The NFL needs a slotted salary system for rookies a la the NBA. MLB needs instant replay, and Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer ever.<o:p></o:p>
The NFL recently voided the final years of their CBA with the NFLPA. This has some potential negative ramifications if they are not able to get a new deal in place. There is the possibility of either a lock-out or a player strike, which I hardly think will happen given both sides knowing the ramifications of something like that. It took MLB almost 5 years to recover, and I would hope that both sides took note of that. That bieng said, the most important thing that the owners need is a slotted system for rookie contracts. It would potentially solve a couple of problems both on and off the field. First, we would not have the long rookie hold outs for a bigger deal. It is unreasonable for a 21 or 22-year-old kid to hold out for a 25 million dollar signing bonus when he has not played a single down of Professional football.<o:p></o:p>
These contracts should be either 2 or 3-year deals; this gives them time and incentive to play hard on the field, and keep their nose clean off the field. I say the latter with confidence. The majority of the time it is the higher draft picks that are getting into trouble, while the lower picks are primarily concerned with making the team and playing for their next contract. Some of the head cases could be jettisoned earlier if the team is not on the hook for their ridiculous salary. <o:p></o:p>
A slotted system would also prevent a lower first round pick holding out because his agent has made him feel he is worth more and everyone else screwed up by not picking him sooner. If a player is picked with the 13<sup>th</sup> pick it is with good reason, and he should not expect top 5 money just because his mom, friends, agent or some pre-draft analysis had him rated as such. This would free up money for the more proven veteran players.<o:p></o:p>
I would like to personally almost welcome MLB to the 21<sup>st</sup> century. After years of flatly rejecting that their umpires might be fallible, they are finally willing to possibly think about maybe having replay, sort of. Hey, it’s a good start. After a series of badly missed calls, primarily disputed Home Runs, they are looking at trying it this fall in their Arizona Fall League. <o:p></o:p>
I wish they would just make the call and do it now. There are going to be kinks to work out regardless of how or when they do it. The technology is and has been there for years. Now just go ahead and institute the basic rules and limitations, get a video feed down into the home dugout and run with it. Bud Selig is making it sound like trying to raise the Titanic to do in the Bigs this season. That seems ridiculous since numerous networks, including some that are team owned, already televise every game. These networks have multiple cameras positioned all over, so some sort of agreement should be easy to reach to tap into the necessary feeds. Plus I am looking forward to the ESPN highlights of Lou Piniella going nuclear on the video monitor after getting tossed for another botched call, or a player taking a bat to it.<o:p></o:p>
Let me start this next segment off with the statement that Golf is indeed a sport. There has been much debate over this in the weeks leading up to and since the US Open. Naysayers are pointing to the non-contact and recreational aspect of the game. To them I say phooey, it meets my 4 criteria for professional sport. 1) Competition, 2) Tremendous Skill, 3) Entertainment Value, and 4) Money. <o:p></o:p>
Tiger Woods beat the best players in the world on one leg. He has a torn ACL and 2 micro-fractures in his tibia. One week before the Open he was told he needed to rest for at least 6 weeks total (3 total rest, and 3 on crutches). How did he respond, he walked a total of just over 21 miles, unleashing his violent swing over 200 times, not counting chips and putts, and still won the tournament. The amount of torque he puts on his left leg when he swings is frightening considering the further damage he could incur. <o:p></o:p>
Since being diagnosed with a torn ACL last August he has played in 13 tournaments winning 10 of them and finishing no worse than 5<sup>th</sup> in the other 3. Now he has to shut it down for the rest of the 2008 season. There were numerous times over the course of the Open that I asked myself why he doesn’t just ease up and take it easy, but he does not know how. He is so unbelievably competitive that to ease up is to give up. For that reason alone he is going to win more than anyone in the history of the PGA. We may never see the type of player he is again. The PGA is now officially on notice that a healthy Tiger is going to destroy all comers in 2009.<o:p></o:p>
These are my senseless ramblings I hope you all enjoyed them, and encourage feedback, whether you feel I am right on, or waaaaaayyyy off base.<o:p></o:p>
BTW Roger Clemens is a tool, just had to throw that in.