Be it this is the shortest month of the year, it is only fitting to respond in kind with some short but yet pointed observations.
Yes, Beyonce is worth the price of admission. Even her most staunch detractors, haters and what have you had to give her credit on her Super Bowl performance. Stunning, creative and the Destiny’s Child reunion is that subtle reminder of her past and that the past can get along with the present day. What the whole JayZ thing is all about is still a head-scratcher, but live and let live, I guess.
On the subject of the Super Bowl, Shannon Sharpe. Enough already. Dan Marino, stop it. CBS, congrats on selling out all of your Super Bowl Advertising as CBS seemed to be the biggest purchaser of time promoting many washed up shows and reminding everyone that they are number one in something. You just have to look long and hard. Jack Lord is turning over in his grave, I am sure.
The NFL is broken. Poor leadership at the top, a tumultuous season that saw job action by officials, suicides, concussion issues, poor play, hiring exclusions and the season’s biggest game being partially decided on poor officiating. With all this said, Commissioner Roger Goodell will tell you all is good with the NFL. Even worse, many believe him because they just want football.
Is anyone paying attention to St. Louis University basketball these days? They should. Some big wins against some good teams at home, a chance to win the conference for the first time since the early 1970’s and a coach who has no idea of will he return next season. This Billiken bunch is worthy of more support from the locals. My only concerns is that the administration and zealot fans don’t go haywire and have the “big time” swagger and spoil a possible good run well into the tournament.
Speaking of tournament, I hate to say it but Mizzou could be more than a handful. I only hate saying it because they have had some tough luck when it comes to the tournament, as you may well know. Pick a team or coach and the Tigers have always had a spot of trouble in March. Maybe this is the year when you least expect it. Ditto to those who follow the same trait of big timing it as Billiken fans.
While no one covers the high school scene like Earl Austin Jr., I would not be out of step in saying the best high school stories in the area are what is happening at Madison Prep and Incarnate Word Academy. Madison Prep Coach Tony Irons just gets the job done no matter where he is and what he has to work with. As for Incarnate Word they have a good chance in going undefeated this year with the most complete roster in the area including Naphessia Collier, considered by many to be the best player in the state and maybe in the country in her class. Better things are ahead for coach Dan Rolfes. Hopefully after Collier graduates.
How about this St. Louis Blues hockey team? They have picked up where they left off last season. The best thing they have going is that this year they have local ownership that gets it. The Blues have a talented team that has the tools to get to the Stanley Cup Finals. Yes, I feel good about their chances and suggest you give them a try. Nothing could be more fun this spring than for the Cardinals to get off to a good start, the Rams have a believable draft and the Blues play well into June. All are real possibilities.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the Lakers’ season is over. Do not be fooled by the ESPN hype. The Dwight Howard acquisition has not worked out. It is similar to the mess he left in Orlando. At the time I thought it was more management and coaching in Orlando that was the reason for the anarchy. They fired coach and GM in Orlando because of it and now the Lakers are in their third coach this season. It seems like wherever Howard ends up these days, a rain cloud is sure to follow. He is a free agent at the end of the year. In my opinion he will do the Lakers a big favor if he is elsewhere next year. Remember, the Lakers did not lose much as Andrew Bynum has yet to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. Just think, $19 million off the salary cap if Howard goes someplace else. I’m in.
I am also in if Alex Rodriguez never earns another red cent playing baseball. This documented liar apparently continues to do more of the same as it was reported that he continued to use performance-enhancing drugs long after he admitted he stopped. Why am I not surprised that his body just recently broke down and he is no longer the man at any level? He has denied the accusations, but then again he has denied them before only to find out that he lied.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its newest inductees last Saturday and once again they messed it up. I have no problem with many of the selections, but can someone explain to me why the player who has been on more Super Bowl-winning teams with a purpose is still on the outside looking in? Charles Haley was on five Super Bowl-winning teams. If that is not enough, try these numbers on for size: five Pro Bowl selections (1988, 1990, 1991,1994, 1995), two All-Pro selections (1990, 1994) and the 100 Sacks Club. Haley has had off-field issues that have not helped his cause, but if that is a deterrent then the Hall of Fame as we know it would be half full. Haley should be viewed for what he did on the field. That alone is why he should have gone in this year and years before that.
On a brighter note, it does look good for Aneas Williams and Orlando Pace, who will up for the Hall next year.
