Pausing for the Week (3)

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This week is my pause from blogging here, in order to focus more on my other work: Theory of Algorithms and The Core Algorithm.

What do you pause for, and how often do you do so?

Pausing for the Week (2)

(image credit)

This week is my pause from blogging here, in order to focus more on my other work: Theory of Algorithms and The Core Algorithm.

What do you pause for, and how often do you do so?

Pausing for the Week (1)

(image credit)

This week is my pause from blogging here, in order to focus more on my other work: Theory of Algorithms and The Core Algorithm.

What do you pause for, and how often do you do so?

NFL Locker Room a Microcosm of Society at Large

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross

Reference: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross calls Ted Wells report 'disturbing'.

Bullying: What happened in the locker room is just a sampling of what happens in broader society. "Disturbing," definitely, Mr. Ross.  

The pull for the NFL and the front office of every team is to set stricter policy, police and enforce it, and otherwise castigate any perpetrator of bullying in the locker room.  Yes, bullying must be stopped.  But for the NFL to use its considerable might in its efforts to do so makes me think Are you kidding me, seriously?

Bullying or tormenting, prejudice and discrimination, and flat out hate and misconduct are the stuff of American culture and humankind in general.  So as with sports leagues and regulatory bodies' efforts to tamp out the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs, officials can control it only to some degree.  Unless the fundamental problem is adequately understood, and its causes sufficiently illuminated, it will persist and it will taunt any posturing of control that these officials do.    

Don't get me wrong: I believe policy must be reviewed, strengthened, and implemented.  But to believe, and expect, that it will resolve the issue is foolhardy.  These social problems have plagued American culture for decades and decades, so don't expect that the NFL will break from this long stretch of failure and suddenly be the paradigm of a tolerant, accepting organization.  

I suggest that each team promote dialogue among its players, coaches and personnel, and that the NFL provide whatever support and encouragement it can, in this effort.  This is not an easy thing, so teams are likely to need to confident, capable facilitators in that dialogue.  

The aim, first and foremost, is to seek to understand, before being understood.  Allow people's concerns, beliefs, attitudes and motives to surface.  

From that understanding, answers to how these issues can be resolved will emerge.  Misbehavior can be addressed accordingly within the private confines of each team's circle, again with NFL guidance and support.  

This will take a long time, and no doubt progress toward a more tolerant organization will be quite rocky.  For example, expect that the Incognito-Martin scandal will not be the last one.  

But the right mindset and approach will eventually resolve such issues.  

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Review and Reactions to Incognito-Martin Report

At the heels of the publication of the NFL report on February 15th 2014, I posted Incognito, others tormented Martin and following articles on Google+, and commented:

Incognito wasn't the only perpetrator, and Martin wasn't the only victim, in the Dolphins locker room.

Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin

Three starters on the Miami Dolphins' offensive line -- Richie Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey -- engaged in a "pattern of harassment" directed at Jonathan Martin, as well as another young offensive lineman and an assistant trainer.

Reference: Ted Wells releases Miami Dolphins misconduct report.

Tedy Bruschi and Darren Woodson react to Ted Wells' report about Jonathan Martin leaving the Dolphins because of harassment.

Reference: No Room for Bullying, Harassment.

Adam Schefter breaks down the impact of the Ted Wells' report on Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin's futures in the NFL.

Reference: NFL Futures for Incognito and Martin.

On the face of it, the report is most damning of Incognito, and his return to the NFL is in serious question.  ESPN Mike Golic, however, wondered if Martin would have the greater difficulty in resuming his career.  The fact that he walked out of the locker room is a major no-no among men of the gridiron.

I suspect, though, that when all the muck has settled, they will find roster spots on teams other than the Dolphins.  That is, if they truly want to, and if they convince prospective teams that they're willing and able to play football again.  American culture has a way of forgiving, if not forgetting, such scandals.  There is a measure of truth, then, in the old adage that time heals all wounds.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Richie Incognito is who we thought he is

Richie Incognito

I posted Incognito goes on Twitter tirade on Google+ on February 13th 2014, and commented, and it generated a bit of an exchange with a friend:

ESPN Michael Wilbon: Richie Incognito is who we thought he is... a creep! 

A creep, yes, but we still don't know the full story. Martin might be just as much of a creep, just a quieter one.

Exactly. We're supposed to get the investigation report soon.

It is taking an awfully long time. I wonder how it's being massaged?

If I remember correctly, the NFL stepped in, a few weeks after the story broke, and told the Dolphins owner to hold off on meeting Martin. The NFL is a marketing and political machine, and has the clout and cash to ensure that it remains so, for the long haul. The Incognito-Martin tale is far different from the players' concussion tragedy, but I think they're both socially explosive issues and therefore a threat to that machinery. "Massage" is a polite word, but it's the best one to use about what the NFL is probably doing with this investigation. All that said, the irony is, Incognito is right: The truth will come out in one way or another, and Martin will have to hold himself up to the public eye, too.

The very next day, on February 14th 2014, the NFL released its report.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Sports Teams Should Eschew Heavenly Names

New Orleans Saints

Los Angeles Angels

Dallas Stars

San Diego Padres

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago

Sports teams shouldn't, I don't know, have heavenly names.  Such  names should be reserved for churchly groups or activities, right.  Oh, by the way, I know St. Louis Cardinals refers to the bird, but it's also associated with the Archbishop of Chicago.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Sports Teams Need Pluralizable Names

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Sports teams shouldn't be allowed to have names that have no plural.  I mean, you have to be able to say Bears, Bulls or Blackhawks.  It's about a team, it's about an army, it's about a throng attacking you.  Not a name that speaks to something in limbo between singular and plural.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Sports Teams Must Lose Lame Animal Names

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New team, new name.  A water fowl that catches fish, excuse me?

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I visualize white ducks gliding effortlessly across our pond, a placid air about them, sometimes with ducklings trailing the mama duck.  But for a rough-and-tumble hockey team?  You get the picture.

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Designers can design it with a mean look, but it's still just a pretty bird.  Not exactly fitting for a football team, is it.

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It reminds me of Flipper.  That smart, earnest and friendly dolphin with a show of his own from yesterdays.

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Can a name be any more lame than this?  It's probably fitting for a team with a 100-year history of pennant futility.  I think playful, lovable and protected.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Did Peyton Manning switch `Omaha! to `Des Moines?

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What impressed me the most about Seahawks D: (3) takeaway mentality, (2) run-after-catch stops, (1) speed off the snap.

Me too!

Yep. The Seahawks as a team put on a football clinic for the Broncos. 

It was crazy!

Yep, I was hoping to see a competitive football game. But the Seahawks were just so crazy-good, they were stunning to watch. I kept thinking... every Bears player and coach ought to be watching this! 

I was too. It was over before it began on the first snap! I was like WOW! They can't do anything! The Omaha didn't even work..Haha.. 

I don't know, maybe Manning changed it all up, and was saying Des Moines, Des Moines... Whatever it was, it just didn't work (lol). 

Hahaha!!! Too funny!! 

Lesson learned for Mr. Manning: Stick with Omaha. It worked all season long, didn't it. 

It did! Lol 

I personally was just dumbfounded the entire game. Couldnt believe their the defense was THAT good...

Yep, me, too. It was a stunning display of football by the Seahawks as a whole. 

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Question of Defense: 2014 Seahawks vs 1986 Bears?

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Reference: Is Seahawks' Defense Greatest Ever?

How does Seahawks D compare to Bears D, especially in that SB-winning season (1985-1986)? 

Skip picked 85 Bears. Had to give him props for that! Lol

Yep, I do hope the Seahawks are not one-and-done like our Bears were, unfortunately.

Right? Hopefully not.

Well, it'll be a while before Bears get to the SB, so I'm just going to enjoy the Seahawks until then. It'll take time for Trestman to crack the code of the Seahawks D.

Me too for sure. I enjoy the NFL. I'll always enjoy great football! 

Yep, I love the Bears, but I'm a football fan in general. 

85 Bears no question. That defense drubbed everyone all season long. Offenses didn't go into games thinking they could win, they went in afraid. 

I may be biased on this subject but for me it's the 85 BEARS. The Seahawks are very good and even display some flashes of brilliance but I think their place in defensive history is still to be determined. ...

Rob, I'm biased, too. I saw many of those games, and have videotapes of their Super Bowl run. Sean, Exactly. QBs had the vaunted 46 staring them in the eyes, and they were deer-caught-in-the-headlights from the get-go.

So did I. .And I totally agree with you. . Growing up in Chicago was the BEST all those great memories. ...

DL- Hartenstine, Hampton, McMichael, Dent.
LB - Marshall, Singletary, Wilson.
CB - Frazier & Richardson (the only questionable)
S- Duerson & Fencik 

Good grief, what a lineup! With that defense Culter could have won a Super Bowl with Knox, Earl Bennett and me playing wideouts.

That's right, people called him LA (Lazy Ass) Richardson, because he seemed to be the weakest link. I don't remember if Fridge started at the beginning of the season, but Buddy slid Hartenstine to the bench (probably at Ditka's demand).

Oh, man, 2013 offense (2nd only to Broncos) + 1985 defense = SB, for sure! Emery & Co. have a decent window in which to fix the defense and make the team contenders.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD

Broncos in the Super Bowl: Belong or not Belong?

"It's not embarrassing at all. I would never use that word,'' [Peyton] Manning said after the game. "The word 'embarrassing' is an insulting word, to tell you the truth." 

Manning completed 34 of 49 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, but he couldn't find a route over the Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" secondary and also threw two interceptions. The Seahawks pounded the Broncos 43-8. 

Manning's total quarterback rating of 24.4 was his lowest of the season and the worst in a Super Bowl since Rex Grossman's 7.1 in 2006. 

"We played a great team," Manning said. "We needed to play really well in order to win, and we didn't come anywhere close to that."

Manning, to be compared to Grossman, big ouch.

Reference: Peyton Manning insulted by question.

I posted the following on Google+, and it generated a discussion:

No matter how you slice-and-dice it, Broncos clearly didn't belong in SB48.

Yes they did, they were the best team in the AFC. They didn't measure up to Seattle and rightfully got their arses handed to them, but that's a different topic.

The Broncos earned the right to be there. They just weren't ready for the Seahawks. As Sean said, that's a different topic.

Of course, you're right, gents. I'm just trying to get a better grip on what happened to the Broncos. No question about how great of a team they are, but the Saints and 49ers lost to, but at least played competitively against, the Seahawks. The Seahawks didn't just spring 43 points on them in one play, so the Broncos had so many opportunities to score and get back in the game... but ultimately couldn't do it. At the end of the day, I would've enjoyed a 49ers-Seahawks Super Bowl much better. 

So no one is allowed a bad/off day? You guys are ridiculous. 

How so Brian? Being ridiculous by saying Denver did belong in the Super Bowl but didn't measure up to Seattle? Explain yourself please because you sound ridiculous. 

Ah, Ron. Yes, he is wrong a lot. But he readily admits it :)

lol... actually what I admitted most to, more specifically, is that belonging in the Super Bowl and playing well in it are two different things. To me, this lopsided win by the Seahawks is a reminder that athletes are all human beings and that in any given game we may see the best and the worst of them. I love sports, and I try to understand more deeply what happens in a game and how athletes perform. So I watch, read and listen as much as I can.

The Broncos and Seahawks both had the league-best records and played well in the playoffs. They were great in different ways, but otherwise evenly matched. A lot of attention was put on the No. 1 offense vs. No. 1 defense. But they were even as well on the flipside: Broncos, 19th on defense; Seahawks, 17th on offense... in terms of yardage. So the scenario was set for a really competitive Super Bowl...

Then, it was not, and I was scratching my head afterwards: how... why...?

I scanned through all the Super Bowls, and except for a handful, they were all pretty evenly played games... judging simply by the scores. So, history bears itself out that the NFL playoff structure does work (I was questioning before): By and large, the two best teams end up facing each other in the big game.

ESPN John Clayton, known as The Professor, said something like: The best defense will trump the best offense in any given game. I don't know, yet, if this is true in general, but on the face of it, it was true for the Seahawks and Broncos. (This, too, is another story, because it was actually a team beatdown: Seahawks' offense and special teams played very well, not just their defense.)

So, gents, if you didn't like this post, then you really won't like my quip on Twitter after the game: That the Broncos should be put on Super Bowl probation, or something. They're 2-5 now. Yeah, I don't think they belong (lol).

No problem with your post, it's social media, people post their opinions.

Yep, definitely. Thanks, Sean.

I read how the Seahawks prepared to defend the Broncos, and knew to avoid, or minimize, blitzing. Manning apparently has a history of burning defenses that blitz. Their D linemen were amazingly fast; it seemed like they were in the gaps, before the O linemen could blink their eyes. Seahawks even dropped a lineman into coverage on occasion - an amazing strategy.

On the whole, though, what's your take on how two pretty evenly matched teams play so lopsidedly?

I think it was a beat down by seattle's defense. Their DL simply overwhelmed Denver's OL. They hit manning early and often, got their hands on a couple balls and stuffed the run. The coverage took away anything deep, dictated him to go underneath, and immediately hammered whoever caught it. I don't think there where many yards after catch. It was one of the most dominating defense games I've seen in a long time.

Oh, and Seattle's offense helped by not turning the ball over, extending drives and getting some points. I don't know the time of possession but I'm guessing it was big in favor of Seattle and by the end of the game Denver's defense was gassed.

It was definitely a stunning performance to watching. Seattle put on a football clinic for everyone to learn from.

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

Ron Villejo, PhD