Gaines Adams, Chicago Bears Defensive End Dead at 26 Years Old.

Posted on January 17th, 2010 by John Sostak

Gaines Adams at Chicago Bear Introductory Press Conference

ESPN just reported Bears DE Gaines Adams died on Sunday morning in Greenwood, S.C. at 26. Adams was pronounced dead at Self Regional Hospital. He also told the station that Adams appeared to be in good health before his passing.

Brittany Murphy just died of natural causes at 32 years old.  These deaths do not seem natural.

An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday.

Adams was the fourth overall selection in the 2007 draft by the Bucs. Tampa traded him to the Bears in October for a second-round draft pick in April. “It’s a new phase in my life and I’m just ready to start over and get things done,”   Adams said at the press conference introducing him to Chicago media as a Bear.

“He’s a very good player,” said general manager Jerry Angelo. “The two marquee positions in our scheme are the three-technique and the right end. If we can re-create history with him, I would go back to my days in Tampa when we brought in Simeon Rice. We had some success. Rod was there. That would be [the ideal situation] for us if something like that were to happen.

Jerry Angelo said, “we feel very strongly about our scheme, our coaches and the way we evaluate players. We did all our due diligence and we felt like we were going to make it happen. There are risks to a draft pick [and] there are risks to this. I’m just hoping he’s coming in here wanting to be a great player. If he is, I feel like we’ve got all the tools to facilitate him coming to fruition.”

Gaines appeared in 15 games last season with the Bears and Bucs and recorded one sack. RIP Gaines Adams.

Tags: Bears, Dead, Gaines Adams

Tiger Woods on the cover of Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz

Posted on January 5th, 2010 by John Sostak

Tiger Woods on the cover of Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz

Vanity Fair has a Tiger Woods article and Annie Leibovitz pictorial coming out in the February issue.  I am looking forward to it.  Vanity Fair is a great magazine, really the only one I still buy every month, sorry Playboy.

Tiger has been dropped by major corporate sponsors AT&T and Accenture, but EASports said yesterday it will stand behind Woods for the release of a new online golf game, “Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online.”

EA Sports President Peter Moore said Woods is “still one of the greatest athletes in history” despite his “mistakes.”  I think this is wise, and Nike is smart for standing by Woods too.  To be honest, I am now a Woods fan.  He has made some shitty mistakes, but he is so much more human because of it.

The Vanity Fair picture is cool, obviously all of Annie Leibovitz work is.

If I were to venture a guess at what Tiger is doing now that Ellen and he have separated and she is in Stockholm, it would be that he is now practicing his golf game, and will return better then ever to the Masters in April.  I also assume he is crushing hot ass, and popping Vicodins.  He probably bought a new Cadillac Escalade too.  I love this guy.

Alamo Bowl, Mike Leach, Adam James & Michigan State vs Texas Tech

Posted on January 2nd, 2010 by John Sostak

Coach Mike Leach formerly of Texas Tech University

I’m watching the Michigan State Spartans being dismantled by the Texas Tech Raiders in the Alamo Bowl, in San Antonio.  The Mike Leach firing may have created a slight bit of chaos for the Raiders, but it isn’t affecting the offense, 17-7 with 11 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.

I’ve seen Adam James on the sidelines, so he is no longer in the shed.  He isn’t wearing pads or playing, but he also isn’t wearing sunglasses.

The broadcasters and media are sort of overlooking the Michigan State Spartan drama.  They have suspended 14 players, reportedly for brawling.  For a 6-6 Big Ten team, 14 men short in San Antonio against Texas Tech, it is impressive to see how well they are playing, they just scored a touchdown, now it is 17-14.  The Big Ten has done well in the bowl games this year, so if this continues and Michigan State loses, the conference still looks great this year.

The Mike Leach story has been fascinating.  It is the drama of Adam James, son of Craig James, ESPN analyst vs. Coach Mike Leach.  The administration of Texas Tech may not be the biggest fan of Coach Leach, but they have not been able to make a change, or change his attitude, because his teams continue to win.  His offense has revolutionized football in the Big 12, and Texas.  Spread offense and air attacks are the reality of big time football, and Texas Tech epitomizes this.

Lincoln Riley was the wide receivers coach, and he is offensive coordinator in this bowl game.  He is a young man, and excited by the opportunity to move up.  He has also reported to the administration that Adam James has a bad attitude, and cannot be coached.  Adam is a child of privilege, a prima donna.  Football is a team game and players are considered soldiers, coaches are leaders.  Coaches are tough, they break players, then build them up, coach them up, so they work and are effective in the system the coach plays.

Coaches have 100 players they must evaluate, and organize.  Coaches do not coach around any one player, unless that player is Peyton Manning.  Coaches must mold players to play well in the role that is assigned to them.  Can Adam James fit in the system, without being a disruption to the team?  Is he an effective member of the team, or a key position player that the team must have to win?  Coach Leach and Coach Riley would be the people to ask, not the other players.

Some players have said that Mike Leach was too tough.  Some have said Adam should have been treated better.  Some coaches have said Coach Leach has done nothing wrong, and that Adam was treated fine.  This is he said, she said.  Mike Leach, Craig James, and the Chancellor of Texas Tech have all spoken on ESPN, and all of them are saying things that makes sense, and seem logical.

One thing does not seem logical to me:  Why won’t Mike Leach apologize to the school, and the program?  Why won’t Leach identify that all injured student-athletes are the responsibility of the trainer?  Comply with the request of his boss, the President of the University?

It has been reported Coach Leach was asked to write a memo that outlined injured players will be handled by the trainer, and he refused.  I firmly believe that two wrongs don’t make a right.  We all must answer to someone, including the Athletic Director and the Chancellor of Texas Tech.  If Coach Leach has become so insensitive to the components of the machine around him, it is time for him to move on.  His ego, or his inability to identify his responsibilities may change, on his way to his next job.

“If you keep trying to get even, you’ll never get ahead.”  Coach Lou Holtz

Tags: bowl game, football

Indianapolis Colts Demonstrate What is Wrong in Sports

Posted on January 2nd, 2010 by John Sostak

Last Sunday, all NFL fans thought they may see something special on television.  The Indianapolis Colts were playing the New York Jets, at Lucas Oil Field.  If the Colts win this game, they have won their 15th, and are within 1 of a perfect season.  The Colts pulled their starters after the first drive of the second half, up 15-10, and lost the game to a very bad offensive team, not because the Jets outplayed the Colts, but because the Colts gave up.

The Indianapolis explanation for giving up a perfect season was the need to rest the starters (uninjured) for the post season.  They claim this is to help them win a Super Bowl.

The Colts had a narrow lead, and the back-ups demonstrated how bad they suck.  I can see resting someone and letting a back up get some action in the last couple drives if you are up by 3+ scores.  Otherwise, every play of every game counts.

This was more pathetic the Allen Iverson whining about being benched because of showing up late to practice.  We’ve all heard the AI quote, “PRACTICE?  We’re only talking about practice.”

Gamblers have their own complaints, which are legit.  I want to look at this as a fan, and an advocate of the sport of football.  As a fan, we support our team, mine is the Chicago Bears.  We worship our team, and dream of a perfect season, capped off by a Super Victory.  The Bears almost did it in 1885.  We spend time and money on our team, and the NFL.  In return, all we ask is that they give 100% every year, every game, and every down.  We may want players and coaches replaced, but only because we want to win every game.

The fans that paid for tickets, parking, beer and food at that game were robbed.  The fans watching on TV wasted valuable time on a contest that was given to the Jets.  The fans of the NFL were shafted because the Jets were given a win, which hurts other teams in the hunt for a wild card playoff berth.  This is not the lesson we teach our children, who dream of playing in the NFL, and pretend to be Peyton Manning when they play catch at the park.

As an advocate of the sport of football, and the NFL, to blatantly lose a game calls everything that happens in every game into question.  Indianapolis hurt their fans, as well as the fans of teams like the Ravens, the Steelers, and every other AFC team that is competing for a wild card.  If obvious losses like this are allowed, the NFL will be considered as real as professional wrestling.  Does Vince McMahon have an ownership stake in the Indianapolis Colts?

Tags: football, NFL

Mahoney’s Pub on Friday Night

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by John Sostak

CFD Blaze Players Play Football, Put out Fires, & Sing Karaoke

We had a great time at Mahoney’s Pub on Friday, these pictures were taken around closing time.  Check them out on Picasa.

The evening went great, thanks to a wonderful sports bar, Mahoney’s Pub.  Mahoney’s is in Chicago on Ogden and Racine, and the place is awesome to watch games at.  This night is was great to close too.  Everyone there had a wonderful time.

The guy closing the bar noticed my goofy mustache.  All the men in my firehouse, on my shift, have grown mustaches for the holidays.  I am not sure why, but it is a team building exercise and a conversation starter.  Meg, who works with us at Engine 56 has said we seem more interesting with mustaches, and has offered to grow her armpit hair, to be part of the team.  I have been told I look like a creepy gym teacher and should be wearing tight coaches shorts, a golf shirt, and a whistle to complete the look.

The door man closing the bar pointed out my mustache, and gave me an extra second to complete my beer.  When I finished, I said I lost a bet, and he responded “you’re family is gonna love your holiday pictures, Buddy.”  Very insightful.  Joy hates my mustache.

Tags: CFD BLAZE, Joy