Football 24/7, 365/year
It was a sad sight the other night at the local establishment. There we were, in our usual seats, with our usual drinks, making our usual lewd comments to the girls behind the bar. But the conversations were anything but usual. After rehashing the 3 exciting games from the past weekend, and the Ravens' Falcon-like perfomance (how do you lose not giving up a touchdown, at home... to a Manning? Unbelievable!), and a one person conversation on whether Calvin Johnson will be the greatest WR ever, topics took an exciting turn toward the following: 24 & American Idol, the Australian Open, and favorite Sirius satellite radio stations.
Then came the round of shots. We couldn't escape the fact football was coming to an end.
It sucks when football season is over. There's no way around it. Little do you realize how much the pigskin is appreciated until it's gone (not to mention, how much conversation revolves around it). They say Hunter Thompson shot himself after his annual post-football depression hit a new low. Now Woody doesn't condone taking one's life, but having only the Pro Bowl to look forward to is as good a reason as any. Though I would have at least held out through the first day of the draft*.
What's the solution? You gotta invent new ways to talk about football. So that said, I'd like to do just that and look back a few years on the sport. Basically it's a rememberence to our favorite players from yesteryear.
This isn't only about big names from the past, guys who played in the spotlight and probably still get recognized. You know, guys like Joe Theisman.
I'd rather focus on those lesser-known players that elicit high-fives at 3 a.m. when everyone's been drinking and NFL films comes on. You know, guys you might see every day delivering your mail, coaching the local high school, or becoming the next head coach at Georgia Tech.
So I'm going to throw out a few updates, links, and facts about whats going on with some guys that I admired "back in the day".
Vai Sikahema - Simply the greatest NFL talent the Tonga has ever produced. Don't lie, you wish you could punch those goalposts just once like Vai did. Did you know his cousin is Reno Mahe of the Philadelphia Eagles? Better yet, did you know his nephew is Napolean Dynamite? Who do you think is the big star at family gatherings? Yes, my money is on NP too.
Ronnie Harmon - Well, there isn't as much to say about Ronnie Harmon, he isn't uncle to anyone as big as Napolean Dynamite. But I had to include him because he was my favorite player in the 1990's. There's nothing wrong with your favorite player being a 3rd down back, dick. He had 8 catches in the Superbowl and lasted 12 years in the league. How many guys can say that?
Ricky Ervins - Who? Yeah, the 1991-92 leading rusher for the Superbowl champion Washington Redskins, that's who! He was the man. His legs were bigger than Superman's, I'm pretty sure he could leap into the endzone from anywhere on the field if he really wanted to. And under our established rules, because he has a Superbowl ring, not to mention being a major contributor to a champion team, his career is a success. It's a miracle Canton hasn't called yet. I'm pretty sure MF still has a poster somewhere.
Errict Rhett - If Vincent Bo Jackson is the #1 "coulda been the best RB of all time", Errict Undra Rhett is #1a. Crazy? How about 2,218 yards rushing and 18 TDs in his first two years, playing for the Tampa Bay Bucs! Remember how bad the bright orange sucked back in the day? If he wouldn't have held out, you'd be saying "Emmitt who?" when anyone asked about the greatest runner to ever come out of Gainesville.
Glyn Milburn - There's really too much to say about this guy, so click the link if you want to learn a lot more.
The Dome Patrol - Pat Swilling, Vaughn Johnson, Sam Mills, and Rickey Jackson . The baddest LB corp in NFL history, or at least, my lifetime. Pat Swilling, as if going to Tech didn't make him a stud already, was a force in the NFL for years. Sam Mills, rest in peace. Be sure to check out what Rickey Jackson has been up to in Louisiana. And Vaughn should be pissed wikipedia didn't give him a page.
Well, I could go on and on but I'd rather hear from you guys about your favorite players from the past. A good place to start is here and move on forward through the years.
Maybe next time I'll recap all the greatest posters of NFL players in the 90's. If any could be better than this.
stats
*I know at least one other person on here who's watched the entire NFL draft start to finish. Sure, we were waiting for Joe Hamilton to get picked (and boy did we wait awhile, yet he did), but we'd be lying if we said we didn't enjoy it!
Then came the round of shots. We couldn't escape the fact football was coming to an end.
It sucks when football season is over. There's no way around it. Little do you realize how much the pigskin is appreciated until it's gone (not to mention, how much conversation revolves around it). They say Hunter Thompson shot himself after his annual post-football depression hit a new low. Now Woody doesn't condone taking one's life, but having only the Pro Bowl to look forward to is as good a reason as any. Though I would have at least held out through the first day of the draft*.
What's the solution? You gotta invent new ways to talk about football. So that said, I'd like to do just that and look back a few years on the sport. Basically it's a rememberence to our favorite players from yesteryear.
This isn't only about big names from the past, guys who played in the spotlight and probably still get recognized. You know, guys like Joe Theisman.
I'd rather focus on those lesser-known players that elicit high-fives at 3 a.m. when everyone's been drinking and NFL films comes on. You know, guys you might see every day delivering your mail, coaching the local high school, or becoming the next head coach at Georgia Tech.
So I'm going to throw out a few updates, links, and facts about whats going on with some guys that I admired "back in the day".
Vai Sikahema - Simply the greatest NFL talent the Tonga has ever produced. Don't lie, you wish you could punch those goalposts just once like Vai did. Did you know his cousin is Reno Mahe of the Philadelphia Eagles? Better yet, did you know his nephew is Napolean Dynamite? Who do you think is the big star at family gatherings? Yes, my money is on NP too.
Ronnie Harmon - Well, there isn't as much to say about Ronnie Harmon, he isn't uncle to anyone as big as Napolean Dynamite. But I had to include him because he was my favorite player in the 1990's. There's nothing wrong with your favorite player being a 3rd down back, dick. He had 8 catches in the Superbowl and lasted 12 years in the league. How many guys can say that?
Ricky Ervins - Who? Yeah, the 1991-92 leading rusher for the Superbowl champion Washington Redskins, that's who! He was the man. His legs were bigger than Superman's, I'm pretty sure he could leap into the endzone from anywhere on the field if he really wanted to. And under our established rules, because he has a Superbowl ring, not to mention being a major contributor to a champion team, his career is a success. It's a miracle Canton hasn't called yet. I'm pretty sure MF still has a poster somewhere.
Errict Rhett - If Vincent Bo Jackson is the #1 "coulda been the best RB of all time", Errict Undra Rhett is #1a. Crazy? How about 2,218 yards rushing and 18 TDs in his first two years, playing for the Tampa Bay Bucs! Remember how bad the bright orange sucked back in the day? If he wouldn't have held out, you'd be saying "Emmitt who?" when anyone asked about the greatest runner to ever come out of Gainesville.
Glyn Milburn - There's really too much to say about this guy, so click the link if you want to learn a lot more.
The Dome Patrol - Pat Swilling, Vaughn Johnson, Sam Mills, and Rickey Jackson . The baddest LB corp in NFL history, or at least, my lifetime. Pat Swilling, as if going to Tech didn't make him a stud already, was a force in the NFL for years. Sam Mills, rest in peace. Be sure to check out what Rickey Jackson has been up to in Louisiana. And Vaughn should be pissed wikipedia didn't give him a page.
Well, I could go on and on but I'd rather hear from you guys about your favorite players from the past. A good place to start is here and move on forward through the years.
Maybe next time I'll recap all the greatest posters of NFL players in the 90's. If any could be better than this.
stats
*I know at least one other person on here who's watched the entire NFL draft start to finish. Sure, we were waiting for Joe Hamilton to get picked (and boy did we wait awhile, yet he did), but we'd be lying if we said we didn't enjoy it!
Nice post stats. I've got a few to mention as well:
The 1995 tandem of Herman Moore and Brett Perriman - now, sure, everyone remembers Herman Moore as he had a pretty successful NFL career but do you remember Perriman and his couple of productive years with the Lions? In '95, Moore finished with 123 catches for 1,686 yards while Perriman went for 108 and 1,488. Not only were they the first WR duo to catch 100+ balls in a season but they were the first to go over 1,400 yards too. Not a bad year especially when Scott Mitchell is throwing you the ball.
Carl Pickens - Speaking of the '95 season, Pickens pulls in 17 TD catches. I don't think I need to remind anyone, but that's a lot.
Marion Butts - His name was always funny, right?
Drew Hill - Anyone remember this former Jacket? He had a solid NFL career with 14 seasons, 634 receptions, 9,831 yards and 60 TDs...not too bad.
Posted by
fisher |
January 17, 2007 at 9:02 AM
I had forgotten that horse-face Shannon was the next to last pick in the 7th round (1990). Since the draft has been reduced to 7 rounds, Mr. Ed came pretty close to being Mr. Irrelevant. I wonder if they would still call the last player drafted Mr. Irrelevant if one of the all time greats came from that spot.
As a Sooner I obviously can't think of a better sports poster than the Wizard of Boz, but this one comes close.
For those of you keeping score, the government is closed again today. Looks like a 2 day work week for me (although I could take Friday off, as it is Confederate Heroes day. I'm working it because it earns me a vacation day whenever I want to use it. Yes, we get off for Confederate Heroes day. I love government work.)
Posted by
Fite |
January 17, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Mark Bavaro was a beast for the original Nintendo's Play Action Football.
Don Bebee was all hustle, all the time. Plus he was a white WR, which has to count for something.
Posted by
Fite |
January 17, 2007 at 11:35 AM
One of the factory guys often wears a Germaine Crowell jersey to work.
Posted by
stats |
January 17, 2007 at 2:48 PM
I played a round of golf at Chastain once back in the day with Drew Hill and Charles Oakley in the foursome in front of us. It was high comedy. Big straw hats and non-stop jawing and trash talking on every tee box.
Posted by
Shalls |
January 17, 2007 at 4:45 PM
Fuck! Braves traded LaRoche to Pirates for Mike Gonzalez and another player (not known yet). The other player better be Chris Duffy or one of the 4 young starters (Duke, Maholm, Gorzellany, or Snell) or I am going to be PISSED. I really doubt it is one of them though, as Pitt has continually said no on them.
Crap! I love Gonzalez but he aint worth Laroche. Laroche is a STUD with the stick and even more so with the glove. And the guy was top TEN in the league in OPS last year! Right side of the infield just got a hell of a lot worse offensively and defensively, while we turned an already above average pen (with the addition of Rafael Soriano and Wickman for a full year) into a TREMENDOUS one.
Posted by
Shalls |
January 17, 2007 at 5:41 PM
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