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.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
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.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Spring for Detroit sports
Technically, spring sprung a few weeks ago. After a record-setting year for snowfall, all that nasty white stuff has finally melted and gone away. The early perennials are blooming, and the birds will be back soon from their southern migration. Trees will start sprouting their leaves anew, and the epic battle for supremacy in the back yard between the squirrels, chipmunks, and my toy yorkies is already in full swing -- again. Several marathons worth of 4-legged miles will be run in that yard over the next 6-7 months or so -- and that's a good thing. Alas, this also means the mosquitoes are likely hatching by the gazillions, and those beautiful leaves won't seem so pretty when they cover the yard again in October, but we'll worry about that later. Also, if this is spring, how come I can open the doors and windows one day for some glorious fresh air, but have to close them down the next while the furnace chugs away trying to get a little heat back in this joint? Only in Michigan, such as it is.
On to the sports front. The Red Wings were dispatched by the Boston Bruins in their opening round playoff series. No big surprise there. Will the Wings be better next year? Maybe, even probably, but genuine Stanley Cup contenders? Likely not. They appear to be going through one of those team phases (rebuilding?) where a lot of young guys need to get a couple more seasons under their belts before they finally gel and become a legitimate threat. Or not. Hard to say.
No word lately out of the Detroit Pistons camp. Long-time Prez Joe Dumars was relieved of his duties calling the personnel shots, but reportedly will stay on with the organization in another capacity, though nobody seems to know exactly what it is. Fairly new owner Tom Gores and his executive inner-circle have been silent as to who will take Joe D's spot. With the NBA draft coming up in June, the apparent need for a new head coach, and negotiating all those pesky contracts, while dancing around the salary cap -- it would seem Gores and company need to do something thing fairly soon.
The Detrroit Tigers once again sit atop the AL Central Division. Hey, while hope springs eternal, it's still April. A lot of things can and will likely happen in the next 5-6 months. Maybe the Tigers win the division by 20 games. Or maybe they don't win it at all. Right now they're playing slightly above average. No better and no worse. Here's what I DO know. Despite all the hype they continue to generate over such star players as Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, and even recent free agent addition Ian Kinsler amongst others, they haven't won the World Series since Orwellian times. 1984. Thirty years ago. Lots of individual awards, but no championships.
And, of course, there's the Lions. No offense, Honolulu Blue and Silver faithful, but yours truly continues to find them a never-ending source of amusement. With the recent passing of long-time owner William Clay Ford, who's in charge anyway? His widow Martha? And just how much do you think she knows about football? She came from the Firestone family. Bet she doesn't know much about tires either. Mustang Billy has his hands full trying to run the Ford Motor company, but he remains some sort of executive vice-president regarding the Lions. And that's the same guy that convinced his pop that Matt Millen could ride into town and finally turn their long-hapless franchise around. How did that work out?
No doubt, Lions fans will be sitting on the edge of their seats when the NFL draft rolls around. Who should they take? A corner here, a safety there, another wide receiver, a tackle, linebacker, running back, or a backup to starting QB Matthew Stafford? Hey, the Lions have a lot of needs, including a place kicker.
Their fans will fret, stew, and second-guess the Lions' "brain-trust" regardless of who they pick. But it will certainly be hyped to the max, especially by their local media. And the fans will buy into the kool-aid yet again. We could be a contender.
Just one question. Do they really think their team will be better than the Green Bay Packers within their own division, let alone such teams as the San Fran 49ers and the reigning Super Bowl champ Seattle Seahawks next year? Please.
There's always hope, you say? Indeed. One can hope there will be no more wars or bloodshed anywhere -- ever. Everybody will just get along. Or every politician will be open, honest, and truthful. Or yours truly can hope a Pulitzer is headed my way soon for my brilliant writing in this forum.
But I wouldn't bet on any of the above, especially the latter.
Like the Lions, some things just aren't meant to be.....
On to the sports front. The Red Wings were dispatched by the Boston Bruins in their opening round playoff series. No big surprise there. Will the Wings be better next year? Maybe, even probably, but genuine Stanley Cup contenders? Likely not. They appear to be going through one of those team phases (rebuilding?) where a lot of young guys need to get a couple more seasons under their belts before they finally gel and become a legitimate threat. Or not. Hard to say.
No word lately out of the Detroit Pistons camp. Long-time Prez Joe Dumars was relieved of his duties calling the personnel shots, but reportedly will stay on with the organization in another capacity, though nobody seems to know exactly what it is. Fairly new owner Tom Gores and his executive inner-circle have been silent as to who will take Joe D's spot. With the NBA draft coming up in June, the apparent need for a new head coach, and negotiating all those pesky contracts, while dancing around the salary cap -- it would seem Gores and company need to do something thing fairly soon.
The Detrroit Tigers once again sit atop the AL Central Division. Hey, while hope springs eternal, it's still April. A lot of things can and will likely happen in the next 5-6 months. Maybe the Tigers win the division by 20 games. Or maybe they don't win it at all. Right now they're playing slightly above average. No better and no worse. Here's what I DO know. Despite all the hype they continue to generate over such star players as Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Miguel Cabrera, and even recent free agent addition Ian Kinsler amongst others, they haven't won the World Series since Orwellian times. 1984. Thirty years ago. Lots of individual awards, but no championships.
And, of course, there's the Lions. No offense, Honolulu Blue and Silver faithful, but yours truly continues to find them a never-ending source of amusement. With the recent passing of long-time owner William Clay Ford, who's in charge anyway? His widow Martha? And just how much do you think she knows about football? She came from the Firestone family. Bet she doesn't know much about tires either. Mustang Billy has his hands full trying to run the Ford Motor company, but he remains some sort of executive vice-president regarding the Lions. And that's the same guy that convinced his pop that Matt Millen could ride into town and finally turn their long-hapless franchise around. How did that work out?
No doubt, Lions fans will be sitting on the edge of their seats when the NFL draft rolls around. Who should they take? A corner here, a safety there, another wide receiver, a tackle, linebacker, running back, or a backup to starting QB Matthew Stafford? Hey, the Lions have a lot of needs, including a place kicker.
Their fans will fret, stew, and second-guess the Lions' "brain-trust" regardless of who they pick. But it will certainly be hyped to the max, especially by their local media. And the fans will buy into the kool-aid yet again. We could be a contender.
Just one question. Do they really think their team will be better than the Green Bay Packers within their own division, let alone such teams as the San Fran 49ers and the reigning Super Bowl champ Seattle Seahawks next year? Please.
There's always hope, you say? Indeed. One can hope there will be no more wars or bloodshed anywhere -- ever. Everybody will just get along. Or every politician will be open, honest, and truthful. Or yours truly can hope a Pulitzer is headed my way soon for my brilliant writing in this forum.
But I wouldn't bet on any of the above, especially the latter.
Like the Lions, some things just aren't meant to be.....
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Doc Rivers and the Clipper dilemma
Glenn Anton (Doc) Rivers is the head coach of the LA Clippers. He also has a major problem right about now -- as do the Clip players.
Certainly everyone has heard of the alleged racist comments attributed to Clipper owner Donald Sterling. For the purpose of this article, let's ignore the complicated web of freedom of speech rights versus political correctness, bigotry and the backlash that usually results, and even what sanctions may or may not be imposed on Sterling in the near future by the NBA.
This is about Doc and the players. They're fighting for their playoff lives against the Golden State Warriors in the opening round with the series knotted 2-2 and headed back to LA for Game 5. Which team will ultimately prevail and move on is anybody's guess.
Yet before Game 4, at Golden State, the Clipper players decided to stage their own sort of protest in response to their owner's remarks. They took off their warm-up jackets and deposited them in a heap at midcourt. Underneath, they were all wearing their team shirts inside-out, so as not to display their own team's name. Doc would later say he was aware of what his players were going to do, but was careful to take somewhat of a neutral stance. He neither encouraged, nor discouraged it.
And there lies the dilemma Doc Rivers faces. As a black man, Doc was no doubt highly offended by Sterling's words, which were secretly recorded by his girlfriend (who happens to be black/latino herself -- go figure) and quickly went viral.
But on the other hand, Rivers is making about $7 million a year to coach the Clips -- and guess who's been signing those paychecks?
So if you were Doc Rivers, what would you do? Stand on principle, which would necessitate him resigning from his high-paying gig, or keep taking the money and hope others find a way to punish his owner?
But maybe it's not that simple. After all, Doc Rivers is a pro's pro, and he likely feels an obligation to stand by his team (players) and attempt to guide them through the perils of the playoffs. But let's get real. The Clips are a very good team but, even if they get past Golden State, no given, it's unlikely they'll go on to be Western Conference champions, let alone defeating the Miami Heat which will also likely emerge from the east in the Finals. In other words, the odds against the Clips becoming champions this year are extremely long. Somewhere along the line -- maybe sooner than later -- they're going down. And what will Doc do then?
Sanctions or not, unless Sterling himself decides otherwise, he will still own the LA Clippers. And Doc will still be one of his hired hands -- along with all the players under contract. Despite the indignant and yes, ignorant chatter by some -- Sterling can no more be forced to sell his team than the average John/Jane Doe can be forced to sell their family business if they made similar remarks. One is certainly free to boycott such an establishment and not partake of their product, but even people many find despicable have their rights. Short of committing a crime -- and no one thinks Sterling actually broke any laws -- if they wish to stay in business -- no court anywhere is going to deny them the right to do so.
Thing is, Doc Rivers and the Clipper players are all professionals. They get paid a whole lot of money to coach and play basketball. Rather than getting caught up and spouting off about what the guy who signs all their paychecks said in a private conversation, that was covertly recorded, they should act like professionals and get back to what they're getting paid big bucks to do. Score more points than the other guys and win the games. And isn't that what sports always boils down to?
Regarding the Clips and their protest at Golden State? It was stupid, childish, and accomplished nothing.
As to Sterling's remarks -- the NBA -- with rookie Commish Adam Silver -- is supposed to address the matter in a press conference later today. That will likely be interesting. Betcha recently retired Commish David Stern is glad he doesn't have to deal with this mess.
Certainly everyone has heard of the alleged racist comments attributed to Clipper owner Donald Sterling. For the purpose of this article, let's ignore the complicated web of freedom of speech rights versus political correctness, bigotry and the backlash that usually results, and even what sanctions may or may not be imposed on Sterling in the near future by the NBA.
This is about Doc and the players. They're fighting for their playoff lives against the Golden State Warriors in the opening round with the series knotted 2-2 and headed back to LA for Game 5. Which team will ultimately prevail and move on is anybody's guess.
Yet before Game 4, at Golden State, the Clipper players decided to stage their own sort of protest in response to their owner's remarks. They took off their warm-up jackets and deposited them in a heap at midcourt. Underneath, they were all wearing their team shirts inside-out, so as not to display their own team's name. Doc would later say he was aware of what his players were going to do, but was careful to take somewhat of a neutral stance. He neither encouraged, nor discouraged it.
And there lies the dilemma Doc Rivers faces. As a black man, Doc was no doubt highly offended by Sterling's words, which were secretly recorded by his girlfriend (who happens to be black/latino herself -- go figure) and quickly went viral.
But on the other hand, Rivers is making about $7 million a year to coach the Clips -- and guess who's been signing those paychecks?
So if you were Doc Rivers, what would you do? Stand on principle, which would necessitate him resigning from his high-paying gig, or keep taking the money and hope others find a way to punish his owner?
But maybe it's not that simple. After all, Doc Rivers is a pro's pro, and he likely feels an obligation to stand by his team (players) and attempt to guide them through the perils of the playoffs. But let's get real. The Clips are a very good team but, even if they get past Golden State, no given, it's unlikely they'll go on to be Western Conference champions, let alone defeating the Miami Heat which will also likely emerge from the east in the Finals. In other words, the odds against the Clips becoming champions this year are extremely long. Somewhere along the line -- maybe sooner than later -- they're going down. And what will Doc do then?
Sanctions or not, unless Sterling himself decides otherwise, he will still own the LA Clippers. And Doc will still be one of his hired hands -- along with all the players under contract. Despite the indignant and yes, ignorant chatter by some -- Sterling can no more be forced to sell his team than the average John/Jane Doe can be forced to sell their family business if they made similar remarks. One is certainly free to boycott such an establishment and not partake of their product, but even people many find despicable have their rights. Short of committing a crime -- and no one thinks Sterling actually broke any laws -- if they wish to stay in business -- no court anywhere is going to deny them the right to do so.
Thing is, Doc Rivers and the Clipper players are all professionals. They get paid a whole lot of money to coach and play basketball. Rather than getting caught up and spouting off about what the guy who signs all their paychecks said in a private conversation, that was covertly recorded, they should act like professionals and get back to what they're getting paid big bucks to do. Score more points than the other guys and win the games. And isn't that what sports always boils down to?
Regarding the Clips and their protest at Golden State? It was stupid, childish, and accomplished nothing.
As to Sterling's remarks -- the NBA -- with rookie Commish Adam Silver -- is supposed to address the matter in a press conference later today. That will likely be interesting. Betcha recently retired Commish David Stern is glad he doesn't have to deal with this mess.
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