Reading about the charmed career of Michael Strahan, my thoughts keep turning to Mark Gastineau and what should've been. The parallels are there: --Ferocious pass rushers --Sack record holders (and celebrators) --Huge personalities --Domestic issues Where they're different is why Strahan's going to the HOF and Gastineau's doomed to charicature status: Strahan has the ring, and more importantly, STRAHAN FINISHED OUT HIS CAREER. I never liked Strahan (maybe for a minute when we learned that he was pals with Chrebet) but there's no doubt THAT he's headed to the Hall of Fame and deserves to be. A couple of Super Bowls, a championship, and a full career ensure that. Even with his unpopular sack dance, his roughing-the-Kosar, and his bad press, I think Mark Gastineau would've made the Hall if he had NOT retired suddenly on the Jets. Had Gastineau played out the rest of his career (maybe another 3 or 4 seasons), and retired as a Jet, his sack numbers alone would've put him in. He was already maturing as ballplayer, playing hurt and playing the run more and more. At the time, we were all told he was a bad teammate and immature, but the way his former Sack Exchange partners have embraced tells me that it was overblown, and more about their own feelings of envy. It's a goddamn shame and I'll admit--I'm as ganggreen as hell watching Strahan dance off into the sunset with his championship bling, his HOF credentials, and our single season sack record tucked under his arm.
Good post, I agree. Gastineau was one of the most talented Jets ever to wear the uniform. The team was in decline when he quit, so I don't know if he would have ridden off into the sunset like Strahan did, but he certainly could have had more to his career than he ended up with. I'm not sure about the Hall of Fame because I'd think Joe Klecko would have been in there by now, so who knows? Gastineau stayed healthier and had more sacks, but overall I think Klecko was the better player. And I still say Strahan's sack "record" was a joke, it shouldn't have been allowed to count. You don't get a stolen base if the catcher doesn't bother to try and throw you out, same principle.
Gastineau was so fast and strong it was unheard of...Problem was the steroid controversy and the domestic violence at home. #99 was my favorite growing up and should be in the HOF with his numbers, but those two above reasons will forever keep him out. Klecko needs to be in too.
Huh what do you mean the runner does not get credited for a SB if the catcher does not try to throw him out?
MG is my sons all time favorite NYJ player but his only interest was SACKs & he never/ever defended the run. It was so simple to defend him turn him outside & run inside of him. He was not a team player only out for MG
It's called "catcher's indifference"--if he doesn't attempt to throw out the runner, the runner doesn't get a stolen base. Brett Favre made no attempt to avoid Strahan, he fell down for him. That is not a sack by definition, it's more of a kneel-down at the end of a game. Does the guy who touches down a QB on a kneel-down to end a half or game get credited with a sack?
Ah I think you have to be making that up since I have never/ever heard that before in all my years of scoring BB
Luckily for him we had Marty Lyons, Abdul Salaam and later Klecko on the inside, freeing up Gastineau to go after the QB or bust up a running play in the backfield.
It's tough for Gastineau when you see Andre Tippett and Fred Dean going in to the Hall when he was just as dominant.
Maybe you don't pay attention then, why would I make that up? If the team in the field is ahead by enough that the runner on first doesn't mean anything, usually in the late innings, they will often let the runner go instead of holding him on first or making a throw. The runner in that instance does not get credited for a stolen base.
Yes but he was the real force on the line & OTH those other 3 were made better by MG. He could have been a A+++++++++++++ player if he would have put his ego aside. He could not do that however & the team suffered because of it
:beer: Let me keep track of the scoring though, you seem a bit behind the times. I noticed you touched up the old signature, too, champ. It reads well.
I think as I've gotten older I miss Gastineau more than any other player I've ever seen on the Jets. Of course he was part of something even better with the NYSE, but I can't tell you how many games I've watched the past 20 years and wished we still had #99 out there wreaking havoc.
The whole sack "record" is a joke and I hate Strahan and Favre for it. I remember reading after the game that a Packers player was quoted as saying that the play that was called was actually a run and the only person who "knew" it was going to be a bootleg to the right was Favre. I know Strahan is his friend, but have a little more respect for the game than that to just tank a play just to have your good buddy break a record. I'll love it when someone eventually breaks it. Then he'll have nothing but his ring and the stupid gap in his front teeth.
