against a metal mailbox.'
In truth, he punched the mailbox with his fist after the victim got away.
What's giving you a rash this week?
The out-of-control arrogance in professional sports today? The latest in labor? The price of a lousy stadium hotdog?
An overpaid player? An underhanded agent? An owner who would sell the carpet from underneath his own mother's feet for the right amount of PSLs and luxury boxes?
Where can you get off your chest something boiling inside your belly?
Right here. Right now. Buckshots, a weekly dish-it-out-and-duck feature, is designed to give you, the subscriber, a chance to take your best shot at Ray Buck, national columnist for SportsLine USA.
Agree or disagree, let 'er rip. Sign your name -- if you dare -- and tell us a little about yourself: age, city, state, occupation/student. Just remember, Buck has the last word.
E-mail your comments to: buckshots@sportsline.com
E-mails over cocktails, but let's blow off Ladies Night for now:
"WHEN FACTS ARE blatantly wrong and used to generate a response, it really ticks me off," writes Brian Hanrahan, a 27-year-old international insurance research analyst from Cincinnati.
"(In an assault case against an ex-girlfriend), Lawrence Phillips was not
'banging her head against a metal mailbox.'
In truth, he punched the mailbox with his fist after the victim got away.
"I'm not saying Phillips didn't do anything wrong. Any act of violence against a woman is wrong and punishable by the law. (But) I'm confused as to why the media and women's groups have chosen this 20-year-old 'kid' to crucify when Warren Moon, Bobby Cox, Dan 'Big Daddy' Wilkinson and others get off with a Page 5, one-paragraph story. Can you help me understand?"
BUCKSHOT: In life today, social consciousness is everything. But -- seriously -- how much did this battering incident really hurt Lawrence Phillips? As the sixth player drafted overall, he still stands to pull down roughly $1.4 million a year.
to say that he would beat the
crap out of his wife or girlfriend for sleeping with someone else. It takes a
low-life to stoop that low," Ken Breslow, address unknown,
comes out firing.
"Also, is beating up a woman considered less of an offense than injuring somebody in a fight on the field? If fighting occurs on the field, there is a penalty assessed and the player(s) are ejected. Why should it be any different in the case of a (physical abuse) victim who happens not to be on the football field?"
BUCKSHOT: I imagine Phillips' ex-girlfriend wishes she had been wearing a helmet.
wasn't Lawrence Phillips or Eddie
Kennison. It was Ernie Conwell, former tight end of the Washington Huskies,"
e-mails David Leon, a 29-year-old pilot projects specialist
for a management consulting firm in Los Angeles.
"Conwell could turn out to be a better version of Daryl 'Moose' Johnston -- if given a shot at playing fullback. Fullback is the most underrated position in the NFL. (Conwell) is a stud. I'm a UCLA grad, so I happened to be watching the day Conwell beat Jonathan Ogden (UCLA's 318-pound offensive tackle who was selected No. 4 overall by Baltimore) in the shot put. By the way, Ogden is one of the finalists for the U.S. Olympic team.
"Right now I'm working near the USC campus. Keyshawn Johnson is a big source of pride here. I just wish the Rams had gotten him. Lawrence Phillips? I don't know, I still believe the Houston Oilers got the best back in the draft -- Eddie George."
BUCKSHOT: The Rams, without question, had the best draft of any NFL team this past week. I'll still take Lawrence Phillips over Keyshawn Johnson, Eddie George, Ernie Conwell -- or Daryl "Moose" Johnston.
"Yours is a strange country indeed. Great for many things ... but way too many contradictions. It's time for America to cut the hypocrisy. Be real. Leave rich celebrities alone and stop believing what comes from (just anyone's) filthy mouth.
"But I'm still of the opinion that America is the greatest country of all. I lived in New York City for seven years and was trained by the late Joe Fariello and co-managed by Lou Duva. I recently signed with Don King and will fight May 26 in NYC.
"Once I win this championship, I'll have one or two fights in the U.S., then hopefully get a title shot."
BUCKSHOT: You seemed to have it all figured out, Piero. Then you mentioned signing with Don King.
"Just because some 'bimbo' points the finger -- and for what reason, I can hardly guess -- doesn't make the jerk guilty."
BUCKSHOT: You're going to bring a tear to Tyson's eye, Johnny.
"He needs to stop trying to grasp the spotlight when things go well and shift blame when they do not. Good QBs such as Marino, Young or even Harbaugh are willing to take the heat and play hurt, if necessary, to prove they are true champions in every sense of the word.
"Any 'unproven' NFL QB who turns down a five-year, $25-million contract should have his head examined. I've heard that Jeff's parents own a Dairy Queen in Indy. Maybe he can work for them. They're the only ones who can tolerate his childish whining."
BUCKSHOT: Why? Are they deaf?
"Pittsburgh would love to have Jeff George, but can't afford him. The Jets dumped huge $$$ on Neil O'Donnell. Arizona opted for Boomer.
"I see good talent on Atlanta's offense -- Metcalf, Heyward, Mathis, some decent offensive linemen -- but I would agree that Jeff George made them even more effective. We all know the run-and-shoot has never made it to a Super Bowl ... maybe the Falcons should try the West Coast offense."
BUCKSHOT: The colleges aren't turning out NFL-ready QBs. That's the only reason why a team as historically bankrupt at quarterback as the Raiders would even give Jeff George a second look.
BUCKSHOT: George Burns enjoyed a good cigar over bridge with friends. Jeff George enjoys a good whine -- and has no friends.
BUCKSHOT: Tell us how you really feel, Bill.
"Whine on, dear ones, you were taught well."
BUCKSHOT: Jeff George aced the test. He's Whine Cellar cum laude.
of today?" asks
Rich Kurowski, a 28-year-old coatings chemist from Chicago who
takes exception to SportsLine USA Regional Columnist Bob Ryan.
"Wilt Chamberlain? I think the Bulls would have a better chance at controlling him than most -- maybe all -- the teams that played against him in that era. Unfortunately for your argument, Mr. Ryan, the Bulls have the best record ever (72-10). This is the best available indicator of who is better as compared to the rest of the league at the time.
"The expansion argument doesn't wash ... (because) there are better college programs, more black players and more foreign players today. Overall, the pool of players is larger, and contains better athletes who have more skills.
"Perhaps the overall quality of the teams today is slightly less than the overall quality of teams in the mid-80s. But this should affect ALL teams. Yet the Bulls are walking all over the rest of the league. Why is it that those Celtics teams of the '80s didn't win 72 games?"
BUCKSHOT: Uh ... because they couldn't play against the Raptors, the Grizzlies and the 76ers?
from his column on the
Baltimore Ravens," writes Brian Hanrahan of Cincinnati. "Art
Modell & Co. has been making mistakes for years ... (including) bad draft-day
decisions.
"It isn't bad luck that a Modell team hasn't been to the Super Bowl. Speaking with several Browns fans this past weekend, they are relieved that they don't have to put up with it anymore. I, for one, will watch with a smirk on my face as Lawrence Phillips runs all over the weak Ray Lewis-led Ravens defense."
BUCKSHOT:Circle Oct. 27 on your calendar, Brian. Because that's when St. Louis plays at Baltimore.
"I hope he gags on that ice he eats behind the bench (in honor of his
adoration/emulation/fixation of Scotty Bowman). Keenan has mortgaged the
St. Louis farm to build a team ... and it's
not working. Look where the Rangers are since Keenan left."
BUCKSHOT: Keenan may be a jerk who deserves to gag on his ice, but his goalie was cheap-shotted out of the playoffs.
"Face it! In the Montreal Canadiens, the Rangers are facing a younger, faster, tougher, and hungrier club. Why boo? Enjoy the game."
BUCKSHOT: New Yorkers do enjoy the game. Where else can they blow off steam and not be afraid of getting shot?
"The Rangers are a shame to hockey."
BUCKSHOT: If your instincts are correct, Yvon, the Rangers soon will shame us no more -- for about five months.
"There are plenty of talented players that do not complain, or else do for good reason. An example is Juwan Howard of the Washington Bullets. He and Grant Hill of the Detroit Pistons are an inspiration to true basketball fans.
"I would also like to say that Magic Johnson made a mistake in the heat of a game. I am not by any means saying that what he did (bump an official) is acceptable, but Magic has given us numerous years of breathtaking play while maintaining the utmost sportsmanship. The younger NBA players messing up have not given us (the same). We need to realize that Magic is only human."
BUCKSHOT: Actually, I think Magic made us realize that a few years ago.
"So, I ask the fan next to me what 'MLB' means? The response is 'Major League Baseball!' So I ask, 'As opposed to what?' The response: 'As opposed to 'Minor League Baseball.' Then I ask, 'What is the acronym or abbreviation for 'Minor League Baseball?' Also 'MLB?' The same thing happens every time, they refuse to speak to me again.
"Baseball needs a collective term for both the American and National League that isn't as stupid as 'MLB.' How about 'Quadruple A' ... '4A' ... or 'AAAA?'
"(Signed) Ray Burke. -- Bats: Right. Thinks: Left."
BUCKSHOT: Very left, Ray. Very left.
Copyright © 1996 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved.