Drop The Bomb Already

When it comes to sports, and following ‘your’ team, it is a lot easier to not care when ‘your’ team is losing…or at least that’s what you tell people. Being a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan in the CFL, I spent a lot of this past season pretending that I was busy when a game was on, or, casually watching because I had other things going on. Well, half of that may be true, but, the other half still had me watching, and cheering, and cursing, and being frustrated, and usually in the same game. The Bombers were a hard team to follow, but, it was certainly easier to follow things on the field than off of it.

The team hired Mike Kelly in the off season as the new head coach. It looked promising in the ‘Peg, especially after the up and down seasons when Doug Berry was at the helm. The team did advance to the Grey Cup a couple of years ago…and there was a lot of buzz heading into the 08 season, but the team had many struggles, were ousted in the first round of the playoffs…and that turned out to be Berry’s demise.

So, back to Kelly. Right off the bat, the team struggled thanks to an inexperienced QB in Stefan Lefors. The first casualty was Derick Armstrong, a receiver who was among the top 10 the previous season. He was cut…and the gong show began. It continued with off season news that the Bombers would sign rejected NFL’er Pacman Jones. Thankfully, that move never materialized. Then a major trade with the Eskimos, one that would see another top notch receiver gone in Romby Bryant. Meanwhile, one of the top lineman in the game, Barrin Simpson was struggling a bit with turf toe, and that caused Kelly to put him on the 9 game disabled list. A struggling Simpson is still better than most players at his position. Somehow a reconciliation was made, and Simpson made it to the end of the season. That’s just a sampling of the crap that the team had to endure this season.

Sadly, this was a very talented team that needed a veteran prescence at QB for a shot to excel. The early season signing of Michael Bishop was a good one, and allowed the team to compete…but, let’s be quite honest, Kevin Glenn should have remained with the club. Even if he wasn’t starting, his experience would have gone a long way in helping out the stumblin’ Lefors.

That’s a lot of off season moves, non-moves, mid season trades, dumps and distractions. A coach with the combined DNA of Wally Buono and Ronny Lancaster couldn’t have lead this team to a playoff spot!

…And we can’t forget about the many post game tantrums that Mike Kelly threw, from swearing on radio shows to getting into arguments with other players. His actions were that of a child, and not that of a pro football coach. For that alone, he should be let go. The funny thing is…the most composed Kelly was…was during games. Unlike his predecessor Berry, who was a cranky old SOB while on the sideline, Kelly kept it seemingly together…and never showed a whole lot of emotion when a kicker went wide right, or out of bounds. Remember Coach Berry? I thought maybe Westwood or Serna were going to be executed following his sideline explosions!

So, does the axe fall strictly on Mike Kelly? No way, this team needs a new leader at the helm of the good ship Bomber, and that would cost Lyle Bauer his job. A full front office shuffle has to be done…and yes, that means Mike Kelly would be gone. Somehow, he is under the impression that his job is safe because they improved in a number of areas this past season. I think the only area that really counts is the one in the standings…and there ain’t no post season football in the ‘Peg this year. Changes NEED TO BE DONE! Not improving should be enough to prove my point. The proof is there. Bring in Milt Stegall, bring in Matt Dunigan, bring in the mascot, bring in someone…and drop the bomb already!

Babs Made Him Do It

The tennis world was treated to a glorious reunion a few days ago. Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi played an exhibition tennis match overseas on the weekend, with ‘Pistol’ Pete bettering Andre 10-8 in a 3rd and final set. It was the first time they had met since Pete’s last professional match, a win over Andre in the US Open Final. It was a fitting capper to what has been a memorable 2009 in pro tennis.

A few days later however, a bombshell was dropped by the former No. 1, who was known to drop some bombshells on the court. Andre Agassi revealed that in 1997 he had tried crystal meth, and then lied about it to the powers that be in professional tennis. He said that the drug was slipped into a drink unknowingly, and the ATP bought it. The rules that exist now as far as drug enforcement goes in the game didn’t exist in 1997, but, even so, a handwritten letter got Andre off the hook.

I don’t know what is more suprising…the fact that Andre got away with it so easily, or the fact that Andre, many years later, had to reveal this. He does have an autobiography coming out next month, so, these types of revealations are par for the course when it comes to selling the books. But Andre really doesn’t need the dough. He is very wealthy, and is known for sharing his wealth. His Andre Agassi Foundation is a trend setter when it comes to helping young people. In the prime of his career, he was earning $25 million from endorsements alone. So, why the need to tell all? It is baffling to me, but, then maybe he wants to come clean, so to speak, as to his demons during his up and down tennis career. Or maybe he wants his book to sell more than Johnny Mac’s.

I don’t find it all that suprising that he did do drugs. After all, he was the face of tennis with his long blonde locks, his abrasive attitude, and the ‘rebel’ of the game. I am sure we all remember those cheese ball Canon Camera commercials.

I also find it funny that the ATP dismissed his ‘letter’ so easily. Had it been another player, an Andrei Medvedev (the player Andre beat to win his only French Open), I am sure the ‘letter’ wouldn’t have cut it. There was no way that the ATP wanted to put their biggest attraction on the sidelines, even if for a few months, because of being a druggie.

So, did Andre take the drug that one time…or was it an on-going problem? I guess we won’t know until we read the book. Having been a huge Andre fan for many, many years, this is kind of disappointing. Almost as disappointing as to when he dated Barbra Streisand. Really…Babs? I think the meth came a lot earlier….