News Existentialist Offensive Coordinator Implementing No-Huddle Offense
The Buffalo Bills have adopted the no-huddle offense in training camp thanks to the influence of offensive coordinator and noted existentialist Turk Schonert.
"We reject the structure and necessity of a huddle. We will not be defined by it," said Schonert. "We believe in nothingness. We have stripped ourselves of the huddle and we are free. Also, we think the no-huddle will allow us to dictate the pace of the game and put up some points."
Schonert, a former quarterback at Stanford, studied existential thinkers in a philosophy class at the university and says it has impacted his play-calling throughout his career as a coach.
"I have always identified with existentialism," he said. "But there is such an established structure in football, we are so defined by the huddle, that I could never break free of those limitations."
But then something spurred him to take that leap.
"I had to coach JP Losman," he said. "If that doesn't lead you to question the point of a huddle, to question the meaning of life as a whole, there is something wrong."
Head coach Dick Jauron doesn't care about Schonert's philosophical approach to football and life, he just wants to win games.
"I don't know the first thing about exit-whatever Turk talks about," he said. "It all sounds pretty fay to me. I just want to win. I need to win or I'll lose my job. Turk tells me that makes me a utili-something."
But while Schonert espouses the no-huddle, others are not so sure.
"As the German philosopher Herbert Marcuse said, existentialism projects anxiety and meaningless into all aspects of life," said new Bills receiver Terrell Owens. "And Marcuse's criticism was apt. We will be full of anxiety without the huddle, without talking through the play. And I fear this approach will only make Bills football more meaningless. I already didn't really want to play here."
August 11, 2009 Column
Stuff You Might Have Heard
Catcher accuses pitcher of throwing at him
Tensions flared last night when White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski came out from behind the plate to accuse White Sox starting pitcher Mark Buehrle of throwing at him. "You've been doing it all night, you piece of sh!t," yelled the combative Pierzynski. "What's your problem?" White Sox batters have been hit the fifth most times in the league this year, but Pierzynski says it's the catchers who have it the worst. "Every inning, it's the same thing. I'm just trying to sit there and call pitches, and these guys are chucking balls right at me at 85 and 95 mph." If it continues, Pierzynski says he may have to start wearing padding and other protection.
News How to pick a good fantasy football team name
Fantasy football team names have grown stale. Again.
This happens every few years. When fantasy sports first went mainstream, team names were pretty generic. You'd use your name and get something like Jim's All-Stars. Or you'd combine your hometown with your favorite team: The Bridgeport Cowboys.
Once that got old, everyone tried funny. Andy Reid's Love Handles. Ray-Ray's Dance Brigade. Some were funny. Most weren't.
Then funny quickly segued into attempts at being offensive. And that's where we are today. So this season you'll have teams in your league with names like Big Ben's Broken TV and Donte Stallworth's Roadkill. But here's the thing about offensive: it gets tired fast. I mean, when I was 11-years-old and another kid would use the F-word, it would wow me. Now? Not so much.
But where does that leave us? We still need to name our fantasy teams.
It's time for something new. It's time for fantasy team naming to evolve again. It's time we come up with names that will really rattle the other team owners in your league.
As offensive as Donte Stallworth's Roadkill may be, how is that helping you win your fantasy league? Unless Donte Stallworth is in your league and it's putting him off his game, it's not.
You need to rattle the other people in your league. Target the guy you think is your biggest threat to the title and think of a secret you know about him. Or something embarrassing. Then use it for your team name.
Chances are your 2009 fantasy football team will have a name something like this
Steve Has Halitosis
Ask Bob About His Pending Bankruptcy
Derek Has Low Sperm Count
Stop Asking Me To Swingers Parties, Jeff
OxyconTIM
Mrs. Thompson: Fat and Infertile
How's Your Gay Son, Will?
1 Ron + 2 Beers = 3 Hours Of Racism
Greg's Wife? Fingered Her In High School
Greg's Mom? Fingered Her In High School
Greg? Fingered Him In High School
No One Wants You In The League, Ray
News AVOID: Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles
AVOID: Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles While an elite fantasy running back when healthy, Westbrook has battled injuries throughout his career. Now at age 30, he suffered a high-ankle sprain at mini-camp and is coming off of arthroscopic knee surgery. Plus, the Eagles drafted Westbrook's eventual replacement: LeSean McCoy. So put a huge question mark beside Westbrook for this season. Because, obviously: his fantasy potential is questionable. But, also and you may not realize this the question mark (?) was created to look like it does to visually represent Brian Westbrook's broken legs.
August 10, 2009 Column
Stuff You Might Have Heard
Scott Rolen in indefinitely
Oft-injured Cincinnati Reds third basemen Scott Rolen will return to the lineup later this week from concussion symptoms where he will remain indefinitely until he his hurt again. "We will evaluate Scott on a daily basis and see how long he has to remain in," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "I know this is frustrating for him. He usually has definitive word on a season-ending injury by this point in the season." Rolen says he hopes to be back to 60-percent as soon as possible.
News Training Camp Postcard: Houston Texans
Our reporter spent the day at Houston Texans training camp in Houston. Here are his notes.
> Some 500 fans waited outside the Texans facility yesterday after practice to get player autographs and ask the players if they had any inside hookups for Cowboys tickets.
> Matt Schaub has the starting quarterback job wrapped up, while Dan Orlovsky and Rex Grossman are battling for the third-string job. The backup job has been given to paperwork requesting a forfeit, which will be filed with the league office should Schaub get injured this season and be unable to play.
> Head coach Gary Kubiak is stressing defense in camp and has therefore switched to a hairspray that promises to keep it's hold in rain, wind and extreme humidity.
> Rick Perry, the Republican governor of Texas, has suggested the state could secede. Roger Goodell's wife, Jane Skinner, is an anchor on the Republican cheerleading Fox News. Is this all a plot for Goodell to expand the NFL into a new country?
> Sources say Reggie Bush broke up with Kim Kardashian because Texans defensive end Mario Williams has been doing her this whole time, only much, much better.
> Did you ever notice that the star eye on the Texans logo just makes it look like the steer is dead? Just saying probably not the best image for a franchise that has never made the playoffs.
News Hank Williams, Jr. Already Ready For Some Football
Although the baseball playoff races are just starting to heat up and college football season is not set to kickoff for three more weeks and then the NFL regular season a week later, renowned country singer and perpetually impatient football fan Hank Williams, Jr. says he is already ready for some football.
“Are you ready for some football?!” Williams exclaimed. “A Monday night party?”
Williams, Jr.’s close friends and family say he is always ready for some football, but that the month leading up to the season is especially hard for the football-mad singer.
“During the season he can watch football almost every night, yet he still gets pretty excited for each game of football, as we all know too well,” says his wife, Deandra. “And once the season ends, he focuses on his music and accepts that he won’t be spending as much time with his rowdy friends. But by the time August rolls around, well … he wants to get it kick started.”
Williams says it’s time for football now, even if the calendar says otherwise.
“It’s time to get all the hits, the bangs and the blocks,” he said. “It’s the game of the week that’s comin’ your way.”
But while those close to Williams keep reminding him that meaningful football is still a good month from now, he says he reminds everyone he comes across that the sport will be back before we know it.
“So get ready,” he said. “I mean, get ready. Are you ready for some football?!”
August 10, 2009 Column
Stuff You Might Have Heard
Rude Red Sox pitcher ignores request for Yankee Stadium curtain call
Moments after being pulled from the game for surrendering back-to-back home runs to Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira, Boston's Daniel Bard was given a load ovation by the normally partisan Yankee Stadium crowd. But despite the outpouring of support, the reliever refused to come to the top of the dugout steps to tip his cap to the fans in appreciation. "I know he is a young pitcher," said Yankees captain Derek Jeter. "But he should know better. The fans just wanted to thank him for blowing the lead. It was disrespectful to ignore them." Bard says if he has another opportunity to take a curtain call at Yankee Stadium, he will do so a promise that delighted many New York fans. "Good. I want to throw my beer on him," said one fan with seats behind the dugout.
News Coach's Son Given Preferential Treatment With Food, Lodging
Parents of football players at Steubenville High School in Steubenville, Ohio, have decided to register their complaints with school board about head coach Robert O’Malley giving his son, the team’s starting quarterback, preferential treatment.
“This has gone far enough,” said one outraged parent. “Not only is his son the starting quarterback, but he lets him live at his house, too? Oh, what – you win three straight Big School Player of the Year Awards and you can live with the coach, have him pay for your meals? This has to be some sort of violation.”
Another parent says he has seen O’Malley drive his son to practice numerous times.
“All we’re asking for is some fairness,” said the parent. “My son has never gotten valet service by the head coach. I mean, sure, we’ve all enjoyed winning state championships with his son at quarterback, but I’m sure my son could set a state record for touchdown passes, too, if only he was given the chance. But, no – the coach has him banished to backup punter.”
Some parents say they are disappointed to see that high school sports remain full of favoritism.
“It was the same way back when I was in high school,” said one parent. “I got cut from the basketball team simply because the coach was friends with the parents of some of the other kids. He tried to say it was only because I was 40-pounds overweight, unable to grasp basic basketball fundamentals and had a club foot. But I know the real reason. The way I see it, that man cost me millions of dollars in future earnings as a pro.”
The Steubenville school board president says he will look into the charges of preferential treatment towards the coach’s son and will continue in his quest to rid the district of petty, personal politics.
“Petty, personal politics have no place at a school,” he said. “Except when it comes to the school board election. That’s actually the only way to get elected.”
August 7, 2009 Column
Tweet of the Week
Tweet of the Week
From @str8edgeracer AKA Texas Rangers closer C.J. Wilson
whoever says that they left their heart in san francisco never had to play in the oakland coliseum.
