Brandon Roy’s thinking retirement… again.
December 29, 2012
During the prime of his career in 2010, Brandon Roy’s bad knee forced him to retire. Many believed during that time that next to Kobe Bryant, Roy was the best shooting guard in the NBA. This year Roy returned to the NBA and signed a 2 year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Unfortunately, his knee problems flared up again, limiting him to only 5 games this year. Last month Brandon underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to help ease the pain, but little to no progress has been made. NBA sources say that Roy has exhausted all options and is mulling retirement for a 2nd time.
You hate to see a player of his caliber forced to leave the game he loves, due to inopportune circumstances. Roy is now placed in the “what if” category (a la Grant Hill) of players that have tremendous talent but were unable to fulfill their potential due to devastating and/or nagging injuries.
In 2008, Roy enjoyed his best season as a pro. He averaged 22 points, 5 assists pg, and carried the Trail Blazers to 54 wins and a playoff birth. Above is a clip of Roy erupting for a 52 point explosion against the Phoenix Suns. Roy scored from all over the court, and relentlessly attacked the basket looking to create for himself and his teammates.
Hopefully the 3 time all star, can find a way to get back on the court. The Timberwolves have been forced to start rookie Alexey Shved in Roy’s absence. While Shved has shown flashes of potential, Minnesota could use a veteran presence in the midst of their current slump. The Timberwolves have lost 4 of their last 5 and slipped to a .500 record.
Avery’s Gone, but what’s next for Brooklyn?
December 28, 2012
Yesterday the Brooklyn Nets let go off head coach Avery Johnson after the team struggled in December. What’s so perplexing to me is that Johnson was making the most of a flawed team, and was Coach of the Month last month! The Nets started the year on fire, winning 11 of their first 15 games. The following month was a tough one for Brooklyn, they sunk to a .500 record, while PG Deron Williams and Johnson clashed. Unfortunately, Johnson was a victim to a billionaire owner seeking immediate success. The Brooklyn Nets simply don’t have enough to win a title this year, no matter who is the head coach. The Nets have some pieces in place, Deron Williams, Joe Johnson (though he has lost a step), and Brook Lopez are a nice foundation to build a title contender. However, this team lacks depth as well as playmakers. During the Nets 3-10 December skid, the offense look stagnant as everyone watched Joe Johnson play one on one. Some of this blame should go to the Nets All Star PG (not Avery), whose production has decreased from last year.
Now that Johnson is gone, what’s next for Brooklyn? Several NBA sources have said the Nets are now pursuing Phil Jackson to coach the team. My advice… quit dreaming and wake up! Jackson, 12 time NBA Champion (1 as a player) will be in the mix for every available head coaching position. Despite billionaire Russian owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s deep pockets, a fat contract won’t persuade Jackson to come out of retirement. The Nets don’t have enough talent to entice the Zen master to return to New York (he won a championship there during his playing days).
Here are some realistic candidates that would be a good fit for the Nets
One of the Van Gundy Brothers: Both Steve Van Gundy and Jeff Van Gundy are veteran coaches with experience with stars like Deron Williams. Steve turned a raw Dwight Howard into a top 5 player, and helped the lead the Magic to the Finals in 09′. He has won 371 games, and 4 division titles (1 with the Miami Heat). His brother Jeff coached the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets for 11 years. His teams have missed out on the playoffs only once, and like his brother Stan he has made the Finals once back in 1999 with the Knicks.
Patrick Ewing: This former Knicks legendary center is a Hall of Famer and is ranked as one of the top 50 NBA players of all time. His experience on the court has helped him become an excellent assistant coach. He was on Stan Van Gundy’s staff for the Orlando Magic and helped Dwight Howard develop a post game. Under Ewing’s guidance, Howard thrived particularly on defense and earned 3 straight Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Brian Shaw: Shaw spent 15 years in the NBA playing for several teams. After his playing career, he coached the Los Angeles Lakers under Phil Jackson’s and Mike Brown’s tenure. He is highly respected around the league, and is considered a great leader from players like Kobe Bryant. Much like Ewing, Shaw is patiently waiting for a head coaching opportunity and is capable of success if hired in an environment like Brooklyn.
#KobeFor3
December 23, 2012
“That was perhaps the greatest streak shooting I have ever seen in my life,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who has coached nine NBA championship teams – six in Chicago and three with the Lakers.
“They weren’t hitting anything, they were just going straight in – nothing but net,” Shaw said.
“I don’t think most guys can do that in a gym by themselves, let alone a game where you’re being defended.” Sonics coach Nate McMillan said.
Coming into this contest against the Seattle SuperSonics, Kobe Bryant was shooting 3’s at a 28% clip. Then he accomplished something that’s only happened twice in NBA history, he shot 18 3 pointers, made 12 including an unconscious 9 STRAIGHT (also an NBA record)! Bryant dropped 45 in the Lakers’ 119-98 win over Seattle, and it looked so effortless. His 1st 3 pointer didn’t come until less than 6 minutes left in the 2 quarter. He then drained 5 more before halftime, and his rhythm continued in the 2nd half. The more he hit, the more his confidence swelled.
“It’s hard to describe,” Bryant said of the feeling he had once he got hot. “You just feel so confident. You get your feet set and get a good look at the basket – it’s going in.
“Even the ones I missed I thought were going in.”
This amazing feat is a testament to Kobe’s scoring ability. He has never been known as a great perimeter shooter, so for him hit 12 NBA 3 pointers in only 37 minutes is nothing short of amazing.
#O_OClipOfTheDay
December 22, 2012
Top to bottom the Clippers are the most athletic team in the NBA. This squad is built to run the floor, and to score and defend in transition which makes them a matchup nightmare. LA’s “other” team is riding a 12 game winning streak and is sitting atop the Pacific Division. Their early season success is in large part due to their depth, the bench averages over 35 ppg. When the starters are resting, dynamic playmakers like Eric Bledsoe have maintained and often times extended Clippers’ leads.
In the clip above, Eric Bledsoe shows off his elite athleticism with a “LeBronesque” chase down block in transition that lead to a Ronny Turiaf dunk. The 3 year pro from Kentucky is flourishing in his role off the bench. Despite taking a back seat to John Wall/DeMarcus Cousins in college, and Chris Paul/Blake Griffin in the pros, Bledsoe is a solid player. He brings energy, effort, and toughness to go along with being a hell of a athlete. He is taking advantage of increased playing time this season and is averaging career highs in just about every category.
What’s so scary about this Clippers team is that they are just scratching the surface of their full potential…
Melo for MVP?
The clip above shows Melo in torching the Brooklyn Nets for 45, in a impressive offensive display (The Nets might want to send more double teams at Carmelo in the future).
December 20, 2012
At the start of 2012 NBA season, all of the attention was on defending champion Miami Heat and the retooled Los Angeles Lakers. The Knicks’ spent their offseason acquiring NBA senior citizens like Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, and Rasheed Wallace which didn’t spark fear into any anyone. Coupled with the injuries to Amare Stoudimire, the Knicks looked destined for another 1st round playoff exit and considered an afterthought. 25 games into the season, the New York Knicks have been one of the best teams in basketball. Lead by Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks have an near perfect 11-1 record in the Garden, and the best record in the East.
Unlike previous New York teams, this squad is perfectly suited for Melo’s game. He is playing the power forward position (where he is most effective) is surrounded by shooters, and anchored defensively by Tyson Chandler. The Knicks are playing great basketball and Carmelo Anthony is having one of his best seasons ever. He is 2nd in the league in scoring (28 ppg) and shooting a ridiculous 46% from 3. He has been more consistent on the defensive end and has been a model of consistency on and off the court. If Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks keep up this pace, Anthony will capture his 1st MVP… and maybe his 1st title.
Everyone wants to “Be Like Mike”
How media transformed Michael Jordan into a Living Legend
December 19, 2012
By the time Michael Jeffery Jordan retired from basketball for the 3rd and final time after the 2003 season, he was recognized as much more than a phenomenal basketball player. Jordan was the face of the National Basketball Association, which at the time was at the height of its popularity. In the 90’s the NBA raked in billions of dollars due to superstars like Michael Jordan becoming global commodities. During this era in professional basketball, MJ became synonymous with the NBA. From his Air Jordan brand sneakers, to his endorsement deals, to his 7 figure basketball salary, Jordan had the world at his fingertips. He was the generation’s best player and played for an extremely successful franchise, the Chicago Bulls, which helped fuel his brand. These elements lead to Michael Jordan’s rise to astronomical heights, and thus he became “the greatest basketball player who ever lived.” In reality, Michael Jordan was a great basketball player, but mass media marketing made MJ a “god amongst men.” Throughout NBA history there have been players who were just as good, if not better than Jordan. Through mass advertisement, Nike, the NBA, and other media conglomerates lead to the cultivation of Michael Jordan and his brand. Mass Communication Theory describes cultivation theory as the use of media outlets, like television, to cultivate or create a worldview that, although possibly inaccurate, becomes the reality because people believe it to be so.
“Jordan’s presence as corporate logo and cultural signifier made him more than a postmodern
Icarus… Jordan read NBA read Nike (and all the other endorsements) epitomized a larger world presence which entranced the young in many cultures, validated Western materialism and consumer instincts at the expense of other moral codes and social values…” (Andrews 443).
From Chicago, Illinois to Tokyo, Japan kids everywhere wanted to “Be like Mike.” Jordan was an immortal sports figure and was invincible “there was nothing he could not do.” In 1996, he starred in the cartoon movie “Space Jam.” The Looney Tunes need “Air Jordan’s” assistance to win their freedom against the evil aliens. The movie embodied the media portrayal of MJ’s “superhuman abilities.” The face of the NBA combined with the one of the most popular children’s cartoon brand ever to make huge box office splash. Worldwide, this movie has grossed more than $230,000,000. Because MJ meshed well with Wall Street, and was accepted amongst religious politics he developed a mass appeal. Jordan was ranked in a several polls with “God” as the most admired global being/deity.
Michael Jordan symbolizes the 1990s spectacle both on the basketball court and in advertisements and media exposure. His athletic achievements were commercialized and his sports image was personified through corporate products which led to Jordan becoming one of the highest paid and most fruitful generators of social meaning in the history of media culture. “…Symbols transform the socialization process, freezing it from the bonds of both space and time” (Baran and Davis 318). Through symbols we can be transported anywhere in the globe, which explains Jordan’s ascension of global popularity.
Michael Jordan’s fame transcended his ethnicity, and he was immune to the negative stereotypes that plague blacks in America. Jordan is a unique Black attraction and his ethnicity is a prominent feature of his image. “Black media personalities like Michael Jordan… focus, organize, and translate blackness into commodifiable representations and desires that can be packaged and marketed across the landscape of American popular culture… we are witnessing the ‘African Americanization’ of global popular culture…” (Denzin 320). MJ is a reflection of national/capitalist values of hard work, dedication, competiveness, ambition, and success. As an African American superstar, he defied the odds and he served as a model of excelling through competition and status in our society despite the limitations of racism and classism.
Jordan is a figure whom people from all demographics fantasize about (athletic greatness, wealth, success, etc), he provides a symbol that represents desirable national as well as global aspirations. He is a privileged role model for Black youth, and is the symbol of an African American who has transcended race and has assimilated and thrived in American society. He achieved the “American Dream” of assimilation, wealth, and success. “Jordan seems to embody… American values and serve as a role model for American youth and as the White fantasy of the good African American… Michael Jordan transcends race, he seems to produce unusually positive representations of African Americans, thus, undercutting racist stereotypes and denigration” (Kellner, 464).
Professional sports were segregated as recently as the 1940’s. Minorities were forced to participate in “colored leagues,” which were essentially minor leagues due to lack of adequate funding and resources. Once blacks integrated and assimilated in professional sports they began to dominate. Sports became an opportunity to minorities to get out of poverty and live the “American Dream.” American fascination with sports eventually promoted racial equality, acceptance of difference, and cultural diversity. Once black athletes were incorporated into professional sports, they entered mainstream media culture as icons of the spectacle, as role models for youth, and by default promoters of racial equality. Michael Jordan’s global fame was like destiny in the era of the communication satellite. Since America was the hub of wired world, and given basketball’s easy comprehensibility, it was only a matter of time before an iconic figure emerged as the poster child for Nike, the NBA, and even America.
Nike
In 1984, Michael Jordan’s sports agent, David Falk, helped him land an unprecedented endorsement deal with Nike. The most important aspect of the deal was promotion. Falk negotiated that Nike must spend at least 1 million dollars in promotion in the first year of his deal (which was unheard of in the 1980’s). Through the strategic promotion and marketing of Michael Jordan, Nike created a superhero.
“Our commercials are several things—they’re color, they’re music, and they’re athletic, and
frankly, what people learn and know is that we are an American company. We’re selling products that are authentic athletic, and Michael Jordan is one image that represents that. He is probably the best recognized, best-known American athlete throughout the world. – Richard J. Donahue, Nike president (1993)
Michael Jordan became the America’s cash cow due to Nike’s manipulation of the economy, culture, media, and technology by “fashioning a commercially viable language of appearances and images.” This tremendously successful media marketing campaign resulted in a global demand for the Air Jordan brand, Nike, and the NBA. MJ’s unique images are highlighted in Nike’s promotion of his brand, for example a Nike ad starring Spike Lee that insists that “It’s the shoes” (which make Jordan the greatest).
In 1996, Jordan received sharp criticism from the media for his affiliation with Nike, and the company’s exploitation of Third World workers at ridiculously low wages.
“Nike engages in super exploitation of both its Third World workers and global consumers. Its
products are no more intrinsically valuable than other shoes, but have a certain distinctive sign value that gives them prestige value, that provides its wearers with a mark of social status, and so it can charge $130 to $140 per pair of shoes, thus earning tremendous profit margins. Nike provides a spectacle of social differentiation that establishes its wearer as cool, as with it, as part of the Nike/superstar spectacle nexus: ‘Be Like Mike, buy the shoes he sells!’…” (Kellner 463).
Though Michael Jordan embodies good and wholesome values, he is still tied to the manipulative corporate sponsors he represents. His brand is tied to Nike’s so much so that if Nike’s reputation suffers, so will Jordan’s and vice versa. This bond was formed because of Jordan’s endorsements from the company very early in his career. His Air Jordan product line helped turn the company around when it was struggling, and turned Nike into an American corporate icon. Once Nike was established in America, it became popular around the world elevating its global popularity. “Thus, whereas Jordan was no doubt embarrassed by all the bad publicity that Nike received in 1996, his involvement with the corporation was obviously too deep to ‘just say no’ and sever himself from this symbol of a greedy and exploitative corporation” (Kellner 463).
Global Presence
“When the real world changes into simple images, simple images become real beings and effective motivations of a hypnotic behavior… Experience and everyday life is thus mediated by the spectacles of media culture that dramatizes our conflicts, celebrates our values, and projects our deepest hopes and fears…” (Kellner 458) The “spectacle” is this case refers to sporting events, and they are used to pacify and disable political agendas. It is referred to as a “permanent opium war that stupefies social subjects and distracts them from the most urgent task of real life…” (Kellner 458). The spectacle is received by spectators, who are consumers of a social system based on compliance and conformity. Spectacles are controlled by the elites in society and are used to control all aspects of leisure, desire, and everyday life. Spectator sports in an postindustrial era requires consumption and misuse of spectacles to reproduce a consumer society. Postindustrial sports turn sporting events into a media spectacle. Professional achievements and commercialization becomes intertwined and result in the commodification of all aspects of life in a media/consumer society.
“Throughout the world, but especially in the United States, the capital of the commodity
spectacle, superstars like Michael Jordan commodity themselves from head to foot, selling their various body parts and images to the highest corporate bidders, imploding their sports images into the spectacles of advertising. In this fashion, the top athletes augment their salaries, sometimes spectacularly, by endorsing products, thus imploding sports, commerce, and advertising into dazzling spectacles which celebrate the products and values of corporate America” (Kellner 460).
The NBA, with Michael Jordan’s brand at the forefront, transformed Jordan’s African American identity into a “nonthreatening Reaganesque masculinity” for male youth across the world. Jordan became a commodity in a global, mass-mediated culture because his is “the racially neutral, NBA superstar; everybody’s All-American; White America’s solution to the race problem” (Denzin 321).
New Zealand
In 1993, a study was conducted among New Zealand youth looking to find out who they recognized as sports heroes. Despite being thousands of miles away from Chicago, Illinois, the New Zealand youth overwhelming chose Michael Jordan as their sports hero. In a country in which basketball is an afterthought, while rugby and cricket are the most popular sports, how could this happen? It all started with the rise of satellite television. Despite not having access to view full games of MJ, New Zealand was exposed to all of his highlights, as well as countless conglomerate corporation ads starring Jordan.
In many card collection stores in across the country like “Card Crazy”, Michael Jordan paraphilia is like gold. MJ remains the top selling card while New Zealand’s new international rugby star, Jonah Lomu (who is referred to as the Michael Jordan of rugby) ranks a distance 2nd in popularity.
After World War II New Zealand’s politics shifted towards American capitalist ideals, like regulation and privatization. While looking for a searching for a national identity, society began to embrace American culture and commodities. There was a “simultaneous multitextual circulation of Jordan’s identity on commercial satellite television and the corroborative presence of Nike’s Air Jordan shoes and apparel, related Nike promotions, and other NBA paraphernalia, in numerous commercial spaces…” (Andrews 436). Their society was captivated by the NBA (and Michael Jordan) because it represented the inciting American values of glamour, wealth, and explicit commercialism. Michael Jordan, along with the NBA energized popular and local culture in New Zealand. That in turn, enabled the profitability of local sports like the rugby union and rugby league to become a professional sport and make it a global commodity which thrust this country into the world of postmodern industrial sports.
Poland
During the 1990s the globalization of Nike along with the NBA, led to Michael Jordan becoming a sports hero to the youth in Poland. In today’s global broadcast via satellite, Poland was fed footage of Jordan’s athletic ability through sports highlights. His dominance on the court was appealing to Polish youth. MJ represented the ideal standard in a society that was oppressed by communism. Poland viewed the United States as “a bastion of freedom, justice, economic success, personal achievement, and happiness… the reception of Michael Jordan in Poland must be seen in the context of the centuries-long Polish fascination with America and its culture” (Andrews 441). The American Revolution was happening during a time when Poland lost its freedom to totalitarian government, so America was always looked at as an ideal society filled with liberty and justice. Thousands of Polish flocked to the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries as a result. “In Poland, the adjective ‘amerykanski’ (America) came to mean “the best,” of superior quality.” Even today the proverbial ‘wujek z Ameryki’ (an uncle from America), stands for the enormous opportunities for achieving personal success that America represents to Polish people” (Andrews 441). Through commercialization, America became even more seductive and powerful which was so different from the harsh realities they faced in Eastern Europe.
After the overthrow of a communist rule that lasted almost a half a century, the Polish sought political and economic initiatives from capitalist governments and free market economy in Western Europe and North America. From 1989 to 1995, there was a massive birth and development in Polish consumer culture that craved items advertised by global popular culture. “The possession of material goods, which serve as important status indicators has been, perhaps, the most conspicuous social change within postcommunist Poland…” (Andrews 442). The demise of communism in Poland happened during the NBA’s and Nike’s strategic efforts to increase their global presence. Regular television broadcasts, increases in news coverage, magazine circulation, and advertisements led to a demand of the NBA and Nike within Polish culture. Soon Poland had access to NBA games once a week, and they were littered with commercial breaks filled with NBA stars and their paraphernalia.
In addition to TV coverage, Poland had three national magazines devoted to basketball: Tygodnik Koszykarski Basket, Magic Basketball, and Koszykowka. The national, regional, and local newspapers also had sports sections that covered the NBA. In fact, when Michael Jordan returned to basketball in 1995, it was covered on national news stations and received the front page in most newspapers. “Reading the intertextually fabricated narrative of Michael Jordan, the Polish consumer is encouraged to view him as the lastest reincarnation of the hyperindividualistic ideology most closely associated with American culture… Jordan represents the apotheosis of such American values as freedom, independence, lack of restrictions, informality, optimism, wealth, and entrepreneurial skills” (Andrews 444). MJ has all the elements of the “Polish American Dream.”
The fascination with the NBA was manifested in youth fashion. Hats, t-shirts, shorts, and sneakers with a NBA team logo were all the rage in Poland. If you idolized a particular NBA star, you had some type of NBA paraphernalia. “’Jordanki,’ original and authentic Chicago Bulls caps, No. 23 t-shirts, and other basketball paraphernalia are purchased to be worn as status indicators; streetwise fashions that identify the owner as someone who knows what’s “in”…” (Andrews 445). Young people saw Jordan and other American global icons as inspiration for their own dreams and ambitions. They offered a break from their trials and tribulations, and brings them one step closer to the “idealized America of the Polish popular imaginary.”
“Polish youth, American popular sport culture, including NBA basketball and specifically
Michael Jordan, becomes a prominent reservoir of ideas and an important source of reference for expressing the limits/possibilities, pleasures/pains, and fascinations/fears that delineate postcommunist Poland” (Andrews 446).
In spite of Michael Jordan’s location, he still managed to make a significant across the world. The products he endorsed, his images, and services from American were packaged, commercialized, and adapted to fit multicultural ideals. Jordan’s globalization occurred through strategic advertising techniques and exposure to increase the worldwide demand. Jordan’s persona was molded through the media and corporate America and avoided the prejudice that many African Americans face in the United States. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson calls MJ “the symbolic carrier of racial and cultural desires to fly beyond limits and obstacles, a fluid metaphor of mobility and ascent to heights of excellence secured by genius and industry.” Through his excellence on the basketball court and commercialization by elite American corporations, Michael Jordan truly became a living legend.
Works Cited
Baran, Stanley and, Dennis Davis. Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, and Future. Boston: Wadworth, 2012. Print.
Denzin, Norman K. “More Rare Air: Michael Jordan On Michael Jordan.” Sociology Of Sport Journal 13.4 (1996): 319-324. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
Kellner, Dougias. “Sports, Media Culture, And Race- Some Reflections On Michael Jordan.” Sociology Of Sport Journal 13.4 (1996): 458-467. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
Zbigniew Mazur, et al. “Jordanscapes: A Preliminary Analysis Of The Global Popular.”Sociology Of Sport Journal 13.4 (1996): 428-457. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
Kobe v MJ (One of my 1st blog entries)
March 13, 2009
Many basketball fans dismiss this comparison claiming that Michael Jordan is the superior basketball with little to no evidence supporting their claim. One main argument is that Jordan has 6 championships compared to Kobe Bryant’s 3 which means Jordan must be the better player. If this is so Robert Horry is better than the both of them (he has 7 rings). From his rookie season until his 2nd retirement Jordan has consistently played around better talent than Kobe. People forget that Scottie Pippen played an essential role in those 6 championships and is among ESPN’s 50 Greatest Players of all time.
After analyzing both Kobe and Michael I have discovered there is no aspect in the game of basketball that Jordan is better than Kobe. On the offensive end of the floor there is no denying both players ability. Phil Jackson, who coached both players, has been quoted as saying “Kobe is a more skilled player than Jordan.” The fact that Jordan scored more points per game over his career has more to do with the fact that Jordan started his career off on a lottery team with little talent at his position and they needed more offensive production to begin is career. However, after witnessing Kobe hit 12 three pointers in a game (NBA record), outscore an ENTIRE TEAM in three quarters (62 vs. Dallas Mavericks), and scoring 81 points in a game in which his team was down double digits at halftime I believe Kobe is superior to Jordan on the offensive side of the ball.
One defense I believe that both players are equally matched. Both players were consistency members of the all NBA defensive team. Though Jordan won the defensive player of the year award, Kobe’s defensive prowess shouldn’t be ignored. While he has not won the award but his name always is mentioned during the voting process plus that fact that during his career he has played among defensive specialists (Ron Artest, Bruce Bowen, Ben Wallace, Kevin Garnett, etc.) who could dominate the defensive end of the floor in any NBA era.
In conclusion it is my firm belief that Kobe Bryant is the greatest basketball player of all time… for now… Though Kobe Bryant holds the position as the best in the game, he could in the near future be replaced by Lebron James. Lebron is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete with very good basketball skills. Because of his inconsistent perimeter shooting, average free-throw shooting %, and lack of mental toughness he CAN NOT be mentioned in the same category as Kobe and MJ because both players are superior in those categories. With consistent improvement in these areas of the game Lebron James can replace Kobe as the GOAT… maybe…
Coach K & The Blue Devils are No. 1
December 17, 2012
After Indiana’s OT loss the Butler, Duke has taken over as the #1 team in the nation. After 3 wins against top 5 opponents in a 16 day span, they sure deserve it. Coach K isn’t a stranger to having the top ranked team in college basketball. During his 33 years of coaching, his teams have been ranked #1 more games (209) than they have been unranked (141).
Unlike teams like Kentucky, who are full of kids fresh out of high school, Duke is anchored by their 3 seniors: Mason Plumlee, Seth Curry, and Ryan Kelly. With their stellar upperclassmen and standout freshman PG Rasheed Sulaimon, even against stiff competition Duke has found ways to win. They beat then ranked #3 Kentucky, and #2 Louisville on neutral sites, and #4 Ohio State at home.
Despite their hot start, I wouldn’t be ready to crown this Duke team National Champions just yet. With 3 players on the team that are 6’10 or taller, you’d think that Duke would be a good rebounding team, but they rank 170th in the country in rebounds at 35.6 pg. That’s not going to get it done come tournament time. The Blue Devils are also not a deep team, after the starting 5 they don’t have any scoring threats.
The ACC is having a down year, so expect Duke to win a lot of games in conference. Give Duke credit though, they have played great basketball thus far. But if Coach K is going to capture his 2 title in 3 years, his team has some work to do…
“This knee won’t hold me back!” -Adrian Peterson
December 17, 2012
After being bottled up for the 1st quarter against an underrated St. Louis Rams defense (8 carries, 8 yards), Peterson’s tremendous talent kicked in to overdrive. On a simple draw play, AP patiently followed his fullback up the middle then exploded up the gut for a 82 yard touchdown. This amazing play demoralized the Rams, and the game permanently swung the momentum in the Vikings favor. By the time Peterson found his lane and took off, he was so far ahead of everyone else that he had time to look up at the screen and watch as he high-stepped into the endzone.
“Yeah, yeah, I was able to see myself,” Peterson said. “I just told myself to stay relaxed and ‘you don’t have to put on too much juice, but make sure you get there.”
*Rick Ross grunt*
Soooo you mean to tell me he wasn’t even running full speed on that play!?
And just think, on Christmas Eve of last year Adrian Peterson destroyed his knee, which took an entire offseason to heal. For him to not only come back, but lead the league in rushing (1,812), rushing yards per game (129.4), and have 11 TDs is nothing short of remarkable. No disrespect to what Peyton Manning has accomplished in Denver, but there is no question that Adrian Peterson should win Comeback Player of the Year AND MVP. He plays one of the most violent positions in the NFL, and to bounce back from that, and perform at such a high level speaks volumes.
Let’s put some things into perspective… Adrian Peterson averages as many yards rushing per attempt as his QB Christian Ponder is passing yards per attempt at 6.3. In the month of December, he has rushed for 576 yards (7.6 yards per rush) and 4 TDs. This man is on pace to rush for over 2,000 yards, a little more than a year removed from major knee surgery. Not to mention the fact that he is heart and soul of the Minnesota’s team. On a weekly basis, teams stack the line of scrimmage to slow down the freight train that is AP, but to no avail. Without his production, the Vikings would be horrendous. In their 8 wins, Peterson has showed up and showed out. In their wins, AP has 1,110 total yards and 7 TDs and willed this team into playoff contention.
It would be a great injustice if Adrian Peterson is not awarded the NFL’s MVP and Comeback POY awards at the end of the season, not to mention soooooo DISRESPECTFUL *Stephen A. Smith voice* to one of the greatest seasons by a RB in NFL history.
Confessions of a Distraught Lakers Fan…
December 16, 2012
Not in a million years would I believe that 24 games into the season, a team with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Dwight Howard would be 4 games below .500. Neither would I believe that the Lakers would fire Mike Brown (After 4 games into the season!), turn down Phil Jackson, the winningest coach in NBA history, and hire Mike D’Antoni in a 2 week span. At times, LA has looked like a lottery team, with several bad losses, confusion on both sides of the ball, and injuries.
After the Lake Show limped out to a 1-4 record, ownership shocked everyone by firing second year head coach Mike Brown. I can’t say was upset for the move, but I do feel sorry for the guy. He is a great defensive mind and throughout this coaching career he has made a lot out of little (Taking the Cavs to the NBA Finals in 2007). He really didn’t get a fair shot to coach this team, and unfortunately his legacy will be ‘The Guy who couldn’t win a ring with LeBron or Kobe”. With Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in the fold, Brown just wasn’t a great fit. His slow motion, often times robotic offense isn’t a good system for a PG like Steve Nash.
Mike Brown’s abrupt departure definitely took us all by surprise, but turning down ‘The Zen Master”, a guy who’s won 5 rings already coaching the Lakers and has 12 total championships (1 as a player)?!?! Who would have been better to manage the Lakers top heavy roster than Phil Jackson? His resume speaks for itself. In all honesty, I think the Lakers were thrown off by Jackson’s demands (restricted traveling for away games, more input in basketball decisions, and I’m sure a hefty price tag) and took the “we’ll show you” approach and went with option B.
The only benefit from having Mike D’Antoni is his previous success with Steve Nash. These two created some beautiful basketball from 2004-2008. During that span, they compiled 232 wins, 2 WCF apperances, a Coach of the Year award, and 2 MVPs. Albeit that the Lakers need Steve Nash to flourish in order to win a title, the rest of the team doesn’t seem like a fit for D’Antoni’s style of play. The Lakers’ 2 twin towers in the middle in Gasol and Howard haven’t really been comfortable together so far this year. Coach D’Antoni’s pick and roll offense leaves Pau Gasol wandering around the perimeter shooting long range jumpers. While Pau is a capable shooter, the 7 foot Spaniard is most effective in the post where he can score with either hand and create for others. Age and attrition also doesn’t bode well for LA in an uptempo offense. Teams are pushing the ball down the Lakers throat, leaving them helpless as they watch younger, faster players get to the rim with ease.
Yes, the Lakers are 10-14 and the chances of Kobe getting his 6th ring this year look slim to none at this point. However I will give Mike D’Antoni’s 5-9 record a pass because he inherited a top heavy team with a suspect bench AND his field general in Steve Nash, as well as Pau Gasol and Steve Blake are out with injuries. LA is down to its 3rd and 4th string PGs, and it shows… the Lakers have looked lost on offense with everyone standing around watching Kobe and Howard dominate the ball. LA is 24th in the league in assists pg with 20.3, and committing a ton of turnovers. With no one to orchestrate the offense, Kobe has been forced to score and facilitate which leaves me to wonder if the 17 year vet will have enough in the tank once the playoffs arrive. Despite having to carry an enormous load, Kobe is quietly having one of his best seasons ever shooting a career high 48% from the field and averaging 29, 5 and 5. Once Nash returns, Bryant’s life will get a whole lot easier.
These injuries have not only stalled the team’s cohesiveness, it has exposed the Lakers bench. Despite a couple of flashes, Antawn Jamison and Jodie Meeks have been a disappointment. Both have experienced dips in their scoring averages from last year, and they have managed to combine for only 14 ppg. These two, along with Steve Blake (once he returns to action), must find a way to be more productive to take some pressure off the starting 5.
Most of Laker Nation, myself included, have officially entered panic mode. With Kobe at 34 and Nash at 38 (will be 39 in February), the window of opportunity for a title is getting smaller by the day. As bad a start the Lakers have had this season there are a few glimmers of hope…
1) Dwight Howard is steadily improving
People forget that Howard is coming back from serious back surgery, he has been quoted as saying he could barely walk towards the end of last season. There has been steady improvement from DH from game to game. His free throw shooting has been pathetic and it will cost the Lakers some games, but if Howard can get back to his Defensive Player of the Year form he will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
2) Steve Nash
Steve Nash is the key to the Lakers success this season. If he can find a way to duplicate last year’s statistics, LA will be hard to deal with. His perimeter shooting and playmaking abilities will inject some energy into the Lakers offense. Now I’m not saying the 38 year old PG will be the cure all to the team’s multitude of problems (especially on defense). But as Nash heals and the team spends more time together more wins will come.
3) We are only 24 games in!
Bottom line, the Lakers are trying to build Rome in a week. This team is going to need some time to mesh together. Once everyone gets healthy and can sustain some type of rhythm, this team will be right in the mix for a trip to the Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately the Lakers look like they will need a whole season together to fix their problems, and time is of the essence. Father time is not far behind Kobe and Nash, which means if the Lakers are to win a title, it will have to be this year or next. Laker Nation must somehow discover some patience because this team has A LOT of work to do…
RGIII holds off the Giants in Chocolate City
December 4, 2012
As the clock winded down the 4th quarter, the FedEx field crowd of 80,000+ rejoiced, shouting R-G-3! R-G-3! Robert Griffin III has been all the Washington Redskins could have asked for and more. The Redskins are starting to heat up, last night’s 17-16 win over the New York Giants marked their 3rd consecutive victory. A vast majority of the Washington’s success this season starts and ends with RGIII. The rookie has put the team on his back, and with 4 games left in the season they are in prime position to grab a wild card playoff spot or even win the NFC East. “There’s a lot of excitement around this team right now,” Robert Griffin III said. “And I think everybody’s feeling it.”
Griffin’s hard work and dedication earned him the nomination to become a captain recently. His actions on and off the field are becoming infectious among his teammates, and it showed on Monday. The defense held the Giants to only 1 TD, despite giving up 390 total yards. Eli Manning had success throughout the day moving the ball, but couldn’t quite cash in as the Redskins defense was particularly stingy in the redzone. 37 year old veteran LB London Fletcher led the charge with 12 tackles and was head cheerleader on the sidelines.
The offense is also looking very well as of late. The offensive line was phenomenal and kept Griffin clean all night. The vaunted Giants pass rush failed to register a sack for just the 3rd time all season. Rookie RB Alfred Morris rushed for 122 yards against the Giants and became only the 2nd rookie in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Pierre Garcon seems to be healthy again and in sync with Griffin. On Monday night he caught 8 passes for 106 and 1 TD.
The Washington Redskins are now only a game back of the division lead at 6-6. If they can find a way to win their last 4 games, they will be headed to the playoffs for the 1st time since 2007. After many years of inconsistency at the quarterback position, RGIII finally has given Chocolate City a legit franchise player. Despite only starting 12 games so far in his young career, he seems to be as good as advertised. The Redskins are not only in a great position this year, but for many years to come with the terrific young phenom leading the way.
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