By Tim Marcin
Elm Staff Writer
The Good
Aaron Rodgers, go to Disney World, screw it…go wherever the hell you want. You deserve it. Whether you were rooting for the Packers, the Steelers, or couldn’t care less about the big game—you have to feel good for Aaron Rodgers. In case you haven’t come out from under that rock for a while, Rodgers just won the Superbowl for the Green Bay Packers—after all of the drama he so graciously went through.
Rodgers is the guy who was never highly recruited to play in college. Rodgers is the same man who saw his stock plummet on draft day, despite a great college career. This is the man who was forced to wait in the wings, rusting as a Packer, while Brett Favre went through his many faux retirements. This is the man who was forced to constantly deal with the comparisons, even after the ol’ gunslinger was long gone. This is the man who has never done anything without the shadow of Brett Favre looming overhead. Rodgers took all of this in stride, showing nothing but humility and respect (while Favre continued to show his selfishness and true colors).
Breathe a sigh of relief Aaron. If there were any doubts left, they are gone now. The Packers made the right choice, as Favre seems to finally be done, and Rodgers has proven to be the leader and quarterback they need. Rodgers was never bitter, rude, or controversial while he waited for his opportunity, proving the kind of man he is. You have to feel good for somebody who actually deserved the honor of being a champion, unlike many selfish, unappreciative athletes. By the way, Rodgers won the Superbowl MVP, something Favre never did.
The Bad
It’s panic time in Los Angeles. The Lakers are ruined! They have no passion, they’re static, they are no longer a force in the NBA. They are—Gasp!—only in third place in the Western Conference.
The two-time defending champions, are doing anything to try to recover from their terrible 36-16 record. Trade rumors are surfacing, including a blockbuster for Carmelo Anthony. Magic Johnson even said a trade should be welcomed at this point.
LA, relax. There is no need to break up a team that has constantly proven itself like this Lakers squad has. Yes, they lost in two big games against the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, but there is no need to explode the core of the team. Maybe bringing in Melo would make them unstoppable, or maybe the team would implode (can Kobe really go back to being a secondary scorer on certain nights?). Either way, give it time. The team may be a bit complacent, but they did not exactly run through the league last year. In fact, it took a tough series against the Kevin Durant’s Thunder to wake the beast. But awake it did, as the Lakers cruised to a championship.
Now is not the time to start over, just calm down and let things play out. Make some other team prove they are truly the best before you blow up a team that has dominated for two years.
The Ugly
After such an amazing Superbowl, it is tough to imagine a year without America’s new pastime. It seems, however, that we are heading that way. Even though the NFL just had its most profitable year in history, the owners and players are essentially bickering over who gets what percentage of that pie, and the owners are threatening a lockout if an agreement cannot be reached. The collective bargaining agreement is up, and the owners are trying to get more of the dough into their pockets. They also want to expand the season to 18 games to bring in more revenue—which seems to completely contradict the new “safer” NFL. It is hard not to side with the players on a lot of the issues, as it seems they are getting strong armed by the league, but regardless of what side you are on this situation is just plain stupid.
Figure it out people. America loves this sport and the last thing that anyone wants is a lockout. Not only will it be a huge let-down for the loyal fans, it will also be detrimental to everyone involved with the NFL. They will all lose a ton of money, while they continue to be stubborn like a couple of two-year-olds fighting over a toy. Everyone involved has millions of dollars on the table, and it is merely a matter of deciding how to split that up. Stop the greed, start using a little common sense, and figure it out. America without football is hardly America at all. Share the toy.
February 11, 2011
Volume LXXXI Issue 14