As someone who surfs message boards and websites harder than Bede Durbidge hits mid-tide Coasta Rican pipelines, I've always been somewhat amazed to the point of casternation as to why local fans concern themselves with the opinons of national pundits. The most recent ocassions were the perceived slights from Herman Edwards and Kirk Herbstreit.
Edwards, ESPN football analyst and former NFL defensive back who was selected to zero Pro Bowls, a former head coach boasting a 56-77 record, prompted a phone call to my weekly radio spot with WIST 690am legend Eric Asher from a crest fallen Saints fan when Edwards failed to mention the Saints as one of his picks to contend for the Super Bowl.
Herbstreit, ESPN college football analyst and former fourth string QB for the Ohio State Buckeyes, failed to mention enough LSU Tigers on his latest list of "all-stars" called "The Herbies". He is public enemy #1 on LSU boards. Why? Cause the affection he dotes to universities falls short of the corner of Nicholson and Skip Bertman Drive.
I know it's frustrating to watch these pundits yap it up and I must admit to once being sucked into the hate. So I am empathetic. But then I realized that these people have no clue as to what's going on down here. More so, they could care less. They have personal allegiances. Edwards played for the Eagles so it should come as a shock to no one that they are his pick for the NFC. Herbstreit displays no shame in his advocacy for the Big Ten, specifcally Ohio St. To be fair, though, he does hail USC, Alabama and Oklahoma. Though with slightly less vigor.
So why would one care what the likes of these two have to say about?
Maybe this speaks somewhat about ourselves. We are a quirky civic bunch. In some ways we're like the kid in the class, emboldened with the right answer, waving his hand feverishly only to see someone else noticed by the teacher. Whether it's our cooking, partying, tailgating or culture, we are sure that there is no one who can do it better. We don't mind telling anyone within whispering distance as much. Therefore when the likes of Edwards and Herbstreit have the audacity to snub our local heroes there's gonna be hell to pay on the message boards and radio shows.
Look, coaches want to be Al Pacino's John Milton,"never let them see ya comin". Hype motivates the oppositon and drops complacency on the hyped. That's why they retreat Costanza style when selected to the preseason top 5 in the polls.
Fans should take the same approach. Let your team fly under the radar.
Since 1950 85% of pre-season #1s have failed to live up to the hype. The 2004 USC Trojans are the only pre-season #1 to win the BCS. And they cheated. Who picked Green Bay or the Saints to win the last two Super Bowls?
All this tells you what? That pundits are wrong. They're wishing, they're hoping, they're guessing. Pay them no attention. John Milton once said,"look, but don't touch, smell, but don't taste". I say, "hear, but don't listen".
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Conventional Wisdom Wrong on the BRPD
Wikipedia defines conventional wisdom as a term used to describe ideas or explanations that are generally accepted as true by the public or experts in a field. Such ideas or explantions, though widely held, are unexamined.
Do me a solid and read that second sentence again.
Now apply it to nearly all the media, LSU fans and other "experts in the field" in the case of Jordan Jefferson and his three amigos.
Its conventional wisdom that the BRPD has turned a simple bar fight into the reincarnation of the OJ saga. From calling the four LSU football players prominently involved to the BRPD for statements, to getting a search warrant to Jefferson's apartment, then swabbing him for DNA samples. Most observers have blasted , get this, the POLICE, for doing their job. "The BRPD are showboating", "They are an embarrassment", "This is a simle bar fight between college students", blah blah blah.
More often than not...alot more often than not, conventional wisdom is wrong. This is one of those occasions.
First, This is not simple bar fight between college students. When the highest profiled athlete on campus is involved there is nothing simple about it. Here's a guy two weeks outside the most important start of his athletic life. A senior. Probalbly would have been voted team captain. From all accounts an upstanding student athlete. He breaks curfew, goes to a bar and scrums with two sophomores and a freshman?! What's his thought process? "Let's see, do I stay in tonight or break a team rule? Hmm, this is toughie." We all know what his decision was. Bad judgement.
Second, theres a second degree felony charge that somebody's about to get hit with. You don't just phone in an investigation when jail time is a possibility. You need to talk to all parties involved. Collect all evidence available. Evidence that could either implicate or exonorate the accused. I ask you, if your son was beaten so badly that veterbrae were fractured, allegedly kicked in the head while prone and unconscious then left in the street while the perps were escorted away by loyals, would you want those so called showboating keystone cops to find out who's responsible? Don't answer. I already know.
Third, it occurrs to me that the BRPD is bending over nine ways to sundown to make sure no stone is left unturned, no eveidence is omitted, no questions remain so there can be no second guessing in the event the players are let go. If I'm Les Miles, I want all channels examined as thorough as can be.
I'm a fan of the BRPD. Are they perfect? Of course not. Are they dedicated? Hells yeah!
I'm not a fan of conventional wisdom. It's lazy. It's easy. In this case, it's wrong.
Do me a solid and read that second sentence again.
Now apply it to nearly all the media, LSU fans and other "experts in the field" in the case of Jordan Jefferson and his three amigos.
Its conventional wisdom that the BRPD has turned a simple bar fight into the reincarnation of the OJ saga. From calling the four LSU football players prominently involved to the BRPD for statements, to getting a search warrant to Jefferson's apartment, then swabbing him for DNA samples. Most observers have blasted , get this, the POLICE, for doing their job. "The BRPD are showboating", "They are an embarrassment", "This is a simle bar fight between college students", blah blah blah.
More often than not...alot more often than not, conventional wisdom is wrong. This is one of those occasions.
First, This is not simple bar fight between college students. When the highest profiled athlete on campus is involved there is nothing simple about it. Here's a guy two weeks outside the most important start of his athletic life. A senior. Probalbly would have been voted team captain. From all accounts an upstanding student athlete. He breaks curfew, goes to a bar and scrums with two sophomores and a freshman?! What's his thought process? "Let's see, do I stay in tonight or break a team rule? Hmm, this is toughie." We all know what his decision was. Bad judgement.
Second, theres a second degree felony charge that somebody's about to get hit with. You don't just phone in an investigation when jail time is a possibility. You need to talk to all parties involved. Collect all evidence available. Evidence that could either implicate or exonorate the accused. I ask you, if your son was beaten so badly that veterbrae were fractured, allegedly kicked in the head while prone and unconscious then left in the street while the perps were escorted away by loyals, would you want those so called showboating keystone cops to find out who's responsible? Don't answer. I already know.
Third, it occurrs to me that the BRPD is bending over nine ways to sundown to make sure no stone is left unturned, no eveidence is omitted, no questions remain so there can be no second guessing in the event the players are let go. If I'm Les Miles, I want all channels examined as thorough as can be.
I'm a fan of the BRPD. Are they perfect? Of course not. Are they dedicated? Hells yeah!
I'm not a fan of conventional wisdom. It's lazy. It's easy. In this case, it's wrong.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
What I saw
Offense:
The OL is not ready for the season opener. RT Jonathan Stinchcomb continues to get abused on pass protection. The loss of center Jonathan Goodwin is magnified due to the fact that Matt Tennet proved not ready to step up to be his replacement. This sent the Saints scrambling to find a veteran who could step in. Fortunately, Olin Kreutz was available. Unfortunately, this has caused a lack of chemistry that is vital for any OL's success. The good news is the Saints have three more pre-season games to find that chemistry. This is a surprising development to keep an eye on. However, I liked what I saw in free agent center Cecil Newton. He looks quick and athletic for someone of his size and gets to the second level in a hurry.
RB Joique Bell showed why the Saints released Lynell Hamilton. Though physically similar, Bell is the more polished and versatile back. He can also be use as a kick returner in a pinch.
Drew Brees looks a little rusty. Granted , he did not get much time against San Fran, but reports from camp is that Brees has not been as crisp as usual. I highly doubt it's anything to worry about, though.
Defense:
Greg Williams is taking no prisoners this season. He blitzed early and often. Perhaps this is a result of the lack of off-season workouts, but I suspect the loss to Seattle has something to do with it.
Jonathon Casillas is my favorite to be the starter at OLB. He shows no affect from the injury that sidelined him for 2010. He has speed, instinct and explosiveness at the point of attack. Former starter Danny Clark was cut prior to the 49er game because of this. Will Herring will provide quality depth.
CB Johnny Patrick was impressive until he injured his right knee. He looked further along than former first round draft pick, CB Patrick Robinson did at this point last season. Hopefully, the injury won't keep him out too long.
DT Mitch King was all over the place. He's undersized and may be lost in the numbers, but his motor never stops. He looks like he'll be a tough cut.
Special teams:
Two words, Joe Morgan.
The OL is not ready for the season opener. RT Jonathan Stinchcomb continues to get abused on pass protection. The loss of center Jonathan Goodwin is magnified due to the fact that Matt Tennet proved not ready to step up to be his replacement. This sent the Saints scrambling to find a veteran who could step in. Fortunately, Olin Kreutz was available. Unfortunately, this has caused a lack of chemistry that is vital for any OL's success. The good news is the Saints have three more pre-season games to find that chemistry. This is a surprising development to keep an eye on. However, I liked what I saw in free agent center Cecil Newton. He looks quick and athletic for someone of his size and gets to the second level in a hurry.
RB Joique Bell showed why the Saints released Lynell Hamilton. Though physically similar, Bell is the more polished and versatile back. He can also be use as a kick returner in a pinch.
Drew Brees looks a little rusty. Granted , he did not get much time against San Fran, but reports from camp is that Brees has not been as crisp as usual. I highly doubt it's anything to worry about, though.
Defense:
Greg Williams is taking no prisoners this season. He blitzed early and often. Perhaps this is a result of the lack of off-season workouts, but I suspect the loss to Seattle has something to do with it.
Jonathon Casillas is my favorite to be the starter at OLB. He shows no affect from the injury that sidelined him for 2010. He has speed, instinct and explosiveness at the point of attack. Former starter Danny Clark was cut prior to the 49er game because of this. Will Herring will provide quality depth.
CB Johnny Patrick was impressive until he injured his right knee. He looked further along than former first round draft pick, CB Patrick Robinson did at this point last season. Hopefully, the injury won't keep him out too long.
DT Mitch King was all over the place. He's undersized and may be lost in the numbers, but his motor never stops. He looks like he'll be a tough cut.
Special teams:
Two words, Joe Morgan.
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