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Still adrift, but opinionated:
Posted: Thursday January 27, 2000 10:33 AM
SOMEWHERE OVER THE CAROLINAS -- Made it out alive late this morning, on something called AirTran. And I promise, by tomorrow, I will report live from Atlanta, on some topics that actually have a little to do with the Super Bowl. For now, here's my opinion of the day: If I'm New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft, I have to say no to Bill Belichick now, hire Tom Donahoe to run the football side of business, and get on with my life. Because if I'm Bob Kraft, this is the thought process going through my mind today as the Jets stonewall my compensation offer for Belichick and refuse to budge from their demand of New England's first-round draft choice in April's draft: I am willing to give a man with a coaching record of 37-45 full authority over all my football operations by naming him coach and general manager. I am willing to pay him in excess of $3 million a year. And now I have to throw in my first-round pick? I'm already without my fourth-round pick this year, and I'm sure to lose a couple of valued players like Tedy Bruschi and Shawn Jefferson in free agency. Now I have to throw in the pick that could become Ron Dayne and may solve our dilemma at running back for the next five years? Maybe I wait a couple more days for the Jets to budge. Assuming they don't, I get on with my life. "Why are you going to all this trouble for Bill Belichick?" one business associate asked Kraft last week. "I see things in him that other people don't see," this associate quoted Kraft as saying.
I like Belichick as a coach, too, even though I find his actions this month despicable and totally without honor. I just think enough's enough. Move on. Donahoe and Dom Capers sound good to me. And now for the 10 Not-So-Super Things I Think I Think: 1. I think I have one issue with the NFL today: Did we all have a wonderful time in San Diego two years ago? It was beautiful every day, 73° and sunny, with wonderful weather for the game. Everyone -- player, fan, sponsor, journalist, owner -- had a great time. It was the best Super Bowl I'd ever experienced. Dined with the Brett Favre party Friday at Top o' the Cove in La Jolla. Took the trolley to the stadium. Everything ran smoothly. Good game. Great overall time. I know the answer to this -- money, scratch the backs of loyal owners and give them the Big Game in their towns -- but really, why aren't the Super Bowls set up in nice climes every year so the week and the game become fun and much anticipated rather than the endurance test of a bad-weather Atlanta week? 2. I think the one thing people forget about the first Rams-Titans game is that the Rams mostly handed the Titans 21 first-quarter points, then mostly outplayed them and outscored them 21-3 in the last three quarters, and would have forced overtime if Jeff Wilkins hadn't missed a straight-away 38-yard chippy with seven seconds left. 3. I think The Sopranos is getting better, if that's possible. Tony carrying the despised Uncle Junior to his car, like a child? Whoever thought that up, I bow to you. 4. I think my day home in New Jersey on Tuesday had one very big advantage, aside from the unabashed joy I felt shoveling three driveways. I got to see one of the best Seinfelds of all time. Remember when Jerry's buddy from Pakistan, Babu Bat, got deported and, wagging his index finger, vowed revenge on Jerry by saying: "Jeddy is a veddy, veddy bad man!'' Also in that episode: Kramer plunks Joe Pepitone with an inside fastball and slugs Mickey Mantle in the ensuing bench-clearing brawl at a Yankees fantasy camp; George proclaims Kramer's life is "one big fantasy camp;'' Jerry fakes a boring personality so that George can date a beautiful Chinese lawyer, but this ploy backfires because Cheryl Fong, the lawyer, finds Jerry very dark and attractive. Classic. 5. I think -- and I'm going pretty far afield now -- Elian Gonzales belongs with his father, in Cuba. What right do we have to take a child from his father and two grandmothers, all of whom appear perfectly capable of taking care of him? What nerve. Send the kid home. 6. I think you can't write enough this week about 17-year vet Bruce Matthews , the ancient Titans guard who broke in with Dan Marino and who's still playing well. 7. I think, and I forgot to mention this yesterday, that the Rams deserve to be flogged for their bush-league behavior as time wound down in Sunday's win over Tampa Bay. What a bunch of jerks they looked like taunting the Bucs bench, and how ashamed Dick Vermeil must have been when he heard of this crap. "I guess they've got 53 girls on their team,'' Bucs offensive lineman Frank Middleton said. 8. I think Jeff Hostetler will be on an NFL team next year. 9. I think Mark McGrath "Sugar Ray" sounds like he's having dental surgery without novocaine when he sings. 10. I think I will actually get to speak with some real-live football players tomorrow. SI's Peter King will file the 10 things he thinks he thinks every day
leading up to -- and even at halftime during -- Super Bowl XXXIV.
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