"It's Just Business, Sal. Just Business..."

I know that every NFL coach has his own “style” and there is no one “right” way to do it. That being said, I often wonder if Joe Gibbs has the necessary ruthlessness to coach effectively in the modern NFL.

Think of these examples…

Brian Billick whacks his best coaching buddy, Jim Fassell.
Dennis Green does something, at least, following the Bears debacle.
Romeo Crennel bags Maurice Carthon as OC, team wins next week.
Art Shell benches Joey Porter for first 4 games of season.
Bill Parcells yokes his boy, Bledsoe at halftime on MNF!
Brad Childress cuts loose Culpepper when he wants to talk contact.
Marvin Lewis tells Chad Johnson to pipe down (Didn't last).
Tom Coughlin: constant hard-ass.
Mike Shanahan: drafts QB right after Jake Plummer has career season.

All of this reinforces the fact that “it’s just business.” Like in the Godfather when Abe Vigoda's character Salvatore Tessio is taken away to be whacked. Despite meek protests to save his life, Sal is told it's nothing personal, we just have to kill you. "Just business, Sal."

Good coaches just do, what they gotta do. Gibbs it seems, has an excuse, or praise for anybody and everybody. Hell, the one guy who should have been cut just for the scare factor of it all, was punter (oops, I mean poocher) Derrick Frost.

Sometime soon, I want to see Joe Gibbs’ teeth as a coach. Ruffle some feathers, break a few eggs. Come on, Joe. I know you got it in you…..

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So, this just in: the World Series ratings are in, and they ain’t good. In fact, the 10.1 average was down 9% from last year’s all-time low in a boring 4-game White Sox sweep.

There’s always talk about how to “recapture” the youth eyeballs. Please. That’s never going to happen. So let me offer another suggestion.

Start the f-ing games at 7:15 in the East.

I’ve heard repeatedly how this would “kill” ratings because of the West Coast. Oh really? “Kill” the ratings? They could be WORSE than this? Why not give it a try. You’ve got nothing to lose.

I know one thing: as a sports fan myself, I won’t invest a minute into a baseball game unless I am certain I can stay up to see the end. And with games ending around midnight on the East coast, that’s a deal killer.

I can’t be the only one who feels this way. You send out games at 7:15 and guess what? The game comes to a climax before 11 p.m. Hell, you could even start it right at 8 p.m. and do better. But 8:30 to 8:45? Deal killer. Period.

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The Jets non-touchdown call involving TE Chris Baker and his absurd one-handed snag is perhaps the worst call of the year. Clearly, unmistakably he was FORCED out! And yet, Mike Carey’s crew ruled otherwise.

Since replay is forbidden from looking at force outs (oooh, that would involve “judgement” and we can’t have THAT!) it stood as a complete travesty.

And don’t say that Baker could not have come down with both feet inbounds. Because nobody KNOWS. He was completely blasted on the play!

Now, here’s one interesting element. Mike Carey. I keep hearing how this guy is such a great NFL head referee. But I am starting to wonder. More and more messed up games end up happening on his watch.

In addition to this one, you have the Redskins-Bucs game in which Carey was essentially “sold” into making an ejection call on Sean Taylor allegedly spitting on a guy (I’ve never seen conclusive proof, and the NFL Films audio shows a very confused Carey at the time).

Also, there was a Baltimore game a year ago, in which a ton of personal fouls were called on the Ravens, and somebody got ejected. He also said of that ejection on the stadium mic: “He came at me with malice in his heart” or something very bizarre like that.

Anyhow… I’m just saying, let’s keep our eyes and ears out on this guy. At least he’s not as bad as old Dick “Hankie” Hantak used to be.

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Looks like the NBA’s cheesy new plastic basketball still sucks. This time, nerds in labcoats have confirmed it…..

Physicists at the University of Texas-Arlington released results of preliminary tests they say proves the microfiber composite ball doesn't behave like the old leather ball. A number of players have griped about its grip and unpredictable bounce since training camps opened.

According to the results released Sunday, the ball bounces 5 to 8 percent lower than typical leather balls when dropped from 4 feet. It also found that the new ball bounces 30 percent more erratically.

MEMO TO STERN: Spring for the real cow. It’s worth it.

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And Now, Your Pic O’ The Day!!!

Um, don't look down.