Duck, duck, coach?

Desperate times call for desperate measures so in order to find next year's head coach, Al Davis has decided to have a reality show. The title of the show hasn't yet been decided but some of the suggestions are: "Raiders of the Lost Cause", "Who Wants To Be a Dozenaire?" "The Coach of the Year", "Oakland's Got Talent." , "1-2-3, Not It!" and yes, "Duck, Duck, Coach. Those are just a few and there's got to be a better one. Somebody suggested "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" but come to find out, that name was already taken.

I have no idea what's going to last longer: That show, the winner of the show, a Hollywood marriage, a Hollywood chick flick or the Bengals winning streak. At least the Bengals have a week between games but a chick flick seems to last an eternity and marriages seem just like a rental.

Nick Saban returns to face his former team. Yeah, he gave LSU the cold shoulder before heading to the Dolphins and denying he was ever flirting with Alabama.

Doug Flutie was recently honored with a statue at Boston College. I'm surprised he didn't get a call from Detroit who is now giving Culpepper the nod to start.

Well this should be another great week for both college and pro football. One thing I know for sure is the Cowboys won't be handed a loss on the filed this week but we just have to wait for Romo. It must be bad luck to wear a No.9 jersey for a Texas team, be named Tony and date or be married to an actress because Tony Parker is injured and will be out for while. You think this is just a coincidence?

Post 100

I know it's not that big of a deal but hey, it's 100. A lot has happened between the first post (Boo-able) and this one. I remember thinking I wouldn't keep it for long but since I have a sympathy ready, I decided to keep it going. Alright, this time for Weekly Sports History, I don't want to do a lot of rambling about nothing so I'll keep it to a minimum. The No. 100 does bring up a lot of things.

Wilt's 100 point game, running backs generally shoot for 100 yard games and now, well 100 posts doesn't measure up to anything as I sit here blogging. I could've added a heck of a lot more to WHS this week but I have to do homework if I want to graduate. On a side note, I took the picture in Canton.

11/3/1962 - Wilt Chamberlain of SF Warriors scores 72 points vs LA Lakers.
11/3/1995 - First game at Skydome, Toronto Raptors beat NJ Nets 94-79.
11/3/1995 - First game at Rose Garden, Grizzlies beat Trailblazers 92-80.
11/4/1889 - Players League begins, declaring independence from NL.
11/4/1904 - Harvard Stadium became the first stadium built specifically for football (top).
11/4/1924 - California legalizes pro boxing (illegal since 1914).
11/5/1967 - New Orleans Saints win first game against the Eagles 31-24.
11/5/1971 - Lakers starts a 33 game consecutive victory streak.
11/5/1988 - First game at Bradley Center Clippers beat Bucks 111-91.
11/5/1993 - First NBA game in Alamodome, Spurs beat Warriors 91-85.
11/5/1994 - George Foreman Knocks out Michael Moorer (no, not Moore. We can dream though.) in 10 for heavyweight title.
11/5/1995 - George Foreman beats Michael Moorer to win WBA/IBF boxing title.
11/5/1996 - Derek Jeter named AL Rookie of the Year.
11/7/1991 - Magic Johnson announces he has HIV virus and retires from LA Lakers.
11/8/1970 - Tom Dempsey kicks NFL record 63 yard field goal.

Presidential Athletics

I'm tired of hearing about the elections but I also know we will be hearing about it for quite some time. I love my America and want what's best for her and I realize the elections are important but I'll be glad to when I can turn on the TV, read a newspaper and listen to the radio without having to hear about the current presidential election.

Since this is a sports blog and not a political blog, I was thinking recently about something. If someone from the sports world was to lead this country, who would I want? Who has the knowledge and integrity? That thought immediately reminded me of something else I've read before.

In his book, Why My Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot, Mike Greenberg talks about what NFL head coaches would be like as the Commander-in Chief. He says "I think Mike Ditka could kick the ass of any head of state. I think Bill Parcells would have made Saddam Hussein run wind sprints. I think Tom Landry probably should have been president of the United States.

In fact, I think football coaches have all the qualities it takes to run a nation: leadership, toughness, intelligence, and the ability to delegate. Every head coach even has his own cabinet: Secretary of Special Teams, Chief Justice of the Offensive Line, Majority Leader of the Defense. Imagine how differently Vietnam might have turned out if Vince Lombardi had been running the show instead of Lyndon Johnson; he would have run that toss-counter-sweep right up the Communists' asses. Let's face it: The sixties were a good deal kinder to Lombardi than they were to LBJ. For that matter, the seventies were better to Chuck Noll than they were to Jimmy Carter. In the eighties, Bill Walsh vs. Ronald Reagan was too close to call. I'll give Clinton the nineties over Jimmy Johnson but not in a runaway."

Greeny goes on to talk about how you respected the greatest people to ever coach the game, and if you didn't, you could leave. Today, there are only a handful of coaches that this applies to. If you want to read more of the book, go out and buy it. It's a good one.

Anyway, sports figures who could be president? Bill Belichick wouldn't deliver the best State of the Union Address and he would be under constant scrutiny after the Spygate incident. None of the above coaches are coaching any more and the closest to them that we have might just be Tony Dungy.

Until the summer, Packer nation would have been ready to elect Brett Favre as the new president, but he got a job in New York. We've seen several athletes go into politics after a pro career but none has gone all the way to the Oval Office.

My first vote would be to Tom Landry if he were still with us. Unfortunately though he's not so therefore, why not go to his right hand man? Roger "the Dodger" Staubach might even still have what it takes. I'll gladly vote for David Robinson, Nolan Ryan or Cal Ripken any day. Yeah I know, we just had an election so it's too soon but hey, if Staubach does run, I'll gladly vote for No. 12 in 20012.

Congrats

I know I'm almost a week late but I just want to congratulate the Phillies for winning the World Series. The City of Brother better sink this one in because the Eagles and 76ers aren't going anywhere for a while.

Speaking of the Sixers, their former Answer Allen Iverson is on the verge to going to Detroit. That Pistons team will change after all. They'll have to let go of Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess.

Congratulations also go out to the Cincinnati Bengals who avoided an 0-16 season Sunday. TJ, can you guarantee a second win at any time during the season?

I would congratulate the Lions for almost winning but the bad news Bears had to turn to Rex Grossman once again. Also, it's hard to congratulate a team who settles for Daunte Culpepper as its signal caller. The veteran quarterback saw the opportunity to get his No.11 jersey after the Lions traded Roy William away. I would say Culpepper has a chance to be the next Rodney Peete or Andre Ware but perhaps we shouldn't set the bar so high. Let's just stick with Scott Mitchell.