Between Friends

It's official. The Green Bay Packers have traded superstar QB Brett Favre to the New York Jets. In my opinion, this issue transcends sports. The root issue here has nothing to do with sports nor football. It's about respect...loyalty...integrity. Favre and his family have been dissed by the Green Bay Packers' management. How pathetic. I am glad he's taken it like a man and refused to tolerate that bullcrap. 

Now we know that it was the Packers' GM who rushed Favre's decision to retire -- and it was he who planted mistruths in the media. All that BOOGEDY that Favre supposedly told the Packers, in the off-season and pre-season, was just that -- c-r-a-p. Then there's the issue of telling the 3-time NFL MVP -- the only player in the history of the sport with that honor -- "hey, if you want to play for us again you'll have to compete for your position with a junior player." Ya right. Imagine Marshall Faulk being told by the Rams' GM -- in the pre-season following his retirement -- "sure, you're welcome back but you'll first have to prove yourself as being worthy." A superstar player and future hall of famer -- wearing a Super Bowl ring -- told he'd have to compete for a role he's held -- without equal -- for years; and to have to compete with an unproven -- and untested -- junior-level player. Uh huh. Sure.

What an insult. That on top of the lack of integrity and lack of loyalty and lack of respect shown to such a player -- and person -- as Favre. The Pack GM is the one to ditch.

I don't know about you but I believe the Packers will regret that decision. The opposite applies in New York City -- Favre is a good fit for that team and they're hungry for a player like Favre. They've been wanting a QB of that caliber ever since Joe Namath left.

Don't know about you but I am looking foward to seeing those Jets games. More so than I am looking forward to the Rams games since Isaac Bruce is gone and Jackson is not likely to play. The Rams leave nothing to look forward to.   

I would bet the Jets win their opener and will give the Patriots a run for their money in game #2 -- they will not beat Tom Brady and Bill Bigocheat but it will be a good game. Like the Rams, the Pack will lose most of their games starting with the 1st one.

Who will have the better season -- the Jets or the Pack or the Rams?

Sure, the Detroit Red Wings lost in the 3rd OT to the Penguins last night -- and what a game! -- and I am glad. Not because I am rooting for the Penguins. I don't care who wins the Stanley Cup this season. The fact of the matter is I love the game of ice hockey and want this series to last as long as possible. Ideally, a 7th game.

For me, this is the only professional team sport that requires -- and demonstrates -- the superior athleticism of players -- namely, their mental and physical conditioning. And the average professional ice hockey player is considerably more fit than the average pro baseball or football or soccer or basketball player.

And so, in my opinion, one of many core factors driving the consistent efficacy and performance of the Detroit Red Wings -- and several other teams -- is their superior strength and conditioning [individual players and as a team].

But there is more to the equation! There has to be! Since Detroit has only 1 person on its roster who was a 1st round draft pick, this factor is clearly not the answer. And so, what is the answer? Is it because of their:

• Pro scouting activities?
• Amateur scouting in North America?
• Eurpoean scouting including in the Asian countries?
• Administration? Ownership?
• The front office?
• Head coaches -- and/or their coaching?
• Assistant coaches -- and/or their coaching?
• Coaches for the goalies -- and/or their coaching?
• Strength and conditioning coaches -- and/or their coaching?
• Cheerleaders -- and/or their sexy cheerleading outfits? lol
• Zamboni driver's techniques?

What makes this team so damn good?! And what can we do -- that we are evidently lacking in -- that will get us into the playoffs past the opening round?

Bottom line, whether you love them or loathe them, the Red Wings are a formidable hockey team that has earned respect time and time again. How sweet it would be if we could mirror their performance when it matters most.  

With all due respect to the Blues, they suck and have sucked for a very, very long time. Even our cheerleaders leave something to be desired.

Scott Spezio's drunken, disorderly, crazed and criminal acts -- which he allegedly performed the other night in California -- giving new meaning to the term "designated hitter" -- led to his release from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Okay, fine. Well, I have a proposal Mr-whatever-your-name-is [who replaced Walt Jockety] and Mr. Checketts:

Since we all love Spezio's presence on the field -- and the Cardinals are still paying him millions of dollars -- and the St. Louis Blues could use a man with his talents -- why not strap some skates on that boy and paint that little beard blue, and turn him loose on the ice -- after giving him a few drinks of course.

The Cardinals could lease him to the Blues. And just as easy as Michael Jordan showed up on the baseball diamond, Blue Beard Spezio can go from jail to the blue line.

He'll be like Bo Jackson and play multiple sports: baseball, ice hockey and smash mouth. He'll help us go deep in the playoffs. He'll score the game-winning goal -- a hat trick goal -- in our sweep of the finals. He'll bring home to Moma Lou, Lord Stanley's Cup! It'll be a win for everyone. Hoorah

Of course the Rams have a better chance of going 19-0 next season.  Oh well.

This is a call to action. A call to action for the St. Louis Blues and their ownership, management and players. A call to action for the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Region. A call to action for Blues fans throughout the world and at the space station.

A call to action that we all team up -- right now and from now on -- and stop bleeding blue. We don't want to bleed blue anymore! We are sick of bleeding blue! Bleeding blue hurts and is emotionally damaging. If there is going to be any more bleeding, I say we..

Bleed silver -- STANLEY CUP SILVER!