Youth Football Is Under Attack, How to Defend Our Game

Defending Our Game

If you haven't been camping out under a rock for the last few months, you know our game is under attack. The game we love and devote so much time to in order that our sons and players can gain the life lessons most of us learned from the game, is being viciously assaulted on many fronts. Some are calling for an out right ban on youth football due to the concussion issue or not allowing kids to play until age 13. One of the major problems in today's society is that perception is reality and that perception is shaped by those who are yelling the loudest and the most often.

Nfl 2012

In all fairness, there are football people who did offer up some kindling to get this firestorm started. The NFL and it's "Bountygate" scandal didn't do the game any favors. While the youth game isn't the NFL, many soccer moms think that youth football is a microcosm of the NFL and what happens in little Johnny's league is just a mini version of what happens in the NFL. We also had some youth coaches who didn't understand how to teach safe blocking and tackling or how to recognize concussions. While those coaches are rare today, their legacy lives on. And like it or not, soccer moms make a lot of decisions on whether little Johnny is allowed to play youth football or not.

As most of you are well aware, Bountygate is the least of our worries. The concussion issue is what is dominating the airwaves these days. Concussion diagnosis and prevention has been a point of emphasis for the last 2-3 years. More fuel to that fire was added when Hall of Fame player Junior Seau died of an apparent suicide last week. Speculation was that his depression and subsequent suicide was caused by concussion issues. The Seau suicide was a tragedy, by all accounts Junior was a solid citizen. However there is no evidence that concussions played a role in his death or even that suicide rates are higher among NFL players than the general population. It should be noted that Samoans have one of, if not the highest suicide rate in the world and the US has a very high suicide rate compared to other developed nations.

Another interesting scientifically verified statistic is that former NFL players live much longer than the general population. Did you have any idea that was a verified truth? Many would have you believe that all these former NFL players break down and die prematurely in their 50's. Well that isn't the case at all, they are OUTLIVING the general population. A study was commissioned by the players union to study this very topic.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh), began it's data collection in 1990 and released its findings in January, 2012. They studied 3,439 players who were in the N.F.L. for five seasons or more. They found a lower death rate among former N.F.L. players than among men in the general population - the institute had expected to find that 625 members of the group it studied would be dead based on estimates from the general population, but instead found that 334 of the retired players had died. Yes, those alive were almost DOUBLE the number compared to the general population. These numbers are amazing considering the number of 300 lb plus players and African-American players who are in the NFL, since these groups typically have much higher early mortality rates than the general population. So the next time someone spouts off that National Enquirer like "stat" that NFL players are all dying prematurely in their 50's, please set them straight with the facts.

When it comes to youth football, again it's an entirely different game. We don't have 300 lb players who can run 4.8 40 yard dashes and who can bench press 225 lbs 35 times. Statistics say that 70% of youth players won't play High School football, let alone be part of the 2-3% that go on to play College Football or be one of the 1 in 20,000- 30,000 to go on to play in the NFL. The NFL is the cream of the cream of the cream of the crop, genetic freaks who have honed their bodies into athletic machines capable of inflicting significant hits to one another. But the NFL players abilities have very little correlation to what the average 10 year old can do with his body and in turn to other players.

Mayo Clinic Study

In fact the Mayo Clinic did a study of 913 youth football players on 42 different teams age 9-13. Back in 1997 they found that "most injuries that occurred were mild and that youth football injuries were uncommon." According to Mayo Clinic spokesman Michael J. Stuart M.D the findings showed that "the risk of injury in youth football does not appear greater than the risk associated with other recreational or competitive sports." Most of the injuries were mild and the most common type was a contusion, which occurred in 33 players. Four injuries (fractures involving the ankle growth plate) were such that they prevented players from No player required hospitalization or surgery. Again scientific fact flies in the face of those who would want you to believe that you are somehow an irresponsible Neanderthal parent if you want your son to play youth football.

Most of us coach youth football because the game did something for us and we want to pass that same thing onto others. We want kids to experience being part of a team, teamwork, perseverance, selflessness, goal setting, commitment, hard work, making friends, being coachable, delayed gratification, humility, grace, overcoming obstacles, competition, having fun and much more. There are people out there who for whatever reason either don't understand what youth football is about, had a bad experience from a "bad apple" program or coach or simply oppose kids learning and embracing some of those traditional character traits listed above. Don't let the haters and naysayers dominate the "debate." Know the facts and Share the data so people can make legitimate and honest decisions about their child's involvement in youth football. An additional footnote, I've coached youth football for over 25 years and not a single one of my players have ever been diagnosed with a concussion from anything they did on the football field.

Youth Football Is Under Attack, How to Defend Our Game

Dave Cisar-
Dave is a Nike "Coach of the Year" Designate and speaks nationwide at Coaches Clinics. His book "Winning Youth Football a Step by Step Plan" was endorsed by Tom Osborne and Dave Rimington. His personal teams using this system to date and has a 132-18 record in 5 Different Leagues.

To Sign up for his free tips and drills newsletter or to view 500 free youth football coaching tips go to: Football Plays

3 Critical Strategies Every Home Based Business Owner Must Use (100% Free)

Are you starting a home based business, but not sure which strategies are a "must" and which ones are simply icing on the cake? Do you find yourself overwhelmed with options, and opinions and aren't sure which areas to implement right away? The good news is, if you are just starting a home based business in 2012, I can honestly say that there has never been a better or more existing time to launch a small startup than right NOW. (and on a bootstrap budget to boot!)

I'm going to give you 3 very simple recommendations on what I would do first.....and simultaneously, I'm going to also tell you what I'd avoid doing as well. (especially considering these are the most common mistakes MOST professionals make when migrating online, or starting something new from scratch as well)

Super Bowl 2012

1 - You MUST have a blog.

But, you've also got to be willing to update your blog often if it's going to be an asset for your business, and NOT an eyesore. There is nothing more off putting for me, as a potential client, than seeing a company blog that hasn't been updated in 3 or 4 months......or super sporadic posting across an extended period of time. The good news? You can literally update your blog with good resources in your area of expertise WITHOUT really having to do much writing at all. Simply find information that meets the needs of your potential readers, write a short excerpt, and then link to the source of the content and you're GOOD to go! Not only will this give you the appearance of "authority" very quickly, the search engines love this sort of liberal linking strategy as well. (I call this the "Google loves sites that love other sites" strategy!)

2 - You need a Facebook Page

Facebook is literally changing the landscape for doing business.....PERIOD. Don't let anyone tell you they're not, either. Did you know that 50% of the advertisers in the 2012 Super Bowl used their Facebook page as the destination page for the ad? That is an unbelievably powerful statistic, made more eye opening by virtue of it being done by biggest brands in the world as well. The truth is, social media content, especially Facebook is so incredibly easy to share and spread, that businesses that aren't reaping the beautiful benefits of viral marketing are losing out in a major league way.

3 - Classified Ad Sites

This is a bit more optional than the 2 above, but you can literally build your entire business on the back of sites like Craigslist, and leverage the many, many millions of readers they get each day. I placed an ad last weekend for a marketing related function and literally got 100 visitors to my site in less than 4 hours, of which 30 signed up to learn more. It took me all of 7 minutes to create the ad and post it, and I can republish it every 3 days simply by pushing a button and hitting renew. Very powerful, and I've worked with clients who have built 6 figure incomes from Craiglist in a matter of 12 months or less.

Remember...

You don't need to spend "big" money on a blog or a Facebook page to have tremendous success. You are FAR better off using a "free" blog than a fancy pants web design, and investing your time, effort and money in creating killer content your readers (and potential clients) will love!

3 Critical Strategies Every Home Based Business Owner Must Use (100% Free)

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2012 St Louis Rams Offseason Needs

People were expecting too much from the St. Louis Rams after they just missed out on a division title in 2010, but to say that they disappointed last year was an understatement. They finished the year with an abysmal 2-14 record, which tied the Colts for worst in the NFL. There is some reason for optimism, however, as they have signed former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher after letting go of Steve Spagnuolo. Fisher's schemes will likely take some time before the players can buy in, but you better believe that they will be more competitive than they were a season ago. The Rams traded away their No. 2 pick to Washington for the No. 6 pick, Washington's first-round pick in both 2013 and 2014 and a second-round pick this year. Here are some of the Rams' big additions and subtractions so far in this young offseason, plus a breakdown of their biggest needs heading into the draft.

Additions:

Nfl 2012

CB Cortland Finnegan

DT Kendall Langford

WR Steve Smith

G Quinn Ojinnaka

DE William Hayes

C Scott Wells

OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar

DT Trevor Laws

Subtractions:

WR Brandon Lloyd

DT Justin Bannan

C Jason Brown

DT Fred Robbins

CB Ronald Bartell

OLB Chris Chamberlain

G Jacob Bell

Top 5 Needs:

1. Left Tackle

The Rams' top priority this offseason is to address their problems on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Rodger Saffold is better suited at left guard or right tackle, which makes them thin at left tackle if they move him. If Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon doesn't fall to the sixth pick, I think the Rams have to draft Iowa tackle Riley Reiff. If they do decide to go to a different direction, I believe they will no longer find a legitimate upgrade later in the draft or free agency.

2. Left Guard/Right Tackle

If St. Louis is able to upgrade at left tackle, then this need will be far less pressing. Either way, both these positions need to be addressed. Jason Smith has been a monumental disappointment at right tackle, and if they can move Saffold back to his guard spot, then things will be better for the Rams offensively.

3. Wide Receiver

While the Rams need to add some weapons at receiver, that needs to come after they address the offensive line. Once again, if Blackmon is available at the 6th pick, then he is the one player the Rams should pick. If he is not available, however, the Rams have two second-round picks where they can address this need. Wide receiver is one of the rare positions where great players can be had late in the draft.

4. Outside Linebacker

Starting weakside linebacker Chris Chamberlain has moved on and signed with the New Orleans Saints, and the Rams could use an upgrade at the starting strongside linebacker over Brady Poppinga. Jo-Lonn Dunbar was signed in the offseason, but the Rams need to keep looking for help at this spot.

5. Free Safety

The Rams have a number of additional needs, but I believe their next most pressing need is at free safety. Darian Stewart is simply not the answer, as he was dreadful as the starter for the Rams last year. There isn't really any one talent from the draft that could be a difference maker, which will likely force them to bring in a veteran free agent. Either way, the Rams need to make it a priority to find a suitable replacement, because clearly Stewart cannot be the starter.

2012 St Louis Rams Offseason Needs

Click here for the latest odds from the respected site BetFirms.com.

The NFL Without the Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys went from "Next Year's Team" in the late 1960's to "America's Team" in the 1970's with four Super Bowl appearances, including two Super Bowl titles. The Cowboys fell off during the 1980's as the 49ers took supremacy of the NFC and the NFL. After Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys and cleaned house in the organization in the late 1980's, which was heavily criticized, the team went to the bottom of the NFL with a record of 1-15 in 1989. A few years later the new Cowboys, put together by Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones, became an NFL powerhouse once again, and built a team that would go on to win three Super Bowls in four years and resurface the Dallas Cowboys as "America's Team", establishing the Cowboys as one of the elite franchises in the NFL along with the Packers, Steelers, and 49ers (Patriots would later join this list of elite franchises).

Unfortunately for the Cowboys and their fans, the last Super Bowl win came in January of 1996 and the franchise has only won two playoff games since their Super Bowl victory over the Steelers. The Cowboys have basically become just another franchise in the NFL since the mid 1990's and even so the NFL continues to be the dominant sport in the United States. The NFL is bigger than any one player and more importantly the NFL is bigger than any team. In 2008, the New England Patriots lost their super star quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player for the season because of an injury in Tom Brady during the first game on the season and believe it or not the NFL continued to carry on, the Patriots still had fans in their seats and with back up quarterback Matt Cassel the Patriots went on to go 11-5. Although the Patriots did miss the playoffs that season you could still consider that season a success after losing the best player in the league so early in the 2008 season.

Nfl 2012

Is the NFL better off with franchises like the Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots being powerhouses of the league? I would say yes, but whether those teams are any good or not the NFL will continue to shine and it will be the most popular sport in the U.S. It is unfortunate to see that of those five teams, the Cowboys are the only franchise that hasn't recently experienced a deep playoff run or isn't viewed as a team to make a run at the Super Bowl for the upcoming 2012 season, but it is reality and Cowboys' fans everywhere must come to terms with that reality whether they want to or not.

It is important to point out that the only constant since Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys is Jerry Jones. The idea that it is time for the Dallas Cowboys' owner to step down as at least the General Manager has been spoken about for years, but this is another reality that Cowboys' fans must come to terms with, and that is that Jerry Jones is not stepping down as the GM of the Dallas Cowboys. No matter how much Cowboys' fans whine and cry about this matter Jerry Jones can do whatever he pleases with the Cowboys' organization because he is the owner and that will not change anytime soon. Cowboys' fans must hope that Mr. Jones brings in someone into the front office that will help build the Cowboys back into a powerhouse, or maybe that person is already in the organization and just hasn't had the success the Cowboys and their fans are hoping for. Only time will tell. One thing is certain, the NFL will continue to shine as the most popular sport in the U.S. with or without the Dallas Cowboys.

The NFL Without the Cowboys

2012 Texas Longhorns Football Predictions

The Texas Longhorns have endured back-to-back disappointing seasons and now they feel the pressure to get things turned around. The Longhorns failed to make a bowl in 2010 after 5-7 campaign, and had a mediocre showing with an 8-5 record in 2011. They started out well, winning their first four games before losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State derailed their Big 12 title hopes.

Head coach Mack Brown has tallied a 141-139 record at Texas as he enters his 15th season with the program. The Longhorns will have the most experienced team in the conference with 15 starters and 43 lettermen returning. They do not overwhelming expectations nationally, but they have the ability to sneak up on some teams in 2012.

Nfl 2012

Offense

The Longhorns had a poor offensive showing in 2011. They averaged just 28.3 points and 393 total yards per game last year. Their ground game (203 yards per game) was good, but they struggled on the passing attack (only 190 yards/game). Texas started three quarterbacks last year and they need to find that one guy who gives them the consistency they need.

Sophomore David Ash will get the first crack at quarterback despite being less productive than junior Case McCoy last year. Ash threw for 1,068 yards on 56.6 percent completions with four touchdowns and eight interceptions, while McCoy threw for 1,045 yards on 61.4 percent completions with seven touchdowns and four picks. McCoy committed five turnovers in their season-finale last year against Baylor, which prompted Ash to get all of the snaps in their 21-10 victory over California in the Holiday Bowl.

Texaswill have two of its top rushers returning in sophomores Malcolm Brown (742 yards, 4.3/carry, five touchdowns) and Joe Bergeron (463 yards, 6.4/carry, five touchdowns). They will also add the top freshman running back recruit in the country in Johnathan Gray. They might still be young, but this team has the potential to have one of the nation's top backfields.

Questionable quarterback play is what forced the receivers to almost be nonexistent last year, but this unit should be much-improved as their top three receivers all return. Junior Mike Davis (45 receptions, 609 yards, one touchdown), sophomore Jaxon Shipley (44, 607, three touchdowns) and senior Marquise Goodwin (33, 421, two touchdowns) are all expected to make major contributions in 2012. Senior Barrett Mathews will start at the tight end position, but he doesn't offer much in the passing game as he is known more for his blocking than pass-catching ability.

The offensive line should become a team strength in 2012 as four starters will return who have 63 career starts together. Mack Brown claims that the improvement in this unit was like "night and day" in the spring compared to 2011. The one lost starter will be replaced by talented junior college transfer Donald Hawkins at left tackle.

Defense

Texashad arguably one of the best defenses in the country last year. This unit gave up just 22.2 points and 306 total yards per game, despite playing in a conference where many of the most potent offenses in the country played. They do lose three of their top four tacklers from that unit, but return six starters, which should help them pick up right where they left off in 2011.

The Longhorns will feature one of the best defensive end tandems in the country in senior Alex Okafor (58 tackles, 7 sacks, 7 tackles for loss) and junior Jackson Jeffcoat (71 tackles, 8 sacks, 13 tackles for loss). Okafor earned first-team All American honors last year, but in a shocking twist, opted to stay and turned down a shot at the NFL. With a very talented defensive tackle rotation in juniors Brandon Moore and Ashton Dorsey, as well as sophomore Desmond Jackson, this looks to be one of the best defensive fronts in all of college football.

The linebacking corps suffers the biggest blow, as the Longhorns lose their top two tacklers. Emmanuel Acho (131 tackles) was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns, while Keenan Robinson (106 tackles) was taken in the fourth round by the Washington Redskins. Junior Jordan Hicks (65 tackles) is their only returning starter at linebacker and becomes the leader of this unit. They are loaded with very highly touted recruits, but inexperience might be a recurring issue.

10 very highly touted players will compete for playing time in the secondary heading into 2012. The Longhorns return three starters in the defensive backfield in star FS Kenny Vaccaro (82 tackles, 10 passes defended), sophomore CB Quandre Diggs (51 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, four INT) and junior CB Carrington Byndom (58 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, two INT). Paired up with a very strong defensive line, we could see one of the better pass defenses in the country.

Big 12 Prediction - 2nd Place

Texaswill almost definitely boast one of the best defenses in the country in 2012, but their improvement on the offensive end will be at test of how far they can go. With nine starters back on offense, they will obviously be more productive than they were a year ago. Their rushing attack will once again be very good and they will definitely see some improvement on their quarterback play. Ash and McCoy gained valuable experience last year, and now it's time for one of them to step up and lead this team. They also have a manageable road schedule with Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas Tech and Kansas State.

2012 Texas Longhorns Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

Movie Review: American Reunion (2012) (R)

Serving Up Another Slice of Life

What I appreciate about the American Pie films is that, beneath the raunchiness and juvenile slapstick humor, there rests a kernel of truth. American Reunion continues in that tradition. Although it utilizes the kind of crude sexual humor that I don't find particularly funny, there is evident a compelling examination of friendship, love, and the general ups and downs of relationships at an adult life stage. In this case, that would be thirteen years after graduating high school; this is the point in time at which we find Jim Levenstein (Jason Biggs), Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Chris "Oz" Ostreicher (Chris Klein), Paul Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas), and Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott). Now around thirty, they each have their own lives and have had their fair share of success and failure.

Nfl 2012

Jim and his wife, Michelle (Alyson Hannigan), now have a two-year-old son named Evan, which is in large part why they have fallen into a sexual rut. Kevin is now a work-from-home architect and is happily married to a woman named Ellie (Charlene Amoia). After moving to Los Angeles and competing in a celebrity dance show (which he's now deeply embarrassed by), Oz has become an NFL sports announcer. He lives with his girlfriend, a supermodel and wild party girl named Mia (Katrina Bowden). Stifler, still an obnoxious and vulgar sex maniac, now works as a temp at an investment firm, where he undergoes daily abuse from his boss (Vik Sahay). Finch, after a period in which he went missing, suddenly returns on a motorcycle. He has not yet found the love of his life, but according to what he tells his friends, he has extensively travelled the world.

The entire gang comes back together when it's announced that a thirteen-year high school reunion would take place in their home town. Jim reunites with his father (Eugene Levy), who's eager to get back into the dating scene following the death of his wife three years earlier. Oz reunites with his former high school sweetheart, Heather (Mena Suvari), who's now dating a cardiologist named Ron (Jay Harrington). It immediately becomes apparent that Oz has more in common with Heather - and likewise, Ron with Mia. Kevin reunites with his old flame, Vicky (Tara Reid), and it seems that old feelings begin to resurface. Finch finds himself attracted to Michelle's former band mate, a bartender named Selena (Dania Ramirez), who since her homely high school days has blossomed into a beautiful woman. For obvious reasons, the guys decide not to invite Stifler. But you know how it is with twists of fate; he just happens to see them hanging out at a bar, everyone has a few shots, and the next thing you know, he's tagging along.

Jim, who still has an eye for hot teenage girls, is unwittingly reintroduced to Kara (Ali Corbin), the girl he used to babysit. Now on the verge of turning eighteen, she's certainly easy on the eyes. Initially, she flirts with him coyly. But on the night of her birthday, she gets drunk out of her mind; this paves the way for a series of comedic misadventures that make Jim look a lot guiltier than he actually is. Kara's jealous and immature boyfriend, A.J. (Chuck Hittinger), will have a few well-placed antagonistic run-ins with Jim and his friends. It culminates with a party at the home of Stifler's mom (Jennifer Coolidge), where just about everything goes wrong. Surprisingly, it goes well for Jim's dad, who reluctantly joins in. After getting certifiably drunk, he meets Stifler's mom and has... well, let's just say that he has a lot of fun. The two have a lot in common, not the least of which is having walked in on their children during a sexual encounter.

While I generally don't laugh at something as juvenile as defecating into a cooler filled with beer bottles, or hurriedly slamming down a laptop onto an erection, causing it to bleed, it's obvious to me that underneath is a story that has something to say about people. There's a moment, for example, when the guys observe the adolescent antics of the high schoolers partying at a lake; Kevin wonders aloud if they were ever as annoying back when they were in high school, and Finch responds that their generation was more mature. Naturally, Stifler is the exception. Indeed, there was a time when we would look at him and think he wouldn't grow up. Now that he has entered his thirties, it's looking more and more like he truly can't grow up. You know what the difference is.

Everything ends pretty much as we expect it to end, which in this case isn't a criticism so much as a simple observation. Sometimes, it's nice when a screenplay is formatted like a sitcom, even if it happens to be a really, really raunchy one. For me, the appeal of American Reunion has less to do with vulgar lines and sight gags and more to do with character development and theme. The first three films were fairly narrow in scope, their plots built on foundations as solid yet limited as losing your virginity, finding that special someone, and making a commitment to marriage. This new film is much broader, addressing the very relatable notion of settling down and living the rest of your life. The message, it seems, is that you can get through anything so long as you have friends at your side.

Movie Review: American Reunion (2012) (R)

Although Chris never officially studied film, film theory, or even journalism in college, his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Creative Writing has taught him to appreciate story, character, and the imagination - all aspects that apply to the movies, and if there's anything his years of living in Los Angeles has guaranteed him, exposure to movies would be at the top of the list. He has always appreciated the art of filmmaking, but it wasn't until 2006 that he began writing reviews on various websites for new releases. Still residing in L.A., his reviews can be read at his website, http://www.atatheaternearyou.net.

Saying Goodbye to the 2012 San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs battled but ultimately fell short against the more talented Thunder. It's been awhile since I've been this depressed over a loss.

In seven years when my son is nine years old and asking about Kevin Durant's career I will tell him how Durant eliminated the Spurs in four straight games in the 2012 Western Conference Finals. I'll tell him the Spurs played well enough to win all but one of their four losses in the series but Durant simply refused to let his team lose. I'll tell him about the big shots Durant hit, his 4th quarter heroics, his poise, his leadership, and most importantly, his fearlessness. I may even remember to tell him Durant was only 23 at the time. I'll certainly tell him the 2012 Western Conference Finals was when Durant officially arrived. In pressure packed moments that shrink stars like LeBron James, Durant came through. He made the leap from superstar to legend. I will tell my son all this soon enough.

Super Bowl 2012

For now, though, as a grieving Spurs fan, I want to dwell on San Antonio's defeat. After all, something tells me there will be plenty of time to gush over Durant and the Thunder in the coming years.

[I'm putting this section in parentheses because it's not why the Spurs lost Game 6 or the series. Though, it certainly didn't help their chances. The officiating in the 4th quarter of Game 6 was HORRENDOUS. The Spurs were called for five fouls in the opening three minutes of the 4thquarter. Four of them were offensive fouls and each was a ticky-tacky call AT BEST. It's the 4thquarter of a deciding game and the officials are taking over on one end and completely ignoring the other team on the other. I was embarrassed for the NBA. No other sport is consistently ruined by its officiating like basketball. As a result, the Spurs were handicapped defensively because every foul sent the Thunder to the line. It's hard enough to beat the Tunder at home. Doing so with three officials calling a lopsided 4th quarter was an impossible task.]

Moving on... Let's start with the primary reason the Spurs lost this series; role players. All season long, and for the first two rounds of the postseason, San Antonio's role players had performed superbly. When the starters took a seat, the bench took over, often extending leads or sparking comebacks. If one of the Spurs stars was out with injury or suffering through an off night, a role player stepped up. The Spurs role players were as responsible for San Antonio's stellar play this year as the big three.

Then, all of sudden, San Antonio's role players disappeared completely in the conference finals. A potent rotation of 9 to 10 players shrunk to 5. Only Stephen Jackson and Gary Neal saw extended playing time off the bench and only Jackson contributed anything more than bricked shots and turnovers. The Spurs greatest asset suddenly became its greatest weakness.

People can talk about Gregg Popovich being outcoached by Scott Brooks, but imagine how hard it'd be for Brooks to win a series if Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka bricked open jumpers, or Daequan Cook threw up air balls in his limited action in Game 5, or Derek Fisher didn't drain big shots in the 4th quarter. It'd be nearly impossible for the Thunder to win. I'm not even arguing Brooks didn't outcoach Popovich. I'm simply stating Popovich was playing with a short deck, a short deck absolutely no one could have foreseen.

If you want to break down the failure of the Spurs role players on an individual level, I'd be happy to help... For the 2nd year in a row, Tiago Splitter fell flat on his face in the biggest games of the season. He was hesitant, confused, and flat out overwhelmed. The Spurs desperately needed Splitter to protect the rim and score inside. Instead, he panicked at the free throw line, lost his confidence, and was as effective defensively as a swinging door. Then there's the trio of Matt Bonner, Gary Neal and Danny Green. Bonner did nothing. Couldn't rebound. Couldn't shoot. Couldn't defend. "Good job. Good effort." Neal's shot was off for most of the series. What's worse, he was responsible for several of San Antonio's defensive breakdowns in the critical moments of Game 6 and at least one other game in the series, if not two (I'm too depressed to remember). As for Green, the poor guy short-circuited after a slow start to the series. He shot a dismal percentage from beyond the arc (17%) and completely lost his identity in the Spurs offense. In Similar fashion to Neal and Splitter, Green also allowed his offensive shortcomings to impact his defense. Green, the same defensive standout that bottled up Chris Paul, was consistently torched by the Thunder's backcourt. While Boris Diaw and DeJuan Blair were equally unimpressive, it was the ghastly play of Splitter, Neal and Green that truly cost the Spurs.

Regardless, the biggest disappointment of the last four games was how the role players let Tim Duncan (and the rest of the Big Three) down after declaring for much of the past few months how badly they wanted to win for Duncan. While Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker weren't perfect, I thought they played well enough to have a reasonable chance at winning the series. They simply didn't get any help outside of Stephen Jackson and Kawhi Leonard. As the Thunder and Celtics have proven in this year's conference finals, you can't succeed this deep in the postseason without significant contributions and clutch plays from your role players. Right now, nobody knows this as well as the Spurs.

I especially feel for Duncan, who believed this was his best and perhaps final chance to get ring number five. I feel for Gregg Popovich, who brilliantly molded this team to buy into a system that relied on humility and the concept of TEAM over stardom and stats. I feel for Tony Parker, who carried the Spurs for much of the season even though he came up short against the size and quickness of the Oklahoma City defense. I feel for Stephen Jackson, who fought tooth and nail to bring his friend Tim Duncan another title. I feel for Manu Ginobili, whose unique style of play will soon fade away as his body betrays him.

In fact, the last time I felt this awful following a sporting event was after the Eagles lost another NFC Championship Game, this time to the Arizona Cardinals in January of 2009. Much like the Spurs, the Eagles came out of nowhere, were playing the best of any team in the postseason and were expected to advance to the Super Bowl but lost in devastating fashion.

I've spent countless hours watching nearly every one of the Spurs 66 regular season games and 14 playoff games over the past six months. I bought into everything they were; teamwork, humility, respect, greatness. To see them lose feels like everything I believed in was wrong. But then I look at the Thunder and realize everything I cherished about the Spurs is so obviously present in the Thunder. So, even defeat - heart aching and soul crushing defeat - I still feel a small twinge of victory. The Spurs drew the map, the Thunder followed it to perfection.

Saying Goodbye to the 2012 San Antonio Spurs

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