DRINKING THE BLUE KOOL AID

The Dodgers have stuck together this season, which has not always been easy. When Manny Ramirez was suspended, Juan Pierre stepped up. Even Jamie McCourt stood behind Manny.

Heroki Kuroda who was arguably one of the best starting pitchers the Dodgers had, got hit in the head and had an injury that prevented him from being able to play in the first round of the playoffs. In comes Ned Colletti on his white horse with Vincente Padilla.

Chad Billingsly slipped down the stretch, so much so that Ned Colletti got back on the horse to find Jon Garland who was literally traded during a game at Dodgers stadium while he was sitting in the D'Backs dugout. Thankfully for Ned, the horse did not have to travel too far.

Most of the season, everyone held their breathe. Now after a sweep of the St.Louis Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs, we can breathe a little easier. There is still the nagging question for Joe Torre, you swept the Cubs last season and then lost to the Philly's in 5 games, so how do you get through the next round and on to the World Series?

I will tell you this, the kids are growing up. The Veterans are stepping up. And the chemistry in the clubhouse is making even the saltiest reporters smile. Why? Because this team believes they can win. And it's contagious.

Adversity can lead to victory, just ask anyone wearing Dodger blue. After a very tough 5 game slump at the end of the season, most people started to write them off, but they stayed positive. That is what Veteran leadership does for the younger crowd. "Been there, know that." Even when Manny wasn't hitting, he was lifting everyone up in the clubhouse.

It matters.

Now after all the adversity, the Dodgers move on and everyone is drinking the
Blue Kool-Aid.

Jerry, what are you thinking?

I am completely perplexed that for some reason unknown to me, Jerry Jones thinks that Tony Romo is his "Guy". His Roger, his Troy, even his Danny! He is not even close! It was embarrassing on Monday Night Football to open your new Billion dollar stadium with a QB who is not a leader. Yes, Romo can and has put up big numbers but he is not a finsiher. Not a guy who can win a playoff game. How does Jerry think this guy is going to get them to the Superbowl? And even further, how much time do you get to Figure it out?
Romo came out after the loss against the Giants and said that it was his fault and he was going to fix it. Why didn't he fix it at half time, if he was going to fix it? I am not sure Romo has it in him to be a QB for the Dallas Cowboys. This team is expected to win and finds ways to rebuild and get the job done. All they are doing now is wasting valuable time. The rest of this team is solid. Marion Barber is the real deal, the offense and defensive lines are strong. How much longer will these guys put up with Romo's mistakes?
Even guys like Troy Aikman and Tony Dorsett are speaking out that Romo simply does not understand what it means to be a QB for the Dallas Cowboys. This is an honor and an opportunity to play for a very proud franchise. That is why when Romo decided to go on vacation with Jessica to Cabo prior to the playoffs did not go over very well with Cowboy fans.
There so no question that Wade Phillips is not head coach material. He is a great defensive coordinator but there is not a head coach in his right mind that would have made Romo the starter AGAIN and thought that Jon Kitna would be a good back up, the same Jon Kitna who went winless last year with the Lions.
And everyone thought that TO was the problem! Wake up Jerry. I am undecided as to weather it would be better to loose this season and get Colt McCoy and throw all the rest of your money Jerry to Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden and get back in the right track next season. Or do we keep the faith that Tony Romo is going to "Fix It" in 2009? You make the call.

NFL football!.... Week One QB thoughts...

Ahhh, NFL football. Finally. Lets take a look at week one. The RAIDERS have a heartbeat again, and more important soul. J'Marcus Russell went back into the game in the fourth quarter hurt and lead his team into the end zone. That is the heart and soul of football. The Raiders should have won the game Monday night against an over rated San Diego team. Tired of Phillip Rivers who thinks that his team is better than everyone else in the AFC West. We will see. Staying in the AFC West, Denver is the luckiest team in the NFL after that horrid performance. Who is even leading this team?

Most disappointing performance was the lack of interest by Kurt Warner. In the Superbowl a year ago and now no drive at all. It's week one Kurt you are suppose to be up for this one! Jake Delhomme, not sure what is wrong with him, but 6 interceptions and benched in week one? You might need therapy since training camp did not help you any.

Who should be kicked out of the NFL after week one? That is easy, Jay Cutler. Talk about lack of anything and what is with the pouting face every time the camera was on him. He is a spoiled brat and does not belong in the NFL. Poor BEARS!

Favre is old but he is still better than most of the QB's playing. Still going to take some time to get use to seeing you in purple. Now we wait to see if he can keep the streak of starting every regular season game alive. Heads up Brett, just hand the ball off and stay the heck out of the way!

Mark Sanchez, nice move signing with the Jets and not with the Trojans. I only hope Pete Carroll watched your game. You also seem like you have a good head on your young shoulders. Please, don't turn into Tom Brady or Matt Leinart. Arrogance and Entitlement are not attractive. Even if you are in GQ.

As far as McNabb and Vick....it is only a matter of time before we see Mike Vick behind center. McNabb will run the show while he is healthy.

And Tony Romo...no more Jessica and you are already playing better. Since the Cowboys have not been to the promised land in way too long, I can only hope and pray.

Welcome John Garland to the "Otherside"

Ned Colletti has been busy. Last night in the 7th inning of the Dodgers/Diamondbacks game there was a buzz in the press box that a trade was upon us. One reporter thought he could actually see John Garland shaking hands with his now former team mates in the D'Backs dugout while the name Jim Thome was being mentioned among the whispers. Could the Dodgers have acquired them both?
A few minutes later, Dodgers PR Director Josh Rawitch came in and informed us they did indeed acquire Thome and Garland and Ned Colletti would be available to take questions. We all know the Dodgers were looking for Pitching help, but another big bat? Ned Colletti said he was looking for another Matt Stairs who could come off the bench and be productive in the playoffs. Interestingly enough,Thome called Ned and told him to keep him in mind because he wanted to come to the Dodgers and help out wherever he could. Regarding Garland, that was one of the strangest moments I have ever been a part of as a reporter. After the Dodgers game was over, the media who was already in the Dodger locker room were asked to stay there because John Garland would be right over...from across the hall. Garland sheepishly walked into the "Otherside" to greet reporters. He told us that he was told in the 7th inning to go in, take a shower and pack his bag because he was just traded to the Dodgers. I asked John if he knew anyone in the Dodger locker room and he said "No". Just then James Loney came over and welcomed him. I also welcomed him into the "Otherside". I caught up with Joe Torre in the elevator and asked him if he has ever had a player walk to the "Otherside" during a game. Torre said, "Not one who is going to start against his former team in a few days".
So the Dodgers add two more to the fold. In exchange, a minor leaguer will go to the White Sox for Thome. Colletti would not say who will go to the Arizona clubhouse in exchange for Garland. The big question remains, will someone in the Dodger locker room be walking to the "Otherside"?

COWBOYS AND RAIDERS, I know it's just the preseason!

I have covered the Raiders for many years now and they usually play pretty well in the preseason and not so well in the regular season. I have covered the Cowboys for a few years but been a fan for a life time, and they usually don't win many preseason games but in the past few years, don't play well in the playoffs either. To the extent that they have not won a playoff game in ten years.

Both held true last night when the Cowboys took on the Raiders in Oakland loosing
31-10. Tony Romo continues to worry me. I don't see the Aikman like leadership or arm from Romo. How many chances does this guy get? The Cowboys felt that releasing T.O. who was the best wide receiver in football last year, was a better move for Romo and the Cowboys, I hope they are right but I don't see it. At best this is going to be a rocky road for the Cowboys this season. Barber looked good but can he stay healthy? What is more unbelievable is that Tony Romo's back up is Jon Kitna? Let me refresh your memory. Kitna was on the 0-16 Detroit roster last year. This is a disaster. Even the kicker looks bad!

The Raiders will do better. McFadden looks great. Russell looks like he is learning how to throw down field to a player who wears the same jersey that he does. Tom Cable WANTS to be there as a head coach for the Oakland Raiders and he has made some changes in the way this team is preparing for the season. What is also good for the Raiders is the AFC West is bad with the exception of San Diego.

For the Cowboys, the NFL East is always competitive. The pressure this year is clearly on the QB and coach. You got what you wanted, T.O. is gone. Hope Jerry Jones got rid of the right Cowboy.

VICK''S BACK IN EAGLE GREEN

Today the Philadelphia Eagles held a press conference and announced they have signed Michael Vick to their roster. The sooner that Mike Vick starts playing football, the sooner the circus will end for him and the Eagles. He is not the distraction, the media is making his presence a distraction. If Tony Dungy thinks that Mike Vick is ready to the extent that he has lobbied for him to return to the NFL, THAT is a huge positive.
You can harp on past indiscretions that Mike Vick committed but he paid his debt to society. He is doing charity work for animal rights groups. Only time will tell if he is truly on the right track in life but the fact that Tony Dungy is behind him, tells me alot. Dungy is a man who has integrity, faith, sense of community and happens to know the game of football.
I am not an Eagles fan but they did the right thing by giving Mike Vick a second chance. Donovan McNabb also fought for him to be a part of his team. I don't see any problems at QB. McNabb won't play forever and if Vick is still Vick on the field, that could be a very good thing for the Eagles.
Roger Goodell will fully reinstate Vick by week 6 which gives Vick time to get back into football shape. He also wants to see if Vick will continue on the right road as far as being a good person.
We shall see. I am just glad we are not talking about Brett Favre returning today!

Dodgers Hit a Bump, Fans Hit The Panic Button

I love covering sports in Los Angeles. I love the fact that everyone panics when the Lakers, Dodgers or Angels loose more that three games in a row, especially when they are all in first place in their divisions.

You see, sports franchises here are suppose to always win, no matter what or they are out of contention. Now people are a little more positive about the Lakers, a little more. When it comes to baseball, this is another story.

Before the All Star Break, the Dodgers had not lost three games in a row since September of last year. Quite an amazing stat. The Dodgers also had the best record in ALL OF BASEBALL. They also had a huge lead, eight games in the National League West. Now in the dog days of August, they hit a bump. Even after Manny Ramirez hit the most amazing Grand Slam on his bobblehead night, the Dodgers are in a slump. They are still five games over the Giants but they are playing them in San Francisco this week so everyone has hit the panic button. That is right before anyone even picks up a bat, the Dodgers are in trouble.

I am glad that Joe Torre does not think that way. Do they need another starting pitcher to make it in the playoffs? Of course. I do know that Ned Colletti is looking for a starting pitcher. I am still not completely sure why one of our many relievers can't be made a starter but that is for another day.

Everyone wants to know who is the leader on the Dodgers? Which player is the leader of the team? One thing I have learned in baseball unlike football who has a clear cut leader, (usually the QB) is that in baseball you have to have a strong organization behind you. Individual players, even star players don't lead. And no one even asks who the leader is when the team is winning. The leader in the Dodger locker room is Joe Torre. After loosing three out of four from Atlanta, Joe called a team meeting, he actually called two. They were private. Joe and the players. I always get a kick out of the writers who ask Joe what was said in the team meeting and he politely responds with, "If I had wanted you to know what was said, I would have invited you in".

Everyone needs to take a deep breathe and realize the Dodgers are still in first place. Even if they loose all three games in San Francisco, they will still be in first place. But I will tell you this. if the Dodgers do loose all three games, Dodger fans in Los Angeles will be counting down the days till the Lakers season starts...because the start of the season is the only time these fans seem to have any faith!