It Happens Every Spring - Unfortunately

There is a wonderful old baseball movie called "It Happens Every Spring". Released in 1949 it tells the story of a college chemistry professor (Ray Milland) who is the ultimate St. Louis fan. In the course of the movie he accidentally develops a formula that make anything (including baseballs) be repelled by wood.

Needing money to marry his sweetheart (Jean Peters) and wanting the Cardinals to win the World Series, he sets off to become their new star pitcher. He uses his formula to win 20+ and in doing so, leads the Cards to the last game of the Series. As with most movies of the genre, the ultimate victory must be won honestly, using his own natural abilities. And so it is in this one, although he suffers a career ending injury in the process.

With a championship for his favorite team and the money from pitching, he is able to happily return to his life as a college professor and marry his sweetheart. It's a fun, feel good movie.

Unfortunately, the NFL has their version of "It Happens Every Spring" and this one isn't a "fun , feel good" experience. Yep, it seems some of those big hulking millionaires just can't seem to get the need to rough someone up out of their system during the off-season. The latest accused? Chargers LB Shaun Phillips.

Phillips was booked San Diego County Jail for resisting arrest after struggling with a policeman who was checking on a woman Phillips was with. You see, the 6 ft 3 in, 262 pound Phillips allegedly had the woman in a headlock (a headlock?). She reportedly appeared to be "in distress" (really?).

We cited numerous examples during last year's off-season of these hulking giants roughing up a member of the fairer sex (or even a smaller older person of the same sex). We realize that the vast majority of NFL players are good, honest, decent men. However, the NFL seems to turn a blind eye to those that are not, especially if they are on the two deeps. It also seems that once training camps start, all those nasty little off-season antics (antics?) are quickly forgotten.

To the good guys of the NFL, you need to start policing your own. These other guys may be small in number, but they cast a big shadow on all of you.

As for those of you that feel you have the need for some springtime physical activity, why not try an off-season hobby like, perhaps the WWF. Not only will you have the chance to work off some of that "pesky" little aggression thing, you may be lucky enough to feel the "distress" of being put in a "headlock" by someone significantly larger than you. Now that would be a "fun, feel good" experience, at least for the rest of us.