Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Ainge, Rondo Are On the Same Page Extension Talks Loom
WALTHAM — If there was one positive from the dual Rajon Rondo-Danny Ainge address Monday at Celtics media day, it was Ainge freely acknowledging Rondo’s market value when free agency begins next July.
If there was any question about whether Rondo is a maximum salary player, Ainge answered it convincingly; he realizes re-signing the four-time All-Star point guard will require an estimated $107 million over five years.
Eric Bledsoe’s five-year, $70 million extension from the Suns changed the market for point guards, especially since Bledsoe has battled injuries and has yet to make an All-Star appearance. While injuries have plagued Rondo recently, he has an opportunity to prove worthy of a max salary with an impressive final year of his current contract.
Rondo had a black sling protecting his broken left hand, which he sustained in a slip and fall Thursday in his Boston-area home, while he addressed the media. While the injury is expected to cost him training camp and the first two weeks of the regular season, Rondo should have ample time to prove he’s totally recovered from his January 2013 right anterior cruciate ligament tear.
Ainge and Rondo wanted to spend as little time discussing the broken hand as possible. They were eager to talk about 1) the Celtics’ desire to bring him back next year and beyond, and 2) Rondo’s wish to come back. Both realize it will be difficult to continue their marriage; that would result in the largest financial commitment ever made to a Celtic.
Rondo again said he wants to remain in Boston. While he has been a polarizing figure among fans for several years, he has become somewhat comfortable, evidenced by his spending most of the summer here instead of his native Kentucky.
“The fans, the people here, make me want to stay,” said Rondo. “The organization has been great. I can’t say enough about Danny and [majority owner] Wyc [Grousbeck]. When I walk down the street, the fans embrace me from Day 1. Even when we won a championship, people don’t just appreciate us winning. It’s more of a thank you. It’s a love for the game. These people here know the game and they care for it. They know when you’re not playing as hard as you can. The love I get is kind of overwhelming in Boston. Why wouldn’t I want to stay here?”
The answer would be strictly because of the money, especially if the Celtics continue toward respectability and a playoff run. There’s no question Rondo has seen the salaries given to less-proven players such as Bledsoe, Chandler Parsons, Eric Gordon, and John Wall — all of whom will be paid more this season than Rondo — and feels envious.
Rondo will be the league’s 36th-highest paid player in 2014-15, and that is most certainly going to jump toward the top 10 next year. “Obviously with this injury I’m just anxious to get back out there on the court and show what I can do and win games, play with my teammates, go out there, have fun, and do what I love doing best — that’s playing basketball,” he said. “Everything else will come. What other guys do is what other guys do. During negotiation time, it will come up, but right now, I can’t jump to July 1 already. I’ve got to live in the moment and take care of what I need to take care of as far starting this training camp off right and being on the sideline and encouraging the young guys and help lead them.”
Ainge realizes a long-term commitment to Rondo could affect the team’s salary cap for years. Rondo has played in the NBA since he was 20 and would be 34 at the conclusion of a maximum deal. Yet, having signed a below-market five-year deal in 2009, Rondo is seeking to make up for that. Ainge understands.
“I think a four-time All-Star by the time he’s 27 years old would qualify for max based on what we’ve seen in the marketplace,” Ainge said. “If I were Rajon and I were Rajon’s agent [Bill Duffy], I would definitely say that. But since I’m negotiating against him, I’ll withhold.” In other words, the Celtics have roughly nine months to determine whether Rondo will receive that money here or elsewhere. And it’s rather refreshing that Ainge admitted what the parameters of such an agreement would be. He hasn’t always been so open about players of the past, such as Kendrick Perkins or Tony Allen.
It doesn’t matter whether Ainge believes Rondo is worth a max deal because that’s what it’s going to take. Elite players, once they reach the midway point of their careers, are generally overpaid (except LeBron James).
The league’s five highest-paid players are Kobe Bryant, Amar’e Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard, and only the latter two are in their prime. James is sixth.
Ainge doesn’t have to make a decision now, but he will have to make a decision. Keeping Rondo a Celtic for life will cost Ainge, but it’s encouraging for those who want Rondo to stay that both sides agree on the terms. That’s at least a start.
Gary Washburn can be reached at gwashburn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GwashburnGlobe.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Here we go again with questonable draft decisions
That date was mandated by the NCAA because college coaches complained of being unable to replace those prospects who waited sometimes as late as June to make their decision whether to leave school. So kids are now blindly entering the draft, hoping that they will land in the lottery or first round where they will receive a guaranteed contract. So players such as Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Meyers Leonard (Illinois), Austin Rivers (Duke) and Tony Wroten (Washington) have already thrown their names into the pool, hoping to entice teams to consider them a potential cornerstone.
But potential is the key word here. There have been countless of players who submitted their names, truly believing they were destined for stardom and now they are barely hanging on or missed their sliver of opportunity to succeed. Xavier Henry, Willie Warren and Josh Selby are names from the past two drafts that were supposed to make an impact. Henry and Selby are clinging on to NBA rosters while Warren is in the NBADL.
Unless the goal of leaving college early was to experience the lavish life of the NBADL, Warren made a mistake leaving Oklahoma three years early and is in the NBADL while Selby and Henry are just guys on rosters, hardly considered building blocks for the future. They are in league survival mode.
The NBA admittedly does not want unprepared players in their league but they have to scout and evaluate those prospects who may be entering the draft prematurely. Unfortunately, the NCAA rules has eliminated the NBA's chance to look at potential draftees before offering suggestions about staying in the draft or returning to school. By the time teams will have a chance to look at players, the decision-making process is over and we'll welcome a new slew of youngsters entering the NBA without much chance to succeed because they are unprepared.
The NBA and NCAA have to collaborate for one uniform rule on draft entry, hopefully one that allows the 19-year-old to avoid the chances of making a decision he will regret for his entire life. There are countless examples of those players who lament their decisions decades later.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Pryor is all that's wrong with college athletics
Do you think Joe Paterno breathes daily sighs of relief that Terrelle Pryor chose Ohio State instead of Penn State?
The carnage Pryor left in Columbus, Ohio after his uneven and controversial three-year stint with the Buckeyes may be unprecedented for a college athlete since those chaotic days in the 1980s at Southern Methodist University.
And to improve his chances of entering the NFL's supplemental draft, Pryor attempts to add more embarrassment to Ohio State by admitting he took money from a mentor, something he did not bother to inform Ohio State or the NCAA during their investigations of his activities under coach Jim Tressel.
So basically, to bolster his opportunity to make money professionally, Pryor admitted to more wrongdoings to convince the NFL that he would not have been eligible to play next season for Ohio State. Pryor, a highly recruited quarterback four years ago, was already suspended for the first five games of the season for accepting tattoos and cash for items such as his Big Ten championship ring and other memorabilia.
And instead of sitting out those games, Pryor decided to leave school when Tressel resigned under pressure for not immediately reporting the violations when he was informed by a booster. The NFL has allowed Pryor to enter Monday's supplemental draft, a selection process mostly of college players banished from their programs, but commissioner Roger Goddell informed NFL teams that Pryor must sit out the first five regular-season games for the team that drafts him.
In order words, he carried over that Ohio State suspension to the NFL, penalizing Pryor for his sudden revelation that he accepted money from his mentor. This punishment is more than fair for a young man obviously misguided about his own worth and who appears hardly remorseful for his actions.
It's one thing to accept money during those college playing days to feed yourself or your family and it's another to trade in merchandise for tattoos. Pryor was a pro before he even played his first college game, a legend in his own mind more than willing to choose the program that offered him the most perks. While his talent never quite caught up with his ego, Pryor showed flashes of brilliance at Ohio State but always seemingly made sure to reward himself for his moderate accomplishments.
And in order to continue those rewards, he freely admitted to more misdeeds with little consideration of the program and teammates he abruptly disassociated with when it became apparent that Columbus was no longer a welcome place anymore. So a five-game suspension is a little more than a slap on the wrist for someone who deserves more stringent punishment.
Pryor is a product of a college system that is dysfunctional and the blame should be placed on all sides, his parents for allowing him to believe that was somehow being correctly compensated and the university, which allows boosters and alumni to exploit these young men with little repercussions.
The system is wrecked and only a collective effort from coaches, parents, universities and yes, even the players themselves, will correct it. Until then, players such as Terrelle Pryor will take their chances if a five-game suspension is the most severe of consequences.
Somehow, I think he believes it was worth it.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Gary Washburn's Mock NBA Draft
By Gary Washburn
Well, the day is here and after some arduous work and research this is the best mock draft we can come up with. But this draft is so unpredictable and bizarre with several prospects who are talented but not quite ready for the NBA. So here's my best guess and we'll talk about these picks in the coming days.
1) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Kyrie Irving, Duke 6-4, 191
There is so much mystery attached to Irving (above) because he played just 11 college games. But the upside is so tremendous and Cleveland is looking to move forward after LeBron’s abrupt departure, this helps the process.
2) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Derrick Williams, Arizona, 6-9, 248
The Timberwolves are shopping this pick, but imagine a combo of Williams at the small forward and Kevin Love at power forward. GM David Kahn has bizarre ways but he is building a team and Williams has a polished game.
3) UTAH JAZZ
Brandon Knight, Kentucky, 6-4, 177
The Jazz are also considering Enes Kanter at this position and they are in the position of sitting Knight for a year or two and playing Devin Harris. But this is a key pick that could cause a domino affect with the rest of the draft.
4) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Enes Kanter, Turkey 6-11, 260
The Cavaliers are looking to move this pick for an established veteran, however, the alternative is a solid big man and legitimate center who could team with Anderson Varejao for rebounds. Yet, he is another international mystery.
5) TORONTO RAPTORS
Jan Vesely, Czech Republic 6-11, 240
This could go in many directions, especially with new coach Dwane Casey carrying a defensive philosophy. He doesn’t want another scorer who can’t defend as in Andrea Bargnani but Vesely’s athleticism is to enticing to pass up and he along with Ed Davis and Bargnani are a strong combo.
6) WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Tristian Thompson, Texas 6-9, 227
Thompson said Wednesday that wants to go to a team that runs the ball, and there is no more perfect of a place than Washington with John Wall. Thompson is a strong character guy who could eventually replace the checkered Andray Blatche.
7) SACRAMENTO KINGS
Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State, 6-7, 228
The Kings are looking to make a playoff run and put fans in the seats to support a new arena and they need a swingman with defensive prowess. He will mesh in well with the team’s younger core.
8) DETROIT PISTONS
Bismack Biyombo, Congo, 6-9, 243
A team without a coach has many options with this pick but the defensive-minded Biyombo brings his lunch pail to the Motor City and eventually takes over for Ben Wallace. But the Pistons are also looking for another swingman.
9) CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Marcus Morris, Kansas, 6-9, 230
Michael Jordan called this draft the most important in Charlotte history and the Bobcats need an established scorer who can make a splash right away. Marcus is more polished than his twin brother and will make fans forget lamenting the loss of Gerald Wallace.
10) MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Alec Burks, Colorado, 6-6, 193
Burks is a player who could blossom into a star like Paul George the year before. He is a prolific scorer and shooter and has good size. With John Salmons already there, the Bucks don’t need Burks to produce immediately.
11)GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Klay Thompson, Washington, State, 6-7, 206
Thompson proved he could score in the Pac-10 and should flourish in a fast-paced offense, but there are questions about his toughness and character. But the Warriors are a piece or two away from being really dangerous.
12) UTAH JAZZ
Chris Singleton, Florida State, 6-9, 230
Jazz pass up on Jimmer Fredette to get best defender in the draft and someone to take pressure off Al Jefferson. Singleton is long and versatile and doesn’t need the ball much. But he may have to play some center.
13) PHOENIX SUNS
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, 6-1, 184
Phoenix likes to score and an up-tempo style and Walker could become the heir apparent to Steve Nash while playing with Nash as a rookie. This is a little lower than expected for Walker but it may be the best fit.
14) HOUSTON ROCKETS
Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania, 7-0, 245
He is dropping because of a European contract that has committed him to staying with Lietuvos Rytas but he’s worth waiting a year on as a legitimate center and Kevin McHale needs bigs to succeed with the Rockets.
15) INDIANA PACERS
Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young, 6-3, 196
Larry Bird loves Jimmer and he could be the point guard the Pacers have been seeking for years. Indiana just needs bodies and it seems stacked in the frontcourt, so Fredette is a risk but a smart one.
16) PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Marshon Brooks, Providence, 6-5, 195
With Andre Iguodala being shopped, the 76ers need a new scoring guard who can develop into a standout player. Brooks put up major numbers with little fanfare in the Big East and he’s a good fit here.
17) NEW YORK KNICKS
Nikola Vucevic, USC, 7-0, 260
He is a versatile big man who can shoot from the outside and Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, who played for years in Italy, is not afraid to nab a European-born player. And he is a legitimate center.
18) WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Jordan Hamilton, Texas, 6-9, 229
The Wizards take Thompson’s teammate in this spot to fill their small forward void. Washington already has a point guard and center and Hamilton is skilled enough to become an impact player.
19) CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Donatas Motiejunas, Lithuania, 7-0, 245
Quick. Name Charlotte’s starting center? Kwame Brown and the Bobcats can definitely use a home-grown upgrade. He can score and has NBA size, and Charlotte needs to get serious about developing a big man.
20) MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Iman Shumpert, Georgia Tech, 6-6, 222
The Wolves need swingmen and athletes and they choose Shumpert to team in the backcourt with Ricky Rubio with Wesley Johnson at the small forward. He will find his way into the rotation.
21) PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, 6-8, 225
Portland has longed for the athleticism and aggressiveness of Faried and they seem set in most other positions. The Celtics would love for him to slip down the 25, but the Trail Blazers get a much-needed tough guy who doesn’t need the ball.
22) DENVER NUGGETS
Tobias Harris, Tennessee, 6-8, 223
With Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen likely gone, the Nuggets need to get younger in the paint and the inexperienced Harris likes to play defense and is coachable. He should have stayed in school but bailed when Bruce Pearl got into deep trouble in Knoxville.
23) HOUSTON ROCKETS
Reggie Jackson, Boston College, 6-3, 209
Kyle Lowry is a solid NBA point guard but he is undersized and injury prone, so Jackson comes in here to learn the position and give the Rockets some backcourt help. But he has not worked out for teams because of a knee injury.
24) OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
Markeiff Morris, Kansas, 6-9, 241
The Thunder like rugged players and Morris is their type of guy. Nick Collison is 30 while Kendrick Perkins showed signs of slowing down after coming over from the Celtics. Morris is a glue player with solid shooting skills.
25) BOSTON CELTICS
Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA, 6-8, 188
If he had stayed another year, Honeycutt would be a top 10 pick, and the Celtics don’t need him to produce right away, but they need a player who can grow into a star. Honeycutt makes the game look easy and he is just starting to scratch the surface.
26) DALLAS MAVERICKS
Jeremy Tyler, Italy, 6-11, 262
With Tyson Chandler as a free agent, the Mavericks invest in their future and they don’t need the inexperience Tyler to perform immediately. And Mavs owner Mark Cuban has no problem taking draft chances.
27) NEW JERSEY NETS
Justin Harper, Richmond, 6-9, 228
With their point guard and center all set, the Nets go after the talented Harper with their only first-round pick. They have to score with this one because they gave so much to Utah for Deron Williams.
28) CHICAGO BULLS
Nolan Smith, Duke, 6-4, 188
What better for Tom Thibodeau’s system than a defensive-minded two-guard? Smith has an NBA pedigree with his late father Derek and he comes from a four-year stint at Duke. He immediately becomes a rotation player.
29) SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Davis Bertans, Latvia, 6-10, 210
The Spurs are all set for one more title run but they could use another big man down the road. Bertains may stay overseas for a year or two but he will be back.
30) CHICAGO BULLS
Chandler Parsons, Florida, 6-9, 220
Parsons is polished and can shoot from the perimeter. The Bulls lacked perimeter shootings and none of their forwards are outside threats besides Luol Deng. Parsons fills a needed role.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Athletes should be more expressive, but also informed
This has been an interesting week when it comes to athletes and social opinions. The killing of Osama Bin Laden sparked celebration from many Americans and reactions from certain athletes who have offered their thoughts on the landmark news and the aftermath.
Two athletes -- the Milwaukee Bucks' Chris Douglas-Roberts (pictured right) and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Rashard Mendenhall -- were chided for their Twitter comments, although they were different. Douglas-Roberts, an astute person who has quite a Twitter following, pondered the celebration of someone's death, especially since Afghans and others in the Middle East were celebrating the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Mendenhall went a little further to not only criticize the celebration but suggesting that we didn't know Bin Laden and knew only "one side of the story."
Douglas-Roberts explained his comments to ESPN and the New York Daily News while Mendendall released a blog explaining his stance, which was misguided at best.
The positive in this situation is that athletes, even the younger ones, are beginning to speak out and notice the world around them besides material goods, women and music. The negative is that sometimes athletes, especially those who don't follow news closely, can give misinformed opinions and therefore face great criticism.
We have seen a generation of athletes pass on having any political opinions that may affect sneaker sales or their marketing image. Athletes who could have great influence on the thinking and the education of their fans have passed for fear making any waves, although some of those won't hesitate to drive while drinking or get caught with marijuana. It's about time our athletes stop being so concerned about their image, but by using the forum of Twitter or blogs comes the responsibility of being educated on the subjects you choose to broach.
That's the challenge for athletes, to enlighten themselves on issues outside of sports. We ask our athletes to be more well rounded, make a statement, offer a thought on their community and when they do, we tend to criticize them because of that opinion. As long as that opinion is concise, knowledgeable and sincere, we can't criticize the effort. We can only choose to agree or disagree.
That is the American way.
Monday, November 15, 2010
The problem with Newton is his father
What should be a memorable and satisfying season for Auburn football has been tainted by the sobering accusations that Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Cameron Newton may have passed on attending Mississippi State because the school did not offer money requested by his father, Cecil, who has not exactly denied those claims.
Newton played last Saturday and was stellar in a 49-31 victory over the University of Georgia, passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He is one of the most dominant college quarterbacks in recent years but his father's greed may hinder a great career, just as it did with former USC running back Reggie Bush.
Kids coming out of junior college suddenly don't decide to ask for money to play. They get that idea from somewhere and in this situation, it was Newton's father who decided he was going risk his son's reputation by cashing in on his talents. It's not as if Cameron won't make enough money in the National Football League, he decided a college scholarship wasn't enough. He needed to be paid right now.
And his desire for indulgence could cost his son his reputation and Auburn University football wins. What gives him the right to do that? The parent is not on the football field taking those hits. And he is trying to rob his son's opportunity at a basic and enjoyable college life. He is on scholarship, which means he will live in nice quarters, won't be short of a meal and will have his books and tuition handled. In addition, he is probably the most identifiable Auburn athlete since Bo Jackson or Charles Barkley. And he singlehandedly resurrected a football program that had been reduced to the stepchild of in-state rival Alabama.
Auburn football is significant again, and Newton in the nucleus of that revival, but now it could all be destroyed by a headstrong father who believed he was intelligent enough to circumvent the system. He apparently hired a "representative," who contacted interested schools and said it would require more than a scholarship to attract his son.
Really? Did Cameron actually say that or was this the case of a money-hungry father looking to be compensated, perhaps to clear up a couple of debts while his son pays all the physical dues. Hopefully this is a case of a father perhaps associating with some seedy people who have decided to cause a stir with some exaggerations. Regardless, there is smoke to this fire and Cecil Newton is guilty of poor judgment if anything else.
The question why do parents anoint themselves responsible for capitalizing off their children's success? Instead of sporting a fresh Auburn baseball cap, sitting with the other parents and basking in pride, Cecil Newton tried to sell his son to the highest bidder, sacrificing his son's character and reputation in the process.
The money will be there eventually for Cameron Newton, but unfortunately his own father tried to jeopardize the two luxuries that all of us wish we still had, youth and innocence. Thanks Dad.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The long balls aren't that long anymore
Who knew the decline of the home run would occur this quickly after Major League Baseball implemented drug testing amongst all of its players? The drop has been staggering, with just five players with 30 or more homers as the season reaches late August.
Such numbers so late in the season are reminiscent of baseball in the 1970s, when a 40-home-run season was a career achievement. George Foster's 52 bombs for the Cincinnati Reds in 1978 was a staggering number in that era. Just 20 years later, 52 home runs were commonplace, a rather drab number as home runs piled up like bonus points in a pinball game. Major League Baseball sought an escape from the doldrums caused by the 1994 strike-canceled season and jumped on the home run bandwagon, ignoring the fact that many of its players were injecting chemicals into their systems to enhance their performance.
When the numbers finally reached the point of ridiculousness and many of the game's top sluggers began admitting -- or were forced to admit -- their use of performance enhancing drugs, suddenly a drug testing plan was instituted. Following the embarrassing PED admission of Alex Rodriguez two years ago, it seems the home run has been viewed differently by the average fan and the game has been handed back to the pitchers.
Nearly every week this season there is a near no-hitter while players who aaccustomed to averaging 30 home runs by the All-Star Break -- David Ortiz, Mark Teixeira, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard -- are now trying to reach that mark for the season.
Even more telling is that the league's home run leader -- Jose Bautista -- is a 29-year-old journeyman and former Rule 5 Draft Pick once returned to the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Baltimore Orioles. Bautista (pictured above after a home run) leads the Majors with 37 home runs, six more than his nearest competitor. He had just 13 last season.
Bautista's power rise is a byproduct of hard work and gradual improvement, reasons that we want all players to bash home runs. PEDs should be a solution of the past and these rather ordinary home run numbers show that. With roughly 40 games left in the regular season, there may be just two or three players reach the 40 home run mark, meaning the home run actually has more value because they become more difficult to amass.
Home runs used to be exciting because they possessed the element of surprise. But when players started bopping them at an exponential rate and more and more bombs showed up on "SportsCenter" highlight reels, they became more superficial, more like a video game and less like America's Pastime.
So it's time to appreciate Major League Baseball's return to its roots, before PEDs, before massive body armor allowed players to stand inches from the plate and before pitchers were afraid to throw inside. MLB has gone retro and the game is as real and enjoyable as its been in years.
Let's hope this era lasts.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
U.S. Soccer should be better by now
Wasn't it about 15 years ago when every American child abandoned Little League Baseball for soccer? Weren't were cultivating a generation of soccer players who were going to turn the sport in the American passion? Weren't these kids supposed to push the United States past being a respectable soccer nation and into a power?
Well it's 2010, and those kids born in the mid-1980s are the prime age for being professional soccer players, yet we still lost to Ghana in the World Cup. If Landon Donovan is the best American player, then that doesn't bode well for U.S. Soccer because he was about the fifth-best player Saturday in the 2-1 Knockout Stage loss.
It's amazing to see the Ghanaians play harder, faster and tougher than the American team because by now, we were supposed to be a soccer force. Those kids who could have been LeBron James or Evan Longoria or Chris Johnson were supposed to have ditched the three major sports in favor of soccer, but somewhere interest has been lost.
Somewhere between those cute pee-wee soccer leagues and those high-level leagues reserves for our top players there has been a disconnect. Kids stopped loving soccer or parents stopped pushing their kids to play when the sport became too demanding or too expensive. We aren't complaining about the shortage of great basketball players or football stars or even baseball players. They are hitting the professional ranks in droves.
But we have no idea who will consist of the 2014 World Cup team because the sport's young stars are either too young or not good enough for intense international competition. Donovan is a nice player, but what happened to soccer sensation Freddy Adu, who was playing professionally at age 16?
We are again at a crossroads in soccer. Even the most pedestrian soccer fan could have figured that Ghana was the better team Saturday. We lacked the athleticism and precision, the depth and the endurance. And it was the same case in '94 and '02. But we were supposed to build off those World Cups and return with a vengeance. Instead we are asking ourselves whether we will ever be a soccer country.
That's a question that should have already been answered, but somehow the U.S. Soccer Federation never adequately fed off the soccer craze of the early 1990s, because those kids should be superstars by now. And the U.S. team that is coming home today has no superstars. We know that much.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
NFL Draft doesn't measure heart
On the day many NFL first-round draft picks were being introduced to their new teams and glorified by fans with Super Bowl dreams, JaMarcus Russell (pictured right with commissioner Roger Goodell) was officially tabbed a bust and his once immense potential abandoned by the Oakland Raiders, who traded for Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell to be their starter.
Russell was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, a rocket-armed mammoth dart thrower expected to lead the Raiders back to respectability. Instead, Russell collected more spinning rims and expensive platinum chains than touchdown passes. He relished the $31.5 million signing bonus and splurged on bling, moved many family members to the Oakland area and was a fixture in the Bay Area party scene. There was one thing missing: Russell forgot about the demands and expectations of his draft position. He forgot that every one of his moves were being judged, and the same fans who were clamoring for his autograph this time three years ago, would be tearing into him after his first interception.
Russell is a prime example of why the professional draft process is so inexact. Teams can measure height, weight, speed, agility and even intelligence, but they can't measure passion, heart or how money will affect a man barely out of high school. Russell loved the money more than the game, and when that happens, you will be replaced.
The NFL is a no excuses league and the Raiders were reluctant to admit they had made a mistake but their pursuit of Campbell, a hard-working player who has been often criticized in Washington -- but never for his worth ethic -- now has a new home. While Russell will have to resuscitate his career with a new team or hopefully he saved some of that cash for his post-NFL career.
This week former Detroit Pistons Bad Boy Rick Mahorn filed for bankruptcy, admitting he and his wife had just $1,001 in his bank account and his Piston championship ring was missing, likely sold or pawned. It's a harsh lesson that money doesn't last forever, and the key to long-term financial comfort is maximizing your career. Russell has done nothing my maximize his waistline in Oakland and will soon learn that same demoralizing lesson that the money or lifestyle doesn't last forever, or even past age 25 in many NFL cases.
New draftees are kissing family members, mamas, daddies, kids and crazy uncles but they need to fully realize the arduous path ahead to succeed. The adoration doesn't last long when you don't produce results and while a platinum chain in your likeness wows the ladies at the club but self indulgence does little to improve your passion or desire or increase the size of your heart.
Heart can't be measured. That's why it's fascinating to track those high picks who falter and those low ones who flourish. Denver took a lot of heat for taking Tim Tebow but he has an intangible that will supersede his weaknesses and teams tend to forget this is a people business. Russell had all the physical tools but the heart of a kitten.
But there he was, dressed in a well tailored suit, shaking hands with the commissioner, smiling, holding up a jersey, but it was all a sham. Russell can no longer get by on his physical tools, his allure eventually dried up because there was no substance, no devotion and no fortitude.
Those characteristics can't be measured at the NFL combine. Russell is the latest example of an athlete who loved the money more than the game, and that same affliction could fell many of this weekend's picks. Until the NFL views heart and desire as a critical part of success, it will continue to pour millions of dollars into fraudulent saviors who deliver nothing more than unrealized dreams.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Note to NCAA: Do Not Expand!!
The NCAA wants to rake in more money from the tournament because CBS has declining revenues in the current television deal. And their simplest solution is expanding the 65-team tournament to 96, adding an extra weekend and as many as two extra games for some participants, meaning a champion may have require eight consecutive wins to earn the title.
This is ridiculous. The NCAA, as usual, is attempting to mess with a formula that doesn't need meddling because they are trying to scrape more money out of the system. College basketball is an effective and attractive entity already and the tournament reaches all sectors of America because of the popularity of the office pool. Even Jane from accounting is enthralled by March Madness, but the product and the excitement would be diluted with 96 teams.
Can you imagine the five or six teams who had a legitimate gripe about being included in this year's tourney -- Illinois, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, William & Mary, Arizona State -- along with 26 other teams being included? The first-round games would lack intrigue because many of the participants would be teams barely over the .500 mark. The standard for the NCAA Tournament has always been high and there have been many occasions where I was disappointed my Cal Bears were not selected, but each time I could point to three or four concrete reasons they fell short.
Of course, the NCAA believes the best way to earn more money is feeding the audience with more games, regardless of the quality. While the amount of Division I teams grows yearly, there needs to be perhaps a few more spots added to accommodate conference tournament winners and deserving at-large teams but 96 would turn the NCAA Tournament into a nearly month-long sojourn that would lose viewers and interest because it would take weeks to reach its apex.
Look at the NBA Playoffs as an example. The five-week process bores the non-diehard basketball fans, who want to be awaken when LeBron faces Kobe. They'll pass on a Milwaukee-Orlando seven-game first-round series. The NCAA has so many revenue streams it can figure out another more creative way to make money and keep the integrity and excitement of the NCAA Tournament. Things are OK just as they are now, just as Jane in accounting.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Mentoring is missing in pro sports
Can you hear their cries? They are piercing my ears?
You can hear the screams each time an athlete decides to test his own mortality or decides to live the life of a thug/gangta/athlete that sounds good on rap lyrics or in fantasy but doesn't quite resonate in reality.
If it isn't Gilbert Arenas branding guns, it's Shawne Williams selling syrup or Delonte West carrying three guns on a motorcycle -- where was he going? And there is a common thread in all of these challenges to authority, these players lack not only discipline but guidance.
Covering professional sports, it's difficult not to build a personal relationship with the players you cover. You want to see him succeed. You want to see them make good decisions. You hope they are managing their money properly and are not swayed by the temptations of their lifestyle.
And when you see their mistakes, you cringe because in many cases, in knowing these young men, you realize they don't know any better. They were treated as kings on their college campuses and allowed to roam wherever they players, as long as they averaged a double-double. And in the real world, they are mostly surrounded by yes men who call themselves friends but are more like leeches who only benefit from the financial wealth of the lifestyle.
What the NBA, NFL and even Major League Baseball desperately need to do is increase their mentoring programs. There are so many former athletes looking for work, an opportunity to give back -- with some type of compensation, of course -- would could help and perhaps save the lives of these young men, some of whom grew up without father figures or whose fathers are their "business managers" or living off their child's success.
In talking with many of these young man, you realize how little they know about people skills, proper behavior and ediquette. Life is difficult enough for those 20-somethings without the lure of women, money and hangers-on and professional badly needs to address these issues for the healthy of not only their league but of the young athlete.
Both the NFL and NBA have collective bargaining agreements that are set to expire soon and both leagues have allowed their respective players association to handle issues such as mentoring or help with finances or substance abuse, etc. But it's about time for the leagues and players association to unite and form a mentoring group for individuals who seek help. It's acceptable to say that players can always reach out, but how many of these kids will before they cry out with an egrgeous act?
Mentors can serve as guides and examples for these young athletes. We assume because of their financial status and the fact they have agents, that many athletes receive proper instruction and consulation. Hardly. Many agents rarely contact their clients or represent so many other athletes they have little time to focus attention on those with problems.
Sometimes the solutions are basic. Perhaps if Arenas had better direction, someone he trusted in his circle who wasn't on his payroll, he would have made better decision and not banned for the NBA for a series of foolish acts. Because these young men look grown, doesn't mean they are grown and I'm not sure how many examples we need to see before the powers that be in professional sports change the system and reach out to these crying babies.
Do you think they hear them like we do?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Woods' quest for perfection should reach beyond golf course
Tiger Woods should be embarrassed and ashamed right now. He was caught in a humiliating situation last week when he crashed his car outside of his Orlando, Fla., area home and was found unconscious by his wife Elin. Woods sustained only minor injuries but the bizarre accident created so many questions and theories -- such as a cheating Woods attempting to escape from his golf-club wielding wife and crashing -- that he felt inclined to address the accident.
That only prompted media sites such as TMZ and National Enquirer to dig further into his personal life and it took only a few days to discover a chilling voice mail message Woods delivered to another woman asking her to call with a "restricted" label to prevent his suspicious wife from checking his cell phone and calling the woman.
It cemented the rumors that Woods had been unfaithful and he released a statement on his website apologizing for his "transgressions."
This should be the end of this story. While Woods is a brilliant golfer, the best of all time and has been a model citizen during a career that began as a child prodigy and continues into his mid-30s, we should not expect Woods to be a perfect role model off the course. Woods was unfaithful and he was sloppy about it, but because he strives to be a perfect golfer and faces constant scrutiny regarding his every move on the course does not mean that Woods should be judged on a level higher than any elite professional athlete.
Are you looking for Woods to help raise your kids? Should he be vilified because he fell into a pretentious trap of flattery and passion that falls men and women? Woods proved he is no different that many people who know who have conveniently found excuses to be unfaithful and in the end, really have no reason for their "transgressions" besides greed and insecurity. Woods proved he has a lot of growing and developing to do as a man, and such evolution is difficult when you have the financial and social means to obtain nearly anything you desire, including seedy women who don't mind being part of the infidelity.
Woods owes his public nothing besides an apology but he owes his wife the promise to become a better man. He should be left alone for that journey because no one can aid his maturation.
This story is much more serious than a millionaire athlete whose unsavory lifestyle was discovered. This is a story of a man who went through the motions, succumbing to pressures to get married, have kids and put of a facade when it was not in his heart, and it has marred the lives of those who loved him the most.
He doesn't need our judgment, he needs our prayers.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
It's about time to raise the NBA age limit
Of the 30 players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft, all of whom had hopes of being an All-Star, starring in their own sneaker commercial and leading their team to NBA championships, just five signed long-term contract extensions to secure their futures before the Nov. 1 deadline.
For example, Boston's Rajon Rondo, drafted 21st in 2006, signed a five-year, $55 million deal to remain a Celtic until at least 2015.
That means the other 25 were unable to perform to the level to encourage their teams to make a substantial financial commitment. In other words, they were busts, disappointments or failed to reach their potential. Perhaps it was just a poor draft class filled with players who weren't as talented as advertised or lacked the work ethic to develop or maybe these players entered the draft prematurely, seeking NBA riches before they were prepared for the rigors and commitment required to become a standout player.
An increase in the NBA age limit won't prevent these draft failures but will reduce them because it will allow prospective players to get at least two years of college basketball. Right now, the NBA mandates that players remain in college for one season and in many cases, NBA prospects attend college one semester to stay eligible for their freshman season, drop out for the second semester and then began preparing for the NBA draft once their college season ends.
That isn't exactly Doogie Howser type academic passion and that type of lack of commitment may eventually hurt the athlete if the NBA career doesn't pan out. The NBA is filled with players who bolted college early and became successful, but there are also players such as Shawne Williams, Gerald Green and Donte Greene who thought they would be stars and instead are out of the league (Green), banished by their team for immaturity (Williams)or riding the end of a bench (Greene).
The NBA is a heartless operation and hardly has time for prolonged development, so teams cut their losses, as they did with 25 of those 30 draft picks. There are always kids flooding the draft, so the key is to be as prepared as possible for success. Holding kids back another year will give them additional preparation, making them more useful commodities for teams and reducing the slew of draft busts and disappointments that have littered the draft the past few years.
These younger NBA players are crushed when their team refuses to offer a contract extension. Many of them are delusional when it comes to their talent and potential, still believing they are all-star caliber players. The reality that they are barely hanging on is harsh one, and the NBA is running short on patience, especially in this economic climate.
So it's time the NBA protect these players from themselves and mandate they wait another year. The extra time prepping for the highest level could extend their career, and isn't that what we all want?
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