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February 20, 2010

Ranking the All-Star Games

I remember growing up I couldn't wait for All-Star games, regardless of the sport. I loved watching all the skills competitions, they meant nothing but it was just so exciting to watch. It was also to see the best players in the world all compete on the same stage. I remember going to games and punching my All-Star game ballots. It was always hard to ignore my biases and pick the most deserving players over my favorite team. I normally would fill one out with the players I felt deserved it the most. having the best season, and then one with just my favorite teams players.
I started to think, which game is the best game? Putting it all into consideration (events, quality of the game, player participation, ect..) which is the most exciting game to watch as a fan? Which sports got it right and who needs to start making some changes. Well here is just one man's opinions, ranking them worst to best.

NFL Pro Bowl

Pros
Not a lot to be honest. I do like they're making the effort to improve the game. They moved it to the week before the Super Bowl and also to the same site as the Super Bowl. I don't think this idea actually paid off at all but they made the effort to improve something that's clearly broken. I think the one area the NFL does a great job in is choosing the right players for the game. I don't normally hear too much arguing that a certain player got snubbed for a guy who didn't deserve it. Also normally everyone gets a good amount of playing time so you can see your favorite player.

Cons
This should be a lot easier to write then the pros portion. Let's be honest, no one cares about the Pro Bowl. The game set rules place to prevent injuries to players, which makes sense, but it just takes so much away from the game. It doesn't even resemble football. Plus the games are normally not even that exciting. They're not overly high scoring to keep the fans interested. With the changes made this year you did not have any participants from the Colts or Saints and players on teams who were knocked out of the playoffs were reluctant to play in the game. David Gerrard, with all due respect, had no right playing in an All Star Game this year and yet, there he was. Just doesn't seem right. It's also the only game that does not travel. It does not allow the common fan to ever see the game in person.

Possible Changes?
I really have no idea. I honestly think they should scrap the game altogether. Instead add a skills competition. They do this for High School and College players. It doesn't get a lot of hype but it is rather entertaining to watch. Get the QB's to an accuracy competition or maybe a best 40 time. It might not catch on but the Pro Bowl itself I don't ever see being popular.

NBA All-Star Weekend

Pros
I really enjoy the contests around the All Star game. The Rookie/Sophomore game looks nothing like basketball but it's a fun game to watch. The players go out and have fun and get to let loose a bit. It's good to see some guys who may never get a chance to play in the big game to enjoy the festivities for a year or two. The Three-Point contest is always fun to watch. It's something we've all played with our friends growing up, and, hell, as grown ups. The Dunk Contest had taken a lot of slack over the best players not participating but that has never really been the case. In the 80's you had Jordan, Nique, and Dr. J but have you ever watched those contests? They're awful. 360's? Reverse dunks? The best dunkers aren't always the best players. Plus it's not like Dwight Howard is some slouch. All and all the game is exciting. You get to see players run up and down the court and play an uptempo game. Normally the game ends up to be a pretty close game and keeps the fans involved.

Cons
The biggest reason why this game is higher on my list is the player selection process. Basketball fans are clearly the most ignorant set of fans. I understand the game is for the fans and they should get to see who they want to see but really? Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady should have never even been considered for the game this year. Yet as the voting went one McGrady finally faded away in the end but still Iverson was voted in. That's simply a joke. Iverson had no right playing in that game. I realize due to an unfortunate family illness he was unable to participate but that doesn't mean it should be overlooked. Plus a guy like David Lee, who was plenty deserving, was going to be overlooked because his team is playing poorly. He was finally able to get in due to Iverson's absence. The overall teams performance should not prevent that player from participating in the All Star game.

Possible Changes
Add a common sense rule. If a player who we all know has no right to be in that game then get rid of him. Get a more deserving player in the game who was also high in the fan votes. Plus is a player who plays on a bad team can be voted in then why should the coaches not consider those same players. Coaches need to scrap that thought process and just pick the best players. The game could of course use more defense. You have guys like Al Horford who are there because what they do on defense. Still, I have no idea how to improve the defense played in the game. The fans want to see a lot of scoring and the ally-oops so I don't see this ever changing.

NHL All-Star Game
Pros
I must admit I do not watch much Hockey. I like the game and tend to get into it once the playoffs roll around I'll watch. I know the big names and I understand the game. I just simply don't watch enough to know the players after the big names. Yet, just about every year I catch myself watching the All-Star games and skills competitions. The game is very exciting. It's normally pretty high scoring and if it isn't it means the goalies are playing great. Either way it's exciting to see a high number of goals or some great saves. The Skills competitions are also a lot of fun to watch. You normally get the best players to do it and they all get into it. The NHL has also implemented a rule I love. If a player is chosen to participate in the All-Star game chooses not to in some capacity he'll be suspended one game either before or after the All-Star game. Now if a player is injured then he will not be subject to this rule. This also doesn't mean the player has to play in the game. He just needs to be participate in anything from a autograph session, skills competition, or the game. The game is for the fans and players owe it to the fans to at least show up and be there. I love the fact the NHL put a rule in place to help deter the thought of players not participating and thinks about the fans.

Cons
I really don't have many cons because my lack of knowledge of the sport. I think if I had anymore interest in the sport this could be number 1 on my list. The NHL really just does not do enough marketing to draw in new fans. They've changed formats (West vs East and North America vs World) to try and draw interest but it just hasn't worked. The NHL would do itself a huge favor if it would market this game more and draw in more fans. I know a lot of people who wish they were bigger hockey fans but just can't seem to get into it. This game could be that answer.

Possible Changes?
Play this game outdoors. The outdoor game draws in people who don't normally watch hockey games. If you were to play this game at Wrigley Field or Yankee Stadium it'd be a big hit for the hard core fans and even the average hockey fan. The game will simply market itself and you might even create new fans in the process.

Baseball All-Star Game

Pros
This is the only All-Star game that actually resembles a real game. The players still pitch and hit the same way they normally would in a real game. They'll play just as hard at the plate as they do in the field. Due to the nature of the sport there's a lot less chance of an injury occurring so the players aren't playing softer. Maybe my favorite part is that every team has a player represented. Yes it creates some snubs each year and maybe some players who should be there don't get in due to this rule. Still, I love the fact that even a fan of a horrible team can say they had at least one All-Star. It gives every a fan in every market an excuse to watch the game every year. I also must admit that I just love baseball and my bias takes over in the end. I love the Home Run Derby. It's a great event and its simple. No need to try and tweak. The game is great because you can just see how much fun the players have during it. From Randy Johnson throwing behind John Kruk to A-Rod giving up his position so Cal Ripken could play shortstop one last time are great moments. I just don't see that in the other games and this is why I'll tune in every year.

Cons
Again, I love this game. It's hard for me to find a con in the game. With that being said I'll keep it simple. Scrap the idea that the winner gets home field in the World Series. The game is supposed to be fun and by making it mean something takes away from that. The other problem I have is that when the game is actually on the line the best hitters are on the bench. The fans want to see Albert Pujols up to bat with the game on the line, not Dan Uggla (who is a very good player, just not a fan favorite at this point).

Possible Changes
I already said it but again, get rid of the "This One Counts" idea. Good thought but bad idea. I realize that no team wants to see a pitcher get hurt. I think they should allow each team to pick 3-4 reserve pitchers in case the game does hit extra innings. These pitchers would only be allowed to enter the game if it goes into extra innings. Also positional players should be allowed to re-enter the game. This way we can see the best players in the game when the game is on the line.

February 3, 2010

Brett Favre's Legacy


I've sat on this blog for a almost two weeks now and put a lot of thought into this. Foolishly assuming that Brett Favre is actually done with playing football, the question is how will he be remembered?

Of course when you think about Favre it's hard to ignore the last couple of seasons. Favre toyed with fans announcing his retirement twice and then later deciding to come back to play both times. The year in New York is almost considered a lost season. He played with Jet's fans and gave them hope before fading at the end of the season. We all knew he was done in New York after that Dolphins game, the bigger question was if he was done with Football.

For the next few months Favre's won't he or will circus was all the rage. The Vikings were willing to do just about anything to get him to comeback and play while the Packers were willing to pay him $20 million to retire. When Brad Childress rolled up at the airport to pick up Favre at the a collective "$hit" was heard from Packer nation. Suddenly there was a civil war and loyal Packer fans were seen at the bar wearing purple and gold. Favre then spent the next 5 months slowing ripping out the heart of Packer fans as he lead the Vikings to the second best record in the NFC, including two victories over the Packers.

Then Favre, at the ancient age of 40 (in terms of Football) tore apart the Cowboys to put the Vikings one game away from another Super Bowl appearance. As the game against the Saints moved on it just seemed it was setting up for Favre to have that drive. The Vikings made mistake after mistake but were still right there with a chance to win. They were driving down the field and really just needed a few yards to set up a game winning Super Bowl. Favre then dropped back and had the space to run for those must needed yards when he did what he does. He saw a throw that shouldn't be made and tried to make it. When Tracy Porter picked that ball off you knew it was over. The Saints won the toss and after the one of the worst overtime drives I've ever seen, kicked a 42 yard field goal to end Favre's run.

Favre's numbers are hard to ignore. He is the all time leader in wins and touchdowns thrown. He won three MVP's in a row and lead his team to two straight Super Bowl appearances, winning one. The record that really stands out though is the consecutive games played streak. His toughness, above all other attributes, will be remembered over everything else. There's no denying his drive to play the game and that streak puts that drive into numbers. Weather his motivation was the streak alone, records, winning championships, or just pure love of the game it's still an amazing streak.

All and all you it's hard to argue that Favre is one of the best to ever play the game but I think too many people want to place Favre as one of the top 3 or 5 quarterbacks to ever play the game. Favre has the records that the average fan may view him as the greatest to ever play but this isn't Baseball. Records are just an after thought in Football. Football is about one thing, winning championships. You're career is judged based on how you play in the post season and Super Bowls you win. Favre has won just 1 Super Bowl.

Overall he has started 24 playoff games, more then any other quarterback in the history of the game. He's also lost 11 of those games, also more then any other quarterback in the history of the game (just ahead of Marino and Kelly).

To me this perfectly illustrates his career. He was great enough to get you there but maybe just too stubborn to get you to the top. For every great record he has it almost seems he has a "yeah but" record to follow. For every throw that makes your jaw drop in amazement his next one has you putting your head through a wall.

Favre is arguably the greatest regular season quarterback to ever play the game, the numbers would say the greatest. When the playoffs came around he was really just another quarterback. Favre, in my memory, never had that game in the playoffs that stands out. Favre's post season failures are remembered more then his successes.

At the end of the day I have one play that stands out in my mind. It was in 2004 during a regular season game against the Giants. The Packers were off to a slow start that season and this game wasn't looking any better. To add to it in the third quarter Favre took a big hit that left him with a concussion. After sitting out two plays Favre placed himself back in the game. The next play, his last in that game, was a 28 yard touchdown pass to Javon Walker. Favre simply did what he does. He ignored basic logic and took a chance, it just so happen to work out for him that time.