Over the past several years we have had preseason games in Europe. The
NFL was trying to get the Europeans more interested in American
Football versus the European “futbol” known better to us as soccer. A
league was formed called the NFLE (National Football League Europe),
and it was mainly used as a minor league to develop players who were
not yet up to speed to play in the NFL here in the States.

When it was first formed, the commissioner was Paul Tagliabue who was
pushing heavily for the development of the new European league. He had
convinced the NFL owners to fork over one million per team to support
this offshore league. When Roger Goodell took over as commissioner, he
wasn’t as keen on this idea, so the league folded. But, this weekend
we have a regular season game scheduled in London.

Okay, here’s my point. The retired players pension and disability
benefits. Can you imagine the new influx of revenue that will be
coming to the NFL from the international television rights? It’s going
to be staggering. Will the owners still balk at putting more money
into the retired players’ fund to help bring the NFL benefits up to par
with the other professional sports? That’s the question! As they get
richer, will they remember the players that helped build the NFL so
that it could grow into the international sport it has become? We
shall wait and see.

Okay people, here’s what’s up for the next two weeks.  I’ve been
selected by a panel of prestigious film makers in Europe to be a judge
at the 2008 Sitges International Film Festival, an annual festival held
in Sitges, Spain.  Sitges is a resort seaport town just south of
Barcelona.

There will be more than 100 films, both U.S. and foreign.  I’ll keep
you informed of the difficult task I have before me while being wined
and dined in Spain.  Eat your hearts out!

What a season, so far.

The Giants have a franchise player, Plaxico Burress, who comes to
practice when he wants.

The Bills’ safety, Whitner, is pissed because the Raiders were
show-boating after they beat them.  Hell, he should be more pissed that
they lost to the lowly Raiders.

The Steelers QB, Big Ben, is spending more time on his butt than
standing up every time he goes back to pass.  The big bet seems to be
will he, or won’t he, finish the season?

The Pats are a deep threat with all pro receivers, but no once can
throw a pass past 20 yards.  Deep threat gone!

What is it with Tampa Bay?  They threw the ball 67 times in a game -
who do they think they are, the Colts?

I think the humidity in San Francisco has something to do with the
slippery ball - the 49ers have lost five fumbles so far.  How low can
you go?

The Bengals have tackled the opposing quarterback for a sack only once
so far this season.  Is that a sad sack, or what?

The Chiefs, man, you’ve got to be bad to let the Raiders beat you.  The
Chiefs have lost 12 regular season games consecutively.  Wonder what
the pep talk in the locker room is like.

What?  The Raiders lost to the Chargers.  Could it be?  The Chargers
are finally on the right track, the one they were predicted to be on.

What an unpredictable season this is turning out to be.

Did you see the fight between Sugar Shane Mosley and Mayorga?  It was
an okay fight.  Sugar knocked out Mayorga in the last 15 seconds of the
last round.

Okay, he won, but I’ve noticed a different Sugar in his last few
fights.  That killer instinct is missing.  He used to throw crushing
body blows to his opponent - I mean he used to swing with his whole
body - and if he missed the breeze would hurt.  Now, he’s content to
throw a punch and fall into the arms of his opponent.  Not the Sugar of
old, he would never clinch.  Now, clinching is part of his plan.  He is
slowly becoming a boring fighter.

You can hear is father giving him the advice of old..  “Throw body
punches, jab more…” all of which Sugar did very little of.

He won, I guess that’s the bottom line.  But I kept feeling he was
going to be knocked out in that fight.  Too many right hands were
finding their marks on Sugar’s face.  Something is missing in Sugar.
I’m a fan, so hope he finds whatever is missing before a championship
fight and then he can retire, no matter what the outcome.  Go Sugar.