Don Shula takes shot at Patriots

[CGI_Ram]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...nd-patriots-says-miami-dolphins-deflate-balls

DAVIE, Fla. -- Hall of Famer Don Shula, the winningest head coach in NFL history, took a not-so-subtle shot at the New England Patriots and their latest "Deflategate" controversy on Saturday.

"Our record in those 50 years was always done with a lot of class, a lot of dignity, a lot of doing it the right way. We didn't deflate any balls."

Serving as a guest of honor at the Miami Dolphins' 50th season celebration, Shula praised how the organization developed its football tradition "the right way," while slighting the rival Patriots.

"Our record in those 50 years was always done with a lot of class, a lot of dignity, a lot of doing it the right way," Shula said during his speech. "We didn't deflate any balls."

Shula was asked after his speech by the local media to elaborate on his Patriots comment.

"I coached for 33 years and I've never once in that 33-year period of time ever even talked or heard anyone talk about the air in the football," Shula said. "So I'm not going to start talking about the air in the football."

Shula declined to comment whether New England's latest cheating scandal tarnishes the Patriots' legacy of four Super Bowl championships in the past 14 years.

This is not the first time Shula has had disparaging remarks about the Patriots. He also was critical of the Patriots in the past during New England's initial "Spygate" controversy.

 

[CodeMonkey]

And he is STILL hc of the only undefeated season. 18-1 ha ha ha! Smaĺl justice but it makes me smile anyway. Thank you, Giants!

Obama cracked a good one at their expense the other day too.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

Shula doesn't give a @$&#
So great

 

[CGI_Ram]

Shula doesn't give a @$&#
So great

I love it too.

 

[Stranger]

And he is STILL hc of the only undefeated season. 18-1 ha ha ha! Smaĺl justice but it makes me smile anyway. Thank you, Giants!

Obama cracked a good one at their expense the other day too.

What did O say?

 

[jap]

Don Shula doesn't pull punches.

 

[CodeMonkey]

What did O say?

"I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town I was worried 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat,"
-Obama


http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/new-england-patriots-barack-obama-deflategate-joke-042315

 

[blue4]

"I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town I was worried 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat,"
-Obama


http://www.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/new-england-patriots-barack-obama-deflategate-joke-042315

That's funny.

 

[Dr C. Hill]

This is great to see! I hope a lot more respected people around the game begin speaking out against those frauds. All four of their championships were tainted. History should remember the Patriot era in the same sad way as the steroid era in baseball. Every single one of their accomplishments should be looked at with extreme skepticism.

 

[CGI_Ram]

This article posted by rams2050 was a great one, if you missed it.

People want to dismiss "it's a minor infraction or not a big deal". Warner gives a good example of what we are teaching the younger generation.

Time to re-inflate the spirit of competition in sports

• Kurt Warner @kurt13warner
  RSS
• May 7, 2015 6:05pm EDT

MORE: Report: Lengthy Brady suspension possible | Wells Report a 'sting operation?'

That brings up a bigger point: When did that become acceptable and will we ever get back to the true spirit of competition?

I continually hear analysts, talk show hosts and former athletes make the statement that every athlete does things to obtain an advantage over their opponent, implying that all athletes will bend or break rules if it’s the difference between winning and losing.

I would disagree and take offense to that. Sure, true athletes try to get a competitive advantage over their opponents, but that advantage is pursued through hard and extra work, preparation and studying your opponent well. Not every athlete adopts the “win at all or any cost” or “if you aren’t cheating you aren’t trying” mentality.

When I was younger, I fell in love with sports because I believe that once you step between the lines, it’s me versus you — same size field, same rules, same equipment. Whoever is better prepared, the better player or simply performs better in that moment is victorious.

If you win, you accept the prize with grace and humility knowing that today was your day. You appreciate the effort of the opponent and you never forget that tomorrow’s victory is never guaranteed. Then you return to perfect your craft.

If you lose, you graciously accept that fate. You tip your hat to the opponent with respect for how they competed that day. Then you return to perfect your craft.

To me, this is the true spirit of competition and why to this day there is nothing I would rather do then compete. Things have seemingly changed and pure competition lost its appeal in favor of winning. I wish it wasn’t the case, but I am reminded of this change in sports culture almost daily.

WARNER: NFL Draft success not all about going No. 1 | 'QB ceiling' reflects sharp mind, not big arm

Over the years, we have watched athletes admit to using performance-enhancing drugs and we have seen pitchers caught doctoring balls. We have seen judging scandals, age-related scandals, spying scandals and even scandals where athletes have looked to take out the fiercest competitor before the competition even began.

I know sports has become big business and the difference between winning and losing can mean millions, not to mention the cultural adoration they receive for achieving the highest of heights. This "spirit of competition" is not simply lost on our professional athletes and coaches — I have watched this mentality trickle down and become more prevalent in our youth sports as well. We are now setting an example that rule-breaking is acceptable.

Last weekend, my son played in a 12-and-under basketball tournament. They competed well until they ran into a team that undoubtedly outperformed them. During the game, it came to everyone’s attention that the opposing team had at least one 13-year-old on its roster. We weren’t able to dispute this fact in our game because we didn’t contend the issue before the game started — which seems like we are being told to be suspicious of misconduct.

So before the finals, the other team that had reached the finals was informed so they could make the complaint if they chose. They were about to file the complaint, but realized they had 13 year-olds on their roster, as well. So our team of 11 year olds that was playing up in the 12U division not only was beat by a team that had 13 year olds on it, but watched the final be played between two teams that should have been playing in 13U division.

Without question, my son’s team was greatly outplayed, for the most part by players that I truly believe were within the appropriate age range. They would have beaten us anyways, but does that make it OK? If, at the end of the day, we come to the conclusion that the outcome would have been the same, do we simply turn a blind eye and move on to the next tournament?

In my mind, this issue has nothing to do with winning and losing in most cases. A little trophy for an 11-year-old kid means little in the big picture of life. The issue comes in teaching the next generation of athletes that it is OK to break the rules. The issue is rewarding two teams that have broken the rules by allowing them to continue to play. The issues come in not taking immediate action to make sure the :spirit of competition" stays intact.

In many ways, I have become the man I am today because of what I learned through sports and competition. It’s why I have always pushed my kids to play sports or compete in something. But I am starting to wonder what exactly my young children and all the young athletes are learning from those examples at the highest levels of sport.

Formerly a quarterback for the Rams, Giants and Cardinals, Kurt Warner is currently an analyst for NFL Network and a contributor for Sporting News. With the Rams, Warner won Super Bowl XXXIV and was named Super Bowl and NFL MVP the same year. Off the field, he is involved with his two foundations, First Things First and Treasure House. Read more about them at www.kurtwarner.organd www.treasurehouse.org, hear his analysis at www.nfl.com/nflnetwork, and follow Kurt on Twitter @kurt13warner.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...time-to-get-back-to-the-spirit-of-competition

 

[Mister Sin]

Don Shula is one of the few men with a name as big or bigger than Billechek. The NFL has to do something to these guys. It's not a one time. So Preach it Don....Preach it

 

[Lunchbox]

This article posted by rams2050 was a great one, if you missed it.

People want to dismiss "it's a minor infraction or not a big deal". Warner gives a good example of what we are teaching the younger generation.

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2015-05-07/wells-report-deflate-gate-new-england-patriots-kurt-warner-its-time-to-get-back-to-the-spirit-of-competition

This is exactly how I feel about competing within the "spirit of the game". Unfortunately, big money has changed the emphasis from competing to winning and nothing less is acceptable to many.

Everyone loves to have a winner to root for, but, for me, the "win at any cost" mentality robs the games of an essential element of competition, a level playing field. Without that winning is meaningless because a competitive advantage has been slanted in favor of one of the competitors. A win "earned" in this manner is joyless.

 

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...es-patriots-shouldnt-be-super-bowl-champions/

Emmanuel Sanders believes Patriots shouldn’t be Super Bowl champions
Posted by Mike Florio on June 25, 2015

Getty Images

Receiver Emmanuel Sanders isn’t showing much gratitude to the team that got him a big raise in 2013.

More than two years after the Patriots signed Sanders to an offer sheet as a restricted free agent and the Steelers matched it, bumping his pay by $1.2 million, Sanders has taken a strong public position about the defending Super Bowl champions while speaking to youths at Ed McCaffrey’s football camp.

“I’m kind of mad,” Sanders said, via 9 News. “I don’t think that they should be the Super Bowl champion this year. . . . You aren’t supposed to cheat. Cheating is not good, especially when you’ve got guys who are working their butts off for 365 days out of the year and one person cheats –- whether it helps them win the Super Bowl or not, they still cheated and shouldn’t be a champion.”

Of course, that position from Sanders presumes the Patriots cheated. They strongly deny that they did, and the 243-page report issued by Ted Wells isn’t nearly as conclusive as it could be or should be.

Still, plenty of folks presume that the Patriots are guilty, regardless of the quality (or lack thereof) of the Wells report. By speaking out about his beliefs, Sanders has guaranteed that the Patriots will be paying special attention to him when the time comes for the two teams to play, November 29 in prime time on NBC.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Tell 'em like it is, Sanders!