There's no "I" in T$AM

I may have mentioned once or twice that I enjoy football. I like watching it, I like managing it (hello! back to back fantasy football championships), and I like playing it (2005 Flag Football Co-Rec Champions at GW). But here's what I don't like...these money grubbing players. I mean lets show a lil something something I like to call team loyalty. Course these days i feel like that term is at the very least old school and at the very most a myth.

Example 1) Johnny Damon aka the caveman idiot. now i'm not saying that the sox didn't mishandle him cause i don't know. I don't really care either, what i do know is that if you have any sense of loyalty to the fans that believed in you when everyone else said not to then the least you can do is choose to go to any team other than the Yankees. come on caveman! That's like a slap in the face (see Adam Vinateri) to go to the arch rival in the same conference. just a cruel thing to do to fans

Example 2) Mr. Clutch kicker, not sure what your beef was. Kickers don't get respect and don't get the big money. In the scheme of things, kickers can only get you 3 points a shot and while Mr. V was certainly clutch and invaluable in the minds of fans, you gotta be realistic when there's a salary cap involved. Kickers are not where teams want to spend the money. Especially in the rare market where a kicker can actually get himself some pretty nifty endorsement deals and the undying affection of the public. How many kickers do you know that can go on Leno in leather pants and not be made fun of? I don't care how many clutch kicks you make, that's a rarity. But instead of setting a realistic money goal (and claiming to be insulted by Patriot offers) he calls the Colts and asks them to make him an offer and poof! our boy is now our arch enemy with the evil peyton. Dude seems to forget that no one would've given him anything if hadn't been given his chance with New England, cause lets face it....if you can kick in the Razor you can pretty much kick anywhere. No way he gets that big of a contract if he spent the last 5 years in say...Arizona

Example 3) My name is Deion Branch and I am a big crybaby. I was a rookie and I think I should've gotten more money even though I had yet to prove myself. New England was kind enough to not only give me a shot, but pair me with a prolific QB who was able to make me look better than I may actually be. I also have yet to prove I can stay healthy for a whole season or that I can be a high quality #1 without a sturdy #2 (ahem David Givens ahem) by my side. In fact, maybe I became such a cry baby this summer because I had a feeling I wouldn't perform as well without other serious threats to draw the double teams away from me. I say good riddance to the latest Seahawk, because you certainly alienated this fan with your childish offseason behavior. Way to abandon not only your teammates and coaches who dedicated the time into making you a credible threat but also the fans who invested their time in watching you develop into an MVP (though I frequently debate whether this award belonged to him or my boy Teddy "a stroke can't stop me" bruschi) caliber player. At least you got a big contract, so you won't mind paying all those fines you accrued while you pouted in the media about the lack of respect you were getting from the front office. Hope the 2006-2007 season for you in Seattle sees you fail in your quest to show that you deserve Ward or Wayne type money.

Am I bitter? A tad, I mean what's the point in being a sports fan and supporting your team if they are so quick to abandon you because they want some money. Have they forgotten that they are being paid to play...dare I say it?...a GAME. There are people out there working to save lives, protect the country, and teach the country who make a small fraction of what these guys make and you don't see them hightailing it out of the country to our rival for $$$ or the spotlight do you?

That's my rant for today.