On the dead CBA

Let's imagine for a moment that you work at a coffee shop. This coffee shop is making more money than it ever has before. More customers than ever are buying coffee, and the prices are the highest they've ever been. Things are going great, for the most part. I mean, occasionally someone gets burned by the coffee machine, but that's the risk of working in a coffee shop, right?

Then one day, the owner tells you that he want to cut your pay by 18%, because he's not making enough money. And not only that, he want to make your work day 12.5% longer, and reduce pay even more for new employees. Once you've calmed down, and fought off the urge to shove a venti cup up his ass, wouldn't you ask for some proof? I mean, he's claiming poverty, and that doesn't tally at all with the reality you see around you every day. The other branches in Dallas and New York just opened fancy new stores.

So you ask to see some proof that he's not making enough money. No, he says. You have to trust me. I have the right to deny you access to my accounts. Sure, you say. Of course you do; you run a private enterprise. But I also have the right to not let you cut my pay by 18%, while increasing my hours. If you want me to work more for less pay, this is a vital step in the process. I can't trust you on blind faith alone.

You have to, he says. But the accounts of that socially-owned coffee shop in Green Bay show that they're making cash hand over fist, you say. And they're in the smallest coffee market in the country.

No, he says finally. No deal. I'm locking the doors.


This is the ultimate reason why we might not have an NFL in 2011. And if we do, it will be at a price that the owners won't like, since the players will win in court.

And who loses the most, in both eventualities?

The fans.

Jay Cutler: Not Very Good

 

"Triple coverage? No problem!"

A great read: Ron Jaworski analyses all 26 interceptions thrown by Jay Cutler in 2009, and finds that most of them were poor reads, awful decisions, or caused by unreliable throwing mechanics. Two first rounders and a third rounder, right? This guy badly needs a coach - I hope Mike Martz can do something with him in 2010, because there's a lot of talent going to waste there.

Way to be teammates, guys

 

Korean short-track speed skater Lee Ho-Suk, one hell of a teammate

Teamwork fail: Korean short track speedskater Lee Ho-Suk tried to cut inside his teammate Sung Si-Bak on the last bend of their 1500m final, clipped Sung's skate, took them both out of the race, denied Korea a 1-2-3 finish, and gifted the silver medal to the most hated man in Korea, Apolo Anton Ohno. He'll be hung, drawn and quartered at the gates of Seoul when the team returns next month.

Gone too soon

Gaines Adams, 1983-2010

Chicago Bears defensive end Gaines Adams died this morning in Greenwood, South Carolina, aged only 26. His death appears to have been caused by an enlarged heart, which triggered a heart attack. I remember seeing Adams in his first season in Tampa Bay, and thinking that he had a bright future in the game.

Adams, as he should be remembered, sacking Kyle Orton

The best piece of sports journalism you'll read in 2010

And it's from GQ, of all places. Jason Fagone investigates Marvin Harrison, The Dirtiest Player. They may have been bad, but at least Michael Vick, Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, Lawrence Taylor, Lawrence Phillips, Plaxico Burress, Pacman Jones and Ray Lewis never killed anyone. Hold on, scratch that last one.

"Not guilty, your honour"

And while I'm on stuff I got right

"I must disagree, my good sir. My throwback jersey is entirely more badass than thine"

In this post, I mentioned that Randy Moss and Brandon Meriweather should be disappointed to be missing the Pro Bowl. Well since Wes Welker and Jairus Byrd of Buffalo have been injured, Moss and Meriweather will be going to Miami as alternates. Hurrah for me!

Just what boxing needed

Not pictured: sense of shame, remaining shred of dignity

 

47 year-old Evander Holyfield is lacing them up again, to face Francois Botha in Uganda two weeks from now. It's for the WBF Heavyweight Title, which I believe is made from tin foil and duct tape. During his late-career, ahem, 'renaissance', Holyfield has lost to such pugilistic luminaries as lumbering Russian Nikolay Valuev, and slightly-less-lumbering Russian Sultan Ibragimov. There's a lesson here, kids. Having eleven goddamn children is not all that wise.

Hilarious comment of the day

Richard Naylor: "You ask any Leeds fan and they'll say we're as big as Manchester United." It seems unnecessary to point out that this tells you everything you need to know about Leeds United fans, their intelligence, dubious parentage, suspect relationship with farm animals, etc. etc.

And while we're on running backs...

... it looks like Jamal Lewis is done. He suffered 'post-concussion symptoms' and has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. He'd previously announced that he was retiring at the end of the season. Lewis has several successful businesses outside of football, and has seemingly had his spirit crushed by playing for the hopeless Browns, and Eric 'The Secret' Mangini.

Lewis will retire with career totals of 10,607 rushing yards, 58 rushing touchdowns, 4.2 yards per carry, and 81 yards per game. He led the NFL in rushing in Baltimore's Super Bowl-winning year of 2003, with 2066 yards, the second-greatest single season ever. He also made the Pro Bowl and was an All-Pro selection that year.

Go go gadget stiff-arm!

I personally always liked Lewis, who ran hard even when he was on an arrestingly poor Browns team the last two years.

Kinda takes the luster off of Jones-Hopkins II

Turns out it's easier to read the writing on the wall when you're sat on your ass.

 Roy Jones Jr. got dismantled by 'Boxcar' Danny Green (nickname not necessarily true) last night in Sydney, Australia. Green caught Jones with a right to the temple, sending him to the canvas. Jones got up, but Green finished him with a flurry of blows, leading the ref to step in at 2:02 of the first round.

Jones-Hopkins II was scheduled for March 13th, 2010 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but the smart money says Jones retires. Also, the smart money stays away from ordering that PPV if he doesn't. Boxing needs Mayweather-Pacquiao more than ever.

England's preparations for letdown continue apace

Sporting Life reports that England are seeded for next summer's World Cup, along with Brazil, Spain, Italy and other countries that actually win things. As for me, I'll continue with the belief that a successful England game is one where Rooney, Ferdinand, Carrick, et al come back uninjured.