With baseball's playoff races coming to a close and the NFL season in full swing, what better topic to discuss than...basketball? Yes, it has been several months since LeBron's “Decision,” Shaq's jump to Boston, and a myriad of other off-season moves in the NBA, so I wanted to take this time to make some not-so bold predictions on the upcoming season. My list is based on off-season acquisitions, coaching/staff changes, and the amount of sugar I have consumed on any particular day. But I know lists can be a bit daunting, and with thirty NBA teams, it can seem like an overwhelming task. So I will be breaking my list into installments, starting today with the worst of the worst: teams 30-21. Enjoy.
30. Toronto Raptors
Our neighbors to the north have the dubious distinction of being the worst team in the NBA this season. Not only did the Raptors lose Chris Bosh to Miami, but they wasted precious cap space on Detroit castaway, Amir Johnson, and then traded Hedo Turkoglu to the Suns. Now, I was all for trading away a declining player with a fat contract like Turkoglu, but the only quality player Toronto got in return was Leandro Barbaso, who will not make much of a difference in wins and losses.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers
I would hate to think the loss of one player could make such a difference in a team's overall record from one season to the next, but when that one player is the caliber of a LeBron James, it does. The sad truth is when you take LeBron (and even Shaq) off of a team that has been a championship contender the past three seasons, and the roster you are left with just isn't all that good. The best player on the Cavs is Antawn Jamison, who couldn't carry the Wizards in Washington, and most certainly won't be able to lead a team that depended on LeBron to do everything for them last season.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves
This team has been terrible for the better part of a decade, and losing their best player, Al Jefferson, won't be helping out the T-Wolves this season. The acquisition of Michael Beasley is experimental, at best, and Minnesota is still feeling the effects of Ricky Rubio snubbing the team to stay in Europe after he was drafted. The Wolves may have a bright future with Jonny Flynn and rookie, Wesley Johnson, but they simply do not have the talent to compete this year in a division that features the Jazz, Blazers, and Thunder; especially with Detroit cast-off, Darko Milicic, patrolling the paint for the entire season. Wait...do I see a pattern developing here?
27. Indiana Pacers
While Darren Collison will help straighten up the point guard position, the rest of the roster is a giant question mark. Roy Hibbert showed flashes last season, but is yet to show he can be a consistent threat in the post. Mike Dunleavy has been a solid pro since he was drafted out of Duke, but there is no guarantee the injuries that plagued him last season won't have any lasting affects. What also makes me cautious of picking Indiana to make any progress this season is that the recession of Detroit and Cleveland will help them in the standings, but the emergence of Milwaukee and Chicago will hurt them even more. It is also a scary proposition when their best player, Danny Granger, can win some games single-handedly, but is more likely to lose a game single-handedly, with his poor shot selection.
26. Sacramento Kings
This team should be called “The Island of Misfit Toys,” because the roster is filled with players who other teams have given up on, such as Luther Head, Samuel Dalembert, J.R. Giddens, and Antoine Wright. While young teams don't usually make an impact in the standings, I actually like the Kings to overachieve this season. They are led by defending Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans, and off-season acquisition, Carl Landry (one of the more underrated forwards in the league). And while many critics doubt his work ethic and passion for the game, I am actually expecting a solid performance out of rookie, DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins may be immature at times, but there is no denying that he can be a force in the paint, which is something the Kings have missed for the better part of this decade. But the reality of the situation is even with all my early optimism, and the emergence of Omri Casspi as an outside threat, this Kings team is still not going to even sniff the playoffs this season.
25. Golden State Warriors
Their cool new logo and uniforms are about all Warriors' fans have to look forward to this upcoming season. This team plays a brand of basketball that may jack up scores and get players big contracts when they leave, but what they do on the court does not equate to wins. This year will be no different. Stephen Curry may have impressed in his run with Team USA, but neither he nor Monta Ellis can carry a team, especially when neither plays defense, and half of the roster plays the same position. Luring David Lee away from the Knicks will improve the Warriors' play on the interior this season, but Lee is a complimentary player, who they paid superstar money to. Perhaps Lee will fit in better with new coach, Keith Smart's game plan, but Golden State still does not have the type of roster it takes to make any type of noise in the playoff race. They will score a lot, but they also will lose a lot more.
24. Detroit Pistons
It almost pains me to write this segment of the list, because I have been a die hard Pistons fan for quite some years. The fan in me wants to believe they will bounce back from their 27-55 record last season, but the unbiased, analytical writer in me knows better. I thought that drafting Greg Monroe was an excellent choice by Detroit's front office, but that's about all I like about this team. The front office can only blame themselves for the inevitable mediocrity that is this year's Pistons, because they spent essentially all of the team's cap space last off-season on Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, who both come off the bench. Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince may be the only silver-linings for this team, based on Richard Hamilton being slowed by injury, the front line consisting of undersized and under-talented power forwards, and the signing of the oft-inured, Tracy McGrady. Luckily they are only paying McGrady around $850,000 this season, which means he will be making approximately $170,000 for every game that he will actually be playing in (that's five games if you don't want to do the math).
23. Philadelphia 76ers
While this team does have a good, young nucleus in Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, they just don't make me believe in them. Since receiving a gigantic contract, Elton Brand has been seemingly too busy counting his money instead of going on the court and earning it. I liked the draft pick of taking Evan Turner; I just didn't like him going to the Sixers. Turner will have to fight for playing time at either wing behind Iguodala and Young, and when a player is drafted that high, he should have an immediate impact on the team. I don't see Turner having that effect if he is going to come off the bench. I can understand why Doug Collins would want to leave the broadcast table to coach a player of Turner's caliber, but if this team struggles to accumulate wins, he may not be around long enough to see Turner reach his full potential.
22. Washington Wizards
This season's opportunity for success in our nation's capital is contingent on one player: Gilbert Arenas. So in the grand scheme of things, I don't like Washington's chances. Arenas, when healthy, is one of the best pure scorers in the league. The only problems with that past statement, are he is either not healthy, or is in some type of legal trouble. The incident last season -- where he brought a gun into a locker room-- showed the type of character he possesses, which is not the kind of person I would want to lead my young team. This year's Wizards team also features Josh Howard, who was essentially run out of Dallas for numerous off-the-court antics. Washington's young, front court duo of JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche look to make solid contributions to the team, but I am not sold on John Wall as the “savior” of the franchise. Wall is a talented scorer, but he made far too many mistakes and turnovers at the college level for me to buy him as a dominant professional player.
21. New Orleans Hornets
We round out the bottom of the barrel with the team from The Big Easy. While I have often made it a point to never count out a team with Chris Paul on the roster, this year may make me change my stance. Paul is an electrifying player, but was slowed by injury last year. If the injury bug bites two years in a row, the Hornets have no other options at point guard after trading Darren Collison in the off season. Combine the departure of Collison with Peja Stojakovic being in the twilight of his career, and Emeka Okafor's inability to function in the offense, it appears the success of the Hornets will be up to Paul and David West. Adding Trevor Ariza will help on the defensive side of the ball, but with the exception of Paul, there is no one in the starting lineup that can create their own shot. The Hornets may be able to claw their way into the playoffs, but with the competition in the Western Conference, their potential to make any type of impact is bleak, at best.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Vain and Suffering
The main stories coming out of the first Sunday in this NFL season are the one-game resurgence of Michael Vick, the ineptness of the the Cowboys' offense, and Arian Foster's monster game for the Houston Texans. But what should be the focus of players and owners are the bevy of head injuries and concussions throughout the league.
Matt Moore, Kevin Boss, and DeMarcus Ware all suffered head or neck injuries in their first game, while Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley of the Philadelphia Eagles were both concussed within a span of a few minutes. What may be even more unbelievable is that both Eagles were allowed back in the game. Even after Kolb was driven face-first into the turf by Packers' linebacker, Clay Matthews, and Bradley fell lifelessly to the ground after trying to stand up, just moments after his helmet violently collided with a teammate's hip on an attempted tackle, the Eagles' medical staff saw no reason for them to be kept on the sidelines.
Injuries are part of the aggressive and violent game that is professional football, but career-threatening (and possibly life-threatening) injuries such as the ones discussed above need to be handled with the utmost care. The very fact that Kolb and Bradley were allowed back in the game is a joke, and a giant mistake by the Eagles' coaching and medical staff. I am no doctor, but if a grown man tries to stand up, then stumbles and flops to the ground like a sack of wet towels, then I would think he should not be allowed to go back onto a field where three-hundred-pound men are going to hit him. I can understand the desire to have one of your best defensive players on the field, but not at the expense of his health. It is sad to say, but in situations such as these, players are taken advantage of. They are taught at a very young age to ignore injuries and pain, so they feel as though they can play, or simply do not understand the severity of their injury.
The recent realizations on the effects of concussions and other severe injuries should be more than enough reasons for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to be agreed upon, because players are putting their careers at risk every time they step onto a football field. It was just three years ago that Bills' tight end, Kevin Everett, suffered a spinal-cord injury while trying to make a tackle on special teams. He was given a slim chance to walk again, if he even lived at all. Due to unbelievable amounts of willpower and spirit, Everett was able to walk on the field for the Bills' home finale later that year, but his career was done after just three seasons in the league. While Everett's story was one of inspiration, it is also a chilling reminder that NFL careers are extremely short. So it is imperative that a new CBA is reached, not only so fans around the world can have the pleasure of watching NFL football, but also to ensure players are taken care of in situations such as Everett's.
I know there will be people out there who would say that professional athletes get paid too much as it is, and are too greedy; which is a viewpoint I happen to agree with. But as greedy as NFL players are, NFL owners are just as covetous, if not more so. Plus the owners are not the individuals who are spending their adult lives in wheelchairs because of multiple knee surgeries, or the ones suffering brain damage from having defensive linemen drive them head-first into the ground for ten years. So, a new monetary agreement between the NFL players and owners appears to be the only way to ensure that football players will be compensated for the risks they take, and that fans will be able to watch them play in the future.
Matt Moore, Kevin Boss, and DeMarcus Ware all suffered head or neck injuries in their first game, while Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley of the Philadelphia Eagles were both concussed within a span of a few minutes. What may be even more unbelievable is that both Eagles were allowed back in the game. Even after Kolb was driven face-first into the turf by Packers' linebacker, Clay Matthews, and Bradley fell lifelessly to the ground after trying to stand up, just moments after his helmet violently collided with a teammate's hip on an attempted tackle, the Eagles' medical staff saw no reason for them to be kept on the sidelines.
Injuries are part of the aggressive and violent game that is professional football, but career-threatening (and possibly life-threatening) injuries such as the ones discussed above need to be handled with the utmost care. The very fact that Kolb and Bradley were allowed back in the game is a joke, and a giant mistake by the Eagles' coaching and medical staff. I am no doctor, but if a grown man tries to stand up, then stumbles and flops to the ground like a sack of wet towels, then I would think he should not be allowed to go back onto a field where three-hundred-pound men are going to hit him. I can understand the desire to have one of your best defensive players on the field, but not at the expense of his health. It is sad to say, but in situations such as these, players are taken advantage of. They are taught at a very young age to ignore injuries and pain, so they feel as though they can play, or simply do not understand the severity of their injury.
The recent realizations on the effects of concussions and other severe injuries should be more than enough reasons for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to be agreed upon, because players are putting their careers at risk every time they step onto a football field. It was just three years ago that Bills' tight end, Kevin Everett, suffered a spinal-cord injury while trying to make a tackle on special teams. He was given a slim chance to walk again, if he even lived at all. Due to unbelievable amounts of willpower and spirit, Everett was able to walk on the field for the Bills' home finale later that year, but his career was done after just three seasons in the league. While Everett's story was one of inspiration, it is also a chilling reminder that NFL careers are extremely short. So it is imperative that a new CBA is reached, not only so fans around the world can have the pleasure of watching NFL football, but also to ensure players are taken care of in situations such as Everett's.
I know there will be people out there who would say that professional athletes get paid too much as it is, and are too greedy; which is a viewpoint I happen to agree with. But as greedy as NFL players are, NFL owners are just as covetous, if not more so. Plus the owners are not the individuals who are spending their adult lives in wheelchairs because of multiple knee surgeries, or the ones suffering brain damage from having defensive linemen drive them head-first into the ground for ten years. So, a new monetary agreement between the NFL players and owners appears to be the only way to ensure that football players will be compensated for the risks they take, and that fans will be able to watch them play in the future.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Ramifications and Forgiveness
This upcoming season of NFL football could not be a more perfect example of how all past transgressions are forgiven, if you have the talent and the status. It was almost five months to the day that Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, was accused of sexual assault outside a Milledgeville, GA nightclub. Fast forward to present day, and the only talk surrounding Roethlisberger is his suspension being reduced from six games to four, and the ramifications of him missing a quarter of the Steelers games.
Now, I can understand NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, reducing Roethlisberger's suspension, because Ben was never actually convicted of any crime, and fulfilled all the requirements of his rehabilitation. What is beyond comprehension is how quickly Steelers fans were willing to welcome Roethlisberger back with open arms; even cheering him at his first practice with the team. It appears they have either forgotten Roethlisberger's past behavior, or they simply do not care. Five months ago countless Steelers fans were calling in to every Pittsburgh radio station, berating Roethlisberger, and requesting that he be traded before the season. Less than half a year later, it's autographs and standing ovations at training camp.
While the facts of that fateful night in Milledgeville may be misconstrued and altered by doctors, police, and witnesses, the fact still remains that Roethlisberger acted unethically. Even if no sexual assault occurred that night, he was still having intercourse with a drunk girl in a nightclub bathroom. And let us not forget that this incident happened less than a year after Roethlisberger was accused of raping a woman at a hotel in Lake Tahoe. Call me crazy, but I do believe I see a pattern forming.
What is sad is that Ben is not the only football player receiving preferential treatment this season. Last June, then Browns wide receiver, Donte Stallworth, was driving drunk in Florida when he struck and killed Mario Reyes, who was trying to catch a bus to get home from work. Stallworth faced fifteen years in prison for DUI manslaughter, but was instead sentenced to thirty days (of which he was only required to serve twenty-four). If not for a broken foot that he suffered during a preseason game, Stallworth would be playing Week 1 for the Baltimore Ravens, after being suspended for all of the 2009 season.
I am well aware that everybody makes mistakes in their lives, and I am no different. I also believe everybody deserves a chance to make amends for their transgressions. But what separates me from the two athletes I have focused on is they receive second, third, fourth, and sometimes double-digit chances. And perhaps Roethlisberger and Stallworth will never have any future issues in their personal lives. Perhaps they will both be upstanding citizens and perfect role models from this point on. Personally, I would enjoy seeing that development, because while I don't think very highly of either man at this point in time, I believe the mistakes they have made could be examples to others, both on and off the football field. Every person deserves a chance at redemption, but just because some can throw or catch a touchdown pass, does not mean they are allowed to be redeemed any more swiftly than the rest of us.
Now, I can understand NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, reducing Roethlisberger's suspension, because Ben was never actually convicted of any crime, and fulfilled all the requirements of his rehabilitation. What is beyond comprehension is how quickly Steelers fans were willing to welcome Roethlisberger back with open arms; even cheering him at his first practice with the team. It appears they have either forgotten Roethlisberger's past behavior, or they simply do not care. Five months ago countless Steelers fans were calling in to every Pittsburgh radio station, berating Roethlisberger, and requesting that he be traded before the season. Less than half a year later, it's autographs and standing ovations at training camp.
While the facts of that fateful night in Milledgeville may be misconstrued and altered by doctors, police, and witnesses, the fact still remains that Roethlisberger acted unethically. Even if no sexual assault occurred that night, he was still having intercourse with a drunk girl in a nightclub bathroom. And let us not forget that this incident happened less than a year after Roethlisberger was accused of raping a woman at a hotel in Lake Tahoe. Call me crazy, but I do believe I see a pattern forming.
What is sad is that Ben is not the only football player receiving preferential treatment this season. Last June, then Browns wide receiver, Donte Stallworth, was driving drunk in Florida when he struck and killed Mario Reyes, who was trying to catch a bus to get home from work. Stallworth faced fifteen years in prison for DUI manslaughter, but was instead sentenced to thirty days (of which he was only required to serve twenty-four). If not for a broken foot that he suffered during a preseason game, Stallworth would be playing Week 1 for the Baltimore Ravens, after being suspended for all of the 2009 season.
I am well aware that everybody makes mistakes in their lives, and I am no different. I also believe everybody deserves a chance to make amends for their transgressions. But what separates me from the two athletes I have focused on is they receive second, third, fourth, and sometimes double-digit chances. And perhaps Roethlisberger and Stallworth will never have any future issues in their personal lives. Perhaps they will both be upstanding citizens and perfect role models from this point on. Personally, I would enjoy seeing that development, because while I don't think very highly of either man at this point in time, I believe the mistakes they have made could be examples to others, both on and off the football field. Every person deserves a chance at redemption, but just because some can throw or catch a touchdown pass, does not mean they are allowed to be redeemed any more swiftly than the rest of us.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Game Time: A Time to Work
Let me start out today by simply saying that I HATE TWITTER. I believe Twitter does nothing but feed the ego maniacal, narcissistic individuals who use it, and that it is an utterly useless way to spend one's time. That being said, I am glad to know the NFL has fined Bengals' wide receiver, Chad Ochocinco, $25,000 for Tweeting during Cincinnati's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The NFL rules on the matter very clearly state that players are allowed to post on social networking sites up to 90 minutes before kickoff, and cannot resume posting until they have fulfilled all postgame media commitments. Chad posted a Tweet at 6:50 p.m. and another at 9:53 p.m. These times would have no significance but for the fact that the game kicked off at 8:07 p.m. And if my public school math skills are correct, the first Tweet is in direct violation of the 90-minute rule, and the second Tweet occurred during the game, which is simply unethical.
Tweeting during a game is wrong in so many ways, but the pregame Tweet may be even worse. Chad's time could have been spent with the coaching staff, or his fellow receivers, but instead he was hiding in his locker, Blackberry in hand. And just think of the message he is sending to his teammates, by Tweeting when they are on the field trying to win a football game. I know it's just a preseason game, but there are guys on the field who are still fighting for roster spots, so maybe a team veteran like Chad should be paying attention. Ocho may just be able to give these young players some tips or advice if he weren't so concerned with his followers knowing that he doesn't appreciate being hit so hard in a preseason game.
Personally, I don't hate Chad Ochocinco. In fact, I happen to think he is a great football player, and an even better entertainer; but he deserved to be fined $25,000. The NFL needed to set a precedent for cases such as this, in order to ensure it will never happen again. And it may seem a bit melodramatic to make Twitter out to be some evil entity, but one can only imagine how out of hand it could get if left unchecked. Would it really make the viewing experience better if in the fourth quarter of a Vikings game, Brett Favre's followers could be privy to insight such as “Dang, missed Percy on the slant. Could have won the game. Buy some Wranglers.” So what Chad has to realize is that when he puts on that orange and black jersey, he's at work, and you don't need to be Tweeting at work; especially when a 245-pound linebacker is going to try to take your head off in an hour-and-a-half.
The NFL rules on the matter very clearly state that players are allowed to post on social networking sites up to 90 minutes before kickoff, and cannot resume posting until they have fulfilled all postgame media commitments. Chad posted a Tweet at 6:50 p.m. and another at 9:53 p.m. These times would have no significance but for the fact that the game kicked off at 8:07 p.m. And if my public school math skills are correct, the first Tweet is in direct violation of the 90-minute rule, and the second Tweet occurred during the game, which is simply unethical.
Tweeting during a game is wrong in so many ways, but the pregame Tweet may be even worse. Chad's time could have been spent with the coaching staff, or his fellow receivers, but instead he was hiding in his locker, Blackberry in hand. And just think of the message he is sending to his teammates, by Tweeting when they are on the field trying to win a football game. I know it's just a preseason game, but there are guys on the field who are still fighting for roster spots, so maybe a team veteran like Chad should be paying attention. Ocho may just be able to give these young players some tips or advice if he weren't so concerned with his followers knowing that he doesn't appreciate being hit so hard in a preseason game.
Personally, I don't hate Chad Ochocinco. In fact, I happen to think he is a great football player, and an even better entertainer; but he deserved to be fined $25,000. The NFL needed to set a precedent for cases such as this, in order to ensure it will never happen again. And it may seem a bit melodramatic to make Twitter out to be some evil entity, but one can only imagine how out of hand it could get if left unchecked. Would it really make the viewing experience better if in the fourth quarter of a Vikings game, Brett Favre's followers could be privy to insight such as “Dang, missed Percy on the slant. Could have won the game. Buy some Wranglers.” So what Chad has to realize is that when he puts on that orange and black jersey, he's at work, and you don't need to be Tweeting at work; especially when a 245-pound linebacker is going to try to take your head off in an hour-and-a-half.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Stars and Stripes.
With all the hoopla surrounding the four snaps Brett Favre took in his return to the Vikings, Lou Piniella's retirement, and baseball's division races, it appears people don't realize there is a USA basketball team playing overseas, and representing our country quite solidly. Now, I know there are those out there that will scoff at the mere mention of a USA hoops team without names like Bryant, Kidd, Wade, LeBron, and Carmelo, but I would not discount this team too quickly. I concur that without the “sexy” aforementioned names, this current assortment of ballers may not be worthy of national pandemonium, but they are more than an acceptable group.
With no members of the “Redeem Team” able to play on the World Championship roster, fans of international basketball get to see a new gathering of young, hungry, NBA players, who may not be household names at this point in their careers. This year we say “goodbye” to LeBron James, and “hello” to Kevin Durant, last season's scoring champion. Team USA loses Carmelo and D-Wade, but gains freak athletes in Andre Iguodala, Rudy Gay, and Derrick Rose. The void of veteran leadership left by Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant is filled by two-time champ, Lamar Odom, and 2004 NBA Finals MVP, Chauncey Billups. When the two rosters are compared, it seems the only aspect 2010 USA Basketball may be lacking is jersey sales.
The 2010 roster may even have one advantage over the 2008 “Redeem Team”: outside shooting. The trio of Danny Granger, Eric Gordon, and Stephen Curry provide consistent outside threats for the drive-and-dish play of Rose and Russel Westbrook. This current roster will also benefit from Billups' ability to knock down outside shots, which should be a benefit when opposing teams play zone.
The one issue for this team will most likely be interior play. The only true center on the Team USA roster is Tyson Chandler, who has proven to be less than reliable, in terms of health, over the past two seasons. It is ironic, however, that Chandler's job will be made a great deal easier by injuries to key bigs on other teams. Chandler should be able to sleep better at night knowing he won't have to contend with China's Yao Ming or Australia's Andrew Bogut. Add the fact that the Spanish national team will only have one Gasol brother, and it suddenly seems as though all Tyson Chandler will have to do is rebound, block a few shots, and maybe throw down an alley-oop or two for the USA to be contenders.
Even though some of these players may not even get recognized in the cities they play in, they still deserve to be appreciated for their efforts. Everybody on this roster could have said “it's not like we're playing in the Olympics,” and just stayed home this summer. But instead they dedicated themselves to continuing the momentum from the “Redeem Team,” in order to make the USA a powerhouse in international basketball again. And I know most of these players may just be auditioning so Mike Krzyzewski will consider them for the next Olympic team, but I see that as a positive. Players like Durant, Rose, Iguodala, and Westbrook are not only the future of the NBA, but are also the building blocks for years of international basketball, and if they don't want to wait for spots on the Olympic team to open up, then more power to them for trying to take a spot. Personally, I am excited to see how these "kids" will stack up against the best in the world. I don't expect it to be an easy road by any means, but I firmly believe that by the end of the World Championships, we'll be proud of them.
With no members of the “Redeem Team” able to play on the World Championship roster, fans of international basketball get to see a new gathering of young, hungry, NBA players, who may not be household names at this point in their careers. This year we say “goodbye” to LeBron James, and “hello” to Kevin Durant, last season's scoring champion. Team USA loses Carmelo and D-Wade, but gains freak athletes in Andre Iguodala, Rudy Gay, and Derrick Rose. The void of veteran leadership left by Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant is filled by two-time champ, Lamar Odom, and 2004 NBA Finals MVP, Chauncey Billups. When the two rosters are compared, it seems the only aspect 2010 USA Basketball may be lacking is jersey sales.
The 2010 roster may even have one advantage over the 2008 “Redeem Team”: outside shooting. The trio of Danny Granger, Eric Gordon, and Stephen Curry provide consistent outside threats for the drive-and-dish play of Rose and Russel Westbrook. This current roster will also benefit from Billups' ability to knock down outside shots, which should be a benefit when opposing teams play zone.
The one issue for this team will most likely be interior play. The only true center on the Team USA roster is Tyson Chandler, who has proven to be less than reliable, in terms of health, over the past two seasons. It is ironic, however, that Chandler's job will be made a great deal easier by injuries to key bigs on other teams. Chandler should be able to sleep better at night knowing he won't have to contend with China's Yao Ming or Australia's Andrew Bogut. Add the fact that the Spanish national team will only have one Gasol brother, and it suddenly seems as though all Tyson Chandler will have to do is rebound, block a few shots, and maybe throw down an alley-oop or two for the USA to be contenders.
Even though some of these players may not even get recognized in the cities they play in, they still deserve to be appreciated for their efforts. Everybody on this roster could have said “it's not like we're playing in the Olympics,” and just stayed home this summer. But instead they dedicated themselves to continuing the momentum from the “Redeem Team,” in order to make the USA a powerhouse in international basketball again. And I know most of these players may just be auditioning so Mike Krzyzewski will consider them for the next Olympic team, but I see that as a positive. Players like Durant, Rose, Iguodala, and Westbrook are not only the future of the NBA, but are also the building blocks for years of international basketball, and if they don't want to wait for spots on the Olympic team to open up, then more power to them for trying to take a spot. Personally, I am excited to see how these "kids" will stack up against the best in the world. I don't expect it to be an easy road by any means, but I firmly believe that by the end of the World Championships, we'll be proud of them.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Diamond Marathon
One common complaint in the sports world is the fact that baseball games just don't seem to end...ever. And when the players aren't taking an exorbitant amount of time to complete their bevy of rituals, there are certain aspects of the game that also lead to even further delays. Now, I can honestly say I do enjoy watching baseball games, but there are still times when I will watch the result of a pitch, then flip to another channel because I know it will be another two minutes before the pitcher will be ready to deliver again. And heaven forbid there be a mound visit anywhere in that sequence, because I'll turn away for so long, I may just forget I was watching a game at all. So in this particular article I will explore some common suggestions for improving baseball, and determine if they are worthy of consideration.
1. There is no need for a player to run the bases after hitting a home run.
I don't tend to agree in this instance, mostly because I don't believe this change would cut down on game time much. Batters are usually at first, and possibly rounding the base, when the ball lands, so they would already be 90 feet away from home anyway. In that case, they may as well just keep going. I also foresee an increase in boneheaded plays if this rule were enacted, as we all know that many players who think they have hit a home run, would simply stand at home plate, only to have the ball bounce off the wall and turn their would be double into the longest single in baseball history.
2. Once a batter enters the box, he must stay there.
This seems to me like a good idea, because most batters tend to take a strike, step out of the box, adjust their helmet, grab their crotch, re-strap the Velcro on their batting gloves, eat a sandwich, update their Twitter profile, then step back in for the next pitch. No more! Unless the momentum of a player swinging takes him out of the batter's box, then he needs to stay in there until the at-bat is over, or he will be assessed a strike. This rule would definitely make Nomar Garciaparra glad he is retired.
3. Allow the use of designated hitters for both leagues.
I can already hear the moans and groans of baseball purists, but I really do agree with this particular suggestion. With the exception of the Reds' Mike Leake, nobody wants to see a pitcher hit. I would liken witnessing some of these hurlers in the box to watching a thirteen- year-old take on Tyson in his prime: it's just not fair, and is quite honestly a bit sad and tragic. I understand it's not really the pitcher's fault, because they get paid to pitch. So let's leave hitting to the guys who are paid to do it. It's not like you see NFL kickers playing nose tackle.
4. Use instant replay on the base paths.
I am for this suggestion, not because I believe baseball umpires are incompetent, but more because officiating at the bases is such a difficult task. Umpires must be aware of ball, runner, base, and fielder all at the same time, and make immediate decisions on plays that occur in fractions of seconds, with less than optimal viewing angles. I'm sure umpires would feel more relaxed, and would ultimately make better calls, if they knew they didn't have to be perfect on every play. I think Jim Joyce would agree (Editor's note: Stop piling on Jim Joyce).
5. Limit the number of visits to the mound.
Yes, yes, yes, and yes. As aforementioned, I am mot the biggest fan of mound visits. They take far too long, too many players get involved, and I don't really believe they are all that necessary. I concede that there are times when defensive alignments need to be set, but isn't that what all those goofy hand signals are for? And yes, there are certain situations when a catcher may need to explain how to pitch to a certain hitter, but that's also why teams pay scouts for their advanced reports. Personally, I enjoy watching Yadier Molina play the position, not only for his defensive prowess, but also how he handles the Cardinal's pitching staff. If the pitcher makes a good pitch, point at him and nod your head. If he makes a bad pitch, rifle the ball back at him and wake his butt up. Every catcher should learn Molina's techniques so we can cut down on all these mound visits. My suggestion: one visit for every three innings, and that includes pitching coach visits, unless the skipper goes out to give a pitcher the ol' yank.
6. Use a pitch clock, similar to the shot clock in basketball.
Surprisingly, I am not very supportive of this suggestion. While some pitchers do take eons to deliver a pitch (*cough*...Dice-K...*cough*) I believe the pace of an at-bat is set by the hitter, who has the option of stepping out of the box, calling for time, and generally, just plain stalling. If the need for the pitcher to wait for the hitter is eliminated, then they will be ready to pitch sooner, thus the pace of the games will naturally quicken.
So there's my master plan for “fixing” baseball. The truth is, I honestly think most sports fans do enjoy watching baseball. We just don't like watching it for four-and-a-half hours.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Held Hostage
If there is one story I cannot stand to hear about for one more minute, it is the three years of coverage on Brett Favre's playing status. Being a lifelong Packers fan, I understand the charisma that Favre possesses, and the infatuation fans can have with him. But a line has to be drawn for what is relevant, and what is purely unnecessary. To be frank, I don't really care to watch ten minutes of shirtless high schoolers catching passes from Number 4. I also don't really need to know if three of his buddies from the Vikings flew down to Mississippi to grovel at the feet of their quarterback, and beg him to return for next season; which brings me to my next point.
I know Ryan Longwell, Steve Hutchinson, and Jared Allen may just be taking a trip down to check on the Ol' Gunslinger's healing process, but I doubt they would take a flight from Minnesota to Mississippi for information they could have attained via text message. To me, all signs point to the Viking trio arriving in Hattiesburg and promptly showing up at Favre's house with gifts in hand, and tails tucked firmly between their legs. Now, I completely disagree with how the Vikings' front office has given Favre free reign over their franchise, but wasn't it just two weeks ago that Jared Allen was telling reporters that the Vikings would go on with or without Favre? That statement would have had a bit more impact if your stance lasted more than a month, Jared.
Jared Allen pales in comparison to head coach Brad Childress, though, because Allen, Hutchinson, and Longwell are skipping practice to visit Favre, which would most likely garner a fine from any other coach. But don't expect the trio to even receive a slap on the wrist, because Childress has been the driving force behind Favre's sychophantic behavior since Brett stepped foot in Minnesota. This is the head coach, who should be concentrating on the players who cared enough to show up for camp, instead of traveling 1,100 miles away from his team to go armadillo hunting with a forty-year-old man, who may not even be his signal-caller this upcoming season. Favre has become the NFL's version of LeBron James...or maybe the other way around. The point is that Favre retires and unretires, works out with high school players, and doesn't show up for training camp because he knows he can get away with it. If a six-year-old stays up until midnight, and his parents don't tell him/her they can't do that, then guess what? That kid is going to continue staying up until midnight.
So, wake up, Vikings. If you don't want Brett Favre to put you through all the waiting, guessing, and drama, then don't let him.
I know Ryan Longwell, Steve Hutchinson, and Jared Allen may just be taking a trip down to check on the Ol' Gunslinger's healing process, but I doubt they would take a flight from Minnesota to Mississippi for information they could have attained via text message. To me, all signs point to the Viking trio arriving in Hattiesburg and promptly showing up at Favre's house with gifts in hand, and tails tucked firmly between their legs. Now, I completely disagree with how the Vikings' front office has given Favre free reign over their franchise, but wasn't it just two weeks ago that Jared Allen was telling reporters that the Vikings would go on with or without Favre? That statement would have had a bit more impact if your stance lasted more than a month, Jared.
Jared Allen pales in comparison to head coach Brad Childress, though, because Allen, Hutchinson, and Longwell are skipping practice to visit Favre, which would most likely garner a fine from any other coach. But don't expect the trio to even receive a slap on the wrist, because Childress has been the driving force behind Favre's sychophantic behavior since Brett stepped foot in Minnesota. This is the head coach, who should be concentrating on the players who cared enough to show up for camp, instead of traveling 1,100 miles away from his team to go armadillo hunting with a forty-year-old man, who may not even be his signal-caller this upcoming season. Favre has become the NFL's version of LeBron James...or maybe the other way around. The point is that Favre retires and unretires, works out with high school players, and doesn't show up for training camp because he knows he can get away with it. If a six-year-old stays up until midnight, and his parents don't tell him/her they can't do that, then guess what? That kid is going to continue staying up until midnight.
So, wake up, Vikings. If you don't want Brett Favre to put you through all the waiting, guessing, and drama, then don't let him.
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