I continue to hear people that are shocked that Colin Kaepernick is not on someone’s roster. I have seen lots of articles claiming the same thing that somebody should add him to their roster. However you never hear the reporter say I want Kaepernick on my team. But sure they want to see him on another NFL team. But How come not your team that you root for? People think he is getting blacklisted from the NFL because he did not stand for the national anthem. What about his play on the field? He has the right to protest. But if his QB skills are declining does he deserve to be on a team? Do the teams in the NFL have to consider taking him? Could it be the baggage off the field and his decline as a productive player?

Football is a team sport. It takes everyone on the field to gel like a well oiled machine to be successful. The quarterback is the most important position on the field as he is the leader of the well oiled machine. He is usually the face of the franchise. He usually gets paid the most money on the field. He is the one that will lead the troops to the promise land. The team leadership Kaepernick has is he wants to protest against police brutality on his team’s time. He started sitting for the National anthem. He wore socks with pigs on them taking a poke at Police officers. He has his own agenda going on and you know it  split the locker room. He had some followers but it was only a handful. He had some more followers around the league, but only a handful. Would you see Rodgers, Breese, or Manning or Brady taking their own personal stand on team time? Now some people were probably gunning for him during the season so everyone has to even play harder to protect him. Some of his own teammates probably did not want to protect him. He could of easily made his stance as a celebrity off the field. I remember people got mad at Brandon Marshall on the Bears because he flew to New York to be part of one the football shows every week. People were critical of him because they thought he should be resting his injury. Even the same year Lance Briggs took off practice for the Bears to fly to Texas and be a part of his restaurant opening. These things made it tough on the team. Kaepernick made it tough for his team.

I would not want him on my team because the NFL has figured him out. He can’t throw the ball down the field like most running QBS. RG3 and Mike Vick were guys that had some success in the NFL but they  took too many hits. Vick had some decent years throwing down the field or throwing on the run. He had one last good year when they let him out of the dog house after sending multiple dogs to death in his back yard in his dog gladiator fights. Kaepernick is the same way. He helped the Niner’s get to the Super bowl when he replaced Alex Smith. After a few good seasons the wheels came off Kaepernick and the niner’s. Jim Harbaugh knew that Kaepernick was not going to be the next Brady. Fighting with the Niners management as well he knew that San Francisco was on it’s way to being a pile crap on a hot summer day. Michigan called and he was on the next flight. Colin Kaepernick can complete short passes and can run the ball. But defenses are prepared to make him throw the ball down the field and he cant. Steve Young is the best running QB I have ever seen. Because he can beat you with his feet and his arm and he had accuracy deep down the field.

Why would your team sign Kaepernick? He can not be the face of your franchise. Unless you cater to thugs or if the Reverend Tim Tom and his squadron of Gospel disciples will make a big stink if he’s being mistreated. You would have to have a head coach that could deal with him and make him tow the company team line. You would need a smart offensive coordinator to make another special offense for him. Then you will have to deal with is he or isn’t he going to stand for the national anthem from all the reporter questions that will be launched at the coach and the team’s front office. Then will he ever get that stellar quarterback play he for a season and half? He’s like Vanilla Ice, a one hit wonder. If the Bears signed him to replace Cutler I think Chicago would of rioted in the streets. They would be begging for Glennon and Trubisky who they drafted in the first round. Plus the biggest thing is he would never be able to lead a team. I can’t see him winning over a locker room and I don’t care how many suits he gives people at the homeless shelter or people that get out of prison. That’s how he should of started his stance against police brutality in the first place. Then he might have a job right now.

Early May brings you Star Wars day and now the Kentucky Derby in the same week. Freaking Han Solo did not get me the day off for the Star Wars day. On Festivus day I will air my grievances about Star Wars day and maybe next year I lean to the Dark side to pull some strings for me. But the Kentucky Derby is the BIG DADDY of all the horse races. It excites you like Opening day in baseball and the Super Bowl. I can’t forget the Indy car 500 for you gear heads out there. Spring is in full force when Kentucky Derby weekend is upon us. The smell of grilling is in the air. Big colorful floppy hats in your sights. Great for people watching with their hats and the outfits they wear. I love when these people wear the hats and outfits on another day. Derby day has Mint Julips dancing in your system. While everyone thinks they have the winning horse handicapped to perfection. It’s like watching a bunch of Fred Flintstones thinking they will get rich from the bet of the year.

DID NOT KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS A HORSE IN PLAY?

 

PATCH

Patch was born in east LA. Lost his eye in a knife fight. Kidding!!! Patch will be running today in the Kentucky Derby as a long shot. He has one eye and he will be on the outside of the starting gate and not able to see the other horses when they start out. He is number 20 and this horse has an inspiring story. He is a three year old horse whose dad is the 2012 Belmont Stakes winner, Union Rags. His grampa won the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders cup. In his circle he went by the name of A.P Indy.

Last year Patch’s eye was swollen. It was causing him pain as it looked like it was not getting any better by the signs. They tried all the treatments they could but nothing was responding. They decided the best for the horse was to remove his eye. Actually Patch will be the fourth horse in Derby history to run the race with one eye. The surgery went well and the horse showed no signs of pain. After his recovery he won his first race he entered.

THE WILD SHAMROCK LONG SHOT TO WIN: PATCH

I hope Patch does well in the race. Obviously for his inspirational story. When I was a kid I went to Ireland and my Aunt Kathleen and my Uncle Joseph had a dog name Patches. He had his eyesight. He was a very cool dog as he had colored patches of fur around his eyes which is how he got his name.

My Mum and dad are big into the horse racing. My mum was always known to have a few mint julips and a floppy hat and always went down to Kentucky and to be present for the derby. Her side kick Dorothy was her Thelma in Thelma and Louise type of friendship of fun in their wild and crazy adventures involving a yellow convertible they called the yellow submarine. This machine saw lots of horse tracks and apple picking days. With my Mum’s Irish eyes smiling and a mint julip in her hand , she is going with

#17 HORSE  IRISH WAR CRY  $2.00 ACROSS

 

WE NOW BRING IN OUR EXPERT

He’s faster than a herd of snails. He’s known as Mr. Big in the casino world. He can eat a slider for any meal of the day. The man has his own seat at the local OTB. He has friends in his circle he calls Cadillac Tom and Vietnam Joe.

Marty the Party Serbins

Marty was born of the North side of Chicago so we will only subtract a few points from him. Marty has loved the horses since he was a wee lad. You hear about kids sneaking down to the ball park to catch a day game of their favorite team. But Marty would return bottles, cut a lawn, massage some old lady’s feet to earn some cash to ride his bike down to Arlington race track to place a bet. The ultimate mecca in his world as he wore his 29 inch waist for decades taking it all in the smell of food in the air with a tint of sweaty animals. I remember the first time walking into Comisky Park, the feeling and the atmosphere so hard to explain… but Marty had that with horses as he was handicapping them at a young age. His biggest jackpot he won on a long shot he invested in a ring for the love of his life. Marty Serbins is the Wild Shamrock Blog expert in the horse world.

Marty’s Kentucky Derby predictions:

WIN: IRISH WAR CRY

PLACE:GUNNEVERA

SHOW:ALWAYS DREAMING

SLEEPER:GIRVIN

We know our picks will not hold Marty’s tighty whities but we will try

WINNER: MCCRACKEN

PLACE:THE CLASSIC EMPIRE

We are picking the Classic Empire in hope that Darth and the gang prevail to secure us next year the day off on Star wars day.

SHOW:GIRVIN

OUR SLEEPER:PRACTICAL JOKE

Because we want to kill the BATMAN

The two people I most want to find about how their NFL career develops is Garrett Bolles and Gareon Conley. Lots going on in both their lives before they even play a down in the NFL. Garrett Bolles is an offensive linemen and he was drafted number 20 by the Denver Broncos. The 24th pick, the Raiders selected corner back Garceon Conley. Both players will bring the baggage of their lives to their new career once training camp begins.

Let’s start with Garett Bolles who was drafted out of Utah. His story is he found GOD. Yes the Broncos love drafting the religious bible thumpers as they drafted Tim Tebow. Now they have drafted the most talented offensive linemen they say in the draft. I’ve seen Dusty Baker use his kids as shields to help him defend off reporters. But Garrett walked down the stairs with his newborn son at the draft. I’ve never seen that as he has to be the first person to have done that. He looked like Doctor Claw from inspector Gadget petting his pussy cat. His dad kicked him out of the house when he was 18 because Garrett was the kind of person that walked on the wild side. Five schools later he finds himself at University of Utah and the good news is a family has taken him in. Plus he has found God. They showed his shoes from College that had all these psalms and scriptures written on them. I feel like some of his money will be going to the book of Mormans. He mentioned GOD a few times in the interview along with the kid. He looks like he has a mean streak in him as he has those wonky tonk crazy eye balls. The eyeballs that would snap your neck in seconds then quote a scripture from the good book. He then would feed his wild side with some Jack Links beef jerky while petting his son like Dr. Claw and his cat.

My Dad always told me nothing good ever happens after midnight. While my mum always said nothing good happens after last call. For Gareon Conley he was in Cleveland having a grand ole time after midnight, maybe even after last Call. He played for Ohio State and was in town working out for the Browns. He met a gal and then the next day the woman is filing Rape charges against him. The typical life of an NFL player. She says he wanted to have an orgy with his friends. What’s with these athletes wanting to share one woman? I guess she said no and she was raped personally by him. No charges have been filed against Conley. He had been cooperating with the authorities. You get drafted by the Raiders and the world finds out on the same day that you had a night out with a woman and you could of raped her. Does he think maybe she said no but her eyes were saying yes? If he just waited until Oakland moved to sin city. Then he can go hog wild with any of his sexual adventures. He can dress up as Betty Boop and be spanked. Plus then he could say things done after midnight in Vegas stay in Vegas.

Maybe Bolles can help Conley find his way in life with the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses. Denver and Oakland play each other twice a year so their paths might cross. It will be interesting how their career unfolds. Can Religion take away the football edge How will they balance that out? Will he snap and go down the wrong path? Will Conley avoid shenanigans after last call.? Will he end up in jail if the girl is right? The Raiders and the Bengals take any kind of projects so he will fit in. As long as neither unleashes their animal wild side and throws a snack sausage at the gas station attendant for not having hot dogs cooking for the after midnight snack.

 

A long time ago in a season far far away the Bears had men like Bronco Nagurski, Dick Butkus, and Mike Ditka. Now they added Trubisky. Mitch Trubisky, the man from North Carolina and he’s a quarter back. The great Michael Jordan was from North Carolina University and look what he did for the town of Chicago, six titles for the Bulls. Could this be the answer to all of our prayers? Mitch Trubisky behind center leading us to the promise land? The Bears have not won a Super Bowl since 1985. The last time we have been there was 2006 with Dr.Jekell and Mr. Hyde. Good Rex Grossman bad Rex Grossman. Will Mitch be like Jim McMahon or like Rex Grossman? I hear the words the great Lovie use to say Rex is still our quarterback. Don’t even bring up Jay Cutler who is still sailing on his boat showing his bare bum to his wife.

I want to see the best for the Bears. I really want this thing to work. But deep down the gut feeling is saying DOOM. First thing I was shocked when they traded up and swapped picks with the Niners. I was thinking maybe they wanted Solomon Thomas the next best defensive line men after Cleveland got their junk yard dog. Quarter backs are so valuable in the NFL because its a league now a days with a sparse amount of good quarterbacks. I can see why they wanted one. But it seems like they were bamboozled. Like Pace traded the cow for the beans. Did the Bears have to trade all those draft picks just to swap picks with Niners? I believe if they let things stand pact they would of gotten Trubisky anyways at number three. Here we go again the Bears are bidding against themselves. For all of this they gave the Niners their third round pick, fourth round pick and in 2018 another third round pick. Like Hank Hill would say, “What the hell”.

This reminds me of the Rick Mirer trade which was another first round blunder. It’s like the time they did not franchise tag Cutler to see what his performance would be that year. Instead they were scared they might hurt his feelings and Jay would take his ball and go home. So three brinks trucks later and years of crappy quarter back play with extra tude the Bears were back at the drawing board. Before the draft they went out and got Mike Glennon and they gave him a lot of money. Which now Glennon has seen this before when he was in Tampa he was the starter and the Bucs then drafted Winston. The Bears were so desperate they even signed the butt fumbler Dirty Sanchez who sounds like a cheesy cowboy porn. Well this will give them options. But they will have lots of money invested in the quarterback position and we don’t even know if they got it right.

This year’s draft was a weak quarterback class. Mitch Trubisky is probably one of the better ones. People are comparing him to Ryan Leaf which that is crazy, But that’s the way the cookie crumbles for the Bears as they can’t get that position right. I hope John Fox has a good quarterback coach on his staff because they will need one. If the Bears had Tom Brady he would not be Tom Brady like. He would turn to stone and become a lawn ornament.

What I like about Mitch Trubisky is he is not Jay Cutler. He looks like he has a solid arm. I like the passing accuracy in the short game. He seems like a leader which has been lacking under center with the Cutler. His name is Mitch. The last Mitch we had in town was Mitch Williams who played for the Cubbies. He was nicknamed the Wild Thing. It was like in the movie Major league where the owner says, “that song I hate that song,” when everybody in the crowd would be singing wild thing,

I do not like about Mitch that he has only started 13 games since high school. He’s coming off not a good bowl game. He needs to be aware of his surroundings on the field of play, too many lapses like Grossman. His deep ball is not anything to bring home to mom.

But my stomach is still feeling Doom after this pick. I do like he can sit and watch the first season and soak it all in unless Glennon gets hurt. Then the butt fumbler will probably get booed off the field from the Bears faithful. Oh the fans will probably be chanting Mitch’s name all season until the Bears are backed into the corner and have to play him. Hopefully Glennon plays well and keeps Mitch on the bench. Then the Bears can take their time and build something special with him when it comes time when the new Wild thing takes the controls to lead the Bears over the Packers. DA BEARS!!!

Chad Kelly is my sleeper pick for the 2017 football draft. Denver Broncos picked up Kelly in the seventh round of the draft and I think they have a steal. With off the field issues and some injuries. he’s plummeted his stock like the great stock market crash itself. Maybe it is something in the water at Buffalo because he ran on the field of his brother’s football game causing a ruckus. Patrick Kane loved to punch the cab drivers. Maybe the athletic  superstars in this town find this kind of stuff to pass the time. He comes off as a troubled kid but the NFL is filled with convicts and they have done worse things than Chad has done.

If Chad Kelly came out of the draft in 2016 he would of probably been picked up in the earlier rounds. This is Jim Kelly, the former Buffalo Bill and hall of farmer’s, nephew. This kid has a whale of an arm as well. I like the way he throws the ball down the field as he zips it into the receiver’s bread basket with ease and precision. He is a gunslinger so he will throw some interceptions. His tight end at Ole Miss Evan Engram was picked in the first round by the New York Giants. He looks like a great pick up by the G-Men. They were showing high lights and who was throwing him the ball Chad Kelly.

All’s it took was a call from John Elway to Jim Kelly and the deal was done. I believe John Elway knows a thing or two about being a quarter back as he has led the Broncos to numerous super bowls. Each quarter back in the first few rounds had a lot they had to improve on their own game. It was a year with watered down quarterbacks coming out of the draft. Patrick Mahomes needs to work on his foot work. Mitchell Tribisky does not throw a good deep ball. Deshaun Watson is prone to throw too many interceptions. Not saying there is not anything wrong with Chad Kelly’s game. I’m sure he needs to improve on something. I think he is just as good as those first round quarterbacks. Give it a few seasons and you will see Chad Kelly rise up in the ranks of the Broncos as he passes Trevor Siemian and last year’s guy, Paxton Lynch. You do not really get much from a seventh round pick. If he does bad again he is only a seventh round draft choice. If seventh rounders make the team maybe they contribute on special teams mostly. Only some become great players in the league.

The Broncos will have him on the cheap as well for a few years as well. They can take their time developing him. Plus he will have three quarterback coaches in his ear at all times. His Uncle Jim,John Elway and whoever is the quarter back coach on the staff presently for the Broncos. It will be like the Jedi’s Luke Skywalker is in his corner at all times. Plus Chad Kelly probably has a little of his Uncle in him. When Buffalo drafted him Jim Kelly was like hell no I’m not playing in that town. Then he signed with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL.  Years later he ended up playing in Buffalo and he loved the town. Maybe it just takes a few years to grow up in the Kelly household. I think Chad Kelly will grow up, change his way and ride the high horse in the mile high city. Maybe he will be the Kelly that wins the Superbowl.

The Wild Shamrock did not do well with it’s predictions in the first round of the playoffs.

We must of been picking who had the better jersey. We were correct 2-8 in the first round match ups. We picked a very bad week to stop sniffing glue. We will man up and give you some bold predictions for round two. All’s you have to do is pick the opposite and you’re golden.

Round Two Match ups

Washington Capitals versus Pittsburgh Penguins

These are the two teams we were correct on in round one. I think it’s very hard in the NHL to repeat. I think Washington finally will get over the hump against their arch rival and win this series. I think this will be the best series and it will go the distance.

Washington in seven

New York Rangers versus Ottawa Senators

I think the way Henrick Lundqvist is ruling the net for the Rangers, I think this continues against the Senators. Senators are not getting much respect. They took out the Bruins and did not get any respect in the first round. However when goalies are on a hot streak, like the Rangers, I just can’t see the Senators winning more than one game.

New York in five

Nashville Predators versus St. Louis Blues

Everything worked for the Predators against the Hawks. Every part of their game was like a well oiled machine as they finally beat the Hawks who have knocked them out of the playoffs more than once. I’m not sold on St.Louis just because they advanced over the Wild. I think the Predators will continue to play well. They will lose two games to the Blues but prevail in game six and advancing to the semi finals.

Nashville in six

Edmonton Oilers versus Anaheim Ducks

The Oilers remind me of the younger Black Hawks a season before they took the first cup out of the three they have won in recent years. They are young and hungry and led by a future super star in Connor McDavid. They already have taken out last year’s Eastern conference champion, the Sharks. This should be a good series. However people do not know much about the Ducks. They are a very good team that is well balanced up and down their lines. The Ducks are the hottest team right now, as they have not lost in the last 22 games,which includes the first round sweep of the Flames. I say the Ducks continue to quack their way to the championship round.

Anaheim in six

 

It was not the shot that won the game and sealed the deal for the Bulls when Michael Jordan retired after beating the Jazz. It was not John Elway or Peyton Manning walking into the sun set after they won another Superbowl. Everyone has a different way of leaving the game they love for whatever reasons. John Kruk when he played for the White Sox hit a single and then called it a career. He went straight to the locker room, got dressed and left the building as his way of calling it a career. Bryan Bickell was Kruk like but in a different way, two Sunday ago. Bryan Bickell ended his hockey career with the Carolina Hurricanes with a overtime shoot out goal that was his last shot in the NHL. It was also  his first career shoot out goal.

Bryan Bickell’s NHL career will always be the 2013 playoffs. He went absolutely ape shit crazy that year as he scored 9 goals and had 8 assists to help the Blackhawks win the cup in 2013. He was a part of all three of the Blackhawk’ cups but the 2013 playoffs he was playing out of his mind. He was a big guy that made his net presence known as he blocked the vision of the goalie. He boxed out opposing defenders and got the rebound of the puck and sent it into the net – that was Bickell’s game. He was awarded a big contract after that year and was never the same.

When players receive large contacts they intend not to play to their capabilities when they had the eye of the tiger. In Rocky three against Mister T, Rock lost his edge. He was living the dream and enjoying his success but lost his edge for the game. Bickell was enjoying his fame as he even had a hot dog named after him in a restaurant called Meatheads. They called it the Bickell dog. Maybe he could not get his edge back because he was dealing with injuries that he could not rebound from. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He began experiencing symptoms of vertigo in 2015 from an affected tooth. Before he received the 16 million dollar contract his best regular season was 2010-2011 where he had 17 goals 20 assists. He never had that type of regular season again. He was well awarded for the year he had in the playoffs. The Hawks could use someone with that skills type this year. Injuries kept with him as his play suffered. No team wanted to take on that big of a contract as the Hawks wanted to get rid of him. He was sent down to the Hawks minor league team in the AHL. Then finally the Hawks needed to dump some salary. It was for salary cap purposes and they had to trade young star Teuvo Teravainen. The Hurricanes came along but to get the young star they had to take Bickell as well. Bickell was up and down from the minors all year and still was dealing with injuries.

The contract ran out and his body was not responding. It was time to hang up the skates. He wanted to retire to focus on his MS treatments after which people are never the same. Playing a sport especially hockey with all the movement, strength and endurance you need…MS just bleeds your body’s nervous system. It eats away the protective covering of the nerves to weaken a once invincible player like Bickell who had no fear. Number 29 leaves the game at the age of 31 years old. He will probably continue his work with wife at the Bickell foundation that helps rescue abused pit bulls. You would love to leave the game on a high note, which he did with a goal. Plus helping the Blackhawks win three cups is nothing to sneeze at. Hopefully the treatments  make him be able to do the things he loves besides playing hockey. Hopefully he will be moving around for years to come and playing with his dogs and hanging out with his family and sharing all the wonderful memories he has provided the great city of Chicago. I love the superstars on teams. But lots of my favorite players from all the sports are role players. Or the players that do the dirty work in the trenches. Bryan Bickell was your typical blue collar worker in the game of hockey.

ROUND ONE (BEST OF SEVEN)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

MATCH UPS

NEW YORK RANGERS VERSUS MONTREAL CANADIANS

(MONTREAL SWEEP IN FOUR GAMES)

OTTAWA SENATORS VERSUS BOSTON BRUINS

(BOSTON IN GAME FIVE)

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VERSUS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

(WASHINGTON IN GAME FIVE)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS VERSUS COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

(PITTSBURGH IN GAME SIX)

EASTERN CONFERENCE

CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS VERSUS NASHVILLE PREDATORS

(CHICAGO IN GAME SIX)

MINNESOTA WILD VERSUS ST. LOUIS BLUES

(MINNESOTA GAME SIX)

ANAHEIM DUCKS VERSUS CALGARY FLAMES

(CALGARY IN SIX)

EDMONTON OILERS VERSUS SAN JOSE SHARKS

(SAN JOSE GAME IN SEVEN)

In Oakland the beans don’t burn on the grill. The Raiders are moving on up to that deluxe casino in the sky. They were born in Oakland in 1960 when the Raiders played in the AFL One of the most popular franchises in the league, the silver and black razzled and dazzled fans for decades. As a franchise this is not their first rodeo when it comes to moving. The Raiders moved from Oakland in 1982 and became the Los Angeles Raiders. However they returned to Oakland in 1995. Raiders have won three Superbowls as they captured Superbowl XI and Superbowl XV in Oakland while winning Superbowl XVIII in LA.

This has been the third franchise in recent years to move their team. St.Louis Rams moved to LA. Then the San Diego Chargers also are in the process of moving to LA. Los Angeles has been years without an NFL and they used to have two. Now they will have two again. It’s all about the almighty dollar. Roger Goodell the NFL commissioner and all the owners in the league don’t care about people they hurt. They only care about what’s in the people’s wallet. They give it then they take it away. St.Louis had two teams come in and out of their city. They did get to see Kurt Warner guide them to a Superbowl. They were the greatest show on turf. They played in a newly built stadium in 1995 and left back to LA in 2015. Only Twenty years for a stadium. That’s why they left St.Louis as they wanted another stadium. Then San Diego which has the best weather in the States how would you not want to stay and play in that city which baffles my mind. Before my time Chicago had two football teams which would of been very cool. It was like baseball the Bears and the Cubs on the North side while the Cardinals and the White Sox on the South side.  I might of been a Cardinal fan. Actually in Chicago they still have a few Cardinals fans that still root for them because the team was born in Chi town.  However you might still have a cult following from fans in cities that their NFL team abandoned them. Most likely you come away with anger fans. When the Oilers left, Houston fans were steamed so the owners of the Titans had to get their team out of dodge quickly. This could happen in Oakland as well. The Raiders are expected to play in the Vegas desert in 2020. Where are they going to play and be supported? If you piss off the Black hole you might get lynched. The Raiders could find their way to San Antonio for a temporary home.

So why Vegas? Las Vegas will be one of the smallest markets in the United States. Las Vegas has one minor league baseball team called the 51’s which have been there for years and are well established. When you think Vegas you think of tourists coming into sin city to gamble or get it on and have a few days of fun and leave town while you still can. Las Vegas did have a minor league hockey team called the Thunder but it did not last. However they will be getting a new Hockey team and this time one of the main four sports. The Vegas Golden Knights will be dropping the puck in the NHL next year instead of the Thunder back in minor league hockey, the IHL. Nevada has been booming with more and more people headed to that state to live a better life. I actually know two girls that have been from Chicago and have moved to Nevada and they are happy as clams. However the NFL and the owners have money signs in their eyeballs as their tongues wag out of their mouths like a crazed dog. For years the NFL was against gambling. Football is one the most popular sports to gamble on. You know Roger and his disciples will have his hands in the cookie jar of cash as the NFL will probably let gambling happen and everyone in their tight circle will be swimming in cash like Scrooge McDuck.

The Black hole is in my opinion one best fans in all of sports. It also one of the scariest groups of fans in all of sports. From grim reapers to Darth Vader’s along with the cast from Mad Max and whatever other Halloween mask they can grab out of their closet they are nuts. It’s a shame because when the Raiders move to Vegas they will be playing in a dome. Plus what kinds of fans will they get out there? My favorite story is hearing one of these motorcycle guys with his face painted and he was wearing shoulder pads with spikes coming out and yelled to a ref. He screamed whatever number on his back and the Ref looked at him from the field as this was before the game said something like you suck and if you blow a call your a dead man. The refs quickly walk away from the fans and towards the field maybe feeling a little uneasy. To get all those crazies in one place rooting on their team and putting the scare into the other team –  that is what Raider Nation is all about. Will they have this type of dedication in Vegas? Will you get fans from Vegas? It seems like Vegas has a good portion of it’s people coming from other states to live. These people might root for the teams they left from their former towns they lived. Maybe the porn convention weekend can get some ladies dressed in black leather. At times motorcycle gangs cruise into Nevada. Maybe they can make a section of the new dome scary. That’s another thing I have a hard time with, picturing the Raiders playing their home games in a dome.

This is the screw ball that is killing the black hole and breaking Oakland’s heart at the same time as they will lose their beloved Raider team.

“JUST MOVE BABY,” with his stupid Dumb and Dumber hair cut. The city of Oakland’s Mayor came out with a last minute proposal to try to keep the team in Oakland. But Roger Goodell was quick to kick that proposal to the curb. The NFL, Mark Davis and the city of Oakland could of gotten something done. They see Oakland as a town of three brinks trucks filled with gold, but they see Vegas as a fleet of brinks trucks filled with gold. I hate when they mess with old franchises and when they move. They could easily gave Vegas a expansion team and have kept the Raiders in California. It’s GREED and now the NFL will have their hands in football gambling. Next they will want my dog.

“All I want is what I have coming to me!”

“All I want is my fair share!”

Charlie Brown’s sister Sally says what she wants from Santa Claus in Charlie Brown’s Christmas.

Looks like Brad Underwood is going to get his fair share from the University of Illinois. Besides he had it coming to him as instead of 2.2 million dollars staying at his first dream job in Oklahoma, he will get 3 million at his second dream job at University of Illinois. College coaches change jobs like they change their underwear.

This reminds me of 2003 when Billy Selfish bolted from Illinois to his dream job in Kansas. What comes around goes around I guess is the phrase in this situation. Then Bruce Weber came to Illinois and he had a mock funeral for Bill Self. Bruce had a stacked deck when he arrived as he had the Illini in the championship against North Carolina. However Illinois lost in the championship game. Bill Selfish eventually years later won a title in Kansas.

Brad Underwood has a great track record. He took a small school Stephen F Austin to the tournament three times.He had his team advanced past the first round twice. Then he took the job at Oklahoma State and he was able to get that team into the tournament. It looks like Illinois has hired a great coach that can turn their program around. But how long will he stay around will be the question everyone will be thinking.

Watching the tournament this year you see many college coaches dressed for success.If all these coaches met up, it would be a sales convention. That has to be part of their qualifications on how to sell their program to a high school basketball player. I think of coaches like Bobby Knight all fired up on the sidelines screaming at the refs or his own players. But nowadays these coaches look like scam artists. The South Carolina coach looks like a mortician as he probably swindled your savings account to bury your dog. Then Rick Pitino looks like he’s head of the mafia. You mess with him you will be swimming with the fishes.  The college coaching seems to be such an act it reminds me of the wrestling federation as the wrestlers dressed up in their costumes and when the camera lights shined on them it was show time.

In life you want to better yourselves and move up the ladder of your job.Sometimes you find a better job and move up the new job ladder. I think these College coaches go on and take the money and run. They can have a ten year contract and leave after two years. In football these coaches  get the teams to the bowl games and they bolt the program for a better gig and don’t even finish the job. What are they teaching these kids they coach? It’s OK to leave a job unfinished. What do they say to these kids and their families in their living rooms to get them to go to the college they coach at? Sometimes it’s probably selling your soul to the devil. Because you trust this guy that has come to you and sold you on the program. Then you’re thinking you’re in it for the long haul and boom the coach does his disappearing act and off to another state and another institution. College coaches seem like carnival acts or like the gypsies moving on when the well runs dry. We will see how long Brad Underwood will stay in Illinois. It looks like a good hire. But as soon as another great opening comes up he will be all over it with the rest of the piranhas in the tank.