Jim Rome

Didn’t See This Coming When JRIB Debuted

If you had told me 8 years ago, when JRIB debuted, that I’d be leading my last JRIB episode later today with Peyton Manning getting run out of Indy, I would have (laughed in your face). He had rattled off 5 consecutive 4000 yard seasons, was just named the league MVP and was halfway to getting his yellow blazer and becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. Believe me, one day, he would let the Colts know he was done with them; they weren’t going to tell him jack.

Or so I thought. Because 8 years and 1400 plus JRIB episodes later, the icon is about to get kicked out of the house he built. After seeing he and owner Jim Irsay trade blows in the media this week, not only is this over, it’s ending terribly... Whatever slim chance Manning had of returning to the team vaporized in the series of nuclear bombs Irsay dropped on him yesterday. He cracked Manning for being a “politician” and then blasted him for not keeping it in house after his sit-down with the Indianapolis Star News. That’s pretty rich: a loose cannon owner with a Twitter account busting his icon up for not quote, keeping it in house. And so is Irsay using his Chuck Pagano introductory presser to smoke Manning. And Manning, being the politician Irsay says he is, smartly moved to defuse the situation instead of escalate it. Sharp. He has more than just a pair of jeans to pimp and doesn’t want his rep and brand damaged the way Brett Favre’s were.

Photos: Peyton

So he got off a nice, passive - aggressive shot saying, “I wasn’t trying to paint the Colts in a bad light, but it’s tough when so many people you’ve known for so long are suddenly leaving. I feel very close to a lot of these guys and we’ve done great things together. It’s hard to watch an old friend clean out his office. That’s all I was trying to say.” Again, very political: very tactical and very smart: like, I don’t want to leave. I don’t want anything to change. I love this place. And want it to be exactly the way it’s always been, where we go to the playoffs every single year. But dad gum it, Jim doesn’t want me back and he’s fired everyone else in the building. So I really don’t know what to do. Slick. Manning will come out on top in the battle for public opinion, but Irsay has a business to run. And he’s making the right business decision. It’s just too bad it had to play out like this publicly. But these things usually do. And while 8 years ago, I would have never seen this coming, I probably should have.

Dirk Shuts It Down And Heads Home

Dirk Nowitzki was nursing a trick knee last night and was in streets for the Mavs-T-Wolves, but still had one of his best performances of the season. Maybe even of his Hall of Fame career.

Photos: Dirk

Because while Dirk wasn’t on the floor, he was on the air and on the mic. Dirk threw on the cans and joined the broadcast just in time to see Jason Terry underhand a lob to Brandan Wright in the second quarter. Then Dirk blew up the broadcast. And brought down the house. If you didn’t see it, you’er about to. And you’re going to be very happy. Ohhhh!! Shut it Down!!! Let’s Go Home!

He’s right. Never mind that it was just the second quarter of a game that the Mavs were blown out of: it’s not going to get any better than that. And while Dirk’s knee may be jacked, his pipe is just right. My man was having a party on the bench. It’s like Gus Johnson was suddenly 7 feet tall. And German. Dirk is the best. He should do color commentary for every game he doesn’t play in. Then come back and run the floor with one of those headset mics and call the game he’s playing in, Globetrotter’s style. Then bring the house down with some Hoff at halftime And then drop his own calls on his own daggers: oohh! Shut it down! Let’s go home.

When you think of legendary play by play catchphrases, you think of Marv Albert’s Yes! And Gus Johnson’s Rise and Fire! Well, you can now add Dirk Nowitzki’s Shut it Down! Let’s Go Home to that list.

Peyton’s Future In Indy

Yeah, I don’t think that interview Peyton Manning gave to the local paper last week did anything to turn the tide in his favor. In fact, it looks as if it may have boomer-ranged on him completely. With the naming of Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano as their new head coach, it would appear that the Colts are now done “evaluating” Manning. And he thought that joint was a bad place to heal, before. I don’t think you need to be Robert Langdon to crack this code and realize a legend is about to get whacked.

Owner Jim Irsay has talked about drafting a q.b. the dudes who put this team together, Bill Polian and his kid were run. Then Manning’s coach Jim Caldwell was told to hit the bricks. And so was the strength and conditioning coach Manning does his rehab with. Then Irsay gets loose on Twitter by reminding everyone he paid Manning $26 mill last year to stand off to the side. And now they hire a defensive minded head coach. Does any of this sound or look like they want Manning back? They’ve ripped everything he’s familiar with, from him. This is a total rebuild; are they going to do all that and just stop at the most important spot on the field? When they’re justing waiting for April 26 to get here so they can draft the heir apparent? Doubt that.

Photos: Peyton

The only question now is whether or not Manning is willing to end his career in someone else’s uniform. Because it’s pretty clear it won’t be in Colts gear.

The Battle For L.A. Has Never Been So Good

LA Lakers v. LA Clippers. 6 T’s. 1 Flagrant. 1 Ejection. 1 Head Pat. 1 Shoulder Bump. 1 MMA Grapple. And 2 teams under one roof that are really getting sick of one another. The Lakers and Clippers feel like the roommates that hate each other, but can co-exist because they have opposite schedules. You know, they rarely see each other, their clocks are different, the rent gets paid and they make it work. But on that rare occasion when they do run into one another, it gets ugly fast. And it did. That may have been the best January NBA game ever. Banging, bleeding, jawing, the battle for L.A. has never been this good.

Photos: Kobe

Photos: CP3

Look, this is still a Laker town, and always will be. But make no mistake, this is now a legitimate rivalry, and for the first time ever, the Lakers needed and wanted this one as badly as the Clippers did. That was pretty apparent when Metta World Peace actually made an appearance…, going to the floor in the third quarter, working for side control and trying to get Blake Griffin in a Kimura lock. That was the first time all season I’ve looked at Peace and thought ‘table leg’; thought maybe the cat had changed his name back and just not told anyone. Peace may not be able to bring the (Queensbridge) every night or even once a week anymore, but it’s nice to see a little of the bridge in the building.

Photos: Blake

Photos: Pau

You know, who on that Laker squad who will go: Peace will go. Matt Barnes will go. Even Kobe Bryant will go. What you usually don’t see, though, is classy, sophisticated Pau Gasol running his mouth or getting caught up in anything. But there he was after the win, bumping his gums and patting Chris Paul on the head as if to say, “its ok, little buddy. Don’t be sad: you’ll get it next time.” Get them next time? Paul looked like he wanted to fight Gasol right then and there. And if he had a ladder, he probably would have: quote: “he touched the top of my head and I didn’t like that. You know what I mean, I don’t know if Pau’s got kids, but don’t touch my head like I’m one of your kids. I don’t know what his intentions were, like, ‘I’ll treat him like little Chris’ I don’t know if he’s got kids, but I’m not one of them.” Pau says CP3 has it all wrong: “I’m sorry he felt that way. I do that all the time with my teammates. Nothing mean about it.” Right. And nothing respectful about it either. And I love it. That’s the way it should be; two teams sharing the same building, who hate each other’s guts.

You know it’s personal when Laker honk Andy Garcia is flashing the choke sign at the Clippers when it’s over. And Clipper honk Laverne is in a huge funk baseline. This is still a Laker town; and that’s still a Laker joint: but little bro is coming fast.

Help Me Help You Antrel

Every Super Bowl week has a breakout media star; the one guy who not only doesn’t resent being asked questions, but can’t wait for them to start flying. Every Super Bowl has one. And the early money this time is on Giant Antrel Rolle... and unlike the Hood; Rolle had no trouble sharing his thoughts on the last time these two played for the title: "I watched it in Brazil. There was only one place where I was that was showing the game. I was standing on top of two bar stools, and probably a midget was under me, who knows."

Photos:Antrel

Who knows is right... Who knows what that even means… Who knows where he was going with that. I just know if the cat is that inappropriate the week, before Super Bowl week, we finally have a reason to check out Media Day again. How about his response to being asked about his time with the Cardinals: "I didn't even know Arizona before I got drafted there. The Cardinals? I'm like, Jerry Maguire?" Yeah, just like Jerry Maguire. Don’t you remember those legendary battles you and Rod Tidwell used to have in practice? You know you owe Tidwell for making you the player you are right now, A.

Look, nothing will ever touch Shannon Sharpe v. Ray Buchanan and his dog collar prior to Super Bowl 33. But Antrel is going to try. A couple of weeks from now, I’d love to put you ahead of those two. But you’re the one who has to bring the goods.

Help me, help you.

Tiger’s Season Opening Presser

Tiger Woods says he’s feels better now than he has in years, and it looks as if he may have finally turned the corner. Of course, no one really wanted to talk much about that at his season opening presser in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Reporters were more interested in his thoughts on Hank Haney’s book about him. A book Woods has already called “unprofessional.” Let’s just say the cat wasn’t exactly the consummate professional in addressing those questions. His responses included, “No”. “I don’t know.” “One might say that.” And “I think I’ve answered all the questions already on that.”

Photos: Eldrick

Think again, E. You’re just pulling up to the driving range. Wait until the book actually drops, right before The Masters, and the media has had the chance to read it cover to cover. And starts citing passages. Answered all the questions? You haven’t answered any of them yet. And every time you bristle and go one word answer, Hank sells another hundred books. And if he makes a mint writing about you and golf, how long before someone knocks out a book about the things everyone really cares about. Namely, everything else.

Lighten up, Cat: it will be never be the way it used to be. Just do what you’ve never done in your life and try to roll with it.

Raiders Hire A New Head Coach

One of my favorite days ever, is when the Raiders hire a new head coach. No one does it like the Raiders. Whether it’s a 32 year old John Madden, or a 31 year old Lane Kiffin or my man, Arthur Shell, you just never know what you’re going to get from the Silver and Black.

Take their last hire: remember when Al Davis tossed the keys to Hue Jackson and got off this gem: “the fire in Hue will set a flame that will burn for a long time in the hearts and minds of the Raider football team and the Raider nation.” If by a long time, he meant exactly, 12 months, that inferno within Hue flamed eternally. And they’ve done it again. The Raiders went outside the family to hire GM Reggie McKenzie: and he just went outside the family and tapped Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to be his coach. And then millions of people Googled him up because they had no idea who he was.

But they should. Remember Tebowmania? Made a few waves. Spiked a few page views. Turned a few heads. And stomachs. Well, Dennis Allen was as responsible for Tebowmania as Tim Tebow was. Allen coordinated that defense that kept Tebow and the offense close enough every week for Tebow to show up late and rip “W’s. So I can see why the Raiders did this: I just hope they know that while Allen will be bringing his system and philosophy with him, he won’t be bringing Elvis Dumervil, Von Miller and Champ Bailey.

Look, we know the Raiders, will have speed offensively and look to go vertical: but it’s good to see they’re finally looking to knock people out on the other side of the ball. And best of all, they got all Raider with it, by taking a chance on a young, unproven commodity. Let’s just hope the fire in Dennis will set a flame that will burn longer than the one in Hue did.