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NFL Misdirection

September 26, 2014

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did something I really respect; and then he didn’t.
On Aug. 28, the commissioner sent a letter to the NFL’s 32 owners in which he admitted that he “didn’t get it right” when he assessed a mere two-game suspension for a player who was seen on videotape to be involved in domestic abuse. I admire his admission. (The player later would be suspended indefinitely from the league following additional evidence in the incident)
Unfortunately, the commissioner accompanied his mea culpa by describing a series of initiatives the league will undertake, one of which – once again – attempts to deflect a public relations disaster upon high schools.
When the NFL was under attack for the head trauma its players were experiencing, the league responded with a state-by-state campaign to impose youth concussion laws which, in most places, were mostly unfunded mandates that are more about symbolism than substance.
Now, again under attack for malfeasance by a workforce with more money than maturity, the league’s leadership is deflecting the blame to college, high school and youth football programs by planning educational efforts aimed at those levels.
Commissioner! Clean up your mess, but leave us alone. You are gutting public support of school sports with one televised game Thursday, three on Sunday and another on Monday, and adding Saturday games in December. Don’t have this out-of-control league lecture our level about restraint and responsibility.
Ours is the level that prohibits sack dances and end zone prances. We insist that our interscholastic players demonstrate maturity that the NFL’s players do not.
Detroit Cass Tech's Alex Graham stands near the end zone at Ford Field during last weekend's PSL Blue City final.

Performance of the Week: Detroit Cass Tech's Alex Graham

October 25, 2024

Alex Graham headshotAlex Graham ♦ Detroit Cass Tech
Senior ♦ Football

Graham, a senior receiver, caught a 28-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 72 yards for a score as Cass Tech downed Detroit Martin Luther King 30-14 at Ford Field to claim the Detroit Public School League Blue City championship. In doing so, the Technicians also avenged an 18-12 overtime loss to the Crusaders from Week 4. They are 6-2 and ranked No. 7 in Division 1 in this week’s state coaches poll.

One of the top college football prospects in the state, Graham has committed to continue his career at Colorado. He has considered studying mechanical engineering but is leaning toward something geared more toward coaching as he’d like to remain in football when his playing days are complete. Graham also ran track previously for Cass Tech.

@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Alex Graham #football #CassTech #score #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Alex Graham #tiktalk #questiontime #trumpet #laughing #emoji #pizza #saucegardner #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

Previous 2024-25 honorees

Oct. 11: Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4: Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26: Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19: TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12: Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6: Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30: Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report

(Top photo by Olivia B. Photography.)