All-Star games are supposed to be showcases for the fans. In all sports, fans have the opportunity to vote for their favorite players to see them play on a stage of superstars. Dream team-like rosters dueling it out to see whose stars are superior. Whether it be the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NHL, or the NFL, All-Star games are meant to showcase the best talent each sport has to offer.
So, why does it feel as though every year, in every sport, All-Star games have become more of a "who wants to play" than a "who we want to see" atmosphere?
Of the four major sports, Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is the one that has the most significance, given the recent change to the format making the All-Star Game the determining factor for home-field advantage in the World Series. The NFL's showcase of stars, the Pro Bowl, occurs after the season and the Super Bowl have been completed. The NBA's All-Star Weekend arrives every February, just past the mid-point in the season, as does the NHL's All-Star Game.
With tickets to the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night going for between $67 and $5,500, the event is pricy for the average Joe. It is an event, no doubt about it, but one where people would more than likely be interested in watching stars like Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jose Reyes, Ryan Braun, and Justin Verlander and not as interested in watching guys like Jhonny Perolta, Pablo Sandoval, Miguel Montero, Ricky Romero, and Craig Kimbrel. Unfortunately, injuries sometimes determine who it is we all get to see, and more often than not, that's the case. In the event of some pitchers, however, their normal starts on Sunday prevent them from taking part in the showcase.
This year, it seems as though more of the superstars of the game are absent from the event. Pitchers like Justin Verlander, C.C. Sabathia, Cole Hamels, and Felix Hernandez will all be out of the game itself, having pitched on Sunday. That's a combined 44-19 record that won't be throwing during the game. Yankee stars Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera will be out of the game, nursing injuries (Rodriguez opting to have surgery on his knee on Monday). Perennial all-stars Joe Mauer, Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Ryan Howard, and Jimmy Rollins will not be present, thanks to sub-par years on their parts (although Pujols has come on late in the first half, despite a wrist injury). So, is it really an "All-Star" game if the game's best players won't actually be playing?
Sure, it's disappointing for fans who tune in to the game to watch their team's stars or to see players they don't normally see, when those players aren't playing for a variety of reasons, but that's not the true point of the game. The All-Star Game, regardless of sport, is to showcase the best talent in the league that season. To reward those players who are deserving of that spotlight, regardless of popularity. The fact that the fans get to vote in the starters is one thing, but the overall game itself is where players performing at their best get to become household names. Let's be honest and say that, aside from his 3,000th hit coming just three days prior to the game, Derek Jeter has not done much at all this season to warrant a starting spot in the All-Star Game, and that's coming from somebody that would consider himself a Derek Jeter fan. Asdrubal Cabrera of the Cleveland Indians has been the best shortstop in the American League throughout the first half, and is truly deserving of the start.
What becomes irritating is when players decline to partake in the All-Star Game to "avoid" injury. You tend to see this more in the NFL and NBA than you do in Major League Baseball, but it occurs anywhere. With the NFL, the Pro Bowl takes place after the season. When you're on a team that has just played two, even three games in the playoffs, you tend to see players decide to just end their season after that final loss, as opposed to suiting up just one more time for the fans. That's where it becomes unfair to the fans. For the NBA, it's even worse. When each conference has 15-16 players on their roster, in a league with only about 15-20 superstar names like Kobe, KG, and LeBron, it can be devastating for one of these superstars to back out of the game to avoid injury or to just "rest up" for the second-half of the season.
We as fans deserve to see the best players on this special stage. If there are injuries, it's understandable that you not participate. If you're electing to stay away to remain healthy and not risk hurting yourself, stop being selfish.
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Monday, July 11, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Derek Jeter: The Newest Member To The 3,000 Hit Club
There are some players in sports you just want to dislike. It's easy to dislike guys like LeBron James. It's not tough to root against guys like Alex Rodriguez. Heck, some could make the argument that Michael Jordan, possibly the greatest basketball player of all time, was the most hated man in the NBA. In many cases, we dislike the successful players who play on the best teams. It's safe to say that the New York Yankees and their players could be the team in sports more hated and disliked than any other.
Try and try as you might, there is one Yankee player that is difficult to dislike. That player is Derek Jeter.
Throughout his 17-year career, Derek Jeter has been nothing but the consummate professional. He's not a trash-talker. He's not a hot dog. He is the definition of a "team leader". Within baseball, he is one of the most respected players in the game. "The Captain" is as appropriate a nickname as any in the game. On Saturday, Jeter became the 28th player in Major League history to reach the 3,000 hit milestone, going 5-5 in the game, and reaching the magical number with a solo home run in the third-inning.
Over the last 20 years, with players embracing the free agent idea more and more, it's rare to see someone of Jeter's caliber remain with the team that drafted him, but, he has. He is easily one of the greatest Yankees to ever play the game, and when you're mentioned with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Babe Rute, Joe Dimaggio, and Lou Gehrig, that is truly saying something. Of those Yankee greats, Jeter became the first of them all to reach that amazing feat. Truly a special moment in that team's rich history.
Being a Minnesota Twins fan, the Yankees have been our playoff nemesis over the last few years. We have nothing compared to the great rivalry between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Regardless, both Twins and Red Sox fans, as well as all baseball fans alike, have to respect what Derek Jeter has done over his career. In this day and age, it's difficult to find players like him. We've seen some fantastic shortstops come and go over the last 20 years, but Jeter stands head and shoulders above them all. His yearly numbers may not be as great as some others (Alex Rodriguez when he was with the Rangers, Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins, Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies to name a few) but there hasn't been a better leader and a more consistent guy in baseball over that time. If you're building a team from scratch, Jeter is the type of player you would want to build around.
Congratulations to Derek Jeter. Easily one of the greatest Yankees of all-time, and a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer!
Try and try as you might, there is one Yankee player that is difficult to dislike. That player is Derek Jeter.
Throughout his 17-year career, Derek Jeter has been nothing but the consummate professional. He's not a trash-talker. He's not a hot dog. He is the definition of a "team leader". Within baseball, he is one of the most respected players in the game. "The Captain" is as appropriate a nickname as any in the game. On Saturday, Jeter became the 28th player in Major League history to reach the 3,000 hit milestone, going 5-5 in the game, and reaching the magical number with a solo home run in the third-inning.
Over the last 20 years, with players embracing the free agent idea more and more, it's rare to see someone of Jeter's caliber remain with the team that drafted him, but, he has. He is easily one of the greatest Yankees to ever play the game, and when you're mentioned with the likes of Mickey Mantle, Babe Rute, Joe Dimaggio, and Lou Gehrig, that is truly saying something. Of those Yankee greats, Jeter became the first of them all to reach that amazing feat. Truly a special moment in that team's rich history.
Being a Minnesota Twins fan, the Yankees have been our playoff nemesis over the last few years. We have nothing compared to the great rivalry between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Regardless, both Twins and Red Sox fans, as well as all baseball fans alike, have to respect what Derek Jeter has done over his career. In this day and age, it's difficult to find players like him. We've seen some fantastic shortstops come and go over the last 20 years, but Jeter stands head and shoulders above them all. His yearly numbers may not be as great as some others (Alex Rodriguez when he was with the Rangers, Hanley Ramirez of the Marlins, Jimmy Rollins of the Phillies to name a few) but there hasn't been a better leader and a more consistent guy in baseball over that time. If you're building a team from scratch, Jeter is the type of player you would want to build around.
Congratulations to Derek Jeter. Easily one of the greatest Yankees of all-time, and a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Rubio Is A Band-Aid On A Broken Leg
When you break your leg, you can't just put a Band-Aid on it and make it better. You actually need to have it surgically repaired and fixed. What the Timberwolves are attempting to do by hyping up their 2009 first-round draft pick, Ricky Rubio, is to use him as a Band-Aid for the bigger issue: that the team is terrible and the front office is choosing not to make it better. Rubio isn't going to help you there.
Since the departure of Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves have been a complete laughing stock in the NBA. They haven't come close to being a competitive team in the Western Conference, and the main reason why is the lack of effort the front office is putting toward making this team better. They have continued to make a mockery of the NBA Draft, of which they have seemingly been a permanent fixture in the Draft Lottery for the last eight seasons. Over the last six years, aside from the lone standout move made to acquire Kevin Love in a draft-day trade for O.J. Mayo, they have passed on numerous outstanding NBA players (Rajon Rondo, Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis) in favor of lesser talents (Jonny Flynn, Randy Foye, Rashad McCants). Yea...I'm sure taking drafting Brandon Roy and then trading him for Randy Foye was a great idea at the time. Rudy Gay and Rondo thank you from the bottom of their hearts that you didn't bring them to this cemetery of a basketball town.
The Timberwolves have been banking money, saving on the free agents they've been signing over the last couple of seasons, opting to go with third and fourth tier players. They have shown no initiative in utilizing that saved coin to better the franchise. To top that, they recently asked the city of Minneapolis to help with a $155 million renovation to Target Center, the fourth oldest arena in the NBA. Really? This is a give and take kinda thing guys...and the crap you're "giving" us on the court doesn't mean you can "take" us for idiots! If you're going to screw us over, at least take us out to dinner first. That's at least common courtesy.
The Wolves currently sit $11 million under the $53 million salary cap for the 2011-2012 season. This all may change with the NBA's collective bargaining agreement coming to an end. The 2011 free agent class is fairly weak, with the only "big" names being the likes of Michael Redd and Shane Battier. The main problem the Wolves will encounter this year is really making their only true star player, Love, happy. Kevin Love becomes a free agent after the 2011-2012 season, and it's expected that he will more than likely sign elsewhere, rather than wilt away in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are doing to Love what they did to Al Jefferson. Both are great players, but neither is a #1 caliber star that can carry his team. Both have the type of skill sets that would be outstanding sidekicks to major stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Derrick Rose. When they acquired Jefferson in the trade for Kevin Garnett, they immediately began selling him to Wolves' fans as Kevin's replacement. They began positioning him as the face of the franchise, when even at that time, he was nothing more than a glorified role player. Unfortunately...this is exactly what they are doing now with Rikcy Rubio; trying to make him a superstar in the eyes of the fans, when in reality he is nothing more than a back-up point guard.
Rubio, albeit a flashy, likable player, is not someone you can count on to carry your team into the future. With Kevin Love, you have a star on your hands, but again, he's a star in need of a superstar to really flourish. Rubio is not that superstar. When you look at what appears to be happening in the NBA, with superstar players deciding to play each others' sidekicks, it would seem that you have only two choices. One of those choices is to find one of these superstars, like a Dwight Howard or Derrick Rose, and look to deal Love to one of those teams in exchange for lesser contracts, so you can continue to save money you refuse to spend. The second option would be to seek out one of these superstars and convince him that Kevin Love is someone who would welcome you with open arms. Think of it this way; back in 2007, the Boston Celtics, already with Paul Pierce as their star, pulled off a great trade on draft day, bringing in Ray Allen to play alongside Pierce. Shortly after that, they pulled off the deal with the Wolves to acquire Garnett. Then, in June of 2008, the Boston Celtics became NBA Champions. The previous season, the Celtics had the second worst record in the NBA. They had a slew of players that collectively couldn't compete on a nightly basis with the rest of the league. Not necessarily that all of them were bad players, but that unit couldn't successfully play together. Unfortunately...what happened was a game of Pass The Buck, with the Celtics essentially passing those players to the Wolves in favor of Kevin Garnett.
Now, it's the Wolves' turn. Rubio can be a great player, but you can't rest the success of the franchise on his shoulders, nor can you expect Kevin Love to carry this team on his. Imagine a lineup of Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Beasley, Chris Paul, with Ricky Rubio coming off the bench. I'm not saying Howard, Prince, or Paul would even want to come to Minnesota. Heck, if it were between Los Angeles, Chicago, or Minnesota, I think it's safe to say that the Twin Cities would be the third choice. But, after finishing with the second worst record in 2006, would anyone have thought the Celtics would've won the 2007-2008 NBA Championship with a team consisting of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett? The Celtics chose to make the moves to ensure they could compete. They knew Allen was spinning his wheels in Seattle, and that the Wolves couldn't put enough pieces around Garnett to be competitive, so they pieced together the puzzle for both, making it the perfect opportunity for both, along with Pierce. The Wolves could have that same opportunity, if they chose to pursue it.
Instead, the only thing they seem to be pursuing is superstardom for Ricky Rubio. I think David Kahn should legally change his name to David Con, because that's apparently all he's good at. He's "con"ning Rubio into thinking he's a star. He's "con"ning the fans of the Wolves by making them think this kid can save their team. And lastly, he's "con"ning himself into believing that he can't make the necessary changes to make this team competitive. Get with the program, before the Wolves become even more of a joke than they already are.
Since the departure of Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves have been a complete laughing stock in the NBA. They haven't come close to being a competitive team in the Western Conference, and the main reason why is the lack of effort the front office is putting toward making this team better. They have continued to make a mockery of the NBA Draft, of which they have seemingly been a permanent fixture in the Draft Lottery for the last eight seasons. Over the last six years, aside from the lone standout move made to acquire Kevin Love in a draft-day trade for O.J. Mayo, they have passed on numerous outstanding NBA players (Rajon Rondo, Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis) in favor of lesser talents (Jonny Flynn, Randy Foye, Rashad McCants). Yea...I'm sure taking drafting Brandon Roy and then trading him for Randy Foye was a great idea at the time. Rudy Gay and Rondo thank you from the bottom of their hearts that you didn't bring them to this cemetery of a basketball town.
The Timberwolves have been banking money, saving on the free agents they've been signing over the last couple of seasons, opting to go with third and fourth tier players. They have shown no initiative in utilizing that saved coin to better the franchise. To top that, they recently asked the city of Minneapolis to help with a $155 million renovation to Target Center, the fourth oldest arena in the NBA. Really? This is a give and take kinda thing guys...and the crap you're "giving" us on the court doesn't mean you can "take" us for idiots! If you're going to screw us over, at least take us out to dinner first. That's at least common courtesy.
The Wolves currently sit $11 million under the $53 million salary cap for the 2011-2012 season. This all may change with the NBA's collective bargaining agreement coming to an end. The 2011 free agent class is fairly weak, with the only "big" names being the likes of Michael Redd and Shane Battier. The main problem the Wolves will encounter this year is really making their only true star player, Love, happy. Kevin Love becomes a free agent after the 2011-2012 season, and it's expected that he will more than likely sign elsewhere, rather than wilt away in Minnesota. The Timberwolves are doing to Love what they did to Al Jefferson. Both are great players, but neither is a #1 caliber star that can carry his team. Both have the type of skill sets that would be outstanding sidekicks to major stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Derrick Rose. When they acquired Jefferson in the trade for Kevin Garnett, they immediately began selling him to Wolves' fans as Kevin's replacement. They began positioning him as the face of the franchise, when even at that time, he was nothing more than a glorified role player. Unfortunately...this is exactly what they are doing now with Rikcy Rubio; trying to make him a superstar in the eyes of the fans, when in reality he is nothing more than a back-up point guard.
Rubio, albeit a flashy, likable player, is not someone you can count on to carry your team into the future. With Kevin Love, you have a star on your hands, but again, he's a star in need of a superstar to really flourish. Rubio is not that superstar. When you look at what appears to be happening in the NBA, with superstar players deciding to play each others' sidekicks, it would seem that you have only two choices. One of those choices is to find one of these superstars, like a Dwight Howard or Derrick Rose, and look to deal Love to one of those teams in exchange for lesser contracts, so you can continue to save money you refuse to spend. The second option would be to seek out one of these superstars and convince him that Kevin Love is someone who would welcome you with open arms. Think of it this way; back in 2007, the Boston Celtics, already with Paul Pierce as their star, pulled off a great trade on draft day, bringing in Ray Allen to play alongside Pierce. Shortly after that, they pulled off the deal with the Wolves to acquire Garnett. Then, in June of 2008, the Boston Celtics became NBA Champions. The previous season, the Celtics had the second worst record in the NBA. They had a slew of players that collectively couldn't compete on a nightly basis with the rest of the league. Not necessarily that all of them were bad players, but that unit couldn't successfully play together. Unfortunately...what happened was a game of Pass The Buck, with the Celtics essentially passing those players to the Wolves in favor of Kevin Garnett.
Now, it's the Wolves' turn. Rubio can be a great player, but you can't rest the success of the franchise on his shoulders, nor can you expect Kevin Love to carry this team on his. Imagine a lineup of Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Beasley, Chris Paul, with Ricky Rubio coming off the bench. I'm not saying Howard, Prince, or Paul would even want to come to Minnesota. Heck, if it were between Los Angeles, Chicago, or Minnesota, I think it's safe to say that the Twin Cities would be the third choice. But, after finishing with the second worst record in 2006, would anyone have thought the Celtics would've won the 2007-2008 NBA Championship with a team consisting of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett? The Celtics chose to make the moves to ensure they could compete. They knew Allen was spinning his wheels in Seattle, and that the Wolves couldn't put enough pieces around Garnett to be competitive, so they pieced together the puzzle for both, making it the perfect opportunity for both, along with Pierce. The Wolves could have that same opportunity, if they chose to pursue it.
Instead, the only thing they seem to be pursuing is superstardom for Ricky Rubio. I think David Kahn should legally change his name to David Con, because that's apparently all he's good at. He's "con"ning Rubio into thinking he's a star. He's "con"ning the fans of the Wolves by making them think this kid can save their team. And lastly, he's "con"ning himself into believing that he can't make the necessary changes to make this team competitive. Get with the program, before the Wolves become even more of a joke than they already are.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Dallas Earned The Title, But Miami Earned The Loss
It's always hard to make statements like this, but I think it's safe to say that the good majority of the country was fully behind the Dallas Mavericks last night as they went on to win their first NBA Championship. There really isn't an awful lot to dislike about the Mavericks. They have one of the greatest superstars in league history in Dirk Nowitzki. They had one of the best point guards in history in Jason Kidd. And they have probably one of the best owners in all of sports in Mark Cuban. But all those reasons combined weren't the main purpose for the country-wide backing of the Mavs. The primary cause for the support of the Mavericks was nothing more than the shear disdain for the Miami Heat, centered almost exclusively around #6, LeBron James.
When it was all said and done, Dallas outplayed Miami, Rick Carlisle outcoached Erik Spoelstra, and the Maverick players outclassed those of the Heat. All told, the Mavericks earned the right to call themselves champions. On the flipside, the Miami Heat earned the right to call themselves runners-up, chokers, or classless losers.
Over history, in all sports, teams often times take on the form of their leaders. Michael Jordan's teams in Chicago took on his killer instinct en route to six NBA titles. The Yankees teams over the last 10-15 years have taken on the persona of Derek Jeter, their calm, cool, and collected captain. And this NBA Finals was no exception, with the Miami Heat taking on the form of the "leader" in LeBron James. The only issue is that James clearly, by going to Miami, never wanted to be the "leader," and it showed over the last week.
LeBron was tentative throughout the series, seemingly deferring at every chance he had, primarily down the stretch. If you match up the two superstars, Dirk outscore LeBron 26-3 in the final five minutes of each game in the Finals. How does the supposed best player in the NBA not score a single point in the final five minutes of all six Finals games, until 1:51 left in Game 6, when he hit a meaningless 3-point shot down 12? Although he put up 21 points last night, James never looked comfortable, aside from his 4-4 start from the field. From that point on, he looked to give the ball up rather than take control, in an almost cowardly display of leadership. Some will say he was just being unselfish by giving the ball up. Those whose eyes are actually open will say that he gave up, and chose to be the sidekick. Honestly, I almost feel that this was an attempt to shift the blame of a loss onto his supporting cast, almost in a way saying "I was letting them try to win it, and they couldn't hit the shots." No LeBron, those shots were supposed to be yours to take. Those shots were shots that Jordan, Magic, Bird, and Kobe all would've taken. Those were shots that Dirk Nowitzki took, and that's the reason your season is finished, and your fingers are void of jewelry.
What truly bothered me about the Heat in these Finals wasn't necessarily LeBron, although it's no secret I am not a fan of his. It was the actions of Dwyane Wade. I'm not talking about actions on the floor. Dwyane Wade had no other alternative but to take the reigns of this team, his team, and try to win the title with seemingly little help from the greatest player in the game. What I'm referring to was the off-court actions of Wade, primarily in the moments before Game Five. Wade has been a player many have thought of as classy, full of heart, intelligent, and gritty. This will be the second time I've used this word in this post, but his actions prior to Game Five, mocking Dirk Nowitzki's Game Four illness by pretending to cough into his shirt on the way into the arena, was nothing short of cowardly. What was worse was his explanation of the incident when asked about it later. Wade claimed the cough was real, and that it was actually played up a bit more because their were cameras in front of them and they were hoping the media would "blow it up." No Dwyane, you did it because you were a coward, plain and simple. You earned what you got.
LeBron and D-Wade, the two leaders of this team, were both responsible for the overall let down, but the reason most people are excited about the Heat's loss can be centered almost solely on LeBron. When he chose to do what he did, taking his talents to South Beach, it was expected that he was also taking some leadership ability to the team, helping to take the burden off Wade's shoulders. Instead, with his inability to perform when it matters, he did just the opposite, putting D-Wade in a position to have to carry the Heat, which he was already doing the year before when he was by himself. Unfortunately for him, the results were the same, even though he now has a higher priced Robin to his Batman.
To make matters worse for James, he's now distanced himself even further from many of the fans he always looked to for approval. His post-game press conference alienated him even moreso than his play on the court. What LeBron doesn't realize is that the majority of the sports fan population is more intelligent than he is, and we can all read between the lines with what your comments actually were.
"All the people that were rooting me on to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before. They have the same personal problems they had to today. I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want with me and my family and be happy with that. They can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be on being happy that not only myself, but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal, but they'll have to get back to the real world at some point."
Basically, what he told all of us that were rooting for his failure is, in so many words, he's better than all of us. We, as everyday people, have to go back to our $45,000 a year jobs, our $250,000 mortgages, our $25,000 car loans, and our mundane lives, while he gets to continue living his multi-million dollar life of expensive cars, huge houses, and insane toys. Closed circuit to Mr. James: If the rumors are true and you have a cheating girlfriend, you're much closer to all of us than you actually realize. The biggest difference is that you get paid a lot of money to perform your job, and unfortunately for you, you can't perform it very well.
Congratulations to Mark Cuban, Dirk Nowitzki, and the Dallas Mavericks. You earned the title of NBA Champions through hard work, dedication, and a will to not stop until you got it.
Congratulations to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat. You also earned something through all of this. You earned the titles of NBA Villains. You've earned the right to be rooted against, booed, and ultimately hated by the majority of, not just NBA fans, but sports fans in general. Good luck overcoming that "every day problem."
When it was all said and done, Dallas outplayed Miami, Rick Carlisle outcoached Erik Spoelstra, and the Maverick players outclassed those of the Heat. All told, the Mavericks earned the right to call themselves champions. On the flipside, the Miami Heat earned the right to call themselves runners-up, chokers, or classless losers.
Over history, in all sports, teams often times take on the form of their leaders. Michael Jordan's teams in Chicago took on his killer instinct en route to six NBA titles. The Yankees teams over the last 10-15 years have taken on the persona of Derek Jeter, their calm, cool, and collected captain. And this NBA Finals was no exception, with the Miami Heat taking on the form of the "leader" in LeBron James. The only issue is that James clearly, by going to Miami, never wanted to be the "leader," and it showed over the last week.
LeBron was tentative throughout the series, seemingly deferring at every chance he had, primarily down the stretch. If you match up the two superstars, Dirk outscore LeBron 26-3 in the final five minutes of each game in the Finals. How does the supposed best player in the NBA not score a single point in the final five minutes of all six Finals games, until 1:51 left in Game 6, when he hit a meaningless 3-point shot down 12? Although he put up 21 points last night, James never looked comfortable, aside from his 4-4 start from the field. From that point on, he looked to give the ball up rather than take control, in an almost cowardly display of leadership. Some will say he was just being unselfish by giving the ball up. Those whose eyes are actually open will say that he gave up, and chose to be the sidekick. Honestly, I almost feel that this was an attempt to shift the blame of a loss onto his supporting cast, almost in a way saying "I was letting them try to win it, and they couldn't hit the shots." No LeBron, those shots were supposed to be yours to take. Those shots were shots that Jordan, Magic, Bird, and Kobe all would've taken. Those were shots that Dirk Nowitzki took, and that's the reason your season is finished, and your fingers are void of jewelry.
What truly bothered me about the Heat in these Finals wasn't necessarily LeBron, although it's no secret I am not a fan of his. It was the actions of Dwyane Wade. I'm not talking about actions on the floor. Dwyane Wade had no other alternative but to take the reigns of this team, his team, and try to win the title with seemingly little help from the greatest player in the game. What I'm referring to was the off-court actions of Wade, primarily in the moments before Game Five. Wade has been a player many have thought of as classy, full of heart, intelligent, and gritty. This will be the second time I've used this word in this post, but his actions prior to Game Five, mocking Dirk Nowitzki's Game Four illness by pretending to cough into his shirt on the way into the arena, was nothing short of cowardly. What was worse was his explanation of the incident when asked about it later. Wade claimed the cough was real, and that it was actually played up a bit more because their were cameras in front of them and they were hoping the media would "blow it up." No Dwyane, you did it because you were a coward, plain and simple. You earned what you got.
LeBron and D-Wade, the two leaders of this team, were both responsible for the overall let down, but the reason most people are excited about the Heat's loss can be centered almost solely on LeBron. When he chose to do what he did, taking his talents to South Beach, it was expected that he was also taking some leadership ability to the team, helping to take the burden off Wade's shoulders. Instead, with his inability to perform when it matters, he did just the opposite, putting D-Wade in a position to have to carry the Heat, which he was already doing the year before when he was by himself. Unfortunately for him, the results were the same, even though he now has a higher priced Robin to his Batman.
To make matters worse for James, he's now distanced himself even further from many of the fans he always looked to for approval. His post-game press conference alienated him even moreso than his play on the court. What LeBron doesn't realize is that the majority of the sports fan population is more intelligent than he is, and we can all read between the lines with what your comments actually were.
"All the people that were rooting me on to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before. They have the same personal problems they had to today. I'm going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want with me and my family and be happy with that. They can get a few days or a few months or whatever the case may be on being happy that not only myself, but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal, but they'll have to get back to the real world at some point."
Basically, what he told all of us that were rooting for his failure is, in so many words, he's better than all of us. We, as everyday people, have to go back to our $45,000 a year jobs, our $250,000 mortgages, our $25,000 car loans, and our mundane lives, while he gets to continue living his multi-million dollar life of expensive cars, huge houses, and insane toys. Closed circuit to Mr. James: If the rumors are true and you have a cheating girlfriend, you're much closer to all of us than you actually realize. The biggest difference is that you get paid a lot of money to perform your job, and unfortunately for you, you can't perform it very well.
Congratulations to Mark Cuban, Dirk Nowitzki, and the Dallas Mavericks. You earned the title of NBA Champions through hard work, dedication, and a will to not stop until you got it.
Congratulations to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat. You also earned something through all of this. You earned the titles of NBA Villains. You've earned the right to be rooted against, booed, and ultimately hated by the majority of, not just NBA fans, but sports fans in general. Good luck overcoming that "every day problem."
Friday, June 10, 2011
Buyers Or Sellers? What Will The Twins Be?
The time is nearing again. Every year around this time in Major League Baseball, teams start deciding if they are going to be contenders that year, or if they want to start building for the next. Some teams have pipe dreams of being successful this year, others know they will be and just need to bolster a few spots on their roster in order to solidify themselves. And yet there are still other teams that are right on the edge of both. The Twins are one of those teams. Their track record says they're just a player or two away. Their 2011 start thus far says they may need to unload. My take is this: There's room for both competing and unloading. They just need to be careful doing it.
With the recent spurt of great play, winning seven of their last eight games, the Twins are showing that they're not quite ready to go away this year. They have an incredible mountain to climb, given their slow start, but have proven to have a team pedigree that can get the job done when it matters. That is, until the postseason. In reality, the Twins have their best mid-season acquisitions already in line, with the returns of Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka from the disabled list. With those main core players back, the Twins have the foundation to be the contender they usually are. This puts them in that category of just needing a player or two to solidify. Where it gets tricky is finding those players, and realizing that some of the players you have may need to be sent elsewhere to accommodate improvement.
As I look up and down the roster, the Twins have valuable commodities that other teams may want. Many would think these players would only be dealt if the team decides it's long out of the division race and they want to start building for the next couple of years. In reality, although some of these players have been integral parts of the competitive teams the Twins have put forth over the last couple of years, their stock may be on the down slope. And, in the tweeting words of LeBron James before Game 5 of the NBA Finals, "It's now or never."
1. Delmon Young - It's safe to say that I am not a Delmon Young supporter, as it seems these are growing fewer and fewer by the day. When the Twins acquired Young, his stock was up, coming off his best season with the Tampa Bay Rays. But, four years later, his improvement seems to have leveled off. His 2010 season was fantastic, by his standards. When the Twins needed clutch hits last year, many came off Delmon's bat. His upside a couple of seasons ago was that he was young and unpolished. Unfortunately, he's now aged a couple of years, and has shown signs that the unpolished nature of his game isn't going away. Would he still be valuable to a team in need of an outfield bat? Sure. His career .288 average would say that he's capable of putting the bat on the ball in getting it in play. His lack of heart and hustle, however, have made him an expendable piece, in my eyes.
2. Justin Morneau - Although Morneau has been a staple in the middle of the Twins order for the last few years, his post-concussion self seems to be a shell of what he used to be. If that's the case, do the Twins try and get some value for him now, or hold on to him until it's too late. When you look at his career stats, he appears to be a stud. When you compare him to other top first basemen in baseball, however, he appears to be nothing more than a suitable fixture at the position. This season, his average is way down, his power is way down, and his ability to hit in clutch situations is non-existent. All of this could be attributed to the injury bug as well, given the concussion mid-way through last season, and the minor ailments along the way (flu bug, neck, etc.). But is it possible that we're now seeing the real Justin Morneau, and that what we've seen before the concussion was the anomaly? The question is, can the Twins afford to wait it out to truly know for sure? Given the possible replacements to fill his spot at first base, both internally within the organization and throughout Major League Baseball, they might be wise to wait on this one.
3. Francisco Liriano - Since Liriano's no-hitter at the beginning of May, he is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts. Considering he went into that game against the White Sox with a 9.13 ERA, it's safe to say he's been improving. In 21 innings pitched since the no-no, he has allowed only 15 hits, and has struck out 21. What has hurt Liriano this season, as well as seasons past, is his inconsistent control. His walk to strikeout ratio is almost flat (35/41). Even during the no-hitter, Liriano walked six White Sox, and was still able to overcome and pull off this historic feat. There is no doubting Liriano's ability, even after the arm injury a couple of seasons ago. He still has an incredible slider when he's on, and can still bring his fastball upwards of 95 miles per hour. Liriano may benefit from a change of scenery, but can the Twins afford to give up a starting pitcher? If they can continue to get starts like they have in Liriano's absence this past week from Anthony Swarzak, it's possible that the Twins could spin Liriano for a couple of stronger bullpen arms. Or, do they roll the dice on him this season, and hope that his last four starts are a sign of things to come?
4. Kevin Slowey - With starting pitching in baseball being at a premium, no matter the team, there will be takers for Kevin Slowey. Of the players the Twins are most likely shopping around, Slowey is probably the most likely to be moved this season. Although many thought Slowey deserved a spot in the 2011 starting rotation, perhaps ahead of Nick Blackburn or Scott Baker, the team moved him into the long-relief role in the bullpen, asking him to take that role and be the best at it. In doing so, Slowey's attitude began to deteriorate, and before long, he was seen by the team as a problem. Slowey has decent stuff, and should the Twins decide to deal Liriano, it would seem likely that a healthy Kevin Slowey would be the replacement in the rotation. His attitude and demeanor have soured the Twins on his ability, and that has unfortunately put Slowey at the top of the Twins' trading block. Look for Slowey to be dealt, regardless of whether the Twins are competing for the division come July or not.
5. Denard Span - This is probably my absolute least favorite option for a trade. I am a huge Denard Span supporter. I think what he's done for the Twins at the top of the order over the last two season has been outstanding. He's not going to hit for power like some center fielders do, but he's always hustling. There isn't a team in baseball that wouldn't appreciate a player like that on their roster. What's hurting Span is the emergence of Ben Revere as the Twins top outfield prospect. With all the injuries this season, especially that of Jason Kubel, Revere has had an opportunity to show what he can do at the Major League level. What the Twins are seeing is a potential Denard Span clone. An all-out hustling outfielder who can hit for contact, get on base, and put opposing teams on their toes. The biggest problem with this is that it makes Span expendable, at least in the eyes of some. For me, Span offers much more than just great defense, speed on the bases, and a .300-hitting lead-off hitter. Span's clubhouse presence appears to be a good one. He's always smiling, and always going 100% every day. That type of behavior seems to sometimes be a premium in baseball. Even if Revere is similar in nature, giving up on a guy like Span would be a mistake, regardless of what you could get in return. However, that being said, and with that type of player being coveted by many teams, his value could potentially be too high to pass up, and could possibly bring more talent to the team through a trade. Personally, Span is one of my favorite players to watch on this team, so I'm hoping they find other ways (i.e. trading Delmon Young) to get Revere into the lineup full time.
With the recent spurt of great play, winning seven of their last eight games, the Twins are showing that they're not quite ready to go away this year. They have an incredible mountain to climb, given their slow start, but have proven to have a team pedigree that can get the job done when it matters. That is, until the postseason. In reality, the Twins have their best mid-season acquisitions already in line, with the returns of Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel, Jim Thome, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka from the disabled list. With those main core players back, the Twins have the foundation to be the contender they usually are. This puts them in that category of just needing a player or two to solidify. Where it gets tricky is finding those players, and realizing that some of the players you have may need to be sent elsewhere to accommodate improvement.
As I look up and down the roster, the Twins have valuable commodities that other teams may want. Many would think these players would only be dealt if the team decides it's long out of the division race and they want to start building for the next couple of years. In reality, although some of these players have been integral parts of the competitive teams the Twins have put forth over the last couple of years, their stock may be on the down slope. And, in the tweeting words of LeBron James before Game 5 of the NBA Finals, "It's now or never."
1. Delmon Young - It's safe to say that I am not a Delmon Young supporter, as it seems these are growing fewer and fewer by the day. When the Twins acquired Young, his stock was up, coming off his best season with the Tampa Bay Rays. But, four years later, his improvement seems to have leveled off. His 2010 season was fantastic, by his standards. When the Twins needed clutch hits last year, many came off Delmon's bat. His upside a couple of seasons ago was that he was young and unpolished. Unfortunately, he's now aged a couple of years, and has shown signs that the unpolished nature of his game isn't going away. Would he still be valuable to a team in need of an outfield bat? Sure. His career .288 average would say that he's capable of putting the bat on the ball in getting it in play. His lack of heart and hustle, however, have made him an expendable piece, in my eyes.
2. Justin Morneau - Although Morneau has been a staple in the middle of the Twins order for the last few years, his post-concussion self seems to be a shell of what he used to be. If that's the case, do the Twins try and get some value for him now, or hold on to him until it's too late. When you look at his career stats, he appears to be a stud. When you compare him to other top first basemen in baseball, however, he appears to be nothing more than a suitable fixture at the position. This season, his average is way down, his power is way down, and his ability to hit in clutch situations is non-existent. All of this could be attributed to the injury bug as well, given the concussion mid-way through last season, and the minor ailments along the way (flu bug, neck, etc.). But is it possible that we're now seeing the real Justin Morneau, and that what we've seen before the concussion was the anomaly? The question is, can the Twins afford to wait it out to truly know for sure? Given the possible replacements to fill his spot at first base, both internally within the organization and throughout Major League Baseball, they might be wise to wait on this one.
3. Francisco Liriano - Since Liriano's no-hitter at the beginning of May, he is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts. Considering he went into that game against the White Sox with a 9.13 ERA, it's safe to say he's been improving. In 21 innings pitched since the no-no, he has allowed only 15 hits, and has struck out 21. What has hurt Liriano this season, as well as seasons past, is his inconsistent control. His walk to strikeout ratio is almost flat (35/41). Even during the no-hitter, Liriano walked six White Sox, and was still able to overcome and pull off this historic feat. There is no doubting Liriano's ability, even after the arm injury a couple of seasons ago. He still has an incredible slider when he's on, and can still bring his fastball upwards of 95 miles per hour. Liriano may benefit from a change of scenery, but can the Twins afford to give up a starting pitcher? If they can continue to get starts like they have in Liriano's absence this past week from Anthony Swarzak, it's possible that the Twins could spin Liriano for a couple of stronger bullpen arms. Or, do they roll the dice on him this season, and hope that his last four starts are a sign of things to come?
4. Kevin Slowey - With starting pitching in baseball being at a premium, no matter the team, there will be takers for Kevin Slowey. Of the players the Twins are most likely shopping around, Slowey is probably the most likely to be moved this season. Although many thought Slowey deserved a spot in the 2011 starting rotation, perhaps ahead of Nick Blackburn or Scott Baker, the team moved him into the long-relief role in the bullpen, asking him to take that role and be the best at it. In doing so, Slowey's attitude began to deteriorate, and before long, he was seen by the team as a problem. Slowey has decent stuff, and should the Twins decide to deal Liriano, it would seem likely that a healthy Kevin Slowey would be the replacement in the rotation. His attitude and demeanor have soured the Twins on his ability, and that has unfortunately put Slowey at the top of the Twins' trading block. Look for Slowey to be dealt, regardless of whether the Twins are competing for the division come July or not.
5. Denard Span - This is probably my absolute least favorite option for a trade. I am a huge Denard Span supporter. I think what he's done for the Twins at the top of the order over the last two season has been outstanding. He's not going to hit for power like some center fielders do, but he's always hustling. There isn't a team in baseball that wouldn't appreciate a player like that on their roster. What's hurting Span is the emergence of Ben Revere as the Twins top outfield prospect. With all the injuries this season, especially that of Jason Kubel, Revere has had an opportunity to show what he can do at the Major League level. What the Twins are seeing is a potential Denard Span clone. An all-out hustling outfielder who can hit for contact, get on base, and put opposing teams on their toes. The biggest problem with this is that it makes Span expendable, at least in the eyes of some. For me, Span offers much more than just great defense, speed on the bases, and a .300-hitting lead-off hitter. Span's clubhouse presence appears to be a good one. He's always smiling, and always going 100% every day. That type of behavior seems to sometimes be a premium in baseball. Even if Revere is similar in nature, giving up on a guy like Span would be a mistake, regardless of what you could get in return. However, that being said, and with that type of player being coveted by many teams, his value could potentially be too high to pass up, and could possibly bring more talent to the team through a trade. Personally, Span is one of my favorite players to watch on this team, so I'm hoping they find other ways (i.e. trading Delmon Young) to get Revere into the lineup full time.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
LeBron's Legacy Can't Stack Up With Other Greats
When it comes to gut-check time in sports, there are certain superstars in history that show they want to be "the guy" (or "the girl" in ladies sports). There are names that come to mind: Michael Jordan, Curt Schilling, Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady to name a few. One name that won't appear on that list is LeBron James. His lackluster performance in the NBA Finals thus far has many asking questions about his heart and about his drive. With the Dallas Mavericks taking a 3-2 series lead on Thursday night, it appears that LeBron is exhibiting neither.
This NBA Finals was supposed to be LeBron's coming-out party. He made his bed by "taking his talents to South Beach," and this was the time he was supposed to sleep in that bed. Unfortunately for Heat fans, LeBron is showing why his Cavaliers teams of the past always came up short at the end. When you look back at championship teams led by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, what you saw was an unwillingness to accept defeat. Their drive and their heart carried their teams to multiple championships, not just one. And, aside from Kobe's first three titles with the help of Shaquille O'Neal at his side, neither Jordan or Kobe had multiple superstars to play with. LeBron has two in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. And what we're seeing from LeBron is more of a stance of "I'll take a back seat to let you two be the stars." That's not the attitude of a champion.
Yes, champions are unselfish. Champions know when to delegate. But champions also know when it's time to take over and ensure victory. With all the scrutiny placed on LeBron this season, this was his time to squash all of his "haters" and critics. Instead, he's gained more of each, and in some cases, deservedly so. Scoring 8 points in Game Four showed a complete lack of heart. That performance was his first single-digit scoring performance in over four years, and it came at a time when he should've been having his best performance in four years. When questioned after both Game Three and Game Four, LeBron insinuated that he was allowing Dwyane Wade to be "the guy." This was a convenient reason given the results of each game. But, had that game plan been one that was discussed before the series started, it's probably one that we all could've bought as legit. Instead, we got the performances, followed by the "reason" for the performances. Put two and two together here.
Thursday morning, a rumor began circulating that LeBron's Game Four performance came because of a lack of focus. That lack of focus was apparently caused by something off the court. Regardless of what this may have been, it shows his inability to compartmentalize outside situations and take control of things on the court, as a true leader would do. Instead, he decided to defer to the other stars on his team...not in the way of delegation, but moreso in the way of pacification. He chose to take himself out of the mix, and it cost his team a game. After the game, as a result of his passive approach, he chose to put much more undue pressure on himself for Game Five, tweeting that "It's now or never." What the Heat got was a slightly better version than the Game Four LeBron, but still a shell of what a leader should be.
And the result? A long flight back to Miami with the likelihood of being sent home as the 2011 NBA Finals Runners-Up after Game 6, and an off-season to contemplate what you actually want your legacy to be. The question is whether or not LeBron has the heart to change that legacy. At this point, that doesn't appear likely.
This NBA Finals was supposed to be LeBron's coming-out party. He made his bed by "taking his talents to South Beach," and this was the time he was supposed to sleep in that bed. Unfortunately for Heat fans, LeBron is showing why his Cavaliers teams of the past always came up short at the end. When you look back at championship teams led by Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, what you saw was an unwillingness to accept defeat. Their drive and their heart carried their teams to multiple championships, not just one. And, aside from Kobe's first three titles with the help of Shaquille O'Neal at his side, neither Jordan or Kobe had multiple superstars to play with. LeBron has two in Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. And what we're seeing from LeBron is more of a stance of "I'll take a back seat to let you two be the stars." That's not the attitude of a champion.
Yes, champions are unselfish. Champions know when to delegate. But champions also know when it's time to take over and ensure victory. With all the scrutiny placed on LeBron this season, this was his time to squash all of his "haters" and critics. Instead, he's gained more of each, and in some cases, deservedly so. Scoring 8 points in Game Four showed a complete lack of heart. That performance was his first single-digit scoring performance in over four years, and it came at a time when he should've been having his best performance in four years. When questioned after both Game Three and Game Four, LeBron insinuated that he was allowing Dwyane Wade to be "the guy." This was a convenient reason given the results of each game. But, had that game plan been one that was discussed before the series started, it's probably one that we all could've bought as legit. Instead, we got the performances, followed by the "reason" for the performances. Put two and two together here.
Thursday morning, a rumor began circulating that LeBron's Game Four performance came because of a lack of focus. That lack of focus was apparently caused by something off the court. Regardless of what this may have been, it shows his inability to compartmentalize outside situations and take control of things on the court, as a true leader would do. Instead, he decided to defer to the other stars on his team...not in the way of delegation, but moreso in the way of pacification. He chose to take himself out of the mix, and it cost his team a game. After the game, as a result of his passive approach, he chose to put much more undue pressure on himself for Game Five, tweeting that "It's now or never." What the Heat got was a slightly better version than the Game Four LeBron, but still a shell of what a leader should be.
And the result? A long flight back to Miami with the likelihood of being sent home as the 2011 NBA Finals Runners-Up after Game 6, and an off-season to contemplate what you actually want your legacy to be. The question is whether or not LeBron has the heart to change that legacy. At this point, that doesn't appear likely.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The NBA's Landscape Is About To Change
The Rapture came and went this past Saturday, and the world is still here. For fans in about 23 NBA cities, however, the end of the world will be recognized sooner rather than later, thanks in large part to the new Eastern Conference Champions, the Miami Heat. I've lost a lot of faith in the NBA, but for those that haven't, unless you live in Miami, you all better become Dallas Mavericks fans during the NBA Finals.
What the Miami Heat may accomplish, should they win the 2011 NBA Finals, could potentially ruin the overall appeal of the NBA. Even getting as far as they have could change to overall landscape of the league for years, and not for the better. When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, they started a new free agency trend in the league that could be very damning for teams not in the NBA's "elite" circle. Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas, and New Jersey...six of the league's seven premier cities (Miami being the seventh), will become the centerpieces of the NBA's free agency market over the next year or two, leaving the other 23 franchises left to wonder if they will even be able to compete in the coming years. The sad fact is, they will not.
Should the Heat win the title in the coming two weeks, you can almost be assured that superstars playing on their current teams will begin conversing with others throughout the league, persuading and pleading with each other to form similar "super teams" to the one that Miami put together this season. Sure, the NBA as a "company" makes most of its money from those seven cities, however, popularity of the sport may suffer if fans in other cities begin to feel detached from their teams. Personally, this is something true for myself, who has lost total interest in my local team here in Minnesota, because of what appears to be an unwillingness to even want to compete with the elite.
Winning a championship in any sport brings a great deal of revenue to that city and organization. The team becomes marketable to the league, resulting in more nationally televised games, higher jersey sales, and increased revenue at the opposing arenas when the champions come to town. These are all things any team and its ownership group would love to see. But unfortunately, with the precedent now set forth by the Miami Heat, there may only be a handful of "A" level talent available for those other 23 teams to pick from, leaving many of them to flounder.
Looking at the Timberwolves as an example, ownership has gone in a direction they feel is "exciting," by bringing younger, more "athletic" talent into the mix. It also happens to be an inexpensive way of forming the team. With plenty of money to spend on an "A" level player, the team is choosing not to, more than likely because there would be no point. With just one player of that caliber, the team would most certainly not win a championship. It happened here already with Kevin Garnett, who was the face of the franchise for over 10 years. Garnett had a decent cast around him, but nothing to the level of the cast LeBron has around him in Miami. It wasn't until Garnett joined Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston (via a trade from Minnesota, not a free agent signing) that he won his first NBA Championship. The Timberwolves, however, have never recovered from that loss, and haven't seemed to even really try to.
The dilemma going forward for the NBA is a difficult one. On one hand, you have a league looking out for its bottom line, and on the other hand, you have the 30 owners looking out for theirs. The dilemma is that each has different agendas that don't coincide together. David Stern and the NBA as a league are perfectly fine with the revenue that will be generated by the soon-to-be seven mega teams, whereas you will see owners of the other 23 franchises be "okay with" not signing high-priced free agents because they know without two or three of them together, their team won't be able to compete for that title. At that point, those owners will be more inclined, from a business standpoint, to just hold on to the money they would've spent on a free agent, and eventually pad their bottom line that way. Great for the owners, but not great for the fans in those cities.
The best thing that could've happened for the NBA would've been to have a team like Oklahoma City find their way into the finals against a team like the Chicago Bulls. OKC, with two up-and-coming young stars, not high-priced free agents, playing for the biggest prize in the sport. Instead, the worst nightmare of fans throughout the league, other than those in Miami, is about to come to fruition.
Go Mavericks!
What the Miami Heat may accomplish, should they win the 2011 NBA Finals, could potentially ruin the overall appeal of the NBA. Even getting as far as they have could change to overall landscape of the league for years, and not for the better. When LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade in Miami, they started a new free agency trend in the league that could be very damning for teams not in the NBA's "elite" circle. Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas, and New Jersey...six of the league's seven premier cities (Miami being the seventh), will become the centerpieces of the NBA's free agency market over the next year or two, leaving the other 23 franchises left to wonder if they will even be able to compete in the coming years. The sad fact is, they will not.
Should the Heat win the title in the coming two weeks, you can almost be assured that superstars playing on their current teams will begin conversing with others throughout the league, persuading and pleading with each other to form similar "super teams" to the one that Miami put together this season. Sure, the NBA as a "company" makes most of its money from those seven cities, however, popularity of the sport may suffer if fans in other cities begin to feel detached from their teams. Personally, this is something true for myself, who has lost total interest in my local team here in Minnesota, because of what appears to be an unwillingness to even want to compete with the elite.
Winning a championship in any sport brings a great deal of revenue to that city and organization. The team becomes marketable to the league, resulting in more nationally televised games, higher jersey sales, and increased revenue at the opposing arenas when the champions come to town. These are all things any team and its ownership group would love to see. But unfortunately, with the precedent now set forth by the Miami Heat, there may only be a handful of "A" level talent available for those other 23 teams to pick from, leaving many of them to flounder.
Looking at the Timberwolves as an example, ownership has gone in a direction they feel is "exciting," by bringing younger, more "athletic" talent into the mix. It also happens to be an inexpensive way of forming the team. With plenty of money to spend on an "A" level player, the team is choosing not to, more than likely because there would be no point. With just one player of that caliber, the team would most certainly not win a championship. It happened here already with Kevin Garnett, who was the face of the franchise for over 10 years. Garnett had a decent cast around him, but nothing to the level of the cast LeBron has around him in Miami. It wasn't until Garnett joined Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston (via a trade from Minnesota, not a free agent signing) that he won his first NBA Championship. The Timberwolves, however, have never recovered from that loss, and haven't seemed to even really try to.
The dilemma going forward for the NBA is a difficult one. On one hand, you have a league looking out for its bottom line, and on the other hand, you have the 30 owners looking out for theirs. The dilemma is that each has different agendas that don't coincide together. David Stern and the NBA as a league are perfectly fine with the revenue that will be generated by the soon-to-be seven mega teams, whereas you will see owners of the other 23 franchises be "okay with" not signing high-priced free agents because they know without two or three of them together, their team won't be able to compete for that title. At that point, those owners will be more inclined, from a business standpoint, to just hold on to the money they would've spent on a free agent, and eventually pad their bottom line that way. Great for the owners, but not great for the fans in those cities.
The best thing that could've happened for the NBA would've been to have a team like Oklahoma City find their way into the finals against a team like the Chicago Bulls. OKC, with two up-and-coming young stars, not high-priced free agents, playing for the biggest prize in the sport. Instead, the worst nightmare of fans throughout the league, other than those in Miami, is about to come to fruition.
Go Mavericks!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
NBA Lottery...If It Looks Like A Rat And Smells Like A Rat...
Yea...I'm going there.
I've lost a lot of interest in basketball over the last few years, and the NBA hasn't helped their cause with me at all. Granted, living here in Minnesota and having to put up with the Timberwolves may be at the heart of my disdain for the sport, but a lot of it is strictly rooted in the NBA as a business/company/product. Tuesday's Draft Lottery didn't help matters, either!
The Timberwolves have had little to no luck in the Draft Lottery, having never landed the number one overall pick in the draft, despite having the worst record in basketball two separate times, including this past season. Back in the 1993 Draft Lottery, the Wolves had the second worst record in the NBA and were given 10 ping-pong balls in the hopper, (Dallas had the worst record, and was given 11 balls). The number one overall pick that year was awarded to the Orlando Magic, a team that had only one ball in the lottery, and subsequently took that pick and drafted Shaquille O'Neal. For the Wolves, and the Mavericks alike, that was some of the worst "luck."
The issue I have with the NBA Lottery is that it's done behind closed doors. The balls are plucked from the little bingo hopper where the public can't see it, and the results are announced in a prime-time event during an NBA Playoff game. So, why is the NBA upset when people start to scream conspiracy? If you have nothing to hide, then let us see the balls get selected. Hell, that would be the whole fun of the event, wouldn't it? Waiting to see if your team's ping-pong ball came up would create incredible drama.
Instead, you have the type of controversial results you had on Tuesday night. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who just lost LeBron James to South Beach during this past off-season's free agent campaign, landed the first overall pick in the draft, causing the Timberwolves to select second. Now, Cleveland finished this season with the second worst record behind Minnesota, so for them to get the lucky #1 pick wasn't entirely unlikely. But, is it wrong to have the conspiracy thought run through your mind?
On December 2nd, 2010, when Miami traveled to Cleveland to play the Cavs, the NBA saw one of it's highest rated games in years. The LeBron drama pulled people in, but the result of the game made people yawn. The ill feelings towards James by the Cleveland fans made for very intriguing television, which is something the NBA absolutely loves! However, that was about all the game could offer. When the Cavs and Heat met for the second time, the ratings had already taken a huge dip from the first game. Couple that with the promise of Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert that his Cavaliers team would win an NBA Championship before LeBron James, and you start to see why having Cleveland "win" the first overall pick in the draft to help boost their talent becomes a little more intriguing for the league. I'm not saying...I'm just saying.
For the record, I've never been a fan of NBA Commissioner David Stern. Compared to the heads of the other three major professional sports in this country, his actions have created more conversation and skepticism than one would like. Perhaps that is what he's looking for, because it creates a "buzz" around his product. Some believe it's a good thing that only seven different teams have won NBA Championships in the last 23 years. Others, like myself, believe this is bad for the sport. Some believe it's a good thing for seven or eight teams to bring in two or three "superstar" players to create mega-teams. Others, like myself, think this isn't interesting. Some believe that the Draft Lottery is a good system to prevent teams from "throwing" their seasons in an attempt to get the first pick in the draft. Others, like myself, believe this is a way to possibly control the results when you feel you need to, because the public will never know. It's like the ace up Stern's sleeve. He doesn't always need to use it, but when the time is right, because the system is in place, it can possibly be manipulated to bring a needed result.
Not saying that's what happened...but, it's got you thinking a little bit now, doesn't it?
I've lost a lot of interest in basketball over the last few years, and the NBA hasn't helped their cause with me at all. Granted, living here in Minnesota and having to put up with the Timberwolves may be at the heart of my disdain for the sport, but a lot of it is strictly rooted in the NBA as a business/company/product. Tuesday's Draft Lottery didn't help matters, either!
The Timberwolves have had little to no luck in the Draft Lottery, having never landed the number one overall pick in the draft, despite having the worst record in basketball two separate times, including this past season. Back in the 1993 Draft Lottery, the Wolves had the second worst record in the NBA and were given 10 ping-pong balls in the hopper, (Dallas had the worst record, and was given 11 balls). The number one overall pick that year was awarded to the Orlando Magic, a team that had only one ball in the lottery, and subsequently took that pick and drafted Shaquille O'Neal. For the Wolves, and the Mavericks alike, that was some of the worst "luck."
The issue I have with the NBA Lottery is that it's done behind closed doors. The balls are plucked from the little bingo hopper where the public can't see it, and the results are announced in a prime-time event during an NBA Playoff game. So, why is the NBA upset when people start to scream conspiracy? If you have nothing to hide, then let us see the balls get selected. Hell, that would be the whole fun of the event, wouldn't it? Waiting to see if your team's ping-pong ball came up would create incredible drama.
Instead, you have the type of controversial results you had on Tuesday night. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who just lost LeBron James to South Beach during this past off-season's free agent campaign, landed the first overall pick in the draft, causing the Timberwolves to select second. Now, Cleveland finished this season with the second worst record behind Minnesota, so for them to get the lucky #1 pick wasn't entirely unlikely. But, is it wrong to have the conspiracy thought run through your mind?
On December 2nd, 2010, when Miami traveled to Cleveland to play the Cavs, the NBA saw one of it's highest rated games in years. The LeBron drama pulled people in, but the result of the game made people yawn. The ill feelings towards James by the Cleveland fans made for very intriguing television, which is something the NBA absolutely loves! However, that was about all the game could offer. When the Cavs and Heat met for the second time, the ratings had already taken a huge dip from the first game. Couple that with the promise of Cavs' owner Dan Gilbert that his Cavaliers team would win an NBA Championship before LeBron James, and you start to see why having Cleveland "win" the first overall pick in the draft to help boost their talent becomes a little more intriguing for the league. I'm not saying...I'm just saying.
For the record, I've never been a fan of NBA Commissioner David Stern. Compared to the heads of the other three major professional sports in this country, his actions have created more conversation and skepticism than one would like. Perhaps that is what he's looking for, because it creates a "buzz" around his product. Some believe it's a good thing that only seven different teams have won NBA Championships in the last 23 years. Others, like myself, believe this is bad for the sport. Some believe it's a good thing for seven or eight teams to bring in two or three "superstar" players to create mega-teams. Others, like myself, think this isn't interesting. Some believe that the Draft Lottery is a good system to prevent teams from "throwing" their seasons in an attempt to get the first pick in the draft. Others, like myself, believe this is a way to possibly control the results when you feel you need to, because the public will never know. It's like the ace up Stern's sleeve. He doesn't always need to use it, but when the time is right, because the system is in place, it can possibly be manipulated to bring a needed result.
Not saying that's what happened...but, it's got you thinking a little bit now, doesn't it?
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