eagles suspended him for the rest of the season. Chances are that he will not play for the Eagles again – period.

This whole thing makes me think of Barry Sanders, Cal Ripken, Joe Montana, or Steve Young. These guys played the game the way it was supposed to be played (and yes, I know Cal Ripken played baseball). Remember when Barry Sanders scored a touchdown? Just a little flip of the ball to the referee, and back to the sideline. Didn’t matter whether it was his 5th or 500th touchdown, he had class and respect. Terrell Owens is a great player but he could learn a thing or two from great players who had respect for the game and the fans that were paying to see them play.

Do you still fear Terrell Owens?

I mean, hey, he is or was “the most feared wide receiver in the game” at least according to his book promo.

And geez… he did scare half of America when he appeared with Nicolette Sheridan in that infamous PG-13 Rated towell drop commercial/promo for Desperate Housewives.

Catch This! : Going Deep with the NFL’s Sharpest Weapon by Terrell Owens

Do you favor or disfavor Terrell Owen’s “penchant for unique self-expression”???

“… spiking the ball on the midfield Texas lone star in front of a hostile Dallas Cowboy crowd, pulling a Sharpie from his sock to sign a game ball after a touchdown, and dancing with a cheerleader’s pom-poms after another TD. Never politically correct and always controversial and colorful on and off the field, Terrell Owens has transformed himself into ‘TO,’ the outrageous gridiron personality who has rocked the entire NFL and the sports landscape. (more…)

Is that a handball…
or are you just glad to see me?

Sure, it’s fun to watch a bone crunching game of football, but hey what about indulging in a lesser known sport HANDBALL where an attractive young handball player from Hungaria has captivated the hearts and minds of sports beasts the world over… Introducing Szabina Tapai.

Hungarian Handballer Szabina Tapai is both beautiful and a skilled athlete. Her popularity is on the rise!

Think I be funnin’ ya’ll??? Look at all the pics of Szabina that are available at Google

A sports star on the rise!

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