Recapping March: Articles and Commentaries Chronicling the Month

With LeBron, Gisele, Annie Leibovitz, and the cover of American Vogue, the making of Tyler Hansbrough’s college legacy, Brett Favre’s “retirement,” the revealing of Arlen Specter’s true mission behind Spygate, more steroid news, upping the ante on Geno and Pat’s continuing feud, and the remaking of John Thompson III and Georgetown’s basketball program through March Madness and revisionist history, it has been yet another crazy month for sports and sports-related news.

So, I thought I’d do something a little different and provide a little recap of March through the month’s commentaries and articles. I’m actually crossing my fingers and hoping nothing too crazy happens between today and tomorrow at midnight!

Anyway, thanks for reading SOMM….

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Sal Pal Comes Correct on Favre

As we all know, the sports media has spent much of the week fawning of the newly-retired Brett Favre. Of the obsequious treatment, the ever-honest quarterback said, “Now I know what it’s like to die.”

Favre was undoubtedly a very good pro quarterback, however, many of his statistics were compiled through the sheer number of games he played. Yet if this fact, or the fact that the media was at least overexuberant in dealing with Favre’s  retirement is mentioned, maniacal Favre-lovers emerge from dusty corners of the country to protect the legend of their superhero. As a result, few reporters have ventured out onto the balanced Favre or, let’s back off the deification plank.

Time for a Station Break

I was in the midst of writing something, but this is more important…. and it’s one of those “blogger” diary entry deals, so bear with me, please.

Another “out of the box” earnest Internet writer hit me up for a chat. We had a round-about concerning Brett Favre and racism for about an hour. Toward the end of our chat he turned the conversation to the paucity of good “bloggers” who say anything or real worth. And one of the observations that could be inferred from our conversation is that the higher you go in the “blogsphere,” generally the less quality content there is.

You can never convince me that 100-word blurbs that act as prefaces to link dumps and picture after picture after picture of half-naked women or “isn’t she hot” photos equals substance; it isn’t worth trying to argue with me about it, so don’t go there. And pap-filled snark day after day doesn’t mean diddly-pooh. In fact, I remember laughing aloud when I was told in an email by one of these types that, “My friends and I who own these blogs bust our asses all day long thinking of snarky jokes, so if that makes us members of the white, racist, frat-boy sports blogsphere crowd, I’m fucking proud of it.”

Brett Favre

It was fitting that on a Monday night, the day after Brett Favre’s father Irv died of a heart attack at age 58, Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns. It might have been the best game of his football career.

It was equally fitting that Brett Favre’s final pass as an NFL quarterback was an interception.

The two examples personify Favre as a quarterback and define his persona. Each is fitting because they personify his gun-slinger, try to fit the ball in places it shouldn’t fit into – and places other quarterbacks would never think of attempting to fit the ball into – mentality. Part of Favre is also his “everyday man” persona. There was an “aw shucks-ness” to him that he portrayed to the public.

Brett Favre Is Done – More; Peter King Speaks!

Ahhhh, Peter King weighs in, with a Bishek, Kyrgyzstanturn, location tag, no less:

When the news of Brett Favre’s retirement broke halfway around the world, NFL defensive linemen Mike Rucker and Luis Castillo – on a USO/NFL Tour to pump up the troops here and in Afghanistan — stood huddled around a computer in the back of a pub on an U.S. Air Force Base. It was Karaoke Night, but they weren’t interested in music. They had their eyes fixed to a Biloxi Sun Herald story reporting legendary Packers quarterback Brett Favre would retire after his storied 17-year career.

“Wow! I love the dude,” said Rucker, the veteran Carolina Panther end, when he had digested the story.

AFC Championship: Three “Tynes” is the Charm; Cotrell Dials Up a Gem, But New England Goes Super Bowling

Unbelievable

This was one of the best game I have ever seen. Lawrence Tynes lining up for a third time, this time from 47 yards. Oh goodness! Eli The Maligned Manning is going Bowling. Michael Strahan almost retired, reported way late to training camp and is going Bowling. Tom Coughlin was almost run out of New York and is going Bowling.

Super bowl XLII will be and East Coast Super Bowl that, for various reasons, will capture a nation. The New York Giants are the first team in NFL history to win 10 road games in a row. The New England Patriots are the first team in NFL history to win 18 games in a row in one season. Plaxico Burress caught 11 passes for 154  of Manning’s 254 passing yards.

Brett Favre’s final pass of the season looked like it got caught in a sudden gust of wind as it fluttered short of its intended target and into the Giants Corey Webster’s arms. But there can be no blaming Favre or Mike McCarthy, or anyone else on the Packers team.

Both teams played about as wide-open a game as they could play given the conditions. Both teams played like there was no other game after this one. It just so happened that the New York Giants made one more play that did the Packers.

NFC, AFC Championship Games: Tough Sledding for the Road Teams

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers

What we have in the Giants-Packers matchup is, historically, the ultimate home versus this year’s road warriors. The Packers are peaking at the right time – now. Meantime, the Giants have treated opponents’ stadiums like their own, having won nine games in a row away from Giants Stadium.

Last week Green Bay overcame early fumbles by running back Ryan Grant by nullifying the Seattle front seven, creating huge holes for Grant and allowing Brett Favre the time to shred the Seahawks secondary. In New York, Favre and company face a similar-styled defense as that of Seattle. The Pack faces a quick, mobile Giants front four, a linebacker crew that is larger than the Seahawks but with just as much range, and a beatable but improved secondary.

The weaknesses in the Giants defense today that Favre can exploit deal much more with the health status of the New York defense than deficiencies in the defense. Aaron Ross will attempt to play despite a sore shoulder and Sam Madison is out. I do not expect Ross to be able to play beyond halftime before having to exit the game for good. And though R.W. McQuarters and Corey Webster are playing their best football of the season, the short-handed secondary will be severely tested by the Green Bay receiving corps.

The Black Quarterback: Running from the Devil

This is an article that has been on my mind for some time. The subject matter originally was Vince Young and race. You know, black quarterback who, in college is a star – make that super nova. But everyone can see that his mechanics are not those of the “prototypical” QB. In the pros he has a great year and appears to be on the verge of revolutionizing the NFL game. Then, when defensive coordinators begin to understand the weaknesses of this quarterback, the following season his stats drop. He can never quite do enough to satisfy his fan base. He walks around the practice field with a tee-shirt that reads, “I am a quarterback,” as if that will justify his existence; something you would never see his white peers do.

I read LZ Granderson’s article awhile back on VY and thought, okay, this is a great starting point. But there is more to this story than can be said in a column. And there’s more to the picture of Vince Young and the running quarterback than meets the eye.

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Spotes Notes, 1.15.08: Roger Still Dodging; LT Loves the Pats; Favre vs. Elway vs. PEDs; ESP —- WTF?!

Roger ever the dodger

Today Bud Selig and Donald Fehr re-testify in front of Congress. Roger Clemens said just last week that he would be deposed, testify, “Do anything it takes” to tell the truth about his steroids use. Today, Clemens remains willing to do so – in private.

While the stage was being set for today’s testimonies from MLB’s big-wigs, Clemens’ lawyer, Rusty Hardin was on Capitol Hill acting as a lobbyist for a corporation of one:

“Mr. Hardin went to Washington Monday – and left congressional staffers with the impression that Roger Clemens will agree to either a deposition or “interview” with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Clemens’ attorney Rusty Hardin met with the committee’s lawyers Monday, less than 24 hours before the panel grills commissioner Bud Selig, union chief Donald Fehr and former Sen. George Mitchell at today’s hearing on the report, and both sides characterized the meeting as cooperative.

Spotes Notes, 12.05.07: The Real Sportsman of the Year; Cabrera, Willis to Detroit; Henry Beats NFL; Rivera Named as Sean Taylor Gunman

The real 2007 Sportsman of the Year

Brett Favre, 2007 Sportsman of the Year? I think Favre is a great, great quarterback, but SOY? Sports Illustrated has never been known for its great decisions in this matter missed the beat again with the Green Bay Packers icon.

Roger Federer could have been picked as he continued to win again and again, major after major tournament. But Federer’s 2006 was a season for the ages and if he didn’t win the Sportsman award last year he won’t be considered for the award until he breaks Pete Sampras’ all-time Grand Slam tournament wins number. Perhaps he can if he falls from his number one perch for a couple of years, becomes more accessible to the American sports spin machine, and has one last glorious year replete with an unexpected Grand Slam win or two.