The Rex Streak

Jim Rome recently completed a 20-show streak of interviewing people named Rex. Funny as it sounds, it was actually a very intriguing and unique idea that spawned all kinds of new talking points for the nationally syndicated radio host. Whether it was the new coach of the New York Jets, Rex Ryan, or the senior wrestler at Michigan State, Rex Kendle, they were almost all good and informative interviews. Some notable names that were not sports-related were Rex Brown, bassist of Pantera, Rex Lee of Entourage, and Rex Walheim, NASA astronaut. Compelling doesn’t quite describe most of these interviews, but a few gems were definitely found amongst the duds.

Anyway, the point of this is to explain my admiration for Rome and the way he can turn an ordinary sports talk show into a forum for creative banter. If you have never listened to him, it is worth the time as he can inform you and make you laugh with ease. His knowledge of sports is unmatched and although he never talks about soccer and admits he doesn’t think it is a real sport, he will speak on any sport that he feels he can say something intelligent about. From horse racing to MMA, Rome’s analysis is heard by millions across the country every day. His following (the clones) relish the day when Rome lets them loose in “the jungle”, but if you don’t step your game up, he will banish you from the spotlight of jungle takes.

Jim is not afraid to get under some people’s skin either.

Check him out at jimrome.com

-Gramps

L.T. to the Saints?

I have never intentionally disagreed with Drew Brees on anything, not even when he chose to get paid and leave San Diego for New Orleans. How could I? He brought my beloved Bolts out of the hell of obscurity and helped build the platform for success that the Chargers currently reside on. Brees is also an incredibly likable guy who goes out of his way to work in the community and give back to the people who support him so much. Despite all this, he has taken a stand on the LaDanian Tomlinson contract dilemma, making me think twice about my loyalty to Brees.

San Diego’s main sports radio station, 1090 AM, interviewed Brees recently and the subject of Tomlinson’s contract impasse came up with a few notable quotes that I will link here, but not talk about as I have my own venting to do. Brees not only said he wants Tomlinson to end up a Saint, but he also had the nerve to say that one of the greatest running backs in NFL history should not take a pay cut in order to remain with the Chargers. Boooooo Brees!

Obviously, I know the quality of character and player that Tomlinson brings to any team as Charger fans across the world have been cherishing his greatness since 2001. Any team would be extremely lucky to have him as a starting running back. There in lies the problem. Without Tomlinson, the Chargers do not have a starting running back and if you think Sproles can carry it 30 times a game along with returning kicks, you’re insane. So, the fact remains that the Chargers need him strictly for personnel reasons and I do not want to see a second round draft pick become our starting running back when we already have one of the best in the game in LT.

Now, back to Brees and all his wisdom. Brees says LT shouldn’t take a pay cut if he wants to stay in San Diego, but that is the only way it is going to happen. Brees is right because a talented running back with Tomlinson’s credentials should not be given less money for any reason, and that just might be what ends the relationship with him and the Chargers. Despite the decreasing nature of LT’s numbers, when he is healthy, he looks willing and able to juke out defensive players with a style and ease that cannot be duplicated. Also, take into account the injuries that he has racked up the last two years and it is no wonder his numbers are down. Let’s just hope Tomlinson did not hear the interview for himself, or Charger fans may resent Brees a little.

Chargers GM A.J. Smith has supposedly given Tomlinson his final offer and according to LT’s mom, it just ain’t good enough. This is not surprising due to the hard-nosed nature of Smith and some of the things he says. But, something has to give here as even LT knows he can’t leave San Diego without winning a championship, and he sure as hell won’t do it in New Orleans any time soon, given the rising stars of some of the NFC’s elite teams. The Chargers have a lot to offer Tomlinson, like a good overall team, coaching staff, great fans and weather. What they can’t offer him is money and he may want some of that. According to ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio, the new contract for LT has to be completed by March 30 which is when the players report for the voluntary offseason workout program.

Drew Brees will always be one of my favorite Chargers and NFL players in general, but he brought a few things to light in this interview that could be damaging for the hardest of hard-core Charger fans out there.

Please stay LT.

-Gramps

Sproles is a Tagger

The lovely Lightning Boltz have franchise tagged the little explosion that is Darren Sproles. He gets $6.5 mil and we all get to watch that darting blur of a running back breach opposing defenses for another year. Probably the most notable move the Chargers will make this offseason because nobody wanted to see him go. Igor Olshansky, Marques Harris and Malcolm Floyd are a couple of notable free agents but they don’t deserve the attention that this move for Sproles does, especially when it means we get LaDanian back as soon as he agrees to take a major pay cut. Imagine that, LaDanian will most likely make less than Darren Sproles next season meaning he will no longer be the highest paid running back on the Chargers.

Of course, Sproles’ deal comes with a few side effects that could be harmful to Bolts fans’ health, depending on which way you see it. As a non-exclusive franchise player, Sproles is allowed to negotiate a deal with any team out there. If he signs a deal though, the Chargers can either match the offer and keep him or they let him go and get two first round draft picks in return.

Obviously, a great deal for the Chargers whichever way it ends up but as a fan, you’d hate to see that guy get let go like Brees or Turner. If Sproles goes elsewhere, you got one hand where the Bolts receive the equivalent of gold for most NFL teams in two first round picks. On the other, Darrenito signs with Denver or some other shitty team and rips the Bolts for 450 yards. I cringe. Just sign him long-term and pray that we can draft a big bruising running back with the picks we already had. Yeah.

I guess the most exciting thing about next year is that we get to really see if LaDanian still has it and if he does, the combination with Sproles is going to make that offense unstoppable. Oooh.

So go buy that number 43 jersey and remember…if you’re not a Charger fan, then you don’t know pain.

-Gramps

Economy Shmonomy

If I hear one more person use the phrase “…in this economy…” I may have to move to a place that doesn’t have all these economy issues.  A place like Mexico, where the economy is the least of their worries (see: drug war).  Although, you can kind of blame the Mexican Drug War on a poor economy so I guess I can’t move there. 

Maybe I’ll move to Ecuador: live off the land, raise some chickens and swim with the Turtles of the Galapagos Island.  And they even use the American Dollar so I won’t have to be confused by strange-colored currency with pictures of cool looking South American Presidents.  Oh, but even in the beautiful South American Country known for its exporting of Oil, the “bad economy” bug has stung and they’re even going so far as to try and create a new Super Currency (which I’m sure would kick the US’s currencies ass if given the chance).

So where does a discontented American go to escape the rigors of over-exhausted phrases about a depleting economy?  Oh I don’t know, how about a little place I like to call The Middle East.  I know what you’re thinking: “Yo J, ain’t that place in the midst of a war and shit?”  To which I would reply, “Yeah, so.” To which you would probably just walk away and think I was some sort of Jerkoff.

Now hear me out.  I know the place is in total disarray – and their government is so corrupt that Mexico is printing Public Service Announcements which say: The Mexican Government. We’re totally better than Iraq’s – but I bet you 5 bucks nobody is driving around in their Land Rover saying things like, “Yea, I’m heading over to the Bloomingdales sale.  What with this economy I got to hit up all the sales I can these days.” 

Nope.  Not in the Middle East.  They are Economy Cliché Free.  Just check out this recruitment letter from Able Fisher.  And if its real estate you’re after, look no further than beautiful Egypt and Jordan.  So if you need to get in touch with me I’ll be sipping strong coffee and dodging bullets somewhere near Dubai… or maybe Pakistan.