Nowadays, I think sports wagering is not as shady as it once was in due large part to the amount of money the key people are making in the current era. In addition, David Stern has taken a stance against gambling despite the fact his officials now are caught in a stereotype due to former referee Tim Donaghy's indictment for fixing games. Whether Donaghy was a rogue official or not, most sports bettors are gamblers and gamblers are people who bet on anything. Some can make a living off their luck and acument but most do not. There are way too many factors to take into account that every individual player, coach, official, team, or casino posting odds for games is on the up and up for every game played. But gambers do not care about that because they believe they have the ability to get a rush and win when they are laying down their money even when odds are stacked against them. And this is why Delaware would like to "legalize" a sports lottery in the state because gamblers are everywhere. And all it takes is a few wins or losses at the tables or on sports events for a recreational wagerer to become an addict. Either way, there are too many factors for modest gamblers to try and affect the outcome of a sporting event. It is no longer the 1900s and there is too much money involved for gamblers and their accumulated money to have any effect on the games. If anything, it is the large numbers of corporations and sponsors who do business with the owners and commissioner coupled with television that controls how these games are scheduled and run. Gambling is what it is and so why not legalize it instead of declaring it "illegal" when gambling is no longer synonymous with Las Vegas, Nevada.
March 28, 2009
Sports Wagering In Delaware?
Well it is really no surprise since technically Delaware is one of the few states that actually legalizes sports wagering. Now Delaware wants to actually implement a sports wagering lottery type of contest that could help provide a small boost to the state's bottom line. Well in reality betting on sports like investing in the stock market is not a lost art to many people. And this does not simply apply to Americans either. For many, sports are a form of entertainment and so if you are not partaking as a fan, you find interest in a game by partaking as a wagerer. I do not see the really slippery slope problem with what Delaware wants to do because either way you look at it gambler are going to be gamblers. Whether it is legal or not does not mean it is not being done all over the place. Just look at the war on drugs all over the world which is tantamount to sports wagering.
March 15, 2009
World Baseball Tragic: What a BIG surprise, The WBC is about money
I have no problem with national gusto and pride. In actuality, it is a positive thing in such a cynical world to see people band together for a common cause or support something they find entertaining. This World Baseball Classic (second tournament 2006 and now 2009) displays the international flavor of baseball which is rich with talent outside of the United States. The United States is home to the most talented professional leagues in the team sports I appreciate(baseball, basketball, and football). Yet just because the leagues are in America does not abstain it from relying on foreign players to bolster their leagues, particularly in the MLB where talented South American players are sought after in their early teenage years by MLB scouts, agents, and personnel executives. Over the past few decades, while South America has remained the strongest venue for foreign talent, the far East has emerged as a rich talent pool particularly in the pitching department for MLB teams. The WBC illustrates the popularity of the sport in these nations, but it also shows the amount of pride these people have for their countries. They use baseball as a source of this pride when placed in the context of a 39 game 16 team tournament featuring the countries which best represent the sport of baseball.
As a baseball enthusiast, the WBC is something I could not be less interested in. It is not about a lack of love or pride for America. I do not associate the sport of baseball with my love for the U.S.A., but I do acknowledge that I am lucky enough to have been born in this country where I had the opportunity to enchant myself with baseball, basketball, and football. I cannot say the same with absolute certainty if I were born outside of America.
But I know why the WBC was created and national honor has nothing to do with it. It also is no big secret either for any rational-minded human being. The notion of national pride was simply parlayed into a revenue opportunity for the MLB and Bud Selig. Now it will be played every four years after this 2009 tournament in a type of Olympic format. What other reason would instigate Selig to host a meaningless tournament during Spring Training, when MLB teams are getting ready for the regular season? And it is not just the United States, but basically every team has MLB talent on it, whether it be professionals at the major league level or in a franchise's minor league system. Spring Training has been extended to almost an extra two weeks this season because of the WBC, which I think all teams could care less about. Their priorities are to get ready for the regular season and I am sure they are crossing their fingers (as they do every day) that their respective players stay healthy and do not come up lame in any game much less some pointless international baseball tournament. Players are team investments and it makes no sense to put these guys earning millions of dollars for MLB teams in a pre-season tournament where injuries could threaten their opening day status. Team USA is already suffering losses including Dustin Pedroia, Chipper Jones, and Ryan Braun. Those are not run-of-the-mill names either but important pieces for each of the teams they are employed by. A general manger's worst nightmare is seeing a key piece of your team go down for an undetermined about of time. Maybe it would not be as bad if the injury occurred in an actual game that meant something in the season or the playoffs. But in the WBC in Spring Training?? Yes these guys could have gotten hurt playing in Spring Training games in the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues as well, but Spring Training games are not supposed purely about wins and losses. The WBC is about winning and the ballplayers are having to go out there and compete for a trophy that is an utter moot point in the baseball world. I really do not care if the U.S.A., Cuba, Japan, or Puerto Rico win the WBC. I hate to see ballplayers like Chipper Jones suffer injuries in games he should not be playing when the regular season has not even begun!
February 25, 2009
Game 5 of the 1977 ALCS: Why Did The Royals Blow It Again?!?
The Kansas City Royals were not always the seasonal cellar dweller they have come to be recognized for most of the 1990s and 2000s within MLB circles. This was a franchise inaugurated in 1969 after the old Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland by Missouri pharmaceutical magnate Ewing Kauffman due to the demand for a new team in one the league's smallest sports markets. Despite all that, the Royals hit the ground running in terms of being competitive within their American League West division. But why does it seem like teams considered a mere afterthought due to their incapability to be consistently good struggle even when they have a few extended years of success. In the case of the Royals, their beginnings were not completely disastrous nor did they experience full fledged success in the early stages as well. What it is more likened to is a foreshadowed precipitous drop due to bad luck, bad decisions, and bad play on the diamond.I think looking at the Royals in the 1970s, particularly under the guidance of longtime manager of Whitey Herzog, indicates how some franchises shoot themselves in the foot. The Royals are not a very old MLB franchise, but they seem to be a case of letting opportunities at success slip away more times than others. The Royals have sat on the cusp of greatness numerous times throughout their existence. They have one World Series (ironically in 1985 over the St. Louis Cardinals led by Whitey Herzog), but that is their high point despite the fact they had many chances to be more than a one-time-champion. Whitey Herzog was a manger known for relying on pitching, team speed, and defense to win ball games. This type of baseball did not rely on home runs to win a majority of ball games and played to the strengths of park with deep fences and artificial turf like Kauffman stadium. His managerial style and philosophy was dubbed "Whitey ball"and he succeeded with players such as Hal McRae, Amos Otis, Darrell Porter, Freddy Patek, and George Brett in the lineup. In addition, Herzog's philosophy was financially friendly to a small market team such as the Royals, who did not have a boat load of spending money for superstar type personnel on a consistent basis.
So that brings us to the 1977 ALCS in which the Royals were a game away from the World Series in the fifth and final game. Playing at Kauffman stadium and having one of their top lefties Paul Splittorff going against the great Ron Guidry. Guidry was starting on just two days rest and before a raucous crowd of 41,133 in Kansas City, the Royals seemed to have an edge on paper. In addition, the controversial 1977 Yankees had their manager Billy Martin not start Reggie Jackson in this pivotal game due to his struggles against Splittorff. Instead he went with the veteran outfielder Paul Blair in right field, who was a two time All Star and multiple Gold Glove winner, but he was not comparable to Reggie Jackson. So things seemed to line up well for the Royals and it did in the early innings. Guidry, who pitched a masterful complete game in Game 2 got knocked around early and lasted only 2 1/3 innings before being relieved by Mike Torrez. The Royals got to Guidry on 6 hits and 3 runs to jump out to a 3-1 lead. However, they would be shut down the rest of the way by Torrez who worked 5 1/3 innings and scattered 3 hits while striking out 4 batters. However, despite giving up 1 run in the top of the 3rd, Splittorff was dealing. He had pitched 8 innings in Game 1 to help Kansas City win 7-2 and looked just as strong in Game 5.
But as the game went into the later innings, Herzog's decision was questionable at best. Remember, back in 1977 there were no days off in between games. The 1977 ALCS went from October 5 to October 9 without a day off. So while Herzog's bullpen was doing a decent job with the likes of Steve Mingori, Doug Bird, Mark Littell, and Marty Pattin, he may have gone to the well one too many times. Splittorff had not pitched since Game 1 (October 5) and his bullpen was used in Games 2 and 4. Back to back days for bullpen guys are tough because unlike starters they are not pacing themselves. Every pitch they throw is with maximum effort and velocity, thus it is sometimes hazardous to throw multiple relief arms in back to back days. However, Herzog was in the ALCS and being a game away from the World Series, the argument could be made desperate times call for desperate measures. Bird, Mingori, Littell, and Larry Gura probably told Herzog they were fine and wanted to be out there. But did Herzog really need to pull Splittorff after he gave up an 8th inning single to Willie Randolph. The answer: no. Splittorff was doing fine and had not been in a major jam all night. His pitch count was 102 (which was no huge matter back then and plus it was the playoffs!) and his confidence on the mound remained despite the lead off single.
Instead, Herzog's decision begins the sealing of Kansas City's fate. He puts Doug Bird for Splittorff. Bird gives up a single to Lou Piniella and then Reggie Jackson pinch hits after Splittorff departs. Would Martin still have pinch hit Jackson if Splittorff was still throwing? Perhaps, but I am sure Herzog would not have minded the matchup since it was well known Jackson struggled against him. Facing Bird, Mr. October dumps a bloop single to score Randolph. Steve Mingori relieves Bird and gets out of the inning with the Royals clinging to a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, despite Mingori's success last inning, Herzog goes with Dennis Leonard. Now the 26 year old Leonard had just thrown a complete game gem two nights ago in Game 3 and had nothing left much like Guidry. Again, Herzog's choice backfires as Leonard puts the Royals in a jam with two runners on and does not record an out. Now Herzog goes to the bullpen for Larry Gura who promptly gives up a single to Mickey Rivers which scores Paul Blair. Now things are falling apart and Mark Littell comes in to relieve Gura. Littell retires Randolph on a sac fly to score pinch hitter Roy White, who had walked against Leonard. The Yankees obtain the lead and a George Brett error on Lou Piniella's grounder scores Mickey Rivers to make it 5-3 New York. Sparky Lyle finishes off a dejected Royals team in the bottom half of the inning to send New York back to the World Series. It would be the second time in a row the Yankees defeated the Royals in the ALCS and the next year would make it three years in a row.
So let's recap: 5 pitching changes in 2 innings, 4 runs in 2 innings, 1 error, 1 walk, and 4 hits. Seems to me Splittorff's line of 7 innings, 6 hits, 2 earned runs (even though the 1 run in the 8th was not really his and they should change that rule of inherited runners by the way), and 2 strikeouts was not looking so bad. There are countless what ifs in baseball history and this is just one of them. But this one sticks out to me because a small market team had a chance to beat the New York Yankees three consecutive years in the ALCS and could not get it done. Teams like the Royals do not know how many opportunities they are going to get to be in a position to win a World Series simply because of their financial challenge to compete with richer clubs. But in 1977 if Whitey Herzog stayed in the dugout in the 8th inning and let Paul Splittorff continue to pitch, maybe there would have been a different ending for one seasons at least!
February 19, 2009
NBA All Star Scene: Officially "Played" Out
These annual repetitive competitions, where corporate tickets go for thousands and thousands of dollars a seat will never disappear even though they really are of no use to viewers any longer. The NBA just keeps trying to re-invent the All Star break, hence the reason for incorporating a HORSE game between Kevin Durant, Joe Johnson, and O.J. Mayo. In an even more comical display, the game of HORSE was not even played because the company sponsor GEICO was replaced instead. Then there is the Rookie-Sophomore competition that is always a track meet that no one really pines to see. If you happened to catch the great All Star Saturday night, I don't think any of the point guards involved (Derrick Rose, Tony Parker, Devin Harris, and Maurice Williams) were completely engaged (to put it lightly) while going through obstacle courses and making passes through circular hoops in a race against time. In other words, none of these guys wanted to be there and I don't blame them. Intelligently, each carefully coasted through the thing instead of going all out and sustaining a freak injury in a meaningless event. Then the 3 point and Slam Dunk competitions are what they are every year. There will be flares for the dramatic at times, particularly in the Dunk Contest, but how many different dunks can there possibly be considering all the creativity that has been on display since 2000? Nate Robinson has been in 3 Dunk Contests in the past 4 seasons! Talk about same old story!
To top things off, the All Star Game was dominated by guards, particularly Kobe Bryant who seemed to want to prove to everybody how supposedly competitive he is by jacking up 23 shots and scoring 27 points to win co-MVPs with Shaquille O'Neal. I was hoping the East would win simply because they only had two front court guys in Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard so it was hardly a conventional lineup against the West. If these games are going to be played, I want the track meet that is the Rookie-Sophomore game. I want these top players to score points in bunches and I want lax defense. It doesn't excite me in an All Star game to watch Kobe Bryant try to deny Dwyane Wade the ball on the perimeter with his over-rated defensive play. I feel for guys like Tim Duncan who probably have not got to shoot the ball more than 10 times in his last 4 All Star appearances. This is an All Star game and not a ball-hogging contest. Why do the starters not move the ball around and get everybody an equal amount of shots for the most part? Therefore the hot hand on the winning team can be the alleged "MVP" of an exhibition game. On the other hand, I like the guys making their first appearance such as Danny Granger and Brandon Roy because it is an honor, but I am sure late in the season they would not mind just being named to an All Star roster without having to actually play the game. Allen Iverson has the perfect approach for the last few years. Iverson likes taking limited shots and minutes before sitting on the bench to not injure his 33 year old frame. He won an All Star MVP award and he seems to understand the joke the game has become. Paul Pierce, again voted as a reserve which is wrong in my opinion, had the right idea being aggressive because there is little sharing going on out on the court. He fired up 14 points in the first half for a trailing East squad but did not receive the same opportunities in the second half for whatever reason. The game was boring, not just because it was a blowout but primarily because the pace was slow, not every player on the court got chances to show his stuff (uh Chauncey Billups), and there was a serious lack of show time involved with few alley-oops and fast break slams.
You can talk about pageantry, history, and tradition, but the fact of the matter remains all the All Star Weekend really is about is money and fan popularity. How disastrous would it be for one of these All Stars on a play-off bound team to get injured and put the rest of their season in question? All it would take is one major injury before people would start calling the game's necessity into question. How is Deron Williams, the Jazz point guard who has led the Jazz without Carlos Boozer and utility man Andrei Kirileinko not an All Star? Ok the fans would not vote him as a starter and Chris Paul is an understandable reason why. Yet coaches could not vote him in as a reserve? I mean the entire game is mostly guard oriented with little post play and emphasis on getting forwards and centers involved. Don't believe it is a popularity contest? Tracy McGrady, who has been injured most of the season with a bad knee amongst other things, would have been starting had he not been injured because of fan votes. This fan vote aspect is a pitiful ordeal, but I have come to realize it will never end. I would have no problem having a weekend in a host city where the All Stars hang out and interact with fans, friends, and family without having to participate in on the court activities that they really do not want to be involved in. I guess all I can do is choose not to watch but that probably will not happen since I respect these professionals' individual skills.
February 14, 2009
Brett Favre: The NFL's Most Popular and Well-Liked Player Does The Right Thing
At the same time, he made plenty of plays indicative of the flaws and risk-taking involved with his decision-making as a quarterback for 18 seasons in the NFL. He couldn't beat division rival New England at the Meadowlands in week 2 and the Jets lost to the lowly Raiders at Oakland in week 7. In those two games, the Jets offense was only able to muster a combined total of 23 points. Then in weeks 8-12, the Jets and Favre went on a 5 game winning streak, which included two big road wins at New England and Tennessee and back to back 34 point scoring games. Favre now had the Jets thinking playoffs at 8-3, but unfortunately week 12 would be the pinnacle of the season. In the final 5 weeks, the Jets would fall apart on the field and as a team. Their leader went on to throw 9 interceptions in the final 5 weeks and only 2 touchdowns. The Jets would drop 4 of their final 5 games and would fall short of making the playoffs.
Nevertheless, Favre provided the Jets with a season as up and down as his exciting and charismatic career had always been. He started as a seventh string quarterback at Southern Mississippi, which coincidentally was the only division 1 school to offer Favre a full scholarship. But his strong right arm was quickly discovered in the third game of the season against Tulane. Never lacking a flair for the dramatic even as a youngster, Favre took over the helm at halftime despite suffering from a hangover from the night before. He led the Golden Eagles to a comeback victory with 2 touchdown passes and it paved the way for the legend to grow. The great ex-Oakland Raider punter Ray Guy has to be kicking himself (literally!) over the fact he could have been the most popular Southern Miss player if it were not for that Favre fellow. He was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons in 1991, much to coach Jerry Glanville's discontent. Favre threw 4 career passes for the Falcons including an interception return for a touchdown.
In the following off-season, Favre was dealt, for a fellow Southern Miss player in running back Tony Smith, to the Green Bay Packers. It was there he cemented his legacy for 16 seasons leading the Packers under center without missing a game. That's a lot of hits and injuries to play with, but better yet what is more impressive is the list of backups who held clipboards for so long waiting for Favre to get hurt (Doug Pedersen, Ty Detmer, Jim McMahon, Mark Brunnel, Aaron Brooks, and Matt Hassellbeck come to my mind). He is the only NFL player to win 3 consecutive MVP awards (1995-1997) and won Super Bowl 31 against the New England Patriots. Favre was also the quarterback who lost Super Bowl 32 to the Denver Broncos and threw a costly INT in the 2008 playoffs that probably cost him a trip back. Through all the ups and downs, he remained the ultimate gamer. The ultimate competitor. The football world had seen him fumble in his early years with addictions to drinking and painkillers. They watched as he withstood the death of his father Irvin's car accident in 2003, but still put on a show on Monday Night Football with a heavy heart in a rout of the Oakland Raiders. Fans watched as he still suited up every Sunday in 2004 despite his wife Deanna's bout with breast cancer and his brother-in-laws' all terrain vehicle crash. He truly was a man who enjoyed the game and played purely for the love of what he was doing on the field. Favre played the game with an abundance of youthful enthusiasm not seen in the modern athlete. He soaked in every play and every touchdown pass as if it was his first time doing it and celebrated like a giddy kid on Christmas morning.
Favre ends his career in a similar roller coaster ride stats wise. The most career touchdowns (464), and the most career interceptions (310). The most career passing yards (65,127), but also the most attempts (9,280) to go with it. Known for his never-over-til-its over attitude, Favre leaves the NFL with over 35 come-from-behind victories under his belt. He played until the final second ticked and wouldn't let go until his shoulder and arm told him his gun slinging days were done. It took him awhile, perhaps he dragged it out more than his critics would have liked, but Brett Favre never cared what his critics said. If he did care, then he wouldn't have been Brett Favre, a man who will go down in NFL history as one of the greatest to ever play the quarterback position.
February 9, 2009
Alex Rodriguez: A-Roid and A-Fraud
Ok so as a baseball fan why am I not surprised that an entire leak with regards to a 2003 MLB drug test has Alex Rodriguez's name in it? I find it really amazing how this sports news all comes together sometimes almost simultaneously. First, Joe Torre's new book about his time with the Yankees and managing Alex Rodriguez. Now a new report by SI unearths a 2003 survey test in which 104 MLB players failed the drug test including Alex Rodriguez. Wasn't it only a matter of time before another big star in the game confessed to being a part of the rampant performance enhancing drug (PED) culture. Actually, it was funny to see the staged interview between longtime baseball writer Peter Gammons of ESPN and Rodriguez on television today. Rodriguez, dressed as a young looking schoolboy with his starched collar and blue sweater never actually uttered the words he took "steroids," "anabolic," or "HGH." Instead he substituted them for "substances," "experimenting," and "young, stupid, and naive" to gain the sympathy of viewers. Sure he apologized briefly, but it was so emotionally absent and phony that only a real sucker would fall for what he was trying to sell. Instead, he relied heavily on not being educated enough on the substances he was taking and did not know the stuff he was taking would result in failing a league wide drug test. So why in the world would a world- class athlete, playing one of the most difficult sports known to mankind, not know what he is putting in his body? Rodriguez, like many great players, is obsessive about his work outs on the field and in the weight room. Also these players do enjoy the game along with the fame and fortune so playing every day is a mindset many have. In this case, many players do look for something that can lessen the aches and pains of a 162 game regular season schedule. Why would he not be asking his nutritionist or the team doctor as to exactly what was going inside him? So when I am pretty sure the man is lying about not knowing the substances he was using, why should I believe he only took steroids in his 3 seasons with the Texas Rangers? I do not.
Now he has some people believing he only took PEDs for 3 seasons due to the pressure of performing everyday. He adds to the excruciating Texas summer heat, which took a toll on him to go out everyday and play for a club that never made the playoffs in the 3 seasons he was with the team. By the way, the drugs Rodriguez was taking were lean muscle builders and recovery enhancers and they certainly seemed to help him play in all but one regular season game for the club in 3 seasons. He also hit 52, 57, and 47 home runs which were some of his highest career so far. And if he thought going to play in Texas was full of pressure, then what drugs did he start taking in 2004 to alleviate the pressure of a more populous and more media intensified city of New York? Rodriguez uses the excuse that he was around the culture at the time with many grey areas in terms of what was legal or illegal. Well, here is a real mind-bending thought. If you didn't feel it was illegal, why were all these players not injecting or swallowing pills in the middle of the clubhouse for their peers and the media to see? However, at the same time, it was dumb enough for the MLB to not even have a drug policy with regards to illegal drugs within the country.
What I think really happened with this "exclusive interview" was that his agent, the much maligned Scott Boras, is that he set up the interview and told Gammons exactly what he would be and would not be permitted to ask the ballplayer. All in all, Rodriguez's statements were kind of a combination of Jason Giambi and Andy Pettite's confessions coupled with Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens' constant denials of PED use in front of the media and federal courts. It is interesting to note this leak comes right before the start of spring training, much less 6 years after the fact. From the outside looking in, spectators will never know the real truth behind what the owners, players, trainers, and MLB officials have done and will continue to do to produce the most amount of revenue for everyone involved (see: Commissioner Selig 17.5 million salary). Look, in some cases I think PEDs did little for some players, provided a significant boost for others, and only inflated the numbers of already established MLB stars. I think it is also wrong to not realize the temptation out there for players to be able to extend their career or even improve their statistics so much so that it could be the difference between a $5 million contract and a $25 million contract based on performance.
A great example of a player having a great season in a contract year is Gary Matthews Jr., a longtime journeyman outfielder who turned a PED 2006 season with the Texas Rangers intoa 5 year, $50 million with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim the following offseason. Prior to that Matthews had been with 7 different teams since breaking into the major leagues in 1999. In the 2007 and 2008 seasons, his batting average has slumped down to his more common averages of .250 and .242, which was way down from his career high .316 with the Rangers in 2006. He also hit a career high 19 HRs and 79 RBIs in 2006 as well. At around the same time when the Angels acquired him for the 2007 season, Matthews Jr. was reported as being connected to a steroid and HGH ring that included bodybuilders, college athletes, NFL and MLB players. Matthews Jr. denied his involvement but his name was found on the infamous Mitchell report. These numbers in his last two seasons are more indicative of the kind of player Gary Matthews Jr. is since his career batting average is a middle-of the-road .259. His 2006 season was much of an aberration to put it lightly due to heavy drug use. Seems to me Rangers owner Tom Hicks would have no problem assembling an entire 40 man roster full of steroid studded pitchers and batters. And his first choice I am sure would be Alex Rodriguez, the 250 million dollar man he signed back in 2001.
NFL Pro Bowl: Is It Really Worth To Play Anymore?
The NFL Pro Bowl was played in Hawaii yesterday with the NFC winning 30-21 at Hawaii stadium. I wonder how many people actually wanted to watch or listen to the game, besides myself, a few others, and people betting on the outcome of this exhibition game. I think All Star games in professional team sports has more than worn out their luster simply because the coaches, players, and league officials know the game means nothing. If anything, I think being named to an All Star roster is an honor a player would definitely take. Playing an actual game where big franchise players may accidentally get hurt is a threat that damages the games that really count in the regular season and playoffs. Even though the number of actual major injuries in All Star games may be minuscule, the threat can never be completely eradicated and it affects the level of game play on the field or on the court. Sure the winner in the Pro Bowl got $40,000 and the losing team received $20,000. Heck there are even boosters in contracts for players who make the All Star roster, yet I do not think their bonuses would be taken away if they did not play in the actual game. How many players actually want to play in the game besides first timers or rookies who made the team? It is the honor of being named an All Star that would be sufficient enough for me as a player and as a fan. Giving the Pro Bowlers a week to "prepare" for a game is an absolute joke because they probably spend more time in their secluded hotel with their teammates and family members than they do practicing for the game. The popularity of the Pro Bowl game seems to lessen each season because people would rather just meet and greet these players instead of watching some mundane FB draw to Le'Ron McClain up the middle for 3 yards. It really is a waste of time for all parties involved because the Super Bowl is the final game of the NFL season and no player wants to put pads on again and play in a meaningless game a few weeks or months following the conclusion of their team's season. Just name the Pro Bowlers and forget the game, but that will never happen because the NFL is always looking for a way to bring in one more game for revenue. Unfortunately it seems to get tougher with practically not selling out the game and forcing a potential TV blackout. Now next season, in an even more ingenious move by Goodell and company, the Pro Bowl will be played a week before the Super Bowl in Miami. So if Tom Brady recovers, leads the Patriots to the Super Bowl, and is named a Pro Bowler, do you honestly think he will play in a game that means nothing? These guys running the NFL, NBA, and MLB may have some sort of business plan I hope, but common sense is blatantly absent more time than not.
February 7, 2009
Bonds' Legal Woes: A Long History of Much Ado About Nothing
Barry Bonds could face a series of fines and legal repercussions if his past finally catches up with him in 2009. Ironically his legal problems no longer have anything to do with baseball or his use of steroids, HGH, and any other designer drugs he used to mask the enhancements he was taking. It has to do with some of the foundations of this country's legal court system and it includes an indictment for perjury. The fact Bonds refused to tell the government the truth in regards to his steroids and HGH use is now a moot point. Bonds has buried himself in his own grave because he supposedly lied to a federal grand jury about being a user. The government no longer cares about whether or not Bonds did steroids but it comes down to the fact he perjured himself which poses a threat to the entire court system itself if he is found guilty.
Another man in a similar boat but on a smaller scale is Rafael Palmeiro. Palmeiro testified in 2005 before Congress he never knowingly took steroids (but definitely took Viagra since he was a spokesman for the product) since he tested positive for a steroid in 2005. Palmeiro's positive test could be construed as perjury but the government is not pursing perjury charges on Palmeiro even though he was named in the December 07 Mitchell Report. Is this a case of just going after a sport's mega star just to show him who is boss and that lying to Washington is never all right? Maybe so. It is not like Bonds was the most liked ballplayer. Often he was dubbed a career loner and he never seemed to mind taking up his own large portion of the Giants clubhouse at the team's expense. Nevertheless, before the start of the 2000 season, Bonds was one of the best all around players in the MLB. He was a five tool guy whose only real limit in terms of talent was his outfield arm, which was still above average in his prime. Then he decided to follow in the steps of Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and even solid outfield leadoff hitter turned one-season slugger Brady Anderson. Using enhanced drugs turned this guys into one-dimensional ballplayers, but that one dimension helped change an entire state of a ballgame that more than made up for their compromising of their other skills.
I do not understand why fans and commentators make such as big deal about the dubbed "steroid era" of baseball. The attempt to gain an edge will exist forever and Bonds was not the only one taking steroids obviously. Each era of baseball has gone through and will continue to go through some type of trend or commonality to give it a sense of identity. Some will be positive and others will be negative. It does not bother me because I know how hard professional ballplayers work to get where they are and I respect that. What they want to risk with their bodies is not my business. However, for those who say steroids were not "illegal" in baseball are certainly in the wrong for two reasons. One, steroids are illegal drugs to take or sell in this country period. Two, if players did not know it was wrong to do, why were guys like Canseco and McGwire injecting each other behind shower curtains and not in the middle of the club house for all the media to see? To use Bonds as an example just because he is the biggest fish in a loaded pond is not entirely fair, but assuming he did commit perjury, have him serve his time and be done with it. I can think of many more important things the public officials in Washington D.C. could be doing besides getting involved with enhancement drugs in sports. isn't that what highly paid commissioners are for? Fans need to stop being naive and understand this stuff exists, just like amphetamines, spitballs, pine tar, corked bats, vaseline, and scuffed balls have come into play gradually since the game's beginnings in the late 1800s.
February 5, 2009
Maybe LeBron James Read My Unknown Blog
In my prior post I did say LeBron James is the best player in the NBA now and his future of being the undisputed king may only be challenged by guys like Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard or even a guy like O.J. Mayo in the several years to follow. Mind you I tried to make up a list of players in their early to mid 20s because the current crop of stars in the league will still remain for multiple seasons. On back to back nights LeBron James went out and posted a triple double against the Knicks, who thanks to the allure of their old arena and their coach's cockiness, are quickly becoming victims of stars wanting to single handedly embarrass them (Wade, Bryant and James). James exited with an even more impressive all around performance than Bryant's with 52 points 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He too shot over 50% from the floor and missed only 3 of his 19 free throw attempts while connecting on 2 from 7 from beyond the arc. Maybe back to backs aren't so bad after all.
I caught a video from NBA.com of behind the scenes cameras showing footage and sound clips from various people during Bryant's 61 point game. How NBA figured he was going to have a big game and therefore had interviews ranging from Knicks general manager Don Walsh to random Laker fans in front of the arena was beyond me. As cameras followed Bryant off the court and through the tunnel, people of course were wanting to high five him and yell out his name. One man tried patting him on the head and in a confused stupor uttered the words, "You're better than Mike." Interesting to note the fan referred to Jordan by the name Mike as if he knew Jordan himself. Jordan needs no defenders, but in fact the reality is the fan was off base. His comment should have been saved for the Wednesday night game with LeBron in town. LeBron has already put up two 50 point games at the age of 24 at Madison Square joining Mr. Jordan in that category. James is the only man in the league with the potential to make such a statement true and he put it on display by making Bryant's Monday performance old news very quickly. Ever heard of forcing the ball out of a hot player's hands D'Antoni? Guess not.
February 3, 2009
Kobe Bryant's 61 points in 37 Minutes Against New York
The NBA is a superstar driven league. Why else are ticket packages sold by each team marketed by using the ad campaign, "Come see Kevin Garnett and the Celtics, LeBron and the Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, or Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers..." Of the big three team sports, basketball is the one sport that markets its product around individual players first and then the team. And of course when these star players go out on any given night and put up 40, 50, or 60 points individually, it becomes so obvious as to why the NBA uses this sales agenda. Kobe Bryant's 61 points against the Knicks on Monday confirmed a few things for a hoops aficianado (myself).
First, the NBA's reliance on individual greatness will never waver because let's face it, 19,000 people wanted to see the Knicks win, but they also wanted to see how one of the league's best players would fare as well. I don't think Knick fans were shelving out dough for a night out anxiously awaiting for Chris Duhon to explode offensively (though his offensive numbers are at a career high this season!). They wanted the Knicks to win the game, but I do not think a once a year appearance of the Lakers and their scoring guard drove fan interest away in the least bit.
Second, Bryant's 61 point performance in New York to beat the Knicks 126-115 re-convinced me even though this guy maybe on the older side of 30 because he has logged so many minutes for 13 seasons, he is still not too old to be the most prolific scorer in the NBA. What I mean by prolific, since it could be interpreted in many ways, is the way in which he can score points in droves any time he gets in his accustomed "groove" as he likes to call it. In my opinion, LeBron James has quickly become the best overall player in the league hands down. The reason I say that is purely based on what the man has done to improve his game this season and it is obvious to me he has improved many facets of his game on the offensive and defensive end. Nevertheless, James still has much to learn at 24 and his offensive game is not as diversified as I am sure he would like it to be. Kobe Bryant remains the most prolific offensive threat in the league. Of course, he is a tremendous all around player, but his ability to score from all over the floor which makes him so impressive. Look at Bryant's box score on Monday night: 19-31 field goals, 20-20 at the free throw line, and 3-6 from 3 point land. Watch the highlights of his big night and take note of the number of ways in which he scored. A variety of isolation pull up jump shots from all over the floor, moving off the ball and cutting through the lane for layups and dunks, and throwing in shots at impossible angles that appeared un-makable. And he didn't miss one of his 20 free throw attempts. Sure there were a few cherry pick dunks, some favorable reputation calls, and a noticeable travel on a spin move on an elbow leaning jump shit, and he ignored Phil Jackson's suggestion to move the ball around more in the second half. For the most part he put on a display to remind people of what he was doing 2-5 seasons ago and what he can still do any night. James does not have the perimeter touch Bryant developed early in his career causing defenders to have to honor his outside game leaving them vulnerable to his ability to get to the basket as well. Couple that with his intelligence of the NBA game and its referees and Bryant has situated himself as one of the top scorers in NBA lore.
On a latter thought, why in the world would Mike D'Antoni allow one player who showed early intentions of being aggressive offensively torch his squad? Okay I know it is easy to sit and criticize how to stop Kobe Bryant every trip down and I know D'Antoni does not like defense (neither do I!), but at what point do you try mixing it up defensively to throw a different look at the guy? Stern allowed for zones a few years ago so why not try a mixture of zone and man? I think coaches, head coaches in particular like D'Antoni who have played and been around the NBA for decades have egos. And their egos take a precedent over their reluctance to change a game plan (whatever his defensive game plan was) because the coach turns his failure into a challenge therefore he sticks with it and continues to watch Bryant hit shots on any of the several wingmen (Al Harrington, Wilson Chandler, Quentin Richardson) he threw at Bryant. Get over your ego and try something different to offset the guy's aggressiveness. It may work and it may not but at least you tried a different wrinkle instead of letting the guy continue to have his way out there. He isn't Michael Jordan, but Bryant was putting on another Jordan-esque performance in his career on Monday night. If LeBron James is planning on a big night in the Big Apple he may have to settle for less than 61 points on Wednesday night because that will be one tough number to beat especially because he'll be playing back-to-back contests.
February 2, 2009
NBA Refs: Fans Need To Lighten Up On The Game's Gatekeepers
The NBA has been hit with the Tim Donaghy scandal and it brought to attention the ever present potential of corruption and greed that exists within professional sports. Professional sports, and in particular the major team sports are run like large corporations and just because fans are paying money to watch their teams live does not diminish the potential for problems to arise. Fans seem to think they have this unwavering right to having 100% legitimacy of the entertainment they pay for, and they seem to forget the people bringing then this entertainment do not treat it as such. For the players, coaches, refs, and personnel people involved, this is their livelihood and the league (NBA, NFL, MLB) is their employer. Yes these are dream jobs and are extraordinarily fun and challenging, but first and foremost they remain a source of income. Therefore just like any other business or company, issues will arise and disgruntled employees will run aplenty.
And yes, illegalities occur just like they do in businesses everywhere in the world. Take the case of the stock market where the plebeians invest their thousands or even hundreds of thousands, but in reality the only people safe from the collapses of the stock market are the big whigs behind the scenes partaking in insider trading and withholding valuable information that keep their fortunes intact no matter the economic state. I realize it is news and obviously a big story when sports scandals are unearthed, but I do not take it as big as a surprise as the next person I presume. Gamblers exist still and so does the mafia. Just because they are not as prominent in the public eye does not mean they still exert some control in an out of sight out of mind fashion. It is pretty simple: Donaghy got himself in financial trouble and gambling debts. Donaghy surrounded himself with shady characters and surprisingly only sold "pivotal information" for $5,000 to $7,000 a contest, which was well below the debts he had amassed. Finally, Donaghy himself was betting on games with these same cast of characters. Would it be surprising if other NBA refs were involved? Absolutely not, but it also would not be a shock if none of them were connected to Donaghy as David Stern has tried to publicly assert.
Whether he is telling the truth or not, there is no denying Stern has always taken pride in running the NBA along the lines of a corporate machine. NBA refs are thoroughly examined and background checked. They go through off-season clinics, ref summer league games, and go over every game they ref in the regular season and the playoffs. In my own opinion, the NBA is tops among the team sports with regards to its officials, with the MLB umpires trailing a distant second. However, I am sick of basketball fans complaining about NBA referees whenever I am at games, especially with the Donaghy case which is over 3 years old now. Officials have a major role of walking a fine line in terms of controlling a game, allowing teams to compete, and giving the fans their money's worth by watching the big-name players they came to see. I understand there is preferential treatment, but in reality no one player is above the game. The refs will give the benefit of the doubt to veteran players and the stars on the court. However, what they interpret as a foul will be a foul whether it is Kobe Bryant or Calvin Booth. On January 27, last Tuesday, the unthinkable happened. Kobe Bryant fouled out against the Charlotte Bobcats in Los Angeles at the Staples Center. And the game went on and eventually the Bobcats won the game.
Personally I was glad to see this happen not only because of a personal bias against Bryant, who is a great player, but nevertheless it should serve as a reminder refs are still asserting themselves on the court. To foul Bryant out in a game in most people's opinion is absurd because he is the Lakers' start player, but where is the line drawn then? Why on the highest level of basketball would you constantly give a decided edge to big names against their opponents simply because fans are paying to see that guy play? Yes money talks, but in reality those fans really wanted to see the Lakers win. If they had won the game, Bryant's foul-out would not have been such a hot topic for so long after the game concluded. And wouldn't NBA refs, the best basketball officials in the world who take their job so seriously, be doing themselves and the game a disservice if they did not call the game as fairly as humanly possible. To foul Bryant out to most people is one thing, but the fact it was done in the Lakers' home court was probably construed as an abomination. I enjoyed it immensely because it proves these guys are going to try and make the right calls, despite the fact 99% of the calls they make are questioned. The fact is with all the millions of dollars involved, the fans, and the star appeal the NBA advertises, I have no doubt Stern had the team of three for that game (Steve Javie, Scott Wall, and Zach Zarba) go over that game carefully to make sure all 6 of those fouls on Bryant were legitimate. It just goes to show these guys are not afraid to make calls or foul out any player, no matter their strata in the league.
On a personal note, it just seems right that the least the NBA could do is foul out Bryant once in a while, who did not serve any time for an "unproven" rape charge as it was settled out of court with no jail time. I am sure Jack Nicholson nearly wet himself he is so pathetically emotionally involved with the Lakers. Also I do not agree with players fouling out, or at the very least having only 6 personal fouls. Basketball is a much more physical game than people give it credit for, and it puts pressure on the players and the refs to delicately balance the way they play and call the game respectively. Why not allow 7 personal fouls or have no foul out and just insert a rule that puts the opposing team in the bonus once a players reaches 6 or 7 personal fouls? That way players can stay in but their fouls hurt the team by allowing for free throws. Lastly, one of the NBA's major refs was Mendy Rudolph who officiated in the late 40s through the mid 70s in the. Rudolph, like Donaghy gambled often and amassed debts from casinos and racetracks. However, when he was approached by a gambler/bookmaker to partake in a point-shaving and game-fixing scheme in the NBA to erase his debts Rudolph declined. He cited his love for the game and his job taking precedence over a vice that had led him into financial trouble on the side.
January 30, 2009
First Post: Post Expert Tim Duncan
Since this is the first post and my first experiment with the heralded world of the "blogosphere," I felt it was fitting to incorporate an individual who draws an almost perfect correlation with the term "post" with regards to basketball lingo. As I watched the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns do battle on another regular TNT Thursday night special, it suddenly hit my 22 year old senses. Tim Duncan is one of the most taken for granted superstars in NBA history. Picture this: Duncan defended Shaquille O'Neal, who was getting the ball regularly in the second half. How many times has he had to take on the 300 pound load that is Shaq in his career and then trudge 94 feet to the other end to be the focal point of the Spurs' offense? Not only guarding guys like Shaq, but Duncan has been committed to defense and offense his entire career. He routinely is asked to guard the opponents' best post player and then faces double and triple teams every time he touches the ball on offense. Doesn't sound very sexy or captivating to watch, but this is what Duncan has done for 12 seasons. And it has helped produce 4 NBA Championships and 2 MVP awards for a quintessential Hall of Famer.
I knew Tim Duncan was deserving of being a first round pick. I knew many teams and personnel directors for a myriad of franchises thought he had a high potential in terms of being the cornerstone of a team's future. But how many times have basketball teams and fans alike have seen top draft picks never quite live up to the expectations on and/or off the court? It happens all too often with names like Sam Bowie, Kwame Brown, Pervis Ellison, and LaRue Martin coming to mind. Tim Duncan has done this and so much more for a small market type NBA team. Born in the Virgin Islands and having lost his mother to breast cancer in his teens, he is a man that keeps to himself off the court and is committed to his wife Amy, a former Wake Forest cheerleader. Despite his subdued nature, teammates see a lighter side of Duncan out of the public's eye. Running mate point guard Tony Parker has been noted as saying Duncan is one of the funnier guys in the locker room throughout the season. Former Spur Antonio Daniels has also said Duncan's personality off the court is laid back and humorous. He has never been caught at strip clubs or pulled over due to drugs or alcohol. But when people have the choice to talk about Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant, Duncan's name always seems to take a back seat to the flashier prima donnas who are usually guards and not post players.
Honestly, I can see why NBA fans do not get a kick watching Duncan work with his basket for 30-40 minutes every game pouring in jump hooks, put backs, and soft backboard jumpers and finishing with his usual 20 point 14 rebound stat night. However, there is no doubt purists admire what this man has brought to the table in an era where streetball tendencies and individualism has come to dominate a team-oriented sport. Duncan has methodically put up some of the best numbers for NBA forwards in league history. He usually sits at above 20 points per game, 8 to 9 rebounds, and over 2 blocks per contest. These are numbers most forwards and centers could only dream of averaging for their careers Now at the age of 32, Duncan is still doing the things he did when he first entered the league and legendary coach Greg Popovich was in his first full season with the Spurs. Duncan is a perennial All Star and has been on the NBA's All-Defensive Teams in every season he has played. He is durable having played less than 70 regular season games only twice in his career. He has restructured his contract a few years ago to allow the Spurs spending flexibility (make no mistake he has earned over 130 million in playing contracts) and has hit clutch shots including last season's three-pointer in Game 1 of the playoff series against Phoenix to win it.
Duncan has several productive seasons left in his career and Popovich is known for monitoring his star's playing minutes in regular season games to save his legs for the playoffs. There is no reason Duncan and the Spurs could win additional titles to add to their collection. Really watch Duncan next time the Spurs are on television or in town to play your home team and witness just how much of a complete game he possesses. You may have to focus a bit more than usual, but it is worth it to examine how one the the league's greatest post players ever goes about his business.
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