Let Go of Marty's Ears, He Knows What He's Doing
Random thoughts while wondering what ever happened to Daniel J. Travanti:
Suit to Kill Dept. Pt. 2: I am absolutely fascinated by the ongoing saga of Marty Schottenheimer.
It appears that on a private jet flight to the Pro Bowl, General Manager AJ Smith got team president Dean Spanos' ear and the next thing you know, Marty is unemployed.
Here's the interesting part. One of the reasons given for Mary's ouster is the exodus of assistant coaches (2 coordinators, 3 position coaches) to other teams. Marty, being a coach (and a good guy), always told his assistants that if they found a better gig, he would support them. Marty, who is one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, wanted to hire his own assistants to replace the ones who left while his boss, Smith, wanted to dictate to him who he was going to hire. Marty did the right thing by helping his guys move up while Smith didn't want the assistants to leave. Smith wanted control over hiring the coaching staff which would be okay if Marty were a rookie, but he's not.
Note to Ron Rivera: If you really want this job, here's four words that will get it for you. Just say this over and over and over: "Yes sir Mr. Smith!"
This is becoming an alarming trend in coaching. While I agree that a coach should not be his own personnel director (even Mike Holmgren failed at that) I think a coach needs to pick who will be next to him in the fox hole. Not allowing a coach to pick his assistants basically reduces a coach to the rank of hired hand, not coach. Coaches should be consulted with, not dictated to. Mr. Smith (and Mr. Jones in Dallas) seem to think the best way to run an organization is by better living through puppetry. The problem is, it's for a coach hard to earn the respect of his team when your owner or GM has his hand up your back.
Coaches who fight the trend in organizations like this usually wind up like Marty: Unemployed. It boggles my mind why anyone would want to take a job in which you are reduced to the role of errand boy, but I guess the title on your resume is more important than looking at yourself in the mirror while you are shaving.
Good Eats Dept.: Imagine the damage inflicted if Todd Bozeman's team had been served liverwurst.
Demon Seed Dept.: Ladies and gentlemen, please get your pencils and scorecards ready as we try to out guess the NCAA selection committee who will wind up bowing to pressure from the Big Ten, SEC, Big East, Big 12, Pac 10 and ACC anyway.
Balls on the Wall Dept.: Sometimes, having a ball at the expense of others can be a risky proposition.
Bad Ol' Boy Dept.: We're NASCAR and if you screw with our rules, we will go medieval on your ass.
Naked Truth Dept.: If you plan on driving drunk and naked, don't do it in Detroit. They have no sense of humor about it.
Pay to Play Dept.: Apparently, being a Manning doesn't guarantee that you can get some.
Tub Thumping Dept.: I get the feeling that this might be Tubby Smith's final year at Kentucky.
Dogs are Barking Dept.: How 'bout them Salukis?
Ahhhhhhhh Dept.: Pittsburgh's AD has not yet discovered the fraud that is Dave Wannstedt. I've always visualized Dave as Tooter Turtle to Jimmy Johnson's Mr. Wizard.
Spring has Sprung Dept.: It may be nine degrees in Waukesha, but things are getting warm in Florida and Arizona.
Speak Up Dept.: The Mayor of Nashville apparently is worried about being sued for requiring that citizens speak English. The Mayor claims that the legislation, which passed the city council is "mean spirited and unconstitutional."
Is it really mean spirited to ask that people communicate in a common language and that since Americans speak English, the language should be English? The Mayor's assertion that the law is unconstitutional is unfounded as there are no provisions about language in it. And besides, it's not just Spanish. It's Japanese, Russian, Gaelic, French, Arabic whatever. When are we going to wake up and realize it's our damned country and we make the rules. Coddling illegal immigrants and people new to the country doesn't help anyone.
Don't Leave Guadalajara Without It Dept.: Paying Gringo to sneak you over border, $1,000. Getting fake ID, $500. Getting a credit card without having to worry about being legal, priceless.
Top Dog Dept.: We actually watched some of this last night. It's far more interesting than the dogs on "American Idol." I think it would be cool if they combined the two with Simon, Paula and Randy as dog show judges. I can just hear Simon now: "I wouldn't give you a milk bone if you were the only dog in the state, let alone this show." Now that's entertainment!
Right Said Fred Dept.: I'm not a prosecutor but I play one on TV. Looks like Fred Dalton Thompson is setting himself up the way former Law & Order cast member Michael Moriarty did. Papa Wolf don't like no outspoken political views.
I Have Sinned Against You Dept.: Personally, I'm for bringing back stoning for crimes like this.
Six Million Reasons Dept.: Proof again that there are no new ideas in Hollywood.
Bill Me Later Dept.: Here's compelling evidence why you don't buy new software right out of the box. It seems Microsoft can't even get the stuff that's been out there a while right.
I Won't Back Down Dept.: Here's looking at you, kid. One tough broad and one great lady.
Lost in Space Dept.: Want to be an astronaut? Better be able to pass the new entrance exam.
Estrogen Kills Dept.: Researchers have discovered that women are more vulnerable to injury during certain times of their menstrual cycle. They have also determined that men are vulnerable to injuries from women at ANY time during their menstrual cycle.
Suit to Kill Dept. Pt. 2: I am absolutely fascinated by the ongoing saga of Marty Schottenheimer.
It appears that on a private jet flight to the Pro Bowl, General Manager AJ Smith got team president Dean Spanos' ear and the next thing you know, Marty is unemployed.
Here's the interesting part. One of the reasons given for Mary's ouster is the exodus of assistant coaches (2 coordinators, 3 position coaches) to other teams. Marty, being a coach (and a good guy), always told his assistants that if they found a better gig, he would support them. Marty, who is one of the winningest coaches in NFL history, wanted to hire his own assistants to replace the ones who left while his boss, Smith, wanted to dictate to him who he was going to hire. Marty did the right thing by helping his guys move up while Smith didn't want the assistants to leave. Smith wanted control over hiring the coaching staff which would be okay if Marty were a rookie, but he's not.
Note to Ron Rivera: If you really want this job, here's four words that will get it for you. Just say this over and over and over: "Yes sir Mr. Smith!"
This is becoming an alarming trend in coaching. While I agree that a coach should not be his own personnel director (even Mike Holmgren failed at that) I think a coach needs to pick who will be next to him in the fox hole. Not allowing a coach to pick his assistants basically reduces a coach to the rank of hired hand, not coach. Coaches should be consulted with, not dictated to. Mr. Smith (and Mr. Jones in Dallas) seem to think the best way to run an organization is by better living through puppetry. The problem is, it's for a coach hard to earn the respect of his team when your owner or GM has his hand up your back.
Coaches who fight the trend in organizations like this usually wind up like Marty: Unemployed. It boggles my mind why anyone would want to take a job in which you are reduced to the role of errand boy, but I guess the title on your resume is more important than looking at yourself in the mirror while you are shaving.
Good Eats Dept.: Imagine the damage inflicted if Todd Bozeman's team had been served liverwurst.
Demon Seed Dept.: Ladies and gentlemen, please get your pencils and scorecards ready as we try to out guess the NCAA selection committee who will wind up bowing to pressure from the Big Ten, SEC, Big East, Big 12, Pac 10 and ACC anyway.
Balls on the Wall Dept.: Sometimes, having a ball at the expense of others can be a risky proposition.
Bad Ol' Boy Dept.: We're NASCAR and if you screw with our rules, we will go medieval on your ass.
Naked Truth Dept.: If you plan on driving drunk and naked, don't do it in Detroit. They have no sense of humor about it.
Pay to Play Dept.: Apparently, being a Manning doesn't guarantee that you can get some.
Tub Thumping Dept.: I get the feeling that this might be Tubby Smith's final year at Kentucky.
Dogs are Barking Dept.: How 'bout them Salukis?
Ahhhhhhhh Dept.: Pittsburgh's AD has not yet discovered the fraud that is Dave Wannstedt. I've always visualized Dave as Tooter Turtle to Jimmy Johnson's Mr. Wizard.
Spring has Sprung Dept.: It may be nine degrees in Waukesha, but things are getting warm in Florida and Arizona.
Speak Up Dept.: The Mayor of Nashville apparently is worried about being sued for requiring that citizens speak English. The Mayor claims that the legislation, which passed the city council is "mean spirited and unconstitutional."
Is it really mean spirited to ask that people communicate in a common language and that since Americans speak English, the language should be English? The Mayor's assertion that the law is unconstitutional is unfounded as there are no provisions about language in it. And besides, it's not just Spanish. It's Japanese, Russian, Gaelic, French, Arabic whatever. When are we going to wake up and realize it's our damned country and we make the rules. Coddling illegal immigrants and people new to the country doesn't help anyone.
Don't Leave Guadalajara Without It Dept.: Paying Gringo to sneak you over border, $1,000. Getting fake ID, $500. Getting a credit card without having to worry about being legal, priceless.
Top Dog Dept.: We actually watched some of this last night. It's far more interesting than the dogs on "American Idol." I think it would be cool if they combined the two with Simon, Paula and Randy as dog show judges. I can just hear Simon now: "I wouldn't give you a milk bone if you were the only dog in the state, let alone this show." Now that's entertainment!
Right Said Fred Dept.: I'm not a prosecutor but I play one on TV. Looks like Fred Dalton Thompson is setting himself up the way former Law & Order cast member Michael Moriarty did. Papa Wolf don't like no outspoken political views.
I Have Sinned Against You Dept.: Personally, I'm for bringing back stoning for crimes like this.
Six Million Reasons Dept.: Proof again that there are no new ideas in Hollywood.
Bill Me Later Dept.: Here's compelling evidence why you don't buy new software right out of the box. It seems Microsoft can't even get the stuff that's been out there a while right.
I Won't Back Down Dept.: Here's looking at you, kid. One tough broad and one great lady.
Lost in Space Dept.: Want to be an astronaut? Better be able to pass the new entrance exam.
Estrogen Kills Dept.: Researchers have discovered that women are more vulnerable to injury during certain times of their menstrual cycle. They have also determined that men are vulnerable to injuries from women at ANY time during their menstrual cycle.
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