NFL
There has been a lot of talk lately about the safety of the NFL game and the questioning over whether each and every big hit should be fined. Last week Troy Polamalu was very critical of how overprotective the league has become and likened the game now to flag football or two-hand touch. A "pansy" game, he said. Ironically, Polamalu suffered a concussion Sunday after a helmet to helmet hit.
Everyone has their opinions on the matter, but only one matters in my opinion: Ditka's.
Mike Ditka spent Wednesday at his alma mater, University of Pittsburgh, and advised the Big East leading Panthers to outwork and outhit your opponents to win. To that end, Ditka also addressed how football can rid itself of any violence.
"I said a long time ago if you want to change the game take the mask off the helmet," he said. "It will change the game a lot. If you want to change the game and get it back to where people aren't striking with the head and using the head as a weapon, take the mask off the helmet.
"A lot of pretty boys aren't going to stick their face in there. If you're going to take hitting out of football, you might as well just call it soccer. That's what I believe. A lot of people will be disappointed I said that, but football is what it is. [Vince] Lombardi said it a long time ago. Football is not a contact game. Dancing is a contact game. Football is a collision sport."
Amen.
10/24/08 | dallas_fan
Ditka has obviously never played soccer. There is plenty of contact, not at the level of football certainly, but there is still quite a bit of hitting going on. Add that to the fact that there are no plays off and you are basically running up and down a bigger field for two 45 minute halves.
10/23/08 | uptown7010
If the NFL ruled out facemasks the whole league would then look like mike. That would be a shame because he never won any beauty contest himself. HE LOOK LIKE HE PLAYED WITHOUT A FACEMASK.
10/23/08 | jonsteven | 1 respect
Ditka is a real man...The Bears and my fav team the Packers have the longest rivalry in the NFL.. a bitter rival but I have always respected him.. he is old school .. no wonder the NFC Central has always been called the Black and Blue Division.
10/23/08 | Noah_Hurrle | 10 respect
I think that they should get rid of the face masks and replace them with a some type of visor material ( the visor material that covers the runningbacks eyes so that the defense cant see where their eyes are going ) or some sort of material like that
10/23/08 | beerstudk | 1538 respect
Doesn't Chuck Norris wear Ditka pajamas??
10/23/08 | TheRealScore
Mike Ditka may be the coolest guy ever. I'd take Ditka vs. a level 5 Hurricane minus the points any day.
10/23/08 | derms33 | 17316 respect
I see his point, but I really don't think I need to see a bunch of guys gouging out eyes and sticking their fingers in another man's mouth
10/23/08 |
CriticalFanatic
Depends if the Hurricane is named Ditka. Then you've got a draw.
10/23/08 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
Hurricane Ditka, correct?
10/23/08 |
Boski93
|
375 respect
Do you really even have to ask that question?
10/23/08 | 100%InjuryRate | 1283 respect
Who would win a fight between Ditka and a hurricane?
10/23/08 |
kramer
|
10791 respect
He was back home to open up his new restaurant yesterday and I cracked up when I heard "call it soccer." It doesn't matter who you cheer for, you can't help but love Ditka.
10/23/08 | Chief_aka_James | 3286 respect
I may never be a fan of any team in Chicago; hopefully I will be able to visit the city soon enough, but I can still determine on my own that Ditka is king.