Jerald And A Jet

With the Olympics sucking all the oxygen out of the sports’ landscape, this shapes up to be a boring weekend for anyone who doesn't swoon over the crowning of an Ice Princess. Like most things in life, ladies' figure skating is just more interesting when the American girl wins. The race in California doesn’t interest me. NASCAR like to moan that their sport isn’t just driving around in circles- but these ten or so events on multi-purpose 1.5 mile or more ovals really are just driving around and around. It isn’t as boring as the two summer races at Pocono or tedious as New Hampshire- but it is close. Bring on Martinsville!

So we left with the closing ceremonies- where the torch is literally passed to Canada for the 2010 Games- entitled: Come Play With Us. I dunno about that- that slogan sounds like a rallying call for deviants. I also dislike the fact that Canada contribution is being billed as a "fun and edgy night". Canada is a lot of things; but it is not edgy. I am not sure it is really fun either. How about “staid, with orderly queues?”

He said he hopes his appearance at the closing ceremony will paint Vancouver as a city that has a high quality of life and a commitment to a social agenda with progressive and open-minded citizens.

"I believe that when the world arrives in 2010, they will find the world is already [in Vancouver]," he said.

"We are one of the most diverse, multicultural cities in the world."

Obviously, the organizing committee is assuming the Grits will be back in power by then.

Apparently however, there will be a segment where the nations of the world will be invited to come together as one- but only to boo the hegemonistic USA. A panel of reporters from the Toronto Star and Edmonton Sun will also be available to castigate Canada's hockey team.

In Tulane news, Jerald Sowell was released by the Jets after a nice nine year run. Jerald was no great shakes as a pro- but hung around because he was a team first guy, solid on the specials, and was satisfied to be the seventh, or eighth, or ninth offensive option each Sunday- particularly later in his career catching some balls here and there. There is a role in pro-football for a guy who can contribute inexpensively at the bottom of the roster- and Jerald Sowell was a poster child for this sort of player.

He is really an odd player. Candidly, he never could do anything in Our League when handed the football. But after being in the League for six years, like all of a sudden he became a pretty decent pass receiver- 92 receptions in a two year span versus 25 catches or so in his first six years altogether. He totals tailed off last year: Pennington was hurt (true), but the Jets still threw it a lot (playing from behind) and there was a lot of garbage time (for Sowell to play). His career might be over. Frankly, he is a running back you simply can never hand the ball to- and that is a big strike against any pro skill position player.

Plus, the cap makes paying the veteran minimum for a ten year pro problematic for a lot of teams. What does Sowell give you on said 40th roster spot that a minimum salaried rookie doesn’t? A little savvy, a catch here and there? Even an extra 200 yards of offense? You know, probably not 200. I’m just not sure it is enough to justify filling that roster spot with Sowell at twice the money (or more) over a younger player with upside & potential longevity. At the least it is not a lay-up.