the 4th star

Something is missing here, isn’t it?

I mean, if Barrin Simpson reacts in this knee-jerk way upon being told by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers that he’s going to be used in a rotation in his linebacker spot, doesn’t that send a red flag up the pole that suggests there’s something more to the story? It doesn’t make any sense. Reputations are everything and being labeled a selfish player does not help you in the court of public opinion.

So why would a player take this measure? Why head out on that ledge? Reputations fall.

As it was pointed out to me through an email today, and partially through a conversation with a *former* colleague tonight, I’m just as speculative as these people and my conclusions are just as baseless as my flight to Calgary to watch the Bombers play in the Grey Cup come November. That’s partially right, of course. I am on the outside now, not in the room. My thoughts are based on putting together what I reads, what I hear, and what those on the inside care to share. It not first hand news, but it’s not first hand filter, either.

Which can be a good thing.

So when I first heard Simpson wanted out, I thought this was Mike Kelly’s latest creation, pure and simple. A day late, but this was his weekly distraction — another product of the Master of Disaster. From what I knew about Simpson, he was as stand-up as they come, a guy with an endless motor on the field. Connecting the dots, it was simple to draw a circle around Kelly and his continued bungling of everything football and public relations. I mean, this was the same guy who thought it was a good idea to bring Pacman Jones to the River City. See how close together those big dots are? So easy to draw a line, isn’t it?

Things aren’t as they seem, though.

- The legendary Bob Irving reported today that this is not the first time has asked the Bombers for a trade upon hearing the news he wouldn’t be on the field full-time. He did it last season, too, and quoted Lyle Bauer on the subject. Interesting precedent set.

- Players who put themselves in the ‘play me or trade me’ category and say they are not selfish, usually are selfish. Even if you want to ignore the methodology in the previous sentence, Simpson takes a reputation hit in Naylor’s story today. No matter how you slice it.

Again, I have to ask the question: Given the bad position a player is willing to put himself in, is there more to this story than we really know? Look at Derick Armstrong’s case. These guys aren’t this stupid. There has to be a bigger reason to effectively end your career like this.

- Maybe Simpson really doesn’t want to be part of a rebuilding team?
- Maybe his contract is loaded with bonuses and by not playing every down he will have no chance to met that bonus money criteria? The smart money is on this one.
- Maybe he really hates Mike Kelly. Lots of people do, don’t forget?
- Maybe he really does feel like he’s not being used effectively. Judging from the 3-6 record, a lot of players could make that argument?
- Maybe there’s a situation on a much bigger, cultural level. Was he wearing hip-hop clothes and a disagreement ensued? Oh no. It wasn’t black socks, was it? WHITE SOCKS, BARRIN! WHITE SOCKS!
- Maybe he never got his chance at quarterback?
- Maybe he was sickened by the way the club handled Stefan LeFors this season?
- Maybe the real answer will never come. And that’s fine. I just have a hard time believing that a talented player who is among the team leaders in tackles would bury himself on the simple premise that he’s not getting enough playing time.

It has to be more than football. It just doesn’t make any sense.

This past summer has been all about the money. There was the unrestricted free agent *frenzy.* That was around the same time the Phoenix Coyotes financial problems came into the spotlight, when BlackBerry billionaire Jim Balsillie threw his two cents into the fray and the league kept talking out of both sides of its mouth. You know, the place they seem reluctant to put their money in.

Screwed up contracts — both legitimate Chicago fuck-ups and the over-spending variety — became commonplace, and some players decided to gamble on the bigger payday in Russia. Terms like “escrow” and “cap numbers” came to be a part of the conversation, too. Then there was even more change — and even less sense — from Patrick Kane, who allegedly tag-teamed a Buffalo cab driver with his cousin over 20 cents.

It seems talk of climbing out of this recession has put money on the mind and our mind on the money, so in the spirit of cash, let’s take a look at all 21 teams 30 teams as training camps get set to fire up this month. Like most financial ventures, some teams will offer a greater return than others.

DETROIT RED WINGS

Central Division
2008-09 record: 51-21-10, first in the division, second in the conference
Cap space: over by about a million bucks

Tip sheet:
Todd Bertuzzi will never score 20 goals again…I still can’t believe the Red Wings lost Game 7…Why does everyone keep saying Steve Yzerman is going to replace Ken Holland? The guy has done a masterful job. Holland has earned Scotty Bowman-like status — he should be afforded the respect of telling people when he wants to leave…That big purple octopus is lame…Nik Lidstrom should have his number retired as soon as he decides to retire. Maybe even before.

Fun fact:
Chris Osgood only makes $1.45 million this year.

You should really invest in this club because…
Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. You already know why so I’m not going to tell you.

The bottom will fall out with…
Osgood. As money has he was in the post season (again), being told to leave the team during the season to re-evaluate your game is never a good addition to the resume. At least they’ve invited Dan Cloutier to training camp.

Key acquisition:
Bertuzzi. It will be key for him to not screw up the chemistry on this club. Guessing if it doesn’t work out in Detroit, that might be the end of Big Bert in the NHL.

Bottom line:
Forever a Top 3 team in the league. Pencil them in for a conference final berth for the rest of your life.

Let’s see…what’s it going to be…how about a little Samiam today? Sounds good. I usually don’t like posting a video with no actual action to it, but an exception will be made in this case. After all, when the band is this good and the cover song is so fuckin’ catchy, how can you not go with it? It would be criminal to come across this and then not feature it.

Truth be told, I couldn’t find the song I wanted. It’s somewhere within these borders. Here’s another from Astray, though. Rock solid. Do yourself a favour and pick that album up. Download the bitch, whatever. Unbelievably tight. Water tight. Consider yourself served. Hard to believe that came out nine years ago, eh.

Here’s one more. Back when Jason Beebout had hair.

So long, so long…