Talking NFL

Just when I thought we were finally ready to depart “the greatest city in the history of mankind”, it looks like we’re sticking around for one more topic:

“I would never react in that way. I was very upset,” LaDainian Tomlinson said after the game. “When you go to the middle of our field and start doing the dance Shawne Merriman is known for, that is disrespectful. They showed no class and maybe that comes from the head coach.”

Couple of notes on this:

1) I wish there were 100 more LT’s in the league today. Not only because of the way he plays, but also because of the way he acts when he gets in the endzone. A la Barry Sanders, like he’s been there before. Add that to the fact that he does a boat load of charitable work, and he’s the NFL player that should be emmulated by everyone.

2) According to reports at the game, Ellis Hobbs and Reche Caldwell were, in fact, doing the Merriman dance at midfield after the Pats won. Good sportsmanship? Definitely not. More to the point, this dance mimicing is a growing trend for the Patriots. They’re now going into their 4th AFC Championship Game in 6 years, yet there hasn’t been one player during this time that’s been able to come up with a decent celebration on their own. Instead, they always have to go & copy a move from the team they vanquish (see Terrell Owens “Eagle Flap” in SuperBowl 39).

Could sombody within the Pats brain trust PLEASE hire a “Celebration Dance Consultant” ASAP, so we don’t have this problem of mocking the teams that we beat? Get Icky Woods or White Shoes Johnson on the line - I’m sure they’d be willing to take time out of their busy schedule.

…where the hell was I? Right - LT.

Having said all that, I want you to do me a favor LT…go ahead and take a deep breath…good…ready? Now SUCK IT UP.

You lost, and the other team won. And how they celebrate is their own business. If the Patriots had gone out before the game & stomped on the Charger symbol (Miami Hurricane style), that would have been one thing. But afterwards? Hey man, if they want to run naked through the streets of San Diego, yelling, “OUR TEAM’S DING-DONGS ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR TEAM’S DING-DONGS!!”, well that’s their right (up until such time that the police put them away).

By the way, you defending a team-mate who feels the need to celebrate every sack he gets with a taunting dance, and who also had to take a little unpaid vacation thanks to a drug suspension, seems a bit hypocritical, don’t you think? You earn respect by your actions both on and off the field, you of all people should know that. And from most accounts, it also sounds like “Lights Out” was running his mouth the entire game. In that case, well, payback’s an itch.

So know when to pick your battles LT. Oh, and ripping on the opposing coach as well; not such a ‘classy’ move. Just something to think about in the offseason.

Now be a good sport, and turn the “Lights Out” when you’re done.