Harvey Almorn Updyke, Jr, is 62 years old, lives in Dadeville, Alabama, and loves his University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team. He also strongly dislikes the football team at the University of Auburn. This became apparent when, after Auburn beat Alabama in the annual Iron Bowl, he allegedly poisoned two 130 year old oak trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn. He likely wouldn't have been caught if it weren't for a phone call he made to a local radio station. He posed as "Al from Dadeville", and admitted to poisoning the trees with a herbicide called Spike 80DF because he saw a Cam Newton jersey on the statue of head coaching great Paul "Bear" Bryant.
To me, this seems fairly drastic, considering the damage both pranks had done. It's funny, yes, but uncalled for. If the Bryant statue had been torn down by Auburn fans, we're having a different conversation right now, but not for putting a player's jersey on it. He may have some mental or psychological issues, it seems to me. If you've heard the audio of the phone call (I can't find it online yet), you probably agree that something is a tad off with this guy. He has been arrested and charged with first-degree criminal mischief, and if he's convicted, he's looking at anywhere from one to 10 years in prison. I hope it was worth it, sir.
I find myself thinking about what I would do if I were in the same position that Updyke was in, witnessing the defilement of his beloved team's property (I was born in Toledo, Ohio and raised a Buckeye. O-H!), and I can say that I relate to him a bit. I don't think I would stoop to his level of nonsense, but sure, if some Michigan fans did something to The 'Shoe or anything around it, I would retaliate if given the opportunity.
I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on this one. Would you have done what Mr. Updyke did to get back at your team's arch rival? Have you participated in such shenanigans?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Making Things Difficult
For those not familiar with who Jerry Richardson is, he is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the Baltimore Colts from 1959-60, catching passes from the great Johnny Unitas. His career was mediocre, grabbing 15 passes for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns in two years, including a score in the 1959 championship game. After 35 years away from football, he became the second former player to have a majority ownership of an NFL franchise when his home state of North Carolina was awarded the Carolina Panthers. George Halas was first with the Chicago Bears.
He is among the owners participating in labor talks with NFLPA reps on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The meetings have halted between the two sides, partly because of the actions and words of Mr. Richardson the day before Super Bowl XLV. Players say he seemed annoyed just having to be there the weekend of the Super Bowl. He ripped Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, causing some of the other owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to become uncomfortable. It appears he just has a very negative attitude toward the players and their requests, and the CBA situation in general. Taking steps back when you should be moving forward is not the way to get next season going on time. Something has to give, and it needs to be Jerry Richardson giving up his place at the negotiation table.
The NFL cannot afford a lockout, not for any length of time. Remember what happened to hockey when the NHL lost the 2004-05 season? They're only now beginning to recover from that. So, what we are talking about is a $1 billion that the owners want the players to give them off the top of $9 billion estimated revenue the NFL piles up every year. They already get $1 billion off the top, and now they want to double it. Something is wrong with that. Just a thought, but why can't both sides agree that money is not the main issue with the CBA? The issue is player safety, and the fact that the owners want to add two games to the season, while dropping two games from the preseason. They say it's the same amount of games, so it's not an added safety hazard. However, taking away two light-hearted preseason games and replacing them with two more meaningful games in which players are giving up their bodies is hardly the same thing. Get rid of Richardson, and a deal gets done. But, I don't make those choices. Here's to hoping someone in the owners circle has some common sense.
He is among the owners participating in labor talks with NFLPA reps on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The meetings have halted between the two sides, partly because of the actions and words of Mr. Richardson the day before Super Bowl XLV. Players say he seemed annoyed just having to be there the weekend of the Super Bowl. He ripped Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, causing some of the other owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to become uncomfortable. It appears he just has a very negative attitude toward the players and their requests, and the CBA situation in general. Taking steps back when you should be moving forward is not the way to get next season going on time. Something has to give, and it needs to be Jerry Richardson giving up his place at the negotiation table.
The NFL cannot afford a lockout, not for any length of time. Remember what happened to hockey when the NHL lost the 2004-05 season? They're only now beginning to recover from that. So, what we are talking about is a $1 billion that the owners want the players to give them off the top of $9 billion estimated revenue the NFL piles up every year. They already get $1 billion off the top, and now they want to double it. Something is wrong with that. Just a thought, but why can't both sides agree that money is not the main issue with the CBA? The issue is player safety, and the fact that the owners want to add two games to the season, while dropping two games from the preseason. They say it's the same amount of games, so it's not an added safety hazard. However, taking away two light-hearted preseason games and replacing them with two more meaningful games in which players are giving up their bodies is hardly the same thing. Get rid of Richardson, and a deal gets done. But, I don't make those choices. Here's to hoping someone in the owners circle has some common sense.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The Cam-Man Can! ....Or Can He?
Many people have recently been raving about Cam Newton and his "media workout", which was a brilliant choice by the big dude. Having a bunch of sports reporters out to watch him play catch with no defense at all makes him look like a light-footed version of Peyton Manning (note to self: He is no Peyton Manning). Brilliant, yes, because with the media singing his praises from the mountain tops, he has all but guaranteed himself a top-10 draft selection. He'll be drafted in the top-10, then just like JaMarcus Russell after a handful of despicable years, he will be hated by fans and subsequently released.
That's no knock to his college career, which was great....but quite brief. After riding the bench behind Tim Tebow for two years at the University of Florida, he transferred to Auburn University (after a certain issue with Mississippi St.), where he sat out a year. Then he proceeded to have one of the best college football seasons in the history of the glorious game, leading the Tigers to a National Championship win over the University of Oregon in Glendale, AZ. Yes, he piled up amazing numbers in the SEC, but I'm not convinced he's any good based on a media workout/funday.
There were numerous occasions in the title game in which Newton missed wide open receivers by a lot when he was pressured by the Ducks defense. And that's okay, it happens all the time, but what it shows me is that when a fast defensive front 7 gets in his face and there is no running lane, he rushes his throws, causing inaccuracy. I'm sure which ever organization drafts him will work on speeding up his release and progression, but it won't do much good. Don't get me wrong, if my favorite team got the chance to draft him, I might be okay with that....in the 4th round. Why not, at least they didn't waste our first round pick and possibly 3-5 years of mediocrity and pissed off fans on him. If it works out, they are geniuses, and if not, no big deal.
Many quarterbacks have had outstanding college careers that don't translate well to the NFL, so if and when this happens to Mr. Newton, nobody should be surprised. When you look at those who failed in the League after torching college defenses to ashes, it opens your eyes to the difference in college and pro athletes. Tim Couch was a top overall selection, and while he wasn't terrible, he never lived up to his draft status. Most of you should know who Matt Leinart is. National Champ at USC, number 10 overall choice by Arizona, so far an NFL dud. Don't get me wrong, I'm not basing my opinion of Newton on the failure of quarterbacks past, but I feel that his game is too unproven. When he hits the field in the NFL he will be shocked at the speed and power he witnesses. He will no longer be able to run through every arm tackle and the little 5'-9" 170 pound corner coming on a blitz.
In closing, as this is my first post, I would like to thank you for reading. I hope you found it interesting, and feel free to follow me and come back. I'm just gettin' started here on the Express
That's no knock to his college career, which was great....but quite brief. After riding the bench behind Tim Tebow for two years at the University of Florida, he transferred to Auburn University (after a certain issue with Mississippi St.), where he sat out a year. Then he proceeded to have one of the best college football seasons in the history of the glorious game, leading the Tigers to a National Championship win over the University of Oregon in Glendale, AZ. Yes, he piled up amazing numbers in the SEC, but I'm not convinced he's any good based on a media workout/funday.
There were numerous occasions in the title game in which Newton missed wide open receivers by a lot when he was pressured by the Ducks defense. And that's okay, it happens all the time, but what it shows me is that when a fast defensive front 7 gets in his face and there is no running lane, he rushes his throws, causing inaccuracy. I'm sure which ever organization drafts him will work on speeding up his release and progression, but it won't do much good. Don't get me wrong, if my favorite team got the chance to draft him, I might be okay with that....in the 4th round. Why not, at least they didn't waste our first round pick and possibly 3-5 years of mediocrity and pissed off fans on him. If it works out, they are geniuses, and if not, no big deal.
Many quarterbacks have had outstanding college careers that don't translate well to the NFL, so if and when this happens to Mr. Newton, nobody should be surprised. When you look at those who failed in the League after torching college defenses to ashes, it opens your eyes to the difference in college and pro athletes. Tim Couch was a top overall selection, and while he wasn't terrible, he never lived up to his draft status. Most of you should know who Matt Leinart is. National Champ at USC, number 10 overall choice by Arizona, so far an NFL dud. Don't get me wrong, I'm not basing my opinion of Newton on the failure of quarterbacks past, but I feel that his game is too unproven. When he hits the field in the NFL he will be shocked at the speed and power he witnesses. He will no longer be able to run through every arm tackle and the little 5'-9" 170 pound corner coming on a blitz.
In closing, as this is my first post, I would like to thank you for reading. I hope you found it interesting, and feel free to follow me and come back. I'm just gettin' started here on the Express
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