James Franklin and the haters

The biggest win for Mizzou in at least 30 years took place when the Tigers went to Georgia and beat the Bulldogs.

The bigger story, for now, is the health of quarterback James Franklin, who injured his shoulder and will be out a few weeks. That’s unfortunate news to those who know him and the work he puts in. Others revel in his misfortune, as the Matty Mauk era appears to be around the corner. Mauk is the so-called savior of the program in the eyes of some. The funny thing is that most who project him as that can’t-miss player have never seen him take a snap.

I have never been able to embrace the mindset of those who get caught in the hype of high school athletes who are supposed to be the Messiah of a program – in most cases, sight unseen – because they do not like the incumbent.

In Franklin’s case, he has been accused of not being able to play hurt. His laidback and collected style led some to infer that he either was not trying hard or was not smart enough to understand the system. Those claims, I might add, are pure insanity, but this is the world we live in.

OK, haters. You now have your man at the helm. Let’s see how many excuses you can come up with if it does not go well. Mind you, this is not about Franklin versus Mauk. It is about common sense versus personal agendas. I hope common sense wins out.

Concussions on the ‘Frontline’

Are more injuries in the NFL this season happening to really good players? Each week the injury report seems to include more players whose names we recognize. You have to wonder how many players go through the season without missing a game or finding their name on the weekly injury list. The league will tell you that’s the norm or that a study is underway. I would not believe this league when it comes to the welfare of its players.

Don’t believe me? Watch the recent edition of Frontline on PBS and see the story about what the NFL knew about concussions and when they knew it. The NFL should be ashamed of how they have misled players, media and fans when it comes to concussions. They are flat-out liars when it comes to this subject. The Players Association also has let its players down far beyond what you see on the surface. 

According to the Frontline story, experts have determined that any youth that plays football under the age of 14 is at a much greater risk of serious repercussions from concussions. This program is a must-watch for every parent who thinks they have the next Heisman Trophy winner. You say it could not happen to your kid? Perhaps you should talk to parents who thought the same thing before their lives changed.

Buyer beware

I have always wondered why parents send their kids to private school to play sports only to find politics come into play. Some parents will tell you that it is the best thing for little Johnny and his education. That’s a reasonable and acceptable explanation. What about when he does not play because he scores poorly on the SAT or ACT? What happens when, instead of moving onto Notre Dame or some other so-called prestigious institution, they have to settle for a lesser school, or perhaps a junior college, when it comes to academics?

I am not an advocate for either public or private education. It’s about being there for the right reason. Education is the most important thing that comes with the opportunity to play a sport. When parents choose a school for its sports program and think the rest will take care of itself, that is where the problem lies. Reality may someday set in that the kid is not that good on the field, but may be better in a classroom.

Post-season slowdown

I am a fan of baseball’s post-season when the Cardinals are in it. Other than that, it can be hard to watch as the pitching just dwarfs the offense on most nights. It can prove to be a rather slow event. There are some who say this is what the game is all about. OK, I get it but how about a little more offense? Would I would love to see a few more games that feature a few more runs and hits? Yes, but not at the cost of tricking out the game. There are enough tricks in sports as it is.

Trophy, please? 

Seldom do you see a sports weekend like we saw in St. Louis last weekend, and yet not one game won any sort of championship. It was a great weekend that we may not see again. If we do, how about a trophy or two?