SPORTS by Mike McMurran First Capitol News Sports Editor
Martz is more than just the greatest football coach St. Louis has ever known; he is a literary genius
Local newspapers and talk radio shows have not been kind to Rams’ head coach Mike Martz lately; fact is they have been rather untrusting and rude. Me thinks, no, me knows he cares not. Fact is, I think Martz might be more than just a great football coach. Closer examination shows his most every move is nothing less than acting upon a famous quote. Take Mark Twain for example: “Tell the truth or trump –but get the trick.” Martz obviously interprets this to mean nothing matters as long as his Rams make it to the playoffs. Certainly he has at times told the truth, possibly as often as he has trumped. “Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it.” Sounds like something Martz would share with reporters during his weekly press conference, right? Nope, Twain again. “If my ‘play-calling’ makes one more person feel miserable I’ll feel I’ve done my job.” Now that sounds like vintage Martz. Wrong again. I have taken the liberty of changing the word film to play-calling. The original statement was made by Woody Allen, but don’t tell me Martz has not heard of it and imitated it.
Fact is, those who question Martz need not only brush up on their literary quotes, they need a lesson in St. Louis football history, and quickly. When the Rams came to St. Louis in 1995, the city had never hosted an NFL play off game, ever. Including their Cinderella 2000 Super Bowl Championship Season, the St. Louis Rams have qualified for the NFL’s post-season tournament five times. History shows us that Martz was the head coach four of those five times. Rather impressive, I would say.
How soon people forget “The Big Red.” Arriving in 1960 they did not qualify for the play offs until 1974, repeating the achievement in ’75. Upon their departure in 1987 they qualified for post-season play twice in twenty-seven years (excluding the ’82 strike season). Let’s see – twice in twenty-seven years/four times in five years. As my six-year-old son Joe would say, “Duh!”
By the way, this is the Rams’ 27th season making a playoff appearance, tying the Cowboys for most in the NFL.
