Do you believe this?

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They sure do it differently over there.  How and Why?.  Who Knows?
 
Life abroad in Japan is very different.
 
A country with an enormous work ethic.  A nation where the demands to succeed in industry and life are held up as the greatest achievements.  A society where family, work ethic, and education are held more important than just the yen (the almighty dollar).
 
And they do love their sports, especially baseball.  The Tokyo Giants, Nippon Ham Fighters, Lotte Marines and so many more of their major league franchises.  The Tokyo Dome, Yokohama Stadium and the likes.
 
We know the love they have for their heroes here, Ichuro Suzuki, Yu Darvish and so many other Pacific Rim players who have come to major league baseball.
 
And there is a pride to finish what you start in Japan.
 
Which is why no one flinched there, when word filtered out that the ex-Red Sox,  Dice K Matsuzaka,  routinely threw 130-pitch games, or Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees big money free agent threw 156 in a playoff game.
 
Granted the mounds are different, the variety of pitches they throw are different, and they throw just one start per week in between lots of time fulfilling workouts.
 
But the story that filtered out of Japan this weekend, about a high school playoff game defies logic.  A game that lasted 50-innings between Chukyo and Asahi in a tournament.  The game was spread out over 4-days before Chukyo scored 3-runs in the 50th inning to win 3-0.
 
And the other storyline that no one can fathom, the two starting high school pitchers, pitched all 50-innings.  Taiga Matsui threw 709-pitches in the 4-days straight he took the mound; the loser, Juk Ishoka, threw 689 for the other team.
 
They do it differently in Japan.  Pride, powerful arms, and a philosophy to finish what you start.
 
What is the translation from English to Japanese of the words,  pitch count, Tommy John surgery, rotator cuff?

NFL Leadership – An Apology

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I bet you’d never imagined those words would have come out of his mouth, not who he is, and what he represents.
 
Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, under siege, admitted he erred in the mishandling of the minimal two game suspension of Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice, implicated in knocking out his wife in a domestic abuse incident, in an elevator, caught on video.
 
A 2-game suspension has led to 2-months of enormous heat directed at Goodell and his league.  The Rice incident was troubling, as has been the inconsistent level of discipline against players.
 
A four game suspension given to Colts defensive end Robert Mathis, for using a fertility drug to start to begin a family with his wife.  Four games for helping her give birth, but two games to a knockout punch of a woman?
 
The swift near year-long suspension of Miami guard Richie Incognito for the hazing club slurs against a teammate, a suspension that last all of last season, and now carries into this season, since everyone views him as toxic.  He got 9-games for his mouth, but Rice got two.
 
No discipline yet for Colts owner Jim Irsay, arrested DUI influence with 29,000-cash and a cache of illegal painkillers, a true drugstore right in his front seat, but we did get a fine against Broncos icon QB-Peyton Manning for mouthing off after a cheap shot hit hurt his WR-Wes Welker.
 
So this, a couple of months after it happened, Goodell admitting the league made a mistake in the Rice case, and promises instant judgment on any player arrested in a domestic abuse case going forward.
 
It’s not an easy job-disciplining players.  San Francisco’s Aldon Smith just got 9-games for 3-off field arrests, rightfully so.  Cleveland’s star receiver Josh Gibson just got an entire season, in his continued bouts with marijuana, alcohol, and just obeying the law.  Jacksonville’s Justin Blackman is likely sitting the season too, because he cannot keep his name off the police blotter.
 
And now you can add to the list, the lst to volunteer in the new world of discipline, is 49ers defensive tackle Ray McDonald, arrested for hitting his pregnant wife on Sunday morning.  He’s got a problem with the incident and with a commissioner now with the glare of the spotlight on him to drop the hammer.  McDonald did this just days after the NFL handed out a new letter of the law memo on sanctions for domestic abuse of women, children, and those pregnant.
 
Roger Goodell has been a great leader; he now has to become a fearless leader, of those lawbreakers he finds on NFL rosters.
 
In a league where this commissioner now has to deal with fires daily, we have lawsuit upon lawsuit, the appearance of unmitigated greed amongst the owners, violence on the field, violent acts off the field. 
 
The NFL season is about to start, and we will pay attention to the games, but we will also now pay attention to the leader of the games.
 
Amazing to hear those words “I erred” coming out of the mouth of the most powerful man of the most powerful sport in America, the NFL.

Chargers Lineup

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The San Diego Chargers got to the 53-man roster limit this weekend, with a couple of surprising cuts, and  a realistic chance what is the roster this morning, will not all be on the roster next Monday night when they open the season in Arizona against the Cardinals.
 
The Bolts list of waived players included injured WR-Vincent Brown, who was waived injured after missing 5-weeks and all the preseasosn games, with a calf injury.  By being waived injured, he could come back in 6-weeks to San Diego, rather than having been put on the injured reserve list for the year, or using a valuable spot on the 8-week IR list.
 
Also cut was OT-Mike Harris, a former starter at left tackle as a rookie, who was injured last year, and just never really played with any consistency this preseason.  Willie Smith, a journeyman, will at least start the season as the swing left and right tackle.
 
Young linebacker Thomas Keiser was pink-slipped, and could wind up with another team, looking for a special team gunner, or he could come back to San Diego if injuries take a toll, though the position is really deep.  
 
Young quarterback Brad Sorensen, who had two poor preseason games, was taken off the active roster, but might resurface on the 10-man developmental squad to run the scout team practices again..
 
The numbers game was the real interesting storyline as the cuts were made.  The Chargers kept five running backs, though that might be a procedural move.  Once every team is down to 53, the Chargers could then put Brandon Oliver or Marion Grice on waivers, figuring another team would not claim an untested rookie and have to put the player on their own roster.  Therefore, once cleared thru waivers, Oliver or Grice could wind up on the Bolts practice squad.
 
They kept 4-tight ends, though David Johnson, the ex-Steeler, is as much fullback as he is H-back or tight end.  Ex-Cowboy John Phillips closed preseason fast, and probably saved his job by catching passes and blocking.
 
On defense, this number cannot be what they expect to open the season with.  The Chargers have only 6-defensive lineman, and two of them are nicked up, in Sean Lissimore and Lawrence Guy, and one is a raw rookie Ryan Carrethers.  Of course, you could always put Dwight Freeney back down with his hand in the dirt as an end in the defense.  
 
The Chargers kept 10-linebackers, including Tourek Williams, the small college talent, who has had an active preseason, and the ex-Colt Kavell Connor, who may replace Manti Te’o if those foot problems linger.
 
In the secondary, the Chargers seem thin at cornerback.  lst round pick Jason Verrett will play in sub packages, with Brandon Flowers as the starter.  The surprise was the decision to hold onto Stevie Williams, who was skewered in games in coverage, as well as rookie Chris Davis.
 
The Bolts have 5-corners, and 5-safeties, though Richard Marshall could jump back from safety to corner if one of the kids falters.
 
Still to be determined is whether the numbers change, if the Chargers find somebody they think can play at nose-tackle in place of the injured Kwame Gaethers.  That might be a reach for very few true nose tackles were put on the waiver lists, meaning the Chargers will be young, thin, and a bit beat up in the defensive front as the season starts.
 
But keep in mind, what is on the roster today, might not be all their by next Monday night kickoff in Arizona.
 

Chargers final cuts:  Most notable names:

 
Vincent Brown-WR..Brad Sorensen-OB..Thomas Keiser-LB..Mike Harris-OT..Tavin Reese-WR..Crezdon Butler-CB…Corrado Law-DE…Doug Worthington-DE…Joe Kruger-DE…Alden Darby-CB…Jevontee Herndon-WR.
 
 
Chargers 53-Man Active Roster-10 Developmental Squad players still to be signed.
 

QB (2)

Philip Rivers, Kellen Clemens

RB (5)

Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead, Donald Brown, Branden Oliver, Marion Grice

OL (8)

King Dunlap, Chad Rinehart, Nick Hardwick, Johnnie Troutman, D.J. Fluker, Chris Watt, Rich Ohrnberger, Willie Smith

WR (5)

Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Eddie Royal, Dontrelle Inman, Seyi Ajirotutu

TE (4)

Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green, David Johnson, John Phillips

DL (6)

Corey Liuget, Kendall Reyes, Sean Lissemore, Lawrence Guy, Ryan Carrethers, Tenny Palepoi

OLB (5)

Melvin Ingram, Jarret Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Jerry Attaochu, Tourek Williams

ILB (5)

Donald Butler, Manti Te’o, Kavell Conner, Reggie Walker, Andrew Gachkar

CB (5)

Shareece Wright, Brandon Flowers, Jason Verrett, Steve Williams, Chris Davis

Safety (5)

Eric Weddle, Marcus Gilchrist, Jahleel Addae, Darrell Stuckey, Richard Marshall

Kicker (1)

Nick Novak

Punter (1)
Mike Scifres

Long snapper (1)

Mike Windt

King College Football

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College Football is back, long live the king.
 
The first weekend of the college season is here, with a different pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  There will not be a fictional champion, a blind vote, a computer snafu to determine who gets to play the final weekend of the season.  It will be a 4-team playoff and it will go a long way to fixing the wrongs the good old BCS (Bowl Championship Series) created.
 
It’s a different year though.
 
Alabama must replace its quarterback AJ McCarron.  Florida State has its QB-Jameis Winston but lots of baggage around him.
 
Ohio State has lost its leader already, quarterback Braxton Miller with shoulder surgery. 
 
Life after Johnny Football-Johnny Manziel has begun at Texas A&M with his replacement Kenny Hill throwing for 511-yards in his first game..
 
In the PAC 12 conference, a new coach in the final year of scholarship probation at USC, but lots of controversy for Steve Sarkisian coming in the front door.  UCLA looks loaded and hopes to keep heart-and-soul QB Brett Hundley healthy, as Jim Mora moves into his third year at the helm. .
 
Oregon has Marcus Mariota at QB but has lost a ton of speed at running back and wide receiver, and we are now two years removed from the Chip Kelly era.
 
And the coach everyone wanted to hire, finally was hired, when Chris Peterson left Boise State to go to the Washington Huskies.  
 
A new beginning at once proud Texas where coach Charley Strong has run off 9-problem players.  Oklahoma has had off the field issues all off season and you wonder if the Sooners are upper echelon elite?.
 
And of course we have the Heisman Race, with some great additional QBs to watch, Auburn’s Nick Marshall and Baylor’s Bryce Petty likely to put up good numbers.
 
Closer to home San Diego State  plays just a brutal road schedule, BYU is an independent no-one is paying attention to anymore, and one wonders if anyone is left to watch what used to be the Big East, Conference USA, or where the old WAC went to.
 
King Football is back.  Saturday’s are special.  Get ready for upsets, shockers, high scoring games, and the annual right to argue, whom should be picked for the 4-team playoff after the Bowl games.
 
Tee it off…kick it off.  Just love the fall don’t you?

Always another team

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We’re getting down to the final cut down date in the NFL. 
 
Right after the games tonight, teams will go from 75 on the roster to 53 for the opening of the season.  Starting at midnight tonight, 704-players will be cut off rosters.
 
Sure there will be some interesting names made available, but not many of them will be difference makers if they go to another team.  But there is one out there who is drawing lots of attention, and for a really different reason.
 
Tampa Bay needs help at the position, so does Indianapolis, and the New York Giants.  Help at guard, where injuries and retirements have decimated their ranks.
 
And there he is on a street corner, waiting for a phone call, after getting suspended last year amidst a firestorm of controversy.
 
Richie Incognito is hoping to sign a contract and get another chance.  Incognito, the ringleader, of the Miami Dolphins hazing incident, that wrecked their season a year ago.  He wound up getting suspended for 9-weeks, lost his job, his salary, and almost his livelihood.
 
Jonathan Martin, the young tackle from Miami, the victim of all the abuse is gone from Miami too, traded to the 49ers, in a giveaway deal just to get him off the team.
 
But the burning question, is another team willing to take a chance on someone like Incognito, redneck, hot head, emotionally unhinged at times?  There’s no doubt he can play, no doubt he is a tough guy, no doubt at times he can be a leader so others can follow, and no doubt the guy who will take penalties and do some over the line things..
 
But you cannot get away from all the slurs, the racial issues, the sexually snide comments, and the out-of-control persona he can be on the field and in games.
 
The Rams got rid of him when they needed lineman.  Miami cut him loose like you’d cut a cancerous cell out of your body.
 
But in the history of the NFL, there’s always somebody out there who will take a chance, that “I can control the guy, get the best out of him, and not let him burn my lock room to the ground.”  Teams always need players and the guy can play..
 
So pay attention to your team in tonight’s final games on the preseason schedule, look for names cut and sent to the waiver wire, and wait and see where Richie Incognito lands, because it is likely going to happen pretty quickly.
 
Richie Incognito will take your call shortly and sign and come play for you.  Mid-level player even if at times a sub-standard person.  Still fit to be on an NFL roster.