Sports 'N Stuff: 'I Know, I Know, It's Been Awhile ...'
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Aside from those "interesting subjects," there are some things I am REALLY tired of hearing about so bear with me while I vent my frustrations and speak my mind on what I feel are some of the most ridiculous events I have ever seen in the world of sports.
Let's start with the good stuff.
The 2008 Summer Olympics are days away and the U.S. is poised to once again dominate the international sports world. Michael Phelps is favored to win eight gold medals in various swimming events. If he does this, he will surpass Mark Spitz's phenomenal achievement of seven gold medals in Munich in 1972. This would be an amazing accomplishment and I for one will be tuned in to see if he can do it.
The U.S. men's basketball team, dubbed "The Redeem Team," is set to tip off this weekend against host China and its NBA star Yao Ming. The United States has not won a major international basketball event in eight years. With a roster consisting of NBA giants like Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, they will win gold this time. Their roster is LOADED and they are on a mission to reseat the U.S. as the standard in basketball. They cannot afford to repeat their performance from the last games, in which they took only the bronze medal and were embarrassed. Hence the loaded roster. I would be shocked if they even win a game by less than 20 points. They will most likely play against Spain in the title game and even with a good team like Spain, it won't even be close.
Well, so much for the good stuff. Not that the rest of my rant is necessarily bad. It's more like – what the heck are they thinking? The Green Bay Packers and the Boston Red Sox – what the heck are they thinking?
Let's start with The Pack. OK, I get it. Brett Favre had a tear-filled press conference last March and professed to the world that he was done. He just didn't want to play anymore. It was the end of an era. Fine.
Unless you have lived on another planet for the last few months you know he has changed his mind. That's right, arguably the best quarterback ever to put on a uniform still wants to play. So Pack, what are you thinking?
The Packers organization not only does not want him back but they even offered him $20 million to stay retired. At the time I am writing this column, Favre has been reinstated and is now in training camp with the Packers. However, the GM and the head coach have told him he will have to compete with Aaron Rodgers, who is now the QB for Green bay.
Give me a break guys. He is BRETT FAVRE! He is No. 1 in every conceivable category for which a quarterback can be. He returned your horrible franchise to their glory days of old and played EVERY SINGLE GAME since he came into the league almost two decades ago.
There are only a select few who I feel can write their own ticket. Michael Jordan, Cal Ripken Jr. and Brett Favre have earned the right to do whatever they want in respect to theirs career and their organizations. I know all that other stuff – leaving your team hanging, being a team player, thinking about the future of the team – I get it. It doesn't matter. Favre IS your organization.
You are not going to go 13-3 and come within a few plays of being in the Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers. The situation stinks but at the end of the day, who is going to win more games for your team and give you a legitimate chance to be champions? Brett Favre. End of story.
Theo, Theo, Theo ... what are you thinking? OK, I admit it isn't all your fault but OMG!!! How do you trade Manny Ramirez? I am not a Red Sox fan. In fact, I have dreams of them going bankrupt and disappearing into a dark abyss. Still, how can you trade Manny Ramirez? He's a whiner. He's not a team guy. He doesn't want to be here. He's trouble. WHO CARES!!! I can't stand the guy personally, mostly because he is fantastic. I agree with all the bad stuff about him, but he OWNS the Yankees and he OWNS the Angels. He hits well over .500 against both of them and is THE reason you have all those world championships. Sox fans will say it's because of Schilling and Josh Beckett but it isn't. Without Manny you don't even make the World Series, never mind win it all. Not only does he produce himself but he protects your other big hitter, Big Papi David Ortiz.
It's simple really. Manny has been this way for a long time now and has still produced for you in a big way. You put up with it and you win championships. You overreact, which they have done, and trade him away and your days as the champs are over, which they are. The collective American League has let out a big sigh of relief because there will be a new American League Champion.
Great job Sawx ... at least you won't have to listen to him to anymore.
Brian Flagg is the president and co-chairman of the Fall Foliage Charity Bed Race. He was co-host of "The Sports Page" on local public access stations for nearly five years. The North Adams resident has been coaching girls' basketball and softball for 16 years.
