Sports: Football’s Back, Shaq Goes Green, Revis Holds Out & More!

It’s fitting that we here at the HYPE (really the editor deserves the credit) have officially named this column “The Red Zone”. With plenty underlying metaphors to toss around on why we named the column this, there is one reason I think we didn’t toss around on why we did name it the Zone (as you can see I have already nicknamed it). Football is here!

That’s right I said football has returned. From the NFL to high school football, no matter what level you like it’s back. With the flip of the coin this past Sunday night at the Dallas Cowboy-Cincinnati Bengals game the NFL officially reconvened. Not to mention come September 2 college football gets going as well. There’s really not much to say but, in the upcoming weeks I will be talking a lot of football, everything from outlook, smack and of course hype! Come get it I’m taking all comers.

I can tell you one person who doesn’t seem to be excited football has returned, Darrelle Revis. Revis Island has been holding out for more money this off season and who am I to blame him. I know this is only the second installment of the column but you will figure out very quickly where I stand on athletes looking to get more money. Why shouldn’t he? I know the argument; you’re saying he already makes millions…etc etc, blah blah blah, why does he need more money? Again why shouldn’t he? No one in their right mind wouldn’t want to get paid more number one. Number 2 why not get what you can when you can. He is considered the best cornerback in the league by most so why not get paid like it. What happens if he takes one snap and gets injured for the rest of his life? It’s football, NFL contracts aren’t guaranteed! He could potentially never get what most people think he should, his just due. Revis is still playing on his rookie contract which means he really never got the chance to negotiate his worth with his employer (The NFL has a rookie pay scale, where draft picks fall into a pay scale set by their predecessor’s wages the year before them, plus yearly inflation). At the very least he should be able to ask for what he thinks he should be paid. In sports this is how most people go about doing that. One way or another Revis will get what he deserves; again I ask why shouldn’t he?

Speaking of looking for more wealth, the Big Shamrock aka the Big Green Mile, Shaquille O’neal inked a two year deal to play with the Boston Celtics. He joins Jermaine O’neal as new editions to the frontcourt. Shaq at the ripe age of 38 seems to think that the Celtics have the right mix to get back to the finals one more time and win it.

“Since 1992, all I've ever wanted to do is just leave my mark and win championships. At the millennium, I was able to win three in a row and then go to Miami and win another one. When you win and you keep winning, you just want to keep winning. For me, I always talk about my book. So when I'm done and I close my book, I would like to have either five or six championships. To me, in my eyes, if I don't get those five or six, I'll be a little down on myself. For a kid from the projects of Newark, N.J., I think I've had a pretty dominant career. But me personally, my book, I would like to see Shaquille O'Neal have five or six championships."

I’m not sure if he is correct but I will say they sure have a shot. They are definitely long in the tooth but we all said that last year. Just think about it, we all have an older relative in our family who you think is just past his prime but always seems to possess that old man strength. Well that’s what I consider the Celtics - old but strong.

To go along with Shaq inking a deal Tracy McGrady also inked a deal with the Detroit Pistons. Unlike Shaq he has signed a one year deal and will play for a team that doesn’t have a shot at all to win a championship. Sad to say the least, T-Mac was absolutely legit in his healthy days. Remember this?

With McGrady signed, the summer of free agency that everyone was looking forward to is just about over, as far as big names goes (unless Mr. Iverson plans to make a true comeback). I guarantee 99.9 % of the world’s population couldn’t have guessed where everyone was going to land this off season. Maybe the octopus at Mandalay Bay who picks fights, but damn sure no one in their right mind. It’s been a wild ride! I just can’t get over how much T-Mac has fallen off. Isn’t funny how he and Grant Hill came together to supposedly form a dynamic duo but never stayed healthy enough to see it through. Didn’t T-Mac turn into Grant Hill! Absolutely crazy game in their first 7 or so seasons with the whole world in their hands only to see their health let them down (check Grant Hill’s game). Crazy how things work out!

This fool Dez Bryant is ridiculous. Not only has he made himself look foolish by not getting in line at Cowboys camp by not carrying the Vets pads and saying he didn’t know rookies had obligations to fulfill. He now has lost his endorsement contract with Under Armour. The reason why, he has been showing up to practice Nike downed from head to toe! Come on Dez, really? Man as I always say I’m down for the money grab but Nike hasn’t even offered anything. This cat is foolish. I thought he had good business people around him. I prefer Nike as well but I also prefer Under Armour money!

2 Min. Drive...

Glad to see "Shaq Vs." back on the screen, not so glad to see VH1 continuing the “Wives” series. They officially introduced their lineup for the fall including Football Wives as part of the rundown. Man don’t we already have enough reality shows with women acting a fool over money.

Right as I left you last week A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) hit his 600th home run. Props! No matter what you still have to hit the ball!

Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh some news about Brett Farve I don’t mind talking about. I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. Now Brett will have to answer more than just why he came out of retirement in a few weeks. He will have to answer why he allegedly sent Jenn Sterger some photos of his piece. Supposedly the actions took place while in New York while both worked for the Jets. Here’s the story…

Brandon Phillips is Gangsta!