December 2008 Archives

There's an old saying in politics, whether you are republican or democrat, that thou shall never speak ill of another party member.
It's also goes for the journalism profession, but today I'm going to break that unwritten rule. I'm embarrassed today of being a sportswriter, and I have Detroit News columnist Rob Parker to blame. He clearly stepped over the line Sunday when questioning Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli after the Lions became the first NFL team in history to go 0-15.
Parker tried to place the blame on the Lions defense, and defensive coordinator Joe Barry, asking Rosemead native Marinelli why he hasn't replaced his DC, who also happens to be his son-in-law.
When he didn't get the answer he wanted, he crossed the line, asking Marinelli, "Do you wish your daughter would have married a better defensive coordinator?"
This coming from someone who probably doesn't know the difference between a 'Cover 2' or a 'Plug 1.'
Why get personal, Rob?
The Lions problem lies not with the coaching staff, but with the players that former team president Matt Millen put together. I reflect back to motor sports, and what Al Unser Jr. once told me, and that was that if two cars are close in performance, the better driver can make a difference. But if one car is clearly quicker, the best driver in the world is not going to make that difference up. It's the same in team sports, where if the gap in talent level is too great, the best coaching staff in the world is not going to be able to win with it.
Figure out what a 'Plug 1' is yet, Rob?