Premature celebration

I used all day Sunday to try and calm down from the rage that ensued on Saturday afternoon while I was watched the Oklahoma State - Texas A&M football game. As glad as I was to see the Pokes actually hold on for a much needed victory, I could not help but turn the channel with such a bad taste in my mouth. If you didn't watch the game you probably are thinking I am 100% crazy so I will describe the situation for you in detail. It was in the 3rd quarter and OSU was losing yet driving for a much needed score. Justin Blackmon, quite possibly the best receiver the in country, had been complaining all game due to a lack of catches and receiving yards. He got his opportunity to make a play and as he was running uncontested into the opponents endzone he held the ball with one hand and started to celebrate prematurely. Well, as hard to believe as this sounds it is actually true, the ball hit his leg and he fumbled it into and out of the back of the endzone causing a touchback and loss of the ball to A&M. Undoubtedly the most embarrassing celebration play I have ever seen on a football field. Luckily OSU played well the rest of the game and held on to a narrow margin for victory.

Lets examine Justin's mindset. What the hell happened to holding the ball with two hands or at least in the appropriate football position and running over the goal line waiting to celebrate until the touchdown had been confirmed on the field. Now I am not saying players shouldn't get excited when they score but give me a break, enough of the showboating and bragging. If I were a referee on that field I would have thrown a flag on that play for unsportsmanlike conduct just because he was TRYING to showboat.

This should be a lesson to all you kids out there who watch and admire college players. Be the guy who's play speaks for itself on the field. You can do all the bragging you want in the locker room and back at home but there is no place for it on the college field. Instead be like the great OSU Heisman trophy winning RB Barry Sanders who even when he was in the NFL would graciously hand the ball to the referee after he scored a touchdown. Humility makes you an MVP.

Here is a shutout to head coach Gundy, you should make Justin Blackmon carry a girls backpack around campus this week so he never forgets what an idiot he made of himself.

Click on the link to check out the video clip.
http://newsok.com/justin-blackmons-goal-line-fumble-an-embarrassing-situation/article/3607489?custom_click=headlines_widget

NFL Success

Finally a success story from the NFL that envolves a player retiring and actually making wise decisions with money and his career. Jason Wright, special teams captain for the Arizona Cardinals, had money and was a few pen strokes away from being able to provide for his grandchildren someday. Instead he and his wife decided to walk away from the game in order to reach his goal of helping inner city and underprivileged youth in and around the Chicago area.

Jason is no dummie, he received a scholarship to the U of Chicago to pursue an MBA, which puts him in elite company to begin with. He and his wife understood that the only reason to keep playing football was to achieve more fame and fortune, not a eternal goal. His motivation came from a higher calling and was rooted in making sure others have the same opportunities that he had as a child and student.

I applaud Jason and his wife for their decision. I know it must have been tough to walk away from the money and from a sport that he has dedicated more than half of his life to. That makes the story that much more special.

The NFL should be applauding this guy and have him come talk to all incoming players at the Rookie Symposium  Players and fans hear too much about ex players with money problems. Just last week we read that a defensive back from the Ravens was completely broke and living at home with his parents after he had squandered ALL of his $45 million dollar career earnings.

To wrap this up, Jason is a true source of inspiration for those of us that battle to do the right things in life and are called away by a true conviction. GOD SPEED SIR.