September 28, 2006
“It’s a slave system. Make no mistake about it. Slavemaster say you can’t do it, don’t do it. They’ll make an example out of you.”
Warren Sapp
Due to the recent events and some of the utter venom that I have seen spouted in reference to this brother, I just need to give my take on him. He is the supreme example of an issue in the NFL, it affects many black players but, I call it the T.O. vs. Favre syndrom. So let me just break down a few issues around this man.
1) San Francisco:
I really don’t care about him standing on the Star in Dallas. People say it’s show boating…my issue with the whole touchdown celebration debate is this: all the things they say about touchdown celebrations are also true of the things people do after they sack a quarter back, except with touchdowns the guy who is a good arm away from being as athletic as the kicker didn’t just get smashed.
I feel really strongly about the yelling at the co-ordinator issue not because I think it’s wrong but, because a few quarterbacks including Rich Gannon have done it…in recent weeks he’s been commentating games and they played a clip of it and laughed about it. I don’t remember it being a big issue. The difference? Gannon was yelling at John Gruden…the HEAD coach. Remember when Keyshawn did it? It was a really big deal.
The Garcia comments? Honestly when I first heard him speak I thought Garcia might be gay. Him bringing a Playboy Playmate associate to practice after the comments didn’t convince me otherwise. All the gay guys I know about are friends with hot women.
2) Baltimore
I would have liked to see T.O. here but, I can’t blame him for not coming…two words: Kyle Boller.
2a)Philadelphia
Following McNabb on the sidelines: Alot of people said he needed to leave him alone, for real in a situation where you’re down it’s really the quarterbacks job to motivate the offense. When someone else has to try and get to the QB that is a good sign you’re about to lose. Plus, I can’t see anyone else trying to talk a teammate back into a game and getting bashed for it. Even though I kinda like McNabb that’s a situation where I have to see he needed to get the hell over it and playball. Anybody trying to talk them up was something to latch onto not walk away from.
I’ve already gone over how I feel about contract situations in the NFL. For those physically unable to check the link, NFL players have the worst contracts…of any person drawing a salary basically and this in a sport where the nature of what you do can end your career easily. I say get what you can when you can. My logic: Javon Walker, Troy Brown and even Tom Brady. $49 Million for 7 years. In a sport where players no longer get to the 7th year before teams want to restructure your contract making you wait further for your back loaded payoff…unless they cut you before it comes.
Something I’ve always been wondering…how the hell does one person hijack a team of 53 grown ass men, an entire coaching staff and the administration of an organization? I can eliminate one jerk from my life so if T.O. was such a problem why couldn’t the Eagles? From what I remember hearing there were Eagles players on his side and McNabb wasn’t really speaking up. If you want to talk about hijacking a team then I submit Favre. Nobody has had a whole team and city waiting with bated breath like #4…and he had a horrible season last year!!!
Everyone said he threw McNabb under the bus by saying he was out of breath during their last drive in the Superbowl. As I remember it one of the offensive lineman said it right after the Superbowl, somehow though by repeating it months later T.O. is the perp.
Push-ups in the driveway. Who the hell cares, my neighbors do a lot more than that…the media just doesn’t bother to show up…the media doesn’t bother to show up when someone gets shot on my street either so…
3) Dallas
As far as I’m concerned there was no issue with him in Dallas this year. Look at Steve Smith he had a Hamstring issue and didn’t get back from it until this past sunday. I think that is the best place he could be, Bill Parcells don’t take no mess and unlike most of the coaches and owners in the league he will step right to you and let you know what’s up. I think that’s something T.O. can respect. Plus his biggest problem with a player is when they don’t work hard or perform and that’s never been a problem for T.O. unlike some other players *cough*Randy Moss*cough* I could name.
In regards to the reported “suicide attempt” alot more facts have come to light to disprove that theory. The first thing happened before the incident itself. Sunday night when they reported on Chris Simms, it sounded like he was in the hospital dying and demons and angels were in the hall outside of his room playing rock, paper, sicssors for his soul. Not a half-hour later Chris Mortensen was basically spitting on the early reports in his tone and saying that dude was having his spleen removed. Another thing that stood out to me was the comment “negative reaction to painkillers”. I recalled it mentioned before that Owens doesn’t get down with a lot of unnatural substances and he tries to keep his body pretty pure. I know a lot of people who don’t down meds and have issues when they have to take them. Hell I’m allergic to Aspirin and can’t take Sudafed. Most importantly this seems like the perfect thing for to happen to the media. Let’s get it straight…sports media does not like T.O. (shutupandplay) so any kind of chink in his armor is something they would love. I’m not saying dude doesn’t have any issues. The things he’s said about his childhood let’s me know he does. The thing is I think alot of his issues would make suicide unthinkable to him. A father who was raised by his grandmother and had absentee parents…he’s the type that seems like he’d continue doing what he’s doing. Working as hard as possible to prove his worth despite what anyone thinks of him. I think he’d maintain just to spite the media.
The biggest thing I learned from all of this was just how sad alot of the American public is. I saw a whole bunch of people saying things like too bad he couldn’t get the job done and all types of shyt. He plays a game people, the main way his actions affect me are by letting me know just how much disruption a black man with money and a willingness to speak his mind can cause…he bothers the hell out of America.
September 27, 2006
I’d like to take a moment to give thanks. Not for my life or any of that good stuff but, for the Ravens 3-0 start. Some may say they barely escaped Cleveland, however, I will note that; 1) divisional games are only dominated by one team in sucky divisions. 2) in the process of winning they escaped the trap game. 3) In the pre-McNair era if they were down going into the fourth quarter and had to rely on the offense to win I would have hung it up. So in honor of the good start to the season and league leading defense I give you the Fans Prayer from the Book of Amadeo, Ravens 10; 3-0.
Steve McNair in the pocket,
hallowed be your arm,
When Ogden protect,
Heaps will be done,
with Ray in the opponents backfield.
Give us today our daily turnover.
Forgive us our interceptions
as we score on those we intercept.
Save us from division rivals
and deliver us to the playoffs .
For Suggs, McCalister and Reed are ours
For the duration of their contracts.
Touchdown.
May Ray Bless all of your Quarterbacks.
September 25, 2006
“And they hide their faces
And they hide their eyes
‘Cause the city’s dyin’
And they don’t know why”
Randy Newman - Baltimore
As much as I like it here there are some things you can’t deny. The circles, they intersect. No matter where you go there you are. I always laugh when people talk about the nice part of town. Here the nice part of town is a few square blocks and right around the corner is west hell. Places with their own community patrol are across the street from places where survival is the way of life. Homes like the ones in the picture have an alley between them and 400k productions. If you walk with your head down the whole world may have changed by the time you look up again. It actually took me a while to realize it, but as I got older and the bad parts got worse it’s just to obvious. When you walk through a block with groomed lawns and flowers and two blocks later only 3 houses on the block aren’t vacant…and one of them you’re not sure about. Where even the France-Merrick is a stones throw from the Methadone clinic. The expensive new lofts across the street with the Starbucks on the corner are signals that let me know soon I’ll be in Pigtown. On either side of Martin Luther King Blvd. the rent for a house can go from $1800 to $450 a month and the scenery changes to match. The saving grace is actually rapidly dissapating. It used to be good to work in D.C. and live here. A D.C. salary paying Baltimore rent was good. Now it’s starting to mean you just have a long commute. As much progress is made there are more ratty blocks that are void of residents and only contain life that can’t afford to move. People stop you to sell you anything. Last year my man bought a Laptop (liberated from University of MD) for $80 and today someone tried to sell me shampoo and soap stolen from the Hilton for $5. When I told him I only had $2 and I hadn’t ate that day he offered me half of the bag and his Cup of Noodles for what I did have. The affluent sit on community planning councils and the residents don’t know they exist. If I wanted any type of financial assistance on my salary I’d need to have 5 people dependant on me. Yet, for some reason I’m usually broke. Despite the fact that a nice area is a stones throw away some people have never even seen them. They exist in their pocket like a little biosphere. A controlled habitat. The Safeway I go to has a Starbucks, a Dry Cleaners, a Kosher section and a Vegan section. It’s not very close to my residence. The Safeway in areas like mine wouldn’t even show a Starbucks on a map within a 5 mile radius. Crossing streets changes tax brackets and lives. When Bethlehem Steel was open, a man without a Diploma could get a job, buy a house, a car and take care of a large family. Now I know people with a degree doing Janitorial work. The city is dying…or rather it’s being killed. At the same time small pockets are being built up so that people who live a block away would need a winning lottery ticket to afford to live there. This new breed of residents does show some fear, however, it’s tempered by the knowledge that soon these people won’t be here anymore. Soon the new coffee shop will open and a few properties down the Yoga studio will be available. Cove Cleaners will hang on, but they better not suggest to Mr. Handakis that Washington Village would be a better name than Pigtown. He knows that Washington Village doesn’t exist and he might tell you so in a colorful manner. He’s been in Pigtown for years and owns what’s probably the oldest surviving business. He’s an old Greek man and when I say hi he replies, “How you doing son?” At the same time some of the new residents are trying to avoid me all within the space of 6 feet and 5 seconds. Little do they know I work at the Neighborhood Planning Council. It wouldn’t be fashionable to steal their car when I sit a few feet from the public safety office and the local Cop. I guess they just don’t know. Then I wonder if they know that on the next block over is someone who probably is scoping their car out. Even though he lives way too close to be stealing this guys car he doesn’t care and his man who would’ve got him to chill out just got killed. I know the Board members and the Bums. Cops and the Criminals. Victim and the Victor. That’s Baltimore. The circles intersect and you can walk to the “nice” part of town. Just walk slow cause the scenery changes fast.
September 22, 2006
September 19, 2006
“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”
David Brinkley (1920-2003)
That’s a real man up top, speaks other languages, teaches on the university level and can kick your ass.
So where did I leave off, where do I take up again…
As a man I am not held accountable for the actions of other men. I know everyone has a crazy friend they’re trying to look out for so I don’t hold them responsible for sed crazy friends actions. I maintain my blackmarket, underworld, criminal connection. Not enough to keep me from running for public office…but enough that I can steal cable and find out the who, why and what for when I need to. Just cause we have sex doesn’t mean we’re in a relationship. Look at these to words: Relations - Relationship. There are some things missing that keep them from being the same thing, I don’t make assumptions so why should you. Anyway it’s pretty crass to connect love to sex in the first place and if that’s what made you want to be with me your priorities are in the wrong place anyway. I’m more than just manual labor, my dick and my salary. I am not scared of anything lower on the food chain unless it’s poisonous. I stand and fight cause I’d rather take a beating than get beat when I’m outta breath. The previous statment becomes nil when I’m outnumbered and know I can escape. It should be legal for me to carry a knife, they’re handy tools and if I just wanted to kill someone I could do it with my pen or their necktie. Ties are stupid and they are the only article of clothing that if worn properly can be used to kill the person wearing it. I will not own a dog that I can punt. Dogs should be friends as well as a weapon if needed…picking them up and throwing them at someone doesn’t count. I listen to women, but I am not obliged to act on everything that they say. I know that if men based the definition of themselves strictly on what women want, we’d be confused and they’d end up with the guy that just did what he wanted to. I know that doing everything a woman asks of you only makes you a sucker and what’s best for people is someone who does what they need and not everything they want. I do not buy the things I see other dudes wearing. My goal is to be the one other dudes are emulating in their shopping trips. Once they’ve finished getting what they need to copy me I’ve moved on to something else. I know that the guy who claims he just wants to be friends with my girl is lying. That’s the line my man used on the girl he has on the bench. I know that sex is a natural function so I’m not ashamed that it can be a goal in my pursuit of a woman. Plus, since I rarely meet woman at a place where they were giving a disertation it’s hard to pursue them strictly for their mind. If this were the case I’d spend most of my time tracking down female professors and authors so I could ask them out. If all men are dogs how come the ones that are loyal, protective, fun, and loving companions are the ones that get the boot? If I become a sugar daddy your opinion would no longer matter unless it’s on something I’m buying for you. Until then I’ll listen to your advice while you attend to your own expenses. A real woman knows going dutch isn’t blasphemy. Such a woman makes me want to pay all the time. I don’t mind doing some things for you, but I am not your personal handyman. If I own a truck only people I choose can have things moved without paying me for my time, effort and gasoline. I think that it’s the height of arrogance to start trying to change someone once you’ve chosen to be with them. If you want to change me give me a list of requirments up front so it won’t suddenly become a problem a few months down the line. My friends are non-negotiable. I don’t want access to your email, message service or anything of the sort, I refuse to give access to mine either so don’t ask. In order to keep from deluding myself I imagine that more than one person has done anything that can be done to the woman I’m with before I got there. I really don’t care that he was your friend before I came into the picture. Unless it’s about the game or the sport, leave me be when football is on. I don’t start talking about playoff berths in the middle of you watching Steel Magnolias or whatever. I’m not a child so don’t set me up on grown man play dates with your friends man. Don’t be mad if I don’t appeal to your sense of romance if you never appeal to mine. I don’t mind gay men or women. I hate ultra-flamey-wear-the-tshirt-own-the-bumpersticker-act-like-a-member-of-the-opposite-sex-who’s-taking-hormones-people. Just be what you are, not an advertisment of a cliche` ideal of what people think you are.
To be continued…again.
September 15, 2006
September 12, 2006
retrosexual (ret.roh.SEK.shoo.ul) n. A man with an undeveloped aesthetic sense who spends as little time and money as possible on his appearance and lifestyle.
metrosexual (met.roh.SEK.shoo.ul) n. An urban male with a strong aesthetic sense who spends a great deal of time and money on his appearance and lifestyle.
All of the definitions. The variations. I’m sick of all of it I’ve been called a metrosexual but I refuse the title. I also refuse the title of retrosexual cause, hell why can’t I just be a man. So here is the manifesto. I won’t make a classification for this. A real man doesn’t fit into a box unless you call him good.
I being of sound mind and body do declare that I am a man. As such I work and earn money to provide for myself and my family(if I have one). I own clothes that I can do physical work in and I own clothes I could wear in an office. I lift furniture and carry things. I may not know how to assemble a car or build a house but, I can fix things and I do own some tools. I don’t get manicures, not cause I think it’s sissy but, I might have to do some type of work that would render it useless so I don’t bother. I clip my nails cause you can’t give strong dap when your nails are long. I can cook but, I won’t be the only person in the house cooking things. I don’t cry whenever I feel sad, as a man I have to show strength so that other men won’t try to get over on me. I know that I must be ready to fight. I can think it’s barbaric or childish, but I won’t get my ass whooped without putting up a strong effort. I am a gentleman, as such I understand that gratitude is the price of chivalry so those who brush off my efforts are not eligible to receive them. I can build a fire and use microsoft office. I have feelings and they run deep but, I do not let them rule me. I know that my feelings won’t matter as much as my responsibilities so that’s what I focus on. I know what quality is: in women, clothes, drinks and more. I know that a particular name doesn’t equate quality but, some names have proved theirs over time. I understand that everything I do is with the ultimate goal of making life better for my future generations so they come first. I can handle my drinks and if I can’t I know whatever I do is my fault. I don’t chase women cause they aren’t inclined to run away from me. I don’t follow fads cause the essence of me can’t be captured in one moment and certainly not by a trend. I know how to love and make love to a woman but, I also understand what she should do for me. I do not have to be flashy cause I know the people who I need to connect with can see my virtue, besides I don’t need to advertise cause I’m not for sale. I can and will dance just not to everything. I avoid violence but, I will hit someone first under the right circumstances. I try to do the right thing. I don’t need to just watch movies with explosions and gunfire. I will not watch movies I label as “marketed to women” unless it’s for research purposes. I don’t need to be overly aggressive. I don’t have to make threats. I curse, just not every other word. I can give women my opinion on clothes and shoes up to a certain point. We don’t have as many choices ladies so we don’t have as many options, plus after 7 pairs how can I really stay interested? I am not obligated to have an opinion about a purse. Only men with man bags should have an opinion about a purse. I do not carry a man-bag. Taking off my hat inside is a personal choice. Having a lotion or soap with Vitamin E or Aloe is not a big deal. I wear scents but, my dresser doesn’t look like a beauty section in a department store. I know one of the great joys is sitting in my boxers with a cup of coffee and watching Sportscenter. I should not be asked stupid questions when watching football. I can and will turn down sex when I choose. The big head thinks for the little head…the little head can make suggestions though. I don’t gossip. I can hold a conversation on politics, art, culture, which linebacker is the greatest and which female pop-star could get it. I am not a sugar daddy. I’d rather talk in person than on the phone. I know that if I am married and I do manual labor my wife should cook something for me - for no other reason than no one should do sweaty, hard labor and not get fed..even inmates on the chain gang don’t have to cook for themsleves. I know that a cop, a mayor or a president are only people and are not to be obeyed without question.
To be continued…
Any suggestions?
“In these matters the only certainty is that nothing is certain.”
Pliny the Elder (23 AD - 79 AD)
I have some inner conflict and turmoil going on. I’m trying to make up my mind as to how I feel. You see folks, with football season all a swinging I have two interests. One is the Ravens and the other is The Abattoir, my fantasy football team. One had a resounding victory while the other had a close loss. I would have won had I used my other kicker, but instead I lost by 1.32 points. I don’t know if I can qualify that as points (plural). All because of the Raiders inability to get within field goal range. I knew the Raiders would suck. I catually figured that they wouldn’t get a touchdown and that’s why I used their kicker. I never thought they couldn’t even get within spitting distance of the endzone. Meanwhile my other kicker scored seven points. A healthy margin that would have lifted my past my opponent. Usually when my team wins or loses it directly effects my mood for the week. So naturally it’s hard to know how to feel when the Ravens put a 27-0 whalloping (yes I said whalloping) on the Bucs. Starting the season off right in the place where they won a championship. Everything clicked for them. So they won , but I lost. Everything went well for them, one thing went bad for me. It seems fitting that the last two active players me and my opponent had were playing in the last game of the week against each other. Fantasy football is my new addiction. Too bad I have Delhomme and Bledsoe (you scrub). I vow to all that read this that I will not give up. I will fight on the sidelines, between the hashmarks and in the endzone. For now I need a moment to sort out my feelings.
September 7, 2006
“I’ll pour the wine and you tell me what you like best about me.”
Ben Skywalker mimicking Lando Calrssian
1) Full Name: Israel versus Palestine, If you ever got an email from me you know what I mean.
2) Name Backwards: orobsdlog naashar (like you can’t figure that out)
3) Were you named after anyone? The pic above is my namesake Rahsaan Roland Kirk
4) Does your name mean anything? As far as I can find my first and middle name mean Contemporary Beauty, finding definite a meaning for the first is hard
5) Nick Name(s): The only ones that ever stuck: Rah or Rah-man
6) Screen Name(s): Amadeo
7) Date Of Birth: 11/29/78 (Sagitarrius!)
8) Place of Birth: Lackland Airforce Base (Bexar County pronounced Bear) San Antonio, Texas
9) Nationality: U.S.G. Citizen (African, Native American, Mexican and a Jew somewhere along the line)
10) Current Location: B’More
11) Sign: Sagittarius, baby
12) Religion: Akan Twi
13) Height: 5′ 11.5″ (but I claim 6′)
14) Skin color: Mocha Latte (mocha thunder)
15) Shoe Size: 10 1/2 - 11
16) Hair color: Brown, with a few strands of grey
17) Eye color: Brown
18) What do you look like? Some people say a Japanese Anime Character
19) Innie or Outie? Innie
20) Right, Lefty, or Ambidextrous? Right makes might
21) Gay, Straight, Bi, or Other? Straight as a rod
22) Best friend(s): Aswad and Trey (BornStar)
23) Best friend you trust the most: Aswad (down since the 8th grade)
24) Best friends {your sex}: I just told you
25) Best friends of the opposite sex: probably Melani and Yummi
26) Best Bud(s): Dammit see above
27) Boyfriend / Girlfriend: Im single as a dollar bill
28) Crush: Sade
29) Parent(s): I’m not a test tube baby
30) Worst Enemy: Ignorant People
31) Favourite on-line Guy(s): Anyone who’s funny or intelligent
32) Favourite on-line Girl(s): See above
33) Funniest friend: Me (comes from talking to myself)
34) Craziest friend: Wendell
35) Advice Friend: Swad
36) Loudest Friend: We stay low and in the cut, until it suits us.
37) Person you cry with: Get the hell outta here, no one
Do You Have…
38) Any sisters: Yes, 1 (half but what’s the difference)
39) Any brothers: not physical
40) Any pets: Peeves?
41) A Disease: no
42) A Pager: not since the 90’s
43) A Personal phone line: yeah, but I don’t answer it
44) A Cell phone: Yes.
45) A Lava lamp: No.
46) A Pool or hot tub: No and No.
47) A Car: Not since the 26th of August
Describe Your…
48) Personality: Intelligent, thoughtful, funny and laid back.
49) Driving: I whip and dip
50) Car or one you want: ‘69 Mustang convertible(black) with Mag wheels and chrome pedals
51) Room: Mine
53) School: Life
54) Bed: Queen
55) Relationship with your parent(s): One is a constant conversation, the other is trying to control rage for a stranger
56) What’s Missing? In the world? Humanity
57) Do you believe in love at first sight? No
58) Consider yourself a good listener: Yup
59) Sleep in PJs: Hell nah
60) Get Along with your parents: The one I know
61) Save your e-mail conversations: Not intentionally
62) Pray: Yes.
63) Believe in reincarnation: if you screw up
64) Like to make fun of people: Only stupid ones
65) Like to talk on the phone: No
66) Like to eat: yup
67) Like to drive: yup, sans side/back seat drivers
68) Get motion sickness: no
69) Eat the stems of broccoli: Yup.
70) Eat Chicken fingers with a fork: Depends
71) Dream in color: Usually
72) Type with your fingers on home row: ASDF JKL;
73) Sleep with a stuffed animal: C’mon
What Is…
74) Right next to you: Cubicle walls
75) On the walls of your room: Mud Cloth, Red Black and Green and Mexican Flags
76) On your mouse pad: A Japanese Harmony symbol
77) Your dream car: See 50
78) Your dream date: A good one
79) Your dream honeymoon spot:The World
80) Your dream husband/wife: Someone beautiful all around
81) Your bedtime: Whenever I get sleepy.
82) Under your bed: Shoes and maybe some dust (hard wood floor)
83) The single most important question: What’s the purpose
84) Your bad time of the day: When I wake up
85) Your worst fear(s): Betrayal
86) The weather you like: Fall weather, clear sky slight chill
87) The time? 1:03 pm
88) The date? September 7, 2006
89) The best trick you ever played on someone: Changing my co-workers background
90) The weirdest food or drink that you like: Malta
91) Theme Song: Sade - Clean Heart
92) The hardest thing about growing up: Having to leave your home and make a new one.
93) Your funniest experience: Recreating the pole scene from A Christmas Story with an old refrigerator.
94) Your scariest moment: When shots flew
95) The silliest thing you’ve done: today? Not enough space
96) The funniest or most desperate thing you’ve done to get the attention of the opposite sex? Did what they asked and not what they needed.
97) The scariest thing that’s ever happened while with your friend(s): Shots rang out.
98) The best feeling in the world: The sun from both sides (love)
99) The worst feeling in the world:
100) 3 people you tag: Anyone who like me is too lazy to come up with an idea.
September 5, 2006
“There’s no shortcuts in football, it’s hard work…and groin pulls.”
Old Man from DirecTv commercial
I really wish that Michael Irvin had been totally clean through out his life. Like I tell the Young War, since me and my peeps got something on our record he needs to stay clear so we can run him for mayor one day. Michael Irvin, however, has his spot despite his transgressions. Honestly maybe I couldn’t relate to him as much if I didn’t know that he had done some things in his life. I mean it’s not a Rite of Passage (up for debate), but the experience of getting locked up can generate some bond with people of a certain mindstate. The problem is it makes me think of politics and law. Even if someone knows you have them by the short and curlies they just try to discredit you so people just won’t believe you. I wish I could gauge the rest of the countries take on Irvin. Personally, I love him and he reminds me that the rest of the staff of Monday Night Countdown are company-god-damned-men. Them boys sure do tow that line. They help me to remember that no matter how much I like football, the NFL is one of the closest things to slavery going. The thing that really ticks me off is this “shut-up and play” motto that these guys (and alot of other writers and broadcasters subscribe to). Especially when I look at what was considered the team with the most class…The Patriots.
They have Troy Brown play both ways, which caused him to miss incentives, but he did it for the team. Then they cut him and sign him back for less money. Deion Branch puts in work for these boys goes to renegotitate they don’t offer what he likes and tell him to go get a deal somewhere else. He does, now the Patriots say - “sorry we’ll need two first round picks for him”. For a guy going into his 6th year…ok. Many argue things like he should have just waited til next year (shutupandplay). My answer is Javon Walker. He was going to hold-out and then (shutupandplay) Favre bitched and he caved…the moment he got injured I knew they were going to cut him. The “under contract” argument is a poor one to me when the contract is basically there to protect the team. Being as the team can break the contract at anytime it’s not much of a contract. They cut dudes before certain dates so they don’t have to give them bonuses. If you pull a Ricky Williams they can get the money back. All a player has is his talent and for real sometimes your only move is to hold out to get a better contract.
Working people tend to look down on this, but we forget one thing; we have a much (much, much, much) lower chance of losing our ability to work and get paid than an athelete. Especially a football player. We can work for 30 years or more. While most players don’t last long beyond 30 years old…a time when alot of people are just finding out about themselves and starting families. I can’t imagine being 30 and being told that my career is over. Imagine: starting at 6 or 7, train and play until 21 - 23 when you get your chance, then at 30 that’s it. Most people don’t even hit the pinnacle of their careers until after 40. Then consider this. We pay college’s money so we can work. Well what if your college won’t let you get a part-time job and then made money off of you. Combined with the fact that you might not even get a job when you’re done. That’s how football players have to look at it. Then the NCAA will punish you and your team for getting gifts…like a slice of pizza. Take a look at some of the crimes they have brought a basketball coach to justice for. You go through all that it’s not hard to see how people are trying to get paid. All this “it ain’t about the money” chachkey is for the birds. To illustrate my point; The very first No.1 draft pick Jay Berwanger (and first Heisman Trophy winner) didn’t play a down in the NFL. Why? He wouldn’t have made enough money!!! Dude became a sportswriter and started a business that made him a millionaire. This was a white dude who lived through the depression. You can’t say he’s a victim of the Hip-Hop, Thug Life, Me-Me-Me culture. He was from the people-starving-cinderella-man-gotta-get-that-money era. I don’t see people bashing him for not thinking about the team.
This is why I love Mr. Irvin. He is the only guy who sides with the players. Everyone else says (shutupandplay) think about the team. Yeah Deion Branch, so what if the Patriots are worth 1.2 Billion, you’ll break them if you get six-year, $39 million deal with a $12 million signing bonus like the Jets want to give you. Despite them not giving him what he wanted, when the grievance is settled the reason the Patriots give for not accepting less than two 1st round picks will be the same ones Branch used when he wanted to redo his deal. That’s just…special. Irvin is the only one that will say, “Deion get your money.” He’s the only one who doesn’t subscribe to the equation that T.O. = automatic chaos. Especially under a coach that never had a problem saying what’s on his mind. Meanwhile he’s also the only one who dared say anything about Brett Favre and his need to speak about other players contracts (a sin in the NFL) and the fact that he can keep everyone on edge until he makes up his mind if he wants to play or not. Double standard much? Michael Irvin you are my monday night hero…fight the good fight.
