Westbrook and Tomlinson Released

What does the future hold for LT and Westbrook?

Two high profile running backs were released within two days of each other because of a combination of age and injuries. Brian Westbrook of the Philadelphia Eagles and LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers were both dropped by their respective teams.

Normally the releasing of NFL players is not a big deal, it happens all the team and the shelf life of pro football players is exceedingly low. But Westbrook and LT aren't just any ol' running backs. They're not even good running backs. These guys were studs. Just a few years ago they would be the first players taken in a fantasy football draft. In 2007 Westbrook led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,104 and 4 years ago Tomlinson had a record setting 31 TDs.

What is the NFL becoming with LT no longer a Charger and Westbrook no longer an Eagle? More importantly, what will the first and second round of fantasy football drafts look like with these guys either out of the league or in an obviously decreased role? It seems like only a few years ago that the top 3 fantasy RBs were LT, Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson. Now LT was released by the Chargers, Shaun Alexander is slower than molasses and I don't even know what happened to LJ after that homophobic remark he made in the middle of a terrible season. And even more recently Westbrook was a terror in fantasy if you didn't own him. I vividly remember 2 years ago how every game Brain Westbrook had the potential to score 3 TDs with 100 yards rushing and receiving.

The release of these 2 big name RBs tells us a lot about organizations dealing with aging and oft injured players. Teams aren't worried about parting ties with the face of their franchise if they sense that they're on the decline. But look at the Packers and what happened to Brett Favre, maybe they have a couple more good years left in the tank. Another thing to take away is how brief an NFL career is. In the MLB, a great player will play 15-20 years, in the NBA it seems like 10-15. But the brutality of the NFL leads to more injuries which leads to maybe a 10 year career for great RBs. Quarterbacks are different, they are, for the most part, shielded from the violence of the game and can play longer.

What will next year's fantasy draft look like without LT and Westbrook? Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles and Jonathan Stewart at the top of the draft? The years of LT being the fantasy king are now officially over.

Tiger's Apology

Tiger Woods apologizes

Tiger Woods made a public statement of apology following news of his infidelity last Friday. It was his first public statement in months since news first broke that he crashed his car late at night during Thanksgiving break.

I initially thought that Tiger's apology was too scripted. It seemed as if he was emphasizing each word and was worried he would offend any grandparents that were watching that might not understand him if he talked too fast. But then I realized that his whole life is scripted and there was no way he would go up there and wing it. Still, it would have been nice to see a more authentic apology from a man who betrayed our view of him as a disciplined, family man. How can I know that what he is saying is truthful if it comes from such a rehearsed speech. Tiger Woods lied to us before by selling an image of a wholesome and well-behaved guy and I need to be guaranteed some version of his real self.

The main question people had going into Woods's speech was when he would return to golf. Tiger left it up in the air of his return date. All he said was that he didn't rule out returning this year. What does that mean? Does he expect to return this year? Will he likely come back in 2011, but might be able to return this year? Everyone knows golf is more interesting when Tiger is in a tournament and people are anxious to see him back. The PGA tour needs him to generate revenue for their tournaments and he already missed a large chunk of time due to his knee problems.

I liked how Tiger specifically said how he felt entitled to sleep with all those women and how since he was a superstar he felt above the normal rules imposed on people. He came right out and said how he was wrong to think that.

Tiger's wife, Elin, was noticeably absent from his press conference. The tv announcers made a big deal out of her absence and instead the camera was occasionally on his mom. Tiger repeated how Elin never abused him (people thought she attacked him with a golf club, causing him to crash the car) and how there had never been any domestic violence in their household.

One little thing I learned about Tiger. He was an active Buddhist until a few years ago, and will continue with his Buddhist spirituality to help get him through all this. Maybe he's not a true Buddhist, but it's cool to see a huger sports star acknowledging a religion that's not mainstream in the United States.

I'm ready to see Tiger back on the course. Many people, especially women, will never like him again, but they can't deny his appeal when he plays. Tour pros are disappointed that he ruined the image of golf as a gentlemanly sport and some were angry that he made the statement the day of a big tournament. I think American sports fans are a very forgiving group and will accept Tiger back (see Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Michael Vick, Ron Artest etc.). The casual golf fan like myself needs to see Tiger in the hunt on a Sunday afternoon to get excited about golf again. Please come back soon Tiger Woods.

Sports Musings

This is the worst time of year for sports. It's right after the Super Bowl so football has officially ended. March Madness hasn't started yet and baseball is far from starting. Tiger Woods is indefinitely gone from golf so the sport holds zero interest for me. That means the only big pro sport going on is the NBA. Whoopty-do, let's celebrate guys whipping out guns in the locker room and boring games filled with guys trying to go 1 on 5 on offense.

The Winter Olympics are coming up soon. Excitement level so-so. I'm psyched for the snowboard cross and newly added ski cross. They're basically a race between 5 or 6 snowboards or skiers down an icy course filled with jumps. Snowboard cross is sick because normally there's lots of big wipeouts and the idea is so simple.

I've been hearing that the weather has been really warm in Vancouver and it's been giving Olympic officials trouble. Vancouver's had its warmest January ever and snow has been shipped and flew in.

The Warriors won yesterday against the lowly Clippers and rookie Steph Curry was on fire shooting and posted a triple double. But with Monta Ellis out, the future looks bleak. Before last night's win the Warriors had lost 9 straight and I don't see things getting much better after losing their star player for maybe the whole season. But who knows, maybe the Warriors will play more unselfishly and better team basketball as a whole in #8's absence.