Open Letter to Michael Heisley

Dear Mr. Heisley,

It seems that everywhere from the local press to the national pundits, you're being ripped for the Allen Iverson situation. I, for one, would like take 2 minutes to say thank you. I'll be honest and say that I've given you my fair share of criticism, but at least you tried. Memphis fans were tired of Fratello-ball, and you got rid of him. Memphis fans said that the team couldn't move forward with Pau, and he needed to be traded and the team blown up. You traded Pau and blew up the team. You made trades for OJ Mayo.

And then when the chance came along to give Memphis the superstar it has been screaming for, you took that chance and brought Allen Iverson to Memphis...well, to the Grizzlies at least. We never actually got to see him play IN Memphis.

Blame is being thrown every which way. But basically the bottom line is that for a little while, the Grizzlies had a bonified superstar. It didn't work for whatever reason - but at least you tried, Mr. Heisley. Ticket sales would have gone up. Merchandise would have gone up. Fans would have been happy.

But sadly, much like our luck in the lottery, the balls bounced the wrong way. But just like the lottery, it wasn't anything you could control. You just put your best foot forward, make the effort and hope with everything you have that it works out like it should.

Thanks for trying,
D

Has It Really Been Since July??

Man, this day job thing is cramping the style of my Average Idiot Ramblings.

Bill Belichik:

Cris Carter made the comment on ESPN this morning, that since 2000 in previous meetings with the Colts – both regular season and post-season games – Belichik has done this 16 times. Gone for it on 4th down and GOTTEN it 8 out of 12 times in the regular season and GOTTEN it 4 out of 4 times in the post-season.

That’s 12 out of 16 times against the Colts that the Patriots have gone for it on 4th and whatever and gotten it. Given THAT history, the fact that Manning had just walked the field twice, AND considering that they only needed 2 little yards…the decision to go for it didn’t sound quite so crazy to me.


Jimmie Johnson:

NASCAR fans immediately understand the phrase "modern era"...that is, "After 1972". Records are referred to as if that were the BC/AD line in the NASCAR time frame. I think we are in a new era that should be labeled "the chase era". Is it impressive that Jimmie Johnson can run off 4 straight chase championships? Absolutely, when you consider that some teams can't even make it IN the chase 4 straight years. But to compare Jimmie Johnson's championships - even his 3 in a row from last year - to Cale's is a skewed comparison.

Gone are the days of "Daytona pays the same points as Homestead" because honestly, they don't. The numbers may be the same, but the value of the Daytona points are drastically different. They're worth much less. The points leader can have lapped the field by Richmond and be up more than 3 races worth of points...and they all go away when the chase starts.

It's a voodoo points system that rewards excellence in the last 10 races. I said it was a gimmick system when they announced it, and I still say it is. Does winning the most races make you a points champion? No. But if we're comparing the chase to stick-and-ball sports, then they need to have a provisional in this goofy chase for the guy that wins the most races. He deserves to be in more - based on accomplishments - than the guy in 12th place 850 points back when it starts, if you ask me.

So congratulations, Jimmie, you are setting a very impressive high-water mark with 4 straight chase championships. And every driver that competes in the chase era will be measured with that stick. But I'm still more impressed with Alan Kulwicki's single 1992 full-season, championship as an owner/driver than I am with your 4 gimmick championships.


Vince Young

Well, apparently Vince Young CAN play football in the NFL...who knew? Well, other than Bud "the bird" Adams. I'd suggest he'd read it and took it to heart - but nobody reads this. I just do it to shut up the voices in my head.



and finally, USC

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

Stewart/Busch Wreck at Daytona

A lot has been written and said about the big wreck at the end of the Coke 400 Saturday at Daytona. And Kyle Busch has been blamed for a lot of things that weren't his fault.

But this one was his fault. And it were Tony in the lead, it would have been Tony's fault. If it were Carl Edwards, it would have been Carl's fault...just like it was at Talladega.

Say what you want about plate racing...the bottom line is this: YOU CAN'T BLOCK TWICE!!

If you block high, and the guy ducks low - you're done! You can NOT block that guy again, because every time he'll have a nose inside and you'll clip his nose and you'll eat the wall!! And at Talladega in October, somebody will try this again, and they'll eat some more wall.

Don't yell at NASCAR about the plate racing. Yell about the yellow line if you want because that's what's forcing the 2nd place guy to stay where he is and wreck the leader. But with the racing and rules being what they are now, it's just this simple: You can't block twice.

Why "the best drivers in the world" can't figure this out, I'll never know.

Oh, and on Kyle Busch

I understand that when it's presented to him, it's his trophy to do with as he pleases. But it's disrespectful, and downright rude. If this is the 8-foot-tall Bristol trophy or the grandfather clock from Martinsville or the brick trophy from Indy...people are calling for his head if he picks it up and smashes it in Victory Lane.

But since it's a guitar, well then nevermind the hours and hours that Sam Bass spent painting it. And nevermind the field of drivers who would have LOVED to have won that guitar to put in their case...for some maybe the only NASCAR trophy they ever own. Nope, nevermind that...because dumb ol' Kyle Busch thinks it's cute to jump out and smash this trophy.

It's disrespectful. He's an idiot. And I only have one question: Does anyone have Jimmy Spencer's phone number handy? He seemed to be able to straighten Kurt out...maybe he could be talked into doing the same for Kyle.

The Grizzlies and the #2 Pick

Granted that there’s always hope – especially when you look at the OJ Mayo deal from last year. But here’s the root cause for my concern with the Grizzlies having the 2nd pick.

Had the Grizzlies gotten the first pick, it was very easy. The glaring need for the Grizzlies is Power Forward. The best power forward in the draft is also the consensus best overall player in this draft. There’s no thought involved, and no decision to be made.

When the Grizzlies get the SECOND pick instead of the FIRST pick – that introduces DECISION into the process. And other than the Mayo trade from last year, the Grizzlies scare me when they start making decisions.

Package Rudy Gay and the Number 2 pick to the Clippers, and get the Number 1 pick and Blake Griffin. Even without Rudy you have Mayo, Gasol, Griffin and Conley who has really shown some improvement under Hollins – that’s a pretty solid 4 out of 5. Draft some depth at 27 and pick up some decent free agents that don’t cost a ton. Then you get to keep yourself well under the cap because you don’t have to give Rudy a big contract, and you’ve gotten yourself some budget free agents. And I’m not trading Rudy because he’s bad or doesn’t fit, but he’s your most tradable asset.

But whatever you do…DON’T put the Grizzlies in the position of having to make a decision of what to do with the Number 2 pick. Because the situation scares me.

Vince Young - The Repost...

Now, Vince, this isn't booing you...so don't do anything crazy - but given the events of the past week, I thought I should repost my Ode To Vince Young from back in January.

It's a cool autumn morning, with a nip in the air.
Coach Fisher's on the field, and he's the only one there.
He's thinking 'bout the good times, when everything was fine.
How great that whole team was, that season back in '99.

Then someone from the shadows, walks through the endzone.
Is he the hope of a franchise or just another draft pick blown?
He won a title with Texas, wears Jersey number 10.
The reason Titans fans say weekly "we just lost again"

Vince Young can't play football in the NFL
He can run and he can throw, but can't do either very well.
He won a title with Texas, wears Jersey number 10.
The reason Titans fans say weekly "we just lost again"

Coach Fisher says to the man, "Vince listen to me, son.
You've got an awkward motion, and you're too slow to run.
You're a larger Michael Vi-ick, that's what they all say.
The only differ'nce I can tell, is that Michael Vick could play."

Vince Young can't play football in the NFL
He can run and throw, but can't do either very well.
He won a title with Texas, wears Jersey number 10.
The reason Titans fans say weekly "we just lost again"

Oh they could have had Cutler, or the kid from USC.
Why the Titans picked this guy, is a mystery to me.

Vince Young can't play football in the NFL
He can run and throw, but can't do either very well.
He won a title with Texas, wears Jersey number 10.
The reason Titans fans say weekly "we just lost again"

SEC Opening Weekend Recap

First of all, seriously, Razorbacks - a 4th quarter rally to beat Western Illinois? It's going to be a long season.

Hey, Memphis - see what happens when you play against an SEC team with a real coach? For the past 3 years, the Tigers have had this inflated sense of self worth based on their performance against an SEC team. But it was an SEC team coached by a coach who is up 2 touchdowns over their arch-rival and goes for it on 4th and 2. Ole Miss has good talent, and now a good coach...and Memphis is what it is. A team that can't even win its own conference...even when it's Conference USA.

Mississippi State...what's up? Bowl win, momentum, big year, not hardly. The only thing worse than State losing to LaTech is my Hogs nearly losing to Western Illinois.

The rest of the SEC rolled like they're supposed to on opening weekend. Even Bama - welcome back Tide. That was an impressive display on national television last night. That should help get you a boost in the Top 25 polls this week.

The only other of the easy games worth mentioning is Florida over Hawaii. Can we stop with the Hawaii talk now? All we heard was poor little Hawaii isn't allowed to play even though they're putting up PlayStation type numbers. Then Georgia handed it to them in the bowl game last year, then they start this season with a 56-10 blowout loss to Florida. Hawaii is nothing. Congratulations, you went 12-0 last year...oh, right up until you played a real team in Georgia. Then your undefeated season AND your PlayStation stats came to a screeching halt...which continued on Day 1 this year when the same thing happened.

And yeah, I'm typing this all up before UT plays UCLA - but nobody cares about UT anyway. But can get a Howl Yes from the RedWolves (that was their season ticket slogan, btw)? Start the Red Wolves of Arkansas State era off with a Field Goal filled win over Texas A&M. It drives me nuts when a team kicks a bunch of field goals and beats a team that scores touchdowns...but you know, those points count, too. Congratulations RedWolves. It's not every day that you'll beat a Big12 team, so be proud with this one. But I'll say this - Arkansas State should be more proud of beating Texas A&M than LaTech should be of beating Mississippi State.

Grizzlies Draft and Trade

Great job, Grizzlies! I love the trade. I don't love Mike Miller leaving, but I understand it had to happen. O.J. Mayo has been supposed to be the next big thing since we first started hearing his name.

I like Mike Heisley's 3-year plan. With Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and now O.J. Mayo, we have a core of solid young perimeter players. Darrell Arthor was the 11th best guy on the Grizzlies draft board, and I hope he's as good as we're hearing. Marc Gasol I know nothing about, but people that do are saying he's very, very good. And the one thing he has that his brother doesn't is the ability to come in and play without an insane expectation to be THE guy in Memphis.

Most likely, the Grizzlies won't be good again next year, but they don't have to be bad on purpose. As young as they are, the draft pick next year will be another lottery pick. Combine that with the Lakers additional pick from the Pau Gasol trade, and the abundance of Point Guards we have, that's a pretty powerful combination of assets to be able to pull off trades. Throw in the cap room to make the Grizzlies a key player in the free agent market, and this team could be better sooner rather than later.

Considering that Rudy Gay is the "veteran" in this new core of players, they're young, and that could translate in a year-long schooling by NBA teams loaded with veteran players, but what they lack in experience, they make up for in talent. And at the conclusion of Mike Heisley's 3-year plan, our core with have experience and talent and be in a Conference whose dominant teams will all be aging.

I love the trade. I love the Pau trade. I love the position the Grizzlies are in going forward from this draft. And it's no coincidence that all this took place after Jerry West got out of town. You don't have to totally stick it to the other team to make a good trade, and it seems that was Jerry's criteria. If he wasn't "winning" the trade, he wasn't interested. Mr. Wallace came in and made a trade that works for everyone involved. And now this team is in a prime position to be a contender at the end of Mike Heisley's 3-year plan. Thank you, Jerry West for not being here this year to screw this up.