What a Week! Looking at the Lockout

It has been kind of a crazy week, hasn't it.

I was going to write up a long soliloquy about how great college football was, and how I really wouldn't miss the NFL that much if it canceled the season. How, in fact, it would have been a great thing for the NCAA after a pretty rough offseason. How the fact is, there are a ton of football fans who have never gotten into the manna from heaven that is BCS, big time college football. How a season without the NFL would wake a lot of people up (and keep Berman and Jaws in a soundproof room aka not on my television blurting NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE as loud as they can), who maybe didn't go to a big college, or attended Arizona State, or live in a major market, to what is in my opinion a damn good product, without all of the hyperbole and production that gets in the way of pro football. (If your scoring at home, and you know who you are, that is essentially a summary of what I had planned)

Something beautiful happened instead.


The lockout ended, and with the lockout ending a very accelerated yet abbreviated free agency period began. Honestly, this is how the NFL should do it. Deprive us of any real news for months, and then throw all these wild transactions at us in a matter of days. Fellas, (and by fellas I mean men and women) this is awesome. I can't get enough of this.

As a football fan in general, I have always taken at least some interest in watching athletes progress through the system. It's kind of a sidebar activity during games, remembering local kids when they appear on TV at various colleges, and then the next step, when they are either drafted or picked up as rookie free agents by pro clubs. When the lists started forming this week, I was overjoyed. I am a big fan of the underdog getting a shot, and nowhere in pro sports is this opportunity greater than it is for the undrafted free agent. Take a look at Arizona's own Nic Grigsby, an overachiever who played through a lot of pain in college (that he probably shouldn't have) and probably sacrificed a fair amount of draft stock in the process. Now he has a chance to not only make a roster, but possibly get himself carries in Miami.

(BTW congrats to a former teammate. Big Will Yeatman was a member of the famed 2004 Rancho Bernardo Broncos, who helped me pave the way to our school's first every undefeated conference championship {#holdtherope}. I know college didn't quite go the way you planned, but your a beast and you get to learn from the best in New England. The Pats don't look half bad, either. Also this run on wouldn't be complete without a congrats to Minneapolis' own David Gilreath, a kid who made it out of Armstrong High alive, and who made a lot of athletes from Cal Poly to Ohio State look foolish chasing him the past 4 seasons. You guys have awesome opportunities, work hard and enjoy the ride.)

Aside from dozens of names you are vaguely familiar with, how about all of these trades and signings happening in the last 72 hours? Based on the powers of Real Talk, twitter, and facebook, it appears that football fans are riding an all-time high of excitement. Heres my take: The NFL accidentally gave itself the best shot in the arm a professional league could hope for. Football fans everywhere, fresh off an amazing NBA playoffs, and facing a neverending baseball season with no fantasy drafts, tailgates, or sundays on the couch with wings to look forward to suddenly have the Batman signal staring at them at the end of the tunnel. The country is rarin' to go, and I think in August 2011 this country has an unprecedented amount of football optimism heading into the fall.

It's a real shame Hideki Irabu had to go. Honestly, I hate suicide. I hate the concept, and the hurt it causes so many people disgusts me. I can't imagine the pain that Hideki was going through, and like all suicides I wish he could have gotten the help he needed to face his demons before it was too late. We only get one of these, folks. If your sad, and in a ton of pain, please find an outlet. Whether its exercise, or confiding in a friend, or hell it could be eating contests, but please do not bottle it up. There is something and more importantly, some people out there to help you get through it. (Sorry for turning into an after school special quick, but sometimes the nasty side of life needs addressing too.)

(And for the record, I really wanted to link the Seinfeld clip, but this isn't my last blog ever so don't worry it's coming. Just struck me as possibly poor taste.)


One last thing, props to my buddy Alex for a great landing today. Scary stuff. You're a hell of an instinctive pilot buddy. Kudos indeed.

Stay tuned, I am working on some big things, including possibly a new and improved website! As always, If you have any suggestions or topics that you would like my .2 on don't hesitate to drop a line.


Hartman OUT

Dear Alex Morgan

So we lost today, that kind of sucks. Here is the kind of guy I am. I not only believe in, but really I live by, the idea of American Exceptionalism. It's just a fact, this country is better than yours and there isn't any room to debate this with me. In fact, if you disagree with me, Hugo Chavez has a clown shoes blog of his own, which I will not be linking. Just go ahead and click the red X button any time.


Regardless of the sport, or event, or subject, I want America to come out on top, and I am going to be pretty disappointed when we don't achieve victory. Look, hats off to Japan, they were great on the ball and played an honest, wide open style. By no means am I a sore loser; I have to imagine that this doesn't sting as much as losing to 11 Eurosnobs would. Lets focus on the positives.

By positives I am referring to Ms. America, or as you know her, Alex Morgan. I don't even care that she is a Cal Golden Lady Bear. (Is that what the female sports teams are called in Berkeley? Am I making a jump that it's similar to UConn's Lady Huskies?) Heck, I don't even care that she had a goal and an assist against the land of the rising sun.

(Editors Note: This is written based on the assumption that #13 in your roster but #1 in our hearts is in fact a loyal reader.)


Here is the deal Alex,


You know, if you're into it, and I'm just throwin it out there, and if your not into it send it right on back, but I would be willing to take you out to a nice, moderately priced dinner. You could even pick the movie as long as its "Horrible Bosses" and not that awful looking Zookeeper Movie. Well, who am I kidding; we can watch "Pearl Harbor" followed by "Caddyshack 2" if that is what you're in to. And hey, if you play your cards right, I might even call you back to watch me play FIFA try a lunch date or something, who knows. I'm just saying, if you're in the valley, I'm available at the moment.




Oh, and good game today boo.

Juron Criner situation

I have no idea what is going on with Arizona's star player, but it would not be the worst thing in the world if you prayed for him. If your an atheist, send some "vibes" his way. Regardless of what you're into, just hope for the best for one of the more quality people in college sports.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WSAMN_k5gM