Friday column: Drumming up a little disrespect

It doesn’t say much about the human animal that it can successfully use the same motivational tactic — one oft based on a lie — again and again.

Yes, I’m talking about teams playing the “We (I) don’t get no respect” card.
The latest to use the emotional ruse are the Baltimore Ravens, looking for an edge in Saturday’s AFC playoff game against Tennessee.

“Nobody has respected this team until right now, and that’s fine with us,” defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said Sunday after the Ravens dismantled the Miami Dolphins. “Tough on everybody else, just right for us.”

Just right for them because coaches know how to feed the “disrespect” slop to their players, who hungrily devour every drop, like baby birds taking disgorged worms from Mama.

Why? Well, it works.

“It’s effective,” sports psychologist Eric Morse told Childs Walker for a Baltimore Sun article. “Coaches and players look for bulletin-board material, and if it’s not there, sometimes they drum it up. It’s one of the few ways to tap into athletes’ internal motivation for doing what they do.”

“I think it makes it personal,” Joe Fish, another sports psychologist, told Walker. “Athletes have a lot of pride, and athletes like to compete, so it can give a real emotional boost to a player or team.”

No one was better at this, Walker points out, than Michael Jordan, who would seize any critical comment, no matter how slight, to psych himself up. If no slight was forthcoming, he would invent one.

Just as the Ravens have.

Jeff Fisher played both college and pro ball and has coached in the NFL since 1985, so he’s seen (and undoubtedly used) the tactic more than once. Now the Titans head man seems bored with it, suggesting that any Raven feeling dissed “needs to read the paper or watch TV.”

“Obviously, they got plenty of respect from us. You know, if that’s the way you want to handle and motivate, then so be it.”

In other words, if you really need to psych yourself up with a lie to get ready to play, well, more power to you.

Yes, as Fish notes, athletes have a lot of pride — and, as I note, often more pride than self-awareness.

I know this from my own days as a (very) small-time athlete when I, too, used this ploy when seeking an edge. Now, like Fisher, I find it tiresome. So I’ll be rooting for the Titans come Saturday.

After all, the Ravens’ belief that the nation’s media will swallow the idea they truly have been slighted is disrespectful to our intelligence.
In fact, as a member of the press, I feel insulted.

I am SO ready for kickoff.

Contact Jim Gordon at gjames43@msn.com.

Walking the walk

Recommended reading: Antonya English’s piece in the St. Petersburg Times on Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, whose Gators are playing Thursday night in the BCS title game.

Tebow, the son of missionaries, talks the spiritual talk, but also walks the walk, making prison visits, helping his parents in the Philippines, doing other volunteer work.

The message written on eye black has become a big thing for football players, and Tebow is no different. But, then again, maybe he is, as his message is a biblical reference.

In an increasingly secular and diverse society, that might offend some. But I contrast it with the message I saw on a player’s eye black just the other day in one of the many meaningless bowl games that plague our TV screens in December and January. The message written under the player’s eyes — the lamps of the soul — was, “Fear me.”

Like Tebow's profession of faith or dislike it, it apparently is not done for show.

"A lot of people take their heart out, rip it out of their chest and lay it on the table,” Florida coach Urban Meyer says. “I'm not willing to do that, and certainly not my family. But Bob (his father) is that way, and Pam (his mother) and their whole family. They have such a strong faith. In this world of hypocrisy, there's none (with them)."

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/article956080.ece

Not a hot property

One team after another has indicated an unwillingness to seriously pursue the services of slugger Manny Ramirez. The latest, according to ESPN, are the Giants, whom agent Scott Boras tried to use as a stalking horse to get the Dodgers — who actually DO have an interest in Ramirez — to make a better offer.

According to ESPN, Boras’ talk about five- and four-year deals worth some $25 million a year only caused the Dodgers to consider that maybe their money would be better spent bolstering their bullpen.

Now, Ramirez’s age — 36 — is all part of this, undoubtedly. But so is Ramirez’s history, most especially his last part season with the Red Sox. Owners and general managers and have to know that if Ramirez can turn on the Sox and quit on the them — turning so poisonous in the clubhouse that Boston was willing to nearly give him away — he can do the same to them.

Wouldn’t it be amusing if Ramirez ended up signing with someone for less than he would have gotten if he’d honored his contract with the Sox …

Not the best career move

Antoine Walker is four years younger than Ramirez, and while being 32 doesn’t put a player in one’s prime years in the NBA, it’s not automatically over the hill, either.

But the other hand, when you’re 32 AND often out of shape, you’re about past the crest. And when you when get arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, well …

Walker was arrested Monday morning at 5:39 a.m., and no, he wasn’t on his way to his morning shift at the factory. Police said they detected a strong odor alcohol on him and that Walker had a sleepy look on his face.

He refused a breathalyzer test, natch.

Speaking of breath, it’s recommended Walker not hold his waiting for an NBA team to come calling.

Five strikes — Yankees are OUT!

I started hating the Yankees in the early ’60s. I was a young Dodgers fan back then, so it was quite natural.

I hated them through the Billy Martin years, the era of Reggie (“I’m the straw that stirs the drink”) Jackson and the Bronx Zoo.

I hated them for every pompous announcement that left George Steinbrenner’s lips (that would be all of them).

I stopped hating the Yankees when Joe Torre arrived in New York in 1996, a year after Derek Jeter made his debut. The two of them were simply too nice, too classy to dislike. It didn’t bother me when they won. I rooted for them a little. I even wore an N.Y. cap — which had more to do with Sept. 11, 2001, than the Yankees, but still …

Then last year the Yankees chased Torre away with a low-ball offer, and this year they’ve done the following:

Signed free-agent right-hander A.J. Burnett for $82.5 million; signed free-agent left-hander CC Sabathia for $161 million; signed free-agent first baseman Mark Teixera for $180 million.

In a time of deep recession when just about everyone in the country has either lost their job or is worried about losing it, the Yankees have paid $424.5 million for three — three! — players.

But that’s nothing. Wait until you see how they defend the
moves:

“The philosophy of George Steinbrenner, which has been continued by (sons) Hal and Hank, is that the Yankees are a sacred trust to their fans and they believe in continually reinvesting in the team …”

Sacred trust?

The Oxford American gives the following definitions for sacred. Let’s see if any of them fit:

* connected with God (or the gods). Nope.
* religious rather than secular. Nope.
* embodying the laws or doctrines of a religion. Nope.
* regarded with great respect and reverence by a particular religion, group, or individual. This comes the closest, but nope.
* sacrosanct. Nope.

That’s five strikes.

I’m back to hating the pinstripes. Ah, feels like home …

To return or not to return ...

The last act of Brett Favre’s Hamlet didn’t play so well in Green Bay, and a repeat performance in the coming months isn’t likely to draw rave reviews in New York, either.

Favre’s indecision last off-season on whether to return to Green Bay, his subsequent footsie-playing with Minnesota, and his pouting and posturing even turned off die-hard Packers fans — and his eventual trade to the Jets was seen by many as more relief than tragedy.

Hailed as “savior” in New York, Favre played relatively well the first 11 games of the season, but his dismal play the final five games (nine interceptions and just two touchdown passes) helped cost the Jets the playoff, cost Eric Mangini his job, and cost Favre whatever locker room affection he had earned in the Big Apple.

Favre’s play was knocked this week by running back Thomas Jones, and an anonymous Jet ripped his attitude, calling him a “distant” teammate who spent a lot of time away from the other players — in an office especially designed for him.

As for his return next season, safety Kerry Rhodes said,
"If he's dedicated and he wants to come back and do this, and do it the right way ... and be here when we're here in training camp and the minicamps and working out with us ... then I'm fine with it," Rhodes said. "But don't come back if it's going to be half-hearted or he doesn't want to put the time in with us."
To return or not to return …

http://images.todaystmj4.com/images/favre%20cries%20at%20presser.jpg

The last act of Brett Favre’s Hamlet didn’t play so well in Green Bay, and a repeat performance in the coming months isn’t likely to draw rave reviews in New York, either.

Favre’s indecision last off-season on whether to return to Green Bay, his subsequent footsie-playing with Minnesota, and his pouting and posturing even turned off die-hard Packers fans — and his eventual trade to the Jets was seen by many as more relief than tragedy.

Hailed as “savior” in New York, Favre played relatively well the first 11 games of the season, but his dismal play the final five games (nine interceptions and just two touchdown passes) helped cost the Jets the playoff, cost Eric Mangini his job, and cost Favre whatever locker room affection he had earned in the Big Apple.

Favre’s play was knocked this week by running back Thomas Jones, and an anonymous Jet ripped his attitude, calling him a “distant” teammate who spent a lot of time away from the other players — in an office especially designed for him.

As for his return next season, safety Kerry Rhodes said,"If he's dedicated and he wants to come back and do this, and do it the right way ... and be here when we're here in training camp and the minicamps and working out with us ... then I'm fine with it," Rhodes said. "But don't come back if it's going to be half-hearted or he doesn't want to put the time in with us."

Friday column: Two little words, one fervent plea

It’s been a rough year.

Wall-to-wall presidential politics. Economic collapse. Madonna breaking up with Guy Ritchie.

Before we attempt to move on and heal from the deep psychic wounds left by 2008, it’s best to try and shed some of the year’s more annoying baggage. As the campaigning has stopped (briefly), the economy is beyond my ken (totally), and the Madge will not listen to a word I say, I’d better stick to sports.

So, to certain figures who — unfortunately — populate the Toy Department of Life, herewith my New Year’s greeting, advice and plea all rolled together:

Terrell Owens: Many of you are familiar with Hannah Arendt’s famous phrase “the banality of evil.” In Owens’ case, it’s the banality of ego. And it’s worn … so … thin. Go away.

Manny Ramirez: Probably heeding the advice of your scaly agent, you flat-out quit on your teammates in Boston — even knocked down the team’s 64-year-old traveling secretary — all so you could get out of your $20 million-a-year contract, which obviously wasn’t enough for a talent and personality as special as yours. Go away — and take Scott Boras with you.

Roger Clemens: Your attempted bullying of Brian McNamee and resultant appearance before Congress gave us an up-close-and-personal look at who you really are — a lot closer and more personal than we really wanted to see. Go away.

Pacman Jones: Back to the banality of ego, with some actual evil thrown in. Your continued thuggery followed by promises to reform followed by further thuggery … well, to use one word: BORING. Go away.

Plaxico Burress: Your wide-receiver-diva act isn’t even original; Terrell Owens plowed that field long ago. Adding criminality might have been interesting — but it was such stupid criminality. Go away.

Michael Vick: Gosh, Mike, it turns out you weren’t needed in Atlanta. Even your more rabid supporters — you know, the ones who didn’t care that you tortured and killed dogs as long as you scored touchdowns — even they don’t miss you because of the arrival of rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. So go away. Wait — that’s right, you’ve already gone away. So stay away.

John Daly (sigh): You keep coming up with new ways to embarrass yourself, but each time you insist your problem is simply one of perception. Yes, you do see that you’re viewed as a sloppy boozer on a Twinkie binge who’s pissing on the prodigious talent God gave you — but you’re absolutely astounded as to what’s fueling that idea. It’s always the press or someone else who’s out to get you. Guess what, John? You’re out to get you, and you’re succeeding. Now go away.

There — I don’t know about you, but I feel lighter already. Happy New Year.

Contact Jim Gordon at gjames43@msn.com.