Can't find a tv camera? They are everywhere. Kirk Ferentz is taking a public beat down right now for not returning to Iowa City immediately after learning about the 13 players that were hospitalized. A lack of compassion is being cited and a public lynching is taking place. This lynching is coming from afar at the national level. These people are not reporting live on the scene in Iowa City where things are happening. People are getting their information from sketchy sources. Some "family members" without any mention of the closeness to the family or any possible reliable information. Possibly from whoever violated HIPAA federal law and looked at players medical records. Wherever the information is coming from it is not a very reliable source.
In today's media information spreads extremely fast via an open air pissing match called Twitter. Twitter is great when it is at its best and horrendous when at its worst. On Tuesday morning, early Tuesday morning, Gregg Doyel had already published his article calling for a firing at the University of Iowa without any knowledge or details of the actual situation. All he knew was that 13 players were in the hospital. Details remained sketchy and the actual cause was not yet know, and is still not known for sure today. He took a partial story and turned it into a firing crusade. We are learning more and more by the day and eventually we will know if he was even close to being right. I'm guessing the answer will turn out to be no.
Kirk Ferentz will continue to be bashed until he goes in front of a camera and cries tears of regret. The media wants blood. They will continue to bash and bash without knowing what is actually going on. Without knowing what amount of communication or with whom the communication was made. Should Kirk have come back, probably. Is he a doctor? No. Would he have changed anything? No. With the exception of the media's portrayal of the events there was nothing Kirk Ferentz could have done.
On to Pat Forde's article today. Forde argues that the workouts are borderline barbaric and abnormal. Even with former Hawkeyes saying the workouts are standard issue at the University of Iowa. 70 players took part int he workout, including Ferentz's own son, and 13 experienced the problems. What is the common factor among those 13 that they other guys didn't experience. Some say a weekend of partying may have been the issue, to which Pat Forde argues that if the players couldn't go out and party that the workouts were abnormal. These are scholarship players attending the University of Iowa at no cost. In exchange they get to play football the next level. So football players should NOT be held to a higher standard than your average college student? That goes against what most believe.
Additional stories of past cases of rhabdomyolysis have come up as well. But here is the kicker, no one cares about the South Carolina swimming team. Seven swimmers were effected by rhabdo in 2007. So now you know. Same thing effected 20 high school football players in Oregon recently. It can happen, it does happen. Several case studies show that taking creatine can lead to rhabdo as well.
To the point that the workouts are somehow punishment or cruel, do you think any of the former Iowa football players in the NFL would trade their current position for having not trained and put in the time. Yes it is tough. Yes it is demanding. That is why they are college athletes and not everyone who is sitting around chirping from their computers at home. To be the best you have to put in the time. They have done this in Iowa city before and will most likely do it again. With time comes healing and with time fades the spot light. It will take time but this too shall pass. It was incredibly unfortunate, but it is not a direct responsibility. Things will come to light eventually that explain why and how, but until then we are only left with questions. Ready...Aim...Fire. Right? Not, Ready...Fire...Aim.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Hawkeye 12 ... and a Nuclear Safety Inspector like Homer Simpson
As you've probably heard by now, 12 Hawkeye football players were hospitalized on Monday. The hospitalizations resulted in a diagnosis of exertional rhabdomyolysis. What is that? It is the result of over exertion and damaged muscle fibers being released into the blood stream. The body has trouble processing them and it can lead to several serious conditions including kidney failure. A serious situation that is unpredictable at best. Athletes in the prime of their life can develop the condition from any exercise. Several case studies have shown that an athlete has developed it from working over several days to as little as one set of negative curls. A female freshman developed it from playing ultimate frisbee for a couple hours. There are lots of causes raning from complex workouts to doing one single set of a simple workout.
However, one journalist out there decide to take it upon themselves to call for the firing of someone at the University of Iowa and to hold them responsible. Gregg Doyel called for the firing of someone at the University of Iowa in response to the hospitalizations. For performing workouts that they do every year and is expected by all University of Iowa football players. A workout that effected 12 of the Iowa football players, not all. So it was a workout that was not unreasonable because clearly some players had no problem with it. A workout that these players want.
The University of Iowa is known as a school that turns prospects into NFL players. Several Iowa players that have gone one to NFL careers weren't recruited by any other Div. I (FBS) schools. Yet Iowa turned them into NFL players. Not just any NFL players, arguably some of the best at their positions. How did Iowa do it, through a rigorous and tough training regimen. The same one they use today. There are risks with this type of high level training. There always is, but there is also the possibility of great reward. Now only reward for the school, but reward for the athlete. Do you think the former Hawkeyes in the NFL would trade their NFL careers for having not done the tough workouts?
Ask Stafon Johnson at USC. Accidents can and do happen when training. Did someone deserve to be fired at USC following Stafon Johnson's accident? Probably not. It was a slip of a bar bell. Yes, this was a tough workout that caused the Hawkeyes problems. No, it is not an unheard of workout as it has been completed many times before by many Hawkeye football players.
Adam Rittenburg of ESPN did a great interview with Iowa's Strength and Condition Coach Chris Doyle. In the interview Doyle discusses how the Hawkeyes individualize each workout program to each player. "You're looking at a sport where a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back is going to compete on the same playing field as a 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman. That needs to be addressed in their training" said Doyle to Adam Rittenburg. Iowa looks for players that are not highly recruited but have the tools to work hard and earn their success.
Workouts early in the calendar year are known to be the toughest for all football players across the country. It is the off-season and the time when college football players are in muscle build mode. You hear coaches all the time talking about how championships are won in the offseason. When you fail to prepare you prepare to fail, or any other cliche.
Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports wrote a great piece on the workout culture of college football. The Iowa football incident was the inspiration of the article, but the bigger picture and the nationwide issue was his main topic. In his piece he discusses 19 deaths that have occurred during this workout period over the last 10 years. 19 deaths that occurred during the off season.
The training is tough, but its not the toughest training in the world and may not be the toughest training in college football. An unfortunate incident occurred, but it is certainly not a fire-able offense. The players are taking a risks by asking to be college athletes. Regardless of the school there is always a risk involved in this high level of training. Gregg Doyel posted to twitter "Twelve Iowa football players hospitalized after workouts? TWELVE? I want answers - and maybe a coach to get fired." He was irresponsible and sensationalist. No one will pay attention to him unless he is calling for someone to get fired. He took less care with his nuclear technology than Homer Simpson.
However, one journalist out there decide to take it upon themselves to call for the firing of someone at the University of Iowa and to hold them responsible. Gregg Doyel called for the firing of someone at the University of Iowa in response to the hospitalizations. For performing workouts that they do every year and is expected by all University of Iowa football players. A workout that effected 12 of the Iowa football players, not all. So it was a workout that was not unreasonable because clearly some players had no problem with it. A workout that these players want.
The University of Iowa is known as a school that turns prospects into NFL players. Several Iowa players that have gone one to NFL careers weren't recruited by any other Div. I (FBS) schools. Yet Iowa turned them into NFL players. Not just any NFL players, arguably some of the best at their positions. How did Iowa do it, through a rigorous and tough training regimen. The same one they use today. There are risks with this type of high level training. There always is, but there is also the possibility of great reward. Now only reward for the school, but reward for the athlete. Do you think the former Hawkeyes in the NFL would trade their NFL careers for having not done the tough workouts?
Ask Stafon Johnson at USC. Accidents can and do happen when training. Did someone deserve to be fired at USC following Stafon Johnson's accident? Probably not. It was a slip of a bar bell. Yes, this was a tough workout that caused the Hawkeyes problems. No, it is not an unheard of workout as it has been completed many times before by many Hawkeye football players.
Adam Rittenburg of ESPN did a great interview with Iowa's Strength and Condition Coach Chris Doyle. In the interview Doyle discusses how the Hawkeyes individualize each workout program to each player. "You're looking at a sport where a 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back is going to compete on the same playing field as a 6-foot-7, 315-pound lineman. That needs to be addressed in their training" said Doyle to Adam Rittenburg. Iowa looks for players that are not highly recruited but have the tools to work hard and earn their success.
Workouts early in the calendar year are known to be the toughest for all football players across the country. It is the off-season and the time when college football players are in muscle build mode. You hear coaches all the time talking about how championships are won in the offseason. When you fail to prepare you prepare to fail, or any other cliche.
Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports wrote a great piece on the workout culture of college football. The Iowa football incident was the inspiration of the article, but the bigger picture and the nationwide issue was his main topic. In his piece he discusses 19 deaths that have occurred during this workout period over the last 10 years. 19 deaths that occurred during the off season.
The training is tough, but its not the toughest training in the world and may not be the toughest training in college football. An unfortunate incident occurred, but it is certainly not a fire-able offense. The players are taking a risks by asking to be college athletes. Regardless of the school there is always a risk involved in this high level of training. Gregg Doyel posted to twitter "Twelve Iowa football players hospitalized after workouts? TWELVE? I want answers - and maybe a coach to get fired." He was irresponsible and sensationalist. No one will pay attention to him unless he is calling for someone to get fired. He took less care with his nuclear technology than Homer Simpson.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I Sue Because I Care, (and I want money)
Stafon Johnson is suing the University of Southern California. If you don't remember who Stafon Johnson is, in 2009 he was injured during a weight training accident. He was bench pressing 275 pounds when something occurred that caused him to drop the bar landing directly on his neck and throat. Unfortunately for him the neck is not designed to handle such an impact. He suffered injuries that have forever changed his voice. Practically only eliminating him from a telemarketer or career path.
Yesterday in Los Angles County Court he filed a lawsuit against coach Jamie Yanchar and the school for negligence resulting in the accident. Initial reports from the scene of the accident indicated that Johnson's hand slipped resulting in the accident. His lawyer has since refuted that saying that coach Yanchar was negligent in his actions and that the bar was actually knocked out of Johnson's hands causing it to strike his neck and throat.
So that's the back story...now what do I think of the whole situation? I think accidents happen. That accidents can happen even when there is no negligence involved. Only a hand full of people know exactly what happened in that weight room and everyone of them may tell a different story. The sue-happy nation that we have become is sad and scary. When accidents occur we are always looking to play the blame game, everyone's favorite sport in which there are no winners. The truth may never be known regarding this situation. Stafon may believe what happened was negligent.
He should have also considered suing sooner than 18 months later. If he truly felt that something was wrong he should have sued before his NFL career hit rough water. In his rookie season he was injured in a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks where his ankle was dislocated. He was put on waivers and eventually IR. A tough start to his NFL career. Johnson has a long history of injuries which is something a football players simply can't have. The sport is far too violent for frail individuals.
We may never know the truth of what happened in that weight room in September of 2009. But some 2 years later a judge will be forced to make a decision based on old recollection of what happened. I firmly believe that everyone in that weight room remembers what happened AFTER the accident. I doubt many know exactly how or why it occurred. Stay classy America, sue away.
Yesterday in Los Angles County Court he filed a lawsuit against coach Jamie Yanchar and the school for negligence resulting in the accident. Initial reports from the scene of the accident indicated that Johnson's hand slipped resulting in the accident. His lawyer has since refuted that saying that coach Yanchar was negligent in his actions and that the bar was actually knocked out of Johnson's hands causing it to strike his neck and throat.
So that's the back story...now what do I think of the whole situation? I think accidents happen. That accidents can happen even when there is no negligence involved. Only a hand full of people know exactly what happened in that weight room and everyone of them may tell a different story. The sue-happy nation that we have become is sad and scary. When accidents occur we are always looking to play the blame game, everyone's favorite sport in which there are no winners. The truth may never be known regarding this situation. Stafon may believe what happened was negligent.
He should have also considered suing sooner than 18 months later. If he truly felt that something was wrong he should have sued before his NFL career hit rough water. In his rookie season he was injured in a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks where his ankle was dislocated. He was put on waivers and eventually IR. A tough start to his NFL career. Johnson has a long history of injuries which is something a football players simply can't have. The sport is far too violent for frail individuals.
We may never know the truth of what happened in that weight room in September of 2009. But some 2 years later a judge will be forced to make a decision based on old recollection of what happened. I firmly believe that everyone in that weight room remembers what happened AFTER the accident. I doubt many know exactly how or why it occurred. Stay classy America, sue away.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Jay Quitler or Tweets Gone Bad?
I've never played at the NFL level. I've never played at the college level. My high school team lost 40+ games in a row while I was in school. So what do I know about not giving up? I know that no matter what level of football I may have played at or with what success I may have come across. I know that I never gave up. I never gave up on the field and I won't give up off of the field. Do I think Jay Cutler quit on his team? Do I as myself a lot of questions? Do I have a shot at a Wrangler ad?
I don't question how tough Jay Cutler is because I just don't know. I don't question whether or not he was hurt, only he really knows. What I do question is his commitment to winning football games. Jay Cutler may never make it back to the NFC title game again. In all likely hood he won't. The Bears defense is aging and their offensive line has more holes than swiss cheese...heads. What I want to know is what is his commitment level? He's played all year giving every thing he has and he's going to sit on the sidelines uninterested in the game. In a game he may never get to play in again.
Sometimes you only get one shot. For a guy who was all questions in Denver and got the best coach in the history of that franchise fired, he may not see another title game ever. Yet he stood idol on the sideline and watched his team go through two additional QBs only to show a little spark of life under the third string QB.
People are question him because he played piss poor before he was out of the game. He threw away three potential touchdowns. So when did he get hurt? On what play? Can he blame his poor performance on the injury? Was he trying to avoid being the scapegoat? Was he too cold?
Jay Cutler blew his opportunity. Possibly the only one he'll ever get. He had the chance to put his name next to other iron QBs who played hurt and lead their teams to victory. But he sat on the sidelines. After he was hurt he had the opportunity to coach a third string QB who didn't take any reps leading up to the game. But he sat on the sidelines. He could have easily written his name down along side past Bear greats had he just played through it. He could clearly walk. He wasn't hurt on his last play of the game, so he clearly played a little with the injury.
Jay Cutler gave up on being a hero. Win or loss, had he toughed it out he would have gone down in Chicago sports history for playing injured and giving all that he had. Instead he is being questioned. His heart is being challenged. Do I think he quit? No, he walked out on being a hero.
I don't question how tough Jay Cutler is because I just don't know. I don't question whether or not he was hurt, only he really knows. What I do question is his commitment to winning football games. Jay Cutler may never make it back to the NFC title game again. In all likely hood he won't. The Bears defense is aging and their offensive line has more holes than swiss cheese...heads. What I want to know is what is his commitment level? He's played all year giving every thing he has and he's going to sit on the sidelines uninterested in the game. In a game he may never get to play in again.
Sometimes you only get one shot. For a guy who was all questions in Denver and got the best coach in the history of that franchise fired, he may not see another title game ever. Yet he stood idol on the sideline and watched his team go through two additional QBs only to show a little spark of life under the third string QB.
People are question him because he played piss poor before he was out of the game. He threw away three potential touchdowns. So when did he get hurt? On what play? Can he blame his poor performance on the injury? Was he trying to avoid being the scapegoat? Was he too cold?
Jay Cutler blew his opportunity. Possibly the only one he'll ever get. He had the chance to put his name next to other iron QBs who played hurt and lead their teams to victory. But he sat on the sidelines. After he was hurt he had the opportunity to coach a third string QB who didn't take any reps leading up to the game. But he sat on the sidelines. He could have easily written his name down along side past Bear greats had he just played through it. He could clearly walk. He wasn't hurt on his last play of the game, so he clearly played a little with the injury.
Jay Cutler gave up on being a hero. Win or loss, had he toughed it out he would have gone down in Chicago sports history for playing injured and giving all that he had. Instead he is being questioned. His heart is being challenged. Do I think he quit? No, he walked out on being a hero.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Meet the Idiot
I am a sports idiot. Born in Des Moines, raised in Des Moines the sports capital of Central Iowa. A town with no professional sports teams, but located mere hours away from several of the Midwest's largest cities which do have pro teams. Minneapolis to the north, Kansas City to the south, Chicago to the east, and Lincoln to the west....yes, Lincoln, NE. You can't tell me that Husker fan base doesn't have as much passion for their Huskers as those other major cities do for their teams.
Back to me. I'm a fan of close football games, fast baseball games, and more NBA strikes. Also the self proclaimed sports idiot of the year for 2010. Although I barely beat out 8.28 million other people who finished a close second for watching the NHL finals last year. It was a tough hard fought victory, but the judge loved me. I will use this space to talk about all sorts of topics sports related. Things like inappropriate text messages, a nine iron's effect on Cadillac's shotty paint selection, and who's going to win the next big game. It's all opinion. One idiot's opinion.
Back to me. I'm a fan of close football games, fast baseball games, and more NBA strikes. Also the self proclaimed sports idiot of the year for 2010. Although I barely beat out 8.28 million other people who finished a close second for watching the NHL finals last year. It was a tough hard fought victory, but the judge loved me. I will use this space to talk about all sorts of topics sports related. Things like inappropriate text messages, a nine iron's effect on Cadillac's shotty paint selection, and who's going to win the next big game. It's all opinion. One idiot's opinion.
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