Alfie Dogs

October 19, 2003 (week 7 in Miami) I was in attendance on that sweltering Miami afternoon, the Dolphins with a ridiculously talented defense featuring Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Patrick Surtain, Sam Madison, The late Junior Seau, Brock Marion, and Tim Bowens, fought to a 13-13 stale mate against Tom Brady and the Patriots to take the game to overtime. It is important to understand, that at that point in history Tom Brady was still considered a system QB who won a Super Bowl benefiting from the greatness of a historic defensive mind. No one was afraid of Brady, and no one predicted what he eventually became. THE GOAT. After a defensive battle that led to a 13-13 overtime game, I was also completely underestimating Brady’s greatness. The coin is flipped and the Patriots win the toss and take the ball. Then, like an explosion, I witnessed GREATNESS! On the first offensive play of overtime, from the Patriots own 18, Brady from under center fakes a pitch to his RB, does a 360, pump fakes, f...

  College Football suffers from the worse coaching in all other amateur sports. It is not surprising because football is the one sport most influenced by tactics. When Nebraska was winning championships running the triple option, they where simply taking advantage of a systematic flaw in college football philosophy.   Triple option, like the RPO, gives the player on the field AFTER THE SNAP the choice based on a read. A simple concept that might seduce a team having success to have faith in that gameplan.  Then the Miami Hurricanes took center stage. Power I, Play action, single back,    a philosophy that understands, every millisecond counts. Every player knows what they are going to do before the ball is snapped, and WHAT HAPPENED? Suddenly “The Hurricanes play incredibly fast”!! Adding another decision while the play is unfolding is a crippling disadvantage in the game of football. Option plays are not as effective as being set up to make quick decisions. A t...

    Historically, sports is the vehicle that navigates a society away from discrimination. Jesse Owens was one of the greatest athletes in HISTORY, a black man who suffered through Jim Crow and then immortalized by the whole nation when he embarrassed the master race in Berlin. Jackie Robinson was a war hero and broke the color barrier in baseball with his effervescent talent and poise. Muhammad Ali went to prison because he was steadfast in his observation of his beliefs, and although he was punished, he also became an iconic legend revered by his countryman. The dominance of the black athlete in our nation can not be debated. That dominance in athletic competition bridged the racial divide and highlighted the importance of simply judging performance and outcome. Black Athletes in both Basketball and Football, arguably the most physically challenging in North American sports, Are by a wide margin the majority. 57.5% in the NFL, 74.2% in the NBA. For perspective, The percentag...