Monday Musings

Random thoughts on a Monday to recap some weird stories that happened the last couple of days...

1. Linus Omark - the Edmonton Oilers forward was part of a shootout victory over the weekend against the Tampa Bay Lighting. This would have been nothing more than a small footnote in the long season but Omark was a little too fancy for the Lighting players during his shootout attempt and goal. Omark built up lots of speed before picking up the puck at centre ice and then proceeded to do a spin with the puck between the red and blue line, took the puck directly at the net and then scored. He added a little flash, didn't show anybody (the goalie) up and then got attacked by Lighting players in the post game comments. The Tampa players need to check themselves because Omark will score more goals just like this.

2. On Sunday, a NY Jets coach was standing on the sidelines during the game when a Miami Dolphins player chasing a punt ran into the team bench area in an attempt to get down the field. Instead of moving out of the way, the coach stuck out his knee and tripped the player. The coach injured the Dolphins player. Today, the coach apologized for his action, but the debate rages about what should happen to him. Should he be fired, suspended or hung from the gallows? Bigger question is why is he on the sideline? He is the strength and conditioning coach. The man doesn't need to be on the field during games. Stick non-essential team personnel in their own luxury suite and this never occurs. So therefore, his punishment should be watching the rest of the games this season and every season going forward from the press box.

3. The Metrodome which houses the NFL Vikings collapsed on Sunday. Thankfully no one was in the building when it happened as the game had already been postponed because of the heavy snowfall in the Minnesota area. Instead of keeping the game in Minnesota (where they would have had to dig out the University of Minnesota stadium) the NFL has moved the game to Monday night in Detroit. Since the game is in Detroit and features the NY Giants and Minnesota Vikings, the NFL gave away tickets for free. This leads to the interesting question of how many people will show up for a free event. It also gives the league a great indication of how popular they are. The latest is that they have given away all the tickets to the game for tonight, which is a very impressive turnaround. The power of the league, social media and the Sunday night NBC game to get the word out to fans on the short notice has been unparalleled. This game will look like the Bills in Toronto series where fans will be fans of the NFL instead of just the home team.

4. The LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling who has had many problems over the years, both on the court, trying to put a good product there for the fans and off the court in his business dealings, has got into some more hot water over the weekend. Sterling who sits courtside for every game was heard heckling his own player, Baron Davis over the weekend. Sterling was questioning Davis's heart, telling him that he is out of shape, and questioning why he was in the game. I love that Sterling cares so much about his team that he goes to all the games and understands the game of basketball enough to see Baron Davis is out of shape and playing poorly over the first 25 games of the season. As much fun as it is to heckle and jeer players, if you are the owner, you have access to the players other fans and can tell them your are unimpressed with their actions. He didn't need to do it during a game.

5. After the ending of the Cowboys and Eagles, which the Cowboys lost 30-27, the players met at mid-field to shake hands, say good-game to each other and maybe even make some dinner plans. One player did something a little different. Cowboys running back Tashard Choice approached Eagles quarterback Michael Vick to get Vick's autograph. Vick signed Choice's glove, apparently for his 3 year old nephew. This got alot of attention because people questioned the appropriateness of the action. Most people were offended by the action, just that he should have done it off the field. I agree. Players are too friendly on and off the field compared to the "good ol' days" and this only confirms everyone's worst images that players are getting softer. The Cowboys play the Redskins next week, so we will have to wait and see if Choice asks Donovan McNabb for an autograph.