It is official--two more beloved baseball heroes have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Today the New York Times reported that Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in an anonymous test in 2003. In case you have a short memory, the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 and 2007. It's only right to assume that both players were "using" during their 2004 runs, and most likely were "using" in 2007 as well. That would explain why Manny was recently caught using a female fertility drug that men can use to generate testosterone after they have stopped using steroids.
This could also be an explanation of why David Ortiz hasn't exactly lived up to expectations this year or last year. I assume he realized that he should stop taking performance enhancers before he got caught, and now he is suffering.
The Ramirez and Ortiz news was anything but shocking. At this point, I'm not surprised by any of the baseball names that are released. It is somewhat depressing. I'm not the biggest baseball fan, but it stinks that the only era of baseball I've payed attention to is marked as "the steroid era." I just want all the name-releasing to end. Either give up all the names at once, or stop releasing names. It is not fair to the fans and it is not fair to baseball. None of us can move on if names are released every few months...Sheesh
For your on the job sanity. You're welcome. Justin Lovett-Blue Chad Sanders-White Greg D'Arco-Yellow Samson X-Grey
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Beware of Dog Killer
Commissioner Roger Goodell has decided that Michael Vick conditionally is reinstated. This means that he is able to sign with a team and practice as well as able to play in the last two preseason games. Is this fair to a man who spent almost two years in jail? Uh, yes, and no. While I think two years is a long time, and Vick has done what he has to do in terms of the law, I also feel like that Goodell deserves the right to suspend Vick for a couple of games. As much as I would like to see Vick playing for an NFL team again, I think he should be punished for lying to Goodell and making the NFL look bad. In the end, Goodell is right--playing in the NFL is a privilege. I think Vick has learned his lesson and hopefully will stay away from dogs from now on.
Farve Please Stay Away
So Brett Farve decided to remain retired today. Unfortunately this means he will probably find some way to be annoying in a couple of months when he changes his mind. Wamp Wamp
Monday, July 27, 2009
Better Luck Next Time
Check out Michael Beasley’s response to not being invited to the USA mini-camp. He posted this on twitter, "So I'm out Vegas and someone jus brought up the USA 2012 team that I didn't get picked to tryout for so i'm kinda in my feelin today!!!!!!" He followed that by tweeting, "Kinda upset sooooo expect me to be on kill mode all season and every season afta for that matter!!!!!!!!!"
Sounds like someone is a little salty hmm……
Sounds like someone is a little salty hmm……
Sunday, July 26, 2009
USA JV TEAM
USA Basketball mini-camp has officially started, which will showcase many of the stars of tomorrow. While there are really only about three to four open spots on the U.S. Olympic roster, 20 players have been invited to compete and workout. The 20 players have been divided into four teams which are listed below:
Blue: D.J. Augustin, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Paul Millsap & Brook Lopez
White: Devin Harris, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Durant, Josh Smith & Greg Oden
Yellow: Derrick Rose, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Jeff Green & JaVale McGee
Red: Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love & Anthony Randolph
I think Durant and Rose are shoe-ins and everyone else, well...good luck.
P.S. Notice that Michael Beasley is not a part of this list
Blue: D.J. Augustin, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Paul Millsap & Brook Lopez
White: Devin Harris, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Durant, Josh Smith & Greg Oden
Yellow: Derrick Rose, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Jeff Green & JaVale McGee
Red: Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, Kevin Love & Anthony Randolph
I think Durant and Rose are shoe-ins and everyone else, well...good luck.
P.S. Notice that Michael Beasley is not a part of this list
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I See Dunked On People
We all know the infamous "Lebron getting dunked on" tape was somehow released this week. After watching the video, it is very clear to me that anyone would have been embarrassed after being dunked on in that fashion. What was more embarrassing than the dunk was the way Nike and Lebron handled the situation. The dunk was bad, but not quite as bad as I expected. There was really no reason to hide the video.
Of course, it would have made its way onto YouTube and across the internet, but that would only have lasted for so long. Now, we have a situation where Lebron and Nike look bad, Jordan Crawford is basically a celebrity, and whoever leaked the tape to TMZ most likely made a decent sum of money. Lebron and Nike made a nice attempt to keep the tape under wraps but they should have known that there was bound to be more than one person recording that game. I guess all I can say is...nice try.
The good news is Lebron has a lot of more important things to worry about. (Like figuring out how he will lead his revamped Cleveland Lebrons past the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, hopefully making it to an NBA Championship.) As soon as Lebron wows us with a few ESPN highlights at the start of the season, we'll quickly forget about the video. Surely, at some point during the season, Skip Bayless will remind us of how James was dunked on in his own camp...but by that time, none of us will care anymore.
Of course, it would have made its way onto YouTube and across the internet, but that would only have lasted for so long. Now, we have a situation where Lebron and Nike look bad, Jordan Crawford is basically a celebrity, and whoever leaked the tape to TMZ most likely made a decent sum of money. Lebron and Nike made a nice attempt to keep the tape under wraps but they should have known that there was bound to be more than one person recording that game. I guess all I can say is...nice try.
The good news is Lebron has a lot of more important things to worry about. (Like figuring out how he will lead his revamped Cleveland Lebrons past the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics, hopefully making it to an NBA Championship.) As soon as Lebron wows us with a few ESPN highlights at the start of the season, we'll quickly forget about the video. Surely, at some point during the season, Skip Bayless will remind us of how James was dunked on in his own camp...but by that time, none of us will care anymore.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Summer League Recap
Over the past two weeks or so, we got our first glimpse of the 2009 draft class in summer league. Even though this draft was considered very weak, a few names still drew some attention. Of course, we all wanted to see Blake Griffin in NBA action, but
intriguing rookies such as Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Hasheem Thabeet, Tyreke Evans and Jonny Flynn generated a decent amount of buzz in their first tastes of NBA play.
As you know, summer league isn't just for rookies. There were plenty of second-year and above players filling rosters. A couple of these players showed off their talent and did not disappoint, while others left us questioning if they will ever pan out.
Just to give you a little recap, I will give list a few standouts, dissappointments and surprises from summer league. So without further ado:
intriguing rookies such as Brandon Jennings, Stephen Curry, Hasheem Thabeet, Tyreke Evans and Jonny Flynn generated a decent amount of buzz in their first tastes of NBA play.
As you know, summer league isn't just for rookies. There were plenty of second-year and above players filling rosters. A couple of these players showed off their talent and did not disappoint, while others left us questioning if they will ever pan out.
Just to give you a little recap, I will give list a few standouts, dissappointments and surprises from summer league. So without further ado:
Standouts: PTS RPG APG SPG BPG
Anthony Randolph 26.8, 8.5, 1.3, 2.2, 3.0
Tyreke Evans 19.2, 6.2, 4.2, 1.0, .2
Blake Griffin 19.2, 10.8, 3.2, 1.0, .4
Austin Daye 17.0, 8.8, 1.0, 1.4, .4
Andray Blatche 19.7, 11.0, 3.0, 2.0, .7
Brandon Jennings 14.6, 2.6, 8.2, 3.6, .2
Jonny Flynn 15.0, 2.4, 7.4, .8, 0.0
Stephen Curry 17.4, 4.6, 4.2, 2.4, .4
Javale McGee 17.3, 6.3, 0.0, 1.0, 4.0
Anthony Morrow 24.7, 4.7, .3, .7, 0.0
Disappointments:
Disappointments:
Corey Brewer 12.8, 4.0, .5, .2, 0.0
Hasheem Thabeet 8.2, 4.6, .4, .2, .8
Donte Green 7.6, 5.8, 1.2, .8, .8
BJ Mullens 5.8, 2.6, 1.0, 0.0, 1.2
Acie Law 5.2, 1.0, 2.8, .6, 0.0
Surprises:
Surprises:
Rodrigue Beaubois 17.0, 3.4, 3.8, 1.4, .2
Marcus Thorton 20.7, 3.3, .3, 2.3, .3
Jodie Meeks 19.0, 2.2, .8, 1.0, 0.0
DaJuan Summers 18.0, 5.4, 1.0, .8, .8
Toney Douglas 9.0, 3.8, 7.0, 2.0, 0.0
Dante Cunningham 18.3, 5.8, .8, 1.5, .5
Quincy Douby 18.0, 4.0, 3.8, 1.2, .4
Taj Gibson 13.0, 10.0, .5, .5, .5
Marcus Williams 13.4, 4.6, 8.2, .2, .4
Adam Morrison 20.8, 5.0, 2.0, .8, .5
Joey Dorsey 9.8, 14.8, 3.0, 1.0, 2.6
Monday, July 20, 2009
I Love Me Some Me
This past week Brett Farve found yet another way to make sports headlines. Farve announced that he will give the Vikings an answer by July 30th as to if he will return for the upcoming season. Instead of analyzing what impact Farve may (or may not) have for the Vikings, this announcement has reminded me of something else that is worth discussing:
Has anyone else noticed that Brett Farve, Shaquille O’Neil and Terrell Owens (T.O.) are always in the sports news? In season, we expect these all-stars to generate buzz. But it seems like, all year round, these three names are always coming up. I’ve wondered, are their names constantly moving throughout the media circle because reporters won’t let them live privately? Or do these guys really thrive on being the center of attention?
Farve for instance: every year we go through the same thing—will he retire? Lately his trend has been: retire, change my mind, un-retire. How many times are we going to see the ESPN specials on Farve’s career just so he can change his mind a month later? How many, “Farve’s last home game” will there be? I understand retiring is a big deal, especially for someone with the competitive nature like Brett Farve, but this is getting old.
Moving on…Shaq, who I think is very funny, seems to struggle from withdrawal when he goes too long without his name in the headlines. Most of the time, the things he does to draw attention to himself are for comedic purposes. Everyone remembers the infamous rap song for Kobe Bryant, “ya’ll know how I be, last year Kobe couldn’t do it without me.” While funny, was that really necessary? Or did Shaq just take advantage of the lack of sports news that summer?
Another example—Shaq’s remarks for Stan Van Gundy this past season. To sum up his remarks, Shaq basically called Van Gundy a bum and bashed his coaching career. Shaq definitely went overboard with this, but once again gave us something to laugh at.
How about when Shaq said, "tell Yao Ming, 'ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh,''' resulting in accusations that he was a racist. Did some people find it funny? Of course. But was it just another reason for Shaq to generate more media buzz? Probably. I could go on and on about Shaq but I think you get the point.
Last but not least, I am somewhat torn with T.O. On one end of the spectrum, we have Farve, who continues to find himself unintentionally in the headlines because of his retirement uncertainty. On the other end, we have Shaq, who actively pursues the front pages to make his announcements. But where does T.O. stand? He does a lot of instant media buzz-worthy things, like the mini workout in front of his house for a gathering of reporters, but he is also targeted for everything he says or does. Obviously T.O. feeds from the attention, that’s why he takes shots at former teammates like Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo through the media.
If you haven’t heard, T.O. also has a new reality TV show on VH1—just another reason for T.O. to get some buzz. Even through all his cries for attention, I still think trouble follows T.O., even when he doesn’t ask for it.
So, I’ve come to the conclusion that unlike the extremes of Farve, who unintentionally seeks attention, and Shaq, who intentionally seeks attention, T.O. falls in the middle. Regardless, all three can be annoying at times.
Has anyone else noticed that Brett Farve, Shaquille O’Neil and Terrell Owens (T.O.) are always in the sports news? In season, we expect these all-stars to generate buzz. But it seems like, all year round, these three names are always coming up. I’ve wondered, are their names constantly moving throughout the media circle because reporters won’t let them live privately? Or do these guys really thrive on being the center of attention?
Farve for instance: every year we go through the same thing—will he retire? Lately his trend has been: retire, change my mind, un-retire. How many times are we going to see the ESPN specials on Farve’s career just so he can change his mind a month later? How many, “Farve’s last home game” will there be? I understand retiring is a big deal, especially for someone with the competitive nature like Brett Farve, but this is getting old.
Moving on…Shaq, who I think is very funny, seems to struggle from withdrawal when he goes too long without his name in the headlines. Most of the time, the things he does to draw attention to himself are for comedic purposes. Everyone remembers the infamous rap song for Kobe Bryant, “ya’ll know how I be, last year Kobe couldn’t do it without me.” While funny, was that really necessary? Or did Shaq just take advantage of the lack of sports news that summer?
Another example—Shaq’s remarks for Stan Van Gundy this past season. To sum up his remarks, Shaq basically called Van Gundy a bum and bashed his coaching career. Shaq definitely went overboard with this, but once again gave us something to laugh at.
How about when Shaq said, "tell Yao Ming, 'ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh,''' resulting in accusations that he was a racist. Did some people find it funny? Of course. But was it just another reason for Shaq to generate more media buzz? Probably. I could go on and on about Shaq but I think you get the point.
Last but not least, I am somewhat torn with T.O. On one end of the spectrum, we have Farve, who continues to find himself unintentionally in the headlines because of his retirement uncertainty. On the other end, we have Shaq, who actively pursues the front pages to make his announcements. But where does T.O. stand? He does a lot of instant media buzz-worthy things, like the mini workout in front of his house for a gathering of reporters, but he is also targeted for everything he says or does. Obviously T.O. feeds from the attention, that’s why he takes shots at former teammates like Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo through the media.
If you haven’t heard, T.O. also has a new reality TV show on VH1—just another reason for T.O. to get some buzz. Even through all his cries for attention, I still think trouble follows T.O., even when he doesn’t ask for it.
So, I’ve come to the conclusion that unlike the extremes of Farve, who unintentionally seeks attention, and Shaq, who intentionally seeks attention, T.O. falls in the middle. Regardless, all three can be annoying at times.
Free At Last
Today, July 20, 2009, marks the day Michael Vick became a free man once again. After months in jail and two months in home confinement, Vick has paid his dues. Vick is currently in the process of patching up relationships with family and the community. Tom Shaw, an NFL trainer and longtime friend of Vick's said, “Vick is ready to start the second half of his life.” He also suggested that Vick is in good spirits and is mad at no one.
While I find it highly unlikely that, once Roger Goodell grants Vick reinstatement into the NFL, no team will take a chance on him, Vick is prepared to move on with life with or without professional football. So far, in life after prison, Vick has found himself working a construction job and is doing work with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Hampton Roads, Virginia. I'm sure Vick will be doing more volunteer and community work in the future, which will help him repair some of the relationships he has severed with those followers who abandoned him. In general, society is not ready to forgive Vick, especially the people who were never a fan of his to begin with.
A lot of scouts and analysts have questioned if Vick will be able to play quarterback again, which seems pretty silly to me. Vick played quarterback in the NFL for six seasons, and besides him being a highlight reel waiting to happen, he was a successful quarterback. As I look at a few rosters in the NFL right now, I refuse to believe Vick can't compete for the starting job in say...Cleveland, Denver, San Francisco, or Carolina. Even if he isn't going to start, he can be a very effective quarterback in the wild cat formation. At the age of 29, Vick may not “wow” us the way he used to, but he can still play in the NFL. If Goodell allows Vick back into the league, it will be interesting to see what teams are willing to take a chance on him. I just hope wherever he may land in the future, he is able to contribute and leaves his past behind.
While I find it highly unlikely that, once Roger Goodell grants Vick reinstatement into the NFL, no team will take a chance on him, Vick is prepared to move on with life with or without professional football. So far, in life after prison, Vick has found himself working a construction job and is doing work with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Hampton Roads, Virginia. I'm sure Vick will be doing more volunteer and community work in the future, which will help him repair some of the relationships he has severed with those followers who abandoned him. In general, society is not ready to forgive Vick, especially the people who were never a fan of his to begin with.
A lot of scouts and analysts have questioned if Vick will be able to play quarterback again, which seems pretty silly to me. Vick played quarterback in the NFL for six seasons, and besides him being a highlight reel waiting to happen, he was a successful quarterback. As I look at a few rosters in the NFL right now, I refuse to believe Vick can't compete for the starting job in say...Cleveland, Denver, San Francisco, or Carolina. Even if he isn't going to start, he can be a very effective quarterback in the wild cat formation. At the age of 29, Vick may not “wow” us the way he used to, but he can still play in the NFL. If Goodell allows Vick back into the league, it will be interesting to see what teams are willing to take a chance on him. I just hope wherever he may land in the future, he is able to contribute and leaves his past behind.
Don't Call It A Comeback
On Wednesday, July 15th, Pedro Martinez and the Philadelphia Phillies made it official--signing a one-year, $1 million contract. It is not surprising on Pedro's end, he thinks he still has something left in the tank, but why would the Phillies want him?
Well, the answer to that is very simple--the Phillies have been plagued with injuries in their pitching rotation all year. It is a low-risk, high-reward move. Pedro's expectations are limited, so, if anything, he will surprise most of us and play better than expected. The Phillies, who appear to be desperate for pitching, are only using $1 million, so the move makes sense.
Obviously Pedro won't play at a 20 win, 200 strikeout level of play like he used to, but if he can serve as any improvement from what the Phillies have now, they got their money's worth. Martinez is a former three-time Cy Young award winner with a career ERA of 2.91. At the age of 37, his play this year will probably not reflect his career averages, but he can still be a useful addition as the Phillies try to repeat last year's success and win back-to-back MLB Championships.
Well, the answer to that is very simple--the Phillies have been plagued with injuries in their pitching rotation all year. It is a low-risk, high-reward move. Pedro's expectations are limited, so, if anything, he will surprise most of us and play better than expected. The Phillies, who appear to be desperate for pitching, are only using $1 million, so the move makes sense.
Obviously Pedro won't play at a 20 win, 200 strikeout level of play like he used to, but if he can serve as any improvement from what the Phillies have now, they got their money's worth. Martinez is a former three-time Cy Young award winner with a career ERA of 2.91. At the age of 37, his play this year will probably not reflect his career averages, but he can still be a useful addition as the Phillies try to repeat last year's success and win back-to-back MLB Championships.
Ming Dynasty
One story that has occupied sports headlines last week was Yao Ming’s announcement to have major surgery on his fractured foot. Unfortunately for Yao, this means that the chance of his return for this upcoming season has plummeted. Even with the surgery, there is still a possibility that Yao’s injury could be career-ending. With Yao being one of the top, if not the best center in the NBA, I hope this injury does not bring his career to an end. The Houston Rockets took a chance when they drafted the freakishly tall international star in the 2002 draft. Coming from China, Ming was basically Michael Jordan of his country, but with international praise as well. Even with all the hype, how many guys over seven feet have actually panned out in the NBA? Yao Ming stands at a towering 7'6", and was labeled as a soft, do-it-all center (which sounds really promising coming out of China). So, with all the expectations for Yao to be the ‘next big thing’ and a pioneer for future Asian NBA all-stars, Yao delivered and has become a dominant center.
However, Ming has unfortunately been plagued with foot injuries in the past five years, much like his injury-prone teammate, Tracy McGrady. Many all-star seasons and playoff runs have come up short because of Ming’s inability to stay healthy. At the age of 28, if the 2008-09 season was the last of Yao, I will remember him for his career averages of 19 pts, nine rebounds and almost two blocks a game.
Oh yea, Jianlian Yi should be thanking Yao—Without Yao becoming the first player from China to be become a superstar in the NBA, I don’t see Yi getting drafted as high as he did in 2007.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Best Dunk Ever?
So, the other day, I got in an argument with someone about what the best dunk of all time is. I think, hands down, Vince Carter takes the cake with this one (Keep in mind this guy is 7" tall):
If you think another dunk is better, let me know and I will post it.
If you think another dunk is better, let me know and I will post it.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Champ Is Here
Following UFC 100, the big story was Brock Lesnar's assault on Frank Mir and then Lesnar's post-fight antics. Before I get started, I want it to be known, I AM A BROCK LESNAR FAN and always 
have been. Continuing on, after months of hype and trash talking (mostly by Frank Mir), Brock finally got his rematch from their first bout. This fight was sure to settle the score. In the first fight, Brock had complete control until Mir caught him in a kneebar, causing him to submit. I believed going into Saturday's match that, if Mir won, then he is just better than Lesnar. But if Lesnar won, he would be better than Mir, proving the first fight was a fluke. Either way, unless the fight went the distance there would be no need for a rematch. If you did not see the fight, I will sum it up for you in one word: abuse. The fight was never close in the one and a half rounds it lasted. Brock came in with a game plan that Frank Mir had no answer for.
Moving on to the post-fight controversy...As Brock celebrated his win over the hometown favorite, he was showered with boos. Alright, that was expected. After all, like I just stated, Frank Mir was fighting in his hometown of Las Vegas. The first questionable thing Lesnar did was stick his middle finger up at the crowd for booing him. I dont agree with Brock's reaction, but hearing an outburst of crowd-wide boos after an emotional and dominant victory would probably cause most people to respond in a disrespectful manner. Brock quickly used his mic time to show off some of his WWE skills. Yes, all of you that hate anything that has to with WWE having any kind of connection to UFC, sorry. Brock had four years of WWE experience working the crowd, whether it was for good or evil. His post-match interview was no different. After being asked what he his plans for after the fight were, he responded by calling Budweiser out, saying he was going home to drink a Coors because Budweiser won’t give him any money. Was this the smart thing to say? Of course not. Why did he say it? Who knows, he was fired up and being emotional. That’s still no excuse for what he said, but I'm sure in his talk with UFC President Dana White later that night, White made it clear that sponsor-bashing will not be tolerated.
In Brocks closing comments he also said he may even, "get on top of his wife" later. Did he need to say that? No. Were there kids watching? Yes. Was that disrespectful to his wife, Sable? Maybe, but probably not. It was pay-per-view, its not like he said, "I may f*ck my wife like crazy later." And disrespecting Sable, haha, this is the same woman that posed naked for Playboy and appeared a little less-than-ladylike on many occasions during her time in the WWE. I'm sure she didn't mind the attention.
Going back to Brock using his WWE mic skills--whether you liked what he said or not, and it appears most didn't, he has officially made himself the bad guy in the heavyweight division with a bulls eye on his head. This is perfect for him and for UFC as well. Fans may not love him for his personality, but all his fights have endless marketing potential and will generate huge publicity as UFC tries to find the man who can shut Brocks mouth. Since the fight, Brock has issued an apology for his actions. Was it a sincere apology? Who knows, but I'm sure Dana White had a lot to do with it.
Moving further along, since the fight, I have been reading a lot of message boards where people have been discussing Brock Lesnar's disrespect for the sport, his opponents and the fans. They also challenge how good he actually is, saying he is only good because of his weight. In general, people are upset about how he didn't win the fight with class.
Well, I can't refute everything said about Brock on the message boards, but I will only say a few things. Summing up what I said in the previous paragraph, fans will either love or really hate Lesnar at this point. Either way, more will watch his fights, whether they want him to win or get his face kicked in. Brock’s comments may not have represented the “product” UFC is trying to produce, but it sells. Brock’s attitude after the fight seemed more like the old UFC, where almost anything was allowed and most people did not respect the sport at all.
I admit, UFC has come along way and probably isn’t trying to look back on what they used to be—but what Brock did won't hurt the company. Brock did not follow the typical blueprint of winning with class and being over-appreciative of the fans, but I seriously doubt any of those fans in attendance will stop watching Brock Lesnar fights because of his actions on Saturday.
Now, I'm going to address what bothers me the most about the Brock Lesnar critics. I keep reading that he only wins because of his weight. Example: "he outweighs everyone by so much, he s
hould win." Yes, Lesnar is heavier than most of the fighters in the heavyweight division, but why is that his problem? He is not violating any rules and he should not be looked down upon because he is huge, very strong and super athletic for his size. To me, that sounds like a person who needs good coaching before they are a dominant fighter in the UFC.
I won't say Brock is the best heavyweight fighter in UFC, especially because he has only had five fights. I'm not saying he will be a future hall-of-famer, but what I am saying is that he has been dominant in his fights, except for the kneebar by Mir.
After watching Saturday’s fight it is obvious that he is becoming a much better-skilled MMA fighter. You can argue that weight is not a skill…Alright, no problem. But if you have the weight, why not use it to your advantage?
In the first fight with Mir, Brock wanted to rush him and thought he could just beat him to death. This time around, he took his time. He wrestled with Mir and put him in a position where he couldn't really do anything in the first round. He tactfully used his weight to keep Mir on the ground and on the bottom.
I've read blog comments about Brock’s weight advantage that compare his weight to George St-Pierre's speed, claiming that Brock’s 265+ lb weight is an unfair advantage, similar to GSP’s quickness. I don't agree with that, but Brock by no means should be discredited for any wins just because he significantly outweighs his opponents. Quickness and weight are not really comparable in this situation.
Honestly, I can go on and on about why you shouldn’t hate Brock Lesnar. I can understand not liking him, but some of the reasons I have read seem like poor excuses for just not wanting to admit that he is very dangerous and can be really good.
This was not written to persuade people to like Brock. If you don't like him, you don't like him. I just ask, if you don't like him, at least respect him for what he does in the Octagon and don't make up bad excuses for why other people shouldn't like him.
If you want to see Lesnar vs Mir 2, it is currently on youtube:
I doubt the video will be up long, so enjoy while it last.
have been. Continuing on, after months of hype and trash talking (mostly by Frank Mir), Brock finally got his rematch from their first bout. This fight was sure to settle the score. In the first fight, Brock had complete control until Mir caught him in a kneebar, causing him to submit. I believed going into Saturday's match that, if Mir won, then he is just better than Lesnar. But if Lesnar won, he would be better than Mir, proving the first fight was a fluke. Either way, unless the fight went the distance there would be no need for a rematch. If you did not see the fight, I will sum it up for you in one word: abuse. The fight was never close in the one and a half rounds it lasted. Brock came in with a game plan that Frank Mir had no answer for.Moving on to the post-fight controversy...As Brock celebrated his win over the hometown favorite, he was showered with boos. Alright, that was expected. After all, like I just stated, Frank Mir was fighting in his hometown of Las Vegas. The first questionable thing Lesnar did was stick his middle finger up at the crowd for booing him. I dont agree with Brock's reaction, but hearing an outburst of crowd-wide boos after an emotional and dominant victory would probably cause most people to respond in a disrespectful manner. Brock quickly used his mic time to show off some of his WWE skills. Yes, all of you that hate anything that has to with WWE having any kind of connection to UFC, sorry. Brock had four years of WWE experience working the crowd, whether it was for good or evil. His post-match interview was no different. After being asked what he his plans for after the fight were, he responded by calling Budweiser out, saying he was going home to drink a Coors because Budweiser won’t give him any money. Was this the smart thing to say? Of course not. Why did he say it? Who knows, he was fired up and being emotional. That’s still no excuse for what he said, but I'm sure in his talk with UFC President Dana White later that night, White made it clear that sponsor-bashing will not be tolerated.
In Brocks closing comments he also said he may even, "get on top of his wife" later. Did he need to say that? No. Were there kids watching? Yes. Was that disrespectful to his wife, Sable? Maybe, but probably not. It was pay-per-view, its not like he said, "I may f*ck my wife like crazy later." And disrespecting Sable, haha, this is the same woman that posed naked for Playboy and appeared a little less-than-ladylike on many occasions during her time in the WWE. I'm sure she didn't mind the attention.
Going back to Brock using his WWE mic skills--whether you liked what he said or not, and it appears most didn't, he has officially made himself the bad guy in the heavyweight division with a bulls eye on his head. This is perfect for him and for UFC as well. Fans may not love him for his personality, but all his fights have endless marketing potential and will generate huge publicity as UFC tries to find the man who can shut Brocks mouth. Since the fight, Brock has issued an apology for his actions. Was it a sincere apology? Who knows, but I'm sure Dana White had a lot to do with it.
Moving further along, since the fight, I have been reading a lot of message boards where people have been discussing Brock Lesnar's disrespect for the sport, his opponents and the fans. They also challenge how good he actually is, saying he is only good because of his weight. In general, people are upset about how he didn't win the fight with class.
Well, I can't refute everything said about Brock on the message boards, but I will only say a few things. Summing up what I said in the previous paragraph, fans will either love or really hate Lesnar at this point. Either way, more will watch his fights, whether they want him to win or get his face kicked in. Brock’s comments may not have represented the “product” UFC is trying to produce, but it sells. Brock’s attitude after the fight seemed more like the old UFC, where almost anything was allowed and most people did not respect the sport at all.
I admit, UFC has come along way and probably isn’t trying to look back on what they used to be—but what Brock did won't hurt the company. Brock did not follow the typical blueprint of winning with class and being over-appreciative of the fans, but I seriously doubt any of those fans in attendance will stop watching Brock Lesnar fights because of his actions on Saturday.
Now, I'm going to address what bothers me the most about the Brock Lesnar critics. I keep reading that he only wins because of his weight. Example: "he outweighs everyone by so much, he s
hould win." Yes, Lesnar is heavier than most of the fighters in the heavyweight division, but why is that his problem? He is not violating any rules and he should not be looked down upon because he is huge, very strong and super athletic for his size. To me, that sounds like a person who needs good coaching before they are a dominant fighter in the UFC.I won't say Brock is the best heavyweight fighter in UFC, especially because he has only had five fights. I'm not saying he will be a future hall-of-famer, but what I am saying is that he has been dominant in his fights, except for the kneebar by Mir.
After watching Saturday’s fight it is obvious that he is becoming a much better-skilled MMA fighter. You can argue that weight is not a skill…Alright, no problem. But if you have the weight, why not use it to your advantage?
In the first fight with Mir, Brock wanted to rush him and thought he could just beat him to death. This time around, he took his time. He wrestled with Mir and put him in a position where he couldn't really do anything in the first round. He tactfully used his weight to keep Mir on the ground and on the bottom.
I've read blog comments about Brock’s weight advantage that compare his weight to George St-Pierre's speed, claiming that Brock’s 265+ lb weight is an unfair advantage, similar to GSP’s quickness. I don't agree with that, but Brock by no means should be discredited for any wins just because he significantly outweighs his opponents. Quickness and weight are not really comparable in this situation.
Honestly, I can go on and on about why you shouldn’t hate Brock Lesnar. I can understand not liking him, but some of the reasons I have read seem like poor excuses for just not wanting to admit that he is very dangerous and can be really good.
This was not written to persuade people to like Brock. If you don't like him, you don't like him. I just ask, if you don't like him, at least respect him for what he does in the Octagon and don't make up bad excuses for why other people shouldn't like him.
If you want to see Lesnar vs Mir 2, it is currently on youtube:
I doubt the video will be up long, so enjoy while it last.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Lebron Posterized at Camp
As usual I stop in for ten seconds and drop something huge...pause.
Ladies and Gents we found it first...footage of Lebron James getting dunked on by a college kid at his own summer camp. Enjoy...
Click Here - ouch
Ladies and Gents we found it first...footage of Lebron James getting dunked on by a college kid at his own summer camp. Enjoy...
Click Here - ouch
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Arturo Gatti
On July 11, 2009 Arturo Gatti was found dead at the age of 37 in a Brazilian hotel. As of right now,Gatti's wife is the prime suspect for the murder. Gatti will go down as a hard-nosed, gut-it-out kind
of fighter. He gave us very memorable fights, especially during his feud with Mickey Ward. Boxing
has lost one its most exciting fighters, R.I.P. April 15, 1972-July 11, 2009.
Gamers Stay Tuned....
For all of you that play video games, look for these sports titles coming soon:
NCAA Football 2010: July 14, 2009
Madden NFL 2010: August 14, 2009
NBA 2
K10: October 2009
WWE Smackdown 2010: November 2009
NHL 2010: September 15, 2009
NCAA Football 2010: July 14, 2009
Madden NFL 2010: August 14, 2009
NBA 2
K10: October 2009WWE Smackdown 2010: November 2009
NHL 2010: September 15, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
100 and Counting...
Remember the glory days of boxing? Muhammad Ali vs. George Foremen, Ali vs Joe Frazier? How about Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns? Or any Mike Tyson fight. Well I'm sad to say, but those days are over. Boxing just isn’t what it used to be. The entertainment is gone, there are very few fighters worth watching and the heavyweight division that once generated so much excitement is abysmal. Boxing's fall could be the reason why there is a new king of the ring. Better yet, octagon. Obviously, boxing is no longer satisfying our need for a vicious sport where two people are placed in a small area and try to dismantle one another by using tactics taught by coaches and training camps ... this is where the refreshingly-popular UFC comes in.
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization (MMA) founded in 1993. In the early years, UFC was about as bloody, brutal and violent as they come, which is exactly what it was marketed and promoted as. It didn’t take long before UFC was forced onto pay-per-view and DVD’s only. This really hindered the company’s success and truly handicapped its ability to reach a wide fan base. Quickly the owners made changes and UFC began to be promoted as mixed martial arts, a legitimate sporting event.
UFC used to be a league of fighters who were pretty much only concerned with determining who the biggest bad a** was. Over time, more and more rules were incorporated (weight divisions, gloves mandatory, no hair pulling, no head butting, no groin strikes, no strikes to the back of the head, somewhat of a dress code, etc), creating more of a sport than just a spectacle.
Now, UFC's popularity is increasing every year. It can be watched on Spike TV almost everyday, at almost any time of the day. Despite the state of our economy, where sponsorships don't come easy, UFC has been linked with Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light, Harley Davidson and BSN. Besides sponsorship deals, UFC has many merchandise deals with top corporations including trading card production company, Topps, and action figure company, Jakks Pacific. (Jakks Pacific makes all of the WWE action figures you see in the store).
Outside of the newly-found corporate success of UFC, the franchise has become internationally prominent as well. UFC has taken advantage of MMA's status as the fastest-growing sport in the world to increase its own international popularity. UFC is currently shown in over 120 countries and territories around the world, and in 17 different languages as well. The roster consists of fighters from all over, using styles and techniques ranging from traditional boxing to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is a remarkable sport and we in the U.S. are lucky to have UFC stationed in our country. Because of the worldwide demand, UFC has surpassed WWE and boxing in yearly pay-per-view revenue. Boxing can still blow UFC away with a single match, but because boxing only has one or two big fights a year, UFC is able to capitalize on its monthly pay-per-view revenue.
Specifically, tomorrow night's show will celebrate the company's 100th pay-per-view in Las Vegas, with a card that is loaded with excitement. The card will have 11 bouts headlining three can't-miss fights. One of the fights will settle the bitter rivalry between the coaches of the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping. Henderson has a 24-7 record, with 10 knockouts. He is a great wrestler, has knockout power in both hands and has never been knocked out. Michael Bisping has a much prettier record of 18-1, with 11 knockouts, losing only to Rashard Evans. Bisping is a kick boxer that loves to stand. He has no problem going the distance because two of the key strengths he possesses are heart and fitness. This fight will most likely end by KO or submission.
Another fight on the card is Georges St-Pierre vs. Thiago Alves for the welterweight championship
. On most nights, this fight would be the main event, as Georges St-Pierre is one of the top five fighters in UFC. He has a record of 18-2, and has fought the best in the welterweight division. Pierre is in top condition and has no real weaknesses. He has an impressive all-around game, which is why he has been able to defeat big names such as BJ Penn, Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. Alves will definitely have his work cut out for him.
On another note, Thiago Alves’ ring name is "pitbull," which is exactly what he emulates in his fights. Alves is a Brazilian knockout artist who simply wants to punch his opponent’s face in. He has the body of an action figure, (pause) making him physically intimidating as well. Although he has an impressive record of 22-4, he has nowhere near the amount of big fight experience that St-Pierre does. At age 25, Tiago is very young and will be a dominate welterweight for years to come.
The
main event of the night will be the much anticipated rematch between heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. These two met at UFC 81 where it didn't take long for Brock Lesnar to pummel Mir with brute force alone. While Lesnar was repeatedly hitting Mir with punches and forearms, setting up what everyone thought would be a stoppage of the fight, Mir kept his cool and waited for the perfect moment to turn the tides. Mir went for an armbar and as Lesnar escaped, Mir setup a kneebar that forced the 265 lb Lesnar to tap out. A fight that was full of action but only lasted 1:30 seconds was worthy of a rematch.
In an attempt to unify the heavyweight championships, Lesnar, the former collegiate wrestling champion, comes into tomorrows fight with a record of 3-1, giving him a legitimate chance at redemption.
Most people know Lesnar from his dominant WWE days. Certainly, WWE is not 100% real, and its wrestlers have endured much criticism over not being legit wrestlers or real athletes. There is nothing staged about UFC, so of course Lesnar had to earn the respect from the MMA fighters, which didn’t take long…trust me. Now the only thing that stands between Lesnar and the top of the heavyweight division is Frank Mir.
Standing at 6'3 240 lbs, Mir looks like he could be a knockout king. While he is a decent striker, his real strength is his submissions. Mir has a 12-3 record with just two knockouts and seven submissions. There is no secret to his game—he wants to submit you. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and typically defeats his opponents because of his patience and timing.
So, whether Lesnar rearranges Mir's face or Mir submits Lesnar again this fight will be worth all the hype and will probably not make it past the second round.
UFC has come a long way—from being banned from cable television and many states to hosting the fastest growing sport in the world. If you're not on the bandwagon yet, watch UFC 100 and there is no doubt in my mind you will be afterwards.
Look for future articles and predictions about UFC.
UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts organization (MMA) founded in 1993. In the early years, UFC was about as bloody, brutal and violent as they come, which is exactly what it was marketed and promoted as. It didn’t take long before UFC was forced onto pay-per-view and DVD’s only. This really hindered the company’s success and truly handicapped its ability to reach a wide fan base. Quickly the owners made changes and UFC began to be promoted as mixed martial arts, a legitimate sporting event.
UFC used to be a league of fighters who were pretty much only concerned with determining who the biggest bad a** was. Over time, more and more rules were incorporated (weight divisions, gloves mandatory, no hair pulling, no head butting, no groin strikes, no strikes to the back of the head, somewhat of a dress code, etc), creating more of a sport than just a spectacle.
Now, UFC's popularity is increasing every year. It can be watched on Spike TV almost everyday, at almost any time of the day. Despite the state of our economy, where sponsorships don't come easy, UFC has been linked with Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light, Harley Davidson and BSN. Besides sponsorship deals, UFC has many merchandise deals with top corporations including trading card production company, Topps, and action figure company, Jakks Pacific. (Jakks Pacific makes all of the WWE action figures you see in the store).
Outside of the newly-found corporate success of UFC, the franchise has become internationally prominent as well. UFC has taken advantage of MMA's status as the fastest-growing sport in the world to increase its own international popularity. UFC is currently shown in over 120 countries and territories around the world, and in 17 different languages as well. The roster consists of fighters from all over, using styles and techniques ranging from traditional boxing to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is a remarkable sport and we in the U.S. are lucky to have UFC stationed in our country. Because of the worldwide demand, UFC has surpassed WWE and boxing in yearly pay-per-view revenue. Boxing can still blow UFC away with a single match, but because boxing only has one or two big fights a year, UFC is able to capitalize on its monthly pay-per-view revenue.
Specifically, tomorrow night's show will celebrate the company's 100th pay-per-view in Las Vegas, with a card that is loaded with excitement. The card will have 11 bouts headlining three can't-miss fights. One of the fights will settle the bitter rivalry between the coaches of the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping. Henderson has a 24-7 record, with 10 knockouts. He is a great wrestler, has knockout power in both hands and has never been knocked out. Michael Bisping has a much prettier record of 18-1, with 11 knockouts, losing only to Rashard Evans. Bisping is a kick boxer that loves to stand. He has no problem going the distance because two of the key strengths he possesses are heart and fitness. This fight will most likely end by KO or submission.
Another fight on the card is Georges St-Pierre vs. Thiago Alves for the welterweight championship
. On most nights, this fight would be the main event, as Georges St-Pierre is one of the top five fighters in UFC. He has a record of 18-2, and has fought the best in the welterweight division. Pierre is in top condition and has no real weaknesses. He has an impressive all-around game, which is why he has been able to defeat big names such as BJ Penn, Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. Alves will definitely have his work cut out for him.On another note, Thiago Alves’ ring name is "pitbull," which is exactly what he emulates in his fights. Alves is a Brazilian knockout artist who simply wants to punch his opponent’s face in. He has the body of an action figure, (pause) making him physically intimidating as well. Although he has an impressive record of 22-4, he has nowhere near the amount of big fight experience that St-Pierre does. At age 25, Tiago is very young and will be a dominate welterweight for years to come.
The
main event of the night will be the much anticipated rematch between heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. These two met at UFC 81 where it didn't take long for Brock Lesnar to pummel Mir with brute force alone. While Lesnar was repeatedly hitting Mir with punches and forearms, setting up what everyone thought would be a stoppage of the fight, Mir kept his cool and waited for the perfect moment to turn the tides. Mir went for an armbar and as Lesnar escaped, Mir setup a kneebar that forced the 265 lb Lesnar to tap out. A fight that was full of action but only lasted 1:30 seconds was worthy of a rematch.In an attempt to unify the heavyweight championships, Lesnar, the former collegiate wrestling champion, comes into tomorrows fight with a record of 3-1, giving him a legitimate chance at redemption.
Most people know Lesnar from his dominant WWE days. Certainly, WWE is not 100% real, and its wrestlers have endured much criticism over not being legit wrestlers or real athletes. There is nothing staged about UFC, so of course Lesnar had to earn the respect from the MMA fighters, which didn’t take long…trust me. Now the only thing that stands between Lesnar and the top of the heavyweight division is Frank Mir.
Standing at 6'3 240 lbs, Mir looks like he could be a knockout king. While he is a decent striker, his real strength is his submissions. Mir has a 12-3 record with just two knockouts and seven submissions. There is no secret to his game—he wants to submit you. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and typically defeats his opponents because of his patience and timing.
So, whether Lesnar rearranges Mir's face or Mir submits Lesnar again this fight will be worth all the hype and will probably not make it past the second round.
UFC has come a long way—from being banned from cable television and many states to hosting the fastest growing sport in the world. If you're not on the bandwagon yet, watch UFC 100 and there is no doubt in my mind you will be afterwards.
Look for future articles and predictions about UFC.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Air McNair
Sadly, we lost another celebrity on Saturday morning. 36 year-old Steve McNair was murdered along with his friend, Saleh Kazemi, in downtown Nashville, TN.Most people know McNair as Steve "Air" McNair. He wowed us for 13 years in the NFL with his toughness, durability and leadership. It has been said that McNair was a great friend to many, and a role model to many more. He carried himself the right way, gave back to the community, was a loving father of four, as well as a devoted husband (I will get to this in a minute).
When the news hit that McNair suffered four fatal gunshots, two to the head and two to the chest, hearts were broken all over the country. Long time friend Eddie George came to tears in an interview when discussing how he felt about the news.
It is certain that tons of people are affected in some way by this tragic incident, but the case still has many questions. Who murdered McNair? Did Saleh Kazemi kill McNair, and then commit suicide? Why was McNair dating Kazemi if he is married? Why was McNair so open in public about being with this girl? These are all questions that have yet to be answered. It is sad that we had to find out some of these negative things about McNair through his death, but regardless of what McNair may have been doing in his personal life, he touched many lives and was a memorable football player. His career and life deserve to be celebrated. R.I.P. Steve LaTreal McNair (February 14, 1973 - July 4, 2009).
Federer's 15th
There is a new best-ever, or as Lil Wayne would say, a new best to do it. It is tennis player Roger Federer. Roger is already the most dominant tennis player of our time, but after Sunday's match against Andy Roddick, Federer solidified himself as the best tennis player ever. Questions are now being raised of his standing as the best professional athlete of all time.Sunday afternoon, in front of a sold out Wimbledon crowd, Roddick put Federer's will to the test. The match lasted a mere four hours and 18 minutes, amounting to 77 total games (Wimbledon record). Roddick, who was written off before the match started, gave Federer everything he had--not having his serve broken until the final game.
In the end, the final came down to who just had a little bit more drive and could take advantage of the other's minor mistakes. At 27 years old, Roger Federer won his 15th Grand Slam, surpassing Pete Sampras for the record. For me, the scariest thing about Federer is his age. You have to wonder, how many more Grand Slams can he win?...4?...5?...6? Whatever the number is, his name will be in the record books for a while.
I found it interesting that just minutes after Federer took the Wimbledon, a commercial aired with many top athletes from their respective sports congratulating Federer. Two names that stood out the most were Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. It is arguable that the two are the greatest to play their sport, and also that each is the best to play any sport. So, in the same category of all-time greats like Jordan and Woods, can we consider Federer to be the one of the best professional athletes of all time? Or the best of all time? Regardless of whether or not he may surpass his fellow greats from the commercial, he deserves to be a part of the list. He's a contender.
2009 MLB All-Star Roster Reflection
Here we are, about 80 games into the 2009 MLB season and the all-star teams have been announced. There are a few things to note: Albert Pujols earned the most votes, collecting 5,397,374 votes to make him second all-time behind Ken Griffey Jr.'s six million (1994). Pujols is leading the MLB with 31 homeruns and 82 RBIs. The guy is an absolute animal. Not to mention, as of right now, he has no relation to steroids (crossing my fingers). Pujols is having a monster season and will get to enjoy playing the all-star game infront of his home crowd, in St. Louis.
Aside from Pujols, there are a few other shoe-ins for the all-star game. A few familiar faces such as Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, Chase Utley, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana will all be participating. While these guys are all assumed to be all-stars for obvious reasons, there are two all-star talents that didn't make this year's cut. Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, both 12-time all-stars, will not be part of the 80th annual game. Ramirez missed 50 games because of his suspension for violating the league's drug policy (Manny, how could you?) and A-Rod missed time following his hip surgery. Next Tuesday's game will be interesting without the two, but should still be entertaining nonetheless.
Aside from Pujols, there are a few other shoe-ins for the all-star game. A few familiar faces such as Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki, Chase Utley, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana will all be participating. While these guys are all assumed to be all-stars for obvious reasons, there are two all-star talents that didn't make this year's cut. Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, both 12-time all-stars, will not be part of the 80th annual game. Ramirez missed 50 games because of his suspension for violating the league's drug policy (Manny, how could you?) and A-Rod missed time following his hip surgery. Next Tuesday's game will be interesting without the two, but should still be entertaining nonetheless.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Brandon Jennings - No Hype - Sanders
Yes, yes, I'm still alive. I'll be back shortly with more on this topic and a preview of what to expect this season in the NBA including conference standings, awards (MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive POY etc.), expected playoff teams etc.
But first, I wanted to give everyone who hasn't seen this transcript an abbreviated look at another reason why Brandon Jennings is my favorite guy in this draft. Here, he takes a minute to talk candidly with rapper Joe Budden about his draft day snubs, stupid Knicks management, and a splendid array of other arrogant remarks. Greatness ladies and gents.
I am back by popular demand and here is my gift to you. You will have to scroll to about 1/3 down the page. You are all welcome:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/26042/social_media_biting_back_at_brandon_jennings
But first, I wanted to give everyone who hasn't seen this transcript an abbreviated look at another reason why Brandon Jennings is my favorite guy in this draft. Here, he takes a minute to talk candidly with rapper Joe Budden about his draft day snubs, stupid Knicks management, and a splendid array of other arrogant remarks. Greatness ladies and gents.
I am back by popular demand and here is my gift to you. You will have to scroll to about 1/3 down the page. You are all welcome:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/26042/social_media_biting_back_at_brandon_jennings
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Point Guard Of The Future
Well, 2007 gave us Derrick Rose, 2008 gave us Brandon Jennings and 2009 will give us…attention ladies and gentlemen who think this website is all about hyping things… the next highly talented point guard out of high school, John Wall. Wall is super quick and often compared to Derrick Rose. He is 6'4 and possibly still growing. He is an athletic freak of nature, as he sometimes surprises people with his dunks, much like Brandon Jennings. He is a very talented passer and can handle the ball so well—people say he has a yo-yo. Last but not least, you knew I would say something else about what “he is,” so, he is a decent defender, usually using his length and quickness to recover and block shots.
Wall possesses all the tools a team would want in their future point guard. His only weakness is his inconsistent jump shot. Overtime that can be fixed, ask Derrick Rose. Many people have heard of Wall and much of the hype that follows him, but once he steps on that Kentucky floor, he will no longer be hype.
In the Calipari offense, surrounded with loads of talent, Wall will stand out and I won't be surprised if people begin to refer to him as “Derrick Rose 2.0.” If Wall does what is expected, he should lead Kentucky to a National Championship, at worst a Final Four appearance. Needless to say, Kentucky is the team to watch this season. If you have no idea who John Wall is, please watch the video below.
Show Me The Money
The NBA free agency period has officially started as of 12:00 a.m., July 1st. This usually means that, within a few days, several stars and even more role players will be changing teams in search of the big contract or a championship contender. However, this season will be a little different from years past. For one, as we all know, the economy is in a bad state, causing GMs to tighten their pockets. Second, while the 2009 free agents seem appealing to a certain degree, the 2010 group is a lot more attractive (pause). This year’s group has names like Hedo Turkoglu, Ron Artest, Ben Gordon, Andre Miller, Charlie Villanueva, Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd to name a few. This group also had Kobe Bryant and Carlos Boozer, but both chose to extend their contracts and stay with their respective teams.
I just named a solid group of players that can be the next step to a team that is one or two players away from winning a championship, but in no way are these players comparable to next year’s group.
For starters, Lebron "King" James will on the market if he chooses to opt-out of his contract, which is expected. Lebron is the stand out but of next year’s free agents, but there is plenty of talent that follows—Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobli, Shaq, Rip Hamilton, Tracy McGrady are all free agents next summer.
Also, next year has a much more interesting list of players who can opt-out of their contracts and become free agents like Lebron. The big names are Amare Stoudamire, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Michael Redd, Tyson Chandler and Yao Ming. That list has franchise players, not just Robins for some team’s Batman.
NBA GM's have seen this coming for about two years now and most have been playing it safe with expectations of the 2010-2011 season. Everyone is freeing up cap space and looking for expiring contracts, so when the time comes, they will financially be able to put key pieces together and create championship contenders.
Besides winning, with the economy in the slumps, this is the chance for many cities to bring fans to their arenas. In other words, landing the big names = landing the big crowds.
While this is all great news for the 2010 group, we need to acknowledge that the 2009 group has been cut a little short. With GM's not willing to spend the money they once were, players like Carlos Boozer can't command the money they think they’re worth. Do you think Gilbert Arenas would get a six year $111M deal this summer? Not a chance. There are three teams with plenty of cap space—the Thunder, Pistons, and Grizzlies. Out of the three, the Pistons are the team likely to make major moves through the free agency. I assume the other two will focus on young talent they already have.
So to the free agent class of 2009, good luck getting your big deal. If you’re frustrated because you’re beginning to realize that the money isn’t out there like you had hoped, you can thank the Bush Administration.
I just named a solid group of players that can be the next step to a team that is one or two players away from winning a championship, but in no way are these players comparable to next year’s group.
For starters, Lebron "King" James will on the market if he chooses to opt-out of his contract, which is expected. Lebron is the stand out but of next year’s free agents, but there is plenty of talent that follows—Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Manu Ginobli, Shaq, Rip Hamilton, Tracy McGrady are all free agents next summer.
Also, next year has a much more interesting list of players who can opt-out of their contracts and become free agents like Lebron. The big names are Amare Stoudamire, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Michael Redd, Tyson Chandler and Yao Ming. That list has franchise players, not just Robins for some team’s Batman.
NBA GM's have seen this coming for about two years now and most have been playing it safe with expectations of the 2010-2011 season. Everyone is freeing up cap space and looking for expiring contracts, so when the time comes, they will financially be able to put key pieces together and create championship contenders.
Besides winning, with the economy in the slumps, this is the chance for many cities to bring fans to their arenas. In other words, landing the big names = landing the big crowds.
While this is all great news for the 2010 group, we need to acknowledge that the 2009 group has been cut a little short. With GM's not willing to spend the money they once were, players like Carlos Boozer can't command the money they think they’re worth. Do you think Gilbert Arenas would get a six year $111M deal this summer? Not a chance. There are three teams with plenty of cap space—the Thunder, Pistons, and Grizzlies. Out of the three, the Pistons are the team likely to make major moves through the free agency. I assume the other two will focus on young talent they already have.
So to the free agent class of 2009, good luck getting your big deal. If you’re frustrated because you’re beginning to realize that the money isn’t out there like you had hoped, you can thank the Bush Administration.
Summertime Blues
I’m sure very few of you know, but June 6, 2009 was a day of significance. It was the kickoff to the 2009 WNBA season. The real question is, does anybody care? In a league where the most a player can be paid for the 2009 season, outside of incentives, is $97,000. This is also the same league that has just 14 teams, (not even half as many as the NBA) and the regular season consists of 34 games played over the course of the summer.
I don’t mean to be repetitive, but this is the same league where its best player, Candice Parker, is taking a leave of absence because she gave birth to a baby girl in May. (By the way, I’m sure most of you are wondering, just as I am, how Sheldon Williams is the father of that child). By no means did she do anything wrong, its just frustrating when, in a league with few players worth watching, the best is taking a leave of absence.
Even with my love for basketball, I find it very hard to follow the WNBA. When it comes down to it, I just don’t care. In the summer I’d rather watch a NBA Summer League game…and as far as women’s basketball goes, I prefer college.
I will say however, the WNBA finals have been increasingly entertaining for the past few years. But still, this is a league, and one entertaining series just isn’t good enough for me. Since the pay is so low in the U.S., most of the players play overseas for the majority of the year. I once read in an article that the WNBA is more of a summer league for these players. If this is truly the case, I’d rather see the WNBA turned into a best-of-seven tournament, with possibly a loser’s bracket. At least in this case, every game would be meaningful and could possibly generate more entertaining basketball.
I’m a fan of women’s basketball but the WNBA is in need of a change.
I don’t mean to be repetitive, but this is the same league where its best player, Candice Parker, is taking a leave of absence because she gave birth to a baby girl in May. (By the way, I’m sure most of you are wondering, just as I am, how Sheldon Williams is the father of that child). By no means did she do anything wrong, its just frustrating when, in a league with few players worth watching, the best is taking a leave of absence.
Even with my love for basketball, I find it very hard to follow the WNBA. When it comes down to it, I just don’t care. In the summer I’d rather watch a NBA Summer League game…and as far as women’s basketball goes, I prefer college.
I will say however, the WNBA finals have been increasingly entertaining for the past few years. But still, this is a league, and one entertaining series just isn’t good enough for me. Since the pay is so low in the U.S., most of the players play overseas for the majority of the year. I once read in an article that the WNBA is more of a summer league for these players. If this is truly the case, I’d rather see the WNBA turned into a best-of-seven tournament, with possibly a loser’s bracket. At least in this case, every game would be meaningful and could possibly generate more entertaining basketball.
I’m a fan of women’s basketball but the WNBA is in need of a change.
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