Bill Belichick | McClelland Miscellanea

Tag Archives: Bill Belichick

October 12, 2009 · 7:09 pm

Obama Wins the Prize

Wins the 2009 Nobel Peace prize

An area National Football League fan would have perspective on President Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

How, you ask? Try to picture The Five Norwegians (AKA – Nobel Peace Prize committee members) being in the New England Patriots locker room before a New England Patriots game. The visitors listen as Coach Bill Belichick goes over strategy for the game and hear his pep talk at the end. They watch the staff and players, and see and hear how confident they become as the coach’s words echo throughout the locker room. They see the team leave for the field all seemingly convinced that they will succeed.

The Five Norwegians observe all this and conclude that instead of playing the game the team should give Coach Belichick the game ball right now. His words were clearly inspiring and those on the team were sure to win the game as a result.

Ridiculous! Who gives out the game ball before the game is played? The pre-game talk may lead to success, but who is to know until the game is actually played whether the coach’s words led to a victory.

The Five Norwegians thought that Obama had accomplished enough in his first two weeks as President to deserve the prize. They obviously relied heavily on Obama’s pre-election rhetoric when making their choice. Did they have anything beyond words to go on?

In another NFL connection, think about the red hanky each coach gets for an NFL game. If something does not seem right during the game, the coach tosses the red hanky onto the field and this leads to the referees looking at a video replay and attempting to make necessary corrections.

Imagine that each of us gets a red hanky. If something goes on that we do not think is right, we can toss that red hanky into the air as a way of showing our disapproval.

Now imagine that the announcement is made that President Obama is the winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Would it be accurate to suggest that: (1) most of us would be reaching for the red hanky and (2) the resulting color display would put an end to “The Hunt for Red October?”

Two other questions – Is the current buying frenzy of scrapers the result of; (1) the sudden need some folks have to remove Obama/Biden stickers from their vehicles or (2) the realization that a severe winter is fast approaching and not global warming, as Al Gore and the easily led seem to believe.

( Appeared in the Newburyport Current on October 16, 2009 and the Newburyport Daily News on October 20,2009 )

Bill Belichick Thrown For Loss

What’s with Coach Bill Belichick?

Along with the rest of Patriots Nation, I was shocked by this video taping fiasco. What an embarrassment for a franchise that had earned a lofty reputation throughout the country for three Super Bowl wins in the last six years.

Now we’re left to wonder if violating NFL rules had something to do with the team’s successes.

I keep thinking that the gains for the Patriots from video taping the defensive signals of an opponent from the sidelines are minimal. The fact that the practice violates the NFL rulebook makes it even less appealing you would think.

However, not to Coach Belichick. The taping took place in the first game of this season and the NFL stepped in. The punishment – $750,000 & a first round draft pick – seemed way out of line for the violation to me. NFL management, however, may have been punishing the coach’s arrogance as much as the deed itself.

The New York Daily News reported on September 16th that you could go into some electronic web sites and purchase binoculars that have built-in video capabilities. If the Patriots were that eager to pick up their opponent’s defensive signals why not park someone in the first row of the stands and have them use that perfectly legal equipment?

I believe that someday we will learn what Coach Belichick’s motivation was and how long the practice had been going on. I can guarantee you that the information will not come from the coach himself. The Songo River Queen is more responsive than he is! Some insider will spill the beans for a price and then we will all know.

But the damage has been done and the team we admire will be described hereafter as “cheaters” and every victory past and present labeled, “tainted.”

( Appeared in the Bridgton News – September 16, 2007 )