Classy Thy Name is Kurt Warner

In a sports world dominated by divas such as Brett Favre, people like Kurt Warner are a rarity. Today Warner announced his retirement after 12 years in the NFL, a Super Bowl ring, three Super Bowl appearances, and two NFL MVPs. Even though he went out in the divisional round of this year's playoffs, Warner is still leaving on top. He was still being the quietly efficient quarterback he has always been.

Warner not only won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams, he also managed to get the Arizona Cardinals, a team that hadn't made a playoff appearance in eons, to the Super Bowl last year. While the Cardinals lost to the Steelers in the end, Warner just kept at it and it was one of the better Super Bowls in recent memory.

Something to note is that Warner is also leaving after having suffered at least three concussions, one of which came in the divisional round loss to the Saints. It's good he will still have most of his health. As much as I love Steve Young, he stuck around a little too long and took a few too many shots to the head.

The bottom line is this: Kurt Warner was a class act from beginning to end. After 12 seasons, three Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl win, and two MVPs, Kurt Warner is a first ballot hall of famer. Kurt Warner, you will be missed.

Pro Bowl Fail

In every league it seems there is an all-star game. It seems to be an unwritten rule. These are games for the fans, by the fans. In the NBA, MLB, and most other leagues these games are usually enjoyable exhibitions. NBA all-star weekend is a huge event complete with everything from the dunk contest (which I'm sure will be a topic on this blog later), to the rookie challenge, to the all-star game itself. The MLB has the home run derby and the game itself determines home field advantage in the world series. All of this seems pretty benign right? Well, that's because the NBA and MLB have a clue how to run these things. The NFL? Not so much.

The NFL Pro Bowl used to come the week after the Super Bowl and almost no players wanted to come. This year, the NFL has a new plan: let's make it the week before the Super Bowl! Not only that, but now players from the Colts and the Saints are being required by the NFL to fly to the Pro Bowl not even to play. No, the high and mighty NFL in all its wisdom is making players who should be getting ready mentally and physically for the biggest game of the year show up at the Pro Bowl just to make an appearance. This is beyond idiotic. The all-star games in other leagues work because they are in mid-season and there is some incentive for athletes to participate. The Pro Bowl is an afterthought and usually not even watchable.

What's the answer? Call me crazy but I think the Pro Bowl should be eliminated altogether. It's a waste of time and it comes after the Super Bowl so it also seems anti-climactic. Let the players who have worked so hard to get to the Super Bowl be with their teams, get ready for the circus of Super Bowl week, and, if necessary, get healthy. The Pro Bowl is a shameless attempt by the NFL to make more money. The NFL is loaded with cash so making players participate in an exhibition game just to please sponsors is absurd. The only thing dumber would be charging fans for pre-season games. Oops! The NFL is already ripping fans off that way too.

Greetings Sports Fans!

Welcome to Sportsmania, my first sports blog. I will way in on stories about all sports (not just NFL, MLB, etc.). I welcome spirited debate but keep it civil and clean. Full disclosure, my teams are the Indianapolis Colts, New York Knicks, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tennessee Lady Vols. I enjoy watching sports from the NFL to the equestrian events (when I can find them). I even like hockey, but prefer it to be college or olympic hockey. I have teams and players that I detest, and that will become more clear as this blogging experiment continues. Let's play ball!