Thursday, May 31, 2007
The UFL vs. The NFL
There's a new league in town with hopes of cashing in on fans that the NFL forgot. I guess when you have too much money, you can waste it on an idea that has failed three other times.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
NBA Draft Lottery Strikes Again
Much is being made of the way three teams vaulted in to the top three slots and pushed the three worst teams including the Boston Celtics out of the running for potential franchise players Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. While I feel for the other two teams that missed out one of these players, I can't say I feel bad for the Celtics.
I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for the Celtics. Their 11 year run of success practically killed the NBA. Who besides Boston fans want to see one team win the championship every year. It's like feeling bad for the Yankees' recent dearth of championships. Tell it to the Cubs/Giants/Warriors/Knicks/Clippers fans. See how much commiserating you get.
Even after the Celtics released their choke hold on the NBA, they continued to be successful. They even built another dynasty featuring Larry Bird that looked to be getting even stronger when the then reigning champions happened to get the top pick in the draft due to an earlier trade. They used the pick on the "sure thing" player, Len Bias. I think that's the point where their hubris got to be too much for the NBA Gods. I mean come on! You just won the championship and now luck into getting the best player coming out of college that year? Something had to be done. So Bias OD'd on cocaine and died.
Without Bias, their dynasty started to decline with age. They have never been able to really recover from that point. And they don't deserve to. It's because of that physical 80's Celtic team that the "Bad Boy" Pistons developed the rough, dirty style that still plagues the league.
Basketball is not a contact sport, but the 80's Celtics turned it into one. When the Pistons couldn't beat them with skill and finesse, the decided to outdo them physically with goons like Mahorn and Laimber.
So don't pity the Celtics. They made this bed. Now they have to lay in it.
I'm sorry, but I have no sympathy for the Celtics. Their 11 year run of success practically killed the NBA. Who besides Boston fans want to see one team win the championship every year. It's like feeling bad for the Yankees' recent dearth of championships. Tell it to the Cubs/Giants/Warriors/Knicks/Clippers fans. See how much commiserating you get.
Even after the Celtics released their choke hold on the NBA, they continued to be successful. They even built another dynasty featuring Larry Bird that looked to be getting even stronger when the then reigning champions happened to get the top pick in the draft due to an earlier trade. They used the pick on the "sure thing" player, Len Bias. I think that's the point where their hubris got to be too much for the NBA Gods. I mean come on! You just won the championship and now luck into getting the best player coming out of college that year? Something had to be done. So Bias OD'd on cocaine and died.
Without Bias, their dynasty started to decline with age. They have never been able to really recover from that point. And they don't deserve to. It's because of that physical 80's Celtic team that the "Bad Boy" Pistons developed the rough, dirty style that still plagues the league.
Basketball is not a contact sport, but the 80's Celtics turned it into one. When the Pistons couldn't beat them with skill and finesse, the decided to outdo them physically with goons like Mahorn and Laimber.
So don't pity the Celtics. They made this bed. Now they have to lay in it.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Keyshawn Passes On?
If Keyshawn Johnson does end his NFL career today, he won't really be missed. Johnson has always been a player who was greater in his own mind than in reality. The truth is that he was never fast enough to be big play receiver. He was never reliable enough to be a possession receiver. And though he had good size, he never used to it to great advantage.
His book was titled "Just Give Me the Damn Ball". Well the Jets tried and he dropped it so much, that they preferred to give it to Wayne Chrebet, a receiver who was smaller and no faster than Keyshawn, but he was somehow able to get open and catch the ball when it came his way.
When Keyshawn joins ESPN, he won't even be the best former receiver on their football show. That distinction goes begrudgingly to Michael Irvan.
His book was titled "Just Give Me the Damn Ball". Well the Jets tried and he dropped it so much, that they preferred to give it to Wayne Chrebet, a receiver who was smaller and no faster than Keyshawn, but he was somehow able to get open and catch the ball when it came his way.
When Keyshawn joins ESPN, he won't even be the best former receiver on their football show. That distinction goes begrudgingly to Michael Irvan.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
The Wild Ride is Over
The Warriors certainly impressed with their defeat of the Mavericks, but the Jazz proved too big to beat. The series turned on such little things like missed free throws, lapses in defense and composure, and other little errors. But they added up and cost the Warriors games one, two and four.
The Warriors performed well in all the games except for game five. If they can keep their core together and obtain a true post player, they might get beyond the second round next year. But don't hold out too much hope for the post player. Nellie has an eye for smaller players, but he's practically blind when it comes to picking the big guys.
The Warriors performed well in all the games except for game five. If they can keep their core together and obtain a true post player, they might get beyond the second round next year. But don't hold out too much hope for the post player. Nellie has an eye for smaller players, but he's practically blind when it comes to picking the big guys.
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