Bert Sugar at The 2006 NFL Draft

Bert Sugar at The 2006 NFL Draft

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On my first visit to the NFL Draft last year, my good friend Bill Chachkes said "Hey Zennie, go over to (HBO Boxing Analyst) Bert Sugar and ask him for a cigar." So I did, and wound up in a great joke-telling conversation with Sugar and commentator and personality Roy Firestone. And I got a great cig.

So, I went up to Sugar again at the 2006 NFL Draft, and he remembered me and again presented me with a great cigar, and this time an excellent rumination on the Ukranian boxer Vladimir Klichco's problems in the ring.

He then smoothly moved from that topic to how he told the late Pete Rozelle that the NFL Draft was going to be a big thing years before it was. I love Bert. He's always got an opinion, a smile...and a cigar. Bert Sugar's a true New Yorker.

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

Shaq Gets In Touch With His Inner Superman - TV Spot Shows Melding Of Sports and Entertainment

In this newest trailer that was ran during the NBA Finals, Miami Heat Center Shaq O'Neill is intercut with scenes from the upcoming Superman movie. The NBA's done this melding of it's players and super hero movies for at least the last three years.

Here's Shaq and Superman:

Niners Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner Answers My Question About Scheme

Several months ago I sent in a question to San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Well he answered it on the 49ers website. Here it is:

Q: To what degree has the college game caught up with the NFL in scheme design in the passing game, in your view? I have three playbooks: 1999 St. Louis Rams, 2005 Notre Dame, and 2004 Cal Bears. What is interesting to me is that I can find the same double screen in two books, and more plays that are similar, than not. Have we reached an era of "scheme sameness?" Does this make it easier for a rookie QB like Ben Roethlisberger or the Niners Alex Smith to be successful? Zennie Abraham

A: I don’t think you are ever going to get to that degree actually because in the NFL it is much more based on personnel matchups than in college. There are also limitations to what you can do in the NFL. You are not going to have your quarterback do the type of things you would in college, like running the football. I think probably the biggest difference would be the individual matchups you have to handle. For instance let’s say a great pass rusher against a tackle - that might limit what you can do from a scheme standpoint in the NFL.

I think people oversimplify the transition for quarterbacks because it isn’t scheme that makes it difficult for a young quarterback. The difference is the level of play. The rush is much faster, more severe and the hits are a lot tougher on a young quarterback. The coverage, particularly in man coverage, is much better and closer. The margin of error is less in the NFL and you don’t get away with sloppy plays or poorly thrown balls. For young quarterbacks, the precision is much greater for them than in college and some guys just handle the adjustment quicker than others.

Whats so Funny Plaxico?

So Mr. Burris, why do you insist that you don't need to be in the Giants off-season program? Don't You remember how "Invisible" you were in the Play-off loss to Carolina, or how you withered away in the month of December While Eli struggled?

When you came to NY last spring you assured us you would be worth your 26+ million dollars, that indeed you are a team player even if you march to a different drummer(in the army, people who march to different drummers either get kicked out, or put in special operations!). Does that march include only knowing how to leap up for a ball and one or two other moves during your pass routes? So that means when you aren't open this year you'll stop WHINING when Eli throws to Tiki out of the backfield, or Jeremy across the middle? Pray tell Plaxico, what will you say when your numbers slip??

Tony Softli New VP of St. Louis Rams - AP and Seattle PI

St. Louis Rams hired a new VP and eliminated the GM position.

ST. LOUIS -- The Rams have restructured their front office, eliminating the general manager position and hiring two vice presidents.

Tony Softli was selected vice president for player personnel, the Rams said Tuesday. Softli, formerly director of college scouting for the Panthers, will lead the player personnel department that will include longtime general manager Charley Armey, whose new title is vice president for pro personnel.

Softli, 46, began working in scouting when the Panthers entered the league in 1995 and took over as director of college scouting in 2000. He is credited with helping draft standouts Julius Peppers, Steve Smith and Kris Jenkins.

Softli has ties to new coach Scott Linehan.

The two worked together on the University of Washington coaching staff in 1994. Before that, Softli was a linebacker for the Huskies.

"Choose or Lose The A's" Meeting - June 20th 2006

"Choose or Lose The A's" Meeting - June 20th 2006

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While many -- probably you -- were watching the epic Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks NBA Finals game, a giant handful of Oaklanders were holding the third meeting of a group called "Choose or Lose The A's".

Hey, I didn't make up the title. That honor belongs to Robert Limon, who organized this effort which has picked up steam and will be marked by it's first event, a July 7th tailgate party at the Oakland Coliseum in the "B" parking lot.

The group's idea is to drum up enough fan support to encourage elected officials to pay attention to and take real action leading to the retention of the Oakland A's in Oakland. This vlog shows one of the planning meetings of the group, of which I'm a member. But we encourage you to get involved in any way large or small -- even if it's just sending an email link to this vlog to someone you know anywhere in the World who's an A's fan. Drop me an email at zenabraham@aol.com

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv)

Beattie's Birthday

Beattie's Birthday

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This is a very simple vlog of the birthday gathering for Beattle, the five-year-old daughter of my good friend J. Randy Gordon. It includes my good friend Beth and Randy's girlfriend Julie.

I posted this mainly because every time I need to smile, I watch it. That and Beattie looks just like my good friend K.J, minus 26 years!

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)