pblloyd's Blog

I will have to admit:  I am loving what public and private schools alike across the nation are doing in terms of removing the soda machines and candy machines from their schools as well as redesigning a whole new, healthier menu for school breakfasts and lunches.  I even heard of a school in New Zealand who is banning birthday cakes to be brought to school to celebrate a child's birthday.  The administration of this school told the parents to leave the cake at home.  However, there lies the problem.
When I was in high school, there was an idea pitched, but never passed, about removing the soda machine in our school.  When I was asked about the idea, I said that's fine, but I'm still getting my daily Dr. Pepper one way or the other.  The principal asked me if the soda machine wasn't there, where would I get my Dr. Pepper?  I told him I would go to the convenience store across the street from the school or I would just go home and get one.  That is why my message to all school administrations is to keep up this great effort, but I'm afraid it's still not going to do much good.  You see, if a child wants a soft drink or a candy bar, he/she will get it elsewhere.  One way or the other, between the convenience stores, their own home, grandma's house, or a friend's house, if a child wants a soft drink or a piece of candy, he/she will find a place where they are available and take it and trust me, it's a habit that's not easy to break. 
I have essentially broken one habit and that is the intake of soft drinks.  I now drink unsweet iced tea, lemonade (on occasion), water, juice, and milk.  I haven't had a soft drink in months and I feel better because of it.  Now if I could only shake that sweet tooth, especially for dark chocolate and M&M's, I think I will be in great shape.   
I am a major proponent of kids being more active and spending more time outside and less time in front of the TV and/or playing video games.  School administrations across the country are doing a great job in addressing this issue in their schools, but how do they address the issue when the children leave?  The schools have no jurisdiction over a child's home and that's where the real education needs to take place.  If parents will partner with the schools in this effort, the kids will be much healthier, will feel better, and our obesity rate will go down dramatically.  Easier said than done, though, especially as busy as families are today. 
My applause to school administrations who have stepped up to try and save these kids.  Best of luck trying to reach beyond the school property, though, because there are a lot of folks out there who either won't listen or will say they don't have the time. 

I was surprised, to say the least, the other night when I found out that Texas Tech basketball coach Bob Knight decided to step down as coach mid-season and hand the reigns over to his son, Pat.  Coach Knight said he was tired and didn't want to do it anymore and I believe him.  He has 902 wins, most all-time, 3 national titles, an Olympic gold medal, a legion of current and former players who are loyal to him, and nothing more to prove.  So why step down now and not finish out the season?  As always, Coach Knight has a "hidden agenda" for what he's doing.  The reports from ESPN are that he stepped down mid-season for his son because of a recent change in administration.  Two years ago, athletics director Gerald Myers promised that Pat Knight would be his father's successor once he stepped away.  By leaving now, Coach Knight put the pressure back on Myers to name a new coach right away and because of their agreement, the new coach is Pat Knight.  They signed the deal right away so that the new administration could not override the decision.  By leaving now, the team was in an immediate need for a coach and Pat Knight and Myers quickly inked the deal for Pat Knight to officially take over.  If the resignation would have waited until the end of the season, the speculation was that administration would have wanted to form a search committee and go out and find a new head coach and that would have voided the verbal agreement between Myers and Pat Knight that he would be the next coach.  Luckily for Pat, nobody knows how to "play the system" better than his father.  He knew what was going on and he knew what he had to do and when he had to do it.  And besides, he left on his own terms with no farewell tours or anything, just like he wanted it.
Now that he has gone and will more than likely never coach again, there are two things I will remember most about Coach Bob Knight.  Of course, everyone will remember the tantrums and the sometimes laughable exchange with reporters but the two things I will remember are statistics.  The first statistic is that over his 42-year coaching career, Coach Knight's players graduated 97% of the time.  That is an alarming number especially considering that today more players leave early for the pros than ever before.  For him to keep his players around for 4 years to earn an education and to have them graduate at that high of a percentage of absolutely unbelievable.  The second glaring statistic I will forever remember about Coach Knight is that during his career, do you know how many NCAA violations and investigations into violations he had? NONE, ZERO!!  Not one violation, not one phone call from an NCAA official saying they heard a report that may cause an investigation.  Once again, this is an unbelievable fact because of how difficult it is to understand the NCAA handbook of policies and procedures.  He always made sure that his players were attending class, taking care of business on the court, and following the rules of the university and the NCAA and he did it as well, if not better, than anyone.
Thanks for the memories, Coach.  I don't think I could have handled playing for you, but you are the exact kind of person I would want in my corner if I were in need.  I didn't always agree with your methods, but your loyalty to your players, your family, your university, and your community will be unsurpassed. 

As the congressional meetings continue to take place with major league baseball officials and players, both former and current, the central problem in baseball continues to be the hot topic of steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) in the sport.  However, baseball and other sports need to stop concentrating on HGH because, in my opinion, that's not the problem.  I did some research and let me tell you what I found out about HGH. First of all, our bodies give out HGH every day.  It is a vital substance needed to keep many organs running and healthy.  However, as we get older, the amount of HGH our bodies give out reduces by as much as 15-30% and this reduction typically begins when people are in their 30's and without it, we look old, we have other potential health issues like diabetes, depression, loss of energy, loss of muscle mass, and every other problem associated with aging.  On the other hand, if someone takes an HGH supplement or gets a shot, he/she can look forward to increased muscle mass, calcium retention, reduced body fat, and it also helps with immunity against diseases.  Basically, HGH is the fountain of youth.  That's why athletes in their 40's look like they're in their 20's.  Major league baseball, though, has a problem with this substance because of its assistance in increasing an individual's muscle mass which they think leads to increased athletic performance, much like what steroids do.  That theory has a problem, though, and that is there's no proof to back it up.  Yes, MLB has banned the substance, but why?  There is no proven research being circulated that HGH improves sports performance.  Also, HGH, because it's all-natural, has no side effects at all whereas steroids do.  If anything, athletes use HGH for two reasons:  to maintain their strength and to heal injuries.  Studies have shown that HGH helps strengthen muscle tissue faster so that an injury can heal.  Because of all of this, I fail to see the logic in making such a hot issue of HGH. I mentioned earlier that the problem is not with HGH so let me tell you where the ultimate problem lies:  steroids and the front office of Major league baseball and the two go hand-in-hand because apparently steroids have been used for a while and it is now literally taking an act of Congress to try and stop it.  I applaud MLB for their new drug testing policies, but it should have never come to this.  They should have taken notice immediately that something was going on when Barry Bonds went from a skinny kid to a hulking mass in just a few months back in his earlier playing days with the San Francisco Giants.  However, they let it slide and, to my knowledge, they didn't have a ban on any steroid-type substance while all other sports did.  I don't see the NFL, NBA, and NHL seeking the help of Congress to help straighten up the mess they could have prevented a long time ago.  The NFL, NBA, and NHL have governed their league and players well and have educated them on the dangers of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.  What have you been doing all this time, MLB?  Well, regardless of what has or has not been done, MLB is in a mess right now and some of the game's greatest players are having to answer for it.  All of the sudden, Pete Rose looks pretty good, doesn't he?  

Now that the season is over for the Dallas Cowboys, there could very well be some interesting shake-ups in the coaching staff as some of them are looking towards other opportunities.  Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and Assistant Coach Tony Sparano have been interviewed by such teams as Atlanta, Baltimore, and Miami and there are rumblings that at least one of them will leave.  That one person could very well be Sparano, who could be headed to Miami to coach the Dolphins.  Sparano is thought of very highly by new Dolphins boss Bill Parcells and so the hire would make a lot of sense.
Garrett seems to be more sought after by Baltimore than anyone else and is regarded as the best candidate for a coaching position out there among all coordinators.  However, there are two issues that Garrett needs to address should he have an offer come his way.  First, he still has unfinished business in Dallas grooming Tony Romo and the offense.  Romo just completed his first full year as a starter and I think he needs a solid 1-2 more years under Garrett's teaching to become a bonafide superstar that can perform well in the playoffs.  Along those same lines, Garrett has a very happy and unexpected team player in Terrell Owens, who support and friendship of Romo was evident Sunday as he became emotional during a post-game interview defending Romo when a reporter questioned Romo's focus on the game following his romantic getaway with Jessica Simpson.  Garrett's offense was spectacular, but it faded down the stretch and I think he needs to stick around to work out the rough edges.
The second issue Garrett will need to face is in the form of none other than Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who absolutely loves Garrett.  Jones has said time and again how proud he is of Garrett's success and how much he appreciates what Garrett means to this organization, both as a past player and now its offensive coordinator.  Garrett would have to provide Jones with the sales-pitch of his life if he decides to skip town.  Even then,  it may not be good enough because Jones is extremely eager to keep him and he has the money and incentives to do it.  For instance, those experts close to football, in terms of an incentive,  are predicting that the next coach of the Cowboys after Wade Phillips will be...Jason Garrett.  Interesting.
My advice to Jason Garrett is to stay with the Cowboys for another 1-2 more years.  Not only can he work out the kinks of the offense and be a great mentor to Tony Romo, but he can discover within himself as to whether or not a head-coaching job is actually the best move for him personally and professionally.

Over the weekend, the NFL playoffs took another step forward as to who would make it to the Super Bowl.  On Saturday, there were no surprises as both home teams, Green Bay and New England, prevailed in their divisional playoff games.  Sunday, however, provided more surprising results as the New York Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys in Irving 21-17 and the San Diego Chargers beat the defending champion Indianapolis Colts 28-24 in Indy.  The Chargers beat the Colts essentially without 3 starters as running back and the NFL's leading rusher, Ladanian Tomlinson, went down with a knee injury in the first half.  Then, quarterback, Phillip Rivers was injured in the 4th quarter, and Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates came into the game hobbled by a dislocated toe.  Even after all of that adversity, the Chargers still prevailed.  The Giants beat Dallas for the first time this season after losing two in the regular season. 
Now here is the question...was winning their respective games the worst thing that could have happened to them?  Oh sure, they won their games to live on to play another day in their efforts to represent their conference in the Super Bowl, but now look what they have to contend with and where they have to go.  First, the Chargers have to go to New England and face the undefeated Patriots who trounced them 38-14 in the second game of the season with the status of Tomlinson, Rivers, and even Gates, questionable at best at this point.  Now many people are going to say that neither team is the same since that second week of the season and that's true.  The Chargers to their credit are a much better team and their reserve players are certainly better than many would anticipate.  The Patriots are not the same team, either, as they have proven now that they can win the close games if challenged and there is also the new revelation that they have a running game to go along with their unstoppable passing game.  So let me see if I have this correct, the Patriots, who were an offensive juggernaut but one-dimensional because of their passing game, is now more balanced because they have discovered that Laurence Maroney can run the ball.  Scary.  Good luck, San Diego. 
After the Giants beat the Cowboys, we can now look and see what the Giants really won...a trip to Lambeau field in Green Bay, Wisconsin to play in the snow (perhaps a driving blizzard) against the Packers and the ageless Brett Favre.  The Packers beat the Giants 34-13 in the regular season.  Once again, the two teams are different than when they faced earlier in the year.  The Giants are revitalized with Eli Manning playing mistake-free football, their running game has been reborn, thanks to 265-lb. bruiser Brandon Jacobs, and a defense that specializes in putting pressure on the quarterback.  What about the Packers?  Brett Favre is, well, Brett Favre.  They have discovered their running game, too, in Ryan Grant who ran for 201 yards against Seattle in the snow.  However, the biggest change in my mind that has taken place with the Packers is with their defense.  They are physical, nasty, and they will hit you hard and often.  They're certainly a great deal better than they were earlier in the season. 
Congratulations to the Giants and Chargers for their wins, but the celebration is over because of the reality that lies ahead.  The Chargers must now try and beat the seemingly unbeatable on their own home field while the Giants must try to beat the Packers at Lambeau Field, considered by many to be the ultimate home field advantage and THE toughest place to play if playing there in January because of the conditions.  Seems as if "Congratulations" is not enough for the Giants and Chargers, but rather "Good luck, you'll need it" could be more accurate.

ESPN reported the other night that the Atlanta Falcons were interested in speaking to USC head football coach Pete Carroll about their head coaching vacancy, and, just to sweeten the deal, owner Arthur Blank would give Carroll full control over personnel, which means he can pretty much have any football player he wants and hire or fire any coach, water boy, towel boy, and trainer under his command.  Pretty tantalizing, isn't it?  Just a minute.
Mr. Blank, haven't you gone through this before?  You hired a college coach in Bobby Petrino to lead your team this season and where is he now?  Hollering WOO PIG SUEY as the new head coach at Arkansas, leaving you high and dry with 3 games left in the season.  Do you really want to try your luck again with a college coach?  Not that Pete Carroll is a novice to the NFL.  After all, he has coached in the NFL before with the Jets and Patriots, even leading the Pats to 2 playoff appearances before being handed his pink slip and replaced by some guy named Bill Belichick.  However, I truly believe that Coach Carroll has found his true calling in the college ranks.  His record speaks for itself.  Check out these numbers:  In the last 6 seasons, his USC teams have lost a total of 8 games and all of those losses were by a touchdown or less.  His USC teams have produced 30 NFL players and 3 Heisman trophy winners.  Not bad. 
So it leads me to wonder why college coaches would give up all that success for a shot at the professional level.  Maybe it's prestige, maybe it's the glitz, the glamour, the television exposure, I don't know.  One thing I do know is that it's apparently much tougher to coach in the pros than it is in college.  Here's a few differences between the college and pro game (in any sport) that I find very interesting.
First, in college, you can go out and attempt to get the exact kind of player you want through recruiting.  Just like Todd Blackledge of ESPN said, "Being a good college football team is about recruiting."  In the pros, you are stuck with the players you have.  You just can't go out and get any players you want.  After all, the pros are playing for big bucks and some of those players you're stuck with will be there for a long time because they're fixed in long-term contracts that can't be undone and trading these players is out of the question because no other team wants to pay them what they're currently being paid. 
Second, professional players have different concerns than college players.  College players usually gripe about playing time (or lack thereof).  Pro players gripe and complain about money, the coach, the owner, their endorsement deals, contract extensions, and trade demands.  Professional sports is a business, a huge business, and the players know that.  College players have two choices:  stay where they are, play hard, and earn your education or transfer to another school and do the same thing.
Third, college coaches must understand that at the college level, they are dealing with young people 18-22.  You can get in their face and structure your team with good, strong discipline.  You can almost get away with being a dictator if you want to.  However, you can't do that at the pro level.  Sure, you can discipline your players, but you have to remember that you're dealing with grown men or women and especially today's athlete is not going to take verbal abuse without firing back.  A professional coach must pick his/her battles very carefully and must have their players' respect in order to engage in that battle.  What college coaches call fear and respect is what some pro coaches might call stupidity because the same vocal tones and disciplinary antics may work on young college kids, but not grown adults. 
Very, very few coaches who were successful at the college level tasted success at the pro level.  Of course, the two that stand out are Jimmy Johnson and Larry Brown.  Some of you may be wondering about Barry Switzer, who won national titles at Oklahoma and then a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys.  Sorry, Barry, but you won that Super Bowl with a team and coaching staff that Jimmy Johnson put together.  You just waltzed in and fill a vacancy.  Many speculate as to whether or not you actually performed the job.
Bottom line:  College coaches, please stay where you are.  Pick up the phone and call Coach K from Duke or Roy Williams from North Carolina and find out why they stay in the college game.  Continue to influence the young minds of tomorrow and give them the tools for success in life.  Playing with the big boys in the pros is a completely different breed of tiger.  I know that many college coaches are pursued for jobs in the pros, but they need to weigh their options very carefully before making the leap.  It's a big leap, too, into a huge, mass-marketing, mass-money business juggernaut that few, if any, can explain or comprehend.