The TEN: 1/16/2019

(“The TEN” is not a top ten but ten items worth being included in “The TEN”)

1. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson says they are sticking with Carson Wentz as their quarterback over Nick Foles who has had post season success the last two years.

2. The New York Jets are finalizing a deal with former Cleveland Browns HC Gregg Williams to be their defensive coordinator.

3. The New Orleans Saints will be without starting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins in the NFC Championship game Sunday against the Rams after tearing his Achilles last Sunday vs. the Eagles.

4. Houston Rockets’ guard James Harden has scored at least 30 points in 17 consecutive games after scoring 57 in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night.

5. Former MLB pitcher John Wetteland (Dodgers, Yankees, Expos, Rangers) has been arrested and charged in Texas of continuous sex abuse of a child under age 14.

6. The LA Galaxy announced that they have re-signed midfielder Emmanuel Boateng.

7. Austin FC is announced as Major League Soccer’s 27th franchise and will begin play in 2021.

8. Isaiah Marshall, a seventh grade quarterback, has been offered a scholarship to play at Michigan.

9. Clemson players cheer the spread of fast food served at the White House Monday night to celebrate their College Football Playoff Championship.

10. Former UCLA/NBA Forward Don MacLean turns 49 today.

20 Comments to "The TEN: 1/16/2019"

  1. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    January 21, 2019 - 12:49 am | Permalink

    @ Straight Shooter: Amen to that. It pays to be polite.
    It also pays for us to be on our best behavior, or something close to it, in public. There are a lot of people with smartphones out there who might record your every move or comment.
    They really had no choice but to fire Salcido. At the time, there were reports that he had verbally crossed the line on previous occasions as well. He simply got caught that last time, when he made crude, demeaning, and bigoted remarks about people who serve in our armed forces.

    As for the protests at NFL games, the team owners and the league have prohibited players from kneeling during the national anthem. However, they at least showed enough respect for the players to allow those who wish to protest to quietly boycott the anthem by remaining in their locker rooms.
    I didn’t like the NFL’s decision at first, but it’s a compromise solution that seems to be working. Players can still make a social statement by not participating in the anthem, and they also have the freedom to appear at public rallies and post on social media.
    I agree with Straight Shooter from the standpoint that the owners have invested large sums of money in player contracts. I can see their concern about possible distractions that could negatively affect their teams’ performance, and they want their players to be at their best when they take the field.
    So, we do have some common ground here.

    @ ?: I think it’s a bit unfair to call people egomaniacs because they have strong opinions on important issues. We try our best to provide solid takes and not suck, as sports-talk host Jim Rome says.
    The issue of police harassment and multiple killings by police of unarmed young people in minority communities has resonated strongly with entire teams in the NFL and the NBA. It’s an issue everyone should care about.
    We’re living in a turbulent time, and events in the outside world sometimes penetrate our sports bubble. We can’t expect our athletes to be immune from all of that.

  2. ?'s Gravatar ?
    January 20, 2019 - 3:11 pm | Permalink

    I would guess 99% of high school football fans that read MVS do not wand to read you two ego maniacs. Take it to a private chat line somewhere.

  3. Straight Shooter's Gravatar Straight Shooter
    January 20, 2019 - 2:10 pm | Permalink

    Poor Gregory Salcido….if only he had discussed his ideas politely, he’d still be teaching at El Rancho.

  4. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    January 19, 2019 - 9:00 pm | Permalink

    @ Straight Shooter: I believe that I and others in public education have a high degree of free speech in the classroom, as long as our speech is germane to the subject or subjects that we’re teaching. I consider it my personal responsibility to be fair and to factually discuss all sides of any issue that might crop up during a lesson or class discussion.
    Those of us who are in K-12 education are required to follow school district and state instructional guidelines, and I don’t know any teachers who have a problem with that.
    However, there are sometimes disagreements over teaching methodology or school discipline policies, for instance. Educators often talk about these matters informally, and they are also discussed at formal faculty meetings.
    If I ever disagree with someone at any of my work sites, I’m able to express my views politely. I don’t have to be rude or coarse about it.
    I’d also like to point out that parents and the community are generally well-represented on school site councils, and dissenting voices are able to be heard. There is a fairly high level of discourse at public schools, although results can vary from school to school.
    As has often been said, ideas are the currency at institutions of learning, and ideas will come into conflict at times. I believe that we’ve usually handled these conflicts reasonably well.

    The athletes whom you suggest are “mouthing off” are speaking out about racism and police misconduct in our country.
    Unfortunately, some athletes have had brushes with the law because of their poor judgment or their lack of positive values. I think these individuals deserve to be punished.
    However, I’m talking about those who have been unjustly harassed by police officers, or who’ve had family members, friends, and/or residents of their communities subjected to that treatment.
    Speaking out for social justice is not “mouthing off,” but resisting authority just for the hell of it is.

  5. Straight Shooter's Gravatar Straight Shooter
    January 19, 2019 - 4:21 pm | Permalink

    You know what irritates me? The fact that Mr. Vrooman is not free to saying anything and everything he wants when substitute teaching. Since he’s working on publicly-owned land, the man should be given free-rein to determine exactly what the ‘public’ wants to hear. I’m sure if Ron were to start a business of his own, he’d let his employees mouth-off and demonstrate to their heart’s content, so why can’t he vent freely as an Alhambra Unified employee?

  6. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    January 19, 2019 - 12:49 pm | Permalink

    @ Straight Shooter: Your comparison is so totally false that it’s absolutely disgusting. I have never once advocated violence as a means of settling social conflicts in this country.
    And, unlike our current president and some of his supporters, I’ve always believed in democracy and the rule of law. Nonviolent protest is the way to go, and let the courts decide whenever it comes down to that.
    I don’t think these multi-millionaire or billionaire team owners are having their civil liberties “trampled” when some players take a knee or engage in some other form of protest during the national anthem. But, some people find it convenient to side with the (very) rich and powerful, no matter what the issue is.
    American slaveowners in the mid-1800’s staunchly defended their “property rights,” and they were even willing to start a war over the matter.
    There has often been a tendency in this country to emphasize private property rights over human rights and the greater good. But, yes, I believe that we should always try to achieve a balance when it comes to everyone’s rights.

  7. Straight Shooter's Gravatar Straight Shooter
    January 18, 2019 - 10:58 am | Permalink

    When Vrooman says he “sympathizes” with the anthem kneelers, it’s a smooth way of saying he advocates the violation of property rights if the cause stirs his blood. Strange how this man feels it’s OK to trample some people’s liberties in order to stand-up for those of others. Who gets constitutional protection–and who doesn’t–apparently depends on what mood Ron is in. I seem to remember a whole society in 1930’s Germany who felt as Ron does that “desperate times” require “unorthodox measures.”

  8. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    January 17, 2019 - 6:23 pm | Permalink

    @ No More WH Visits: Yes, most of us can get along just fine without them. However, those visits could provide collegiate and professional players (some of whom might be future leaders) an opportunity to network and see our current leaders up close.

    @ Rams Fan and Straight Shooter: I understand and appreciate your viewpoints.
    But, I believe that team owners such as Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft (who has publicly expressed his support for President Trump) are practicing a double standard.
    Their attitude (especially Jones’s) seems to be, “I can say whatever I want in public, but you guys can’t.”
    By the way, many NFL stadiums are publicly-owned, or public funds were used in their development. In addition, the idea that players are the property of their team owners largely vanished after the MLB reserve clause was declared unconstitutional in the 1970’s.
    Sadly, we’re living in the most turbulent time since the late 1960’s/early 70’s. The advancements we’ve made in areas such as racial equality and voting rights are now in jeopardy of being reversed. Desperate times can require unorthodox measures, so I sympathize with the protestors.

    I think that free speech on the Mid-Valley Sports blog should be encouraged. I would support censorship whenever statements about individuals are so demonstrably false or distorted that they could be considered libelous.

    Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day, everyone.

  9. Whittier Cardinal's Gravatar Whittier Cardinal
    January 17, 2019 - 5:31 pm | Permalink

    Last year I found commenter LS over the top and insulting in his support of his team. We are a rival but if we invited LS and his team for lunch at our gym I absolutely know our team Dad’s and Mom’s would not serve them junk food but a great feast of ribs, brisket , carne asada and chicken fresh off the grill.

  10. RAMS FAN's Gravatar RAMS FAN
    January 17, 2019 - 2:40 pm | Permalink

    Ron, I usually enjoy your insights to high school football but I’ll have to disagree with your comments on NFL, NBA players. If you put on my uniform and play in my stadium and entertain my fans, I think I should expect you to follow my rules. Protesting is something you can do on your time when I’m not paying you to perform. Social protests are fine but do these players actually take the time to protest anywhere other than their places of employment? No, so I question how really concerned they are if they are not willing to “donate” their own time to their cause?/

  11. Barney's Gravatar Barney
    January 17, 2019 - 2:22 pm | Permalink

    @? Vanity wall? That has to be the most ignorant comment I’ve seen on this or any other blog. Please snowflake, crawl back under your rock.

  12. Straight Shooter's Gravatar Straight Shooter
    January 17, 2019 - 12:14 pm | Permalink

    Vrooman is confusing property rights with freedom of speech rights. Ron’s home is the place where HE decides what goes on, just as an NFL stadium is the place where ITS owners call the shots. If Ron believes all expression is to be allowed everywhere, he’s saying that Mid Valley Sports shouldn’t have the right to censor comments.

  13. No More WH Visits's Gravatar No More WH Visits
    January 17, 2019 - 7:46 am | Permalink

    One thing I like about Trump being president is that he just might kill off the tradition of championship sports teams making the visit to the White House for a photo op with the president. I’ve always found it a bit ridiculous.

  14. Knightwatch's Gravatar Knightwatch
    January 16, 2019 - 11:38 pm | Permalink

    There goes my refuge from all things political.

  15. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    January 16, 2019 - 6:03 pm | Permalink

    @ ?: I hear you.
    Teams such as the Golden State Warriors refuse to visit the White House because they’re socially conscious and have the courage to take a stand on important issues that affect millions of people in this country. They believe in values such as racial equality and equal protection under the law, which our ignorant and bigoted Chief Executive clearly fails to embody.
    I also sympathize with the NFL players and others who protest during the national anthem, or boycott it. They wouldn’t feel the need to demonstrate in this manner if racism and police misconduct weren’t so prevalent.
    These athletes are American citizens, and they’re just as entitled to express their opinions as are outspoken, patriotic team owners such as Jerry Jones.

  16. Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man's Gravatar Ron Vrooman, AHS stat man
    January 16, 2019 - 5:32 pm | Permalink

    And, to think, our current president has quite possibly made many of his billions (or millions) from scamming people. What a great role model for Americans of all ages!

  17. ?'s Gravatar ?
    January 16, 2019 - 5:17 pm | Permalink

    It’s what they asked for? The team did not ask for that junk. You believe everything he says like the other 34%. Taj Boyd Clemson player felt insulted. All American lineman said he thought it was a joke. And tweets from players got worse. Pelosi and the dems for sure would not have given them luke warm junk food because they would not have shut down the government for a vanity wall. Snowflake? Is that the best you got? Why do you suppose so many teams don’t go to the White House? Because they get treated like Clemson. Live and learn.

  18. Straight Shooter's Gravatar Straight Shooter
    January 16, 2019 - 12:33 pm | Permalink

    At a time in our history when the medical, banking and higher education rackets are running wild, draining us all of the little wealth we have left, some hair-brain comes on here to explain the importance of what’s being served for lunch at a White House photo opportunity. Clearly, this fellow learned to focus on the essentials at his local public school.

  19. Barney Rubble's Gravatar Barney Rubble
    January 16, 2019 - 10:42 am | Permalink

    @?
    Hey snowflake, it’s what they asked for and he paid for it himself. Would Pelosi, Schummer, Warren, Harris, Booker or Hillary have paid for it? I didn’t think so.

  20. ?'s Gravatar ?
    January 16, 2019 - 10:04 am | Permalink

    Man I would have cheered to if a multi billionaire president thought so much of my team that he bought us luke warm Whoppers and McNuggets. That’s great for a guy that brags he makes a million and a half every day.

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