This writer does not look for the Tigers to end the 2012 season with a won/loss record as good as last season. There are simply too many unanswered questions, the larger being does the team have confidence in coach Les Miles after the fiasco in the national championship game against Alabama.
The problem is not talent but how that talent is used by the coaching staff. The talents of too many LSU players have been wasted by Miles over and over again over several seasons. It was noticable that Miles was determined to make Jefferson the starting quarterback even after he got into trouble regardless how well Lee was playing.
LSU's players, fan base and students deserve better. When a team goes 13-0 and than looses in a rematch because the coach did not do his job it is hard to see how a so called experienced coach can recapture the confidence in his players. Time will tell.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Peyton Manning And Drew Brees Saga
The up coming NFL season for Denver and New Orleans could leave their fans shaking their heads in disbelief at the conclusion of the regular season. This writer has never witnessed a news conference like the one held by Denver to announce Manning's signing. It was too long with too many questions and answers and unfortunately void of the important answers that can not possibly be answered until the end of the season. What is ahead for Manning and Denver is as follows.
Will Manning be gun shy because of his neck injury and bail out and let the ball fly too soon? Will Manning be able to keep his cool and not think about his injury or being reinjured? Will Manning's timing, agility and athletic ability still be there after missing a full season? Will his desire to play be at the high level necessary to compete once the season gets underway? How much help will the team give Manning? That long news conference was a boon to the news media and hype but was clueless as for how Manning and Denver will end the season. That will tell the real story.
Drew Brees is still waiting to sign a contract with the Saints as of this writing. Some local sports journalists and many fans are on record thinking the Saints should give Brees whatever he is asking for salary wise. In fact one journalist said if Manning signed with Denver for $19 million than Brees is worth $25 million. That kind of logic or lack there of is one reason professional sports has so many problems. Brees has led the Saints to 4 winning seasons out of 6 years, no where near the number of winning seasons Manning led his team. Manning has also won more playoff games than Brees.
Fans and sports journalists should not be surprised if Brees and the Saints end up with a break even or 9-7 record at the end of the season. Their losses in the playoff the last two seasons were ugly to say the least and neither Brees or Sean Payton really had an answer. The coaches and players suspensions will have an affect on the team and its record despite the pep talk going on by journalists and the Saints orginazation. I am not a mind reader or have a crystal ball but I think I see the hand writing on the wall. Only time will tell.
Will Manning be gun shy because of his neck injury and bail out and let the ball fly too soon? Will Manning be able to keep his cool and not think about his injury or being reinjured? Will Manning's timing, agility and athletic ability still be there after missing a full season? Will his desire to play be at the high level necessary to compete once the season gets underway? How much help will the team give Manning? That long news conference was a boon to the news media and hype but was clueless as for how Manning and Denver will end the season. That will tell the real story.
Drew Brees is still waiting to sign a contract with the Saints as of this writing. Some local sports journalists and many fans are on record thinking the Saints should give Brees whatever he is asking for salary wise. In fact one journalist said if Manning signed with Denver for $19 million than Brees is worth $25 million. That kind of logic or lack there of is one reason professional sports has so many problems. Brees has led the Saints to 4 winning seasons out of 6 years, no where near the number of winning seasons Manning led his team. Manning has also won more playoff games than Brees.
Fans and sports journalists should not be surprised if Brees and the Saints end up with a break even or 9-7 record at the end of the season. Their losses in the playoff the last two seasons were ugly to say the least and neither Brees or Sean Payton really had an answer. The coaches and players suspensions will have an affect on the team and its record despite the pep talk going on by journalists and the Saints orginazation. I am not a mind reader or have a crystal ball but I think I see the hand writing on the wall. Only time will tell.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Falling Price For A Gallon Of Gasoline
A few months ago the American people were told by the experts to expect the price of gasoline to hit record levels and continue to increase through the summer months. As of this writing the price of a gallon of gasoline has not hit record levels, that distinction belongs to the G.W. Bush administration.
Then just a week of so ago President Obama and the Justice Departmnt announced an investigation has started to seek out how the price of oil (which affects the price of gasoline) has been manipulated by those dealing with oil futures who buy and sell oil on the open market and set prices. And what should have been to no ones surprise, the price of a barrel of oil and gallon of gasoline has been going down ever since and now the experts say the price will continue to go down during the summer months.
A legal investigation will get peoples attention every time, especially when the price of oil and gasoline are manipulated by those who benefit the most. Keep in mind production in the oil industry has been up, there has been no shortage and really no threat to drilling and or production world wide. Profits in the industry continue to increase and contrary to what oil industry executives say, federal and state regulations do not hinder the industry's drilling and production.
The President and Justice Department needs to follow through on their investigations and hold those accountable for their manipulation and speculation on the price of a barrel of oil. Those elected officials who are mouth pieces for the industry were just as wrong as the so called experts and are a pittiful bunch. It is way past time for congress to eliminate the billions of dollars of tax breaks for the industry.
Then just a week of so ago President Obama and the Justice Departmnt announced an investigation has started to seek out how the price of oil (which affects the price of gasoline) has been manipulated by those dealing with oil futures who buy and sell oil on the open market and set prices. And what should have been to no ones surprise, the price of a barrel of oil and gallon of gasoline has been going down ever since and now the experts say the price will continue to go down during the summer months.
A legal investigation will get peoples attention every time, especially when the price of oil and gasoline are manipulated by those who benefit the most. Keep in mind production in the oil industry has been up, there has been no shortage and really no threat to drilling and or production world wide. Profits in the industry continue to increase and contrary to what oil industry executives say, federal and state regulations do not hinder the industry's drilling and production.
The President and Justice Department needs to follow through on their investigations and hold those accountable for their manipulation and speculation on the price of a barrel of oil. Those elected officials who are mouth pieces for the industry were just as wrong as the so called experts and are a pittiful bunch. It is way past time for congress to eliminate the billions of dollars of tax breaks for the industry.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
April's Unemployment And Job Creation Numbers
The U.S. Labor Department announced the U.S. economy created 115,000 new net jobs in April and that unemployment fell to 8.1%, a decrease from the previous month. The state governments continue to lose jobs with cuts mainly becuse of state revenue decline.
April's new job numbers was the 26th straight month of job growth for the economy and a positive sign of a continued recovery from the second great economic depression and record job losses of the previous administration. Unemployment is getting close to the 7% range this writer predicted over a year ago while the so called experts were predicting a 9% unemployment rate through 2012. Those so called experts who were predicting a 9% unemployment rate through 2012 thought there would be no job growth. They were wrong on both counts.
Republican reaction to April's numbers were the usual negative sound bites that reflect their anti American ideology of wanting to see the President and the country fail. They have no economic record to run on just ask George W. Bush. President Obama needs to continue to do what ever is necessary to see that the economy continues to grow and create more jobs. He understands the republicans will do nothing to help move the country and its people forward.
April's new job numbers was the 26th straight month of job growth for the economy and a positive sign of a continued recovery from the second great economic depression and record job losses of the previous administration. Unemployment is getting close to the 7% range this writer predicted over a year ago while the so called experts were predicting a 9% unemployment rate through 2012. Those so called experts who were predicting a 9% unemployment rate through 2012 thought there would be no job growth. They were wrong on both counts.
Republican reaction to April's numbers were the usual negative sound bites that reflect their anti American ideology of wanting to see the President and the country fail. They have no economic record to run on just ask George W. Bush. President Obama needs to continue to do what ever is necessary to see that the economy continues to grow and create more jobs. He understands the republicans will do nothing to help move the country and its people forward.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Once Upon A Time In The National Football League
There was a time in the NFL when coaches were gentlemen, especially head coaches. Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry and Don Shula were three. All won two or more world championships and they acted and coached like gentlemen. They demanded much from their players and had a long record of winning seasons and play off participation.
They were also gentlemen off the field and gave much to professional football. They did not play favorite with their players and were a credit to the game. They also played the game themselves and would never be part of any bounty to hurt another player and put him out of the game.
Saints coach Sean Payton's arrogance and attitude to the game merited a years suspension and rightly so. He lacked the character and courage to be a gentlemen in his coaching and failed to look after his teams best interest in allowing bounty gate to take place. When a team looses its head coach because of improper actions that is a sad commentary of what is taking place in pro football. The leadership of the NFL is not with out blame. They have presided over the demise of sportsmanship in the NFL in favor of wealth for the NFL, the owners and players by their demands of Corporate Welfare using tax payers money.
Is there any wonder why arrogance has raised its ugly head? Yes, there was a time when the NFL had gentlemen coaches who had character, courage and respect for the game. That says is all.
They were also gentlemen off the field and gave much to professional football. They did not play favorite with their players and were a credit to the game. They also played the game themselves and would never be part of any bounty to hurt another player and put him out of the game.
Saints coach Sean Payton's arrogance and attitude to the game merited a years suspension and rightly so. He lacked the character and courage to be a gentlemen in his coaching and failed to look after his teams best interest in allowing bounty gate to take place. When a team looses its head coach because of improper actions that is a sad commentary of what is taking place in pro football. The leadership of the NFL is not with out blame. They have presided over the demise of sportsmanship in the NFL in favor of wealth for the NFL, the owners and players by their demands of Corporate Welfare using tax payers money.
Is there any wonder why arrogance has raised its ugly head? Yes, there was a time when the NFL had gentlemen coaches who had character, courage and respect for the game. That says is all.
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