Linja, Irsay, Volcker, Etc...

Like everyone else, I'm pumped about Jeremy Lin, and appreciate the fact it's real. It's not some pre-fab story like the Tebow thing seemed to be. Jeremy Lin is the one DOING IT. Not the defense, not the other team failing to take a knee. Not Darren McFadden missing 8 games. Jeremy Lin is doing it. So I get it.

Yet this won't stop some media outlets from making the news. I was told recently the major sports network tried to buy his brother's couch, put it on e-bay, and use the money for charity. Uhh, really? You're a billion dollar enterprise. How about just donating the money to charity, and calling it a day? How about not making yourself the story amidst the story? You're supposedly a news organization.

Going one step further, don't be surprised when you see that very couch being jumped over in the Slam Dunk competition, because TNT won the battle. That's happening.

The thing I love most about Lin, hit on by Bruce Bowen last night, is how fundamentally sound he is. There's no doubt he improved his game tremendously in COLLEGE. By STAYING in college. By LEARNING an offense. Want to know why you haven't seen a non-European big man box out in 10 years? Lack of COLLEGE. When you can jump over every guy in high school, and then skip college, you sorta never learn the fundamentals.

Regardless of the Lin's speed/quickness, etc, the pace of the game is controlled by him. No different from say Mark Jackson, when he was on the Knicks/Pacers. Not the fleetest of foot, but when you understand the game, you understand how to control it. Jeremy Lin gets that. Steve Nash isn't going to win a 40 yard dash against Derrick Rose, but he doesn't need to. He understands the game.

Lin understands the game. And that's the part I love.

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Speaking of "understanding" the game, there are 2 players who don't. The guy trying to guard Lin before he stuck a game winner in his grill, and Tyler Zeller from North Carolina.

When there are 3 seconds left on the clock, and you're guarding a ball handler who is right handed, with 2 seconds left you should be stepping forward toward his right foot and FORCING THE BALL HANDLER to do what he DOESN'T WANT TO DO.

Both players allowed the ball handler to be completely comfortable, move forward with the ball, back them up, and raise up for a jumper. It's not like either guy is in the Reggie-Miller zone. You're going to give a guy a free look with 2 seconds left? You really think either player, Rivers or Lin, is going to drive to the hole with 2 seconds left when their feet are at the 3 point line?

Both shots were beauties because of the moment, but defensively, both plays were horrendous.

Please, SOMEONE mention this.

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Jim Irsay is pretty uncool.

It's "Peyton's choice." Really? You're going with that?

The Colts offered the guy a contract, a big one which comes due in a couple weeks. If doctors say he's healthy, and you claim to want him, how are you not honoring that contract?

Without Peyton Manning there is no Lucas Oil Stadium. Without Peyton Manning, Jim Irsay has 25% less wealth. Without Peyton Manning there's a strong likelihood the Colts are considering moving to Los Angeles.

And Irsay is going to claim it's Peyton's call?

Be realistic.

If I'm Andrew Luck, I'm using this situation as a way to NOT go to Indianapolis. I'm letting it be known that I don't support a team that treats legendary players like Peyton Manning this way. That I find it classless. That after all he has given to the franchise, this is how he's treated by that franchise.

A war of words in the press, between the owner and player, where the player is much less caustic than the owner.

So lame.

The RIGHT move, in my opinion, is to resign Manning, force the Redskins to trade up to 2nd, draft Luck, then deal him to the Redskins for Robert Griffin. Earn a ton of picks in the process, and use Peyton to mold Griffin, while getting yourself a future great who may not need to start right away. I understand Griffin is less a sure thing, but honestly, at some point you hope "class" becomes a part of all this.

I don't think Irsay is going to show any class in the end.

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I read a lot of articles about the Volcker rule yesterday, and coincidently I came across this article as well. The story of Ralph Cioffi and Matt Tannin having to pay $1.8 million in total fines for their role of cheating clients while at Bear Sterns.

Without getting too much into Volcker Rule, here's the problem with it all, and solution. The Volcker rule will slow the ability of US banks to take part in proprietary trading (using their own money to trade, make markets, etc), and they claim it will hurt them as banks can't compete with foreign banks who can do this. It's a stretch, in the long term, and they know it. Banks just want the ability to clean up like they have been the last decade. Nothing more. They don't want restrictions.

Yet here's Cioffi and Tannin admitting no guilt, and paying fines which represent probably .25% of what they earned while at Bear Sterns, and 3 years penalized from taking part in trading. These guys are multi-millionaires. They are walking.

Point being is, you DON'T NEED A RULE. You NEED PEOPLE TO GO TO JAIL.

Send bankers who rob people blind to jail, and you won't have to worry about any extra rules. There will always be cheaters, but as long as they can steal money without the fear of paying a price they will continue to do it.

If you knew that selling cocaine would result in a 1% fine against profits, and no jail time, would more people be doing it?!? If robbing a bank resulted in the same, do you think you'd worry a bit more about entering one?

Lets get realistic here.

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Cheers.

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No edits. On the road. Girlfriend is packing.