There has been much talk lately of increasing the length of the NFL regular season to include one and maybe even two more games as early as the 2011. Commissioner Roger Goodell will be proposing a new schedule to the teams in the league as early as next month that will get rid of two pre-season games and add two regular season games to the schedule.  Of course every football fan on the planet has their own opinion on whether this is a good thing for the league or a bad idea.

Those that really scrutinize the thought of adding more games to the schedule worry that the NFL will go downhill as the NBA and MLB have done. Too many games can over saturate the public so that they are not as excited about seeing their favorite team play yet again. Some feel the NFL is a long way from this point but others do not want to find out the hard way that the public can actually get too much professional football.

Others argue that the schedule change will place the Super Bowl in late February, which will have it competing with the Daytona 500, Olympics, and other events. This can possibly take some of the thunder out of the big game and bring down some of the revenue and attention that it receives. Of course others feel that the Super Bowl is the biggest single day sporting event in the US and that will not change no matter when it is scheduled to occur.

Plus many consider the toll that two more games will take on the players who wear the football gear and play week after week. Of course for the die hard NFL fan none of the above truly matters; they just want to see more football. If Roger Goodell has his way that is exactly what these fans will be getting.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Whether you love them or hate them the New England Patriots have been a team to reckon with in the AFC East since Tom Brady took the team reigns over in 2001. Of course what sets the Pats apart from so many other teams in the league is they clearly know how to trade and draft players. With their deals they end up with a roster that comes in well below the salary cap and yet still win even the biggest games. Some how New England really has a knack for getting lots of mid range draft picks and for using those picks to find solid players that really have a heart for the game.

In this years draft many marveled that the Patriots had 8 picks in the first three rounds. Of course none of these picks were in the first round but with eight they were able to get several solid players as opposed to other teams, which took one high priced star player and two solid players on average. Those that grade teams and how they did in the draft have gave the team a B+ with a couple of the players a little questionable since they do have hurdles to overcome. But then who would have guessed that a unknown quarterback taken in the 8th round in 2000 would give New England one of the best players to ever wear a Patriots helmet and one of the best passers in the league.

The Patriots get so many picks because they know when to let go of high priced players. These players are still performing well but are taking up lots of room on the teams salary totals. The recent trades of Ellis Hobbs and Matt Cassell cleared lots of room for them to work under their salary cap. But there are those who are concerned if Tom Brady gets hurt again since Cassell is not there to back him up. Other than that the Pats are surely looking to building for the future while they are still one of the best teams in the league.  

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There is no mistaking that the NFL is a big business and every team spends a fortune to promote their logos and franchises to increase their value and sales. With Forbes magazine reporting just last year at the beginning of the season that the average team in the league is worth over $1 billion dollars. This is more than double what the average major league baseball team is worth.

The income of any NFL team is based on ticket sales as well as concession sales at the stadium but most importantly on the revenue generated from sports merchandise and football gear. Of course teams that have something new and exciting to bring fans in also do better making revenue than those who do not. Opening a new stadium increased revenue significantly for the Indianapolis Colts. While having a sensational season brought revenue up in Arizona for the Cardinals. For others it is the anticipation that a crop of incoming rookies will boost the team back into playoff contention.

Of course running an NFL team is not cheap and is getting more and more expensive. Despite the salary cap the contracts with players are costing teams more and more. The Detroit Lions are taking lots of negative criticism for the contract awarded to there first round pick Matt Stafford. The Lions are the only NFL team in the league to post a operating lose on their finances according to the same Forbes report. Many question if Stafford will be the shot in the arm the team needs to sell more tickets, increase sells in merchandise such as football mini helmets, and flat out win more games. These large contracts for unproven players is also make long time veterans cry foul and many anticipate trouble for the league if a cap is not placed on the salaries of incoming rookies.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just before the NFL draft this weekend the Atlanta Falcons traded for the unhappy future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs. The Falcons are a team on their way up with a surprising appearance in the playoffs last season behind the arm of rookie Matt Ryan. By adding Gonzalez to the team Ryan now has a weapon that will give him so many more options in the passing game.

Tony Gonzalez is one tight end that every defense must contend with and in the past it was not unheard of for the All-Pro to be double teamed, especially on the goal line where his sure hands catches more touch downs than many wide outs. If teams choose to double team Gonzalez this will open the rest of the field up more for Roddy White and the rest of the receiving corps. And with his first pass in the NFL going the distance last year you know Matt Ryan will find the open man and get him the ball. 

Many are speculating that by adding the new dimension of Tony Gonzalez on the line in a Falcons helmet the team offense can easily become one of the top five in the NFL. With Michael Turner running the ball so well many have him already as the top running back for the upcoming fantasy football team and Ryan passing to a wide open field of receivers there will not be much that can stop the Falcons offense.

Add in that the Falcons spent many of their top draft choices in selecting some young and fast defensive players to put more pressure on the opposing offense. This will give Ryan and the offense the ball more during the game so that they can dominate time of possession and control better how each and every game turns out. Not bad for a trade using your second round pick in 2010. 

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 11:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you were a player in the NFL and you received a call from the maker of one of top video games simulating the league for just about every gaming console in the country, you would think it would be exciting. But when it is the makers of Madden NFL line of games from Electronic Arts many players now question the so called curse that comes with gracing the cover of the latest edition of the game.

Of course when the first version Madden 2001 came out with Eddie George gracing the cover nobody thought much of it when George’s numbers slipped just a little below his past seasons. But when Daunte Culpepper struggled the very next year after being featured on the cover many started to question if this was a coincidence. By the time Marshall Faulk, who took the league by storm as rookie, graced the cover in his new St Louis Rams helmet and uniform and his career faltered the Madden curse was quickly becoming a reality for many.

Michel Vick only solidified the curse once he graced the cover not only has his career gone downhill he is still wondering if he will ever get to play in the NFL again. Every player since then has had been plagued by injuries and stats that are just not up to par with their past numbers. From Ray Lewis of the Ravens to Vince Young of the Titans. Now the cover for Madden 2010 has been announced and this year two players will be under scrutiny for the curse. Troy Polamalu of the Steelers and Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals will receive this years honors. While some feel the curse is for real others believe it is because EA chooses players who had a stellar year the previous season and figure a repeat performance is unlikely. But of course for NFL fans and video game lovers time will tell.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ever since the NBA draft was put into place collegiate players have been the dominant choices for teams everywhere. Many professional coaches and organizations felt that the average high school player was not quite mature enough to handle the pressure that comes with playing at such a high level. But until 2005 the option was there for a team to draft a high school player if they felt that individual was ready to play in the NBA.

As of the 2006 NBA draft players under 19 were not eligible to play until their graduating class had been out of school for one year. Of course two of the biggest players in the league right now are Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, both of which came straight out of high school to not only play in the league but to lead their teams.

Kobe has already been a part of three NBA championships and is now the franchise player for the Lakers and a perennial MVP candidate in the league.

While LeBron James was touted as the greatest player to ever come out of high school basketball. Many felt that the expectations for James were too high and he would never pull Cleveland out of the rut they were in. But King James has not only turned the team around to propel them toward a championship he is a marketing dream come true fueling sales of the Cleveland Cavaliers merchandise. With free agency approaching for James many speculate just what this man is worth and how many teams will pursue him.

Now the high school player many are considering the next James or Bryant is 17 and opting to forgo his senior year of high school to play pro. But with the 2006 NBA draft rules Jeremy Tyler will have to play one year abroad in the European pro league before he will become eligible for the NBA draft in 2011 where he will finally get his chance to show if he is the next MVP in the NBA.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 08:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend is the 2009 NFL draft and teams are still jockeying to make sure they will be ready to try and grab the players that will best fit into their roster and provide the needed boost for the ultimate goal, to win games. For many of the young men in the draft this is the day they have worked for their entire lives. Over the past few months many have tried to project the draft order based on players available and the order in which teams will be picking.

So far it looks like the top choice will be QB Matt Stafford from Georgia since the Lions have the top pick and are desperate need of a leader under center. Detroit is reporting that they are coming close to a deal with their top pick so the draft is only a formality the team will have to go through.

There has also been much anticipation on the wide receiver corps that is in the class of 2009. For moths is was speculated that Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech was going to be the first wide out taken in the draft but recent mock drafts now have Jeremy Maclin edging him out by possibly wearing the Raiders helmet after being the seventh pick of the first round. While the rumor mill is also buzzing about two of the top receivers out of Florida, including Percy Harvin, tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combines. This will have a large impact on where in the draft these two players go if it is true.

But the biggest news in the 2009 draft is the offensive linemen who are garnering more and more attention. Currently it looks as if four of the top ten players in the draft will be offensive linemen that have such a huge impact on the outcome of the game but get so little recognition.

Fans, collectors, and fantasy football lovers will all have their eyes on New York over the weekend to see who picks up who. Plus they will speculate on who will become the big player to come into the NFL this season.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

No team in the NFL has hopes of a better season this coming year than the Detroit Lions. After going 0 – 16 last season there is no way things can get any worse for the team. Plus with a number one seed in the upcoming draft maybe the Lions can find that franchise player they are lacking to begin leading them down the road to placing some victories in the win column.

To herald in that new hope the team proudly announced their new logo this week. This is the first big change to the Lions logo since the team placed the blue lion on their helmet in 1961. Other than adding a white outline around the lion in the 70s not much else has been done in the franchise history. The new lion featured on the Detroit Lions helmet is fiercer than the previous one. With a more defined mane and featuring bared teeth as the team hopes the new team will have in 2009 for a improved season.

Minor changes were also done to the team uniform and logo as well as those done on the helmet. Uniforms now have a new trim line and the logo will appear above the numbers. The complete team logo will include the new fiercer lion along with a more italicized slant on the font with the team name.

Of course now the only question left for Detroit is who will they take in the draft to place in those new Lions helmets. Many think that the team will pick up quarterback Matt Stafford from Georgia since the Lions struggled heavily in this position last year. Even after picking up veteran Dante Culpepper the team could not utilize Calvin Johnson and the other wide outs to win despite the talent available in that position.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 08:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The New York Yankees opened the 2009 season in their new ballpark on April 16 to much fan fare and anticipation. The team and their fans are hoping this year the new house that George built will host the World Series in its inaugural season as the team gets back to their winning ways. The seats are filled nightly with fans donning their New York Yankees merchandise to cheer on the team. But for the Yankees who have always prided themselves on their pitching keeping the score low for the other team, the new stadium may be making it hard for them to get this done. 

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For the NFL football fan this upcoming season just will not be the same as yesterday one time player, coach, and long time broadcaster John Madden announced his retirement. Even those who are not fans of the game know Madden and his enthusiasm for the game that included using tools to draw plays on the screen and colorful phrases.

Madden himself was a stand out football player capable of playing both offense and defense. Madden was drafted by Philadelphia in 1958 but never got a chance to wear the Eagles helmet since he received a career ending knee injury during a training camp. From there Madden went on to coach college football and eventually was brought into Oakland as linebacker coach. At the age of 32 he became head coach to make him the youngest man to hold the position in the league. Of course this was all earned by spending hours studying the game and knowing just what was needed at each and every position, especially on the line to control the game on both sides of the ball. His knowledge of the game ended up getting him over 100 wins in only ten seasons of coaching in the league. But of course it is his years of being an announcer and broadcaster that many people are familiar with. He was first person to call a Super Bowl game on all four major networks and at one time carried a 476 weekend streak which was amazing considering that he was afraid to fly. Madden always traveled by his now famous bus called the Madden Cruiser.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the topics discussed immediately after the Super Bowl concluded just a few short months ago was whether or not the Arizona Cardinals would be able to keep the key players together and make a run at the big game again next year. The Cardinals did go out and resign quarterback Kurt Warner but with already one star wide receiver making a lot of money they are having trouble fitting a second into the budget. On any other team in the NFL Anquan Boldin would be the star wide out who would garner all the attention from the fans as well as the quarterback. But with Larry Fitzgerald already making so much more it seems the Cardinals just cannot seem to fit Boldin under their salary cap.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Football helmets have always been a favorite for collectors of NFL memorabilia but for a long time there was not a very large selection of quality helmets available. Many replica helmets were obvious copies that did not look just like game day helmets. While mini helmets were cute but aimed more for children to use as toys. Eventually Riddell began to see the demand for quality collectible helmets for collectors and autograph seekers who wanted a more authentic helmet for their favorite teams.

Riddell has some of the most authentic looking replica and miniature helmets available for those that want the best for their collection. Whether displaying them in a case or getting them autographed by the top players these helmets look just like the real models worn by the players on the field each and every Sunday. Nowhere is this more evident than in the throwback helmets they offer since Riddell uses classic two bar facemasks and two point chinstraps with the cool retro logo of the NFL’s past. Riddell makes sure that all their collectible helmets use the authentic team logo, accurate facemasks for the era, and chinstraps that not only fit the era but also work like a real helmet.

For collectors now, the Riddell name means a quality collectible that is not a cheap knock off and definitly not a child's toy. Of course that does not mean that you have to pay a fortune for these helmets and of course parents can share this wonderful hobby with their children as a great way to spend time together. So collect your favorite team or teams, or maybe even collect every NFL franchise. The replica helmets are excellent full size models while many prefer mini helmets since they are smaller and easier to display when you own a large collection.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Baseball fans and its players are some of the most superstitious people in the sports world. Each player seems to have their own superstitious rituals from not stepping on the baseline on the way out to the field to wearing a lucky t-shirt under their jersey for each game. But these little player rituals pale in comparison the curses, which fans of one team will do to a team they do not want to win the World Series.

Earlier today in Chicago a dead goat was found hanging from the outstretched arm of the Harry Caray statue outside of Wrigley field. The Cubs have not won the World Series in over 100 years making that the longest drought of any North American sports franchise. The Cubs won the last title in 1908 and their last World Series appearance was way back in 1945. It was during this series that the Curse of the Billy Goat was placed on the team, which many attribute to the lack of return to the big game.

During the 1945 series a local tavern owner purchased a box seat for his goat in order to promote his business during the game. But when others complained about the animal and the tavern owner was asked to leave he muttered “Them Cubs, they aren't gonna win no more” and the curse has proven to stick despite the efforts by the team to make amends with goats by bringing them on the field and welcoming them onto Wrigley Field.

There have been no arrests in the indicent of the goat and there appears to be no leads. What impact this will have on the Cubs and their year will be determined as the season continues but you can rest assured that the fans will still turn out to the stadium in large numbers to cheer on their team decked out in Chicago Cubs merchandise. After all the Red Sox were able to buck the curse of the Bambino in 2004 so any year now will be the one the Cubs buck their curse.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 08:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In the earliest hours of Thursday morning a very promising rookie in Major League Baseball was killed along with a couple of his friends in a tragic hit and run accident. The young pitcher, Nick Adenhart, had only hours ago pitched for the Los Angeles Angels in an excellent season debut on the mound. At 22 Adenhart was the youngest pitcher on a roster for a team in the big leagues. These remarkable young men is being talked about for his incredible humbleness and drive to succeed, even when faced with the adversity of a major elbow surgery.

Adenhart pitched six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics in which he allowed only seven hits. The young pitcher even showed great poise and got himself out of two based loaded jams in order to keep the A’s from crossing the plate during his outing. With his father in the stands Adenhart looked like a long time big leaguer he conducted himself so well and even after the game teammates said he was not boastful of the performance he turned in.

After the game Adenhart and friends went out to enjoy the evening and were hit by a mini van that ran a red light. The driver of the mini van fled the scene but was later captured where his blood alcohol levels were measured above the legal limit for the state of California. The two individuals with Adenhart were pronounced dead at the scene while Adenhart died later in surgery.

This is a terrible tragedy and the team postposed their Thursday night game against Oakland in order to regroup. Fans wearing Adenhart jerseys and other Los Angeles Angels merchandise are creating a makeshift memorial outside of Angels stadium with flowers and notes to the player and his family. Booyah Village would like to send our condolences as well to the Adenhart family as well as those who loved this young up and coming MLB pitcher.

Photo courtesy of ESPN.com

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 09:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Last week it was announced that Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler would be hanging up his Broncos helmet and replacing it this upcoming season with a Chicago Bears helmet. The trade was not a shock since negotiations with Cutler and the Broncos were going from bad to worse on a daily basis. Many teams were throwing their offers to the Broncos for the young player who has the potential to be a huge star as he continues to get more experience in the league and if he can be surrounded by a good supporting cast in other positions on the field.

For the Bears who have struggled at quarterback for the past few years with Orton and Grossman taking turns playing and then being benched for various reasons, Cutler may finally be an answer they were looking for. The fans seem to think so with retro jerseys with Cutler’s name and number already selling on the team website before the ink had dried on the deal.

As for the supporting cast the Bears are now filling up those roles by grabbing other top free agents such as Orlando Pace who says he is feeling better than he has in years. Now the team is looking at a high profile wide out to catch the passes, which you know will be coming from the pocket this year. The rumor mill has free agents such as Torry Holt being picked up after the Rams dropped him weeks ago. Though there is also rumor of the Bears using one of their top draft picks for Juaquin Iglesias out of Oklahoma for the job.

However the Bears finish filling out their roster the one thing that is for sure, the expectations will be high for them this year. Since the team is picking up experienced high profile players they should not need a learning curve like a crop of rookies would. Plus fans can count on this Bears team looking a little different from teams of the past. Instead of being centered on a running back and a ground game the team will be airing it out this year instead.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Too often in the NCAA tournament the women are totally ignored while the men take the attention of sports fans everywhere. While network television changes their schedules for accommodate the games both during the early rounds with so many day games to the late rounds and getting prime time coverage. Of course ignoring the women’s final four is really nothing new since just about everyone ignores the women throughout the year anyway. Even on their home campus students only attend the women’s games because the men have the night off and it is something to do.

Of course this needs to change as the women at the larger schools are playing at a higher level than ever before. There are even those that feel these elite teams of women could actually defeat a division one men’s team from smaller less elite basketball schools. Plus in just about any sport going undefeated during your year is a extremely tough task and in sports such as basketball where so many games are played in a year this makes it even tougher. But the Lady Huskies from Uconn were able to do that Tuesday night as they won the NCAA women’s tournament.

While the men playing for Uconn had a great season and made a Final Four appearance on their own it was the women who truly gave the school something to be proud of this year. Surely the Uconn Huskies merchandise such as hats and other fan apparel is flying off the shelves as the school had a banner year in college basketball. As for the women's team there are those of us out here that have noted your achievement despite your lack of press coverage like the men get. Any team that can win every game of the season and by a margin of victory averaging just over 30 points a game is truly a powerhouse in their sport deserving of much respect.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Michigan State came into Monday night with many saying they were going to be only the second team in the history of the NCAA tournament to win against three number one seeds in order to secure the title. They had so much in their favor with a almost home court advantage with their campus just over ninety miles away and their most famous basketball alma mater in attendance to commerorate the schools win 30 years earlier. But North Carolina had a mission to fulfill in their eyes and the night belonged to them. 

Some feel that it was fate that the Tarheels would win the title this year since four of their starters opted to pass on potentially lucrative NBA deals for one more year in college and one more shot at the biggest prize in the NCAA. Of course the run to the Final Four was not an easy one and with a key injury to Ty Lawson at the end of the regular season and a lose in their division tournament suddenly there was a question on whether they would end up even getting to the finals, let alone winning. But win they did and now that the Heels have won their fifth national title you can bet that the North Carolina merchandise which is always in demand across the country will only get hotter as collectors and enthusiast grab up the commemorative hats and apparel from the win.  

Of course for Michigan State the results were not what they had hoped as they wanted to repeat the great victory of Magic Johnson and the Spartans over Larry Bird and Indiana State thirty years earlier. But the team which had taken such good care of the ball all tournament just could not keep possession and there were too many turnovers to recover with the Tarheels having such a high powered offense.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Major League Baseball season starts today with spring weather not making an appearance in many of the parks hosting games today. With rainouts, bitterly cold temperatures, and even snow making themselves felt around the league it is hard to believe that baseball is starting up for the season. But start it has and with many games already in the books the season is under way for baseball fans as well as the ever growing legions of fantasy baseball players on the internet.

Of course most baseball fans keep an eye on the league championships of the previous year to see how their opener will go. Many feel that the first game of the year for every team says a lot about how the season will go. For the World Series winning Philadelphia Phillies the season did not start out well with a home lose to the Atlanta Braves. There are many who have picked the Braves to do well this season after much rebuilding over the past few years and a eight inning shut out from their starter only solidified that prediction. While the American League champion Arizona Rays did not get to play their opener due to rain in Boston raining out the game.

The biggest question on most people's minds though is who will President Barack Obama throw out the first pitch for. It is no secret that Obama is a huge ChiSox fan as he is frequently seen sporting a White Sox cap around. This piece of Chicago White Sox merchandise from his beloved team is second only to his Blackberry on his list of accessories. But despite the offer from the team, which Obama politely declined, it does appear that he will throw out the first pitch for the Washington Nationals for their home opener next week. It will be fun to see how well a President known for his jump shot can throw a baseball as he takes the mound.

Posted by Coach John Rockwell at 01:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)