9/13: Giving Oden A Pat On The Back
9:30 p.m.
• It's a shame Mark Madden wasn't on his ESPN radio show today. I was looking forward to his take on the Pats-spying-on-Jets story. Especially since it now has a Steeler angle.
Belichick's New England Patriots beat the Steelers in AFC championship games at the conclusion of the 2001 and 2004 seasons. After one of the losses, Hines Ward complained that the Patriots seemed to know the Steelers' offensive plays ahead of time.
"Oh, they knew," Ward said yesterday. "They were calling our stuff out. They knew, especially that first championship game here at Heinz Field. They knew a lot of our calls. There's no question some of their players were calling out some of our stuff."
Having remembered those championship games, it was more than "stealing signs" that got the Pats those wins. I'm still trying to figure out how they stole the sign for "returning a punt for a touchdown." Then again, it wasn't me that busted my ass all year for a chance at the Super Bowl only to get beaten twice by the same team. I'd probably be bitter, too. Hell, I'm bitter now.
Oh, and the Pats got off light, imo.
New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for videotaping an opponent's offensive and defensive signals.
Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.
"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.
6:30 p.m.
• Boy it's a good thing Greg Oden stayed in college and didn't opt for the NBA and all those millions of dollars. Why, he could bring Ohio State a March Madness title!
Greg Oden, the top pick in this year's NBA draft, likely will miss his first season with the Portland Trail Blazers after surgery on his right knee Thursday.
Doctors found cartilage damage during an exploratory procedure, and team physician Dr. Don Roberts performed microfracture surgery to repair the damage.
Nevermind.
• I think there's a type-o in this article. It said reduce crime.
he city's embattled police chief, acknowledging that police alone cannot quell a run of deadly violence, has called on 10,000 black men to patrol the streets to reduce crime.
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