Bad sports, good sports: Bryant McKinnie is dismissed from the Pro Bowl
The NFL Pro Bowl is a waste of time. This is not a revolutionary statement, by the way. Most All-Star games are less than thrilling events, but the Pro Bowl is the worst of the lot. The rules are different, there is very little real hitting, and the game is at the end of the season, when no one really cares anymore. Even the players don’t seem to care, judging by the number of players that beg out of the game every year. Still, being selected to the game is an honor, and it is fair to expect the players to show at least a little bit of interest in the festivities. That message does not seem to have made it to Bryant McKinnie of the Minnesota Vikings, who was dismissed from the Pro Bowl on Saturday.
McKinnie, who was a first-time selection this year, showed up for exactly one Pro Bowl meeting this week. He apparently showed up at plenty of night clubs in Miami, but practice must not have been his style. Wade Phillips, the Cowboys head coach who is coaching the NFC squad this week, sent McKinnie home the day before the game was to be played. I was actually surprised to see this happen, figuring the league was unlikely to make an example of a player during a meaningless game, but I was quite pleased that it did.
So many players seem to have lost sight of the fact that sports are so important to so many people. They make millions of dollars to play a game, are coddled and catered to their whole lives, and are idolized by people everywhere, particularly kids. When the game means nothing, I guess some players know it and treat it accordingly. The thing is that most of them don’t. Most of them seem to realize that while they can loosen up more than they would for a normal game, it’s an honor to be there and play a game that is meant to be a celebration of their superior talent and successful seasons. For some, though, it is just an incovenience, I guess. Maybe the problem is that the game itself is just so bad. I am not suggesting, mind you, that the NFL make the game count for something real; the fact that baseball’s All-Star Game determines home field advantage for the World Series is an absolute travesty. There must be a way to make the game more interesting, though. Better yet, don’t play the game at all. Name players to the team and have a skills competition, or something like that. I expect that would be far more fun to watch.
As the linked article says, McKinnie didn’t even have that great of a season. I’m glad the league had the guts to send him home.
Bad sports, continued:
2) Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Ray Maualuga was arrested for DUI this week in Kentucky. It’s starting to seem like a requirement for athletes to drive drunk, isn’t it? Despite hitting a couple of parked cars and a parking meter, Maualuga has pleaded not guilty.
3) I can’t claim to have a really solid handle on exactly what happened in golf this week, but Phil Mickelson was accused of cheating by fellow golfer Scott McCarron at the Farmers Insurance Open. The issue centers around a certain kind of club that Mickelson decided to use this week, despite the fact that the club, while not actually banned, is openly viewed as something that should not be used due to an unfair advantage it provides. My guess is that it will be banned shortly. Since it is not currently against the rules, the claim of cheating would certainly appear to be inappropriate. At the same time, Mickelson opened himself up to criticism when he decided to use the club.
I guess the golf world wanted to talk about something other than Tiger Woods’ girlfriends this week.
Good sports:
1) Roger Federer incredibly won his 16th Grand Slam title, winning the Australian Open with a straight sets victory over Andy Murray on Sunday. After a brief run a year or two ago when it looked like he had been replaced as the world’s best player by Rafael Nadal, Federer is now looked at as a threat to win this year’s Grand Slam. Amazing.
2) American skier Lindsay Vonn solidified her position as the favorite for the upcoming Vancouver Olympics by winning the Super-G at St. Moritz on Sunday. Vonn has dominated the recent race schedule, and heads into the Winter Games on a very positive note.
3) As expected (by me), Tim Tebow was the worst quarterback on the field at Saturday’s Senior Bowl, a showcase for college players hoping to be drafted in April’s NFL draft. Tebow fumbled twice, didn’t complete anything but short passes, and generally looked out of place. If he is taken before the fourth round, someone will be making a mistake.
Bad Sports, Good Sports appears every Monday
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Alan, good post, all the way around. Thanks for sharing.
And a tip o’ the hat … you DID call it on Tebow. When I posted on Tebow, I shared others’ opinions that he might do much better. I’ll be interested in seeing how things turn-out for him.
Still, though, being drafted in a lower round – even if it doesn’t deliver quite as high a paycheck – would still be a good advancement in his career.
Hey Jeff – thanks. I won’t say I called it on Tebow until the draft actually happens, but I was definitely not surprised by his poor performance. What you said about being drafted in a lower round is not only true, but it also makes me want to reiterate that I think Tebow can and will be a good football player. I just don’t think quarterback is his position. Some clever coach will find a way to use him that is effective. He has a great combination of size, speed, and power. He is definitely a football player. Just not a quarterback.