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“Soccer Power Play–Misses Goal”

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US Soccer is a mess.

From the turmoil with the resignation of the US Soccer Federations’ President, for tasteless comments.

To the failure of Team USA to qualify for the next World Cup.

To the financial troubles youth soccer is going thru.

To the global disgrace that is FIFA, its corruption-leadership issues.

Not a pretty picture.

And now this, the US Women’s National Team’s ugly 66M lawsuit over the Gender-Equity Pay issues.  Women not being treated as fairly as men.

Or so we thought.

The women of Team USA have brought their program to enormous popularity with their successes in World Cup play….two trophies in global play in 2015-2019.

And like the success women’s college basketball had, driving us to the success that Title IX has brought women’s athletics, the outspoken personalities of Meaghan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd brought attention for the need for the US-Womens program to get equal treatment and pay to that given Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and more on the men’s side.

The public drive for equal pay, led to the massive 66M-lawsuit against the USSF…that has been brewing for over two years.

And now it is over.

A New York federal judge threw the lawsuit out of court, saying the US Women’s program never showed the inequity they say exists now.  Far from it.

Instead the judge released the documents showing the women rejected an offer from USSF to be paid along the same structure as the men, in the last Collective Bargaining Agreement.  They would have been paid the same game salaries, and bonus’ for wins in international play.

The women rejected it, even though the CBA offered them additional medical benefits, for childbirth, leave of absence and more.  They wanted higher game salaries in the ‘Pay for Play Plan’

The women said ‘no’, they wanted to be paid at a different salary than men, and used a 4-year payment schedule, they thought would show inequities.

It didn’t.

Instead it showed the 18-men, on Team USA,  earned 17,625-dollars per game plus bonuses for victories and additional money in sponsorship deals.  the men each earned on the average 212,639-per year.

The US women over the last four years, each earned 220,747 each, plus bonuses, plus their unique motherhood benefits, plus sponsorship money, and not counting additional pay for playing in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The women won 2-World Cups in that span, and made more money per year than the men.  The federal judge ruled the women made the ‘choice’ not to accept the pay structure offered to the men.

It looks as if Rapinoe and others were yelling ‘fire’ to get attention, when no fire existed.

They created angst within the USSF, burned thru a lot of lawyers fees, and triggered significant ill-will in the soccer community.  Maybe 10-years ago, the deal wasn’t fair.  Maybe 20-years ago it was a disgrace.  Right now it’s not.

Better days are likely coming.  With the purge of leadership atop complete, Cindy Cone has been elevated to the lead position as President.  As a new CBA gets negotiated, look for a deal that is fair and equal for all the stars of Mens-Womens soccer in our country.

The US Women’s Team tried to pull off a power play, due to their popularity.  They suffered a loss in credibility for how they handled all this.

US soccer has so many issues, they didn’t need this ugly in-fight.

US-Women…Missed a shot on goal for sure.

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“Chargers–Looking for the Next Winner”

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In the last 40-years, the Chargers have had all of 3-quarterbacks you would call stars, winners, possible Hall of Famers.

Dan Fouts gave fans in San Diego four spectacular years in the midst of the Air Coryell years, but never got the chance to go to the Super Bowl, betrayed annually by a substandard defense and the Ice Bowl.

Stan Humphries led the Chargers to the playoffs and eventually a Super Bow game in his brief four year tenure before a concussion ended it all.

Philip Rivers has just completed a likely Hall of Fame run over a 16-year period, getting to the playoffs and one AFC-Championship game, that was derailed by injuries to LaDainian Tomlinson and Rivers own knee issues.

All teams go thru transition, and now it begins anew with another 1st round draft pick, Oregon QB-Justin Herbert.

He comes to the Bolts off 4-years of growth and success with the Ducks.

It didn’t start easy, nor go easy for the 6’6-QB.  He played for 3-different head coaches in a 4-year span.  He had to learn from 4-different offensive coordinators in those four seasons at Autzen Stadium.

It all started when injuries forced him on the field in the middle of his freshman season.  End result a (70-21) blowout loss to the Washington Huskies in his first Pac 12-start.  He has come a long way since then.

Herbert capped off his career with an MVP-outing in the Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.  That was followed by an MVP-type showing in the Senior Bowl.

He leaves Oregon with a (30-12) career record and bowl wins.  He exited the senior season with a (4.05-GPA).  He concluded wearing Green and Lemon by throwing for (10,541Y-95TD) in a 44-game career.

He overcame the loss of the man who recruited him, head coach Mark Helfrich, dumped after 1-losing season after 34-wins in the three years prior.  He stood in the middle of the lone season of crossfire with coach Willy Taggart-who was there-but didn’t want to me there.  He flourished under Mario Cristobal, leading Oregon back to the glory days of Mike Belotti and Chip Kelly.

He is resilient, tough, strong minded and all-in in the football world.

From that catastrophic first start against the Washington Huskies, Herbert drove the Ducks to excellence as the program bounded back with him at the helm.

They battered Washington twice.  Beat Mike Leach and Washington State’s Air Raid offense in shootouts.  Wins against hi-octaine USC, defensive stalwart Utah, victories over Nebraska and Michigan State. Showup and get beat up.

Look at the stat sheet and be impressed.  Look at the video and be wowed.

Listen to the people who studied him, interviewed him, and talked to everyone who was around him, and you have to come away impressed.

General Manager Tom Telesco:
..Highly competitive
..Accountable
..Mentally tough
..Humble
..Highly intelligent
..Driven to be great.

Coach-Anthony Lynn
..He asked a lot of right questions
..Outstanding senior season
..6’6-a big man
..Could be a franchise quarterback
..He could play in a month…or in this first year
..Fanatical student of the game

It took Dan Fouts 5-losing years in a row to get established, and make people forget about (2-12) and (2-11-1) seasons early on before the Bolts became great.  Fouts first five seasons brought a (12-30-1) record to San Diego.  Oddly his career record was (86-84-1).  He did throw  (254TDs) but also (242) picks.

Humphries came in a trade from the Redskins with little experience and drove San Diego to the playoffs twice and then a Super Bowl season.  His ledger was (50-32) with (85TDs-73 Int).  It ended way too early.

Rivers sat for 2-years behind Drew Brees, then became great.  He left with 123-career wins, all those touchdowns, and the full respect of the franchise, the fans and the media.  When he was done, he had driven his team to 12-13-14 win seasons, winding up (397TD-198Int).  He had to bear the brunt of front office mistakes of saddling him with head coaching failures like Norv Turner and Mike McCoy, good guys but bad head coaches.

It won’t come easy for Justin Herbert.  Troy Aikman went (1-15) his first season in Dallas.  Peyton Manning was (3-13) the first go round with the Colts.

Somewhere in between the street fighter that was Aikman, to the mad scientist that was Manning, to the gunslinger that Rivers became, lies Justin Herbert.

It will be fun watching him grow and seeing if an emotionally downtrodden team in Los Angeles, can ever achieve what it did in San Diego, sellouts, and a chance to play on Super Bowl Sunday.

Justin Herbert has earned this, and now his time has come.

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“NFL-vs-Union Chiefs–Discussions”

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Everyone is talking about the restart of the NFL-on the field.
No one has any specific solutions.

Who makes the decision to allow the NFL to go ahead and open training facilities…announce the schedule…open the season?

Is it Roger Goodell, the commissioner?
Is it Dr. Anthony Fauchi, the head of Infectious Diseases at the CDC?
Is it President Donald Trump?
Is it DeMaurice Smith-head of the NFL Players Association?.

All types of ideas are being floated at midweek.

A full 16-game schedule, coupled with the expanded playoffs, with the hopes of as regularly scheduled September start.  That was the hope just months ago, that all would be back to normal.

You tell me what is the new normal in our country right now?

Now the latest, the reality jolt, of a delay in the start of the season, not the first week of September, but rather in mid-October.

The NFL wants a full 16-game schedule, and the latest plan would have 16-straight weeks of games running thru January.

There would be 4-weeks of training camp in September.

There would be no bye weeks, no bye before the Super Bowl, no preseason games, and a Super Bowl game on February 28th.

It all sounds good in theory from Goodell.
Trump wants pro sports back soon.
Fauchi wants lots more testing of people and players but thinks it would work

Smith, the Union chief, said lots last weekend, and not much of it was favorable.

..Are you going to test players daily going into facilities?
..Are you testing citizens daily also?
..Are we taking first responders out of cities so they can work games?
..Is the NFL really an essential business that has to be open?
..No one should feel sorry if NFL players have to give back money?
..There should be no talk right now about NFL salary caps.

For the first time, one of their own, the Union Chief seems ready to block the players from returning to the game because nothing nationwide has been solved in terms of stomping out their Virus-Crisis.

The NFL, opening camps, scheduling games, getting life back to normal.

It all seems fluid.

It’s like hitting a moving target no one can zero in on.

But for the first time, someone linked to the NFL game, has a very different opinion.  People should listen to the Union Chief.

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“NFL Virtual Draft—Very Different–Very Funny Too”

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Week 7-of the Virus-Crisis lockdown in San Diego.  Except for a morning rehab run everyday…1-trip per week to the grocery store…1-per week carry out dinner…I am here at home..

I have been landlocked at my home in San Diego…sitting at my desk in a corner office of my house looking out at the window.  Tired of CNN-MSNBC non stop news.  Saddened by the out of town scoreboard…Covid 19-positive cases and death counts.

Tired of bad movies on TV, and worn out look at old movies and old baseball-football-basketball and hockey games on TV too

Did I really sign up for 24-7/365 to be with the wife every minute of every day when I said ’till death do us part?

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Random thoughts about where things are at this moment.

NFL VIRTUAL DRAFT….It got better and better as it went…Think it simplified the draft…opened the eyes of GMs-Coaches how to do business differently.  Wish they had taken us to control center at ESPN for a closeup look at how the producers and directors actually ran the show

WORKING FROM HOME…Interesting all the camera shots of the GMs-Coaches working from home.

BENGALS…Zach Taylor-2nd year coach, coming off the (2-14) maiden season, working from a table, 2-chairs, 1-computer in corner of room-1 picture hanging above it..no furniture anywhere else.  Rather spartan surroundings…kind of like the team he works for…rather spartan too.

GIANTS….Dave Gettleman-veteran GM..working from two tables…with an IT guy around him….wearing an N-95 mask…rightfully so since Gettleman is a cancer survivor.

ARIZONA…And you thought the Arizona Biltmore was luxurious….Kliff Kingsbury mansion, in a gated community, on a mountain top…made me think of a resort in Bavaria….the late Bill Bidwell must be spinning in his grave at the amount of money they gave that coach so he could buy a place like that.

NEW ENGLAND….Working from dining room table, Bill Belicheck disregarded anything fancy, one computer, one smart phone the first night…then it was an empty chair with only his dog there….maybe the dog made the picks and that is explanation for no QBs or WRs drafted.

TAMPA BAY…Work done before the draft, the Bucs getting Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, getting rid of Jameis Winston,  so Bruce Arians just wearing shorts and a tee shirt, hanging on his patio, drinking a cold one along the way.  About as simple as it gets.

BEARS…Award for the best wall decor goes to head coach Matt Nagy, who had all his game-day play call cards pasted on the wall as a wallpaper design…wonder if there were any completed passes on those call cards?

VIKINGS..Nothing wrong with style, Moosehead on wall, blazing fireplace, books on coffee table…only thing missing from Mike Zimmer’s home…bottles of wine and classical music.

BALTIMORE….Now we know John Harbaugh’s favorite pastime when not teaching defense…building birdhouses…nice hobby.

DALLAS…Nothing sells ‘Rich & Famous’ than Jerry Jones on his million dollar yacht with pretty women around…Always elegant…nothing wrong with opulence if its yours.

HOUSTON…Candid camera moment-Texans coach Bill O’Brien screaming into a phone…so someone had War Room mentality in full effect…later reports he was yelling as Detroit backed out of a trade with the Texans.

CHARGERS…Tom Telesco hauling his 3-kids and his dog into the family workspace…wonder if he asked them if they wanted the QB from Alabama or Oregon…Daughter did post draft interview-he answered her like he answered me-structured football riddled-cliches.

RAIDERS…Jon Gruden seemed all geared up, as if he was ready to run out the house, and go workout his new draft picks immediately after the round was over…Always wearing Silver & Black garb, he looks just like all things Jim Harbaugh wear, Michigan cap-blue shirt-tan pants every minute of everyday.

Pretty interesting 3-nights, but no closer to actually getting NFL teams back in the building, on the field, or to games.

Back to sitting next to the wife now.

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“NFL Draft Report Card”

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CHARGERS…They got a QB for the future…an inside LB who can run and 2-skilled young WRs.  A superb haul, coupled with the five veteran free agents they signed in the off season.  Justin Herbert has so many ingredients that add up to the ‘it factor’.  Is he more complete now than Philip Rivers was his rookie season, and is there still lots of potential to grow into.  LB-Kenneth Murray can play sideline to sideline and gives the team an explosive speed guy in the middle..and the kid WRs-KJ Hill and Joe Reed will be given a chance to jump into the rotation….Grade (A)

CAROLINA…New broom sweeps clean and that is what incoming coach Matt Rhule has done.  He has his QB, his RB, young WRs, and spent his entire draft currency on 7-defensive players.  The top 3-picks all play opening day, DT-Derrick Brown..De-Yetur Matos and S-Jimmy Chenn…We see how quickly Teddy Bridgewater becomes a star again…Grade (A)

DALLAS…Added more firepower to a great offense in WR-Cee Dee Lamb, and then got secondary help in CB-Travon Diggs and DT-Neville Gallimore…Grade (A)

DENVER..Quite an offseason with the wolves barking at the door of John Elway.  WRs-Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler will add a lot opposite Cortland Sutton and TE-Noah Fanta.  Add to that Melvin Gordon with Philip Lindsey, lots of bullets in the gun…Grade (A)

INDIANAPOLIS…Two very accomplished pass catchers in Michael Pittman and Dez Patmon, plus heavy duty RB-Jonathon Taylor mean there is lots more firepower around new QB-Philip Rivers.  And we see if QB-Jacob Eason becomes the heir apparent to Rivers in a couple of years….Grade (A)

NY GIANTS….They keep adding key pieces at the top of the board each year. so this years haul of OT-Andrew Thomas, S-Xavier McKinney CB-Darnay Holmes add alot.  Making progress and now a new coach in Joe Judge….Grade (A)

TAMPA BAY…Unique chemistry experiment upcoming with Tom Brady-Rob Gronkowski linking with madman coach Bruce Arians…Instant starters in OT-Tristan Wirfs…S-Antoine Winfield….Grade (A)

ARIZONA…3-studs early in the draft and a special package player later in the draft-good day…LB-Isaiah Simmons..OT-Josh Jones..DT-Leki Fotu  are all warriors…Interested in how they get ball in hands  of RB-Eno Benjamin….All this on top of the DeAndre Hopkins off season trade…Kyler Murray is smiling…Grade (B)

BALTIMORE…In John Harbaugh we trust…Don’t question his history for his drafts have been good…This one too…Warrior LB in Patrick Queen…versatile RB-JK Dobbins plus assortment other picks…Grade (B)

SEATTLE…Trust Pete Carroll too…seems as if he is reloading with his kind of players-speed-speed-more speed…LB-Jordyn Brooks is the next coming of Bobby Wagner…DE-Darrell Taylor can play and more OL help…Grade (B)

BUFFALO…Didn’t have a first, actually it’s Stefon Diggs, but they get a high motor pass rush guy in AJ Epensea…and a run-catch RB-in Zach Moss…to go with QB-Josh Allen and a very good Bills defense from a year ago…Grade (B)

CINCINNATI…Joe Burrow-welcome-fix this thing…adding WR-Tee Higgins and hoping all their injured WRs from a year ago, AJ Green and John Ross stay healthy, with RB-Joe Mixon..means they will be more competitive…Do they have enough defense?..Grade (B)

CLEVELAND…Last couple of years we kept saying Browns are getting there…..now they add 3-more quality young players…OT-Jed Wills..S-Grant Delpit…DT-Jordan Elliott…Pretty good talent base on roster now…Waiting for it to come together…Grade (B)

DETROIT….Have to win this year..and CB-Jeff Okudah…RB-DeAndre Swift..De-Julian Okawar will help them…Have to keep QB-Matt Stafford standing upright on field….Grade (B)

KANSAS CITY….Coach Andy Reid did not have a lot of picks, but he got great fit with top pick RB-Clyde Edwards-Hellair plus three more defensive players…All that to a team that returns 20-of-22 starters…Grade (B )

RAIDERS…Trust Mike Mayock…A year ago today we were questioning reaches they made in a top heavy defensive draft, and the Cle Ferrell and Maxx Crosby picks were exceptional…This time speed and more speed with WR-Henry Rugg…WR-Lynn Bowden..WR-Bryan Edwards..plus a reach for CB-Damon Arnette…Grade (B)

LA RAMS…They had 9-picks and went to fill open spots on the roster….RB-Cam Akers is productive…WR-Van Jefferson runs great routes…DE-Terrell Lewis is rugged…Maybe find a gem or two late in draft also…Grade (B)

MIAMI…When they were finished dealing, they had 10-picks, added a RB thru a trade and believe all the big names in the draft will pan out….A bunch of proven players in QB-Tua Tagovailoa..OT-Austin Jackson..OT-Robert Hunt..DT-Raekwon Davis….Lots of quality kids…Couple that with free agents they landed-it’s like a whole new team..Grade (B)

MINNESOTA…It’s been an off season of change especially with defense but the new pieces should fit in well…WR-Justin Jefferson replaces Stefon Diggs…CB-Jeff Gladney beefs up a thinner secondary..huge OT-Ezra Cleveland plays early….they finished up the weekend with 15-picks-so this has too be an eventful draft…Grade (B)

NY JETS…Helping QB-Sam Darnold was the protocol…thus OT-Mechi Becton..WR-Denzel Mims plus S-Ashtyn Davis….A project QB to develop also in James Morgan…Grade (B)

SAN FRANCISCO….GM-John Lynch likes to deal..so trading for OT-Trent Williams is huge…so is DT-Javon Kinlaw and potential breakout WR-Brandon Aiyuk….Grade (B)

WASHINGTON…It’s convenient to bash all-things Daniel Snyder..but adding Chase Young-DE to an already fierce defense is a positive….WR-Antonio Gibson get a chance to play early..and the intangible of Ron Rivera leadership….Grade (B)

GREEN BAY….The media going crazy of the selection of QB-Jordan Love as if Aaron Rodgers is leaving tomorrow…crazy talk….Over-reaction Monday….But as Rodgers developed under Brett Favre…Love does the same for the day Rodgers steps aside…Was surprised though they went RB with second pick….Did not do much to help in WR-group or secondary…Thought priorities were strange…Grade (C)

JACKSONVILLE…Wound up with 12-picks…Thought they might deal their two unhappy players (Fournette-Ngakoue) but didn’t.  ..CB-CJ Henderson..LB-K’Lavon Chaisson..DT-DaVon Hamilton..WR-Lavisk Shenault all play a lot early…They still have QB-uncertainty…Grade (C)

NEW ENGLAND….His team, his way, the Patriots (Belicheck) way…Didn’t draft a QB…Didn’t draft a WR…but did draft guys from Division II…1-AA…Marshall…Wyoming…Wake Forest…and a kicker…Strange mix…Do like S-Kyle Dugger (everybody comes form somewhere)…and the two LBs…Will be interesting to see what life after Tom Brady will be like…..Grade (C)

NEW ORLEANS…Not many picks (4)…and Sean Payton dealt 4-picks in one round for another pick in a different one…then drafted for need…getting a center and a linebacker….Grade (C)

PHILADELPHIA..Needed wideout help…got it in WR-Jake Reager…and then acquired pick for Jalen Hurts-who might be a very good insurance policy QB…they drafted defense…Wonder if they re-sign FA-LT-Jason Peters…Believe in Doug Pederson, the offensive mind, just wonder about Pederson drafting ability…Grade (C)

ATLANTA…Bad seasons, lots of assistant coaching changes..tons of injuries…..but they went heavy to fix a battered defense by getting CB-AJ Terrell and DT-Marlon Davidson,,,Coach Dan Quinn is in trouble…Grade (C)…

PITTSBURGH…Did not have a first round pick..but they have S-Minkah Fitzpatrick-so that is better……Diamond in the rough WR-Chase Claypoole and RB-Anthony McFarland are not household names were did produce in college….Should there have been a prospect QB on this draft list?….Grade (C)

TENNESSEE…Real mishmash of picks, a second tier OT…a DB dropping down the board…a small college RB….Intrigued by change of pace RB-Darrynton Evans…Grade (C)

CHICAGO…So the Bears paid a chunk of money for TE-Jimmy Graham and then used the first pick on another TE-Cole Kmet-strange priorities…do like CB-Jaylon Johnson..but thought other players would have been better choices….Grade (D)

HOUSTON..This has not been a good off season for Bill O’Brien and you wonder if he has made so many deals he has dealt himself out of a playoff spot…DT-Ross Blacklock is pretty good player…Always seems to be turmoil about how this Coach-GM does his business…Grade (D)

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