By Zack Cimini

The end of the road had come for Emmitt Smith, and rather than fade out on a bad note he decided to do what was best for his career. His final two seasons in Arizona is only a direct link to the addition of free agency. More and more great players have to finish their career elsewhere, and it doesn?t mean that their original team was disloyal. Sports is a business more now than ever, and that means there are going to be some tough decisions to accommodate the salary cap.

When Emmitt Smith sported a Cardinals jersey the past two seasons it was merely to show the pride and enjoyment he had to play football. His heart still was truly in Dallas, and he will always be remembered as a Cowboy. It may seem like many ages ago, but there was a time when everyone was on the Cowboys band wagon, and Emmitt Smith jerseys were seen worn everywhere. The sudden rise of the Cowboys from a struggling franchise in 1989, all turned around when the Cowboys added Smith in 1990. They won three Super Bowls, and were thought to be the last true dynasty team.

Today athletes love to gloat and showboat their wealth and celebrate insanely when they score a touchdown. Not once has Emmitt Smith portrayed himself above anyone, even though he had distinguished himself with greatness from the start of his career. His records are records because he has been almost immortal his entire career. He never suffered a serious injury, but yet maintained his strength and speed for the majority of his career. The bruising style of the NFL tears apart most running backs by the time they are in their late 20?s and early 30?s.

Of course Smith did have a great offensive line that probably saved his body a lot of unwarranted damage. So will Smith?s records be shattered in the near future? It?s hard to say but even at that it would take some considerable amount of time to happen, because of the separation of careers to the youth in the NFL. Just take a look at the NFL, and almost every team has a running back in the youth or prime of their careers. It?s just the way the NFL operates now, to keep their offense up to standard and non-sluggish.

One thing that will set Smith from others is the way he carried himself. He has always been a class act in front of the camera, and cherished every opportunity he had. When Dallas and Jerry Jones wanted to look elsewhere at running back and started giving Troy Hambrick more carries, you?d think Smith would have went nuts with the super star me syndrome. Instead he took on the reduced role with the same importance, and his classic record breaking run against Seattle symbolized that.

The non-sense jargon that athletes talk and display is sometimes inappropriate yet puzzling that it continues to be acceptable. Smith never made any comments unjustified, and talks in the proper manner that an old colonist settler would have appreciated. His education in college definitely didn?t go to waste, and surely he?ll be a successful person outside of football.

Smith is one of those great players that comes around once every five years or so, and will be an automatic first ballot inductee into the Hall of Fame. Another great chapter has come to a close for NFL history.

By Zack Cimini

Before Marc Bulger took over the reigns in St. Louis, Joe Germaine had his opportunity. Opportunities come and go, and Germaine wasn?t able to take advantage of his starts, and quickly was brushed off by the Rams. The NFL may have the main entr?e for fans, but more and more athletes are finding the same equivalent in Arena Football. The style of play has quickly drawn interest to a relatively new sport, and is now even being picked up by NBC.

The Arizona Rattlers are a team that has lost three straight Arena Bowl championships, and still have the main ingredients of their mid nineties teams in Sherdrick Bonner and Hunkie Cooper. Both are aging, and this could be their last shot to achieve their ultimate goal. Already though, Bonner?s body is suffering early as he is unable to play for Thursday?s home opener for the Rattlers. That means that 30 year old Joe Germaine will get his first start for the Rattlers.

He is in prime position to make the most of his starts, and open the eyes of the Rattlers organization for the future. It?s almost the same type of environment he was in with the Rams, but was unable to compose himself in a well manner. This is the same quarterback that was MVP of the 1997 Rose Bowl, so all the tools are there. At 30 years old his chances of making back into the NFL are slim, but he could finish out his football career with a solid five to six strong seasons as an Arena Football quarterback.

What would you rather be, a lifetime NFL backup quarterback or a star in the Arena league? Obviously the aforementioned, and more athletes that are riding the pine in the NFL are starting to realize that. Suprisingly that doesn?t necessarily mean that you?ll be successful, as MarTay Jenkins was recently cut by the Rattlers. Jenkins the third receiver on the Cardinals roster a few seasons ago had a great contract year and was a free agent pickup to bolster the Falcons receiving corp. He never lived up to expectation and fell off in Atlanta, and now can?t even find himself in Arena Football.

The faster pace of the arena league definitely suits a quarterback. The field is shorter, so they are able to see the field even better. There really is no time to act and think accordingly on drives, because they usually are two to five plays. A lot of times a quarterback in the NFL has a mental breakdown and can?t sustain an effective long drawn out drive. In the arena league a quarterback can wing it, and if he makes a mistake it?s not that detrimental because the team can make it up with one pass, one run, and even one kick from anywhere on the field.

Americans love football, and it?s great to see a change over in the same sport right when the NFL is concluding. It?s a great strategic plan by the arena league, and will only continue to grow its fan base yearly.

By Zack Cimini

Whatever happened to an athlete being ecstatic with the merit of being an all-star athlete? Five to ten years ago when an athlete earned an All Star or Pro Bowl spot, it was looked at highly upon the rest of the league and its professionals. Lately though, athletes will forgo the past standard, and shake it off by declining the invitation.

Being injured is an excellent reason to sit out the Pro Bowl game. The overwhelming amount of treatment an athlete needs just to perform weekly, requires a considerable part of an athletes daily routine. If an athlete can go through the rigorous regimen a whole season, than why can?t they do it for one more game? The whole purpose for an all-star event is to keep the sports fan based interested and entertained. Besides a sports championship and playoffs, there isn?t as much devoted media attention to a sporting event than the yearly all-star game.

It?s mind boggling how a player can accept an all-star spot and pull out just a few weeks before the game. All of these athletes know a good month or two ahead of time that they are selected. If they don?t want to play, they should save themselves the embarrassment of making up a lame injury excuse. Don?t get me wrong, there are plenty of deserving all stars that get their chance when someone drops out, and it?s great to see them get their first of many trips.

This year, Patrick Surtain was given a Pro Bowl spot after Chris McCallister dropped out with an injury. Only a few days later, Surtain also withdrew his name due to a groin injury. Let?s not question either?s decision, because a cornerback needs a true balance of recovery to not deter their progress. Nate Clements of the Buffalo Bills, was then next in line for the standout achievement. Clements did an outstanding job this season, and is set to takeover Surtain and McCallister anyways.

This is a prime example of what is happening in the NFL. Are the athletes getting bored with the annual trip to Hawaii? There is no possible way, that if Surtain or McAllister were going to their first Pro Bowl that they would?ve declined because of injury. Once the athlete has molded themselves into the league, they look at everything at a different perspective. Who wouldn?t, maybe the athlete just wants some down time to spend with his family, before another rigorous hectic off-season of training.

In the NBA, countless star athletes opt to not perform for the USA Dream Team. The downfall of talent on the court, was witnessed on a global level last summer, and will continue to until the right players decide to represent their country. No one is going to force that athlete to go out of their way to diminishing their free time. Hopefully though, those athletes will see what has happened and make a decision solely on representing their country. The 1990 Dream Team symbolizes the meaning of the word dream. This was a team before money was an issue, yet it was filled with laid back and now classic icons.

If money was in the NBA in 1990, would that team have been assembled?