Where will he go...

It was announced that Monday Mike Vick was reinstated on a conditional basis. I didn't have the opportunity to hear the exact wording, but from what I hear the condition gives the commissioner an opportunity to see how well it goes for the NFL and also for Vick. It could be immediate playing time or as much as a 6 game suspension. Teams have started coming out saying that they are not interested in Vick and it appears that the chances of him returning have been cut in half already. The one team that I have been watching hasn't said anything yet, the San Diego Chargers. I really don't think that they would be interested but let's just imagine it for a moment. He couldn't come in and play QB because we have one of the strongest in the league (Rivers) and a great back up (Volek)but he could come in for situational plays at running back, however again he would have to be behind LT and Sproles. I don't think it makes a ton of sence right now and could be a bit of a risk, but maybe just maybe it would take some of the reps away from LT and keep him healthy heading into the post season. It could help us get over the hump that we have been struggling with. I don't think it would happen, but I am trying to have an open mind about it.

BYU Recruits

My much hated rival in BYU has made a big splash this year in the recruits that it will be bringing in next year and as a Utes fan I am on the fence a little bit between being scared and not letting myself get caught up in all of the hype. The biggest name is Jake Heaps (QB) and one of the best highschool players of his class. This signing was huge for the BYU program and has potential to really put them on the map in a few short years. Since he has verbally commited he has been out recruiting guys on his own and putting together a strong class for the next couple of years. The media is eating it up and can't wait to interview this kid. There is a lot of buzz around Utah valley right now, they are all excited about the future and I am just trying to stay positive and hope that the Utes can match the intensity down the line. Overall I think that it is good for the conference and good to break the BCS system, but I am worried that Utah will be left in the dust if they don't start working on some strong recruits. One thing that BYU has going for them is the LDS aspect that helps out in a lot of young talent's decisions and the Utes just can't compete with that.

The thing about this kid and all of his recruits is that we may not see the final product for another 3 years or so based on LDS missions and timing, but it does have the potential to really make a statement. Ihave heard a couple of interviews with Jake Heaps now and I really try to give the kid a chance, but something just doesn't sit well with me....I think it is because I just hate BYU so bad, but just his responses to some questions I feel are completely fabricated. He talks alot about being the leader and the guy and all I can say is he better be able to back it up because he is building himself some pretty big shoes to fill and trust me when I say that I would love to see it crumble down in misery.

Overall - Good for the Y stepping up with the strong recruit year, the Utes better have some tricks of their own. Until they prove otherwise I will support and assume they know what they are doing! Go Utes

Vick - 4 Games?

The latest being reported is that commissioner Goodell doesn't completely feel like Vick has served enough time and that he will reinstate him, but then have him on a 4 game suspension. It is thought that the 4 games will be due to Vick lying to Goodell before he went to prison about his criminal activity, not about the criminal activity itself. I feel pretty comfortable with this amount of time and like I said in my last post that I wouldn't be outraged to see him back in the league this year. On a side note....Terrell Owens decided to speak about the whole Vick situation saying that he doesn't agree with the 4 games because it's like "kicking a dead horse in the ground."

Can we please leave the dead animal analogy out on this one? There is just too much irony.

The Mike Vick Saga

With Vick being released from federal custody and finishing his debt to society as of Monday it is being reported that he will be looking to get back in the NFL within the next few weeks. Roger Goodell is possibly meeting with Vick as early as Thursday to discuss his reinstatement back into the league. I am having mixed feelings about this one and don't know where I fully stand. The whole time he was in prison I was glad to see him there and I thought that Goodell should ban him for one more year after Vick got out just because I thought what he did was so screwed up, but now that he is out and free I don't know if my feelings are that strong anymore. I still think what he did was terrible, but it wouldn't upset me to see him back in the league this year. People keep saying that he paid his debt to society so he should be allowed to work again, but for me to agree with that I would have to agree that 2 years in prison is a harsh enough punishment and I don't know if I do. I don't think the the justice system always makes the right call in fact many times I think it is a bunch of crap and too soft so therefore I don't agree that he has paid his debt to society. Again though, I wouldn't be outraged if he was reinstated this year. What are your thoughts?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE!

Media day was on Tuesday (July 21st) for the Mountain West Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada and sports radio was all about football all day long! I don't know about all of you, but I am getting tired of listening to all of the Jazz/Boozer drama that is being shoved down our throats. Get it over with and lets talk some pigskin! Preseason rankings are BYU, TCU, and Utah as 1,2, and 3 respectively. Normally I would like to argue this, but based off of what happened last year and who the teams lost I think that this is realistic. I actually would probably change TCU and BYU, but I am a little bit biased. I just know that BYU had a hard time making adjustments during the games last year and until they can show otherwise all the other teams will be running the spread offense against them because they can't stop it and don't have the one on one talent that TCU and Utah carry. For this reason I would put TCU in first. I would probably leave Utah in third because of how many people they lost to the NFL and graduation. It is yet to be decided on who will be the quarterback, but I am hearing that we will have a decision within the first week of camp. I would be ok if the Utes lost 3 games this year after coming off all of the changes. The pressure is definetely on for BYU and they better have a big year or they will just be made a mockery again.

Nevertheless.....It begins!!! What are your predictions for the season? What kind of season would you consider a success? Let the trash talking begin!

Matching Millsap's Offer

It was announced today that the Jazz matched Portland's offer for Millsap. I don't think that this comes as a suprise to anybody, the Jazz have made it extremely clear that they were going to be aggressive in resigning him and they kept their word. The only problem is that the contract is front loaded meaning that they have to pay him about $10 million this next year which puts the Jazz payroll somewhere around the $80million dollar range and WAY over the luxury tax. I don't think that they can handle paying that much money in this small of a market, esspecially with the car business being so crappy this past year. The Miller family's budget probably is a little bit more tight than normal and not a good time to go over the luxury tax. The route it looks like this is going is that the Jazz next move will be to trade Boozer probably for a younger player with a lower contract and relieve some cap space. I guess we will see how it goes over the next few months.....All I can say is that I hope that it happens quick because I am tired of listening to it.

Boozer v. Millsap

We continue with the saga of the Jazz trying to figure out what to do with Boozer and Millsap. Currently we are waiting to see if they will match the contract that Portland put out there to try and still Millsap away. The offer sounds like it will be front loaded and average out to be $32 million over the next 4 years. The Jazz have said multiple times through out the year that they will be very aggressive in trying to keep Millsap and if they don't match Portland's offer they will come out looking like the bad guy and have many upset fans. The Carlos Boozer situation is a tough pill to swallow. We owe him a lot of money and nobody in Utah feels like he is worth it. He is a 20 and 10 guy, but doesn't play any defense and people question his heart and desire to win. He seems like a cancer in the locker room and is always hurt. All of these concerns and the state of the economy is greatly hurting our options in trading him for anything of quality.

It seems like most Jazz fans want Boozer gone, no matter what the cost, and Millsap to stay. The one thing that I think a lot of fans are not thinking about is in Jerry Sloan's system a strong power forward who can post up and shoot the mid range jumper is crucial. It doesn't seem like we can be successful without a better offensive power forward than Millsap. This takes me back to my previous post and the fact that Jerry Sloan is now hurting our team (again) because we can adopt a better system to fit Millsap (a small power forward), Andrei Kirelinko (a weak side defender), Kyle Korver (our shooting threat - which Jerry HATES), and Ronnie Brewer (a slasher and runner).

Our team is young and could use a coach who will play to their talents, not his old system....

My take is...Trade Boozer for a defender, Trade Memo for a defender and let's adopt a new system. How is it that other teams can rebuild and become power houses and the Jazz never scare anybody....I want to see some defense and heart.

Time for Change

I have sworn many times that I won't root for the Jazz until Jerry Sloan is retired and we are moving on. Many of us have no idea what it is like to have the Jazz without Jerry, he has been here for most of my life and it needs to stop. Don't get me wrong, I think that he is a good coach and has had some great years, but there is something that is holding him back from winning when it matters. I wish the Jazz had some guts and would give him the Marty Shottenheimer treatment! There can't be too many coaches who can go through this league with 2 of the best players to ever play in Stockton and Malone, have them in their prime at the same time and still not win anything! Sure we made it to the finals twice, but what good has that done us. How many of you could work at your jobs for 20+ years, never reach the big goal and still have your job? I am sick and tired of all the Jazz fans just being happy with a good team year in and year out. Sports is about winning...why are we playing the game, why do they keep score!? If you ask me I would be happy with a few losing seasons where we are trying to makes some good moves and get to the top. Let's take a risk - follow Darrin Williams tatoo - "No Guts No Glory." Sorry Jerry, but he looks like he is going to croak during a game and I think it's best to can him before it happens.

Here We Go

I am just one of millions of men who crave sports - drink sports - live sports and can't seem to get enough sports! I have them on the way to work, home from work, the game at night and still sportscenter after that. Yet again I am just one of millions who come home to tell their wife about everything new that happened today only to find out.....she doesn't really care. She will listen for a while and even share an opinion or two, but she doesn't want to hear about it for the next two hours and by the time football season is over she needs a break. If you are like me, you dread the end of any season, you have withdrawals...break out in a cold sweat and need counseling. This post is going to be my counseling, my release and my place to put down all of my opinions. I encourage you to do the same, post your comments, opinions, and thoughts. Let's get a debate going.

Just what your wife wants...another place for you and your sports.....does she even have a husband anymore!?

HERE WE GO