Brad Hicks' Blog

You see the NFL is considering a rule that a player's hair can't cover his name on the jersey?   Al Harris won't like this. 

What do you think?  Good rule or let the long hair flow?   (By the way-- anyone know if it's legal to tackle a guy by his hair?  

This headline from the Hazelton Standard Speaker:

Well... back from a week at Lambeau.  I have to say, the Giants fans I met there were a very nice bunch. 

They were awed by how the Packers fans party, they had great admiration for Lambeau Field, and they came with sincere respect for Brett.  Many told me they wouldn't even mind if the Pack won because of #4. 

No doubt, however, they were even happier with the win.

I love football, but I think it's time for a change in the game.  The point-afters in the NFL have become so routine.  They rarely miss and almost never get blocked.  It has become kind of a "throw away" play.  You'll notice the commentators usually don't even acknowledge it's happening--  they're still talking about the TD. 

I think the NFL could build some excitement into the point after.  For example, what if a team got 1 point for taking it in from the one-yard line, and 2 points if they opted to try from the 5 yard line?   Or if you want to keep it mostly a kicking thing, let the teams gamble by making the PAT 1 point if kicked from the 10, 2 points if they choose to kick from the 25, and maybe 3 points if they want to gamble from the 40.   

Just suggestions, but I think it would make the PATs a lot more exciting.

What do you think?

So far, I'd have to say this is about as boring as a World Series can get.  I gotta hand it to the Sox.  By my math, they've outscored their opponents in the last 6 games 65 to 29. 

65 runs in 6 games!?!?!?   That surely must go down as one of the most dominant shows in post-season history.

I don't think the Brewers could have handled the Red Sox, but I do think the crew would have given them a better run than the Rockies.
 

I'm not a Cleveland Indians fan, but I was hoping they'd beat the Red Sox.

After the final three games, however, I'm glad they lost.  They were outscored 30-5 in games 5, 6 and 7 and don't deserve a shot at the World Series.  Those were three of the most boring baseball games I've ever seen.  Pathetic pitching.

So my question to you:  Who are you cheering for in the World Series????

I'm going for the Rockies myself.
 

When I was watching the Packers/Bears game Sunday, I noticed Vernand Morency kept falling down at the end of his runs. He would get bumped or tripped up, and instead of pushing forward for every last yard, he'd just collapse.

It's like he was afraid to get hit-- he'd just give up and fall. On one key third down he fell a yard short of the first down, and I swear he was barely touched.

Did anyone else notice this? Do you think he was injured and just trying to protect himself?

I'd never seen a running back do this. I've seen quarterbacks give better efforts on runs.

I usually don't blog to gripe, but I'm gonna gripe now!!!  

Do you workout at a gym?  I do.  And there's this one guy who sounds like he's giving birth to a Volkswagen when he's lifting.  I mean, I make a few grunts or whatever when I'm doing a big lift, but this guy is hideous.   GARAAAAHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!  He screams.  Every time.   Then he struts around like a peacock to see who noticed him.  How could you not?   It's so over-the-top it would be funny if it wasn't so obnoxious.

When I'm lifting, I'm focused.  Which brings me to my next gym gripe:  The loud talker (a different guy).  He must think it's important that everyone know about his attempts to pick up women at bars (mostly failures from what I can tell), and his critique of women's bodies (probably compensating for a small... well, you know).  Anyway, he crossed the line when I'm getting ready to do a major lift -- I'm focused -- and he walks by and says "Hey, you look too serious":.  Broke my concentration and pissed me off.  Perhaps it didn't dawn on him that I don't care how I look to him. 

Okay, I'm all better now!

What a sad week for sports:

Barry Bonds is poised to become the greatest homerun hitter of all time, but his record will forever be tainted by steroid allegations.

The leader in the Tour de France is yanked out of the race when his team discovers he lied about where he was when he missed two drug testing appointments.

The entire NBA is tainted by at least one ref making calls to help gamblers make money.

It's terrible for the respective sports and unfair to the fans, but the fans keep cheering.  Do we like winners more than we dislike cheaters?

How should sports bodies crackdown on cheating?   Mandatory lifetime bans for the first offense could work, but you darn well better be sure your testing is rock solid.  The testing for professional cycling, for one, is a total mess.  Cycling is unique because teams have corporate sponsors, like NASCAR.   If those sponsors started suing the riders on their team who cheat -- suing them for millions for damaging their brands-- that might change things.  Maybe that could work for NASCAR too.  I don't know.

What do you think sports bodies should do to crackdown on cheaters?

I just read that the Minnesota Twins are going to have four home games this season in which the skybox section is peanut free.  

I'm not allergic to peanuts (not allergic to any food thank goodness), but I work with someone who is.   Recently, someone left a peanut shell on his desk by accident--  That could have been real trouble for him.  People who are allergic to peanuts can die if they even get close to the things.

I never thought about it before, but I guess if you're allergic to peanuts, you can't really go to a ballgame.  Do you think Miller Park should have a peanut free section?