Hello to all! Sorry I've been away for so long…I was up in Canada shooting a movie called Avalanche Alley for Roger Corman. Keep an eye out for it in a few months on cable and/or your local video store. Also, I have a TV project in the works with the USA Network that has kept me very busy. I'll be starring in, as well as producing this kick-ass cop drama along with the incredible talents of award-winning director Ryan Haidarian, writer Michael Swerdlick (Can't Buy Me Love, Beverly Hills 90210, Boy Meets World) and movie producer/SportsHollywood board member Richard Hull (She's All That, Get Over It).

I'll keep you guys informed when and where these projects will be showing. On another subject…

Basically, for me, this is the most boring time of the year for sports. I see the sportspage, and nothing stands out. The NBA is boring as ever in this post-Jordan era. The level of play has deteriorated, and there doesn't seem to be any one player igniting the fan's interest.

Major League Baseball isn't doing much for me right now either. These players with $50 million contracts, threatening to walk unless given extensions does not compute. The perfect example is Dodger Gary Sheffield, who has threatened that he may not work as hard on the field unless he gets traded or given a new, richer contract. To me this is blackmail, and I hope the Dodger organization will say enough is enough, and stand up to this financial bully.

All due respect to guys like Lemieux and Gretzky, the NHL never really excited me. The same goes for auto racing…cars going around in circles, but a lot of people love it…just not my thing.

On a related note, even though I'm not a fan of the sport, I have nothing but respect for Dale Earnhardt's sportsmanship and competitiveness. He was one of the main reasons for the success of NASCAR, and he will be greatly missed.

But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. March Madness, the NCAA Tourney, is 3 weeks of the best of what sport is…intelligent, dedicated individuals coming together to play as a team for no reason but pride in one's self, team and school. For me, the dedication and love of competition these collegiate players exude makes all the silliness in the pro sports a distant memory. Go Cornell!

That is all for now. Next week my views on the XFL. It won't be pretty…unless of course I get a job playing or choreographing the cheerleaders.

March 9, 2001

edmarinaro@sportshollywood.com

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Ed Marinaro

In his three seasons as Cornell's tailback, Ed Marinaro was the all-time leading rusher in Ivy League history. He established eight NCAA career records and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. After turning pro he became a running back for the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. Then he turned to acting and played everyone from Joe Coffey on the classic TV show "Hill Street Blues" to Joey Buttafuoco in "Long Island Lolita." In his off-time he enjoys ranting in his column for SportsHollywood.

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