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Monday, December 31, 2007

NFL Coach of the Year: The Quest for Perfection is the Key

Bill Belichik.

Three Super Bowl rings as a head coach. Adulation as perhaps an all time great.

This year, blessed with an owner willing to go out and get the cream of the crop in the free agent market, perhaps his most remarkable coaching job.

There is no debating that the Pats are extremely talented. There is no debating that they are blessed with experience and a championship aura.

But, there is also no debating that balancing all the egos and getting everyone to perform as one unit is the type of thing that only a COY calibre performance could provide.

This team is reminiscent of Phil Jackson's Jordan led Bulls and Shaq led Lakers. To the untrained eye, anyone could led them to victory. To those in the know, only a genius could get them there.

With that in mind, we at NOIS convey the 2007 NFL Coach of the Year Award to.......


Romeo Crennel.

Blessed with a fraction of the talent on his roster, an organization that epitomized losing and located in a city that embraces the 'epitomization' of losing: somehow Crennel overcame and marshalled his team to double digit victories this season.

If Belichik is a genius in his ability to get all those egos attached to first flight talent to work toward the goals of the team, then what is the man that can get performance from egos that are just as inflated but are attached to second rate ability?

Perhaps Crennel's most important move this season was something he didn't do.

Certainly, Romeo faced internal and external pressure to put dashing young dandy Brady Quinn under center. But, rather than torture Cleveland fans (and football fans in general) with Quinn's ambiguous presence, Crennel turned Derek Anderson into a legitimate NFL starter.

And, after a 10-6 season, Anderson's success certainly clowds the picture of Quin:n's future in the city by the lake.

For prodding his young charges to 10 victories, and simultaneously casting doubt on Brady Quinn's being a starter in the NFL:

We crown Romeo Crennel as the King of Coaches for this season.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The College Football Coach of The Year

Mark Mangino of Kansas led the Jayhawks to an historic season. To our knowledge (actually, we don't have much knowledge of Kansas football...who really cares about it?), the best in their history.

During a season in which the Big 12 saw their top two spots (up until the end of the season) occupied by traditional doormats, Mangino navigated a modest schedule to put his team in position to play for not just the Big 12 title, but the national title.

A non-conference schedule of Central Michigan, Southeastern Louisiana, Toledo and Florida International got the Jayhawks off to a rousing start. Four straight home wins against four straight cream puffs.

But, in reality, KU scheduled with the Big 12 in mind.

The non-conference poo-poo platter certainly mirrored what lay in wait on their Big 12 schedule. Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, a morbid Nebraska, a distracted A&M and Oklahoma State. No Oklahoma or Texas.

And, one big game. Missouri. A loss. Fortunately for KU, that game was at the end of the season. If it had been scheduled earlier, or right after KU was done wiping off the stench of the non-conference skunk spray; no one would have even bothered mentioning them for most of the season.

We certainly wouldn't be watching them head to a BCS bowl after finishing SECOND in their own division.

And we wouldn't be watching Mangino wrap his mortadello smelling fingers around a coach of the year plaque.

Instead, we'd be praising the job Sylvester Croom did at Mississippi State.

Faced with challenges in recruiting, budget, facilities and the challenge of being located in Mississippi; Croom led the Bulldogs to a winning season playing in the SEC. The SEC, if you don't know, is trumpeted by the media as the best and most difficult conference in the country.

Victories over Auburn, Alabama and Kentucky certainly trump any wins that Mangino managed in the Big 12. And a non-conference schedule that included uber-talented West Virginia certainly demonstrated MSU's desire to compete against the best college football has to offer. Unlike KU, which is more than happy to run off to a BCS bowl payday after losing to the only team of substance on their otherwise insulting schedule.

By honoring Mangino as the coach of the year, the media is signing off on a philosophy of avoiding challenges. Of avoiding competition.

Yes, we know. College sports are about making money. But, at some level, they are about overcoming challenges and facing competition head on. About being taught that taking the easy way out isn't the preferred avenue.

Bestowing coach of the year honors on Mangino and his half-stepping program is to condone all that is wrong with college football. To affirm Mangino as coach of the year is to accept mediocrity.

We at NOIS can not accept mediocrity. Neither in ourselves, nor in in our coach of the year.

One of the arguments made in the debate about the Heisman winner was that Tim Tebow played in the SEC. His accomplishments came against the best of the best, making them all the more impressive. We heard questions about the schedules faced by fellow finalists Chase Daniel and Colt Brennan. Sure, they had great years, but who was on the other side of the ball.

Then, we watched Sylvester Croom take on a monstrous SEC schedule armed with the recruiting crumbs left after the big boys were done feasting and an infrastructure still in disarray after probation. And we don't collectively acknowledge that what he accomplished took far more leadership, planning and downright coaching than running off 11 straight wins over the Hapless Techs and No Talent States of the college football world?

Clearly, some things just don't change.

A Negro doing a white man's job in the Deep South, and doing it well, is just too threatening in this country to give him his just desserts.

Even the SEC knew that it couldn't deny Croom their coach of the year nod and keep any semblance of credibility.

So, as Mangino dines on bracioline ripiene alla Siciliana and gazes over at his coach of the year award:

Know that the collards and fried chicken on Brother Sly's table taste extra good today.

We know it.

He knows it.

Coach of the Year.

Monday, December 17, 2007

NFL Fines Players For Supporting Embattled Friend

This from ProFootballTalk.com:

"Roddy White, Alge Crumpler, DeAngelo Hall, and Chris Houston were all fined $10,000.
Joe Horn also was fined $7,500 for pulling up White's jersey to reveal his "Free Mike Vick" T-shirt."

The league levied the fines under the auspices of the shirts being a violation of the league's uniform policy. Despite the fact that White's t-shirt was UNDER his uniform jersey. And the league doubled the usual fine for uniform violations. Horn was fined and he apparently wasn't even wearing one of the t-shirts.

Normally, we'd support team mates showing some support for an embattled friend. A fellow gladiator. A mistreated and seemingly purposely misunderstood and misrepresented Negro. Normally.

However, we believe that each of these players should sit out a game. Forfeit a game check.

All of these players have foolishly, though altruistically, played into the hands of the league rulers and the attempt to further demonize Vick.

Certainly, the players watched not long ago as Redskin players wore tribute t-shirts under their game jerseys for Sean Taylor. And, just as certainly, the Falcon players assumed that since the Redskins were not in violation of the uniform policy (they weren't fined) for wearing the t-shirts under the game jerseys; there would be no issue if they did it as well.

The foolishness in all this was that the Falcon players thought for a moment that the NFL Czar of Discipline and Behavior might not expound his traditional arbitrary application of policy and rule. And for somehow forgetting who they were memorializing, the Falcon players should march into their GM's office and let him know that they will not be playing in next week's game as a self imposed penance for their foolishness in believing that the Czar would allow them to memorialize the 'dead' player on their team.

What was supposed to be an act to show Vick that he was not forgotten. That he was still in the hearts of his team mates. That, despite the fact that he was locked up in a money making prison, his spirit and soul were still free. That act of brotherly solidarity and compassion for Vick's well being is now turned into a negative by the NFL's PR machinery.

Instead of it being the unifying and rehabilitative message that it was meant to be, the NFL turned it into some sort of forbidden phantom violation. What was meant to generate positive media representation that might get back to the incarcerated Vick was run through the NFL ringers.

And what got back to Vick (from the NFL) is clear:

You are dead to us.


'Free Mike Vick'?

No.

Mike Vick has been in chains from the first day he put on shoulder pads.

And this well intentioned, though poorly thought out maneuvre by the Falcon players only further tightened the shackles around their own wrists.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Bobby Petrino: DeAngelo Hall and Alge Crumpler were right

Bobby Petrino.

The equivalent of the promiscuous girl of the coaching world. Always ready to listen to an offer. Often willing to put out. Quick to leave the groom standing at the altar.

Or in this case, cheat on the honey moon.

Petrino's stay in the ATL has been tainted almost from the start. He was unable to give tremendous, but wayward, QB Michael Vick the type of guidance a young man under considerable pressure could expect from a seasoned head coach/mentor. And quickly things fell apart.

Clearly, Vick didn't receive good advice from the organization and ended up responding to the early accusations with a dubious denial. Obviously, a caring and nurturing infrastructure would have given him the proper counsel necessary to take responsibility from the get go. Only after things spun out of control and Vick was able to separate himself from the organization did he come clean and accept responsibility.

So, the reality is that much of the distress caused by the Vick situation was a product of Petrino's botched leadership.

Certainly, Vick's team mates recognized this, and it compromised Petrino's ability to effectively be the man in charge of the team.

Early in the season, DeAngelo Hall and Alge Crumpler received some negative press for openly wondering about Petrino's ability to lead an NFL team. For challenging Petrino's demands that the team buy into his system, but not providing any real leadership for the team.

The media seemed to enjoy painting Hall and Crumpler as out of line or disgruntled primadonas.

Well, vindication is sweet. And Hall and Crumpler were correct all along. Petrino gave up long ago and went through 3/4 of a season as a charade. Certainly he wasn't wooed by Arkansas between the Monday night game and the Tuesday announcement.

And, just as certainly, Hall and Crumpler's instinctual questioning of the validity and sincerity of Petrino and his 'system' was spot on the money. Petrino's 'system' was an empty shell that couldn't fool real NFL players. His leadership was a corrupt and cowardly masquerade.

And Hall and Crumpler should be commended for having the awareness, commitment and esprit de corps to put the teams needs ahead of their own and question the rotten smell emanating from the coach's office.

In this day and age of selfish players with agendas, it is refreshing to be able to look back on this and unequivocally state the players were one hundred percent correct and that the media owes them an apology.

Certainly this isn't the first time that a group of Negroes sensed and spoke out about the white man in the corner office using them for his personal gain. It just happens to be one of the times the media can't hide it.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Apologies

We are sorry that we haven't put up a new post in a few days. Have had some connectivity issues that our corporate IT has finally resolved.

We will resume our righteous posting in the AM.

For those of you that sent email calling us lazy n-words for not posting for several days; apologies.

We had no idea that there was actually a hard core circle of you that thrive on hating on our daily posts.

You make us feel special and vital.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Out T-bow'ing Tebow

The argument for Tim Tebow winning the Heisman goes, 'no QB has ever put up stats like his, therefore he is the most outstanding player this year.'

And, honestly it's tough to argue that. Stats like Tebow's DO deserve Heisman consideration. In fact, we would even go so far as to agree: Stats like Tebow's from a QB deserve the Heisman.

3360 yards and 23 TD's passing.

1008 yards and 17 TD's rushing.

Yup. Hard to argue 3000+ yards passing and 1000+ yards rushing not being Heisman worthy. We aren't inclined to fact check, but (unless told differently) we assume that this has never been done before.

When you put the numbers on the table, we can all agree. Numbers like these and doing something that has never been done before deserve the Heisman.

Case closed. And, since Tebow/Florida fans made the case based on stats and historic achievement, we are sure that they won't have any argument with the verdict:

Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour deserves the Heisman. The stats listed are his.

Sure, Tebow scored a few more TD's. But, LeFevour played on a team that actually had other players score touchdowns.

LeFevour's 17 rushing TD's only accounted for 50% of his teams TD's on the ground. CMU actually had a RUNNING BACK with double digit TD's.

For those that argue that CMU played in their conference championship game (giving an extra game for stats); we say that Florida had the chance to do that, if Tebow had led them to it. The point is moot anyway as LeFevour had 39 fewer rushes than Tebow for the season, regardless.

Some will argue that playing in the SEC should give Tebow an advantage in the voting.

We agree that playing in the SEC for Florida does give Tebow an advantage. An advantage in being surrounded by blue chip talented team mates who ensure that the opposition can't disregard the rest of the team when game planning.

Lefevour does not have that luxury. He is a one man team. A one man wrecking squad doing things that NO college quarterback has EVER done before.

And, the ultimate guru of system QB'ing -June Jones- has NEVER labelled LeFevour a 'system' QB.

If anyone knows a system quarterback, it's Coach Jones.

And if anyone deserves the Heisman for putting together a never before seen season by a quarterback, it's Dan LeFevour.

Gator fans, you had it dead on:

The QB who passed and ran for more yardage than anyone ever has and scored a ridiculous amount of TD's deserves the Heisman.

We ALL agree.

Referee in Ravens-Patriots Game Insults Player

Samari Rolle is a respected player and man in the NFL. Unfortunately during the course of MNF's Ravens-Patriots game, Rolle was subjected to not just the indignity of botched calls and phantom time outs which led to the salvaging of the Patriots tarnished quest to finish out an undefeated season (in good conscience, we can't call it 'perfect'...that would mean turning our backs on the Patriots early season cheating), Rolle was also verbally harassed by a referee.

"The refs called me a boy. No. 110 called me a boy," Rolle said in the locker room after the game. "I will be calling my agent in the morning and sending my complaint. I have a wife and three kids. Don't call me a boy. Don't call me a boy on the field during a game because I said, 'You've never played football before.' "

Of course, the usage of the term 'boy' in referring to an adult Negro male by a white* male is meant to be as disrespectful and degrading as using the N-word. It is designed to figuratively castrate the adult Negro male and reinforce the notion of being powerless. Of being an impotent slave.

We certainly hope the NFL will look closely into this circumstance and come down with swift and meaningful action.

The next player a referee refers to as 'boy' might not remain as level headed about the situation as Rolle has.


*No. 110 head linesman Phil McKinnely, a former player for three NFL teams during the 1970s and '80s, who played collegiately at UCLA, is black.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Tonight It Ends

On occasion, we have made some startling prognostications -LSU falling to Kentucky, the OSU getting dropped by Illinois, and more... - tonight we will try to keep that tradition alive.

Now, in the past we have made guarantees. Tonight, no guarantee. But a steady pick.

The Pats dreams of an undefeated season end in Bodymore.


(edit. - well, our streak of correct predictions has ended. However, we find this
Chris McAllister (Raven's CB) quote to be an effective game summary : "They just took the crown and put it on their heads." )

Imus: The Return

Our position as one of the more visible media watchdogs affords us the opportunity to relay important information and opinions, often purported seemingly as facts, to our readers and followers who desire an interpretation of important events without the taint provided by the mainstream media.

We advocate for news, not taint. And, we feel most can justifiable join us in this endeavor.

Most will recall the not so distantly removed racial diatribe enacted by Don Imus and his klansmen. Imus and his henchmen conducted a verbal lynching of the Negro females of the Rutgers women's basketball team. Not only stealing the shine of their Final Four appearance, but improbably detracting from the general quality of their futures. By openly belittling their race - and degrading their hair - Imus enacted a modern day version of the old Southern tradition of slave rape. The psychological damage of Imus verbally forcing his will upon the young Negresses is incalculable. We won't know for years the true damage that the penetration of his words has caused.

Now, months later, Imus is back on the airwaves.

To his credit, he introduced his new side kick, a brilliantly talented and hysterically comic Negro woman. He also acquainted us with his new sports commenter. A knowledgeable and well spoken Negro man. Certainly, we are proud to see these Negroes in the media gain employment based solely on their merits. Imus and producers actively giving positions to the best possible applicants and the applicants that best gel with his comedy and commentary stylings certainly gives full credence to the notion that this new Imus Show is a rebirth in both ideology and outlook. It isn't simply just a rehashing of the old Imus Show in black face.

Certainly, we could never be accused of judging others. That simply isn't our vocation. But we find it interesting that the Imus Show will be aired on TV on something called 'RFD' (we think), which apparently is a special network set up for 'rural' America. And, we must say, it's about time the needs of 'rural' America are being addressed. For ages we have heard the 'rural' segment of America clamoring for more Negro side kicks and sports commenters.

Just as Negro America is in debt to Imus for showing us that it is possible to rehabilitate the 'taint', 'rural' America is now in debt to Imus for bring them -what for many- is their first 'interaction' with Negroes.

We applaud Imus for building bridges in this country between 'rural' America and Negro America.

Nothing but good can come of Imus' newest endeavor which is focused on proactive undertakings, and not simple reactive preventive measures.

And, in thanking Imus, we ALL must admit to a debt of gratitude to the Rev. Al Sharpton. Sharpton was criticized for his views on this and demanding Imus be fired. But, now we see what the Rev really had in mind.

Sometimes, you must clear a field to plant a new crop.

And manure is the best of fertilizers.

Final Mail Call

An important email question we received.

And a more important answer.

Hi,
Does Nation of Islam Sports have an opinion on the NBC football night in America pre game show where they have two separate desks? One desk is 3 white guys, and than there is a separate desk where Jerome Bettis and Tiki Barber sit with Cris Colinsworth. I feel like NBC is openly segregating black from white while at the same time trying to make Cris Colinsworth more black, which while interesting at first does not work at all. What are your thoughts?

Yours,
He who seeks righteous knowledge*



The righteous reply:

Sir, we see it differently. We see it as an affront to Bettis. A proud, Detroit Negro. He is forced to sit with two white men, Barber and Colinsworth, in an effort to force him to modify his behavior and make himself conscious of his Negro-ness. It's clearly an effort to stifle Bettis' expressive abilities and a thinly veiled message that he needs to stay in line and follow Barber's example of how the network believes a 'Negro' should act. This is an alarming issue and we fully appreciate that you have taken it to task in your own personal reflections. As you watch football pregame shows, realize that they aren't about football. They are about subconsciously molding the Negro viewer into the white man's image.
Fight on righteously.
NOIS



*name changed in an effort to ensure anonymity

LSU: Perrilloux Savior of Dream

In the preseason, LSU held a spot near or at the top of every list as a national title contender. A talented team, awash in experience on defense and athleticism across the board. An elite program that certainly should be in the mix for that sparkling crystal football at the end of the year.

Two losses later, things looked very bleak.

No two loss had been in the BCS game. No two loss team had deserved to be included.

Write a new chapter in the book of college football history. A two loss team may well be the best team in America.

Despite overtime losses to Kentucky and Arkansas - two solid teams, but not specular - that would generally have been enough to knock most other teams completely out of the equation for the national title, LSU can now book a trip to the big game.

In what clearly is a demonstration of a conference title game victory being a huge advantage in the BCS hunt, LSU was able to squeak by a Tennessee team which really wasn't a factor on the national scene.

Some will say that LSU capitalized on the reputation of the SEC. Somehow spinning overtime losses into acceptable events and somehow spinning a conference title game victory over a non factor into a spring board to a show down with the OSU.

The overlooked aspect of the victory over Tennessee was the triumphant field generalship of budding superstar Ryan Perrilloux at QB.

Matt Flynn had quarterbacked LSU in their losses to Kentucky and Arkansas. And, clearly, Les Miles realized that any hope of an SEC title and any crack at the big game hinged on the QB position.

Enter Ryan Perrilloux.

Conveniently, the medical staff 'decided' to label Flynn unfit to make the start. And Les Miles pinned his hopes for a job at Michigan on the young and talented Perrilloux.

And lead them he did. His performance was so impressive that LSU separated itself from the other one and two loss teams to claim a spot in the title game, setting up what will surely be a repeat of last season:

A fast and quick SEC team led by a Negro QB winning the National Title.