Thursday, March 31, 2011
Is it worth it???
My question is for all the athletes out there who may come across this. You see most people dont know the ugly side to playing a sport, all they see is the good. They dont see all the stress, all the yelling, all the hurting and the pain we go through. We put our bodies on the line everyday just to practice.... Waking up before the sunrise to workout then going about our day as if nothing happend. Then coming back to practice later; a sport can really take a lot out of you. Yes we do the sport because we loved it... Yea in high school now its all just one huge job. some students company about not getting any sleep or how classes are taking over their life.... I laugh and tell them the life of any athlete... Yes some of us go to school for free but still is it worth puting our bodies through all this stress.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
NCAA president: Time to discuss players getting sliver of revenue pie
This article was in USA today and talked about how much money the NCAA mens basketball tournament generated- $771 million! Many ideas about paying these college athletes came up. Even giving them a few extra dollars for typical life expenses. Men's basketball and football would most likely be the only sports getting paid, which seems unfair but they generate the most money. Here is part of the article where they discussed only paying mens basketball and football:
Though it almost certainly would draw resistance from women's sports advocates and others, there is some sentiment to narrow any additional aid to football and men's basketball, the sports in which the competitive and financial stakes, pressures and rewards are highest.
"The hardest thing for our association to do is treat those kids differently," Ohio State athletics director Gene Smith says. "But you know what? Their lives are different. They're different than the field hockey athlete. They're different than the swimmer. They're under different pressures."
I don't think this is necessarily "fair" but it is what it is, football and basketball are more of a business in college, they're the sports bringing in money. As a football or basketball player there is much more pressure to be successful. There might be 50,000 plus people your playing in front of and thousands more watching you live on TV week after week. This alone shows the difference in football and basketball compared to other sports. No it might not be fair that they are the only two sports to receive a few extra dollars but thats just the way it is.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Why Not Cheat?
If this NCAA tournament has taught us one thing, its that anything is possible. Even the little guys can make a run at the title, and they are finally catching up to the big guns. The improbable runs by VCU and Butler have captured the imaginations of American fans and has added some intrigue to one of the greatest sporting events in the world.
If this tournament has taught us anything else, it is that cheating pays off. Take a look at the other side of the bracket. The two teams left standing are led by two of the most notorious cheaters in college basketball. Jim Calhoun of Connecticut and John Calipari of Kentucky. There is a quip going around that Calipari is going to his first Final Four for the third time. His previous two appearances, with UMASS and Memphis, have been vacated because of serious recruiting violations. Calhoun is facing a suspension at the beginning of the Big East season next year because of recruiting violations. Is it worth it, to bring your school a title? It sure looks that way.
Calipari keeps getting major jobs, despite his shady past. Calhoun is considered a coaching legend. The fan bases don't care if you cheat to bring in a loaded roster, they just want the rings. The old adage goes "if you aint cheatin', you aint tryin." It has been paying off for these two schools, and the joy and jubilation they are feeling from this run can never be taken away by the NCAA. They aren't the only guys doing it, but they are having success with it. If you are going to make Final Fours or even BCS bowl games....Why not cheat?
If this tournament has taught us anything else, it is that cheating pays off. Take a look at the other side of the bracket. The two teams left standing are led by two of the most notorious cheaters in college basketball. Jim Calhoun of Connecticut and John Calipari of Kentucky. There is a quip going around that Calipari is going to his first Final Four for the third time. His previous two appearances, with UMASS and Memphis, have been vacated because of serious recruiting violations. Calhoun is facing a suspension at the beginning of the Big East season next year because of recruiting violations. Is it worth it, to bring your school a title? It sure looks that way.
Calipari keeps getting major jobs, despite his shady past. Calhoun is considered a coaching legend. The fan bases don't care if you cheat to bring in a loaded roster, they just want the rings. The old adage goes "if you aint cheatin', you aint tryin." It has been paying off for these two schools, and the joy and jubilation they are feeling from this run can never be taken away by the NCAA. They aren't the only guys doing it, but they are having success with it. If you are going to make Final Fours or even BCS bowl games....Why not cheat?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Reactions to "Uncle Tom" Comment on ESPN
A lot has been made in recent weeks about the comments made by Jalen Rose in the ESPN documentary "Fab Five" and the reactions by former Duke star Grant Hill.
In the film, Rose talks about the type of players that Duke University recruits to play basketball and calls the black players that go to Duke to play basketball "Uncle Toms."
Grant Hill, one of the black players who attended Duke during this time (and perhaps one of the greatest college basketball players of his generation), called Rose's comments "sad" and "pathetic" in a recent reaction letter that went viral on the Internet.
Now, a Duke recruit from the class of 2012 has his own comments to make, and they are available on ESPN.com.
Austin Rivers is the number one rated high school player in the country and has committed to Duke. He makes comments throughout his article, which is supposedly written by him, about his perceptions on race in sports today and Duke University in particular.
My issue is not with the fact that he posted this article; in fact, I think he should be commended for being educated on the situation and having an opinion (unlike how he said he wanted to "Destroy" LeBron James on the court one day, but that's another story). However, take a look at how the story is written.
College athletes are always scrutinized for not being held to the same academic standards. Derrick Rose was a high recruit, too, and it looks like he didn't even take the SAT. Rivers is going to Duke University, which I'm sure does a better job than some colleges at making sure they are accepting worthy students not just worthy athletes. However, Rivers does himself no favors by coming off seemingly unintelligent. I think in this case it would have been better for him to keep his thoughts to himself.
In the film, Rose talks about the type of players that Duke University recruits to play basketball and calls the black players that go to Duke to play basketball "Uncle Toms."
Grant Hill, one of the black players who attended Duke during this time (and perhaps one of the greatest college basketball players of his generation), called Rose's comments "sad" and "pathetic" in a recent reaction letter that went viral on the Internet.
Now, a Duke recruit from the class of 2012 has his own comments to make, and they are available on ESPN.com.
Austin Rivers is the number one rated high school player in the country and has committed to Duke. He makes comments throughout his article, which is supposedly written by him, about his perceptions on race in sports today and Duke University in particular.
My issue is not with the fact that he posted this article; in fact, I think he should be commended for being educated on the situation and having an opinion (unlike how he said he wanted to "Destroy" LeBron James on the court one day, but that's another story). However, take a look at how the story is written.
College athletes are always scrutinized for not being held to the same academic standards. Derrick Rose was a high recruit, too, and it looks like he didn't even take the SAT. Rivers is going to Duke University, which I'm sure does a better job than some colleges at making sure they are accepting worthy students not just worthy athletes. However, Rivers does himself no favors by coming off seemingly unintelligent. I think in this case it would have been better for him to keep his thoughts to himself.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Grant Hill vs. Jalen Rose
The recent documentary aired on ESPN about the University of Michigan's "Fab Five" brought about a lot of racially critical discussions. Jalen Rose criticized former Duke player Grant Hill as being an "Uncle Tom." Rose used the term out of context however; he was critical of Hill simply because of his family's socioeconomic status. Hill grew up in an upper middle class two parent household. Rose made the assumption that Hill wasn't a "real" black person because he didn't grow up in the hood. "I hated Duke, and I hated everything Duke stood for. Schools like Duke don't recruit players like me. I felt like they only recruited black players that were Uncle Toms," Rose said. To me, it seemed as if Rose was jealous of Hill, for growing up in a family where he knew his father or for having a mother that didn't have to constantly work. I think Rose's comment was more spiteful than racist; he just used race as a means of expression. In my opinion, his comments were similar to a little boy pulling the hair of a girl he has a crush on, in a sense where his feelings about deeper issues came out in an angry and aggressive manner that completely avoided the real issue.
With all the college basketball talk, I took a look at some news going on over in the NBA world. NBA players, as well as many other athletes for that matter, have taken to the media recently to call out their teammates after games don't go quite as well as planned. Recently, after the Knick's loss on Friday night to the Pistons, Amare Stoudemire had said there were some players on the team who still needed to buy into coach Mike D'Antoni's system, and it seemed clear he was speaking of Carmelo Anthony. (ESPN.com) He's not the only one who has recently called out a teammate to the press though. Dwight Howard called out his team to the press a few weeks ago saying that everyone on the team needs to step up or sit down. John Wall also called out his teammates in a similar way, saying that they need to find five guys who want to fight or its going to be tough. These few examples are only the tip of the iceburg when it comes to players calling out their teammates.
Athletes need to realize that the comments they make out of frustration after a loss, will be noted by the reporters that hear it and will be run as one of the lead stories after that game. Athletes are supposed to be professional and that includes dealing with issues with teammates in a professional way. It is not professional to bash your teammates to the press or to take your frustrations to Twitter.
As a journalism major, I personally hope that players continue this behavior, because this will always be a big story in the sports world.
Athletes need to realize that the comments they make out of frustration after a loss, will be noted by the reporters that hear it and will be run as one of the lead stories after that game. Athletes are supposed to be professional and that includes dealing with issues with teammates in a professional way. It is not professional to bash your teammates to the press or to take your frustrations to Twitter.
As a journalism major, I personally hope that players continue this behavior, because this will always be a big story in the sports world.
If they play well we will forget
What I find very intriguing about professional athletes is not their incredible talents, but rather their normality compared to your everyday Joe Schmo. Professional athletes are just like everyone else on this planet, with one exclusion, their superstardom.
In recent years professional athletes have made public appearances not as a result of their respective sports, but in response to some sort of criminal activity. As fans, and parents, we have every right to scrutinize these players behavior. However, despite our right to criticize these athletes and their actions, we are often quick to forgive them, under one circumstance, they win!
This past NFL season gave us two redemption stories in Michael Vick and Ben Roethlisberger, or as they are known outside the gridiron, the convicted felon, and the twice accused rapist. Don't get me wrong, both of these individuals actions were inappropriate, but the question that comes to my mind is twofold. Which of these two individuals most redeemed themselves this year, and does their race have any impact on their redemption?
In my opinion Michael Vick is the player who most redeemed himself this year. After only playing a small role in the 2009 NFL season for Philadelphia, Vick earned the starting QB role in 2010 and threw 21 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards, despite the fact that he did not play in four of the seasons games. On the other hand you have the accused rapist Ben Roethlisberger, who was originally suspended 6 games, but ultimately only served 4. Roethlisberger has a somewhat fine showing after his suspension, leading the Steelers to Superbowl XLV only to lose to the Green Bay Packers.
I feel that Vick has most redeemed himself for multiple reasons. First of all he is very open about the mistakes that he has made in the past, and genuinely regrets them. Furthermore, it seems as though he values his job in the NFL more so than he ever has before.The competitiveness we saw in Michael Vick this year was unlike any of his previous seasons. Roethlisberger on the other hand refused to answer the media's questions regarding his sexual assault accusations.
I also feel that Vick has more redeemed himself than Big Ben due to the Madden 12 cover selection process. NFL fans this year voted for their favorite player from each team and those 32 individuals will face off in a March Madness style bracket to determine who graces the cover of Madden this year. Eagles fans chose Michael Vick, and Steelers fans chose Hines Ward. These two selections are very surprising in my opinion because in Philadelphia you have Deshawn Jackson, who is arguably as popular as Vick, and in Pittsburgh you have Big Ben, who almost led the Steelers to an unprecedented 7th Superbowl title.
I feel that Michael Vick's race, in a sport that is predominantly African American, most certainly helped him redeem himself. The effort he put forward to rehabilitate his image, as well as his athletic performance is 10 times that of Big Ben. It was that extra effort that helped Vick garner the franchise tag from Philadelphia.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The Lockout Continues
As the lockout continues more problems seem to arise (which is to be expected). A letter written to Commissioner Roger Goddell by the NFL Player's Association clearly states, "Your statements are false." Tensions seem to be rising all around, the players received a revision of the original negotiation which they found worst and rejected. Thus putting an end to negotiations.
The trouble is however, that all these people have families that they have to support. From the article, "...players can't sign new contracts or get paid under existing ones. Their health insurance premiums are not being paid by teams." This puts a huge strain on everyone involved, aside from the NFL player's families, there's also the players themselves who aren't getting the practice they need.
Some players feel as though Goddell's words were meant to divide the players, however this seems that it will not work, and that they will stick together.
The trouble is however, that all these people have families that they have to support. From the article, "...players can't sign new contracts or get paid under existing ones. Their health insurance premiums are not being paid by teams." This puts a huge strain on everyone involved, aside from the NFL player's families, there's also the players themselves who aren't getting the practice they need.
Some players feel as though Goddell's words were meant to divide the players, however this seems that it will not work, and that they will stick together.
Friday, March 18, 2011
First Four....Really?
Now that the NCAA tournament is well under way and the games are as spectacular as ever before, we can reflect on the new tournament structure. I have been an avid college basketball watcher my whole life and love nothing more than more games. On that note, I was completely dissatisfied with how the new structure of the tournament was set up. Not only did these four extra games prevent me from putting in my tournaments before the very last minute, but it seemed like these games were irrelevant. It made absolutely no sense to have these four and maybe even meaningless, unless VCU can beat a
Thursday, March 17, 2011
It's all fun and games until a STAR gets hurt
Funny observation. So we have had players in the NFL and NHL go down with head injuries for years. Even stars like Steve Young and Troy Aikman had their careers end primarily because of concussions. But we paid no serious attention to it.
But it seems to me in recent sportsfandom, we don't pay attention to how bad these hits are until a superstar goes down or is involved. We all remember when a few years back, Bills Tight End Kevin Everett was paralyzed from a head shot. If I do recall correctly, I don't remember anyone freaking out about how hard hits are these days and the damages they cause.
Then this season we saw Eagles Wide Receiver Desean Jackson and Falcons Cornerback Dunta Robinson go down in what could have been used for a car crash collision sound clip. Both are known players and all of a sudden after those hits and people feeling the pain of Steelers' Linebacker James Harrison, we got ourselves a problem. That is the one good thing I will say about Roger Goodell is that he does somewhat look out for player safety(except for wanting them to play 8 more quarters a year and give them more of a chance to lose brain cells) and conduct. But this is not a new situation people.
Then hits become a big deal in the NHL once stars get involved. We have seen nasty ones over the year. Chris Pronger hands out concussions for brunch and Dale Hunter might as well had been process server for concussions instead of subpoenas. But when NHL's golden boy Sidney Crosby goes down with a bad hit, OH LORD someone call the cops. Then everyone has the nerve to want Zdeno Chara to be suspended for a hit he laid on Max Pacioretty. It was not illegal. He just happened to hit him right where the opening becomes a wall. It was a legal, yet unfortunate, hard hit.
What I am getting to is that there need to be concrete rules for hits in both organizations, instead of making them up when something comes along. You can't try and suspend someone when he made a legal hit, it just happened to be bad and like one that rarely occurs. I am glad they are stepping up for player safety because those guys go out there and put their safety on the line every time they play so that we as fans can clap or boo the night away. Let's get it in. Figure out exactly what is legal and what is not. Then let's play.
By Brandon Busick
But it seems to me in recent sportsfandom, we don't pay attention to how bad these hits are until a superstar goes down or is involved. We all remember when a few years back, Bills Tight End Kevin Everett was paralyzed from a head shot. If I do recall correctly, I don't remember anyone freaking out about how hard hits are these days and the damages they cause.
Then this season we saw Eagles Wide Receiver Desean Jackson and Falcons Cornerback Dunta Robinson go down in what could have been used for a car crash collision sound clip. Both are known players and all of a sudden after those hits and people feeling the pain of Steelers' Linebacker James Harrison, we got ourselves a problem. That is the one good thing I will say about Roger Goodell is that he does somewhat look out for player safety(except for wanting them to play 8 more quarters a year and give them more of a chance to lose brain cells) and conduct. But this is not a new situation people.
Then hits become a big deal in the NHL once stars get involved. We have seen nasty ones over the year. Chris Pronger hands out concussions for brunch and Dale Hunter might as well had been process server for concussions instead of subpoenas. But when NHL's golden boy Sidney Crosby goes down with a bad hit, OH LORD someone call the cops. Then everyone has the nerve to want Zdeno Chara to be suspended for a hit he laid on Max Pacioretty. It was not illegal. He just happened to hit him right where the opening becomes a wall. It was a legal, yet unfortunate, hard hit.
What I am getting to is that there need to be concrete rules for hits in both organizations, instead of making them up when something comes along. You can't try and suspend someone when he made a legal hit, it just happened to be bad and like one that rarely occurs. I am glad they are stepping up for player safety because those guys go out there and put their safety on the line every time they play so that we as fans can clap or boo the night away. Let's get it in. Figure out exactly what is legal and what is not. Then let's play.
By Brandon Busick
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Feeling Locked Out
How dare they?
How can they do this at a time like this? We need this.
Just give the players the money and get on with it!
These and other compelling arguments can be found on the tips of the tongues of many NFL fans that are tired of the lockout (5 days in and counting...). What many do not realize is that they are watching a two headed monster fight for the same meal and we are not looking at the bigger picture. Fans are the ones that are suffering right now and it will just add to their suffering if this lockout continues.
The cost of education and recent hikes in gas prices should be telling of the burdens that regular people face everyday. The average working man will likely never see a million dollars in his bank account at 22 years old. There are no endorsements for the guy that mows the lawn or picks up trash everyday. Yet we hear of the millionaires and billionaires fighting it out to split money that some countries can only imagine in GNP while promising that they are doing it for the fans.
REALLY?....
Let us look at the issue because both sides make points and they are understandable. Players are worried about the effects on their health with longer seasons as well as retired player's expenses and the whole rookie pay scale is ridiculously out of hand. Whoever thought that paying out millions for an unproven star was a good idea must never have learned about being cautious or never bought something at a bargain store. Sometimes you get a good deal but that 1 dollar item you bought will come back to bite you in the rear. On the owners issues they fear losses will occur with the increase of player salaries and construction on stadiums. Another issue is the extended season which players are strictly against if they are still making the same money with guarantee-less contracts.
These issues are all understandable and need to be worked out but the lockout was an entirely avoidable event. The squabbling and finger pointing is childish and even federal mediators can not get these two sides to sit down and cooperate to handle business like gentlemen. Each side is saying the other will not listen or the other side is not providing information. The players rejected the offer that the owners offered on the last day of negotiations before the lockout and the owners will not give the players all of the information that they requested.
GROW UP....
The biggest problem right now are the deceptive practices that the owners have undertaken to protect themselves. The owners 4 Billion dollars in guaranteed TV revenues that they were using as a cushion for the lockout has been taken from them. Pretty tragic, aside from the fact that they are financially set anyway. Knowing that the owners set themselves up to get paid whether or not the fans had football in 2010-11 does not sit well with many. It is selfish, devious and just foul play. To claim that they need more money to make things better for fans but pulling a move like this is a slap to the face of players and fans.
TO THE FANS
The power to make or break the league ultimately lies with the fans. We have the power to refuse to pay for season tickets or even attend a game. It is the likely fortune of gifted athletes that they are paid so extensively for something that can be done (on a different level) by 4 or 5 year olds. Though athletes put their bodies on the line and owners are making hefty investments in the industries, it is still their duty to provide ample dividends to those that put money into their bank accounts. Sports come in and out of rotation as evidenced by the decline in baseball and boxing, two of the biggest sports in earlier decades. If fans choose, they can bring a world of hurt to the NFL or even switch to leagues that are more stable all together. Football can be played anywhere and developmental leagues would be able to benefit from the infighting that is now going on in the NFL.
The upcoming NFL season may be shortened or disadvantaged because owners have locked out the players. If this happens then what will be the image of the industry? We should not be put through this with all of the more important world issues on hand.
Though an agreement may get done in the coming weeks or months, it is very disappointing to find out what has been going on for the past couple of years. The burgeoning business of the NFL has created a fight over money that should be proportionally shared out to players and owners. This lockout should never have happened and it just goes to show how much more likely we are to think negatively of the league and its treatment of the fan base.
How can they do this at a time like this? We need this.
Just give the players the money and get on with it!
These and other compelling arguments can be found on the tips of the tongues of many NFL fans that are tired of the lockout (5 days in and counting...). What many do not realize is that they are watching a two headed monster fight for the same meal and we are not looking at the bigger picture. Fans are the ones that are suffering right now and it will just add to their suffering if this lockout continues.
The cost of education and recent hikes in gas prices should be telling of the burdens that regular people face everyday. The average working man will likely never see a million dollars in his bank account at 22 years old. There are no endorsements for the guy that mows the lawn or picks up trash everyday. Yet we hear of the millionaires and billionaires fighting it out to split money that some countries can only imagine in GNP while promising that they are doing it for the fans.
REALLY?....
Let us look at the issue because both sides make points and they are understandable. Players are worried about the effects on their health with longer seasons as well as retired player's expenses and the whole rookie pay scale is ridiculously out of hand. Whoever thought that paying out millions for an unproven star was a good idea must never have learned about being cautious or never bought something at a bargain store. Sometimes you get a good deal but that 1 dollar item you bought will come back to bite you in the rear. On the owners issues they fear losses will occur with the increase of player salaries and construction on stadiums. Another issue is the extended season which players are strictly against if they are still making the same money with guarantee-less contracts.
These issues are all understandable and need to be worked out but the lockout was an entirely avoidable event. The squabbling and finger pointing is childish and even federal mediators can not get these two sides to sit down and cooperate to handle business like gentlemen. Each side is saying the other will not listen or the other side is not providing information. The players rejected the offer that the owners offered on the last day of negotiations before the lockout and the owners will not give the players all of the information that they requested.
GROW UP....
The biggest problem right now are the deceptive practices that the owners have undertaken to protect themselves. The owners 4 Billion dollars in guaranteed TV revenues that they were using as a cushion for the lockout has been taken from them. Pretty tragic, aside from the fact that they are financially set anyway. Knowing that the owners set themselves up to get paid whether or not the fans had football in 2010-11 does not sit well with many. It is selfish, devious and just foul play. To claim that they need more money to make things better for fans but pulling a move like this is a slap to the face of players and fans.
TO THE FANS
The power to make or break the league ultimately lies with the fans. We have the power to refuse to pay for season tickets or even attend a game. It is the likely fortune of gifted athletes that they are paid so extensively for something that can be done (on a different level) by 4 or 5 year olds. Though athletes put their bodies on the line and owners are making hefty investments in the industries, it is still their duty to provide ample dividends to those that put money into their bank accounts. Sports come in and out of rotation as evidenced by the decline in baseball and boxing, two of the biggest sports in earlier decades. If fans choose, they can bring a world of hurt to the NFL or even switch to leagues that are more stable all together. Football can be played anywhere and developmental leagues would be able to benefit from the infighting that is now going on in the NFL.
The upcoming NFL season may be shortened or disadvantaged because owners have locked out the players. If this happens then what will be the image of the industry? We should not be put through this with all of the more important world issues on hand.
Though an agreement may get done in the coming weeks or months, it is very disappointing to find out what has been going on for the past couple of years. The burgeoning business of the NFL has created a fight over money that should be proportionally shared out to players and owners. This lockout should never have happened and it just goes to show how much more likely we are to think negatively of the league and its treatment of the fan base.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
NBA All-Star Weekend the “Black Thanksgiving”?
A CNN article written by David Aldridge mentioned how Michael Wilbon compared the NBA All-Star Weekend to a Thanksgiving for African Americans (http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-18/opinion/nba.allstar.black.thanksgiving_1_nba-all-star-weekend-clippers-blake-griffin-culture?_s=PM:OPINION). Aldridge discusses how the predominantly black NBA strongly connects with African American culture. This may be true, but how does that make the All-Star Weekend like Thanksgiving? I am not an avid fan of the NBA, but I was under the assumption that nobody really cares about the NBA All-Star Weekend. The actual All-Star game is pretty much a joke. I mean the final score of this year’s contest was 148-143…
The parts of this year’s All-Star Weekend that received the most hype were Blake Griffin jumping over a car (JaVale McGee should have won) and Justin Bieber winning MVP of the celebrity game. Thanksgiving is about reflecting on what you are thankful for. Do African Americans really gather around over the NBA All-Star Weekend to think about what they are thankful for? I may be wrong, but for Aldridge and Wilbon to refer the All-Star Weekend as a national holiday seems a bit far fetched and simply inane.
We Only See What Kobe Bryant Wants Us to See
People who have been watching basketball with me for long enough to know my stance on "clutchness" and Kobe Bryant's legacy as being one of the best in that department probably know how I felt after hearing that he spent an hour and a half after the Laker's loss to the Heat shooting jumpers by himself. (HINT: BULL****.) Dan LeBatard, a columnist for the Miami Herald and a radio host for AM 790 in Miami, summarized my feelings about Kobe in a single paragraph. Scrutinized for his opinion, LeBatard refers to himself sarcastically as "the jerk" in the following excerpt from his recent article titled "Kobe Bryant’s show also reveals harsh truth":
"Only a jerk would point that he didn’t do this [referring to Bryant's post-game shooting] after losing at Cleveland or Memphis or any of the other times there were a lot fewer cameras around. Only a jerk would point that, if he cared to sculpt in private, there was another gym in this same arena where the myth-makers aren’t allowed that he could have used to be all alone with just his pain and work ethic. Only a jerk would suggest that maybe Bryant did this because of how much media was around for this game — and, because his actual work during the game didn’t produce the desired narrative, he somehow figured out a way to get it 90 minutes after both teams had gone home."
People talk about humility and being humble as some of the key attributes a leader and an all-time great should have. Jordan was neither by most accounts, but Jordan never demanded a trade in the prime of his career. Jordan did not care if you knew HOW he beat you, just that he WILL beat you. It was not enough that Kobe failed his team and his city late in that game by chucking up 40 foot three pointers while double-teamed rather than looking for the open man (whether you want to believe that or not is another story); rather, he wanted you to know that he was going to try to make sure he did not fail again when put in the same situation - and something tells me those 40 footers will still be shot with no regret.
"Wait, he stayed 90 minutes after the game was over and just shot jumpers?? What a motivated, hard-working, leader!" Yes, at first glance, that sound like a leader, a true, hard-working Great. Here is the problem: Basketball is not baseball. It's not even Football. A hitter can go to the batting cage, take a few hacks, work on reading curveballs, adjust his swing. A wide receiver can run routes, catch passes, work on his cuts. Those are his personal responsibilities. A basketball player's - especially that of The Black Mamba's standard - extend beyond his jumpshot. Passing, rebounding, defense...all of these are within the realm of Kobe Bryant's responsibilities. Five guys on the team, all of whom have specialized skills that allow the team to succeed. Kobe wanted to show the world that he wanted to atone and make sure what happened against the Heat did not happen again by working on HIS jump shot. Not scheduling a team meeting, like the Heat did. No NBA player has ever won a a championship by only shooting jump shots. Not only that, but there is no way to practice your "clutch shooting" skills, which is what Bryant's problem was versus the Heat.
I am not denying that Kobe is a transcendent player; he is a once-in-a-generation talent. He is one of the ten greatest players in NBA history. What bothers me is the reputation he has amassed during his career that has "earned" him the nickname The Assassin. To call Bryant a clutch player would be statistically inaccurate. I know this is not the popular opinion, but it bothers me when people refuse to acknowledge the numbers that prove Bryant's inefficiencies while the game is on the line. Ignorance is a poor excuse when it comes to sports. With so many ways to measure success in sports now using numbers, to ignore them is doing the sport and fellow fans a disservice. (You will not see a sabermetric argument here, that will come later on, don't worry.) Yes, I know Kobe will hit another game winning, turnaround-fade away 40 footer, but that is not the point. The point is that then people will once again say that the misses are the anomalies, not the makes.
-Ilan Weitzman
The Not So Fab Five
On March 13th ESPN unveiled a new documentary The Fab Five. I knew who was in the Fab Five, I knew about Michigan, I knew about Chris Webber’s time out and his criminal case in 2002. The most interesting thing about this documentary was how the Fab Five was treated as hip-hop thugs.
The documentary cited several angry letters from Michigan alum among others to the players, coaches and university that were laced with racial slurs. It was amazing to see the outrage that a major university was starting five black players, and that they were seen as five thugs. Everything from the black socks to the baggy shorts to the shaved heads were categorized as hip hop culture and were slammed with racial slurs. I was absolutely stunned by the racism that came out about it. It seemed to be very out of place, this happened in the early 90s, not during the civil rights era or segregation era.
In 1992, the NBA had plenty of players like someone named Michael Jordan who has a shaved head and long shorts, which made it even more surprising.
It was a great documentary and really shed some light on the Fab Five beyond the timeout.
-Brian Kapur
Modern Day Slavery?
I am sure you are all familiar with current labor negotiations going on in the NFL. To make a long story short, it's about money. The main issue is how to divide the $9 billion generated in revenue by the NFL annually. The players believe they deserve over 50% of the revenues because they are the ones playing in the games and risking their health. However, the owners feel the players are getting too much money and that if their salaries continue to increase then some NFL franchises will no longer be profitable.
The other big issue is the expansion of the NFL season to 18 games. The people at the top of the NFL and many owners believe expanding the season will provide enough additional revenue to prevent cutting player's salaries. However, the players think two additional games would not only cause a decrease in the quality of games, but be a serious detriment to their healths and also shorten careers. To sum it up, the NFL wants salary cuts and a longer season while the players do not want either of these things resulting in an NFL lockout.
Adrian Peterson was quoted saying, "It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money, the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money."
While I can see where Peterson is coming from, I find it to be a somewhat ridiculous comparison. Maybe the NFL players aren't being treated fairly, but comparing it to slavery is a bit too much. After getting drafted by the Vikings, Peterson signed a 6 year, $40.5 million contract with $17 million guaranteed. He is due to make $10 million next year in base salary. This doesn't include the millions he makes each year through endorsements. I don't know about you, but I am fairly certain slaves did not make this type of money.
I am curious to see what others think about Adrian Peterson's statement. Please comment and let me know how you feel.
Matt Levenson
The other big issue is the expansion of the NFL season to 18 games. The people at the top of the NFL and many owners believe expanding the season will provide enough additional revenue to prevent cutting player's salaries. However, the players think two additional games would not only cause a decrease in the quality of games, but be a serious detriment to their healths and also shorten careers. To sum it up, the NFL wants salary cuts and a longer season while the players do not want either of these things resulting in an NFL lockout.
Adrian Peterson was quoted saying, "It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money, the owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money."
While I can see where Peterson is coming from, I find it to be a somewhat ridiculous comparison. Maybe the NFL players aren't being treated fairly, but comparing it to slavery is a bit too much. After getting drafted by the Vikings, Peterson signed a 6 year, $40.5 million contract with $17 million guaranteed. He is due to make $10 million next year in base salary. This doesn't include the millions he makes each year through endorsements. I don't know about you, but I am fairly certain slaves did not make this type of money.
I am curious to see what others think about Adrian Peterson's statement. Please comment and let me know how you feel.
Matt Levenson
Monday, March 14, 2011
Let the Games Begin
As countless Americans take time out of the work day to fill out brackets, to check out the shooting % of Hampton's 3rd string PG hoping that he can play a role in dismantling the Evil Empire and to take money out of their kids' 529 fund to finance their entry fees into the 28 pools they have entered, we are reminded of the American obsession with sports. We listen to "experts," psychics, no-nothing grandmothers and even follow the directions of random animals whose knowledge of sports mirrors Rep. Michelle Bachmann's knowledge of American History. We turn off stories about teenage moms and the 98 potential fathers, actors gone completely insane and of non-stop greed, lust, deceit and partner swapping (I'm referring to Soap Operas, not Jersey Shore) for 2 days to watch the first, excuse me, second round of games played by teams that we couldn't identify if you gave us a web address and GPS coordinates (hint: you cannot see Russia from any of the schools in this year's tournament). We stop to celebrate the accomplishments of 916 Black men--for once--and stare in amazement while many privately root for the 14 white men trying to overcome the odds. March Madness captures the soul and our attention for at least 2.1 seconds (long enough for Christian Laettner to sink a game winning shot or for yet another child to be conceived thus providing Maury with one more shows worth of material).
Sports serves many purposes, for some its a vocation, for others it represents a legal and relatively harmless deviation from the daily stresses of life, liberty and the (endless and futile???) pursuit of happiness. For a nerdy few (if you can't do, study???), sports serves as a laboratory to study society.
This blog will house not only my views (and rants and raves) about the world of sports but also those of 39 students in my AASP 498R class in the spring of 2011--Race and Sports. As the late Linda F. Williams always reminded me, race is the most salient issue in American politics....similarly race has and continues to be a critical element in the ongoings of American society, the sports world included. The goal here is to intelligently opine and analyze issues that arise in the sports world. On an almost daily basis we see the issue of race embedded in the world of sports--in the ongoing labor negotiations in the NFL, in the evolution of the NBA, in the seemingly hourly off the field and court deeds of athletes both professional and collegiate, and even in how we view and characterize our athletic heroes. (try this for fun--listen to how CBS announcers--regarldess of their race describe the young men (and young women--go Terps!) in the mens and women's NCAA tournaments..what do you notice?).
Sports and society......race and sports....race and society......pure madness, 12 months a year.
I hope you enjoy the postings here and support the students (and students support each other). Students, post away and feel free to include links to any articles or random stuff on the internet you see fit. Friends and family, feel free to read, comment, criticize and most importantly, fill out that bracket!
Sports serves many purposes, for some its a vocation, for others it represents a legal and relatively harmless deviation from the daily stresses of life, liberty and the (endless and futile???) pursuit of happiness. For a nerdy few (if you can't do, study???), sports serves as a laboratory to study society.
This blog will house not only my views (and rants and raves) about the world of sports but also those of 39 students in my AASP 498R class in the spring of 2011--Race and Sports. As the late Linda F. Williams always reminded me, race is the most salient issue in American politics....similarly race has and continues to be a critical element in the ongoings of American society, the sports world included. The goal here is to intelligently opine and analyze issues that arise in the sports world. On an almost daily basis we see the issue of race embedded in the world of sports--in the ongoing labor negotiations in the NFL, in the evolution of the NBA, in the seemingly hourly off the field and court deeds of athletes both professional and collegiate, and even in how we view and characterize our athletic heroes. (try this for fun--listen to how CBS announcers--regarldess of their race describe the young men (and young women--go Terps!) in the mens and women's NCAA tournaments..what do you notice?).
Sports and society......race and sports....race and society......pure madness, 12 months a year.
I hope you enjoy the postings here and support the students (and students support each other). Students, post away and feel free to include links to any articles or random stuff on the internet you see fit. Friends and family, feel free to read, comment, criticize and most importantly, fill out that bracket!
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