All Part Of The Job

Spring (Texas) Dekaney coach Willie Amendola tries to divert a runaway
cart away from a couple of reporters during an interview after Amendola's
team won the Texas 5A Division II chamionship. The runaway cart shows
that being a sports reporter is never an easy job.

This week is always tough for sports reporters. Between high school basketball tournaments and dealing with players like Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Jay Ratliffe, it's no wonder most of my colleagues spend the holidays with a bottle of Jack Daniels.

But nothing compares to what happened in the Texas 5A Division II high school football championship — or more specifically after it. A unmanned electric cart took off down the field before plowing into a group of reporters interviewing a coach.

As a reporter, I know I take my life into my own hands when I step on the field. More often than not, I appear to have a target on my back when it comes to footballs, basketballs, soccer balls and softballs. I've even been run over by a 200-pound running back — although he ended up taking the brunt of the blow.

Never have I been run over by an electric cart.

When I first saw this video, I couldn't help but laugh for a good 20 minutes. It was a scary moment, but once you learned that everybody survived with minor injuries, you can't help but laugh. From Spring (Texas) Dekaney's coach Willie Amendola — father of St. Louis Rams and former Texas Tech wide receiver Danny Amendola — trying to control the cart from the passenger seat to watching the field workers unsuccessfully track down the cart, this viral video is full of comic gold. It just takes a couple of viewings to see it all.

No doubt, some readers will say a couple of those reporters deserved to be run over. I can probably think of a couple of guys I'd like to see run over by a cart. Hopefully they all got hazard pay after this incident.

All kidding aside, I'm glad to see that no one was seriously injured in this bizarre accident. And I know the next time I go to interview a coach,  I will keep one eye open for runaway carts and possibly goalposts.

The Naughty National League Central

Milwaukee's Ryan Braun recently tested positive for
performance-enhancing drugs. Braun can expect a lump of
coal in his stocking this year from Brewers fans.

The holiday season is nearly upon us, but not everybody has been nice — especially in the National League Central.

While Cardinals fans were mourning the loss of Albert the Great to the Los Angeles Angels, National League MVP and Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. It's safe to say that both Pujols and Braun can expect lumps of coal in their stockings from their fan bases.

Braun's positive test was devastating to Brewers fans and the rest of baseball. He was supposed to be the new wave of players — clean-cut and pure — after one of baseball's darkest ages. Braun still hasn't been convicted of actually using steroids yet, but if he is, it's just another black eye for a sport that has already been through more than a decade of embarrassment.

Perhaps the most criminal aspect of Braun's positive test was he was instrumental in the success Milwaukee had this season. Teams like Atlanta and Arizona can't help but to feel cheated if it turns out that Braun was using performance-enhancing drugs during the season.

Braun's actions may have been hurtful, but equally as hurtful were the actions of Albert Pujols. Sure, the Angels got an early Christmas present when Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million contract. But it came at a cost.

Pujols always seemed different than most athletes. While teams in the National League Central loved to hate El Hombre, there was hardly any doubt that he would eventually retire as a Cardinal. In an earlier blog post (found here), I said I thought Pujols should have been paid what he was worth. Now he is — in Los Angeles.

Obviously St. Louis fans are upset about the move — or lack of moves made by their owners. Pujols tried to soften the blow by taking out a full-page ad in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thanking the fans for all that they have done for him. With that kind of money, maybe he could have also thrown in a nice dinner at Mike Shannon's steakhouse for everyone in St. Louis.

The loss of Pujols came as a blow to Cardinals fans, but in four or five years those same fans will be praising management's decision to let Pujols walk — freeing up some money for up-and-coming players like David Freese.

Every kid had a difficult time waiting for Christmas when they were younger. Much like when we were kids, now we have to wait and see if what think is naughty right now will actually turn into something nice when it's all said and done.

Mass(ive) Controversy

Boston Cathedral High School's Matt Owens raises his arm in celebration
for what he thought was the go-ahead touchdown in Saturday's Division
4A Super Bowl in Massachusetts. Instead Owens was flagged for
unsportsmanlike conduct, resulting in his team losing 16-14 to Blue Hills.

Let me take back to a couple weeks ago. For those of you who follow this blog with any regularity, you probably remember when I railed on Buffalo's Stevie Johnson for his touchdown celebration against the Jets (if not you can read about it here).

Now, I believe Mr. Johnson owes the players on Boston's Cathedral High School an apology.

In the Massachusetts state championship, Cathedral's Matt Owens broke free for what should have been a 56-yard go-ahead touchdown. But as he raced down the field, Owens raised his fist in a brief celebration — resulting in a 15-yard penalty that nullified the touchdown.

As it turns out, that minor fist pump cost Cathedral a state title.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of excess showboating in any sport. Everybody knows the old cliche "There is no I in team," but football players especially are notorious for turning a team's accomplishments into more of a, "Look what I did."

While guys like Johnson and Chad Ochocinco give football players a bad name, what Owens did was did not warrant a flag.

One of the great things about high school and college sports is that the athletes show raw emotions. Momentum is a huge factor. It is the thing that fuels upsets and propels a team to victory.

By definition, yes, Owens was in the wrong in raising his fist. No doubt, Owens would give anything to have that second in his life back. But you have to look at the circumstances surrounding that situation.

Picture yourself in that situation as an 18-year-old athlete. This could be your greatest achievement of your life. Why wouldn't you want to raise your fist in celebration — even if it is just for a brief moment?

Those who have played sports — be it in high school, college or the professional ranks — know the rush of making such a play. As Boston mayor Thomas Menino said, "You wouldn't be a human being if you didn't show some expression."

Because of the recent antics of Johnson and Ochocinco — among many others — officials are cracking down on the celebrations — even if it means taking away a state championship.

To me, there's only one possible solution. Cathedral and Blue Hills should split the state title this year. It was an honest mistake by Owens and one I'm sure he will regret for the rest of his life. But there's no sense in punishing his team any more than necessary.

'Tis The Season

Texas A&M's Mike Sherman received word that he had
been terminated while in the driveway of a recruit's
home. Understandably, Sherman was perplexed by this
move by the Aggie athletic department.

As college football's regular season winds down,  the game of Musical Chairs: Coaches Edition begins. Some, like Washington State's Mike Leach or Ohio State's Urban Meyer, use this time to return to coaching, while others are just hoping to have a job next season.

Like every other upper management job across the country, athletic directors are stressed beyond belief right now. Nobody likes to fire a coach, but sometimes changes need to be made.

There is a right and wrong time to do it, however.

Kansas coach Turner Gill said he knew before he played Missouri his time was up. He was still heartbroken, but when athletic director Sheahon Zenger called Gill into his office, he knew what was coming. The same can be said for Memphis coach Larry Porter, after going an abysmal 3-21 in two seasons.

Then there's the case of Texas A&M's Mike Sherman and UCLA's Rick Neuheisel.

Sherman was actually on a recruiting trip in the driveway of a prospective athlete's home when athletic director Bill Byrne called and told him he was relieved of his duties. Ironically, the student-athlete had already heard rumors about Sherman's firing.

In reality, Sherman deserved to get fired. The Aggies were arguably the worst second-half team in college football, resulting in a 6-6 record. But to be notified over the phone without so much as a warning? That's just classless, Texas A&M.

But while Sherman's dismissal came as a slight shock, Neuheisel's firing was even more of a shocker. Of course, Neuheisel is no stranger to being canned — just ask people at Washington and Colorado — and when you coach in Los Angeles, people expect immediate results.

The news that Neuheisel had been fired came less than a week before his Bruins were to play in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship game. True, UCLA only got into the game because USC is on probation,  but had UCLA upset Oregon Neuheisel still would have been terminated.

As with any job, results are expected. If you don't produce, your boss will find someone who can do the job better. At the same time, there are right and wrong ways to let a coach go — and UCLA and Texas A&M could use a couple of classes on how and when to fire a coach.

Cue The Celebration

Buffalo's Stevie Johnson was flagged for a 15-yard penalty
after mocking Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes.
Johnson should leave the crazy celebrations to the likes of
Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco.

When it comes to celebrating touchdowns I'm of the thought the more creative, the better. Football is all about the fans, and if you can come up with something creative, more power to you.

But there is also a fine line. Buffalo's Stevie Johnson crossed that line on Sunday against the Jets.

After catching a 5-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick, Johnson did a little jig and and then grabbed his leg. The move was supposed to mock Jets wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who shot himself in a Manhattan night club and spent two years in prison as a result.

That wasn't the end of Johnson's antics. He also emulated a jet before tumbling to the ground — mocking Santonio Holmes.

Johnson was hit with a 15-yard penalty and will more than likely be fined by the league. The penalty also indirectly led to a New York touchdown — proving to be the difference in New York's 28-24 victory.

We've seen a lot of crazy celebrations over the years. From Joe Horn's hidden cell phone to the numerous goofy celebrations by Chad Ochocinco. But there's one glaring difference between those and Johnson's celebration. Those were all in good fun and actually clever.

A lot of wide receivers would love to be in the same category as a Terrell Owens or a Chad Ochocinco, but leave the dumb celebrations to them. They can get away with it because they are superstars and have the game to back it up.

Johnson is still a nobody in a small NFL market. Perhaps one day he will be the next T.O. or Ochocinco, but until then he needs to act like he's been in the end zone before — or come up with something more clever than mocking your opponent.

The Hardest Thing I've Ever Done

You will be hard-pressed to find any person better than
Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke.
Budke died in a plane crash on Thursday, leaving behind
a wife and three kids, along with a huge vacancy in the
hearts of many across the country.

In my career, I've covered a lot of events — from state championships to college sports. But fortunately I've never had to experience what I went through last Friday.

For those who may have missed it, Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna were killed in a plane crash outside Perryville, Ark., during a recruiting trip. The news was devastating to the community of Stillwater — especially after Oklahoma State lost 10 members of the men's basketball team's traveling party in a plane crash in January 2001.

As a journalist I'm supposed to be impartial, but covering the press conference where Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis announced that Budke and Serna had been killed — along with Olin Branstetter and his wife Paula — was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my young career.

I remember the first time I met Kurt Budke. It was one of my first days in Stillwater, and I had gone to Gallagher-Iba Arena to pick up my media pass for the football season. I was wandering through Heritage Hall completely lost when I was approached by a man nearly my height — maybe even a little taller.

He greeted me with a smile and introduced himself as Kurt Budke, the women's basketball coach. From there, we talked as he showed me where the media relations office was.

That's the type of person Kurt Budke was. He treated every stranger like they were a close friend. It didn't matter who you were, he wanted to make sure you felt welcome at Oklahoma State.

I only met him one time after that. I covered the Cowgirls first regular season game against Rice. Shortly afterward, I spoke with him one-on-one about his career for a feature in our Stillwater Style magazine. That was last Sunday — and it proved to be one of the last interviews he ever gave.

He could have easily blown me off and gone back to his office. He didn't. Instead we talked for roughly 20 minutes about his life, his family and basketball. It may have been one of my favorite interviews of all time.

Coach Budke was a family man who also enjoyed going on recruiting trips. He treated his players and recruits like family. During games, his voice could be heard throughout Gallagher-Iba Arena. But he wasn't angry — he was excited.

I've seen a lot of coaches come and go in my young career. But I can categorically say that I never expect to come across another coach like Budke. He was one of a kind and when his plane crashed, "America's Brightest Orange" became a little bit darker.

Not-So-Happy Valley

Part of the job of being a head coach is to know what's
going on in your program at all times. Because of the
Sandusky scandal, Joe Paterno lost his job when he
failed to report young boys being assaulted by former
coach Jerry Sandusky.

I've always had the upmost respect for Joe Paterno and the program he ran at Penn State. For 50 years, he did everything he could to turn the Nittany Lions into champions — and he did it the right way.

That is until we learned about Jerry Sandusky.

The life of a college football coach is never easy. During the season, most coaches get an average of four hours of sleep a night — even fewer if there's a big game coming up.

What Sandusky did was unconscionable. And while Paterno did report Sandusky's actions to people above him, Paterno could have done a lot more.

For 50 years, parents of athletes have trusted Paterno to protect their kids while they were at college. In fact, I'm sure that's one thing he promised to do when he was recruiting the athlete. But how can you walk into a recruit's living room and make those promises when you know that one of your assistants is sexually assaulting young boys in his home and on campus?

When Paterno was relieved of his duties as head coach at Penn State, no doubt this thought had to cross his mind. He realized that he had a responsibility to those players and to Penn State.

Fans protested the Paterno's firing immediately afterward, but I believe it was absolutely the right move. As a college football fan, you hate to see one of the greatest coaches ever go out like that, but there are more important things in life than football.

When all the smoke clears and the dust settles, maybe some day we can look back on JoePa's career and marvel at what he did for the Nittany Lions. But until then we can't look past what happened at Penn State. Afterall, that's how we got into this mess in the first place.