Talking Points 9/9

1

Yes, we are ready for some football.

The NFL season kicks off today with a rematch of the NFC Championship game between Minnesota and New Orleans.

It should be great theater.

Reggie Bush might come out of the tunnel clutching his Heisman Trophy. Brett Favre might run onto the field carrying a grudge, then he might find a healthy receiver to throw to.

Here are a few more “mights” as the 2010 NFL season kicks off:

• Matt Hasselbeck might survive.

• The Raiders might make the playoffs.

• Pete Carroll might be coach of the year.

• Norv Turner might earn a Super Bowl ring.

• Cleveland might rock.

• The Lions might roar.

• LeGarrette Blount might be rookie of the year.

• Troy Polamalu might trip over his own hair returning an interception.

Hey, it’s opening day. We can all dream.

No matter what happens, we recommend football fans everywhere soak up the spectacle. Because, with labor strife a possibility, this might be the last NFL opening day for a while.

2

We’re all smiling for John Lindsey. And not because he won the Pacific Coast League batting title with a .353 average this season.

At age 33, after 16 seasons in the minor leagues, Lindsey got the call on Sunday from the Los Angeles Dodgers (he was announced as a pinch hitter on Wednesday, but hasn’t yet played or had an at-bat).

It’s easy to pull for a guy who’s career started with six seasons of Single-A level ball. That included spending the summer of 1996, his second as a pro, with the Portland Rockies of the Northwest League.

Perhaps Lindsey would have made the show sooner if he’d gone the steroid route like so many others (or if the steroid era hadn’t happened). But most players in Lindsey’s position long ago gave up on their dreams.

That he didn’t should inspire us all.