Get Control of the Joe Wilson Story

First, the obvious. Obama hit on all cylinders last night. US history, Ted Kennedy, the American character. He framed the debate clearly and all came away with an understanding of the issue's gravity and the cost of doing nothing. He even challenged his own base, positioning himself as a centrist. (By the way, framing the "single payer" as extreme, to make the "public option" more centrist was brilliant.)

But then... there was Joe Wilson. The SC congressman who shouted during the speech. His whole career will likely be remembered for that moment. But, if Democrats don't get control of this story and its message, they'll also carry the heckler's albatross around their necks.

A quick scan of top news reveals the damage. Instead of reviews on the speech, we're seeing the President pitted against his interupter. Now, headlines read, "Congressman Heckles President." Yikes. In some corners of the world (or in college basketball arenas), heckling's even cool. And I'm not just saying that because I once aspired to be heckler-in-chief in college.

Not only are Dems losing control of the post speech headlines, but they're also aiming straight for this guy, talking about he disrespected the office of the presidency.

NO. The Democrats should not position themselves as tattle tails who complain about respect. NO. They have to position this as an example of the opposition being unwilling to engage in serious debate. They started by making a clumsy effort, referencing townhalls. But now, Joe Wilson needs to be become a symbol of obstruction, not disrespect.

It's time, for once in this debate, for the Dems to take control of the message, not the other way around.

Oudin Chops Down Russians

The cold war may be over, but Rocky IV lives on.

Why has no one made the obvious comparison? Oudin is a poor man's Rocky Balboa. She has a classically diminutive stature, a family that looks like they've had zero PR coaching (see: Paulie), and a hometown that adores her.

Not good enough? She's played against vastly superior Russians and proverbially chopped them down (see: Ivan Drago). She comes close to losing every match (see: every bout Rocky has ever fought). She's won over crowds in every tournament she's played (see: "Suddenly Moscow is pro Rocky"). And finally, her basic strategy is to keep taking punches to tire her opponent out (see: "what's he doing?" "he's winning!") Yes, this could also be Simpson v Tatum, but let's not veer off topic here.

The final nail in the Apollo Creed coffin... Oudin talks like a mentally handicapped teenager. Remind you of any fictitious Italian boxers?

Oregon Went Too Far

Oregon went too far in suspending LeGarrett Blount for a full year.

Let's state the obvious. What he did was wrong, and on many levels. First, he sucker punched someone from a different team who taunted him. Second, he fought with teammates who attempted to restrain him. Third, he nearly fought with fans who were heckling with him.

Athletes are taunted and heckled all of the time (by people like this author in college). That they most often keep their cool and maintain a certain level of professionalism is amazing (even though college athletes are not even technically "professionals".) But they do it. In this case Blount crossed a line and should be punished.

But a full year? Here's how I see it. He was provoked and reacted with a punch. Despite chatter that happened before the game, he was not looking for trouble after the game. He was provoked. So, he punched the guy. I very well might have done the same thing, or at minimum pushed the guy, ready for a fight. Some could argue that he punched someone who was defenseless, while he wore a helmet and immediately moved a way for a fight. Fine, but that doesn't change that he was clearly provoked and reacted. For that, I'd give him a two game suspension.

Second, he fought with teammates who attempted to restrain him. I think we have to understand, if not forgive this. When you go into battle with another team, in any sort of fight, your teammates have to be there to back you up. Should they back you up when you sucker punch someone else? Maybe not. Maybe they are the perfect teammates - keeping you out of trouble when you've done something terribly wrong. But the way I see it, if I'm being taunted by another team and I go at it with another player, I have to know that my teammates have my back. This isn't hockey where one on one melees are the norm. This is football.

Third, he nearly fought with fans in the stands. This, to me, is not easily excusable. That's a sacred line that cannot be crossed (see Ron Artest). But at the end of the day, nothing happened. For having the intent to fight fans, I would give him three, maybe four games.

When you add it all up, I think the suspension should have probably been capped at five or six games. But there were other circumstances at play here. First, Blount has a history of poor choices with the team, resulting in a prior indefinite suspension in the spring. Second, he trashed talked Boise State before the game. Third, the coach is in his first year and needs to show that he can exercise authority; he needed to set an example. And finally, though Blount was a dark horse Heisman candidate, he did only have eight carries for negative five yards. Expendable??

In one final twist to all of this. Byron Hout, the defensive end who initially taunted Blount... nary a single game suspension.

At the end of the day, Oregon was right to suspend Blount, but went too far. They had their reasoning, but I'm sure it was related to other factors, not merely what he did on the field.