Clip Show 2012

A New Look in LA

Last season, it wasn’t even close. The top storyline in the NBA was the Miami Heat. After a controversial summer that included The Decision and King James’ prediction of “not one, not two…” rings, the Heat overcame some early stumbles and made it all the way to the Finals. Even more alluring, it was a rematch of 2006 and Dirk Nowitski had a chance to avenge the beating Dwyane Wade put on him, psychologically and physically. The ultimate heel of the NBA came in with three All Stars and left without a ring. So far, LeBron has been right: not two, not three…

This season has plenty to choose from. You have the lockout, where many people came to the conclusion that “Emperor Stern has no clothes!” Then you have the Cancelled-Trade-gate between New Orleans and Los Angeles – again, a scenario that didn’t play out very well for the Commish. The Miami Heat are simply doing more of the same; Derrick Rose appears to be challenging for a repeat MVP performance. The Celtics are losing a battle with the still-undefeated Father Time. To me, though, the most compelling spectacle is Oop City, aka Lob Angeles, aka the Blake Show. Whatever you want to call the franchise owned by the much maligned Donald Sterling, the new look Clippers are Must See TV.

Detractors are arguing that flashy, athletic, Sports Center Top Ten teams rarely make deep playoff runs when pitted against veteran groups like the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavericks. Those who are hopping on the bandwagon believe there is a new sheriff in town in Hollywood (a notion Kobe seems to be fighting off with his 40+ point barrages). The non-believers have plenty of evidence to fall back on. They can point to the Run-TMC offense of Golden State of the late 80s/early 90s, or perhaps look to the more recent efforts of the Phoenix Suns with Amare’ Stoudamire, Shawn Marion and Steve Nash. Plenty of wins, a million highlights, zero championships.

In my opinion, the 2012 Clippers have an X-Factor that separates them from some of the exciting teams of the past. The defense isn’t phenomenal, but De’Andre Jordan cleans up a lot of mistakes (Cough! I’m looking at you, Chauncey Billups). They don’t have a ton of experience, but Caron Butler, Billups and Paul have been in some big playoff games in their careers. But the difference is that this team, which is terribly flawed at the important shooting guard position, has the best competitor in the league. That’s right, I’m saying that this very day, Chris Paul from Wake Forest has more competitive chops than even Kobe Bean Bryant.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Kobe is still the Black Mamba and one of the baddest men on the planet. I love his television ads with all the celebrities, and we certainly can’t discredit his scoring ability. But I can’t get over what I saw in the playoffs last year against Dallas. I don’t think Kobe would ever quit in a game or in a series, but he sort of doesn’t look like he cares as much anymore. He’s already won two titles without Shaquille O’Neal, and I think he’s come to terms with the fact that nobody’s going to give him the GOAT tag. He’s only one ring behind Michael Jordan, having won five in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense to MJ’s six.

All that said, CP3 has always done more with less, his whole career. Kobe’s Lakers once suffered a talent drain and a mini-rebuild. The lowest point was missing the playoffs with a lineup that included Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and some other forgettable. Number 24 played well and “tried,” but eventually made it clear: get me some talent or send me on my way! Paul, on the other hand, seems to always drag his team to the playoffs. Forget the fact that the second best player on the Hornets at the time David West being injured. Forget about the best big man on the team being the undersized Emeka Okafur. People forget that before he got injured, Chris was a runner-up for MVP the year Mr. Bryant won it. His coming-out party may have been the series against the Mavericks when he ran circles around future Hall-of-Famer Jason Kidd, a matchup that was punctuated at a timeout when CP# ran to the sideline visibly telling his coaches “He can’t guard me!”

Now, while he doesn’t have Gasol and Bynum in the post or the tradition that comes with the other Staples Center tenant, Chris Paul has two airborne targets in Griffin and Jordan, and more importantly he has the spotlight. I haven’t seen a six-footer take over the game in this fashion since Allen Iverson. Oh, and by the way, in two preseason games and one that counts in the standings, the Clippers have swept the Lakers 3-0. I’m just saying.

Naledi Semela 

Clutch Gene

Somewhere, in a dark laboratory in Chicago or San Francisco or maybe Boston, there is an ambitious young scientist analyzing stem cells, trying to confirm the existence of a genetic trait which lends itself to a predisposition for timely heroics. ESPN First Take analyst Skip Bayless has been making reference to the “clutch gene” for years now. Having covered the Chicago Bulls in the nineties, a front-seat witness to many a Michael Jordan fourth quarter, Skip’s professional opinion is laden with credibility. In team sports, there are a plethora of factors that can affect an athlete’s success or ineptitude in decisive moments. That said, if we can presume not that all things are equal but that a large enough sample size will weed out many of the flukes, then we can examine the tendency for some superstars to play big in the game’s biggest moments. I have some up and down votes on a couple of today’s controversial leading men.

 LeBron James

LeBron James, Forward, Miami Heat

This is a no brainer for me, but I’ll offer a few disclaimers. For one, this guy has been compared to the greatest at least since he was sixteen years old. It is sports blasphemy to mention Michael Jordan’s name next to any other basketball player. In general, that name serves as the golden standard for… well, everything. Michael Jordan is the Michael Jordan of basketball, so I will not use his unique body of work to slam LeBron. Instead, I will simply revisit some of his career highlights and lowlights, so to speak.

Exhibit A: Impressive start. LeBron’s NBA and Cleveland Cavaliers debut saw the eighteen year old star post 25 pts, 9 ast , 6 rbs and 4 stl against a Sacramento Kings team that was still considered a juggernaut in the league, albeit in a losing effort. The numbers were there from literally the onset, on his way to winning Rookie of the Year honors, but the winning wasn’t; the Cavs did not make the playoffs.

Exhibit B: Playoff Debut. In 2006, James set all kinds of franchise records in Cleveland, including points scored in a season. He led his team to the playoffs and even to a game seven versus the Detroit Pistons. But in the biggest and “clutchest” moment of his still young career, Bron’s Cavs only managed 61 points, a record low for any game seven. James had one field goal in the second half.

Exhibit C: The Promised Land. LBJ has now, after his eight year, made it to the NBA Finals on two occasions. The problem is he needed eight wins to earn two rings. He got two wins, both coming when he was a secondary option to former Finals MVP Dwyane Wade.

Ruling: LeBron James, while unquestionably a top basketball talent, does not appear to have been blessed with the illusive clutch gene. Time after time, the pressure of the biggest moment has revealed the star forward to be a bit gun-shy. The one exception would be the big game-winning three he hit in the 2009 playoffs (Game 2, ECF) against the rival Orlando Magic, but then again, they lost that series.

 Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow, QB Denver Broncos

This guy has the potential to have his face on the cover of Time Magazine for the way he has transcended the sport of football. As the Tebow 3:16 marches to Massachusetts for a playoff game, the bandwagon seems to be accommodating more and more passengers every day. In the same way that I don’t hold basketball players of today against the backdrop of His Airness, I’ll try not to mention the fourth quarter exploits of Joe Montana, John Elway, or even Tom Brady. When it comes to clutch, the Gator-turned-Bronco has consistently demonstrated that if nothing else, he’s got late game gumption. He has been called the Anti-LeBron. Let’s leave alone whether or not the guy is a viable NFL quarterback; let us instead turn simply to his fourth quarter and overtime comeback wins and near-wins. The opening snap of the first new-rules overtime against the heavily favored Pittsburg Steelers on Sunday night was the icing on a cake baked with several other victims Tebowmania.

Exhibit A: Champion. Unlike James, Tim Tebow went to college and won there. And although he didn’t live up to the undefeated season that he and some experts predicted, a singular failure led to a memorable press conference speech and the Florida Gators marching to a national BCS championship.

Exhibit B: J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! Before the game in week eleven, star cornerback Darrelle Revis claimed that the New York defense need only not fall asleep in the secondary to defeat Tim and the Broncos. I guess Revis Island pressed the snooze button because after an abysmal showing in the first, second, and third quarters, Tebow delivered a 95-yard drive, capped off by a game-winning 20-yard run.

Exhibit C: What new rules? Had the 2012 NFL playoffs kept the same rules as last year, we wouldn’t know it yet. Because in what many have deemed the best performance of Tebow’s two year NFL career, the Broncos opened the extra session with an eighty yard touchdown pass, sending the Steelers home earlier than they planned.

Ruling: Somebody could write a book on the ongoing media-driven debate over whether or not Tebow is capable of playing or deserves to play quarterback in the NFL. In fact, I’m almost sure somebody is working on that book right now. But given a fifteen game sample size with which to work, I’d have to say the deoxyribonucleic composition of the Broncos young starter does in fact include the clutch gene.

Final Thought

If I had to choose between being Pat Riley and John Elway – that is: would I prefer to have a roster that includes LeBron James or Tim Tebow – I’d go with Riles every time. James is one of the three or four best players in basketball, certainly  a top two small forward. As Ravens linebacker Terelle Suggs said, I wouldn’t want to be praying on the sideline late in the fourth quarter, waiting for a miracle to get a win. I’d much rather be in a position to dominate throughout a game. Ideally a team’s season doesn’t come down to a game winning shot or drive or penalty. But if your superstar comes up short consistently like LeBron who may in fact not have the genetic makeup of a closer, I’m going to want to have another player on my roster, one who has proven that he rises to the highest occasions. I don’t know, maybe a guy like Dwyane Wade.

Nelly Semela

And Congrats to the St. Louis Cardinals

It’s over. Confetti flies and Rangers come home.

King Albert

The Cardinals were loose and ready. They carried the momentum from the David Freese homer into the park tonight. He followed it up with an ultimate MVP performance, keeping the Cardinals on the offensive in this last night of a momentous World Series. His new 2012 Chevy Corvette will no doubt circle the Arch with fans taking cell phone pics and videos, posting them YouTube. Freese stood, looking truly awestruck at the entire experience. La Russa looked like the champion he’s been before. Albert stood regally and sounded as cool as ice. “We show them the way that we play Cardinals baseball,” said Pujols standing behind the trophy. On Friday, Texas fans wanted to second guess Uncle Ron’s decisions, but even the prickly Randy Galloway couldn’t find much to criticize on his talk show today. That’ll change over the next week when callers and bar crawlers continue to wonder what if – what if Cruz had caught that ball in the outfield? What if we hadn’t walked Albert with two men on? What if there hadn’t been a rain out that first night? Why did we lose it twice?

Thanks, Wash!

Ron Washington talked about his own questions. “If there’s anything I’d take back from last night it’s that one pitch. … The opportunity three times for one pitch to get the third out; it was in our grasp,” said Uncle Wash standing outside the locker room, still protecting his guys. The somber ride flight back to the DFW will no doubt be a teary, painful one. “We’re men. We’re grown men,” he said answering questions about getting ready for next year.

My hope is that baseball made some new fans with this one. Casual watchers will hopefully buy game day tickets and take the whole family to the park. If they can’t trade the cards, at least boys and girls can text-trade pics of their favorite hitters or pitchers. Peanuts and cracker jacks, coming back.

I’ll be sitting on a porch in a rocking chair telling my grandkids about Game 6 one day, and letting them know how much I cried looking at Uncle Ron as the Cardinals celebrated the Game 7 win. For now, I’m getting ready for next season. I’ll be talking again about that silly Holland moustache and counting Josh Hamilton homers. Rangers, we’ll be back.

by Nelly Semela

ARZ@BAL: If the Ravens ever needed a confidence booster, it’s right now. They have inexplicably played above expectations against their perceived formidable opponents and laid eggs in two of their gimmes. The scheduling gods are smiling on them, however, and they’ve got Arizona at home. The short week should actually be a blessing as they look to shake this Monday night disaster from their team psyche.

NO@STL: The Saints also find themselves in a situation where they must take advantage of a hurting Rams team. Injuries to key players (including the QB) and inconsistent play have made this season a bust in St Louis. New Orleans is coming off the most lopsided win in recent memory against the limping Colts and know that now is the time to stockpile the wins.

IND@TEN: This game intrigues me not because either of these teams is in it to win it this season but simply because I’d like to see how the once great Colts respond to a week of unrelenting scrutiny. Twitter, podcasts, and blogs have been scathing of this team that each week demonstrated more of the weaknesses Peyton Manning apparently covered up all these years. The Titans are interesting because they’re clearly not that good but they did upset the Ravens in week two. The question is whether the Colts simply lie down for them or come with all the emotion they need to have to put the Saints game in the past. Then we want to see if the Titans will be ready for that fire, or that ice.

NE@PIT: This game is a heavyweight bout, as per usual. Here you have two teams who believe they are the best in the conference. They’ve each had blips along the way – think Pats finally losing to the Bills and Baltimore’s massacre in week one for the Steelers  – but these two teams have survived the madness of the early part of a lockout-affected season and this game could be crucial to how things shake out in the AFC. We know all about Tom Brady’s offense and the Pitt D, so look for the x-factor to come on Steelers possessions, whether New England steps up to stop Big Ben or the offense can manage to cover up some injuries on the other side of the ball.

DAL@PHI: These are two polarizing teams this season. Tony Romo has been

The SP Hot Game!

responsible for thrilling comeback victories (like the 49ers game) and mind boggling defeats (like the Lions game). Against New England he had control taken from him and they lost anyway, then on Sunday it never game down to a clutch moment. We don’t know what the game plan is in Dallas should they need a winning drive. In Philly, Mike Vick has overcome two quarterback dilemmas and emerged as the man after a video game season a year ago. Unfortunately his back up put the newly constructed roster on the hot seat and they have underperformed. Coming off a bye this is it for the Eagles — it’s win or forget about this
season. And for the Cowboys it’s also highly consequential, as 4-3 is a lot different than 3-4.

by Nelly Semela

The NFL Week 7 – What to Look For:

Roaring Lions

 ATL @ DET: The Detroit Lions look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season. For the Atlanta Falcons it’s gut check time as they look to go above .500 and won’t have it easy against the hungry big cats from Motown who lost by only 6 to the Niners. Wideout Julio Jones will need to test that hamstring he injured in week 5, but the team remains hopeful he’ll be ready to go Sunday. Coach Jim Schwartz doesn’t appear to have any back injuries from the shot he took from Jim Harbaugh postgame Sunday.

Jets Gut Check

 SD @ NYJ: A well-rested and time-healed San Diego Chargers team will have a chance to get the ball rolling again against the New York Jets who have the short rest after a lackluster MNF win against the Miami Dolphins in Jersey. It is perhaps the most crucial turnaround in their season because at 3-3 they need to climb the division standings to have any hope of making a run deep into the playoffs. After a bye week, Gang Green will have a brutal stretch of three games in eleven days, against the impressive Bills, Tom Brady, and Tim Tebow (who has the man upstairs on his side)!

Cowboys

STL @ DAL: Romo and the ‘Boys find themselves in a similar situation to the Jets in week 6 – they have been up and down to say the least and they have a gimme in the winless Rams. Playing “not to win” vs Tom Brady and the Pats resulted in a loss, so we’ll see if Jason Garrett decides to trust his quarterback late in the game should it come to that.

Breezin'

IND @ NO: The Saints know how crucial it is to win the NFC South this season and thatmission had a major setback Sunday as the Buccaneers got the six-point victory. A hapless and, most importantly, Peyton Manning-less Colts team could be just the remedy.  They’ll be hoping TE Daid Thomas returns from his concussion after missing Sunday’s game. His timeline remains indefinite, but the Saints look good when Brees has plenty of targets to hit.

Packin' Em

 GB @ MIN: Aaron Rodgers is on fire. Donovan McNabb, gone. Two players in the opposite stages of their respective careers, the young man who wears the championship belt to go with his ring will be happy to put the nail in the coffin of the flailing Vikings. The new Vikings starter rookie Ponder will be looking to make his name with a rebuilding team against a potential new dynasty. Don’t look for an upset in this one.

The Retirement of Fred Taylor

by Mia M. Jackson

Fred says Goodbye.

For one day, Fred Taylor was again a Jacksonville Jaguar. His appreciation and affection for the Florida team that drafted him 13 years ago were evident by the tears streaming down his face. He began by thanking the NFL for the experience that shaped his growth as a player and a man. Drafted 7th overall out of the University of Florida, the running back was quickly a Jacksonville hero.

As Taylor mentioned teammates, colleagues, coaches, and other important people to his career, he didn’t shy away from discussing some of the tougher times. “I wish I could have done a better job … as a leader,” Taylor said. But he held on to the fun memories, like pranks in the locker room and funny bets among the guys. He credited Don Edwards with giving him the license to speak – his wife now says he talks too much. “I was extremely shy when I was younger,” said Fred. But Edwards told him to let the world hear what he had to say, and sharing that he has.

“I’ve always known that I’d retire as a Jaguar,” said Taylor while proclaiming the 13 years a beginning, not the end, of his professional life. The years of injuries and trying to tough it out clearly took their toll on the running back. His last two years in New England didn’t end with the ring he wanted, but kept hope. He still looks forward to what life will bring next.  Thomas was optimistic about his future, ending with a positive proclamation:  “It doesn’t end with a period, this is just a comma.”

NOTES from the retirement press conference:

On how the retirement compares to other important moments in his life:

“I gotta be careful … my wife is right here”; “This is a moment that I’ll never forget … I don’t ever remember being this nervous before a game… My wife asked me why was I driving so slow … I just wanted to take it all in …This is it… this is really it.”

One moments or memories on the field:

“There are two moments. One would be my rookie year Tampa Bay game … prior to my rookie year, we were riding Warren Sapp’s jet skis … I told him I’d get a 100 yards on ‘em [Tampa Bay Buccaneers] … I ended that first game with the game ending touchdown …that was fun…”

Finally making it to the [NFL] Pro Bowl in 2007 – to have the entire city, coaches and teammates pushing for you – it meant a lot – it showed that there were so many genuine people who want to see you do well.”

Why Now:

“I always said that I’d run until the wheels fall off. … With the lockout, having more time with the kids, working with my Foundation, it just feels right.”

by DJ the Sports Mom

Ring .... Please.

This has been a season of waiting for me.  Back in March, my beloved father-in-law, affectionately known as “Gator” slipped into a coma.  For four long months we waited for calls to hear if he had awakened or if his condition had changed at all.  On July 15^th we got the call that Gator had gone on to be with the Lord.  It was a blessing to know that he was no longer in pain but sad to realize that we would not see him again on this side of heaven.

It is now August, the NFL Lock Out is officially over and I find myself, once again, waiting for “the call.”  My son, Jay, is now an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.  July 26^th was the first day that veteran free agents could be called.  I tried not to think about when the call will come but in my heart, I keep hoping it will be soon. On July 28^th I started getting the “other” calls.   People keep calling to see why Jay is still in Columbus and not in Seattle (he no longer plays for the Seahawks).  Others call to assure me that he will be picked up and they are praying in the meantime.  Still others are calling to confirm that he didn’t get picked up (I call them the concern hater calls).

My 10-year old nephew, Mike (the same nephew who just won his little league baseball championship) came over to talk about the draft that was taking place for little league football.  He was waiting for the  email letting him know what team he would be playing for and he was hoping to get a good coach and some teammates that he knew from previous seasons.  After church the next day, he got the email that he is now a Dallas Cowboy and he has the same coach from last year.  We were all elated that it worked out.

If only the NFL were that simple! I have spent the week combing through the NFL transaction reports, praying for my friends’ sons who have been cut, rejoicing with the ones who were retained or picked up by other teams and praying that I will see Jay’s name soon.

I am thanking God Jay has a college degree, a business and options other than football but the mom in me just wants that phone to ring and my child to play the sport he loves and has trained so hard for.  Being an NFL mom is not for the faint of heart.  It is a sport where you are competing for your position every week, trying to stay healthy and injury free and where you have to play your best every down.  You do all of that only to start it all over again in the summer.

I am still waiting and praying to the Lord that the phone will ring!

by Janna Pea

Breaking Bread at Clyde's with Green & Wallace - Photo by Anthony Tilghman

Growing up on a cattle farm is not the norm for most professional athletes.  But for basketball professional Jonathan Wallace, this is a part of his everyday life. Born and raised in Harvest Alabama, Wallace has always been an exception to the norm.

Wallace currently plays overseas for FC Bayern Munich in Germany, where they recently won the German Pro A championship.  He finished the season averaging 18 points and 4 assists. During his off-season, Wallace is typically back at home in Harvest, Alabama helping raise the 60 to 70 cattle on his family farm.

“Raising cattle is something I’ve enjoyed doing for a long time,” Wallace said.  “When I get older, I want to purchase some land and continue ranching. The feeling I get when being out in the field is similar to the one I get when on the court.  I love it.”

Before playing professional basketball, Wallace walked on to Georgetown’s basketball team his freshman year.  Playing under coach john Thompson III, Wallace was able to lead the Hoyas to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament during his junior year in 2007.  While at Georgetown, Wallace became good buddies with teammate Jeff Green.  To this day, the two of them remain close friends often calling themselves brothers.

“Playing under Coach Thompson was a wonderful learning experience that got more exciting each year,” Wallace said.  “Making it to the Final Four was a big accomplishment for all of us.  To reach that level and get to that point, that is something I will never forget. That moment will always be with me.”

Moving from Alabama to Washington, DC for undergraduate college was a bit of an adjustment for Wallace. He described the move as difficult and overwhelming at first. However, teammate Jeff Green—a DC native—helped him figure everything out. “I never took cabs or the metro when I first moved to DC,” Wallace said.

The transition from the country to the city and back to the country has been valuable for Wallace in several ways. The skills learned in Harvest, AL gave him an edge and a different outlook on life when he arrived to DC. While the knowledge and experiences gained in the city equipped him with important tools to take back to “Sweet Home Alabama”.  A major lesson Wallace took back home was the business side of running the farm. He was able to revamp how his family ran the farm by making it more efficient and profitable for all parties involved.

When Wallace is not on the court or out on the cattle farm, he enjoys spending quality time with his family since most of the year he is out of the country.  As for next steps Wallace was accepted into the Georgetown School of Law and has a solid career ahead of him.  Ideally he wants to continue playing professional basketball for as long as possible, but seems himself next as an attorney in the entertainment field.

“Going to law school is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Wallace said.  “Ideally, I would continue to work in the entertainment field, just in a different capacity. “

Stay Tuned … the Jeff Green story comes up next!

Jonathan Wallace and Jeff Green have always had a relationship deeper than just being teammates.  Wallace and Green instantly became buddies when they started playing together at Georgetown in 2005 and have remained close to this day.  While Green is more of the silly, goofy one- currently playing for the Boston Celtics, Wallace is more of the laid-back and mellow one of the duo.  They both spend much of their free time in Washington, DC where they originally met.

I learned how to win by losing and not liking it.” Tom Watson

Rory McIlroy

Sally Jenkins, a favorite sports columnists, used that quote earlier this year as she discussed Rory McIlroy’s horrible collapse at the Masters Tournament in April. At 21 years old, the talented golfer shot a final round 80 to undo an impressive 63-hole lead. He handed the tournament over on a platter, the same way we say Yana Novotna’s breakdown gifted Steffi Graf the Wimbledon trophy in 1993. Turning it over just like LeBron James made it easier for the Dallas Mavericks as he seemed to stand idly by in 4th quarters watching Dirk Nowitzki go crazy in the NBA Finals less than one week ago.

This weekend at the Congressional Country Club, McIlroy takes his 36-hole tournament record score and tries to hold on. He says he’s managed to shore up himself and added a little cockiness to his golf swing. “I said I needed to be a little more cocky, a little more arrogant on the golf course, and think a little bit more about myself,” said McIlroy reflecting on his two-day score. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll channel that Michael Jordan, Larry Bird or Kobe Bryant attitude that seems annoying to those looking for nice guy answers while making the course feel actually beatable. Rory’s father Gerry is on hand to watch it and he reminded reporters that while brilliant, this isn’t the best he’s seen his son play. “No, no, no. That would be the 61 he shot at Royal Portrush,” he replied without hesitation. [Newport, WSJ]

Yes, it hurt to watch J.J. Hildebrand yield his 4-seconds lead to Dan Wheldon at the end of the Indy 500 in May. Every second of the modern day collapse is caught and tweeted, texted, posted on Facebook and even aired on television. On Sunday, McIlroy is instead in position to give the gallery an understated grin as he saunters towards the 72nd hole with an insurmountable lead. We’re waiting.

Listen closely. What’s that I hear? Nothing! The NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA)  have finally understood that both sides were losing in the court of public opinion. Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith have acknowledged that the ongoing on camera debates were wearing thin on the millions of fans who simply want to know when they can begin to root for their favorite teams again.

Federal Judge Susan Nelson has moved the NFL court date to August 29th from the original date of September 12th. Both sides are hoping that there’s a deal in place before that. Recent closed door talks reportedly suggested by team owners appear to be a much more productive dialogue between the two sides. Years ago, the rumored backdoor talks between former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the late NFL union chief Gene Upshaw kept the league functioning and the fans happy. With every player and every team seeking support via the 24-hour, 365-day social media news cycle, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep it all together. Bottom line – we want football.

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