CONCUSSION DISCUSSION

I went to see the movie "Concussion" and if you didn't see it don't worry I'm not going to give away any of the details nor the story lines that aren't already in the public sphere. It was a very good movie in my opinion and since I'm neither Siskel nor Ebert take that for what it's worth. But also take into account I've worked around professional football players for a number of years and see and hear of the effects it has, is having on veteran players.

Concussions aren't restricted to football; but the fact that football skirted the issue is what brought their connection with concussions to the forefront. When players start killing themselves in the face of normalcy, all things considered, then you have a problem. When a doctor can look at the evidence objectively using data and not inferring conclusions for the good of profit or fandom then you have to respect and address that.

Any sport, activity or event that will consistently show a backlash that outweighs the benefits needs to be evaluated, not eliminated. I love football and loved it in its purest form of gladiator aggression. It challenges me to think how many of my heroes that may be suffering now and that saddens me. One because I encouraged it as a fan; secondly because I cried foul when the NFL tried to improve the product by protecting the player. We're all double edged swords in this game of football. We love to see the hard hit, the "You Got Jacked Up!" highlights; yet we hate to see the stretcher slowly arrive on the field indicating the hit was serious enough that a physically gifted player can't get up on their own and recognizing the smelling sauce is just an exercise in futility.

So what do we do? We continue watching the game. If you play you accept the fact that the risks are real and documented. But the conundrum for any kid who sees football as a way out of poverty or access to the champagne life is purely risk/reward. It's hard to argue if he has poured all his talent into the game but if he stays in the league even one year the possibility of him becoming a victim to a serious injuries or concussion is there in black and white. You don't think about when you're playing or you'll get hurt players have told me repeatedly. I concur that you have to focus on the positive outcome not only in football but in life. That is indeed an interesting parallel...

It's hard to say what college football and the NFL will focus on going forward but one thing's for sure. In this information age everyone will know what you do and how you choose to handle it for the most part. Thereafter your actions will say a lot about how you rank people and profits when pitted against each other. I can only hope that people will win out every time. I'd like to think that now...

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

ODELL'S DILEMMA

The world saw the other side of New York Giant wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. and it wasn't pretty; as a matter of fact the onslaught of repetitive replays made it even more alarming. To say it was uncalled for is fair and to say action should be taken swiftly is appropriate.

Odell has shown he doesn't like to be stopped which is normal for a competitive and world class wide receiver in the NFL. But the way you display your frustration is the issue the world is currently wrestling with. We like OBJ; he's fun, cool and does pre-game rituals akin to Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors. The kind that make you get to the venue hours ahead of schedule just to witness the skill set that leave your jaw agape.

SBNation.com

But what was witnessed yesterday left it wide open for a different reason. Code violation as some players have told me. Disrespect as others have illustrated and my opinion is "Totally uncalled for." But the bigger question or more specific his dilemma is: Where do you go from here? Odell is young but already on the verge of stardom on and off the field. He has endorsements, and I wonder if they're in jeopardy. He has big shoe and apparel contracts that will no doubt undergo scrutiny. And he has fans who will certainly question their allegiance to him after witnessing his latest temper tantrum. In case you didn't know it's not his first transgression but it most certainly is his worst.

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OBJ has to make up his mind as to which player he wants the world to see. The gifted, athletic and graceful wide receiver who conjures up catches reminiscent of John Jefferson and Cris Carter. Or the diva craving attention one like Chad Ocho Cinco and Terrell Owens who clearly wanted the camera and attention on them. They both have had unparalleled success but the way they're remembered is what stays with you long after the game is gone. His call either way but I can assure you of one thing, he will not be happy if he's remembered for his behavior versus his talent. When you talk about Jerry Rice or Tim Brown it's all about the talent and that's where they kept the focus. Odell needs to follow the path these Hall of Fame receivers laid. Its all about the routes they run and nothing else. Let your play do the talking and let your talking sit on the bench; at least until after the game. Then your words can run amuck, hopefully with respect in tow.

Odell I love your game and your talent. But that's all I want to see on the field. You're young and I was too once upon a time so I accept that this lapse in emotional control as a product of your maturity. Anyone my age can admit we made mistakes as well; but the key is to learn from them and keep growing beyond this. With that being said, I hope you do and go on to become the world class receiver we all think you're destined to be.  You're still headed that way....in spite of. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

YOUR HORSE IS TOO HIGH

So the ruling has come down and the status remains the same. Pete Rose is not worthy of being reinstated to baseball. For the love of Seattle Slew please come off your high horse baseball.

I am indifferent as to whether Pete Rose needs to be castrated baseball wise but what I can say without hesitation is baseball needs to get off its high horse. Yes the baseball that allows betting; the baseball that allows casinos to sponsor team events and place signage in baseball parks. Yes the baseball that has sweepstakes and partners with the likes of fantasy baseball and the likes. Yes someone who committed the ultimate "betting" crime has to he hung out to dry? Give me a break.

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I know there are those who say Pete Rose did it to himself; he did. You did it to yourself. What is that? Put yourself in position to be judged as blameless and perfect. To be judged by GOD (if you're a believer) or to be judged by your peers when the time comes and it will, if it hasn't already.  I am NOT condoning what Pete Rose did but simply condoning those who want him to serve a lifetime punishment for a game. We're talking about a game? What are we talking about (In my Allen Iverson voice) a game!? A game man?

That's exactly what we're talking about a man and a game. A game that is full of performance enhancement violations; collusion by owners; greed by players and teams; Bar fights, domestic violence and on and on. Yet this one crime and person shall be hailed as the greatest crime ever committed in baseball. There is the alleged racist Ty Cobb, yet no one says recall his Hall of Fame status ala the Bill Cosby retraction that seems to happen every month.

Ty Cobb was an alleged racist but no calls for his removal from the Hall of Fame - Phillysportshistory.com

Baseball needs to get a grip but those who agree with baseball need to as well. To say Pete Rose should forever be banned because he brought it on himself is counter to those who know a family member or themselves that have asked for forgiveness and got it. And if they didn't get it they cry bloody murder at the missed opportunity. Yet when it comes to Pete Rose they want to hang em' high.

Betting on baseball is legal - Bronxbaseballdaily.com

I still say Pete will get in after he has passes as if he can't do any harm to the "Integrity of the Game." I say the game lost its integrity when it didn't say to Pete, you've suffered enough, been embarrassed enough and enough time has lapse to teach any forthcoming players or future stars a valuable lesson. And that could be Pete's job, going to every major and minor league team annually and telling his story and what it cost him. What he's paying now is interest on ignorance and that's not a good return on anyone's investment.

Yes I know he still bet on baseball; but baseball also makes it easy for Las Vegas to bet on the game too. I'd love to point out their hypocrisy but the horse is too high for common sense to reach. That's the ways I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller

BRAND LOYALTY

I was very encouraged to hear that LeBron James inked a lifetime deal with Nike for reasons that have nothing to do with basketball or shoes. LeBron James shoes are expected to crest upwards of $400 million in sales this year and the initial money Nike paid him out of high school, which was 7 years and $90 million, now pales in comparison to his worth and what he has generated for the top sneaker line in the world.

LeBron with Maverick Carter, Randy Mims and Rich Paul  and President Obama ESPN.Go.com

But the loyalty that LeBron has shown to his friends is the number one misused and underused brand in the world: Friendship. So many athletes run out of their neighborhoods looking to latch on to the people with name recognition who have no respect for their environment. Oh they say all the right things and it's just to secure the signature on the paper of representation and then the walls close in around the player. But not LeBron; Maverick Carter, Randy Mims and Rich Paul are business partners and life long friends who represent him well. Yes they work with other skilled and savvy business people but they are making money representing the brand they've been a part of since childhood, their FRIEND LeBron James. Why don't more athletes do it? I can't answer that other than to say they don't know what's possible. They can't imagine that their friends are capable of negotiating big deals; but what they don't realize is the best in the business started without ever having done a deal. The difference is someone gave them a chance to make it happen and once they got the first deal done they started doing others.

Here is the simple end of the deal, and admittedly there are some more intricate points that require prerequisite planning and knowledge: most salaries are slotted and access to information is available to all involved in the game. I am not saying this to diminish the hard work agents contribute but I am saying there isn't a magic formula that one guys has over another for the most part. If player above you makes $3 million and the player below you makes $1 million than it's safe to say you should expect $2 million. Most Pro Leagues have unions which means the contracts are standardized and with the aid of an attorney whom you can pay billable hours you can learn on the go and ensure your player is being compensated at fair market value. Now with leagues establishing a rookie salary cap, the first contract is basically done for you.

Team LeBron - Worldredeye.com

I remember Leigh Steinberg was the agent of nearly all the top quarterbacks in the NFL at one point and people talked about how great he was. Was he great or did he have great products in the players? When you have all the cards you can control the game; yes just like spades. David Falk had Michael Jordan, Alonzo Mourning and a list of players to die for. Scott Boras is hated by many baseball teams because when a player lands with him he is allegedly going to hold the team hostage. Why are all of these guys considered great negotiators? Primarily because of who they represent. If you walked in the door of Samsung, Sprite, Kia or any other company that wants to do business with LeBron, you have already cleared the most difficult hurdle which is whether the "want to" is there. With LeBron the answer is unequivocally yes. The next hurdle is whom do we need to speak with and the answer is his FRIENDS who are his business managers. From there its hammering out a deal that works for both parties and there are precedents set that help you ensure your friend gets a fair deal.

LeBron's Endorsement list keeps growing - Forbes

So as we celebrate LeBron and his lifetime deal, I celebrate LeBron and his willingness to make sure his FRIENDS are part of his success. Not just tagging along, running up tabs, sleeping late and sucking the life out of him; but becoming self sufficient, successful and financially secure. When LeBron James retires his FRIENDS will probably be in a position to do so as well. If not their resume' which includes representing King James will surely open up doors to new opportunities and other athletes going forward. That's the blueprint for success and it starts with the brand that often gets overlooked and is undervalued. As they say sometimes it's right up under your nose and what LeBron has shown is it can be done without sacrificing the art of the deal. 

So don't be quick to say I have to go to this big name guy or that popular guy to get the best deal. The truth is the best deal is based on the market and your potential. If you, or your kid is the next LeBron or Tom Brady trust me the hard part is behind you and the opportunities are in front of you. But remember your friends and how you can not only bring them out of the neighborhood with you, you can empower them to use their GOD given abilities too. You might even be surprised at the deals they create because they're not tainted by the "It's always been done this way" mantra. They're just like you looking to make their mark on the game, which in this case is the business of sports. And you can score in that arena as well.

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

THE GREATEST OF ALL IS TIME

Peyton, this is Kobe; give me a call when you get a minute. Oh and by the way Father Time says he's been trying to reach you and said he will eventually.

...And still undefeated, Father Time! No one outruns him; no one out plays him and no one will ever will. Kobe Bryant finally succumb to the cruel reality that Father Time gets us all in the end. You have willed your way past injuries Peyton Manning and fought through an assortment of ailments but sitting in the fourth quarter of life with an end of game invoice is Father Time. You can't escape it and the illusion of your youth gives you false hope that you can. Talk about false hope...

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So many athletes in their prime, at the top of their game, felt they were different only to learn there is no discrimination when it's time to call it a day. Muhammad Ali for as great as he was, looked embarrassingly inept beyond his years before he quit. Joe Namath played for several different teams looking for lighting in a bottle only to find out it was Vodka. You can go to every sport and you'll find someone who doesn't know what we see and that is, that their time is now. I've got one more inning; one more at bat; one more jumper and they do but it only resides in their mind. If you're a real fan of that player you hold out hope based on past performances that yeah, they do have one more. This was just an off night, week or month.

USA Today

How does an athlete reconcile with their mind, the fact their body no longer has the ability to compete at the highest level regardless of what they done the past double digit years? Yes you see the ball but a split second in sports has cost many a player a chance at stardom so when it happens to a legend it's even harder to take.

Father Time doesn't take any prisoners, has no sympathy for your idol and certainly doesn't care if it affects the outcome of the game. He's making room for the next superstar or the next idol-in-the-making and you, once full of youth, yes you are in the way.

Peyton Manning has outlasted Father Time for a while now even though we all see he can't throw a deep ball with any velocity and/or accuracy the way he once did. Kobe Bryant's legs went on vacation a while ago but he thought they were still at the ready upon his command. These are the latest two players who have tested the age old theory that you can't out run father time and they're doing it in the typical and most painful way; lying to themselves. Having not been a superstar I wonder how they justify their sub-par performances when they turn consistent? How do they rationalize the pain that now awaits them in the second half versus 2 days after the game if at all? How do they make sense of the fact the signature move they made time and again, which freed them to make the Sportscenter Top Ten highlight reel, arrived later than it used to giving the defender the decided advantage?

Business Insider

It has to be disheartening but the clues are all around. Former athletes they looked up to including Michael Jordan, have fallen to Father Time and typically in ways we'd rather forget. 10, 12 even 14 years of stellar performance and then we're left to watch a former shell of our heroes unwilling to concede their time has come. It has to be painful (Ask Tiger Woods); it has to be a slap in the face with a wet rag for them knowing their body and mind now disagree with them about playing one more game, down, quarter or inning. Part of the body is saying golf, more golf. While the mind says "Yes we can!" Never have two sides that were once in total sync become such a contradiction of their past.

But that's what happens when you try to beat your last opponent, who is and always will be undefeated. Father Time; a cruel opponent who lets you think you can do it all and all of a sudden, won't let you do it at all. Kobe finally gave in and once Peyton answers his call he will to. The great thing about Father Time is he has all the time in the world; and time outs too. Don't worry he'll win and so much so that Vegas won't take odds on him. Father Time is called a sure bet and Oddsmakers avoid him at all costs. Something our heroes can't seem to do. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

POSITIVE CAM-PAIGN

He's done it all on and off the field for the Carolina Panthers. For 11 weeks the pundits and haters disguised as NFL analyst have been waiting on Cam Newton to falter; cost his team a game with his reckless play, errant throws and bad leadership decisions but they're still waiting...waiting...waiting.

Cam Newton has emerged as the right quarterback for the Carolina Panthers football in team and a special thanks goes to Head Coach Ron Rivera for remembering how the Super Bowl Chicago Bears won the title. Not with a throwing Dan Marino, a scrambling Randall Cunningham or a gun slinging Jim Kelly. No they won with a tough as nails, eccentric, make the big plays when they count Jim McMahon. I have no doubt he saw a lot of those same qualities and fearless components in Cam Newton.

easttexassportsforum.com 

Cam is big, physical, brash, tough and more important a winner. He is also a leader who shoulders the losses and shares the wins. Cam loves the rhythm he's in, the clothes he wears and the life he leads. But so many others don't; I won't waste much time on the ill advised letter a parent sent regarding her nine year old daughter being disappointed by Cam Newton all the while probably turning the volume up on her iPod playing Taylor Swift. Never mind Swift's appeared in leather outfits requiring explanations from Moms, without one complaint to the super star for her fashion influence of inappropriate taste for her daughter. I call it "head in the sand couture."

USA Today

Cam Newton off the field feeds families, works with kids and so much more that many will never hear of because it doesn't feed into the negative and unkind attacks on his persona so I will lead the Positive Cam-Paign for Cam Newton. First and foremost the only stat that really matters in the NFL or any team sport is the number of wins and losses. Cam and Tom Brady are atop the mountain all by themselves. Cam is no distraction in the locker room or off the field thus making him an asset not a liability to the management. The only place Cam is a distraction is in the studios where former players and so called experts are unwillingly to give him his due. Some are finally on-board as their last ditch hope, Dallas on Thanksgiving proved to be less than formidable for Cam and yes the Carolina Defense. So regardless of where this season ends up for Carolina record wise Cam has to be in the MVP conversation. He's earned it with his play and skills and yes his dancing too. He's earned it with his philanthropic efforts and he's earned it by doing all the things during the week that help him play well on game day.

©2015 Charlotte Observer

Cam Newton is legit and so too are the people who are unbiased in evaluating him. I wonder which category you fit in? If you read this from start to finish you know where I stand. I hope that today and for the rest of the year, we not only give thanks but we also give credit where it's due. Giving Cam his due is a good place to start.

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller

WHAT IS THE SCORE OF YOUR GAME?

Not since the invention of the scoreboard  has there been such a valuable piece of equipment like the DVR and yes its predecessor the VCR. You can now capture all the must see programs and watch them at your leisure and because of such a perfect device I finally got the opportunity to see Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's documentary: Minority of One

YouTube.com 

I don't know if there was ever a more controversial superstar than Kareem in my lifetime other than Muhammad Ali. I can honestly say he was undoubtedly the most misunderstood athlete of our lifetime and has been paying the price ever since he first converted to Islam in a time when the religion really wasn't understood. While the ignorance surrounds Islam now because of the tragedies going on in the world today, can you imagine what people thought of Muslims then?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has always felt isolated and uncomfortable with the masses and the attention associated with his height and celebrity. When so many players and entertainers were craving more he was learning, reading, absorbing jazz and becoming a well rounded individual with heavy emphasis on individual. But nonetheless he was often misunderstood for more reasons than one.

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In watching his documentary, one he produced so he could tell his story, I learned more about him than I could have ever imagined. I have been a fan of his for a long time, going back to the days at Power Memorial and I guess you could say before the internet, ESPN and the internet craze, Lew Alcindor was a known commodity and any one who had any affinity to basketball knew who he was and wondered where he was going to college. I could only imagine what it would be like now, and one things for certain and two things for sure it would be more ballyhooed than LeBron James when he came out of high school or Kobe Bryant for that matter.

Kareem was tall, gifted, athletic and smart. His documentary illustrated so much about his life we didn't know that now sheds light on his enigmatic persona, making us feel guilty about judging him so unfairly. Well you guys that is; I always liked him even if he didn't talk a lot or embrace my religion and so on. He was graceful, ballet like on the court and so cool with a soft spoken tone that intimidated many media because they knew he wasn't the duh-uh dumb jock. Education once again proves the power of the mind is head and shoulders above physical prowess.

So why don't more athletes write their own story? In this day and age of iPhones and technology it's so much easier. Twitter has helped players clarify their stance on issues but leaves room for doubt about what drives them; fuels them and yes intimidates them. The great thing about telling your own story is you know it better than anyone else. No conjecture or Hollywood embellishment to cause fan consternation in your story forcing you to deny the comments.

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Write a book like Eric Davis's "Born to Play" or be like Muhammad Ali and ask someone (i.e. Will Smith) to play you on the big screen. The opportunity for people to know who you are is in your hands. Not that you need to prove anything to anyone, but maybe the boxscore of your life could be of value to your kids, your neighborhood and others. You chronicle how you made it; these are the pitfalls and challenges awaiting you and this is how you overcome them. Telling your story may be for you but maybe it's for someone newer, unsuspecting version of yourself in the making. Either way we want to hear it; read it or see it. That way our opinion of you is based on who you say you are, not who the media makes you out to be. We have seen countless numbers of players who say they're misunderstood and in reality all they had to do was tell us the story, the score of their game. Show us the highlights and the low ones too. Show us you in the human form complete with all the frailties of life. We know you're not perfect and our compassion button is ready to be activated because we know you had to go through something to get where you are today and we also want to defend you when the haters appear in droves trying to tear you down. Imagine that; a network of advocates with facts in hand courtesy of your documentary, your story.

goodreads.com 

I was an advocate of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar way back when; and now I'm an even stronger one having seen Minority of One, Kareem's life in his own words. The good, the bad and the wow...I didn't know that. But I do now and if you have a problem with Kareem maybe I can help you solve it. Thanks to Kareem for telling his own story and if you watch it, which I highly recommend, you'll know the story and why he played the game of life the way he did.

What I knew then was worth defending, what I know is worth repeating. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller

MAYWEATHER OUTCLASSES ROUSEY

Well it was satisfying to many to see Ronda Rousey take a beating at the hands of a skilled boxer in the ring this past Saturday in Australia due in part to her arrogance in certain settings that required class. For example, it was very evident when she refused to touch gloves in her match against Holly Holm and yes one could say it was her strategy, and if so it backfired.

YouTube

In a sport where the popularity is still on the uppercut, you would think Dana White the head of the UFC would demand decorum in the ring before you pummel your opponent or your opponent pummels you. The demographic definitely shows a considerable amount of youngsters are watching and for as much as parents and media stress responsibility to the major sports stars, they seem to be side stepping them for others. MMA and X-Games are high in youth appeal and they have a chance to be impactful with their words and their actions as well.

Make no mistake Rousey was soundly beaten and even then Holly Holm showed the style of a champion and yes a large amount of credit goes to being a PK, Preacher's Kid. She, according to her Dad, wants to be known as a PK versus a Hollywood object and product of marketing-manufacturing akin to Rousey. When you think of who Ronda has fought and how she has been plaster on TV and in the magazines you see someone who embraced the persona that wasn't real a little too much. Word was she was working on a movie in the midst of training and if that's true the dedication to the sport was disrespectful at best.

TBHNation

It's within this persona that she stepped out of her comfort zone taking shots at a real World Champion like Floyd Mayweather, actually piling on the comments levied against him. Given the choice of whom was the classier act the majority would have pointed to Rousey; but as it turns out Floyd has shown the makings of a champion outside the ring by having compassion and empathy for Rousey's beat down and the subsequent piling on by the fans and detractors around the world.

Floyd said it wasn't cool how people were trolling her on social media and he not only encouraged her but offered to help her with her boxing skills. Yes Floyd said this and offer that; the guy everyone thought was self-centered and self-serving has offered to help one of many who threw public stones at him. But then we probably just learned more about the undefeated champion that the media let us see in the past. That Floyd Mayweather has always been like this but it made them look bad for judging him too quickly. Floyd Mayweather was well within his right to add his memes to the hundreds of memes floating around the internet and he could have released a scathing statement saying there's only one undefeated champion and who knows he may do so after Ronda's swelling goes down; sorry I had to get one humorous jab in.

thedailybeast.com

But for now Floyd has shown the class we expect from our champions in and outside the ring. Touch gloves, shake hands and have empathy for another champion that has not just fallen, but looked bad in the process. Offer support, encouragement and even step in to ask social media to be more tolerant in kicking someone while they're down. I wonder if I hadn't said this was Floyd Mayweather, would you have thought it to be him speaking the respectful words to someone who poked fun at his troubles? I doubt it but now that you know will you respect Floyd's wishes? It doesn't matter to me. But what does matters to me is that former champion Ronda Rousey will acknowledge Mayweather and his support of her. That is another great sign of a champion; taking your beating and respecting the those who come to your aid. It's certainly hard for me to imagine that she ever thought Floyd was in her corner but maybe he was and kept that quiet too. Ronda Rouse doesn't need to be quiet now but very vocal in acknowledging her opponent and the champion that stood in the gap. Floyd Mayweather with the class you displayed you let people see they didn't know you as well as they thought they did, right Ronda?

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

THE IVORY COWHER

Yet another, I forgot what is was like, former NFLer' spouted off last night in a holier than thou comment against his former coaching colleague. Thank you for inspiring my latest blog Bill Cowher. Cowher said he took issue with Rex Ryan naming IK Enemkpali as team captain for the Jets game last night, the team Rex used to coach and IK once played for.

If you don't know the story, allegedly IK invited Jets QB Geno Smith to his football camp and paid for his ticket; Geno didn't show up and never acknowledged the situation; and when confronted by IK the net result was a punch that yielded a broken jaw and IK seeking employment after being cut by the Jets.

phys.org

Cowher said he took issue with it and I take issue with him. I'm not going to judge him for things I hear from credible sources about less than desirable things he's done,  but I know he made a mockery of the "Who Dey" chant when he was a coach. I know the Steelers always had a reputation for living on the line of intimidation when he was coaching and so on. So why does a coach who was known for motivating his players chide another for doing the same? Is it because he is doing it his way? Like the "Chin" as we called him, did it his way?

He artfully describes his definition of what the captain tag should represent and from there he veers off track. Bill that is YOUR definition and not Rex Ryan's. Rex you may remember is from the Buddy Ryan school of football one Bill Cowher knows all too well. He knows how Buddy did things Band that was Buddy's way. That's what coaching is all about, implementing your system, beliefs and strategies creating a platform of performance that keeps you employed and yields a championship caliber team.

cbssports.com

I really think a lot of coaches and players get soft when they take the pads off and put on the suits. I give Deion Sanders credit last night for reminding Cowher that this is why players love playing for him, Prime included. Prime reminded Cowher of how IK was cut when there were two people involved in the fracas and that was a sign of disrespect. So Rex, being a players coach and looking for motivation, made a statement that we believe in the kid so much so that we'll send him to center of the field. Like it or not it wasn't Bill Cowher's call but Rex Ryan's call. There isn't a manual that says you have to do it one way or no way. Simply put there are 32 possible ways matching the number of current not past coaches.

James P. McCoy Buffalo News

Cower misspoke about the statement and I think a day later his holier than thou broadcast posture would be best served coming down from the Ivory Cowher and just being what you are now, a broadcaster not a current coach. There is no such position that exist called ex-coach and neither is the sitting-in-judgement of another coach with the pressure of winning it all. Piling on someone in your former profession for trying to motivate his team differently than you would, and apparently it worked because they won, is potentially a sign of jealously. Yes you have Super Bowl Rings as a head coach and Rex hasn't; but you don't have a team now and Ryan does.

I say let him coach and you broadcast. That was your choice and not Rex's. If you want to impart your coaching wisdom and style on the game there are several teams that would welcome you back tomorrow. I would sure you would be welcomed because when you coached you were great; but now you're broadcasting and you're on the outside looking in. Don't ever forget when you were on the indie looking out; It's demanding enough without someone in the fraternity judging you unfairly.

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

THE NEW GAME PLAN

The audible heard 'round the world will be remembered as an event that changed history and signaled another defeat for dictatorship. It was the demise of the University of Missouri President Tim Wolfe, who apparently felt no need to address the stench of racism that permeated the campus atmosphere sans his office. And thereafter we've learned the Chancellor, R. Bowen Loftin, has decided to join his head-in-the-sand colleague and exit stage left too.

Former Mizzou President Tim Wolfe Photo CNN

What caused it? Was it the hunger strike? No; was it the black football players and ultimately the football team? No; was it the faculty who embraced the movement? No. Alex I'll take interrupting our tailgate party and potentially causing us to lose an estimated one million bucks, dollars, cash, stacks...get the picture?

In actuality it was all the above but make no mistake the death knell was committing the capitalist crime of interrupting the cash flow. Whether we want to admit it or not, embrace or not, the only thing that really gets society's attention is the loss of a dollar or dollars. But yes the catalyst for change was the hunger strike of graduate student Jonathan Butler who was obviously inspired in disgust by the negligence of the university in addressing the examples of racism that hovered around campus.  And this is standard operation procedure for many American Universities, Governments and some Corporations. So why aren't more people inspired to make a stand? skip some meals? Join some hands? Cross color lines? Well you really don't have an excuse any more. Kids, our youth, who are supposed to learn from us have in this moment become the teachers. 

Jonathan Butler addressing the crowd. Picture Jeff Roberson AP

Before you say well they didn't have anything to lose like your house if you don't make mortgage payments or your car note, you're as wrong as the President of Mizzou himself. They were willing to lose an education which would afford them the aforementioned niceties. They were willing to sacrifice NFL careers and other athletic opportunities that would get them far away from the blight and poverty many players called home prior to entering college. And you don't think they were giving up anything in protest? I can honestly see Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. smiling and saying it still works; non-violent protests still have power. The key is to drop the bomb at the door of the capitalist community so it makes a loud BOOM!

Black and White players and coaches were united Photo ABCnews.go.com

And that's what happened this week in Missouri. The ground swell landed at the door of dollars and and the media, as if on cue, joined the party and made sure the news that had already gone viral via social media grew exponentially in size and scope.  And there you have it, the game plan for change. It hasn't changed it just faded away...but now it's back.

Protest yes; make a stand yes; but more important find the money tree and shake the hell out of that tree until the money leaves fall, branches snap and the limbs get weak. Suddenly and without hesitation a change is gone' come. And it won't be loose change either. It will topple Presidents and Chancellors.

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

SAFE AT HOME

By now we've all heard the news that former Cincinnati Red Eddie Milner passed and a bright light has now transitioned. I am not going to tell you Eddie was my best friend and on and on. I met Eddie as I did most baseball players because of my relationship with Eric Davis and Dave Parker. With that being said Eddie, Eric and Kal Daniels were the next generation of Reds stars that were going to usher in a new era of success and they all, one way or another, made contributions in the short or long term.

With Eddie's success came the typical temptations and challenges and it's no secret or no shame that Eddie battled drugs and life periodically throughout his time because we're all battling something. So as I move into the latter years of my life, I'm gracefully and prayerfully losing the need to pontificate the issue half-heartedly searching for cause and effect.

Battling anything whether it be abuse, addiction, gambling or living on the edge has an unexplainable addiction or rush that belies the price you will ultimately pay. But if you have compassion you root for the Eddie Milners of the world because in essence you are rooting for yourself; as a fan they gave you something special every time you saw them work their craft. Could anyone light up a room like Eddie with his smile and charm? Very few. Could any one be as infectious while talking to you all the while making you feel special like Eddie? Yes; but I liked Eddie's style and I just saw him this past October at Dave Parker's Celebrity Golf Tournament and the smile and the charm were at peak performance.

And then I got the news from a Pastor friend of mine and we were both in disbelief. He, because he knew Eddie on a deeper level. Me, because I just saw him and I thought about all the challenges he met, beat and was still fighting including some health issues. I spoke with Eric Davis who was a teammate and friend and learned even more about Eddie and his tenacity. I thought myself blessed that I seemingly have problems that were currently giving me a reprieve but, as they say, if you traded your problems with someone else you'd probably take yours back. I don't think Eddie would have taken his back but that's just me opining the situation without true knowledge. I think of how much baseball he didn't get to play and then quickly appreciate that he did make it to the major leagues and play for longer than a cup of coffee, nine years to be exact primarily with the Reds. So many can't make that claim which automatically makes him a success story.

Eddie with former Chicago Cub and Cincinnati Red Leon Durham

So now players and former teammates will come together; fans in sincerity offer tributes and others are asking questions that really don't merit answers. It doesn't matter what happened, it really doesn't. It doesn't matter where he was or whom he was with. It really doesn't matter what your opinion is of his life. Why? Because it was Eddie's life to live and bottom line is he doesn't have to live it anymore. Eddie Milner is safe at home, crossing the plate with a smile that would run any energy company out of business. He finished the game of life and unlike so many others, he wasn't in the stands but in the game for the good, bad and the ugly. So be careful of your self absorb perspective of his life because you may have to come face to face with all three facets of your life at once, which leaves you open to be judged; maybe unfairly like Eddie was at times. Rest in Peace Eddie and lets tip our cap to him this time...

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

ONE STEPH AHEAD

"It's not the size of the dog but the fight in the dog" a Mark Twain quote that still carries weight today and even in human form. The form of Steph Curry, NBA Finals MVP and now Madison Avenue endorsement machine.

Did you know Steph's shoe the Curry One is of Under Armour's hottest product or that Nike turned Curry down for a contract renewal? Thinking he couldn't deliver the sales number commensurate with the new deal UA had on the table they opted out. Well don't feel sorry for Nike as long as they have LeBron James in their portfolio and the Jordan Brand partnership.

Under Armour

Steph Curry has given life to the little man in sports again and raised the profile of his brand in the process. He has single-handedly refuted the argument that only the big men can carry the product to the checkout register. Steph currently has deals in place with Apple, State Farm, JBL, Muscle Milk and more. Not bad for a guy whose been overlooked most of his life until he set the NBA nets on fire leading up to the championship last season.

YouTube

Curry knows his skill set, has refined them and with the NBA Curry pedigree delivered one of the most marketable players on the planet. Throw in his devout religious platform which he unabashedly makes public at every turn and you have a modern day player with an old school presence. He has somehow mixed the right blend of swag with humility as if he were a bartender creating the perfect happy hour cocktail. Everyone may have the same ingredients but the mix is the key. I have a name for it, "Swagumility™"

To underscore his value even more what little controversy that befalls him, as in his daughter at the press conference, turns the table on those who complained showing their ineptness at staying focused in a press conference as if she interrupted a council on world peace.

Riley Curry - Pinterest

Steph Curry has given thousands upon thousands of kids the right to dream big again. The same way Mugsy Bogues did for his generation and Nate "Tiny" Archibald did for his. Yes could throw Allen Iverson in the mix but I think my point is these guys were not only small but also not given a chance to excel at the next level,  something we never doubted about AI. But what Steph also shows is how it's done. Hours upon hours of practice; prayer time; game film and swagumility™. The perfect blend that makes him the perfect pitch man for so many products to stand out in a endorsement cluttered space flooding our TV's, magazines and web pages.

Yes he has the accomplishments and the skills. No doubt he has the voice and enunciation, command of the english language that makes him relatable to those outside the sports world. But more than all of that he has himself. He knows who he is and whose he is. When you have those two answers defined everything is possible and appreciated. Steph Curry is on a roll and I couldn't be happier; I mean I look up to him in success and in height so I count this as a win for me as well. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

NO COMMENT

Much debate has centered around whether or not Edinson Volquez should have been told about his dad's sudden death or if the media should have broadcast it, even though it apparently found its way to social media.

YouTube

The on-going, long standing debate about what is news and what isn't news will never go away. The line is blurred at best and the increasing demand to be the first, even if it's :20 seconds ahead of the pack to break the news is getting absurd. I'm not here to judge or justify how anyone delivers bad or controversial news. However I find it ironic that no one seems to really put themselves in the shoes of the athletes or entertainers to be fair.

Have you ever, really heard of a media person breaking a story on another media person's family member whose been arrested or convicted of something? You know they know but is it kind of an unspoken code like the Blue Shield? My point is this: If you think it's okay to broadcast bad news about a players family or a coach's child or even an Owners financial troubles, then do the same for those you work with. Using your formula we would consider that news. You're a celebrity if you're a journalist or broadcaster. You're on the air or in print daily or weekly and have a social media following that crest into and beyond six figures. And you carry yourself like a celebrity even though you misuse the word humble to describe yourself, but that's for another day.

adweek.com

I think if we started hearing about how ESPN anchor "so and so's" husband was arrested for DUI it might change their approach; and as we learned of the ESPN reported in D.C. berating the garage attendant, notice how it was literally erased from the sports scene in seconds. It proves my point that no preferential treatment should be granted to, or the sensitivity of reporting about, the family members of those doing the reporting.

I'm sure there have been cases where it was unavoidable that a media persons family member or even themselves were the story or column headline. But how many more stories faded away like the career of a player past his prime? How many stories had it been the same circumstances with an athlete would have made the news blotter or TV top five stories?

All I'm simply saying is be sensitive and ask how does it impact the game? If it doesn't show some class, have some compassion. I have an idea: ask the player and maybe you'll find there's a mental illness somewhere or an unforgiving circumstances at the heart of it all. And if that's the case maybe the story is about drawing attention to the illness or the disease using the athlete to help raise awareness. Wow. Sounds like a lot of people win that way; especially those who want to convince us that there is fairness in reporting. Presenting a story from the angle of compassion would leave no doubt about your fairness right? That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

ARE U KIDDING ME?

In the wake of the 58-0 shutout at the hands of Clemson, The once feared and highly heralded University of Miami aka "The U" is yet again looking for another coach to restore their credibility and prominence. It has been some time since the school that lead the nation in first round picks and back up players going first round has been a factor on the college scene. What they do next will determine if they even have football relevance going forward.

One thing I give them credit for is allowing a coach of color to engage in the process of returning the team to glory and I hope they do it again. The sad part is in college sports the process isn't and has never been fair to coaches of color when the head coach position is up for grabs. Yes there are a few more but the word few actually means a few!

In 2014 it was revealed in an NCAA Student-Athlete Ethnicity Report study that African Americans represent 13% of the US population and 45.8% of the FBS football players. But sadly of the 128 D1 schools that year only 11 head coaches were Black. I'm not a statistician or into saber metrics but I can glance at distorted numbers and see a problem.

city-data.com

Two conversations have to happen here; one why aren't they getting a chance and secondly when they do why aren't they getting the chance to really make it work? In fairness I can say Sylvester Crooms fits both cases, for those looking to take sides in an argument. He was completely, intentionally and embarrassingly passed over at Alabama. He gave his football life to the Tide and was flat out disrespected by not being offered the opportunity as a disciple of legendary coach Bear Bryant. Conversely at Mississippi State he was given 5 years, a college coaching lifetime, and his 21-38 record spoke to the need for change. He did have a Liberty Bowl win and a big win over Alabama that seemed to be the Universe saying all is even.

Courtesy of the shadowleauge.com

But so many coaches get passed over by white coaches who haven't earned the equal right the coaches of color have. Some of these coaches have had issues with integrity and credibility the likes of Bobby Petrino; and it's as if their successes as offensive and defensive coordinators are never factored in when the time comes to make the final selection. The usual slap in the face comment is they didn't interview well...really? I thought the body of work is what should speak volumes. I remember a African American coach in basketball, the Big East to be specific, who had a measure of success but wasn't the brash New York, New Jersey braggadocios personality and ultimately cost him in job as he was winning! So who cares about winning as long as you can smoke cigars and talk trash with the alumni and board of trustees...SMH

The hiring of African American Coaches in college football needs a closer look with respect to how it can improve the hiring of Coaches of Color. Tie it into TV revenue with schools who hire black coaches getting more prime time games which will help recruiting and exposure. Tie it into an extra scholarship or benefit that helps to level the playing field for those coaches trying to get on the same field.

Sports-Yahoo.com

I heard former Baltimore Raven and future Hall of Famer Ed Reed say he would be interested in returning to his alma mater, The U,  if he were contacted and I think of other African American Coaches who's times have come and may be going. Give them the chance; take the chance; enhance the chance. The verbal parity conversation the NCAA spews doesn't match the actuality the students of color see. What they see, what we all see, is that those with the money and donor purses dictate behavior. You want a new building hire this guy; you want a new field my choice is that guy. You hire "that" guy and I don't know how much more support I can give. And there you have it; money from donors talk and integrity of decisions walks, in a lot of cases.

I don't have all the answers but I have a request. Hire the best person; the most deserving person. Hire the person who can relate to the players who are high profile and can put people in the seats and the team on TV. If that is a white coach than hire him; but if it's a black coach hire him as well. But for the love of first and ten don't say he didn't interview well. If he can coach, gain the players and parents respect and incorporate integrity into the program, he deserves the job. If a booster doesn't like it he deserves the door; and the public declaration that he had a problem with a person of color. The thought of his discriminatory stance going public will keep the money in place. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.

HIGHER PAY HIGHER STANDARDS

Much has been made, debated and discussed about whether Rick Pitino knew about the reported myriad of portable strip clubs disguised as dorm rooms on the campus of the University of Louisville; the dormitory named after his brother in law who died in the tragic 9-11 attacks. Seems there is a hidden irony there and since I'm not close to Rick or the University I digress.

Does Coach Pitino have one more escape clause?
Photo-SI.com

I believe much more should be made about the expectations of our Coaches and their conduct. There is no shortage of players getting suspended, expelled, losing scholarships, etc followed by a holier than thou Coach saying it doesn't reflect the values and character of the team and the university. Really!? I take your absurd comment and mirror you one; the U of L players are reflecting the value and character of their coach at least. We all remember Rick Pitino and his alleged sordid affair highlighted by the Italian restaurant, albeit it rumored brief, tryst. But what happened to the Pitino after that? Suspension, no; loss of pay, no; self imposed sanction, not that I know of. So if I'm a player then I say let the portable strip club continue because no harms comes this way based on what happened to the coach. I mean he even got a pay raise and extension while the women involved was sent to jail.

Dave Bliss was allegedly involved in a murder cover up
Photo-The Sporting News

One coach friend says the rule of thumb for coaches is to stay one step ahead of the posse, meaning before they fire you morph into Ghost on Power (Love that show!). But the sad reality is when coaches feel probation, violations and or sanctions coming that would limit the schools post season play or ability to capture top recruits they're gone! They're typically the cause or another coach err fall guy is to blame for something they knew nothing about. It's amazing how they know everything at the podium when they get hired, saying this is my program and I'll know everything that goes on here trust me.

No one could believe the allegations surrounding Joe Paterno that ultimately brought him down
http://www.post-gazette.com

Well we can't trust you; because everything good that goes on you're taking credit for it and well aware of, but when it goes wrong its one of your assistant coaches who has to now fall on the sword without compensation and you lament the fact how you're disappointed in them. Wow...reality TV is headed your way. I simply say the crime follows the villain. If you violate NCAA Rules, and it's discovered after you're gone, the school that employs you goes on probation. Sadly players and new recruits are left to discover how the power play works when everyone knows the former coach did the dirty work. The anger and confusion surfaces when they watch that same coach march into the post-season next year while the now ineligible kids, who've done nothing wrong,  lament how long it will be before they can play in the post season. Regrettably if they're a senior it will never happen which adds insult to injury.

If you want to clean up college sports big money makers, set new and higher standards for the highest paid players in the game, the coaches. It seems we have more compassion for the coaches who should know better, than the kids who are learning the definition of doing better.

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller

IT'S HARD TURNING OUT THE LIGHTS...

...The party's over; it was Don Meredith's equivalent of the fat lady singing on Monday Night Football after a team cemented the win. Yes you have to be al little older or a true football and/or Dallas Cowboy Fan to know about this, one of his many antics that probably rankled his colleague and professional in the booth Howard Cosell but you can see it below...

But the hardest thing for any athlete is coming to terms with the end of a career whether short or long because the singular investment of time and energy left no thought or perspective on what's next. A friend of mine has a great quote that says "You're blessing is also your curse." For athletes the blessing is the single minded purpose of giving everything you have, own and know to the game you love. Yet the curse is they really and typically don't know how to do anything else. So when the time comes where the injury is the period at the end of the abrupt sentence or the coach says you've been great but it's time, there is an emptiness that can't be fulfilled with anything else because the word option was never a part of their vocabulary.

Former NBA Player Dave Bing found success in business and politics - Courtesy of Suntimes

So many of us think they have it made; they're finished playing and hopefully they've retained a significant portion of their total revenue and many have. Yes the papers and media are lined with tragedies of investments in friends, families and agent referrals but the truth is the more troubling thought and that is what's next? Dabble in this, experiment in that; even join a fan in his business or invest in one because there are perceived opportunities that combined with your name offer unlimited potential. And while this might be true the one thing they don't offer is a competitive atmosphere that replaces the adrenaline rush that sports gave them. Of the successful players you encounter from time to time, many find their lot in the world of business because it is outright competition fighting for dollars, market share and celebrating client acquisitions. But the pre-cursor to that is having the education or the right people around you, with your interest at hand to ensure success.

Solomon Wilcots is a successful broadcaster with CBS and Sirius Radio

Magic Johnson, Junior Bridgeman, Jamal Washburn, Dave Bing and others have found the formula and right team to drive success exponentially. For others coaching and getting back in the game, somewhere near the field, salvage the connection to their hearts desire. A select few can get into the media but what about the rest? What about the guy that played seven or eight years just being a utility guy or the right fit at every stop along the way for a specific need. He doesn't have the name, or the pedigree; he doesn't have the connections or nearly as many as the big name player so his starting point is at or near the bottom. Half his time is spent convincing people he was in a league that long without someone recognizing his name.

Former Oakland A's pitcher Dave Stewart is now GM of Arizona - picture courtesy of BET

I am not asking for sympathy just perspective on how tough it can be to transition from one lifestyle to another. One where you have complete control and awareness of the situation to one where you feel like an outsider. You've seen and heard the stories where players get arrested for being involved in schemes and drugs and even robbery and I often wondered was it the thrill of ignorance that made them say yes? Was it the closest thing in your mind to a feeling akin to the competitiveness of sports? I don't have the answers but I often think of the average person who transitions from one job to the next; the options are pretty clear and even then we seem a bit intimidated by the process. Even more so the ones who have to now reinvent themselves after a corporate down sizing because they find it frightening. With that mind can you even imagine what an athlete has to be feeling initially? Fear, reinvention, the unknown and most certainly the big one, the how? How do I fit in; how do I handle this new work week. You mean there is no off-season just a few weeks off?

Transitioning from an athlete to a just another person can be cruel; they were once talking about you and now they're asking you about the newer you that pretty much took your job. I know its hard, I've seen it, as guys try to be polite talking about the rookie with all the potential they once had. The commercial used to say life happens fast; but when you're leaving the game it happens slow. You don't know what's next, what to do or how to figure it out. There's no adrenaline rush in reality; the reality is you just have to figure it out. That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller

HEALTH AND HEROES

I have reached the point in my life where my heroes are becoming fragile, even human and it reminds me that in a game of one on one, life is undefeated. We grow up watching, admiring, even idolizing our heroes because they were more than likely our first bigger than life images that gave us something to believe in beyond the comic books and cartoons set in a distant land.

I reflect back on these days and times now being past the age of my heroes in their prime and wonder what they were going through in their lives while we were wishing for the perfect life we assumed they were living. And it brings me to Lamar Odom and the tragedy of his life. Lamar Odom, NBA player, not reality cast member has endured enough tragedy for every 3-4 people who criticize him. I have lost family members and many who may be reading this have too; but he has also lost friends and the arguably an entire family when he was traded away from the Lakers. I think that was the pain that Lamar Odom had been trying to escape; the pain of losing his entire family. I spoke with a several players including those who grew up in the Los Angeles area and they spoke of his joy of being able to walk to the Staple Center as if he was strolling down the blocks of New York where it all began for him. He won championships with the Lakers and as with admiration from the NBA voters he received 6th man of the year accolades. He was respected in the locker room like a kid in a candy store and he was ebullient in a Laker jersey, home and away. Now he is fighting for his life and a chance to reconstruct the pieces of good that once gave him hope. My comments are of prayer and not criticism because we're all one degree from his plight. To hear Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and others share the Lamar they know erasing the Lamar some choose to attack, seems fair and fitting for a kid who has had to deal with more than his share of turbulence starting in his youth. I look forward to one day writing about how he made it all the way back...

http://www.daveparker39foundation.com

Speaking of heroes I had the pleasure of playing the Dave Parker Cobra Foundation golf tournament in Cincinnati last weekend; and while Dave was one of my heroes growing up he has now become a friend and super hero for life. The majority of the sports world knows The Cobra is battling Parkinson's disease but what you may not know is that Dave is winning. My scorecard is based on how I interact with Dave now versus Dave prior to the diagnosis; nothing's changed. He made fun of me then and we laughed as usual Saturday when I arrived at the golf course. He spoke first and made fun of me second, stooping down to take a picture of me to make me feel taller, laughing through the entire process. That is Dave saying I'll be The Cobra until I can't. I can't see him any other way and I also can't see him not putting others first. It's the other absolute world class quality Dave had then and now. His tournament is to raise funds for people and families affected by this currently incurable disease and again this is vintage Dave Parker. If you would like to learn more about his foundation or get involved click: Help the Cobra

Cincy Jungle

I watched Reggie Williams of the Cincinnati Bengals flying all over the field, staring down bigger than life running backs and daring offenses to try and deter him from making plays and none of them succeeded. Reggie was relentless, daring, educated and prepared to play the game one way, all out. For 14 years he had to be accounted for on every play and not taken lightly. He was in a word a "Warrior"; one who never took a play off.  A football throwback compared to his then new generation of football players. He had his challenges growing up and that may have fueled him even more. Fast forward to now and Reggie has had more surgeries than Tom Brady has touchdowns in a season. He has worked to keep his surgery ridden knee attached and his leg in one piece and we now feel for him remembering clearly how he got that way while we cheered without pain and sacrifice in our comfortable confines.

At times it seems so unfair that athletes like these and others, too many for roll call, pay a price that will forever be without appropriate compensation. The paths they chose brought them fame, fortune and notoriety that many of us envy; but it also brought them pain, sickness and bad health for which no paycheck, uniform or endorsement deal can appropriately replace.

I salute my heroes for the way they played the game, the joy they brought us and even the victories we shared. But now in reflection I salute my heroes even more for the price they paid for me to cheer them on. The least we can do is to keep cheering for them long after the game has ended.

That's the way I see it sitting in The Box Seat. I'm Wayne Box Miller.