Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Sorry Avery, It's time to Go

Over the past few years, Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban has remained steadfast on one thing, and that was he would not trade Dirk Nowitzki. Instead, Cuban and company brought in the 'missing link' in Jason Kidd who was anything but the veteran leadership the Mavs needed.

In the five games against the Hornets, Kidd averaged less than 8 points and 7 assists per game. Kidd also seemed to completely lose his touch as a shooter. Despite being "Mr. Triple Double" Kidd really added very little value to the franchise and in many cases left scoring opportunities on the court that would have likely been converted by Devin Harris.

While there is certainly plenty of blame that Kidd deserves, and Chris Paul's rise to elite status should be considered, the main problem with this Mavericks' team is Avery Johnson. From his time as a player of the San Antonio Spurs it was evident that Avery Johnson is a natural leader. Johnson is intelligent and intense, but he has lost his team. In the 2007 NBA Playoffs the Mavs were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors after entering the tournament as the top team in the league and an overwhelming favorite.

The true measurement of a coach is the ability prepare for every opponent and rally a team to victory. And while Avery Johnson may do so many things right as a coach, he has been unable to get it done in the playoffs. Much like Rick Carlisle couldn't get over the hump with the Detroit Pistons, Avery Johnson hasn't gotten the most out of his team. Dallas looked like a team without an answer for a New Orleans team which only has two real players needing to be shut down. While David West had a great series, he's still no Dirk Nowitzki.

The only way I can really see Avery Johnson keeping his job is if the Mavs make some major personnel changes in the offseason. Josh Howard, Jason Kidd and Jerry Stackhouse should all be on the chopping block, regardless of Avery's status with the team. Dallas owner Mark Cuban will only tolerate losing for so long, and he's not going to pass up the chance to make his team better for next season.

Even Mike D'Antonio thinks Avery Johnson failed to prepare his team for the playoffs

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Barry Zito is a Historic Failure

Today the San Francisco Giants revealed that pitcher Barry Zito, the $126 million man is being relegated to the bullpen. At 0-6 with a 7.53 ERA Zito is one of only three pitchers in history to lose six games in the month of April, joining the elite group, joining Dave Stewart and Mike Maroth.While there is no official word on how long Zito will be backing up the likes of Kevin Correia (1-3, 4.50 ERA) and Matt Cain (0-2, 5.27 ERA), the real question is if he should be called on with the game on the line and what will have to be done in order for him to return to the starting rotation.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Giants weren't looking for an $18 million/year middle reliever when they decided to bring on Barry Zito before the 2007 season. Zito is the highest paid pitcher in the majors despite a clear decline in production following his 23-5 Cy Young season of 2002. Zito has won a high of 16 games in a single season since and has had as many losses as wins since the start of 2003.

Even Kerry Wood is making fun of Barry Zito's loss of pitching ability.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Larry Brown ready to coach again, should he be?

Whenever someone with a successful past wants to take one last run at the big show it makes me cringe. Whether it was Michael Jordan lacing up for the Washington Wizards or any other elite athlete making a post-prime return, the potential to add to a legacy is minimal. Instead, we all think the same thing in that the person has no business getting back into the big leagues and should settle away in retirement and coach prep sports in their home town (see Brett Favre).

While normally we talk about players, coaches are often guilty of failing to call it quits. Recently Joe Gibbs proved that while his style of play can be effective at times, it doesn't mean much if the team never responds to it. Bill Parcells left Dallas with work left to be done, and now Larry Brown wants back into the NBA or NCAA to coach basketball. Brown is 67 and already holds titles in the NCAA (Kansas, 1988) and the NBA (Detroit, 2004). As a member of the basketball Hall of Fame Brown has little left to prove. However, after a failed attempt with the Knicks (which I think we all know wasn't exactly his fault, see Isiah Thomas) Brown slipped off the sidelines and into the office as VP of the Philadelphia 76ers.

With the prospect of some high profile collegiate and NBA positions open, Brown has the type of resume that would lure suitors from across the country. However, Brown also has been noted for one very important trait, the ability to rub players the wrong way. Whether it was Allen Iverson or half the Pistons' lineup, Brown doesn't usually make friends. Larry Brown has the ability to make a team better in spite of its efforts, not because of them. When he was in New York, there were simply too many players that didn't want to comply with what coach was saying, and never really wanted to buy in. If Larry Brown seriously wants to get back on the sidelines, he's going to have to adjust to the selfish style of play that roughly 25 NBA franchises play and almost all star college players throw down.

Hey Larry, I'm on your side. Players are too selfish and need the fundamentals, but sadly your message is that of an old man to a bunch of punk kids.

Even Joe Paterno thinks Larry Brown is too washed up to coach again.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Pacman the next Ricky Williams?

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Did someone say strip club?

Pacman Jones was just traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Dallas Cowboys for a 4th round draft pick. The trade includes a clause that Pacman has to play significant time and be reinstated by the league or the Titans will have to deal them an undisclosed pick in 2009.

For Pacman Jones this is time for a new start, not as if he hasn't been given that opportunity before, but it is a change of locale this time. Jones will be playing with a team of talented young players and veterans and should help a defense that was already strong a year ago. Jones should also be able to make an instant impact on the kick and punt return teams where Dallas struggled a year ago.

In the contract with Dallas, Jones will receive $0 in guaranteed money (that compares to the $30 million in guarantees for Jake Long in his 5-year contract). What that does for Dallas is ensure they don't get snubbed in the deal if Jones can't be reinstated or relapses into another strip club bender where he gets drunk with naked women and allegedly flees the scene of a crime...allegedly.

So while Dallas did all the things they needed to do to avoid paying out huge sums of money to a player banned from the league, the expectations have to be low for Pacman. The man has already had one major relapse due to strip club withdrawal and as soon as he starts cashing paychecks again he's certain to be spending a weekend at Scores or some other blue-chip "gentlemen's club."

Even Ricky Williams' former agent, rapper Master P, wouldn't have negotiated a contract with $0 in guarantees

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Dolphins smart to take Long, now what?

Jake Long is far from a flashy player and may not be the total package at left tackle that Joe Thomas was in the 2007 draft, but he is the smartest choice for the Miami Dolphins. I've listened to a lot of analysts talk about Long's relative lack of skill as a pass rusher, but he will give Miami the cornerstone to a rebuilding effort.

As discussed on "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd left tackle is one of the important positions that has to be successful in order to build a great team (others mentioned were quarterback, corner, defensive end). In my rating, I had Long as the No. 7 overall player but the No. 1 overall pick in my projection due to Miami's inability to solidify the offensive line. The team didn't need to take Matt Ryan as they invested in John Beck a year ago and while the defense is aging, it is not the most glaring issue for the team. While I'm not a Parcells fan, the drafting of Long makes sense as he was never a threat to be a holdout for pay and will be a leader in the locker room early in his career. Being flashy sells jerseys, it doesn't rebuild franchises.

The next question is what St. Louis should do with the 2nd overall pick. While there are teams looking to move up, and St. Louis may consider moving down, history shows that there are rarely trades into the top 5 overall picks and we can expect to see the Rams make a selection. The team needs to go defensive line and while Glenn Dorsey is the man to choose according to Mel Kiper Jr. (why do we still listen to someone who claimed Mike Williams as the best player in the 2005 draft class?) I look at Vernon Gholston as the best fit for the team. Gholston is level headed and improved his numbers for his senior season, unlike Dorsey who struggled with injury and consistency, and ultimately is a tackle while the Rams need more help at defensive end. Gholston is also a sack machine for a team that struggled with only 31 in 2007.

With the draft looming I can't help but wonder, what keeps Mel Kiper Jr.'s hair in place? Even Pat Riley is jealous of that gel-job.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

NBA Playoffs provide lack of upsets, lots of story lines

I can't help but feel like I'm somehow going to be cheated if all of the higher seeded teams win in the first round of the NBA playoffs. That said, it worked wonders for the NCAA Tournament to have all four one-seeds in the Final Four. Many experts predicted zero upsets and so far the only team leading the series that isn't favored is the Philadelphia 76ers against Detroit. While Detroit can be a bit lackadaisical at times, there is little doubt that they'll bounce back and get out of the last 6.

While there may not be any first round shockers, and it's still early so we can't quite tell yet, there are some solid story lines emerging. The Suns vs. Spurs opening game was ridiculous to watch, and while it didn't have the late night appeal preferred by the sports insomniac audience, especially for two west coast teams, the game was an instant classic and immortalized Tim Duncan. Shaq needs to show up big in the coming games in order to avoid looking old and defense-less against Duncan and the Spurs, a team he was supposed to help the Suns in beating.

Tracy McGrady is already well on his way to his typical choke job and first round exit. There's little doubt Utah will take the series behind the strength of Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams. McGrady looked really strong in game 2 of the series, for three quarters...again. There is a reason analysts and casual fans weren't picking Houston to go anywhere in the playoffs, even during their 22-game winning streak.

In the East Chicago and Miami...err... Sorry about that slip, I momentarily forgot Chicago fired one coach, didn't offer a job to his replacement, and missed the playoffs and Miami was statistically eliminated so early in the season their coach spent more time on vacation than on the sidelines. The East is looking like a two-team race. Boston is a cinch to win the top half of the bracket and Detroit should emerge from the lower half. When it became apparent that the Cleveland deal didn't help out LeBron it started the countdown to the Boston vs. Detroit showdown for the Eastern Conference Championship.

At this stage in the game, it's tough not to like the Lakers to come out of the West. Los Angeles won't have to face Phoenix, San Antonio, New Orleans or Dallas until the Western Conference Finals, if at all, and Utah doesn't really scare me with how solid Pau Gasol is looking. And yes, I made a reference to the fate of the Lakers being in the hands of Pau Gasol. Kobe may win the NBA MVP, and ESPN has been putting on a love fest for him as the best player in the league (how we keep forgetting LeBron, Howard and Garnett in these discussions is beyond me) but once again if the Lakers win a title Kobe will have to be in a backseat role. Kobe Bryant does not make his teammates better, but having the dominant presence of Pau Gasol and the mismatches he creates is what is making Los Angeles difficult to play against. When LA acquired Gasol they were a borderline playoff team and went on to finish the season as the top seed in the conference and a favorite to win the NBA Championship.

With only a few days of the playoffs complete the one question to ask; how does Gilbert Arenas' 7 points on 2-10 shooting fit in with the plan to beat Cleveland? I'm guessing an embarrassing 0-2 start wasn't part of the master plan.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Bears need to give Urlacher an extension

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Image from DallasNews.com

Brian Urlacher is suddenly not a happy man, and not in the unhappy way he hits opposing offenses who dare to come over the middle, but in the disgruntled form of unhappy. Urlacher is reportedly wanting a multi-year extension to his contract with the Chicago Bears. Urlacher is currently wrapped up in a nine-year deal that he signed in 2003 for $56 million.

While Urlacher still has several years left on the deal and received a hefty $13 million signing bonus at the time the deal was signed, he is claiming that he has outperformed the deal. And while the deal was a big one, he has a good argument. In 2007 Urlacher had a quiet season by his standards and still had 123 tackles, 5 sacks and 5 INTs with 1 TD. Urlacher also has won a defensive player of the year award in 2005 and has amassed 6 pro bowls in only 8 seasons.

Chicago proved difficult to deal with in the Lance Briggs contract situation and threatened holdout and again has not been quick to deal with Urlacher. According to ESPN.com a one-year extension has been offered, but Urlacher's agents are seeking more. While there may be concerns about his health, Urlacher has missed only 7 games in 8 seasons, all in 2004.

Needless to say, Brian Urlacher is one of the best players in the NFL and the most marketable person in Chicago sports. While I rarely side with a player seeking more money when they are getting paid millions already, the Chicago Bears should throw stacks of cash at the person who keeps Chicago interesting. Without Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester, Chicago would be a 3-win team with unsold tickets by the barrel load. Just like New England is stingy with pay but paid Tom Brady well, Chicago needs to do the same for its star player.

Brian Urlacher is an irreplaceable player. Are there five defenders you'd rather have to start a team?

Friday, April 18, 2008

Padres, Rockies go 22 strong

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Image from ESPN.com, courtesy of FSN Rocky Mountain

Sports insomniacs rejoiced last night while being treated to a 22-inning showdown between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres. For those of us who live for the late night theatre, the pitching duel between the two NL West opponents provided more late night excitement than a slurpee run to 7-Eleven.

In a game that featured 658 pitches from 15 different pitchers and stretched on until 4:21 AM EST. The teams' combined 30 runners left on base and 37 strikeouts won't likely be beaten this season, as the 22-inning showdown was the longest game since 1993.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic is that Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba and Padres Josh Bard caught the entire game for their respective teams. They might wake up in the morning with sore knees.

At one point in the game they flashed to the grounds crew who was set to clean up the stadium, impatiently and tiredly waiting for the game to finish so they could get to work. Both Colorado and San Diego are hitting the road after the long matchup, highlighted by Greg Maddux going for his 350th career win Friday in Arizona.

Would Ernie Banks make his famous "Let's play two!" call after a game like this?

Miguel Tejada admits to being 47 years old

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In all seriousness, Miguel Tejada is now admitting to be 33 after spending his entire Major League career lying about his age. Tejada, who was traded to the Astros before the season, is now two years closer to a productivity decline.

At one point in the story originally reported by The Houston Chronicle, Tejada said, "I'm feeling free now. It's something that I had in my mind."

Is there anyone who is buying this? Tejada is pretending like he's a victim in this instance that he can now live freely now that people know the truth about his age. That's about as convincing as when Tejada said he didn't take steroids.

I'm a little surprised it took so long for Tejada's real age to be released, considering ESPN.com stated that his driver's license, green card, and other official documents list May 25, 1974 as his date of birth. That also means Tejada is only six weeks away from turning 34. Aside from Barry Bonds, players generally don't have career years after hitting their mid thirties. Then again, Bonds also had unusual growth in head and foot size...but that is all natural afterall.

I think my favorite part of the story posted on ESPN is the line "Earlier in the interview, before being presented with the birth certificate, Tejada was asked how old he was. His answer was '32' -- which is neither his real age nor his listed age." I don't know who Miggy thought he was fooling there, because only he is fooled by the tricky conversion of figuring his age. Considering every child can factor in the "half" year old, I'm left to assume Tejada was simply rounding up with what he reported to be his (alleged) 32nd birthday upcoming. Tejada probably won't realize the full effect of his newly revealed age when he hits the free agent market at 35 instead of 33.

Anyone want to take bets on if Julio Franco is in his sixties? The over-under is set at 57.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Tiger Woods out Four Weeks

Tiger Woods underwent surgery Tuesday to repair damage to his left knee. The injury had been plaguing Tiger for several weeks according to Woods and his agent Mark Steinberg. Woods' decision to undergo the knee surgery, or need for the surgery, were a well hidden secret as even his swing coach Hank Haney did not know Woods planned to get the surgery Tuesday until this week according to a quote on ESPN.

Tiger is expected to miss four weeks with the injury. The Players Championship will fall within that stretch and Tiger will be forced to miss the "Fifth Major" but should be ready to return by the US Open. The time away won't be new to Woods who missed considerable time in 2006 following the death of his father. Woods also has recovered from a similar operation in the past and anticipates rehabilitation to go smoothly.

While many are surprised Tiger did not advertise his ailing knee until the day of the surgery, I for one am very glad it was not known going into this past week. Tiger played well from tee to green at Augusta, but can you imagine what the announcers would have been like had they known of the knee injury? I am a Tiger fan for the most part, but there would have been few things worse on Sunday than having to hear how Tiger's knee impacted every poor shot and missed putt (you know they would have tried to blame the putting on the knee too).

Now the PGA realizes its real problem - ratings in events where Tiger Woods is not in the field. Somehow Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els don't seem to carry the same allure to the casual fan.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Carmelo provides black eye with DUI

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Nothing like giving your team some negative press heading into the playoffs

On behalf of journalists everywhere, I'd like to thank Carmelo Anthony for reminding us that the NBA is unpopular in the United States for a reason, specifically the actions of its players.

According to published reports and police statements, Anthony was pulled over after weaving and failing to dim his lights. Anthony then failed filed sobriety tests and was taken to police headquarters where he took a blood test and was released to a sober third party after being charged with a DUI. The result of the blood test won't be released for about two weeks, just in time for Denver to be out of the playoffs following a first round loss.

Fortunately for the Nuggets, Golden State blew a late lead tonight against the Phoenix Suns and eliminated themselves from the playoffs. Had the Warriors won the media circus in what would have been a critical 82nd game of the season would have been ridiculous. Instead, the game against Memphis will mean as little for Denver as it does for the Grizzlies.

I am certainly not saying the NBA is the only league with issues by its players, but it is the league that promotes the individual over the team (see previous blog). It's not often Allen Iverson can look like the more responsible player.

In 'Melo's defense, the Nuggets are only about to enter the playoffs where they'll face either New Orleans or Los Angeles. Terrell Owens and Stephon Marbury have shown that off field issues can have a huge impact on the focus of a team, and hopefully for Denver that issue doesn't overshadow the team's attempt to make a first round upset in the playoffs.

Even Pacman Jones and Chris Henry think Carmelo showed a lack of judgement in his off field behavior.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Brett, Please stay Retired

On a slow day in sports, somehow the rumor of Brett Favre returning to the NFL emerged again. While I don't foresee Favre throwing another pass for the Packers, I would give the plea for him to stay retired. For a point of reference on Favre's potential retirement, let's refer to two other elite athletes in other sports.

We couldn't talk about a failed retirement return if we didn't talk about Michael Jordan. Jordan's first return was a complete success. Other than the ugly playoff loss to Orlando just weeks after his initial comeback, MJ led the Bulls to another three-peat of NBA Championships. However, what is most remembered is Jordan's failed second return from retirement. Two failed seasons with the Washington Wizards while watching an overweight Jordan struggle to motivate his young, less talented and lazy teammates was truly hard to watch.

Another failed return was that of Roger Clemens. Clemens never missed a season to retirement as Jordan did, but things are turning out even worse for him. Had Clemens left after his great 2005 season in Houston where he led the majors with a 1.87 ERA. However, Clemens was tempted out of retirement in 2006 with a huge contract and has to be regretting it today as he finds himself neck deep in steroid allegations and legal proceedings, all after a disappointing 6-6 season with the Yankees.

So while I don't believe a word of the rumors/reports that Brett Favre is considering a return to the NFL, my advice to him, as demonstrated by the failed multi-retirement career endings of other elite athletes, is to let it go and go out on top. There is nothing wrong with leaving the money on the table in favor of maintaining your dignity.

Anyone else hoping Steve Young follows Keyshawn Johnson back to the gridiron from the broadcast studio?

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Ready for a Masterful Weekend

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Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are looking up, hoping for other players to slip down the leaderboard. (Image by Donald Miralle of Getty Images)


There are many signs of Spring. Robins appear, flowers sprout up, and Tiger Woods sightings are all over SportsCenter. At the half way point of The Masters fans are braced for a great weekend full of possible story lines. At -1 after shooting rounds of 72 & 71, Tiger Woods is 7 strokes off the lead, trailing Trevor Immelman who shot his second 68 on Friday.

Also in the mix is Phil Mickelson, whose ability to hit incredible shots as well as horrific shots (Winged Foot anyone?) makes him exciting to watch. Between Woods and Mickelson they combine for five of the last seven green jackets given out at what many consider to be the year's biggest event. Mickelson will tee off in the second to last group at 2:30, while Woods will beat him onto the course by 80 minutes with his 1:10 start.

While ESPN and other media outlets have pointed out the statistic that only one golfer has ever come back from being more than six back to win the Masters, Tiger Woods is far from out of contention. With tougher conditions expected for the weekend, Woods is still holding his status as betting favorite to win the tournament, rivaled most closely by Mickelson. Woods also came from six-back to win the 2005 Masters.

Trevor Immelman is a steady player and might not be as likely to slip up as a more volatile player like Mickelson or Sergio Garcia (Garcia's not in contention, but I can't pass up a chance to bash on the deliberate and streaky player..or his Chaquita Banana wardrobe), but he also hasn't been in as many pressure situations with the type of field on his heels as he'll have this weekend. Joining Woods in the group of players on the border of contention are Retief Goosen (-2), Vijay Singh (-1) and Jim Furyk (-1). While Woods will almost certainly make a move, expect one of these players to put on some pressure as well. With how they're playing right now, I expect Singh to be that person as he is only a hot putter away from really going low.

It's not a popular opinion because Tiger is always Tiger, but all the talk of Woods winning every major this year is getting really preemptive and winning the Masters is certainly in doubt at this point. After two rounds I like the steadiness of Immelman's game and the focus of Mickelson. If conditions really toughen up Tiger will be in position to make his move, but the field will have to come back to him a little, and with so many strong players at the top Woods will need to make more birdies. Tiger has had a few bad breaks with approach shots not holding or putts lipping out, and a few luckier bounces and a bit of momentum in his favor could be all he needs to make his charge.

If Mickelson falters and Woods fades, will you be watching CBS on Sunday?

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Why is Walsh considering keeping Thomas?

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Even Zeke knows he's to blame for the Knicks' current state of affairs

New team president of the New York Knicks, Donnie Walsh, is stated to be considering retaining Isiah Thomas for the 2008-09 season. Walsh has yet to meet with Isiah Thomas, and does have a few tough questions for the former Pistons great. The list is said to include what caused the feud with Stephon Marbury and also his disagreement with Eddy Curry that resulted in Curry's benching. Zeke also got into it with star center Zach Randolph and Quentin Richardson. All of those situations are on top of the 23-56 record, which ranks 5th worst in the NBA.

For those who may be thinking that Thomas is a victim of circumstance, and he simply has a difficult group of players whose personalities make it tough to win, there is one simple truth; Isiah Thomas is responsible for bringing in EVERY player currently on the New York Knicks. Essentially, Thomas dug his own grave by bringing in players with questionable character such as Marbury and Zach Randolph (has any former Trailblazer turned out well?).

The New York Knicks are now on their way to their worst season ever and it is up to newly hired Knicks President Donnie Walsh to determine Thomas' future. Perhaps the only thing more amazing than Zeke's ability to retain his job this long, is the fact that Walsh has not called for his resignation effective season end already.

In all professional sports managers and coaches are rated on results, fairly or unfairly. There are some markets where this is particularly true, none more so than New York. Joe Torre was effectively run out of the Big Apple despite several World Series rings and playoff appearances. Thomas has taken the once proud Knicks franchise, which wasn't in great shape when he inherited to be fair, and has further run it into the ground.

If Thomas were a model citizen (see sexual harassment claim) or loved by his team (see any NY Knicks player) there may be a legitimate case for him to retain his job. However, the clear facts are that Isiah Thomas is a horrible coach and a deplorable general manager and team president. If Donnie Walsh wants to get off to a good start, and build a lasting future, he needs to be decisive with his first move and find the best replacement on the market.

Anyone in New York hoping for a Pat Riley return?

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Ewing, Olajuwon Represent Golden Era of NBA

The NBA was recently ranked behind NASCAR, Major League Baseball, the NFL, College Basketball & Football and even the NHL in a popularity poll. The NBA is now a shell of its former self, only a decade after the final retirement of Michael Jordan and many of the other Top 50 players in NBA history.

Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon were elected into the Hall of Fame this week, and while they were far from flashy players, they joined the likes of Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen to demonstrate fundamental team basketball where the competitiveness of the game outshadowed the individual accomplishments of the players. Now highlights include 7 dunks by Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant with a small mention at the end that the Lakers won by 10.

While I'm not a proponent of eliminating individual accomplishment from the NBA, the promotion of the individual is doomed for failure. As the "stars" of the game fail both personally and professionally, it takes away from the excitement of the game. The last thing advertisers want to see is another San Antonio vs. Detroit NBA Finals because Duncan, Ginobli, Hamilton and Billups aren't flashy scorers. The teams play fundamental basketball but they don't have the explosiveness of Kobe & KG.

It may be hard to imagine the NBA returning to the greatness of the 90s, stars like Allen Iverson, Starbury and Kobe Bryant aren't helping the image of the league. Fundamental team basketball that is competitive, where players are active on defense, is ultimately more interesting to watch than a 168-142 shootout between two teams with no sense of defense.

Am I the only one who would like to see one last MJ return?

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Memphis Refuses to Win

Watching the National Championship game tonight I couldn't help but wish it was UCLA & UNC. Kansas and Memphis tried desperately to lose the game but ultimately it was Memphis who succeeded in failing. My hat goes off to the kids from Memphis who suddenly remembered they don't know how to shoot free throws.

One thing that was apparent tonight was how Kansas looked battle tested, with close wins over UNLV, Davidson and North Carolina, Kansas maintained poise with the game on the line. Despite a horrible layup attempt in traffic with about twenty seconds left in regulation, Kansas made all the right decisions late.

Up 9 points with just over two minutes to play, Memphis pulled out the loss from the clutches of certain victory. Congratulations to coach John Calipari who took 30 minutes to realize Kansas was going to do its damage inside, especially with the Memphis big men in early foul trouble.

If there is one thing I'll take out of this game, it is the short term memory of the experts of the media. Memphis was dogged by analysts before the tournament started but when the team knocked off Michigan State big and handled Texas, suddenly everyone was kissing Calipari's feet. Despite the picks of North Carolina and UCLA by most analysts before the tournament, almost everyone flipped their selections to Memphis in the Final Four, never mentioning the previous selections, instead referencing the talent of the Memphis lineup. Dick Vitale even went so far to say that if he was drafting, Derrick Rose would be his No. 1 pick to start a team. This is only weeks after the matchup of O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley (both first team All-Americans compared to Rose's Third Team status) was billed as the best two players in College Baseketball.

Sincerely, Kansas had a great comeback, but Memphis has only themselves to blame. Kansas lived up to their end of the bargain, but Memphis had opportunity after opportunity to put the game away but failed to do so.

How's KU looking right now Coach Williams?

Orioles will fly South, Tigers will Roar

There are a few things that get frustrating as a sports fan, and one of them is bandwagon jumpers. I've had to suffer through Davidson's run to the Elite 8 and the Giants making the Superbowl, but now I've actually heard people talking up the Baltimore Orioles and downplaying the potential of the Detroit Tigers.

At what point do people realize that the season is 162 games? As a life-long Cubs fan I endure the pain of watching the team show promise in April and suffer through August, and that bitter reminder every fall is enough to tell me that how a team starts the season has relatively little to do with how they'll finish it.

Certainly the AL Central is a difficult division with the Cleveland Indians the trendy pick to win the World Series this year, but people forget the Yankees were 21-29 at one point in 2007. A number of years ago the Houston Astros were 15-30 and still went on to make the playoffs.

I was amazed to hear commentators pulling out the statistic that no team has ever started 0-6 and made it to the playoffs. Yes, that is a true statistic, but it also means about as much as how Brett Favre's passer rating was influenced by a full moon. The Tigers have a strong start to the rotation, but their bullpen is suspect. However, the team boasts an outstanding lineup and right now it's all a matter of the bats heating up. Granted the team could have scored 12 runs in the final game against the White Sox and still lost, but the team is last in the AL in run production.

The Tigers need to snap out of their slump, but Jim Leyland is too good a manager and the lineup is too strong for the team to play sub-.500 ball for long. By fall the Orioles will have fallen to 4th in the AL East unless they can beat out the Rays in the battle for worst MLB franchise, and the Tigers will be incontention for the Wild Card or AL Central.

Speaking of bandwagons, what happened to the Houston Rockets?