DAYUM DIRK!!

Those were the exact words that came out of my mouth when I saw Dirk Nowitzki hit the ground. Last week he fell awkwardly and twisted his ankle AND knee in one fell - umm - fall. This was the most comprehensive injury I've seen in quite some time. A fall for the ages!! The Mavs ended up losing the game to the San Antonio Spurs 88-81. And your boy Dirkie Dirk? Out indefinitely.

I don't want to say he's not coming back at all this season, but the playoffs are just around the corner. Initial reports are saying he'll be out at least 2 weeks, but he has both a "mildly" sprained left knee and a "moderate" high left ankle sprain. And we all know that (dreaded) high ankle sprain ain't no joke! That thing is a killer! It affects the ligaments above the ankle that join the bones in the lower leg, the tibia and fibula. Every step is painful, and that pain is extreme when a player is running, cutting or doing anything athletic. The high ankle sprain typically takes twice as long to heal as a regular sprain, which could be up to 6 weeks.

We've seen players go down with a high ankle sprain and be out for several weeks, but symptomatic for several months (see Plaxico Burress). What Dirk needs to do is place a call to another Dallas player, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens. He had a high ankle sprain last season, missed one game and came back looking better than ever. TO was sleepin in a hyperbaric chamber and swears by its healing powers. And let's not forget how he came back and played in the Super Bowl XXXIX in '05 after he severely sprained his ankle and a broken leg. Doctors said he couldn't do it but he proved them wrong with a 9 catch 122 yard performance. Of course the Eagles lost that game to the New England Patriots, but the big story that year was TO: The Miracle Healer. I also think there was some voodoo and hoodoo goin on with that hyperbaric oxygen therapy but hey, who can prove it?

So, your star player goes down - what do you do? Well, this would be the main reason why the Dallas Mavericks acquired Jason Kidd in that monster 8-player trade a while back. If Dirk goes down, Kidd can step up and take over the team. Or so was the plan. Since coming to Dallas Kidd is averaging 10 points and 9 assists. The Mavs have played 2 games since Nowitzki was knocked out, winning the 1st one over the Clippers and taking an L vs. Denver. Dallas travels to face the Golde State Warriors later on tonight, and all eyes will be looking for which player(s) will step up. With the West being so close and Nowitzki being out the 45-27 Mavs can't afford a losing streak. They're #7 now but that could change in an instant.

Since acquring Jason Kidd the Mavs are 10-0 vs. teams with records above .500. By all accounts, those are wonderful numbers that show the how hard they play against teams the view as competition. The problem comes when you realize that Dallas is 0-9 when facing teams below .500. They fall off. And that's what happened during last year's playoffs when the #1 Mavs fell to eigth seeded Golden State in the 1st round.

And we all know the race in the Western Conference is tight as all get out. Only 5 games separate #1 New Orleans from the number 8 seed Denver Nuggets. Let's not forget that Denver has been on the outside looking in with Golden State holding on to that final spot. The Nuggets beat the Warriors last night 119-112 sending them into the playoff picture. For how long is yet to be seen. GSW is just half a game behind Denver so winning is a must in the final games of the season.

-->In the East, it's the complete opposite. The top team, My Boston Celtics, have a league best 55-13 record and have clinched the division title. The #8 seed is the Atlanta Hawks who at 32-44 aren't even a .500 team. If this is the playoff matchup can we say sweep?!

The Real Patriot Act

Is anyone actually surprised by cheating anymore? I feel pretty confident saying that about 99.998% of all people everywhere have cheated. Whether it's on taxes, during an exam, on a spouse or a drug test; everyone wants to win, no one wants to lose. It sounds simple but there is STILL uproar when people get caught. We would love to believe that everyone is pure and good, but to hell with that thought! People are vile and evil (oooh, an anagram!) and they will do anything to advance themselves. No, I'm not comparing Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to the devil, but he, just like every other coach in the NFL, wants his team to be #1. All the time. And yes, sometimes the best way to do that is via cheatation. Sometimes it's even easier than just putting in the work. Spying on the other team, deciphering calls, stealing signs are all things that are inherent to the game. Hell, why do you think baseball coaches look like they're doin the cracked-up version of the macarena every play? While it looks like fun, it's really just to have the other team so confused by the body gyration they give up on trying to cheat and focus on the plays at hand.

The opening game of the 2007 NFL season was an eye opener not only for the entire New England Patriots organization, but the NFL as well. The New York Jets played the Pats for their season home opener and caught NE cheating. Staff on the Patriots sidelines literally had a camera FOCUSED on the Jets defensive bench and coordinators, recording their every move and the plays they called. After the game, Jets head coach Eric Mangini told the league that NE was taping them and swift action was taken. The NFL found the tapes corroborating these allegations, and as a result, penalized the Patriots. Head coach Bill Belichick has been fined $500,000, the New England Patriots organization fined $250,000, and the team will also lose early round draft picks to be decided at a later date. If the Pats make it to the playoffs, they'll lose a 1st round pick. If they don't make it to the playoffs (and that's a huge IF), they'll lose 2nd and 3rd rounders.

I've heard both sides of the argument; the punishment was too harsh, it wasn't harsh enough. I'm not torn on this one, Bill Belichick got off easy. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has prided himself on cracking down on bad behavior in the league, and that effort has been respected. When Pacman Jones kept getting in trouble, he put his foot down and suspended him for the 2007-2008 season. When Tank Williams faced gun possession charges, he suspended him as well. We all know Mike Vick had been indicted on federal dog fighting charges and he's been suspended indefinitely from the league. More recently, Rodney Harrison, a New England Patriot, was suspended for the first four games of this season when it was discovered that he used Human Growth Hormones, a substance banned by the league. So here we sit, with a head coach and his entire staff aware of the rules (just like the players) and breaking them (just like the players) and they get off with a fine? As far as leadership goes, the quarterback is a force, and the most explosive player is also important, but the head of a team is the coach. These are the true leaders, and they should be held to higher standards.

Now don't misunderstand me, killing dogs, possessing illegal guns, and taking drugs are all wrong, but most of those crimes have no direct correlation to the game of football. Does it speak to the integrity of the players involved? Yes. Does it mean they shouldn't be able to do their jobs? Maybe. But what do you do when the HEAD coach of a team is engaged in a practice so egregious and overt, all in an attempt to give himself a huge competitive advantage? Do you fine him half a mil? Or do you suspend him, the same way you have several players in the recent past? If Harrison took drugs to make him, and inherently his team as well, better and is forced to miss a quarter of the season, how can Belichick consciously and purposefully record defenses, compile an illegal library of information, and only be punished monetarily? Goodell made a decision; how can we hurt these offenders the most? The answer is to take away the game they all love, the game they live for and off of. Vick stands to lose more than $20 million over animals! Belichick blatantly broke the rules with cameras on the sidelines and he should have to pay the same way. Coach, and members of his staff, should have been fined AND suspended. Goodell needs to be consistent. 'Gimme the cash, gimme the games.' There has to be a standard.
People are now calling Jets head coach Eric Mangini a rat. Huh? Yes, Mangini DID coach under Belichick. And yes, he does know his many illegal tricks. But Belichick should have been smart enough to know that ManGENIUS would not have any of that. Especially on his home field. Not only that, this is not the first time the Pats have been accused of cheating. Teams have been complaining to the league about the Patriots sketchy practices for years. If you ask me, it's about damn time somebody stepped in with some concrete proof. Leave to NEW YORK to show the league how to git er done!

Sports are exciting and wonderful but they are still just that, sports. Made for fun and enjoyment, they have somehow morphed into holier-than-thou gods that are exempt from all the rules that apply to man. There are things that are acceptable for the average Joe to do, but let an athlete engage in the same actions and it's a travesty. But let's be clear, a bad person is a bad person, regardless of wealth, fame and social standing. Having money does not make you great; it just makes you rich. Just ask Brittany Spears! She's a millionaire and we're all watching her life crumble before our eyes. She markets her music to the younger generations but that does not make her a role model. She's a bald wacko who can't take care of her own children, let alone keep her wig on straight! Hell, priests are still child molesters, politicians are still corrupt, and the police are still crooked. To somehow believe that participating in organized sports somehow absolves any ill feelings or intent is ridiculous.

Do I think Billy is a cheater? Yes. Will he do anything to ensure a victory for his team? Clearly. Do I think he's a horrible person? Please people, no. But an issue like this does put an mark on his record and legacy as one of the best coaches in football history. And yes, that mark should be an ASTERISK. That's right, I said it. ASTERISK. Yall can't only use that for Barry Bonds! He never tested positive for ANYTHING and people are so adamantly against him and convinced of his guilt. Head coach of the New England Patriots, a team that has won 3 of the last 6 Super Bowls, has been caught red-damned-handed. How can we not blame some of that success on his extensive library of cheatation materials? All I'm saying is, people need to check themselves and their reasoning. To me, this issue is clear cut. But yall ain't makin no sense.

Rodney Harrison! WHY!?

So Thursday I watched the Giants play their last preseason game against the New England Patriots. I find it hard to watch football with just my eyes, so I usually have my computer out with stats and roster info pulled up on both teams. I had company over so I was kinda half watching the game, half researching, half entertaining. Yes, I know there are 3 halves. Stick with me people. I had a flashback to the 2004-2005 season when the Pats won the Super Bowl, and one of my favorite players during that time was Rodney Harrison. I thought to myself, hmmm, I wonder how he's doing? So I looked him up and found out some info I didn't know. Like for instance, this is his 14th year in the league and he's 34 years old. Football age is like dog years so he should have been left the game. He was drafted by the Chargers in 1994, then later signed a 6 year deal with the Patriots in 2003 as a free agent. Ok, so you're wondering where the hell I'm going with this, right? Who signed up for a Harrison bio? Rodney Harrison admitted that used Human Growth Hormones, HGH! And for violating the league's substance abuse policy, he's been suspended without pay for the first four games of the regular season. The bruising, Pro-Bowl safety won't be eligible to play until the Pats face the Bengals in Cincinnati on October 1. Harrison is in his last two years of his contract, and earlier in the summer agreed to restructure his 2007-2008 season salary. His base salary went from $2.7 million, to $2, and this 4 game suspension is goin to cost him $470,588. His 2008 salary, $2 mil, remains untouched.

'Well, what the hell is HGH? And how does it affect the body?' I'm glad you asked me that. The pituitary gland in the brain actually produces growth hormone, a protein, naturally. As we age, the production level decreases. People turned to synthetic growth hormones in an attempt to halt and reverse the signs of aging. Originally used to increase the height of children with stunted growth, synthetic HGH is now used to increase exercise capacity, height, body and muscle mass, improve mood and motivation, and decrease body fat. Human growth hormone also helps those recovering from orthopedic injuries. It has been called "The Fountain of Youth." Results are best achieved when HGH is injected intramuscularly, and results can be seen after a few months of use. Sure there are some bad side effects like swelling, headaches, diabetes, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure and abnormal growth of bones and internal organs, but for some, it's well worth the risk. And now, back to football!

A federal investigation involving the New York Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement and a Florida based task force interviewed Harrison about his involvement with the online distributor busted during this investigation. He readily admitted to authorities that he obtained HGH, and since he was so cooperative, no criminal charges are expected to be filed. While he acknowledges taking the HGH, he maintains that he's never used steroids. Harrison has suffered severe injuries over the past few years, including a broken shoulder blade and a blown knee, and says he started using the banned substance two years ago, not to "gain a competitive edge" but rather "solely for the purpose of accelerating the healing process." He also came out with public apologies, stating that he alone was using with HGH, and that it had nothing to do with his teammates. He also sent a message out to young football players who admire him, acknowledging he made a mistake and "sent the wrong message with his actions." For setting the a bad example as a role model Harrison said, "I am very, very embarrassed by it. I am disappointed in myself."

Look, he took them to help rebound quickly, and it's understandable. He's an older player, and when you get to be his age, sometimes you need a lil suh-in suh-in to still be able to compete. He's almost at the end of his rope but still wants to play. Over the past few years he's had a number of serious injuries, which happen to a player who is well above his prime. Sure 40's the new 20, but a 40 year old body does not have the snap back of a 20 year old one. In an attempt to recover quickly from knee and shoulder injuries, he decided to use a substance prohibited by the NFL. And he's paying for it. Harrison is know for his aggressive, hard-hitting style of play. He has even been accused of being a "dirty" player and over his career has been fined more than $200,000 by the NFL for his rough play. Those deafening impacts took a toll, not only on his wallet, but his body as well. Pats have one of the strongest defenses in the league, largely due to Harrison's presence. New England is 44-7 when Harrison plays, 15-9 when he doesn't. With Richard Seymour being out as well due to injury, the Pats will have quite a trip without two of their perennial defensive leaders. Harrison's teammates voted for him to receive the 2006 Ed Block Courage Award. This annual award is given to a player on the team that and serves as an inspiration to the team and best embodies sportsmanship and courage. These winners usually come back from serious physical injury or devastating personal tragedies.

I don't know what it is about me, but I'm not as anti-banned substances as I thought I would be. Up With Hope, Down with dope! used to be one of my favorite slogans but I'm not so jaded anymore, especially when it comes to athletes. Granted crack, heroine and crystal meth are still, and will always be, bad, performance enhancing drugs don't carry the same negative connotation. Maybe it's the name, performance enhancing. Sounds kinda sexy even. (Sort of like calling it ED instead of erectile dysfunction) The bodies have gotten bigger, the hits have gotten harder, and the injuries more severe. Owners, management, coaching staff, teammates and fans all want players to get better, not older. Sometimes your inherent best isn't good enough and you need a lil extra juice to get over that proverbial hump, especially when age is a factor. And yes, I know that performance enhancing drugs are bad and compromise the integrity of any sport. It is not at all fair that someone who uses drugs gets the same, if not more, accolades and and respect than someone who achieves the same athletic heights naturally. For me this boils down to two key issues:

1) The league is not testing vigorously for the drugs they claim they don't want invading their sport. From what I've heard, HGH is relatively undetectable. Not only does it require blood test to be done, which the NFL does not do, but one would have to be tested within a relatively short time period after using. Literally, a matter of hours. There are other drugs that are more detectable but players, and coaches, know the ins and outs of the testing so it's easy to beat them. This applies to all sports, including steroid-plagued baseball.

2) Everyone else is doing it! Ok, not everyone, but a lot of people. Hell, Tim Couch, former #1 draft pick turned NFL bust, admitted to using HGH while he wasn't in the league. He was rehabbing, trying to get healthy in order to make a productive return to the NFL. He claims he used it under doctor supervision for three weeks. No one seemed to care. I don't know if it's because it's Tim Couch, or because he was outta the league when he did it, or because there's an unspoken acceptance within the league regarding HGH. The drug is virtually undetectable, and clearly the only way the league can find out about it is if you pull a Couch and confess, or bust a Harrison and get caught by the Feds.

Former NFL QB and current Dallas Cowboys QB coach Wade Wilson also surfaced during the investigation. He used the drug from 2004-2006 while he worked for the Chicago Bears. At 48 years of age, Wilson has been living with diabetes for more than 20 years and says he took the drugs to "improve the quality of [his] life." Hey, I'm buyin it. Oh, not the HGH, his story. I'll make that decision when I'm lookin down the hill, not up it.