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Dec. 19, 1995Shula may be Zeus, but his coaching is turning Greek
I know that it has becomes fashionable now to advocate the "release" of the winningest coach in history. I am not trying to jump on any popular bandwagon, but it is time for Shula to step down.Though I agree that some of the things that have been said of Shula are too personal, he is not beyond criticism. Shula has been a substandard coach for quite some time, and his longevity is best attributed to management that dares not insult the Zeus of football.
The Dolphins have been a sub-par team for almost ten years. Though that is not all Shula's fault, the man has to accept responsibility and do what's good for Miami.
We're going to lose Dan Marino in a couple of years, and we've already wasted enough on those incredible free agents that were supposed to take us to the Super Bowl. Miami has waited long enough to be taken back into the Super Bowl. Shula traded off the future for this season. The failure is his and his inept coaching staff. Something has to be done.
Barney Vaughan
Philadelphia
Dolphins' Cox displays wrong colors
Once again Bryan Cox has shown his true colors. His latest outburst only goes to prove the reason why it is true that so many of our professional athletes should not be role models. I am stunned to think that anyone would support his conduct. Just like many of today's athletes turn their backs on the media, I wish the media would turn their backs on players such as Bryan Cox.Chuck Ebersole
Tampa
NFL needs to suspend thugs like Cox
I cannot remember the last time I witnessed such a shameless display of bad sportsmanship on a football field. Both Bryan Cox and Carwell Gardner should be disciplined by the league.Cox is a talented football player, but he thinks this entitles him to act like a thug. If he wants to act like a thug, the NFL should treat him as such. Suspend Cox. This will show Cox and others like him that the NFL doesn't need them nearly as much as they need the NFL. Maybe then the thugs will realize who the boss is.
Bill Pittman
Jackson, Miss.
Browns' final home game brings tears -- to Steelers fan
Yesterday was a normal day to me. Then ESPN showed the highlights from the Browns-Bengals game. Being from Pittsburgh, I normally wouldn't care, but after seeing the highlights of the (Cleveland) fans, even I was choked up. It left a bad feeling in my heart for that game could very well have been the last game the Browns play in Cleveland.To me, it means the end of the greatest sports rivalry in history: Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland. If a diehard Steelers fan could have been saddened, I can't imagine what those Cleveland people felt. The NFL owners remain the only ones who can stop this madness. I have a message to them: Vote NO to the move. Suck up all your pride and do what is right -- not only for the loyal people of Cleveland, but for the sake of the NFL's future.
Mike Drakulich
Midland, Pa.
Hey, ESPNET: Take it easy on the Cowboys
"You can close the hole in the Texas Stadium roof. God doesn't want to watch the Cowboys anymore."What kind of headline is that? I thought you guys were supposed to be neutral in your reporting. While Chris Berman does nothing to hide how much he loves the 49ers, I would hope that you at ESPNET would not just print anything to show how much you dislike the Cowboys. That headline had nothing to do with the game; it was just that reporter's gleeful shot at a Dallas team when they are down.
Jason Riddle
The Woodlands, Texas
Not enough athletes playing for the love of the game
Some professional athletes think too much about the money they make. Instead of playing for the love of the game, the players show no loyalty for the city, the team, or the fans. They are greedy, playing for the team that pays the big bucks. I'm getting sick and tired of it. And so are many kids my age.For example: Cecil Fielder will make $7 million this year and has declared he hates playing for Detroit while it is rebuilding. My dad is a gym teacher and makes about $40,000 per year. That's about six innings of work for Cecil. That's ridiculous.
There are people working real jobs, ones that make a difference in our society, and they make less than one percent of what Fielder makes in a year. And he has the audacity to say he hates playing in Detroit. Other players, like Deion Sanders making $35 million, make me totally outraged. How can one person, who contributes so insignificantly to our society, make that kind of money? When will the day come when the professional athlete will play for the love of the game and not for the almighty dollar?
Jim Eastman
Lapeer, Mich.
Dec. 18, 1995
From one King to another: I'll pay to see you fight Tyson
Is boxing for real? I'm beginning to think that I'm not watching boxing anymore. It's just Don King playing a big prank on America. Let's see, he owns just about every aspect of the "sport," including both boxers (at, least most of the time).Who is to say that Mike Tyson is the best boxer in the world? For all I know, he is just the boxer that King wants to win. Having watched the fight on Fox, I can't believe that Buster Mathis is really that pathetic. Is it possible that he was too scared to get up?
But really, can't we see that Don King got just what he wanted: Tyson won without getting too knocked around; the "fight" lasted a little while to tease the viewers into maybe subscribing to Tyson's next fiasco; and who knows how much money King made off of the fight (even including whatever sum of money he paid to Mathis).
All in all, I would pay any price to see Tyson go into the ring with King. Do you think King would be up to it?
Douglas King
Pittsburgh
Jim Brown should stop working for the Browns
Jim Brown is confusing me. He is against the moving of the Browns to Baltimore and he tells us this on television interviews. My one problem with this is he is still staying with the organization. If he really believes that this is a bad thing, than he should quit!He is one of the most powerful minds in football, and if people see that he does not believe in "franchise free agency," then he should quit!
Martin Tessler
Albany, N.Y.
Dolphins need to trade Cox
Is it time for Miami to trade Brian Cox? I just can't help but wonder if all the scuffling and fighting he gets himself involved in isn't more damaging to the team's morale than beneficial. Maybe he should be made to realize that being a leader involves a lot more than just being an enforcer.Robert M. Homan
Tokyo
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