Maybe it's a sign of the times, or maybe the young Irish lad decided to take a page out of Tiger Woods' not-so-sportsmanlike on-course shenanigans over the years. Or it might even be that since he ditched that Russian tennis player a while back, McIlroy hasn't been "getting any". At any rate, in a show of frustration, the Blarney Boy just pulled a decidely low-class move.
At the Cadillac/Doral Open in Miami, after hitting his tee shot into one of the many lakes, McIlroy "helicoptered" a club into the same lake. Whoop, whoop, whoop, splash. Not cool, though it was semi-impressive how much length he got on his toss.
But unlike baseball, basketball, hockey, and certainly football, professional golf is supposed to be a game played by gentlemen. While participants in the first four sports are always trying to bend the rules, and yes, even cheat if they can get away with it -- golf is supposed to be above that. They've got rules on top of subsections regarding every possible situation and no pro golfer would even consider running afoul of them -- at least not intentionally. It's a game of honor.
In that respect, the IRS could take a clause or 3000 out of the handy-dandy PGA guide book or vice versa. Either way, most everyday average folks don't know what the hell is going on with the fine print, but I digress.
Chances are, Rory's little temper tantrum will soon be forgotten. But it shouldn't be. Yours truly freely admits he is not any more up to snuff with the PGA code than he is with Big Brother's labyrinth of tax rules. Yet I suspect somewhere in the golfer's manual there is a paragraph or three devoted to "unsportsmanlike conduct". And if not, there should be.
Thing is, though, unlike the BBHF sports mentioned above, golf doesn't have any penalties on the books when it comes to such infractions. Even the announcers quiver in their politically correct suits over merely chastising such boorish behavior on the air. This is wrong. If it's supposed to be a gentlemen's game, then why shouldn't a player incur a penalty when he acts like like a spoiled third grader throwing a tantrum on the course?
A few suggestions.
Cursing, even under one's breath, is an automatic one shot penalty.
A player or his caddie being rude to any member of the gallery that paid big bucks to be there would be a two shot penalty.
Pounding a club into the ground after a bad shot would cost them a stroke.
What's up with these guys and their bananas? Allowing them to eat one of those on the course will only get worse. What's next? A Big Mac and fries? Extra crispy chicken from the Colonel? A deep-dish pizza or burying their mugs in a half gallon of Ben and Jerry's? Please. We don't need this. Besides, these guys had all morning to eat breakfast and/or lunch, relieve themselseves, and they're only on the course for about 3 hours. You don't see them running off to the porta-potties during a round -- so they should be able to get by without a snack. Bottom line? Any food that comes out of their golf bag is a two stroke penalty.
That leaves the question about how McIlroy would be punished for his latest childish stunt in a perfect world.
When a professional golfer, much less the #1 player in the world, helicopters a club into a lake during a tournament it should come with consequences. A two stroke penalty is a possibility, but if they're already playing bad and likely won't make the cut anyway, it would seem futile.
So why not suspend them from the next big tournament? Sure, there are always tourneys going on in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, and a guy like McIlroy could take his talents elsewhere in search of a few bucks against lesser competition.
But if a rule was put in place that if tossing a club into a lake would result in a player being banned from the next MAJOR tournament, which will be the Masters in about a month, methinks Rory might well have maintained the professional decorum that was expected of him in the first place.
If it's supposed to be a gentlemen's game of honor, then the players should act like it, lest golf fall into the cess pool of what so many other sports have become with their "flops", "who me's", and all around disregard of the rules as far as the players think they can get away with.
Sure, from police actions, to politics, to courtrooms, to various other causes, most things have become about winning these days, but truth and honor seem to have been lost in the shuffle.
And that's a shame.
In the world of sports, golf is the last bastion of men and women maintaining a high sense of dignity while they compete. They should continue to be held to the highest standards because, if even the slightest lapses in decorum are overlooked, it will only get worse like the other sports already have. It's just not-so-good human nature.
Again, likely little will be made of Rory McIlroy's gross breach of professional conduct -- but it should.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Wilt Chamberlain and his 20,000 lovers
A few things about Wilt the Stilt are beyond doubt. He was over 7 feet tall, went to college at Kansas, was the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a single game, and tragically died in 1999 at the age of 63 from a heart attack.
And then there's a few other things that are questionable at best. The most notable, of course, is his claim to have "had his way" with over 20,000 women. Chamberlain uttered that statement in 1991, when he was 55 years old. Wilt said that averaged out to a little over one per day, every day, since he had been 15 years old. Actually, his math was a little off.
When one crunches the numbers, multiplies 40 years by 365 days a pop, no pun intended, and divides by 20,000, it comes out to about 73%. So OK, maybe he took a day off once in a while. Overall, this wouldn't seem to be totally out of line with your average red-blooded American he-man's libido from ages 15-55. From "rabbithood" in high school and college, through, say, 30 years of marriage(s) and/or significant others along the way, 20,000 times "getting lucky" is a semi-believable number over those same 40 years.
But Wilt claimed his conquests were with 20,000 DIFFERENT women. Granted, over the years it's been revealed a few pro athletes had a "girl in every port", and some have been known to "play the field" a bit more vigorously than others. But 20,000 different ones? There's diversity, and then there's diversity, but this stretched the limits of the imagination. A new one almost every day, 365, for 40 years? And out of all those 20,000 women, all were happy to merrily go on their way after a single romp in the sack with Wilt with no hanger's-on or subsequent in-fighting? That might work with sheep, but when it comes to human women, what's the chances of that happening? Count yours truly as highly skeptical.
Of course, Wilt once also said he drove from New York City to Los Angeles in 36 hours. Is it theoretically possible? Yes, if one can average about 80 MPH for the entire trip. Thing is, from NYC to LA is about 2800 miles by car. This is not to doubt Wilt could stay awake and drive for 36 hours straight -- one doesn't rack up 20,000 scores unless they have some serious stamina -- and he might even have had a cooler full of food and drink to keep on trucking down the road. Maybe even a milk jug or bucket to take care of another, ahem, necessity.
But 2800 miles is 2800 miles. There had to be a few gas stops along the way, likely at least 5 or 6. Factor those in, and how fast would he have had to average for 36 hours straight? Maybe 90 MPH? All the way across the country? Nah, didn't happen. No way.
Nevertheless, though Wilt Chamberlain may have embellished a tale or two here and there, he will forever be a part of American folklore. And well he should be.
Not everybody grows up to be over 7 feet tall, scores 100 points in a pro basketball game, fascinates the American public, and even makes some very cool TV ad spots along the way.
Remember him getting into a Volkswagen Beetle? Good stuff.
Better yet as a patron when the bartender (Ted Cassidy -- Lurch of The Addams Family fame) called him "shorty". Priceless.
R.I.P. wherever you are Wilt. The world could use a lot more folks in it that are as entertaining as you once were.
But 20,000 different ones? Sorry, dude, never did buy that one.......
And then there's a few other things that are questionable at best. The most notable, of course, is his claim to have "had his way" with over 20,000 women. Chamberlain uttered that statement in 1991, when he was 55 years old. Wilt said that averaged out to a little over one per day, every day, since he had been 15 years old. Actually, his math was a little off.
When one crunches the numbers, multiplies 40 years by 365 days a pop, no pun intended, and divides by 20,000, it comes out to about 73%. So OK, maybe he took a day off once in a while. Overall, this wouldn't seem to be totally out of line with your average red-blooded American he-man's libido from ages 15-55. From "rabbithood" in high school and college, through, say, 30 years of marriage(s) and/or significant others along the way, 20,000 times "getting lucky" is a semi-believable number over those same 40 years.
But Wilt claimed his conquests were with 20,000 DIFFERENT women. Granted, over the years it's been revealed a few pro athletes had a "girl in every port", and some have been known to "play the field" a bit more vigorously than others. But 20,000 different ones? There's diversity, and then there's diversity, but this stretched the limits of the imagination. A new one almost every day, 365, for 40 years? And out of all those 20,000 women, all were happy to merrily go on their way after a single romp in the sack with Wilt with no hanger's-on or subsequent in-fighting? That might work with sheep, but when it comes to human women, what's the chances of that happening? Count yours truly as highly skeptical.
Of course, Wilt once also said he drove from New York City to Los Angeles in 36 hours. Is it theoretically possible? Yes, if one can average about 80 MPH for the entire trip. Thing is, from NYC to LA is about 2800 miles by car. This is not to doubt Wilt could stay awake and drive for 36 hours straight -- one doesn't rack up 20,000 scores unless they have some serious stamina -- and he might even have had a cooler full of food and drink to keep on trucking down the road. Maybe even a milk jug or bucket to take care of another, ahem, necessity.
But 2800 miles is 2800 miles. There had to be a few gas stops along the way, likely at least 5 or 6. Factor those in, and how fast would he have had to average for 36 hours straight? Maybe 90 MPH? All the way across the country? Nah, didn't happen. No way.
Nevertheless, though Wilt Chamberlain may have embellished a tale or two here and there, he will forever be a part of American folklore. And well he should be.
Not everybody grows up to be over 7 feet tall, scores 100 points in a pro basketball game, fascinates the American public, and even makes some very cool TV ad spots along the way.
Remember him getting into a Volkswagen Beetle? Good stuff.
Better yet as a patron when the bartender (Ted Cassidy -- Lurch of The Addams Family fame) called him "shorty". Priceless.
R.I.P. wherever you are Wilt. The world could use a lot more folks in it that are as entertaining as you once were.
But 20,000 different ones? Sorry, dude, never did buy that one.......
Monday, March 2, 2015
Ndamukong Suh and the Detroit Lions. A bad fit -- both ways
When one takes an objective view at Suh's possible future employment with the Lions, it's really a bad fit, both for the team and Suh himself.
First, the Lions. They wisely decided not to slap Suh with the "franchise tag". Not that the Lions haven't made their fair share of boneheaded decisions in the past, but this would have been utter lunacy.
Though some players have resented being "tagged", they really shouldn't. After all, it guarantees they will be paid amongst the top 5 at their position in the entire league, or the gross national product of Canada -- whichever is greater. Close enough. Let's just say it's a whole lot of money.
In Suh's case, this would have amounted to somewhere around $27 million for the 2015-16 season. For the Lions' fans that are clamoring to keep Suh, they might want to ask themselves if they think Suh is worth far more than QB Matthew Stafford (around $17M).
For that matter, is he worth more than the entire offensive line? Sure, the big guys up front in the trenches seldom receive any glory, but shouln't an offensive guard be worth every bit as much as a defensive tackle? After all, one is trying to get to the passer and the other is trying to protect him. One tries to open up holes for the running game and the other tries to close them. Yes, a good pass rush and stuffing an opponent's running game are crucial for any defense. On the other hand, if a team has a porous O-line, they won't be able to run OR pass, and the QB might not stay healthy for very long. So why has one always been deemed to be so much more "valuable" than the other? Both are equally necessary for any team to succeed. Are we to believe Suh is worth more than the entire unit on the other side of the ball? Really?
At that, even if the Lions had tagged Suh for ridiculous bucks, putting themselves in a salary cap bind eleswhere to boot, it only would have been good for one season. Next year they would have faced the same problem. This would have made absolutely no sense for the Lions front office to do. Whether or not the Lions will still be able to re-sign Suh as a "free agent" remains to be seen, but he'll likely command at least $20M per season through his agent. Is he worth it? Opinions vary.
But if Suh and his new mouthpiece have a lick of sense -- no given -- they'll look around at what the market has to offer. This raises an interesting point when it comes to the big bucks world. The Lions aren't the best fit for them either. Far from it.
Therefore, consider Suh's point of view. He grew up in Oregon and went to college at Nebraska. He really has no roots/ties to Detroit other than having been drafted by and played on their football team for a few years as a professional. Though the Lions made the playoffs last year as a wild card team, and were quickly eliminated, that's a far cry from being legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Though anything can happen, few would think the Lions capable of playing in February for the Vince Lombardi trophy any year soon.
So put yourself in Suh's shoes. If a championship seems unlikely in Detroit, why not go elsewhere?
And here's the really big cha-ching reason he should.....
What do the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Bucs, Jacksonville Jags, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans have in common?
If you answered they all play in warmer climates than the Lions, you would be correct, but also missing a bigger point.
These teams are all located in Florida and Texas and neither has a state income tax. When a player like Suh is going to be in the uber-rich world of finance no matter where he lands -- wouldn't it make more sense for him to go to a state that's not going to zap him for taxes? Depending on how his contract is structured, Suh could likely save/pocket upwards of $5 million in state taxes that he would have to pay if he remained in Michigan playing for the Lions.
And last time I looked, $5 million could pay a lot of fines with a bunch left over, if Suh decides to go rogue again on the field here and there.
But ya know what? Yours truly has a sneaking suspicion that somehow the Lions and Suh will come to an agreement on a long term contract.
It really wouldn't make sense for either on several fronts, but that's just sort of the way both have always rolled.
Perhaps they deserve each other.......
First, the Lions. They wisely decided not to slap Suh with the "franchise tag". Not that the Lions haven't made their fair share of boneheaded decisions in the past, but this would have been utter lunacy.
Though some players have resented being "tagged", they really shouldn't. After all, it guarantees they will be paid amongst the top 5 at their position in the entire league, or the gross national product of Canada -- whichever is greater. Close enough. Let's just say it's a whole lot of money.
In Suh's case, this would have amounted to somewhere around $27 million for the 2015-16 season. For the Lions' fans that are clamoring to keep Suh, they might want to ask themselves if they think Suh is worth far more than QB Matthew Stafford (around $17M).
For that matter, is he worth more than the entire offensive line? Sure, the big guys up front in the trenches seldom receive any glory, but shouln't an offensive guard be worth every bit as much as a defensive tackle? After all, one is trying to get to the passer and the other is trying to protect him. One tries to open up holes for the running game and the other tries to close them. Yes, a good pass rush and stuffing an opponent's running game are crucial for any defense. On the other hand, if a team has a porous O-line, they won't be able to run OR pass, and the QB might not stay healthy for very long. So why has one always been deemed to be so much more "valuable" than the other? Both are equally necessary for any team to succeed. Are we to believe Suh is worth more than the entire unit on the other side of the ball? Really?
At that, even if the Lions had tagged Suh for ridiculous bucks, putting themselves in a salary cap bind eleswhere to boot, it only would have been good for one season. Next year they would have faced the same problem. This would have made absolutely no sense for the Lions front office to do. Whether or not the Lions will still be able to re-sign Suh as a "free agent" remains to be seen, but he'll likely command at least $20M per season through his agent. Is he worth it? Opinions vary.
But if Suh and his new mouthpiece have a lick of sense -- no given -- they'll look around at what the market has to offer. This raises an interesting point when it comes to the big bucks world. The Lions aren't the best fit for them either. Far from it.
Therefore, consider Suh's point of view. He grew up in Oregon and went to college at Nebraska. He really has no roots/ties to Detroit other than having been drafted by and played on their football team for a few years as a professional. Though the Lions made the playoffs last year as a wild card team, and were quickly eliminated, that's a far cry from being legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Though anything can happen, few would think the Lions capable of playing in February for the Vince Lombardi trophy any year soon.
So put yourself in Suh's shoes. If a championship seems unlikely in Detroit, why not go elsewhere?
And here's the really big cha-ching reason he should.....
What do the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Bucs, Jacksonville Jags, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans have in common?
If you answered they all play in warmer climates than the Lions, you would be correct, but also missing a bigger point.
These teams are all located in Florida and Texas and neither has a state income tax. When a player like Suh is going to be in the uber-rich world of finance no matter where he lands -- wouldn't it make more sense for him to go to a state that's not going to zap him for taxes? Depending on how his contract is structured, Suh could likely save/pocket upwards of $5 million in state taxes that he would have to pay if he remained in Michigan playing for the Lions.
And last time I looked, $5 million could pay a lot of fines with a bunch left over, if Suh decides to go rogue again on the field here and there.
But ya know what? Yours truly has a sneaking suspicion that somehow the Lions and Suh will come to an agreement on a long term contract.
It really wouldn't make sense for either on several fronts, but that's just sort of the way both have always rolled.
Perhaps they deserve each other.......
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Dumb commercials and does it matter?
#3 Gonzaga just got knocked off by unranked BYU, snapping the longest home winning streak in the nation for men's college hoops. The Zags have been an adorable enough bunch in recent years but, c'mon, did anybody really think these guys were the #3 team in the country? So does it even matter?
Evidently, the purveyors of those little blue whoopee pills think actresses with a British accent can sell more of them to American men. How else to explain their recent commericals? Here we have an attractive woman lounging about with all the shades open in a house that looks to be worth millions. There we have another doing the same in an oceanside villa with a breathtaking view. Just one question. How come these cockney women can't seem to get dates? Beats me. Maybe THEY should ask their dawktor.
It's laughable how Danica Patrick confronted Denny Hamlin after the Daytona 500. Danica thought he had wrecked her, but replays proved otherwise. Nevertheless, the good Ms. Patrick seems to have a flair for pounding her fists, stomping her feet, and otherwise throwing hissy fits when things don't go her way. Hamlin was her latest target. She got up in his face, and push push pushed him in the chest while giving him her two cents worth. No big deal. But had Hamlin decided to even mildly reciprocate with the hands to chest thing to fend her off, it might well have been seen as some sort of sexual harassment. That's the way it works these days. Yet over time, one thing is becoming abundantly clear. Though Danica Patrick has always been afforded top notch cars and crews, and the media wants wants wants her to win something -- anything -- Kyle Petty just might have been right a while back when he said Danica can go fast but she'll never be a good racer. She can rant and rave all she wants -- but does it matter? It is what it is.
How many more times will we have to suffer through the moronic commercials that say 15 minutes could save you big bucks on insurance? Fifteen minutes, my ass. Yours truly has been trying for 15 MONTHS to locate one of their offices in my neck of the woods -- without success. Evidently, I'm supposed to go on-line and start sending money off to this company, and hope a little green lizard shows up to fix my car if a tree falls on it. With all due respect to Pinnochio, the retarded cowboy, and the guy with a million "bucks", amongst others, can't their ad guys come up with something new? Like how and where to talk face to face with an actual agent? Is that asking too much?
The Dallas Cowboys are talking about slapping the "franchise tag" on receiver Dez Bryant to keep him in the fold. That likely means league-leading running back Demarco Murray will be heading elsewhere. Franchise tags come with big bucks, and Murray is certainly looking for his "big payday". Throw in the other little details -- like having the remaining 50+ players under contract and, next thing you know, there's a problem with that pesky salary cap.
Here's the irony. Most every player will tell you it's not about the money, but about competing for and ultimately winning a Super Bowl. So, if that's the case, how come these guys don't take less money to keep their team together in their ultimate quest? After all, does it really matter whether a player is making 10, 15, or 20 million a year? Even after taxes, the low end is still a ridiculous amount of money. But no, they'd rather shuffle off to a team that has no -- ZERO -- chance of being Super Bowl worthy, as long as they get their precious few more million. It combines the epitome of hypocrisy with ignorant greed.
Kid Rock is catching flack for dissing Beyonce? That's a hoot. He says she's never had a hit song like Lynard Skynard's "Sweet Home Alabama". True enough. But the Kid himself tends to forget one thing. His whole personna is modeled after former Lyn Skyn lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, who tragically died with others in a plane crash back in the late 70s. Same hair. Same scraggly beard. Wears the same sort of hats. Same sort of shades. Stomps around the stage exactly like Ronnie once did. Writes the same sort of songs. His voice even sounds eerily familiar, as if he patterned it after RVZ. True, a generation or two has passed since Lyn Skyn was all the rage (though they still pack venues every place they go on tour these days), and Robert Ritchie (the Kid) has a much younger following these days that likely have no idea who RVZ was. But for Rock to throw out the "Sweet Alabama" reference while dissing another artist is the height of hypocrisy in the face of those that remember his original version long ago.
Despite the usual local hype, there's no way around it. The Detroit Pistons are terrible and look to remain so in the foreseeable future. Your truly LOLed when he read a recent article about how the Pistons were only a couple games out of the last playoff spot. That's one way of looking at it. Another would be to say the hapless Orlando Magic, pitiful Philadelphia 76ers, and Phil Jackson's dumping of every semi-talented player not named Carmelo Anthony for the NY Knicks in a salary cap purge for the future are the only worse teams in the entire conference. And the woeful Knicks, bringing up the rear in the entire NBA, just knocked off Detroit on the Pistons' home court. Ouch.
By league rules, the Pistons have to finish the season, and until they're mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, hope will spring eternal, as it always does with Detroit teams. But in reality, does it even matter? These guys are not a good basketball team by NBA standards, and whatever talent they do possess will likely be looking for a way out of town first chance they get. Of course, the draft will roll around in a few months, and the Pistons's misguided faithful will hail whoever is chosen as saviors that will lead them to the promised land. It happens every year.
But throwing a couple new band-aids on a gaping hatchet wound won't exactly fix the problem.
Haven't seen the "most interesting man in the world" in a while. I wonder what he's up to these days? If he wants to be REALLY interesting, he should go to Washington DC and school the spoiled 1st graders on how to run a government. Maybe he could get them all wasted on that beer he hawks. Couldn't hurt.
So Lebron James missed 8 free throws, a few shots he normally makes, and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost a game. Hey, the guy's arguably the best basketball player in the world, but he's not Superman much less Anderson Cooper. The dude normally plays about 100 games a year and he's going to have a bad day at the office every once in a while. It happens.
Speaking of CNN, I see where Coop is going to have a special on that still-missing Malaysian airliner. When it happened, a full year ago, AC and his merry band of experts talked non-stop about it for an entire month. Turned out, they didn't have a clue either, but their ratings went up. Amazing. Now he's bringing it back for a sequel? So what are they going to say this time, and does it even matter? Wake us up when the damn thing is finally found, if it ever is. Maybe Amelia Earhart and Jimmy Hoffa will be right next to it.
Now THAT would be a story.
Evidently, the purveyors of those little blue whoopee pills think actresses with a British accent can sell more of them to American men. How else to explain their recent commericals? Here we have an attractive woman lounging about with all the shades open in a house that looks to be worth millions. There we have another doing the same in an oceanside villa with a breathtaking view. Just one question. How come these cockney women can't seem to get dates? Beats me. Maybe THEY should ask their dawktor.
It's laughable how Danica Patrick confronted Denny Hamlin after the Daytona 500. Danica thought he had wrecked her, but replays proved otherwise. Nevertheless, the good Ms. Patrick seems to have a flair for pounding her fists, stomping her feet, and otherwise throwing hissy fits when things don't go her way. Hamlin was her latest target. She got up in his face, and push push pushed him in the chest while giving him her two cents worth. No big deal. But had Hamlin decided to even mildly reciprocate with the hands to chest thing to fend her off, it might well have been seen as some sort of sexual harassment. That's the way it works these days. Yet over time, one thing is becoming abundantly clear. Though Danica Patrick has always been afforded top notch cars and crews, and the media wants wants wants her to win something -- anything -- Kyle Petty just might have been right a while back when he said Danica can go fast but she'll never be a good racer. She can rant and rave all she wants -- but does it matter? It is what it is.
How many more times will we have to suffer through the moronic commercials that say 15 minutes could save you big bucks on insurance? Fifteen minutes, my ass. Yours truly has been trying for 15 MONTHS to locate one of their offices in my neck of the woods -- without success. Evidently, I'm supposed to go on-line and start sending money off to this company, and hope a little green lizard shows up to fix my car if a tree falls on it. With all due respect to Pinnochio, the retarded cowboy, and the guy with a million "bucks", amongst others, can't their ad guys come up with something new? Like how and where to talk face to face with an actual agent? Is that asking too much?
The Dallas Cowboys are talking about slapping the "franchise tag" on receiver Dez Bryant to keep him in the fold. That likely means league-leading running back Demarco Murray will be heading elsewhere. Franchise tags come with big bucks, and Murray is certainly looking for his "big payday". Throw in the other little details -- like having the remaining 50+ players under contract and, next thing you know, there's a problem with that pesky salary cap.
Here's the irony. Most every player will tell you it's not about the money, but about competing for and ultimately winning a Super Bowl. So, if that's the case, how come these guys don't take less money to keep their team together in their ultimate quest? After all, does it really matter whether a player is making 10, 15, or 20 million a year? Even after taxes, the low end is still a ridiculous amount of money. But no, they'd rather shuffle off to a team that has no -- ZERO -- chance of being Super Bowl worthy, as long as they get their precious few more million. It combines the epitome of hypocrisy with ignorant greed.
Kid Rock is catching flack for dissing Beyonce? That's a hoot. He says she's never had a hit song like Lynard Skynard's "Sweet Home Alabama". True enough. But the Kid himself tends to forget one thing. His whole personna is modeled after former Lyn Skyn lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, who tragically died with others in a plane crash back in the late 70s. Same hair. Same scraggly beard. Wears the same sort of hats. Same sort of shades. Stomps around the stage exactly like Ronnie once did. Writes the same sort of songs. His voice even sounds eerily familiar, as if he patterned it after RVZ. True, a generation or two has passed since Lyn Skyn was all the rage (though they still pack venues every place they go on tour these days), and Robert Ritchie (the Kid) has a much younger following these days that likely have no idea who RVZ was. But for Rock to throw out the "Sweet Alabama" reference while dissing another artist is the height of hypocrisy in the face of those that remember his original version long ago.
Despite the usual local hype, there's no way around it. The Detroit Pistons are terrible and look to remain so in the foreseeable future. Your truly LOLed when he read a recent article about how the Pistons were only a couple games out of the last playoff spot. That's one way of looking at it. Another would be to say the hapless Orlando Magic, pitiful Philadelphia 76ers, and Phil Jackson's dumping of every semi-talented player not named Carmelo Anthony for the NY Knicks in a salary cap purge for the future are the only worse teams in the entire conference. And the woeful Knicks, bringing up the rear in the entire NBA, just knocked off Detroit on the Pistons' home court. Ouch.
By league rules, the Pistons have to finish the season, and until they're mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, hope will spring eternal, as it always does with Detroit teams. But in reality, does it even matter? These guys are not a good basketball team by NBA standards, and whatever talent they do possess will likely be looking for a way out of town first chance they get. Of course, the draft will roll around in a few months, and the Pistons's misguided faithful will hail whoever is chosen as saviors that will lead them to the promised land. It happens every year.
But throwing a couple new band-aids on a gaping hatchet wound won't exactly fix the problem.
Haven't seen the "most interesting man in the world" in a while. I wonder what he's up to these days? If he wants to be REALLY interesting, he should go to Washington DC and school the spoiled 1st graders on how to run a government. Maybe he could get them all wasted on that beer he hawks. Couldn't hurt.
So Lebron James missed 8 free throws, a few shots he normally makes, and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost a game. Hey, the guy's arguably the best basketball player in the world, but he's not Superman much less Anderson Cooper. The dude normally plays about 100 games a year and he's going to have a bad day at the office every once in a while. It happens.
Speaking of CNN, I see where Coop is going to have a special on that still-missing Malaysian airliner. When it happened, a full year ago, AC and his merry band of experts talked non-stop about it for an entire month. Turned out, they didn't have a clue either, but their ratings went up. Amazing. Now he's bringing it back for a sequel? So what are they going to say this time, and does it even matter? Wake us up when the damn thing is finally found, if it ever is. Maybe Amelia Earhart and Jimmy Hoffa will be right next to it.
Now THAT would be a story.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Mayweather/Pacquiao.
It appears that, finally, the fight is going to happen. The date has been set for May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Or maybe it won't. It's still two months away and, given the antics over the last few years, it's far from etched in stone. So maybe the fight goes off, or maybe it doesn't. I wonder what, if any, sort of odds the bookies are giving on THAT?
Sure, if the fight actually happens, it's projected to set an all-time record for pay-per-views and total revenue. The high rollers will pay mega-bucks to see it live at the MGM, and countless millions more will pony up $79.95 or whatever to watch it on TV at home. Sports bars the world over will pack them in like sardines and do a very good night's business, thank you. Cha-ching. It might just be the warring factions in the Middle East and elsewhere will lay down their arms for a day to watch such a spectacle. That would be a good thing.
But you know what? The fight itself really doesn't matter that much anymore. It's WAY more about hype than substance. Floyd Mayweather is 37, and Manny Pacquiao is 36. No matter how one wishes to slice it or dice it, these are two pugilists far beyond their primes.
Five or six years ago, when both were at their peak, every boxing fan wanted to see such a match happen. But it didn't. Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of Mayweather. He wanted the lion's share of the purse and demanded Pacquiao undergo rigorous drug testing which, curiously, Floyd never mentioned undergoing himself. Throw in the usual shady promoters, who are basically in the slave trade, other rival factions, stir well, bring to a boil, and what do you get? A heaping pot of BS but no fight -- at least when it mattered.
It's not like either Mayweather or Pacaquiao is hard up for money and needs the fight to happen. Mayweather's total worth has been estimated around $300 million and Pacquiao's circa $120 million. With or without the fight, it's a safe bet both will be able to pay their electric bills at home, and won't be eating ramen noodles anytime soon.
Yep, Mayweather is undefeated and champion of all things welterweight. He's fought a couple decent fighters in recent years, but also cashed in on a few bums. In his spare time, he'll pop up here and there at other high-profile events, sporting and otherwise. He could be well on his way to stardom in the hip-hop world.
Pacquiao hasn't fared as well. He's not only been beaten in the ring, but knocked out. Yet in recent bouts, he seems to have regained his form. In his spare time, he's a Filipino congressman. He could be well on his way to becoming the President of the Phillipines. As a national hero, who would run against this guy in an election?
Then again, between rappers and politicians, it's hard to say which is more deserving of respect these days.
Nevertheless, here's hoping the fight really does happen. Let them both cash in and let the suckers pony up the big bucks to make it possible. The closer we get to the "magical" May 2 date, the higher gear the hype will shift into. Did I say "cha-ching"?
Five years ago this would have been "must-see". But not anymore.
It's just two past their prime fighters getting together for one last mega-payday.
If, as mentioned above, two guys that are 37 and 36 are the best of the 147 pound boxers anywhere in the world, then only one conclusion can be drawn.
The sport of boxing is in more trouble than we knew.
Kind of ironic how it works out. Mayweather is known for being shifty and elusive but Pacquiao is the politician.
Go figure. Only in boxing.
Or maybe it won't. It's still two months away and, given the antics over the last few years, it's far from etched in stone. So maybe the fight goes off, or maybe it doesn't. I wonder what, if any, sort of odds the bookies are giving on THAT?
Sure, if the fight actually happens, it's projected to set an all-time record for pay-per-views and total revenue. The high rollers will pay mega-bucks to see it live at the MGM, and countless millions more will pony up $79.95 or whatever to watch it on TV at home. Sports bars the world over will pack them in like sardines and do a very good night's business, thank you. Cha-ching. It might just be the warring factions in the Middle East and elsewhere will lay down their arms for a day to watch such a spectacle. That would be a good thing.
But you know what? The fight itself really doesn't matter that much anymore. It's WAY more about hype than substance. Floyd Mayweather is 37, and Manny Pacquiao is 36. No matter how one wishes to slice it or dice it, these are two pugilists far beyond their primes.
Five or six years ago, when both were at their peak, every boxing fan wanted to see such a match happen. But it didn't. Much of the blame can be laid at the feet of Mayweather. He wanted the lion's share of the purse and demanded Pacquiao undergo rigorous drug testing which, curiously, Floyd never mentioned undergoing himself. Throw in the usual shady promoters, who are basically in the slave trade, other rival factions, stir well, bring to a boil, and what do you get? A heaping pot of BS but no fight -- at least when it mattered.
It's not like either Mayweather or Pacaquiao is hard up for money and needs the fight to happen. Mayweather's total worth has been estimated around $300 million and Pacquiao's circa $120 million. With or without the fight, it's a safe bet both will be able to pay their electric bills at home, and won't be eating ramen noodles anytime soon.
Yep, Mayweather is undefeated and champion of all things welterweight. He's fought a couple decent fighters in recent years, but also cashed in on a few bums. In his spare time, he'll pop up here and there at other high-profile events, sporting and otherwise. He could be well on his way to stardom in the hip-hop world.
Pacquiao hasn't fared as well. He's not only been beaten in the ring, but knocked out. Yet in recent bouts, he seems to have regained his form. In his spare time, he's a Filipino congressman. He could be well on his way to becoming the President of the Phillipines. As a national hero, who would run against this guy in an election?
Then again, between rappers and politicians, it's hard to say which is more deserving of respect these days.
Nevertheless, here's hoping the fight really does happen. Let them both cash in and let the suckers pony up the big bucks to make it possible. The closer we get to the "magical" May 2 date, the higher gear the hype will shift into. Did I say "cha-ching"?
Five years ago this would have been "must-see". But not anymore.
It's just two past their prime fighters getting together for one last mega-payday.
If, as mentioned above, two guys that are 37 and 36 are the best of the 147 pound boxers anywhere in the world, then only one conclusion can be drawn.
The sport of boxing is in more trouble than we knew.
Kind of ironic how it works out. Mayweather is known for being shifty and elusive but Pacquiao is the politician.
Go figure. Only in boxing.
Reggie Bush. Over and out?
The Detroit Lions have cut Reggie Bush. It's really no great surprise. Bush is 30 years old, which is pushing the age limit when it comes to NFL running backs.
Yes, the Lions saved $1.7 million on his salary, but in today's world of insane professional athlete contracts, that's pretty much chump change. So it wasn't about the money.
Though Bush had been hyped as all this and all that since college, it could fairly be said he has been underwhelming in a couple different ways. In other words, between assets and liabilities, he turned out to be about average.
Sure, at USC he was the Big Man On Campus, even winning the Heisman Trophy. But it was later revealed Bush and his family had accepted "improper benefits" while he was a Trojan. Good grief, when he rolled up to the Heisman award ceremony in a limo, did he really think nobody would notice? On that note, years later, as the evidence became overwhelming, Bush would eventually give his Heisman trophy back.
So after the NCAA spooks were done turning over the rocks, USC got smacked with some serious sanctions, which would haunt them for years. But like his head coach Pete Carroll, Bush bailed and was off to the NFL.
Indeed, he would be the second overall pick in the draft, taken by the New Orleans Saints. While in the Big Easy, Bush would even win a Super Bowl. Yet his stats were never eye-popping. He would have his flashes of brilliance here and there, usually against bad teams, but he would also have his fair share of "thud" games when he would be completely stifled. For every great performance he seemed to have a dud. For every touchdown, a fumble. Roughly 4 yards per carry? Again, about average. Yes, he could catch short passes out of the backfield, but any running back who cannot won't be around very long.
But Bush had a problem over the years. Staying healthy. He incurred a variety of injuries and, in the meat market of the NFL, front offices and head coaches aren't overly fond of players making big bucks and taking up a roster spot while being on "sick leave" over and over again.
The Saints eventually wearied of Bush and shipped him off to the Miami Dolphins for a reserve safety.
After a short time in Miami, even the lowly Dolphins were willing to cut him loose.
On to Detroit where he was heralded by Lions' fans and their media as only they can do. Bush was going to put some pop into their running game. The sky's the limit.
But to no objective person's surprise, Reggie was still the same Reggie, only older. In the last couple years in Detroit, he did what he always did. A nice running play here or there, short catches out of the backfield, an occasional fumble, and more time on sick leave for various injuries.
Let's remember this was the Detroit Lions. While QB Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson continue to put up mega-passing stats every year, one of their weaknesses was/is a viable running game. The Lions currently only have three running backs under contract and all of them could be considered average at best. So for them to release Reggie Bush says volumes. If he couldn't stick with THAT team as a running back, even given his "smallish" salary, then who WILL have him?
Here's wishing Reggie Bush the best in wherever the future takes him, but yours truly surmises it might well be into retirement.
A 30 year old running back that couldn't even stick with the Lions and has a long history of being injury prone?
Two words.
Good luck.
Yes, the Lions saved $1.7 million on his salary, but in today's world of insane professional athlete contracts, that's pretty much chump change. So it wasn't about the money.
Though Bush had been hyped as all this and all that since college, it could fairly be said he has been underwhelming in a couple different ways. In other words, between assets and liabilities, he turned out to be about average.
Sure, at USC he was the Big Man On Campus, even winning the Heisman Trophy. But it was later revealed Bush and his family had accepted "improper benefits" while he was a Trojan. Good grief, when he rolled up to the Heisman award ceremony in a limo, did he really think nobody would notice? On that note, years later, as the evidence became overwhelming, Bush would eventually give his Heisman trophy back.
So after the NCAA spooks were done turning over the rocks, USC got smacked with some serious sanctions, which would haunt them for years. But like his head coach Pete Carroll, Bush bailed and was off to the NFL.
Indeed, he would be the second overall pick in the draft, taken by the New Orleans Saints. While in the Big Easy, Bush would even win a Super Bowl. Yet his stats were never eye-popping. He would have his flashes of brilliance here and there, usually against bad teams, but he would also have his fair share of "thud" games when he would be completely stifled. For every great performance he seemed to have a dud. For every touchdown, a fumble. Roughly 4 yards per carry? Again, about average. Yes, he could catch short passes out of the backfield, but any running back who cannot won't be around very long.
But Bush had a problem over the years. Staying healthy. He incurred a variety of injuries and, in the meat market of the NFL, front offices and head coaches aren't overly fond of players making big bucks and taking up a roster spot while being on "sick leave" over and over again.
The Saints eventually wearied of Bush and shipped him off to the Miami Dolphins for a reserve safety.
After a short time in Miami, even the lowly Dolphins were willing to cut him loose.
On to Detroit where he was heralded by Lions' fans and their media as only they can do. Bush was going to put some pop into their running game. The sky's the limit.
But to no objective person's surprise, Reggie was still the same Reggie, only older. In the last couple years in Detroit, he did what he always did. A nice running play here or there, short catches out of the backfield, an occasional fumble, and more time on sick leave for various injuries.
Let's remember this was the Detroit Lions. While QB Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson continue to put up mega-passing stats every year, one of their weaknesses was/is a viable running game. The Lions currently only have three running backs under contract and all of them could be considered average at best. So for them to release Reggie Bush says volumes. If he couldn't stick with THAT team as a running back, even given his "smallish" salary, then who WILL have him?
Here's wishing Reggie Bush the best in wherever the future takes him, but yours truly surmises it might well be into retirement.
A 30 year old running back that couldn't even stick with the Lions and has a long history of being injury prone?
Two words.
Good luck.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Derrick Rose. Superstar or bust?
Chicago Bulls' guard Derrick Rose is a fantastic basketball player -- when he's healthy. And that seems to be the catch. Is he a super-star or perennially damaged goods -- a bust?
There's no questioning Rose's talents and abilities on the court, going all the way back to high school. Yet his past, present, and likely future have been a high-rollers crap shoot. Consider some of his accomplishments -- and stumbles -- along the way.....
By most accounts Rose was an "average" student at a Chicago area high school in a rough neighborhood. Not exactly honor-roll, but his grades were good enough to make him college eligible. Or were they?
He wound up going to Memphis, which was then coached by one John Calipari. That name should sound familiar. Memphis would reach the Final Four before bowing out. Rose would be a "one and done" under Calipari. That should DEFINITELY ring a bell.
As for his high school grades, an investigation later revealed at least one of them had been altered (upgraded) to bolster his college eligibility. No official culprit was ever determined, but Memphis got stuck with sanctions for two reasons. Though Rose himself claimed to be unaware of the hanky panky, entirely possible, he had also insisted one of his brothers be allowed to travel with the team. They had allowed it. That was a no-no. So the season Rose played for Memphis was vacated from the record books -- however much THAT matters.
Then off to the NBA having been drafted #1 overall by the Chicago Bulls. Still at the tender age of 20, Rose would go on to be the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 2008. But he had already experienced some tendinitis in his right knee. Though few paid any attention at the time, this would later prove to be a very bad omen of things to come. A young man in great shape not yet old enough to legally have a beer had tendinitis? That wasn't supposed to happen.
In 2009, Rose had an ankle injury which kept him out of the preseason. OK, anybody can twist their ankle. No biggie but, looking back, it was another sign.
Rose would indeed rebound, no pun intended, over the next couple years. He had a stellar 2010 -2011 season which resulted in him being the NBA MVP. For that matter, still only 22 1/2, Rose was the youngest to ever win the honor. Very heady stuff.
Headier yet was the max contract he signed following that season. $95 million for 5 years. All was well in Chitown and Derrick land. Dare I say the world of guns and Roses? Sorry. Ahem.
But the following year in the playoffs (May of 2012) Rose tore his left ACL. Surgery was required, and his rehab/recuperation time was given as 8-12 months. Obviously, he would not be ready for the start of the 2012-2013 season.
Right on schedule, 10 months later in March 2013, Rose was given a clean bill of health by the doctors. He was good-to-go -- full-tilt. While on that subject, let's not forget that big-time pro athletes get the finest medical care by the finest medical personnel in the country, if not the world. These guys know what they're talking about.
But Rose said he didn't feel quite right yet. Some thought he was "milking" a sick leave while making millions of dollars for doing nothing. Could have been. Others came to his defense and claimed only Derrick himself knew for sure how his body felt. Point noted.
At any rate, though medically cleared to play in March, Rose opted to sit out the rest of the season, including the entire playoffs which went well into June.
He would make his return in October of 2013, over a year and a half since his left knee injury (remember the original 8-12 month recovery period). By then he had collected roughly $30 million while not playing.
Sure enough, only a month later, Rose would suffer a torn meniscus in his right knee (the one that originally had tendinitis). More surgery, and out for the season again. Cha-ching.
Returning for the 2014-2015 campaign, Rose was doing fairly well, though a couple of his teammates had suffered injuries here and there that kept them out for various times.
Then bang, Rose went down yet again on Feb. 24. The meniscus was torn again. More surgery coming up, and nobody knows how long he'll be out this time. However, a doctor knowledgeable about such things said this procedure will only be of the minor arthroscopic variety. He shouldn't be out more than 6 weeks -- 8 at the max.
That means he should be ready for the playoffs which start in a couple months. But I'll just betcha, full medical clearance or not, we've seen the last of Derrick Rose this season, because that's the way he rolls. Nice work-- or not -- if one can get it. Did I mention cha-ching?
So taking all the above into account, one could reasonably ask themself this question.....
Look back up at the title of this post.....
There's no questioning Rose's talents and abilities on the court, going all the way back to high school. Yet his past, present, and likely future have been a high-rollers crap shoot. Consider some of his accomplishments -- and stumbles -- along the way.....
By most accounts Rose was an "average" student at a Chicago area high school in a rough neighborhood. Not exactly honor-roll, but his grades were good enough to make him college eligible. Or were they?
He wound up going to Memphis, which was then coached by one John Calipari. That name should sound familiar. Memphis would reach the Final Four before bowing out. Rose would be a "one and done" under Calipari. That should DEFINITELY ring a bell.
As for his high school grades, an investigation later revealed at least one of them had been altered (upgraded) to bolster his college eligibility. No official culprit was ever determined, but Memphis got stuck with sanctions for two reasons. Though Rose himself claimed to be unaware of the hanky panky, entirely possible, he had also insisted one of his brothers be allowed to travel with the team. They had allowed it. That was a no-no. So the season Rose played for Memphis was vacated from the record books -- however much THAT matters.
Then off to the NBA having been drafted #1 overall by the Chicago Bulls. Still at the tender age of 20, Rose would go on to be the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 2008. But he had already experienced some tendinitis in his right knee. Though few paid any attention at the time, this would later prove to be a very bad omen of things to come. A young man in great shape not yet old enough to legally have a beer had tendinitis? That wasn't supposed to happen.
In 2009, Rose had an ankle injury which kept him out of the preseason. OK, anybody can twist their ankle. No biggie but, looking back, it was another sign.
Rose would indeed rebound, no pun intended, over the next couple years. He had a stellar 2010 -2011 season which resulted in him being the NBA MVP. For that matter, still only 22 1/2, Rose was the youngest to ever win the honor. Very heady stuff.
Headier yet was the max contract he signed following that season. $95 million for 5 years. All was well in Chitown and Derrick land. Dare I say the world of guns and Roses? Sorry. Ahem.
But the following year in the playoffs (May of 2012) Rose tore his left ACL. Surgery was required, and his rehab/recuperation time was given as 8-12 months. Obviously, he would not be ready for the start of the 2012-2013 season.
Right on schedule, 10 months later in March 2013, Rose was given a clean bill of health by the doctors. He was good-to-go -- full-tilt. While on that subject, let's not forget that big-time pro athletes get the finest medical care by the finest medical personnel in the country, if not the world. These guys know what they're talking about.
But Rose said he didn't feel quite right yet. Some thought he was "milking" a sick leave while making millions of dollars for doing nothing. Could have been. Others came to his defense and claimed only Derrick himself knew for sure how his body felt. Point noted.
At any rate, though medically cleared to play in March, Rose opted to sit out the rest of the season, including the entire playoffs which went well into June.
He would make his return in October of 2013, over a year and a half since his left knee injury (remember the original 8-12 month recovery period). By then he had collected roughly $30 million while not playing.
Sure enough, only a month later, Rose would suffer a torn meniscus in his right knee (the one that originally had tendinitis). More surgery, and out for the season again. Cha-ching.
Returning for the 2014-2015 campaign, Rose was doing fairly well, though a couple of his teammates had suffered injuries here and there that kept them out for various times.
Then bang, Rose went down yet again on Feb. 24. The meniscus was torn again. More surgery coming up, and nobody knows how long he'll be out this time. However, a doctor knowledgeable about such things said this procedure will only be of the minor arthroscopic variety. He shouldn't be out more than 6 weeks -- 8 at the max.
That means he should be ready for the playoffs which start in a couple months. But I'll just betcha, full medical clearance or not, we've seen the last of Derrick Rose this season, because that's the way he rolls. Nice work-- or not -- if one can get it. Did I mention cha-ching?
So taking all the above into account, one could reasonably ask themself this question.....
Look back up at the title of this post.....
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