I was going to write tonight's post about the NBA, but another story caught my attention so I've decided to run with it. Earlier this week, the Dallas Cowboys had some unusual drama at their training camp. Their rookie first-round draft pick wide receiver Dez Bryant refused to carry the shoulder pads of veteran wide receiver Roy Williams. Before I go into my opinion on Bryant's action, a little back story is necessary.
In the NFL, veteran players commonly haze rookies at training camp (as well as throughout the year). They do this to show the rookies that no matter how great they were in college, the NFL is a whole different ball game. The higher a player is drafted, the worse his hazing is. Common hazing includes setting up meeting rooms, getting everyone is your position group's breakfast, paying for dinners for the whole team, and of course, carrying the veterans pads to and from practice.
A little knowledge of both characters is also necessary. Roy Williams is a veteran wide receiver who the Dallas Cowboys traded an arm and a leg to get from the Detroit Lions two years ago. He was brought in to replace the recently departed Terrell Owens as Dallas's #1 receiver. Before last season, he signed a 6 year, $54 million contract that cemented his status as the Cowboys' top target. Then, last year he played terribly and was replaced by Miles Austin as Tony Romo's top target. Now, Roy Williams is fighting for his starting job with none other than Dez Bryant. Bryant is a former Oklahoma State player who was suspended for most of last year's college football season for accepting advice from Deion Sanders in a way that violated NCAA rules. That trangression, and others, have given Bryant the reputation of being a rule-breaker and a difficult player to manage. Still, he is as talented as former Cowboy Michael Irvin, so Dallas decided to take him in the first round.
What separates this situation from most rookie situations is that high-profile rookies and high-profile veterans rarely compete for starting jobs during training camp. Usually first rounders are handed a starting job from day 1 or they wait a year or two behind an established veteran before starting. In either of these situations, hazing is to be expected and the rookie would be smart to take it and go about his business. But Bryant's situation is exceptional. He is competing with Williams for a starting spot and playing time and is looking for any edge to put himself over the top. By refusing Williams request he did two things. First, he got inside Williams' head by rejecting the NFL status quo. Second, and more importantly, he made a statement to Roy Williams that Dez Bryant is not some rookie to be looked down; rather, he is an equal to be respected and possibly even feared. Bryant said that he came to training camp to win a starting job, not to carry pads. After the athletic love fest we've experienced the last few months (that means you Miami Thrice), it is refreshing to see athletes who still want to compete, sportsmanship be damned. You go Dez Bryant!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
5 Must See College Football Games
The summer is wrapping up and college football season is almost upon us. Here are 5 college football games we should all be the most excited about (I've intentionally excluded rivalry games and instead am focusing on match-ups that don't usually occur):
- Boise State vs Virginia Tech: This is one of the most important football games ever to be played. When the Boise State Broncos win the National Title, we will all look back and know the road started against the Hokies on Labor Day in Washington DC. As I've said multiple time before, Boise State returns 21 of 22 starters and is absolutely stacked! Meanwhile, VT has a talented but perpetually inconsistent QB in Tyrod Taylor. Plus the Hokies need to replace a big part of their defense. However, all of the numbers are irrelevant as Boise State is the ultimate big game program. They will win this game and roll all the way to Glendale and the most shocking title in American sports history. Prediction: Boise State wins 36-27
- Miami at Ohio State: The big question going to this game is is the U back? If Miami plays to their absolute best, they can hang with anyone including the Buckeyes. However, that is a big if. Ohio State's strong defensive line will totally dominant Miami young offensive line, leaving Jacory Harris harmless and on his back. And Terrell Pryor will show everyone why he is the second incarnation of Vince Young. I wish the ACC would do a better job of holding its own, but so far we have gotten rocked. Prediction: Ohio State wins 34-17
- Florida State at Oklahoma: Much like Miami, this game will show if the Noles are back. Unlike Miami, the Noles are in fact back so FSU will win. Christian Ponder's Heisman campaign will begin in earnest in Norman as he leads the Noles to a resounding victory. This game should be a fantastic offensive shootout, but in the end the Noles will prevail due to a huge experience advantage at QB and across the offensive line. This game has the exciting subplot of featuring Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops facing off against his younger brother, FSU defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. Prediction: FSU wins 42-36
- Penn State at Alabama: When I first saw this match-up all I could think was Wow! Rarely do 2 teams with so much history play in a regular season game. The match-up loses a little bit of its luster when you release that the Tide lost most of their defense and the Nittany Lions will be breaking in a new QB. That being said, when two of the top teams ever play each other, we should expect nothing less than fireworks. Prediction: Alabama wins 26-13
- West Virginia at LSU - This spot could have gone to this game or the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic featuring LSU vs UNC. Either way kuddos to the Tigers for scheduling such quality out-of-conference opponents. On talent alone, the Tigers should win this game handily. However, Les Miles never seems to do things the easy way and the Mountaineers' Noel Devine can change the game with a single play. Still, this year will be the year Jordan Jefferson puts it all together and he should be able to lead LSU to victory. Prediction: LSU wins 24-21
- Boise State vs Virginia Tech: This is one of the most important football games ever to be played. When the Boise State Broncos win the National Title, we will all look back and know the road started against the Hokies on Labor Day in Washington DC. As I've said multiple time before, Boise State returns 21 of 22 starters and is absolutely stacked! Meanwhile, VT has a talented but perpetually inconsistent QB in Tyrod Taylor. Plus the Hokies need to replace a big part of their defense. However, all of the numbers are irrelevant as Boise State is the ultimate big game program. They will win this game and roll all the way to Glendale and the most shocking title in American sports history. Prediction: Boise State wins 36-27
- Miami at Ohio State: The big question going to this game is is the U back? If Miami plays to their absolute best, they can hang with anyone including the Buckeyes. However, that is a big if. Ohio State's strong defensive line will totally dominant Miami young offensive line, leaving Jacory Harris harmless and on his back. And Terrell Pryor will show everyone why he is the second incarnation of Vince Young. I wish the ACC would do a better job of holding its own, but so far we have gotten rocked. Prediction: Ohio State wins 34-17
- Florida State at Oklahoma: Much like Miami, this game will show if the Noles are back. Unlike Miami, the Noles are in fact back so FSU will win. Christian Ponder's Heisman campaign will begin in earnest in Norman as he leads the Noles to a resounding victory. This game should be a fantastic offensive shootout, but in the end the Noles will prevail due to a huge experience advantage at QB and across the offensive line. This game has the exciting subplot of featuring Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops facing off against his younger brother, FSU defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. Prediction: FSU wins 42-36
- Penn State at Alabama: When I first saw this match-up all I could think was Wow! Rarely do 2 teams with so much history play in a regular season game. The match-up loses a little bit of its luster when you release that the Tide lost most of their defense and the Nittany Lions will be breaking in a new QB. That being said, when two of the top teams ever play each other, we should expect nothing less than fireworks. Prediction: Alabama wins 26-13
- West Virginia at LSU - This spot could have gone to this game or the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic featuring LSU vs UNC. Either way kuddos to the Tigers for scheduling such quality out-of-conference opponents. On talent alone, the Tigers should win this game handily. However, Les Miles never seems to do things the easy way and the Mountaineers' Noel Devine can change the game with a single play. Still, this year will be the year Jordan Jefferson puts it all together and he should be able to lead LSU to victory. Prediction: LSU wins 24-21
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Remembering the Boss
Sports fans throw around the title "Greatest of All-Time" far to often. We never really stop and think what that title means. It means that the person you are discussing is the singular best person at that activity or action ever. Lots of positions don't even have a greatest of all-time, or rather there is too much debate to settle on one. There is no single "Greatest Quarterback of All-Time". There is no single "Greatest Pitcher of All-Time". And even though I wrote a column about it, there is no single "Greatest Basketball Player of All-Time". Other positions do have one single "Greatest Player of All-Time". No one will disagree that Jerry Rice is the "Greatest Wide Reciever of All-Time". There is also a single choice for "Greatest Owner of All-Time". His name is George Michael Steinbrenner and he passed away yesterday.
There are many, many reasons why George Steinbrenner (or as he is affectionately know in the Yankees' organization, the Boss) is the "Greatest Owner of All-Time". George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees in 1973 for $8.8 million. Current estimates place the value of the franchise at $1.5 billion and steadily rising. George Steinbrenner's Yankees won 7 World Series and 11 American League pennants. Thee totals are more than all but 3 baseball franchises have earned in their histories. As hard as it is to believe, George Steinbrenner was adamitly opposed to free agency in the beginning. But like all great businessman, he put his personally feelings on the subject aside and his team dominated free agency like no other franchise in sports. George Steinbrenner's Yankees were the first team to market their own TV rights and his YES Netword paved the way for making sports the multi-billion dollar industry it is today.
While all of these reason are good ones, the real reason the Boss is the "Greatest Owner of All-Time" is a lbit more abstract. George Steinbrenner is the owner every fan should want and every player should want to play for. There is one purpose to sports and it is winning. The Boss's singular focus during his entire Yankees' tenure was winning the World Series every single year. Any other result was deemed a failure. The most common criticism of the Yankees is that they win because they have more money than every team and thus can buy their victories. It is true that the Yankees earn more money than any other team in baseball. However, the Steinbrenners are far from the richest owners in baseball. Theodore Lener of the Washington Nationals is worth $3.2 billion, almost two and a half times as much as the Boss! John Fisher of the small budget Oakland A's is worth the same amount as the Boss. The difference is that George Steinbrenner, unlike most other owners, takes his money and invests it back into his franchise with the goal of winning. Isn't that what we as fans should expect out of our teams? Rather than watching the super-rich uses their sports franchises as cash cows, isn't it refreshing to see an owner run his team like we would if we had the opportunity? George Steinbrenner's sole focus as owner of New York Yankees was to bring the greatest franchise on Earth more World Series titles, for himself, for the franchise, and most importantly, for the fans. And that is why he is the "Greatest Owner of All-Time".
No article about George Steinbrenner would be complete with mentioning all the good he has brought to the world around him. The Boss was by no means a saint. He was twice suspended from baseball for two years each. He hired and fired Billy Martin as manager five times! He was well known around sports circles as the toughest owner in the business to work for. While he demanded perfection and tolerated nothing less, the Boss was also one of the most compassionate and giving men in sports. He expected his employees, from Derek Jeter all the way down to the night janitors, to give their all every day at work. In return, he was their for them no matter what. In the hours and days since he passed away, stories have appeared all over the Internet of former employees who the Boss took care of. He was always willing to pay for expensive medical procedures or cover a child's college expenses. And George Steinbrenner's generosity extended far beyond the Yankees organizartion. His adopted home of Tampa, Florida has benefited tremendously from the countless millions he has donated in the area. Stories of the Boss's generosity are alone starting to appear now because that is exactly the way he wanted it. George Steinbrenner is quoted as saying, "If you do something for someone, and more than two people know about it, you didn't do it for the right reason." Steinbrenner didn't help fallen soldier's families because he wanted publicity. He did it because he wanted to use his wealth and sucess to make the world a better place.
Rest in Peace George Michael Steinbrenner, a great owner, a great Yankee, and a most importantly, a great man.
There are many, many reasons why George Steinbrenner (or as he is affectionately know in the Yankees' organization, the Boss) is the "Greatest Owner of All-Time". George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees in 1973 for $8.8 million. Current estimates place the value of the franchise at $1.5 billion and steadily rising. George Steinbrenner's Yankees won 7 World Series and 11 American League pennants. Thee totals are more than all but 3 baseball franchises have earned in their histories. As hard as it is to believe, George Steinbrenner was adamitly opposed to free agency in the beginning. But like all great businessman, he put his personally feelings on the subject aside and his team dominated free agency like no other franchise in sports. George Steinbrenner's Yankees were the first team to market their own TV rights and his YES Netword paved the way for making sports the multi-billion dollar industry it is today.
While all of these reason are good ones, the real reason the Boss is the "Greatest Owner of All-Time" is a lbit more abstract. George Steinbrenner is the owner every fan should want and every player should want to play for. There is one purpose to sports and it is winning. The Boss's singular focus during his entire Yankees' tenure was winning the World Series every single year. Any other result was deemed a failure. The most common criticism of the Yankees is that they win because they have more money than every team and thus can buy their victories. It is true that the Yankees earn more money than any other team in baseball. However, the Steinbrenners are far from the richest owners in baseball. Theodore Lener of the Washington Nationals is worth $3.2 billion, almost two and a half times as much as the Boss! John Fisher of the small budget Oakland A's is worth the same amount as the Boss. The difference is that George Steinbrenner, unlike most other owners, takes his money and invests it back into his franchise with the goal of winning. Isn't that what we as fans should expect out of our teams? Rather than watching the super-rich uses their sports franchises as cash cows, isn't it refreshing to see an owner run his team like we would if we had the opportunity? George Steinbrenner's sole focus as owner of New York Yankees was to bring the greatest franchise on Earth more World Series titles, for himself, for the franchise, and most importantly, for the fans. And that is why he is the "Greatest Owner of All-Time".
No article about George Steinbrenner would be complete with mentioning all the good he has brought to the world around him. The Boss was by no means a saint. He was twice suspended from baseball for two years each. He hired and fired Billy Martin as manager five times! He was well known around sports circles as the toughest owner in the business to work for. While he demanded perfection and tolerated nothing less, the Boss was also one of the most compassionate and giving men in sports. He expected his employees, from Derek Jeter all the way down to the night janitors, to give their all every day at work. In return, he was their for them no matter what. In the hours and days since he passed away, stories have appeared all over the Internet of former employees who the Boss took care of. He was always willing to pay for expensive medical procedures or cover a child's college expenses. And George Steinbrenner's generosity extended far beyond the Yankees organizartion. His adopted home of Tampa, Florida has benefited tremendously from the countless millions he has donated in the area. Stories of the Boss's generosity are alone starting to appear now because that is exactly the way he wanted it. George Steinbrenner is quoted as saying, "If you do something for someone, and more than two people know about it, you didn't do it for the right reason." Steinbrenner didn't help fallen soldier's families because he wanted publicity. He did it because he wanted to use his wealth and sucess to make the world a better place.
Rest in Peace George Michael Steinbrenner, a great owner, a great Yankee, and a most importantly, a great man.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Its College Football Time!
Now that the World Cup and the Lebronathon are over, it is finely time to write about my favorite sport, football. This upcoming season of college football should be incredibly exciting. Here are some random thoughts about the upcoming season:
- This could be the year the ACC pulls even with the SEC. That statement sounds ridiculous at first, but it definitely could happen. North Carolina has a great opportunity to beat LSU in Atlanta at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic. UNC basically has an NFL defense and LSU really hasn't been the same since the last of Saban's recruits left. Plus, all of the SEC's elite teams are rife with question marks. Arkansas cannot play defense. Florida has to replace football Jesus. Even Alabama only returns two defensive starters. On the other side, the ACC is full of teams capable of competing for a conference title (and if the cards break the right way, a national title as well). Whether you believe me or not, FSU football is back. Christian Ponder is a legit Heisman contender and the Noles' defense is much improved. Virginia Tech is always dangerous and has an experienced quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. Georgia Tech is in a similar position and Anthony Allen should ensure that there is no drop-off from Jonathon Dwyer's departure. UNC's defense has 5 future NFL first rounders and their entire defense could one day play in the pros. And even though I don't believe it, Miami is supposed to be back as well. While Alabama is still the class of both conferences, the ACC should be the deeper and better southern conference this season.
- Terrell Pryor's entire career has been exactly like Vince Young's and that trend will continue this year. Pryor and Young are both absurdly athletic and mobile quarterbacks. Both were incredibly hyped coming out of high school and both struggled their first 2 years in college. Specifically, they both struggled because their coaches tried to fit them into a system rather than letting their talents develop. Then, both players were allowed to open their games up at the end of their sophomore seasons and they both flourished. Specially, they both had monster games in the Rose Bowl. This is where the comparison ends since Pryor is just beginning his junior season. During his junior year, Vince Young led Texas to an undefeated season, finished second in Heisman voting to an undeserving Reggie Bush, and willed his team to an amazing victory over one of the most talented teams of all time in USC. If history is any indication, this upcoming season should be a great one for Pryor and Ohio State.
- This will be the year that a non-BCS team wins the national title. Let me write that again. This will be the year that a non-BCS team wins the national title. Boise State is going to beat Virginia Tech in DC on Labor Day and then roll through the rest of their schedule all the way to the BCS Title Game. And then they are going to upset whatever team the BCS decides to throw at them. The Broncos return 21 of 22 starters from last year's undefeated team and they are the best team in the country. They will win the national title next January and they will have earned it.
- USC was down last year and they will stay down this year. USC's fall last year was a combination of their own decline and the rise of the rest of their conference. They have only gotten worse and the rest of the Pac-10 has only gotten better. USC lost their elite coach and replaced him with the biggest punk in American sports, Lane Kiffin. Coupled with the sanctions the NCAA finally placed on USC for paying Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo to play there, a dark period in Trojan football is about to begin. Meanwhile, the power of the rest of the conference is rising. Washington and Stanford have Heisman contenders at quarterback and great young coaches on the sidelines. Mike Stoops has quietly built a very strong program at Arizona and Oregon State was good last year and will only get better behind the Rodgers brothers. It should be a very exciting race out west and there is a very good chance USC won't be a part of it.
- Here are my predictions for the conference champions for the upcoming season:
ACC - Florida State Seminoles
Big East - Pittsburgh Panthers
Big 10 - Ohio State Buckeyes
Big 12 - Nebraska Cornhuskers
Pac-10 - Oregon State Beavers
SEC - Alabama Crimson Tide
- This could be the year the ACC pulls even with the SEC. That statement sounds ridiculous at first, but it definitely could happen. North Carolina has a great opportunity to beat LSU in Atlanta at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic. UNC basically has an NFL defense and LSU really hasn't been the same since the last of Saban's recruits left. Plus, all of the SEC's elite teams are rife with question marks. Arkansas cannot play defense. Florida has to replace football Jesus. Even Alabama only returns two defensive starters. On the other side, the ACC is full of teams capable of competing for a conference title (and if the cards break the right way, a national title as well). Whether you believe me or not, FSU football is back. Christian Ponder is a legit Heisman contender and the Noles' defense is much improved. Virginia Tech is always dangerous and has an experienced quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. Georgia Tech is in a similar position and Anthony Allen should ensure that there is no drop-off from Jonathon Dwyer's departure. UNC's defense has 5 future NFL first rounders and their entire defense could one day play in the pros. And even though I don't believe it, Miami is supposed to be back as well. While Alabama is still the class of both conferences, the ACC should be the deeper and better southern conference this season.
- Terrell Pryor's entire career has been exactly like Vince Young's and that trend will continue this year. Pryor and Young are both absurdly athletic and mobile quarterbacks. Both were incredibly hyped coming out of high school and both struggled their first 2 years in college. Specifically, they both struggled because their coaches tried to fit them into a system rather than letting their talents develop. Then, both players were allowed to open their games up at the end of their sophomore seasons and they both flourished. Specially, they both had monster games in the Rose Bowl. This is where the comparison ends since Pryor is just beginning his junior season. During his junior year, Vince Young led Texas to an undefeated season, finished second in Heisman voting to an undeserving Reggie Bush, and willed his team to an amazing victory over one of the most talented teams of all time in USC. If history is any indication, this upcoming season should be a great one for Pryor and Ohio State.
- This will be the year that a non-BCS team wins the national title. Let me write that again. This will be the year that a non-BCS team wins the national title. Boise State is going to beat Virginia Tech in DC on Labor Day and then roll through the rest of their schedule all the way to the BCS Title Game. And then they are going to upset whatever team the BCS decides to throw at them. The Broncos return 21 of 22 starters from last year's undefeated team and they are the best team in the country. They will win the national title next January and they will have earned it.
- USC was down last year and they will stay down this year. USC's fall last year was a combination of their own decline and the rise of the rest of their conference. They have only gotten worse and the rest of the Pac-10 has only gotten better. USC lost their elite coach and replaced him with the biggest punk in American sports, Lane Kiffin. Coupled with the sanctions the NCAA finally placed on USC for paying Reggie Bush and OJ Mayo to play there, a dark period in Trojan football is about to begin. Meanwhile, the power of the rest of the conference is rising. Washington and Stanford have Heisman contenders at quarterback and great young coaches on the sidelines. Mike Stoops has quietly built a very strong program at Arizona and Oregon State was good last year and will only get better behind the Rodgers brothers. It should be a very exciting race out west and there is a very good chance USC won't be a part of it.
- Here are my predictions for the conference champions for the upcoming season:
ACC - Florida State Seminoles
Big East - Pittsburgh Panthers
Big 10 - Ohio State Buckeyes
Big 12 - Nebraska Cornhuskers
Pac-10 - Oregon State Beavers
SEC - Alabama Crimson Tide
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The King's New Court
First of all, how ridiculous was the Lebron special tonight, "The Decision". It was like watching the Super Bowl or the Lost finale. If you include Sportscenter, Lebron's decision got 4 hours of air time. He is the most talented player in the NBA, but it still seems a little excessive. That being said, what does Lebron's decision mean for his career? (Be sure to vote in the poll to the right about whether Lebron made the right choice)
First of all, I cannot believe Lebron did that to Cleveland. I know its been reported for 2 days that Lebron is going to Miami, but I really didn't think he would do it. Lebron is my favorite player, but was terrible. I'm sorry Cleveland, that was hard to watch. No one will blame you for burning his jersey in the street (I'm not making that up, they actually are doing that).
The Chosen One just made the biggest mistake of his career. But before I talk about the bad, there is a lot of good from this move. This team has an opportunity to be better than I originally suspected. Much, much better. With Lebron as Magic, Dwayne as Michael, and Bosh as an All-Star big man, the Heats can be an all-time great team. And they should be able to add more than just scrubs (I know this contradicts what I said last week). The exact details of the 3 stars signings aren't known yet, but if they hold on to Michael Beasley, he is a great 4th option. Mario Chalmers could emerge as a good NBA player, along the lines of a poor man's Rondo. They should be able to fill the roster out with veteran guys who are willing to sacrifice some money for a ring. And Pat Riley is an all-time great coach and whether he is in the front office or on the bench, he will make this team that much better. He also has a lot of experience managing multiple superstars with the Showtime Lakers of the 80's. This team really could win multiple titles and possible become a dynasty.
However, the rings have nothing to do why this choice was a bad one. Despite being the most gifted player to ever touch a basketball, Lebron has cemented his legacy as a guy who needed help. Tonight on "The Decision", Lebron made the good point that every great team of the past 20 years had at least 2 superstars. And he is absolutely right. But something about this move is different. Michael didn't seek out Pippen and Magic didn't leave his hometown for Kareem. No matter how many titles they win together, this Heat team will always be Wade and Lebron's. And Lebron was good enough to win alone. Had he stayed in Cleveland, Lebron could have become the greatest player in league history. Now, at best, he can only be one of the greatest players of all time. More importantly, Lebron has lost his universal appeal to fans. It won't hurt his advertising dollars, but never again will the King be loved like he was before. He abondaned his hometown for greener pastures on national TV. And since his hometown is Cleveland, it hurts that much worst. The Cleve last won a major sports title in 1964. That was 46 years ago! Lebron was the greatest opportunity to win a title that Cleveland could possibly have. In a single moment, the Cavs have gone from being title contenders to lottery contenders. The best hope for the Cavs next year is that they tank and get a high pick in the draft so the can try to draft the most ironic pick in league history, a player they can only hope will be the next Lebron James.
Next year's NBA is going to be very different from this year's. The East has finally passed the West as the premier conference. Out west, the Lakers are the clear favorite with the Thunder, Trailblazers, Mavericks, Spurs, and Nuggets as contenders as well. But the real power now lies in the East. Four teams have a realistic shot of representing the East in the finals and all can beat the Lakers. They are the Heat, Magic, Bulls, and Celtics (Sorry Hawks, but your in tier 2 along with the Bucks, Knicks, and Bobcats). Of those 4, the Heat have the best long-term prospects. I predict they will win 3 titles in the next 5 seasons. But next year, I think the Bulls are going to surprise a lot of people and take the East. They have a fantastic core and plenty of cap room to make additional moves. I also like the Thunder to shock the world and beat the Lakers. And in a Durant versus Rose NBA final, Chicago will show Lebron they don't need him and win their 1st post-Michael title. Yeah, that probably won't happen but it would be a great way to head into the inevitable NBA lockout.
One more note about Lebron, now that his decision is over, it is finally time to devote this blog to my real favorite topic, football! (After one or two more posts about the World Cup of course)
First of all, I cannot believe Lebron did that to Cleveland. I know its been reported for 2 days that Lebron is going to Miami, but I really didn't think he would do it. Lebron is my favorite player, but was terrible. I'm sorry Cleveland, that was hard to watch. No one will blame you for burning his jersey in the street (I'm not making that up, they actually are doing that).
The Chosen One just made the biggest mistake of his career. But before I talk about the bad, there is a lot of good from this move. This team has an opportunity to be better than I originally suspected. Much, much better. With Lebron as Magic, Dwayne as Michael, and Bosh as an All-Star big man, the Heats can be an all-time great team. And they should be able to add more than just scrubs (I know this contradicts what I said last week). The exact details of the 3 stars signings aren't known yet, but if they hold on to Michael Beasley, he is a great 4th option. Mario Chalmers could emerge as a good NBA player, along the lines of a poor man's Rondo. They should be able to fill the roster out with veteran guys who are willing to sacrifice some money for a ring. And Pat Riley is an all-time great coach and whether he is in the front office or on the bench, he will make this team that much better. He also has a lot of experience managing multiple superstars with the Showtime Lakers of the 80's. This team really could win multiple titles and possible become a dynasty.
However, the rings have nothing to do why this choice was a bad one. Despite being the most gifted player to ever touch a basketball, Lebron has cemented his legacy as a guy who needed help. Tonight on "The Decision", Lebron made the good point that every great team of the past 20 years had at least 2 superstars. And he is absolutely right. But something about this move is different. Michael didn't seek out Pippen and Magic didn't leave his hometown for Kareem. No matter how many titles they win together, this Heat team will always be Wade and Lebron's. And Lebron was good enough to win alone. Had he stayed in Cleveland, Lebron could have become the greatest player in league history. Now, at best, he can only be one of the greatest players of all time. More importantly, Lebron has lost his universal appeal to fans. It won't hurt his advertising dollars, but never again will the King be loved like he was before. He abondaned his hometown for greener pastures on national TV. And since his hometown is Cleveland, it hurts that much worst. The Cleve last won a major sports title in 1964. That was 46 years ago! Lebron was the greatest opportunity to win a title that Cleveland could possibly have. In a single moment, the Cavs have gone from being title contenders to lottery contenders. The best hope for the Cavs next year is that they tank and get a high pick in the draft so the can try to draft the most ironic pick in league history, a player they can only hope will be the next Lebron James.
Next year's NBA is going to be very different from this year's. The East has finally passed the West as the premier conference. Out west, the Lakers are the clear favorite with the Thunder, Trailblazers, Mavericks, Spurs, and Nuggets as contenders as well. But the real power now lies in the East. Four teams have a realistic shot of representing the East in the finals and all can beat the Lakers. They are the Heat, Magic, Bulls, and Celtics (Sorry Hawks, but your in tier 2 along with the Bucks, Knicks, and Bobcats). Of those 4, the Heat have the best long-term prospects. I predict they will win 3 titles in the next 5 seasons. But next year, I think the Bulls are going to surprise a lot of people and take the East. They have a fantastic core and plenty of cap room to make additional moves. I also like the Thunder to shock the world and beat the Lakers. And in a Durant versus Rose NBA final, Chicago will show Lebron they don't need him and win their 1st post-Michael title. Yeah, that probably won't happen but it would be a great way to head into the inevitable NBA lockout.
One more note about Lebron, now that his decision is over, it is finally time to devote this blog to my real favorite topic, football! (After one or two more posts about the World Cup of course)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Is New York "the" destination city?
This question really boils down to two separate questions. Does geography matter when it comes to sports? And is New York a good place for basketball? (Also, vote in the poll to the right. Are college or pro sports better?)
Yes, geography absolutely matters when it comes to sports, but not in the way that everyone talks about. In today's global economy, a star can earn the same endorsements in Oklahoma City or New York. What really matters is the star's appeal (a combination of personality and talent), not his location. Nike will sponsor the best players in the NBA no matter where they are. However, there are two ways where geography can make a difference. The first deals with girls, namely famous girls. Good players become stars when they have a famous woman by their side. Tony Parker went from a good point guard to an NBA star when he married Eva Longoria. And famous women live in big cities. Second, in a big city, the local media is also the national media. As the local newspaper of Gotham, the New York Times covers the Yankees and the Knicks closer than other teams. In this way, a local star in New York becomes a national star.
That being said, New York is not a good place to play sports, especially basketball. The media coverage in New York is intense, too intense. Lots of great athletes can't handle the big city. Even more realize the hassle of the New York media just isn't worth it. Plus, unlike Los Angeles or Dallas, the weather in New York is awful. All other things being equal, its always better to be in the place with better weather. Most importantly, the Knicks are way, way down on the New York sports pecking order. The city clearly belongs to the Yankees. The Mets, Jets, and Giants are all also higher on the pecking order than the Knicks. Plus, many people from the city are from out of town and have their own team loyalties.
The motivation behind this article is all of the talk about Lebron taking the opportunity to play in Gotham. The rumor was dead and buried, but resurfaced today as King James' team announcement grows closer. Lebron will definitely not go to New York because they are not a good basketball team and the city isn't even a destination for athletes.
Cleveland has made it a race, but I still thing Chi-town wins the King James sweepstakes. Go Bulls!
Yes, geography absolutely matters when it comes to sports, but not in the way that everyone talks about. In today's global economy, a star can earn the same endorsements in Oklahoma City or New York. What really matters is the star's appeal (a combination of personality and talent), not his location. Nike will sponsor the best players in the NBA no matter where they are. However, there are two ways where geography can make a difference. The first deals with girls, namely famous girls. Good players become stars when they have a famous woman by their side. Tony Parker went from a good point guard to an NBA star when he married Eva Longoria. And famous women live in big cities. Second, in a big city, the local media is also the national media. As the local newspaper of Gotham, the New York Times covers the Yankees and the Knicks closer than other teams. In this way, a local star in New York becomes a national star.
That being said, New York is not a good place to play sports, especially basketball. The media coverage in New York is intense, too intense. Lots of great athletes can't handle the big city. Even more realize the hassle of the New York media just isn't worth it. Plus, unlike Los Angeles or Dallas, the weather in New York is awful. All other things being equal, its always better to be in the place with better weather. Most importantly, the Knicks are way, way down on the New York sports pecking order. The city clearly belongs to the Yankees. The Mets, Jets, and Giants are all also higher on the pecking order than the Knicks. Plus, many people from the city are from out of town and have their own team loyalties.
The motivation behind this article is all of the talk about Lebron taking the opportunity to play in Gotham. The rumor was dead and buried, but resurfaced today as King James' team announcement grows closer. Lebron will definitely not go to New York because they are not a good basketball team and the city isn't even a destination for athletes.
Cleveland has made it a race, but I still thing Chi-town wins the King James sweepstakes. Go Bulls!
Friday, July 2, 2010
Musings about basketball and soccer
I was going to write my predictions for the NBA free agency mayhem tonight. I decided to do something slightly different for two reasons. First of all, some of the NBA dominoes have already started to feel (thank you, Rudy Gay). Second, NBA free agency is way to crazy to give predictions that are anything more than wild guesses. That being said, here are my thoughts about free agency (with some World Cup stuff thrown in too):
- It is amazing how many realistic possibilities exist for how this free agency nonsense could turn out. Lebron could go to 1 of 6 teams. Factoring in sign and trades, Chris Bosh could go to one of 10 or 12 teams. Lebron, Wade, and Bosh could all play together or they could all end up in separate cities. Chris Paul could get traded to any team and then that team will immediately become a contender for Lebron. Or he could stay in New Orleans. And that doesn't even take into account scenarios involving Joe Johnson, Amare, Carlos Boozer, or any number of other free agents. Despite all the speculation that has gone it to this topic and the amount of awesome scenarios, I can't help but think that it will end up being kind of anti-climatic, much like college football expansion.
- For all the talk about who is going to be the big decider in NBA free agency, it turns out it isn't any of the players. Check out this article to see who the real power is in the NBA (it is real well written and eye-opening): http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/200706/william-wesley-worldwide-wes-nba-basketball
- Ghana's loss today was at least as heart breaking to watch as Team USA's defeat. They came SO close to taking Africa further than it has every gone in a Cup. One of the hardest things to watch in sports is when a team outplays its opponent and still loses. Ghana had every opportunity to win and couldn't come through. Not to lessen Uruguay's win, but by the end of that game, they were just barely hanging on. I can't imagine how Asamoah Gyan feels after missing the game winning kick. Still, Ghana should be proud for doing so well with the youngest team in the tournament and for representing their continent so well.
- Luis Suarez's handball was such a head-ups play! If he doesn't commit that red card, Uruguay goes home and I am writing this article about how amazing Ghana is. It sucks that he will miss the next match, but without that contribution, Uruguay would not be in the semi-finals.
- The talk among sports writers is that most of the contracts given out so far in the NBA have been incredibly bloated. No one will argue that Rudy Gay isn't worth $82 million. But I think Minnesota's signing of Darko Milic is going to turn out better than most people predict. Darko hasn't lived up to expectations at all, but he was playing well at the end of last season. He is still young and could blossom into a serviceable starting center. And the Bucks signing of Drew Gooden is a very smart move. Rather than blow their cap room on 1 marquee free agent, the Bucks have signed multiple starting quality players. In a 7 game playoff series, a quality team will beat 1 star player and a bunch of scrubs every time. Fear the Deer! (that is the Buck's rallying cry)
- The advantage of being a novice soccer fan is that I don't feel a huge amount of loyalty to any 1 team. Obviously I was cheering for Team USA and I had chosen to cheer for African teams as well. But now that both of those options are gone, I have no problem finding a new team to cheer for. I will be supporting whoever wins the Argentina-Germany game tomorrow. I like both of these teams because I thoroughly enjoyed their 2006 quarterfinals match-up. Also, Diego Maradona makes the game so much more interesting. And I have seen Germany play in person and I own a Germany jersey.
- Finally, rather than predict free agency, I am going to say where I wish guys would go:
- It is amazing how many realistic possibilities exist for how this free agency nonsense could turn out. Lebron could go to 1 of 6 teams. Factoring in sign and trades, Chris Bosh could go to one of 10 or 12 teams. Lebron, Wade, and Bosh could all play together or they could all end up in separate cities. Chris Paul could get traded to any team and then that team will immediately become a contender for Lebron. Or he could stay in New Orleans. And that doesn't even take into account scenarios involving Joe Johnson, Amare, Carlos Boozer, or any number of other free agents. Despite all the speculation that has gone it to this topic and the amount of awesome scenarios, I can't help but think that it will end up being kind of anti-climatic, much like college football expansion.
- For all the talk about who is going to be the big decider in NBA free agency, it turns out it isn't any of the players. Check out this article to see who the real power is in the NBA (it is real well written and eye-opening): http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/200706/william-wesley-worldwide-wes-nba-basketball
- Ghana's loss today was at least as heart breaking to watch as Team USA's defeat. They came SO close to taking Africa further than it has every gone in a Cup. One of the hardest things to watch in sports is when a team outplays its opponent and still loses. Ghana had every opportunity to win and couldn't come through. Not to lessen Uruguay's win, but by the end of that game, they were just barely hanging on. I can't imagine how Asamoah Gyan feels after missing the game winning kick. Still, Ghana should be proud for doing so well with the youngest team in the tournament and for representing their continent so well.
- Luis Suarez's handball was such a head-ups play! If he doesn't commit that red card, Uruguay goes home and I am writing this article about how amazing Ghana is. It sucks that he will miss the next match, but without that contribution, Uruguay would not be in the semi-finals.
- The talk among sports writers is that most of the contracts given out so far in the NBA have been incredibly bloated. No one will argue that Rudy Gay isn't worth $82 million. But I think Minnesota's signing of Darko Milic is going to turn out better than most people predict. Darko hasn't lived up to expectations at all, but he was playing well at the end of last season. He is still young and could blossom into a serviceable starting center. And the Bucks signing of Drew Gooden is a very smart move. Rather than blow their cap room on 1 marquee free agent, the Bucks have signed multiple starting quality players. In a 7 game playoff series, a quality team will beat 1 star player and a bunch of scrubs every time. Fear the Deer! (that is the Buck's rallying cry)
- The advantage of being a novice soccer fan is that I don't feel a huge amount of loyalty to any 1 team. Obviously I was cheering for Team USA and I had chosen to cheer for African teams as well. But now that both of those options are gone, I have no problem finding a new team to cheer for. I will be supporting whoever wins the Argentina-Germany game tomorrow. I like both of these teams because I thoroughly enjoyed their 2006 quarterfinals match-up. Also, Diego Maradona makes the game so much more interesting. And I have seen Germany play in person and I own a Germany jersey.
- Finally, rather than predict free agency, I am going to say where I wish guys would go:
- Lebron - New Jersey Nets
- Dwayne Wade - Miami Heat
- Joe Johnson - Atlanta Hawks
- Amare - New York Knicks
- Chris Bosh - Houston Rockets
- Carlos Boozer - Miami Heat
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