Trying Something Different

If you follow me on Twitter, and a lot of you do, you probably know that I announced a few weeks ago that I probably wouldn't be blogging much if at all this season.  I kinda came to this reality/decision watching the first Bucs preseason game and not having the slightest inclination to rewind the plays or make notes for a blog.  I was just enjoying watching as a fan for the first time in quite a while and it felt good.  Now there are obviously other factors to this also but what I said a few weeks ago hasn't changed.  At the same time however more than a few people have tweeted me and emailed me asking that I continue blogging which has been both gratifying and humbling that so many people enjoyed it. 

So I thought about trying a compromise.  A lot of what takes up time with blogging is trying to take notes about the game and then translate them into easy to understand verbiage for all of my readers as well as trying to keep it at least somewhat entertaining.  This is a lot harder than it probably sounds but I was thinking that maybe I could incorporate Twitter into my game review commentary and just give you all short and to the point comments about what I am seeing.  Its still going to be a little time consuming but I won't feel the pressure I used to put on myself to make it into such a polished product and have it out as quick as possible.

I don't actually know if this will work or how many people will be interested but I think I will do a trial run tonight.  What is going to happen is this, I will tell everyone what time I will be doing a film review on Twitter on the defensive line. The time will generally  be later so I don't blow up my other followers timelines and I won't be able to answer questions, however you will be able to go with me pretty much play by play and find out who played well and who didn't.  Tonight I will be doing a review of just the first half of the last Bucs preseason game against the Dolphins at 11pm.  So if you want to get in on it just follow me on Twitter at sgw94 if you aren't doing so already.

If there is a sufficient level of interest then I will have the next session like this after the first regular season game and I will give everyone a few days notice to plan for it.  If not then I'm just going to take this season to get back to being something I haven't really been in years, just an average fan enjoying the games.

Oh, before I forget, I'll also be contributing to great friend of the blog and all around good guy WhatTheBuc's radio show which runs on Tuesday evenings from 8pm-10pm on 1010 AM locally.  If you get a chance tune in and show your support.

Live Tweeting Bucs Vs Dolphins

Just dropping a note to let you know that during the preseason I will only be live tweeting the games (as long as they are on TV). I'll wait to do the actual live blogs for the regular season games.

So if you want some in game commentary rather than what you will usually hear on the broadcast click on the link under "tweet me" over there -------->

I'll answer as many questions as I can during the game as well so feel free to hit me up.

Man Sitchyo Beggin Ass Down

Pls don't trade me, I'm not ready to go. I'm begging. My work ain't done yet. I'm on both knees....pls. I'm serious

That quote comes from, I bullshit you not, Mo Williams twitter account. And by Mo Williams I mean the guy whose an NBA veteran and has been a starter a few times in his career.

Did someone not tell him there is no begging in basketball?!

I swear man, I love twitter but its obvious that it ain't for everybody.

SMDH

Deep Thought

HALF of the basketball watchers in my twitter stream are using Butler's Final Four appearance to push the notion that the NCAA tournament is infinitely better than college football's BCS process because the small school gets a shot to win it all.

THE OTHER HALF says this is the worst Final Four ever and they probably won't even watch.

Kiss The Rings

After T.O. spend the better part of this week attacking Rodney Harrison for his past steroid use after Harrison called T.O. a clown after his game on Sunday, I kind of expected this kind of response.

"When it comes down to it, I'm a champion. He'll never have that on his resume. He'll never be a champion. He'll look at his stats and say I was a great football player, but I was never a champion."

"You always have to stand up and be accountable for your actions. As a football player you have to be accountable. Regardless of whether you had 10 catches or zero catches."

"I'm not jealous. I'm very happy. I don't need the attention. I don't need anyone catering to my ego."

"I'm just a guy with my opinion. If you don't want to hear it, go out and play better."

Now no matter what T.O. says after this, trust me Rodney Harrison has just ethered him. As an athlete there is nothing that tears at you more than not winning it all in your career. And especially in TO's case when he was on at least two teams that had the talent to win it all but he still couldn't get it done.

On a side note, I see folks saying stuff like Rodney Harrison is wrong because he is supposed to be impartial. Let me take the opportunity to call bullshit on all that. ABC/ESPN did not hire Rodney Harrison to be impartial, they hired Rodney Harrison to be Rodney Harrison. Not only was Harrison a Pro Bowl player during his career and a champion multiple times, he also was very outspoken and didn't hold his tongue. They could get any journalist around the country if they just wanted somebody to come in with some dry commentary. What they want from Rodney Harrison is exactly what he is giving them, his biased opinion based on his years of playing ball, and if you don't like it I am sure there are a lot of other broadcasts you can watch.

It is what it is.

Cheers For Chad Johnson Errrr Ochocinco

And, of course, Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco sees this as an opportunity to push the individuality envelope. He has indicated, Twitter style, that he plans to wear pink shoes and gloves for the entire month of October, and to supplement them with a pink chin strap and a pink mouthpiece.

He also says that he'll match any fines imposed with a donation, most likely to breast cancer research groups.

I don't know for sure whether or not this move by Chad Johnson is purely about raising money for and awareness of breast cancer research or whether its about his need for attention, but knowing the stigma that men face for wearing pink especially in a sport like football I still believe he deserves some accolades for taking it over the top. As someone who has lost their mother to breast cancer I know how important it is to get the word out. And if him going all out with the pink helps to do that then I for one am all for it.

Grievance

Turns out twitter has claimed its first victim.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — David Clowney might think twice before tweeting from now on.

The New York Jets' speedy wide receiver was benched by an angry coach Rex Ryan for the team's game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday after Clowney complained on Twitter about a lack of playing time.

"I was upset with him, yep," Ryan said Monday. "For a couple of reasons. One of them is you'll hear things if a guy's unhappy or whatever. I'm not a big Twitter guy, but you hear different things. To me, this is about our team and understanding this is about our team. No individual is bigger than the team."

A few hours after the Jets beat New England 16-9 last Sunday, Clowney tweeted: "1 play in the 1st Half, 4 plays in the 2nd half ... A bit disappointed about my playing time but very happy and satisfied about the win."

Clowney added in a subsequent tweet that, "My team always comes first so I'ma just keep grinding."

Honestly I don't see anything wrong with what the guy tweeted. If I have a guy on my team who is happy riding the bench then we are going to have a problem. In both tweets he said regardless of his dissappointment he was happy with the win though. In fact I think his answer was about pitch perfect when it comes down to it. He didn't blame anyone for his playing time. He didn't say the coaches don't like him or he "deserved" more playing time. He just said he would have liked to have played more. I will bet you dollars to donuts that Coach Ryan didn't even read what the kid tweeted and just assumed he came with some TO mess. This was overkill if you ask me and what you are going to end up seeing is that sooner or later if this continues the NFLPA will have to step in and file a grievance. There is no team policy that you can't twitter and if there isn't guys have a right to free speech. Benching a guy hurts his reputation and his ability to make plays which is how NFL players get paid in their next contract.

I can't remember a time that a guy was benched because of such innocuous comments in any interview on TV or in print so its obvious that this is largely just a shot at those players using twitter in general. If the NFL wants to ban twittering altogether then they should do that, or at least attempt to. But bullying a guy trying to make an example is a buncha bullshit if you ask me.