What To Do About Johnny Football

With less than three weeks remaining before the college football season begins (and can we all do a group hug and high five right quickly to celebrate that?), players and coaches all over the nation are in the final stages of getting things polished up before it's time to tee it up for that first "real" game of the 2013 campaign. 

Of course, this also includes College Station, home of Kevin Sumlin's Texas A & M Aggies, who were hoping last year's surprising 10-win introduction to the Southeastern Conference might lead to even bigger things this coming season......such as possibly even contending for a national championship behind a talented roster which includes sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel. Manziel, AKA "Johnny Football," is of course the returning Heisman Trophy winner after amassing an obscene set of numbers both passing and running to help guide the Aggies to a prolific season which included an upset of eventual national champion Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

But besides using fall practice to put the final touches on various Xs and Os strategy and personnel issues, Sumlin, no doubt, is also having to continuously keep up with his on-field "leader" (and I really use that term loosely with Manziel) and make sure he is not off selling autographs again, in jail or perhaps in a frat house fight somewhere. 

Unless you have been in a cave this off-season, then you are well aware that no athlete, other than maybe Alex Rodriguez, has been under the microscope more than Manziel, the ever cocky one.......And not many of the headlines regarding Manziel have been very pretty. 

Whether it be his misguided Twitter ramblings, his abrupt departure from the Manning Quarterback Camp, his drunken frat house adventures, his unflattering cover stories in both ESPN The Magazine and Sports Illustrated and now his alleged profiting from sales of his autographs, Manziel's image has been left basically in tatters and his escapades have also put a promising Aggie season in serious limbo. 

Various stories have alluded to Manziel's problems with alcohol and his temper, as well as an often defiant and entitled attitude. That defiance, as well as his apparent disregard for rules and authority, may come back to haunt him and his teammates if he is actually suspended for all or parts of the 2013 season because of his alleged dealings with autograph merchandisers. 

Of course many people have not been shy about quickly voicing their opinions about Manziel, with most of them characterizing him as a spoiled, rich, cocky brat.  I would tend to agree with many of those characterizations at this point. 

I would also say that Manziel has definitely appeared to live down to the stereotypes that many people tend to have of college students, especially frat boy types, in regard to his partying, his use of alcohol and his apparent disregard for responsibility and authority. Of course all college students do not fit this description, but unfortunately there are also plenty like Manziel who do embrace those stereotypes and in turn put a dark light on the college population in general. I think you probably already know by now from reading this how I pretty much feel about a lot of frat boy types, so it's probably best to just move on for now. Some frat boys are not that bad either, though.

While Manziel has pretty much made his own bed with his various actions and comments over the past few months, the people that you truly have to feel for in this whole soap opera are his parents, his teammates and his coaches. 

If you have read the compelling piece on Manziel in ESPN The Magazine by Wright Thompson, then you are aware of the concern expressed by Manziel's father and other people regarding his son's temper and alcohol use among other things. Of course many people might argue that Manziel's parents contributed heavily to their son's behavior by perhaps giving him everything that he ever wanted, but it is still a heartbreaking read in some ways. There is no doubt from reading the article that Manziel's parents love him dearly and are extremely worried about the road in which the superstar quarterback is possibly traveling. 

Then there are Sumlin, his coaching staff and the 2013 Aggie players.  These are the people who have dedicated themselves this whole offseason to fulfilling many of the huge expectations that the Aggie program has created for itself, but have had to deal with nothing but distraction after distraction from the student-athlete who is face of the program, and who is supposed to be the team's unquestionable leader. All Manziel has done, however, is portray himself as a stressed-out victim who is "only" 20-years-old. Sorry Johnny, I have known plenty of 16 and 17-year-old types who have demonstrated a lot more maturity than you have during the past few months. 

Of course, during the recent SEC Media Days in Hoover, much of the spotlight and media scrutiny was focused right there on "Johnny Football," and it grew ever tiresome watching Manziel trying to squirm out of responsibility for his actions, and justifying them because of his age. I have NO doubt that the other Aggies on hand at the media session were asked incessant questions about their quarterback, and I also have no doubt that his teammates have grown very weary, if not totally irritated and exhausted, about responding to inquiries about their misguided signal-caller. 

Now comes the question about what should happen to Manziel, if it is proven that indeed he did profit from the sale of his autographs. Of course some perhaps-insane journalist types have compared Manziel to iconic civil rights figure Rosa Parks in calling him the poster child for leading the movement for student-athletes to be paid. Of course this is absurd, as Manziel does not seem to be a poster child for anything other than deviant behavior.

Some have commented that they feel Manziel should not be suspended if the allegations are true about his being paid for his signatures, noting that perhaps a fine would be sufficient or that the case would be solved simply by Manziel or his family returning any money that he gained from the signatures. 

I know that many Alabama fans would love to see Manziel on the field on Sept. 14 at Kyle Field, as Nick Saban's Crimson Tide seeks payback for its only defeat during its national championship season of 2012.

I don't agree, however. No one can tell me that college athletes are not very well-versed about the issues of dealing with agents, boosters or anything that might translate into them profiting in any way. By the way, I am also TOTALLY opposed to college athletes receiving any type of income. They are already given numerous advantages, and plenty of luxuries  that their fellow college peers are not afforded, and this has always been the case. If they stay out of trouble, work hard and keep their noses clean, they will eventually have their opportunity to play for pay down the road.

If it is indeed proven that Manziel profited from the sale of his signatures, he should not be allowed to represent Texas A & M on the field, because it will then be apparent that the quarterback knew about the rules, but chose to defiantly disregard them. No player, no matter how important he is to his team, and how widely popular he is, is above the rules, and that is the message which should be sent. LSU coach Les Miles needs to think about that too if he is even thinking about allowing star running back Jeremy Hill to play in the Tigers' opener against TCU, if at all this season.

Preview Mags Give Hope To The Football Starved

Monday was shaping up just as another uneventful day in the life of the Stan Man, with yours truly catching up on just a few errands to pass the time on an off day from my actual paying job.

This included the always-fun ordeals of paying bills, hanging laundry and housecleaning, and I even managed to survive the muggy conditions to get in a one-hour walk without passing out or experiencing Galloping Sudden Death Syndrome. I am having to man up and get in at least one walk per day as I continue my continuous quest to become horribly gaunt while still taking on the fighting form of my distant mentor Vin Diesel.

After enjoying a Strawberry Kiwi Breeze from Smoothie King for lunch, I headed to complete my final errand of the day as it was time to stock up my pad with a few groceries.

I lumbered into the grocery store, and quickly found myself taking a hopeful, if not desperate, glance toward the magazine rack.

It was at that point that my eyes located a coveted prize that immediately caused fireworks to go off in my head, my knees to buckle just a tad and also caused my mind to drift toward love songs, romantic poetry, long walks on the beach and so much other fluff.

No, it was not the sight of a beautiful woman perhaps reading an issue of Cosmopolitan or Cat Fancy, nor was it someone headed toward me with a fresh new supply of Diet Sunkist.

At long last, it was  the appearance of the first shiny and glossy college football preview magazine on the shelves, with University of Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron gracing the cover of the Lindy's 2013 football special. There was also an Auburn edition of the same magazine, I guess for those who are less fortunate.   Of course I am kidding, but I digress.

 

For those of you who know me well, then you also know about my very unhealthy and quite possibly unstable fanaticism about all things college football, including football mags such as Lindy's and Athlon.

 

When these magazines begin to appear at local stores, it is the first official sign to me that college football is finally just around the corner, so as I skipped over to the magazine rack to secure my personal copy of the Lindy's preview book, I probably resembled a man who has been wandering a desert for days before finally locating his oasis. I am sure my eyes were bulging somewhat, and I may have felt some involuntary movement from a few of my joints. I think I actually foamed at the mouth a little too.

This is quite the situation, folks. I never said it was pretty.

Although I am also a huge college softball fan who finds himself currently riveted by the ongoing march to the Women's College World Series, this is the only thing that I really have to keep me fairly enthralled during this hot, steamy and mainly barren part of the sports calendar.

Being a Cubs fan of course means that my major league baseball season is over for the most part, although my young team is actually showing signs of being a pretty good team MAYBE two years down the road. The SEC baseball tourney is also about to begin, but I have little doubt that either Vanderbilt or LSU will have their way with this year's event at the Hoover Met.

I also have no real interest in the NBA playoffs, as to me pro basketball will never regain the magic that it had in the 1980s and 1990s, and I really have no rooting interest in any of the teams that remain in this year's edition of the postseason.

So really, until August arrives, and the beginning of fall practice for college football programs around the nation, I will have to rely on the college football mags and ESPN's College Football Live to fulfill much of my appetite until actual college and pro football games begin.....Did I mention that I am also a HUGE NFL fan as well?

Not to say that the spring and early summer has been totally devoid of intriguing football conversation

The NFL draft did not provide a whole ton of excitement, but a little intrigue anyway, such as the issue of where troubled projects such as Tyrann Mathieu and Manti Te'o would land, if indeed they were selected at all.

And various discussions about the upcoming college football playoff and the SEC Network  have football fans, especially for us in SEC Country, drooling about the endless possibilities for the mightiest football conference in the world, and how it could continue to dominate at least well into the immediate future.

It is also fairly entertaining to watch the jealousy toward Nick Saban and the UA football program continue to grow, evident by the increasing number of coaches that are now comparing Saban to Satan himself, and taking their shots at both Alabama and the SEC while the Crimson Tide and the conference continue to simply go about their business of accumulating more championship trophies.  These coaches include Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, who despite being one of the nation's highest paid coaches, really does not have much to show for that pay recently, and who really has not been relevant for several years.

When the magazines, however, begin to come out, that is when football fans can really get into the meat of actual predictions, schedules, rosters, key games and items such as that.

It also makes for great reading during those late summer trips to the lake or to the beach, and I am definitely looking forward to some quality reading out in the sun in just a few weeks from now when the Griffin family heads to Orange Beach for some much needed bonding and beaching.  Nothing like reading about football while listening to the waves and the seagulls.

Do not fear. Football is now OFFICIALLY just around the corner, and if you don't believe me, then just head to your nearest grocery store or bookstore.

Be loud and proud about it, as the football magazines are arriving!

And if you think that I am the only one who could possibly get this excited about something that others might find so insignificant and silly, then just ask my good buddy Matthew.

I think I just heard a shout of "Hallelujah!" from him, all the way from Pell City.

GUEST COMMENTARY DAY: Madie Taylor

Editor’s Note by Stan J. Griffin: I recently became friends with Madie Taylor via Facebook, and have gotten to know about her ultimate quest to become Miss Alabama, and also her love of sports. This especially includes her work with horses and Alabama football, and I am glad to know that she also shares my tendency to throw major temper tantrums during Alabama football games. She also has a good story of overcoming adversity, such as a major illness, to continue her quest of achieving some pretty major goals. I think you will find her story funny and touching at the same time. I appreciate her willingness to help. 

You might ask, what does a pageant girl have to do with sports? 

Aren’t they just afraid to break a nail, or mess up their hair? Well, that may be true for some. But definitely not true for me. I not only am a die-hard Alabama football fan. I also have a horse and train in jumping, and cross country four to six days a week. Needless to say, I am not scared of getting dirty.

In this blog, I will tell of two stories that are true and to me they are quite funny. The first, has to do with my love of the Crimson Tide.  The second has to do with my love of horses.
Let me first say, I do not have an anger problem. I know when I yell at the TV the players and coach cannot hear me. But it does make me feel better. 

Earlier that day of the game, I had been at a friend’s birthday party. So I wore my brand new Jessica Simpson heels. As the game started, it was going awesome! We were constantly scoring major points, our defense was kicking, and our offense was catching every pass.  But then, the opposing team started to make a comeback. I was outraged. This was supposed to be an easy team to beat! What was happening!? 

Because I kept standing up, and sitting back down on the couch, I decided to take my heels off. I put them on the couch beside me. There was a few minutes remaining in the game, and we were being brutally murdered. As I stood up in the remaining seconds of the game, I didn’t notice I had one of my heels in my hand. As that opposing team scored their last touchdown, I was so angry I threw my shoe! And the heel of my shoe, made a hole and was stuck in the wall! My friends decided from then on they would take my shoes away before we sat down to watch the game. And I was made fun of for the whole season. I even found it hilarious! If that doesn’t prove how much I love my team, I don’t know what will.

I am thankful to say, I no longer throw my shoes. Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer, Give ‘Em Hell Alabama!

 

My second love is to be outside on my horse, jumping and training. This day, it was gorgeous outside. It was just the right temperature, not too hot, not too cold. It was an amazing break from the thunderstorms we had been having the past three or four days. As we went into the ring, there were puddles of water everywhere. But I didn’t take much notice to it because of just how gorgeous the day was. 

My trainer that day was so happy with my horses and my performance, that she made the jumps larger. I was so stoked! My horse and I had never jumped this high before. We jumped one, two, three, four jumps perfectly! On the last jump I loosened my grip on the rains because of how well my horse was acting. 

As we jumped over the final hurdle, I saw that huge puddle on the other side. As we landed, my clumsy horse began to slip. Then I began to slip. As I hit the ground, I landed smack dab in the middle of that puddle that felt like a lake. I had mud everywhere on me! From my nose, to my toes. 

As I got up, I slipped again and fell. Sadly, this time it wasn’t in the puddle. It was right on top of where my horse decided to use the bathroom. My helmet, and face was now covered. 

I did not say a word, I handed my trainer my horse. And went straight to the hose we use to wash our horses. It took me at least three showers to get that smell off of me! My trainer then proceeded to come over and ask, “Why the heck did you fall???”.  
Now, if the ring is wet, we go ride in the field.

 

Now, let me tell you how these two things affected me and helped me in my journey to the crown of becoming Miss Alabama Teen USA 2014. 

I believe my love of the Crimson Tide shows just how much I adore Alabama. This is my home, and it always will be. I also believe that my commitment to having my own horse, working to pay for him myself, and sticking to my training shows just how much of a hard worker I am. I will not give up on my dreams. No matter who tells me I am not good enough, I know that the crown doesn’t make the queen. The heart inside of her does. I am a fighter, a lover, and a queen at heart. 

I am a fighter.

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, when I was 10. I went through three years of chemotherapy. I didn’t give up then, and I won’t give up now. 

My platform is Childhood Cancer Awareness. It is something no one wants to think about, but it is real. I want to put in place people like me, who have had cancer and have gone through it, to be able to talk to the children and parents, like mine, of children who had cancer, to talk to the parents who are going through it now. 

There is HOPE for a brighter tomorrow. I had to learn to walk again. I even had to learn how to hold a pencil again due to horrible reactions to the chemo I had to receive. 

 

But look at me now. I will not give up, I will not stop fighting, I will continue to work towards my dream of becoming Miss Alabama. 

 

                                    

 

                         If you would like to donate to help with my sponsorship fee you can do so online at:

                                                          http://www.missalabamausa.com/payment/

 

                                                                  All donations are tax deductible! 

 

This is a great way to promote your business! When you donate, you become one of my sponsors, and will be listed in the program book at the pageant. Think about hundreds of people seeing your name, or business and wanting to know just who you are. 
 

You can also choose to make an anonymous donation.

Thank you all so much! I wouldn’t be able to accomplish my dream without your help!

Love always,

Madie Taylor

Miss West Alabama Teen USA 2014

And future Miss Alabama Teen USA 2014!

Is This The End Of Tebow's Football Road?

Unless you are fans of the Florida State Seminoles or Nick Saban's current University of Alabama football dynasty, the 2013 version of the NFL Draft was about as exciting as Saturday night reruns of The Lawrence Welk Show. 

Of course for those respective schools, it was another milestone event as FSU had a school-record 12 players selected while the Crimson Tide had 9 players picked, the most since 1945 when Bama saw 10 standouts have their name called. 

It was also another big show of domination by the SECas it broke the record by a single conference as it had 63 players drafted. LSU also had 9 players selected.Just another reason for fans of the Big 10 and Big 12 to hate the most powerful football conference in the nation. 

Otherwise it was not the NFL's most spectacular week, as the draft was heavy on offensive and defensive linemen, and not many sexy Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III-type picks this year. The only real drama involved whether head cases and malcontents such as Manti Te'o and Tyrann Mathieu would even be selected at all.  

They were taken.....but I guess we'll just have to wait and see just how long and successful their careers actually are. Another less-noted mini-drama involved who would actually outtalk the other person on ESPN between Jon Gruden and draft expert/annoying figure Mel Kiper Jr.    I would call it a draw although I really enjoy listening to Gruden.

While the 2013 draft was mainly a dud, there was breaking news regarding one of the league's most divisive and controversial figures Monday, as the New York Jets finally showed a bit of compassion and released Tim Tebow. 

Of course, even this really cannot be called huge drama, as it was pretty much expected, with the Jets having accumulated six signal-callers on its roster before the former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida was finally sent packing. 

The only real question was when it was going to happen, and now the Jets face the reality of heading into camp still with nothing more than serviceable quarterbacks on its roster. 

Are they really going to bank their future on the very mediocre Mark Sanchez, even though they have invested a lot of dough in the former USC Trojan. Will they instead turn to veteran David Garrard or is former Bama quarterback Greg McElroy still an option at all? Or will the Jets actually give a real shot of leading the offense to newly-drafted Geno Smith from West Virginia, the subject of much scrutiny in the weeks leading up to the draft. 

I also wonder what the future holds for Tebow, and whether his NFL road has finally come to a sudden end.

It was obvious early last season that the Jets acquisition of Tebow was nothing but a publicity stunt by the inept Jets front-office cronies, and that was proven time and time again during another woeful campaign by Rex Ryan's squad. Ryan, by the way, is also another sports figure that I have little to no respect for, and as long as he is leading this club, drama and heartaches are sure to follow. Heartaches, I tell you!

All of us who have followed Tebow's career, from high school to the NFL, know that the fiercely competitive athlete was awesome as long as he was in systems that played to his main strengths, which are running and throwing on the run. These tools made him one of the most legendary high school and college quarterbacks ever. 

Other than a little magic with the Denver Broncos during the 2011 season, however, the NFL has been a different world for Tebow, as his inability to consistently function and produce in a standard NFL dropback passing system has resulted in mostly horrid numbers from the devout and outspoken Christian.

Of course saying all this, Ryan still had plenty of chances to at least give Tebow a chance to lead the Jets, considering the Jets were going nowhere fast, Sanchez was continuing to inspire zero confidence with his horrible play and McElroy got pummelled during his one start for the green and white. 

When it came to Tebow, however, lame excuses were all that we got from the coach, leading to reported tensions between Tebow and Ryan and probably leading to some justified resentment that Tebow may feel toward the franchise now. 

I personally wonder now if Tebow will ever receive another NFL shot following his release, and many are also speculating about whether he will have to settle for perhaps playing in the Canadian Football Leagueshould he insist on holding onto his coveted quarterback role. 

From the very time that he entered the NFL, and his flaws began to be exposed more and more, I began to feel that maybe he might have a long and successful career in the pros if he might consider moving to a fullback or tight end role or maybe some type of hybrid role that might involve both of those positions. He is such a gifted and physical runner, with a nose for the end zone, and I have no doubt that if he has any ability at all to catch the ball, he could present major problems for myriad opposing defenses. 

Apparently Tebow has already shown some resistance to a change in position, according to some NFL reports, and if this is true, I feel it is regrettable. 

Although I have no doubt that Tebow is every bit the Christian person he is portrayed as, and that he himself has proven himself to be with his extraordinary mission work among other things, all great athletes still have an air of confidence/ego, and I think that aids greatly in their ability to be successful. 

In this case, however, I hope Tebow will not be undermined by his level of confidence if he stays grimly focused on playing one position. 

I would hate to see him end up playing in Canada, although football legends such as Doug Flutie and Warren Moon had incredible careers in the Great White North. Still, Tebow is regarded as such a hero by many football fans in this nation. 

Of course there will always be a certain segment of people in our country that will also always hate him, due to the fact that he played for Florida, because of his sometimes-cocky nature on the football field or simply due to the fact that he is a very active and outspoken Christian. Unfortunately his religious convictions turn off a lot of people in our culture. 

Of course Tebow is not without other options if he is never given another shot to be an NFL quarterback, or if he opts not to take his talents to locales such as Canada. 

I have no doubt that he could jump right into missionary work, and change lives for the next 50 years or longer. He has a great heart and talent for that, and his parents have served as excellent example and role models for him if he elects to pursue such a role.

With his handsome looks and excellent speaking skills, he could probably also jump right into a broadcasting role and be a successful college or pro football analystfor many years. 

Despite some disappointments along the way, Tebow has also shown all of us that magic tends to follow him at times, and I seriously doubt that one totally forgettable season in New York will hold him down for long. 

I believe Tebow will land on his feet in a big way somewhere down the line, and I, for one, am pulling for that to materialize. 

"42" Another Sports Masterpiece

Ask anyone who knows me well to describe Stan the Man and they will probably classify yours truly as a charming, thoughtful and intelligent sort,  with a combination looks/strength package that can only be found in the likes of a Bruce Willis or Vin Diesel. 

OK, so nobody has actually quite described me in those terms.........LIKE EVER.....NOT IN MY LIFETIME.  I do like to think of myself as mostly manly, however, as I can lift 50 pounds with not much of a struggle, can change a tire (with some assistance) and can kill most any type of bug. But sit me down to watch any sports movie and it's a totally different story.  Like my good friend Adam Stocks of Pell City said, I suddenly turn into a weepy, 67-year-old woman. 

Whether they admit it or not, every guy probably has somewhat of an emotional or sensitive side.  I freely admit that I have a big heart, and it usually shows when I am watching an iconic sports flick such as The Natural, Rudy, Hoosiers, Remember the Titans or We Are Marshall. 

So I pretty much knew what I was in for this past weekend when I went to see 42, the biopic by Brian Helgeland celebrating Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, and his turbulent journey toward breaking the color barrier of the National Pasttime.  Today, by the way, is the 66th anniversary of Robinson's grand achievement, which is why all big league players  are wearing the No. 42 on their respective jerseys for today's games. 

As expected, the movie brought tears to my eyes, especially during a triumphant home-run trot late in the movie by Robinson, played in superb fashion by Chadwick Boseman,  but what was even better for me is that the movie not only lived up to the really good reviews that preceded Friday's official opening date, but actually surpassed them. I, with no hesitation, can say that 42 is already in the class with any sports film I have ever seen, and this includes baseball wonders such as The Natural, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and Eight Men Out among others. Obviously the good word spread quickly about Helgeland's masterpiece as the movie opened up as No. 1 in the box offices in its first week. 

Of course when a director begins to pursue doing any type of sports movie, especially one that addresses such a significant point of history, not only for the sport of baseball, but such a pivotal one for our nation's history period in terms of racial progress, it is interesting to see whether the story will be clouded out and overshadowed by Hollywoodism, hokey cliches and "artistic license."

There is no doubt that any type of sports movie produced on a huge scale is going to have its share of dramatic cliches, thunderous music and spectacular production, camera angles and special effects. This movie is no different in that regard.

What is refreshing, however, about 42 is that Helgeland allows most of the story of this movie to be told through the great acting of a superb cast and the very realistic baseball action scenes shot in historic venues such as Chattanooga's Engel Stadium and Birmingham's Rickwood Field. 

While Boseman should be praised and awarded for his expert portrayal of the legendary and iconic Robinson, equal praise should also go to Harrison Ford for his excellent work as Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who brings Robinson to the big leagues despite the tumultuous waves of racial disharmony and segregation that still rocked the nation especially during the 1940s and 1950s. Robinson's debut was on April 15, 1947.

Of course Ford is an icon in his own right, having played legendary roles such as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and also having starred in so many other classic such as The Fugitive, Clear and Present Danger,  Air Force One and Witness. 

The movie 42, however, may prove to be one of the longest lasting testaments to Ford's acting greatness as he puts forth an emotional, realistic and powerful turn as the innovative figure who helped to change the face of baseball forever. His performance is even more impressive when you read interviews with the actor, who admitted he knew nothing about Rickey until he read the movie's script,and really is not even all that familiar with the game of baseball. 

While Boseman and Ford largely carry the movie, the supporting cast that includes Nicole Beharie (Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson's wife), Christopher Meloni (Leo Durocher), Lucas Black (Pee Wee Reese), Andre Holland (Wendell Smith) and Alan Tydyk (Ben Chapman) also contributes heavily during many pivotal scenes of the film. 

Of course even the greatest set of effects, scripts, shooting locales and actors are of little value if there is not a good story to tell.

Helgeland is to be first commended for having the vision and courage to put a modern spin on the story of Jackie Robinson, as the tale of this baseball pioneer had not been produced in movie form since Robinson portrayed himself in The Jackie Robinson Story in 1950. 

Secondly, he is to also be  lauded for writing a script and putting together a cast which would deliver the story of Robinson's achievements in a realistic, respectable and classy manner.  Helgeland achieved all of the above in fine form, and for that, all of us who love baseball, sports or just good, well-acted and well-scripted films are winners for being able to enjoy this instant classic. 

Admittedly, it is not always an easy story to digest, as the overriding theme of racism that Robinson had to endure on a daily basis, even from some of his own teammates, obviously comprises a huge portion of the film.  

But one of the greatest elements of a great sports movie is the portrayal of a figure, or a team that is able to overcome numerous obstacles to achieve greatness. The film does a compelling job in showing how the taunts that Robinson faced not only helped him to become a stronger person and athlete in the end, but also how it helped to eventually bring his team closer together and how it helped teammates such as Reese  to not only accept Robinson as their teammate but also as their friend.  

You have to hand it to those Hollywood types in that regard as they know just how to work your heartstrings, and it always works, whether it be Field of Dreams when John Kinsella asks his dad for a game of catch, in Rudy when Sean Astin's Rudy Ruettiger finally makes it on the field, make a big play and later gets carried off the field while his family watches in legedary Notre Dame Stadium, and in 42, when Reese puts his arms around Robinson and tells him that the whole team may just wear the No. 42 the next day so other teams won't be able to tell them apart. 

The flair for the dramatic, those warm and fuzzy moments, a great script, a great cast and action between the lines that actually looks realistic and believable.

It takes all of the above to produce a classic sports movie that will stand the test of time.

Fortunately 42 has all of the above ingredients, and I look forward to seeing it again many times in the future.