WOW, Former NFL Quarterback Steve Young Calls Obama a Dictator on National TV (Video)

Talk about a Freudian slip … that is 100% true.

WHEN POLITICS AND FOOTBALL MEET …  While providing analysis on Peyton Manning taking on the Cincinnati Bengals and how Denver would win the game, former San Francisco 49er QB compared Manning to Barack Obama as he referred to Obama as a “dictator”. WOW. Well, if the dictator comment fits, wear it. Kind of amazing when a dictator comparison can so easily be made with regards to an American president while discussing sports. But this is the sad state of our Republic in the 21st century.

“Watch for Peyton Manning to speak to to rookies, the nation. As the president of the United States would speak to the nation tonight and tell them, I am the dictator. I am the one who is going to take care of everything.”

NFL 2014 Regular Season Over … Now Comes Black Monday for Coaches like Rex Ryan, Mike Smith, Jim Harbaugh, Marc Tressman and More (Update: Ryan & Smith Fired)

BLACK MONDAY IN THE NFL …

With only one game left tonight in the 2014 NFL regular season, Cincinnati at Pittsburgh for the AFC North Division, let the coaching carousel begin as tomorrow, “Black Monday” for many coaches. Back up the moving truck and get out the boxes, the following coaches are most likely out and will be packing up their offices:

1. Rex Ryan, New York Jets. The only individual with a worse past 6 years has been Barack Obama. Its too bad we can’t fire BO on Monday as well. Make no mistake about it, Ryan will be given the pink slip Monday, the Jets might also want to clean house and axe the GM John Idzik as well as this team just has no talent and has drafted poorly. The Jets under Rex have continually regressed. They used to be pound and ground relying on a strong defense and good running game. These days they are neither. However, in a parting flipping of the bird to Jets brass, as Ryan’s Jets defeated Miami 37-24, winning 2 of the last 3 games finishing 2014 at 4-12 and dropping further in the 2015 college draft.

Rex Ryan can always reminisce of his days as the Jet’s coach with the Mark Sanchez ‘Butt fumble”

2. Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons. If there is ever some one that needs to be fired is Mike Smith. Frankly, with some of the coaching decisions this guy has made last year, I can’t believe was brought back as a coach in 2014.  However, Falcon fans will not have to suffer the same in 2015 with today’s embarrassing loss at home to Carolina, 34-3. In a disastrous year, because of the weakness and pathetic play of all teams in the NFC South, the 6-9 Falcons actually had a chance to win the division and host a playoff game next week. As wrong as that sounds, but that is another discussion for another day. However, the Falcons lost badly at home. Actually, they never showed as the Panther running game ripped through Atlanta like General Sherman. It is a safe bet that Smith will be fired, you can bet the house on it. Smith will finish his tenure in Atlanta with a 65-45 record; however, only 10-22 in the last two seasons.

3. Jim Harbough, San Francisco 49ers. Let’s just say it as simple as possible, It’s off to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Wolverines …   Hail! to the victors valiant. Hail! to the conqu’ring heroes .Hail! Hail! to Michigan The leaders and best!

Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers will mutually part ways and it will most likely be 5 minutes after the end of the 49er/Arizona game. It is hard to believe it has come to this in San Francisco. In 4 years with the 49′ers Harbaugh was 44-19-1, three playoff appearances, three NFC Championship appearance and one Superbowl appearance. All this and the coach and ownership could not get along. CRAZY. I guess the 49er brass has some collective amnesia as just how bad they were prior to Harbaugh. Update: looks like we were right, ESPN is reporting Jim Harbaugh, Niners mutually part. Its not quite Jimmy and Jerry of Cowboys fame, but close.

Remember what it used to be like prior to Harbaugh?

4. Marc Tressman, Chicago Bears. It is safe to say that the Marc Tressman – Jay Cutler (QB) reign has been nothing short of a disaster. Tressman is 13-19 in two years as Bears head coach. The Bears finished 5-11 in 2014, dead last in the NFC Norris, losing their last 5 games in a row. A note to the Bears owners, the NFL is not the CFL. Maybe if the NFL extended the end zone by 10 yards, made the field 110 yards long and added the rouge, Tressman might have had a chance. Karma is a bitch. This is what the Bears deserve after they ran Lovie Smith out of town with a 10-6 record, a 81-63 record and a Superbowl appearance. The Bears would love to know what a 10 win season looks like these days. Hey Marc, I hear there are some coaching opportunities in the CFL, eh.

5. Tony Sparano, Oakland Raiders. Come on, its the Raiders, these folks go through coaches like people change their underwear. Since John Gruden left the Raider at the end of the 2001 season, Raiders have had 8 different head coaches in 13 years. JUST WIN FIRE THE COACH BABY! The Raiders’ interim coach took over a winless team in 2014, from fired coach Dennis Allen (8-28), and has since gone 3-7. By the way, who the hell is Dennis Allen? The Raiders finished last in the AFC West at 3-13. With a promising young QB in last years draft and other top 5 draft pick in 2015, look for Oakland to have another new coach in 2015.

Former Oakland Raider Bill Romanowski give his opinion on the Raiders after being blown out
by the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 of the 2014 season, proclaiming,”The Raiders suck and I’m pissed off!”

UPDATE I: Its official, Jets Fire Rex Ryan and GM  John Idzik.

Coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik were fired early Monday morning, the first casualties of the New York Jets’ fourth straight year out of the playoffs.

Owner Woody Johnson made the decisive, if not surprising, moves after his team stumbled to 4-12, its worst record since 2007. Johnson recently called it the most difficult of his 15 seasons as the head of the organization.
Johnson said in a statement that he made the changes after “extensive thought and reflection about the current state of our football team.”

UPDATE II: Falcons fire Mike Smith.

Two for two. I would also ad that Giants may be firing their head coach, although I hope not.

TOP 10 AP Sports Stories of 2014 … NFL Domestic Violence #1 … However, They Missed a Few, Including #22 Lauren Hill

AP has released their TOP 10 stories of 2014. Some I would agree with; however, I think they missed a few glaring oversights, in favor of the cause-celeb issues of the day. At least in the mind of the media and not the common sports fan. AP made the NFL domestic violence issues their top story, which sadly, I do agree with. Although, it is not like domestic violence is something new to the NFL. It has been around for decades, it has just been swept under the carpet, much like the steroids and concussion issues.

Does anyone notice a glaring omission from AP’s stories below? With all the clamor about the Washington Redskin’s and their offense name, how come that one was no where to be found?

1. NFL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice knocked his now-wife unconscious in an Atlantic City casino elevator Feb. 15, but it wasn’t until July 24 that domestic violence cases spiraled into a crisis roiling the NFL. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Rice for just two games, which drew widespread derision. More than a month passed before Goodell admitted he “didn’t get it right” and announced harsher sanctions for future domestic violence offenses.

But the NFL’s problems were only beginning. On Sept. 8, TMZ Sports released video from inside the elevator that showed Rice punching his then-fiancee; the Ravens responded by releasing him and Goodell suspended him indefinitely. And on Sept. 12, one of the league’s biggest stars, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, was indicted on felony child abuse charges for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. The Vikings initially planned to play him just over a week later, reversing course only after the ensuing uproar. [editors note: looks like AP forgot Carolina Panther's DE Greg Hardy, Arizona Cardinals RB Jonathan Dwyer, and San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald who was just released by the 49ers after another allegation of domestic violence.

The year ends with Rice reinstated by an arbitrator but without a team and Peterson suspended and suing the NFL. Chastened by those and other cases, the league is pushing a new personal conduct policy, but the players' union is balking at Goodell's role in the disciplinary process.

2. CLIPPERS' STERLING BANNED
3. LEBRON GOES HOME:
4. FIRSTS FOR GAY ATHLETES - [editors note: not sure if this story gets top 10, not because of not being important, more so because Michael Sam never made a starting roster and was eventually cut from the Ram's practice squad and never resigned by another team].
5. GIANTS WIN WORLD SERIES
6. COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PAYS OFF – [editors note: This was a huge story for college football; however, it will soon be changed to 8 teams and not 4.]
7. TONY STEWART:
8. WORLD CUP:
9. SEAHAWKS WIN SUPER BOWL – [editors note: Once again QB Peyton Manning choked in the big game as the Legion of Boom and Seattle Seahawks dominated the Denver Broncos 43-8. I am not even sure if the game was that close. The score was 36-0 before Broncos decided to score a meaningless TD.]
10. SOCHI OLYMPICS:

Many of the above stories were covered by Scared Monkeys, I think a couple should be added that are glaring commissions from AP’s top 10.

All my life I have been a Boston Red Sox fan and have hated the vile NY Yankees, but I will be the first to admit that the retirement of Derek Jeter should have easily been in the top 10. What about the NCAA College basketball center of the universe being located in Storrs, Connecticut? In 2014 the UCONN Huskies Men’s and Women’s teams were proved they were both “Best in Show” as they won National Championships. The  men for the 4th time as the #7 seed University of Connecticut Huskies defeat the #8 seed Kentucky Wildcats, 60-54. Then, the following night, Geno Auriemma’s (40-0) Lady Huskies routed Notre Dame 79-58  for their 9th title.  This accomplishment had only happened one time before in D1, by the UCONN Huskies in 2004.

Maybe the best sports story of 2014 and maybe the most inspirational of 2014, which was completely missed by all sports pundits, is the story of freshman forward Lauren Hill of the Division III Mount St. Josephs. Lauren is dying of inoperable brain cancer. It is a story that will touch your heart. I will write more about this in a separate post as it is my #1 story of 2014 in a year that had so many negative ones.

Lauren Hill

FCC Says Using “Redskins” On the air Isn’t Obscene or Profane … Daniel Snyder-owned station WWXX-FM Keeps License

File this one under PC police lose one and the Federal government actually gets something right …

The FCC has ruled that saying the word “Redskins” on the airwaves is not obscene or profane. The Federal Communications Commission dismissed a petition that called for one of the team’s flagship radio stations, WWXX-FM, not to have its license renewed based on the repeated use of the word “Redskins.”  The petition stated that the use of the word violated rules against indecent content. Good grief. Thankfully, cooler heads and the law prevailed.

Saying the word “Redskins” on the air isn’t obscene or profane – at least not according to the Federal Communications Commission.

The FCC on Thursday dismissed a petition that called for one of the team’s flagship radio stations not to have its license renewed. The petition claimed repeated use of the word “Redskins” violates rules against indecent content.

But the FCC said that the law defines profanity as sexual or excretory in nature – meanings that don’t relate to the name of the football team.

Many Native American and other groups consider “Redskins” to be a racial slur and have demanded that owner Dan Snyder change the name. Snyder says he’ll never change the name, and he has the official backing of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Thursday’s ruling affects the Snyder-owned station WWXX-FM.

Auburn University Football Player Jakell Mitchell Shot & Killed at an Off-Campus Apartment Complex (Update: Markale Hart Arrested)

18 year old was a freshman football player Jakell Mitchell was shot and killed at an off-campus apartment complex overnight. Auburn police responded Tiger Lodge apartment complex at 12:25 am Sunday morning where Mitchell suffered a fatal injury. Mitchell was a redshirt freshman on 2014 out of Opelika High and looked to contend for a starting spot at H-Back and tight end in 2015. Jakell Mitchell died shortly after arriving at the emergency room from multiple gun shot wounds. The incident is being treated as a homicide.

Jakell Mitchell, Auburn University

Auburn freshman football player Jakell Mitchell was shot and killed early Sunday morning at an apartment complex near the Auburn University campus.

The Auburn Police Department is investigating and developing leads as it searches for a suspect.

Mitchell was rushed to East Alabama Medical Center by ambulance with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Lee County Coroner’s Office. He died shortly after arriving at the emergency room. The death is being treated as a homicide. An autopsy will be performed in Montgomery.

The Auburn Police and Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences were still working the scene in a parking lot inside the Tiger Lodge apartment complex as of 6 a.m.

The shooting occurred at the same apartment complex Desmonte Leonard killed three men, including former Auburn players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips, at a party in the summer of 2012. Desmonte Leonard was convicted of capital murder, attempted murder and assault in October and will be sentenced Jan. 7.

UPDATE I: 22 year old Markale Hart arrested in  fatal shooting of Auburn football player Jakell Lenard Mitchell.

More black on black crime as Barack Obama, Al Sharpton and Eric Holder remain as quite as a church mouse.

 Police say they’ve arrested a 22-year-old man in the fatal shooting of Auburn football player Jakell Lenard Mitchell.

Auburn Police Capt. Will Matthews issued an agency statement Sunday afternoon that said Markale Deandra Hart of Camp Hill, Alabama, has been arrested on a felony warrant charging him with murder. Police add Hart’s being held at a county jail in the state.