Just Get It Right!

Hypothetical.

You're job interview is at 8:00am tomorrow morning, and being the careful person you are, you set your alarm for 7:00 pm "the next morning." Wake up at 10am and realize, YOU DID IT WRONG.

I bet you'd like to go back and fix it, and wish you had the opportunity to do so, right?

This is why I just don't get it. Listen. It's 2010. We have the ability to use instant replay. In ALL sports, on ALL levels. I simply don't understand what the problem is with getting it right. Why not use replay? You might make the assumption that umpires or referee's would be useless, and good/bad umpires would be nonexistent anymore. And? Hire a crew of umps to go out there and call it like they see it, and if they get it wrong, big deal. It takes all of 15 seconds for a scorer to view the play and make a decision. Then, someone upstairs can call down and let them know. Simple. The better umpires can get it right most of the time and keep the games running smoothly. I just don't seem to understand what's wrong with getting it right. I don't think this guy does either. Balls and strikes? They have always been judgement calls and always will be judgement calls. But for safe/out, HR/Not, catch/no-catch, is it really that difficult to just get it right, and not have to worry about human error deciding games, championships, and most of all, history. It's about time we man up and admit that man isn't perfect, and a little help from technology isn't always a bad thing.

And don't even get me started on the lack of proper officiating/replay in soccer. Ask Frank Lampard.

Oh, and by the way, the Little League World Series just started using replay and implemented coaches challenges into the game; figures it takes 12 year old kids to set the example for revenue-earning professional sports. Sigh.

Brett Fa***

There's a reason why sports linesmakers pick and choose their prop bets to post lines for, because like the result of games, they're actually undecided when bets are placed on them! For this very reason, you haven't and won't ever find a prop on whether or not Brett Favre signs on to play another year in the NFL, barring a late diagnosis of legionnaires disease prior to training camp.

We've seen this dog and pony show before, from the marketing ploys, to the press conferences, all the way down to the late night shows, and I think I can speak for many when I say, Brett, this is getting very old (no pun intended). Everybody and their cousin's roommate's neighbor knows you're coming back, so, what's your motive?

Is it publicity?

Can't be, I mean, a ticker with "FAVRE" scrolling at the bottom of ESPN two years ago didn't do it?

Is it ego?

Not a chance, nothing screams ego-maniac like a catastrophic brain fart mistake that this was.

So, what is it Brett, a combination of the two? Seems plausible.

I suppose I've never looked forward to the end (knock on wood) of one players career more than I have yours. I strive to take nothing away from your career, your accomplishments are unprecedented (even your record for interceptions much like that one we just saw), and you're a lock for Canton, but when it's time to hang up the cleats, it's time.

Obviously this is wishful thinking, but how about going out quietly? You may be able to redeem yourself to football nation, wink wink.

The Summer of LeBron

...And the Windy City rejoices as the King decided to ship his throne to Ch..... Miami?... Wait, really, Miami?

Never in my near two decades of following sports would I have ever dreamed someone could give me a better analogy than LeBron James did in his gaudy ESPN Special. The guy simply biffed a lay-up. This "decision" was on a tee for the guy, and he hit a chile pepper that was worse than the display Costner put on in Tin Cup.

You're telling me, the self-proclaimed "King" is on his way down to South Beach to play second fiddle to the King of "Wade County?"

James had the chance of a lifetime. Twice. And then some. And he couldn't have struck out and looked any worse. He had the throne in Cleveland. Thousands upon thousands of adoring fans who saw him through their twinkled eyes. He had the chance to bring joy to a city that's had nothing but excruciating failures to deal with in recent memory, and he copped out. He had the chance to be the man in the big city, and wear his crown and strive to hoist a banner in the Empire of New York, yet he copped out. He had the chance to go to Brooklyn, and team with a billionaire and a rapper/millionaire, to strive to bring a title to a team that was so bad last year, it was stomach-turning to watch, and he copped out. Most importantly, he had the chance to play in the shadow of his idle, in the city he owned, with the supporting cast he's dreamed about, and the spotlight he's accustomed to, and he copped out. He copped out, took the easy road. And it's something us fans, the people who stood up for him, as Laker fans around the nation ran their mouths about their guy Kobe, and his nose for championships, will never let him live down. Never would I have thought that I fathom favoring Bryant over James, but it's something that is a reality now.

James chose to go to Miami, the city that Wade built, the team that "Flash" owns, and team up with him and all-star Chris Bosh, as they quest for championships on a team that Wade has won with already. There you go LeBron, there's a legacy builder. Nothing says I'm the greatest of all-time like calling up two of your all-NBA buddies and saying: "Hey! After 7 years in my hometown where I couldn't get it done on my own, I figured I'd give you guys a call and see what we could do together!" Well played, LeBron. If MJ's shadow wasn't too big enough for you already, let me make it a little deeper and darker by telling you that if Wade/Bosh were playing in his era, not only would he refuse to play with them, but he'd hope they were in his division so he could go out and whoop them every. single. night. You better believe that.

I suppose Chicago wasn't right for him, as he clearly can't handle the pressure that comes with being the King, so he did the right thing, by packing his bags and turning in his crown. Cleveland didn't have the pieces, New York was too big of a stage, Brooklyn failed to impress, and Chicago was too good to be true, but all I can say is, I hope you win 7 titles LBJ, I really hope you do, because if you don't, not only would you be seen as a coward, but as someone who couldn't even succeed at settling. Ouch. It's gonna be a long decade, Mr. James.

But, hey, life could be worse. You could be a Cleveland fan.