For whatever reason, in their infinite wisdom, the NFL pushed their annual draft back two weeks this year.
This was great for the talking heads, scribes, and arm-chair general managers (sometimes known as fans) all over the country. It gave them an extra fortnight to discuss, debate, analyze, predict, and mostly guess at how it would all play out.
Particularly in the first round, which NFL teams would draft which player at which position? Might there be last second maneuvering to move up or down in the draft? Swapping picks for other picks and future picks, depending on the immediate perceived need of any particular team versus planning long-term?
Of course. Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500, and Tiger Woods video highlights, past or present -- it's an annual rite of spring. It happens every year. And so it came to pass again in 2014.
Thing is, by delaying the NFL draft for two weeks, the mighty NFL found itself bumping heads (at least TV-wise) with the second round of the NBA and NHL playoffs. Sure, the NFL remains the Godzilla in the room of American pro sports, with their popularity and revenue far out-pacing every other sport, including NASCAR racing.
But as a universal sports fan and, trust me, yours truly can click with the best of them -- why would I want to watch the NFL draft when the NBA and NHL playoffs are going on at the same time?
After all, some of those draft picks will become stars, and others will be busts. That's the way it's always been and always will be. And nobody, including their own teams and coaches, much less the fans in their respective cities will know anything about these guys until the NFL gets serious again sometime in August.
No doubt, much be will written and said about contract negotiations, salary caps, and all the rest leading up to the next football season. But let's get real. Every team is going to find a way to sign their first round pick eventually -- period. If not, the general manager that made the pick in the first place might face a meeting with his owner that might not be so pleasant.
By it's very definition, the NFL draft is all about speculation.
But when it comes to the NBA and NHL playoffs going on at the same time, there is no speculation. The remaining teams have already gone through an entire regular season, and one round of the playoffs, to get where they are right now. These guys are all really good, and the action is fast and furious -- present tense.
So somebody please tell me why a sports junkie would want to watch the NFL draft with, OMG, a "pick" happening every 20 minutes or so -- as opposed to live playoff action going on in the NBA/NHL that are clicks away?
Friday, May 9, 2014
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Donald Sterling and reality. Part II
As everyone in the sporting world and beyond knows, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently thundered down from on high meting out his punishment to LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling. This included a $2.5 million fine, lifetime banishment from the NBA (including immediately barring Sterling from any contact or business dealings with his own team), and fast-tracking the other NBA owners to force the sale of the Clippers.
This could play out one of two ways. Sterling could agree to Silver's terms. That would include paying the fine, accepting a hands-off policy on the Clippers and, presuming the other NBA owners vote with the three quarters majority necessary by NBA by-laws to strip him of ownership, quickly sell the Clippers to a suitable bidder.
Or -- he can stand his ground and fight all of the above. Given Sterling's litigious history during his 33 year tenure of ownership -- currently the longest in the NBA -- it's likely a pretty safe bet the man isn't going to wave the white flag and go away quietly. Methinks some very shrewd lawyers are already at work weighing various legal strategies on behalf of Sterling.
Nevertheless, let's take a closer look at the "punishments".
The $2.5 million fine. Though it was the maximum allowed by the NBA's own by-laws, such an amount is no more than chump change to a man like Donald Sterling. His reputed total wealth is estimated to be around $2 billion. To put that in perspective, if you have $200, this is like someone demanding a quarter -- twenty five cents. Hardly a big deal to most. Yet if Sterling decides to fight -- he won't pay it. Because by doing so, he would be admitting liability (guilt) on some level, thereby providing the foundation for all the rest to quickly snowball against him. So no, yours truly highly doubts he will voluntarily pay that fine.
Banishment and no contact. Adam Silver, in collusion with the other NBA owners, have the power to ban Sterling from sitting in on NBA Board of Governors' meetings, and to deny him access/admission to all the rest of the teams' venues. Yet when it comes to the Clippers themselves -- things could get a little dicey if Sterling refused to comply and stay away. Here's a hypothetical -- what would happen if Sterling attempted to go to his own office at the Staples Center, home of the Clips, Lakers, LA Sparks and LA Kings? The building itself is owned and operated by an entity called the LA Arena Co. As a business enterprise independent of the NBA, and basically a high-priced "landlord", the LA Arena Co. is under no legal obligation to abide by Silver's mandate regarding Sterling. How might it work out if Sterling showed up and wanted to go to the office and/or luxury suite he has paid big bucks for since moving his team from San Diego to LA way back in 1984? Unknown, but it would be an interesting scenario. And remember, Silver's "restraining order" comes from the offices of the NBA, not a judge somewhere. Therefore it lacks any judicial weight of law, with possible consequences if ignored. It's not like the authorities would haul Sterling off in irons if he attempted to show up at his office. But he probably won't do that because the latest reports (rumors) have it that Sterling is devoting the majority of his attention to the most important issue of all. Which brings me to...
The forced sale of his team. It appears Sterling has indeed decided to fight such an edict handed down by Silver, and this could get very complicated and messy before it's all over. As a billionaire, and given his past history involving litigation (mostly successful), there can be little doubt Sterling has a top-flight team of very good lawyers at his disposal.
Let's assume that when Sterling purchased the San Diego, now LA Clippers back in 1981 (which required a majority of the other owners to approve -- they did), he did so while also agreeing to abide by NBA by-laws. One of those rules apparently states that if a three-quarter majority (now 23) of the other owners comes together and decides he should be stripped of his franchise ownership -- then they have the authority to do so, by the very terms Sterling agreed to in the first place. If so, this could present a formidable hurdle for his legal-eagles to overcome.
Sure, they can and likely will present arguments on several fronts. One of them is First Amendment freedom of speech rights being held against their client to his detriment. Sterling may have uttered remarks found offensive by many, but like everyone else in the USA, he and they absolutely have the right to do so.
And then there's the matter of following the recording itself. Sterling's "girlfriend", one V. Stiviano, may or may not have been justified in recording their relevant conversations, but releasing them to the public domain (media) without Sterling's knowledge or consent was illegal.
Take it to the next step. The media certainly knew, or should have, if they'd done their due diligence, that such a recording was on very shaky legal ground to begin with. Yet they ran with it anyway. This violated historical journalistic ethics, standards, and behavior. While it's understood the media has become a dog-eat-dog world that rewards those that first break a story -- it is still no excuse for not verifying their information came from a legitimate source in the first place.
A step further. The NBA and Commish Adam Silver only became aware of Sterling's comments due to the very tainted chain of custody of the tape(s) mentioned above. If the whole matter of Sterling being forced to sell his team winds up going through the judicial process -- which seems highly likely -- his attorneys could argue that the tape(s) themselves are inadmissible evidence, because of how they were obtained. Would a judge agree with such a motion? Unknown, but if so, without the tape(s) as evidence, the NBA's case against Donald Sterling would quickly collapse. Let's assume that motion is denied.
It gets trickier yet. Somewhere along the line since 1981, quite likely early on, Donald Sterling put the Clippers into a family trust. One reason such a maneuver is typically done is to protect an asset (keep it in the family) in case something unforeseen happens to the principle owner. One never knows what tomorrow might bring -- or if there will even be a tomorrow in their life. Sometimes tragic events can happen suddenly.
Enter Rochelle (Shelley) Sterling, Donald's estranged wife. Though they may be separated, they're also very much still legally married. Not even counting their two adult children, who are likely also included in the trust, Mrs. Sterling could present a major obstacle to the wishes of Adam Silver, other NBA owners and, OMG, the court of public opinion regarding the expedited forced sale of the Clippers.
Mrs. Sterling appeared to signal her future intentions in a recent statement.
"As a co-owner, I am fully committed to taking the necessary steps to make the Clippers the best team in the NBA. That has been my aspiration ever since 1981".
That doesn't exactly sound like someone who is willing, much less eager to sell their share of an asset because her husband currently finds himself under siege.
Talking head legal "experts", some of which will normally be at odds over every other issue (see former prosecutors and defense attorneys), seem to be in agreement that Shelley Sterling's status as a co-owner of the Clippers could be problematic for Silver and the NBA trying to shed themselves of Sterling ownership, regardless of their by-laws.
After all, Rochelle and, let's not forget the kids at whatever level they may be involved, have done nothing wrong. Whether or not league approval was necessary for Donald Sterling to originally put the Clippers in a family trust is unknown. But if so, and the league signed off on it way back when -- then their lawyers have a problem of their own.
How can you force innocent people into liquidating their share of an asset they don't want to sell, which would subject them to big-time capital gains taxes to boot?
Kudos to Adam Silver in one regard. As David Stern's hand-picked successor (which raises questions in and of itself, but that's a story for another day) and now rookie NBA Commissioner, the little skinny guy with the bald head and big ears was presented with an opportunity to show his true grit. On that front, he passed with flying colors. Silver's in charge. He be da man. All hail the mighty Commish, or suffer his wrath.
And so it goes for those taking the entire Sterling affair at face value and jumping on the politically correct bandwagon.
But it ain't over yet. Probably far from it.
Lots of very shrewd lawyers will likely be locking horns soon representing both sides, and the final disposition of this whole mess could take years. No matter who prevails in the early skirmishes, any ruling will surely be appealed to a higher court by one side or the other. It could conceivably go all the way to the Supreme Court before a final decision is handed down.
So while Adam Silver made a big splash in his initial press conference to the masses, as a highly educated lawyer himself (Duke grad, University of Chicago law school), he likely also knows, or should, his original slam-dunk edicts regarding Sterling and the Clippers could get very legally complicated and messy before it's all over.
We shall see.....
This could play out one of two ways. Sterling could agree to Silver's terms. That would include paying the fine, accepting a hands-off policy on the Clippers and, presuming the other NBA owners vote with the three quarters majority necessary by NBA by-laws to strip him of ownership, quickly sell the Clippers to a suitable bidder.
Or -- he can stand his ground and fight all of the above. Given Sterling's litigious history during his 33 year tenure of ownership -- currently the longest in the NBA -- it's likely a pretty safe bet the man isn't going to wave the white flag and go away quietly. Methinks some very shrewd lawyers are already at work weighing various legal strategies on behalf of Sterling.
Nevertheless, let's take a closer look at the "punishments".
The $2.5 million fine. Though it was the maximum allowed by the NBA's own by-laws, such an amount is no more than chump change to a man like Donald Sterling. His reputed total wealth is estimated to be around $2 billion. To put that in perspective, if you have $200, this is like someone demanding a quarter -- twenty five cents. Hardly a big deal to most. Yet if Sterling decides to fight -- he won't pay it. Because by doing so, he would be admitting liability (guilt) on some level, thereby providing the foundation for all the rest to quickly snowball against him. So no, yours truly highly doubts he will voluntarily pay that fine.
Banishment and no contact. Adam Silver, in collusion with the other NBA owners, have the power to ban Sterling from sitting in on NBA Board of Governors' meetings, and to deny him access/admission to all the rest of the teams' venues. Yet when it comes to the Clippers themselves -- things could get a little dicey if Sterling refused to comply and stay away. Here's a hypothetical -- what would happen if Sterling attempted to go to his own office at the Staples Center, home of the Clips, Lakers, LA Sparks and LA Kings? The building itself is owned and operated by an entity called the LA Arena Co. As a business enterprise independent of the NBA, and basically a high-priced "landlord", the LA Arena Co. is under no legal obligation to abide by Silver's mandate regarding Sterling. How might it work out if Sterling showed up and wanted to go to the office and/or luxury suite he has paid big bucks for since moving his team from San Diego to LA way back in 1984? Unknown, but it would be an interesting scenario. And remember, Silver's "restraining order" comes from the offices of the NBA, not a judge somewhere. Therefore it lacks any judicial weight of law, with possible consequences if ignored. It's not like the authorities would haul Sterling off in irons if he attempted to show up at his office. But he probably won't do that because the latest reports (rumors) have it that Sterling is devoting the majority of his attention to the most important issue of all. Which brings me to...
The forced sale of his team. It appears Sterling has indeed decided to fight such an edict handed down by Silver, and this could get very complicated and messy before it's all over. As a billionaire, and given his past history involving litigation (mostly successful), there can be little doubt Sterling has a top-flight team of very good lawyers at his disposal.
Let's assume that when Sterling purchased the San Diego, now LA Clippers back in 1981 (which required a majority of the other owners to approve -- they did), he did so while also agreeing to abide by NBA by-laws. One of those rules apparently states that if a three-quarter majority (now 23) of the other owners comes together and decides he should be stripped of his franchise ownership -- then they have the authority to do so, by the very terms Sterling agreed to in the first place. If so, this could present a formidable hurdle for his legal-eagles to overcome.
Sure, they can and likely will present arguments on several fronts. One of them is First Amendment freedom of speech rights being held against their client to his detriment. Sterling may have uttered remarks found offensive by many, but like everyone else in the USA, he and they absolutely have the right to do so.
And then there's the matter of following the recording itself. Sterling's "girlfriend", one V. Stiviano, may or may not have been justified in recording their relevant conversations, but releasing them to the public domain (media) without Sterling's knowledge or consent was illegal.
Take it to the next step. The media certainly knew, or should have, if they'd done their due diligence, that such a recording was on very shaky legal ground to begin with. Yet they ran with it anyway. This violated historical journalistic ethics, standards, and behavior. While it's understood the media has become a dog-eat-dog world that rewards those that first break a story -- it is still no excuse for not verifying their information came from a legitimate source in the first place.
A step further. The NBA and Commish Adam Silver only became aware of Sterling's comments due to the very tainted chain of custody of the tape(s) mentioned above. If the whole matter of Sterling being forced to sell his team winds up going through the judicial process -- which seems highly likely -- his attorneys could argue that the tape(s) themselves are inadmissible evidence, because of how they were obtained. Would a judge agree with such a motion? Unknown, but if so, without the tape(s) as evidence, the NBA's case against Donald Sterling would quickly collapse. Let's assume that motion is denied.
It gets trickier yet. Somewhere along the line since 1981, quite likely early on, Donald Sterling put the Clippers into a family trust. One reason such a maneuver is typically done is to protect an asset (keep it in the family) in case something unforeseen happens to the principle owner. One never knows what tomorrow might bring -- or if there will even be a tomorrow in their life. Sometimes tragic events can happen suddenly.
Enter Rochelle (Shelley) Sterling, Donald's estranged wife. Though they may be separated, they're also very much still legally married. Not even counting their two adult children, who are likely also included in the trust, Mrs. Sterling could present a major obstacle to the wishes of Adam Silver, other NBA owners and, OMG, the court of public opinion regarding the expedited forced sale of the Clippers.
Mrs. Sterling appeared to signal her future intentions in a recent statement.
"As a co-owner, I am fully committed to taking the necessary steps to make the Clippers the best team in the NBA. That has been my aspiration ever since 1981".
That doesn't exactly sound like someone who is willing, much less eager to sell their share of an asset because her husband currently finds himself under siege.
Talking head legal "experts", some of which will normally be at odds over every other issue (see former prosecutors and defense attorneys), seem to be in agreement that Shelley Sterling's status as a co-owner of the Clippers could be problematic for Silver and the NBA trying to shed themselves of Sterling ownership, regardless of their by-laws.
After all, Rochelle and, let's not forget the kids at whatever level they may be involved, have done nothing wrong. Whether or not league approval was necessary for Donald Sterling to originally put the Clippers in a family trust is unknown. But if so, and the league signed off on it way back when -- then their lawyers have a problem of their own.
How can you force innocent people into liquidating their share of an asset they don't want to sell, which would subject them to big-time capital gains taxes to boot?
Kudos to Adam Silver in one regard. As David Stern's hand-picked successor (which raises questions in and of itself, but that's a story for another day) and now rookie NBA Commissioner, the little skinny guy with the bald head and big ears was presented with an opportunity to show his true grit. On that front, he passed with flying colors. Silver's in charge. He be da man. All hail the mighty Commish, or suffer his wrath.
And so it goes for those taking the entire Sterling affair at face value and jumping on the politically correct bandwagon.
But it ain't over yet. Probably far from it.
Lots of very shrewd lawyers will likely be locking horns soon representing both sides, and the final disposition of this whole mess could take years. No matter who prevails in the early skirmishes, any ruling will surely be appealed to a higher court by one side or the other. It could conceivably go all the way to the Supreme Court before a final decision is handed down.
So while Adam Silver made a big splash in his initial press conference to the masses, as a highly educated lawyer himself (Duke grad, University of Chicago law school), he likely also knows, or should, his original slam-dunk edicts regarding Sterling and the Clippers could get very legally complicated and messy before it's all over.
We shall see.....
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Chris/Cliff Paul, and Blake Griffin
Turns out, LA Clipper super-star Chris Paul really does have a twin brother Cliff. And he really is a State Farm agent, though nobody seems to know where. Remember the last generation of State Farm commercials before the Chris/Cliff show took centerstage? All one had to do was say, "State Farm is there" and, poof, an agent magically appeared in the backseat of your car, house, or anyplace else that was handy when an emergency arose. Maybe Cliff is one of those guys -- just poofing around wherever he's needed.
An idle suggestion: When in the confines of one's own bedroom enjoying the pleasures of the flesh, never mention State Farm. Cliff Paul poofing in at the height of passion could be a bit awkward -- to say the least.
According to his bio, Chris Paul was born somewhere in North Carolina. Given Cliff is his twin brother, it's probably a pretty safe bet he was born quite nearby. Yet like the commercials claim, somehow they got separated shortly after birth, and many years passed before they were finally reunited. Holy poof and point guard -- sometimes there actually is some truth in advertising. Who knew?
Blake Griffin was born in Oklahoma. He went to an Oklahoma high school, was an Oklahoma Sooner in college, and wound up being the first overall NBA draft pick by the Clippers back in 2009. Griffin recently signed a 5 year contract with the Clippers for $94.5 million, all guaranteed, which breaks down to an average yearly salary of about $19 million a year. While such an annual stipend might not impress people by the names of Gates, Buffet, Trump, Winfrey, and a few others -- I dare say most of us could do quite nicely on merely one hundredth of that sum, a paltry $190,000 a year.
Nevertheless, it's the American way. If you can shoot, jump, rebound, and slam dunk a basketball better than most -- chances are you're going to make way more money than the average schmuck who performs such mundane tasks as brain surgery.
While an insurance agent like Cliff Paul woke up in the financial garden of Eden, cha-ching, given the commercials made possible by reuniting with his much more famous twin brother -- Chris Paul ($18 million a year) doesn't need the endorsement money either. But for some of these guys, it's never enough -- is it?
At least State Farm is still an American company. I think.
But Blake Griffin has chosen to endorse Kia, a South Korean automobile manufacturer that in recent years has been flooding the American market -- and airwaves -- with their products and advertisements. The one-time Oklahoma phenom, now NBA All-Star, should be ashamed of himself for having sold out to a foreign company that, by definition, is trying to take business away from American companies.
And all for a few more bucks he obviously doesn't need.
An idle suggestion: When in the confines of one's own bedroom enjoying the pleasures of the flesh, never mention State Farm. Cliff Paul poofing in at the height of passion could be a bit awkward -- to say the least.
According to his bio, Chris Paul was born somewhere in North Carolina. Given Cliff is his twin brother, it's probably a pretty safe bet he was born quite nearby. Yet like the commercials claim, somehow they got separated shortly after birth, and many years passed before they were finally reunited. Holy poof and point guard -- sometimes there actually is some truth in advertising. Who knew?
Blake Griffin was born in Oklahoma. He went to an Oklahoma high school, was an Oklahoma Sooner in college, and wound up being the first overall NBA draft pick by the Clippers back in 2009. Griffin recently signed a 5 year contract with the Clippers for $94.5 million, all guaranteed, which breaks down to an average yearly salary of about $19 million a year. While such an annual stipend might not impress people by the names of Gates, Buffet, Trump, Winfrey, and a few others -- I dare say most of us could do quite nicely on merely one hundredth of that sum, a paltry $190,000 a year.
Nevertheless, it's the American way. If you can shoot, jump, rebound, and slam dunk a basketball better than most -- chances are you're going to make way more money than the average schmuck who performs such mundane tasks as brain surgery.
While an insurance agent like Cliff Paul woke up in the financial garden of Eden, cha-ching, given the commercials made possible by reuniting with his much more famous twin brother -- Chris Paul ($18 million a year) doesn't need the endorsement money either. But for some of these guys, it's never enough -- is it?
At least State Farm is still an American company. I think.
But Blake Griffin has chosen to endorse Kia, a South Korean automobile manufacturer that in recent years has been flooding the American market -- and airwaves -- with their products and advertisements. The one-time Oklahoma phenom, now NBA All-Star, should be ashamed of himself for having sold out to a foreign company that, by definition, is trying to take business away from American companies.
And all for a few more bucks he obviously doesn't need.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Donald Sterling and reality. Part I
Finally, an objective voice has emerged above the runaway train lynch-mob mentality that seems hell-bent on stringing up LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling.
That would be one Larry Elder, a best-selling author and radio talk show host, who pointed out some apparent hypocrisies in his article which recently appeared in the printed sports section of this newspaper regarding the Sterling snafu. And BTW, Elder just happens to be a black man.
Let's look at some of the issues Elder raised, and perhaps a bit beyond.
First of all, few would doubt the relevant conversation(s) Sterling had with his "girlfriend" were meant to be private -- at least by Sterling himself. Yet, for her own reasons, she secretly recorded them. At that point in time, perhaps no harm done. But when that girlfriend offered up such a recording for public consumption and scrutiny -- she broke the law. A private citizen recording someone else without their knowledge, much less consent, then making such a tape available to others is a crime. Sterling's words may have been offensive to many, but he didn't break any laws. There's a difference.
Elder further pointed out that if Sterling was such a racist, then why would he have hired a very expensive black coach, one Doc Rivers, who happens to be married to a white woman? Further yet, the girlfriend in question is a black Latina herself. Sterling may or may not be a lot of things, but he's a billionaire. I don't care if he's 80 or 180. Tell me a billionaire couldn't have "arm candy" of whatever color he chooses -- and I'll tell you you're mistaken. There's never been and never will be a shortage of gold diggers of all stripes. They're out there -- waiting for an opportunity.
Elder also wondered why a man such as filmmaker Spike Lee, a court side fixture at NY Knicks games, can openly express his animosity toward interracial couples, yet suffer no repercussions for doing so. Lee himself was quoted as saying he gives them a "look". Daggers. This would seem to be a racist attitude itself. One is left to wonder whether Spike Lee would give Doc Rivers and his wife the same "look" if they ever crossed paths. Somehow I think Spike would come up on the short end of a stare down with Doc, but it's just another dose of hypocrisy.
Charles Barkley, whom I'd long admired for his candor and wit, recently made an outrageous statement himself. He said the NBA was a black league. Really Chuck? Last time I looked, the NBA not only had a bunch of American white players, but "anglos" from Canada and various denominations from European countries. Throw in the South Americans and even Yao Ming, who hailed from China. It would seem Barkley's attitude on this matter is every bit as racist as the remarks attributed to Donald Sterling. Yet for some reason, Charles got a free pass after uttering such a public remark. It's like it never happened. Gee, I wonder why that is? But Charles briefly exposed his inner feelings regarding such matters, and yours truly promptly dumped him as a fan when he did. I had long thought he was above that -- but I was apparently mistaken.
In his article, Elder also noted that between white, blacks, and Hispanics, a recent survey found blacks are the most racist -- even according to blacks.
So there can be little doubt that while Donald Sterling is the sacrificial lamb of the day, the underlying roots of the problem are much deeper, and likely aren't going away any time soon. It's just human nature, flawed as it is.
And speaking of flawed, anyone who really thinks the whole Donald Sterling case is a slam dunk and he will be quickly severed of his ownership of the LA Clippers -- is likely vastly mistaken in their logic as well.
This could drag on for months, even many years, before it's finally over.
Taking a look at the possibilities -- next time.....
That would be one Larry Elder, a best-selling author and radio talk show host, who pointed out some apparent hypocrisies in his article which recently appeared in the printed sports section of this newspaper regarding the Sterling snafu. And BTW, Elder just happens to be a black man.
Let's look at some of the issues Elder raised, and perhaps a bit beyond.
First of all, few would doubt the relevant conversation(s) Sterling had with his "girlfriend" were meant to be private -- at least by Sterling himself. Yet, for her own reasons, she secretly recorded them. At that point in time, perhaps no harm done. But when that girlfriend offered up such a recording for public consumption and scrutiny -- she broke the law. A private citizen recording someone else without their knowledge, much less consent, then making such a tape available to others is a crime. Sterling's words may have been offensive to many, but he didn't break any laws. There's a difference.
Elder further pointed out that if Sterling was such a racist, then why would he have hired a very expensive black coach, one Doc Rivers, who happens to be married to a white woman? Further yet, the girlfriend in question is a black Latina herself. Sterling may or may not be a lot of things, but he's a billionaire. I don't care if he's 80 or 180. Tell me a billionaire couldn't have "arm candy" of whatever color he chooses -- and I'll tell you you're mistaken. There's never been and never will be a shortage of gold diggers of all stripes. They're out there -- waiting for an opportunity.
Elder also wondered why a man such as filmmaker Spike Lee, a court side fixture at NY Knicks games, can openly express his animosity toward interracial couples, yet suffer no repercussions for doing so. Lee himself was quoted as saying he gives them a "look". Daggers. This would seem to be a racist attitude itself. One is left to wonder whether Spike Lee would give Doc Rivers and his wife the same "look" if they ever crossed paths. Somehow I think Spike would come up on the short end of a stare down with Doc, but it's just another dose of hypocrisy.
Charles Barkley, whom I'd long admired for his candor and wit, recently made an outrageous statement himself. He said the NBA was a black league. Really Chuck? Last time I looked, the NBA not only had a bunch of American white players, but "anglos" from Canada and various denominations from European countries. Throw in the South Americans and even Yao Ming, who hailed from China. It would seem Barkley's attitude on this matter is every bit as racist as the remarks attributed to Donald Sterling. Yet for some reason, Charles got a free pass after uttering such a public remark. It's like it never happened. Gee, I wonder why that is? But Charles briefly exposed his inner feelings regarding such matters, and yours truly promptly dumped him as a fan when he did. I had long thought he was above that -- but I was apparently mistaken.
In his article, Elder also noted that between white, blacks, and Hispanics, a recent survey found blacks are the most racist -- even according to blacks.
So there can be little doubt that while Donald Sterling is the sacrificial lamb of the day, the underlying roots of the problem are much deeper, and likely aren't going away any time soon. It's just human nature, flawed as it is.
And speaking of flawed, anyone who really thinks the whole Donald Sterling case is a slam dunk and he will be quickly severed of his ownership of the LA Clippers -- is likely vastly mistaken in their logic as well.
This could drag on for months, even many years, before it's finally over.
Taking a look at the possibilities -- next time.....
Saturday, May 3, 2014
The sports of May
Right now, it would appear the NBA playoffs have taken center stage. With all the compelling game seven match-ups on tap over the weekend, and the multi-channel TV hype that goes along with it -- even if it's only the opening rounds -- it's pretty tough to ignore.
Sure, the NHL playoffs are going on as well, and Stanley Cup fever will likely reach a fever pitch for those teams and fans lucky enough to still be in contention in a couple weeks. Yet for some reason, hockey has never generated the same interest in the USA as basketball (though it could be fairly said quite the opposite holds true in many other countries -- particularly Canada). Maybe the NHL needs one of their owners to do a Donald Sterling to boost their popularity. Say something outrageous that will garner massive media coverage. Couldn't hurt. As they say, even bad publicity is better than no publicity. Hollywood and Washington DC are chock full of clowns that continue to provide ample evidence of that.
Baseball purists are -- well -- what they are. Nothing beats the grand old game, national pastime, and all that. I say gimme a break. It's barely May. Well over 100 games to go before the playoff picture even begins to come into focus. Enjoy the ball park franks, but wake me up in September.
The Kentucky Derby is about to go off again. This is a big deal in the world of thoroughbred horse racing. Too bad it only lasts for about two minutes, then mainstream sports fans will totally forget about the ponies until the party and mint juleps roll around next year.
Same thing with the Indy 500 at the end of May. Though yours truly wouldn't miss it, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is a shell of what it used to be. After the notorious feud a couple decades ago that divided rival factions, it has never recovered to gain the popularity it once had. The race itself lasts for about 4 hours, and then many forget about Indy cars. Like the Kentucky Derby, there are many other events on their respective calendars over the year, but the mainstream sporting public pays little heed.
The upcoming NFL draft is similar. Good grief, "experts" have been falling all over each other trying to predict which team will pick which player at which position in which round for the last few weeks. The draft itself only lasts a couple days. After it's over, all the teams will crow about how well they did, the talking heads and scribes will dissect, analyze, and give their opinions on it for a week or so -- and then it will fade away. Bottom line? Some "afterthoughts" (see Tom Brady) will go on to become great players. Some "can't miss" prospects (see Ryan Leaf) will crash and burn. And everything else in between. In the end, it's basically a crap shoot. Some guys work out at the next level -- and some don't.
Tennis anyone? They've probably been playing all along somewhere every week, but have you even heard of such things lately? The French Open will fire up in late May on the clay courts of Roland Garros Stadium. That will get attention. Remember two names. Rafael and Serena. Also, given the time difference, if one is a big-time tennis fan and wishes to watch these matches in "real time", it might not be a bad idea to familiarize oneself on how to program their DVR, if so equipped.
Since Bubba Watson won the Masters's again a few weeks ago, the PGA still features a tournament every week, but their next really big deal is the US Open. Will Tiger Woods be ready to compete again after recovering from his latest surgery? Unknown.
But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself. That doesn't start until June 12. Likely just on the heels of the NHL and NBA Finals. That might work out just fine.
After that, it's on to the dog days of baseball for a couple months. Yawn.
Sure, the NHL playoffs are going on as well, and Stanley Cup fever will likely reach a fever pitch for those teams and fans lucky enough to still be in contention in a couple weeks. Yet for some reason, hockey has never generated the same interest in the USA as basketball (though it could be fairly said quite the opposite holds true in many other countries -- particularly Canada). Maybe the NHL needs one of their owners to do a Donald Sterling to boost their popularity. Say something outrageous that will garner massive media coverage. Couldn't hurt. As they say, even bad publicity is better than no publicity. Hollywood and Washington DC are chock full of clowns that continue to provide ample evidence of that.
Baseball purists are -- well -- what they are. Nothing beats the grand old game, national pastime, and all that. I say gimme a break. It's barely May. Well over 100 games to go before the playoff picture even begins to come into focus. Enjoy the ball park franks, but wake me up in September.
The Kentucky Derby is about to go off again. This is a big deal in the world of thoroughbred horse racing. Too bad it only lasts for about two minutes, then mainstream sports fans will totally forget about the ponies until the party and mint juleps roll around next year.
Same thing with the Indy 500 at the end of May. Though yours truly wouldn't miss it, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" is a shell of what it used to be. After the notorious feud a couple decades ago that divided rival factions, it has never recovered to gain the popularity it once had. The race itself lasts for about 4 hours, and then many forget about Indy cars. Like the Kentucky Derby, there are many other events on their respective calendars over the year, but the mainstream sporting public pays little heed.
The upcoming NFL draft is similar. Good grief, "experts" have been falling all over each other trying to predict which team will pick which player at which position in which round for the last few weeks. The draft itself only lasts a couple days. After it's over, all the teams will crow about how well they did, the talking heads and scribes will dissect, analyze, and give their opinions on it for a week or so -- and then it will fade away. Bottom line? Some "afterthoughts" (see Tom Brady) will go on to become great players. Some "can't miss" prospects (see Ryan Leaf) will crash and burn. And everything else in between. In the end, it's basically a crap shoot. Some guys work out at the next level -- and some don't.
Tennis anyone? They've probably been playing all along somewhere every week, but have you even heard of such things lately? The French Open will fire up in late May on the clay courts of Roland Garros Stadium. That will get attention. Remember two names. Rafael and Serena. Also, given the time difference, if one is a big-time tennis fan and wishes to watch these matches in "real time", it might not be a bad idea to familiarize oneself on how to program their DVR, if so equipped.
Since Bubba Watson won the Masters's again a few weeks ago, the PGA still features a tournament every week, but their next really big deal is the US Open. Will Tiger Woods be ready to compete again after recovering from his latest surgery? Unknown.
But perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself. That doesn't start until June 12. Likely just on the heels of the NHL and NBA Finals. That might work out just fine.
After that, it's on to the dog days of baseball for a couple months. Yawn.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Never before in the playoffs
On Saturday, May 3, something will happen in the NBA playoffs that's never happened before. Three game sevens to ultimately decide three different series' will occur on the same day. Memphis @ Okla City, Atlanta @ Indianapolis, and Golden State @ LA Clippers. An NBA junkie TV feast indeed.
Thing is, if things work out later today, the same thing could happen on Sunday. In their games sixes, we need Dallas to get by San Antonio, Houston to topple Portland, and Brooklyn to knot things up with Toronto. All entirely possible, maybe even probable.
In fact, though it seems the NBA playoffs have been going on for quite a while, only two teams have even been eliminated. Chicago and Charlotte. But one way or the other, six more are going down in the next few days.
Best to be prepared, just in case the optimum scenario plays out. For two full nights of watching non-stop NBA game seven action -- I suggest the following, especially if you anticipate other hoop maniacs to descend on your humble abode to take part:
Put your favorite local pizza joint on notice. Starting at 6 PM on Saturday, tell them you want a large meat-eaters special delivered to your house every half hour until you tell them to stop. And tell them you just might want the same thing on Sunday.
Forget a case or two of beer. This is the time to spring for a half barrel. Your local party store can likely set you up.
Always remember that to be a good host, one must be considerate of the various tastes of their guests, and provide alternatives to pizza and beer. Twenty pounds of peanuts, a dozen bags of Doritos and potato chips, a gallon each of french onion dip and guacamole, and a couple buckets of the Colonel's KFC should probably do the trick.
If you have pets -- like dogs -- especially little ones -- board them. Though they won't like it -- they'll be much safer in the care of professionals than they would be in the company of a mob of lunatics in their own home.
Always have fresh-brewed coffee on hand. Nobody's going to drink it, but it's a nice touch and demonstrates you aren't a total heathen. And you never know when one or more of the wives or girlfriends might show up to check on their significant other. Just in case, have a 12 pack of Diet Coke in the fridge as well. Combined with the coffee, that usually soothes the savage beasts -- at least for a little while.
Almost forgot -- if you have a wife or girlfriend of your own -- board her too -- but not with the dogs. Such an effort to do so typically has a very negative effect on how they view your relationship for some reason. Much better to pre-plan this deal with your buddies. Treat all the significant others to a night in a deluxe motel, replete with saunas, whirlpools, champagne, caviar, and massage therapists. Worry about the credit card bill later.
Hey. Nobody said this was going to be cheap. But if you want to enjoy some serious NBA playoff action man-style -- then do it right.
Thing is, if things work out later today, the same thing could happen on Sunday. In their games sixes, we need Dallas to get by San Antonio, Houston to topple Portland, and Brooklyn to knot things up with Toronto. All entirely possible, maybe even probable.
In fact, though it seems the NBA playoffs have been going on for quite a while, only two teams have even been eliminated. Chicago and Charlotte. But one way or the other, six more are going down in the next few days.
Best to be prepared, just in case the optimum scenario plays out. For two full nights of watching non-stop NBA game seven action -- I suggest the following, especially if you anticipate other hoop maniacs to descend on your humble abode to take part:
Put your favorite local pizza joint on notice. Starting at 6 PM on Saturday, tell them you want a large meat-eaters special delivered to your house every half hour until you tell them to stop. And tell them you just might want the same thing on Sunday.
Forget a case or two of beer. This is the time to spring for a half barrel. Your local party store can likely set you up.
Always remember that to be a good host, one must be considerate of the various tastes of their guests, and provide alternatives to pizza and beer. Twenty pounds of peanuts, a dozen bags of Doritos and potato chips, a gallon each of french onion dip and guacamole, and a couple buckets of the Colonel's KFC should probably do the trick.
If you have pets -- like dogs -- especially little ones -- board them. Though they won't like it -- they'll be much safer in the care of professionals than they would be in the company of a mob of lunatics in their own home.
Always have fresh-brewed coffee on hand. Nobody's going to drink it, but it's a nice touch and demonstrates you aren't a total heathen. And you never know when one or more of the wives or girlfriends might show up to check on their significant other. Just in case, have a 12 pack of Diet Coke in the fridge as well. Combined with the coffee, that usually soothes the savage beasts -- at least for a little while.
Almost forgot -- if you have a wife or girlfriend of your own -- board her too -- but not with the dogs. Such an effort to do so typically has a very negative effect on how they view your relationship for some reason. Much better to pre-plan this deal with your buddies. Treat all the significant others to a night in a deluxe motel, replete with saunas, whirlpools, champagne, caviar, and massage therapists. Worry about the credit card bill later.
Hey. Nobody said this was going to be cheap. But if you want to enjoy some serious NBA playoff action man-style -- then do it right.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
The NBA playoffs
The wild west has never been wilder, at least in the pro hoops world. Consider the early playoff match-ups and what has happened so far.
The Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers have been slugging it out, with most of their games going into overtime, and the visiting team winning more games than the hosts. Portland leads 3-2 and can close it out at home in a couple days -- but who knows?
Same with the Okla City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies. Road wins and overtimes galore. Who would have thought the Grizz, also leading 3-2, would be in a position to eliminate Kevin Durant and company when they go back to Elvisland for Game 6? OKC were supposed to be title contenders -- not get knocked out in the first round. But it ain't over yet.
San Antonio and Dallas are in a good old-fashioned Texas shoot-out, with the Spurs ahead (sound familiar?) 3-2 and the series heading back to Big D. Both teams have beat the other on the road in prior games. Anything can happen, though it would be a bit surprising if the Mavs can defeat the Spurs twice in a row, especially a potential game seven in Alamoland. But ya never know. Stranger things have already happened, which brings me to....
The LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors match-up. Certainly, given the recent Donald Sterling fiasco, the Clips have faced some major distractions. Before the game started, they shed their warm-up jackets en masse at mid-court in a game at Golden State, and wore their teams shirts inside out in protest.
Quick questions: Would they have done the same thing with their LA team gear if they were playing at home in front of their own fans? And what would the crowd reaction have been?
Though not widely reported, Golden State guard Stephen Curry was quoted as saying if Commissioner Adam Silver didn't drop the hammer on Clipper owner Donald Sterling in a big way -- he and his teammates weren't going to play the next game.
Now THAT would have been interesting. Were the players of Golden State REALLY prepared to forfeit an NBA playoff game if they weren't satisfied with what the Commish had to say in his rulings on Sterling? Can you imagine the can of worms that would have opened up?
The Sterling affair aside, the Western Conference of the NBA playoffs appears to be a collective knock-down, drag-out endurance match. These guys are beating each other up, and who will eventually survive to go on to the Finals is a good question indeed.
In the meantime, out in the East, the Miami Heat easily swept Charlotte in the opening round. The Washington Wizards dispatched the Chicago Bulls, who were without the services of former MVP Derrick Rose and big man Luol Deng. No big surprise there either. The Toronto Raptors are slugging it out with the Brooklyn Nets. The Atlanta Hawks, also leading 3-2 over the Indiana Pacers, go home for Game 6 and can send Larry Bird's boys back to the banks of the Wabash. And they just might. After being so dominant earlier in the season and earning a #1 seed, the Pacers seem to have totally collapsed in the last few weeks.
Does anybody really think Toronto or Brooklyn will pose much of a challenge to the Heat in the next round? The Atlanta/Indy winner going up against Washington? Does it even matter?
Lebron and company are healthy, and I dare anyone to tell me which other team in the East is capable of beating them in a 7 game playoff series. Barring a major injury or two, the Heat appear to be on cruise control back to the Finals, going for a three-peat as champions.
And who will await them there after surviving the brutal gauntlet of the West? Unknown, but while a case can be made they are battle-hardened, and equal case could be made that they've been beat up along the way during the playoffs as well.
Sure, these guys are in world-class physical shape and theoretically recover quickly. But they're also human, and one brutal playoff game after another, let alone a couple more series' likely to be even tougher to get to the Finals, has to take it's toll eventually.
Again, barring something totally unforeseen -- definitely advantage Miami.
The Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers have been slugging it out, with most of their games going into overtime, and the visiting team winning more games than the hosts. Portland leads 3-2 and can close it out at home in a couple days -- but who knows?
Same with the Okla City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies. Road wins and overtimes galore. Who would have thought the Grizz, also leading 3-2, would be in a position to eliminate Kevin Durant and company when they go back to Elvisland for Game 6? OKC were supposed to be title contenders -- not get knocked out in the first round. But it ain't over yet.
San Antonio and Dallas are in a good old-fashioned Texas shoot-out, with the Spurs ahead (sound familiar?) 3-2 and the series heading back to Big D. Both teams have beat the other on the road in prior games. Anything can happen, though it would be a bit surprising if the Mavs can defeat the Spurs twice in a row, especially a potential game seven in Alamoland. But ya never know. Stranger things have already happened, which brings me to....
The LA Clippers and Golden State Warriors match-up. Certainly, given the recent Donald Sterling fiasco, the Clips have faced some major distractions. Before the game started, they shed their warm-up jackets en masse at mid-court in a game at Golden State, and wore their teams shirts inside out in protest.
Quick questions: Would they have done the same thing with their LA team gear if they were playing at home in front of their own fans? And what would the crowd reaction have been?
Though not widely reported, Golden State guard Stephen Curry was quoted as saying if Commissioner Adam Silver didn't drop the hammer on Clipper owner Donald Sterling in a big way -- he and his teammates weren't going to play the next game.
Now THAT would have been interesting. Were the players of Golden State REALLY prepared to forfeit an NBA playoff game if they weren't satisfied with what the Commish had to say in his rulings on Sterling? Can you imagine the can of worms that would have opened up?
The Sterling affair aside, the Western Conference of the NBA playoffs appears to be a collective knock-down, drag-out endurance match. These guys are beating each other up, and who will eventually survive to go on to the Finals is a good question indeed.
In the meantime, out in the East, the Miami Heat easily swept Charlotte in the opening round. The Washington Wizards dispatched the Chicago Bulls, who were without the services of former MVP Derrick Rose and big man Luol Deng. No big surprise there either. The Toronto Raptors are slugging it out with the Brooklyn Nets. The Atlanta Hawks, also leading 3-2 over the Indiana Pacers, go home for Game 6 and can send Larry Bird's boys back to the banks of the Wabash. And they just might. After being so dominant earlier in the season and earning a #1 seed, the Pacers seem to have totally collapsed in the last few weeks.
Does anybody really think Toronto or Brooklyn will pose much of a challenge to the Heat in the next round? The Atlanta/Indy winner going up against Washington? Does it even matter?
Lebron and company are healthy, and I dare anyone to tell me which other team in the East is capable of beating them in a 7 game playoff series. Barring a major injury or two, the Heat appear to be on cruise control back to the Finals, going for a three-peat as champions.
And who will await them there after surviving the brutal gauntlet of the West? Unknown, but while a case can be made they are battle-hardened, and equal case could be made that they've been beat up along the way during the playoffs as well.
Sure, these guys are in world-class physical shape and theoretically recover quickly. But they're also human, and one brutal playoff game after another, let alone a couple more series' likely to be even tougher to get to the Finals, has to take it's toll eventually.
Again, barring something totally unforeseen -- definitely advantage Miami.
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