Blue on Blue

The following article is in response to the NCAA meeting and debating on Boise State and all football teams’ ability to wear uniforms that don't contrast with their football fields. Prior I wrote an article about this topic. Following we read about how the Mountain West Conference is now backing Boise State and their ability to wear all blue uniforms on their blue football field. The MWC claims the restriction is not in place to protect players or the university, but on the flip side it hinders Boise State’s ability to recruit and function. Why is the NCAA making so much noise about Boise State wearing contrasting uniforms on their football field?

 http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/mountain-west-banned-boise-state-blue-jerseys-last-202838120--ncaaf.html

Mountain West, which banned Boise State’s blue jerseys the last two seasons, now fighting NCAA’s proposed ban

 By Frank Schwab | Dr. Saturday – 1 hour 38 minutes ago

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 (USA Today Sports Images)

How appreciative is the Mountain West that Boise State didn't jump ship to the Big East? Enough that it has done a complete 180 on the Broncos' blue jerseys and is now fighting the NCAA for Boise State to be able to continue using the uniforms on its home blue field.

The last two seasons, the league would not allow Boise State to wear the all-blue uniforms on its home field. This caused a controversy. Boise State made it part of the negotiations to remain in the Mountain West for 2013 and beyond that the all-blue look would be allowed again. The Mountain West agreed to that, and wouldn't you know it, the conference is now fully on board with the idea of the all-blue look.

The NCAA is trying to require teams wear uniforms that contrast with the playing field. While this also would affect teams that want to wear all green, it's pretty transparent that this rule proposal is directed right at Boise.

So the Broncos got the indebted Mountain West to fight the NCAA on its behalf.

The Idaho Statesman reported that Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson sent a letter to oppose the rule. The Statesman had a copy of the letter, and here it is:

Mr. Ty Halpin

Associate Director of Playing Rules Administration

National Collegiate Athletic Association

P.O. Box 6222

Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222

Ty:

Following the recommendation of the NCAA Football Rules Committee and in advance of the meeting of the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) next month, the Mountain West Conference would like to provide feedback related to the proposed change to Football Playing Rule 1-4-4 in advance of the March 1 deadline for comments (which was also provided via the online submission process).

The MW, on behalf of member institution Boise State University, is strongly opposed to the suggested change which states “either the uniform pants or the jersey must clearly contrast with the color of the surface of the field of play”. As you know, Boise State Football is known for its signature blue turf. For a majority of their history, they have worn blue pants and blue jerseys when playing at home.

The proposed rule is not related to any student-athlete safety concerns. Furthermore, this regulation could have a significant negative marketing impact for the Broncos. It will also likely result in undesirable publicity for the NCAA, and would most certainly be damaging to the Boise State University brand. Whatever upside might result from this change is not worth the harmful impact it will have on this institution.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Craig Thompson

We really don't see why this is such a big deal to the NCAA or coaches who fight it. It's part of Boise State's identity at this point, and it is a huge deal to Broncos fans. If there's an edge gained, it has to be very minor. We do agree with Thompson in that there's not much to be gained by fighting it, other than agitating Boise State.

And there's sure to be plenty of agitation to go around in Idaho if the rule comes to pass.

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Performance Enhancers

Lance Armstrong had created a legend that could not be rivaled in. His career started when he was 13 years old by winning a triathlon and finished by winning 7 Tour de France titles, filled with meddles and a case of cancer between. He accomplished, while dealing with testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and even his brain a feat that no other person can even challenge.  This amazing feat was accomplished partially due to blood doping, or athletic performance enhancers.

            The question is, where would sports be now if its athletes had never used performance enhancers? Would Mark McGwire, the previous record holder of most home runs in baseball with 70 home runs have set his record without performance enhancers? What about Barry Bonds amazing performance three years later amassing 73 home runs?  Does performance enhancers actually enhance the sport making it more enjoyable for the spectators or does it detract and degrade from what once was a pure athletic display of skill and passion? 

Sports or a Job?

Football, basketball, baseball and all sports have evolved and changed over time at the professional level. Years ago once a player was drafted by a team, he spent his entire career playing for said team and organization. Now players a commodities changing teams as frequently as a teenage girl dresses up for a high school dance.

            My question to you is why?

            Professional sports have and is making the transition from that of love and sport to the occupation of a job. Athletes or employees are no longer playing the game because of their passion for the sport, but because of the money involved. This has consequentially destroyed and diminished some of the integrity of the game. This was demonstrated clearly in last year’s NFL holdout as several games were missed simply because players and owners, millionaires were fighting over thousands of dollars.

            Professional athletes and owners just play the game because of the love and passion for the game and stop polluting the respect and integrity of what was once a beautiful athletic spectacle.

Redskins

Thousands of people and organizations may have to change jobs and accustom themselves to different styles of life simply because the media is now upset. The media in the football world is creating as much noise as they can in an attempt to get their way. Redskin is defined according to Webster’s online dictionary as an American Indian. Yet according to several media publicists in Washington, it is an unacceptable racial slur destroying any and all standards of American Indians. If this were to be true, then would we not have to change the names for the Braves, Indians, Padres, Seminoles, and any other terminology that any person may take offense to? That could even escalate to the point that agriculturalists may take offense that a Bronco (such as the Denver Broncos) is represented by a bunch of overgrown men trying to injure each other on the football field.

            Question, why is it that the media never takes the majority into account. They always focus on the far and few in between who seem to be offended over small and trivial issues. How many organizations that base their income off the Redskins logo and team name be affected? How many employees who work for that company will be affected? How many loyal fans that have followed the Redskins for years and years will be affected simply because a media scholar who doesn’t follow the sport decides to make some noise?

What has this country come to that there will always be some individuals with different backgrounds who will undoubtedly always be offended by something someone does or says.

            For years the Washington Redskins has been a sign of respect towards the Native American Indian nation. It is a symbol of individuals who work together to achieve a greater success that cannot be attained any other way. There are many people that view the logo and the name as such. Why cannot the rest of the world accept what the actual Washington Redskins are trying to represent with their team and logo instead of finding ways to be offended and angry. 

Productivity versus Attitude

The NFL combine provides a great opportunity for all college and potential NFL athletes to prove their ability to compete at the professional level. It also provides them with the opportunity to correct the naysayers and clear up any misunderstandings left in the fog of the media.

            Manti Teo, considered as one of, if not the best middle line-backer in college football has already taken full advantage of this opportunity to address the press and clear up his name from the fiasco he was involved with this past college football season. As a professional athlete, it is crucial to express to potential teammates and coaches clarity, honesty, loyalty and reliability. These are essential characteristics to all who compete at the professional level.

            Just ask Titus Young, the Saint Louis Rams former wide receiver drafted in the first round. The Rams recently released him from their roster while other teams have dismissed Young simply after running background checks and getting to know him. Young has characteristic issues, proving a lack of loyalty and diligence towards to a team. Having a good, proactive attitude is crucial in attaining a future job. Manti Teo has a great opportunity to clear up his name and start with a new clean slate on the professional level. 

Linsanity

Jeremy Lin slept on his sister’s couch as he tried to make ends meet on Knicks D-league. Weeks later the term linsanity was coined and he became a name understood in every NBA viewers household. Every now and then the wide world of sports discovers a hidden gem that demonstrates the lack of our ability to accurately assess athletic ability and skill level. Last year’s gem was Jeremy Lin who now holds a major contract with the Houston Rockets and averages more assists per game at 6.6, more than anyone else on the team and also dropping on average 16.6 points per game in the week of February.

            Last year as he was emerging and making a real name for himself, he turned the Knicks season around, on a 9-3 run for a team that had lost 11 of its 13 previous games bringing them back up to a .500 record. In that stretch Jeremy Lin averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 assists per game. However, as other players who were injured in this stretch returned to play, the Knicks offense returned to less pick and roll plays and more isolation plays, excluding Jeremy Lin from the offense. The Knicks then replaced their head coach who continued to play more isolation plays. Jeremy Lin then suffered from a knee injury and missed the remainder of the season.   

            Lin has continues to challenge all the naysayers who believed his performance to burn out quickly. Jeremy continues to prove all wrong in his ability to lead a basketball team from the point guard position and prove his skill and ability worthy of playing in the NBA. He no longer has to worry whose couch he will be sleeping on tonight as he is helping lead the Houston Rockets to a playoff berth. 

         

Double Standards

Are professional athletes held to the same standard as the rest of the public? According to Public Relations specialists, celebrities, also professional athletes are not only held to the same standard but they are held to a higher standard because they are under the magnifying glass 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The public is always watching and scrutinizing every action famous people in the limelight receives. But does that statement ring truth in our ears?

            Looking back it, there are plenty of examples of players who, because of their famous profile, were not held to as strict punishment as would “ordinary” people. Ray Lewis and his past is a perfect example of this. He, along with his buddies was accused of stabbing and killing Richard Lollar and his friend Jacinth Baker. Lewis and his friends were seen entering a sporting goods store the day before. Is that where they purchased the knives that were reportedly uses as the killing weapons?

            What about the witnesses that reported seeing Lewis’s limousine pull over and drop off bloody clothes, or that Ray Lewis white suit at the party was never seen again?

            Why did the limousine driver change his story from hearing Lewis tell everyone to keep their mouths shut, to nothing ever happened?

            Why is it then that the charge of murder on Lewis was simply dropped to a misdemeanor obstruction of justice? Why is it that there were two boys killed that night by stab wounds in a public area nearly ten years ago and a case closed, without having found the actual murderers? Am I claiming that Ray killed these two boys, no. But there is enough off evidence that there should be a real investigation to the extent that someone is identified as the perpetrator.

            Ray Lewis is a story a dime a dozen out there of high profile athletes or celebrities who were let off easily because of their perceived status among the nation. My question to the public is why we continue to praise these men when their individual character is in such question as to not know whether said person killed, molested or any such offense to our fellow American neighbor. Why do we not hold these revered individuals to the same standards we would our friends or neighbors?