This is what Roger Goddell is worried about...

See today's article about 75 former NFL players suing the NFL over concussions.

Ed on Harrison, the Steelers, and the NFL

Harrison is an idiot. Ward is a disappointment, a real disappointment. Goodell is a CEO. I'll let you decide which of those characterizations are the harshest.

I agree that Goodell is concerned about a billion dollar industry losing its luster because of rules changes or unappealing, non-eye catching headlines. That's what is strange about this topic. Hits on defenseless players, with the press it receives, probably helps the NFL revenue stream short term. But the long term implications of player lawsuits and rules changes are a serious threat to its continued viability.

Violence sells, look no further than MMA for that validation.

But so do points and I think that's the answer to this for Goodell. Find a way to moderately protect the players (invoke some trivial "rule" that curb's head hunting just enough) and still maintains the excitement of a big hit. And continue to challenge defenses with rules changes that promote high scoring games. Why?

Nobody likes a low scoring game, or a tie - look no further than MLS soccer for that validation.

Now, for the "hating your boss" comments, your two views are interesting. If my boss is Uncle Sam, can I trash him in the papers? America's military sucks! What impact would that have on a sailor if he began criticizing the boot camp approach, the war in Afghanistan, or the anti-terrorist tactics that are being taken. Would that be ok in the same public eye that Harrison is utilizing?

In private business such a non-conformist, whistle blower, or squeaky wheel would probably get fired, or run out of the company under duress assuming they weren't raising something illegal or unethical. Those who fit in these categories just don't last in private business. The most current validation for this is people posting stuff on Facebook and other social media sites about their boss or their company, and being fired over it. There are places where employees can bitch about such matters (glassdoor.com and other similar websites), but most posts are done so anonymously. But because trouble makers, standouts and misfits in professional sports grab headlines, and in doing so build fan interest and revenues for the leagues they represent, they tend to be tolerated to a much greater degree. Examples abound but the one I want to point to specifically is ... you guessed it, Dennis Rodman!

You have to be kidding

In the case of Harrison's hits, Roger Goddell doesn't care about James Harrison, the Steelers, or ratings. He cares about the single biggest threat to his business...the litigation and congressional hearings from concussed players that could force changes to the game that make it unappealing to fans. To think the NFL cares about any individual or franchise enough to discriminate against them is silly. Both you and Harrison are delusional to think that a multibillion dollar industry cares about a bumbling idiot that will be forgotten by everyone the moment he steps out of a uniform and starts picking fights with body guards in strip clubs because he is too dumb to find a better place for his aggression.

And just because you hate your boss and have good reason to doesn't give you license to hit the press with such hateful language.

Sorry to ruin your fun but...

… this hoopla about Harrison doesn't really get me riled up.

Let me delve into the the NFL hitting controversy for a moment. First of all, the Steelers, and particularly Harrison, ARE targeted by the NFL, and specifically the commissioner, for their style of football. The Steelers don't win championships by 500-yard dazzling offensive barrages that score 45 points with a defense that can only hold a team to 42 points. The Steelers have always won by pounding the crap out of opposing offenses when they step on the field. If the Steelers can manage it, they'll sit on a 3-0 lead for a victory. They win with defense. Not very good for ratings.

Those kinds of games are NOT what the commish wants. He wants Drew Brees and Peyton Manning lighting up the scoreboard against afterthought defenses. He doesn't want Pittsburgh Steelers-style football. A Steelers/Ravens AFC championship is a nightmare for the commish. Let's be honest here. Roger Goodell hates the Steelers. He IS targeting James Harrison and the Steelers.

So, having said that, Roger Goodell is trying to make James Harrison change the very thing that has made him a very good living. $100K fines in one year? Have you seen how fast NFL games happen? Which do you think Harrison cares about more, paying out some money to the NFL or making receivers nervous when they come across the middle? We are talking about football, right? Harrison was the 2008 Defensive player of the year because he "smacks people in the mouth", not because he makes a bunch of jersey tackles every game. So James Harrison hates Roger Goodell, his boss. I know a lot of people who hate their boss. If I was getting fined by my boss for being the best at my job, I'd be probably hate him too.

As far as the Rooneys are concerned, I don't think Harrison is going anywhere anytime soon. If they stuck with Big Ben through all of his crap (which by the way, sexual assault is illegal, hating your boss and calling him names is not) then they'll stick with Harrison. It all comes back to his loyalty to the Steelers and his performance on the field. None of that has changed.

I don't know what to say about Hines Ward except that I'm so disappointed. Just disappointed. He blew it, and it pains me to see his agent saying stupid stuff like, "We are confident that the facts will show that he was not under the influence of alcohol." Stupid. Yeah, that's why he was weaving and hitting the curb, and why he refused a breathalyzer test and failed a field sobriety test. Right. I am so disappointed because I REALLY like Hines Ward and he let me down. Why do rich people drive drunk? Can anyone give me a reasonable explanation?

Why does a slim chance and a fat chance mean the same thing but a wise man and a wise guy mean the opposite?

Steeler image being tarnished

Even though I’m not a Steeler fan, I do appreciate the lore of the team and especially the image they’ve worked hard to cultivate of winning the right way. Loyalty to coaches (2 or 25 years or so) and players so long as they behave and compete within the ideals of the organization. The Rooney family has historically made moves or not made moves that set this tone and players gladly followed to be able to be part of such a great organization.

The last few years have seen some changes. Perhaps it is just getting harder for the Rooneys because so many people are doing the wrong thing. I was surprised as were many that they stuck with Ben Roethlisberger after his numerous bad decisions (motorcycle accident, 2 alleged sexual assaults). Recently Hines Ward was charged with DUI. Reminder that police action is still in process so remember charged and guilty are different. Finally this morning, reading this article about James Harrison made my blood boil. There is NEVER (and superlatives don’t apply very often as we all know) an appropriate time or place to comment with the hateful language James Harrison did, in business or otherwise.

I’ll be eager to see if the Rooneys respond in any way, either by trying to reign him in seeking to trade him to another team. While we are still in a lockout, he’s still referenced and known as “Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker” James Harrison.

So Mr. Rooney, if you are reading our blog, I challenge you to step up as the Rooney family has for decades and make the right decision to exit this guy from your organization. In my mind he is further tarnishing the image of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ed on RAGBRAI Gut Check

My gut check is also in full bloom as I prepare for my first attempted trek across Iowa with all things mechanical. With Mom and Dad here this weekend Dad has said repeatedly that "I have trained more than he ever did". He's furthered such comments with "and you have better equipment" and "you're much younger than I was". I'm sure all three comments are true ... which makes it even more incredible that Dad successfully rode RAGBRAI at age 62, and Uncle Frank at age 72. And on Huffy's!? Impressive!

I rode for three straight days this weekend (hopefully another mental block broken) and must say that riding with your legs tired has an entirely different flare. First, you just don't have the juice to motor over hills so gears come much more into play. I "discovered" the ability to shift my front sprocket this weekend and used it for the very first time. Up to this point I had only shifted the back sprocket and stayed in one of the middle 6 or 7 gears. This weekend I used them all. I still rode a relatively flat track ... but it didn't feel like it. The slightest hill becomes a mountain when the legs are noodles. I'm averaging somewhere between 16 and 17 mph, on a relatively flat course.

And I've been working my liver too. 7 beers in three days, along with a lot of melon salad, and neither bothered me too much. So on the gastrointestinal front I'm feeling much more confident.

It's the muscular physical front that I need to keep the pressure on ... and will between now and the event. It will be great chasing you both across Iowa!

RAGBRAI Gut Check

I've been trying to remember my training process for the 2006 RAGBRAI because I'm not entirely happy with the way my body is responding over the past week. I suppose you could make a good argument that it actually IS a good idea to document training, because I wish I remembered it better.

If I recall correctly, I wasn't riding as much as I am now (every day) and I wasn't doing rides as long as the ones I'm doing now. The difference may be that I remember starting training in 2006 in earnest in April and rode faithfully about four times per week all the way up to RAGBRAI. I haven't been nearly as faithful for that long.

I've done two 50+ rides during the past week or so and I'm not feeling very confident about how my body has handled it. When I did 56 miles the first time, I really didn't think I was going to make it the last three miles. I rode 16 miles the next day and that was enough. Yesterday I rode 56 miles again and felt a little better in the end. However, I went upstairs, got in the shower, and was suddenly overcome with nausea. I shut off the shower quick and laid down on the tile floor near the toilet. I never did throw up, but I thought for sure I was going to do it. I rode 21 miles today, mostly hills, and it was tough. I didn't want to ride today.

Soooo, I'm actually a little concerned about how my body is going to handle 500 miles in a week. I realize we won't be doing 65 miles at 18+mph straight through (at least I hope not), but I hope that my recovery goes quicker.

I'm sure I'll be fine since we intend to enjoy the ride a bit more this year, more breaks along the way, etc. Pork sandwiches and watermelon will help. I know I still need to be prepared to do a 1/4 mile sprint at 25+mph if Ed spots Lance. It would be cool if we could get a picture of the three of us with him, since he is obviously a long lost Baldwin brother!

Marc's rating: One finger (you guess which one)

I may be a function over form guy, but those are perhaps the ugliest shoes that I've ever seen. So you want my opinion?

First, they look like fancy tennis shoes to me, with the notable exception that the toes each have their own little nifty compartment. I'm not sure how separating your toes helps you run, but hey, I did lose a toenail because of running. Maybe the toe next to it got mad about all the rubbing and caused the neighbor toe's nail to fall off. Maybe they would have all been happier having their own space. But what are they going to do when you go barefoot?? I don't doubt that some people do very well (health-wise) running barefoot, but I also know millions of people in the world that seem to be doing okay with those regular shoes where your toes have to live together.

Second, I think this toe-shoe/sock thing is just ANOTHER fitness trend. Add it to the list with Jazzercise, Tae-Bo, vibrating belts, thigh-master, Nordic track, drinking raw eggs, Pilates, etc. In 5-10 years, there will only be a handful of people wearing those ridiculous looking things.

When you buy shoes like that I bet you get a free bowl of soup, huh? Oh, it looks good on you though!