You know what’s crazy? I’ll tell you what’s crazy.™
The frenzy that has been the NFL’s first week back.
Chad Ochocinco traded to the Patriots. Vince Young to the Eagles. Matt Hasselbeck to the Titans.
It’s like a game of grid-iron roulette. Look down for a minute and another high profile player is packing his suit case for a new city.
Many Americans are more concerned about salvaging a season than paying our debt to China. Well worry no more. After a 4 month work stoppage, the NFL and the Players came to terms on a new 10 year deal.
The rich just got richer. The most lucrative sports league in the world just solidified their money making machine for the next decade.
And with the end of the lockout came a tornado of activity. Like shoving NFL meat into a grinder the football hamburger is now churning non stop.
The NFL network has a Breaking News banner running across the screen as if it’s CNN and America has just declared war on Iran.
BREAKING NEWS: Peyton Manning not in camp.
BREAKING NEWS: Carson Palmer to retire.
BREAKING NEWS: Reggie Bush to the Dolphins.
Analysts are arguing about the merits of Haynesworth in Belechek’s 4-3 defense.
“If 100 Million dollars doesn’t motivate him in Washington, how will playing in New England?,” Warren Sapp blurts out.
“The Jets need another lock down corner to go with Revis Island,” an ESPN anchor clone shouts.
News that the NFL is back was like warm cocoa to my sports deprived mind.
I was in Vegas last week and it was a desolate waste land of sporting even who cares.
I didn’t lay down one sports bet. Mariners V Pirates just didn’t get the juices flowing.
My buddy – a man who loves to parlay a sports book, told me he made one bet in 7 days.
“Who’d you bet?” I ask.
He bursts out laughing. “The L.A. Sparks.”
“L.A. Sparks? Who the hell…wait a minute. The L.A. Sparks women’s basketball team. You bet on women’s basketball?”
He laughs out loud as we walk through the casino.
“What the hell do you know about women’s basketball?”
“I know they are tall girls who shoot a ball at a hoop.”
“You going to gamblers anonymous?,” I ask with a snicker.
And that’s what this time of year is to the hard core NFL junkie. It’s a waste land with no canteen and no oasis in sight.
But what about America’s past time you ask?
That’s baseball, right?
Counting dust gathering on a window sill beats watching baseball in the throws of 99 degree heat in some slow motion so what.
I’d rather talk pre-season NFL any day of the week. I’d watch re-runs of last year’s hall of fame game over the world series.
For me; it’s all football all the time.
Like a teenager at the school dance, eyeing a multitude of dance partners, my mind is a buzz with all the possible fantasy players moving to new squads.
How will Tommy Brady’s numbers increase with a new play maker? HMMMMM?
Will Reggie Bush be a big play back in South Beach?
Will Chris Johnson return to his 2009 form and break off 85 yard runs at will?
I am excited for the weather to cool down and the action to heat up.
And I haven’t even mentioned College football yet.
Thanks for ending the lockout NFL. Now if you can only help our legislators figure out how to cut the deficit.
And that is crazy.™