Super Bowl time: Warren Sapp arrested; hot high car spotted

Miami, South Beach, Florida - Super Bowl time: Warren Sapp arrested; hot high car spotted (video above).

It's Super Bowl time! This Super Bowl update is a mix of good and bad news. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders defensive star and NFL Network Analyst Warren Sapp was arrested after allegedly committing some form of domestic violence against his girl friend Saturday morning in Miami.

 According to TMZ.com, Warren Sapp's explanation doesn't read any better than what his girlfriend told Miami Beach Police:

According to the Miami Beach Police Department, Sapp is accused of attacking his girlfriend of two years at around 5:00 AM Saturday at the Shore Club Hotel.

According to the arrest report, the alleged victim had "a swollen right knee and bruises on the back of her neck."

She claims Sapp allowed her to sleep in his hotel room -- then came into the room early in the morning and pulled her out of bed. The alleged victim says they began arguing about guys she was hanging out with earlier Friday night.

Sapp's girlfriend told cops that during the argument Sapp "grabbed her and began to choke her." He eventually threw her out of the room, she claims.

When cops spoke to Sapp, he told them he had allowed the woman to stay in his room -- but later on decided he wanted her to leave because "he was expecting company." He told police he was trying to help her and she fell.

Sapp "..decided he wanted her to leave because "he was expecting company." is a doozy. This blogger's a big fan of Warren Sapp as an NFL Legend, an NFL Network Analyst, and a TV star (he's a spokesperson for National Rent-A-Car), but Sapp should realize he's got a higher profile now and should not even be in a situation like that, regardless of the truth. Moreover, Sapp must measure his words. What Sapp said, if its true, implies that he had another woman coming over and wanted to get rid of her.

Geez.

On a much happier note, the Super Bowl in Miami draws all kinds of interesting sights and sounds, including interesting cars, like the one in the video above. It's a converted Chevy Impala with oversized wheels and a whole new drive train and suspension system. It was cruising down Collins Avenue in South Beach at about 10 PM and stopped traffic on the opposite side of the street. The driver was by himself and enjoying the Mardi Gras-like street party. When asked who he was rooting for, Saints or Colts, he said "I'll go with Who-Dat".

Stay tuned. And follow me on Twitter!

A Different Kind Of Super Bowl Preview

A Different Kind Of Super Bowl Preview-Colts vs. Saints-By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner-Football Reporters Online

I have been listening for two weeks how the Colts have this one wrapped up by about 25 points. Even though I’m picking Indy to win, not so fast on the blow out people. This is going to be closer then any one imagines, at least for the first three quarters.

Both teams are powerhouse offenses, but they arrive there by different measures.

The Saints offense does it’s very best to pass you to death, and run when they have to. Lots of pundits who think they need glorification see the New Orleans squad as the remake of the 2007 Giants or the 1999 Rams. I say they are neither, although they carry elements of both squads. Look deeper. Their offense does move the ball through the air like “the greatest show on turf”, but the Rams had almost no weaknesses of offense except for Kurt Warner’s own health. The Saints have a few more “holes” then that. Dew Brees was surely rattled in the NFC title game in more then one instance. Any NFC team with a strong front seven group of pass rushers would have found a way to “Stunt Blitz” the Saints Offensive line. As good as they are, they can’t protect Brees forever. They will have to run the ball for at least 130-150 total “in game” yards to be successful and have a shot at the win.

By “in game” I mean meaningful yards. I mean Bush/Thomas between the tackles, we are going to clear out the Colts front defensive line yards. Can they really do that? Will they be able to take advantage of Freeney’s injured ankle and possible limited mobility? Or will Freeney pull himself if he feels he will hinder the team’s ability to stop the New Orleans offense. I spoke with one reporter I know well this week who has covered the Saints in the past and I asked him if what I thought were three keys to the game for the Saints were accurate.

A) Will Jon Vilma and Darren Sharper get Manning and company off the field quickly enough to make a difference? He felt that was the main key for the Saints defense, to be able to contain if not stop the Colts numerous offensive weapons.
B) Could Shockey be dependable enough to be an escape valve for Drew Brees if the receivers are constantly jammed at the line? He felt that “J-Shock” could be as tough as a “G-Shock” watch if it comes to it, but the Saints have to worry about him getting jammed at the line as much as the wide outs.
C) Finally, Do the Saints really believe enough in who they are that they belong there playing against Peyton Manning. “That’s the 64K question” he said.

For Indy, it’s much more simple. Manning has to be Manning. He must lead the Colts on 5 to 7 minute drives each possession, keeping Drew Brees off the field. He must spread the ball to all his options, especially Dallas Clark, who moves better in space then any other player on either team with the ball or without.
If Manning gets Clark the ball at least 6 times, the Saints can pack it in and get ready for Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. But, if they limit Manning’s ability to pass, and force Addai and Brown to shoulder the load on offense, then you have a different game, a game that comes down to the last offensive possession.

Of course, everyone forgets the guys in the trenches, the Offensive linemen. It’s also going to come down to which front five outplays the other’s defensive unit, who will pass protect better, who will run block better.

My prediction: Colts 34-Saints 24, but it’s going to be close until the 4th quarter.

Don't Forget our live Super Bowl Preview Broadcast on Blogtalk Radio at 3:30 Pm Super Sunday at: www.blogtalkradio.com/Football-Reporters

CANADIANS IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

CANADIANS IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
By Sam MacBeath of MacBeath Sports Media-for Football Reporters Online

This past week the good people at Football Reporters Online asked me if I would like to write an article on Canadians eligible for The NFL draft for this year. I thought about the assignment for all of about 10 seconds and said I would love to do it. So I went about the research for the article. I went first to NFL.com and found the list of players and found that there were no Canadians on the list. Next I went to Scout.com and I looked from #1 Ndamukong Suh (DT Nebraska) all the way to #477 P Alonso Rojas of Kansas and confirmed my fears. NO CANADIANS available this year.

Now I know there have been Canadians in The NFL in the past as I have met a couple through my job as a reporter such as Jesse Palmer (New York Giants and also The Bachelor), Steve Christie (Buffalo Bills), Chris Schultz (Dallas) and Mike Vanderjagt, who is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history so I knew that I could come up with something. I sat at my computer and tried to think of a new angle for my article and finally it came to me. I would write about Canadians already in the league.

So to start things off I am going to take a quick look at San Diego Charger Defensive End Vaughn Martin. Martin is a very special Canadian in the league as he is the first Canadian ever to be drafted as an underclassman (4th rd 113th overall) out of Western University in London Ontario. Martin played in 10 games for The Chargers and looks to be a real find for the team.

Next we travel to St louis for a look at Rams Saftey O. J. Otogwe of Windsor Ontario. Atogwe, selected in the third round of the 2005 draft (66th overall) started in 12 games and compiled a total of 74 tackles (58 solo), 1 sack, 2 ints and 3 forced fumbles and has played 274 out of 317 games and has a reputation as a steady saftey with good footwork and great ball skills and quickness.

Next we travel to Seattle Washington and look at Canadian Receiver Nate Burelson. Burelson from Calgary Alberta was originally drafted in the third round (71st overall) by the Minnesota Vikings and is known as a duo threat as he is not only a good receiver but also a threat as a return man as he has 4 returns for touchdowns. But an interesting stat that goes with the Touchdowns is that all four were for more than 90 yards each. Now as a receiver he has compiled some very steady stats which include 27 Touchdowns and and average of 12 yards a reception.

Finally I would be remiss if I didn't mention Indianapolis Colt Dan Federkeil of Medicine Hat Alberta. Federkeil was signed by The Colts as a free agent in 2006 and has played 22 games with the Colts over his first 3 seasons. Federkeil has one Super Bowl ring and hopes to become the first canadian ever to win two rings in NFL history if his Colts can defeat Drew Brees and The New Orleans Saints.

All these players plus Jon Ryan, Brad Romberg, Jamaal Westerman, Rob Meier, L.P. Ladouceur, Israel Idonjie and Nick Kaczur are steady plyers for their respective teams and is one of the reasons that The NFL has about 100,000 fans attending games live and over 700,000 fans who watch games on a weekly basis(in Canada). That plus the fact that NFL merchandise is tops among the sports merchandise has caused The NFL to open a Canadian office and teams like The Buffalo Bills play a regular season game in Canada each season. So keep an eye on the 2010 draft for your favorite college player and see where he goes in the draft. But also keep an eye on the talent that comes from Canada either because they were born here or played ball here in The Canadian Football League.

Before I go I want to remind you to order your copy of The 2010 Gridiron Draft Guide for only $10 from gridirondraftguide.com This is guide is an extensive look at the upcoming NFL Draft and a whole lot more. Order your copy now so you can get it sent to you hot off the press around the beginning of April. Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to speaking to you all again real soon. But until then please follow your dreams.

Super Bowl or Stupor Bowl: Kick off can’t happen soon enough

Super Bowl or Stupor Bowl: Kick off can’t happen soon enough
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-Managing Partner-Football Reporters Online


It’s been a great pleasure of mine to have been able to watch this game in many places in the past. In my home, out at parties with others, at sports bars, and live in person as both a fan and a member of the credentialed media. As someone who has seen every super bowl since #1, I can attest to you that there have been several great ones, many boring ones, and many just plain bad ones (unless you were a fan of the winning team).

What the time leading up to the super bowl has become however, is just painful. It’s painful to wait the two weeks. To have to deal with and listen to the hype, to deal with the trash talk and the silly questions by the “puesdo” media. I don’t mean hard working sports journalists, radio and television people, no sir. I mean people that have no business being on the asking end of questions in a press conference.

Can we at least get some different questions then what we have seen/heard over and over again the last 40 years. This is where “new” media shines as opposed to old school traditional media outlets. Some of the best questions I have heard from this week’s press coverage have come from those of us who make our make on the “outskirts” of sports media as opposed to those in the forefront. Some of these mainstreamers what to be part of the story as well as report it, that’s why they lean towards controversy to generate readership/listenership.

Clearly these so called “media” people would not be able to write a real “story” about this game without help from a researcher, or several online resources. These are the same people who are lambasting the Internet as the downfall of modern journalism as we know it. But ask anyone and they will tell you that print media is dropping dead, and in order to compete, traditional media must now do and operate the same as we ”new” media types do. I am Proud to have had traditional writing and broadcast training, but I’m also proud to be able to say that I saw this coming so many years ago. One of my former publications was the first Draft Guide to have a computer online BBS, and to use AOL chat to “live update” it’s users of the selections at the draft. I’m also proud to have been among one of the first to “live stream” the Draft in person from Radio city (in 2006). Even Mr. Goodell took notice, because the following year the only people who could actually broadcast video were the NFL itself and ESPN.

But who am I to critique? I’m just a Podcaster/Blogger/ Internet radio host/Independent scout and ex-coach, right? So let’s just hope that tomorrow everyone shuts up, and kick off goes off at 6:27:30 like it’s supposed to. Because it’s about time to enjoy a football game, isn’t it?