Bleacher Report - Articles by Kevin Moore

Hixon and Ware: Two Stars Are Born?

Kevin Moore — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:01:52 -0400

After a less than stellar game against the Lions, the Giants offense finally showed some life.

Facing off against the Cleveland Browns, a team many pick to make the playoffs and go deep in them, the G-men showed the same level of play that led to their hoisting of the Lombardi trophy last year.

In the official homecoming of the NY Giants we may have seen the beginning of a couple of bright careers. The targets of this high praise are Domenik (I’ve checked, that is how you spell it) Hixon, and Danny Ware.

With the absence of Burress, Smith, and Toomer, there was some level of concern of whether the Giants would be able to hang with the newly anointed Browns. The Browns came in the meadowlands with a very potent offense.

Hixon, a rarely used receiver who gained notoriety for his part in the Kevin Everett play (Everett was nearly left paralyzed after he tackled Hixon), had previously done little of note to the footballing world.

But for many Giants fans, Hixon's career really took off in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game on January 20^th, when he forced the fumble heard round the world.

Ultimately, it was that play that saved a historical playoff run.

Even with such effort, Hixon did not plan to see much time as a consistent receiver and this season, even less as a go-to-guy. However, with the Giants deficit at receiver, Hixon had to step up against the Browns, and did so admirably.

The Browns proved to be the perfect victim for his talents, as Hixon caught two touchdowns. The first was an 11 yard strike, thrown perfectly by Eli Manning.

The second was an exhibition of pure body control. Hixon, running at full speed, was able to slow his momentum enough in the back of the end zone to keep both feet inbounds for a 24 yard score.

If that performance was not enough, he then exhibited his blazing speed and cutting ability on an 82 yard free kick return(the Giants had just recorded a safety) for a touchdown.

In all, Hixon finished with 4 catches for 63 yards, 2 touchdowns and 145 total yards.

Impressive as that was, Danny Ware was just as good—finishing the game with 214 total yards.

Ware, the player most likely to end the Rueben Droughns experiment (all may not be lost for Rueben, he did help block a kick), rushed for 97 yards on 10 carries.

To be fair, the majority of his statistics derived from the fact that he faced the second and third string defenses. However, Ware proved that his talents place him above many of the defensive players on the bench.

With a 22 yard scamper, and an additional 117 yards in return yards, Danny Ware may have made his case to remain on the roster.

As for the rest of the team, it was the defense who played exceptionally—the pass rush made you fell like you were in Glendale again. What else can be said about the defensive pressure applied to Derrick Anderson?

With the emergence of Hixon as a receiving threat, and Ware’s ability to navigate through and around defensive players, the offense is loaded with treasures. The Giants have a number of other potential problems to address this preseason, but these are good issues to have.

No one ever complains about having too much talent, and with the coming out party of these two new talents, roster decisions might have just gotten a little bit more difficult.

But, I ask, what is wrong with discovering you have a new talent at receiver and a fresh pair of legs at running back?

Many teams in the league would love to have those problems.

Gold Bound: Can The USA Men’s Basketball Team Rise To The Occasion?

Kevin Moore — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:43:25 -0400

The world stage of sports is upon us once again. The next installment of the Olympics will be held in communist China. I wonder if there will be a picture-taking limit.

The Olympics are a time when many Americans take notice of sports that otherwise go unheralded. From track and field to synchronized swimming, Americans find interest in these events from pure patriotism and nationalism. Ask the average American to name the top three shot putters and you may be there a while.

However, if there is a sport very familiar to the American psyche, especially on the world stage, it is basketball.

Many sports, once dominated the US, have been overtaken by other nations. Basketball was one of the last to be taken away from us. It was the final event in which we were almost guaranteed a gold medal.

Long gone are the days of the “Dream Team,” but the new American basketball team—and most importantly, the American fan—still believes in our re-emergence to dominate in this realm.

After a few disappointments on the world stage the new USA basketball team seems ready to take back its place at the top of the pedestal during medal ceremonies.

The 2008 version of the Olympic team features some of the best talent the NBA can offer. The point guard position is by far the deepest position on the team, starting with perennial All-Star Jason Kidd.

Kidd has solidified his place in NBA history—fifth all-time in assists, and averaging a triple double in the Eastern Conference finals to help lift the Nets out of obscurity.

While J Kidd has been an asset more than a detriment, his game is not without flaws. He will take the occasional unnecessary three-point shot. He is prone to miss the clutch free throw, and at times he’ll start fast breaks in an uncontrolled manner.

Following Kidd are the future of point guard in the NBA—Chris Paul and Deron William. The only question for these two is if they are mentally ready for this type of stage. When faced with elimination during the NBA playoffs, both players played well—yet their teams still lost.

At the shooting guard spot, we have two players that think passing is a disease, in Kobe Bryant and Michael Redd. Now, to Kobe’s credit, he did learn to trust his teammates more this past season. But in the Finals, Kobe reverted to the old Kobe.

Maybe it was the intensity of that Celtics defense, but a couple of things are still unknown: With those great point guards, how will Kobe react without controlling the ball? And if the team struggles, will he overstep the bounds of his position and try to take over?

As for Michael Redd, I do give him more of a pass (pun intended), because his supporting cast left much to be desired. In many instances if he did not shoot, the team had no chance of offensive prosperity.

The forward position consists of a very solid and diverse group. With Bosh, Prince, and Boozer, the team is sure to get great, hard-working play from whistle to whistle. Even at center, Dwight Howard is an all-out type of player on both sides of the ball.

And then there is Carmelo. No one can deny he is a star talent on the offensive end. It was mainly his talent that secured the Orangemen’s national championship (no disrespect to Hakim Warrick or Gerry McNamara).

What he brings to the table in offense he lacks in defense. One has to wonder—will Carmelo bring the Nuggets’ matador style of defense to Asia

Finally, the last pieces of the puzzle are Dwayne Wade and Lebron James. These players, more than any one in the league, have demonstrated that they have the ability to put an entire team on their backs.

Dwayne Wade did it against Dallas in '06, during the NBA finals, while Lebron illustrated the feat against the Pistons in '07 and versus the Celtics in '08, despite those series ending with different results.

No team is perfect. This edition of the men’s team is no different. I wonder if the selection committee looks at building a team, versus having a roster stacked with recognizable names.

For example: Who is the three-point specialist on this team? They have a number of slashers, but no real consistent outside threat. No one knew how to get in contact with Kyle Korver or Jason Kapono? How is the offense going to spread the floor? The makeup of the team can be puzzling sometimes.

To solve this problem, how about the league allowing or even mandating that the NBA Champs of that Olympic year represent the USA? The current structure groups together a bunch of players that are not accustomed to one another and expects them to play as a cohesive unit.

I feel that the best example of a winning team is the NBA champs. Could you imagine what that smothering Piston’s defense would have done in '04? Or the play of this year's Celtics?

With that said, this year’s squad is set in stone. The USA has a formidable team, loaded with talent and the potential to be great—if they take care of business and incorporate the meaning of unity to achieve their goals.

Nothing Says Knicks Like Bad Contracts!

Kevin Moore — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:43:52 -0400

In the weeks since that nightmare we called a season, the Knicks have been awfully quiet. After managing a meager 23 wins, New York is in need of a major roster shakeup.

But for a team that won fewer games than the University of Kansas (and probably couldn’t beat the Jayhawks), they have made very few moves. One has to ask why would a team that was so bad not make any moves to improve itsself. Unlike the last 23-win season, there is no Patrick Ewing to draft. So why no moves?

It wouldn’t have anything to do with those ridiculously enormous contracts?

No way, it couldn’t be. The Knicks paid pennies for that all-star roster. The all "me" team was not that hard on the wallet! Or was it?

Grumpy Stilskins (Stephon Marbury) is only owed about $22 million this season. I can envision Ralph Kramden yelling, "Peanuts! Peanuts! I tell you! Only peanuts!"

I say give Marbury every penny. He is such a gifted player. The way he can sap the life out of a team is magical. Only "Starbury" can take a jubilant bench and within seconds turn everyone silent. What a floor general. There is nothing more motivating than going to war, and being in a fox hole with a sergeant who is picking out caskets.

How about Zach Randolph? You have to love Zach, apparently at a young age he was warned that "if you ever pass the ball, you’ll be in big trouble, mister!" I love his uncanny ability to shoot in all types of traffic. Double-teams, triple-teams, the FDR drive—it doesn’t matter. Those scenarios have no effect on this power forward. His focus is on the rim and, more importantly, his stats. If only he cared about defensive stats.

Besides, the Knicks did not pay him for defense. He is only due $14.6 million this year. And $33 million for the next two seasons. If the Knicks wanted defense from Randolph, they should have paid him more.

And who could forget Eddie Curry? Good ol’ Eddy. Apparently he is on a prorated basis because, two out of the last three seasons, he has averaged fewer than 65 games.

That, along with with Quentin Richardson’s potential to make $18 million and Jared Jeffries' $18 million, I cannot quite understand what the Knicks are waiting for.

They have great contracts thus far. With a management style that would make FEMA envious. Maybe, by the year 2010, when most of those terrific bargains will be off the books, the Knicks front office will venture into a book store and purchase a yellow-covered text titled "Front office for…[rhymes with yummy]."

Dumping Grounds: Have the New York Knicks Finally Found a Gem in Chris Duhon

Kevin Moore — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:31:51 -0400

Now I know how Staten Island feels. As a Brooklynite I would take my trash to the street. Anything useless and unwanted would be at the curb pronto. Then sanitation would come and haul my stuff along with every one else’s to Staten Island.

I would say, “That deal is awful for the Staten Islanders.” I wondered why don’t they stop it—then I realized the residents had no say. Brooklyn had found a spot for its garbage and Staten Island was willing to take it.

Apparently that type of give and take relationship does not only apply to disposable products amongst boroughs, but also to disposable players amongst teams. And it seems in this act, the role of Brooklyn will be played by Chicago, while the role of Staten Island has been filled by the Knicks.

This relationship between the two cities started out on equal footing. Both sides gave and took equal value. When the Knicks acquired Charles Oakley for Bill Cartwright, both teams were filling a void. Each side was happy.

But that was then. In the most recent transactions between the two franchises, the Knicks have been sold lemons.

In 2005, the Knicks got Eddy Curry. He was supposed to be an offensive force that was talented and quick footed in the paint. In exchange we gave up Tim “Fugasy” Thomas and up-and-comer Mike Sweetney. Other than ratcheting up the payroll, Mr. Curry has not improved the Knickerbockers.

Now, to be fair, like all garbage dumps, there are bound to be hidden treasures. For example, Jamal Crawford.

Jamal, at times, seems to be the only Knick aware that there is a game to be played. He is one of the few Knicks that cares about winning. He plays with all of his heart and it shows on the court. The attitude that some of his teammates take, “who cares if we win or lose, we get paid anyway,” does not appear to rub off on him.

The latest move in the Chi-NY trade route hopefully infuses the Knicks with a player carrying a team-first attitude like Jamal.

That player is Chris Duhon. What category will he fall in? At his tenure at Duke, he was a slightly above-average player, with a talented cast of characters like Carlos Boozer and Jason Williams around him.

The problem with Chris in New York is that he won’t have that type of talent around him. Can he be successful with much less?

Also, he is poised to start? All indications suggest that Stephon will not be a Knick next season. Coming off the bench in Chicago is a very different animal than being the starting point guard for the Knicks. It is understandable that his career offensive numbers are low, due to his lack of playing time, but how much can the Knicks anticipate from him?

Can his game handle the Knicks? Parts of Chris’ accolades, especially in college, derived from his defensive prowess. At Duke, he was heralded for his intensity on the defensive side of the ball. The problem is, the Knicks don’t play defense. Many Knicks rely on the rim to block shots.

Also, within the system of the New Coach, whose previous team felt that the best defense was a fast break-induced alley oop, how will his ability be utilized?

In Chris’s short tenure in the league, he has proven to be an average player. It may be unfair to him for fans to expect great things. He may not take us to the promised land—which for the Knicks means playing at most 15 games under .500.

However his greatest accomplishment as a Knick might have occurred in the fact that he signed with the club. Maybe the best thing this acquisition represents is that the Dolan family’s commitment to actually turning a new page.

So, when Chris steps foot on the floor wearing a Knicks Jersey, his presence will signify that the old Knicks are over. And some day, the old glory days may return.

Front Office to Fans: Loyalty Is Overrated!

Kevin Moore — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:25:10 -0400

After one of the best playoff performances in NFL history, it is very easy to find Giants fans. Some have become fans due to their absolute hatred of the Pats or anything Belichick. Others felt that the bandwagon just was not quite full enough.

Which is perfectly fine. This is not unique to New York's championship run. In '07, these folks loved Peyton, and in '06, it was Hines Ward that had bandwagon fans smitten.

In order to appreciate this newfound position of being on top of the NFL world, one has to have been there from early on. For a majority of the Giants' fans, pain has come with the territory. Every time you became confident in this team’s ability, they would find some way to disappoint. This time is no different.

After such a great ride, orchestrated by the drive of the century (I’m a little biased), the front office at East Rutherford has devised a great fan-appreciation promotion. You will never guess what it is.

By now, many thoughts are entering your mind. What could it be? Discount tickets? Cheaper parking? Reasonable concession-stand prices? All good guesses, but horribly wrong. The Giants felt that the best way to reward their diehard, loyal fans is with PERSONAL SEAT LICENSES.

What is this?

Well, for being such a loyal fan, you get to pay a nice one-time fee to move your current seat into the new stadium. But don’t panic, it will only cost up to $20,000. Did I mention per ticket.

So, after putting $60 in your hybrid to get to the Meadowlands, and forking over another $30 to park, you can rest easy knowing your loyalty is appreciated. That new loyalty tax, $1,000-$20,000 per ticket, will go to help pay for the new stadium.

Now, I wonder, will the future profits trickle back down to the average Joe’s hand. Since season-ticket holders are helping to build this new stadium, shouldn’t they get some compensation? By the way, that whole recession thing the country is going through is just plain hearsay.

If there is one thing Giants fans understand, it is a recession. From 1990 through this last championship, we’ve seen how the numbers in the wins column can recede.

Take 1991 for example. A year removed from a championship, Ray Handley is introduced as head coach. Did we repeat? Or even make the playoffs? No way!

Under Mr. Handley, we went a 14-18 (8-8 in his first season) in two seasons. Did we charge a fee? Did fans ask the Mara’s for a personal waste-of-time refund? No. We stayed true blue. It was chalked up has a fluke. Just a mistake that anyone at human resources could have made.

Then we ushered in the Dan Reeves era. To be fair to Dan, he did a pretty descent job at first. Especially considering the talent he had. Granted, in his first year, Phil Simms and other veterans were here. But his sophomore year as the top guy, the talent level dropped considerably.

(I know this because I remember 1994. Those arguments with my NFC East peers over who has the best quarterback were pure torture. They would have Cunningham and Aikman, while I was countering with Dave Brown. I feel an ulcer flaring up just thinking about those losing debates. I felt like a character witness for Courtney Love, no one wanted to listen.)

Dan Reeves still managed a 9-7 record, but that was the peak. That roster did not allow him to flourish, finishing his tenure with 5-11 and 6-10 records respectively.

Other than the 2000 season, the Jim Fassel years were a mixed bag. While coaches and rosters changed, the team went through its highs and lows, but the one constant was the Giants’ fans. The Giants’ fans came to the games religiously, shelled out everything in their pockets, and most importantly, gave every ounce of emotion to this franchise.

We accepted Dave Brown as our starter. We accepted him and treated him like his jersey read Montana (maybe not all the time).

Even after those dreadful seasons, everyone who is true blue would go into the following season with high hopes. The Giants’ fans were willing to forgive the team for their shortcomings, with the faith that the team would succeed. The type of faith that is second only to a child’s belief in Santa.

And just like that relationship, after maturity, Giants’ fans have realized it is all a fantasy. The fan that has held on to season tickets for years, going to 10-degree games in December when the team was 4-11, deserves better.

There seems to be a lack of reciprocation with the loyalty in this relationship.

I am very proud of the Giants and their accomplishments, but as a loyal fan, I, and a whole legion of others, have paid our dues. We have been faithful in the past, and when this crop of Giants decline, hopefully not for another 10 seasons, we will be there for those 5-11 and 6-10 rebuilding seasons.

Maybe that is the problem.

The new front office has disconnected from their fans. For them, it is no issue to pay $20,000 for a seat. What about the average fan? Should he mortgage his property to retain the seats that they have held for 20 years?

The front office keeps referring to the personal seat license as the “PSL”. They understand that acronym as the "preferred suckers list".

We have shown we will support this team, regardless of how the front office looks at us. Maybe it is time to reevaluate our position in this relationship.

Jared Lorenzen, Thanks for the Inspiration

Kevin Moore — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:11:12 -0400

On June 23 the New York Giants made a move that most league observers paid little or no attention to. Like the natural pounding of gentle waves upon a shore, a kind of erosion was taking place.

What was stripped was not just filler on the depth chart, or even an ordinary clipboard holder.

No—what was taken from us was hope.

That hope was embodied in No. 12. When the annual pink slips were handed out, one found its way to Jared Lorenzen’s locker. The portly backup quarterback, who for four years made every overweight, gym-fearing couch potato cheer.

Why did we cheer? Because we all lived vicariously through Jared. He made all of us feel like we could do it. He gave us hope and inspiration.

For many of us, watching football is an all-day event, with rituals and routine second only to religion. For the masses, or maybe just my circle of friends, Sundays mean we are faced with many difficult decisions.

Internally, we wonder, do I get up to retrieve that third bag of mega-sized chips, or do I send the kids or wife to get it for me? Should I drink beer on the snap of every play? And if so, what do I do during commercials?

But I digress.

If you ever played football, the dream of being the star quarterback was always present. You envision playing in one of those packed stadiums, making the great play to win the game.

However, when you have a certain girth, the chances of those dreams coming true are greatly reduced. So you go from lining up behind center to being the center. The offensive line is very important, but the quarterback keeps the audience captive. The thrill of the game relies, almost exclusively, on the decisions of the quarterback.

This position, in some circles, is a god. An iconic masterpiece. The general on the field. Every ounce of bravado is oozing out of him with any and all on-field decisions.

The quarterback is a perfect blend of intelligence, brawn, and durability. Think of a blend of Einstein, Lou Ferrigno (I have been watching old Incredible Hulk episodes), and a Maytag product.

In addition to those attributes, the quarterback is often blessed with movie star looks, along with a salary that only Oprah or Bill Gates would turn down, due to low compensation.

The average fan looks at these players as being in an unattainable position. These men represent perfection in every sense of the word.

Since the days of Johnny Unitas, the chubbiest of us had no one to represent us. Always told to play the offensive or defensive line, many “big-boned” arms have gone by the wayside. If you had an infatuation with stomach satisfaction, there was no place for you behind center.

However, that sense of hopelessness changed on May 7, 2004. That is when Jared officially signed with the G-men. On that day, a tectonic shift occurred.

BJ (Before Jared), you had to be shaped like Mr. Universe. Jared changed it all. Jared did not look the part of an NFL quarterback, but his appeal was that he mirrored many of us. He was an authentic copy of how some of the NFL's biggest fans look (no pun intended).

He helped us to lower our standards, and thus, our workload. With Jared in the league, I knew I did not have to run a 4.0 40-yard dash. My abs were just fine being represented by a large, collective one.

Besides, they make jerseys in larger sizes. As long as I can line up in the shotgun, I’ll have enough time to look at my first read and make the throw. Second and third reads are a different story. He empowered us all. I knew if I could do three jumping jacks and one push-up, I could compete.

To be fair, Jared was no slouch. While at Kentucky, he became the all-time leader in completions, attempts, and yards. So, maybe there is an overestimation of my ability to join the NFL. Jared had real talent.

Talent or not, his presence meant a lot to fellow couch potatoes who dreamed of making the NFL. Before Jared, looking at a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning left you with thoughts of regret.

I would begin to remember flashbacks of my body in better shape. Memories of pick-up games of football, where one excelled. Throwing touchdowns, no interceptions, and avoiding the rush—all fond thoughts of when you felt on top of the world. Dreams of making the pros, lining up under center, reading defensives, and calling an audible.

Then you wake up. No longer in public school, the motivation to go to the gym dissipated, especially after realizing gym memberships are not free. Not willing to pay money to work out, coupled with the introduction of the dollar menu at McDonald’s, left much to be desired in regards to fitness.

Out of shape is how some may remember Jared Lorenzen, but for me, he was me. He was that reflection in the mirror. He was that kid on the playground with the best throwing arm, minus the physique.

The end of Lorenzen's tenure was not a normal termination. In the long, storied history of the New York Giants' backups, he was no Danny Kanell or Dave Brown. I mean, he was no Jeff Hostetler either, but this second-string quarterback allowed every pleasantly plump man to hold onto his dreams and aspirations.

For four years, he allowed couch potatoes to dream. If Jared could do it, so could I.

Can the New York Giants Recapture Their Harmony?

Kevin Moore — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:04:53 -0400

It was just four months ago that the Giants were at the apex of the league. They had just defeated the unbeaten Patriots in one of the most exciting Super Bowls ever.

They experienced the emergence of Manning as the true leader of the team during a historic playoff run. They also saw the coming of age of a defense that was perfectly mixed with veterans and young players to form a ferocious pass rush.

Plaxico Burress dominated secondaries on one leg. How glorious it was. As the clocked ticked to zero, the exuberant Giants looked less like a team and more like a family.

They cheered, hugged, and doused one another with champagne in honor of their feat. I have such a clear memory of that day etched into my mind.

Well, as goes with time, those images are beginning to blur. The champagne bottles are empty, and the cups have all but dried up.

As we get closer to the ‘08 campaign, one that should be filled with defending our title and hopes of a repeat, there seems to be a disconnect in our harmony and, more importantly, our chemistry.

It began to unravel during the happiest of times. That historic playoff run. While 99.9 percent of the Giants’ roster was enjoying the ride, there was that .1 percent which got no satisfaction from it.

That was embodied in one Jeremy Shockey. While the majority of fans, myself included, were on cloud nine, No. 80 did not seem to share that level of enthusiasm. I must admit that I am not in his head. No one can truly know what he felt during that run.

Blame Fox Sports' cameramen, but every shot of Shockey did not show the face of a man whose team was making history.

In some shot's, had it not been for his name being placed under his mug, I’d would have thought he was a fan upset that his team was losing.

That behavior was easily excusable last season. The Giants' run through the playoffs was so great that even a dark cloud could not dampen our sunshine. However, this offseason, Shockey is voicing his displeasure.

I wonder if realizing the team was successful without him had anything to do with it. This strikes me as odd, with the success that the Giants had without Shockey, No. 80 should have been motivated.

Shockey should realize that Eli's emergence as the leader essentially stripped away his dissenting voice. And the play of Kevin Boss may have made him expendable.

Therefore, Shockey should have came to camp, shut his trap, played hard, and earned his place back on this team and in the league. I guess checking his pride at the door was just too much to ask.

As if that was not enough, now another Drew-Rosenhaus special is brewing. This time in the form of Mr. Burress. Burress played his heart out last season and is deserving of being compensated.

However, the holdout route is not the way to go. It is distracting to the ebb and flow of an offense. When he signed with the Giants, he agreed to those terms. No one forced him to sign anything. He seemed extremely happy at that moment.

Now, all of a sudden, he is unhappy. It should be noted that Plaxico is a great receiver. I believe that he should be one of the highest paid in the game, ask Al Harris. However, I disagree with the route he is taking.

Leave family business in house. Hopefully, he will take a page from Osi (at least for now Osi is doing it the diplomatic way, but things can always change).

Diplomacy can only get you so far. This week, Shaun O'Hara took it upon himself to criticize Burress and others. He pointed out that the Giants’ success was mainly a product of their cohesiveness.

O'Hara used the old adage, "there is no 'I' in team". Which is true, but apparently Shockey and Burress have examined the word "team" and realized, although there may not be an "I," there is definitely a 'M' and "E.”

Speaking on the letters of "E" and "M,” where is Eli Manning in all of this? In last year’s playoff, he emerged as the leader of this offense. With the recent retirement of Michael Strahan, he has graduated to the leader of the entire team.

Yet he has been deafeningly silent. It is good that O'Hara spoke up, but only comments from Eli can have a huge impact. Hopefully, when camp resumes, he will step up and let his newfound position carry some weight.

I hope the team will take the time, as a complete unit, to understand what they accomplished. They must realize that what they did had never been done before, and it was only possible by trusting and relying on their teammates to do the right thing.

The image of the G-Men in Glendale, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, and in doing so, lifting the entire city, is an image I will never want to forget.

But as time passes and football strategies are replaced by business decisions, that image becomes more distorted by the minute.