Papelbon Guns And Pompous Pretensions Of Sports Writers

Papelbon Guns And Pompous Pretensions Of Sports Writers— Phillies reliever Jonathan Papelbon, who was once a star for the Red Sox, was asked by Boston media people for some comments about safety at sporting events in light of the Boston Marathon attack.

“The Phillies did this thing the other day where we came down
through the bleachers for one opening game, and I don’t feel comfortable
doing that,” he said. “I really, truly don’t. Today’s day and age
has gotten so crazy, everything. You know, all this stuff going on.
Shoot, man, Obama wants to take our guns from us and everything, you’ve got this kind of stuff going on. It’s a little bit insane for me. I
really don’t know how to take it.”

Well, golly did that provide an opportunity for  the pompous pundit wannabees stuck with covering sports a chance to wax wise about a political issue.

“The man clearly did not major in classical philosophy when he was
at Mississippi State, so we probably should not be surprised if there is
anything two-dimensional or self-centered about his processing of the
events of the last 48 hours,” said David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News. “He gets paid money (a lot) to pitch (one
inning). This is an example of why we are better off letting him
concentrate on that.”

So Murphy, you major in classical philosophy? How about just an occasional reading of Western political philosophy? You ever come across William Blackstone’s quote: Free men have arms; slaves do not. You ever hear of William Blackstone? Stupid question. Of course not. You are a sports writer.

How about Thomas “No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms” Jefferson?

By the way, at least Papelbon attended college unlike high school drop out Jim Carrey, who has actually made a crusade about the issue rather than merely provide a from-the-heart answer to a question.

Oh, and here is some classical philosophy for you: μολὼν λαβέ

 

Papelbon Guns And Pompous Pretensions Of Sports Writers

Tebow Coming To Bucks On Tax Day

A Founders Forum Dinner and Reception with Tim Tebow will be held 5:30 p.m., April 15 at Calvary Church, Souderton Bucks County.

It is sponsored by the Plumstead Christian School.

For information and tickets, visit  https://pcs.thundertix.com/events
or call 215-766-8073.

Hat tip Independence Hall Tea Party Association.

 

Phillies Tidbit For Day 2

Phillies great Grover Cleveland Alexander was played by Ronald Reagan in the 1952 film The Winning Team.

Alexander was deaf in his left ear due to his World War I service as an artillery man. He is the only National League pitcher to reach double figures for shutouts twice in a career sharing the record with 16 set with the Phillies in 1916.

Phillies Tidbit For Opening Day

Eddie Grant was the Philadelphia Phillies third baseman from 1907 through 1910. In the off seasons he earned a law degree from Harvard.

In World War I, he was an infantry captain who would be die from wounds received in action while searching for the famed Lost Battalion.

Edward L. Grant Highway in the Bronx is named for him.

Hat tip VFW magazine.

Eddie Grant was the Philadelphia Phillies third baseman from 1907 through 1910

Sue NFL For Concussions? Get Your Head Examined

Now that the Super Bowl is over, the really big game begins. And it’s going to be a head-knocker.

On one side we have the raiders. No, not Oakland, but the Trial Lawyers, who delight in raiding everything good and decent in America. They are representing former NFL players in their fight against the evil empire, a.k.a. the National Football League. At stake? Upwards of ten billion dollars, and possibly, the existence of the NFL itself.

And what is the nerve center of this federal lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia, that have the plaintiffs so mad they’re seeing double? What went so wrong that these former players, given a life of royalty by the NFL, now want to ring the League’s bell?

They suffered concussions playing football.  No lie.  That’s actually the basis of the lawsuit.

The sheer stupidity of such a suit makes you wonder if they really did get hit too many times, because no one of sound mind could dream up something like this.

It would seem, therefore, that their motive is rooted in something else. In the preferred legalistic nomenclature, they’re looking for a handout.

Maybe they’re bitter because they didn’t play in the era of massive contracts. Maybe it’s because they can’t function as “regular” guys after being worshipped for so long, which, for many, started in grade school. Others may feel lost, with football the only thing they know. But their commonality is thinking they are entitled to something.

****

The outcome of this lawsuit should be a no-brainer. But given the insanity in America’s civil legal system, a jackpot jury award is definitely possible.  (NFL Properties and helmet maker Riddell are defendants, too.)

The players claim the NFL hid information linking football-related head trauma to permanent brain injuries (such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease). In addition to monetary damages, they want the NFL to assume responsibility for the medical care involved for those players suffering from those health problems.

Let’s look at the case objectively:

1. This sense of entitlement is not just misguided but inappropriate. No one held a gun to players’ heads to sign lucrative contracts and become celebrities to play football.  They’re big boys, and chose their profession — with its risks — of their own free will.

2. And yes, there are risks. Plenty of them. Football is not a contact sport; it’s a collision sport. It is an intensely physical, violent profession. That’s why God made pads and helmets, but any third grader can tell you that those things only help to minimize injuries, and can never totally prevent them. The NFL is not a flag-football league, but one with punishing hits. That’s the game. Players can take it or leave it.  Not surprisingly, they take it.  Always.

3. The pass-the-buck, take-no-personal-responsibility attitude so prevalent in America is once again on full display. Players knew the risks, reaped immense rewards, and now, after the fact, want to blame the NFL for their issues. And are we really supposed to believe that the NFL willfully engaged in a grand conspiracy to keep players in the dark about the effects of hard tackling? To swallow that, we must assume that the League had every doctor in the country on the take, preventing them from speaking to any player who had questions about concussions. And that it somehow inhibited medical professionals from conducting research into concussions and brain injuries.

4. Did the NFL, the medical community and our society know as much about concussions several decades ago? No.  Is there a concerted effort now to better understand brain trauma, and to make all sports — including NFL football — safer? Absolutely.  That’s not malfeasance. It’s progress.

5. Is the NFL culture one that glorifies big hits, highlights them on NFL films, and encourages playing through injuries? Yes, but so what? Fans love when players get leveled, and players love delivering big-time jolts, which often help their team. Gutting it out has always been a source of pride for players, who do it not to secure the next big contract but because they love the game.  An admirable choice, but a choice nonetheless.

6. Where does it end? Should a firefighter who gets burned sue the fire department? Is a baker responsible because an obese donut-eater develops heart disease? And should office workers who develop carpal tunnel syndrome have legal standing to sue their company?

Some jobs have higher risks, and playing NFL football is one of them. But given the lavish rewards, it’s an acceptable risk to players — past and present.  And regarding former players who state that, if they had today’s knowledge back then, they would have opted out — give us a break.  Not a chance in the world.

7. The NFL (and the Players Association) has spent more than a billion dollars on pensions, medical and disability benefits for retired players.
The NFL also operates numerous health programs for current and former players, and offers medical benefits to former players, such as joint replacement, neurological evaluations and spine treatment programs, assisted living partnerships, long-term care insurance, prescription benefits, life insurance programs, and a Medicare supplement program, according to the League. Equipment has improved, and safety has increased, including outlawing certain types of hits.

****

Is it sad that some former players have trouble walking, concentrating and living a “normal” life? Sure.  Is it a tragedy when a few commit suicide? Absolutely.   But it’s time that these players stop blaming others for their situations and look in the mirror. They made their choices, and for most, lived a fairy tale.

If they now choose to feel sorry for themselves, or regret their choices, fine.  But it’s a personal foul to ruin the game not just for current and future players, but for the ones who allow the League — and its former players —to be so successful: the fans.

And you don’t need your head examined to see that.

Chris Freind can be found at FreindlyFireZone.Com

 

Sue NFL For Concussions? Get Your Head Examined

King Corcoran, Whatever Happened To . . .

King Corcoran i.e. James Sean Patrick Corcoran, the leader of the legendary Pottstown Firebirds and Philadelphia Bell, and a part-time quarterback for the then-wretched Philadelphia Eagles (1971), died June 19, 2009 living at a friend’s house in Takoma Park, Md.

He was 65.

 

The Washington Post ran a long but rather sad obit a month-and-a-half after his death.

Two other quarterbacks of those legendarily wretched Eagles have also passed on with Jack Concannon dying at age 62 in 2005 and King Hill dying last summer at the age of 75.

Norm Snead remains with us.

 

King Corcoran, Whatever Happened To . . .

 

King Corcoran, Whatever Happened To . . .

When Saturday Mattered Most

Army no longer plays Navy the Saturday after Thanksgiving but with the holiday looming it remains a good time to praise Mark Beech’s book When Saturday Mattered Most: The Last Golden Season Of Army Football. The book involves Army’s 1958 football season when the team dominated the nation’s sports pages and was the last time it reached a number one ranking. It ended the season ranked third with the only blemish on its record a 14-14 tie against Pitt.

Springfield’s Bill Carpenter, the famous Lonesome (or Lonely as he preferred) End is prominently featured in it.
The book is well-written with many historical tidbits and will easily capture and hold the interest of those  who care little about sports.
I fully expect a movie or mini-series based on it.
When Saturday Mattered Most
When Saturday Mattered Most

Hail To Thee Lock Haven Bald Eagles

The Lock Haven Bald Eagles beat visiting Cheyney, in their season finale last Saturday, 15-7 hence setting the record for Division II football losing streaks at 52 games.

A toast to you Lock Haven.

Hat tip Sports Illustrated.

Hail To Thee Lock Haven Bald Eagles
Hail To Thee Lock Haven Bald Eagles