Buy or Sell: January 24th
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by user Justin Yost
Back for more eh? It’s time for another addition of Buy or Sell. I’m trying to save up most of the Super Bowl Lines for next week, but I might sprinkle the hot topic in this time around. We’ll get to more about the big game next week. For now, lets see who’s got some purchasing power....
Buy or Sell
==Dallas Cowboys Up? == As noted recently on AGM and nationally on every major sporting news site, Bill Parcells has “officially retired” from the NFL. Parcells leaves the ‘boys with a 34-32 record and an 0-2 record in the playoffs. The conditions of Parcells departure seem rather odd, considering he could handle the headaches of Lawrence Taylor and Robert Kraft but appeared (via the Media) to struggled with Terrell Owens and possibly Jerry Jones. My theory is that Jones probably put more pressure on Parcells than was let on and a similar situation to his divorce with the New England Patriots ensued. While this one was less public and probably will be blamed squarely on T.O., I think it might be fair to say Jones had as much to do with this as Owens. After all, who brought Owens in to begin with.
Now Jones must find the 7th coach in team history to fill the shoes of greats like Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson & Parcells (Hell, even Barry Switzer won a Super Bowl). I honestly have very few ideas about who the next coach could be, but my theory is that Wade Phillips will turn down the job if he gets a shot and return to the San Diego Chargers for not only a solid shot at the title next year but a pretty good shot at the head coaching position should they falter, even slightly, next year. My favorite in the race is probably either Houston Nutt, the current University of Alabama head coach, whom Jones has numerous ties with, or a move from within by promoting current offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. I also severely doubt you’ll see Bob Stoops even consider the job and I don’t think Jones is willing to give the reigns to the likes of Norv Turner
Conclusion
Buy Parcells...a new retirement villa.
This one is Super Special
Recently, AGM was strongly discussing the merits of two black coaches arriving at the Super Bowl. While practically everyone agree that this is good, in one way or another, many were arguing over whether the significance should really matter. I, however spent a little time on ESPN reading an [article] by Michael Smith. Allow me to draw your attention to the last two paragraphs, which state:
There's a lot of talk about hoping for a day when black coaches in the Super Bowl won't be a big deal, when we won't find it necessary to refer to a coach as a "black coach" (or any person by their race, for that matter). What's wrong with that day being today? Dungy and Smith have made history, and we happily acknowledge it. As for our practice of categorizing NFL head coaches, let's make that history, too.
I think Mr. Smiths point is probably the most correct one I’ve heard. His point is that not only are these great men, or great black men, but great men of character who are succeeding. There growth and ability to become the first black coaches in the Super Bowl mean, not that the black race is succeeding in “getting better,” as much as the entire human race is succeeding in become more equal. This recognition shouldn’t be seen as a moment that black people got up so much that everyone met in the middle. And from that, it is our hope that, much like Mr. Smith said, we will celebrate the man who coached the team to the big game rather than the color of that man.
Conclusion
Buy the first black coach winning the Super Bowl.
Beast of the East
As reported by the Associated Press, Jimmy Rollins, the Philadelphia Phillies starting shortstop is predicting the Phightin’ Phils to be the “Team to be in the NL East.” That’s a mouthful for a team that hasn’t seen October baseball since 1993. The Phils have gotten close each of the last two years, being only a game out of the wild card each time. The Phillies now appear to have the semi-dominant pitching staff they’ve been waiting for, with Freddy Garcia, Brett Myers, Adam Eaton, Jamie Moyer and young phenom Cole Hamels. Meanwhile the Mets have taken the opposite stance with an aging pitching staff consisting of an injured (until after the break) Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez. John Maine, Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey. Of those, perhaps only Glavine and maybe Phillie killer John Mayne can be expected to be consistant. Offensively, these teams seem pretty even, however the Mets will be short Carlos Delgado for the beginning of the season. Each team has young infielders with speed and pop (The Mets have David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado while the Phils have league MVP Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Rollins).
My pick is going to be consistency and there will be a lot of wild card players in this. I think the major players (Wright, Reyes, Howard, Utley, etc) will play their parts as well as ever and always but the players who aren’t always a part of it will be the difference makers. Look to the aforementioned Mayne to step it up, Perez will need to find consistency and the Mets corner outfielders will need to play well (Shawn Green and Moises Alou). If this team is to have any chance at a World Series any time soon, its now. The Phils will need similar help from the corner outfielders (namely Pat Burrell, who will need to actually protect Howard this year) and newly acquired third baseman Wes Helms who essentially needs to be better offensively than Abraham Nunez or current free agent David Bell. This one, I think, will essentially be decided by the beginning of September, but once again, don’t count out the Atlanta Braves, like I am right now.
Conclusion
Buy the Phils starters over the Mets, right now.
A Test even Michael Vick can Pass…wait what?!
Today, ESPN reported via the Associated Press that the NFL will be expanding its drug testing policy. As a result, the NFL will now be testing ten players every week (up from seven), which means a player will be tested up to 3 times a year. Additionally, the NFL has added EPO as a banned substance. EPO, as defined by medterms.com (click the EPO link) assists in the flow of oxygen through the blood stream and results in increased energy. It’s primary illegal use is by cyclists and runners so they can get the extra “ummph” to finish the race, however football players have been using it to get through games (and practices if you’re Gilbert Brown).
While I think more testing and an additional banned substance (that is controlled anyway) is great, I think the NFL should concentrate more, not on busting players for cheating, but trying to get them not to. Moreover, an education program that perhaps tells players what, not only to avoid, but what products typically contain these products and what chemicals appear on the sides of bottles that are dangerous. The NFL is truly approaching the line that baseball fell over and if they want to avoid the same type of fiasco (which they had in the 80’s by not nearly to the degree baseball has today), they better start working with their players instead of destroying them.
Conclusion
Buy the New Tests, but lets teach players how to study for them.
