The Morning According to Us

In sports, we're united, right?

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Fisher's reign is nearing 16 years.

Welcome back, friend!

We could see you were a bit busy there, bogged down in politics and such. We know it's equally confusing, too. I mean, talk about mixed messages? In 2004, a guy won with a percentage of 51% to 48% and the media told us we were mired in the depths of polarity. Then yesterday a guy won 52% to 47% and we are bombarded with the news that we've united! Well, maybe this is like sports, where the explanation is more of a determination of how the messenger feels than what's real.

Welcome back to a world where our "experts division" sometimes tells us that strength is in stability, and a couple disastrous years shouldn't cause despair. Of course, for Jeff Fisher, this meant a good sales pitch when in 2004 and 2005 he went 5-11 and 4-12, respectively. How can a person learn from mistakes if only half the time is spent fixing them, the other half politicking for a chance to see the cure through?

In other systems, the reasons for success seem to be the opposite: Make a head coach feel perpetually insecure, knowing he must perform, and regularly, to keep his job.

So which is correct? After all, The Titans have zero titles during Fisher's reign, but coaches like Brian Billick with a Super Bowl to their name have been booted. Jerry Jones has won more than one as an owner, though to coach the Cowboys is to gallop inches ahead of his axe. Stability? Not here. Maybe, like it is for the voting public, it's more just a matter of feel. Sometimes you expect to do poorly, and can live with it. Sometimes you are good, but not good enough, and the excuses aren't enough.

Ultimately, it's just where you are. Personal dogma matters little in the examination of one man, and it matters completely in the examination of another.

"We need to unite under a new direction," a general manager or owner will say.

Many of you will agree. Many of you won't. And then, when you finally do win, some will love the man that brought you there, some will lament that the man who laid the foundation couldn't be here to do it himself.

And you'll be united.

Elsewhere…

He built a Lamborghini in his basement! Now he needs to move the house to get the damn thing out.

The Japanese are worried that Obama's win will mean Chicago gets the Olympics. (They should know a good number of the over-taxed people in Chicago don't even want the hassle.)

Olympic champ is an audacious man. He's asking Terminator for a fight!

People are finally learning how to Tiger-proof a course. Don't make it longer, silly! Make it shorter! The Masters folks are learning.

A 73-year-old dude scores two points in a college game. Too old to be President, though!

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