Bleacher Report - Articles by josh taylor

Georgia Tech at Mississippi State,Take II...taking the sting out

josh taylor — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:43:59 -0400

Last year’s contest had all the makings for a great ACC vs. SEC classic. With only two prior games in the series, and none in the modern era, few knew what to expect as MSU took their tough-nosed SEC defense to Atlanta to match it up against the high-powered option attack from GT.

Coming into the game, things looked promising for Tech. They held a 2-1 record. They had managed to beat a good Boston College team on the road, but dropped a game to Virginia Tech (eventual ACC champ) by only 3 points.

Mississippi State, on the other hand, held a 1-2 mark and entered Atlanta one week after an embarrassing 3-2 loss to Auburn. It was a game that displayed two of the worst offensive performances in recent history and was the talk of the week on most sports shows and chat boards.

State limped to Atlanta as an 8.5 point dog (no pun intended), MSU fans wondered if they could shake off the prior week and come away with a victory over the rushing machine that was emerging at Georgia Tech.

Much to their dismay, at the sound of the final whistle it was all Tech. State failed to score a point until the fourth quarter as the second and third tier defenders manned the field for the Yellow Jackets.

In spite of playing most of the game with back-up quarterback, Jaybo Shaw, the Yellow Jackets turned in a record day. Johnathan Dwyer (2008 ACC Player of the Year) set a school record with an 88-yard scamper for a touchdown.

The GT rushing attack continued its onslaught to the tune of 438 yards (fifth highest in school history) and finished with 500 yards in total offense. The Dawgs were sent home from Bobby Dodd Stadium on the losing end of a 38-7 margin.

The final sum of the 2008 seasons marked both a beginning and an end for each program.

Coming into the season, expectations were relatively low for first year coach Paul Johnson who was determined to successfully implement his option attack into the ACC. Sports Illustrated had projected a 3-9 finish and had rated the Yellow Jackets 80^thoverall in the FCS.

Much to the surprise of pretty much everyone outside of Atlanta, Johnson´s formula worked. He led his young team to a 9-4 season and maintained a share of the ACC Coastal Division title.

His option threat led the ACC in both total offense and rushing offense and ranked fourth nationally in rushing with 273.2 ypg. For his efforts, he received honors as the 2008 ACC Coach of the Year and the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year.

Meanwhile, in Starkville, coaches, players, and fans entered the season hopeful to build on successes from 2007 where they finished 8-5 overall with a bowl victory. They returned 14 starters and had aspirations of sending the Bulldogs to consecutive bowls for the first time since the ’99-’00 seasons.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs never really recovered from their opening day loss. They finished tied for last in the SEC West with an overall mark of 4-8 to close out the season.

Sylvester “Sly” Croom had done many great things during his tenure at MSU to turn around a program that had virtually lost control in most areas off the field under former head coach Jackie Sherrill.

However, this step backwards in the performance of the team was the last straw for many alumni and fans. The increasing pressure resulted in the resignation of Coach Croom only five years after he had broken the color barrier for SEC head coaching positions.

As we approach the 2009 rematch in Starkville, the team´s situations and expectations are reversed almost completely from the year prior.

MSU comes into the game with a brand new coaching staff that has worked hard to implement a new offense in the off season. Meanwhile, last year’s overachievers from Georgia hope to build on their successes as they set the ACC title in their sights.

Each team will face stiff conference competition leading to game day in Starkville. State plays a tough three game stretch against Auburn, Vandy, and LSU while Tech will face Clemson, Miami, and UNC.

GT is the early odds on favorite to win based off of last years success and the rebuilding efforts that will be ongoing with MSU.

Tech returns 17 starters and almost every skill position player on offense However, they will have only six scholarship seniors on hand to shore up the team leadership roles. Additionally, Coach Johnson will have to get creative to make up for the lack of depth at some positions.

The offensive line lost All-ACC tackles Andrew Gardner and David Brown, but the returning starters played in several games last year so the experience level is there. They will be led by All-ACC guard Cord Howard and senior center Dan Voss.

At QB, Josh Nesbitt (Jr.) returns after starting 11 games and accounting for 1,501 yards of total offense in 2008. Nesbitt is considered by some to be one of the top dual threat QBs in the ACC. If he can stay healthy, he should be able to build on last year’s offensive momentum.

Behind him on the depth chart is Jaybo Shaw. Shaw first featured his ability to successfully run the triple-option attack in last year’s match with MSU after Nesbitt was injured. The benefit of having two experienced and capable QBs is vital to the triple-option offense where QBs obviously take more hits as they run the option outside.

The experience at QB coupled with the depth and talent at RB, like Dwyer, will definitely aid the efforts of the Tech offense to once again run its way to the top of the ACC rushing charts and cause challenges for the Bulldog defense in Starkville.

The defense has the most rebuilding to accomplish and should be a factor in this year’s game if Mullen and company can identify and exploit its inexperience.

One could expect that a key target for MSU will be to exploit the depleted defensive line. Tech´s D-line only returns one starter from last year’s squad, DE Derrick Morgan (Jr.) (honorable mention All-ACC selection). Tech said good-bye to their three superstar senior All-ACC defensive linemen, Michael Johnson (DE), Darryl Richard (DT) and Vance Walker (DT). All of whom were selected in this year’s NFL Draft.

Positive notes for the defense are its depth at linebacker and the return of

DB Morgan Burnett who tied for first overall in the nation last year with seven interceptions.

By the time the game kicks off in Starkville, many of the leadership questions should be answered. All of last year’s team had the benefit of playing in six games decided by four points or less. Tech came away 5-1 in those games which will serve as a huge confidence boost for this year’s team as evidence that they can win the “close one.”

In spite of the successes that GT experienced last year; the Yellow Jackets will enter this game with a chip on their shoulder against the SEC as they look to avenge themselves after an embarrassing bowl loss to LSU.

Standing in their way will be the future of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and its new group of coaches.

With virtually no where to go but up for the MSU football program, first year head coach Dan Mullen will look to overhaul the Bulldog offense to some version of the spread. Mullen has seen success with his offense at every school at which he has coached. His schemes and play calling have produced an undefeated season at Utah and two BCS national championships at Florida.

Most Bulldog fans were very happy with the hire, but time will tell if their patience to see the offensive transition take place will outlast their impatience to see their program turn around. As we have seen, the spread offense takes certain types of athletes to be successful.

It has seen growing pains under Rich Rodríguez at Michigan and fell flat at Auburn in 2008. With high expectations for the future of the program, most feel that the Dawg fans will wait out the 2-3 recruiting classes it will take to truly run the offense how Coach Mullen envisions it.

Keys for the coaching staff to reverse the outcome of last year’s meeting with GT…STOP THE OPTION ATTACK!!!

It’s simple to say, but hard to execute.

From the start, MSU has a few great benefits to assist them that they did not have last year. First is a complete season of game film that displays the Paul Johnson coached version of the Ramblin’ Wreck. Specifically, they have last year’s game to analyze to see what not to do and then compare it to the LSU-GT tape to see what actually works.

Mullen has brought in Carl Torbush as his defensive coordinator. Torbush has prior SEC experience at Alabama and Ole Miss. His 2002-2003 Crimson Tide defense finished first in the SEC and third nationally in total defense.

However, as he followed Dennis Franchione to Texas A&M, his established defensive success did not follow. He later departed A&M to fill an assistant head coaching position at his alma mater, Division II's Carson-Newman.

Ironically, it is his time at Carson-Newman that may prove the most productive in preparing the Bulldog defense for this year’s rematch with the GT. Carson-Newman still runs a split back veer with great success under long-time head coach Ken Sparks.

Additionally, the school sponsors the the Carson Newman/Sports Belle Football Clinic which is regarded by some option enthusiastic coaches as the best clinic in the country. Assuming Torbush participated in the clinic and took notes from Coach Sparks, it’s very likely that this year’s MSU squad won’t get caught with their pants down again.

Key returnees for MSU that will impact not only the GT game but the entire season are its trio of talented RBs led by Anthony Dixon.

As stated, Mullen will need time to recruit the athletes necessary to run his style of offense as successfully as he has in the past. But, in the meantime, the Bulldog faithful can expect a lot of variations that feature his strengths at tailback while they wait for development at receiver.

This year’s recruiting class was a great start for pulling in the type of players that Mullen wants. With the addition of 6 JUCO transfers, Mullen focused efforts on making as many immediate improvements as he could to increase overall team talent and depth. Of all the incoming class, no expectations are set higher than those for JUCO transfer Pernell McPhee who will play at DE.

It is unrealistic to think that Mullen will experience the same amount of first year success as Paul Johnson. However, we are almost assured of seeing a different style of play and change in attitudes from the Bulldogs.

This year’s game has the potential to be everything that last year’s could have been. We should see a much more prepared MSU defense that will give their new offense a legitimate chance to make plays. But, in the end, the experience and established system of GT will likely win the day.

That said, I’d be very surprised to see the Jackets go into Starkville and expect to receive another 8.5 point spread.

The Good, The Bad, and The Crazies

josh taylor — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:51:42 -0400

Coming from a divided family split on either side of a heated rivalry, I had a choice to make early in life that would forever change my outlook on college sports. Of course, I chose wisely at a young age and have lived and died on the successes and failures of the Crimson Tide for almost 30 years.

But, what drives this passion in sports to attach ourselves to one team so fervently?

This decision seems trivial to some that do not understand the appeal of college athletics or sports in general. However, I can assure you that it is anything but trivial to the rest of us. For a true fan of a team, it is a lifetime decision that comes with a for better or worse understanding.

Oddly, for the most part, the rationale behind the actual team selection truly isn't rational at all. It doesn't matter if you pull for the perennial winners or losers. The process in which we all become manic fans is generally the same.

There is no requirement to be a fan of a certain school other than your devotion to them. School attendance is no more a requisite than having to have played in Cleveland in order to pull for the Browns on Sunday.

Most fans start at childhood for any number of reasons: family influence, geographic location, etc. Be it the team socks your Dad put on you just before bringing you home from the hospital or the first cheerleader outfit he bought his baby girl for Christmas, it's an excepted form of brain washing that all lifetime fans undergo at a young age.

As we grow, the fanaticism begins to take shape as we understand our rivals, our program's traditions, and begin to finely hone our trash-talking abilities among peers.

Normally by adolescence, its a done deal. Each of us carryout our "fanship" to varying degrees, but in general we all agree that our team is our team for life.

Our rivals are our mortal enemies that will forever after, even if only in our minds, be guilty of: cheating, recruiting violations, benefiting from an easy schedule or media bias, etc. They will have the dumbest coaches, the worst fans, and softest conferences or divisions. Every past victory of theirs will be ancient history while ours stand as a testament to tradition.

Our team, on the other hand, walks on water as they recruit quality people first, maintain the classiest fans, enforce the highest standards, and/or maintain "NFL-esque" coaching staffs with the best recruiters in the country. We are always one season away from turning it around and live by the fact that, "we only lost because...."

Each day a fan of team X wakes up and wonders, "How can all these other dopey fans not see that their team is a joke?"

Well, that to me is the essence of the whole thing.

We don't have to see it!!!!

All season long we can wear our blinders, drink our kool-aid, sport our new team shirts, and say what ever we want. It is perfectly acceptable and often times encouraged by others to be as stubborn as possible because facts only exist in our minds.

We are always either bowl bound in good years or capable of pulling off the upset no matter what the odds in bad years.

Rankings are always bias, stats are meaningless, and we can throw out the record books come Saturday, except of course when any of the above help our argument.

The fun doesn't stop at seasons end because our recruiting class will be better either by virtue of national rankings or the diamond in the rough philosophy.

In the end, we are passionate for our team and sport. We realize that it is just a game, but sometimes we refuse to admit that to ourselves, as we throw a beer bottle against the wall and cuss at a 19 year old kid for missing a 45 yard field goal.

In any case....

The good, the bad and the crazies compose the fan bases that make college football great. We each get there a little differently, but we're all pretty much the same. We can't have one without the other and at the end of the day...we'd all miss the crazies.

Best Conference 2008-2009

josh taylor — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:35:02 -0400

Who won the imaginary best conference title for the 2008-2009 season?

Results: Inclusive and Irrelevant.

First, anyone that watched this year’s Sugar Bowl or some of Boise State’s games in the last few years has to realize that there are really good Non-BCS schools within the ranks of the Non-BCS conferences. Also, the Mountain West’s 6-1 record over the PAC-10 can’t be overlooked. But, I don’t think we are quite ready to crown the WAC or MWC champs just yet.

The obvious candidates would be the Big 12 or SEC. But that falls directly into the common trap of examining a conferences strength or weakness based off its best performers. The argument usually only concentrates on the winning teams and conveniently ignores 70-80 percent of the rest of the conference which is composed of the mediocre and traditional losers of the league.

If we look at best BCS vs. BCS out of conference records for 2008-2009, the ACC is the clear winner with 17 wins over non-conference “BCS automatic berth conference” opponents. No other conference achieved more than 11 such wins. Not to forget they played an impressive, 31 out of conference games against other BCS conferences and Notre Dame.

Despite having performed so well out of conference during the regular season and sending 10 teams to bowls, their miserable bowl performance and lack of 1-2 true power house teams last year keeps them from being a unanimous choice as the 2008-2009 best conference in the eyes of most fans.

And, for sake of argument, I would add that the Big East finished with the best winning percentage over the same category of foes at .550 just barely edging the ACC who finished with a .548 winning percentage.

Further more, through either a greater degree of parity or mediocrity there was not a lot of difference between any of the major conferences this past season. The composite looked the same for each. Most had 1-2 superior teams, 2-5 mediocre teams (which are capable of beating any of the superior teams on any given Saturday), and 3-5 bottom of the barrel teams. This was virtually the same across the board.

But, like I said, the ACC’s inability to produce the necessary dominant 1-2 teams to grab media attention left most of their overall conference achievements to go unnoticed. So, one would be hard pressed to convince the SEC or Big 12 this year that the ACC was tougher from top to bottom.

The winner is unclear because it is impossible to have a rational argument about the subject because of the influx of personal bias, media perception, and the creation of hypothetical match-ups that have not and will not occur.

When taking into account all of these complications of truly deciding the “best conference,” I often ask myself...Who cares? But, it is apparent that someone does as we have all seen a development of something that is slightly new in college football in recent years.

A large majority of college football fans appear to have sworn their allegiance to not only their favorite team, but the entire community of teams within their given conference.

As was most evident, over the last few years as chants of “SEC, SEC, SEC” emanated from stadiums across the southeast during both regular season match-ups and bowl seasons. The root of this perceived conference loyalty is the root of the ridiculous, un-ending debate of who has the best conference.

So the true question is: Where did this emergence of “conference loyalty” come from?

One has to look no further than the BCS. Fans have quickly realized that their teams benefit from media exposure and the successful propaganda campaign that their team belongs to the toughest, strongest conference in the land. It is an easy way to put the proper spin on a conference slip up that may occur here and there. It doesn’t have to be true, so long as the pollsters believe it and vote accordingly.

Under that presumption I have to believe that the recent increase and veracity of conference “smack talk” is nothing more than fans trying to bolster their winning team or make excuses for their losing team. In any case, it is a losing argument that is impossible to rationally resolve as there is no true way to objectively determine the strength of conference.

I feel that every true fan subscribes to that same fundamental belief that it is okay to be completely irrational in terms of defending your favorite team.

Our fanaticism permits us to put blinders on and interpret stats in whatever manner best suits us.

It is this "rational irrationality" based approach to the support of our team that always makes us feel we have a chance every year to do something special, that pleases us when bad things happen to our rivals (excluding actual personal injuries or tragedies because we do have to remember it is just a game in the end), and makes us feel compelled to explain away every loss through a myriad of excuses.

But that is what makes college football great and stokes the fires of rivalries.

As a college football fan, I for one have not caught the conference fever and do not advocate it to others. A college football season, good or bad, is one of the most mentally exhausting events from the perspective of its faithful followers. The basic psychology of it is simple. We as “fans” (derivative of fanatics for good reason) attach ourselves to a team and live vicariously through all of their successes and failures.

It is this ability for a game to control our full range of emotions that leads me to believe it is physically and mentally impossible for any fan to truly pull for more than one team, let alone an entire conference. So, I apologize to the whole of the SEC, but there is no room in my heart for any other team.

Aside from that, a pure hatred for intra-conference rivals is reason enough to avoid jumping on the conference bandwagon. I was raised under the belief that Alabama represents the good guys and everyone else was the enemy. I truly could not care less how the rest of the conference does unless it produces second order effects that somehow assist Alabama in the polls.

So, in a down year for the Tide when polls are irrelevant (as we have had all too many of in recent years), it wouldn’t bother me to see the entirety of the SEC finish .500 or less. My only desire is to see Alabama excel each season, and, in lieu of that, I’d settle for victories over Tennessee and Auburn.

With that in mind, I can’t come to terms with truly pulling for the whole of a conference because it would mean hoping that hated rivals win which somehow degrades the nature of the rivalry to me.

So, this coming season, let’s all band together, pick our favorite team and roll with them good or bad. Keep chats boards free of mindless chatter about who has the best conference in place of who has the best team. All in hopes of avoiding another fruitless year long debate on who deserves the 2009-2010 imaginary best conference title.

PLAYOFFS APPROVED FOR ALL OF CFB

josh taylor — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:57:12 -0400

.....sometime in the not so distant future.......

Today, President Obama took back the University of Florida´s BCS National Championship trophy shortly after signing into law a bill that will ensure a playoff system within what is now to once again be known as Division I football.

Rep. Joe Barton, subcommittee head and author of original legislation proposed in April 2009 to influence the current BCS system into a playoff system, was quoted as saying, "This is not only a win for Texas...I mean all of College Football, it is proof that Congress is in tune with the will of all Americans on each and every decision we make."

Rep. Barton's original bill mandated for the BCS to refrain from promoting a national championship game until a true playoff system was imposed. During the April hearing, he strongly informed John Swofford, the coordinator of the BCS, that if progress wasn't made toward a playoff system in the next couple of months that he would see the bill move.

True to his word, he pushed the bill through the House of Representatives for a vote where it was highly accepted with the necessary changes to gain approval from the Democratic controlled House.

Included in the revisions were authorizations for more than $4.5 trillion in spending, to include:

$4 trillion to cover all expected future losses for each of the current bowl venues that would not be included in the future playoff system. Estimates were collected on a per venue basis that looked to reimburse all potential profits and tax revenue that was estimated to be gained over the next 10 years.

$50 million to increase wages/salaries of current BCS committee persons as they transition into a new Division I playoff oversight and selection committee. The newly formed group announced today that they can promise an even more technically involved formula for randomly selecting its tournament field (size to be determined).

An undisclosed amount of discretionary funds will be dedicated to developing a "cleaner team" that will delve through every college football archive, database, book, and memoir to ensure there is no mention of any team before the current year of having won a major college football national championship. To follow suit with the 2009 Gators, all past trophies will be collected and demolished.

Additionally, all former championship team merchandise must be turned in (at no refund to individual consumer) and fines will be issued for failure to comply.

The complete fallout of the "Barton Bill" is still to be determined as a legal injunction has already been filed against MLB for promoting the culmination of their "North American baseball championship" (which actually only includes the USA and Canada) as the World Series which falsely produces a World Champion.

The President responded today as saying, "I am proud of Congress. It was a good day. We were able to put party lines aside and reach across the aisle to get closure on an issue that was close to my heart and the hearts of most Americans. Sure the recession and unemployment rage on, but we still have time for that. We took a bad situation and we fixed it...our way. I fail to see how proactive congressional measures could do anything but help."

Disingenuous Outrage

josh taylor — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:46:08 -0500

I feel that it is time to truly address the root of the problem that compels the media to continue making performance enhancing drugs breaking news. After hearing the "purity of the game" argument, the "be a good role model for the sake of the children" plea, or any of the other numerous angles that have been used to garner anti-doping support from the masses, I am left with one question.

Why is this just now an issue?

The media has used the issue of steroids in MLB to begin a modern day inquisition. To the extent that the federal government has created special committees to investigate this pressing issue which is obviously detrimental to our entire society and future way of life.

The majority of the sports world is aware that athletes still use and have used some form of performance enhancing drug (legal or illegal) since the inception of professional sports. It is all in how you define performance enhancing.

Ancient Olympians went on all meat binges before the games and some went so far as to ingest sheep or goat testicles. Red meat is full of creatine and vitamin-B both of which enhance performance. Animal "nads" were nothing more than a primitive way to get a testosterone boost.

Looking in more recent history, the evolution of performance enhancing drugs has taking many forms as it transitioned from alcoholic beverages laced with cocaine to modern day growth hormones.

More modern steroids found their way into the Olympics as early as the 1950s, when the Soviet Union began to dominate. By the inception of the modern NFL, different forms of steroids or whatever pill you want were readily available to athletes.

Ephedrine is a "performance enhancing drug" that is now regulated. Many players used it to boost their heart rate which increases adrenaline level and has several positive effects on your ability to push yourself longer, harder, and increase your focus. Should we now go back and delete all the achievements of those athletes as well?

Additional arguments could be made for several other legal substances that players continue to take in order to assist in recovery from exercises or in the performance of sports, such as: caffeine, creatine, pain relievers, muscle relaxers, and many more......even alcohol (in moderation) can have positive effects on some sports because it takes the "edge off."

Don't believe me, just ask John Daly or most billiards professionals.

These are accepted facts of which most sports enthusiasts are well aware. It is naive to claim this is the steroids area of baseball with no legitimate way to discern past players involvement in some sort of performance enhancing measure (most of which would likely be illegal today).

Where do we draw the line?

As long as Congress stays involved, why stop there? Are novels or songs any less great because they were inspired by alcohol or drugs? Should we start stripping away Pulitzer Prizes and Grammies as well?

Of course not, so ask yourself what the real issue is behind the ongoing media outcry to place an asterisk next to a lot of truly great athletic feats?

Some believe it is media backlash to MLB's reluctance to instill a viable steroid abuse policy. After the NFL created their policy in 1987, MLB became the last major American sports organization without one. So, the keepers of the gate to Cooperstown (sportswriters) felt compelled to take up arms ever so slowly against this emerging travesty to justice.

It's common knowledge that after McGwire was found with some form of "andro" in his locker during the home run derby year against Sammy Sosa, the media cranked up their efforts and began the controversy that we see today.

However, the crusade has taken many shapes over the past few years. All of a sudden its news to everyone that steroids are a part of professional athletics. The media vilifies players for wanting to be bigger, faster, stronger, but barely touches on the leadership that fostered the environment. The officials of MLB are as much to blame for the current issues as anyone.

The media feels that if MLB had taken a stonger stance against steroid abuse the problem would have ceased. Well, the Olympic committee has a pretty solid policy and it still doesn't stem the problem. The fact is that MLB is not a game. It is a business that requires a fan base and nothing fills the stands like big offensive performances. We all like the occasional “No-No”, but there is a reason the All-Star game features a home-run derby.

That said, there is no real incentive for MLB to slow down the progress of the game. Even if that progress is a result of chemically assisted athletes. Furthermore, fans are not going to stop watching the game because of this media-spun "new era" of baseball.

The media, however, will continue to cry that an injustice is being done and MLB should air all of their dirty laundry that occurs behind closed doors.

But, for what reason?

100 convictions and life-time banishments will not change the fact that performance enhancing substances (in some form or another) will always be a part of MLB and all of sports.

What good comes from us knowing the private lives of professional athletes? It only goes to feed our obsession with living vicariously through others. I think some even get a twisted sense of satisfaction to see these superstars falter. Undoubtedly, they were their high school paper editor that never played sports but was stuffed in a trash can once just before the star QB stole his girlfriend.

It is time to call a spade a spade. The sporting media needs to quit trying to create outrage. I, as a fan, could not personally care less. I realize that a lot of great players have played clean, but a lot of others have been assisted by some form of performance enhancing drug. So, in all, the game is no less tainted in my eyes now than it was 20 years ago.

What's next? Is someone going break the news that professional wrestlers or past Mr. Olympias were doping? Say it ain't so, Joe!!!!

This is a problem that should be taken out of the hands of the federal government who seem content to waste time, energy, and untold tax dollars pursuing something that is far less pressing than the current state of the economy. This issue should be handled internally by MLB (as it truly only concerns them) and the criminal court system if players are in violation of actual laws.

I don't advise the use of any illegal substance and would caution most about the use of some legal substances. However, in the end, its a personal decision. If it violates an established employer-employee standard or a law then that person should be allowed his day in court and punished appropriately. If the public feels otherwise, they don't have to support the game.

We are so quick to burn the A-Rods' and Michael Phelps' of the world at the stake solely because of a media-induced fear that we (as parents) are incapable of rearing our children with the values that it is not okay to cheat to get ahead, either on the field-of-play or in a boardroom.

If you're worried about the children, why not focus on being good parents and true role models for them. Let them understand the dangers of doing any drugs, but also pass on the positive aspects of athletics. It still takes hard work, dedication, and selflessness to be successful at team sports.

I'd worry less about the actions of others and focus more on what message we are sending to our children as we judge others more critically than we judge ourselves?

None among us are perfect, yet we feel compelled to highlight on the grandest stages the faults of others while trying to rationalize it as anything other than what it is.......

It is nothing more than disingenuous outrage used for profit by some and as a vessel of transference by others to make up for our own inadequacies in life.

Bong-Water!!!!!

josh taylor — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:02:36 -0500

Primarily, I won't be an advocate of breaking the law as it is the standard by which all citizens have agreed to abide in order to maintain the peace within our nation.

Furthermore, I believe that personal opinions on the use of either for (medicinal, recreational, etc.) or against (religious based, fear of addiction, gateway drug, etc.) illegal narcotics are irrelevant as well, as one could easily argue the pros and cons of either side with the end result being a draw because (like many other controversial issues) there seems to be no middle ground.

However, I will offer that it is ridiculous for the media to criticize Michael Phelps in the manner that some have chosen.

I personally disagree with statements that say Michael Phelps betrayed some sort of imaginary trust with the American people. He had no such trust with Americans nor anyone else. He is a gifted athlete who simply out-performed other gifted athletes on a grand stage while representing Team USA....period...nothing more.

Superior athletic abilities simply do not equate to superior judgment, intellect, or moral character. One has to look no further than the NFL (i.e. Michael Vick, Adam "Pacman" Jones, 90's Cowboys), MLB (steroids) or the NBA (Eddie Griffin, NBA gambling scandal, etc.) to verify that statement.

I do not know Michael Phelps personally, therefore, it is impossible to know what kind of young man he is outside of the pool. Additionally, I do not know the terms of his contracts with any corporate sponsors. However, to imply that he betrayed one of them through his actions is ridiculous.

Unless his contract included written stipulations as to how he would conduct himself personally and publicly, he has done nothing wrong in my eyes to those sponsors. I refuse to feel sorry for corporate sponsors that wanted merely to profit from his name as long as possible.

They are well aware that all business has its own risks and sometimes promising ventures fail. In turn, I do not blame any of his sponsors for wanting to change direction. I highly doubt that even Kellogg's made a decision to drop Phelps based on some true moral ground.

It is simple cost-analysis of current revenue gained from Phelps compared to future revenue to be gained from using his image on their products. Kellogg's obviously feels that it is less profitable to use him at this point. I would not be surprised to see a change of heart come the summer games of 2012.

The root of the "Phelps scandal," if you will, is a problem that is systemic in our culture. We foster the idolization of athletes and celebrities. We want to place them on a pedestal and live vicariously through them, so when Casey strikes out (or in this case, smokes weed) the fall from grace is often over- exaggerated as outrage ensues from all sides.

We have become so enthralled by reality TV, TMZ, and the personal lives of these "heroes" we have created in our minds that we lose sight of the humanity within them. They have personal lives, opinions, and attitudes that are completely removed from their innate abilities for which we so admire them.

So, it comes to no surprise, that when they appear less than "idyllic" we castigate them without real reason. This is not the problem of the superstar - it's our problem. They did not make themselves famous - we did.

Instead of encouraging our kids to emulate athletes that are "stereo-typically" motivated through money and a selfish/unhealthy desire to be the best even through means that are detrimental to themselves or others, why not encourage them to be good citizens and hold heroic-level personal admiration for those who have earned it.

For me, that body is epitomized through the positive efforts of parents, teachers, policemen, firefighters, and military service members who readily display the qualities of a hero through loyalty, duty, respect (for others, oneself and the nation), selfless-service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.

Lest we forget, the immortal words of Sir Charles who best summarizes my feelings about the role of athletes in America:

"I am not role model. I'm not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models. Just because I can dunk a basketball, doesn't mean I should raise your kids." -Charles Barkley (also recently charged with a DUI)

In all, this is not a subject that should stir such emotion. It involves a single young man and (for sake of argument) an isolated incident in which no one was hurt. Everyone has his/her own opinion, but the law is clear.

It is not appropriate on any level (IMO) for parents (true role models) to encourage the breaking of laws, but much like sins. Sometimes it's hard to toe the line. We are all human and can only do our best to get through this life.

I feel confident that despite my best abilities, I will sin in the eyes of the Lord and (knowingly) break a law again (not murder, but I'm prone to speed) before I die. I can only hope that if I become famous that the world does not hold me in the same light, because I would frankly tell them to mind their own business and leave my punishment to the judges and God.

Lastly, in regard to the law, bear in mind the opinion of one of our greatest leaders who personally aided in the development of the foundation for such laws.

Thomas Jefferson offered that:
"Laws made by common consent must not be trampled on by
individuals" and that "A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen........"

However, what controls the drive to be a good citizen other than the morals and values instilled in us through faith, family, education, and friends. Notice that professional athletes and movie stars were not on that list.

And, through TJ's (I'd venture to say that he'd enjoy to be called TJ) own words, the law must be through common consent. If it is not (much like prohibition was not), it should be fairly examined and put to a vote. Again, I am not speaking for or against the legalization of certain narcotics, but if such a debate exists, it should be continually reviewed to ensure that the law is representative of the popular belief. This is a necessity within our nation to prevent laws from being more than a "tyrant's will."

As TJ said:
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions, but laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors." --Thomas Jefferson

In summary, if Mr. Phelps broke a law, he should be punished as equally as others under the systems that exists. If you don't like the law, call your congressman. The power of the constituency still carries a lot of weight in regard to a politician's current beliefs and morals.

In either case, we as his "outraged public" should get over our collective selves and refrain from throwing stones in our tiny glass houses. Perhaps we could put more effort into the "de-idolization" of athletes as a whole and consider better methods to try and inspire our children.