Tom Talks

There's no crying in baseball and no homecoming in the NFL

   Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams was angry that the GameDay program at FedExField Sunday featured the term HOMECOMING. It might have had to do with the Redskins bringing former stars back. About 150 former players were expected to attend, and 10 were honored. There was even a pre-game parade.

    It reminded Williams of college, when for homecoming schools schedule weak opponents unlikely to ruin the weekend's festivities.

    Williams spoke to his teammates about it before the game. If five straight losses didn't provide incentive to upset the Redskins, the Panthers had bonus motivation.

      The visitors won 21-13. No word on whether the homecoming dance was ruined.

 

 

Michael Jordan offers advice to Carolina Panther Cam Newton

    I've seen Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, at Carolina Panther games. I ask Jordan Thursday if he has advice for Cam Newton.

     From the perspective of an athlete? Jordan asks.

     "Yes," Jordan says. "Obviously he’s trying to put a lot of things on his back and that’s human nature. Sometimes when you expect so many great things you want to carry that burden yourself. And its virtually impossible.

      "He’s going to have to get the support of his team -- obviously the organization is supporting him --and grind through this. He’s got to look at himself in the mirror. Every leader in any scenario always must look himself in the mirror and say, 'Can I do more?'  or 'What can I do to enhance the scenario with my teammates to pull them along?' or do whatever I can to try to make the situation better.

      "That would be my advice. Look yourself in the mirror and say OK, evaluate what I'm doing, evaluate what needs to be done and see what I can do to help."

       I ask Jordan if he knows Newton.

      "He lives in my building," Jordan says.

       Or do you live in his?

       Says Jordan: "I was there first."