Hello and welcome to another Wednesday of deep thoughts. I hope that everyone had a great end to 2012. I generally lay very low on the last day of the year and this year was no different. It is always tough for me to immediately look back to determine if the legacy of the year will be good or bad. The bad always seems to stick with us, but I will have many fond memories of 2012.

For those of you that enjoy fantasy sports, I have set up a playoff league for the Gab and others…if you send me a message with your email address; I will send you a message. There is no draft, you chose 20 players that you think will score the most points in the playoffs.

 BOB mentioned in his blog yesterday about his desire to focus on the sport and not the drama surrounding the sport. I think that this is a very interesting comment as the drama is what the media believes that fans want. Over the Christmas holidays, I watched a replay of the famous Ice Bowl of 1967, between Green Bay and Dallas. When I originally watched the game, I was just a kid. Much has changed since that cold day in Wisconsin. On that day, how many of those watching had an interest in the drama surrounding the game? My guess is very few. When you attend a sports event in below zero temperatures, you have to love the game. I suspect that we will look back at the game of the 60’s and 70s and realize that those were the “golden years” of professional football. We all realize what has caused the change…money. The very thing that allows us to watch our favorite game, has given impetus to the increase in hype. Today’s vocabulary is proof of hype…swag, and street cred are words that motivate today’s athletes. The media feeds on this and we end up with reality TV and people like Honey Boo Boo. This is not the kids fault, it is what they know. It strikes me that it is up to those of us that remember a different way to keep the memory alive. This may sound somewhat idealistic. In reality, I know the NFL will never be what it was, but should we not forget that there was a different way…just the same.

Last Sunday, the Cowboys faced an elimination game with the Redskins. Although I hoped that they might figure out a way to win, I suspected otherwise. This has been a very difficult year for the Cowboys defense, as they just have not been able to stay healthy. Tony Romo had a very good year. He won games when they were almost hopeless. Romo got the blame when receivers ran poor routes. Romo kept plays alive while running for his life. When Dallas lost, he got the blame…even when it was not his fault. It is easy to place the Redskins loss on Romo. It is impossible to ignore those three interceptions without acknowledging his poor play. But, what many fail to see is the terrific game plan of Jim Haslett and the Skin defensive staff. Washington blitzed early and often, with Dallas only sporadically able to slow the pass rush. The last interception was a misread by Romo. Blitzing linebacker Rob Jackson fooled Romo. His first two steps signaled a blitz, when in reality he was only feigning a rush. Romo thought the outlet pass to Murray was uncovered…he was wrong. Throughout his career, Romo continues to be just a bit off. From his botched handling of a winning field goal to his well publicized vacation with Jessica Simpson. There is a local sports talk guy that describes Romo as a successful child living in a very dysfunctional family. Romo’s family of course is his Cowboy team. The dysfunctional structure begins with Jerry Jones and trickles down. Would Tom Brady have three super bowls if he played for Dallas? Would New England have won those Super Bowls with Tony Romo at the helm? That is a very good question as well...

I was reading a bit of the Sports Pickle this afternoon. I don’t read it much, but usually find something sports related that is pretty damn funny. As most of you know, I am not a big hockey guy. Even so, I still have watched the hockey lockout with some interest. Radatz wrote a great blog last week about the hockey lockout and what the long term prognosis of the NHL might be. I found this brief report to be very amusing:

News from December 28^th

"The NHL made a new offer to the NHL Players' Association on Friday in hopes of saving a season on the brink of cancellation.

The league's proposal increases limit on player contracts to six years from the previous offer of five years and increases the year-to-year salary variance, among other things. The main sticking point, however, remains when the owners and players will cripple the sport again with another lockout.

"The NHL insists, and will not budge on this, that the next lockout be in 2017-2018," said deputy commissioner Bill Daly. "However, the players want it no earlier than 2021-2022, which is not something we are comfortable with. More than eight years of labor peace? Not on our watch."

Commissioner Gary Bettman insists that any more than seven consecutive full seasons will cause the NHL's revenues, ratings and popularity to grow too large, leaving the league with "difficult decisions on how to share the wealth."

Bettman, and the owners, believe it is better to "essentially shut hockey down every few years to reset our fiscal books and keep everything nice and small."

I read this and think that Bettman and the owners are complete idiots if they think that fans will continue to follow the game with built in lockouts. Then I read this next report and now think that it is a put on?

News from December 27^th…

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald snagged a pass on a slant pattern in practice today, avoided a defensive back and turned into open field towards the end zone. He then picked up speed at about the 20 yard-line and sprinted right through the end zone and out of the team's practice facility and off down the road.

He was last spotted on I-10 heading west, still carrying the football and running full speed, a few miles from the California border.

"I wish he hadn't decided to run away forever, but I actually expected it to happen a long time ago," said head coach Ken Whisenhunt. "The fact he stayed here this long shows what a great guy he is. I wish him nothing but the best. And it can really only get better for him away from here."

Reminds me of Forrest Gump…run Larry run!

So…what do you think that Aaron Rodgers got for Christmas? It would be something really cool, right?

Here is news from December 26^th…

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came to practice the day after Christmas showing off a brand new football he had received as a gift.

"Check it out, guys," said Rodgers, as his teammates gathered around. "My mom got it for me. It's an official NFL ball. The same size and everything used in the NFL. But it's my very own."

Green Bay backup quarterback Graham Harrell said the football was "awesome" and that it made the junior Nerf football he had received from his parents "look lame."

Rodgers said he didn't even ask for the football or put it on his Christmas list, but it turned out to be his favorite gift.

"My mom knows how much I like football," said Rodgers. "I've played on a team for a lot of years now. I guess she just assumed I'd like a real, official ball. And she was right. I love it!"

I got the same gift…when I was 11. Hilarious!

That’s all I have today, but I will leave you with a bit of Jack Handey…

In my opinion anyone interested in improving himself should not rule out becoming pure energy.

"Why is it that we will laugh at a man in a clown outfit, but we won't laugh at a man just walking down the street carrying a clown outfit in one of those plastic dry-cleaner bags?"

Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a few deep thoughts of your own…

Benign Thoughts of a Pacific Island Princess

Hey I know and understand the implications of a safer NFL.   Where severe ACL injuries and concussions could be totally eliminated or at least,  largely so. 

I can imagine a league where tacklers will have to be OSHA certified and a narrower definition of legal tackles will be implemented.   In the end,   it will be a league of flag football.  

All replays will be ruled upon by Judge Judy at half time and her decisions will be final pending congressional approval.

Your momma jokes will not be permitted at any time.  But an occasional guffaw or a random chortle may be allowed.  The only time kicks to the groin will be permitted is Thanksgiving and bounties will be frowned upon.

Christmas Trees and Mangers will be strictly forbidden and the Lambeaux leap allowed only below the Mason-Dixon Line.  

It has been noted with some optimism that holding penalties are not being called enough.   We know that fans want to see 75 yard touchdowns nullified and that the reason fans come to the game is to see the officials ensure fairness to all participants.

Illegal procedures will also constitute audibles where the whole offensive line decides to stand up and pretend to be doing something related to the next play.

We are seriously considering doing away with blocking and ultimately any contact with any other players whatsoever.  

Ties will be resolved during Dallas games with Rex Ryan mud wrestling with Tim Tebow as well as offensive lineman will be allowed to wear sports bras,  as long as they are not stuffed with medical marijuana or ectasy.

We want the league to be a gentler kinder place with players and fans doing hotlaps in the infield.  The NFL Network supports these changes and hopes these innovations will eliminate the need for commentators like Chris Collingsworth and Warren Sapp.  Or silly blogs such as mine.

This?  Really?  or this below...........

Have a happy New Year and a great time watching football the way it was meant to be.   I get safety and some plays are uncalled for.   But do we want this to be micromanaged????

How's everyone doing out there? I have to say, after having a very rare 4 straight days off, I'm really not feeling this getting back to the grind thing...I had too much fun with the kids...And too much fun enjoying Notre Dame beating USC, to go undefeated...You can read all about that, and the other college football headlines HERE...

Friday I wrapped up Thanksgiving, and SHARED a few views...The one that seemed to get a bunch of attention on facebook was the fact that I'm not a fan of the Dallas Cowboys...That I'm tired of the amount of media coverage this overrated, underachieving team gets...And that the title "America's Team" bothers me...I don't know how they got this name, but it's crap...I have to admit this though..In my youth I was a Cowboys fan...I loved Tony Dorsett, and those guys back then...How could you not like Tom Landry? As time went on, it was hard not to like Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman...But it was easy to not like Michael Irving...He started the trend of asshole Cowboys players...Drugs, hookers, guns, stupid shit, and show-boating....All stuff owner Jerry Jones seemed okay with...Why wouldn't he? He seems like a show-boatin' kind of guy himself...

I grew up, and I didn't want anything to do with what the Cowboys became...Give me Bill Bates any day over "Pac-Man" and "Prime-time"...
 

Friday night North Dakota won 2-1...But Saturday the Irish came back and and won 5-2 lead by Anders Lee's 2 goals and 1 assist...

North Dakota has been dealing with a bit more than just Hockey...They've also been dealing with a bit of an identity crisis, after the NCAA got another thing wrong, in their long line of mistakes...The NCAA made them remove their Fighting Sioux, and then Sioux nickname and logo...They aren't allowed a new one until 2015...But they never should have had their name ripped from them...You can read more about it HERE...

They'll always be the Fighting Sioux to me...
 

Browns fans are happy because the Browns beat the Steelers...Listen, the Steelers were out there with their old, 3rd string QB, Charlie Batch...And then the Steelers just played horribly sloppy football...Turnover, after turnover, after turnover...They were shit...

So the Browns fans are feeling positive, and maybe there is something to build off of...So I ask this...Should the Browns fire coach Pat Shurmur after the season, like so many fans and talking heads have suggested...While I don't like the guy much, I tired of rebuilding every two-three years...Hey, look how Bill Belichick turned out...He never stayed from what he tried to do in Cleveland, and it paid off...Maybe SHurmur is till figuring it out, and Browns fans/ownership needs to be patient...Let me know what you think...

The Browns weren't the best part of my Sunday...Taking the kids ice skating was...I got little Beeze his first pair of skates, and we hit the rink...Kid was big-pimpin'...He was doing okay, but did some acting...He was laying it on with his struggling to figure it all out...So what happens...He had two little girls helping him, holding his hand, and giving him pointers...Kid was smooth!

That's it for now...Have a week...

The Beeze.

Today ScottJax talks about Baseball Digest, Sports Weekly and more in this weeks edition of This and That….

I want to wish all the Gabbers a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Mrs. ScottJax is making me my favorite meal, veal parmesan for dinner. I am not a turkey eater.

As long as Jerry Jones has a hand in everything that goes on, the Dallas Cowboys will never win a Super Bowl. He is the modern version of Al Davis.

I enjoyed reading baseball digest when I was a kid. Every month I would go to the local candy store and at the newspaper/magazine section I would pick up my copy and read it from cover to cover. My favorite part of the Digest was “fans speak out.“ Fans would ask questions and the folks at Baseball Digest would come up with the answer and the statistics to back it up. When I joined the Navy I stopped reading the Digest. But recently I was at Publix’s supermarket at the magazine section and I notice they had the Baseball Digest, and so I purchased it.

I again read it from cover to cover, but there are differences with it now. First it is printed 6 times a year, the Digest is now printed in color, and scouting was added to it (it might have something to do with Baseball Digest merging with ProScouting). By the way, “fans speak out,” the crossword puzzle, baseball rules and baseball quick pick are still in the digest.

Another magazine that I enjoy is Sports Weekly.

When it first began, in 1991, it was called “Baseball Weekly” and as it suggests it strictly covered baseball. It was the last sports magazine to have the box scores of every MLB game. Beginning September 4, 2002, the name was changed to “Sports Weekly” as it now covered the NFL in addition to continuing coverage of MLB now minus the box scores.

Sports Weekly covered NASCAR for a year in 2006. But in 2007 college baseball and college football coverage was added. Now it looks like the magazine is starting to take the place of the Sporting News, as it has added college basketball and the NBA to its lineup. Now I have been a subscriber to Sports Weekly since the beginning and am glad it is picking up the slack vacated by the Sporting News.

What is your favorite sports newspaper or magazine?

Maryland, a charter member of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953, is leaving the ACC to join the Big-10 effective 2014-2015 academic year.

Meanwhile Rutgers University is leaving the Big East to join Maryland in the Big-10.

Till Next Time

Scott　

Should the NFL switch things up on Thanksgiving, and stop forcing us to watch a Lions game, and a Cowboys game?