By Larry Fitzgerald
Originally posted 5/20/2010
For the first time since 1993, the NFL is in the march toward a season without a salary cap. Locally, Ray Edwards, the Vikings star defensive end and best defensive player in last year’s playoffs with four sacks, is still steamed about his situation — and he should be, even though there were 225 free agents when the period began in February.
There has been little movement and far fewer players changing teams, primarily because of 2010 being an uncapped year, a decision made by the 32 owners.
Players who would have been eligible for free agency after four years, like Edwards, have to wait to year six. That’s the difference between being restricted and unrestricted.
That’s also the difference between getting a potential big payday and having one or two other teams involved in your services, between having leverage and not having it. Edwards signed a four-year contract, remember, not a six-year contract. So he essentially got screwed by the system of an uncapped year.
In a league as violent as the NFL with few guaranteed contracts, that’s huge.
What I have noticed is that there has been less movement among free agents.
There were more trades before and during the 2010 College Draft than in any other season I can remember. I just don’t understand how a business as successful as the National Football League can proceed with doing business this way by not adhering to the collective bargaining agreement.
There are several NFL teams that are nearly 30 to 40 percent below the salary cap average. Those teams don’t have to spend, so they haven’t.
Fans can clearly see that a league that generated nearly $9 billion in 2009 now suddenly has 18 of its 32 NFL teams wanting to push that number to $11 billion by increasing ticket prices for 2010.
The Vikings have raised the prices on 85 percent of their tickets. What’s wrong with this picture? Where are we headed?
With all the national attention being paid to the governor of Arizona’s recent signing of the controversial illegal immigration bill, the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game may be canceled. Arizona lost a Super Bowl several years ago, remember, because at the time the state refused to recognize Martin Luther King Day as a national holiday.
That changed because the NFL, with the popularity and power they have, reminded Arizona voters: no King holiday, no financial riches that go with hosting a Super Bowl in your community. Now here’s another example where sports like Major League Baseball and politics go face to face and can force change.
Some state laws can be passed and signed into law and be so controversial that they in many ways label or stain the perception of the entire state community.
No community, you would think, wants to be perceived as discriminatory or racist. The state of California, for example, the land of fruits and nuts, allows you to smoke marijuana if you need to for medical reasons.
The state of Iowa allows and recognizes gay marriages. State laws and local decisions, in many cases, put the federal government in a bind also.
Fitz Notes & Quotes
Long before the Twins started printing money with Target Field, the Twins played outside last at Met Stadium. The very last baseball game at Met Stadium drew only 8,000 fans in 1981. The Twins theme is that Twins baseball is for everyone. For that to be true, more diversity is needed, and that means jobs on and off the field.
Venika Streeter is an administrative assistant in operations. The manager of season ticket sales and service is Eric Hudson. The director of scouting is
Deron Johnson. Robyn McQuillan is Box Office supervisor. Tina Flowers is the receptionist. Paulette Cheatham, Mentee Belleh and Shelley Andrew are all on the inside, also long-time. First Base Coach is Jerry White.
Thank goodness yours truly and Charles Hallman cover Twins baseball locally for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Lavelle E. Neil, Twins beat writer for the Star Tribune, is the only Black beat guy for a major daily paper of the 30 major league teams.
Broadcasting for TV and radio, however, is unanimous — it’s all White.
NBA Finals: Get Ready Lakers Vs Boston?
Did you know that the great Jerry West the former LA Lakers star who's likeness is featured on the NBA logo. Twice was MVP of the NBA Finals when his team loss the championship? Cleveland's LeBron James has now played seven NBA seasons and still is in pursuit of his first NBA title.
Seventeen times the Boston Celtics have won NBA Championships number one all-time. The Los Angeles Lakers have won fifteen NBA titles number two all-time. After both teams grabbed convincing game one victories of the Eastern and Western Finals against hot teams it appears the Lakers and Celtics are on another collision course to the NBA Finals.
Kobe Bryant has scored 30 points or more in six consecutive playoff games. After scoring 40 points in LA's 128-107 win over Phoenix in game one. It's going to be tough to keep the Lakers from repeating as champs.Head Coach Phil Jackson winner of 10 NBA titles told FOX Sports this probably will be his last season.
The Lakers are trying to repeat again. Head coach Phil Jackson as a coach has repeated as champion three times, twice with the Chicago Bulls and once with the Lakers. He was denied his fourth repeat two years ago when the Celtics beat the Lakers in the Finals.
I asked Jackson where the challenge to win was the greatest. In Chicago with Michael Jordan or with the Lakers in LA? "It's here with LA, said Jackson, we're not where the Bulls were here. We were expected to win in Chicago and were hunted every night in Chicago."
They have won seven playoff games in a row .Bryant has scored 30 points or more in 71 playoff games in his career. Michael Jordan is number one all-time with 109, Kareem Abdul Jabbar is second all-time in the playoffs with 75. Bryant told me "Defensively we were solid, we need energy from our bench, we need that spark. Lamar Odom scored 19 points with 19 rebounds to provide that much needed spark.
Two years ago the Celtics beat LA four games to two to grab championship number 17. Last year the Lakers who have been chasing Boston for decades captured title number 15.When these playoffs began it was believed that Cleveland and league MVP LeBron James would match up against Kobe and the Lakers in the Finals.
However the Celtics took care of Cleveland in six games and now have wrestled the home court away from Orlando And after taking game two 95-92 the Celtics have the Magic in a deep hole down 2-0. For the second year in a row the Cavaliers had the leagues best record. In 2009- 66 wins this past season they won 61 games.
Last year in the playoffs remember the Celtics did not have Kevin Garnett, now they have the Big three back in tack and the emergence of point guard Rajon Rondo who is a star in his own right. Rondo has had the biggest impact so far in the playoffs he has been dominate. Nobody has had and answer for his ability to run the Celtics offense and make shots. In the playoffs it's about who gets to 16 wins.
Sex Addiction In Sports!
Former New York Mets General Manager and ESPN analyst Steve Phillips was fired by ESPN last year for a sexual relationship with an female employee. Phillips is married an admitted by telling WFAN that he's a sex addict and received treatment at the same clinic in Mississippi that reportedly treated Tiger Woods.
Woods recently split with his swing coach Hank Haney after 6 and half years. In 92 tournaments as Tiger's swing coach Woods won 31 times and won $51.7 million and six Major Championships. For the first time however in Wood's career he played in consecutive tournaments and did not collect a check. Woods has played in only three tournaments since returning from his self imposed layoff.
Larry Fitzgerald Invitational Golf Challenge!
Your invited to play Golf with Larry Fitzgerald on Wednesday's at Meadowbrooke Golf Course. We have reserved Tee times between 1 and 1.30 pm Call Raymond Boyd at 612-827-4021 for details and to reserve a spot.
Fitz Beat Extra
Brett Favre is 40 years old and a new Grand pa despite the fact that he will need ankle surgery soon to play this year. He's coming back after all he's under contract for $13 million for 2010. It's highly unlikely he would pass on that kind of money this late in his career.
The Timberwolves need help big time last year was so bad they should consider asking Kevin McHale to return. They lost 29 of their last 31 games.And tied the franchise mark 15-67 for the worst record in team history since 1991-92
Coach Kurt Rambis excepted responsibility and laid out the reason for the dreadful season. Rambis said, "Young guys, lack of leadership, new system, new team,lacking in consistency." The Timberwolves are in the Draft lottery for the 14th time. And finished fourth Washington won the 2010 NBA lottery and will have the number one pick in June.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com
