411 Love of the Game Special: Yayo on Football
Posted by J. Yayo Hernandez on 04.14.2006
Expect alot of Hurricanes and Dolphins talk...
LOVE OF THE GAME: FOOTBALL
J. "Yayo" Hernandez
- Why do you love the game of Football?
Because it is the greatest game on God's green Earth bar none. The mixture of brutality and athleticism makes for some of the most amazing play possible. Every play counts in football where one mistake will cost you the game.
- Who's your favorite Football team, current and all time, and why?
I'm torn between the Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Dolphins. Although the Dolphins until recently had never had a losing season in my lifetime, they have always been frustrating in their lack of postseason success. Whereas the Hurricanes went from National Champions to doormat and back to champions in just the last 15 years. I think I have to take the Hurricanes because I have been to the mountain top with them. Not only that but the amount of sheer talent that has played in Coral Gables is simply mind boggling in it's grandiosity. And really when my only defense of the Dolphins is a perfect season I wasn't even alive for (which the Hurricanes should have won six have won five championships since then), I think the choice is clear.
- Who is your favorite Football player, current and all time, and why?
The human pinball. Barry Sanders. He was far too quick for defenders to hit solidly on a consistent basis, and too strong to bring down with arm tackles. Though short, Sanders was very stocky -- his playing weight of 200 pounds was in fact the same as Walter Payton and only slightly under the NFL average for a back. Further, Sanders was able to dazzle onlookers at an ESPN slam-dunk contest by jamming comfortably from a flat footed position demonstrating his other defining characteristic -- explosiveness. Combining this with his low center of gravity it allowed for remarkably quick starts and stops -- he was notorious for sometimes running the full width of the field to gain only a yard on a play then, on the next, suddenly breaking through a hole for a long gain. Also of note was his on-field humility. Despite his flashy playing style, Sanders was rarely seen celebrating after the whistle was blown. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he would usually finish a touchdown run or catch by simply handing the ball to the nearest official. – Wikipedia.com
- What is your favorite Football moment of all time?
The Fake Snap against the New York Jets on 11/27/93. Dan Marino and Dolphins were down 24-21 on the Jets' eight-yard line with time running out. Marino motioned that he was going to spike the ball in order to stop the clock. Every fan watching the game held their breath knowing that Jets had been torn apart by Marino in the second half and time left on the clock would mean another chance for a Fins victory. The Jets players started to doze off thinking the play was over. And that's when Marino hiked the ball and lofted a touchdown to Mark Ingram for the winning score while the Jet defenders watched in disbelief (that is the one's that were paying attention).
- What are your thoughts on the last decade (1995 – 2005) of Football?
The last decade has seen an amazing explosion in the popularity of football and there doesn't seem to be an end in site. During a period when basketball and hockey both endured a lockout and baseball endured a steroids scandal, the NFL fan base grew to unparalleled heights. While other sports identify their success with athlete's football has carved out its niche using the team concept. It's part of the beauty of football. No one player is bigger then the game. In the NBA it has taken years to regain the momentum of the Jordan years, and in the NHL the loss of Wayne Gretzky has stung hard. MLB was able to climb out of the doldrums of their lockout in 1994 by capitalizing on long ball fever, but paid for it with their recent steroid issues. Throughout it all football in both the amateur and professional levels has continuously produced scandal free seasons, no stoppage of play, and most importantly a healthy relationship with its fans. Unless the owners are foolish enough to not finish the renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement with the players union prior to the draft, there should be no end in sight for the NFL. And as long as college football continues to refuse its true potential by creating a playoff system, it will also prosper with the bowl system.
