Cowboy Collapse

  Never have I been so sorry about being correct.. As this blog will attest, back in August I predicted the Dallas Cowboys to finish the 2012 season no better than 8-8.. Friends and family alike thought I was off base in my prediction, but the team still has too many holes in both the offensive and defensive lines to be considered a serious playoff contender. Injuries are part of the game in football as everyone knows, but Dallas had timely injuries at key positions this season. One of the biggest came to linebacker Sean Lee. The third year player out of Penn State was just becoming the key to the defensive unit when he was lost for the remainder of the season midway through the schedule. Playing right beside Lee was linebacker Bruce Carter who also was lost for the last half of the year.  Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff also missed most of the season and the week to week injury report looked like a MASH unit in a war zone. Just some of the players to spend lengthy time on the mend were: defensive end Anthony Spencer, wide receiver Miles Austin, cornerback Orlando Scandrick, and center Phil Costa. A special note should be made of linebacker DeMarcos Ware. The All-Pro Ware should not have played, BUT consistently showed up for battle despite shoulder and elbow injuries that will require multiple surgeries during the off-season. Last year the Cowboys made major moves to improve at cornerback with the addition of Brandon Carr via free agency and Morris Claiborne through the college draft, but the safety spots looked to be open door as player after player tried to fill the position without a positive result.
  When you play quarterback for the most visible team in the National Football League, you either get too much credit, or too much blame. This now falls on the shoulders of Tony Romo. He became a free agent acquisition for Dallas while Bill Parcells was the coach. He was the best of a threesome made up of Quincy Carter and Vinnie Testaverde, and assumed the starting position only because the other two failed to do the job. Romo has now been with the team for eleven (11) years and has one (1) playoff win to his credit. Agreed, all the blame should not fall on the shoulders of Romo, but again, he is the QB on America's Team.
   The Senior Bowl has just been played, and that is where most of the NFL coaches have been to scout possible players for the college draft coming up this Spring. Dallas needs offensive lineman in the worst way. While an abundance of the last season's blame falls to Romo, it is hard to run plays when you are running for your life at the same time. Romo needs time to allow receivers to run their patterns BEFORE throwing the pass. Better talent on the offensive line will also open up the running game and allow Dallas to show off the abilities of DeMarcus Murray, a truly gifted runner, when he has an opening to run through.
  Finally we get around to the Coach. Jason Garrett will begin his third full season as Head Coach of the Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones has allowed some of last season's blame to be placed on assistant coaches, and they have been shown the door out of Valley Ranch. Garrett has been calling the offensive plays for the Cowboys up to this point, but that has now been handed to offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who has never been a play caller. The 2013 season will be an interesting one for Cowboy fans. It will be crucial for Garrett's team to begin winning right off the bat. Jerry Jones has a history of being on a short fuse and if his team loses two or three early games to put them out of contention, look for heads to roll on the team.

  I'll give my 2013 prediction as we get a little closer to the season opener.

Pete Rose in Hall of Fame ??

   I have kept my thoughts to myself for many years now, but no longer.. This year the Baseball Hall of Fame has a couple of names up for induction into the Cooperstown Shrine. Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar...  Blyleven and Alomar??  Are you kidding me??
   I propose that the powers that be get their collective heads out of their asses and enshrine someone based on how they played the game of baseball. Honus Wagner was one of the biggest cheats in baseball during his time. Babe Ruth was a womanizing drunk,..BUT players similar to these are in the Hall of Fame. Why not allow one of the very best to die a happy man and place his name in consideration.   Did someone say why?
   Pete Rose played in the major leagues from 1963 through 1986, but despite a steller career between the lines, he was banned from baseball for gambling. Then Major League Commissioner Bart Giamatti said the actions of Rose was detrimental to the game of baseball. In defense of Rose, all that has ever been proven against him was he gambled on his team to win.. never on any other team.
   If indeed it takes 'better than average' statistics to gain entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame, I submit some verified numbers for consideration. Dating back to the 1800's there is one player holding down the position as record-holder in the following categories: 
All-Time Leader in base hits-    4,256
All-Time Leader in games played-  3,562
All-Time Leader in at-bats-  14,053
   That player is Pete Rose !
The Baseball Writers of America picked the top 100 players ever to play the game...  Pete Rose was among them.
The Sporting News named the 100 Greatest ever to play the game, and Pete Rose was #25.
  Rose played in 3 World Series... Won the Batting Title 3 times...twice was awarded a Gold Glove for the best defensive player at his position.. Was Rookie of the Year in 1963...was also named Most Valuable Player in 1973..and in 1975 was named 'Sportsman of the Year' by Sports Illustrated Magazine. 
   In a day when players dominate the sports pages with their off-field antics, I think Pete Rose has paid for his sins and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Those of us old enough to remember, can recall how he ran to first base after being walked by the pitcher. He relished in the nickname of 'Charlie Hustle'. Most players consider being named to the mid-season All-Star game somewhat of an honor, and just show up to make an appearance. Pete Rose, who was named to the All-Star Game on 18 occasions at 5 different positions, played in the All-Star Game like it was game 7 of the World Series. Who can forget the 1970 All-Star Classic when Ray Fosse was blocking home plate and Rose, attempting to score from second base on a single to the outfield, bowled over Fosse and broke three of his ribs in the collision.

   This is the 21st Century!  If Cooperstown is indeed the reward for outstanding careers in Major League Baseball, then it is time to open the doors and allow one of the greatest to be admitted.