From Sexual Assault Charges, to Heisman Trophy

Florida State QB Jameis Winston Wins the Heisman Trophy

I posted this photo and article on Google+, and remarked:  From sexual assault charges, to the Heisman Trophy ... what a turn of events for the young man!

I missed the Trophy ceremony, and frankly I was surprised he won.  He was cleared of these charges, but these apparently lingered in the minds of some Heisman voters.  Yet he still won. 

When his name was announced, he popped from his seat and quickly made his way to his mom and dad for hugs and kisses. He smiled and laughed through most of his acceptance speech. 

He talked about trusting in the "process" on the field and in life and "after all the things I've been through this past month." He got choked up a bit when talking about his parents. 

"When you see your mom and you see your dad and they've been struggling through this whole process and now you see a smile on their face, it comforted me," he said later.

Reference: Jameis Winston Wins Heisman.  

I also commented: I just hope Jameis Winston is truly a fine young man, along with an awesome football player.  

Our legal system is no barometer for character, and the verdict handed down in his favor is no insight into what actually happened between him and a woman.  We simply will not know for sure.

There were also allegations that the police were dismissive of that woman, especially in light of her accusing a hometown star player.  On ESPN Mike & Mike radio show, fellow broadcaster Jemele Hill was quite negative on the whole incident.

Johnny Manziel, another freshman who won the Heisman in 2012, proved that maturity is not a criterion for nabbing the coveted Trophy.

Congratulations, and best wishes, to Winston.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Sportsman and Anti-Sportsmen of the Year

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Hearty congratulations to Peyton Manning - Sportsman of the Year! That was a no-brainer decision for Sports Illustrated.

Just two years ago, while he sat out the 2011-2012 season, he must've wondered whether he could truly comeback from a serious neck injury and multiple surgeries.  That question was quickly put to bed, in the 2012-2013 season.  This season has been more of the same, and it's all positively sublime for an athlete of Manning's caliber and character.  

Richie Incognito

Incognito hit into the unsportsmanlike triple play of bullying, racial slurs and sexual harassment. Incognito's bullying is allegedly responsible for starting left tackle Jonathan Martin's sudden departure from the team midway through the season. According to Martin, Incognito harassed him constantly, left a threatening voicemail in which he called Martin a racial slur, and stuck Martin with a $15,000 bill for a Las Vegas trip the then-rookie didn't even take. After the Dolphins suspended Incognito indefinitely, details emerged of a police report filed a year earlier by a volunteer at a Dolphins charity golf tournament, who alleged Incognito sexually harassed her with a golf club.

He headlines the anti-Christ of athletes in SI's photo album Anti-Sportsmen of the Year.  He remains on extended suspension from the Dolphins, and I haven't heard yet of a final verdict on his case.  In his wake stand fellow Slur meisters Riley Cooper, Roy Hibbert and Kevin Garnett, who proves that he doesn't deserve to be called a man for insulting Carmelo Anthony's wife.  Moreover, they may be millionaires, even gifted athletes, but Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez and Von Miller are nothing more than junkies with the bling-bling to mask their low life.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Oh, Thank Heavens for the Ravens!

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I posted the following in the Chicago Bears Google+ community this afternoon:

When both offense and defense are scoring points, it's hard to beat the Bears. So congratulations for a really good win yesterday!

It's still a really tight playoff hunt, but as of right now, as we all know, Bears are in first place in the NFC North: half-game ahead of the Lions.

But they need help to get in the playoffs at season's end. We need the Ravens to play with Super Bowl pride, and beat the Lions tonight. It doesn't matter how they win, they just have to win.

The Ravens are fighting for their playoff lives, too, and as of right now, they're a half game behind the Dolphins for the last playoff spot in the AFC. So they have added motivation to win. They're a very well-coached team, so don't expect a Cowboys-like meltdown tonight.

Then, with a Ravens win, the Bears regain control their destiny. They lost control, after that devastating 2nd loss to the Lions. Beat the Eagles and the Packers, and they're in.

There's talk that Packers may shut Aaron Rodgers down for the season, but that was before their improbable win yesterday. If he's healthy, he'll play.

In the meantime, there's talk that Briggs may be back in the lineup soon. I don't know about Peanut, or even DJ, but we'll get guys back.

Once in the playoffs, anything can happen. It's a brand new season, after the New Year.

So let's go, Ravens! Let's go, Bears!

As it turned out, the Ravens won in awesome, dramatic fashion.  It was a last-minute, 61-yard field goal by Justin Tucker that won it.  18-16, in favor of the team that mattered most to the Bears.

Here, we go.  

Bears have a tough match up with the Eagles, but they have the capability to win.  Jay Cutler had a full game to work out the rust, and will have a full week of practice to prepare.  Lance Briggs may be cleared to play, but we will not know perhaps until this coming Friday.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Sorry, Derrick, We've Heard That One Before

Bulls star Derrick Rose

"If I'm healthy and the situation is right, I'm going to be back playing," Rose said Thursday during a news conference in his first public comments since tearing the meniscus in his right knee Nov. 22. "If I'm healthy and my meniscus is fully healed, of course I'll be out there playing. But if it's something totally different and the outcome is not how I would want it to be, there's no need."

Reference: Derrick Rose:  Going to be all right.

ESPN published this article and interview on December 6th, and my first reaction was, Here we go again.  Sorry, Derrick, we've heard that one before.

After the debacle of The Season That Never Was, I am not expecting Rose to return to the playoffs.  I am not ruling out, for myself in my own mind, him taking half the 2014-2015 season to fully recover and rehabilitate his meniscus surgery.  When he does return, I do not see him returning to his old self.  For his own long-term health, he ought not try to do so, in light of the fact that his body has given him several signals - injuries galore, over three years - that it can no longer take the explosive force and brutal punishment he subjects it to.

Of course I can be entirely wrong, and that's fine.  I'll believe it, when I see it.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Tough Lessons for Rookie Head Coach Jason Kidd

Clash of styles, philosophies drove Nets coaching shuffle

Jason Kidd is in the news for all the wrong reasons: Lawrence Frank spat | $50,000 Spillgate | Nets 6-14 start (as of December 9th).

 

Kidd-Frank combo doomed from the start: source

Easy for people to say they saw the Jason Kidd & Nets train wreck, before it happened ... How does that saying go?  Hindsight is 20/20 vision.

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But what I want to know is, How could key people - Nets front office, Jason Kidd himself - have missed what was so apparent to various "sources"? 

Nets Rookie Head Coach Jason Kidd

The thing is, it's tough to be an NBA head coach. It requires a different set of skills, motivation and discipline than those of a player, and it takes a lot of time to develop all of these. Obviously, Jason Kidd doesn't have that luxury of time, but I did pick up clues that he's able to learn and willing to adjust on the fly.

Who knows, the Nets front office may be spot-on: Maybe Kidd does the have the potential to become a good NBA head coach.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Bears Marc Trestman Must Weigh Human Element

Chicago Bears Head Coach Marc Trestman

As Matt Eurich reports in Marc Trestman's honeymoon phase over with Chicago Bears fans, the Bears Head Coach appreciates the importance of analytics in football decision-making.  The book and the film `Moneyball may have popularized more statistics-driven sports, but it didn't speak entirely to the complexity and even the incompleteness of such an approach.  In baseball parlance, it's called sabermetrics, after the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).

I posted Eurich's article, and commented:

The thing about sports analytics (rf. sabermetrics) is that it strips off the human element of decision-making. On the one hand, this is good, because some aspects of being human are not logical or rational and these work against proper decision-making. On the other hand, this is bad, because sports is inevitably a human effort and because sports is infinitely more complex than any analytics can account for (at least right now). So, at the end of the day, to make proper use of an analytics report or stat sheet, we have to put that human element back into the `equation (i.e., decision-making). We have to recognize that that human element is the essence of sports.

In the end he is still a rookie head coach. Mistakes happen, and just as his team has to learn to pick themselves up from mistakes, so does he. Fans were on cloud-nine when his offense helped lead come from behind victories against the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings in Weeks-1 and 2, and while the dreamy honeymoon phase with a new coach never lasts forever, let’s just hope it does not turn into a nightmare anytime soon.

In Trestman's case, that human element has a good amount to do, indeed, with lack of previous experience as head coach.  He strikes us as a thoughtful, smart man, but how well he learns the ropes at this level and how well he improves his decision-making will determine the Bears' success for the foreseeable future.  Obviously, studying, assessing and reflecting on his coaching decisions are keys to that learning and improvement.  But he may need coaching and mentoring himself, particularly in how to account for that human element - that is, his own football intuition, thinking style and cognitive ability - vis-a-vis football analytics.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

The NHL is Surging in Value

Maple Leafs are most valuable NHL team

The average NHL team now has an enterprise value (equity plus net debt) of $413 million, 46% more than a year ago. For the first time since Forbes began tracking NHL team values in 1998, three of the league’s five most valuable teams–Toronto Maple Leafs($1.15 billion), Montreal Canadiens ($775 million), Vancouver Canucks ($700 million)–are Canadian. The New York Rangers ($850 million) and defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks ($625 million) are the two U.S. teams to make the top five. And this is also the first time that every Canadian franchise ranks among the top 16 in the 30 team league. 

Why is this so important for the NHL? Because hockey was born in Canada. Nurtured there. And it is where the majority of the game’s stars are born and hone their skills. In Canada, hockey is not just another professional sport. The ice is where character is measured. Hockey isn’t a religion in Canada. It isthe religion. This passion delivers at the turnstiles–regardless of market size.

Reference: The NHL's Most Valuable Teams.

I'd like to believe that the Blackhawks have had a significant contribution to this NHL surge.  They play hockey with finesse - skating agility and speed, puck handling and passing wizardry, and scoring prowess - rather than fight or brawn.  Moreover, they have proven themselves to be tough players as well.  In virtually every playoff game last season, opposing teams have outhit them.  Still they endured, and came away with the Stanley Cup championship.

It baffled me that opposing coaches, especially Claude Julien of the Bruins, kept at this hard hitting strategy through their final loss in that Cup-winning Game 6 last June.  It didn't work.  Specifically his Bruins laid out quite a heavy artillery in the first period, and Blackhawks weathered the blitzkreig with just a 1-0 deficit.  By the second period, the Bruins were noticeably worn down, and were consequently vulnerable to those thrilling two goals in 17 seconds by the Blackhawks in the waning minute of that fateful Game 6.

These findings from Forbes make sense:  While markets in US cities are big, the hockey markets in Canada are bigger for NHL teams.  So should the Coyotes, Panthers and Lightning relocate to Canadian cities?  It bears serious consideration for owners, if it hasn't yet.  

Expect the NHL to become more popular, and thus more valuable, as TV deals, ticket sales, and retail under gird its business model.  Top players will garner more endorsements, and supplement their incomes with off-ice earnings, as do NFL and NBA players.

Thank for you reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Bulls at Crossroads as a Team

Click here to watch the video

I posted this commentary on the Chicago Bulls Google+ community on November 27th 2013:

GM [Gar Forman] says Bulls are well-positioned for the future.  Thibs [Coach Tom Thibodeau] will keep coaching hard and playing to win.  But Jurko [ESPN John Jurkovic], plus other analysts, are saying: "Blow the whole thing up."

Here's the thing: DRose's [Derrick Rose] body was already wearing down, long before his torn ACL.  He missed about 30 games in the 2011-2012 season due to assorted injuries.  Even before he tore his MCL, he had two different injuries so early in the season.  It's super-exciting to watch his explode and elevate, but I'm not sure his body can take more of this.  For his long-term health, he has to adjust his play.

Right now, there's no telling that he'll be ready, physically or mentally, at the start of the 2014-2015 season.  He and his camp may decide to miss half or more of it.  How good can he really be, with two bum knees?  He's such a gifted athlete, but at the end of the day, he's human like everyone else.

So where does that leave the Bulls?  Even with DRose the Bulls were very good contenders for the title, but improbable for the actual title, because they're missing a 2nd superstar.  The front office may not blow the whole thing up, as Jurko suggests, but we can expect Deng to be gone before the season's end.  

Last night, the Bulls (now 7-8) could not beat a bad Cavaliers team (now 5-12).  The reason?  Because they're a bad team in their own right.  Much as Forman may deny it, and spin a positive yarn for the media, the only thing the Bulls are well-positioned for is mediocrity.   

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Run Defense and Penalties Killed the Bears

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On November 25th 2013, I posted a lengthy commentary on the Chicago Bears community. It was a day after an aggravating 21-42 loss to the St. Louis Rams. It generated an even lengthier discussion among a few of us members.

What a roller coaster game! It's like the Bears were expecting a 1 PM start, then found out they had to get on the field, before they were ready. But after such an embarrassing start, they got things settled down for two quarters, and got back in the game. Then the wheels totally came off ...

Here are stats I was keying on, after the game:

I.

Our defense is atrocious, and is, not surprisingly, dead last in the NFL against the run at 145.2 yards/game. They gave up 258 yards to a Rams team that was, at best, a middling running team (15th, at 113.8 yard/game). Just inexcusable! And they're going to face AP [Vikings' Adrian Peterson] on Sunday (yikes).
But what I found surprising were: (a) Broncos (27th, 378.0 yards/game) have a worse overall defense than the Bears (26th, 376.0 yards/game). Which doesn't bode well for Peyton & Co.'s Super Bowl aspirations. (b) Our pass defense isn't all that bad: 13th, at 230.8 yard/game. This stat may be misleading, though, because teams may be slanting towards the run against the Bears. For example, pass-rush plays for the Rams yesterday: 22-29. 

II.

Penalties, penalties. They made me totally insane! e.g., On Devin's return TD, on Forte's rushing TD... Of course there were some questionable calls on both sides, but for that last Bears TD, in the red zone, the referees seemed to be on our side.

Bears are one of the least penalized teams in the NFL: 9th, at 5.7 penalties/game. Some of the broadcasters lauded the Bears for their discipline and focus, e.g., just a couple of false start penalties, early in the season. But what's disturbing is, In the last 3 games, the Bears are the 2nd most penalized team in the league: at 9.3 penalties/game. They were nailed 10 times, for 84 yards, yesterday. What the hey is going on, man?

III.

Finally, the silver lining in all of this? Bears (6-5) are still very much in the playoff hunt! But, Bears fans, don't be fooled, when sports reporters say they're tied for the Division lead: They are not! Because Lions (6-5) own the tiebreaker, the Bears have to finish with a better record to win the Division. This is the Bears' best chance to get in. The wild card picture is tougher, because they have to do better than really good teams, like Cardinals (7-4) and 49ers (6-4, currently; they play Redskins tonight).

Of course the Packers (5-5-1) are right there in the playoff hunt, too. If Rodgers gets back earlier than expected, say goodbye to the Bears and Lions.

I don't know how Trestman and staff are going to do this: Defense must keep opponents to under 30 points, and keep RBs closer to their season average in rush yards given up. Some of you in the community made a good point, that we need Cutler to win, if our defense is going to give up 30+ points. Otherwise, a McCown-led offense is methodic and reliable at scoring in the mid- to upper-20s. Plus, as a team, Bears have to get back to their mental discipline and focus, and minimize costly penalties. You don't need to have any special talent to avoid holding and illegal blocks!

Whew, what do you guys think?

I've been saying all along that Mel Tucker is the dynamite that destroyed our Defense. This is the worst Defensive team we've had in my lifetime of 38 years. His Defensive play calling puts players out of position before the ball is even snapped and the players seem to be injuring themselves trying their best to cover the enormous amount of ground that is asked of them. Tucker was kicked out of Cleveland and chased out of Jacksonville. (Those are some pathetic teams right there!) Yes we need some players and players to make plays, but having this BUM show the NFL ropes to players like Bostic is going to ruin the kid. Tucker has to go in order for this team to get better!

Do you think Trestman is tough enough to make that tough call on Tucker? If not, I expect Emery to step in.

Trestman went through 4 defensive Coordinators in 5 years while in Canada. I would almost expect the same here. I've got my fingers crossed that Singletary will be job hunting when the season is over.

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tucker is a solid d. coordinator. In Cleveland and Jacksonville his defenses were top 5 or better. Tucker runs a 3-4 scheme. The bears are currently a 4-3 tampa 2 defense.

The dynamite that destroyed the bears defense is horrible drafting, no depth and age. Expect major turnover when they switch schemes. 

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Cleveland fans were calling for his head. And in the 2012 season Tuckers Defense ranked 30th against the rush and 22nd against that pass. He had 4 years in Jacksonville....so it was his players and his calls. Our stats now rate similar to his last season stats in Jacksonville. Any other answers to this similarity?

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I think too many injuries on defense. 3 DTs, 2 LBs, a CB and a NB. They've got guys playing who were on the couch a few weeks ago. What can we expect? How can Tucker be blamed for this?

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the players on defense are garbage. Major Wright and Chris Conte are awful safeties. James Anderson is good on pass coverage, but horrible on run defense. Peppers is terrible. Only decent players are Paea, Briggs, Ozougwu and Jennings. I'll post the defensive player grades and you tell me who is great. 

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So what you're saying is that Phil Emery is to blame? He's not competent enough to draft players? Yet all last season and last year our fans praised this guy. 

Conte wasn't an all-star but was by no means horrible. Major Wright was considered progressing. So in 1 season, Peppers (a HOF player) forgot how to tackle, Jennings forgot how to intercept a ball and we can't stop a 3rd string RB from running all over us like the 2nd coming of Walter Payton? 

Tucker is a BUM! He came from 2 teams that are NFL floor mats and was sold to us as a defensive genius. I'm not buying it. 

Let's just hope Trestman stays true to form and fires another D Cord this season. He went through 4 in 5 seasons in Canada.

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I only mentioned injured players, don't get me started on the safeties...How bad are the backup safeties that they can't crack the starting lineup with those two bums out there?

My two-cents is Tucker is very much trying to get a feel for these players, injuries and all, and for offenses he's seeing. But he doesn't adjust very quickly or very well. The two weeks off did him and his staff a world of good, it seems, as the defense played better against the Packers, Lions and Ravens. But my guess is that the Rams studied film very well, and knew how to exploit the weaknesses in the defense big time, including Tucker's difficulty adjusting. Recently Trestman gave Tucker a big vote of confidence, but I'm not sure if that means anything, really. Bottomline: Emery has a lot of work to do with the defense, and it may take him two years to get it corrected. My guess is that he's more or less decided to "tag" Cutler, so he can focus as much as possible on the defense. 

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In 2 years Emery's changed out 7 offensive starters, 8 if you count Bitten who plays on a regular basis. The only starters left from pre-Emery are Cutler, Forte, Garza and Earl Bennet. 

As of now on defense there are 3 rookies and 2 2nd year guys starting or playing regularly. If any of them make the leap that Jeffery did that will be a plus. And based on what Emery did to the offense, I expect we'll see 4 or 5 more new starters next season. 

And I agree he will tag Cutler - he has to in order to fix the rest of the roster.

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The postscript is this: The Bears just lost to the Vikings 20-23 in OT.  This, after leading 20-10 through three quarters.  They settled down the costly penalties (nailed six times for 51 yards).  But the run defense?  Another big stinker at 246 yards given up, 211 yard to AP alone.  With the Lions (7-5) winning on Thanksgiving Day, the Bears (6-6) are now a longshot at making the playoffs.  

Ah, well, at least it was a thrilling OT game, at the end of the day, and as a football fan I love that.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Bo Jackson Best Athlete by ESPN Sports Science

It's hard to match up with a star athlete in two sports, like Bo Jackson.  Speed, clutch and reaction are among the metrics for determining the best among the best.  Sports Science gives the edge to Jackson, over Michael Jordan, in this first match up of the Final Four.  

The second match up of the Final Four is Jackie Robinson versus Jim Brown.  I couldn't find the video, so here at least is fan selection of Robinson as number one game changer.  

It is Jackson versus Brown.  Athletes such as these two men are what makes sports so compelling to watch and why we feel, even in minute degrees, all the grander in our own abilities.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Blake Griffin et al. on ESPN Sports Science

The former Baylor star, now with the Mercury of the WNBA, Brittney Griner is an amazing freak of nature on the court.  Her hands are bigger than Lebron James', and his wingspan is wider than Andrew Bynum's.  But what I find incredible is her ability to cover a shooter way in front of her, and to leap and get a finger on a shot 11 feet in the air.   

Nuggets' JaVale McGee shows ungodly skills in dunking two basketballs, while in flight.  So while he focuses on rebounding a second basketball, and dunking it, he sizes up what he has to do to dunk the first basketball.   By the time he dunks that first basketball, however, he no longer has direct vision of the hoop.  So he's dunking blind.

Bulls' Carlos Boozer has one of the rainbow shots I've seen.  They seem to arc much higher than others' shots.  Nuggets' Stephen Curry has a rainbow of a shot as well.  Besides the fact that this allows him to shoot over defenders much taller than his 6-feet, 3-inches, the arc of the ball means that it has more of the hoop's surface area to target.  In practical terms, his shooting style widens the hoop and minimizes misses.  Moreover, his ball release is the quickest that Sports Science has analyzed.  

Blake Griffin wows players, sportscasters and fans alike every night, it seems.  I see that what defines filthy posterization is not just the body contact with the defender, but also leveraging that defender to elevate higher and get longer hang time for the big throw down.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Derrick Rose et al. on ESPN Sports Science

John Nash (court vision) + Derrick Rose (dunking ability) = John Wall.  Wall plays for the Wizards, and what's amazing from this Sports Science episode is not just his 180° vision, but also his accurate, beguiling passes (i.e., behind the back, between the legs).

Speaking of the Bulls star, Rose has an MVP arsenal of speed, quickness and accuracy.  This episode was before he tore his ACL (April 2012), but during his lengthy recovery and tough rehabilitation he increased his vertical leap from 37 to 42 inches.  He looks as speedy and quick as ever, acknowledging that he has is typical explosiveness back.  Finally, if his shooting in last night's big win against the previously undefeated Pacers were any indication, I'd say Rose is now recovering his accuracy:  He hit 4 of 5 from the arc in the first half, and finished the game at 6 of 11.

Despite the miserable year he had with the Lakers last season, now with the Rockets, Dwight Howard remains an athletic freak of nature.  Superman, they call him.  With the record reach of 12 feet, 5 inches on the line, courtesy of Shaquille O'Neal, Howard had to try more than once to break it.  But break it, he does, as verified, at 12 feet, 6 inches.

Not only is science cool, but it is also crazy.  Here we have Timberwolves star Kevin Love boxing out a sumo wrestler under the basket, so he can grab the rebound.  It's about leverage, using his body and base.  By bending his knees, widening his stance, and timing his box-out perfectly, Love stops the 350-pound big fellow cold in his tracks.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Bullying Scandal Commanding Full Attention

SC Centerpiece: Bill Polian, Eric Allen and Herm Edwards discuss the culture of an NFL locker room and the failure of leadership among the players in Miami.

For whatever their involvement in the Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito bullying, players must be held accountable.  But of course there is no skirting the responsibility of the formal leaders in the team, from the coaching staff, to the front office.  

The "NFL Countdown" crew reacts to the situation in Miami regarding Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin.

Tom Jackson doesn't mince words in the least:  Incognito is a racist, bigotted, and a bully.  He challenges the notion that the locker room is a haven of sorts for players.  No, it's the same as society at large.  You must stand up to a bully, Mike Ditka exhorts any player on a team.  Keyshawn Johnson reiterates that there is no place for bullying anywhere.  Cris Carter wonders how someone like Incognito could even be on a team without players seemingly not knowing what was going on.  It's a shame no one stood up for Martin.

Ed Werder discusses how the Richie Incognito controversy has affected the Miami Dolphins and jeopardized the season.

We on the outside can only imagine what is actually going on within the team, but to be sure there is an impact reverberates through the team.

Herm Edwards, Antonio Pierce and Trevor Matich discuss the idea of mental and physical toughness and pushing players to the limit in the NFL.

Cultivating toughness and pushing players are part of a sports mandate on professional athletes.  But so are a sense of safety, as Edwards emphasizes, and an unstated line that must not be crossed.  Still the thing is, football is just an aggressive, even predatory sport, its rules and policies and ethics notwithstanding.  That line must be dangerously thin at times for players or in situations that pulse with that aggression.

Chris Mortensen discusses the news that Dolphins OT Jonathan Martin recently checked himself into a South Florida hospital to be treated for emotional distress.

Coach Joe Philbin visited Martin in the hospital, and the team arranged for his family to come in from California.  It was a short visit, and apparently Philbin had no notion at the time that it had to do with bullying.  Or maybe he did.  Sage Steele points out that it must've been so distressing to Martin as to require hospitalization.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

How the Jonathan Martin Bullying Story Broke

Offensive lineman Jonathan Martin

Two weeks ago, on October 29th, ESPN reported Dolphin Notes: Martin misses practice.  The team had a Thursday night game coming up, and the fact that Jonathan Martin missed a second day of practice made it less likely that he would play in a short week.

By the next day, ESPN learned more about what happened - Jonathan Martin leaves Dolphins:

According to sources, Martin was the subject of some ribbing on Monday and was angry about it. One source said Martin's fellow offensive linemen were behind the incident, and it happened in the Dolphins' lunch room. 

"O-line made fun of him and he snapped," a source said. 

Poll taken on October 31st 2013

Not many fans weighed on this SportsNation poll, but the story was merely simmering.  To their credit, the Dolphins pulled off a 22-20 victory against the Bengals, with an improbable safety in overtime, that Thursday night, October 31st, that Martin missed.

The day after the game, teammates offered support via the media apparently - Jonathan Martin should take his time.  Moreover, Miami's [head coach] Joe Philbin preaches respect, plus team and accountability.  

But all was definitely not well.  This was clearly not an issue that could be soothed away or swept under the rug with preaching.

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Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito's role in alleged harassment of teammate Jonathan Martin is under review by the NFL Players Association due to an incident that provoked Martin to leave the team, according to multiple sources. 

One high-ranking Dolphins official who did not want to be identified defended Incognito as a player who has been a "model citizen" and was mystified by any allegations related to Incognito. 

Meanwhile, several sources insisted Incognito was involved, adding that the incident was not isolated and extended to 2012, when Martin was a second-round draft pick by the team. One source said any emotional issues Martin is experiencing are directly related to his harassment. 

An NFL spokesman said the league was monitoring the matter and has been in contact with the Dolphins since Martin left the team. On Friday, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said, "This is something we take very seriously and will not be tolerated."

Reference: Sources: NFLPA eyes Martin case.

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A sincere, concerned reaching out from the Dolphins?  Or merely damage control or cover-your-ass efforts?  Maybe both.

It is now November 3rd, a full week since Martin took off, and the story was still rising to a boil.

Adam Schefter and Trent Dilfer break down the Miami Dolphins suspending Richie Incognito for his involvement in the Jonathan Martin case.

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Herm Edwards and Merril Hoge discuss the indefinite suspension of Dolphins guard Richie Incognito for conduct detrimental to the team while teammate Jonathan Martin's harassment complaint is reviewed.

The locker room is the players' home away from home, and the coach ought not be part of it.  But through the training, equipment and strength staff are the conduit for the coach, who must, while respecting his players' privacy, also know what is going on with them.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Richie Incognito on Fox NFL Fires Up Twitter

Jay Glazer sits down for an exclusive interview with Richie Incognito on FOX NFL Sunday to get his side of the Jonathan Martin bullying story.

It was late morning yesterday, Sunday, the day that football fans across the US relish the most.  I was reading up on sports and checking things out on social media.  Things were clearly stirring on Twitter about this Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito bullying scandal.

Both are offensive lineman with the Dolphins, and it's rocking more than just their team.  I fear that this mirrors what happened with the Jerry Sandusky fiasco and the Penn State University devastation.  That is, the seeming cover up and management accountability may reach to the top of the Dolphins front office and topple people like helpless dominos.

@PlayDagger4Me It's amazing that he's got so many backers on the team. This scandal will only get uglier.
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) November 10, 2013

@sportsPond53 @PlayDagger4Me Incognito was investigated last year for allegedly molesting a female volunteer at the team's golf tournament.
— Robert Myers (@RobMyers1968) November 10, 2013

@sportsPond53 @PlayDagger4Me it sickens me how FOX is glorifying him and Jimmy Johnson ain't no saint either.
— Robert Myers (@RobMyers1968) November 10, 2013

Richie Incognito on Fox: "I'm a good person. I am not a racist."
— Bob Warja (@BobWarja) November 10, 2013

@BrockOgami @Eclipsy09 Yep, then they'll be a Frontline documentary, followed by a Michael Moore film.
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) November 10, 2013

@Eclipsy09 @BrockOgami Yep, I'm with you on that. But football clearly has a dark side...
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) November 10, 2013

@RobMyers1968 @PlayDagger4Me There may be a Penn State-like cover-up going on with the Dolphins, all the way to the top of the food chain!
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) November 10, 2013

@PlayDagger4Me @RobMyers1968 Yeah, no worries. Let's see what news we get on this tomorrow ...
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) November 11, 2013

@PlayDagger4Me @RobMyers1968 That girl may come out now, and say more about what happened. Jonathan Martin has blown the lid open.
— sportsPond53 (@sportsPond53) November 11, 2013

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Big Hit on Adam Pardy, Courtesy of Brandon Bollig

As my Dad and I watched the game on TV, the main camera was behind the near boards and we initially had an obscured view of the play.  So as Brandon Bollig checked Adam Pardy hard, and saw the glass panel come off, I immediately thought about those thunderous dunks in basketball that shatter the backboard.  Thankfully the panel didn't splinter into pieces, and no players or fans were hurt.  

It probably looked terrible to some of the Jets, at first as a scrum formed quickly, and they put a hand to Bollig's face.  But I'm glad a fight didn't ensue.  Players probably all realized in short order that it was a good clean check:  no harm, no foul.  Even Bollig looked worried, as Pardy was hunched over into the stands, and extended a hand to help him up.  

Kudos, in particular, to Pardy for keeping his cool all the way.  He, too, must've felt it was a legal hit.  Two boneheads in the stands, one of whom pried his helmet off and another dumped her beer on him, could've triggered a melee.  Imagine an enraged hockey player stomping in the stands with his skates.  

"I don't know what happened to my stick, either," Pardy said. "It got lost in the crowd somewhere, too. Just a little insult to the injury, I guess. It was a tough night for all of us. It was tough enough to get put through the glass, but then to get a beer thrown on my head, too, it wasn't a good thing."

"We have spoken to those involved in the incident with an opposing player late in our home game last night at the United Center," the Blackhawks said in a statement on Thursday. "The individuals were immediately ejected from the arena to preserve the safety of everyone in attendance, including other fans, players and officials. We have also been in communication with the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL to convey our organization's apologies."

Reference:  Blackhawks apologize after incident.

What a class organization our beloved team is part of.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Blackhawks Visit White House and Walter Reed

Definitely an honor and a thrill for the Blackhawks to visit with President Barack Obama at the White House.  It's the second time in three years (four seasons) that the President has welcomed them.  It's always a curiosity to see athletes in business suits, or everyday clothing, outside the playing arena.  So for these Cup winners, it's no different.  

Hey, by the way, do fans get to come along next time?  

Chairman Rocky Wirtz thanks President Barack Obama, on behalf of the Blackhawks 

Captain Jonathan Toews adds a second jersey to President Obama's wardrobe

A keepsake photo for all people of Blackhawks `country

Image credits: President Obama honors Blackhawks for 2013 Cup win.

I enjoyed hearing about the President lauding Jonathan Toews' leadership, recognizing Bryan Bickell's and Dave Bolland's 17-second goals, and joking about Corey Crawford's best speech ever at the Grant Park rally.  More quotes and comments in Blackhawks honored at the White House.

Jonathan Toews bring a Blackhawks keepsake to the Walter Reed Medical Center

Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews hang out with an injured veteran

Corey Crawford shares his coveted piece of jewelry

Another keepsake photo for all people of Blackhawks `country

Image credits: Walter Reed Medical Center Visit.

“Once you get here, you forget about whether you’re tired or hurting,” said Toews, who has captained the team to two championships in four years. “You don’t think about what your normal day off is. There are plenty of those. This is amazing. To be with the President of the United States again, and before that, our soldiers… You think you’re going to cheer them up by seeing them. It’s the opposite. We feed off them. These are the real heroes.”

“Nothing hurts on me now,” said Johnny Oduya. “If you come here sore, nothing hurts now. Not after seeing what these people have been through and their frame of mind. Look at them. All smiling.”

“As an American, it feels maybe a little extra special,” added Patrick Kane. “We think we make sacrifices as a group, but like I said when I went back home to Buffalo this summer and saw our servicemen and women: ‘I’m carrying a 35-pound Cup. You carry our country.’”

“Think about it,” concluded Brandon Bollig. “We take a hit in a game—a game!—for guys we know and care for. Our soldiers put their lives on the line in real life for complete strangers.”

“We should be asking for your autographs,” said [President and CEO John] McDonough. Nearby, a double amputee who has been in and out of the sprawling facility for two and a half years, lifted a black bag from behind his wheelchair. It was full of pucks. If only he could get a couple or three of them signed, he could start sprucing up his living quarters.

Reference: The Verdict: An important day off in DC.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

The Quandary with Blackhawks' Nikolai Khabibulin

Nikolai Khabibulin signed a one-year deal with the Blackhawks, as backup goalie, after Ray Emery bolted for the Flyers over the summer.  I thought losing `Razor was huge, as he gave coach Joel Quenneville the luxury of two standout goalies on the squad.  

`Bulin's last winning year was the 2008 - 2009 season, going 25 - 8 -7, when he was with the Blackhawks.  He spent the next four seasons with the Oilers, and finished each with a losing record.  In last year's lockout-shorted season, he was in backup capacity and raked in an unremarkable 4 - 6 - 1.

After a solid game against the Islanders on October 11th, `Bulin took netminding duties against the Lightning on October 24th.  To say it was brutal is putting it mildly.  A team doesn't just give up six goals and expect to win the match.  Fans wanted his head.     

But during the October 28th game against the Wild, I remarked to our Blackhawks community that I hoped `Bulin had another go on-net the following night against the Senators.  I felt he needed "reps on net."  Again, as backup with the Oilers, he didn't play a lot of games.  I imagine it's very tough to pick up the flow of the game, and your team in particular, if you're not playing regularly.   

Matt Carle scored the first Lightning goal with a slapshot from the blueline.  There was just a smattering of traffic in front of the net, but by virtue of the fact that Carle had a shooting lane, `Bulin should've tracked the puck well.  Instead, he looked like he lost the puck in flight.      

Then, in the second period, Steven Stamkos rushed up ice.  The Blackhawks defended the 1-on-2 attack quite well.  Stamkos couldn't outskate our defensemen, but he knew how to pull `Bulin out of position by skating to the right circle.  I imagine he's a sharpshooter, so give him a sliver of net, and he will score.  That's what `Bulin did, unfortunately, by taking the wrong angle on the shot.  Score, Stamkos did, for the Lightning's third tally in the game.  

I reasoned that `Bulin lost track of his position vis-a-vis the net behind him.  As drivers, we come to have a physical and mental sense for the car - that is, its dimensions, reach and position -  in relation to other cars and other things, such as the curb and garage.  But suppose we had been sick for a long time, and hadn't driven in the meantime: It would take a while to recover that sense of size and space.

So give the guy some reps on net.    

Sure enough, Quenneville deployed `Bulin for that game against the Senators on October 29th.  Our erstwhile goalie proceeded to have another brutal night, and Quenneville was prompted to take out the hook.  `Bulin gave up four goals in one and half periods of hockey.    

I don't know how he can get reps on net, if he poses a liability to the team, a quandary that he himself acknowledged:

Khabibulin thought confidence was a tricky quality for him to possess at this point.

“To have confidence, you have to play well,” Khabibulin said. “These last couple games I was in, I didn’t play that well. I have to build the confidence somehow through practices, treat it like a game, I guess. Go out and stop some shots, try to get better results.

“I think rhythm is a big part of it. I can say I want to go back out there to find rhythm. It’s not about me. It’s got to be what’s best for the team. The coach cannot just put me in, hey, go find your rhythm. We still have to win games. Whatever it is, if I don’t get to play much, just try to get better in practice.”

Reference: Hawks' Khabibulin: I have to do better.

`Bulin is veteran enough to understand what Quenneville has to do, or not do, in relation to him.  But again fans wanted him yanked off the team:

OK every1, who's in TOTAL & COMPLETE agreement with me that Rockford IceHogs goalie Antti Raanta should backup Crow the rest of the season?!?! +1 AND comment if u agree!!!

I weighed in:

Dude, I don't think Raanta is ready. He's playing well, so that's a good thing. But he'll need more than two months of North American hockey to develop into an NHL goalie. 

That said, the fact that Quenneville threw Crawford in there for a back-to-back [against the Jets this past Saturday, then against the Flames last night] may mean the Hawks are (a) trying to control the damage Bulin may cause and-or (b) buying time so Raanta can get as much development as possible. 

Hawks have a back-to-back every week (except one) for the rest of the year, so it's tough call for Coach Q!

I'm quietly rooting for `Bulin to do well.  In those few backup games he played last year for the Oilers, his numbers were decent: GAA 2.54 and SV% .923.  So he should be quite capable of playing much better than his current GAA 4.73 and SV% .818 over three starts.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Marian Hossa and Niklas Hjalmarsson are Stars!

(image credit)

I posted the following analysis on our Google+ community:

Just scanning through the stats, I'd say Hoss is the Boss! At 10 points so far (3rd on the team), he plays a really balanced game as a scorer (5 goals) and a play maker (5 assists). What's really telling, though, is he's tied for the team lead at +8. We know he's got a nose for the puck, but he also has a keen sense for where he needs to be on the ice at any time, even without the puck. Kane said recently he was learning from Hossa's defensive game.   

(image credit)

Hjammers is also +8, and figures prominently in the offense with 7 assists. Of course, he's just part of our exciting offensive-minded defensemen: Keith has 8 points, and Seabs has 7 points, too. But their +/- aren't too hot: it's -2 and 0, respectively. So I'd say Hjammers is one of the underrated stars on the team.

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Speaking of our dear Kane: He's 2nd to Toews with 11 points (7 goals, 4 assists). But his -9 is last on the team by a mile. The closest to him are Keith and Rozsival at -2. I think he was the one who turned over the puck in our zone, and it led directly to the Sens 5th goal. I'm sure the coaches are quietly working with him on it. But what are you guys seeing in Kaner's play that's resulted in a -9?  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Big Reality Check in Miami for the Bulls

After going 8 - 0 in the preseason and stirring up quite a lot of excitement, the Bulls ran into a buzz saw in Miami.  I was focused on the Bears and Blackhawks, so I purposely skipped these games.  But from the highlights I saw and the articles I read, they Bulls had reason to feel really good going into the big season opener against the thrice NBA champions Heat.  Instead, they left American Airlines Arena with a big reality check and a rather rude awakening.  

Derrick Rose looked good in the early going

Sweet move by Derrick. Not many players can split the pick-and-roll defenders like that and take it to the rack!

Wicked move by Cole, breaks Derrick's ankles.  Derrick will not forget this.

Derrick Rose

The line that mattered the most came from coach Thibs, who said, "Now, we begin the journey."

Reference: Not enough of old Rose, Bulls there.

Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade

"No excuses," Noah said. "They kicked our ass tonight, but we'll be back. It's a long journey. It's a lot of basketball to be played."

Reference: Bulls vs. Heat: Some things never change.

Jimmy "Buckets" Butler

Yeah, Buckets and Deng had something like 3 fouls each in the 1st Q ... what was up with that!?!  It didn't drive me to ER, but it did drive me up the wall (lol)!  

Booze Cruise had it going, for sure. 

That's right, Booze Cruise was on fiyyahhh!

Yep, Noah isn't recovered, yet.  He pulled down 11 boards, but he wasn't elevating very well.  So Thibs has to make a tough decision on him: Does he sit him out, and keep him playing?  Probably the latter, but then how does he play him?  Noah cannot have those monsters minutes like last year.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD