Duke Lacrosse Celebrates a National Title
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Turkoglu Wants Out of Toronto
To this demand I say: really? Really?! This is the type of athlete that drives me crazier than any other type of athlete; the one who freely chooses to sign with a given team and then immediately starts pissing and moaning. Hedo Turkoglu was a free agent and therefore free to sign with whatever franchise he so chose. Of course, like all athletes, he chose the one that offered the most money, even spurning the Portland Trail Blazers with an 11th hour deal that left Portland scrambling. He would have fit a lot better in Portland but that didn't matter when Toronto offered a few more bucks. Fine, that's the athlete's prerogative. But it is NOT his prerogative to then complain about the team he chose to sign with. He knew everything he needed to know about this club and decided what he really cared about was the money. It doesn't matter if the complaint is his role, the coach, the city, or any other issue, he chose to take that team's $53 million, period. All rights you have to complain about your situation go out the window when you sign that contract. In a couple years if the team is going downhill and a new coach is calling the shots, then you can start to talk if you so choose, but not now and not in these circumstances.
You're a tool, Hedo Turkoglu, and you better hope the basketball gods aren't paying attention to your insolence. Boo.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Seahawks Cut White, Suspension Coming
All I really have to say to this is: DUH.
Of freaking COURSE he was suspended for drugs! The only surprise is that he made it four years without such a suspension. Oh how I wish I had a sports blog when White was drafted by the Tennessee Titans. If at that time someone had asked me (you know, in the fiction chat I might have with my fictional readers), "Which player in the first 60 picks of this draft is most likely to be suspended for drugs?" I would have typed "LENDALE WHITE" with like a thousand exclamation points. There have always been some questionable signs, sure, but the one undisputable sign was the fact that all through the last year of his college career, every time I watch a USC game, one of the announcers talked about White's relationship with Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dog!!! A note to all professional GMs: If you're thinking about drafting a player in any sport at any time in the draft, have a look at the "personal" section of said player's resume. If that section includes the line, "Close friends with Snoop Dogg," STAY AWAY FROM THAT PLAYER. No one over the age of 12 can hang out with Snoop Dogg without getting lit. It is an absolute impossibility. This news should come as a shock to no one.
Kuddos to the Seahawks for getting right down to business and cutting bait at the first sign of trouble. And best of luck to Mr. White as he tries to get his career back on track. Step one: Cut ties with Snoop Dogg.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Cavs Fire Brown, COY Curse Lives On
First and foremost my reaction to this news is, "Duh." Mike Brown is one of the worst head coaches I have EVER seen in the NBA and I'm being serious about that. He does nothing in game to make adjustments to his "game plan" which is always "give the ball to Lebron and hope he does lots of good things." If Lebron is off, the Cavs lose and that's just the way it goes. I'm not saying he had a lot of talent to work with outside of Lebron but a good coach can find some ways to win a few when their superstar is having an off night. And he doesn't seem to be much of a motivator. The players seem to like him but that often seems to be because he doesn't ever step on their toes or get in their faces. Brown might be a solid assistant coach as a defensive specialist but his value as a head coach is next to nothing.
My second thought, however, goes a little deeper. Brown won Coach of the Year just last season. At the time I thought that was ridiculous, given the previous paragraph. But the truth is, mediocre coaches win this award all the time...and then are promptly fired. It's the Coach of the Year Curse.
The list:
2008-09: Mike Brown (fired 2010)
2007-08: Bryon Scott (fired 2009)
2006-07: Sam Mitchell (fired 2008)
2005-06: Avery Johnson (fired 2008)
2004-05: Mike D'antoni (resigned 2008)
2003-04: Hubie Brown (resigned 2004)
2002-03: Gregg Popovich
2001-02: Rick Carlisle (fired 2003)
2000-01: Larry Brown (left 2003)
1999-00: Doc Rivers (fired 2003)
1998-99: Mike Dunleavy (fired 2001)
1997-98: Larry Bird (resigned 2000)
With the exception of Gregg Popovich (one of the top five coaches of all time), no Coach of the Year winner of the past 12 years has lasted with that team for more than three years. Now, the NBA is not a league that supports coaches lasting a long time with one team. But all those guys together (minus Pops) averaged 1.75 seasons with their team before falling to the axe. That's an absurd rate for guys who are considered the best coach in a given year. The real problem is that this award is bull crap. More often than not, this award is given to the coach of a team that either jumps from the lottery to the playoffs or grabs hold of one of the top records in the league for a season or two. It has next to nothing to do with whether or not the guy can coach and everything to do with how well his players play that season. Maybe that sounds like the same thing or rather, the means to the end, but it's not. And Brown is the case and point. Brown is a terrible coach but he coached one of (if not the) best player in the league. Of course his team is going to win a bunch of games. That doesn't mean the coach is doing a good job, it just means his players are winning and sometimes winning in spite of him. But every year guys like Brown get votes for Coach of the Year. The system rewards coaches and franchises who have short term success rather than long term domination. Truth be told, you could give this award to Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich or a similar guy (like Jerry Sloan, who has never won this award) every year. These are the guys who actually coach and coach well year in and year out.
Adios, Mike. Your coaching expertise will not be missed but your comical lack of anything resembling X-and-Os knowledge surely will be.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Shot of the Day - 5/21
No Faking in Soccer
One soccer player has had it with other soccer players and their propensity to milk fake injuries. Bravo, Soccer Player in Green.
One soccer player has had it with other soccer players and their propensity to milk fake injuries. Bravo, Soccer Player in Green.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Shot of the Day - 5/18
Wizards Win Lottery
The Washington Wizards had a one-in-ten chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery going into the night. Turns out, that's all they needed. The Wizards vaulted from the projected five spot to the top pick, securing the opportunity to draft Kentucky point guard John Wall. Philadelphia also jumped up to take the second pick, pushing lowly New Jersey to the third pick.
I'm REALLY not sold on John Wall but more on that later. The fact of the matter is, he is viewed as a lock for the number one pick and a franchise player. By sucking the way they did throughout the season, New Jersey had a 25 percent chance of obtaining Wall's services and beginning their reboot going in. A popular idea circulating around the rumor mill was that Wall, combined with the move to Brooklyn, the team's new arena, and the new gagillionaire owner would be used to entice Lebron James to the franchise. That theory took a major shot tonight. As a fully biased member of the "Lebron to the Mavs" party (the official website), it thrilled me to see New Jersey pop up third. I think you can take New Jersey off the list of viable options for Lebron.
More importantly, however, I'm happy for the Wizard franchise. My John Wall bashing aside, this is an opportunity for that team to press the restart button and get some fresh blood into a dying franchise. The late Abe Pollin, who owned the team for decades, was a class act and idiotic moves by his idiotic players (namely, Gilbert Arenas) made his last couple of years with the team miserable. The Pollin's are in the process of selling the team but his wife represented the Wizards at the Lottery tonight. It was a very touching moment to see her on stage as the results were announced. I hope the Wizards get a great player who helps them rebuild because goodness knows they deserve it.
More importantly, however, I'm happy for the Wizard franchise. My John Wall bashing aside, this is an opportunity for that team to press the restart button and get some fresh blood into a dying franchise. The late Abe Pollin, who owned the team for decades, was a class act and idiotic moves by his idiotic players (namely, Gilbert Arenas) made his last couple of years with the team miserable. The Pollin's are in the process of selling the team but his wife represented the Wizards at the Lottery tonight. It was a very touching moment to see her on stage as the results were announced. I hope the Wizards get a great player who helps them rebuild because goodness knows they deserve it.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Reviewing the Draft - 1995
If 1994 was the most untalented draft in recent history, 1995 might be number two on that list. This draft did, however, provide a lot of guys who had relatively productive careers for a long time.
All Stars: 6 (Garnett, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace, Finley, Ratliff)
Perennial All Stars: 2 (Garnett, Wallace)
MVPs: 1 (Garnett)
Future Hall of Famers: 1 (Garnett)
1. Golden State Warriors - Kevin Garnett (Originally selected 5)
Probably one of the 20 best players in the history of the NBA. Garnett has been one of the fiercest competitors in the league since the day he stepped onto the court. Surrounded by next to nothing for most of his career in Minnesota, Garnett picked up a title in Boston in 2008 and has won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. (Original Pick: Joe Smith)
2. LA Clippers (traded to Denver Nuggets) - Rasheed Wallace (4)
I would suggest that Wallace is one of the 10 most talented players of the last 15 years. His talent, however, rarely translated to on court excellence. He won a title with Detroit but in a way that only makes his lack of work ethic and dedication throughout his career all the more frustrating. Wallace had an incredible skill set that never reached its full potential. (Antonio McDyess)
3. Philadelphia 76ers - Michael Finley (21)
Had Finley come out of school after his junior year, he would have been a top 10 pick. A sub par senior season dropped him but even still, Phoenix got an absolute steal at 21. Finley in his prime wasn't quite the scorer that Stackhouse was at his prime, but he was a better all around player, a better defender, and a much better (and more successful) teammate. He was a major contributor on good Dallas teams for years and won a title as a started with San Antonio. He also made the tough transition from slasher to shooter as his career wore on. (Jerry Stackhouse)
4. Washington Bullets - Jerry Stackhouse (3)
An outrageous scorer whose immaturity cost him points towards his legacy. He didn't settle down until he got to Dallas in 2004 when he suddenly morphed from malcontent to locker room leader. At his prime, no one in the NBA drove harder and got to the free throw line more consistently than Stackhouse. He was 6th Man of the Year in 2007 and still contributed nicely this year with the Bucks. (Wallace)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves - Antonio McDyess (2)
McDyess deserved better than what his body gave him. He was one of the better athletes in the league for a few years and could leap out of the building. He rebounded well, blocked shots, and had a refined game around the basket. Constant injuries, however, cut him down in his prime and reduced him to a role player before his time. He's carved out a niche for himself as a quality banger with a consistent 15 foot jump shot. (Garnett)
6. Vancouver Grizzlies - Joe Smith (1)
Never at any time was Joe Smith good enough to be picked number one. He didn't excel at anything though he was more than serviceable in most categories. More importantly, he never had the mentality to be a franchise player. You always got the feeling that he'd just assume take on the role of quiet support rather than star. Had the expectations been lower it is possible he could have been a Horace Grant-like player. Still, he's kicking around the league to this day and he contributes everywhere he goes. (Bryant Reeves)
7. Toronto Raptors - Damon Stoudamire (7)
Stoudamire was an enigma. He was a dynamic scorer on his way to winning Rookie of the Year for Toronto, then became a quality floor leader for some good Portland teams, and then became a solid contributor later in his career. Yet he was never looked at as indispensable. He was just kind of there. If he could have developed a jump shot, he would have been a much more respected player. (Stoudamire)
8. Portland Trail Blazers - Theo Ratliff (18)
If you would have asked me in 1995 which top 20 pick would be the least likely to still be in the league in 2010, Ratliff would have been my guess hands down. He just didn't seem like an NBA player. He did, however, have some very strong years as a double-double guy who could block some shots. After it seemed like his career would end for about 8 years running, he's still kicking around and has actually had a mini resurgence last year. Not great, but not bad. (Shawn Respert)
9. New Jersey Nets - Kurt Thomas (10)
Similar to McDyess and Ratliff, Thomas had an injury plagued career that almost bounced him out of the league. He's regained some of his form, however, in the last decade and become one of those guys that you blow off as an effective NBA player until he kills you for a 15 point, 10 rebound, 2 block type of game and you remember this guy was a freak coming out of college. He's still playing and it looks like he could be around for another year or two. (Ed O'bannon)
10. Miami Heat - Corliss Williamson (13)
For the majority of his NBA career, Williamson was not a great rebounder, a great passer, a great defender, or a great shooter. He had one trick and one trick only: low post scoring. From 12 feet (or maybe 15 on a good day) in, Williamson had a litany of tricky moves that allowed him to score 10 or 15 points every night and frustrate the fire out of opposing teams. He won a title with Detroit in 2004 and Sixth Man of the Year in 2002. (Thomas)
11. Milwaukee Bucks - Brent Barry (15)
Barry's real claim to fame is winning the Slam Dunk Contest but he was also a very solid player on some good teams for a long time. A selfish player early in his career, he transitioned from a would-be scorer to one of the NBA's better long distance shooters and became a very effective player for the Sonics and Spurs, winning two titles with the Spurs. (Gary Trent)
12. Dallas Mavericks - Eric Snow (43)
If you combined Rasheed Wallace's talent with Eric Snow's work ethic, you'd have one of the 10 best players in the history of the NBA, period. Very, very, VERY few players in NBA history have had both the career longevity and lack of talent that Snow had. Snow could not jump, shoot, or drive and he wasn't a particularly special passer, either. He had two NBA skills: he could defend and he could lead. Snow was a born leader and that, combined with hard work, kept him in the league for 13 years. (Cherokee Parks)
13. Sacramento Kings - Greg Ostertag (28)
Ostertag is one of the weirder players the play in the NBA in the last few years. He didn't seem to really care about basketball as much as he did proving people wrong. It's like someone told him at age 5, "The one thing you will never do is play basketball in the NBA" and he made it his life goal to do that very thing. The only times he really played well were when he was matched up against more talented players and/or when his coach called him out in the media. Maybe he just liked pissing people off. He was, however, always good for a poorly thought-out soundbite and one of the goofiest players ever. Seriously, just look at that picture. That dude made $48 million dollars. (Williamson)
Biggest Bust: Just take your pick. Ed O'bannon, Shawn Respert, and Cherokee Parks all stunk themselves out of the league way before their respective times. Respert gets a pass for me, though, because he contracted cancer at the beginning of his career and tried hard to silently fight through it. Joe Smith has had a long, solid NBA career but he would still have to be in the discussion for worst number 1 pick ever. Bryant Reeves proved he could be a decent NBA player early on but his body betrayed him quickly and he only played for 6 seasons. My pick would be Wallace, just based on the sheer lack of maturity that still plagues the man and kept him from reaching even half of his potential.
All Stars: 6 (Garnett, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace, Finley, Ratliff)
Perennial All Stars: 2 (Garnett, Wallace)
MVPs: 1 (Garnett)
Future Hall of Famers: 1 (Garnett)
Probably one of the 20 best players in the history of the NBA. Garnett has been one of the fiercest competitors in the league since the day he stepped onto the court. Surrounded by next to nothing for most of his career in Minnesota, Garnett picked up a title in Boston in 2008 and has won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. (Original Pick: Joe Smith)
2. LA Clippers (traded to Denver Nuggets) - Rasheed Wallace (4)
I would suggest that Wallace is one of the 10 most talented players of the last 15 years. His talent, however, rarely translated to on court excellence. He won a title with Detroit but in a way that only makes his lack of work ethic and dedication throughout his career all the more frustrating. Wallace had an incredible skill set that never reached its full potential. (Antonio McDyess)
3. Philadelphia 76ers - Michael Finley (21)
Had Finley come out of school after his junior year, he would have been a top 10 pick. A sub par senior season dropped him but even still, Phoenix got an absolute steal at 21. Finley in his prime wasn't quite the scorer that Stackhouse was at his prime, but he was a better all around player, a better defender, and a much better (and more successful) teammate. He was a major contributor on good Dallas teams for years and won a title as a started with San Antonio. He also made the tough transition from slasher to shooter as his career wore on. (Jerry Stackhouse)
4. Washington Bullets - Jerry Stackhouse (3)
An outrageous scorer whose immaturity cost him points towards his legacy. He didn't settle down until he got to Dallas in 2004 when he suddenly morphed from malcontent to locker room leader. At his prime, no one in the NBA drove harder and got to the free throw line more consistently than Stackhouse. He was 6th Man of the Year in 2007 and still contributed nicely this year with the Bucks. (Wallace)
McDyess deserved better than what his body gave him. He was one of the better athletes in the league for a few years and could leap out of the building. He rebounded well, blocked shots, and had a refined game around the basket. Constant injuries, however, cut him down in his prime and reduced him to a role player before his time. He's carved out a niche for himself as a quality banger with a consistent 15 foot jump shot. (Garnett)
6. Vancouver Grizzlies - Joe Smith (1)
Never at any time was Joe Smith good enough to be picked number one. He didn't excel at anything though he was more than serviceable in most categories. More importantly, he never had the mentality to be a franchise player. You always got the feeling that he'd just assume take on the role of quiet support rather than star. Had the expectations been lower it is possible he could have been a Horace Grant-like player. Still, he's kicking around the league to this day and he contributes everywhere he goes. (Bryant Reeves)
7. Toronto Raptors - Damon Stoudamire (7)
Stoudamire was an enigma. He was a dynamic scorer on his way to winning Rookie of the Year for Toronto, then became a quality floor leader for some good Portland teams, and then became a solid contributor later in his career. Yet he was never looked at as indispensable. He was just kind of there. If he could have developed a jump shot, he would have been a much more respected player. (Stoudamire)
8. Portland Trail Blazers - Theo Ratliff (18)
If you would have asked me in 1995 which top 20 pick would be the least likely to still be in the league in 2010, Ratliff would have been my guess hands down. He just didn't seem like an NBA player. He did, however, have some very strong years as a double-double guy who could block some shots. After it seemed like his career would end for about 8 years running, he's still kicking around and has actually had a mini resurgence last year. Not great, but not bad. (Shawn Respert)
9. New Jersey Nets - Kurt Thomas (10)
Similar to McDyess and Ratliff, Thomas had an injury plagued career that almost bounced him out of the league. He's regained some of his form, however, in the last decade and become one of those guys that you blow off as an effective NBA player until he kills you for a 15 point, 10 rebound, 2 block type of game and you remember this guy was a freak coming out of college. He's still playing and it looks like he could be around for another year or two. (Ed O'bannon)
10. Miami Heat - Corliss Williamson (13)
For the majority of his NBA career, Williamson was not a great rebounder, a great passer, a great defender, or a great shooter. He had one trick and one trick only: low post scoring. From 12 feet (or maybe 15 on a good day) in, Williamson had a litany of tricky moves that allowed him to score 10 or 15 points every night and frustrate the fire out of opposing teams. He won a title with Detroit in 2004 and Sixth Man of the Year in 2002. (Thomas)
11. Milwaukee Bucks - Brent Barry (15)
Barry's real claim to fame is winning the Slam Dunk Contest but he was also a very solid player on some good teams for a long time. A selfish player early in his career, he transitioned from a would-be scorer to one of the NBA's better long distance shooters and became a very effective player for the Sonics and Spurs, winning two titles with the Spurs. (Gary Trent)
12. Dallas Mavericks - Eric Snow (43)
If you combined Rasheed Wallace's talent with Eric Snow's work ethic, you'd have one of the 10 best players in the history of the NBA, period. Very, very, VERY few players in NBA history have had both the career longevity and lack of talent that Snow had. Snow could not jump, shoot, or drive and he wasn't a particularly special passer, either. He had two NBA skills: he could defend and he could lead. Snow was a born leader and that, combined with hard work, kept him in the league for 13 years. (Cherokee Parks)
Ostertag is one of the weirder players the play in the NBA in the last few years. He didn't seem to really care about basketball as much as he did proving people wrong. It's like someone told him at age 5, "The one thing you will never do is play basketball in the NBA" and he made it his life goal to do that very thing. The only times he really played well were when he was matched up against more talented players and/or when his coach called him out in the media. Maybe he just liked pissing people off. He was, however, always good for a poorly thought-out soundbite and one of the goofiest players ever. Seriously, just look at that picture. That dude made $48 million dollars. (Williamson)
Biggest Bust: Just take your pick. Ed O'bannon, Shawn Respert, and Cherokee Parks all stunk themselves out of the league way before their respective times. Respert gets a pass for me, though, because he contracted cancer at the beginning of his career and tried hard to silently fight through it. Joe Smith has had a long, solid NBA career but he would still have to be in the discussion for worst number 1 pick ever. Bryant Reeves proved he could be a decent NBA player early on but his body betrayed him quickly and he only played for 6 seasons. My pick would be Wallace, just based on the sheer lack of maturity that still plagues the man and kept him from reaching even half of his potential.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Kareem On the NBA Age Requirement
I'm going to get around to writing a full column about this subject one of these days. I've done some research on this and it is an issue I'm passionate about. Most high school kids are not physically up to the demands they will face in the move to the NBA. But for the time being, I'll just address Kareem's statements.
Bravo, Kareem. I'm not sure 21 is the age the NBA should settle on, but two years out of high school would be a better setup than the current policy. This one-and-done thing that so many players are going with for their college experience (see: the entire Kentucky basketball program) is ridiculous and comprimising the already shaky integrity of the NCAA as a whole. Developing a policy that requires players to be out of high school for two years forces them to do one of two things: go to school and at least make some headway toward a degree, or play overseas in the less physical, less demanding leagues and build toward being ready for the NBA. It's a simple solution that fixes two problems at once and I hope the NBA brass will listen to one of its more enduring alumni.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Raiders Cut Russell
After days of speculation, the Oakland Raiders today cut ties with JaMarcus Russell. Russell has struggled to say the least since being drafted number one in the 2007 draft, finishing his Raider tenure with only seven wins. Seven. The writing was on the wall for Russell after the Raiders acquired former Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell on Draft Weekend but today the decision was made official.
I am a reformed Raider fan (sober for 13 months now!) and the release of Russell comes as no surprise. For years owner/walking corpse Al Davis has run the once proud Raider organization into the ground and Russell was the biggest step in that intentional grounding. He is widely considered to be the biggest bust in the history of the NFL and apparently Davis has had enough. Russell is the worst of the worst: he's a quarterback who lacks accuracy, lacks speed, lacks maturity, and lacks the work ethic to correct these issues. He was fined repeatedly for being overweight and recent reports pegged him at over 300 pounds. He just isn't capable of being a starter (or maybe even a bench player) in the NFL.
However, I place only about 50 percent of the blame on Russell. The guy didn't do anything to earn his place in the League, sure, but he should have never been in this position in the first place!!! Russell was inaccurate, slow, immature, and overweight in college so it stands to reason that he might exhibit those same qualities in the NFL. To draft a player, a quarterback no less, with a questionable work ethic number one and then hand him $39 million dollars is asking for a slow death. And yet, these things don't matter to the Raiders. I knew, as a Raider fan, that we were doomed to the Russell Era when it was reported that in the pre-draft workouts, Russell threw a ball 50 yards while sitting on his knees. I knew that that stunt alone, regardless of anything else, would get Russell picked by the Raiders due to Davis' incessant facination with freakish athleticism. That's a neat party trick for sure, but not something that really holds significance in the NFL. (Plus, judging by Russell's inaccuracy, it's likely the ball went 50 yards out of bounds, anyway.) This kid was, for all intents and purposes, set up not just for failure but for EPIC, HISTORIC failure; the kind of failure that you don't recover from and gets you mentioned in the same breath as New Coke, "Battlefield Earth," and Michael Dukakis.
Russell didn't stand a chance and neither did Raider fans. Because he was such a high pick he will likely get a second chance somewhere as a third stringer. I'm not sure he deserves that shot, but I can't help but feel a little sorry for...wait, no, you know what? $39 million dollars?! I don't feel sorry for him a bit. Get your crap together, JaMarcus, and enjoy the clipboard and lack of expectations that come with it.
However, I place only about 50 percent of the blame on Russell. The guy didn't do anything to earn his place in the League, sure, but he should have never been in this position in the first place!!! Russell was inaccurate, slow, immature, and overweight in college so it stands to reason that he might exhibit those same qualities in the NFL. To draft a player, a quarterback no less, with a questionable work ethic number one and then hand him $39 million dollars is asking for a slow death. And yet, these things don't matter to the Raiders. I knew, as a Raider fan, that we were doomed to the Russell Era when it was reported that in the pre-draft workouts, Russell threw a ball 50 yards while sitting on his knees. I knew that that stunt alone, regardless of anything else, would get Russell picked by the Raiders due to Davis' incessant facination with freakish athleticism. That's a neat party trick for sure, but not something that really holds significance in the NFL. (Plus, judging by Russell's inaccuracy, it's likely the ball went 50 yards out of bounds, anyway.) This kid was, for all intents and purposes, set up not just for failure but for EPIC, HISTORIC failure; the kind of failure that you don't recover from and gets you mentioned in the same breath as New Coke, "Battlefield Earth," and Michael Dukakis.
Russell didn't stand a chance and neither did Raider fans. Because he was such a high pick he will likely get a second chance somewhere as a third stringer. I'm not sure he deserves that shot, but I can't help but feel a little sorry for...wait, no, you know what? $39 million dollars?! I don't feel sorry for him a bit. Get your crap together, JaMarcus, and enjoy the clipboard and lack of expectations that come with it.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Calipari Looking for New Contract
A couple of days ago it was reported that University of Kentucky coach John Calipari was interested in the Chicago Bulls job. Yesterday he refuted that report. Today it came out that Calipari and the UK bigwigs were working on a new, richer contract. Expect an agreement to be reached in the near future.
I write a lot about coaches (obviously). I'm not completely sure why I focus on the coaches so much. Maybe it's just that time of year where the interesting news is coach-centric. But part of it, for sure, is that I think the impact a coach can have (positively or otherwise) is vastly underrated, whether it's college or the pros. For example, the Mavericks-Spurs series that ended last week came down to two things: 1.) the Spurs made shots and the Mavs didn't, and 2.) Gregg Popovich coached the pants off of Rick Carlisle. Pops pushed the right buttons all series long, whereas Carlisle sat idly and stubbornly and continually made the wrong choice or the right choice too late. Spurs win in 6. The coach matters, period.
One thing I really hate in the coaching world is the Snake: the college coach that can't be trusted. It doesn't matter so much to me with the pros, but in college, I want a trustworthy coach. It makes me furious to see the Kevin Sampsons of the world move from school to school, leaving a path of destruction in their wake, while the NCAA continues to look the other way and allow the junk to take place. John Calipari is, for my money, perhaps the worst of the worst. A good coach, sure, but a trustworthy guy? No. Both schools he's been at before Kentucky have been racked with scandals and as it always is with the NCAA, the schools were penalized, not the guy in charge. Judging by the talent he's pulled in each of the last two seasons, it's not much of a jump to assume some payments are being thrown around (especially considering Kentucky's past when it comes to these matters).
Now Coach Cal is using the Bulls opening as leverage to get a new contract. On some level I can't fault him for this. If there's money to be made, I guess you make it, morals aside. The broken system is the real problem. Calipari has been at Kentucky for one year. He assembled (again, probably with the aid of big cash payments) the most talented team in the country, fell flat in the tournament (losing in the Elite 8), and has five kids leaving early for the draft (four of whom were freshmen). He's bringing in another high level recruiting class this year but the results are likely to be the same. Eventually (and maybe sooner rather than later), Cal will leave Kentucky on the brink of NCAA probation to take his sleazy practices to the next highest bidder. This is almost a certainty. He'll assemble great talent, but he won't graduate any meaningful players and he will get the school in trouble. It's almost a one hundred percent probability. And yet, Kentucky needs to win so bad that they'll continue to pad the bed they've made with this guy and give him a raise he hasn't earned.
How much longer must the NCAA allow this crap to take place? How much longer do we have to watch a guy screw over not only the school and the program but the kids he talks into playing for him, only to leave them in limbo when he inevitably abandons ship? How much longer can the NCAA continue to come after kids, many of whom are coming from nothing, for taking a few hundred bucks from a booster while turning a blind eye to known cheaters? How much longer do we have to pretend that the big time athletes in the revenue sports are students rather than acknowledging their status as pros in the making? The NCAA is a laughing stock and the longer it allows snakes like John Calipari to run amok, the louder the laughter gets.
I write a lot about coaches (obviously). I'm not completely sure why I focus on the coaches so much. Maybe it's just that time of year where the interesting news is coach-centric. But part of it, for sure, is that I think the impact a coach can have (positively or otherwise) is vastly underrated, whether it's college or the pros. For example, the Mavericks-Spurs series that ended last week came down to two things: 1.) the Spurs made shots and the Mavs didn't, and 2.) Gregg Popovich coached the pants off of Rick Carlisle. Pops pushed the right buttons all series long, whereas Carlisle sat idly and stubbornly and continually made the wrong choice or the right choice too late. Spurs win in 6. The coach matters, period.One thing I really hate in the coaching world is the Snake: the college coach that can't be trusted. It doesn't matter so much to me with the pros, but in college, I want a trustworthy coach. It makes me furious to see the Kevin Sampsons of the world move from school to school, leaving a path of destruction in their wake, while the NCAA continues to look the other way and allow the junk to take place. John Calipari is, for my money, perhaps the worst of the worst. A good coach, sure, but a trustworthy guy? No. Both schools he's been at before Kentucky have been racked with scandals and as it always is with the NCAA, the schools were penalized, not the guy in charge. Judging by the talent he's pulled in each of the last two seasons, it's not much of a jump to assume some payments are being thrown around (especially considering Kentucky's past when it comes to these matters).
Now Coach Cal is using the Bulls opening as leverage to get a new contract. On some level I can't fault him for this. If there's money to be made, I guess you make it, morals aside. The broken system is the real problem. Calipari has been at Kentucky for one year. He assembled (again, probably with the aid of big cash payments) the most talented team in the country, fell flat in the tournament (losing in the Elite 8), and has five kids leaving early for the draft (four of whom were freshmen). He's bringing in another high level recruiting class this year but the results are likely to be the same. Eventually (and maybe sooner rather than later), Cal will leave Kentucky on the brink of NCAA probation to take his sleazy practices to the next highest bidder. This is almost a certainty. He'll assemble great talent, but he won't graduate any meaningful players and he will get the school in trouble. It's almost a one hundred percent probability. And yet, Kentucky needs to win so bad that they'll continue to pad the bed they've made with this guy and give him a raise he hasn't earned.
How much longer must the NCAA allow this crap to take place? How much longer do we have to watch a guy screw over not only the school and the program but the kids he talks into playing for him, only to leave them in limbo when he inevitably abandons ship? How much longer can the NCAA continue to come after kids, many of whom are coming from nothing, for taking a few hundred bucks from a booster while turning a blind eye to known cheaters? How much longer do we have to pretend that the big time athletes in the revenue sports are students rather than acknowledging their status as pros in the making? The NCAA is a laughing stock and the longer it allows snakes like John Calipari to run amok, the louder the laughter gets.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Ernie Harwell Dies at 92
For a kid from Texas who doesn't even really care that much about baseball, the two voices I associate with the sport are Dodgers announcer Vin Scully and Harwell. He was a man among boys, so to speak. I'm not going to try to reiterate what was written in the article above. Those who knew Harwell's work far better than I will have plenty to say over the next few days. The man was a legend, however, and deserves all the acclaim and attention he'll get. Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm called him, "the voice of summer" which I think is just about the best thing anyone could ever say about a baseball announcer. And by all accounts Harwell was an even better man that he was a broadcaster. He was a true class act who transcended the sport he loved, the best of the best, and he will be sorely missed.
Take peace, Ernie, and may your voice carry on through the generations to come.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Hornets Interested in Johnson
Word around the NBA indicates the New Orleans Hornets have set up an interview with former Maverick coach Avery Johnson. Hornet brass has a meeting in Houston with Johnson on Tuesday and while they are saying they have a list of candidates, Johnson is clearly the favorite. There is a very good change he will be named head coach in the next week or so, although it should be noted that Johnson has had some trouble in interviews in the past.
On the surface, Johnson is a good hire. He was always one of those guys that, as a player, you knew he'd be a coach someday and his early work in Dallas was excellent. He crashed and burned, however, down the stretch and came across like a guy who had all the answers and can't figure out why his answers weren't accepted. Now, this is a behavior that many young coaches display and eventually grow out of in their subsequent jobs. The big problem with Johnson, though, is that he lost the Dallas locker room with his rigid, stubborn way of doing business and eventually burned himself and his players out. And it only took three years to reach that burnout. He acted like a real tool when he got the boot in Dallas, but even still, I think he's going to end up being a really good coach.
My issue with this potential hiring has less to do with Johnson and more to do with the Hornets. There are plenty of coaches like Johnson in the NBA. They come to a new franchise, the guys rally around them, and they have success. But eventually their style wears on the players, the players tune them out, and they end up looking for a new job. Scott Skiles is like that. So is Rick Carlisle. And more importantly, so is former Hornet coach Byron Scott. In fact, Byron Scott is a posterchild for this brand of coach. His discipline is great when he comes in and he's new, but within three years or so, the players sour on his stubbornness and out he goes. The Hornet players HATED Scott when his tenure came to an end in the middle of last season. They didn't say it publicly but you could see it in the way they played and the way they worked with him.
When you fire a coach like Scott, you need a change of pace. You need a "Player's Coach" who relates to the guys in the room, fights for them in the media, and inspires them to play for him. In truth, the "Player's Coach" doesn't win a lot of titles (see: Don Nelson) but the Hornets aren't winning titles any time soon, anyway. Doug Collins or someone similar would be perfect for the Hornets for the two or three year transition away from Scott's reign. Bringing in Avery Johnson, almost a carbon copy of Scott, is a horrible move for the Hornets. A team that has been burned out by a fire and brimstone coach risks overkill when you bring in another coach just like him. Johnson would be a great hire in Philadelphia for a team that seriously lacked discipline for the last few years. But for a team that is already on the brink of destruction (bad ownership, lack of fan support, and a tempermental superstar in Chris Paul who can opt for free agency next year), the hiring of Johnson could be catostrophic.
My issue with this potential hiring has less to do with Johnson and more to do with the Hornets. There are plenty of coaches like Johnson in the NBA. They come to a new franchise, the guys rally around them, and they have success. But eventually their style wears on the players, the players tune them out, and they end up looking for a new job. Scott Skiles is like that. So is Rick Carlisle. And more importantly, so is former Hornet coach Byron Scott. In fact, Byron Scott is a posterchild for this brand of coach. His discipline is great when he comes in and he's new, but within three years or so, the players sour on his stubbornness and out he goes. The Hornet players HATED Scott when his tenure came to an end in the middle of last season. They didn't say it publicly but you could see it in the way they played and the way they worked with him.
When you fire a coach like Scott, you need a change of pace. You need a "Player's Coach" who relates to the guys in the room, fights for them in the media, and inspires them to play for him. In truth, the "Player's Coach" doesn't win a lot of titles (see: Don Nelson) but the Hornets aren't winning titles any time soon, anyway. Doug Collins or someone similar would be perfect for the Hornets for the two or three year transition away from Scott's reign. Bringing in Avery Johnson, almost a carbon copy of Scott, is a horrible move for the Hornets. A team that has been burned out by a fire and brimstone coach risks overkill when you bring in another coach just like him. Johnson would be a great hire in Philadelphia for a team that seriously lacked discipline for the last few years. But for a team that is already on the brink of destruction (bad ownership, lack of fan support, and a tempermental superstar in Chris Paul who can opt for free agency next year), the hiring of Johnson could be catostrophic.
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