Yes, it is a big deal. A very big deal. Certainly as important in the 15-year history of online sports -- and the 5-year history of sports blogs -- as ESPN acquiring TrueHoop a few years ago.*
NBC Sports has such a massive investment in the NFL that it makes sense to partner with the leading NFL blog to combine with their reach through MSNBC.com. They shouldn't stop there.
* -- Let's all review the lesson here: Be the very best in your sports category -- covering it nationally, not at the team level (for which there is certainly a place, but a necessarily smaller footprint) -- and you put yourself in a position to do a deal with a larger media company.
Now: There is at least one sport with a clearly-the-best blog of national scope -- Every Day Should Be Saturday. Any media company with a big investment in college football should be sprinting with an open wallet to partner with Orson Swindle (who also writes under his real name for SportingNews.com).
While ESPN.com and CBSSports.com both have massive investments in college football, ESPN.com already has a much more robust blog network of in-house correspondents, plus a ton of columnists. Let's be honest: They're loaded.
On the other hand, CBS Sports has their expensive tie-in with the SEC, which is EDSBS native country, plus the good sense to sponsor the BlogPoll. Verne Lundquist loves his site, for crying out loud! But CBSSports.com has few high-end editorial resources, certainly none as good as (or with the reputation of) EDSBS (he owned the sports-blog conference on Saturday).
CBSSports.com has shown recently that they "get it" as it relates to diversifying their product line. At the sports-blog conference this past weekend, I moderated a panel featuring Dan Kelly, CEO of Bleacher Report, which recently signed a win-win deal to provide CBSSports.com with full-time "citizen/fan-journalism" correspondents for every NFL team. There are plenty of aggressive, interesting, value-creating moves left to be made.
Anyway, congrats to Florio and the PFT team on a very good deal -- and congrats to NBC Sports for understanding the landscape in such a way as to do the deal.
-- D.S.
UPDATE: AJ's got a good take at Deadspin. Point I want to build on from his analysis:
The way Florio covered the NFL -- very bloggy, to be sure, but also in his technique of tone, style, frequency of updates and...yes...level of scoopage via tipsters -- directly correlates to his success and, presumably, NBC's interest in his type of coverage.
(1) That type of coverage had already started to become a big part of MSM sports coverage; will that accelerate? (2) Even if Florio writes exactly the same, there is suddenly a void under "indie NFL blog" -- anyone going to try to claim it?
Monday, June 15, 2009
Monday 06/15 A.M. Quickie:
Lakers, Penguins, Lee, Jrue, Bryce, More
Absolutely loaded SN column this morning, starting with this:
It's not just that Phil Jackson is the greatest coach of NBA history -- I'd argue he was that before last night, but Title No. 10 helps to provide a little oomph.
It is that his 10th title in the past 19 years means that it is Phil Jackson -- not Michael Jordan, not Hakeem, not Shaq, not Kobe, not Duncan -- whose "dynasty" reigns supreme in NBA history.
When we look back at the post-Bird/Magic Era of the NBA, which I would argue started in 1989 with the Pistons first title, if one person defines it, it is Phil Jackson.
Jackson transcended the Jordan Era through the Shaq Era through the Kobe Era (sorry, LeBron: Obviously not yet) -- the one consistent thing: Phil Jackson winning championships.
We can argue about what classifies as a dynasty, either historically or in this era of instant-history. But what seems inarguable is Phil Jackson's place in history.
Meanwhile:
Shaq's tweet to Kobe was amazing.
Joey Buss came off as a buffoon.
NBA Finals 2010: Lakers over Magic.
It might not be too high on the radar, but Bryce Harper skipping his final two years of high school to go to juco and, subsequently, be eligible for the MLB Draft next season is a HUGE deal. (So much so that I'll have a stand-alone post about it later today.)
I believe I was pretty early on the "Stephen Curry will go really really high in the draft" bandwagon. I think I cautiously started the bidding at "no less than 10th." Last week, I lowered that forecast to "no less than 5th." Now he's in the mix for No. 3?
Tons of MLB in today's column, too: Red Sox come out of interleague weekend as the favorites to win the World Series, taking 2 of 3 from the defending champs in Philly... Billingsley has emerged as one of the Top 3 pitchers in the NL this season... Hey, welcome back, Cliff Lee!... June '09 Rockies = September '07 Rockies... and More. (Ronny Paulino!)
Pleasepleaseplease don't let Brett Favre announce his return to the NFL on the Joe Buck Show premiere tonight...
I am not looking forward to the anti-BCS hysteria this week. Look: I'm with everyone else -- a playoff would be nice. I continue to insist that any playoff formats that are being discussed (say, anything less than one involving a minimum of 16 teams) will not stop the griping. (God, when will the SEC and Big 12 finally take my advice to secede and create a self-contained playoff to play each other for "best team in the country," if not "national champion.")
Tons more here, plus a ton of bonus posts today, including -- hopefully -- my wrap-up of the big sports-blog conference this past weekend in NYC. Drop by throughout the day.
-- D.S.
It's not just that Phil Jackson is the greatest coach of NBA history -- I'd argue he was that before last night, but Title No. 10 helps to provide a little oomph.
It is that his 10th title in the past 19 years means that it is Phil Jackson -- not Michael Jordan, not Hakeem, not Shaq, not Kobe, not Duncan -- whose "dynasty" reigns supreme in NBA history.
When we look back at the post-Bird/Magic Era of the NBA, which I would argue started in 1989 with the Pistons first title, if one person defines it, it is Phil Jackson.
Jackson transcended the Jordan Era through the Shaq Era through the Kobe Era (sorry, LeBron: Obviously not yet) -- the one consistent thing: Phil Jackson winning championships.
We can argue about what classifies as a dynasty, either historically or in this era of instant-history. But what seems inarguable is Phil Jackson's place in history.
Meanwhile:
Shaq's tweet to Kobe was amazing.
Joey Buss came off as a buffoon.
NBA Finals 2010: Lakers over Magic.
It might not be too high on the radar, but Bryce Harper skipping his final two years of high school to go to juco and, subsequently, be eligible for the MLB Draft next season is a HUGE deal. (So much so that I'll have a stand-alone post about it later today.)
I believe I was pretty early on the "Stephen Curry will go really really high in the draft" bandwagon. I think I cautiously started the bidding at "no less than 10th." Last week, I lowered that forecast to "no less than 5th." Now he's in the mix for No. 3?
Tons of MLB in today's column, too: Red Sox come out of interleague weekend as the favorites to win the World Series, taking 2 of 3 from the defending champs in Philly... Billingsley has emerged as one of the Top 3 pitchers in the NL this season... Hey, welcome back, Cliff Lee!... June '09 Rockies = September '07 Rockies... and More. (Ronny Paulino!)
Pleasepleaseplease don't let Brett Favre announce his return to the NFL on the Joe Buck Show premiere tonight...
I am not looking forward to the anti-BCS hysteria this week. Look: I'm with everyone else -- a playoff would be nice. I continue to insist that any playoff formats that are being discussed (say, anything less than one involving a minimum of 16 teams) will not stop the griping. (God, when will the SEC and Big 12 finally take my advice to secede and create a self-contained playoff to play each other for "best team in the country," if not "national champion.")
Tons more here, plus a ton of bonus posts today, including -- hopefully -- my wrap-up of the big sports-blog conference this past weekend in NYC. Drop by throughout the day.
-- D.S.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Saturday 06/13 (Very) Quickie
Getting ready for a day of discussion at the sports-blog conference in NYC. You should be able to follow it on Twitter at #blogswithballs.
Meanwhile, how about those Penguins? Go into Detroit and shock the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup title. Totally unexpected -- and the best possible outcome for the sport.
Falcons release Mike Vick: I said this yesterday -- I'll set the over/under on 12 NFL teams that either publicly or privately look into signing him. He won't lack for offers.
Trent Green retires: Will probably be best known for getting injured in 1999, thus giving Kurt Warner his shot.
MLB Friday Stud: Tim Lincecum.
And, yes, that Yankees win over the Mets was one of the most improbable endings to a baseball game anyone has probably seen in a long time. Walk-off easy pop-up? Come on.
More later.
-- D.S.
Meanwhile, how about those Penguins? Go into Detroit and shock the Red Wings to win the Stanley Cup title. Totally unexpected -- and the best possible outcome for the sport.
Falcons release Mike Vick: I said this yesterday -- I'll set the over/under on 12 NFL teams that either publicly or privately look into signing him. He won't lack for offers.
Trent Green retires: Will probably be best known for getting injured in 1999, thus giving Kurt Warner his shot.
MLB Friday Stud: Tim Lincecum.
And, yes, that Yankees win over the Mets was one of the most improbable endings to a baseball game anyone has probably seen in a long time. Walk-off easy pop-up? Come on.
More later.
-- D.S.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Twitter and Sports Marketing
If Twitter can sell $3 million worth of Dell product, why wouldn't sports teams try to leverage the platform for something a lot less big-ticket, like ticket sales?
Simmons On His New Basketball Book
This is a very interesting Q&A in the New Yorker. Here's the money quote, about the new book:
words pages. And, given his passion and understanding of the subject, why shouldn't it have?
-- D.S.
I spent three years writing it and it turned out exactly the way I wanted it to turn out. It’s the best book I will ever write and it’s kind of sad to say that, because I’m not even forty yet, but I already came to grips with the fact that, yes, this is the best book I will ever write. I know more about this subject than anything else, I’m more passionate about this subject than anything else, and that’s that. So it’s all downhill from here.You can understand -- and appreciate -- why the book clocked in at 700
-- D.S.
Friday 06/12 A.M. Quickie:
Lakers, Red Sox, Alabama, NHL Game 7
So, yes, I have a spotty history with "calling" playoff series, Election Night-style. That doesn't stop me from doing it in the lead of today's SN column.
But I don't think there will be many disagreements that it is safe to say the Lakers wrapped up the NBA Finals in 4 games. Oh, sure, the Magic should win Game 5, but it seems impossible that they can win two games in L.A. -- and three straight overall.
And so the NBA Finals are, basically, over. Which is too bad, because if the Magic had won -- and maybe won Game 5 -- this series would have been amazing. Now, I wonder if folks will bother to pay attention, if they feel like it's a done-deal.
More you'll find in the column:
*Derek Fisher is so freaking money.
*Dwight Howard as Nick Anderson 2.0?
*NHL Stanley Cup Game 7: Nuff said.
*Alabama: That's no punishment.
*Donovan McNabb vs. Rex Grossman
There's a lot more. Full column here. For now, I'm preparing for tomorrow's first/only sports-blog conference, happening in NYC. I will put my MBA to good use (what's that? you say "finally?") by moderating a panel featuring some of the top leaders in content networks where bloggers and writers are making money and finding larger audiences: SB Nation, Yardbarker, Bleacher Report, Uproxx, Fansided. Should be a lot of fun. If you're going, looking forward to seeing you there. Otherwise, I'll try to provide updates via Twitter, found on the right or by following me @danshanoff, if you're on Twitter yourself.
-- D.S.
But I don't think there will be many disagreements that it is safe to say the Lakers wrapped up the NBA Finals in 4 games. Oh, sure, the Magic should win Game 5, but it seems impossible that they can win two games in L.A. -- and three straight overall.
And so the NBA Finals are, basically, over. Which is too bad, because if the Magic had won -- and maybe won Game 5 -- this series would have been amazing. Now, I wonder if folks will bother to pay attention, if they feel like it's a done-deal.
More you'll find in the column:
*Derek Fisher is so freaking money.
*Dwight Howard as Nick Anderson 2.0?
*NHL Stanley Cup Game 7: Nuff said.
*Alabama: That's no punishment.
*Donovan McNabb vs. Rex Grossman
There's a lot more. Full column here. For now, I'm preparing for tomorrow's first/only sports-blog conference, happening in NYC. I will put my MBA to good use (what's that? you say "finally?") by moderating a panel featuring some of the top leaders in content networks where bloggers and writers are making money and finding larger audiences: SB Nation, Yardbarker, Bleacher Report, Uproxx, Fansided. Should be a lot of fun. If you're going, looking forward to seeing you there. Otherwise, I'll try to provide updates via Twitter, found on the right or by following me @danshanoff, if you're on Twitter yourself.
-- D.S.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Raul Ibanez, Jerod Morris And Cynicism
I liked Joe Posnanski's take on this Raul Ibanez story. As usual, Joe is thoughtful and measured and earnest (even owning up to a bit of a bias for Ibanez).
Jerod Morris has also been somewhat unfairly turned into something bigger than the situation; aside from the statistical issues that Joe points out Jerod missed, Morris did a fair job.
What's ironic is that it is obvious that Jerod wasn't just trying to get exposure for himself or his blog -- compare this to Rick Reilly showily demanding that Sammy Sosa pee in a cup.
The larger story isn't Ibanez's justifiably strong reaction. Or the tired mainstream-vs-blogger thing.
The larger story is skepticism -- or, more accurately, cynicism -- that pervades baseball these days, from media to fans.
There is good reason for the skepticism -- or even the cynicism, as unfortunate as that is. It feels like "Hmph: Must be juicing" is attached to any player having a decent season.
It isn't limited to bloggers opining -- it happens in traditional media all the time. I am actually surprised that it doesn't happen more regularly.
The fact that people feel like it's a necessary point is pretty sad. Although I see it as a defense mechanism: Who wants to take performances at face value now and feel like a rube later?
Being cynical is easier. Pre-emptively protecting yourself from being hurt, as a fan, is easier. It is hard to know when this era will end.
But cynicism from fans and media alike is, by far, the most damaging byproduct of baseball's Steroid Era.
-- D.S.
UPDATE: Let's give AJ the final word.
No, wait: I liked Rob Neyer's take, too.
Jerod Morris has also been somewhat unfairly turned into something bigger than the situation; aside from the statistical issues that Joe points out Jerod missed, Morris did a fair job.
What's ironic is that it is obvious that Jerod wasn't just trying to get exposure for himself or his blog -- compare this to Rick Reilly showily demanding that Sammy Sosa pee in a cup.
The larger story isn't Ibanez's justifiably strong reaction. Or the tired mainstream-vs-blogger thing.
The larger story is skepticism -- or, more accurately, cynicism -- that pervades baseball these days, from media to fans.
There is good reason for the skepticism -- or even the cynicism, as unfortunate as that is. It feels like "Hmph: Must be juicing" is attached to any player having a decent season.
It isn't limited to bloggers opining -- it happens in traditional media all the time. I am actually surprised that it doesn't happen more regularly.
The fact that people feel like it's a necessary point is pretty sad. Although I see it as a defense mechanism: Who wants to take performances at face value now and feel like a rube later?
Being cynical is easier. Pre-emptively protecting yourself from being hurt, as a fan, is easier. It is hard to know when this era will end.
But cynicism from fans and media alike is, by far, the most damaging byproduct of baseball's Steroid Era.
-- D.S.
UPDATE: Let's give AJ the final word.
No, wait: I liked Rob Neyer's take, too.
Cristiano Ronaldo: US$131 Million Transfer
Cristiano Ronaldo's record $131 million transfer fee from Man U to Real Madrid will not be covered enough in the U.S. (and I'm the last to talk about soccer, knowledgeably), but it's huge.
Thursday 06/11 A.M. Quickie:
Magic, Ibanez, Red Sox, Economy, More
I originally led today's SN column with a flip-flop:
For the last few years, I had been arguing that the NBA was no longer a "Big" (as in "Big Four") sport. That it had joined the NHL as being a "niche" sport -- albeit a large one. But still, very little mass/casual appeal -- it had avid followers, but few casual ones.
TV ratings were on my side. I also argued that rejecting my theory was a result of perception: When the country's most well-read sports columnist -- Bill Simmons -- is a die-hard fan of the NBA and makes it a huge part of his columns, it can feel like everyone loves the NBA, too. When the country's most influential sports-TV program -- PTI -- involves die-hard fans of the NBA (particularly Wilbon) and make it a huge part of their program rundown, it can make it feel like everyone loves the NBA, too. I felt like these things skewed perception a bit.
But I'm nothing if not willing to change my mind (often too quickly!) in the face of new evidence. And all evidence points to the NBA ascending back to its "Big" status, alongside the NFL, college football and MLB. People are watching; the games are compelling.
I am particularly optimistic about the idea that the Finals don't have to be Lakers-Celtics (or Kobe-LeBron) for fans to find them worth watching. As I said last year, Lakers-Celtics was a best-case scenario for the NBA; Lakers-Magic perhaps wasn't, and yet the ratings from game to game are virtually the same. In an era of increasing consumer fragmentation, this represents a huge positive step forward.
Between the way the league has dominated the last two months with its playoffs and this newly launched initiative to short up basketball player development -- which will hopefully mean increased professionalization of that development -- the NBA is in ascent, with a huge pivot point tonight's Game 4: If the Magic win, it's on. If the Lakers win -- ensuring the Finals are virtually over -- will that progress slow down?
That WAS what I led with, but I swapped in something new, hubbed off of something Kareem said about Dwight Howard, basically pointing out that Howard isn't very good...yet.
I asked if he's good enough to get his team to the Finals, how good will he be when he finally learns how to play the game. Someone made the point to me: How good would he have been if he actually went to college?
And that's where I had my usual allergic reaction. Going to college would not have helped Dwight Howard's development as much as these past 5 years of strictly professional development.
It couldn't be more clear: College coaches are not concerned with developing their players for the NBA; they are concerned with winning (ie, their job security). NBA coaches, on the other hand, are entirely concerned with developing their players into NBA-ready talents -- their jobs hinge on it.
Whether a player spends time with NBA coaches or in the D-League (or even Europe), they are getting better preparation for a pro career than if they play college basketball -- it works for both kinds of players, too: The one-and-done star clearly doesn't need college basketball; this forced year of unpaid internship is unnecessary... and probably stunts growth more than accelerates it. The four-year college player with NBA aspirations also would be better served to spend four years developing under pro tutelage than a college coach; of course, if a four-year player was any good, they would have left college for the NBA two or more years earlier.
Make no mistake: If Tyler Hansbrough would have been a Top 10 lock after his freshman or sophomore years at UNC, he would have left school early. It makes too much ecomonic sense, but strictly from a developmental perspective, it also is in his best interests to get coached to maximize his role in the NBA, not to maximize his role for UNC -- again: If his ultimate goal is to play in the NBA.
(This is related to my argument about the UFL letting in college players before the NFL would have them: How much better prepared would future NFL QBs be if, instead of playing an additional 30 games in a spread offense, they spent two years being trained to be an NFL QB, by coaches who are expert in developing NFL QBs.)
Anyway, my point is: Dwight Howard was/is way better off -- basketball skills-wise and financially -- for having skipped college and gone straight into his pro career.
More you'll find in today's column:
*Raul Ibanez: Why was it OK when Rick Reilly did the same thing?
*Jersey sponsorships: What would the Texans do for a buck?
*Knicks love Stephen Curry: Too bad the Wizards are going to yoink him.
*The Red Sox still own the Yankees.
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
For the last few years, I had been arguing that the NBA was no longer a "Big" (as in "Big Four") sport. That it had joined the NHL as being a "niche" sport -- albeit a large one. But still, very little mass/casual appeal -- it had avid followers, but few casual ones.
TV ratings were on my side. I also argued that rejecting my theory was a result of perception: When the country's most well-read sports columnist -- Bill Simmons -- is a die-hard fan of the NBA and makes it a huge part of his columns, it can feel like everyone loves the NBA, too. When the country's most influential sports-TV program -- PTI -- involves die-hard fans of the NBA (particularly Wilbon) and make it a huge part of their program rundown, it can make it feel like everyone loves the NBA, too. I felt like these things skewed perception a bit.
But I'm nothing if not willing to change my mind (often too quickly!) in the face of new evidence. And all evidence points to the NBA ascending back to its "Big" status, alongside the NFL, college football and MLB. People are watching; the games are compelling.
I am particularly optimistic about the idea that the Finals don't have to be Lakers-Celtics (or Kobe-LeBron) for fans to find them worth watching. As I said last year, Lakers-Celtics was a best-case scenario for the NBA; Lakers-Magic perhaps wasn't, and yet the ratings from game to game are virtually the same. In an era of increasing consumer fragmentation, this represents a huge positive step forward.
Between the way the league has dominated the last two months with its playoffs and this newly launched initiative to short up basketball player development -- which will hopefully mean increased professionalization of that development -- the NBA is in ascent, with a huge pivot point tonight's Game 4: If the Magic win, it's on. If the Lakers win -- ensuring the Finals are virtually over -- will that progress slow down?
That WAS what I led with, but I swapped in something new, hubbed off of something Kareem said about Dwight Howard, basically pointing out that Howard isn't very good...yet.
I asked if he's good enough to get his team to the Finals, how good will he be when he finally learns how to play the game. Someone made the point to me: How good would he have been if he actually went to college?
And that's where I had my usual allergic reaction. Going to college would not have helped Dwight Howard's development as much as these past 5 years of strictly professional development.
It couldn't be more clear: College coaches are not concerned with developing their players for the NBA; they are concerned with winning (ie, their job security). NBA coaches, on the other hand, are entirely concerned with developing their players into NBA-ready talents -- their jobs hinge on it.
Whether a player spends time with NBA coaches or in the D-League (or even Europe), they are getting better preparation for a pro career than if they play college basketball -- it works for both kinds of players, too: The one-and-done star clearly doesn't need college basketball; this forced year of unpaid internship is unnecessary... and probably stunts growth more than accelerates it. The four-year college player with NBA aspirations also would be better served to spend four years developing under pro tutelage than a college coach; of course, if a four-year player was any good, they would have left college for the NBA two or more years earlier.
Make no mistake: If Tyler Hansbrough would have been a Top 10 lock after his freshman or sophomore years at UNC, he would have left school early. It makes too much ecomonic sense, but strictly from a developmental perspective, it also is in his best interests to get coached to maximize his role in the NBA, not to maximize his role for UNC -- again: If his ultimate goal is to play in the NBA.
(This is related to my argument about the UFL letting in college players before the NFL would have them: How much better prepared would future NFL QBs be if, instead of playing an additional 30 games in a spread offense, they spent two years being trained to be an NFL QB, by coaches who are expert in developing NFL QBs.)
Anyway, my point is: Dwight Howard was/is way better off -- basketball skills-wise and financially -- for having skipped college and gone straight into his pro career.
More you'll find in today's column:
*Raul Ibanez: Why was it OK when Rick Reilly did the same thing?
*Jersey sponsorships: What would the Texans do for a buck?
*Knicks love Stephen Curry: Too bad the Wizards are going to yoink him.
*The Red Sox still own the Yankees.
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wednesday 06/10 A.M. Quickie:
Magic, Floyd, Strasburg, Red Sox, More
I am surely overrating (no!), but it seems like a pretty big moment in the short history of Twitter's impact on sports media that Shaq's tweet immediately after last night's game framed the story:
"By george I think we have a series."
This may seem self-serving from someone whose career hinged on the notion that you could fill a column with 30-word blurbs on lots of topics, rather than 750-word (or 2,500-word) columns on a specific topic, but columnists in Orlando and LA and online will churn out tens of thousands of words about last night's game -- but Shaq did more to make sense with his 8 words than all those other words combined. (And he did it faster.)
That said, Game 3 led today's SN column: Wow, the Magic shot the lights out. Wow, they locked down on Kobe after his 1st quarter promised a crazy epic performance from him. Wow, they seemed like a totally different -- entirely confident -- team playing at home (and the Lakers have lost 7 straight Finals games on the road). I don't think the Magic leaving Orlando up 3-2 is a crazy notion.
*Meanwhile, let's get real: Who didn't see Tim Floyd's resignation coming? Frankly, the guy probably should have been fired years ago. But beyond that, the whole "recruitment" of OJ Mayo was so sketchy -- right from its odd start! -- that you knew things were going to go badly for Floyd. That USC coaching job is toxic -- although I'm sure the NCAA won't do anything to the program...certainly now that Floyd is out.
*Don't be fooled: The Vikings "dropping" interest in Favre is complete b.s. He could show up in late July saying "I'm here," and they'd drop whatever plan they had in place to make it work.
*The Nationals finally have some cachet: Stephen Strasburg. Now, they just have to get him signed, up to the big leagues and pitching -- ideally at home, where they could use the attendance boost -- ASAP.
Lots more in today's column. See the whole thing here. More later.
-- D.S.
"By george I think we have a series."
This may seem self-serving from someone whose career hinged on the notion that you could fill a column with 30-word blurbs on lots of topics, rather than 750-word (or 2,500-word) columns on a specific topic, but columnists in Orlando and LA and online will churn out tens of thousands of words about last night's game -- but Shaq did more to make sense with his 8 words than all those other words combined. (And he did it faster.)
That said, Game 3 led today's SN column: Wow, the Magic shot the lights out. Wow, they locked down on Kobe after his 1st quarter promised a crazy epic performance from him. Wow, they seemed like a totally different -- entirely confident -- team playing at home (and the Lakers have lost 7 straight Finals games on the road). I don't think the Magic leaving Orlando up 3-2 is a crazy notion.
*Meanwhile, let's get real: Who didn't see Tim Floyd's resignation coming? Frankly, the guy probably should have been fired years ago. But beyond that, the whole "recruitment" of OJ Mayo was so sketchy -- right from its odd start! -- that you knew things were going to go badly for Floyd. That USC coaching job is toxic -- although I'm sure the NCAA won't do anything to the program...certainly now that Floyd is out.
*Don't be fooled: The Vikings "dropping" interest in Favre is complete b.s. He could show up in late July saying "I'm here," and they'd drop whatever plan they had in place to make it work.
*The Nationals finally have some cachet: Stephen Strasburg. Now, they just have to get him signed, up to the big leagues and pitching -- ideally at home, where they could use the attendance boost -- ASAP.
Lots more in today's column. See the whole thing here. More later.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
NBA, NCAA Join Forces to Launch iHoops.com
Here is the mission of the new NBA-NCAA partnership to save amateur basketball: (1) Put the fetid AAU industry out of business. (2) Ummm... call me when you've completed (1).
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Memo to New UFL GM Rick Mueller
Rick Mueller: You're in charge of scouting and acquisitions for the entire UFL. Here is a very simple strategy that ensures the best chance of success for the league:
Convince the league to undercut the NFL age minimum by 2 years, allowing entry for players -- not just prospects, but future NFL stars -- with a little as just a single season of college experience. You will be hailed as a visionary.
Wouldn't it be more fun to "scout" and "acquire" Julio Jones than troll the NFL rejection bin for washed-up "names" or, worse, NFL-unworthy players no one has even heard of?
-- D.S.
Convince the league to undercut the NFL age minimum by 2 years, allowing entry for players -- not just prospects, but future NFL stars -- with a little as just a single season of college experience. You will be hailed as a visionary.
Wouldn't it be more fun to "scout" and "acquire" Julio Jones than troll the NFL rejection bin for washed-up "names" or, worse, NFL-unworthy players no one has even heard of?
-- D.S.
Tuesday 06/09 A.M. Quickie:
Strasburg, Magic, Cox, Curry, More
The MLB Draft lacks the heft of the NFL Draft -- which has become one of the top 5 sports events of the year -- and the cachet of the NBA Draft -- arguably the NBA's single-best day of the year.
This season, it does not lack for star wattage at the top: Stephen Strasburg, presumably headed to the Nationals with the No. pick -- and a record-breaking deal soon afterward.
Let's assume that he will be overpaid. That's a given. Let's even assume that he could end up being a bust, or merely even mediocre, or merely even great but not "best ever."
All that said, I think the Nationals -- a team of which I am a fan, if only nominally (but more than any other MLB team at this point) -- should spend whatever to get him.
Why? Relevance. Buzz. Cachet. Strasburg's early career will be in a spotlight that the otherwise irrelevant Nats simply don't have otherwise.
They may have a "Plan." They may be contenders in 5 or 10 years. In the meantime, they can at least have an attraction every 5 days that fans will pay attention to. That makes him worth it.
More you'll find in today's SN column:
*The Magic are just immature enough not to be too fazed by justmissingout on stunning the Lakers in LA in Game 2. Three games from now, they could be up 3-2. No, seriously...
*Stephen Curry is the most intriguing name in the NBA Draft. He has the most NBA-ready skill-set of any draftee: Even if it's a single dimension. Teams seem to covet him.
He will go no further than No. 5, to the Wizards. As a Wiz fan, I love this: Pair him with Arenas, and you have two combo guards who can handle/distribute the ball if necessary but also shoot the lights out. But the Wiz could also deal him to any number of teams that are going to be very keen on having him: The Knicks? The Bobcats? Just take a couple bad contracts from the Wiz.
The Knicks are taking a look at Curry today, even though they have the No. 8 pick -- he won't last until then -- and there are rumors that they are trying to shop David Lee and that they are trying to acquire Sergio Rodriguez from the Blazers (which may or may not be tied together). Maybe the Knicks are trying to trade up with the Wiz -- NY can eat DC's cap issues.
*Let's be clear: Brett Favre is coming back. To the Vikings. Maybe 6 weeks from now, but eventually. A deadline of this week seems ludicrous on its face. Throw in the circumstantial evidence that Favre's family bought a block of hotel rooms in Green Bay for the week the Packers play the Vikings. But can we please stop talking about the "if" stuff? It's "when."
*Surprise MLB player of the year and/or fantasy MVP of the year? How about Toronto's Adam Lind? 2 HR yesterday, continuing a torrid start to the season that should have him on the All-Star team as a reserve. (Speaking of All-Star voting, you know I'm a huge fan of the fan vote. But, come on, people: Jimmy Rollins over Hanley Ramirez?)
Complete SN column here. More later.
-- D.S.
This season, it does not lack for star wattage at the top: Stephen Strasburg, presumably headed to the Nationals with the No. pick -- and a record-breaking deal soon afterward.
Let's assume that he will be overpaid. That's a given. Let's even assume that he could end up being a bust, or merely even mediocre, or merely even great but not "best ever."
All that said, I think the Nationals -- a team of which I am a fan, if only nominally (but more than any other MLB team at this point) -- should spend whatever to get him.
Why? Relevance. Buzz. Cachet. Strasburg's early career will be in a spotlight that the otherwise irrelevant Nats simply don't have otherwise.
They may have a "Plan." They may be contenders in 5 or 10 years. In the meantime, they can at least have an attraction every 5 days that fans will pay attention to. That makes him worth it.
More you'll find in today's SN column:
*The Magic are just immature enough not to be too fazed by justmissingout on stunning the Lakers in LA in Game 2. Three games from now, they could be up 3-2. No, seriously...
*Stephen Curry is the most intriguing name in the NBA Draft. He has the most NBA-ready skill-set of any draftee: Even if it's a single dimension. Teams seem to covet him.
He will go no further than No. 5, to the Wizards. As a Wiz fan, I love this: Pair him with Arenas, and you have two combo guards who can handle/distribute the ball if necessary but also shoot the lights out. But the Wiz could also deal him to any number of teams that are going to be very keen on having him: The Knicks? The Bobcats? Just take a couple bad contracts from the Wiz.
The Knicks are taking a look at Curry today, even though they have the No. 8 pick -- he won't last until then -- and there are rumors that they are trying to shop David Lee and that they are trying to acquire Sergio Rodriguez from the Blazers (which may or may not be tied together). Maybe the Knicks are trying to trade up with the Wiz -- NY can eat DC's cap issues.
*Let's be clear: Brett Favre is coming back. To the Vikings. Maybe 6 weeks from now, but eventually. A deadline of this week seems ludicrous on its face. Throw in the circumstantial evidence that Favre's family bought a block of hotel rooms in Green Bay for the week the Packers play the Vikings. But can we please stop talking about the "if" stuff? It's "when."
*Surprise MLB player of the year and/or fantasy MVP of the year? How about Toronto's Adam Lind? 2 HR yesterday, continuing a torrid start to the season that should have him on the All-Star team as a reserve. (Speaking of All-Star voting, you know I'm a huge fan of the fan vote. But, come on, people: Jimmy Rollins over Hanley Ramirez?)
Complete SN column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Monday 06/08 A.M. Quickie:
Lakers, Federer, Tiger, Halladay, More
Roger Federer may have been the best tennis player ever before he won the French Open yesterday. But in completing the Career Grand Slam AND tying Sampras with 14 major titles, it feels more official now.
But what I was struck by in thinking about Federer -- enough to lead today's SN column with it -- was that we are living through what could be an unprecedented era of Best Players Ever.
Consider:
Federer: Best tennis player ever.
Tiger: Best golfer ever.
These are (mostly) confirmed.
Then there is Peyton Manning, who is already among the Top 10 NFL QBs ever; shows no sign of slowing down; and, when it's all done, will probably own every single NFL QB record that matters -- that may qualify him as "greatest NFL player ever."
Say what you want about Tim Tebow, but if he wins another national title, it would be hard not to call him the greatest college QB -- perhaps the greatest college football player -- ever.
LeBron is not the greatest NBA player ever -- yet. But he is already the most talented, and has been the best player in the league for a few years now...arguably since he turned 20. So while he might not be the best ever at the exact moment Federer is, they will overlap.
I'm even willing to broach baseball -- which is brutal on instant historians (as it should be). But no player has ever started (and sustained) a career quite like Albert Pujols, who is doing it in an era of scrutiny so much more intense than any "legend" ever did. I think we will look back and recognize that Pujols is not just the greatest hitter of this generation, but will wind up as one of the Top 10 players of all time. For baseball, that's pretty insane.
UPDATE: Then there is Michael Phelps -- the greatest Olympic athlete ever, for whom 2012 is for pure pleasure, after doing what no one else has ever done in 2008.
Is it a clean argument? Hardly. LeBron is -- absurdly -- still on the way up. Peyton is still mid-career. We have no idea yet just how far Tiger and Roger will go. Pujols could get injured and drop off next season.
But I do think that in 20 years we'll look back and this moment will register as a confluence of superlative athletes setting standards that players in the future will have a hard time topping.
Complete SN column here. Lots more to be found there. More later.
-- D.S.
But what I was struck by in thinking about Federer -- enough to lead today's SN column with it -- was that we are living through what could be an unprecedented era of Best Players Ever.
Consider:
Federer: Best tennis player ever.
Tiger: Best golfer ever.
These are (mostly) confirmed.
Then there is Peyton Manning, who is already among the Top 10 NFL QBs ever; shows no sign of slowing down; and, when it's all done, will probably own every single NFL QB record that matters -- that may qualify him as "greatest NFL player ever."
Say what you want about Tim Tebow, but if he wins another national title, it would be hard not to call him the greatest college QB -- perhaps the greatest college football player -- ever.
LeBron is not the greatest NBA player ever -- yet. But he is already the most talented, and has been the best player in the league for a few years now...arguably since he turned 20. So while he might not be the best ever at the exact moment Federer is, they will overlap.
I'm even willing to broach baseball -- which is brutal on instant historians (as it should be). But no player has ever started (and sustained) a career quite like Albert Pujols, who is doing it in an era of scrutiny so much more intense than any "legend" ever did. I think we will look back and recognize that Pujols is not just the greatest hitter of this generation, but will wind up as one of the Top 10 players of all time. For baseball, that's pretty insane.
UPDATE: Then there is Michael Phelps -- the greatest Olympic athlete ever, for whom 2012 is for pure pleasure, after doing what no one else has ever done in 2008.
Is it a clean argument? Hardly. LeBron is -- absurdly -- still on the way up. Peyton is still mid-career. We have no idea yet just how far Tiger and Roger will go. Pujols could get injured and drop off next season.
But I do think that in 20 years we'll look back and this moment will register as a confluence of superlative athletes setting standards that players in the future will have a hard time topping.
Complete SN column here. Lots more to be found there. More later.
-- D.S.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Saturday 06/06 (Very) Quickie
Lakers-Magic Game 2 tonight: More about how Magic bounce back than how Lakers press advantage.
Greinke: Is the magic over? The mean finally caught up with him, and Zack gave up 2 HR, only struck out 3 and took his 2nd loss of the season. Is Halladay suddenly the AL's best pitcher?
Carl Pavano has the last laugh.
100 wins is the new 300 wins: Zambrano hits milestone.
Ichiro hit-streak snapped (27) -- reason to follow
French Open final: Federer vs. the Guy Who Beat Nadal.
Rasheed Wallace to the Cavs? (So says Slam.)
What's that about Brett Favre? Who cares?
-- D.S.
Greinke: Is the magic over? The mean finally caught up with him, and Zack gave up 2 HR, only struck out 3 and took his 2nd loss of the season. Is Halladay suddenly the AL's best pitcher?
Carl Pavano has the last laugh.
100 wins is the new 300 wins: Zambrano hits milestone.
Ichiro hit-streak snapped (27) -- reason to follow
French Open final: Federer vs. the Guy Who Beat Nadal.
Rasheed Wallace to the Cavs? (So says Slam.)
What's that about Brett Favre? Who cares?
-- D.S.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Friday 06/05 A.M. Quickie:
Kobe, Lakers, Big Unit, Belmont, More
So perhaps my "Magic in 5" was wrong. I take comfort in the 1991 NBA Finals, when MJ and the Bulls lost Game 1 -- in Chicago, no less -- but went on to take 4 straight from the Lakers.
Couple differences: (1) Those Lakers were at the end of their run; these Lakers are mid-stride, even uber-motivated after last year, and (2) Kobe is the MJ in this scenario.
I can't help but think that the Magic can't possibly shoot as badly as they did last night (sub-30 percent) again -- progression to the mean? And don't forget nerves.
(I'm just rationalizing in the lead of today's SN column. I know it.)
Still: That was a throttling. But -- and I didn't do this research myself via Lexis-Nexis or anything -- I wonder what the newspaper columnists were saying back in '91 after Game 1 about the Bulls? Yeah, Game 1 was abdsurdly tense and could have gone either way -- unlike last night. But I'm sure there were more than a fair share of columnists ready to say "Bulls not ready."
Meanwhile:
*Randy Johnson wins No. 300. Not only will there never be another 300-game winner, I'm going to say that there won't be another 250-game winner. I look at the top contenders in the column today -- maybe Roy Halladay; he's "only" 32 and has to "only" win 15 games a season for the next 6 seasons. No sweat!
The upshot, really, is that the mythic plateau of "300" will quickly be discounted back to 250 -- good news for Mike Mussina, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris and -- most recently -- Jamie Moyer. The bigger question is whether I am not discounting ENOUGH -- will 200 eventually become the new 300?
Lots going on in the column today. Check it out here. More later.
-- D.S.
Couple differences: (1) Those Lakers were at the end of their run; these Lakers are mid-stride, even uber-motivated after last year, and (2) Kobe is the MJ in this scenario.
I can't help but think that the Magic can't possibly shoot as badly as they did last night (sub-30 percent) again -- progression to the mean? And don't forget nerves.
(I'm just rationalizing in the lead of today's SN column. I know it.)
Still: That was a throttling. But -- and I didn't do this research myself via Lexis-Nexis or anything -- I wonder what the newspaper columnists were saying back in '91 after Game 1 about the Bulls? Yeah, Game 1 was abdsurdly tense and could have gone either way -- unlike last night. But I'm sure there were more than a fair share of columnists ready to say "Bulls not ready."
Meanwhile:
*Randy Johnson wins No. 300. Not only will there never be another 300-game winner, I'm going to say that there won't be another 250-game winner. I look at the top contenders in the column today -- maybe Roy Halladay; he's "only" 32 and has to "only" win 15 games a season for the next 6 seasons. No sweat!
The upshot, really, is that the mythic plateau of "300" will quickly be discounted back to 250 -- good news for Mike Mussina, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris and -- most recently -- Jamie Moyer. The bigger question is whether I am not discounting ENOUGH -- will 200 eventually become the new 300?
Lots going on in the column today. Check it out here. More later.
-- D.S.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Only Sort of Sports-ish: Meeting Lu Parker
Does a state-level Miss USA pageant count as sports? During my junior year of college, I I interned for a semester at the Sun News in Myrtle Beach, S.C. As a make-up for the paper not sending me to cover some non-conference college basketball tournament in Charlotte, they let me cover the Miss South Carolina USA pageant (not to be confused with Miss South Carolina of the Miss America system), which was being held in Myrtle Beach that year.
I was given "exclusive" (meaning: no other outlets were either interested or available) access during the entire day leading up to the competition -- me, the lonely single nebbishy Jewish 20-year-old, and like 35 South Carolina pageant contestants between the ages of 18 and probably 25, all representing our nation's finest example of shiksa.
When I got to the pageant registration area in the morning, I ended up sitting next to this one woman who seemed incredibly decent and likeable. She was nice to me, in a sincere way (although me being from the newspaper probably didn't hurt). I marked her down in my program as someone with the looks, talent, charm and philanthropic angle (she came promoting an education charity she had founded) to win the whole thing. She became a big part of the piece that I filed to the paper.
She did one better. Lu Parker not only won Miss South Carolina USA, but she went on to win Miss USA outright. She is now a newscaster in LA, but better-known for shtupping the Mayor of LA on the side. But I knew her when...
-- D.S.
PS: At the time, I totally felt qualified to be a pageant judge -- apparently, it's a little enclave you can join and then they call you to all sorts of random states to judge local competitions -- and I await my chance one day to make good on that.
PPS: Banner day for filling in my mid-90s work history, no?
I was given "exclusive" (meaning: no other outlets were either interested or available) access during the entire day leading up to the competition -- me, the lonely single nebbishy Jewish 20-year-old, and like 35 South Carolina pageant contestants between the ages of 18 and probably 25, all representing our nation's finest example of shiksa.
When I got to the pageant registration area in the morning, I ended up sitting next to this one woman who seemed incredibly decent and likeable. She was nice to me, in a sincere way (although me being from the newspaper probably didn't hurt). I marked her down in my program as someone with the looks, talent, charm and philanthropic angle (she came promoting an education charity she had founded) to win the whole thing. She became a big part of the piece that I filed to the paper.
She did one better. Lu Parker not only won Miss South Carolina USA, but she went on to win Miss USA outright. She is now a newscaster in LA, but better-known for shtupping the Mayor of LA on the side. But I knew her when...
-- D.S.
PS: At the time, I totally felt qualified to be a pageant judge -- apparently, it's a little enclave you can join and then they call you to all sorts of random states to judge local competitions -- and I await my chance one day to make good on that.
PPS: Banner day for filling in my mid-90s work history, no?
Blogs With Balls Update And An Apology
So the first-ever sports-blog conference is coming up a week from Saturday (June 13) in New York City. If you live in the city or just want to be at one of the biggest gatherings ever of sports bloggers, I highly recommend it.
There are a bunch of great panels, and I'm fortunate enough to be moderating one on the quote-unquote "conflict" between sports blogs and "mainstream" media, although as I plan out the panel, I think it's clear that the notion of a schism is no longer operable, and the proper description is probably "co-opetition."
What we would call "indie" blogs are increasingly professionalized (both for content and as businesses) and mainstream media has quickly adopted the blog platform and format for information delivery and consumer engagement. Bloggers offer innovation and a new talent-development stream; mainstream media offers wider distribution, some form of additional "credibility" and the opportunity to generate revenue.
But, really, what I keep coming back to is how stale the vocabulary is: How do you define "mainstream?" I would offer one working definition as "influence"; under that definition, Deadspin or The Big Lead ARE mainstream, in the way they impact the sports-media news cycle. Arguably, they are even more "mainstream" than newspapers or talk-radio, siloed by market (exception: national shows like Dan Patrick and Mike/Mike), or magazines, limited to weekly agenda-setting.
Anyway, hopefully, we will dig into all of these issues and more, and I'm fortunate to have a great panel to work with, including guys like Dan Steinberg, John Ness, Jeff Pearlman, Bethlehem Shoals, Mike Hall and Jeff Pyatt.
The media industry -- particularly sports media -- remains a passion of mine, and I love nothing more than getting into intelligent discussions about it, in almost any setting.
On that note, I was reading a commentary about Deadspin's latest commenter evolution and the writer -- who I might not agree with but very much respect -- brought up my criticism of Jason (Big Lead) McIntyre from just about a year ago.
What I regret about that post was that I didn't stay true to my interest in clear-eyed media analysis -- I may be shallow when it comes to last night's baseball news, but I like to think that when I finally talk about stuff that I actually understand deeply, like the sports-media industry, I present thoughtful and intelligent arguments. Instead, I devolved into personal attacks -- not my m.o. at all -- that ultimately undermined the more rational points I was trying to make.
It is long overdue, but I apologize to Jason for those personal attacks. I think it is totally valid -- even constructive -- to disagree on the topic (any topic) on the merits. My personal potshots were lame and unnecessary and -- I would like to think -- out of character for me.
I am not bringing this up to try to curry some sort of favor with Jason -- I would send him the same message via email, but given the public nature of my first post about this, a public message seemed more appropriate. But in thinking about that post, I sincerely regret the tone and apologize for the too-personal vitriol. Nearly a year later, it was time to revisit and set it straight.
-- D.S.
There are a bunch of great panels, and I'm fortunate enough to be moderating one on the quote-unquote "conflict" between sports blogs and "mainstream" media, although as I plan out the panel, I think it's clear that the notion of a schism is no longer operable, and the proper description is probably "co-opetition."
What we would call "indie" blogs are increasingly professionalized (both for content and as businesses) and mainstream media has quickly adopted the blog platform and format for information delivery and consumer engagement. Bloggers offer innovation and a new talent-development stream; mainstream media offers wider distribution, some form of additional "credibility" and the opportunity to generate revenue.
But, really, what I keep coming back to is how stale the vocabulary is: How do you define "mainstream?" I would offer one working definition as "influence"; under that definition, Deadspin or The Big Lead ARE mainstream, in the way they impact the sports-media news cycle. Arguably, they are even more "mainstream" than newspapers or talk-radio, siloed by market (exception: national shows like Dan Patrick and Mike/Mike), or magazines, limited to weekly agenda-setting.
Anyway, hopefully, we will dig into all of these issues and more, and I'm fortunate to have a great panel to work with, including guys like Dan Steinberg, John Ness, Jeff Pearlman, Bethlehem Shoals, Mike Hall and Jeff Pyatt.
The media industry -- particularly sports media -- remains a passion of mine, and I love nothing more than getting into intelligent discussions about it, in almost any setting.
On that note, I was reading a commentary about Deadspin's latest commenter evolution and the writer -- who I might not agree with but very much respect -- brought up my criticism of Jason (Big Lead) McIntyre from just about a year ago.
What I regret about that post was that I didn't stay true to my interest in clear-eyed media analysis -- I may be shallow when it comes to last night's baseball news, but I like to think that when I finally talk about stuff that I actually understand deeply, like the sports-media industry, I present thoughtful and intelligent arguments. Instead, I devolved into personal attacks -- not my m.o. at all -- that ultimately undermined the more rational points I was trying to make.
It is long overdue, but I apologize to Jason for those personal attacks. I think it is totally valid -- even constructive -- to disagree on the topic (any topic) on the merits. My personal potshots were lame and unnecessary and -- I would like to think -- out of character for me.
I am not bringing this up to try to curry some sort of favor with Jason -- I would send him the same message via email, but given the public nature of my first post about this, a public message seemed more appropriate. But in thinking about that post, I sincerely regret the tone and apologize for the too-personal vitriol. Nearly a year later, it was time to revisit and set it straight.
-- D.S.
Finals Flashback: How I Almost Came To Work For The Orlando Magic
In the summer of 1995, I had just graduated from Northwestern with my journalism degree. I was living back at home in D.C., trying to figure out what my (first) career move would be.
I applied for a training program with the Orlando Magic. I even flew down to Orlando -- on my own dime (foreshadowing) -- to interview.
I was given an offer in their P.R. department... as an unpaid intern. Intern? OK. Unpaid? Saywhat? So I would not only have to relocate myself down there, but then work 40+ hours a week...for free.
My other standing option was to move back to Chicago and live with my best friends in Wrigleyville. I even had a competing unpaid internship offer in pro basketball, working for the PR guy of the Chicago Rockers of the CBA.
At the time, I agonized over the decision. Although equally unpaid, the Magic job seemed more respectable -- like I was on a career path. The Rockers "job" felt more like an excuse to get back to Chicago and basically have a 5th year of college with my friends.
I moved to Chicago -- best decision I ever could have made. Not only did I have a near-perfect year, living near Wrigley and following Northwestern football on its Rose Bowl run, but about 6 weeks after getting to Chicago (which felt endless at the time), I landed a job with a start-up company backed by AOL, to create original sports content for AOL.
I had no previous experience -- or basically any knowledge at all -- about the internet (after all, it was only 1995), but I quickly learned. Mostly, I loved the fact that we were getting to make up the rules of online content as we went along, and I had a big hand in that. And I was getting paid -- not much, but compared to the Magic, a LOT more) to write about sports I loved.
With the Magic back in the most intense spotlight the team has seen since the spring of 1995* made me think about my earliest career moment/decision, when I nearly worked for them.
-- D.S.
* - In '95, I actually rooted against them; I really liked those two Rockets teams, particularly the second one, which went through the toughest playoff road since...well, since this Magic team, actually.
I applied for a training program with the Orlando Magic. I even flew down to Orlando -- on my own dime (foreshadowing) -- to interview.
I was given an offer in their P.R. department... as an unpaid intern. Intern? OK. Unpaid? Saywhat? So I would not only have to relocate myself down there, but then work 40+ hours a week...for free.
My other standing option was to move back to Chicago and live with my best friends in Wrigleyville. I even had a competing unpaid internship offer in pro basketball, working for the PR guy of the Chicago Rockers of the CBA.
At the time, I agonized over the decision. Although equally unpaid, the Magic job seemed more respectable -- like I was on a career path. The Rockers "job" felt more like an excuse to get back to Chicago and basically have a 5th year of college with my friends.
I moved to Chicago -- best decision I ever could have made. Not only did I have a near-perfect year, living near Wrigley and following Northwestern football on its Rose Bowl run, but about 6 weeks after getting to Chicago (which felt endless at the time), I landed a job with a start-up company backed by AOL, to create original sports content for AOL.
I had no previous experience -- or basically any knowledge at all -- about the internet (after all, it was only 1995), but I quickly learned. Mostly, I loved the fact that we were getting to make up the rules of online content as we went along, and I had a big hand in that. And I was getting paid -- not much, but compared to the Magic, a LOT more) to write about sports I loved.
With the Magic back in the most intense spotlight the team has seen since the spring of 1995* made me think about my earliest career moment/decision, when I nearly worked for them.
-- D.S.
* - In '95, I actually rooted against them; I really liked those two Rockets teams, particularly the second one, which went through the toughest playoff road since...well, since this Magic team, actually.
Thursday 06/04 A.M. Quickie:
Finals, Braves, Westbrook, More
So you've probably seen all the different NBA Finals storylines floating around throughout the week. I have simply collected them all into a handy one-stop-shop guide to them as the lead of today's SN column.
My favorite? Probably reflects Shoals' take: If the Magic win -- perhaps even if they don't -- has Orlando created a new template for success in the NBA, geared around tall versatile players? Does everyone need to find their own Turkoglu?
Let's be honest: It helps the Magic's plan that they have the best big man in the sport, but while the team revolves around him, it doesn't depend on him for everything. There is a distributed-network element to the Magic -- Howard won't kill you by scoring 40 (um, except Game 6), but because you have to nudge toward him, Lewis and Turkoglu kill you from the outside.
So: The premium is on the 6-10 "power forward" whose main game is shooting 3s -- making Rashard Lewis basically a better Matt Bullard. Or a 6-10 "point forward" whose main game is bringing the ball up and shooting 3s -- making Hedo a Eurofied version of Scottie Pippen.
I had a couple of reasons for picking the Magic to win the series -- but how can you not like the matchups? Who guards Howard? Who guards Lewis? Who guards Hedo? Who cares if Kobe scores 40 a game -- so did LeBron.
So in today's column, you get 9 other major storylines, plus a bunch about the Braves, Westbrook, Memphis hoops and more.
Complete column here. Two more posts (at least) coming at noon-ish and 3-ish.
-- D.S.
My favorite? Probably reflects Shoals' take: If the Magic win -- perhaps even if they don't -- has Orlando created a new template for success in the NBA, geared around tall versatile players? Does everyone need to find their own Turkoglu?
Let's be honest: It helps the Magic's plan that they have the best big man in the sport, but while the team revolves around him, it doesn't depend on him for everything. There is a distributed-network element to the Magic -- Howard won't kill you by scoring 40 (um, except Game 6), but because you have to nudge toward him, Lewis and Turkoglu kill you from the outside.
So: The premium is on the 6-10 "power forward" whose main game is shooting 3s -- making Rashard Lewis basically a better Matt Bullard. Or a 6-10 "point forward" whose main game is bringing the ball up and shooting 3s -- making Hedo a Eurofied version of Scottie Pippen.
I had a couple of reasons for picking the Magic to win the series -- but how can you not like the matchups? Who guards Howard? Who guards Lewis? Who guards Hedo? Who cares if Kobe scores 40 a game -- so did LeBron.
So in today's column, you get 9 other major storylines, plus a bunch about the Braves, Westbrook, Memphis hoops and more.
Complete column here. Two more posts (at least) coming at noon-ish and 3-ish.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Who Is The Worst Owner in Baseball?
SI ranks Jeffrey Loria at No. 4 on the Worst Owner in Baseball list. If having a "worst owner" meant my team won a freaking World Series -- like the Marlins did in Loria's second year -- I'd take it. (We have this debate all the time: Would you rather win 2 titles in 10 years but suck the other 8 -- like the Marlins -- or win zero titles in 10 years, but make the playoffs a bunch?)
As for the best owner, let's normalize the rankings so we can compare them dollar-for-dollar. How much of John Henry or George Steinbrenner's "best" come from merely spending $200 million a year? (Granted, I'll credit them for the willingness to spend it, even if they are starting from revenue platforms that allow them to spend that much without going broke.)
Give me Stuart Sternberg in Tampa, who does it on a fraction of the budget. I'd love to see what would happen to the Red Sox or Yankees if they could only spend $35 million a year.
As for the best owner, let's normalize the rankings so we can compare them dollar-for-dollar. How much of John Henry or George Steinbrenner's "best" come from merely spending $200 million a year? (Granted, I'll credit them for the willingness to spend it, even if they are starting from revenue platforms that allow them to spend that much without going broke.)
Give me Stuart Sternberg in Tampa, who does it on a fraction of the budget. I'd love to see what would happen to the Red Sox or Yankees if they could only spend $35 million a year.
Wednesday 06/03 A.M. Quickie:
Magic, Obama, Halladay, Big Unit, More
So last week I mentioned that it was the 5-year anniversary of my first appearance on Around the Horn. A few episodes later, the group was predicting the 2004 NBA Finals -- Lakers vs. Pistons.
No one gave the Pistons a chance. One guy said "Lakers in 7." One said "Lakers in 6." One said "Lakers in 5." That left me with a nice bold claim: "Lakers in 4." The Pistons didn't have a chance.
Until they did, clobbering the Lakers in 5 games.
That was what I was thinking about as I made my official prediction in today's SN column of the Magic winning in 5. No one is giving Orlando a chance. The entire ESPN panel -- except Abbott -- picked the Lakers. (This is the same group that uniformly picked the Cavs to beat the Magic, so there you go.)
The only thing that's throwing me off is the 2-3-2 format. But I think the Magic can win a game in L.A. -- maybe even tomorrow night's Game 1, then sweep all 3 games in Orlando.
The matchups favor the Magic, as they have all playoffs long -- even if the experts didn't recognize it. Who will guard Howard -- Andrew Bynum? And I keep hearing that Pau Gasol will guard Rashard Lewis -- where, by the 3-point line? Perhaps Ariza is the long athletic player to guard Hedo Turkoglu - then again, maybe he'll foul out trying to guard him.
Will Kobe get his? Of course. But we just saw LeBron dominate the Magic -- right up until his team was bounced out of the playoffs by them. The Lakers are a better team than the Cavs, but not that much better. And the Magic are playing out of their minds right now.
Obama picks the Lakers in 6, and he has been on a hot streak lately, in terms of sports predictions. But I remember the lessons of 2004, the last time "everyone" thought the Lakers would roll to a title past an overmatched team from the East. We know how that turned out.
Maybe my judgment is clouded by my enthusiasm over picking the Magic over the Cavs in 6 -- my best (perhaps only correct) prediction of the year. After all, I picked the Lakers to lose to the Nuggets in 6. But I think folks are sleeping on Orlando -- still, after the way they have dispatched both the defending champs and the team with the best record in the league. Still?
Magic in 5.
More you'll find in today's column:
*Jameer Nelson is Willis Reed 2.0
*Roy Halladay is the new Zack Greinke
*Big Unit goes for 300 -- last 300-winner ever?
*Memphis says: NO EVIDENCE, NCAA!
Plus a lot more. Complete column here. More later. Your Finals picks in the Comments.
-- D.S.
No one gave the Pistons a chance. One guy said "Lakers in 7." One said "Lakers in 6." One said "Lakers in 5." That left me with a nice bold claim: "Lakers in 4." The Pistons didn't have a chance.
Until they did, clobbering the Lakers in 5 games.
That was what I was thinking about as I made my official prediction in today's SN column of the Magic winning in 5. No one is giving Orlando a chance. The entire ESPN panel -- except Abbott -- picked the Lakers. (This is the same group that uniformly picked the Cavs to beat the Magic, so there you go.)
The only thing that's throwing me off is the 2-3-2 format. But I think the Magic can win a game in L.A. -- maybe even tomorrow night's Game 1, then sweep all 3 games in Orlando.
The matchups favor the Magic, as they have all playoffs long -- even if the experts didn't recognize it. Who will guard Howard -- Andrew Bynum? And I keep hearing that Pau Gasol will guard Rashard Lewis -- where, by the 3-point line? Perhaps Ariza is the long athletic player to guard Hedo Turkoglu - then again, maybe he'll foul out trying to guard him.
Will Kobe get his? Of course. But we just saw LeBron dominate the Magic -- right up until his team was bounced out of the playoffs by them. The Lakers are a better team than the Cavs, but not that much better. And the Magic are playing out of their minds right now.
Obama picks the Lakers in 6, and he has been on a hot streak lately, in terms of sports predictions. But I remember the lessons of 2004, the last time "everyone" thought the Lakers would roll to a title past an overmatched team from the East. We know how that turned out.
Maybe my judgment is clouded by my enthusiasm over picking the Magic over the Cavs in 6 -- my best (perhaps only correct) prediction of the year. After all, I picked the Lakers to lose to the Nuggets in 6. But I think folks are sleeping on Orlando -- still, after the way they have dispatched both the defending champs and the team with the best record in the league. Still?
Magic in 5.
More you'll find in today's column:
*Jameer Nelson is Willis Reed 2.0
*Roy Halladay is the new Zack Greinke
*Big Unit goes for 300 -- last 300-winner ever?
*Memphis says: NO EVIDENCE, NCAA!
Plus a lot more. Complete column here. More later. Your Finals picks in the Comments.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Henry Abbott: Dominating The NBA Playoffs
If I wrote a weekly column, this is the one I'd want to write. Except I wouldn't do nearly as good of a job as Leitch does. Although we can disagree on LeBron. (But agree on Henry Abbott!) It's one of the few "appointment" columns I look forward to each week.
(In other notable Deadspin news this week, it appears I get to maintain my commenting privileges -- and I do it under the handle "danshanoff," mostly because I'm not clever enough for a handle based on a pun of an obscure pop-culture reference -- at least for now!)
-- D.S.
(In other notable Deadspin news this week, it appears I get to maintain my commenting privileges -- and I do it under the handle "danshanoff," mostly because I'm not clever enough for a handle based on a pun of an obscure pop-culture reference -- at least for now!)
-- D.S.
Gator Notes: Jenkins Tasered, Tebow Tops
(1) Jenkins vs. Taser: Some of you pointed out that I neglected to mention that Florida CB Janoris Jenkins was arrested the other day, including a Taser -- WHICH HE GOT UP FROM AND CONTINUED TO RUN AWAY.
Jenkins stepped in as a true freshman last season and started at corner for the national champs -- he probably finished the season as one of the Top 10 CBs in college football (and, yet, still behind his fellow CB Joe Haden, a 2009 preseason 1st-team All-American and 2010 NFL Top 10 pick).
(2) Tebow vs. the Field: Meanwhile, Sporting News put out its list of the Top 25 players in college football heading into the '09 season. Yes, yes: Tim Tebow is No. 1 (hate all you want, but how could you pick anyone else?). The list is intriguing for a few other names, notably Tebow-lite Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli, who vaults in at No. 9.
Oh, and there was some closure to the mystery of how Tebow ended up in the arena for the Magic-Cavs Game 6: His mom bought him a ticket. Scandal! Occam's razor, folks. Undoubtedly, he was spotted by TV producers and escorted closer to the action so they could get him on camera. That's not an improper benefit -- that's TV.
I remain restrained about Florida and Tebow coverage this spring/summer, but will update as news merits. There are a TON of preview magazines coming out -- almost all picking Florida as the national champ, which is hardly unexpected -- and I will try not to qualify Tebow/Gator mentions in them as "news." OK, maybe sometimes.
-- D.S.
Jenkins stepped in as a true freshman last season and started at corner for the national champs -- he probably finished the season as one of the Top 10 CBs in college football (and, yet, still behind his fellow CB Joe Haden, a 2009 preseason 1st-team All-American and 2010 NFL Top 10 pick).
(2) Tebow vs. the Field: Meanwhile, Sporting News put out its list of the Top 25 players in college football heading into the '09 season. Yes, yes: Tim Tebow is No. 1 (hate all you want, but how could you pick anyone else?). The list is intriguing for a few other names, notably Tebow-lite Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli, who vaults in at No. 9.
Oh, and there was some closure to the mystery of how Tebow ended up in the arena for the Magic-Cavs Game 6: His mom bought him a ticket. Scandal! Occam's razor, folks. Undoubtedly, he was spotted by TV producers and escorted closer to the action so they could get him on camera. That's not an improper benefit -- that's TV.
I remain restrained about Florida and Tebow coverage this spring/summer, but will update as news merits. There are a TON of preview magazines coming out -- almost all picking Florida as the national champ, which is hardly unexpected -- and I will try not to qualify Tebow/Gator mentions in them as "news." OK, maybe sometimes.
-- D.S.
Tuesday 06/02 A.M. Quickie:
Lifelock, Finals, VY, Tebow, LeBron, More
When I first pitched the Quickie to ESPN, I made a point to emphasize that it was -- by its daypart (morning) and by its appointment-style scheduling (daily) -- promising for sponsor dollars.
I even went so far as to present the concept directly to the ESPN.com ad-sales team -- I may have been the first ESPN.com columnist (or any sports columnist) to do that. It's a point of pride for me, actually, because it actively acknowledged that you can have editorial integrity of creating a good, popular product AND try to make money from it.
There was regular sponsorship of the column -- the most notable was a McDonald's deal that promoted McD's breakfast offering, a pretty good fit.
I always thought that Starbucks would be ideal -- hell, that's what I was drinking in the morning as I wrote; I'd even throw in a mugshot of me holding up a Starbucks cup.
Then I read that MSNBC's "Morning Joe" just did a presenting sponsorship with Starbucks -- it's smart, for both the show and the sponsor.
And, yesterday, the NBA announced that the WNBA would be accepting sponsorships on jerseys, fully displacing "Phoenix" and "Mercury" for "Lifelock." Guess what: That's the future folks.
It's also the present, as I lead in today's SN column (which also subtly suggests that the sponsorship opportunities remain for me) -- look at international soccer. Those are the hardest-core fans in the world, and they have no problem with the jersey sponsorships.
More notably, don't kid yourself: College football and basketball have been showcasing sponsor branding for years -- and it has moved beyond jerseys and shorts/pants and shoes to armbands, bicep-bands, headbands, eyeblack and more.
Does it spoil baseball to have "GNC" on the front or back of the Yankees or Red Sox jerseys? Or the NFL? Or the NBA? Hardly. Your team is still your team -- they just make a little more money in a pretty crappy economy... and a sponsor gets to break through the clutter with a meaningful marketing connection with fans. (Just ask AIG and Manchester United!)
Anyway, the point is this: There is no meaningful difference between "Shanoff's Wake-Up Call" and "Starbucks Wake-Up Call," just as there is no meaningful difference between "The BS Report Presented by Subway," and swapping out the "Celtics" lettering on the Boston jersey replaced by "PapaJohns.com."
More you'll find in today's column:
*The best LeBron/Kobe puppet parody video you'll see.
*Tim Tebow: Best player in college football next season. Duh.
*Vince Young needs a new team that will use him selectively.
*Danica is as disingenuous in apologizing as LeBron.
Lot more where that came from. Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
I even went so far as to present the concept directly to the ESPN.com ad-sales team -- I may have been the first ESPN.com columnist (or any sports columnist) to do that. It's a point of pride for me, actually, because it actively acknowledged that you can have editorial integrity of creating a good, popular product AND try to make money from it.
There was regular sponsorship of the column -- the most notable was a McDonald's deal that promoted McD's breakfast offering, a pretty good fit.
I always thought that Starbucks would be ideal -- hell, that's what I was drinking in the morning as I wrote; I'd even throw in a mugshot of me holding up a Starbucks cup.
Then I read that MSNBC's "Morning Joe" just did a presenting sponsorship with Starbucks -- it's smart, for both the show and the sponsor.
And, yesterday, the NBA announced that the WNBA would be accepting sponsorships on jerseys, fully displacing "Phoenix" and "Mercury" for "Lifelock." Guess what: That's the future folks.
It's also the present, as I lead in today's SN column (which also subtly suggests that the sponsorship opportunities remain for me) -- look at international soccer. Those are the hardest-core fans in the world, and they have no problem with the jersey sponsorships.
More notably, don't kid yourself: College football and basketball have been showcasing sponsor branding for years -- and it has moved beyond jerseys and shorts/pants and shoes to armbands, bicep-bands, headbands, eyeblack and more.
Does it spoil baseball to have "GNC" on the front or back of the Yankees or Red Sox jerseys? Or the NFL? Or the NBA? Hardly. Your team is still your team -- they just make a little more money in a pretty crappy economy... and a sponsor gets to break through the clutter with a meaningful marketing connection with fans. (Just ask AIG and Manchester United!)
Anyway, the point is this: There is no meaningful difference between "Shanoff's Wake-Up Call" and "Starbucks Wake-Up Call," just as there is no meaningful difference between "The BS Report Presented by Subway," and swapping out the "Celtics" lettering on the Boston jersey replaced by "PapaJohns.com."
More you'll find in today's column:
*The best LeBron/Kobe puppet parody video you'll see.
*Tim Tebow: Best player in college football next season. Duh.
*Vince Young needs a new team that will use him selectively.
*Danica is as disingenuous in apologizing as LeBron.
Lot more where that came from. Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Monday, June 01, 2009
A Little More on MeBron
The irony of LeBron's ending to the NBA playoffs is that he has worked so hard -- harder than he ever has on basketball -- on becoming a global brand.
In fact, you have to ask whether becoming a billion-dollar global brand is LeBron's No. 1 goal. Ahead of winning a championship (although that helps the goal). Certainly ahead of Ohio pride.
It makes it all the more fascinating that LeBron the Brand Manager would allow himself to mess up so royally by not shaking hands or facing the media after the Cavs' ouster.
Maybe it is a symbol of JUST HOW BAD LeBron wanted to win. But maybe it was more calculated manipulation. And maybe it was just a rare peek into the world of "MeBron."
For "MeBron," LeBron will always come first. Ahead of the Cavs. Ahead of Ohio, even Akron. Ahead of the NBA. Ahead of "the game of basketball" (ugh).
This is why I feel bad for Cavs fans who think that LeBron will stay in Cleveland -- or think he cares at all what the folks in Cleveland think. He will do what is best for LeBrand.
Perhaps why he was disappointed was because it feeds the LeBron brand that he -- the Chosen One -- would be the one to deliver a championship to long-blighted Cleveland.
But that's not about Cleveland or Cleveland fans -- once again, it's about LeBron advancing LeBron's place in the world.
It's funny how one small moment -- a snubbed handshake, an inability to answer questions about your role in a fairly sizeable defeat -- can do so much to erode the best brand in basketball.
While I will continue to marvel at LeBron's skills, I can't help but have this Saturday night thing change the way I think he should be viewed.
Obviously, in a few years it will be long-forgotten -- presuming he eventually wins an NBA title or few. But for now, it is more career-defining than anything else he has done.
-- D.S.
In fact, you have to ask whether becoming a billion-dollar global brand is LeBron's No. 1 goal. Ahead of winning a championship (although that helps the goal). Certainly ahead of Ohio pride.
It makes it all the more fascinating that LeBron the Brand Manager would allow himself to mess up so royally by not shaking hands or facing the media after the Cavs' ouster.
Maybe it is a symbol of JUST HOW BAD LeBron wanted to win. But maybe it was more calculated manipulation. And maybe it was just a rare peek into the world of "MeBron."
For "MeBron," LeBron will always come first. Ahead of the Cavs. Ahead of Ohio, even Akron. Ahead of the NBA. Ahead of "the game of basketball" (ugh).
This is why I feel bad for Cavs fans who think that LeBron will stay in Cleveland -- or think he cares at all what the folks in Cleveland think. He will do what is best for LeBrand.
Perhaps why he was disappointed was because it feeds the LeBron brand that he -- the Chosen One -- would be the one to deliver a championship to long-blighted Cleveland.
But that's not about Cleveland or Cleveland fans -- once again, it's about LeBron advancing LeBron's place in the world.
It's funny how one small moment -- a snubbed handshake, an inability to answer questions about your role in a fairly sizeable defeat -- can do so much to erode the best brand in basketball.
While I will continue to marvel at LeBron's skills, I can't help but have this Saturday night thing change the way I think he should be viewed.
Obviously, in a few years it will be long-forgotten -- presuming he eventually wins an NBA title or few. But for now, it is more career-defining than anything else he has done.
-- D.S.
My Pick of the Year: Magic Over Cavs in 6
I'll caveat all of this with the notion that I hate "Told you so" in sports prognosticating. There is nothing more worthless than your/my/anyone's correct predictions -- except perhaps the prediction itself in the first place. Cheapest currency in sports.
Anyway: What does it say that my really good predictions are rare enough that I feel compelled to make note of them when they happen?
That said: There weren't many folks before the Magic-Cavs series who were picking the Magic in 6 to beat the Cavs, like I did. In fact, none of the ESPN experts picked the Magic. Not one. (Then again, I also picked the Nuggets in 6, so there you go.)
Making my pick slightly more valid is that way back in October in my NBA season preview, I picked the Magic to win the East. (Then again, I picked the Rockets to win it all.)
No, "Magic over Cavs in 6" doesn't make up for my worst-ever NCAA Tournament picks. Doesn't even come close.
I will, however, be doubling down on Orlando: Unless I come to my senses between now and the middle of next week, I'll take the Magic in 5 over the Lakers. (And the fact that, of the ESPN experts, only one -- Henry Abbott -- has the Magic makes me feel even better about it.)
Playoff predictions should be like an elimination pool: If you get the winning team wrong (let's set aside how many games it takes), you shouldn't get to pick in the next round. Hell, I'm willing to abide by those rules.
-- D.S.
Anyway: What does it say that my really good predictions are rare enough that I feel compelled to make note of them when they happen?
That said: There weren't many folks before the Magic-Cavs series who were picking the Magic in 6 to beat the Cavs, like I did. In fact, none of the ESPN experts picked the Magic. Not one. (Then again, I also picked the Nuggets in 6, so there you go.)
Making my pick slightly more valid is that way back in October in my NBA season preview, I picked the Magic to win the East. (Then again, I picked the Rockets to win it all.)
No, "Magic over Cavs in 6" doesn't make up for my worst-ever NCAA Tournament picks. Doesn't even come close.
I will, however, be doubling down on Orlando: Unless I come to my senses between now and the middle of next week, I'll take the Magic in 5 over the Lakers. (And the fact that, of the ESPN experts, only one -- Henry Abbott -- has the Magic makes me feel even better about it.)
Playoff predictions should be like an elimination pool: If you get the winning team wrong (let's set aside how many games it takes), you shouldn't get to pick in the next round. Hell, I'm willing to abide by those rules.
-- D.S.
Monday 06/01 A.M. Quickie:
LeBron, Magic, Nadal, Greinke, Vick, Moyer
So I was hoping to come up with a Theory of Everything related to LeBron, the Cavs' loss, the Magic's win, etc.
Mainly, I found myself totally unimpressed with the way LeBron handled himself after the series ended: No handshake? Silent treatment for the media?
That's not how a self-described "winner" acts. That's not how a champion acts. I'm sure he was disappointed -- although his Cavs were thoroughly outplayed by the Magic all series long.
What a cop-out. The handshake thing was reminiscent of the Pistons in 1991 after their reign was ended by Jordan's Bulls -- but at least Detroit was two-time defending champs; LeBron has won nothing.
The media silence was complete b.s. He made his teammates shoulder the burden of explaining the series loss. Maybe his teammates failed him; maybe that's just LeBron mythology and -- in reality -- he didn't make them THAT much better; how else to explain how a team with the NBA's best record got flattened? Whatever: A real leader would have taken responsibility. Instead, LeBron looked like a selfish prima donna -- "MeBron."
Not just a bad loser, but an even bigger loser than the series had turned him into. The fact remains: This will be remembered as one of LeBron's best chances -- perhaps his best chance -- at a ring. Best record in the NBA. Home-court advantage. 8-0 start to the playoffs. A tired opponent. Yet the Cavs were soundly beaten, not just in Game 6 but throughout the series. How will things be different next year? Maybe the Magic will lose Hedo -- the glue to this Finals run -- but they will get Jameer Nelson back. And don't expect quick success in New York in 2010, presuming he goes there.
Maybe, instead of the max contract, he should think about taking the league minimum and teaming up with Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis in Orlando. It's not like LeBron can't make up the difference in endorsement deals. And it's not like the Magic aren't -- at least for now -- the better team than whatever team LeBron is on.
Meanwhile, as you'll see in today's SN column, the Magic win was a validation on a bunch of levels: For building around a top-tier post player -- inside-out, rather than outside-in. For paying the max for a complimentary player. For Hedo Turkoglu (not Dirk Nowitzki) as the real fulfillment of the NBA's European invasion. For Otis Smith as a terrific GM.
More on the Finals as we get closer to Thursday.
More you'll find in today's column:
*Nadal loses: Biggest upset ever?
*Greinke's no-decision: 3 earned runs? (7K/0BB, though)
*Vick to Rams: Why not?
*Harvin as Wildcat: Unstoppable.
*Ohio State baseball: Humiliated!
*Stephen Strasburg: Overrated!
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Mainly, I found myself totally unimpressed with the way LeBron handled himself after the series ended: No handshake? Silent treatment for the media?
That's not how a self-described "winner" acts. That's not how a champion acts. I'm sure he was disappointed -- although his Cavs were thoroughly outplayed by the Magic all series long.
What a cop-out. The handshake thing was reminiscent of the Pistons in 1991 after their reign was ended by Jordan's Bulls -- but at least Detroit was two-time defending champs; LeBron has won nothing.
The media silence was complete b.s. He made his teammates shoulder the burden of explaining the series loss. Maybe his teammates failed him; maybe that's just LeBron mythology and -- in reality -- he didn't make them THAT much better; how else to explain how a team with the NBA's best record got flattened? Whatever: A real leader would have taken responsibility. Instead, LeBron looked like a selfish prima donna -- "MeBron."
Not just a bad loser, but an even bigger loser than the series had turned him into. The fact remains: This will be remembered as one of LeBron's best chances -- perhaps his best chance -- at a ring. Best record in the NBA. Home-court advantage. 8-0 start to the playoffs. A tired opponent. Yet the Cavs were soundly beaten, not just in Game 6 but throughout the series. How will things be different next year? Maybe the Magic will lose Hedo -- the glue to this Finals run -- but they will get Jameer Nelson back. And don't expect quick success in New York in 2010, presuming he goes there.
Maybe, instead of the max contract, he should think about taking the league minimum and teaming up with Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis in Orlando. It's not like LeBron can't make up the difference in endorsement deals. And it's not like the Magic aren't -- at least for now -- the better team than whatever team LeBron is on.
Meanwhile, as you'll see in today's SN column, the Magic win was a validation on a bunch of levels: For building around a top-tier post player -- inside-out, rather than outside-in. For paying the max for a complimentary player. For Hedo Turkoglu (not Dirk Nowitzki) as the real fulfillment of the NBA's European invasion. For Otis Smith as a terrific GM.
More on the Finals as we get closer to Thursday.
More you'll find in today's column:
*Nadal loses: Biggest upset ever?
*Greinke's no-decision: 3 earned runs? (7K/0BB, though)
*Vick to Rams: Why not?
*Harvin as Wildcat: Unstoppable.
*Ohio State baseball: Humiliated!
*Stephen Strasburg: Overrated!
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
So what was I supposed to be Witnessing, again?
Oh, that's right: The NBA's best player -- leading the team with the NBA's best regular-season record -- getting bounced out of the playoffs, decisively.
I wonder if we'll look back and realize that this team was LeBron's best shot at a title for the next half-decade or longer. Or maybe it will be framed as the "setback" portion of his myth, before the titles come.
What we know is that they won't be coming in 2009.
-- D.S.
Oh, that's right: The NBA's best player -- leading the team with the NBA's best regular-season record -- getting bounced out of the playoffs, decisively.
I wonder if we'll look back and realize that this team was LeBron's best shot at a title for the next half-decade or longer. Or maybe it will be framed as the "setback" portion of his myth, before the titles come.
What we know is that they won't be coming in 2009.
-- D.S.
Saturday 05/30 (Very) Quickie
Lakers advance to Finals: Wow, remember when the Nuggets actually looked like they had a chance against the Lakers? The Lakers are SO much better when Kobe focuses on distributing (10 assists, to go with his 35 pts).
Stephen Strasburg: Umm, so what's the big deal again? He can't even beat UVA; how's he going to beat the NL Central?
Speaking of phenoms, Matt Wieters made his MLB debut -- and was 0/4 with a K and 3 LOB. But Luke Scott had 2 HR, at least...
Rockies fire Clint Hurdle, then promptly win without him: He shouldn't take that personally.
Sixers hire Eddie Jordan: How will Princeton philosophy mesh with Iguodala, Young, Speights, etc?
Getting ready for Cavs-Magic Game 6 in Orlando. Should be a wild game. Win or bust for LeBron.
-- D.S.
Stephen Strasburg: Umm, so what's the big deal again? He can't even beat UVA; how's he going to beat the NL Central?
Speaking of phenoms, Matt Wieters made his MLB debut -- and was 0/4 with a K and 3 LOB. But Luke Scott had 2 HR, at least...
Rockies fire Clint Hurdle, then promptly win without him: He shouldn't take that personally.
Sixers hire Eddie Jordan: How will Princeton philosophy mesh with Iguodala, Young, Speights, etc?
Getting ready for Cavs-Magic Game 6 in Orlando. Should be a wild game. Win or bust for LeBron.
-- D.S.
Friday, May 29, 2009
NBA Age Limit Sucks, Cont'd: Case of Rose
TNR's Jason Zengerle connects the dots between the Derrick Rose fiasco at Memphis and the NBA's ridiculous age-limit rules.
As you are sitting there oohing and ahhing about LeBron's 4th quarter last night, let's remember that the NBA now thinks LeBron would be unacceptable for the NBA as an 18-year-old. Right.
LeBron. Kobe. Dwight Howard. Rashard Lewis. These are not exceptions that prove the rule. These are the reasons why the age-limit rule is absurd.
-- D.S.
As you are sitting there oohing and ahhing about LeBron's 4th quarter last night, let's remember that the NBA now thinks LeBron would be unacceptable for the NBA as an 18-year-old. Right.
LeBron. Kobe. Dwight Howard. Rashard Lewis. These are not exceptions that prove the rule. These are the reasons why the age-limit rule is absurd.
-- D.S.
Friday 05/29 A.M. Quickie:
Kavya, LeBron, Kobe, Calipari, More
For all of his amazing exploits on the court, let's all remember that LeBron is no champion. (Sure, the judges will allow: "Not yet.")
And there's a good chance that despite his who-didn't-see-it-coming triple-double last night, the Cavs will lose Game 6 in Orlando and get humiliatingly bounced from the playoffs.
Maybe we need a puppet of Kavya Shivashankar, the 2009 Bee champ. She has more championship bonafides than LeBron (and, until Kobe wins one without Shaq, more than Kobe, too).
Kavya was everything we want LeBron to be: Confident, dominating, unstoppable. LeBron is everything but the last one: Sure, he is individually unstoppable, but his team? Very stoppable.
Kavya leads today's SN column, tied into LeBron and Kobe -- who both head into weekends that will define their careers more than any previous moment.
Dive into the rest of the column here. More later.
-- D.S.
And there's a good chance that despite his who-didn't-see-it-coming triple-double last night, the Cavs will lose Game 6 in Orlando and get humiliatingly bounced from the playoffs.
Maybe we need a puppet of Kavya Shivashankar, the 2009 Bee champ. She has more championship bonafides than LeBron (and, until Kobe wins one without Shaq, more than Kobe, too).
Kavya was everything we want LeBron to be: Confident, dominating, unstoppable. LeBron is everything but the last one: Sure, he is individually unstoppable, but his team? Very stoppable.
Kavya leads today's SN column, tied into LeBron and Kobe -- who both head into weekends that will define their careers more than any previous moment.
Dive into the rest of the column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday 05/28 A.M. Quickie:
Kobe, Calipari, Cavs, Barca, Bee, More
I led today's SN column with Kobe's transformation into...Chauncey Billups and how that correlates to the Lakers playing much much better. Considering my allergy to John Calipari, perhaps I should have led with this scandal brewing at Memphis that Cal left behind:
This is why college basketball is, at its essence, a cesspool:
John Calipari allegedly uses fraudulent SAT scores to land the most valuable player in college basketball for the 2007-2008 season. They go to the national-title game.
Said player -- and that the alleged scandal involves this player is only an educated guess at this point -- goes very very very high in the subsequent NBA draft.
Coach leverages the Final Four run into a brand spanking new gig at the most historically prestigious program in the country, in turn generating a recruiting class that is so good that his new team is immediately installed as the team to beat next season.
Meanwhile, his OLD school is about to get destroyed by the NCAA.
But John Calipari? Will get off scot-free, along with his new program.
In an ideal world, if Calipari indeed was involved in this eligibility fraud, the punishment would follow him to Kentucky -- Cal punished individually, UK punished for hiring him.
And wouldn't that be something, if his brand-new team -- with basically a one-and-done shot at a national title -- was ineligible for the postseason next season?
But that's not going to happen, and that's why college basketball is so effed up.
"Kobe doin' work" was not getting it done for the Lakers. So instead, they went with "Kobe doin' his best Chauncey Billups impression." And because of that, the Lakers finally looked like the better team, at least for one quarter -- the 4th, the one that mattered last night.
Vote For Manny deserves to be THE sensation of baseball for the next month, and all pranksters out there -- Howard Stern, TJ Simers, Tony Kornheiser -- who enjoy, say, "Vote for the Worst" on Idol should be pushing fans to vote Manny into the starting lineup of the NL All-Star team.
Barca wins! How did you ever doubt them?
Bee finals tonight! One of the great sporting spectacles of the year.
Complete SN column here. More later.
-- D.S.
This is why college basketball is, at its essence, a cesspool:
John Calipari allegedly uses fraudulent SAT scores to land the most valuable player in college basketball for the 2007-2008 season. They go to the national-title game.
Said player -- and that the alleged scandal involves this player is only an educated guess at this point -- goes very very very high in the subsequent NBA draft.
Coach leverages the Final Four run into a brand spanking new gig at the most historically prestigious program in the country, in turn generating a recruiting class that is so good that his new team is immediately installed as the team to beat next season.
Meanwhile, his OLD school is about to get destroyed by the NCAA.
But John Calipari? Will get off scot-free, along with his new program.
In an ideal world, if Calipari indeed was involved in this eligibility fraud, the punishment would follow him to Kentucky -- Cal punished individually, UK punished for hiring him.
And wouldn't that be something, if his brand-new team -- with basically a one-and-done shot at a national title -- was ineligible for the postseason next season?
But that's not going to happen, and that's why college basketball is so effed up.
"Kobe doin' work" was not getting it done for the Lakers. So instead, they went with "Kobe doin' his best Chauncey Billups impression." And because of that, the Lakers finally looked like the better team, at least for one quarter -- the 4th, the one that mattered last night.
Vote For Manny deserves to be THE sensation of baseball for the next month, and all pranksters out there -- Howard Stern, TJ Simers, Tony Kornheiser -- who enjoy, say, "Vote for the Worst" on Idol should be pushing fans to vote Manny into the starting lineup of the NL All-Star team.
Barca wins! How did you ever doubt them?
Bee finals tonight! One of the great sporting spectacles of the year.
Complete SN column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Brian Grey: Comparing Baseball Talent Scouting With Business Talent Scouting
Brian Grey is one of the most influential folks in online sports media. Among other things, he ran Yahoo! Sports, then jumped over to Fox Interactive to run FoxSports.com.
At both stops, success followed his arrival. Now he's an Executive-in-Residence at Polaris Venture Partners, a top-tier VC firm (I actually have a buddy from business school who is a General Partner there, an association which is about as close as I personally could get to actually working there.) E-i-R has to be one of the coolest jobs you can have -- evaluating and working with young companies and helping them position themselves for growth.
Anyway, PaidContent published a post by Grey today where he compares baseball talent evaluation to business talent evaluation. If you're in the market for a new job -- or, say, any job -- it is a great read. (And if you're in the market to hire? Well, obviously you should ping me first.)
-- D.S.
At both stops, success followed his arrival. Now he's an Executive-in-Residence at Polaris Venture Partners, a top-tier VC firm (I actually have a buddy from business school who is a General Partner there, an association which is about as close as I personally could get to actually working there.) E-i-R has to be one of the coolest jobs you can have -- evaluating and working with young companies and helping them position themselves for growth.
Anyway, PaidContent published a post by Grey today where he compares baseball talent evaluation to business talent evaluation. If you're in the market for a new job -- or, say, any job -- it is a great read. (And if you're in the market to hire? Well, obviously you should ping me first.)
-- D.S.
Obama As NBA Draft Guru: Tyreke Evans?
Apparently, Barack Obama loves Tyreke Evans, even as high as No. 4 to the Kings. I love that the President loves hoops so much he can have an opinion about who the Kings should draft.
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Sports and Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Cont'd
Tommy Craggs with another must-read: Evaluating new SCOTU nominee Sonia Sotomayor's sports-related rulings. Craggs' own ruling: MLB strike? Good. NFL draft age-limit rules? Bad.
(In my enthusiasm to throw out the talking point that she "saved baseball," I neglected to discuss her part in the Clarett reversal. You all know how I feel about the NFL age restrictions. Terrible...)
-- D.S.
(In my enthusiasm to throw out the talking point that she "saved baseball," I neglected to discuss her part in the Clarett reversal. You all know how I feel about the NFL age restrictions. Terrible...)
-- D.S.
Wednesday 05/27 A.M. Quickie:
Magic, LeBron, Barca, Greinke, Bee
You are more than within your rights to want to see a Kobe-LeBron NBA Finals. But you would be considered more of a fan of entertainment than the NBA.
Because Kobe-LeBron wouldn't be a match-up of the two best teams in the NBA.
I don't know who will survive the Nuggets-Lakers series, but it is pretty clear at this point that the Cavs are NOT the best team in the East -- that would be the Magic.
Sure, the Cavs are two missed buzzer-beaters from being up 3-1, but then again, they are one made buzzer-beater from being swept 4-0. The point is that they are being out-played... and exposed.
Those much-lauded offseason moves? Mo Williams is hardly emerging as 1B to LeBron's 1A. It has been Bron-Bron-Bron for Cleveland -- enjoy the upside (44 pts)... lament the down (8 TO).
Meanwhile, as you'll see in today's SN column lead, the Magic have it all: Superior post presence, superior depth, superior coaching.
Orlando is not up 3-1 by some kind of fluke -- they are up 3-1 because they are the better team, the best team in the East.
More you'll find in today's column:
*If you only follow soccer one day a year, make it today: Champions League final. If you can, get to a soccer-crazy sports bar in the mid-afternoon to take in the scene.
*But, wait! What about the Bee! Longtime readers know that I am a HUGE fan of the Spelling Bee. No athletes perform under more pressure than these middle-school kids.
(So my big question is: How do I find a sports bar that will let me watch both the Champions League final AND the Bee on different screens?)
*It MUST be a good day in sports when a sick Zack Greinke start is bounced below the fold. He only pitched a complete-game 5-hitter with 8 Ks and zero BBs. Absurd.
*You all know how I feel about the coaches' college football poll -- corrupt to the core, with the lead evidence generated every season with the release of the coaches' final (BCS) ballots.
Well, now the coaches don't want to reveal their votes anymore, so they won't. And I say: Fine -- remove yourselves from the BCS equation. (Of course, they won't.)
The BCS is screwed up enough without stripping what little transparency there is out of the process.
*PED bust in Central Florida: So apparently the dealer supplied the Capitals and Nationals. Wouldn't it be insane if Ovie -- the NHL's best player -- turned out to be a PED user? Let's assume he isn't. More insane: The Nats use PEDs, yet still suck so badly.
Complete SN column here. Go Barca. Go Kavya.
-- D.S.
Because Kobe-LeBron wouldn't be a match-up of the two best teams in the NBA.
I don't know who will survive the Nuggets-Lakers series, but it is pretty clear at this point that the Cavs are NOT the best team in the East -- that would be the Magic.
Sure, the Cavs are two missed buzzer-beaters from being up 3-1, but then again, they are one made buzzer-beater from being swept 4-0. The point is that they are being out-played... and exposed.
Those much-lauded offseason moves? Mo Williams is hardly emerging as 1B to LeBron's 1A. It has been Bron-Bron-Bron for Cleveland -- enjoy the upside (44 pts)... lament the down (8 TO).
Meanwhile, as you'll see in today's SN column lead, the Magic have it all: Superior post presence, superior depth, superior coaching.
Orlando is not up 3-1 by some kind of fluke -- they are up 3-1 because they are the better team, the best team in the East.
More you'll find in today's column:
*If you only follow soccer one day a year, make it today: Champions League final. If you can, get to a soccer-crazy sports bar in the mid-afternoon to take in the scene.
*But, wait! What about the Bee! Longtime readers know that I am a HUGE fan of the Spelling Bee. No athletes perform under more pressure than these middle-school kids.
(So my big question is: How do I find a sports bar that will let me watch both the Champions League final AND the Bee on different screens?)
*It MUST be a good day in sports when a sick Zack Greinke start is bounced below the fold. He only pitched a complete-game 5-hitter with 8 Ks and zero BBs. Absurd.
*You all know how I feel about the coaches' college football poll -- corrupt to the core, with the lead evidence generated every season with the release of the coaches' final (BCS) ballots.
Well, now the coaches don't want to reveal their votes anymore, so they won't. And I say: Fine -- remove yourselves from the BCS equation. (Of course, they won't.)
The BCS is screwed up enough without stripping what little transparency there is out of the process.
*PED bust in Central Florida: So apparently the dealer supplied the Capitals and Nationals. Wouldn't it be insane if Ovie -- the NHL's best player -- turned out to be a PED user? Let's assume he isn't. More insane: The Nats use PEDs, yet still suck so badly.
Complete SN column here. Go Barca. Go Kavya.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday 05/26 A.M. Quickie:
LeBron Is Staying In Cleveland in 2010
LeBron James is going to lose the battle but win the war.
It's a fair question: What will come first -- LeBron winning a title or becoming the first billion-dollar athlete in history, which is his main goal?
There's no question: It's a lot easier to fulfill the latter if he completes the former.
So the bigger news out of Cleveland is not that LeBron and the Cavs losing the East finals -- which they will, because the Magic are the superior team (and that's without Jameer Nelson).
It is that the Cavs are doing this deal with Chinese business interests to give them a stake in the team. Because there isn't anything the Knicks can throw at LeBron -- fortune, fame, the country's biggest media market -- that can compete with the power of China.
I'm calling it now: With the team's new partnership in China, LeBron stays in Cleveland in 2010. I don't even think it will be a debate.
And with the special backing of these Chinese interests, is there any question that LeBron has an advantaged entry into the market -- even with the NBA, even with Nike helping him? -- that will get him a lot closer to that billion-dollar valuation, a lot faster?
Now, whether he can win titles is another story. I think that right now, the Magic look like the better team -- in fact, they look like the best team in the playoffs. (Undoubtedly, they will choke tonight, as a result of that, but no matter...)
Weren't the Cavs supposed to be so much better thanks to the moves by "Executive of the Year," Danny Ferry? All Mo Williams looks like right now is a punching bag with a flapping yap, not the Robin to LeBron's Batman.
Besides: Two stars -- even when one of the stars is LeBron -- can't top the Magic's 3 stars (Howard, Lewis, Turkoglu), plus superior role players.
The same situation is happening in the Lakers-Nuggets series: As I lead in today's SN column, imagine Kobe having a night like Carmelo had last night. Think the Lakers would win? The Lakers would be a Lottery team.
The Nuggets absorbed a terrible night for Melo -- and won by 20. Gasol vs. K-Mart/Nene/Birdman is a rout. JR Smith looked unguardable. Billups was Billups.
All this talk about "Kobe vs. LeBron" in the NBA Finals proves the point: If you're going to rely on individual stars, you're going to lose when faced with a more top-to-bottom talented team.
More you'll find in today's column:
*This Mike Tyson daughter story is horrific.
*Syracuse pulls off one of the greatest comebacks in LAX history.
*Of yesterday's MLB performances, I'll take the 10-run comeback (but if I have to limit myself to a single player, I'll take Carpenter).
Complete SN column here. More later and all day on Twitter, as usual.
-- D.S.
It's a fair question: What will come first -- LeBron winning a title or becoming the first billion-dollar athlete in history, which is his main goal?
There's no question: It's a lot easier to fulfill the latter if he completes the former.
So the bigger news out of Cleveland is not that LeBron and the Cavs losing the East finals -- which they will, because the Magic are the superior team (and that's without Jameer Nelson).
It is that the Cavs are doing this deal with Chinese business interests to give them a stake in the team. Because there isn't anything the Knicks can throw at LeBron -- fortune, fame, the country's biggest media market -- that can compete with the power of China.
I'm calling it now: With the team's new partnership in China, LeBron stays in Cleveland in 2010. I don't even think it will be a debate.
And with the special backing of these Chinese interests, is there any question that LeBron has an advantaged entry into the market -- even with the NBA, even with Nike helping him? -- that will get him a lot closer to that billion-dollar valuation, a lot faster?
Now, whether he can win titles is another story. I think that right now, the Magic look like the better team -- in fact, they look like the best team in the playoffs. (Undoubtedly, they will choke tonight, as a result of that, but no matter...)
Weren't the Cavs supposed to be so much better thanks to the moves by "Executive of the Year," Danny Ferry? All Mo Williams looks like right now is a punching bag with a flapping yap, not the Robin to LeBron's Batman.
Besides: Two stars -- even when one of the stars is LeBron -- can't top the Magic's 3 stars (Howard, Lewis, Turkoglu), plus superior role players.
The same situation is happening in the Lakers-Nuggets series: As I lead in today's SN column, imagine Kobe having a night like Carmelo had last night. Think the Lakers would win? The Lakers would be a Lottery team.
The Nuggets absorbed a terrible night for Melo -- and won by 20. Gasol vs. K-Mart/Nene/Birdman is a rout. JR Smith looked unguardable. Billups was Billups.
All this talk about "Kobe vs. LeBron" in the NBA Finals proves the point: If you're going to rely on individual stars, you're going to lose when faced with a more top-to-bottom talented team.
More you'll find in today's column:
*This Mike Tyson daughter story is horrific.
*Syracuse pulls off one of the greatest comebacks in LAX history.
*Of yesterday's MLB performances, I'll take the 10-run comeback (but if I have to limit myself to a single player, I'll take Carpenter).
Complete SN column here. More later and all day on Twitter, as usual.
-- D.S.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday 05/25 Quickie: New SN Column
Happy Memorial Day -- a moment to offer thanks and deep appreciation to everyone who died in service to the country, as well as their families.
I also filed a new SN column this morning, and it was a perfect opportunity to step away from the seemingly daily NBA lead items and tackle this question:
Who is the best team in American sports today?
The answer is: Northwestern women's lacrosse, which just won its 5th straight national title (capping an undefeated year, no less).
Not bad for a Midwestern team whose varsity wasn't around a decade ago, consistently routing well-established programs in the East.
Meanwhile, let's be clear: LeShot means LeZilch if LeCavs don't win LeSeries. And, right now, they're not going to; the Magic are the better team -- even if LeBron is the best player on the court.
And in your MLB must-track today: David Price was called up by the Rays and will start today. (He's already claimed in your fantasy league, don't bother looking.)
Complete column here.
-- D.S.
I also filed a new SN column this morning, and it was a perfect opportunity to step away from the seemingly daily NBA lead items and tackle this question:
Who is the best team in American sports today?
The answer is: Northwestern women's lacrosse, which just won its 5th straight national title (capping an undefeated year, no less).
Not bad for a Midwestern team whose varsity wasn't around a decade ago, consistently routing well-established programs in the East.
Meanwhile, let's be clear: LeShot means LeZilch if LeCavs don't win LeSeries. And, right now, they're not going to; the Magic are the better team -- even if LeBron is the best player on the court.
And in your MLB must-track today: David Price was called up by the Rays and will start today. (He's already claimed in your fantasy league, don't bother looking.)
Complete column here.
-- D.S.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sunday 05/24 (Very) Quickie
Eh: Suddenly, Nuggets in 6 doesn't look very good. Last night felt like the old Nuggets, the ones who were consistently owned by the Lakers in years "B.C." (Before Chauncey) Another game, another botched inbounds pass.
Kobe's 41 felt like a "Remember me?" to all the LeBron fans out there still freaking out over his Game 3 finisher, whose value will really be determined tonight. If the Cavs win, reclaiming HCA and momentum in the series, it was huge; if the Cavs lose, they are still series 'dogs.
(Speaking of LeBron, do not underestimate the strategic importance of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert selling a big stake in the Cavs to Chinese business interests, as it relates to LeBron staying with the team. If the Cavs become China's adopted favorite team, that trumps New York's appeal.)
NBA Draft: Nick Calathes is staying pro...in Greece(?!) He signed a 3-year deal with the Euro champs, committed to at least next year, with an option to go to the NBA in 2010.
(Actually, this might make him a 1st-round lock in the 2009 NBA Draft: The team that signs him wouldn't have to have him on the roster this season, would not have to pay a buy-out to get him back from Europe, and get a player with a year of extra seasoning at Europe's top level. UPDATE: Apparently, he wouldn't be eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft, which makes no sense to me.)
MLB:
Walk-off walk for Dodgers over Angels.
Yet another walk-off win for the Yankees.
Milestones: Jason Giambi joins 400 HR Club.
Stud: Kyle Lohse. Cards pitching continues to impress.
NCAA LAX: Wow, go Cornell! Crashes title game with shocking upset of UVA. Will lose to Cuse, which throttled Duke.
-- D.S.
Kobe's 41 felt like a "Remember me?" to all the LeBron fans out there still freaking out over his Game 3 finisher, whose value will really be determined tonight. If the Cavs win, reclaiming HCA and momentum in the series, it was huge; if the Cavs lose, they are still series 'dogs.
(Speaking of LeBron, do not underestimate the strategic importance of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert selling a big stake in the Cavs to Chinese business interests, as it relates to LeBron staying with the team. If the Cavs become China's adopted favorite team, that trumps New York's appeal.)
NBA Draft: Nick Calathes is staying pro...in Greece(?!) He signed a 3-year deal with the Euro champs, committed to at least next year, with an option to go to the NBA in 2010.
(Actually, this might make him a 1st-round lock in the 2009 NBA Draft: The team that signs him wouldn't have to have him on the roster this season, would not have to pay a buy-out to get him back from Europe, and get a player with a year of extra seasoning at Europe's top level. UPDATE: Apparently, he wouldn't be eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft, which makes no sense to me.)
MLB:
Walk-off walk for Dodgers over Angels.
Yet another walk-off win for the Yankees.
Milestones: Jason Giambi joins 400 HR Club.
Stud: Kyle Lohse. Cards pitching continues to impress.
NCAA LAX: Wow, go Cornell! Crashes title game with shocking upset of UVA. Will lose to Cuse, which throttled Duke.
-- D.S.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Saturday 05/23 (LeBron) Quickie
Wow. Oh, wow. The finest shot of LeBron's career. The finest MOMENT of LeBron's career. The biggest moment in the history of the Cavs. An exorcism of Michael Jordan's "Shot" over Ehlo.
(Question for the Magic: How do you let LeBron catch that ball?)
Instead of being down 0-2 heading into 2 games in Orlando -- virtually finished in the series -- they are 1-1, still without home-court advantage in the series, but with U-turn momentum.
A few more notes:
*Leave it to the defending champs to snap the Yankees' W streak.
*Cubs fans love Peavy for nixing White Sox, then hate him for 10 Ks vs. Cubs
*Dara Torres remains incredible (new U.S. record in 50 fly)
*If you have a child, why in god's name would you own a pit bull?
*Jay Wright will be a good NBA coach one day -- if Philly got him, it would be a coup -- but Villanova is on the cusp of being a perennial Top 10 team under Wright. Worth staying.
(Question for the Magic: How do you let LeBron catch that ball?)
Instead of being down 0-2 heading into 2 games in Orlando -- virtually finished in the series -- they are 1-1, still without home-court advantage in the series, but with U-turn momentum.
A few more notes:
*Leave it to the defending champs to snap the Yankees' W streak.
*Cubs fans love Peavy for nixing White Sox, then hate him for 10 Ks vs. Cubs
*Dara Torres remains incredible (new U.S. record in 50 fly)
*If you have a child, why in god's name would you own a pit bull?
*Jay Wright will be a good NBA coach one day -- if Philly got him, it would be a coup -- but Villanova is on the cusp of being a perennial Top 10 team under Wright. Worth staying.
Friday, May 22, 2009
UFL Update: My Minor Obsession Continues
Catching up on a link to an ESPN.com column about the UFL and its prospects to serve as an alternative/minor league to the NFL.
I remain steadfast in my very simple, game-changing (and game-winning) strategy -- you have to play where the NFL won't -- or can't:
Open the UFL to players following their freshman year of college. The one year of college gives them a national spotlight that will help with fan interest (ex: Julio Jones, Terrelle Pryor); the two years of UFL service gives them paid professional training for their NFL careers.
After those 2 years in the UFL, they are NFL draft-eligible -- and arguably better prepared for their NFL careers for it.
THIS is the point of that Gladwell David/Goliath/full-court-press piece -- engaging in unconventional strategy to overcome a vastly superior opponent. Not that the NFL is the UFL's opponent -- but a legacy of failure of "alternative" professional football leagues sure is.
If the UFL wants to position itself as a viable minor-league to the NFL, the place to start isn't by struggling to develop NFL cast-offs and wannabes; it is by developing NFL-caliber players before the NFL will let them in.
-- D.S.
UPDATE: Discussing having Michael Vick play in the UFL is NOT a strategy -- it is a gimmick. And if they're willing to entertain THAT limited idea, then it's hardly irrational to evaluate my change-the-game "underclassmen" option.
I remain steadfast in my very simple, game-changing (and game-winning) strategy -- you have to play where the NFL won't -- or can't:
Open the UFL to players following their freshman year of college. The one year of college gives them a national spotlight that will help with fan interest (ex: Julio Jones, Terrelle Pryor); the two years of UFL service gives them paid professional training for their NFL careers.
After those 2 years in the UFL, they are NFL draft-eligible -- and arguably better prepared for their NFL careers for it.
THIS is the point of that Gladwell David/Goliath/full-court-press piece -- engaging in unconventional strategy to overcome a vastly superior opponent. Not that the NFL is the UFL's opponent -- but a legacy of failure of "alternative" professional football leagues sure is.
If the UFL wants to position itself as a viable minor-league to the NFL, the place to start isn't by struggling to develop NFL cast-offs and wannabes; it is by developing NFL-caliber players before the NFL will let them in.
-- D.S.
UPDATE: Discussing having Michael Vick play in the UFL is NOT a strategy -- it is a gimmick. And if they're willing to entertain THAT limited idea, then it's hardly irrational to evaluate my change-the-game "underclassmen" option.
Friday 05/22 A.M. Quickie:
Nuggets, Peavy, Yankees, Marve, Maryland
So between my Nuggets in 6 and Magic in 6 picks, this week may represent the best it'll get for me. Then again, both picks may turn out to be right.
Leading today's SN column, the Nuggets have now out-played the Lakers in BOTH their games, with a split in LA to show for it -- which is pretty incredible, given LA's dominance over Denver in the playoffs in LA. Now the series goes to Denver, and -- guess what -- advantage Nuggets.
(And the Nuggets didn't even play all that well! That's what makes last night even more incredible -- they basically gritted their way to a win in LA. The Nuggets...gritty? Billups for MVP.)
Meanwhile...
*When Jake Peavy turned down a trade to the White Sox, the only thing I could think of was Barack Obama -- the uber-Sox fan -- making a call to the IRS asking them to give Peavy's 2008 tax returns a "no-trade, this" audit.
*The Yankees are the hottest team in baseball? Ugh. The Red Sox are proving that the Jays don't have what it takes to sustain over the long haul -- Toronto will be out of first by the end of May, and they won't see it again.
*I'll take the Robert Marve news (cram it, Kiffin) over Brett Favre non-news. Marve will do great at Purdue -- the offense is as wide-open as it gets for a QB.
*Lance Stephenson going to...Maryland? Let's just assume that the Under Armour shoe deal happens the minute he finishes his freshman season and declares for the NBA Draft. He won't go to Arizona -- it's too remote. Maryland is smack dab on the East Coast Biased, ACC-loving national radar, and they have a gaping hole at "superstar" that Lance will fulfill.
Longtime readers know that I am a Maryland hoops fan -- that was my childhood hoops team. For some reason -- probably my natural contrarianism -- I wasn't into Georgetown back in the mid-1980s...my nostalgic appreciation for the Hoyas only developed in my 20s...but growing up on the Maryland side of suburban DC, I was a huge Maryland hoops fan. Len Bias was my original sports-fan consciousness, although I found Keith Gatlin to be more accessible -- Bias was simply too larger-than-life athletic. For the record, college hoops is the only sport where I maintain the complete troika of allegiances: Childhood (Maryland), College (Northwestern), Whatever-We're-Going-To-Call-It (Florida).
Complete column here. More later, including an update on one of my weird fascinations, the UFL. Enjoy the long weekend, everyone.
-- D.S.
Leading today's SN column, the Nuggets have now out-played the Lakers in BOTH their games, with a split in LA to show for it -- which is pretty incredible, given LA's dominance over Denver in the playoffs in LA. Now the series goes to Denver, and -- guess what -- advantage Nuggets.
(And the Nuggets didn't even play all that well! That's what makes last night even more incredible -- they basically gritted their way to a win in LA. The Nuggets...gritty? Billups for MVP.)
Meanwhile...
*When Jake Peavy turned down a trade to the White Sox, the only thing I could think of was Barack Obama -- the uber-Sox fan -- making a call to the IRS asking them to give Peavy's 2008 tax returns a "no-trade, this" audit.
*The Yankees are the hottest team in baseball? Ugh. The Red Sox are proving that the Jays don't have what it takes to sustain over the long haul -- Toronto will be out of first by the end of May, and they won't see it again.
*I'll take the Robert Marve news (cram it, Kiffin) over Brett Favre non-news. Marve will do great at Purdue -- the offense is as wide-open as it gets for a QB.
*Lance Stephenson going to...Maryland? Let's just assume that the Under Armour shoe deal happens the minute he finishes his freshman season and declares for the NBA Draft. He won't go to Arizona -- it's too remote. Maryland is smack dab on the East Coast Biased, ACC-loving national radar, and they have a gaping hole at "superstar" that Lance will fulfill.
Longtime readers know that I am a Maryland hoops fan -- that was my childhood hoops team. For some reason -- probably my natural contrarianism -- I wasn't into Georgetown back in the mid-1980s...my nostalgic appreciation for the Hoyas only developed in my 20s...but growing up on the Maryland side of suburban DC, I was a huge Maryland hoops fan. Len Bias was my original sports-fan consciousness, although I found Keith Gatlin to be more accessible -- Bias was simply too larger-than-life athletic. For the record, college hoops is the only sport where I maintain the complete troika of allegiances: Childhood (Maryland), College (Northwestern), Whatever-We're-Going-To-Call-It (Florida).
Complete column here. More later, including an update on one of my weird fascinations, the UFL. Enjoy the long weekend, everyone.
-- D.S.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
5 Years Ago Today: Me On Around The Horn
Five years ago today -- May 21, 2004 -- I made my "Around the Horn" debut. I sat in Tony Kornheiser's chair on the PTI set in DC. It was cold. It was harrowing. And it was so satisfying.
That first show, in particular, remains one of the best memories of my life. Five years later, I am indebted to folks like Bill Wolff, Aaron Solomon, Tony Reali and the ATH production crew for having me on.
Apparently, when you're on-air "talent," you are by nature supposed to be kind of a douchebag. Or a prima donna. Or at least an ingrate, for losing sight of the fact that you get to do something (get PAID to do something) that 95 percent of sports fans would kill for the chance to try.
I don't mind revealing I was -- still am -- merely grateful for the opportunity. (I might also add that the show's ratings went up -- and the median age of the panelists went way down -- when I appeared. j/k...)
I ended up appearing on the show a few more times that summer and fall, and I would like to think that I brought a younger -- and a new media -- sensibility to the show.
Besides the whole "What am I/what is HE doing THERE?" vibe, I think the most notable thing about my presence was the on-air hazing. (Yes, yes, Woody: I *am* a "high-talker." Proudly.
Most of all, I sincerely enjoyed the experience, even if most of my best witty banter came mumbling to myself on the train rides from DC back to New York, long after they would have been useful for the show.
But, wow, was it fun.
-- D.S.
UPDATE: Tony Reali tweeted his big memory of my first appearance was that Woody called me "Topo Gigio," a reference that was not only absurdly dated but lost on... well, everyone (my parents got it, actually). When you look up Topo Gigio on Wikipedia, however, you realize how brilliant Woody truly is. That was basically me!
PS: I really need to edit that show down and put it up on YouTube. That is: If I could stand watching myself.
That first show, in particular, remains one of the best memories of my life. Five years later, I am indebted to folks like Bill Wolff, Aaron Solomon, Tony Reali and the ATH production crew for having me on.
Apparently, when you're on-air "talent," you are by nature supposed to be kind of a douchebag. Or a prima donna. Or at least an ingrate, for losing sight of the fact that you get to do something (get PAID to do something) that 95 percent of sports fans would kill for the chance to try.
I don't mind revealing I was -- still am -- merely grateful for the opportunity. (I might also add that the show's ratings went up -- and the median age of the panelists went way down -- when I appeared. j/k...)
I ended up appearing on the show a few more times that summer and fall, and I would like to think that I brought a younger -- and a new media -- sensibility to the show.
Besides the whole "What am I/what is HE doing THERE?" vibe, I think the most notable thing about my presence was the on-air hazing. (Yes, yes, Woody: I *am* a "high-talker." Proudly.
Most of all, I sincerely enjoyed the experience, even if most of my best witty banter came mumbling to myself on the train rides from DC back to New York, long after they would have been useful for the show.
But, wow, was it fun.
-- D.S.
UPDATE: Tony Reali tweeted his big memory of my first appearance was that Woody called me "Topo Gigio," a reference that was not only absurdly dated but lost on... well, everyone (my parents got it, actually). When you look up Topo Gigio on Wikipedia, however, you realize how brilliant Woody truly is. That was basically me!
PS: I really need to edit that show down and put it up on YouTube. That is: If I could stand watching myself.
Idol vs. BCS: Once Again, Fans Know Best
Yes, I'm an Idol fan. 100 million votes in the finals can't be wrong. But there's a sports point to be made here...
For the second straight year, fans rejected the conventional wisdom of the "experts" and picked the so-called "underdog" as their Idol champ.
Last year, it was David Cook over David Archuleta. This year, it was Kris Allen over Adam Lambert. And, like last year, it was no shocker.
Lambert was insanely talented, but -- when it finally came down to a 1-on-1 battle -- the fact that he had no natural massive voting constituency was going to beat him.
For me, it reaffirms my faith in fans and offers a valuable lesson: When you give America the chance to pick their own champ, they seem to get it right, far better than the so-called "experts."
How does that tie back to sports? The notion that the BCS formula wouldn't have a significant component that allows fans to vote on the two finalists is ludicrous.
The coaches vote is a farce. The media vote is almost equally driven by partisan politics. The computers lack a soul and will never have credibility with many folks.
I have been banging this drum since 19-freaking-97: If you insist on a system that picks two teams at the end of the season to play for the national title, let the fans decide.
Kris Allen knows: The fans will get it right.
-- D.S.
For the second straight year, fans rejected the conventional wisdom of the "experts" and picked the so-called "underdog" as their Idol champ.
Last year, it was David Cook over David Archuleta. This year, it was Kris Allen over Adam Lambert. And, like last year, it was no shocker.
Lambert was insanely talented, but -- when it finally came down to a 1-on-1 battle -- the fact that he had no natural massive voting constituency was going to beat him.
For me, it reaffirms my faith in fans and offers a valuable lesson: When you give America the chance to pick their own champ, they seem to get it right, far better than the so-called "experts."
How does that tie back to sports? The notion that the BCS formula wouldn't have a significant component that allows fans to vote on the two finalists is ludicrous.
The coaches vote is a farce. The media vote is almost equally driven by partisan politics. The computers lack a soul and will never have credibility with many folks.
I have been banging this drum since 19-freaking-97: If you insist on a system that picks two teams at the end of the season to play for the national title, let the fans decide.
Kris Allen knows: The fans will get it right.
-- D.S.
Thursday 05/21 A.M. Quickie:
Howard, Magic, Vick, Papi, Idol, More
My predictions are so rarely -- and fleetingly -- correct that this morning I will stand up and say:
"Magic in 6? OH YES."
I have two complementary theories:
(1) The Magic were battle-tested by the Celtics to the point that playing the Cavs in Cleveland simply wasn't all that daunting.
(2) The Cavs were so soft from their 8-0 run through the first two rounds of the playoffs that they were completely unready for a taut game.
That leads today's SN column.
Now, the Cavs have lost that home-court advantage they worked so hard to earn, on two levels: They lost HCA in the series and their regular-season home dominance suddenly seems stale.
Last point: Last night was a huge F-U to all the so-called "experts" who had the Cavs rolling past the Magic into the NBA Finals. The Magic are legit, which is why I picked them to win the East title in the preseason. (That's enough self-congratulation for one morning, thanks.)
More in today's column, as usual, not said nearly as pithily as presented here:
*What's more pathetic: Papi going HR-less or the pity embrace he's getting for hitting one?
*After one day out of prison, you can already tell that popular sentiment -- filtered through the mainstream media -- is for the "Vick as rehabilitated" second-act storyline.
(The UFL is asking fans whether they should get Vick? (1) They'll never get the chance; a half-dozen NFL teams will take him as soon as the smoke clears; (2) for a league founded on "conventional" football, it sure seems strange that they would make a gimmick story like considering Vick the way they earn buzz. There is a much simpler and far more self-sustaining way to do that. Post on that coming later.)
*How many violations does Lane Kiffin get before the NCAA actually cracks down?
*Condolences to Scott Schoenweis on the death of his wife; thoughts for Amy Mickelson as she begins a battle with breast cancer.
Complete SN column here. More later, including the celebration of a big anniversary.
11 a.m.: Idol -- with a sports twist.
1 p.m.: Very very special anniversary.
-- D.S.
"Magic in 6? OH YES."
I have two complementary theories:
(1) The Magic were battle-tested by the Celtics to the point that playing the Cavs in Cleveland simply wasn't all that daunting.
(2) The Cavs were so soft from their 8-0 run through the first two rounds of the playoffs that they were completely unready for a taut game.
That leads today's SN column.
Now, the Cavs have lost that home-court advantage they worked so hard to earn, on two levels: They lost HCA in the series and their regular-season home dominance suddenly seems stale.
Last point: Last night was a huge F-U to all the so-called "experts" who had the Cavs rolling past the Magic into the NBA Finals. The Magic are legit, which is why I picked them to win the East title in the preseason. (That's enough self-congratulation for one morning, thanks.)
More in today's column, as usual, not said nearly as pithily as presented here:
*What's more pathetic: Papi going HR-less or the pity embrace he's getting for hitting one?
*After one day out of prison, you can already tell that popular sentiment -- filtered through the mainstream media -- is for the "Vick as rehabilitated" second-act storyline.
(The UFL is asking fans whether they should get Vick? (1) They'll never get the chance; a half-dozen NFL teams will take him as soon as the smoke clears; (2) for a league founded on "conventional" football, it sure seems strange that they would make a gimmick story like considering Vick the way they earn buzz. There is a much simpler and far more self-sustaining way to do that. Post on that coming later.)
*How many violations does Lane Kiffin get before the NCAA actually cracks down?
*Condolences to Scott Schoenweis on the death of his wife; thoughts for Amy Mickelson as she begins a battle with breast cancer.
Complete SN column here. More later, including the celebration of a big anniversary.
11 a.m.: Idol -- with a sports twist.
1 p.m.: Very very special anniversary.
-- D.S.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Nice Tribute To Dr. Z
Great post in praise of Dr. Z. (Regular readers know that about 5 jobs ago, I edited Dr. Z's columns for SI.com and once had the pleasure/pain of being yelled at by him. Apparently that's a badge of honor. Needless to say, he intuitively understood how to write for the Web and why that was so different from writing for magazines or newspapers.)
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Tebow Update: About That Throwing Motion...
Have you ever heard of a top team -- the leading contender for the national title -- adapting their star quarterback's style to get him ready for the NFL? That's what Florida is doing.
I'm not averse to it, by any means. In fact, I'm all for it:
(1) I certainly root for Tebow to have a long and productive NFL career as a QB (if only to shut up the haters). And he needs to work on his delivery to do it. QB coach Scott Loeffler is the guy to teach him.
(2) Despite his phenomenal efficiency (Top 5 in D-1 for 2 years in a row), Tebow has never thrown a "good-looking" ball -- it wobbles. If Loeffler can work out the kinks in Tebow's mechanics and make him that much more of an accurate passer, that makes Tebow that much better... THIS YEAR (and not just in his NFL career).
Take note of one underrated quote from Urban Meyer from Schlabach's piece: "At the end of the day, Tim is going to be a very good NFL player. If he goes to the right team and a well-coached team, he's going to be a very productive player for a very long time."
That kind of statement just confirms my strong feeling of Tebow's draft prospects: Tebow will be drafted by Bill Belichick and the Pats. (That Meyer will take over for Belichick in a few seasons when Belichick retires, to coach his protege Tebow, is just an added conspiracy-theory bonus.)
-- D.S.
I'm not averse to it, by any means. In fact, I'm all for it:
(1) I certainly root for Tebow to have a long and productive NFL career as a QB (if only to shut up the haters). And he needs to work on his delivery to do it. QB coach Scott Loeffler is the guy to teach him.
(2) Despite his phenomenal efficiency (Top 5 in D-1 for 2 years in a row), Tebow has never thrown a "good-looking" ball -- it wobbles. If Loeffler can work out the kinks in Tebow's mechanics and make him that much more of an accurate passer, that makes Tebow that much better... THIS YEAR (and not just in his NFL career).
Take note of one underrated quote from Urban Meyer from Schlabach's piece: "At the end of the day, Tim is going to be a very good NFL player. If he goes to the right team and a well-coached team, he's going to be a very productive player for a very long time."
That kind of statement just confirms my strong feeling of Tebow's draft prospects: Tebow will be drafted by Bill Belichick and the Pats. (That Meyer will take over for Belichick in a few seasons when Belichick retires, to coach his protege Tebow, is just an added conspiracy-theory bonus.)
-- D.S.
Wednesday 05/20 A.M. Quickie:
Griffin, Clippers, Kobe, Cavs, D-Train, More
So there was a big loser in last night's NBA Lottery -- and, no, it wasn't the Wizards or Kings (although both totally lost out). It was Blake Griffin.
That leads today's SN column: Griffin may be the No. 1 overall pick, but he's got to go to the Purgatory of the Clippers. To a terrible coach. To a market where his team is 2nd rate and Griffin's brand of blue-collar is totally unappreciated. And he his new rival is Zach Randolph.
That, my friends, is a terrible ending. Stay in school? Why bother, if this is your fate? (Remember when a draft-day destiny with the Clippers meant that you threaten to go play in Europe? Now you play in Europe BEFORE the NBA.)
Griffin would have been better off entering the NBA a year ago, getting NBA coaching, playing for a playoff team and being one year closer to free agency -- who cares if he would have been picked in bottom half of the Lottery (and there's no guarantee he would have dropped that far, btw -- he may have gone ahead of Kevin Love into the Top 5).
With the Lottery scramble, there are a couple of weird scenarios:
*The Clippers are forced to take a player who plays the same position as their highly-paid, impossible-to-trade big man Z-Bo...
*While everyone assumes that Ricky Rubio would be the No. 2 pick, the Grizzlies don't need him as much as a shot-blocking center like Hasheem Thabeet (although think Memphis is regretting that wasted pick on PG Mike Conley now?)
*The Thunder -- everyone's favorite bandwagon "aren't-they-cool" team that won't contend for the playoffs for a half-decade more or longer -- get the No. 3 pick and, perhaps, Rubio. How much more star-player cachet can one team have?
*The Kings get stuck with the No. 4 pick -- where do you go there, when the guy you take there might be worse than the player taken 10 picks later?
*The Wizards get stuck with the No. 5 pick -- classic Wiz "luck" -- and even though Chad Ford has them taking the sensible, NBA-ready (so they say) James Harden, I can't believe they won't try to trade the pick.
Perhaps the Knicks -- desperate for Stephen Curry (LeBron's buddy, of course) -- would take on a bad Wiz contract or two for a year to vault ahead of teams that would take Curry at 6 or 7, before the Knicks draft 8th.
Let me make this clear: Stephen Curry will NOT be available to the Knicks at No. 8. By the time the pre-draft workout season is over, Curry will be a lock for the Top 5.
Anyway, it's NBA Mock Draft season (Chad Ford is my gold standard), and I couldn't be happier about it.
Oh, and Kobe stole one from the Nuggets -- if Denver won last night, they would have had a very very very good shot at winning the series; but by losing -- and outplaying the Lakers while doing it -- they might melt down to "typical playoff Nuggets" after their brilliant run thus far.
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
That leads today's SN column: Griffin may be the No. 1 overall pick, but he's got to go to the Purgatory of the Clippers. To a terrible coach. To a market where his team is 2nd rate and Griffin's brand of blue-collar is totally unappreciated. And he his new rival is Zach Randolph.
That, my friends, is a terrible ending. Stay in school? Why bother, if this is your fate? (Remember when a draft-day destiny with the Clippers meant that you threaten to go play in Europe? Now you play in Europe BEFORE the NBA.)
Griffin would have been better off entering the NBA a year ago, getting NBA coaching, playing for a playoff team and being one year closer to free agency -- who cares if he would have been picked in bottom half of the Lottery (and there's no guarantee he would have dropped that far, btw -- he may have gone ahead of Kevin Love into the Top 5).
With the Lottery scramble, there are a couple of weird scenarios:
*The Clippers are forced to take a player who plays the same position as their highly-paid, impossible-to-trade big man Z-Bo...
*While everyone assumes that Ricky Rubio would be the No. 2 pick, the Grizzlies don't need him as much as a shot-blocking center like Hasheem Thabeet (although think Memphis is regretting that wasted pick on PG Mike Conley now?)
*The Thunder -- everyone's favorite bandwagon "aren't-they-cool" team that won't contend for the playoffs for a half-decade more or longer -- get the No. 3 pick and, perhaps, Rubio. How much more star-player cachet can one team have?
*The Kings get stuck with the No. 4 pick -- where do you go there, when the guy you take there might be worse than the player taken 10 picks later?
*The Wizards get stuck with the No. 5 pick -- classic Wiz "luck" -- and even though Chad Ford has them taking the sensible, NBA-ready (so they say) James Harden, I can't believe they won't try to trade the pick.
Perhaps the Knicks -- desperate for Stephen Curry (LeBron's buddy, of course) -- would take on a bad Wiz contract or two for a year to vault ahead of teams that would take Curry at 6 or 7, before the Knicks draft 8th.
Let me make this clear: Stephen Curry will NOT be available to the Knicks at No. 8. By the time the pre-draft workout season is over, Curry will be a lock for the Top 5.
Anyway, it's NBA Mock Draft season (Chad Ford is my gold standard), and I couldn't be happier about it.
Oh, and Kobe stole one from the Nuggets -- if Denver won last night, they would have had a very very very good shot at winning the series; but by losing -- and outplaying the Lakers while doing it -- they might melt down to "typical playoff Nuggets" after their brilliant run thus far.
Complete column here. More later.
-- D.S.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Tuesday 05/19 A.M. Quickie:
Wall, Lottery, NBA Picks, WWE, More
So if you dropped by earlier, you saw my pronouncement about John Wall and Kentucky: There's your 2010 NCAA Tournament champs -- preseason No. 1 feels like a formality.
That leads today's SN column -- I couldn't resist, even though there are at least two big stories I could have led with:
(1) The NBA Draft Lottery tonight. Or, as I like to call it, "The Wizards' annual playoffs." If the Wiz get the No. 1 pick, they will take Blake Griffin, and -- if everyone is healthy -- they will be a Top 3 team in the East next season. If they get the No. 2 pick, I would love to see them take Ricky Rubio, but I suspect they will trade the pick. If they get the No. 3 pick or worse, they will be totally trading that thing, probably for cap space. (Rah.)
(2) My picks for the NBA Conference Finals. Because I went with a contrarian view (I'm sure you're shocked).
I pick the Nuggets in 6 over the Lakers -- almost entirely on the strength of Chauncey Billups as a proven Laker-killer. Stop thinking these Nuggets are the same lame choke-masters that they have been in previous seasons.
And I pick the Magic over the Cavs in 6 -- I think the Cavs are overrated right now and the Magic are almost certainly underrated. I think beating the Celtics in Boston in Game 7 by 20 was a psychological breakthrough for a team that is otherwise fairly collectively mushy in the head. Also, I think between Orlando's 3-point shooting and Dwight Howard, they play a style that can keep up with the Cavs. In my pre-playoff prediction, I had the Cavs over the Magic in 7 -- so it's not like I thought the Cavs would waltz to the Finals. (And in my preseason picks, I had the Magic winning the East altogether. Guess I'm back on that bandwagon.)
More you'll find in today's column:
*Salute to Lackey!
*Jeers to Harrison!
*Make Favre stop!
*In the battle between Vince McMahon and David Stern, McMahon is going to win, actually.
Complete column here on a loaded day. More later.
-- D.S.
That leads today's SN column -- I couldn't resist, even though there are at least two big stories I could have led with:
(1) The NBA Draft Lottery tonight. Or, as I like to call it, "The Wizards' annual playoffs." If the Wiz get the No. 1 pick, they will take Blake Griffin, and -- if everyone is healthy -- they will be a Top 3 team in the East next season. If they get the No. 2 pick, I would love to see them take Ricky Rubio, but I suspect they will trade the pick. If they get the No. 3 pick or worse, they will be totally trading that thing, probably for cap space. (Rah.)
(2) My picks for the NBA Conference Finals. Because I went with a contrarian view (I'm sure you're shocked).
I pick the Nuggets in 6 over the Lakers -- almost entirely on the strength of Chauncey Billups as a proven Laker-killer. Stop thinking these Nuggets are the same lame choke-masters that they have been in previous seasons.
And I pick the Magic over the Cavs in 6 -- I think the Cavs are overrated right now and the Magic are almost certainly underrated. I think beating the Celtics in Boston in Game 7 by 20 was a psychological breakthrough for a team that is otherwise fairly collectively mushy in the head. Also, I think between Orlando's 3-point shooting and Dwight Howard, they play a style that can keep up with the Cavs. In my pre-playoff prediction, I had the Cavs over the Magic in 7 -- so it's not like I thought the Cavs would waltz to the Finals. (And in my preseason picks, I had the Magic winning the East altogether. Guess I'm back on that bandwagon.)
More you'll find in today's column:
*Salute to Lackey!
*Jeers to Harrison!
*Make Favre stop!
*In the battle between Vince McMahon and David Stern, McMahon is going to win, actually.
Complete column here on a loaded day. More later.
-- D.S.
John Wall to Kentucky: Calipari's Cats No. 1
I'm going to pre-empt my SN column lead today: Kentucky is going to win the NCAA hoops title next March. They should be the preseason No. 1 team in the country.
Why? Because UK reportedly just got super-prospect John Wall, who instantly becomes the best player in college basketball. Wall isn't just a lock as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft -- he could have been in the mix for the No. 1 pick THIS year.
But it's not just Wall. It's the return of Patrick Patterson, the best post player in the country. It's the collection of a recruiting class that was arguably No. 1 in the country BEFORE Wall joined. It is the possibility that super-guard Jodie Meeks may come back to UK for a one-year title run.
And, of course, it is because of Coach Calipari, whose presence instantly brough cachet to UK -- not to mention this recruiting class, the decision of Patterson to stay, a hot new offense, etc.
Normally, I'm of the opinion that Calipari is a great in-season coach, but I would NEVER pick him to win the national title. But Wall and the rest have changed my mind.
Kentucky will be young (but not that young, given Patterson and, perhaps, Meeks), but they will be very very good. Good enough to be preseason No. 1. Good enough to be THE marquee team to watch on TV. Good enough to win the national title.
Kentucky is SO back. (I'm not happy about it, but I am fascinated by it.)
-- D.S.
Why? Because UK reportedly just got super-prospect John Wall, who instantly becomes the best player in college basketball. Wall isn't just a lock as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft -- he could have been in the mix for the No. 1 pick THIS year.
But it's not just Wall. It's the return of Patrick Patterson, the best post player in the country. It's the collection of a recruiting class that was arguably No. 1 in the country BEFORE Wall joined. It is the possibility that super-guard Jodie Meeks may come back to UK for a one-year title run.
And, of course, it is because of Coach Calipari, whose presence instantly brough cachet to UK -- not to mention this recruiting class, the decision of Patterson to stay, a hot new offense, etc.
Normally, I'm of the opinion that Calipari is a great in-season coach, but I would NEVER pick him to win the national title. But Wall and the rest have changed my mind.
Kentucky will be young (but not that young, given Patterson and, perhaps, Meeks), but they will be very very good. Good enough to be preseason No. 1. Good enough to be THE marquee team to watch on TV. Good enough to win the national title.
Kentucky is SO back. (I'm not happy about it, but I am fascinated by it.)
-- D.S.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Great Sports Writing In a Non-Sports Book:
Netherland by Joseph O'Neil (Now in Paper)
After a lengthy hiatus, I just finishedreading "Netherland" (by Joseph O'Neil), which was not only one of the most acclaimed novels of the past year (on Barack Obama's nightstand, too, apparently) but also contains some of the best writing about sports you will ever read -- in this case, much of the story is about cricket. But you don't have to be a cricket fan -- I'm certainly not -- to appreciate such brilliant writing about a sport. The book just came out in paperback, too.
-- D.S.
-- D.S.
Monday 05/18 A.M. Quickie:
The Celtics' "Era" Is Over, One-and-Done
The tyranny of Boston sports upon the rest of us is over. Glorious day!
The Celtics were smashed by 20 in a Game 7 in Boston by a team with laughable psychological fortitude. Don't use the "But there was no KG!" excuse -- this team is the epitome of one-and-done.
They won't return to the Finals next year, even if KG is totally healthy. The Cavs will only get better. The Magic apparently now own them -- and are only getting better.
And then, in 2010, Rajon Rondo will bolt as a free agent to one of the many teams with massive amounts of cap room that won't land LeBron or Wade or Bosh.
Oh, sure the Celtics should TRY to win it all next year -- they bet the farm before 08-09 on a title run; to their credit, they got it. And, to their credit, a title in '08 is worth more than contending without one for the next 20 years.
But the run is effectively over -- we all knew it was coming this postseason anyway.
(Meanwhile, the rest of Boston sports is a shambles: The Pats lost in the biggest upset in NFL history two years ago, then lost their QB, then missed the playoffs despite being the best team in the league heading into the playoffs. And the Red Sox, while fine, are about to have to do something drastic about David Ortiz, the heart and soul of the team's success this decade.)
Meanwhile, I don't think the Cavs will sweep the Magic. I don't even think they will win in 5, or even 6. I think the Magic broke through with these past two games against the Celtics -- they surely won't face more pressure against the Cavs than they did against Boston.
And while the Cavs might be an infinitely better team than the Celtics, the Magic are an infinitely better team than the Cavs have played so far in the playoffs -- the Pistons and the Hawks. How can you have a puncher's chance against the Cavs? 3s and a very very very good big man -- the Magic have both.
Meanwhile, I thought the Lakers would cruise to the West title -- they still might, but the Nuggets are the best team in the West they could face. Not only can the Nuggets score with the Lakers, but Kobe and Co. might still remember how Chauncey Billups tore 'em up in 2004.
There is tons in the SN column today -- including about 9 items on baseball from the weekend, along with what I think is the most accurate prediction of Urban Meyer's future at Notre Dame. Check it out here. More later.
-- D.S.
The Celtics were smashed by 20 in a Game 7 in Boston by a team with laughable psychological fortitude. Don't use the "But there was no KG!" excuse -- this team is the epitome of one-and-done.
They won't return to the Finals next year, even if KG is totally healthy. The Cavs will only get better. The Magic apparently now own them -- and are only getting better.
And then, in 2010, Rajon Rondo will bolt as a free agent to one of the many teams with massive amounts of cap room that won't land LeBron or Wade or Bosh.
Oh, sure the Celtics should TRY to win it all next year -- they bet the farm before 08-09 on a title run; to their credit, they got it. And, to their credit, a title in '08 is worth more than contending without one for the next 20 years.
But the run is effectively over -- we all knew it was coming this postseason anyway.
(Meanwhile, the rest of Boston sports is a shambles: The Pats lost in the biggest upset in NFL history two years ago, then lost their QB, then missed the playoffs despite being the best team in the league heading into the playoffs. And the Red Sox, while fine, are about to have to do something drastic about David Ortiz, the heart and soul of the team's success this decade.)
Meanwhile, I don't think the Cavs will sweep the Magic. I don't even think they will win in 5, or even 6. I think the Magic broke through with these past two games against the Celtics -- they surely won't face more pressure against the Cavs than they did against Boston.
And while the Cavs might be an infinitely better team than the Celtics, the Magic are an infinitely better team than the Cavs have played so far in the playoffs -- the Pistons and the Hawks. How can you have a puncher's chance against the Cavs? 3s and a very very very good big man -- the Magic have both.
Meanwhile, I thought the Lakers would cruise to the West title -- they still might, but the Nuggets are the best team in the West they could face. Not only can the Nuggets score with the Lakers, but Kobe and Co. might still remember how Chauncey Billups tore 'em up in 2004.
There is tons in the SN column today -- including about 9 items on baseball from the weekend, along with what I think is the most accurate prediction of Urban Meyer's future at Notre Dame. Check it out here. More later.
-- D.S.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Sunday 05/17 (Very) Quickie
While waiting for NBA double-header Game 7s -- wow, the Lakers must be freaking out... I cannot imagine that Celtics fans are particularly worried.
Lakers-Rockets: It is this simple -- the Lakers losing at home today (and I'd give Houston a puncher's chance) would represent one of the biggest shockers in NBA history.
Magic-Celtics: Why don't the Magic give Rashard Lewis the ball EVERY SINGLE PLAY -- it's been proven there is no one on the Celtics who can guard him.
I think it's worth noting that the NBA has an obvious rooting interest in L.A. and Boston -- remains to be seen if the refs match that perception.
Rachel Alexandra: Female Athlete of the Year?
A-Rod: Ahh, there you go. Nothing changes perceptions like walk-off game-winning HRs.
Weirdest result yesterday: John Lackey being ejected after 2 pitches.
-- D.S.
Lakers-Rockets: It is this simple -- the Lakers losing at home today (and I'd give Houston a puncher's chance) would represent one of the biggest shockers in NBA history.
Magic-Celtics: Why don't the Magic give Rashard Lewis the ball EVERY SINGLE PLAY -- it's been proven there is no one on the Celtics who can guard him.
I think it's worth noting that the NBA has an obvious rooting interest in L.A. and Boston -- remains to be seen if the refs match that perception.
Rachel Alexandra: Female Athlete of the Year?
A-Rod: Ahh, there you go. Nothing changes perceptions like walk-off game-winning HRs.
Weirdest result yesterday: John Lackey being ejected after 2 pitches.
-- D.S.
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