“The NFL players need to find someone to read the new labor contract to them. Maybe a bedtime-story format would help. You know, ‘This little piggy got a four-year deal’ and so on. Then explain to the players that the world outside of pro football gets paid maybe $20 per hour, and they should sign the contract because it makes them filthy rich for playing a game.”
Don, Broomfield
Kiz: Hey, no bedtime stories. Al Davis of the Raiders might nod off. Think he really abstained when fellow NFL owners voted on the collective bargaining agreement, or did somebody merely forget to wake him? In the final minutes of the negotiating game, it looked as if the players were caught on the sidelines, sitting on their helmets, and got blindsided. Shame on them. But as soon as the players dry their tears, they will see the fine print of the CBA doesn’t prevent them from earning billions over the life of this deal. Only a fool would refuse to sign this contract.
Dawk talk. “That must have been a tough column to write about Broncos safety Brian Dawkins not being worth the money. But it is very true. This team will not be good. Put in the rookies at safety. I’m curious. After a column like that, how does a player such as Dawkins respond to you? Or does
he understand this is your job?”
Mike, Tigard, Ore.
Kiz: Here’s betting Dawkins doesn’t care what an ink-stained wretch like me thinks of his tackling ability, unless I want to try to catch a pass over the middle against him during training camp.
Generally speaking. “Kiz can go to St.
Louis with Josh McDaniels. So maybe Dawkins isn’t one of the NFL’s top
safeties anymore. He still has decent range. He can be a field general. He can be the run-support safety we need.”
Ricky, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Kiz: OK, tell the truth. Instead of me, wouldn’t you rather have running back Knowshon Moreno meet McDaniels in St. Louis?
Cardinal rule. In the summer of 1959, the St. Louis Cardinals brought up a 23-year-old pitcher from the minors named Bob Gibson. By the end of the 1962 season, Gibson’s career majorleague record was only 34-36. As you can imagine, fans were getting tired of his wild pitching at 95 mph. But the Cardinals didn’t give up on Gibson and ended up winning the 1964 and 1967 World Series with his help. Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez is a great talent. Let’s take a chill pill and let this kid develop.”
Hal, Colorado Springs
Kiz: Jimenez will be the first homegrown Rockies pitcher to win 150 games in his career. Let’s just hope he does it in a Colorado uniform.
U serious about Yanks? “I agree with your call for Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd to go if Jimenez is traded. Why would the Rox shop Jimenez to a team like the New York Yankees? Ubaldo is the most valuable and marketable player Colorado has right now. His star is rising again. My advice to management with the trade deadline on the horizon: Go get an experienced, salty, old catcher who can keep young, talented pitchers loose and confident on the mound. The only winner in a Jimenez trade to the Yankees or another serious contender would be Ubaldo himself. If he were in the Yankees’ starting rotation alongside CC Sabathia, Jimenez would win 20 games for sure.”
Bill, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Kiz: I doubt the Rockies will be so foolish as to actually trade Jimenez to
a contender. But if they do, he will win a World Series ring before O’Dowd ever does.
Elway overrated? That means it’s a mad, mad world
And today’s parting shot proves that when there’s any criticism of John Elway, the shouts of protest from Broncomaniacs reverberate around the globe.
“Kiz! What are you doing? How dare you post words like these: ‘Denver fans, bless their hearts, do overrate Elway. He was not as good a quarterback as Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas or Otto Graham.’ Are you mad? Did you forget that your response would be read by Broncos faithful? C’mon, Kiz. Summer vacation doesn’t mean you have to take a holiday from good judgment.”
Ben, Dhaka, Bangladesh
