OK, we still have 8 teams theoretically in the mix, but at least three of them have no shot -- NONE -- of winning the championship. Consider the series' match-ups right now....
Cleveland and Toronto.
Lebron and the Cavs have shown vulnerability this year, but the Raptors beating them? Not a chance.
Golden State and Utah.
The Jazz bounced the always overrated Clippers, but they might -- MIGHT -- salvage a single win in this series. At most, it goes 5 games. The Warriors roll on. Easily.
Boston and Washington.
A bit more interesting, but not that much. Like every other Washington team, the Capitals, Nats, and even (especially) Congress, you just know the Wiz are going to choke when the pressure is on. The Celtics may not win it all this year, but make no mistake. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, and quite likely for some time to come. GM Danny Ainge has done a masterful job of rebuilding the Beaners, and has a brilliant young head coach in Brad Stevens. The newest diminutive version of Isaiah Thomas is the real deal. Look out for these guys in a year or two. I'm just saying.....
That's three in and three out for the semis.
The last match-up is quite intriguing.
San Antonio and Houston.
Though the Spurs have long been a model of excellence and class under Coach Pop, it could be fairly said they ain't what they used to be. Tim Duncan is gone. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are getting old. The latter just went down with what could be a serious leg injury. Lamarcus Aldridge was a great free-agent signing, but hasn't torn it up like many thought he might. Kawhi Leonard is arguably the best all-around player in the league. Yet despite their usual impressive regular season record, the Spurs appear to be a bit wobbly.
In two home games against Houston, they were blown out in the first and returned the favor in the second. The series stands tied at 1-1.
The Rockets are a bit like the Celtics in the East. They're really good and are coming on strong. It would be a mistake to underestimate the enormous capabilities and talents of James Hardin. How and why Oklahoma City ever let him get away in free agency remains a baffling question.
This series could swing either way. If Houston holds serve during the next two games at home, color the Spurs good-bye. But if San Antonio, road warriors themselves, can steal at least one game at Houston to even the series -- well..... If they win them both, unlikely, then color the Rockets good-bye. We'll see. But this is the most competitive series of the bunch.
Prediction.
Cleveland and Boston are almost no-brainers to meet for the East title. The Celtics will have home court advantage. Is Boston ready to take the next step? Probably not. It's mighty tough to bet against Lebon, Kyrie, Kevin, and that bunch in the playoffs, home court or not.
Golden State is a shoo-in. Whether it's San Antonio or Houston to face them in the Western finals remains to be seen. But given the heartbreak of blowing a 3-1 lead in the Finals last year, and also given the Warriors are healthy, who would dare bet against them getting back to the Big Dance one more time? True, head coach Steve Kerr is still out with back problems, and interim coach Mike Brown might be clueless -- but these guys can run on auto-pilot as long as they stay healthy.
Though anything can happen, see injuries to key players, it sure looks to be shaping up to be a Golden State/Cleveland III Finals. A rubber match, if you will.
If either of them were to get knocked off in the interim, it would be big news indeed.
But that's why they play the games -- right? Ya just never know how it might turn out.....
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Adam Jones and the "n" word
As a young child I grew up in what could be called a "Leave it to Beaver" neighborhood. There was no crime, save for a few of us hooligans that soaped some windows on Devil's night. Well OK, some of the same "thugs" may have had the audacity to throw a snowball or three at cars during the winter months. Call us a regular gang of vandals. Guilty, Your Honor.
Though I was a "city boy", in a diverse one at that, my early life was quite sheltered by fate placing me in such a neighborhood. There was the "other side of town", but none of us ever ventured there. Basically, we were ignorant of the ways of others.
Not until junior high school did I get a taste of "diversity". It was like a whole new world opening up and everybody pretty much got along, no matter where they were from.
That all changed in high school. Back then, my school was roughly split evenly between blacks and whites, with a smattering of Latinos and Asians added to the mix. I didn't want any problems, just go to school, study some, goof off some, try and impress a girl here and there -- just the usual teenager stuff.
But that wasn't going to work. For whatever reasons, there were those -- on both sides -- that hated each other, just because they happened to be of a different color. The reality of racial tension, and sometimes the resulting violence, became very real, very fast in my world. Trying to "turn the other cheek" from the taunts and physical provocations merely labelled one as an "easy mark", that could be abused at will. Not a good scenario for an adolescent boy to be in.
So like it or not, one had to learn how to fight back or be swarmed under. Looking back, not for one second do I think any of it was right -- but it was the reality of the times. Therefore, I wound up taking a few whuppings, but also dishing them out. I never went looking for trouble, but got to the point where I wasn't afraid to confront it either. It was the "respect" factor, and had to be earned, which oftentimes came with some pain and injury, both given and taken. To this day, I still don't think my parents were ever fully aware of some of the things that transpired in the stairwells, locker rooms, parking lots, and surrounding areas of that high school. Things quite often got ugly for no other apparent reason than people of different colors and backgrounds wanting to wreak havoc on each other. Blind, ignorant hatred at it's finest -- or worst.
I suspect it has always been that way among the human species, and likely always will be. This faction hates that faction, for no apparent reason other than they always have. How many movies have been made with the cowboys and indians hating each other? The jews vs arabs is a feud that goes back centuries -- though they're both originally from the same "tribe". Why is it that Mexicans and Puerto Ricans seemingly despise each other? Among Islamics, millions have died over a difference of opinion regarding their same book of worship, and continue to do so. Republicans hate Democrats and vice-versa. Liberals hate conservatives. Ditto. The list of hatred between this tribe or that is long indeed. They probably don't even know why. They just do. And while few might hate Sara Lee, unless they had an allergic reaction to a cheesecake or something, it's likely also true that not everybody exactly "loved Raymond" either.
Enter Adam Jones, of the Baltimore Orioles. He's doing some major whining, with the ever-present politically correct media jumping on the bandwagon, because he was subjected to racial slurs while at Fenway Park, home of the Bosox. Somebody even allegedly threw a bag of peanuts at him.
Well, guess what, buddy? Welcome to the real world. And stop with the "n-word" stuff already. We all have long known it's short for "nigger", a derogatory term for black people. Other such slurs have long existed for whites, Italians, Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Latinos, Jews, and most certainly Arabs, along with several others. I needn't list them here. You know what they are.
To pretend they're going away any time soon is pure folly. There will always be those that use these terms, whether others like it or not. To tell people they can't say certain words is pretty much a guarantee they will do exactly that. Such is the nature of the species. Always has been.
Have I ever used any of these words myself in the past? Sure, but not so much anymore. No need. I grew up and realized the absurdity of it. It's merely debasing another while accomplishing absolutely nothing except perpetuating hard feelings. I dare say we have more than enough of those going around these days in the world. On that note, I've experienced my own share of taunts and slurs in times past. Nowadays, when they occur, I'm able to laugh them off. Sticks and stones, etc, no big deal.
Though the media will always be quick to jump on whatever "sensational" story of the day they can get (tis the nature of the beast), people like Adam Jones need to realize that the world isn't always a fair place, much less politically correct. In other words, get used to it, because it isn't going away any time soon. The haters will always be out there, and that's just the way it is and has always been.
Besides, what's the big problem with somebody throwing a bag of peanuts in his direction? If the idiot was willing to chuck his/her $8-10 dollar ball park investment in a bag of nuts worth maybe a quarter of that -- obviously he/she wasn't wrapped too tight in the first place.
And hey, it could have been a lot worse. Some maniac could have come charging out the stands with a club, shiv, or other weapon to do him bodily harm.
I saw more than my fair share of that in high school as well, and have scars to this day as a result.
But Adams Jones is outraged over a little name-calling and a bag of peanuts being thrown at him?
Sheesh, I wish it would have been that simple and harmless for yours truly back in the day.
This dude doesn't have the faintest clue how fortunate he is........
Though I was a "city boy", in a diverse one at that, my early life was quite sheltered by fate placing me in such a neighborhood. There was the "other side of town", but none of us ever ventured there. Basically, we were ignorant of the ways of others.
Not until junior high school did I get a taste of "diversity". It was like a whole new world opening up and everybody pretty much got along, no matter where they were from.
That all changed in high school. Back then, my school was roughly split evenly between blacks and whites, with a smattering of Latinos and Asians added to the mix. I didn't want any problems, just go to school, study some, goof off some, try and impress a girl here and there -- just the usual teenager stuff.
But that wasn't going to work. For whatever reasons, there were those -- on both sides -- that hated each other, just because they happened to be of a different color. The reality of racial tension, and sometimes the resulting violence, became very real, very fast in my world. Trying to "turn the other cheek" from the taunts and physical provocations merely labelled one as an "easy mark", that could be abused at will. Not a good scenario for an adolescent boy to be in.
So like it or not, one had to learn how to fight back or be swarmed under. Looking back, not for one second do I think any of it was right -- but it was the reality of the times. Therefore, I wound up taking a few whuppings, but also dishing them out. I never went looking for trouble, but got to the point where I wasn't afraid to confront it either. It was the "respect" factor, and had to be earned, which oftentimes came with some pain and injury, both given and taken. To this day, I still don't think my parents were ever fully aware of some of the things that transpired in the stairwells, locker rooms, parking lots, and surrounding areas of that high school. Things quite often got ugly for no other apparent reason than people of different colors and backgrounds wanting to wreak havoc on each other. Blind, ignorant hatred at it's finest -- or worst.
I suspect it has always been that way among the human species, and likely always will be. This faction hates that faction, for no apparent reason other than they always have. How many movies have been made with the cowboys and indians hating each other? The jews vs arabs is a feud that goes back centuries -- though they're both originally from the same "tribe". Why is it that Mexicans and Puerto Ricans seemingly despise each other? Among Islamics, millions have died over a difference of opinion regarding their same book of worship, and continue to do so. Republicans hate Democrats and vice-versa. Liberals hate conservatives. Ditto. The list of hatred between this tribe or that is long indeed. They probably don't even know why. They just do. And while few might hate Sara Lee, unless they had an allergic reaction to a cheesecake or something, it's likely also true that not everybody exactly "loved Raymond" either.
Enter Adam Jones, of the Baltimore Orioles. He's doing some major whining, with the ever-present politically correct media jumping on the bandwagon, because he was subjected to racial slurs while at Fenway Park, home of the Bosox. Somebody even allegedly threw a bag of peanuts at him.
Well, guess what, buddy? Welcome to the real world. And stop with the "n-word" stuff already. We all have long known it's short for "nigger", a derogatory term for black people. Other such slurs have long existed for whites, Italians, Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Latinos, Jews, and most certainly Arabs, along with several others. I needn't list them here. You know what they are.
To pretend they're going away any time soon is pure folly. There will always be those that use these terms, whether others like it or not. To tell people they can't say certain words is pretty much a guarantee they will do exactly that. Such is the nature of the species. Always has been.
Have I ever used any of these words myself in the past? Sure, but not so much anymore. No need. I grew up and realized the absurdity of it. It's merely debasing another while accomplishing absolutely nothing except perpetuating hard feelings. I dare say we have more than enough of those going around these days in the world. On that note, I've experienced my own share of taunts and slurs in times past. Nowadays, when they occur, I'm able to laugh them off. Sticks and stones, etc, no big deal.
Though the media will always be quick to jump on whatever "sensational" story of the day they can get (tis the nature of the beast), people like Adam Jones need to realize that the world isn't always a fair place, much less politically correct. In other words, get used to it, because it isn't going away any time soon. The haters will always be out there, and that's just the way it is and has always been.
Besides, what's the big problem with somebody throwing a bag of peanuts in his direction? If the idiot was willing to chuck his/her $8-10 dollar ball park investment in a bag of nuts worth maybe a quarter of that -- obviously he/she wasn't wrapped too tight in the first place.
And hey, it could have been a lot worse. Some maniac could have come charging out the stands with a club, shiv, or other weapon to do him bodily harm.
I saw more than my fair share of that in high school as well, and have scars to this day as a result.
But Adams Jones is outraged over a little name-calling and a bag of peanuts being thrown at him?
Sheesh, I wish it would have been that simple and harmless for yours truly back in the day.
This dude doesn't have the faintest clue how fortunate he is........
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Doc Rivers. Time to go
Once again the LA Clippers got bounced out of the playoffs early. This time the Utah Jazz zapped them, including winning two games on the Clips' home court, especially the deciding Game 7.
The Clippers are the best team in their own building, due to the fact the Lakers have become absolutely pitiful of late, but not much else.
Remember a few years ago when Steve Ballmer paid a whopping 2 BILLION for this team -- that was likely only worth half that -- at most? Somewhere former owner Donald Sterling likely still chuckles. Geez, twist his arm and make him sell. It's turned out to be laughable indeed, if you're a member of the Sterling family that stands to inherit such a huge pile of dough. Oh yeah Commish Adam Silver, aka Mr. Peanut, really taught HIM a lesson. LOL
So what did Ballmer do right off the bat? Sign Glenn "Doc" Rivers to a contract that was even more ridiculous than what he had paid for the team. Over 50 million bucks for five years.
And how has the good Doctor delivered? The short answer is -- he hasn't. Despite all the "talent" they supposedly have, the Clips haven't even made it out of the second round of the playoffs under his guidance, let alone get to and/or win a championship series.
Further, the Clippers are the only team in NBA history to have blown playoff series' leads 5 years in a row. They get ahead, then fold.
Some of the players, notably Chris Paul and Deandre Jordan, have made a lot of moronic TV commercials hawking whatever product. But they can't seem to win anything of note on the court.
Thing is, Rivers still has two years remaining on his contract. Whether he coaches or not, Ballmer has to cough up big money to him.
True, Doc had some success in Boston, even winning a championship. But he's been a totally overrated failure since he went west to the Clips.
Also likely true is Charles Barkley has been right all along. He once famously stated that if your best player (in this case Chris Paul) is only 6 foot tall, you are NEVER going to win a championship. Forget it, ain't happening.
There's no disputing the western conference of the NBA has become brutal in recent years. The Golden State Warriors are indeed all that. San Antonio under the tutelage of Coach Pop continues to remain a force. And the Houston Rockets ain't too shabby either. Since the Okla City Thunder let James Hardin get away to Houston, and recently Kevin Durant to the Warriors, super-Russ Westbrook can put up all the triple-doubles he wants, but they're not going far either. One trick ponies just won't get it done in the playoffs.
So yes, the competition in the west is ferocious. But that doesn't give Doc Rivers a pass either.
He's had his chance, and has now, with the latest debacle of falling to the Jazz in the opening round, shown he has outlived his usefulness in Clip-land. And it's not like Ballmer can't afford to eat the remainder of his contract.
Doctors have a shelf life too. Doctor Joyce Brothers came and went. So did Doctor Ruth. Doc Severinson blew his trumpet for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, but was finally broomed. Doctor Phil remains his patronizing self offering advice to others. Doc Holliday had his days with the Earp brothers in the old west, and the showdown at OK corral. His day job was being a dentist.
Now this is the "new" west. The Clips aren't getting better, but WORSE, despite the outrageous salaries they have conferred on players that can't deliver in clutch time. And expecting the Clippers under Doc Rivers to ever get over the hump is like imagining Doc Holliday pulling teeth in the old days. With no anesthetic or numbing shots available, that had to be painful to undergo, and even to watch. Such are the Clips, live and in person, year after year.
Who could replace Rivers? Who cares? Pick a hot-shot college coach like the Celtics did in Brad Stevens once they were shed of Rivers. They seem to be doing just fine and are definitely on the rise.
But there can be no mistake.
It is definitely time for the not-so-good Doc dude to get the boot as Clippers coach.
Enough is enough.
As they say, this just isn't working out.....
The Clippers are the best team in their own building, due to the fact the Lakers have become absolutely pitiful of late, but not much else.
Remember a few years ago when Steve Ballmer paid a whopping 2 BILLION for this team -- that was likely only worth half that -- at most? Somewhere former owner Donald Sterling likely still chuckles. Geez, twist his arm and make him sell. It's turned out to be laughable indeed, if you're a member of the Sterling family that stands to inherit such a huge pile of dough. Oh yeah Commish Adam Silver, aka Mr. Peanut, really taught HIM a lesson. LOL
So what did Ballmer do right off the bat? Sign Glenn "Doc" Rivers to a contract that was even more ridiculous than what he had paid for the team. Over 50 million bucks for five years.
And how has the good Doctor delivered? The short answer is -- he hasn't. Despite all the "talent" they supposedly have, the Clips haven't even made it out of the second round of the playoffs under his guidance, let alone get to and/or win a championship series.
Further, the Clippers are the only team in NBA history to have blown playoff series' leads 5 years in a row. They get ahead, then fold.
Some of the players, notably Chris Paul and Deandre Jordan, have made a lot of moronic TV commercials hawking whatever product. But they can't seem to win anything of note on the court.
Thing is, Rivers still has two years remaining on his contract. Whether he coaches or not, Ballmer has to cough up big money to him.
True, Doc had some success in Boston, even winning a championship. But he's been a totally overrated failure since he went west to the Clips.
Also likely true is Charles Barkley has been right all along. He once famously stated that if your best player (in this case Chris Paul) is only 6 foot tall, you are NEVER going to win a championship. Forget it, ain't happening.
There's no disputing the western conference of the NBA has become brutal in recent years. The Golden State Warriors are indeed all that. San Antonio under the tutelage of Coach Pop continues to remain a force. And the Houston Rockets ain't too shabby either. Since the Okla City Thunder let James Hardin get away to Houston, and recently Kevin Durant to the Warriors, super-Russ Westbrook can put up all the triple-doubles he wants, but they're not going far either. One trick ponies just won't get it done in the playoffs.
So yes, the competition in the west is ferocious. But that doesn't give Doc Rivers a pass either.
He's had his chance, and has now, with the latest debacle of falling to the Jazz in the opening round, shown he has outlived his usefulness in Clip-land. And it's not like Ballmer can't afford to eat the remainder of his contract.
Doctors have a shelf life too. Doctor Joyce Brothers came and went. So did Doctor Ruth. Doc Severinson blew his trumpet for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, but was finally broomed. Doctor Phil remains his patronizing self offering advice to others. Doc Holliday had his days with the Earp brothers in the old west, and the showdown at OK corral. His day job was being a dentist.
Now this is the "new" west. The Clips aren't getting better, but WORSE, despite the outrageous salaries they have conferred on players that can't deliver in clutch time. And expecting the Clippers under Doc Rivers to ever get over the hump is like imagining Doc Holliday pulling teeth in the old days. With no anesthetic or numbing shots available, that had to be painful to undergo, and even to watch. Such are the Clips, live and in person, year after year.
Who could replace Rivers? Who cares? Pick a hot-shot college coach like the Celtics did in Brad Stevens once they were shed of Rivers. They seem to be doing just fine and are definitely on the rise.
But there can be no mistake.
It is definitely time for the not-so-good Doc dude to get the boot as Clippers coach.
Enough is enough.
As they say, this just isn't working out.....
The not so amazing Detroit Lions
Well OK, the annual NFL is finally, mercifully, drawing to a close. Like every other year for the last half century or so, the Detroit Lions claim to have "made a killing". They got just the players they wanted, at just the positions they were most needed at. Sound familiar?
Their first two picks were a linebacker and a cornerback, both from the Univ. of Florida. Names aren't important at this point. Can these guys jump in and play right away? Maybe. Will they be stars someday? Maybe as well. Could either or both turn out to be busts? Entirely possible. Lots of Lions high draft picks over the years quickly faded into oblivion. The list is as long or longer than their playoff winning dearth.
Linebacker and corner were definitely two positions in need for the Lions. Of their existing linebacker corps, it's questionable whether any of them could start on any other NFL team, and also questionable if a few of them could make a roster elsewhere. They had one passable corner and the rest were/are a pretty much Keystone Koppish bunch. Let's just say these weren't exactly positions of strength for the Lions. Then again, what position is other than having a half way decent quarterback?
Still no feature running back. Tight ends that can't seem to catch. Like Abbott and Costello's classic "Who's on first" routine, nobody knows who's what and where on the offensive line. The D line is no better. They have -- maybe -- one decent pass rusher, who struggles to stay healthy, and a bunch of other guys nobody ever heard of.
With the early retirement of Calvin Johnson, Detroit has little in the way of "dangerous" wide receivers.
In short, the Lions have needs at just about every position. This is some kind of mess they've gotten themselves into over the years, and there's not enough draft picks, even successful ones, to fix it in a year or two. Let's not forget that not long ago, they had the dubious wisdom to use their first round pick on an offensive tackle -- which they knew going in couldn't even start. How incredibly boneheaded was that? Everybody else was grabbing difference makers and the Lions took a behemoth only to sit him on the bench? Is it any wonder they have floundered for so long?
Quarterback Matthew Stafford will soon have a decision to make. This coming season is the last year on his existing contract. While the Honolulu blue and silver faithful hope, pray, and perhaps even assume that Stafford will re-up long term with the club -- and he well might -- there's an entirely different way of looking at it as well.
True, Stafford is hyped to the max in Detroit as the greatest thing since maybe Barry Sanders or Stroh's ice cream, but in the whole NFL scheme of things, he typically grades out a little above average. Out of 32 teams, most "experts" peg him somewhere between 12 and 15. There are others around the league much better, but also others much worse.
Thing is, Stafford will have spent an entire decade with the Lions and has absolutely nothing to show for it. Not even a single playoff victory to date, much less getting within a light year or three of the Super Bowl. And that's simply not going to happen in Detroit any year soon. They have WAY too many deficiencies on their roster to compete with the existing elite teams, plus those that are young and coming on.
So the thought here is Stafford would be wise to consider the open market when it becomes available after one more season with the puddy-tats.
There are several teams around the league that would covet his services, even with the deficiencies he brings as well. Strong arm? Definitely. Accurate? Mostly. Good decision maker that can quickly process his options and do the right thing under pressure? More so than not. Fleet of foot? No way. Susceptible to injury? Used to be, but he seems to have outgrown his one-time China doll reputation. Like a Timex watch, he's been taking his lickings and kept on ticking of late.
He's also at the peak of his career. Given his age, not yet 30, but getting close, Stafford would seem to have the optimum blend of experience and physical ability.
So put yourself in his shoes. He grew up in the Dallas area. Played college ball at Georgia. It's not like he's a home-town boy by any stretch of the imagination. Stafford's already banked enough money from the Lions to last him ten lifetimes. His kids and grandkids are set as well. Sure, the Lions could and would be able to pay him more in the future. But does it really make any difference at this point whether he makes 15 million or 20 million a year?
And there's the crux of the matter. If Matthew Stafford ever wants a legitimate shot at being a champion, it's not going to happen in Detroit. If they ever put this team together enough to be competitive, don't hold your breath, it will likely be long after Stafford's best days are far in the rear view mirror.
While winning a playoff game or two in Detroit seems to be their idea of success, there are others around the league that would scoff at such low standards. And a few of them could likely fit Matthew Stafford in quite nicely at the quarterback position.
So unless dear Matthew has succumbed to the lowly expectations of the Lions, he'd be nuts not to consider all the other options that will likely pour in after one more year of service at what has long been an exercise in futility.
Want a ring, or at least a chance at one? Gotta go somewhere else, maybe even take less dough.
On top of that, his Hall of Fame chances right now aren't looking good. He needs to break out of the doldrums the Lions have a way of saddling their players with. Their last inductee was Barry Sanders, who also got tired of their losing ways, took an early retirement, and has been gone for approaching 20 years. Since then, they haven't won a SINGLE playoff game.
Barry didn't have the option that will soon present itself to Stafford. The Lions owned the rights to Sanders' elusive butt. Play for them or don't play at all. He left $8 million dollars on the table, even bigger money back in those days, plus likely the all-time NFL career rushing record. Had Barry played out the string with even the sad sack Lions, he likely would have set the mark so high it would NEVER be approached again. But he had enough pride, and sense, to walk away from a team that had no upside, while he was still healthy.
Here's hoping Matthew Stafford considers his options as well. No, he likely won't retire, but greener pastures await him if he opens up his mind to consider them.
He's given Detroit enough. A full decade of being the best QB they've had in some time. Maybe ever. But nothing to show for it, except a pile of dough. Everybody gets that these days.
So in conjunction with my last post, throw in the Detroit Lions with the bottom feeding Pistons and Red Wings, mix well with a Tiger team that is surely headed south in the future, and what do you have?
Answer. No matter how you slice and dice it, Detroit is quickly becoming quite the sad sack city when it comes to professional sports across the board.
The fans can root, root, root, and keep buying expensive tickets, $8 draft beers worth maybe a quarter wholesale, $6 leathery hot dogs, and whatever that glop is that passes for nacho cheese, along with the team paraphernalia. And their local media can keep peddling the snake oil they do every year to the suckers -- but in the end there's no escaping the reality of it.
It just is what it is.
And it ain't pretty......
Their first two picks were a linebacker and a cornerback, both from the Univ. of Florida. Names aren't important at this point. Can these guys jump in and play right away? Maybe. Will they be stars someday? Maybe as well. Could either or both turn out to be busts? Entirely possible. Lots of Lions high draft picks over the years quickly faded into oblivion. The list is as long or longer than their playoff winning dearth.
Linebacker and corner were definitely two positions in need for the Lions. Of their existing linebacker corps, it's questionable whether any of them could start on any other NFL team, and also questionable if a few of them could make a roster elsewhere. They had one passable corner and the rest were/are a pretty much Keystone Koppish bunch. Let's just say these weren't exactly positions of strength for the Lions. Then again, what position is other than having a half way decent quarterback?
Still no feature running back. Tight ends that can't seem to catch. Like Abbott and Costello's classic "Who's on first" routine, nobody knows who's what and where on the offensive line. The D line is no better. They have -- maybe -- one decent pass rusher, who struggles to stay healthy, and a bunch of other guys nobody ever heard of.
With the early retirement of Calvin Johnson, Detroit has little in the way of "dangerous" wide receivers.
In short, the Lions have needs at just about every position. This is some kind of mess they've gotten themselves into over the years, and there's not enough draft picks, even successful ones, to fix it in a year or two. Let's not forget that not long ago, they had the dubious wisdom to use their first round pick on an offensive tackle -- which they knew going in couldn't even start. How incredibly boneheaded was that? Everybody else was grabbing difference makers and the Lions took a behemoth only to sit him on the bench? Is it any wonder they have floundered for so long?
Quarterback Matthew Stafford will soon have a decision to make. This coming season is the last year on his existing contract. While the Honolulu blue and silver faithful hope, pray, and perhaps even assume that Stafford will re-up long term with the club -- and he well might -- there's an entirely different way of looking at it as well.
True, Stafford is hyped to the max in Detroit as the greatest thing since maybe Barry Sanders or Stroh's ice cream, but in the whole NFL scheme of things, he typically grades out a little above average. Out of 32 teams, most "experts" peg him somewhere between 12 and 15. There are others around the league much better, but also others much worse.
Thing is, Stafford will have spent an entire decade with the Lions and has absolutely nothing to show for it. Not even a single playoff victory to date, much less getting within a light year or three of the Super Bowl. And that's simply not going to happen in Detroit any year soon. They have WAY too many deficiencies on their roster to compete with the existing elite teams, plus those that are young and coming on.
So the thought here is Stafford would be wise to consider the open market when it becomes available after one more season with the puddy-tats.
There are several teams around the league that would covet his services, even with the deficiencies he brings as well. Strong arm? Definitely. Accurate? Mostly. Good decision maker that can quickly process his options and do the right thing under pressure? More so than not. Fleet of foot? No way. Susceptible to injury? Used to be, but he seems to have outgrown his one-time China doll reputation. Like a Timex watch, he's been taking his lickings and kept on ticking of late.
He's also at the peak of his career. Given his age, not yet 30, but getting close, Stafford would seem to have the optimum blend of experience and physical ability.
So put yourself in his shoes. He grew up in the Dallas area. Played college ball at Georgia. It's not like he's a home-town boy by any stretch of the imagination. Stafford's already banked enough money from the Lions to last him ten lifetimes. His kids and grandkids are set as well. Sure, the Lions could and would be able to pay him more in the future. But does it really make any difference at this point whether he makes 15 million or 20 million a year?
And there's the crux of the matter. If Matthew Stafford ever wants a legitimate shot at being a champion, it's not going to happen in Detroit. If they ever put this team together enough to be competitive, don't hold your breath, it will likely be long after Stafford's best days are far in the rear view mirror.
While winning a playoff game or two in Detroit seems to be their idea of success, there are others around the league that would scoff at such low standards. And a few of them could likely fit Matthew Stafford in quite nicely at the quarterback position.
So unless dear Matthew has succumbed to the lowly expectations of the Lions, he'd be nuts not to consider all the other options that will likely pour in after one more year of service at what has long been an exercise in futility.
Want a ring, or at least a chance at one? Gotta go somewhere else, maybe even take less dough.
On top of that, his Hall of Fame chances right now aren't looking good. He needs to break out of the doldrums the Lions have a way of saddling their players with. Their last inductee was Barry Sanders, who also got tired of their losing ways, took an early retirement, and has been gone for approaching 20 years. Since then, they haven't won a SINGLE playoff game.
Barry didn't have the option that will soon present itself to Stafford. The Lions owned the rights to Sanders' elusive butt. Play for them or don't play at all. He left $8 million dollars on the table, even bigger money back in those days, plus likely the all-time NFL career rushing record. Had Barry played out the string with even the sad sack Lions, he likely would have set the mark so high it would NEVER be approached again. But he had enough pride, and sense, to walk away from a team that had no upside, while he was still healthy.
Here's hoping Matthew Stafford considers his options as well. No, he likely won't retire, but greener pastures await him if he opens up his mind to consider them.
He's given Detroit enough. A full decade of being the best QB they've had in some time. Maybe ever. But nothing to show for it, except a pile of dough. Everybody gets that these days.
So in conjunction with my last post, throw in the Detroit Lions with the bottom feeding Pistons and Red Wings, mix well with a Tiger team that is surely headed south in the future, and what do you have?
Answer. No matter how you slice and dice it, Detroit is quickly becoming quite the sad sack city when it comes to professional sports across the board.
The fans can root, root, root, and keep buying expensive tickets, $8 draft beers worth maybe a quarter wholesale, $6 leathery hot dogs, and whatever that glop is that passes for nacho cheese, along with the team paraphernalia. And their local media can keep peddling the snake oil they do every year to the suckers -- but in the end there's no escaping the reality of it.
It just is what it is.
And it ain't pretty......
Saturday, April 29, 2017
The sorry state of Detroit sports
To much fanfare, the Detroit Red Wings will be moving into a new venue next year. Recently, it was announced that the Detroit Pistons will join them at Little Caesar's Arena.
It's hard to figure what Pistons' owner Tom Gores is thinking. When he bought the team from the family of the late Bill Davidson, who had built the world class Palace at Auburn Hills out of money from his own pocket, Gores had a building totally paid for. Then he went on to invest somewhere between 10 and 15 million bucks into sprucing it up. All well and good.
So why -- tell me why -- would he turn right around and move his team back to the dregs of downtown Detroit, where he has to pay rent?
At that, both the Wings and Pistons are bottom feeding teams in their respective leagues with a dismal outlook for the near future. So in the end, a few hundred million bucks got spent building a totally unnecessary sparkling new home for these teams, hundreds of people got kicked out of their houses and businesses via the dreaded "eminent domain" to make room for it, and will get socked through taxes to pay for a lot of it. For two totally lousy teams. Only in Detroit could a colossal debacle such as this occur.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers have a dismal looking future as well. Justin Verlander's getting up there in years and will soon start falling off. Same with Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler. They have a designated hitter named V-Mart. Nobody can remember if and when he was ever able to field a position. His speed on the basepathes can be timed with a sundial. Can he even throw a baseball? Nobody knows. V-Mart is the definition of a one tool player. He can hit, at least he used to be able to. Nowadays he's struggling to hit his weight (though to be fair, considering his "pudge factor" he hasn't missed any meals lately either). So what good is a guy approaching 40 years old that's batting .220 or so and can't do anything else? This is their idea of a designated hitter? Really?
J.D. Martinez remains an injury always waiting to happen. Twenty five games into the season, he hasn't been healthy enough to play yet. And on the rare occasions he can remain healthy, is a defensive liability in right field.
Shortstop Jose Iglesias is slick with the glove, but a weak hitter, and another trip to the disable list always on deck. He's gone again.
Third baseman Nick Castellanos appears to be a journeyman. Not particularly good at anything, but the best the Tigers can come up with.
Centerfield remains an unsettled position.
Beyond Verlander, Michael Fullmer had an impressive rookie year as a starting pitcher, but now that he's been around the league, opposing hitters are starting to get a pretty good feel for what he has to offer. A mid 90's fastball, a cutter, an average change-up -- nothing special.
The other starters are hopes and prayers every time they take the mound.
The bullpen remains a disaster waiting to happen.
Between Alex Avila and James McCann, it's just a couple of slightly below average guys platooning at catcher.
Former Tiger Prez Dave Dombrowski looted the farm system trading for star talent in a "going for it now" gamble. They almost made it, but couldn't quite get over the hump. Still no World Series championship since 1984, midway through the Reagan White House years. How long ago was THAT?
But that talent didn't stay in Detroit long. They bailed elsewhere. See Max Scherzer, David Price, and BTW, who was the genius that let young Rick Porcello get away to the Bosox? Didn't he go 22-4 last year and capture the Cy Young award?
Now the Tigers are aging, an average team at best, with little help, if any, on the way. Where are they going to get it from? They don't have anybody left to trade anymore, at least anybody a sane team would be interested in, given some of the ridiculous mega-contracts the Tigers were foolish enough to saddle themselves with. The cupboard is all but bare in their minor league system. No hot shot prospects in sight.
Though the 2017 season is young, the Tigers have already started to fade this year. And look around the American League. In the Central Division, the Tigers are nowhere near as talented as the Cleveland Indians, from top to bottom. In the East, Baltimore and Boston are definitely competitive. The Yanks always pose a threat. In the West, Texas, Houston, and Seattle are right there. And all feature younger "good" players than the Tigers.
The Tigers' future appears bleak indeed.
Playing across the street from them are the Detroit Lions. Far be it from them they could find a way to share a stadium like they did in the old days and save the taxpayers a few hundred million bucks. Oh no. Everybody has to have their own custom-made super bauble these days, while usually at least one of them sits idle and vacant. The Lions have always been, and most certainly remain, their very own "can of worms". A franchise that seems to be unique unto itself -- along with their fans and media that continue to peddle the snake oil they always have.
More on them next time out.
Stay tuned......
More sports hits
See former Michigan player Jabrill Peppers, still in limbo over his "diluted urine sample", get drafted by the Cleveland Browns. See Peppers immediately go off on a rant and break into a chimpanzee on serious roids dance routine.
Note to Jabrill. Be happy, but not THAT happy. Yep, you got drafted, but you're going to Cleveland. They have a really good NBA team there, defending champs as a matter of fact. The Major League Indians came within an out or two of winning the World Series last year, and will likely easily win their division again this year. Alas, Cleveland lost its NHL team a while back, the Barons, and it's still pretty much an armpit city overall. And BTW, the Browns stink, have stunk since they came back into the league, and look like they're going to stink for the foreseeable future. But you're stuck with them, rookie contract and all, for the next few years. Hey, you and your Wolverines might have been halfway decent at Michigan, but you never won squat there either when it mattered. So how about dialing the spaz dance routine back a tad, OK? When reality sets in, it ain't exactly the bed of roses you might have thought it is.
In the NBA, the Boston Celtics were a bit of a surprise -- or maybe not. After losing the first two games at home to the Chicago Bulls, they came roaring back to blister them in four straight, including a blowout at Chicago in Game Six. The beaners await the winner of the Washington/Atlanta series. Chances are good they will prevail there as well, regardless of which opponent they face.
Meanwhile, the above-mentioned Cleveland Cavs are taking on the Toronto Raptors in the second round. Yes, Lebron and Co. have looked vulnerable in recent times, but we all pretty much know who's going to win that series.
In all likelihood, that will set up a Boston/Cleveland series for the NBA Eastern Conference title. Are the Celts ready to take the next step and knock off the Cavs? Maybe not, even though they had the better regular season record, and will enjoy home court advantage.
But no mistake, they're coming. GM Danny Ainge has done a masterful job of shedding big contracts for aging players, while stockpiling draft picks over the last few years. They have a brilliant young head coach in Brad Stevens. And the Celtics are young, with Ainge having still a few more extra draft picks in the bank in the next couple years. They're going to keep getting better.
Meanwhile, Lebron James, while arguably still the best player on the planet, will soon face the inevitable erosion of his playing skills. He's at the point where Father Time starts to kick in. He's not going to get any better, but worse as the years go on. Sure, he can and did make any team infinitely better by his mere presence, from the Cavs in the "old days", to the mini-dynasty in Miami, and back to Cleveland to finally win a title for his native Ohio. But subtract him from the equation and the Cavs get "average" in a hurry. Kyrie Irving's outstanding and Kevin Love as well, when he can stay healthy, but the rest of the supporting cast isn't going to intimidate anybody, much less a team on the rise like the Celtics.
Speaking of which, Larry Bird is about to step down as Prez of the Indy Pacers. True, he's an Indiana native, but how cool would it be if went back to the Celtics, where he enjoyed so much success for so many years as a player, as THEIR Prez when they seem to be on the cusp of returning to greatness?
Wow. Remember that Lavar Bell guy? He's the father of Lonzo (still a college player at UCLA) and a couple other sons that wanted a BILLION dollar shoe contract for his boys. That's a whole bunch of dough, heretofore unheard of as endorsements go.
Turns out, the people he was aiming his rant at don't appear to be interested. This would include such companies as Under Armour, Nike, and Adidas. You know, those lovable folks that exploit dollar a day foreign labor only to turn around and sell their fancy tennis shoes in the states for hundreds of dollars a pop.
It might just be that the execs at these shoe companies were a bit turned off by not-so-Cool Papa Bell flapping his gums and otherwise acting like a pompous entitled fool in public. Evidently, the dude didn't have the sense enough to act like a semi-grown up person himself. So if you're a shoe exec, do you really want to throw a huge pile of money at the kids he raised, likely in his own image, before any of them has even proven themselves to be a decent player at the "next level" yet?
Maybe the boys need to take Dad aside and have a little confab. Hey Pop, we're out here busting our butts and are pretty good at what we do so far. How about you back off and let our play do the talking instead of you pissing off people that matter, when you haven't done squat in your entire life yourself, except trying to squeeze in your fifteen minutes of fame you were never entitled to in the first place?
On that note, a yuk-worthy moment. On ESPN's Highly Questionable show, host Dan LeBatard has his dad along as a commentator. Gonzalo Le Batard, a Cuban emigre, can be one funny amigo.
Everybody's heard of Air Jordans and the like, right? The same shoes made overseas for pennies that sell for hundreds of bucks in the state for an enormous profit margin. Eat you heart out, Lavar, you pretty much already screwed up any gig like that for your boys.
But the elder Le Batard wasn't shy about showing off his footwear to boot on the air. He proudly stated he bought his shoes at Payless for a just a few bucks, then took one of them off and displayed it front, center, and pee-yew on the air.
And Air Papis were born.
Not sure, but that just might rank right up there with Ricky Ricardo's Baba Loo, which didn't make a whole helluva lot of sense either as a theme song.
But ya gotta love it....
Note to Jabrill. Be happy, but not THAT happy. Yep, you got drafted, but you're going to Cleveland. They have a really good NBA team there, defending champs as a matter of fact. The Major League Indians came within an out or two of winning the World Series last year, and will likely easily win their division again this year. Alas, Cleveland lost its NHL team a while back, the Barons, and it's still pretty much an armpit city overall. And BTW, the Browns stink, have stunk since they came back into the league, and look like they're going to stink for the foreseeable future. But you're stuck with them, rookie contract and all, for the next few years. Hey, you and your Wolverines might have been halfway decent at Michigan, but you never won squat there either when it mattered. So how about dialing the spaz dance routine back a tad, OK? When reality sets in, it ain't exactly the bed of roses you might have thought it is.
In the NBA, the Boston Celtics were a bit of a surprise -- or maybe not. After losing the first two games at home to the Chicago Bulls, they came roaring back to blister them in four straight, including a blowout at Chicago in Game Six. The beaners await the winner of the Washington/Atlanta series. Chances are good they will prevail there as well, regardless of which opponent they face.
Meanwhile, the above-mentioned Cleveland Cavs are taking on the Toronto Raptors in the second round. Yes, Lebron and Co. have looked vulnerable in recent times, but we all pretty much know who's going to win that series.
In all likelihood, that will set up a Boston/Cleveland series for the NBA Eastern Conference title. Are the Celts ready to take the next step and knock off the Cavs? Maybe not, even though they had the better regular season record, and will enjoy home court advantage.
But no mistake, they're coming. GM Danny Ainge has done a masterful job of shedding big contracts for aging players, while stockpiling draft picks over the last few years. They have a brilliant young head coach in Brad Stevens. And the Celtics are young, with Ainge having still a few more extra draft picks in the bank in the next couple years. They're going to keep getting better.
Meanwhile, Lebron James, while arguably still the best player on the planet, will soon face the inevitable erosion of his playing skills. He's at the point where Father Time starts to kick in. He's not going to get any better, but worse as the years go on. Sure, he can and did make any team infinitely better by his mere presence, from the Cavs in the "old days", to the mini-dynasty in Miami, and back to Cleveland to finally win a title for his native Ohio. But subtract him from the equation and the Cavs get "average" in a hurry. Kyrie Irving's outstanding and Kevin Love as well, when he can stay healthy, but the rest of the supporting cast isn't going to intimidate anybody, much less a team on the rise like the Celtics.
Speaking of which, Larry Bird is about to step down as Prez of the Indy Pacers. True, he's an Indiana native, but how cool would it be if went back to the Celtics, where he enjoyed so much success for so many years as a player, as THEIR Prez when they seem to be on the cusp of returning to greatness?
Wow. Remember that Lavar Bell guy? He's the father of Lonzo (still a college player at UCLA) and a couple other sons that wanted a BILLION dollar shoe contract for his boys. That's a whole bunch of dough, heretofore unheard of as endorsements go.
Turns out, the people he was aiming his rant at don't appear to be interested. This would include such companies as Under Armour, Nike, and Adidas. You know, those lovable folks that exploit dollar a day foreign labor only to turn around and sell their fancy tennis shoes in the states for hundreds of dollars a pop.
It might just be that the execs at these shoe companies were a bit turned off by not-so-Cool Papa Bell flapping his gums and otherwise acting like a pompous entitled fool in public. Evidently, the dude didn't have the sense enough to act like a semi-grown up person himself. So if you're a shoe exec, do you really want to throw a huge pile of money at the kids he raised, likely in his own image, before any of them has even proven themselves to be a decent player at the "next level" yet?
Maybe the boys need to take Dad aside and have a little confab. Hey Pop, we're out here busting our butts and are pretty good at what we do so far. How about you back off and let our play do the talking instead of you pissing off people that matter, when you haven't done squat in your entire life yourself, except trying to squeeze in your fifteen minutes of fame you were never entitled to in the first place?
On that note, a yuk-worthy moment. On ESPN's Highly Questionable show, host Dan LeBatard has his dad along as a commentator. Gonzalo Le Batard, a Cuban emigre, can be one funny amigo.
Everybody's heard of Air Jordans and the like, right? The same shoes made overseas for pennies that sell for hundreds of bucks in the state for an enormous profit margin. Eat you heart out, Lavar, you pretty much already screwed up any gig like that for your boys.
But the elder Le Batard wasn't shy about showing off his footwear to boot on the air. He proudly stated he bought his shoes at Payless for a just a few bucks, then took one of them off and displayed it front, center, and pee-yew on the air.
And Air Papis were born.
Not sure, but that just might rank right up there with Ricky Ricardo's Baba Loo, which didn't make a whole helluva lot of sense either as a theme song.
But ya gotta love it....
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Jim Harbaugh, UM, and the Italian trip
Well gee, it's just great to see head coach Jim Harbaugh and his Michigan Wolverine football squad touring Italy. Nothing wrong with rounding out the world education of apish linemen and more than a few others that likely couldn't pass an eighth grade equivalency exam given ten tries. Or maybe there is something wrong indeed.
To wit -- who's paying for this? If it's Harbaugh out of his own pocket, everything is fine and dandy. To be sure, the dude can certainly afford it. After all, he's knocking down $9 million a year, the highest salary in all of football, NFL coaches included.
And what might it cost to take an entire team overseas for a week or two of fun and entertainment, along with coaches, trainers, other staff, and the like?
It probably involves 80+ players. Add in the others and the total is most likely well over a 100.
Now start thinking about air fare, so many first class motel rooms, buses or other transportation to haul them around, and let's not forget feeding a few tons of hungry athletes would be on the pricey side as well.
Add it all up and what do you have as a total tab? Likely at least a half million, maybe much more. These guys aren't exactly doing this trip economy style, ya know?
But what do you think the chances are that Harbaugh is paying for all this? Probably about the same odds are Hillary has of winning an Electoral recount of the last Presidential election. In other words, not good. Ain't happening.
Thing is, as mentioned above, a million or so is nothing Harbaugh couldn't afford. Besides, his tax people would likely find a way to write it off. That is, if, as a 1%-er, he pays any taxes to begin with. The IRS codes can be funny, or maybe not, that way.
Nevertheless, SOMEBODY has to pay for all this. Is it the university? More than likely so.
And that's just flat-out wrong.
Eventually, such boondoggles as this get passed down to, yep, the consumers, fans, and even non-athlete students.
That might involve a hike in the already high tuition rates, or ticket prices for games going up -- again. Let's also not forget the vast majority of the football players are already there on "full ride" scholarships. They and their parents don't have to pay anything out of pocket. They get all the perks and none of the bills.
Looked at from that perspective, one could certainly argue running up a several hundred thousand dollar tab so the "haves" can have and enjoy even more is not only excessive, but downright arrogant.
Dang. The Maize and Blue folks and jocks being perceived as pompous and thinking they're above the hoi-polloi of the ignorant masses.
Who ever could have imagined such a thing?
LOL
PS. Maybe somebody should take the time to remind the UM legions that there ARE no wolverines in the entire state of Michigan, and haven't been in a long long time -- save for those in zoos.
Just a thought.....
To wit -- who's paying for this? If it's Harbaugh out of his own pocket, everything is fine and dandy. To be sure, the dude can certainly afford it. After all, he's knocking down $9 million a year, the highest salary in all of football, NFL coaches included.
And what might it cost to take an entire team overseas for a week or two of fun and entertainment, along with coaches, trainers, other staff, and the like?
It probably involves 80+ players. Add in the others and the total is most likely well over a 100.
Now start thinking about air fare, so many first class motel rooms, buses or other transportation to haul them around, and let's not forget feeding a few tons of hungry athletes would be on the pricey side as well.
Add it all up and what do you have as a total tab? Likely at least a half million, maybe much more. These guys aren't exactly doing this trip economy style, ya know?
But what do you think the chances are that Harbaugh is paying for all this? Probably about the same odds are Hillary has of winning an Electoral recount of the last Presidential election. In other words, not good. Ain't happening.
Thing is, as mentioned above, a million or so is nothing Harbaugh couldn't afford. Besides, his tax people would likely find a way to write it off. That is, if, as a 1%-er, he pays any taxes to begin with. The IRS codes can be funny, or maybe not, that way.
Nevertheless, SOMEBODY has to pay for all this. Is it the university? More than likely so.
And that's just flat-out wrong.
Eventually, such boondoggles as this get passed down to, yep, the consumers, fans, and even non-athlete students.
That might involve a hike in the already high tuition rates, or ticket prices for games going up -- again. Let's also not forget the vast majority of the football players are already there on "full ride" scholarships. They and their parents don't have to pay anything out of pocket. They get all the perks and none of the bills.
Looked at from that perspective, one could certainly argue running up a several hundred thousand dollar tab so the "haves" can have and enjoy even more is not only excessive, but downright arrogant.
Dang. The Maize and Blue folks and jocks being perceived as pompous and thinking they're above the hoi-polloi of the ignorant masses.
Who ever could have imagined such a thing?
LOL
PS. Maybe somebody should take the time to remind the UM legions that there ARE no wolverines in the entire state of Michigan, and haven't been in a long long time -- save for those in zoos.
Just a thought.....
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